Rice Puto and Sinapot or Baduya (Banana fritters) of Ligao, Albay

The first thing one would notice when entering or leaving Ligao, Albay is the array of stores selling native delicacy like rice puto stuffed with different flavors, Pandan or Macapuno. I wanted to try it when we were on our way to Sorsogon but we were in a hurry to reach camalig that’s why when we were returning back to Manila, I didn’t want to miss the rice puto and Sinapot of Ligao, Albay, that’s why even we were still full, we dropped by.

Sinapot/Baduya

 We bought makapuno (another variety of coconut which has a soft coconut meat) and pandan flavored rice puto. It is a steamed cake made of rice flour stuffed with fruit jam. Each pack has two rice puto, the price for Macapuno flavored is 3 packs for 20 while the pandan flavor is 7 pesos per pack.

Sinapot or Banana fritters in Bicol is different from the rest of the country because the banana used is usually not too ripe plus rice flour instead of wheat flour to keep the banana cuts intact plus there is no sugar sprinkled, just the natural sweet of  banana.

Both native delicacies are best to eat while hot.

Our trip was definitely a food trip!

Camalig Pinangat

Inulukan

Road trip going to southern part of Luzon is really fun; it’s like a food trip too. Dropping by in different restaurants to stretch out, rest and address the call of nature. Last weekend we had the chance to do road trip to Bicol because it was a long weekend for All Soul’s Day and All Saints’ Day. We missed the food cooked in coconut cream, that’s what Bicolano food is all about. As we were leaving Ligao, Albay I saw an array of stores selling Rice Puto, Banana Fritters (Sinapot for Bicolanos or Maruya for Tagalogs), I wanted to buy some but we were in a hurry to reach Camalig for our late lunch, sort of hungry, to try the Bicol Pinanagat. This Bicol dish is made of taro leaves, coconut milk and selected spices wrapped in a packet style. .

 There are two varieties of it, Chilly and the regular one (not chilly). I ordered right away each one of the variety but there was no regular one available. We just tried the chilly and of course the bicol express, which is a shrimp paste and pork cooked in rich and creamy coconut cream. It was a worth wait for a lunch, we had a great time indulging in food cooked with rich and creamy coconut milk.

Pinangat

While we were enjoying the beach in Bulusan, Sorsogon called Dancalan Beach. Somebody told us that there is another Pinangat in Camalig that is stuffed with crab we just have to ask for the restaurants about it. That’s why when we were on our way back to Manila we dropped by again in Camalig. We looked for that another variety of pinangat, the waitress said it is called Inulukan. Uluk in local dialect means crab. The pinangat with the same ingredients is stuffed with crab meats, which have made the Inulukan different from other pinangats. It is wrapped smaller than the usual pinangat they have.  We ordered inulukan and the ordinary pinangat together with the bicol express and squid cooked in coconut cream. The price for each pinangat is P40.00 pesos.

Bicol Express and Squid with coconut cream

I tried other pinangats in Bicol or even in Manila, but the pinangats in Camalig so far is the best one. Camalig is said to be the home of pinangat, they stand by that name. Put it on your list when u happens to visit Bicol Region.

Germinio’s Food-Bura Soda Swimming Pool

It was raining when we reached Benoni Port in Mambajao, Camiguin Island. We rode right away the multi-cab that we hired. The driver told us that we could have our breakfast in the restaurant along the way but the one he showed us was not appealing. He suggested a native chicken in one of the tourist spot that we would visit, Bura Soda Swimming Pool, Bura, Catarman, Camiguin. When we reached the place, the middle aged lady approached us right away. She showed us the menu, for the whole native chicken it costs P300.00, rice for one kilo P100.00. Take note their rice is not ordinary its red rice. She offered us the grilled fish and vegetables too but we ordered one whole chicken and half kilo or rice. I personally asked if she could cook half of the chicken for Tinola and the other half for Adobo. The lady agreed without extra cost to think that the ingredients for the two recipes are different. One cup of rice costs P10.00.We were 4 persons plus the driver that’s why we decided for a half kilo. It took awhile before it was served but it’s worth the wait. Delicious brunch (breakfast and lunch).

I noticed their adobo has tomato as garnishing; usually it is not served with it in other restaurants. But since I love eating fresh tomato I tried it with the adobo to my surprise it tasted good. The adobo was sort of salty but taste just right. The Tinolang manok (Chicken ginger soup) has malunggay leaves and green papaya; it’s my first time to eat tinola with manlunggay leaves, not bad good substitute for chili leaves.

They literally serve Lutong Bahay (home cooked), food is cooked in their house then bring it to the resort, where their house is adjacent.  Great delicious Food. Try it!