Ok, we all have our own individual tastes, right? Some things that some people like to eat, other people don’t care for. What other people eat, some people won’t go near. It’s funny how our upbringing in our childhood affects what we are willing to eat.
Many Filipino Foods I find appetizing. Others I don’t even want to be around. In some cases, I have found that a certain food in the Philippines is much better than a similar food that I used to eat in the States.
Example? Well, let’s look at bananas. In the USA, they eat Cavendish bananas. Cavendish are grown here, right in the Davao region. Do you know what they do with Cavendish bananas? Feed them to the pigs! That’s right. Well, there are a dozen or more varieties of bananas that people eat here, and most of them are, in my opinion, better than the Cavendish that I used to enjoy. Now, I would never eat Cavendish again, because they are so bland! I have three different types of bananas that I enjoy here. I usually eat Lacatan bananas here. They are about half the size of a Cavendish, and I find them more flavorful and sweeter than a Cavendish. Another variety of bananas that I enjoy is the Seniorita, which is a tiny banana, about half the size of a Lacatan. My favorite type of banana, though, is Merado, which is a banana which is similar in size to a lacatan, but red in color. These are very hard to find, but they are excellent.
How about other types of fruit that are better here than back in the States? Well, pomelo is much better than grapefruit, in my opinion. Pomelo is a citrus fruit that is very similar to grapefruit. It comes in white and pink varieties, and like the grapefruit, the pink variety is best, in my opinion of course. Pomelo is sweeter, it is juicier and just all around better tasting than a grapefruit.
There are lots of fruits that are better here than what you can get back in the States. I’m not even going to try to list them all, because nearly every fruit is better here.
There are certain foods in the Philippines, though which are NOT to my liking too, though. How about bulad? That is dried fish that stinks when it is cooked. People tell me how delicious it is, but the smell is so bad that I can’t go near the stuff. What would be the equivelant in the west? Well, Filipinos have told me, and I must agree that many types of cheese smell very bad. Yes, there are cheeses that stink, but they still taste very good! Oh my… I hope nobody will use this against me and force me to taste bulad!
Another food that I find totally unappetizing is balut. These are duck eggs with a baby duck inside them. Depending on the age of the balut, there may be feathers, a beak, etc. I just can’t imagine biting into that! I know some foreigners who have tried it, and some even say it is good. Hmm… what is something in the west that is similar to balut? Frankly, I can think of nothing. If you can think of anything like balut that is eaten in the west, please let me know.
OK, one more… Durian. It is a fruit that stinks, or at least that is what people say. I love durian, and I even think that it smells great. I love durian coffee, fresh durian fruit, durian ice cream, durian cake and durian candy. I guess that anything with durian in it is something that I would like. Now, other foreigners I know can’t go near the stuff.
What can you think of that is eaten in the Philippines, that you won’t go near? What items have something similar in the west? If there are items you can think of with a version here and a version in the west, which one do you like?
Berlin Austin
Yehey Bob… im first to comment..exciting! hehe
I love bulad, my husband too dont like the smell of it. i can only cook it here when he is not around and i open all the doors and windows. i dont like the smell of parmesan cheese but there are many varieties of it. most of it i cant stand it.
Berlin Austin
I just noticed the photo of the man above, is that a bulad he carries around? its wierd looking
MindanaoBob
Hi Berlin – I love the smell of Parmesan Cheese myself! Hate bulad – so we're even! 😆
MindanaoBob
Hi Berlin – Yep, that is a photo that I took in Tawi Tawi when I visited there. The guy walks around town in Bongao selling bulad!
Paul
Hi Bob – There's nothing better than a breakfast of "fart fish" and rice to start the day! 😆
Berlin Austin
Yeah we are even thank god! you wont let me eat parmesan and no need to eat bulad..hehehe.
Its funny how he carry the bulad like that,it should be in a plastic bag or some sort, hopefully he wont forget and put it under his arm.hehehe
MindanaoBob
Hi Paul – Ha ha…. Fart Fish? I am going to have to look that one up on the marine tables to see what they look like! 😯 Oh, you mean bulad! Perfect name! 😆
MindanaoBob
Hey Berlin – If he puts it under his arm, it might improve the smell!
How about this – we could have bulad with parmesan cheese on it! The two smells might even each other out and the result might be neutral! 😉
Berlin Austin
Haha Bob,you made me laugh. so funny.
Yeah Bob its compliment each other for sure.
