I’ve been hearing a lot of Chi-chi lately about the latest food craze and Hainanese Chicken from Stevies has always popped out. Blogs really do offer the best source of information. Now mind you, my standards for chicken rice is somewhat high. The first time I tasted it was on the first night of my Singapore trip last year. Ming took us to Boon Tong Kee. Little did I know that it was one of the best places to get said chicken rice. Even hawker center chicken rice was not the same after Boon Tong Kee. But for the price it was well worth it.
I’ve tried the “Original Chicken Rice” over at Cubao and was not satisfied. Something was missing. The chili was just not the same. I missed Singapore.
Yesterday, while talking about food in the office we finally decided to go get Stevies Chicken Rice. At P950 per set, it wasn’t going to be a cheap meal on a Friday.
We ordered 2.
Mind you that Stevie’s won’t deliver unless you get 8 or more orders. So we with GPS on my blackberry in hand we were off to find his house.
I’ve been on a diet (portions) since January this year. I’ve literally stopped myself from eating more than I should, controlling my want for more and more. But today I promised, no vowed, to throw all of that out of the window, even if for just one day.
On the way to the house it was a fun drive discovering which route to take via GPS. The blackberry was indeed really helpful. We kept driving around until we finally found his house. It was an unassuming house. A quaint little chateau nestled in a milieu of foliage. It seemed so different from all the other houses. We have found the place.
Stevie and FoodieManila
Stevie Villasin
I half expected an old man, decked out with white hair as a sign of old age and wisdom. Or some well-travelled explorer who has decided to bring to the Philippines some of the best dishes he has found during his travels. After requesting the house help if we could meet Stevie, out came a gleeful person, all in smiles, and actually thrilled to meet us. He didn’t expect that we would want to meet him. I found him so humble and friendly that I couldn’t help but just smile. So this is the man who made my meal. After exchanging pleasantries and how we chanced upon his chicken rice, we shared how www.dessertcomesfirst.com’s mom lives next door too. Small world this food blogging niche. We said our goodbyes and pleasantries and paid Php 1900 for our meal. His help actually loaded up 5 trays. 2 chicken trays, 2 rice trays, and final tray for all the sauces.
I couldn’t drive fast nor slow for fear the some of the oh-so-precious sauce drippings would spill in the car. But the smell alone was driving us crazy in the car. It smelled like Singapore. I suddenly missed Singapore. The Nuffies and everything.
Chicken Rice
Hainanese Chicken Rice
We quickly unloaded everything at our office. I decided to style the food a bit, (but by this time I was really holding back) and take some pictures for this blog. I proud myself on taking nice food photos. Usually I am able to control myself when it comes to food but for some reason I was too eager. After 2-3 shots, I sat down and ate. I left it to my other co-workers to take other pictures of the food.
I took my first bite.
I took another.
And it just kept going.
I was in heaven. Goodbye diet. I promised to run tom even more than what I had originally committed to do. I am considering 15km because I ate so much.
Stevies is a success. A bit too much lime in the chili but I love it nonetheless. I see myself dreaming about chicken rice for the next few weeks as I try to forget the aroma and scent of the chicken.
Thanks Patty for the Photo. I couldn't resist anymore.
Next Challenge: Find Bak Khut Tey
You can contact Stevie at 0906-508-4155
Wow, I want to taste that too! Kwinento nina Patty at Maki sa akin. Woot!
Parang ang sarap, kaso bakit ang mahal! Haha.
I’m drooling right now. Takes me back to JTA SIngapore days.
Ohgosh that looks so so good! Last time I ate good Hainanese chicken was in a food court in Malaysia. I have to meet this Stevie guy and taste his chicken! Haha.
Just order from him! But make sure madami kayo! (Like 4-5 people!) His chicken’s are really big and they are really good. Dare I say the best one in the Philippines? I haven’t tasted anything similar and Chicken Rice in Boon Tong Kee is pretty damn good. Thanks for visiting! I checked your blog out too! I’ll link you here as well.
This made me drool all over again… when do I get to touch tongue with Stevie’s HCR? I’ve convinced my officemates to order so we’re ordering this week or next.
I called and planned to order for Sunday to bring to Tagaytay but his earliest pick-up is at 10am. Sayang.
[...] of my blog, I was alerted to an increase of Hainanese Chicken Rice (HCR) postings and buzz on Filipino food blogs. Interestingly enough, it was not about the making of it but where to get the best one [...]
[...] Since the Foodie club has been on hiatus lately, some of the founding members decided to just have a quaint little lunch at Richard‘s place. We decided on having a time old tested classic of HCR. (Hainanese Chicken Rice for the uninitiated. Check out old post here) [...]
hi, love reading ur blogs and got really curious when u mentioned using GPS to track down Stevie’s house, i’ve been wanting to have one coz my driver always gets lost, can u tell me how i can get hold of a GPS that will work in the streets of Manila, thanks a lot. Happy eating.
Hi Dianne, I just use my Blackberry and google maps. It tracks real time where i at using a blue dot. But if you’re driver gets lost, just take buendia, turn right at jupiter. then right at the corner gate. ask the guard where Zodiac is at.
Hi, your ordered two sets? One set is good for how many people?
Thanks!
Yup we did. We were really hungry though! One set is good already for 4-5 people. Depends on how lakas the people you are with eat!
san ba yan banda sa cubao pumunta ako kanina sa cubao hinanap hanap ko di ko makita.may nabasa ako sa column ni sandy daza sa may ali mall daw pero wala naman.I end up sa malate na lang.
Hi Kilroy, wala sa ali mall. Its on the other side. Malapit sa Shopwise.
Easter 2011 for my family was special. We celebrated our lunch with Stevie’s HCR. It was the perfect lunch, authentic, simple but very good. We now have a name for great HCR, Stevie’s.