Fiesta Sorpresa

YOU must drop by Fiesta Sorpresa whenever you're in Digos City or passing through en route to other cities or provinces.

The name of the restaurant teases the taste buds with a promise of a Filipino-style feast featuring some of our favorite fiesta dishes that we usually experience only during special occasions.

From soups and appetizers to seafood and meat dishes you are sure to find a dish that will delight your palate and fill your tummy.

Fiesta Sorpresa offers three soups that are Filipino family dinner staples: Beef Bulalo, Sinigang na Bangus, and Sinampalukang Manok. All three soups have tasty broths full of vegetables and meat. Fiesta Sorpresa does not scrimp on ingredients.

My favorite from among the three is the Sinampalukang Manok. The soup is made with real sampaloc leaves. None of those industrially manufactured flavourings or seasonings. The leaves have an extra tanginess to them that adds even sourer flavor and an added texture to this truly Filipino soup.

Moving on from the soups to the appetizers, Fiesta Sorpresa has a crowd favorite in their Sweet Spicy Chicken Wings. The usual spicy glaze that covers chicken wings is combined with a delicious sweet taste that Filipinos love. It is best eaten with your fingers. Get your fingers dirty with the delicious sweet and spicy glaze that will surely get you even more excited to eat even more.

Another Fiesta Sorpresa must-try appetizer is the Lumpia Sariwa. This one is a treat for those who are on a diet. It has tasty crunchy vegetables in a delicate egg wrapping and served with a peanut sauce.

The seafood menu of Fiesta Sorpresa features three seafood meats: bangus, tuna, and squid, all fresh from nearby markets and served with a whole lot of flavor. The bangus is served on a sizzling plate, or as sisig. The tuna and the squid are both served either on a sizzling plate or grilled.

The real stars of Fiesta Sorpresa's menu are their Fiesta Specials. The diners' favorite is the sinfully delightful and unforgettable Binagoongang Bagnet. Bagnet, an Ilocano specialty, is deep-fried pork belly with the skin crisped to perfection. It is served with sautéed bagoong which is salty with a hint of sour.

The bagnet definitely goes well with the bagoong. Prepare to eat a whole lot of rice with this dish.

Another favorite is the Humba. Their humba has a whole lot of flavor packed in tender pork belly served with an unforgettable sauce. It has the taste of soy sauce with some star anise and peppercorn. The humba is also best eaten with rice. Hearty!

For those who want to stay away from sinful dishes, there's the Relyenong Bangus. The Relyeno is made with flaked bangus meat cooked with some veggies and some spices. It's so flavorful you won't think of any dipping sauce as one usually does with fish.

Other must-try dishes are the Garlic Fried Chicken and the Baby Back Ribs which are bursting with flavor definitely not like any other fried chicken or ribs dish you've tasted.

If you're dining alone or on a tight budget, Fiesta Sorpresa has some Tipid Meals you can choose from which are priced from P49 to P109 only.

End your meal with a bowl or fresh fruits, a glass of halo-halo, or a slice of cake.

I'm sure at the end of the meal you will definitely vow to come back to Fiesta Sorpresa for more of their delicious Filipino dishes. Don't forget to bring your family and friends because there's a lot of good food to be shared and great memories to be made at Fiesta Sorpresa.

They also have a function room where you can enjoy their delicious dishes while you have your family affairs, celebrations, and business functions.

Fiesta Sorpresa in Digos City is open daily from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. They are located at Rizal Avenue, Barangay San Jose, Digos City. It is beside Hotel Crisabelle.

For more information, like their page at http://www.facebook.com/FiestaSorpresaDigos.