A Feast for the Grads
There are certain occasions that truly call for an all-out celebration, and one of these is graduation day – whether college, high school, grade school, or yes, these days, even all the stages at the preschool level have a moving up day. This special event marks the end of one stage and the moving up to another level. This, then, merits a meal that is out of the ordinary.
After the mortar and toga have been returned for fear of losing the deposit, after all the serious and “wacky” batch pictures have been taken, and with the Pomp and Circumstance Graduation March still ringing in the whole family’s ears, it is time to celebrate! And since the whole congregation present at the graduation venue will probably have the same idea in mind, it would be good to scout ahead and reserve a table instead of going around the metro looking for a place to eat.
One good option for the family celebration is the Modern China Restaurant, located at the Glorietta 4 Ground Floor. It is an ideal spot for a family outing because it offers set menus and group promotions which eliminate the guesswork from the ordering process. The best deal in the batch is its anniversary promo, which offers a total of 10 courses for the surprising price of P2,488 (VAT inclusive!). It is a well-chosen collection of all-time Filipino Chinese-food favorites that already has something for every member of the family. Owner George Pua says he intentionally selected the food items that Filipinos are very familiar with, and had the chefs prepare them in such a way that they would fit the Pinoy palate.
For the price of the promo, the servings are hefty, and the MSG-free food is very good! As veteran Chinese food eaters, it is not hard for the MB team to make comparisons. The Chicken Corn Soup arrived steaming hot, thick, and hearty – not watery in some establishments that try to cut expenses. The Chopsuey arrives appetizingly crisp, not soggy. Although the Camaron Rebosado sauce is a tad sweet, the shrimp roll itself is not oily, so you just can’t help but pop one after the other into your mouth.
Carbohydrates come in the way of the saucy Pancit Canton, which has mushrooms, veggies, and shrimp bits. Even though the pancit is saucier, the Canton noodles are compact, not mushy, so it is definitely enjoyable to eat. Another Carb carrier is the Yang Chow Fried Rice – a meal in itself, and a satisfying one in that it is loaded with toppings without any flavor overpowering another. It is a perfect companion for the Crispy Fried Chicken, which chicken lovers will crow over, with its crackly skin and tender chicken meat.
And there’s the Fish Fillet with Lemon Sauce, which has a nice balance between tart and sweet; a tender Beef with Ampalaya, with the ampalaya wedges crisp and bitter-free enough for a big bite. The most outstanding meat in this meal is the Sweet and Sour Pork. This elusive dish has disappointed many times in other establishments, coming out too sweet, too sour, or too hard. But at Modern China, we have found a winner. The meat is tender, and the sauce is perfectly balanced. It is definitely worth coming back for, even if ordered ala carte. Another must-try is the Buchi – others have tried and failed to make this remotely kid-friendly. But this restaurant offers a soft buchi ball with a velvety filling that is, again, not too sweet. The sesame-covered dessert is also not too sticky so even the grad’s proud Lolos and Lolas can enjoy this without fear of losing their dentures.
The restaurant also offers more complicated Chinese dishes such as Crab Roe Shark’s Fin Soup, Fried Sea Mantis with Salt and Pepper, and Peking Duck. Modern China is located at Ground Floor, Restaurant Row, Glorietta 4. Call 752-8729/Fax 752-8728/email
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/ visit www.modernchinarestaurant.ph. - Article courtesy of Manila Bulletin
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