Putien: Putting the Spotlight on Putian Cuisine
It’s not surprising that Chinese food is deemed as comfort food in our household, thanks to our Filipino-Chinese heritage. However, like most Fil-Chi’s, what we define as Chinese food would usually be Cantonese in origin, especially since this is the type of Chinese food predominantly served in Manila.
However, Michelin-starred Putien attempts to introduce Putian cuisine by opening a sleek-looking dolled-up restaurant located right beside its sister-company, Niu in The Podium.
BIAN ROU SOUP (P138/bowl)
Before the lockdown started, Putien effortlessly attracted long queues of diners. We actually had to give up on our first couple of attempts as the wait was gruelingly long for Sunday lunches.
DEEP FRIED EGGPLANT DRESSED WITH PORK FLOSS (P288)
Family-style dining is typically easier in Putien compared to solo dining, as most of its dishes are meant for sharing.
PUTIEN SWEET AND SOUR PORK WITH LYCHEES (P388)
Its menu consists of a lot of unfamiliar items so the restaurant made sure that each menu item came accompanied with a mouthwatering photo. Fret not though, as the menu still features familiar items such as Sweet and Sour Pork with Lychees and Stir-Fried Chili Clams. I’ve actually tried their Sweet and Sour Pork twice. The first time I’ve had it, each piece was fried to perfection! Each piece was coated in a sticky glaze which was wonderfully sweetened by lychees. I enjoyed it so much that I made sure to order it in my second visit. Unfortunately, the crunch factor disappointingly diminished the second time I had it.
STIR FRIED CHILI CLAMS (388)
Putien's Stir Fried Chili Clams came in a thick savory gravy and boasted of sweet tasting fresh clams. You’d definitely want some rice to drown their chili sauce with so I recommend you also order the Claypot Rice with Seaweed (P368). On its own, the rice is actually quite flavorful; owing to the fact that it’s been cooked with sweet oysters.
PUTIEN LOR MEE (P558)
We made it a point to try its best-selling dishes such as the Bian Rou Soup and the Putien Lor Mee. The Bian Rou Soup came in solo bowls of clear sour soup. I do appreciate sour soup, such as our the Filipino Sinigang or the Thai Tom Yum; however, the blend of the soup just didn’t work for me. It came with seaweed, adorably cute baby wantons and cilantro; items which I like to eat, but somehow they just didn’t mesh together.
If you want a hearty soup, the Lor Mee is an immensely yummier choice; which also guarantees value for your money. We ordered the large size and our family of five had enough to spare for leftovers. It’s a milky broth which heavily relies on the sweet seafood essence brought about by the clams and shrimps it uses. It’s honestly a perfect rainy day food.
Pair it with Putien’s meatier dishes such as its Deep Fried Eggplant Dressed with Pork Floss! A small order of this already uses a platter to house its crunchy eggplant bites; so I can’t imagine what the large order looks like! The eggplant may be the main attraction of this dish; but you can’t even see them as they’re lovingly buried in a mountain of crunchy pork floss.
CHILI CRAB (P290/100g)
As Putien is a Singaporean brand, you’d also be able to find Singaporean staples in its menu such as the Chili Crab and the Sambal Kangkong. Its Chili Crab was just okay. The meat was freshly sweet and juicy; but the sauce, as expected, cannot be compared to those served in Tao Yuan, for instance. It’s a nice addition to the family meal but you can easily switch it up with cheaper items from their menu and still be satisfied.
SAMBAL KANGKONG (P288)
The Sambal Kangkong makes for a perfect addition to the meal. It delivers on crunch, and packs on the saltiness to give balance its more subtle tasting noodle dishes.
SHREDDED PORK WITH SESAME BUN (P98/bun)
One of my favorite items on the menu would have to be the Shredded Pork with Sesame Bun. Warning: the sesame buns can get a bit greasy, but you’d easily forget about this fact once you bite into its well-marinated pork strips. It’s a smoky blend of sweet, salty and spicy tones which easily appeals to everyone. Its crunchy onions help give another layer of texture to this already exciting dish.
FRIED HUNG HWA BEE HOON (P368)
My favorite item on the menu would be the Fried Hung Hwa Bee Hoon. The thread-like noodles may look deceptively fragile; but they are immensely filling. This stir-fried noodle dish is relatively bland when compared to the other flavor heavyweights on the menu but it serves as the perfect receptacle for Putien’s Spice Mum Chili Sauce, which is why, I absolutely adore it!
SPICE MUM CHILI SAUCE
The chili sauce is actually served complimentary on each table; but it’s no surprise that it has gained enough traction for the restaurant to actually retail the chili sauce in jars! In contrast to the garlicky chili sauce we typically pair our dimsums with, Putien’s signature chili is actually closer to the Thai chili sauce; which makes use of a sour vinegar base, loaded with chilis and sweetened just a tad bit to perfection. Honestly, a spoonful of their magical chili sauce was all it took for me to fall in love with Putien!
Putien
Level 5, The Podium, ADB Avenue, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City
Dates of Visit: January 11, 2020 and February 9, 2020 with Wilson Chua, Lily Chua, Jared Chua and Jem Chua
