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Dinuguan

Dinuguan is also called dinardaraan in Ilocano, or pork blood stew in English is a Filipino savory stew of blood and meat simmered in a rich, spicy gravy of pig blood, garlic, chili and vinegar. The term dinuguan comes from the word dugo meaning blood. It is recognizably thick and dark, hence the Westernized euphemism "chocolate meat." It is similar to the Singapore dish pig's organ soup, differing in that it does not contain vegetables and has a characteristically thick gravy. It is frequently considered an unusual or alarming dish to those in Western culture, though it is rather similar to European style blood sausage or British black pudding in a saucy stew form. It is perhaps closer in appearance and preparation to the ancient Spartan dish known as black gruel whose primary ingredients were pork, vinegar and blood. Dinuguan is often served with white rice or a Filipino rice cake called puto.

A similar dish is also known among the Bataks of Indonesia, called sangsang. Sangsang is made from pork or dog meat or more rarely, water buffalo meat, coconut milk and spices including kaffir lime and bay leaves, coriander, shallot, garlic, chili pepper and Thai pepper, lemongrass, ginger, galangal, turmeric and andaliman the fruit of a native shrub similar to Sichuan pepper.

Sangsang has special significance to the Bataks, as it is an obligatory dish in Batak marriage celebrations. 

Pili Nuts


Pili Nuts

I am the tastiest nut! Pili Nuts also known as the Philippine nut and considered the most important nut in the world.

Pagburnaya Pottery


Pagburnaya Pottery in Ilocos

Balot

A balut or balot is a fertilized duck egg with a nearly-developed embryo inside that is boiled and eaten in the shell. They are common, everyday food in some countries in Southeast Asia, such as in the Philippines, Cambodia, and Vietnam. Popularly believed to be an aphrodisiac and considered a high-protein, hearty snack, balut are mostly sold by street vendors at night in the regions where they are available. They are often served with beer. The Filipino and Malay word balut  means "wrapped" depending on pronunciation

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