Based in Manila, Philippines, Dessert Comes First is a chronicle of the food-obsessed food writer, Lori Baltazar. This website is all about desserts, restaurants, coffee, and the pleasures of homebaking. Read more about me Sandwiches For Sustenance
Wed, June24th of 2009
11:06 am
It’s more than just slapping together two slices of bread.
As a pudgy kid growing up, I wasn’t allowed to eat rice. My dad mistakenly believed that it would contribute to my ballooning appearance so it was bread only for me, and it had to be toasted because toasted bread had fewer calories. (Oy, the things we believed then!) I still remember the times I got “busted” for eating rice when I thought he wouldn’t catch me. All in all, I was only “legally” allowed to eat rice regularly at meals when I was 11 or 12.
It’s this somewhat strange beginning that prepared me for my lifelong preference for bread. Sure, I can put away two cups of rice with that crispy pata and I can eat risotto until it starts to come out of my nose, but in the end, I still choose bread. Freshly baked bread warm with steam and slathered in butter is what I want to eat when I’m on my deathbed.
So Good I’ll Jump Off A Cliff
So it’s no surprise that I like sandwiches: simple stuff like egg salad drowning in Miracle Whip on soggy supermarket bread, the type I squish with my fingertips as I take a bite; to fancier stuff like UCC’s Cliffhanger (P285). Available only at selected branches, this sandwich is an upmarket Monte Cristo, that clubhouse-slash-ham-and-cheese classic elevated to utopia because it’s dipped into beaten egg and bread crumbs and then deep-fried.
The Cliffhanger has all that but more stuff makes merry with the addition of cheese slices and a plain omelet ensconced in buttered bread. Then, instead of bread crumbs, the whole lot is dredged in panko, those deafeningly crispy Japanese bread crumbs, before meeting the scorching embrace of hot, hot oil. There it is, this three-tier Titanic teetering with the titillation that good fried food brings. Not at all oily because it’s fried in clean oil at a steady temperature, it’s impossible to just dig in with a knife and fork, mouth agape. I sit briefly in mute admiration as I always do, paying homage to the temple of fried, doughy things. And when I finally take a bite, it’s a cascade of crunchy, soft, and squishy. Admittedly, this sandwich is more of an exercise in texture since its ingredients are rather bland – there is no single topnote of flavor. Easy to fix. Salt,please.
UCC
See website for store locations.
Similar Sandwich: Aristocrat’s Cliffhouse.
Charlie’s Cheesesteak
Charlie’s has a problem with consistency. At all hours of the day, swarms gather upon this dive of a place not minding in the least the occasional stray spray from its car-wash neighbor. Here, reading the menu is akin to reading a meat maniac’s manifesto – pulled pork sandwiches, Black Angus burgers, and ah, those cheesesteaks. Cue the stomach growl and watering mouth. If you can stand the long line and can deal with the risk of not sitting in the air-conditioned space, the efficient, patient staff and relatively quick service makes it all worthwhile. I only wish that I could count on getting the same thing on every visit.
For instance, the first time I went to Charlie’s, the cheesesteak (P220/P380) was everything people had told me it’d be: bread amply stuffed with juicy meat, liquid cheese sauce dripping down my arms, the ka-pow of whole jalapeños, an utterly satisfying five-napkin affair. Succeeding visits to Charlie’s with various friends and my Bin in tow, revealed cheesesteaks that should’ve been renamed cheese and jalapeño sandwiches with the beef serving as mere afterthought. Disgusting stuff. In cases like these, thank goodness for the pulled pork sandwiches, the fish and chips, and the buffalo wings. Even the Black Angus burgers vacillate between being just barely cooked to spot-on. I don’t like playing guessing games with my food.
Charlie’s Grind & Grill
16 East Capitol Drive, Bo. Kapitolyo, Pasig
11 am – 2am, Monday-Sunday
Similar Sandwich: Elbert’s Cheesesteak
Flying Pig’s Fried Oyster and Calamari Po Boy
I’m reading a culinary mystery set in New Orleans and my mind is mad with visions of food like muffulettas, beignets and chicory coffee, and ah, po’boys. A contraction for poor boy, it’s also known as a sub or hoagie, essentially a long sandwich (at least 6-inches) made with Italian or French loaves sliced in the middle and heaped with meat, cheese, veggies, and other delicious what-have-yous.
The po’boy (P285) at Flying Pig has breaded, fried oysters, large squid rings and what I call faux coleslaw (sizable cabbage and carrot strips blanketed with Thousand Island dressing). This is no “stuffed” sandwich since it can obviously do with more filling but it suffices because it’s a unique offering in Manila and is fairly priced. I like them finger-sized fries too.
Because the Flying Pig specializes in barbeque, I like the baby back ribs on my hungrier days; which taste a lot like the ribs at Texas Smoke ‘Em, yet another restaurant in the eating empire owned by Raymund Magdaluyo.
The Flying Pig
Level 1, Eastwood Mall, Eastwood City Libis, Quezon City
900.0886
Other super sandwiches:
Pancake Sandwich at Pancake House
Pressing The Panini
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I love sandwiches/ burgers!! I’d prefer it anytime over rice meals!
