Igado

Made from pork tenderloin and innards, Igado is a popular Ilokano dish that makes you want to eat more rice. This dish does have its bitter notes, but the sweet-and-sour taste of the pork tenderloin, which is soaked in Sukang Iloko, soy sauce, and pepper, evens this out. Although the dish has no broth, it has a rich and thick texture, which is further enhanced by the crisp of red bell peppers and green peas.

Read More

Vigan Longganisa

Vigan Longganisa is Ilocos Region’s uniquely salty, and spicy sausage delicacy. While other regions produce sweet sausages, the locals use a variety of marinades, such as Sukang Iloko, that give Vigan Longganisa that distinct tang. Garlic is also abundantly used in creating this, and the resulting flavor makes Vigan Longganisa unique. Some parts of the region use thoroughly cleaned pork intestine as an alternative sausage case.

Read More

Sinanglaw

Most parts of the Ilocos Region have been heavily influenced by Spanish colonizers. One proof of this is the presence of Empanada in the local cuisine. Although it is Spanish in origin, the Ilokanos gave this fried dough snack a twist that is exclusively their own. Unlike its European variants, Ilokano Empanada uses sweetened dough, is flaky, and contains ground pork, diced potato, carrot, and peas as filling.

Read More

Pinapaitan

“Pait” is a Filipino word which means “bitter”, and “pinapaitan” roughly translates to “make bitter”. This name actually sums up the taste of this dish. Made with very thin strips tender beef, ox tripe, small intestines, heart, bile, and large green chilies, Dinakdakan will take you on a roller coaster of flavors. The bitterness can be toned down by squeezing some calamansi to the dish, and by, surprisingly, eating it while it’s very hot. Even those who are not bitter by heart can thoroughly enjoy this dish.

Read More

Dinakdakan

Ilokanos are people who do not like the sight of leftovers. This is why they turn any present raw ingredient into something impressive. This also applies to Dinakdakan, a sisig-like dish that is made from not just grilled pieces of pork, but grilled pieces of the often times discarded parts: pig face, ears, liver, tongue, and yes, brain. Afterwards, these smoky pieces are tossed into a mixture of calamansi, red onions, and sometimes ginger and red chili peppers. Mashed brain is used to add texture and cream to the dish. Modern takes on this dish use mayonnaise as an alternative to brain.

Read More

Tupig

Made from glutinous rice and coconut milk, Tupig can serve both as a snack and a dessert. Rice soaked with water is mixed with coconut milk, and then a small amount of mixture is wrapped in a strip of banana leaf like shanghai rolls. Afterwards, these are cooked in a grill. The result: a slightly charred and smoky taste of a sweet, coconut-ty and sticky dessert. The small amount of serving will actually leave you craving for more. Sadly, this exotic taste cannot be replicated by what is served in restaurants.

Read More

Dinengdeng

This dish is often interchanged with Pinakbet because of their similar method of cooking and appearance. Both are vegetable soup dishes, and both use a variety of vegetables. The difference between the two, however, is that while Pinakbet contains the more colorful “Bahay Kubo” veggies, Dinengdeng only tends to use green or yellow ones—malunggay leaves and fruits (the long pods), squash and squash blossoms, and alakon blossoms, to name a few. Tossing in grilled pieces of fish or other meat is also frequently done here.

Want to know another major difference? Dinengdeng uses only bagoong, but does not use shrimp paste.

Read More

Pinakbet

Alternatively called Pakbet by the locals, this vegetable dish is perhaps the embodiment of Ilokano cuisine. The average bowl of Pinakbet is created with almost any vegetable—if you know the lyrics to the folk song “Bahay Kubo”, you will have an idea of what these veggies are. Majority of those mentioned in the song are ingredients to Pinakbet. Afterwards, they are boiled until cooked, and then seasoned with the region’s signature bagoong or fish sauce, and lastly, pink shrimp paste. Others may add pork belly with this vegetable dish.

Read More

DODOL

Dodol is a sweet delicacy of our muslim brothers and sisters. It is made from sticky rice flour, coconut milk and sugar.

Dodol is commonly served during festivals, such as Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid al-ADha as sweet treat for children. It is also served during Iftar (the breaking of fast at the end of the day or sunset.

Dodol is usually wrapped in corn husks or brightly colored cellophane sheets.

It is popular not only here in Mindanao, but as well to other countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei.

Did you found your heart and soul on the Muslim delicacies listed above? If not share your favorite muslim delicacy with us. However, you can also try these delicacies and maybe one of them can become one of your favorites too. Altamatue bialghidha’

Read More

BEEF RENDANG

The king of all curries, beef rendang is a mouthwatering dish that originated from Indonesia. Eventually became one of the specialties of Maranao people. Beef Rendang is a caramelized beef curry. Cooke with coconut milk to reduced the dish’s darkness and add consistency to its sweetness.

For Maranaos this is usually served during special celebrations.

Some restaurants around Cagayan de Oro City offers beef rendang on their menu.

Read More

PALAPA

Speaking of palapa, it is a sambal like sauce that is oily and spicy. It is known as a Maranao appetizer. It is made of scallion bulbs or sakurab in Maranao with ginger and siling labuyo or chili pepper.  It is known for adding more flavor to every cooked dish.

Muslim meals in Cagayan de Oro City are usually served with palapa. However, if you are interested on buying one, you can buy one in a very affordable price. For a 100 grams of palapa, it will cost you P50 while 200 grams is P100.

Read More

PATER

One of the most popular muslim food here in Cagayan de Oro is the unique yet delicious Pater.

Pater which originated from Mindanao, is a packed meal famous of its unique style. It is neatly wrapped in a banana leaf. Unwrapping the banana leaf, you will find the packed rice topped with either sauteed shredded chicken meat (kagikit) or beef (gandang) or flakes of fish abodo/tuna.

Pater is also known as pastel or pastil or patel or paster. Commonly known as a Maranao and Maguindanao meal.

Aside from the fact that Pater’s taste is loved by the many it is also enjoyed by everyone for it’s very affordable price. Here in Cagayan de Oro, for as low as thirty pesos you can already buy this muslim delicacy.

The muslim delicacy is a lot more delicious when served with palapa.

Read More

Salawaki (Fresh Sea Urchin) Bohol

Who wouldn’t know about Sea Urchins? They’re very popular aphrodisiacs and they’re common around places near the sea especially in Bohol, Bolinao, and La Union. These are spiny sea creatures with yellow or orange insides. Their texture is similar to that of oysters and they are best eaten raw and fresh.

Read More

Adobong Uok (Beetle Larvae) Rizal

If you’re an avid fan of Andrew Zimmerman’s show, Bizarre Food with Andrew Zimmerman, you might have already came across with Adobong Uok. They live in dead coconut logs. Natives would collect them and eat them raw or cooked adobo style. It has an interesting texture and taste that people from around the globe are a fan off.

Read More

Adobong Kamaru (Mole Cricket), Pampanga

Rice fields would often have Kamaru. These can be a little bit of a pest, so to counter them, farmers harvest these insects and people found ways on how to eat them. Served mostly in adobo style (which would mean to cook it in sautéed garlic, soy sauce and vinegar) this peculiar dish is more oftenly eaten together with beer. These are crunchy on the outside and gooey on the inside and they’re quite commonly sold in Pampanga.

Read More