Philippines: Visayas Food Habits and Practices

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Avatar for LykeLyca
4 years ago

This time, another article to showcase the Philippines. Visayas consist of many islands, thus regions are separated mainly by large bodies of water. Food habits and preferences are predominantly from seafoods - fish, crabs, shrimps and seaweeds. Moreover, fishing is not only as food source, but a livelihood too.

Kinilaw. Photo by whologwhy from Wikimedia Commons

The Eastern Visayas Region, still got some influences from the Bicolanos maybe because of its proximity in terms of location. The Visayas of this region use coconut milk in their food too, but little or none of the hot pepper. Fish abound in the waters surrounding the islands. A favorite delicacy in this area is Kinilaw which is often served as a "pulutan" - an appetizer or food the locals loves to eat when drinking some alcoholic beverage. In some places it is used as a main dish. What is interesting in Kinilaw is the

method of preparing it- literally cured just by the acidity of the lemons and vinegar, the fish dish will be served raw in your table (I will try to write a recipe article about this viand soon).

In some parts of East Visayas, the land is dry and sandy. It is good only for growing tuber crops, such as gabi and ubi (purple yum) and balangjoy or cassava. Boiled gabi or ubi or cassava with grated coconut and brown sugar are good for snacks. These delicacies are even famous not only in Visayas but everywhere in the Philippines. Some people in the early days, and until now, use corn as their staple food because it is more filling than rice. Corn contains more protein than any other cereal, it also has less carbohydrates that's why this is preferred among diabetic patients. Cebu is noted for its Hojaldres or Otap. This is a kind of pastry which has been adapted from the Spanish recipe. It is delicious for snacks and goes well with fruit juices or other drinks.

The famous Otap or Hojaldres of Cebu. Photo from Facebook.com.

Unlike the barren and dry East Visayas, the Western Visayan Region has a fertile and more productive soil. Its rains are moderate and the soil is rich, making the land suitable for sugar, rice, corn and abaca. The waters around this region also abound with fish and drying fish has become one of the important industries of the people living along coastal towns. Dried fish from the region is exported to Manila and other parts of the archipelago. These dried fish when cooked with vegetables becomes one of their favorite dish, the Laswa.

Mang Inasal Branch in Bulacan. Photo by judgefloro from Wikimedia Commons

If the Tagalogs have Pansit Palabok, Visayas also have Pancit Molo and the Batchoy, the former is a recipe named after Molo City in Ilo-ilo, both are noodle soup that can be served at the beginning of a meal or as a heavy snack in the afternoon. Ilo-ilo and Bacolod became popular because of Inasal.

In earlier days, Inasal is just another fish recipe. The fish is cleaned and seasoned with salt. A sharp bamboo stick is stuck through the middle of the fish which is then cooked over live charcoal. Nowadays, Inasal is still very popular all over the Philippines with booming franchises of restaurants,but using chicken instead of fish. This chain of restaurants must be one

of the successful businesses in the country that showcases the true Filipino culture of food and culture, especially if you eat it with your bare hands or "Kinamot" in Visayas dialect - "TatakPinoy". The photo below is Mang Inasal's bestseller and my favorite too!

Inasal Chicken served with rice and soy sauce with hot chili and kalamansi

Have you experienced dining out in Filipino restaurants? You can share your experience below with the food and practices.

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This article is Part 2 of Philippines: Luzon Food Habits and Practices

Watch out for the Mindanao part of this series :)

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Photos from Wikimedia Commons with attribution from the author

Photo with watermark is MINE

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#TatakPinoy #MangInasal #FilipinoFoods #Kinilaw #CebuOtap #DriedFish

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Avatar for LykeLyca
4 years ago

Comments

food, food, glorious food, i love Philippine food

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4 years ago

Aww thank you! I hope you can visit our country one day :)

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4 years ago

Nice article by you

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4 years ago

Thank you!

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4 years ago

That was all delicious, I wanted to eat especially the grilled chicken.

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4 years ago

My favorite too! Thanks for the comment!

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4 years ago

Yes grilled chicken is delicious.

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4 years ago

Nice one

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4 years ago

Thank you!

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4 years ago

This looks yummy. I wanna eat that kinilaw

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4 years ago

We should get some soda or beer :) Thanks!

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4 years ago

Cheers to us haha

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4 years ago

looks delicious...i guess it must be eaten with your bare hands!

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4 years ago

It is! That would be fantastic! hehe! Thank you!

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4 years ago

Pansit molo and bachoy. Both are delicious. You should also try the chicken bacolod inasal. Mas bet ko manok Nila don. Otap, dried mangoes, dried fish, omg visayas has a lot to offer. Bongbongs piyaya, the butterscotch house in iloilo hehe.

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User's avatar Yen
4 years ago

Ai uu! favorite ko rin mga yan piyaya and butterscotch! Meron kami dito Bacolod Inasal, frachise cguro toh, masarap din!

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4 years ago

Miss ko na mang inasal..iba tlga lasa ng manok nla..

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4 years ago

Thanks for the tip! <3

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4 years ago

Yes! They really have that distinct taste a Filipino loves :)

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4 years ago

Ma issue mang inasal ngayun. May itlog ng langaw yung manok Nila haha

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User's avatar Yen
4 years ago

Ayy that is sad. Must be poor handling and sanitation from the branch :( sana ma address nila kasi sayang ung image na build ng Mang Inasal through the years..

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4 years ago

Really? Haha.. Bka old stocks nla

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4 years ago

Siguro haha.

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User's avatar Yen
4 years ago

Philippines food looks so delicious. I haven't taste it yet. If I visit Philippines oneday, I will surely taste this yummy food.

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4 years ago

Yes. You must try them all, they're all delicious and an experience to unravel too! Every place you visit is a unique food to explore too!

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4 years ago