A Foodie in the Phililppines

Good to know. Thank you. I'm going to try the Thanksgiving "feedbag" with my Pinay. Maybe my Santa Barbara pal with his Pinay too. I am a foodie, an area that has been my HUGEST disappointment thus far. I have had my own food deal a couple of times. Big success. I've been a trainer of this thing called SERVICE------remember THAT??? Jesus!!! It's just not that hard. Anyway, I could give you about 5-pages but you don't want to hear it. Who does. I ate at that Coco's place yesterday. Wow!! My SB pal and I took the womenz. He had been there and spoke highly of the Tacos (Chicken). They were good. My Pinay likes Pork, got her those and I had the chicken. 2-per order. We were starved so I thought I'd order the Nachos as an app. Well it all got turned around and as it turned out the Nachos were dessert. Hey, screw it. We all lived to tell about it. My buddy's gal got a "salad" of some type. It came as the 3-of us were almost done with our entree's. It looked like it had been in a closet for 12-hours. I wanted a second iced tea. Iced Tea served in about a 6-oz. glass. That took nearly 15-minutes. Sorry, don't want to be the ugly American. I'm looking at the bright side after this vent. I'll lose weight. See you at Casablanca I hope.---By the way. Prior to settling into my long term rental we were at Sea Dream in Dauin. Really good. Honestly. Steal of the trip. Breakfast, lunch and dinner.

 

Yea, we generally ASK, palihug, for the appetizer to be served FIRST, helps and has always worked for us. If you like Mexican, you need to try Senorita's on south national and Mooon Cafe on Silliman, about as good as Coco's. At one point, we asked the waitress at Senorita's if the owner (white guy) was from the US, she replied, "No, he's from Texas.." Nice girl. The provinces are slower than manila or cebu, so expect to relax a bit before you get your food and/or drinks. Racer automatically tells everyone 20 min, so nobody gets in a huff. Also, we always ask for "service water." Thats the big blue jugs, not tap but close and free. Gotta trust it's not from the tap..

One of these days i gotta start a thread on tipping, we generally give about 10%. If someone wants to reply please start a new thread.

 

I was told to look to see if there is a "Service Charge" on the bill. If so that is THE TIP, or so I was told. I have been Jonesing for my guilty pleasure in life..this think called the "CHEESEBURGER." Best so far? "Kri's" (Kreeze). Blue Cheese, Truffles and Bacon (Truffles??? really??) for 255-P. Pretty d*mn good. Went to "Gie-Gies" election day and had a nice experience. Met the owner Ron a Chicagoan. Had "Fish & Chips" (2-pieces-couldn't finish) 265-P. Pinay had Chicken Fajitas and they were pretty d*mn good as well. Went back with my Cal. Buddy and his gal all excited on a Friday a week later. Nothing but "Kabobs????" Passed.

 

So you are saying you caught Coco's on a great day? And they even had tortillas to make tacos and fajitas? You lead a charmed life my friend!

 

No, the Fajitas were at "Gie-Gie's". LOL. But the Tacos at Coco's were good. I've been here less than a month. I guess they don't have Salsa here? Well I learned that. I was perusing another thread about service and it seems a prickly matter. I have to tell/remind myself daily that we sacrifice things to enjoy other "things" when we live here. Dining out, service is one of them. I'm coming to terms and frankly I could stand to lose 25-lbs. I was a bar trainer in another life so forgive me but I'm here to tell you that if I were an owner observing the day to day goings on and saw a table of 4 (2-men, 2-women) and the guys I see LATER are drinking beer I will seek out the party's waiter and ask WTF it took 20-minutes for the beer to be brought out. At the risk of offending the defenders of haphazard service it's "BIDNESS 101". If you take the guys beers IMMEDIATELY they will more than likely order a second. 1-Table x 2-beers a day x 365??? Do the math. It's just common sense. Hey, just an observation. I'm not going to get gastric distress and pimples over it.

 

I am going to make a wild assumption and guess that your trainees were making a bit more than $4/day?

 

Bingo!! But I guess I'll bite. So what?? It's your job whatever continent your on. That said if no one shows you cool. Stay in the corner with the rest of your crew comparing menstrual cycles. My point is that "it's on the owner/boss" to show his guys how to do it right. I'll go your wild assumption one better. Should our "wait staff" be taught the proper way and they see I need another Tanduay & Coke instead of waiting for the guttural sounds of me sucking my brains thru a straw and make that libation appear THEY will see their just rewards increase significantly.

 

When you accept a job or an assignment, and you make a deal it does not matter what the deal is... you made it, you live by it. $4 a day, or $4,000 a day if you make the deal you live with it... if you do not like the deal then do not make it. Life can be simply, just honor the deals you make, and do not accept the deals you do not like, That way you live you life based on the commitments you make towards other and toward yourself (not accepting the deal).

 

seems that way, hoping he is a quick learner