Bonchon Fish and Chips and Chapchae

I could not get enough of Bonchon especially since a branch is now walking distance from our place and the FX terminal is located near it. With just me in the house and not keen at the prospect of standing in front of the stove given the scorching weather we’re having, I swung by the place one humid afternoon and got Fish and Chips (P125) and Chapchae (P75) to go. Quite pleased that they were still hot when I opened the takeout boxes. The fries were not wilted.

Bonchon Fish and Chips is made up of three battered then fried fish fillets and fries. I think they used dory (insert Finding Nemo jokes here.). A small tub of ketchup was in the box, for the fries. Those who are used to having their fish and chips with mayo may get a small tub for P10. Since I was dining at home and there’s a bottle in the fridge, I opted not to.  The fish lacks flavor on its own but the sauce coated batter, whether its spicy or soy garlic – I got soy garlic, makes up for it.

The batter’s just right, a bit light with a slightly crispy exterior. I believe Bonchon uses the same batter for its squid, shrimp and fish. While it looks like there’s a lot of it, there really isn’t, not like some battered fish I’ve come across over the years wherein the fish is overwhelmed by the batter.

Bonchon’s Chapchae taste somewhat like a sweeter version of Myojo Mee Goreng Instant Noodles. Except Bonchon’s Chapchae uses glass noodles while the noodles of Myojo Mee Goreng are your typical instant noodles. Bonchon’s Chapchae has slivers of fried pork, carrots and greens which I know not what (Spinach?).  These toppings are negligible though. Sesame seeds are sprinkled on top while a string of scrambled egg is there more to add color than to add to the flavor.

Trivia: Fish and Chip and Chapchae are not part of the original Bonchon US menu. After Team Bonchon Philippines introduced and added them to the local menu, Bonchon New York incorporated them, along with Fish Tacos to theirs.  See PDI article here.

Visit BonChon Chicken Philippines’ facebook page for updates and to know where to get your BonChon fix.

Chic Neon Nail Polish for Summer (or Brighter than the Sun Before the Impending Gloom)

Neon accessories have run rampant in stores since last year and have been proclaimed by several mag rags as an ‘it’ trend this year. Hot in more ways than one, for me, it only made sense to accessorize my nails in loud neon colors for summer.

So I broke out my bottles of neon nail polishes from Chic, a local nail polish brand, sister of Bobbie (not to be confused with Bobbi Brown). Though they’ve been under prolonged confinement in my dresser, seeing as Chic now has a new label design, they haven’t turned lumpy yet. Application went smoothly.

Gorging on Selecta Ice Cream

If there’s anything likable about the steamy weather we are having aside from flood free streets, it’s being able to justify stuffing myself silly with ice cream.

Somehow melted ice cream that’s refrozen doesn’t have the same texture as ice cream that has remained frozen until it meets your mouth. Since we don’t want a melted goop, we get tubs from a store near our house. It’s just sad that said store only carries Selecta Ice Cream.  Limited flavor choices too. Rocky Road, Double Dutch and those 3-in-1, 4-in-1 plain flavors usually like chocolate and strawberry. Not much fancy ones. Would have wanted more choices and other brands like Magnolia and Nestle but  I guess they stock what people look for rather than risk getting seasonal, limited edition flavors that wouldn’t sell as much.

For international readers, Selecta (I think it’s internationally known as Wall’s of Unilever.) has tubs containing 2, 3, 4 flavors ice cream. They’re usually cheaper than getting smaller tubs of different flavors. Works when one wants variety or those sharing prefer different flavors.

Bonchon Crispy Squid and Crispy Shrimp Riceboxes

The opening day of Bonchon at a mall near our place managed to slip by my radar. Still, my sister and I got to check out the place within the first week of opening.

Dining area is relatively small. Though this branch did not suffer the birth pains of the Megamall and Ayala Triangle branches, people at the table next to us, who were ahead of us when we lined at the counter, complained that their orders were taking too long to be served. The server explained that the food is cooked only at the moment the order was placed. Which may be why ours, which consisted of seafood, got to our tables earlier than their chicken and beef got to theirs.

Bonchon may be known for its twice fried chicken, but the Crispy Squid Ricebox (battered then fried squid rings on a bed of rice) and Crispy Shrimp Ricebox (4 pcs battered then fried shrimp on a bed of rice) do not disappoint. Both are at P145 and each are served with a glass of softdrinks. The viands were enough for the amount of rice they come with.  One can opt for spicy or soy garlic. It was soy garlic for us. The soy garlic serves to enhance the taste of the shrimp and squid. They taste somewhat like those seafood snacks. Oishi Prawn Crackers for the Crispy Shrimp Ricebox, I think. Not at all dry and definitely yum.

The Crispy shrimp Ricebox came out in time for Lent, along with the Seafood Platter (squid, fish and shrimp – no rice). Both are still around and I’m very much glad for that since we’re seafood fans. Yup, we shared the riceboxes because we want both shrimp and squid.

Check out what other treats are available at Bonchon. Here’s a flyer with their menu list. The Crispy Shrimp Ricebox and Seafood Platter are not in the list.

click to enlarge

Visit BonChon Chicken Philippines’ facebook page for updates and to know where to get your BonChon fix.

Deaths

We never got to switch off for Earth Hour. It seemed impolite to do so. We had guests paying respects to my uncle, my dad’s brother. We were at Loyola Chapels Guadalupe again. It would have been creepy.

Last I saw him alive was at my aunt-in-law’s funeral.  His hands were shaking badly because of Parkinson’s disease. Articles on the internet point out that while there is treatment for symptoms, there is no cure yet for the disease and I hate the doctor who told my dad and my cousin otherwise.  My uncle lived with my cousin’s family. He had not married. My nephew, the eldest of my cousin’s sons from my father’s side, had been taking care of the old folks who have recently passed away. His life practically revolved around them and now he seems to be cast adrift.