It starts with a mini baguette that’s toasted, split in half and stuffed with meatballs coated generously with tomato sauce. A thick slice of mozzarella is arranged on top of each meatball before the whole package goes into the oven just long enough to melt the cheese and heat the meatballs through. Tiny basil leaves are dropped in before the meatball sandwich is served.
Boiled pork ribs, sweet corn, bok choy, potatoes and squash make a chunky soup that, in the Philippines, it is eaten as a main course with rice. Best enjoyed with a mixture of fish sauce and calamansi juice for dipping.
Shrimps, sausage meat, glass noodles, shallots, tomatoes, Thai basil and cilantro are tossed in a dressing made with galangal, kaffir lime and its leaves, lemongrass, cilantro roots, chilies and palm sugar.