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Comment by u8mypinkcookies — June 24, 2009 @ 9:17 pm
Speaking of Sandwiches, Sango is open at the Powerplant Mall, Rockwell already! w00t!
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u8mypinkcookies Reply:
June 25th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
really?! where in rockwell? that’s good news!!! still kinda far from me, but good thing they are having more branches!! hope they put up one in the fort.
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Comment by Aina Luna — June 24, 2009 @ 10:39 pm
My Charlie’s Angus burger was served after 45 minutes waiting. We are the only 2 customers at that time around 4PM and the servers are just sitting at the vacant seats. This happened two weeks ago. We followed up three times for our order until another group came. The group’s orders were served after 10 minutes. I have to ask the server to check with the cook if our order slip is still there. Unfortunately, they misplaced it. When my Angus burger was served, my taste buds already became numb, maybe because my appetite to eat it was already gone. I am not sure if I will eat there again due to bad service.
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Comment by Hilda — June 25, 2009 @ 10:33 pm
It’s the bread that makes or breaks a sandwich, IMO. I appreciate that UCC uses Japanese (or Japanese style) bread. Another favorite of mine is the 10-hour roast beef sandwich at Bizu—they sure don’t skimp on the meat there!
And I know it’s quite a long shot, but I’ve been wishing for a muffuletta here in Manila if I can’t get to New Orleans!
PS: And thank you for addressing that misconception that rice makes one fat and that bread is a better substitute! Sadly, it’s still a pretty prevalent belief held by many.
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Comment by Victoria — June 26, 2009 @ 8:54 am
lori, your writing and photos always make me drool! your posts are very effective in making me go out to try the foods and see if i get the same *nirvanic* experience as you do when you eat at your featured restaurants.
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Comment by Jenny — June 30, 2009 @ 3:35 pm
had the same experience with Charlie’s. one time the service was soo bad, we had to deal with a ummm an order taker who seems like his mind was million miles away.. the next time we went there everything was out of stock (no cheesesteak,etc.).. buffalo wings were good though.but the bleu cheese dip tasted more like mayonaise..oh well, hubby enjoyed the angus burger.
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Comment by beekeeper — June 30, 2009 @ 9:49 pm
I ate in Charlie’s and I don’t think I’ll ever come back. It took 1 hour for our orders to be completed (2 fries, 1 cheesesteak sandwich and 1 burger). We complained to the owner standing outside and… she blamed the cooks! Said she was watching them nga since they were taking too long. Then she gave a half-hearted apology. The burger was really great but our sucky experience outweighs the taste.
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Comment by miann — July 2, 2009 @ 2:59 pm
ucc’s cliffhanger is divine! i wont bother going to charlie’s if service is that bad.
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Comment by magy — July 2, 2009 @ 3:19 pm
Hey Lori, I started reading your articles last night. As soon as I woke up I knew I had to head to the nearest UCC to get me a bite of the Cliffhanger for lunch. I wasn’t disappointed it was the calorie bomb I was expecting it to be. However I like my food with a kick and had to douse mine with Tabasco sauce.
A must try would be “The Splendido Tower Sandwich” over at Splendido Taal Golf Club. The Ham and Cheese inside provides enough saltiness for the much needed kick. =)
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Comment by Ranee — July 3, 2009 @ 3:04 pm
The first time I went to Charlie’s I had a take-out regular cheesesteak which was loaded with meat and sent me to beef heaven. I loved it so much I went back there with my boyfriend and this time ordered the large (while he ordered the regular)
When we opened up our sandwiches, the amount of meat in each one was virtually THE SAME, despite my paying nearly P100 more for the larger sandwich. And the meat in both sandwiches was LESS than the first time I ordered.
I SAW other cheesesteaks being loaded with MOUNTAINS of meat, which is why I excitedly ordered a large, wanting to get the same experience. When I took the sandwich back to the counter and asked if this was really the amount of meat they gave for a large, they insisted that no mistake was made and yes, that was what it was.
Words cannot describe how freaking OFFENDED I was at that. I freaking REMEMBER how much meat I got last time, and I’ve SEEN how much mean they put in their sandwiches. And they try to hoodwink me by saying that that’s the way it’s been ever since?!? Implying that I’m stupid AND blind, my blood pressure rises every time I think about it.
Being shortchanged is one thing, having my intelligence insulted pushed it over the edge for me. I am NEVER going back to Charlie’s, and I tell everyone I know about my experience there.
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Comment by Ian — July 4, 2009 @ 10:44 pm
oh lori! your photos are making me crave for sandwiches!
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Comment by fran — July 9, 2009 @ 12:02 pm
wow…the photos are splendid…the sandwiches look great!
thanks for sharing~~~
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Comment by My Taste Heaven — July 9, 2009 @ 9:04 pm
I live in Kapitolyo near Charlie’s. They have good burgers (Angus, mushroom). I didn’t care much for the pulled pork (reminds me of asado siopao). It has gotten so much exposure and lines get long. For a good experience, try “non-rush” hours like weekdays before 9.
There have been untoward incidents also from cars parked farther along that street being burglarized. I guess it would be a good rule to follow that if you can’t park near, the wait will be lousy, the food will be mediocre and you are risking your belongings. Heheh.
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Comment by Risa — July 10, 2009 @ 4:02 pm