Kicking and Screaming: Shifu Style!
Chinese food often becomes too monotonous. Sweet and sour here, dimsum there, add a mix of noodles, and voila: any shop can lay its claim as a Chinese resto. Many times though, the overpowering MSG and the thick cornstarch leaves the palate numb. Some times however, a true Chinese restaurant can dish out authentic tasting fare.
Shifu Master's Kitchen is a virtual hole-in-the-wall: situated along the busy Gilmore-Granada thoroughfare, its small spot challenges the more veteran Mien-San just a few feet away. Again, I discovered Shifu through foodie blogs and I quickly pounced on a voucher on one of those group buying sites. The place was quaint, small but enough to seat 15 people at the most. It was like a carinderia in Binondo, only with parking space and air-conditioning. How authentic can you get?
Pork Siomai, P45
At first, we couldn't find the dimsum on their menu. To our surprise, it was written on a white board just above the counter. We went traditional with our choice of pork siomai. There was no regret. Each piece was tightly packed with pork meat! No starch or flour fillers here, just true pork mixed with a hint of fat for added flavor and black mushrooms for that contrast in texture. I could eat this with a cup of rice, but I wanted to feast on my favorite Chinese food staple next.
Lechon Macau Rice, P145
No visit of mine would be complete without sampling Shifu's version of my favorite sinful pleasure: Lechon Macau! And the master did not disappoint. A half slab of crispy pork liempo fried to perfection. The skin was flawlessly crunchy, while the meat itself was tender and oozing with cholesterol. It's for days like these that cholesterol medications were created. Chuck out that diet plan through the window for now, and enjoy this cardiac delight. Served with a leaf of pechay to simmer your guilt somehow, and a hefty portion of rice to complete your day. For those who desire more pain in the future, order this ala-carte for a full-on attack on this crispy wonder.
Spinach with Crabmeat, P185
To lessen my guilt, I ordered a vegetable dish. Lacking visual appeal, this dish however more than made up for it with its impressive taste. The spinach was light and chewy, and the soup base just right in consistency. The crabmeat was obviously manufactured, but I couldn't complain with the spinach taking center stage. No traces of MSG here, as the flavor truly stood out.
Lomi, P155
On a soft drizzling night like this, a piping hot bowl of lomi was precisely fitting and appropriate. And this was not a small bowl; the serving was good for 3 people with a huge appetite. The saltiness of the soup was immaculate, and each strand of noodle was thick and firm. Slurping is the way to go, to show your appreciation to the cook, of course. And that's not all: each bowl was filled with slices of cabbage, thin pieces of pork, a few bits of shrimp and crab meat. We added a dash of chili garlic sauce and the experience was sublime. Perfect on a cold night.
Chinese fast food stalls are quite common, but hole-in-the-wall, authentic Chinese restaurants which offer affordable fare should be the preferred choice. No MSG, no marketing lies, no bloated pictures, no silly excuses. The word "shifu", if my Chinese lessons memory serves me well, means "old master". Indeed, this venerable restaurant serves up the high kicks and spinning swipes like a true kung-fu master.
Shifu Master's Kitchen
58 Granada Street,
Valencia, Quezon City
Written by Jones
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