A gourmet dish born from Spanish colonization? Empanada, with its crispy fried pastry dough and warm filling of pork, egg, and probably cabbage. Though plain in taste, a few drops of vinegar turn it into an exquisite delicacy. While the ethics of colonization are debatable, if there were such a thing as "gourmet colonization," it might greatly benefit culinary culture.
Trying one snack can teach you about ten others. I challenged the mysterious snack, Mang Juan. It’s crispy with a tangy mayo and hidden seaweed flavor, reminiscent of fried pork skin dish chicharrón. Does this mean chicharrón is a popular dish here? I regret missing out on it.
When a knockoff surpasses the original, people acknowledge it. Prawn Crackers reminiscent of a certain shrimp snack had me thinking, “Did they copy it?!” The crispy texture matches the original, but it’s spicier and more aromatic, pairing well with drinks. It’s so good I don’t care anymore.
If you need a bottle opener while traveling, a belt buckle works. The first beer of 2023 in Baguio was Red Horse! With a strong 6.9% alcohol content, it’s formidable, yet once you get to know it, it’s a Filipino nice guy you can chug endlessly!
Tropical bread exclusive, Pandecoco. In Baguio, a picture-perfect bakery had me excited. Pandecoco had a sweet, crunchy coconut filling, making it delicious. Why do bakeries excite me? Maybe humanity’s coexistence with wheat makes us genetically love bakeries, I pondered.
Speaking of Snoopy, think peanuts. Speaking of peanuts, think the Philippines! I met delicious steamed peanuts here. Small, moist, soft enough to crush with your tongue, and full of sweet, savory flavor—delicious! I’ve found another reason to live in the Philippines.
A hesitant delicacy you shouldn’t image search, Balut. This dish of a nearly hatched duck egg is notorious. I had to try it to experience the Philippines. My egg was relatively fresh, so the grossness was minimal. It tasted like a rich boiled egg. Salt made me crave a drink!
After drinking various craft beers, I realized they’re a different breed from commercial beers. They can’t compete in fame, production, or price, so crafts need to stand out with packaging, concept, and uniqueness. But in taste, they can compete. This Fresh Harvest tastes better than commercial beer!
I discovered why people gain weight from happiness. Eating pork belly at a birthday party, joining in the celebration. The crispy skin and juicy fat mixed with sweet sauce made the beer and rice disappear quickly! The happy atmosphere was the best seasoning.
Foreign Japanese food is filled with quirky charm. In Baguio’s Botanical Garden, I found a Japanese food stall with “Tonkatsu Ramen.” The tonkatsu was actually chashu, the noodles lacked firmness, and the soup was not bad but diverged from Japanese tonkotsu. This is foreign ramen! Thanks for the memory!
