Traveling and Food

Traveling is something that I really enjoy. I've been to Cebu, Davao, Bicol and Cagayan De Oro more than once. I've also been to Dipolog, Iligan, Ormoc, Bacolod, Iloilo, Guimaras and Boracay. My wife and I have been in and out Puerto Galera for a good number of years before we got married. My family and I used to go to Baguio every summer and after more than 5 years, we took a vacation there and we'll be going there this coming December.

Jan and I would like to go to at least one vacation spot in the Philippines every year with our kids. We want to show them how beautiful our country is. We want them to experience how it is in other places outside Manila. We want them to learn about their Filipino heritage . . . . and Filipino food.

I always make it a point to eat the local cuisine whenever I travel. Why eat at a fast food joint that's also available in Manila anyway?

Here are some of the things that I've learned about local food from my travels:

1) That Dipolog has the longest boulevard in the country. People hang out there at night, drinking beer and eating TEMPURA as appetizer. Fish tempura, squid tempura, etc, etc... Also, try their Spanish sardines . . . masarap!

2) Ormoc, which is about an hour away from Cebu by ferry, has some of the most sweetest pineapples that I've ever tasted.

3) Davao is littered with eat all you can buffets and you'll only be spending P99 - P150 / head. Sulit talaga!

4) While Cebu is known for its danggit and lechon cebu, one of the best ribs that I've tasted is in Casa Verde (there's a new branch at the Ayala Mall Cebu).

5) I love the pastel in Cagayan De Oro, where the music scene is very much alive..

6) You haven't tasted chicken inasal until you've had one in Bacolod.

7) In Ormoc, there's a line of lechon vendors at the wet market and they'll give you a free taste of their "lechon balat". I swear, the next time I'll got there, I'll taste every one of those freebies while munching on a cup of rice hehe. By the way, they don't use lechon sauce in there (just like in most provinces down south), just plain vinegar or vinegar with soy sauce as sawsawan.

8) They make Durian pie in Iligan. I tasted it once. I think I like the candy better (sorry Durian lovers). I heard that the kasoy there is good, though I didn't have the chance to buy some.

9) In Bicol, Laing is different from Pinangat. I like them both, though (not the spicy kind).

10) Aside from buying piyaya, never leave Iloilo without tasting their La Paz Batchoy. NEVER.

Parang nagutom yata ako. Have a nice long weekend everyone!

:-)