Spicy Bicol Cuisine

“Spicy Bicol Cuisine”

Bicolano cuisine is primarily noted for the use of chili pepper and gata (coconut milk) in its food. The region deserves its reputation to be called as “Spicy Bicol”, where cooking dishes with no sili is not cooking at all.

What makes the Bicolano dishes truly unique in the islands, it’s because of the two main ingredients, gata and silinglabuyo, that provide its distinct flavors. The smell of the dishes will definitely captures the aroma for the brain neurons, identifying the dish as the “best one” and the taste will certainly makes it one of a kind that satisfies an empty stomach.

The highly recommend Bicolano dishes are:

Laing: Taro leaves cooked in coconut milk

Laing is one of the favorite Bicolano dish made of gabi/taro leaves cooked in coconut milk. Its sahog varies from fish, meat, crabmeat/tinapa.

Trivia:

Don’t you know that taro leaves are water proof? So, the alternative way to clean the leaves is wiping them carefully with a paper towel to get rid of the dirt. Also, another tip is to peel off a part of the fibrous stem to avoid itchy with your taste buds. 

Cooking procedure:

·      Boil the 2^nd extracted coconut milk in a pan

·      Mix the onion, garlic, ginger, dried fish, pork fat and shredded taro leaves

·      Simmer until boiled

·      Add salt and vetsin according to taste

·      Add the 1^st coconut extract

·       Simmer until cooked to achieve an oily texture; you will    to have two extracted coconut milk with the 2^nd batch poured in the dish.

Pinangat: layered taro leaves cooked in coconut milk

Pinangat which we get from a lady who goes around the neighborhood carrying the pinangat in a rattan basket with banana leaves. It is another staple food for our dinner.

Pinangat comes in two varieties, one of which is just pure layers of Gabi leave while the other spices. Both varieties are available hot or plain. It is traditionally that the non-spicy ones are for the young member of households and the spicy is for the adult.

Surprisingly, the two bicolano dishes which inspired some bicolano to make a unique kind of pizza made of pinangat/Laing with pineapple chunks, mushroom, and mozzarella. It doesn’tsound good but by the time you will try the food, you will definitely enjoy it because it has good taste.

Ginataangkuhol (snails cooked in coconut milk)

Kuhol/snail was considered parasites by farmers for their ability to reproduce rapidly and destroying crops, the golden kuhol is now considered one of the finest delicacies in the Philippines.

Trivia:

Though. The golden kuhol were treated as pests by the farmers, it is rich in protein and energy giving fat which the shell contains calcium, phosphorous, vitamins and minerals which can be recycled as animal feed.

Cooking procedure:

·      Heat the cooking oil in a pan; sauté the onion, garlic, ginger and kuhol

·      Pour in coconut milk; let simmer for a while

·      Wait until it boils then add spices

·      Put the kangkong and sili; simmer until cooked

Bicol Express

Bicol Express is the no. 1 favorite dish of Bicolano. Its level on the spicy scale shows that bicolano love for spicy dishes.

Trivia:

Bicol express was popularized by CelyKalaw, a native of Laguna and owner of a restaurant in Malate, Manila. Kalaw’s family moved to Naga when she was 3 years old. When she grew up and returned to Manila. She invented the dish that became known as Bicol express named after the train that travels from Paco station to Bicolano and now a mainstay in Bicolano cuisine. (Source: Wikipedia.org)

Cooking Procedure:

·      Pour the coconut milk into the pan

·      Put the garlic, onion, ginger, bagoongalamang, pork, kamias and chilis

·      Simmer until the pork is ender then add spices

·      Continue to simmer until the pork is fully cooked

These dishes are pure comfort food and I assure that you will ask for more rice and forget the meaning of ’diet’ if you try it.

KHRYZ ALLYNE VALENZUELA

More fun in BUHI by Joanne Mae 'AJAH' Avila

So since the last few days I've been busy with my OJT and school stuff, I decided to go for a little road trip/ relaxation/ jamming at Buhi, Cam. Sur last April 21. We went to Itbog falls at around 12 noon(since i arrived late) via boat and trekking and had our lunch at the falls side. The place was really A-W-E-S-O-M-E, you people should try it out.

Facts:

• Buhi is bounded by Mt. Asog and Mt. Malinao. 
• Buhi is know for their famous fish called SINARAPAN or TABIOS, the smallest edible commercial fish in the world.
• The top tourist destination in Buhi is the Itbog Falls.
• It's a  30-feet high body of water/falls located in Barangay Sta. Cruz in Buhi.
• A 30 mins boat ride across Buhi Lake from downtown and a 30 mins trek, great destination for those who are into adventure.
• Itbug falls is considered as one of the MAJESTIC FALLS in the Philippines (seeing it, you'll believe  it)

There are also other resorts in Buhi but the tranquility of the Itbug Falls and the Buhi Lake itself with the backdrop of Mt. Asog crater is a sight to be hold.

Here's some photo's. Hope you like the place:)

here's our ride to Sta .Cruz

i love this shot :3

At the drop off point, we only paid 15 pesos/ pax for the ride. It's really easy to find a boat ride going to sta. cruz but going back to the town is really tricky. So here's a tip, you should get your mesmerize mind and body off the falls and better get back to the drop off place just before 5pm so that you could wait for boats to pass by. :)

Trekking
this was a long walk, but worth it.

Itbog Falls, isn't it lovely?

The current was really strong but it's so good when it hits you. it's like a massage sort of feeling. HAHAHA!

this is my 3rd time to visit the place and it is still worth the sweat and the long walk.

(First was for the NSTP-Outreach, but i didn't get near the falls 'cause it's forbidden for girls.)

Trek to Itbog Falls, experience nature’s wonder and take in the breathtaking scenery,

Hope you like the place and visit some time, if your interested:)

What is it really like to be a tourism student?

by: Merrylyn Autor

No one can ever describe nor define such unless the one become such. 

Is’t just about having pleasing personality? 

Beauty? Looks? Height? 

What about the Wits?

Some people think that you have to be tall, pleasing and good looking as a pre-requisite of your career. And that's aside from being smart and friendly. We all bear sacrifices of the rough study, but in addition to it, tourism students are expected to be physically presentable.

Hasty generalization prejudices and misjudgments are inevitable. 

These are rampant, whether they were directly or indirectly implied by the great critiques. 

It could not be as an astounding profession perceived by many, like those who normally takes licensure exams and such.

Tourism promotes the beauty of each land and nation. A wonderful land attracts investors, as well as a pleasant economy. We cannot deny the fact that a country's tourism state should not be taken for granted. The Tourism course in college should not be taken for granted, just like all of the other courses. All are equally important in their respective aspects, thus, for the development of the country.

Indeed, one can say that we're living on a free country. Opinions can be drop anywhere, freedom is everywhere. Though, the responsibility over it, the considerations and the sensitivity lacks.

What we all need is respect for each individual and the nobility of each path chosen, not rude judgments and commentaries.

Be Proud to be a Tourism Student! :D