5 Food to Eat at Misamis Occidental

Why do you travel? Probably, most people take different trips to escape from day-to-day stress. Perhaps, some have the fondness of braving extreme adventures. 

In my case, it is during my sojourn that I get to learn more about interesting things or different norms of certain destinations. One sure way of learning about a locale is through discovering their native food. 

A local cuisine tells a lot about a place. Say for instance, what ingredients are rampant in their area, what is the climate of the place and, what does the majority of the population’s preferred taste.

During my recent trip to Misamis Occidental, I was lucky enough to have a delectable treat — from pungent pork dish to a nutritious fresh fruit —you’ll surely never run out of choices to eat. So here’s a list of food that you should never miss when you visit Misamis Occidental.




1. Ngo Hiong

If you get to travel at the Municipality of Jimenez, look for the Shanghai Noodle House on Nacional St. and order for their famous Ngo Hiong. Ngo Hiong is a variety of spring rolls or lumpia. For just 90 Php you can get to enjoy this traditional Chinese fried dish. What I like about this appetizer is that it is lightly salty and at the same time crunchy. 

Just a little reminder, place your order first and roam around the streets of Jimenez for about 30 minutes since it would take a little while to prepare your dish.

For more information, check out Shanghai Noodle House Facebook Page here: www.facebook.com/ShanghaiNoodle

2. Lechon

Drools! For the main entrée. 

Now we’re done with the appetizer and main dish. Let us now move on with the dessert.

An all-time favorite dish if not mandatory for any occasion, lechon (roasted pork) has always been part of any Filipino festivity. 

In fact, some places in the Philippines celebrates festivities for this tempting pork dish: Parade of Lechons in Batangas and in La Loma Quezon City. Forgive us Lord for idolizing food.

At first, I thought it was just a mundane lechon that I usually have back where I came from. You see, whenever this dish is served on the buffet table, you’ll most of the time get dismayed since first the pork skin is saggy, the meat is sometimes dry and, lastly, it is too difficult to bite—admit it, you have experienced something like this before. Yet, to my surprise. It was not the usual lechon. I R-E-P-E-A-T it is TOTALLY DIFFERENT! 

Apparently, it surpassed my expectations. The pork skin is super crispy that my mouth is convincing me to get more but my brain is stopping me to stop ‘coz I am having too much. Whereas, the meat is flavorful and juicy. Again, with my previous experiences eating lechons, I tend to spew up its meat because it is impossible to bite— emphasis on IMPOSSIBLE to BITE. Wanna know the secret? 

According from Johann of Johann’s Cusine, the secret lies on what they feed the pig. As they say it: You are what you eat. So perhaps, the pig that was tamed by Johann was so lucky that it was only given the best nourishment.

So if you want to also devour into this goodness, you may visit Johann’s Cusine at Bañadero Highway Ozamis City, Ozamis, Philippines. For more information like their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pg/JohannsCuisine.


3.Suman

Dubbed as the Suman Capital of Misamis Occidental, you can never run out of choices with the 16 variants of suman (rice cake wrapped in banana leaf) available at the House of Suman and Pasalubong Center in the Municipality of Clarin. Aye! You read it right: 16 delectable variants of suman—latik, chocolate moron, ube moron, plain, pinya, nangka, durian, balintawak, cheese, ube, ibus, buko, peanut, mango and, carrot. Some variants are seasonal.

Oops! Did I say that a piece would cost you a mere 8.50 Php: Now that’s a deal you can’t resist. My favorite would be the chocolate moron.

Other interesting products available here are melon flavored cow’s milk, ginger flavored pastillas and adobo flavored salted egg. I commend the local government of Clarin for coming up with this. First because it promotes local products, thus, supporting tourism and, second it gives livelihood to the locals.I really do hope that the government would ventured more into promoting local industry.




4. Koter

So here’s a drink not intended to be drank by minors: koter —a mixture of tuba (coconut wine), tablea and egg.

Oh yes! This native concoction is a hit in Misamis Occidental. In fact, a batirol — a wooden tool used in mixing chocolate — is used to make the drink frothy.

Actually, I never tasted a tuba before since most people are telling me that it is too strong to handle. Then again, I wanted to try it ‘coz I thought it was just like Bailey’s chocolate flavored whisky. Besides it is my first time in that place so might as well eat like the locals do.

The mixture left a chocolatey after taste. I must say that this drink attests that Filipinos can produce world class drinks.So boost your fun at Misamis Occidental by boozing koter.



5. Dragon Fruit

And let us now put the spotlight to this glorious glamorous fruit: the Dragonfruit.

This rounded pinkish fruit on the outside with a red pulp in the inside is one of the Ozamiz' pride.

To further capitalize with this marvelous fruit ,Johann of Johann's Cuisine is making dragonfruit flavored ice cream. For more information on the dragonfruit ice cream like their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pg/JohannsCuisine.

So if you’re a frequent traveler and a self-confessed foodie, visit Misamis Occidental and devour into a gamut of tempting food that will surely make you say lami— Bisaya for delicious.
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Shout out for the Big Difference Communications for bringing me there and many thanks to the Provincial Tourismof Misamis Occidental and Tourism Office of Ozamiz City for accommodating us.

Have you visited Northern parts of Mindanao? Do you have a favorite local cuisine that did not make it in my list. Tell us your story on the comment section below.