F/Stop (Food Stop): When in Albay, Part 5: Of Rice Puto and Baduya
[This is a series of “F/Stop (Food Stop): When in Albay” post. The write-up from this post is accompanied by some excerpts from “A Journey into Albay’s Culinary Heart” by Monica De Leon for InFlight Traveller Issue 9, 2015.]
Local snacks differ from region to region in the Philippines. Each has its own unique taste and preparation. But what makes these local snacks unique are the stories it tells, respectively. Actually, some of these are family heirloom recipes handed down from generation to generation. These are one of the best delicacies you’ll want to bring home from a trip and share it on the table.
Rice Puto of Ligao “Ligao’s rice puto or local rice cake, a mix of pounded rice and glutinous rice put in halved coconut husks, then filled with locally made macapuno or freak coconut, cooked over wood fire and typically used in desserts. Ligao is coconut country and has an abundance of the produce for its cake, best served right after cooking.”
and Baduya of Daraga… “Baduya or maruya, deep-fried coated saba banana, is a staple snack for Albaynon locals. Go buy from Angie’s Baduya in Doña Maria Subdivision in Daraga whose version is the favorite of the late travel journalist Susan Calo-Medina. Angie dips the sliced banana in a special batter; puts the dipped bananas on cacao leaves for added flavor; and fries it. The baduya is fried to perfection slightly crusty outside; the banana flesh all sweet and tender.”
My personal favorite, I can eat this all day... “Angie’s also sells other native snacks like bayokbok, a snack of ground cassava, glutinous rice, coconut and milk turned into balls and dipped in special flour; banana cue, camote cue (deep-friend banana and sweet potato (local noodle dish).”
Philippine snacks lean towards on the sweet side and to be honest, I have no sweet tooth. I’m very selective to these sweets. But if I did taste one and kinda like it, I’m hooked on it. Albay’s sweets are like those — “Hooked on a Feeling.“
Next, part 6: Of Chili Ice Cream and Halo Halo
