Being an urban lifestyle blogger, it is my responsibility to be well informed and do research on what’s the newest happening in the lifestyle industry, including travel and food!
And I was so happy that our friends from Lonely Planet Foodie never fails to keep us updated when they recently sent me a complimentary copy of their newest book release, the “Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Eat list” a new food-based travel guide which features the TOP 500 best food experiences in the world.
And of course, as a Philippine-based blogger, I was so excited to see that they included the Philippines in the list!
Are you excited to know which local Filipino foods are included?
Top No. 164 – Sisig
Sizzling snout-to-tail sisig on a steamy Filipino night
Image: Chino Pantua, sisig from Aling Lucing Sisig in Angeles City
Filipino food doesn’t get a lot of play internationally compared with other Asian cuisines. And that’s unfortunate, as anyone who has tasted sisig knows. The magic of this salty and tart pork dish is the mix of textures – crispy fried skin, sticky cartilaginous ears, silky smooth liver. Ears? Liver? Trust us. To make the dish, pig jowls and ears are finely chopped, simmered, and then fried, along with fatty bits of pork belly and unctuous liver. It’s all seasoned with chilies and the tart juice of the calamansi, a small round citrus fruit that’s green on the outside and golden on the inside, before being brought to the table with a flourish, on a sizzling cast iron plate. It’s a killer complement to a cold beer on a hot Luzon night.
Where to find it?
Try the Aling Lucing Sisig, in Angeles City (corner G. Valdez and Agapito del Rosario Streets) where Lucia Cunanan, “the Sisig Queen”, made the dish famous.
Try the Aling Lucing Sisig, in Angeles City (corner G. Valdez and Agapito del Rosario Streets) where Lucia Cunanan, “the Sisig Queen”, made the dish famous.
Top No. 188 – Halo Halo
Cool off with crazy halo-halo in hot, hot Manila
In the depleting heat of a Filipino summer, there’s nothing more refreshing than the wacky, Willy Wonka-style shaved-ice dessert, halo-halo. This colorful concoction is a combo of sweet red and white beans, jackfruit, coconut, sago, tapioca, sweet plantains, banana, and gulaman (a type of agar jelly), covered in shaved ice and finished with sweet evaporated milk. Topped with a scoop of purple yam ice cream, it’s an ideal distraction from the tropical heat.
Where to find it?
At the popular Chowking chain of restaurants, all over Metro Manila and the entire Philippines.
Top No. 230 – Adobo
For a less-spicy stew, plump for home-cooked adobo in a Filipino abode
Image: kawalingpinoy.com (for illustration only)
A thick, dark stew, seasoned with only a few spices, might not be what you’re expecting from Filipino cuisine; Southeast Asian food has a reputation for multi-ingredient curry pastes and dishes stacked with spices. But there’s a hint in the word adobo, from the Spanish ‘adobar’, meaning to marinate, so perhaps it’s the Spanish influence that inspired this succulent dish. Or perhaps the Spanish just applied the name to the dish when they saw how it was cooked. Either way, it’s a national culinary icon that every household knows how to prepare. Traditionally the meal is made with belly and shoulder of pork, marinated in vinegar, soy, garlic, ginger, bay leaf, and black peppercorns, before being simmered gently. It’s served with fluffy white rice. The best way to taste authentic pork adobo is at home because every home cook in the Philippines is proud of their adobo recipe and preparation, so to taste the best, you’re going to need to snap an invite to a Filipino mate’s house. Failing that, any good restaurant in Manila will offer a more-than-passable version.
Where to get it?
Try it from Aristocrat Restaurant, 432 San Andreas Street, Malate, Manila, or to any Aristocrat branches in the Metro.
The culinary recommendations in the book came from experts, including world-renowned chefs like Elena Arzak and Eric Ripert, television chef Andrew Zimmern, as well as BBC MasterChef judge Monica Galetti. Staff and contributors around the world were also asked to nominate their favorites, which were then narrowed down to the final 500.
Where to grab this book?
You can get it from any Fully Booked stores at Php1,799.00 and online at US $29.99 / UK 24.99
Have you tried our famous Filipino cuisine? I would love to read your thoughts below!
I'll definately remmeber this down... use this as guide, when i visit ph... time to find foodie..
ReplyDeleteOh yum, I 've never had Filipino food and looks really good also this is new to me when it comes to ph foods and all.
ReplyDeleteYou should try!
DeleteI went to Cebu many years ago and fallen in love with how Filipino cooked the pork. You are right, Filipino food doen't get a lot of share internationally compared with other Asian cuisines, such as Thai and Vietnamese or Japanese and Korean. I am glad to learn more your Filipino cuisine here and would wanted to try Sizzling snout-to-tail out.
