Adobo
Adobo is one of the signature dishes of the Philippines. Although its name is of Spanish origin, the way it is prepared is entirely Filipino. This is because the Spaniards learned how to prepare this dish from the Filipinos when they occupied the country in the 16th and 17th centuries and named it after them.
This dish usually uses chicken or pork as the main ingredient, marinated in garlic and soy sauce for several hours. The marinated meat is then simmered in water with vinegar, bay leaves, salt and black pepper. Adobo is often served with rice, making the dish even more delicious and attractive. Abodo is so popular that you can easily find this dish on every street corner in the Philippines.
Lechon
Lechon (roasted pork) is a staple of Filipino festivals and family celebrations. The pork is marinated, skewered on bamboo sticks and grilled over a slow charcoal fire. Because of its elaborate preparation, Lechon is usually reserved for special occasions.
There are also many other popular barbecue dishes that are cheaper and easily available like Pinoy BBQ pork and Inihaw na manok (grilled chicken). If you are having BBQ in Cebu, be sure to order puso (also known as Ketupat) which is a rice cake wrapped in woven palm leaves.
Kare Kare
This stew with vegetables, oxtail, tripe and beef is a standout dish, different from other Filipino stews (most of which are tomato-based) not only because it uses peanut sauce but because its accompaniment is bagoong alamang or shrimp paste.
Kare Kare is a very popular dish in the Philippines today with many different recipes. It is believed that this dish originated from Pampanga (a region in the Luzon region) or possibly from the Moro people (a Muslim group in the Philippines).
Sinigang
Sinigang is a meat or fish soup, and is a very popular dish in the Philippines. Known for its strong sour taste, it is a staple in Filipino meals. Other ingredients include meat or fish (usually pork), okra, and spinach. Sinigang is enjoyed in different parts of the Philippines, and you will get a different taste of the dish.
Bicol Express
Like most countries in the world, Filipino food is made with locally available ingredients. The Bicol region in southeastern Luzon is a major coconut growing region and therefore coconut is often used in the cooking of local dishes.
Bicol Express is one of the most famous dishes here. The main ingredients to make Bicol Express are usually bird's eye chili and coconut milk, giving the dish a spicy and sweet taste, prepared with pork and some vegetables. The dish is named after the train line from Manila to the Bicol region and brought this dish that originated from Manila.
Halo Halo
Aside from savory dishes, desserts in the Philippines are also extremely rich, mainly rice cakes and sweet fruits. Among them, Halo Halo is a standout.
Halo Halo means mix mix, is the name of a very popular drink in the Philippines. This cool dish is a mix of flavors, colors and ingredients from tropical fruits such as jackfruit, sapodilla, papaya, banana; beans such as red beans, green beans, white beans; sweet potatoes, purple yams, cornstarch, tapioca pearls with sponge cream. Each type of fruit is arranged separately, with a layer of shaved ice and a layer of condensed milk. When eating, mix well and you will feel a very special taste. This is a very healthy drink.