When i zoom the pic the bulad looks really nice i would buy some but not the one he carry around though…have a nice day Bob and see you soon! Im coming to Davao in 3 weeks time and have some bulad…hehhe
I will take you and Feyma for a bulad-free lunch Bob.Will catch up soon!
MindanaoBob
Hi Berlin – That's great to hear that you are coming home soon. Feyma and I will be looking forward to seeing you!
Luc
beside of the bulad I also can't stand the smell of bagoong.
Mango is my favorite food.
Paul
Hi Bob – Up in Ilocandia, our "aromatic" breakfast fish of choice referred to as "tuyo" (similar in tagalog, I believe). While mostly bulad (bisayan) when in available, Ilocanos often refer to other dried fish as "tuyo."
Truly good breakfast: Rice, 2 fried eggs, and tuyo mixed together and eaten "kabayan" style. 😉
Jim Cunningham
Hi Bob- I have tried but do not like Balut and Balud ,stinky fish is again not my favouite I also don't like boiled banana. Everything else I will eat for Britain in an eating contest.
regards.
Jim
Luc
And the dinuguan. No, thank you very much.
MindanaoBob
Hi Luc – I'm with you on both points – no bagoong for me! But, a good mango is hard to beat!
MindanaoBob
Hi Jim – Yes, I agree on the boiled bananas, not for me. I find them to be pretty tasteless.
Speaking of British, are they serving Sunday Roast dinners in Talakag these days? 😀
MindanaoBob
Hi Luc – Ah, the good old blood pudding! I'm afraid that I'll have to agree with you!
Steven
Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy some of the foods here and I love many of the fruits and vegetabesa but honestly folks unless you have entirely lost your taste buds It's a no brainer at least for me.
I would have to say that yes the Philippines has some wonderful and certainly different and unusual fruit and vegetable products but the bottom line is it AIN'T even close to the variety and quality that comes out of the USA.
Also coming from South Florida and living amoung over a million hispanics that actually KNOW how to cook Filipino style food infinitely better than filipinos I think there is hardly an argument here about what foods are better.
Now for digusting foods like Balut, and dried fish like that……the Philippines WINS hands down.
FRUITS – The Winner is the USA hands down
Philippine Fruits – Pomelo, Mangosteen, Banana, Durian and many others
USA Fruits – Peaches, Plums, Oranges, Blueberries, Strawberries, Cherry's, Apples, Tomatoes, and many others
MEATS of all kinds – This question is not even worth going into as the USA regins supreme
We had this discussion before and just ask yourself when you travel, how many Philippines restaurants will you find in a typical city around the world. The answer is somewhere between 0 – 1. The sad truth is Philippines food much like the culture is still trying to find itself. No offense mind you just my opinion.
MindanaoBob
Hi Steven – on most of your points I agree. I disagree strongly on the fruits, though. The fruits in the Philippines put the US fruits to shame! Many of the USA fruits that you list are even imported, so are not US fruits at all.
Luc
I like almost all fruits in the Philippines. I even tried durian last summer. It taste good, the smell isn't that bad. Can't really remember a fruit I don't like. Don't forget the pineapple. After all the Del Monte pineapple in can we eat here is from the Philippines.
fried bananas with sugar tastes good but bad for my health 🙂
I eat kinilaw. Raw fish with soy sauce. We have something similar. Herring with vinigar and onions. I prefer the vinigar but the kinilaw is also good.
Jim Cunningham
Hi Bob- I'm sure we could rustle up a Sunday roast beef diner for a weary traveller to Talakag. Incidentally I just love "dinuguan" its the nearest thing I can get to Black Pudding and its great with beans and rice.
Bob did you hear from Mariel yet?
Regards.
Jim.
MindanaoBob
Hi Luc – I never heard of Kinilaw with soy sauce, the kinilaw that I know always has vinegar. However, kinilaw is very regional, and varies from one place to another, so I don't doubt that somewhere they use soy sauce.
Yes, the Pineapple in the Philippines, is in my opinion, the best in the world!
MindanaoBob
Hi Jim – Indeed, I got an e-mail from Mariel a few days ago. Nice girl, and I was happy to hear from her. You raised a good daughter there!
Steven
Ok Iets call it a tie on th fruits debate.
The Philippines certainly does have its notable fruits like Durian, Pomelo, Mangosteen, Mango, Rombutan, Manzones and wow are they great in their own right. But the USA has equally if not better fruits like peaches, strawberries, plums, tomatoes, blueberries, oranges, apples, grapes, pears, all of which DO come from the USA. I guess like anything else it is a matter of taste.
