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Sunday December 28, 2008
Today marks my second day here in Ilocos Norte, specifically in Laoag, with several destinations to visit on my list. So up I was by 6:00am to freshen up with a hot shower, and prepare for the day ahead.
We left the hotel around 6:45am, and had breakfast at a nearby eatery suggested by my driver. The place served a delicious variant of pinapaitan, a signature Ilocano stew served steaming hot.
Known for its distinct savory taste, the soup is traditionally made using goat innards flavored with animal bile, ginger, and chili peppers.
One thing really memorable on this trip is the food. Ilocos Norte cuisine is famous for crunchy pork, fresh vegetables, and sharp local vinegar. Meals highlight fresh garlic, fermented fish paste (bagoong), and grilling over open coals.
In addition to pinapaitan, other must-try main dishes include:
- Bagnet: Deep-fried pork belly with ultra-crispy skin and tender meat, boiled and fried twice.
- Pinakbet: A mixed vegetable stew of bitter melon, eggplant, okra, and squash, seasoned with savory bagoong.
- Poqui-Poqui: A comforting scrambled egg dish tossed with smoky grilled eggplants, tomatoes, and onions.
- Dinardaraan: The local version of dinuguan, made dry or soupy using pork or beef offal simmered in rich blood and vinegar.
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| Clockwise: Bagnet, pinakbet, dinardaraan, poqui-poqui. |
Shortly after relishing a hearty, nourishing breakfast, we headed off to Sarrat.
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| 7:40am. On the way to Sarrat. |
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