ReplyDeleteYeah, because you know why? Because many Filipino per se doesn't initiate or patronize Filipino foods because these are very NORMAL to us. They rather rave for overseas kind of food (i'm guilty of this!)
DeleteSisig and Halo-halo! huhuhu. I shouldn't read stuff like this in this hour. Sudden cravings for two of my favorites! Still, I am glad that my faves made it on the list!
ReplyDeleteI honestly need halo-halo now! It's heaven sent to us :D
DeleteThis dish is looking certainly tempting. I would love to try it as I am a foodie.
ReplyDeleteOh try this no-brainer adobo :D And you can add your original spice to it.
DeleteHow cool is this!!! I love trying new and different foods, and this book looks really nice! I live collecting cookbooks and recipes!
ReplyDeleteNice Jessi!
DeleteAlthough this book is no-recipe book, but a travel and foodie guide, it is always awesome to discover what every places has to offer.
I have never tried Filipino food before, but it looks amazing. The recipes look fairly easy!
ReplyDeleteI agree! You should visit any Filipino restaurants near you!
DeleteI love this for sure! These are all my favorite food!!!!
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome Jayne :D
DeleteThe Halo Halo sounds very interesting. I am a vegetarian, so the others don't appeal to me, although when my husband travels, he always eats some crazy foods, like guinea pig in Ecuador and all kinds of bugs and eyeballs in China :)
ReplyDeleteOh I bet you will enjoy our original halo-halo!
DeleteI would say Sisig is the best among them! I highly recommend the Sisig in Lechon Haus. For Halohalo, I like Razon's because the shaved ice tastes so good. For Adobo, I haven't tried Aristocrat's - I think it's too expensive there.
ReplyDeleteAt Aristocrat's it reasonable. I love dining in that place whenever I'm in Manila area.
DeleteI have not tried Filipo foods before but how wonderful hat they have been featured in lonely planet.
ReplyDeleteat least we got 3 spots!
DeleteI never been to the Phillipines but would love to visit one day. I have only had Phillipino food in the US from Phillipino friends. One day.
ReplyDeleteAsk your Pinoy friend about halo-halo!
DeleteI've never tried Filipino food, but it definitely looks very interesting. I do love pork and I just can't wait to try the dishes you presented in this post. They look really yummy! :)
ReplyDeleteThe interesting about Filipino food, is that you can do the same dish by using alternatives like, instead of using pork for adobo, you can use chicken, duck, or even make a veggie adobo!
DeleteWhat a great to show us about the culinary traditions of the Filipinas! Love it!
ReplyDeleteOh thank you babe! I will share others soon!
DeleteI love halo halo!! No wonder it made it's way to the list.
ReplyDeleteHehehe, I love its milky sweet and chill!
DeleteLooks like great food collection I need to try Halo Halo. I love Filipinio cuisine though.
ReplyDeleteMixed every sweets and desserts you have and add ice and milk, then you have your own version.
DeleteThis is such a treat to see these different places offering such cuisines.
ReplyDeleteYeah, and thanks for visiting!
DeleteThat is so awesome you were able to get a complimentary copy of their book. I've never had Filipino food before but all these meals look so delicious, I would love to try them one day.
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting Jesusa!
Deletethanks Alot for sharing !!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome and thank you for visiting!
DeleteOhh you made me hungry! haha I think I can cheat on my diet today haha
ReplyDeletehahaha hope you can try our halo-halo!
DeleteYou're right you don't hear much about Pjilipino food compared to Korean, Thai or Chinese food. Which is a shame, the only thing I am really familiar with is adobo.
ReplyDeleteWell to be frank, Filipinos per se doesn't believe for our own dishes. We still need assurance from others that we can do. Not confident in the kitchen.
DeleteThis looks like a great book. Those dishes look delicious. They are similar to the Hispanic dishes.
ReplyDeleteI agree, that is because we have colonized for 300-years by the Spanish regime.
DeleteLooks interesting and tasty.
ReplyDeleteThank you dear!
DeleteAh, this is the kind of list that helps me in my food quest. Not yet visit PH but will definitely come in handy when I do fly there!! Wait for me!
ReplyDeleteHahaha that will be awesome Emily!
DeleteI never really into Filipino cuisine before! But the food you listed here does look tempting =)
ReplyDeleteOur halo-halo is something that you will enjoy! It's quite similar to bingsu.
DeleteI really love Filipino Cuisine. This blog post is really nice! Totally agree with your ideas :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Jhoan!
DeleteI really love Filipino Cuisine! These dishes look so appetizing. Love you shots too! Thanks for the nice share :
ReplyDeleteWhich Filipino food is your most favorite?
Delete