I visited the Philippines last winter with my sister. It was a tour organized by the Ambassdor to Canada. This was an incredible experience. The people, the food, the culture, the history, the scenery, the beaches....I could go on and about how wonderful everything was. I'll have to create several posts as we had numerous amazing gastronomic experiences during the 2 weeks we were there.
The most notable experience was during our island hoping tour in Palawan. We took a boat over to Cowrie Island. The sand was white with turquoise and teal pristine waters. It has to be the most beautiful beach and water I've seen to date. The waters were crystal clear and warm. It felt like you were taking a bath. All around you were tropical fish in a multitude of colours. They would swim right up to you. As you wade into the waters you also see different kinds of star fish and sea shells. This was paradise. I can see why Palawan was voted the #1 island in the world.
There was a small concession stand where you could buy fresh coconuts and other Philippine drinks and snacks. On the other side, they had several tables in cabanas set-up. As you walked further in, there was like a small market. Fishermen were out in boats and bringing in their fresh catches. It was incredible. They had lobsters, crab, various kinds of fish, scallops and clams to name a few. Just when you thought you'd seen it all, we find out they will cook the seafood you buy and bring it to you in the cabana. I was in heaven. Our group ordered a bit of everything.
After about 45 minutes, the food started to arrive. First it was the clam soup. The broth was fragrant and mild with the clams still tender and succulent. It was perfectly seasoned. Then it was the scallops. They were cooked in the shell with a spicy vegetable sauce. I was anxiously awaiting the lobster and I was not disappointed. Again it was cooked perfectly so that the meat was tender and moist. Dish after dish they kept coming out in what seemed to be a never ending caravan of food. We had ordered way too much, but none of us were going to let any of it go to waste. Some of the fish was prepared on the bar-b-q, others were fried and some baked. There was something for everyone and a few sides to compliment and complete the meal, not that we needed them! I don't think any of us ate dinner that night and we were still full the next day. We had gorged beyond belief. Not sure how any of us managed to walk back to the boat when it was time to leave. We actually extended our stay on the beach, we were having way too much fun to leave! Actually, we were so stuffed, we couldn't move.
Another thing that really stood out, was the fact that they understand that not everyone eats seafood or fish, so they brought in suckling pigs and chickens and roasted them on the bar-b-q. The meat and poultry was tender and well seasoned. It was obvious this meat had been marinated and they transported it over to the island by boat. Very smart. With tourism playing such a huge roll in their economy, they make sure everyone is accommodated and comfortable.
We were all amazed at how many different plates, preparations and seasonings they were able to concoct with such a primitive make shift set-up. Given the huge variety of dishes, you'd swear you were at a restaurant with a ginormous kitchen complete with a staff of dozens of chefs and cooks preparing all the food. I think there were maybe 5 people in a tiny hut with a home made bar-b-q in the back. There were 150 people on the island and most of them had ordered food, it was amazing how they managed to feed such a large group. They had open fires that they boiled water and made the soup over. Very creative and efficient. We could stand to learn a lot about simplicity. No fancy appliances or tools, they only have the bare essentials. Many of their tools were hand made.
This was an experience I will never forget. I will most definitely go back and strongly urge all of you to add Palawan to your bucket list. Seafood lovers will be in heaven. Having a Spanish/Latin background, seafood is a favourite in our house so I felt right at home.
Mabuhay!
Carm the Foodie
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