Today is my lovely sister's birthday.
We celebrated it last night at Tao Yuan Restaurant along General Malvar Street in Malate, Manila. Hot Pot was the theme of the night. Definitely a feast.
I remember the last time I had Hot Pot was when I spent time in Singapore. Here in Manila, I often go to Japanese restaurants for their own version of Hot Pot. It's always Mini Shabu-Shabu and sometimes in Thousand Cranes.
For last night, we got a private room so we can have a private dinner with just the family. There was a stove sitting at the middle of the table and a pot filled with boiling broth. One by one, the raw ingredients arrived and pretty soon, Edward, our server for the night, began dumping the ingredients in the hot pot.
They were teaching me how to mix the ingredients above- garlic, chili, spring onions, peanut sauce, etc, so I can make a mean sauce. But I opted to taste my food without the sauce. I want them nude- just the natural flavors of the food.
Beef Balls.
Sweet Corn.
Pork Kidneys and Shrimp Paste.
Dumplings.
Meet Edward.
While waiting for some of the ingredients to cook, they served us a soup I've never tasted before.
Fish Lips Soup.
You read right. The black ingredients in the soup were fish lips. The soup was peppery & salty and almost close to the taste of Bird's Nest soup. It was actually delicious.
Pork Liver.
Beef and Spinach.
Lamb.
Steamed Lapu-Lapu and Fresh Shrimps.
The fish was fresh and meaty. It was cooked very well and the flavors were amazing. The shrimps were unbelievably fresh. You might ask me why. Well, it's because they were still kicking their tiny feet when they were served to us, not to mention that some of them were still moving their heads.
Desserts came right after we finished the contents of the hot pot.
Fruits- Mango, Watermelon and Pineapple.
I actually do not know what these are. It's some sort of Maja Blanca but with red beans. The other one, I'm not familiar with.
Overall, I was greatly satisfied with the spread in Tao Yuan. The food was fresh, the portions were just right, the service was wonderful.
Tao Yuan is definitely a place to have fantastic birthdays and get togethers.
To you sis, Happy Birthday!
Ate loves you! *kisses*
Tao Yuan Restaurant
508-512 Gen. Malvar Street corner A. Mabini Street
Malate, Manila
+632.522.7009 | +632.522.7010
