Foods that Define Puerto Princesa

Chow Long, Tamilok and Hopia – your stay in Puerto Princesa will not be complete without trying these local foods. Locals say there are other great foods that are unique in the province like Suran and Lamiyo but I am not that fortunate to try them all on my stay. So here, I will attempt to describe how it feels like eating the food that Palaweño’s love to eat.

1. Chow Long (sometimes spelled Chao Long) – You’ll surely don’t want to miss this one. A Vietnamese influenced dish, this beef stew noodle with bean sprouts in sweet and spicy soup is perfect for an afternoon snack or a quick munch on a midnight walk. This is best served with meat stuffed French bread. Your stories about Palawan would just be half-exciting without the Chow Long experience. By the way, a bowl costs only P45.

2. Tamilok – Your Palawan visit would not be complete without trying this famous local delicacy. This woodworm (which is not actually a worm) is found in mangroves. To have it fresh from the wood, you may ask for one if you're trying the Mangrove Paddling Boat Tour in Sabang. The best way to enjoy it is dipping it in spicy vinegar - Kinilaw as we call it. You can also order it in Kinabuch's for P120 or you may also get it from the market for P20-P30.

3. Baker’s Hill’s Hopia - If you're in Puerto Princesa for a date or just an out of town getaway with friends, the best destination for posing for photos is the Baker's Hill. But more than the quaint landscape, they serve really good pastries. The crowd's favorite is their version of Hopia. You may get it for P20 for a pack of five. So I suggest you take out some bread and pastries, add to your itinerary the extended walk to Mitra Mansion, bask on the view of the city in one of the benches as you eat the newly cooked hopia you just bought.

Adobong Pusit for Family Dinner

Just because I love Oriental food most especially, Filipino food, I promise myself to learn cooking some of my favorite dishes. For tonight, with the help of Google, I served Adobong Pusit to my family. And hurray! It was a blockbuster. The rice pot is empty. :p

Adobong Pusit is my third favorite Filipino dish - just next to Ginataang Puso ng Saging and Ginataang Pagui. I hope next I can try the other two also.

Fresh Flower and Beaten Eggs

The greatest thing to happen on earth is food. And my favorite? (Drumbeat) Puso ng Saging! Tonight, I prepared Banana Blossom Tempura for my family's dinner.

My upbringing as an obedient child (ehem) made me love vegetables. My mom used to convince me that squash can make my eyes glow and that slimy okra, which made me puke a couple of times, was good for my body. I wasn't aware of the nutritional value then. Thanks to Nanay for all those hyperbolic fabrications, I love veggie now. I even decided early this month to be a seasonal vegetarian. I tried it two weeks this month and perhaps I can do it again for the Lenten Season next year.

The veggie I come to love the most is Puso ng Saging. I don't know what's with this plant, whose fruit is a fruit and it's flower a veggie. It's blossom has a different appeal to me. I decided to have this on my birthday when I was in high school. And my friends got a little on their plates, for those few who did I mean. Still, it's my choice on top of Guinataang Pagi, Adobong Pusit, and Sisig.

Now it doesn't matter if it's guinataan with siling labuyo, kinilaw, enchilada, or burger patty. As long as it's Puso ng Saging, I have the reason to live.  This heart of mine beats for that of the banana tree.