Still at the baywalk
I had just finished a marathon dinner
Taking a portion of everything that landed on our table
Stuffing it down like there was no tomorrow
A fiesta ...
As Erap once said - I was already "fed up "
My stomach started to swell like a pregnant tadpole
Pressure building up
Tympanitic - like a drum
I really needed to "walk" it all off
Luckily -San Miguel by the Bay is indeed a long walking strip
I started a slow walk
Passing gas covertly
Successfully concealing the fluttering sound amidst the noisy din of the crowd
Blending its olfactory character with the sweet salty aroma of the ocean
Controlled explosions - once the private domain of demolitions experts, was a talent that my colon had mastered over the years :-)
I was looking for a cup of anything hot ...
Scanning the landscape for something not quite so common as Starbucks or its clones that are at every corner
Perhaps tea ?

President Tea House has a long history of satisfying food trekkers in the Binondo area.
It has more recently ventured out of its Chinatown confines, and has set up branches to allow a greater part of the Metro Manila populace to experience its legendary Cantonese cuisine and dim sum offering.
This new branch at the baywalk was garbed in modern interior design
Clean lines , bright lights
As with all restos in the row, it had an outdoor area lining the bay promenade where I parked my now deflated body

I was looking for a cup of anything hot ...
Scanning the landscape for something not quite so common as Starbucks or its clones that are at every corner
Perhaps tea ?
President Tea House has a long history of satisfying food trekkers in the Binondo area.
It has more recently ventured out of its Chinatown confines, and has set up branches to allow a greater part of the Metro Manila populace to experience its legendary Cantonese cuisine and dim sum offering.
This new branch at the baywalk was garbed in modern interior design
Clean lines , bright lights
As with all restos in the row, it had an outdoor area lining the bay promenade where I parked my now deflated body
Their menu is extensive and mouth-watering
Typically Chinese
Dim sum, Peking duck, roasted spareribs, century egg, fish lip with shredded meat soup, hot sour soup, crispy fried chicken, crystal prawn balls, steamed prawns with garlic, ma-po tofu, lumpia, sweet sour pork, king dao spare ribs, pata tim, lemon chicken, pancit canton, yang cheow rice etc.
The usual stuff
Mouthwatering just to think about ...
But I had come for just a cup of anything hot
Remember?
So - I was really attracted by their "special"
Prominently posted on their door
This was after all a Chinese restaurant
Of course
Stupid me
Why didn't I think of that before
What was I thinking?
Duh ...
Hah ?
Spanish Chocolate ??
In a Chinese Tea House ???
Yes - apparently in this Chinese tea house - their special is ...
Spanish Chocolate
Comprende ????
So, what is so special about this particular Spanish chocolate ?
Aside from the fact that it is a special in a Chinese Tea house ?
Uhmmmm
Well ...
They crack an egg - and mix the egg yolk and whites with the chocolate !!!!!!!
An egg
In hot Spanish chocolate
Mmmmmmmmmmmmm
It tastes chocolatey
But has a curdled and gritty feel to it as it trickles down the throat
You have to try it to make your own judgement
Hot chocolate plus egg
Omigoshhhhhhhhhh
Now I need to take another slow walk ...