12.05.2009

二嫂 ErSao Taiwanese Resto

This one is at ErSao Banawe, the authentic Taiwanese restaurant, or so they say (I can’t judge, it’s Jim who can, he's from there) but I've never been to Taiwan, so let's just try.

Milk teas ranges from PhP35.00 to PhP50.00 depending on the flavor.

Milk teas became popular here (PH) around the year 1998/1999 with the emergence of top Asian franchise--- EasyWay and Quickly 快可立. Being a tropical country and having summers that are super hot made milk teas, a winner here--- resulting to localization or creation of local brands--- Zagu, and another by Rico Yan, and same with the raise of pearl coolers offered by the local food chain: Greenwich, KFC, and I think Jollibee, too.

With ErSao's "authentic Taiwanese" claim, the milk tea passed it, nothing special just like Quickly (but Quickly is better for me, I'm looking for that smoothy feel), maybe this is the authentic preparation of the milk tea.

It's very confusing with what really is the right term to call it (it's different in every country but they all call it milk tea?!). HK- style milk teas when translated into Chinese writing turns out to be 奶茶 or nai cha, the black tea with milk. While in Taiwan they call it milk tea or bubble tea or the more popular Pearl Milk Tea 珍珠奶茶 (zhen zhu nai cha; is a variant of bubble tea but because of its popularity it just became a common noun to pertain to bubble tea).

I think it is partly a healthy drink, it's tea plus other good stuff like milk and if the put natural sweetners like fruits (some puts fruits in their preparation), it's a go good supplement, unlike softdrinks.

Okay time for the milk/bubble tea trivia *did you know that the original sago in milk teas are white? or 粉圓 (fenyuan), that's why they are called pearl milk tea--- resembles pearls. And the traditional local version of milk tea is our famous and inexpensive Sago't Gulaman.

Now moving with the other Taiwanese dishes, let's just move with the trivia about this, 'cause I didn't try this one (it's Jim's bowl). And oh, another thing about Chinese restos putting or dumping vetsin in the food (in all the food) it's not true, maybe it is but ask Ajinomoto (MSG) is good--- in moderation.

*Did you know that there are two versions of the beef noodle soup (in Taiwan, China and HK)--- the inexpensive (牛肉湯麵, beef soup noodles, one will be given a noodles in beef broth only with no meat) and expensive (牛肉湯, beef soup, with beef and its broth but with out the noodles), so don't forget to order both, LOL.

Fried Dumplings (鍋貼; guo tie) at ErSao doesn't look like the one from the menu. LOL. Anyhow, I will be fair maybe it's just not their specialty. I don't like their wrapper. Dumplings (餃子; jiao zi) are my most favorite dimsum (點心; dian xin), so I am really very particular with it.

*Did you know that dumplings are said (specially guo tie) to be exceptionally good for the soul. But ironically there's a movie about dumplings (gruesome) stuffed with fetus meat--- that erupts your soul but makes you beautiful and younger. The movie is entitled Dumplings.

The GFAPY badminton gang ate and left nothing. LOL

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