Joanna James
Asian cuisines, like the Filipino one, sometimes raises eyebrows. That is the case with the famous Balut in the Philippines anyway. Sometimes you need to challenge yourself to taste some of these dishes. However, once you do, you are absolutely hooked. They aren't famous for no reason you know! Here are some of the appetising foods you'll ever taste when in the Philippines.
This dish needs no introduction, it is a well-loved dish among the Filipinos. Adobo is a Spanish word which actually means marinade. So expect some rich marinade that is full of flavour. Typically, the chicken, or sometimes pork, is marinated with vinegar and soy sauce. Other relevant ingredients are also added which largely depends on the recipe that you choose to follow. If you're around Manila, when on your hunt for Filipino food, and looking for hotel/apartment in Manila, then you can check out the Somerset Olympia Makati for a good experience.
This dish does concern some tourists, and many don't like trying it. But ones that do, can't have enough of it. The Balut is a street food, consumed as a snack and is basically duck embryo. The duck embryo is first thoroughly boiled, and enough vinegar added for flavour. Besides, the embryo needs to be at least 17 days old for it to be edible, if not, the embryo develops claws, feathers and beaks, which isn't something you want to bite into. This one might raise eyebrows, but well if it's one of the famous Filipino street food, there's got to be something exquisite about it, right?
Kare Kare is an oxtail stew which has lots of veggies added to it, making it both delicious and healthy. The stew is flavoured by adding onions, garlic, roasted and ground peanuts. Sometimes peanut butter is added instead, which saves time and effort. The stew is then served with bagoong- shrimp sauce- and garlic. To boot, chilli and Filipino lime juice are also added to enhance flavour.
Would you like to taste some Filipino salad? Then why not give Kinilaw a try? If you're up for the challenge that is, the Kinilaw is basically a salad made out of raw fish. You're in Asia, you should expect this. The salad is dressed with some vinegar and calamansi which is basically an acidic Filipino lime juice and the dressing is known to 'cook' the fish. However, some other ingredients are added too, which include onions, ginger, garlic, chilli, and pepper. Wonder how it got its name? Well, the Kinilaw was derived from the word 'Kilaw' which actually means 'eaten fresh'. Pretty apt, isn't it?
We mentioned some food, but how about drinks? Try the Buko. Be warned, the Buko is just addictive and you'll be grabbing one wherever you go. This is basically the Filipino coconut water. First, drink the juice and then get the outer shell cut open to taste the succulent sweet flesh inside. And you're hooked!
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a pas...
