While chatting with my dear friend Gerry Chua, also known as Mr. Ube of Eng Bee Tin, he mentioned that his café, The Great Buddha, now offers delivery service. After our chat, he sent us a spread of Binondo specialties—dishes that define Chinese comfort food.

These included Pork and Shrimp Siomai, Shrimp Fried Rice, Beef Hofan, Beef Tendon, Salt and Pepper Squid, Yang Chow Fried Rice, Prawn Bean Curd Roll, Custard Lava Buchi, Hong Kong Stir-Fried Asado Noodles and Spinach with 3 Kinds of Egg.

The bite of the Stir-Fried Noodles was very satisfying. Though subtle, the asado and the spices were, to my palate, captivating.

However, it was the Spinach with 3 Kinds of Eggs I found most unforgettable. The Great Buddha Café’s interpretation is soupier than usual. In fact, it is like soup but with lots of spinach. The leafy greens in the broth make it a healthy dish. What’s more, the three kinds of eggs give the taste buds delightful twists and bursts of flavor.

I loved it so much, I divided the dish into two and kept the half for lunch the day after. It still tasted good!

Ordering options from The Great Buddha Café includes the popular delicacies from Eng Bee Tin (peanut balls, hopia, tikoy)—brought to your doorstep for a complete, one-stop shop Binondo experience.

https://buddha.ubedelivery.com/index.html, tel. 82888888, local 8

Frozen prawns

I had frozen organic prawns that tasted like they were freshly caught, sweet and meaty. I heated a pan, drizzled some olive oil and put the prawns, as is, unpeeled and unseasoned.

When I learned that the prawns fed on seaweed, lab-lab, kuhol and suso, I understood why these crustaceans were delectable. Golden Tiger Export helps fill the large demand for prawns in Japan and Korea, though the standards required to export aren’t easy.

The sashimi-grade prawns undergo tests for E. coli, among others, before and after they get to their destination.

The frozen prawns are sold in a block of ice. The process is called contact freezing to ensure quality. This is why Golden Tiger Prawns have that “caught just now” quality, once thawed and cooked.

The prawns are sold heads on and last for six months in the freezer.

Vicarr Lim Tingzon, tel. 0917-5506508

Fish crackers

I first received a bag of DD’s Premium Fish Crackers last Christmas from Jenny Dy. It was so good and unlike other fish crackers I’ve tried. They were crisp and crumbled gently, flavor-packed but without being salty or oily. The crackers aren’t covered with seasoning powder and do not leave a fishy aftertaste in the mouth. DD’s Fish Crackers are the most refined I’ve tried, the kind you eat with your pinky up! Proudly 100-percent Philippine made. Dessa See, tel. 0917-5344528

Visit www.reggieaspiras.com; follow @iamreggieaspiras on Instagram