Is it just me or do others run into that proverbial brick wall mentally when they have a foreign guest in town and the question is raised: “Where do we eat?” While I am sure to drum up a few suggestions here and there, I am certain that my indecision leaves room for better culinary pitches from others.
Of course, there are also other factors like price, location and dietary restrictions that make one’s decision a little more difficult. Even for a food writer like myself, I don’t mind doing a quick search on Google: cebu food spots affordable nice instagram.
Just recently, the wife’s boss arrived for a Philippine visit—with his sole stop here in Cebu. He was an American with Taiwanese roots, married to his sweetheart of Mexican lineage. He was already an adventurous eater, which probably made food decisions both easier and harder.
I had the privilege of playing 16th wheel that weekend in their company outing of 15 employees from around the Philippines. Their HR was kind enough to allow me to hang out. I was a humble recipient of the trademark Filipino hospitality as well that weekend.
And even though I certainly was a non-factor to their fun getaway, I tried my best to contribute with foodie suggestions.
I had a few fun chats with Titing (real name withheld) about California and about food trips in general. “Try everything at least once,” he said. I agreed, subscribing to the same food philosophy as well. We both took losses though, mine in the form of stinky tofu and his in the form of fertilized duck egg, or what we call locally as balut.
He explained how the Taiwanese street food was actually delicious “once you get past the smell.” In response, I told him that next time he attempts to eat balut, he should do so under the cover of darkness like most of us do under dilapidated street lamps. “People hardly eat it with the lights on.”
It was a non-stop, food-fueled weekend. I wasn’t with the group the entire time, but I had gathered some information and come up with a list of what they fed their boss (in random order): Lechon, Lechon Belly, Lechon Paksiw, Pork Barbecue, Chicken Barbecue, Kinilaw na Isda, Chorizo, Scallops, Grilled Pork, Grilled Fish, Tuna Panga, Chicharon, Pork Steamed Fried Rice, Siomai sa Tisa, Empress Roll, Hakaw, Shrimp Toast, Garlic Buttered Shrimps, Samgyupsal, Chickenjoy, Spaghetti, Cakes, Pancit, Sisig, a rare Vegetable Salad sighting, lots of white rice that would make Mang Inasal proud, and his favorite from the trip: Tuslob Buwa.
The man was a champ who never backed down. I believe he’s taken some dried mangoes with him back to the States, too.
So what do you feed a foreign friend who visits Cebu? Everything.