Midnight Express: Try China’s radish cake and explore Quezon City’s ‘eat street’

Midnight Express on GMA 7's Saksi took a bite of China's radish cake and started exploring Quezon City's famous "Eat Street."

China's radish cake



Labanos or radish is more popular as an appetizer. But in one Chinese dimsum dish, this vegetable takes center stage.

According to Darwin Ngo of Lutong Macau, the radish cake or lo bak gou originated from Canton province. The main ingredient radish is mixed with hebi shrimp or dried shrimp and rice flour and turned into a dough. It's then steamed and deep-fried. The result? A crispy-on-the-outside-chewy-on-the-inside, bite-sized Chinese dish!

The radish cake is traditionally served during Chinese New Year because the dish symbolizes good fortune. But these days, it's also become a main part of the menu of several Chinese restaurants.

So what does host Mikael Daez have to say about the dish? "Parang nagkumpol-kumpol na 'yung mga labanos," he said. "Para sa akin mas magaan siya kaysa mga hash brown."

Exploring Maginhawa Street



For foodies in Metro Manila, there is a gustatory haven they can visit right in the middle of the concrete jungle. It's the three-kilometer-long Maginhawa Street in Sikatuna Village, Quezon City, near University of the Philippines-Diliman.

Restaurants began sprouting along the street in the mid-2000s. Now, it is home to around 40 establishments and counting.

The first stop for Mikael and his crew is Cocina Juan, which opened its doors in 2006.

It features cuisine from Central America and features dishes that rely heavily on ingredients such as tomatoes, corn, beans, and chili peppers.

For more on Maginhawa Street's restaurants, watch out for Midnight Express on GMA 7's Saksi this week! — Trisha Macas/BM, GMA News