The Philippines is a country of many regions. One region is separated from another by mountains, rivers or large bodies of water. The people of each region have their own favorite food, delicacies and their unique ways of cooking them.
The Northern Luzon area comprises of the Ilocanos and the Igorots of the Mountain Province. They are best known of being thrifty and industrious people - in a sense that they had propagated rice farming through their ingenuity making the world's famous, the rice terraces. Food in this region is simple and nutritious, like the famous Pinakbet a vegetable dish so rich in nutritional value. They are also
fond of animal's small intestines together with the partially digested contents, are prepared into a favorite local dish called Papaitan.
The Central Luzon region with its rich and fertile land is known as the rice granary of the Philippines. By far, the Pampanguenas lead in the art of cooking. However, there famous dishes like the relleno, pastel and pancit palabok were adapted from the early Spanish and Chinese delicacies. They also make fine desserts, such as leche flan and biscochos. In the early days, these dishes are usually prepared for special occasions, like the town fiestas or festivities, holidays, or weddings.
The Tagalog region and the Tagalogs are popular for there delicious Sinigang and Adobo, both easy to cook dishes. The Sinigang consists of fish or meat cooked in boiling water with sour fruit. Green mangoes, or green tamarind are some of the souring ingredients used for its distinct taste. The addition of many different kinds of vegetables
makes the dish nutritious and richer in substance. The most popular Adobo, is a dish of pork, can be chicken too, cooked with crushed garlic, vinegar and soy sauce. This famous dish reaches other countries and had become flavorings for burgers, chips and fries too. Other popular exotic Tagalog recipes are Dinuguan - made of internal organs cooked with pork blood, Kare-kare a more elaborate dish of cow's head, shank, tail, or tripe cooked until tender. Vegetables and pounded peanuts are added to improve the flavor., best served with bagoong.
The Bicol region is the southern part of the Luzon archipelago and this houses the famous perfectly cone- shape Mayon Volcano. Residents of this area are called the Bicolanos. These people loves coconut milk in their food, like siling labuyo, a small hot pepper fruit, is added to the coconut milk recipe, the wilted leaves of the gabi are often added, this is a favorite dish among Bicolanos. Other typical recipe of the Bicol
area are the Pinangat - consists of shrimps, crab meat, and the meat of the young coconut with large hot pepper. This mixture is sauteed in garlic and onions. Then it is wrapped in banana leaves and cooked in coconut milk. If you notice most of the dishes they love are really spicy. Recently, I've seen a travel blog that Bicol now has spicy ice cream too! I wonder what it tastes like?
Do you have any other experiences in your travel to the Philippines, especially in Luzon?
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#Philippines #LuzonFoods #LuzonDishes #BicolanoDishes #TagalogDishes
Awesome article