No, I’m not making up words again. Cabalen is Filipino restaurant we chanced upon. And thank the universe for that favor. We had to go in for many reasons: My belacan (fermented prawn paste, yum) withdrawal, our dual adobo craving, leaving behind the traffic and tourists on Bay Street.

Once inside, we knew it would be good because it was filled with  Filipinos and Filipinas. Yay. Then the food came and Davidson goes,”Oh, I remember that smell.” The string beans, pumpkin and prawns were sauteed in bagoong alamang, the flip shrimp paste. The adobo pork was nice and fatty. Aaahhhh, bliss.