NINAK: ASEAN's Finest Cuisine! 7 East Capitol Drive Kapitolyo (02) 655 6902

Strange.  I finished a degree in Home Economics Education. I can cook and do all the home stuff know about family, psychology etc.  The irony is, never settled down.

Another irony is that when it comes to the food part, I am a caveman.  I learned cooking basics at and school and to me, as long as it tastes good, I devour, like a neanderthal.  Foie Gras and all that fancy stuff don’t mean squat to me.  Good food is good food.  Period. Cheaper, the better and I ain't no fancy foodie type.

My classmate, SF trained horologist, car aficionado, MMA practitioner Master Chef Quito Jose invited me to the soft opening of his new place Ninak (Kanin backwards) where ASEAN cuisine is served.  It was free, I was hungry, and I was there.

My gracious host recommended that I try the curry.  Any curry rocks with me. “Gata” love it is what I say.  I chose the lamb curry.  Behold. The serving was for two.  Fine, I was famished. 

Now, Lamb Curry was authentic Indo-Malay from what I recall in my travels way before.  Spicy but not in a nuclear way.  Adjustments were easy to suite the diner’s taste.  Chilli was abundant.  The Lamb was fresh, tender and yes I ate it all with two cups of rice.  Slowly savouring the juicy almost with almost no after taste of lamb.  Despite being the “least” spicy, I was sweating.  

I then had a cup of coffee served in a cute authentic glass French press. Nothing fancy with the “Barako” grind but after that meal, black coffee really capped it.

My classmate Chef Q offered me to try the Vietnamese Pork.  Liempo.  Sweet and tangy.  Again, with two cups of rice I cleaned up the plate as if a cat licked off it.  Scrumptious.  Liempo but with a different twist because of that sauce that came with it.  The meal reminded me of my last trip to Saigon. 

I again had a cup of coffee.  Stuffed.  I could hardly move.  The next meal I had was later…… as in late the next day.

Ninak got my nod, thumbs up and belly full.  Value for money, good location, authentic Asian food from this part of Asia.  As they say in Bahasa "Makanan disini SEDAP dan murah!!!!"(The food here is good and cheap!).  
My recommendation to friends and family proved to be effective.  My uncle brought his family there the next evening after I texted him about my ASEAN gastronomic experience and also gave his nod to the food.  This guy lived in SG, Indo and Malaysia for about 30 years.  He knows what good ASEAN food is.

I am going back there soon.  Maybe tomorrow, with friends and I will hit the other items on the menu……

Q, you are a genius.  See you there again soon!