This year, I played chaperone to my mom while she attends unofficial reunions with her highschool friends. Our arrangement was that I go to some other place to eat while she spends time with her friends. It is a weird arrangement and a friend even remarked that it doesn't seem proper but I am okay with it because:
1. They'd be more comfortable among themselves since they've known each other for years.
2. I can go explore restos on my own and wouldn't need to think about different preferences.
3. My me time is sacred and I need to also read for my thesis.
In one of their reunions, they agreed to meet up at Ayala Cloverleaf. It proved to be a good opportunity for me to visit TRA VINH, a restaurant I first came to know years back in Banawe. It serves Vietnamese food and some Southeast Asian ones. My first impression then was so-so, nothing special. I still liked Pho Hoa or Pho Bac. But the Cloverleaf branch is different. The food here is more flavorful and I just couldn't believe how awesome everything I ate was.
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| Duck soup with rice noodles. I could have opted for the usual yellow egg noodles but this one is light and balances the intense flavors of the duck soup. |
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My taste buds had fun chasing and savoring the mix of spicy and salty seasonings of these grilled treats. YUM!
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| Just the right dessert to cap off an awesome meal. Not too sweet (I made sure to ask for no added sugar) and it's creamy. |
