When Jolog Meets Fancy Palitaw and "Mint"

If there is anything I learned in my 31 years on earth, it is this- you are who you are. I've long accepted I am jolog. I know what I know; I like what I like. I try to be a better person everyday but I cannot pretend to be something else. Lumalabas talaga ang kajologan!

Yesterday, Jay and I decided to try this small restaurant we keep seeing at the highway-Abundant Place. We thought it was some diner.

A waiter set up our table while we were looking at native products at the small store.



When our table was finally set up with a native place mat, a cup of hot chocolate & a water goblet covered with fancy cloth, we asked for a menu. It turned out they only serve suman and palitaw :p We realized- oh, okay, this is a merienda place for Manila people, those who do not find suman in their palengkes.


We had palitaw. I'm jolog and not very sophisticated when it comes to food so I like my palitaw chewy with coconut and sugar just like how it's served during babang luksa. lol. We were served fancy palitaw- a soft palitaw roll, with coconut meat, choco syrup and rice crispies. I was hungry and finished it off. Jay only ate half of his. (Jay had hotdog at Jollibee after. haha.)

Here's where my jologness kicks in-- there was a tiny cup with 3 leaves in it. Jay asked me what it was. Jologs me assumed it was mint (you know like in those fancy dining shiz you see on TV. haha) so I urged him- "It's just mint. Go on, chew on it!". Jay didn't want to. I was being brave. I thought, you know what, we're here for the experience, might as well go all out. (Go for the gold is my new motto.) I pop 2 leaves in my mouth and chew-chew-chew, while thinking- this is how the fancy people eat in their fancy restaurants. heehee. Jay asks me what it tastes like and I tell him- "e di mint."

As we were about to leave, the waiter comes out with a pot of water and tells us- "meron pa po yan" ("there's more") and proceeds to pour hot water in the tiny cup. Jay and I looked at each other and I thought- Oh my dud (as Nic would say). The leaves were still in my mouth! They were fresh Terragon tea leaves! haha. Kaloka.

After the waiter left, I spit the leaves into my cup and had my tea. And that is how my birthday breakfast went :)

More stories later, peace out.

** reposted from my online diary.

The Abundant Place is on Aguinaldo Highway, Tubuan Silang Cavite.