Filipino Food
Sutukil is Cebu’s contribution to the culinary scene in the Philippines.
It is an abbreviation for the most popular cooking techniques on the island, namely Sugba (grill), Tuwa (stew), and Kilaw (cooked raw with vinegar). These techniques are commonly used in seafood, inspiring several restaurants to feed hungry Cebuanos with a variety of delicious meals.
Paolito’s STK Ta Bai! is among the select go-to restaurants for this type of Filipino cuisine.
The food park industry in the Philippines is booming in Cebu and its neighboring metros. These places have been go-to venues among food enthusiasts for several years now. The original food strip, however, may be Fuente’s Larsian.
Many locals and tourists have entered this establishment to fill their stomachs with different versions of Filipino barbecue.
This is arguably the best place to try Cebuano food in the metro, and it is expanding even further. A new stall has emerged on the island, and it has already gained a lot of attention online.
The Lenten Season is very important to many Filipinos. With the majority of them being Catholics, there are a number of traditions that they have come to observe and follow, some of which include fasting and abstinence.
One of the Filipino traditions during Lent is trying to find good dishes that are devoid of any meat. One of the most famous is a vegetable stew which makes a perfect snack for an observant follower.
The said dish is called binignit.
Your parents may have taught you to eat with your spoon and fork, but that wouldn’t necessarily apply if you were Filipino. Before the introduction of utensils, the traditional way of eating in the Philippines was with the use of one’s hands, and many Filipinos remain to eat with their hands today, especially during big celebrations. This has made Filipino dining culture one of the most unique in Asia, thanks to the simplicity and practicality of it. One place where you will definitely witness this type of practice is in Cebu City, where a street food trend that has lasted many decades has turned into a cultural phenomenon among the locals. Pungko Pungko stalls are all the rage, thanks to its price-to-satisfaction ratio. Very popular among younger age groups, this budget friendly trend is a perfect choice for a quick and accessible meal.
Cebuano delicacies are far and away from your traditional cakes and pastries. Sweet and sour treats and other peculiar-shaped biscuits are only the tip of the island’s Filipino food mountain. In the northern town of Liloan, the oldest bakery on the island stands tall as one of the best places to buy baked goods anywhere in Cebu. Its popularity has spread all over the country, bringing the brand of local baking to a grander stage.
No matter who you are, you will always yield to food. You will always crave for the things that you love. Food is something you just can’t refuse. You can even define a nation based on the food they make. Locals and tourists will always have something to recommend. Every place in the world has a dish or snack that they can proudly say is theirs. The Philippines is no stranger to this, and Cebu has a boatload of options. Cebuano delicacies have filled the stomachs of locals for many decades, and they continue to do so today.
Your trip to Cebu wouldn’t be complete without trying the best street foods the city can offer. Street food is basically a country’s identity, with different cities offering their own version of certain street foods. This is where you will find the rich culture of Cebu as a city that has been influenced by many cultures.
If you’ve ever been to Cebu, you will have noticed that there are lots of makeshift stalls all around the city. These stalls are mobile stores, selling a specific niche of products. In certain parts of the city, you’ll see food stalls lined up across the sidewalk, while in others, you’ll see stalls selling clothes.
Imagine yourself dining out at the Queen City of the South. What is the first dish you picture yourself eating? No doubt, you would quickly think of a scrumptious slice of Cebu lechon. While it is arguably the most well-known dish in the city, there’s more to Cebu than just lechon (roasted suckling pig). The city also has its fair share of exotic meals.
You might be intimidated in trying some of these dishes, but if you give them a try, you might just be surprised by how tasty they are. Their appearance may not always look inviting, but the taste cannot be compared. What a perfect excuse to try authentic Cebuano dishes. Here are some Cebu exotic dishes that you ought to try when you travel to Cebu
When you’re feeling down in the dumps or a little under the weather, there is always that one dish that your mother makes that would always perk you up. There are also those types of meals and delicacies in Philippine food culture. They have their own variety of hangover food and rainy-day food.
If you happen to be in the Philippines and hankering for a pick-me-up, here are some Filipino comfort food you should try in local restaurants or even in someone’s home
Way before the Spaniards colonized the Philippines, the Chinese were a constant presence in the country. That’s because they regularly traded with the early settlers. In fact, the presence of the Chinese remains strong to this day. Some would even argue that Chinese influence is much more prevalent in Cebu than in Manila.
Food is one of the biggest indicators of how pervasive Chinese culture is. Chinese cuisine is so commonplace in Cebu that you can even purchase some choice appetizers in grocery stores. Indeed, Cebuanos clearly love Chinese food.
What’s the quickest way to make friends in Cebu? You have several options, such as going on a karaoke, attending a barangay fiesta, or simply heading to a bar. Whatever method you choose, it would most likely involve alcohol.
Cebuanos, in general, would enjoy a drink or two. But the way they drink is different than what you’re used to. And this doesn’t just apply to the cocktails they make but also how they drink them.