Neal in RI
Bob
Did you ever eat them very tiny dried fish called Bolinao in Bisaya or Dilis in Tagalog the wife dry fried them in a pan to make them crispy, then you dip them in some vinegar. We pick at them while we swill beer.
Gotta love "Balut Pinoy" however the over developed ones can turn a newbee off.
The only odd american fish type thing I ran across here in RI is them smoked fish in a tin called "Kipper Snacks"
Luc
Steve, if you want to see disgusting food you should go to Thailand. Fried cockroaches, termites. You name it, they have it.
MindanaoBob
Hi Steven – I regularly buy fresh strawberries here, every time that I go to Marilog/Bukidnon. They are great. I find peaches and mangoes to be quite similar. From time to time you can get plums at SM grocery store. Tomatoes…. If you know where to get them, you can get any kind of tomato you want here. Blueberries – never seen them here. Oranges – readily available. Apples – available, but I find them mushy. Grapes, plenty available here. Pears, I am not a fan.
Anyway, yes, it is a matter of taste, but I think that Philippine fruit is a mile ahead of what you can get in the States.
MindanaoBob
Hi Neal in RI – Yeah, I have eaten the little tiny dried fish, had it in a soup one time years ago. It was OK, I don't get excited about it, though. 😆
MindanaoBob
Hi Luc – Fried cockroaches? How could you call those disgusting? 😯
Andy Wooldridge
Hi Bob,
Actually Josey knew I had a problem with durian so she didn't try to get me to eat fart fish. I am so new the Philippine food that I don't even know the names of most I ate. But I did eat only Phil's food each time I was there. I think in most cases it was so good. Boiled bananas with sugar was ok. Avocado's, milk and sugar was different. I have never tasted a better pineapple of one as cheap. Or I should says many. Tomatoes need help but the other veggies were great. Oh and I hope nothing happens with the pork industry there because it was the best. Never found a good place to buy beef. Loved the way they chop the chicken so you never know what you are getting. hehe
MindanaoBob
Hi Andy Wooldridge – I know a couple of places where you can get tomatoes very similar to what you find in the States. If you go to a regular market, though, the tomatoes here are not so good.
Andy Wooldridge
Hi Bob.
I did find some of those tomatoes when I made taco's for Joseys family. But when she told her family what I paid, the scolding I got hehe I think I will just stay with those little ones. Bu the way I had to give recipe for taco's.
MindanaoBob
Hi Andy Wooldridge – The place where I get these tomatoes is from an Italian friend who lives in the hills above Davao, in Marilog/Buda. He grows more than 2 dozen types of tomatoes himself. They are excellent.
Andy Wooldridge
Bob I have almost an hector where I live and grow vegetables every year. One year I grew 53 different varieties of tomatoes. I was thinking of mailing Josey some seeds for when I get there. I am not sure if seeds are considered produce. I do not think I would want to fly in with them. hehe Oh I also had that year 30 squash plants of different types and not enough family, neighbors or friends to use all. was fun but that was 4 years ago and still I get teased about my garden.
MindanaoBob
Hi Andy – You should have no problem flying in with seeds. I know a number of people who have done that.
Ann
Hi MBob,
Honestly, I rather eat bulad; than balut & dinuguan (pig’s blood)… Never tried these in my intire lifetime….. I miss bulad especially danggit. Yum..
MindanaoBob
Hi Ann – I am going to follow your fine example. I'll never eat any of that in my entire life either! 😯
Phil n Jess R.
I have no liking for Leg-of-woman or Plantains ..no flavor no taste and I have nothing to compare it to here where i live ..ummmm home grown tomatoes so good … …haven''t tried the Easter egg surprise yet ….. ? Phil n Jess
Kent
With respect to Balut, I am sure the French do a similar dish (which is relatively common)… the thought always put me off though.
I've just spent 15 mins hunting around for the name of it, but I can't find it, so you'll just have to take my word for it 🙂
The next best thing I can think of is caviar, but that's not nearly as 'out there'. Tripe, haggis and so on are fairly common in the UK and would probably horrify a few Philippinos – as would black pudding.
