Banana Ketchup from The Philippines Yes, it’s ketchup, and yes it’s made from Bananas! In between the last of my two final social integration articles I wanted to put in something a bit lighter. Banana Ketchup made the list! Where does Banana Ketchup come from? The Philippines! There’s also rumored to be a variation of… Continue reading more »

Chicken Lauriat from Chow King So fast food may not be deemed as great in the rest of the world. But, in the Philippines it’s becoming a mainstay of city life. It’s not surprising to find huge groups celebrating birthdays, anniversaries or mini conferences in fast food restaurants here. For the traveler hopping into a fast food restaurant… Continue reading more »

Dried Bolinao fish Dried Bolinao is the official name, stinky fish is my nickname. There are many many types of dried fish in The Philippines. Walk into any market and you will find a section dedicated to sun-dried fish. From whole squid, to slices of the unknown. From fish heads to delicate tiny little fish it’s all here. Real names… Continue reading more »

Palitaw from The Philippines I’ve only just come across Palitaw. And, it is already my second favorite sweet food in The Philippines. Made from sticky rice, sugar and then dipped in coconut it’s a delicious not overly sweet food. The little dusty stuff your see to the left is ground peanut. A little more about Palitaw… Continue reading more »

Halo Halo from The Philippines Desert time in the Philippines! Halo Halo is the name given to the ever popular shaved ice dish in the Philippines. The ingredients of this sweet ice cream dish change depending on region, and … well, who’s making it. But the core items are shaved ice, milk, kidney beans, banana,… Continue reading more »

Suman from The Philippines Mashed sticky rice cooked in coconut milk and wrapped in banana leaves. Suman sounds good. And, it can be really good if you find the right vendor. The problem with this common sweet treat in The Philippines is that many vendors take short cuts in making it. Suman made with condensed… Continue reading more »

Biko from The Philippines This is an odd ball sweet snack I nearly passed over one day. Biko is made from sticky rice, cooked in coconut milk and mixed or topped with caramel. It’s not that easily found. And, usually only shows up at parties for children. But if you ask around, there will be… Continue reading more »