Duterte's Favorite Set (Bulalo, Kinilaw, Tapa)

AI Gourmet Analysis

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Overview

The "President Duterte's Favorite Set" is a combination of traditional Filipino dishes served at Sana's Original Kabawan & Bulaloan, a restaurant in the city of Davao on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao. The set consists of three main items: Bulalo, Kinilaw, and Tapa. These are especially well-known as the favorite dishes of former President Rodrigo Duterte, who frequently ordered them at this local establishment during his official duties. The restaurant displays photographs of famous personalities and has come to be regarded as a mecca for local food.

Descriptions of Main Components

Bulalo

Bulalo is a traditional Filipino soup, often described as the Filipino version of pot-au-feu, made by slowly simmering the shank bones and bone marrow of water buffalo or cattle. The highlight is the large bones filled with marrow, which diners scoop out and eat—a recognized luxury in Filipino home cooking. The broth is enriched with corn, cabbage, potatoes, and other vegetables, making it both nutritious and flavorful. In regions like Mindanao, this dish also symbolizes the local culture of utilizing livestock resources thoroughly, especially in rural areas.

Kinilaw

Kinilaw is a traditional Filipino seafood marinade dish that has been passed down for generations throughout the Philippines. It primarily consists of fresh raw fish mixed with vinegar or calamansi (a citrus fruit), salt, ginger, onion, chili, and other ingredients. Some regions finish the dish with a touch of coconut milk, adding tanginess and aromatic freshness. Tracing its roots to indigenous food preservation techniques predating Spanish colonization, kinilaw bears similarities to Mexican ceviche. The dish is especially popular in Mindanao and the Visayas, where fresh seafood is readily available.

Tapa

Tapa is the Filipino version of jerky, consisting of beef or water buffalo meat marinated in soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, and sugar, then dried or semi-dried. Before serving, the meat is typically lightly pan-fried, giving it a strong savory flavor and a characteristic chewy texture. While it's widely recognized as a breakfast item called "tapsilog" (tapa + garlic rice + fried egg), in the south—particularly in Davao—carabao (water buffalo) meat is commonly used. Regional variations include flavoring with coconut or citrus, and the addition of local calamansi for garnish.

Historical and Cultural Background

Former President Duterte, since his days as mayor of Davao, was widely regarded as a "man of the people" who held local traditions and cuisine in high esteem. The restaurant he frequented, Sana's Original Kabawan & Bulaloan, is regularly visited by government officials and celebrities, as documented by photographs displayed inside. Mindanao serves as an intersection of many ethnicities and cultures, and its fertile ground supports thriving agriculture, livestock farming, and fisheries. These dishes, rooted in such a background, have become staples of everyday local flavor—and, by extension, favorites of the nation's leader.

Significance in Contemporary Times

For tourists and food enthusiasts both within the Philippines and abroad, President Duterte's Favorite Set serves as a symbol of "local food experience," possessing cultural value beyond that of simple comfort food. Each of the three dishes reflects the climates and histories of different Filipino regions, and enjoying them locally offers a means of deepening understanding and exchange with regional communities. The dining experience at Sana's Original Kabawan & Bulaloan is a key highlight for visitors to Davao, enhancing the significance of the city's cultural offering.