Reminiscence

One way or another, practically everyone who lived, visited or passed by Manila has had a meal or a snack at Aristocrat, which is still located where it was before, on the corner of Roxas Boulevard and the road to San Andres market.

The re-launch last Tuesday of the four merienda dishes of Aristocrat made us nostalgic. Please allow us to reminisce on the glory days of Dewey (now Roxas) Boulevard. It was the place for fun and good food.

There was the Motorco, a double-decker bus which plied the length of the boulevard at night for merrymakers to enjoy fresh cool air and the lights of Manila by night. It is gone now.

There was the string of barbecue stands with folding chairs, serving sticks with tiny pieces of pork which one could bite into while  nursing a drink, watching the sunset and the calm and clean Manila Bay. They are gone now.

There was Selecta restaurant for the ice cream made of fresh coconut milk. But we were more into their pancit guisado. It is gone now.

And across the boulevard, a few blocks away, there was the Hilton, the first international hotel to set up shop in the metropolis, whose Patisserie we fondly patronized for its chicken pie with succulent, melt-in-the-mouth crust. It is gone now.

And there was Aristocrat, where Aling/Doña Asyang (Engracia) Reyes held court to the delight of promenaders and other passers-by. She offered the best Filipino food, a legacy she left to her heirs. It is still there. It is in her memory – she would have turned 121 years old, if she were alive today – that the re-launch was mounted by family, heirs and friends.

One way or another, practically everyone who lived, visited or passed by Manila had a meal or a snack at Aristocrat, which is still located where it was before, on the corner of Roxas Boulevard and the road to San Andres market.

It was – and still is – the favorite stop of those wanting a good Filipino meal or snack. When grilled food was not yet all that popular, Aristocrat concocted honey chicken, with a sweetish sauce that went well with their java rice. Specialties such as kare-kare and crispy pata graced their tables, and of course we could not, would not, skip their sumptuous halo-halo (always with sweetened saba banana and haleyang ube on top) after a hearty meal.

Happy memories of enjoying the Filipino merienda at Aristocrat fill us now and we welcome their re-launch. They are as good as when they were first introduced – sariwang lumpiang ubod, dinuguan at puto (our fave), pancit luglog and arroz caldo. All are welcome breaks from the proliferating donuts, hamburgers and pizza. Truly comfort food!   

A lot of very young girls (from as young as 4 to 12) and a sprinkling of little boys have become conscious of how food is prepared. We have noted young ones trying to dabble in mixing, whisking and even setting the tables for meals. No wonder there are cooking lessons offered for this age group.

The Active Fun Bonifacio High Street Foundation and Maya have joined forces in a summer program called “Kids in the Kitchen,” a series of cooking demos meant to develop creativity in the young ones, as well as to allow them to discover new flavors and tastes. Although it started last week, there are still sessions next month – May15, 16 and 17. The sessions include, among others, choco lava, fritata, cupcake decorating, pancakes and even how to throw a kiddie party. Fee for a single session is P1,300.  Call the foundation at tel 869-0888/9509. They are located on 9th Street corner 28th, Bonifacio Global City.

Another foundation, the Negrense Volunteers for Change, is participating in the Philippine trade exhibit “Merchant of Hope” which will be held at the Glorietta 2 Activity Center in Makati from April 23 to 27. Their products will be highlighted.      

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