What is it about Chinese food that makes me fall in love over and over again? I wish I can put it into words but I can’t — I don’t think the words have been invented yet. Although my daughters have veered more toward Japanese food as they grew older, Chinese food has remained as my favorite. And when we dine out and I’m craving for Chinese food, there are two restaurants that we go to most often — President Grand Palace in Chinatown and Causeway Seafood Restaurant where the food is fit for special occasions (see how to order Peking duck in a Chinese restaurant) while, at the same time, the prices are reasonable enough for those times when there is no special occasion and I just need to satisfy my craving. Although President is my top choice, we go to Causeway more often mainly because it is accessible with several branches in Metro Manila.
Last Sunday, the plan was to have a very late dinner after picking Alex up at the RCBC Theater. We drove to the Causeway Libis branch hoping we could make it before closing time. When we got there a little after 11.00 p.m., we were informed that we could dine on a “last order” basis. Meaning, order all the food you want because no afterthoughts will be entertained as the establishment would close promptly at midnight. No problem. It’s not like we don’t know what to order considering how many times we’ve dined there.
And that’s really the funny thing. Although the menu consists of several pages, we still gravitate toward old favorites. In fact, even the routine is practically the same every time. Almost like a ritual.
We’d sip the house tea while waiting for the food.
We’d prepare our dipping sauce of soy sauce and kalamansi juice, Speedy always adding chili oil to his.
The dim sum items that we order are almost always the same.
Har gao (shrimp dumplings), chicken feet (which Causeway was already out of last Sunday), steamed pork ribs, ma chang, Chinese chive dumplings…
The only marked difference last Sunday was that it was Alex who ordered the Chinese chive dumplings. Usually, it would either be Speedy or me. Didn’t realize that Alex likes Chinese chives now. I always thought she just ate them for variety. What she always orders, as she did order last Sunday, is egg pie — custard tarts in some Chinese restaurants; the Causeway version is egg yolk pie.
Soup and cold platter are Sam’s department. She chose eight treasures with winter melon soup…
… and a cold plate of jellyfish and century eggs.
The only new dish that we ordered was a sea cucumber and chicken hot pot. Sam’s choice. And what an extraordinarily great dish it was. Subtly sweet and subtly salty at the same time. Moist and tender meat. Gelatinous sea cucumber that almost melts in the mouth. The cooks at Causeway do know how to cook sea cucumber well.
I so enjoyed the meal that I was already anticipating our next Chinese meal as a family. President Grand Palace next time, I said, and we’ll have Peking duck. The thought of going to Chinatown excited Sam and she asked if we could also go to the numerous Chinese delis and bakeries, and buy stuff that we could bring and eat at home. I said, “Sure!” I’d love that too.
The total bill at Causeway was a little over PHP1100.00 (about USD25.00). And we did bring home what we couldn’t finish. As usual, we overdid the ordering and there was just too much food for one meal. It’s just so tempting, really, and it’s hard to say, “Stop! We’ve ordered enough!” when what we all really want is to taste everything on the menu. Well, maybe, in time we’ll get to do that. Order all the old favorites and ONE new dish each time.
ginutom po ako sa post nyong ito… super favorite ko ang Causeway, particularly the dimsums (siomai, hakaw, bean curd etc)…
Haaaay, in my mind I can still taste everything hehehehe
I love Causeway! My hubby and I sometimes go there by ourselves and order purely dimsum. Bean curd rolls are my favorite. On other times we go with my hubby’s family and we’d order something similar to your spread, although we go for hot and sour soup.
That’s Speedy’s and my favorite “date” place too.
hehe Connie, those menu you have ordered is also our ritual for this particular restaurant. Of course President Grand Palace is the best but wait have you tried Golden Fortune Seafood Restaurant in soler?
No, not yet! How’s the parking situation there? Trouble with Chinatown is the parking. Always.
“Order all the old favorites and ONE new dish each time.”
Ms. Connie, there’ll come a time when you’ll have to order ALL the food in one sitting coz I’m sure every new dish will become an old favorite. And also, don’t forget to remind the chef to create a new dish, or else… hehe!
I’d like to try the restaurant sometime (real thought is: uwi ka na hubby, kain tau dun!)
Love their dimsum!!
yayi, they do come up with something new now and then. The egg yolk pie was not in the menu when Sam and Alex were toddlers hehehe
u8mypinkcookies, it’s the dim sum that’s really a magnet.
Just had my very first chicken feet last Sunday. Mentally tough but not bad! We rarely have dim sum because we always thought that it’s expensive (yeah, after trying almost everything they offer our way!) – my mini-heaven!
Is the President resto in MOA Boardwalk block a branch of President chinatown? The signs look the same but then the one in MOA could just be banking on the original’s name and fame.
Now talk about indulgence.. hehehe. And I’m like Speedy. I love chili oil.
Great, now I’m hungry and I just had lunch! LOL!
WE LOVE CAUSEWAY. THEY HAVE A BRANCH IN QC, AND AFTER SPENDING TIME IN A NEARBY WATER SPA, IT’S THE PLACE TO GO TO. WE LOVE BINONDO AS WELL, SHOPPING FOR ITEMS IN SALAZAR (ONGPIN), PARKING THE CAR THERE AND JUST WALK TO OUR FAVORITE RESTAURANTS.
Sharon, that’s how I felt the first time I ate sashimi.
next time you’ll enjoy the chicken feet more.
Nina, ahhhh, haven’t seen that. There is a dim stall at Glorietta though.
My family and I frequent Causeway Libis. We love their dimsum so much. The chili oil, kalamansi and the soy sauce are normally given but do try to request for GINGER SAUCE. They will give you only once requested. For us, it’s yummier with this sauce.
Just sharing! 
Is that like the ginger sauce for hainanese chicken? I looooove that.