October Feast (Last of three parts)

CEBU, Philippines - The best way to a man's heart is through good food. Hikay Lutong Pinoy serves anything local yet has enhanced the flavors of the existing home-cooked comfort food recipes by adding more ingredients and select spices. The ordinary mongo soup is made more scrumptious with the addition of coconut milk and fresh seafood such as plump shrimps, mussels and crab meat!

Special Manang Gina's Mongo is worth the gulp. The serving can feed three hungry tummies. Another unassuming dish is the Sizzling Talong with Minced Pork – to add oomph to the ordinary fried talong, the tasty minced pork is simply a perfect match.  The flavorful Adobong Pusit with star anise is best paired with the Dilis Fried Rice (instead of digging for the usual yang chow) – you get all the flavors you want! Hikay is located at the ground floor of Calyx Building in IT Park, Salinas Drive, Lahug.

Lechon Bai.

Kusina Ni Nasing's boneless lechon belly is by far the tastiest and succulent I've had, ever! The whole slab that weighs three to four kilos (can be enjoyed by four pax) is stuffed with aromatic herbs and spices, laurel leaves, lemograss and local chilies to achieve the appetizing lechon belly. Kusina Ni Nasing is located on Englis, V. Rama Avenue, Guadalupe and along A.S. Fortuna in Mandaue.  

Fiesta Cebuana.

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu in your palate – this is Cebu Parklane International Hotel's offer via the Fiesta Cebuana Buffet at Kan-anan, an authentic Cebuano restaurant located at the 4th floor. The wide buffet spread includes only the good stuff that the local cuisine has to offer: Tinuwang Manok Bisaya, Pochero, Calderetang Kanding, Adobong Kangkong, Kinilaw nga Nangka, lato/guso salad, Larang, Adobong Baticon/Atay, Balbacua, the bestseller – Ginabot, Paklay, Labtingaw, Lansyaw, Torta de Argao, Bico with Latik, among many others. This Cebuano feast happens every Wednesday, dinnertime, for only P399 nett which includes one round of iced tea, with acoustic entertainment. (FREEMAN)