Michael
Bob, my wife is from Mindanao and she tells me they used to love fried grasshopper. Very crunchy! 😯
Tommy
Hi Bob, I think Bob when you lived here in the US maybe you were so busy yoiu only ahd time to have store/supermarket vegetables and fruit but let me tell you i live in Florida in the heart of citrus country where we grow strawberries, blueberries, honeybell oranges, tangelos, and every variety of tomatoe on earth i mean real tomatoes not store hurry up and produce as many as you can ones either. I Love to Philppines and the fruit there however we all have the same sun all over the world and any soil can be replicated but my point is that now Bob you get your fruit and vege's from a farmers market so to speak …. here where its grown and a farmers market has the same quality fruits and vegetables. Ummm pass on the balut double portion of the lumpia tho 🙂
MindanaoBob
Hi Phil – When I mentioned the red bananas, I am not talking about plantains. I am talking Merado bananas – they are delicious, but hard to find.
MindanaoBob
Hi Kent – Interesting about the French, I didn't know about that.
Filipinos should be fine with black pudding, since dinuguan is quite similar.
MindanaoBob
Hi Tommy – Ha ha… I was expecting this from you – Florida boy and all… It's OK, I just think that Philippine fruit is better. We all get to have our own opinions! 😆
Ron
Hi Bob, I would never try balut or bulad .My fiance likes a coffee made from corn. I would try that before I would try your kape balos coffee.
MindanaoBob
Hi Ron – Yes, I know about that coffee made from corn! I never tried it, but if I have an opportunity I will. I'm with you on the bulad and balut!
Gary
I've had grasshopper in Gensan, not bad, crunchy – aftertaste is like, ummm mowed grass…
Danny
Kamusta ka Bob,
I am sure there are things I will love there and dislike there. But I have already promised Rose I will try what ever she cooks for me. But I did tell her, I am rethinking the Balut, because the filipino store literally within walking distance to my house has Balut for sale, and each time I go in there, I say I am going to try it. But I don't..hehe…so I guess I won't be able to get pass the fact that it is a tiny duck in there with a beak..and possibly feathers…ick….ick..
But I will try the other things she prepares for me, even the squid, and dried fish.
Good bye, and take care,
Danny
Danny
To Phil and Bob,
I have to agree about the plantains, I live with a hispanic family here in Florida, and they love plantains. I just don't see any taste to them at all..is probably the only food they make here, that I don't like, and I love there Puerto Rican food. They even have plantain like potatoe chips…is like eating a piece of card board..lol.
ok…now I am gone..,
Danny 😛
Phil n Jess R.
Hey Bob ..I have seen bunches of the red bananas in the market in gingoog city ….Have you tried there 🙂 ??….. Phil n Jess
margs
Hi Bob, hmmmmm yum yum I miss all the foods you mentioned of this topic…ohh wait except baby balot beerrrk !!! dont like it. Have you tried "adobong baki" (frog) and "pulutang iro" (dog) Bob?Yakkssss he he he I know some people in Davao usually 'standby' eating pulutan dog…grabeee !
Atong Estrada
Steve,
I'm not bias, you can all combine all the USA fruits they still can't beat a ripe Philippine Super Mango!!!
Green mango shake anyone?
USA fruits = overrated
Yeah, what other food does the US offers except apple pie and pot roast? NADA!
Hispanics cook better Filipino dish than Filipinos? Are you kidding me? Who is the chef at the White House? Who are the cooks on the cruise liners?
Allan Kelly
When I was in the Philippines, I didn't ask what is was. If it smelled good, I ate it.
One night while drinking beers with the guys in the neighbourhood, they brought out some sizzling meat on sticks. It tasted a little funny to me, so I ask what is was. They said "Dog". I thought they were joking, so I took another bite and asked, "What breed?". Everyone fell over laughing. Hopefully they were joking.
I watch a show on the Philippines last week, and they were making pizza with bagoong on it. I think I will skip that one.
Dale Head
Good Morning Bob, Tx. time!
Good fresh fish, vegetables, and fruit is one the things that has impressed me so much about the Philippines. I love to try to eat healthy and stay fit. I figured tomatoes, squash, and such would be around every corner and be much better than what I get here in the states. All of these names of fruit that have been mentioned that I can't even pronounce, I betcha I would like.
After being a long time farmer and rancher the one thing I grew up on was eating a lot of calf fries. They are good if you know how to cook them. Can't believe all of the strange things that they eat in the RP. I know I won't try that unborn duck and probally a couple of other things. I'll bet a lot of people wouldn't eat vienna sausage and potted meat either if they knew what it was made out of.
Thanks for all of the good information.
