Unlike a lot of Asian cooking, Filipino cuisine is distinguished by its moderate use of spices. American, Chinese, Japanese, Malay and Spanish influences have all left their mark in a subtle blending of cultures and flavors. All the regional dishes are available in Manila’s excellent restaurants, which, like the restaurants of all the main towns, offer a varied cuisine. For the less adventurous, there are also European-style restaurants and American fast food. Restaurants are generally informal, with table service. Rice is a staple of Filipino cuisine. Fruit is plentiful with mangoes, papayas,
bananas, chicos, lanzones, guavas and rambutans. Philippine preserves like
atsara (a chutney-like vegetable preserve) and numerous native desserts such as
Pili nut brittle bangus (a crunchy sweet made with the luscious pili nuts found only in the Bicol region) can be purchased in local markets.
Things to know: Waiter service is common in bars and there are no strict regulations regarding the sale of alcohol.
National specialties:
•
Lechon (roasted whole pig) is prepared for fiestas and family celebrations.
•
Kare-kare (an oxtail stew in peanut sauce served with
bagoong (fermented shrimp paste).
•
Sinigang (meat or fish in a pleasantly sour broth).
• Adobo (braised pork and chicken in a tangy soy sauce with vinegar and garlic).
• Seafoods such as
bangus (the bony but prized milkfish), crabs, lobsters, prawns, oysters, tuna, freshwater fish and the sweet
maliputo, found in deep-water lakes. It is freshly harvested and often simply grilled, boiled, fried or steamed and served with
kalamansi (the local lemon),
bagoong (a fish paste) or vinegar with
labuyo (the fiery native pepper).
National drinks: • Locally brewed beer, such as
San Miguel.
• Philippine rum.
Tipping: Usually 10% of the bill, unless service charge is included.
NightlifeThe choice of
entertainment in Manila displays the Filipino’s affinity for
music. Top hotels offer everything from high-tech
discos to lavish cultural songs and
dances, as well as superb pop singers and performers, trios, show bands and classical string ensembles. On most evenings there are cultural
performances by local artists or foreign groups at the many other venues for the performing arts. Free
concerts are offered by several parks every week, and occasionally by banks and other corporations. The Philippines also have some unusual musical groups like the
Pangkat Kawayan bamboo orchestra, which uses bamboo musical instruments, and the
Rondalla group, which uses tiny guitars like the ukelele.
Casinos are located in Cebu, Davao, Ilocos Norte, Iloilo, Manila, Pampanga and Zamboanga.
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