PLAZA RIZAL’s NIGHT LIFE: Street Foods

by: Rose Anne C. Crimen BTN2

Naga City is a place known not only because of it being a Pilgrimage site and of it containing variety of tourist attractions that mesmerizes the eyes of tourists but also of course of the food that satisfies the gastronomical cravings of each of us. Aside from its original dishes, Naga City also has a place allotted for tourist who wants to savor an unusual and bizarre food that will mark to in their minds as well as to their stomachs.

Are you familiar with Adidas? (Not the brand of shoes but the chicken feet) What about the balat ng baboy or the pig’s skin? With balun-balunan? Balut? Barbeque? Betamax? Fishballs? Isaw ng baboy and manok? Kikiam? Kwek-kwek? Proven? And Tokneneng?

Some may be unfamiliar with the terms I have mentioned, some may know what these are. These are the common foods that could be found along the streets of different places. Here at Naga City, these foods can be seen at the Plaza Rizal. Numerous stalls open usually during twilights. While crossing the location, you may be enchanted with the scent the grilling stalls create and be attracted to buy or to try some of the street foods offered by the said stalls.

With the interest of knowing what these foods look, let me describe some of the Naguenos street foods. 

1.     ADIDAS

Another common Philippine streetfood is the coined name "adidas" or chicken feet. Do you know that It is named as adidas because the chicken feet is three fingered and the popular sports wear trademark is three stripes? So, in Tagalog colloquial word, adidas would mean chicken feet.

2.   BALAT NG BABOY

This is the pig’s skin that is grilled mixed with sauce that adds flavor to its taste. Looking at the photo, it may not really look like it is soft when you eat it, but guess what? It is..

3. BALUN-BALUNAN

Balun-balunan is the chicken’s gizzard Eating it feels like you’re actually eating a gum since it gives you the feeling of chewiness.

4. BALUT

Who are not familiar with Balut? Balut is an original and unique dish of a Filipinio. This shows how adventurous we are when it comes to tasting variety of exotic and unusual dishes that are accessible and could be found within our country. Balut is hard-boiled duck egg with fetus. Inside the egg, you can see the duck’s undeveloped body. Its soup inside it and the content of it is said to help a man to maintain his physical strength especially giving strength to its knees for a better and healthy body.

5. BETAMAX

Betamax is the curdled chicken or pork blood, cubed and grilled with a special sauce that provides additional taste to the betamax itself. This is usually preferred by children since it is sold at lower price than the remaining street foods.

 

6. fISHBALLS

Fishballs are considered as a street food since it can be commonly found along the streets. It could also be seen at the outside of the schools and other institutions. Fishballs are balls made with fish meat, most often from Pollock, deep fried and served in skewers with sweet, sour and spicy sauceThis is preferred to be served as hot as possible so that its crunchiness and its taste is better.

7. ISAW

Isaw is a street food from the Philippines, made from barbecued pig or chicken intestines and innards. The intestines are cleaned, turned inside out, and cleaned again, repeating the process several times. They are then either boiled, then grilled, or immediately grilled on sticks. They are usually dipped in kurat (Filipino term for vinegar with onions, peppers, and other spices) then eaten. They are usually sold by vendors on the street corners in afternoons.

8. KIKIAM

Kikiams are usually sold with fishballs. These two are almost alike except to its shape. Fishballs are round while kikiams are long.

9.  KWEK-KWEK & TOKNENENG

Kwek-kwek and tokneneng may appear to be similar but they are not. Yes, they are both made from eggs and flour that is colored orange. However, the difference is, kwek-kwek are made from quail eggs while toknenengs are made from chickens egg. Yes, tokneneng are bigger than kwek-kweks.

These are some of the Naguenos dishes that are found along the streets that’s why they’re called street foods. They cost a lot cheaper than any cuisines but they surely give you satisfaction that will make you crave for more.

So, What are you waiting for? Visit plaza rizal now and have some street food to eat. J