The best way I can describe the food is homey (probably because it was a big part of my childhood), rustic, and nutritious; containing fresh ingredients and a mostly simple preparation. I attribute these characteristics to the food primarily because of the influence of the land and surroundings of the Philippines-- aka there's lots of fish, rice, and fresh fruits and veggies. So the locals subsist on the land/sea- like most other cultures. Okay, at the risk of sounding like a cheesy school essay, I will stop my tangent now.
Max's was great! First of all, the service was great and the native Filipino wait staff were so friendly; apparently, and I am not making this up, (I swear!), Filipinos are known to be friendly people and I would tend to agree. Secondly, I was dying to go to Max's because my family had already gone there and raved about the chicken. "Oh my goodness you MUST try the chicken!" "It's so good and crunchy!" Needless to say, I had to order it. My meal was a combination, "Max's Platter:" Max's chicken, Pancit Canton, and garlic fried rice. Ahhh, the ubiquitous rice! It is just not a Filipinomeal without the rice. My mom ordered the soup, Sinigang sa Miso and my sister ordered another combination, "Max's Budget:" Max's chicken, Lumpia, and rice. For dessert, my mom and I ordered the Halo Halo. Because many people are unfamiliar with Filipino fare, I will describe each component one by one. It is worth it, trust me!
It only seems appropriate to start with the much raved about chicken. Max's apparently does not like to leave any stomach full, so as a result, they serve you a quarter chicken and, of course, mounds of rice. The chicken was so simply prepared, I was actually stunned. To be honest, I was expecting something like Paula Deen would make: pounds of buttermilk and flour drowning the chicken so you can't find it. But this poultry would put that to shame, as Max's chicken was delicately seasoned and fried. As a matter of fact, it was quite reminiscent of my mom's Sunday roast. I was in my happy place. It was remarkably moist all over and just so darn tasty! Absolutely incredible! I now know what everyone was making such a fuss over and completely agree with them.
The Pancit Canton that accompanied my meal was not as memorable as the chicken, but also quite tasty. Basically Pancit is Philippines' answer to China's, lo mein. Pancit is a noodle dish with assorted vegetables, pork, and shrimp all stir fried to make a lovely mixture. Canton means egg noodles, and mine were a bit over done which I was disappointed about because, to me, that is the best part. However, a dash of lemon or lime juice surely takes the dish to new heights and made me forget about the sogginess. I will say, though, my mom's Pancit still reigns as number 1 in my book.
My sister's combination included the Lumpia. It is another food that many will find familiar in some aspects: the Filipino version of spring rolls. Max's was filled with the traditional pork and various vegetables. The Lumpia was nicely fried and the filling was good, but of course I was subconsciously comparing it to my mom's. Although the crunchiness was impressive, it does not stand a chance against my mom's! Did I mention she is a phenomenal cook??
The Sinigang sa Miso is a tamarind flavored soup. Well, actually, that is just Sinigang; broth and then you choose what protein you would like. The 'sa Miso' means milkfish, a flaky, mild fish. Sinigang is sour, which happens to be a very popular taste found in Filipino fare. The soup is also chock- full of vegetables. This was probably the most 'exotic' (depending on how you view food) food we ordered, as there was a whole fish in the soup. Some westerners may view this as unconventional, when the reality is, most of the world eats the WHOLE fish and it is actually kind of cool seeing the whole thing there in the bowl. I have had Sinigang before and while it was tasty, it was a bit too tangy for me to help finish off. Now, you remember how I said Max's does not like to leave you hungry? Well, this soup was enormous. There was enough for three of us and leftovers.
Finally, the Halo Halo topped off our meal, and even though I was full, I am so happy I had it. First of all, it has been one of my all time favorite desserts which literally means, "Mix-Mix." When it is made at home, it is more fun and it can be made with more of one ingredient than another, but Max's rendition was still just as good. It is a concoction filled with, among many things, shaved ice, macapuno (young coconut), langka (jackfruit), ube (purple yam), caramel custard, tapioca, beans... Now, your eyes are probably huge and you are amazed that all of that can be in a dessert. And I know what you are thinking. "Beans?! How absurd!" But, trust me people, this is why it is so exciting and enlivening to try another cuisine. The beans in the Halo Halo practically MAKE the dessert. The flavor combination and endless textures are out of this world and to die for, especially if you have a sweet tooth.
Max's was certainly a taste of home. Better yet, it was a lingering delight on my palate, leaving me wanting more Filipino food!
P.S. These pictures do not do the food justice, but I hope you enjoy them anyway!