Dale
CRIS
hey, atong estrada,
Im with u man. theres nothing like filipino foods cooked by a filipino. Philippines have our own tropical fruit. Nothing like true filipino mango. We have different kinds of bananas. and theyre mostly ripened in the tree, unlike the fruits here in the states with all those gasses they put in the truck so to ripened them before arriving in the groceries. I know coz i used to work in the produce section.
Di ko alam kung bakit masyado yatang asar sa pilipino ang isang tao dyan. tuwing magcomment ay tila laging against sa atin. Bakit kaya?
Richard D
I have Balut every time I visit. I think I had the dried fish once. I like the KInilaw with vinegar and kalamansi, Jack fruit is great, fresh young coconut, and Manok Adobo. I had the 3 kinds of meat on a stick, I think they were chicken, beef, and pork. There are many fruits I want to try when I return in about 5 weeks. I love fruit and it is always best off the tree no matter where you are. I had chocolate covered grasshoppers in France.
John H
The one fruit I'm crazy about form the Philippines is Marang. Love it! A couple I missed while there are locally grown blueberries and peaches. The peaches grown in the Ozarks cant be compared to the bland stuff in the store either.
Durian I thought was OK but REALLY messed with my stomach! Had to take several stomach pills and drink milk.
Aldel
Someone mentioned squid in this thread. Dried squid and lightly fried. Not as smelly as dried fish, but tasty when either fried or barbecued and dunked in in vinegar with crushed garlic. Has the texture of a beef jerky. Great to chew on while drinking beer. I like bolinao too for the same reason.
Hudson
My portuguese grandmother used to eat calf brains and eggs for breakfast. I would never eat it. I love sisig though…go figure.
But your article reminds me of a trick i played on my brother in law and sister when they got married. I put limburger cheese on the exhaust manifold of his car. The smell was so bad they ended up using a rental for there honeymoon. I just dont know why anybody can eat something that smells like dirty socks.
John H
I was talking about missing blueberries and peaches from the US while I was there (still not back in the PH yet hopefully within the month) the peaches specifically grown in the Ozarks hills(southern MO).
John H
You've probably never had an especially good peach 😉
John H
I did have a mango pie and cooked like that mangoes are very similar. It definitely reminded me of peach pie.
Got my ancient vita-mix out of storage and repaired can't wait to get over there and try all the different fruit flavors in ice cream 😉
Oh and happy Birthday!
Beth
I love Philippine fruits way better than any fruits here in the US!
The first few times I ate bananas here in the US, it tasted like medicine to me. Then, I guess, I just got used to the taste because lacatan (my favorite too) is not available. When I went home to the Philippines in Oct 07 and had a taste of lacatan again, I was reminded of its flavorful taste that I missed so much. I ate lacatan everyday while I was there.
The only fruit that I like here that cannot be found in the Philippines (I think) are red ripe cherries which I can easily give up over Philippine mangoes, atis, lansones, guyabano, Davao pomelo, and many others.
My dad taught us to eat balut in the dark. 🙂 but I think if you want to give balut a try, the best are the ones from Pateros (a town near Manila, known for their balut sa puti). It's called as such because the chick part is actually wrapped in white stuff that you would not see or recognize the feathers and the beak. We were also taught to eat it whole and not bite it in half. That way you won't see and feel anything unusual, I guess. I find balut very flavorful. 🙂
The best fart fish I've tasted are the "palad" from Cebu. They're tiny, crispy, not too salty like others and doesn't stink as much (IMO).
I never learned to eat dinuguan. When I was a child I'd call that "putik". (literal translation: soil). 😆
In our family, whenever there's fish with head, they usually give me the fish head so I can devour the brain and the eyes. Oh, I can almost hear people saying "eeww!!!". Same thing with my husband, but when he gave it a try, now, I have to share the fish head with him. 😆
jA Anthony
I love to eat more fruits than eating breakfast in the morning. When it comes in healthy lifestyle. We have a lot of fruits in our yards and my lola's lands which is full of fruits. They have mangoes,rambutan,chico,jackfruit,santol,marang,mangoesteen,lanzones,avocado,sunkist and a lot more…But now i miss all of them while i was here in davao. I worked for almost 5 years here and i never go back at my birth place…
In the same way I love dried fish but i'l try balut also but it came out in my mouth it wasn't accepted with my stomach and also dinuguan.
MindanaoBob
Hi jA – Nothing better than fresh fruit right off the tree!