Tausug food
TWO friends have been regularly showing off what they are having at this new satti restaurant, a very common sight in Zamboanga and Tawitawi, but something you don’t see in the city.
The restaurant, Davao’s Pers Satti Restaurant, states claim on being the first Tausug food restaurant in Davao, and friends who have been there (repeatedly) seem to be having a great time.
Thus, the date was set for lunch.
That was because, Ian G., who has been there before said the restaurant is only open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
That was the second attempt, by the way. The first attempt was last Monday, but our fellow date, Nino, had to seek medical attention. Thus, we moved it to Wednesday.
The group – Martin, Nino, and myself in one group, meeting with the other group, Mabel A., and daughter Stella, who came with her staff.
Martin, Nino, and I arrived first and Madz, the restaurant owner and her crew were also busy preparing the Piyanggang that I have pre-ordered.
She brought over Tausug kakanins as the first thing I asked for when I called her earlier was the Biyaki (corn suman that the Visayans call Binaki).
They only had a few biyaki left, she said, and so she offered other kakanins including Wadjit (biko or malagkit rice cake using black glutinous rice), daral or what looks like a lumpia made of crepe wrap with bukayo inside, and Pitis or a suman of ground black rice with bukayo.
Since Mabel and company where still not around and the Piyanggang was still being cooked, we were enticed to try their Satti, which Madz described as Tausug breakfast, and the Sulu coffee.
Satti are tiny barbecued meat (we got beef and chicken, although you can also get chicken liver) served with rice in spicy hot soup. This soup is not for the weak. It is hot and spicy.
Mabel and company finally arrived and was, like us, enticed to order satti as well, burning Stella’s tongue in the process.
Finally, the piyanggang arrived.
Piyanggang is grilled chicken served with a black sauce made of burned coconut and lemongrass and some other spices.
Thus, it looks like burnt, super burnt chicken. Don’t be discouraged from trying it. The chicken is simply delicious and makes the place worth a visit if only for this. Madz said piyanggang is a must-have dish in special occasions, like in a Tausug wedding. It’s the centerpiece in a wedding, she said.
The Satti, although a daily fare and not a special occasion specialty, is delicious as well.
In short… we ate breakfast, lunch, dessert and snacks, all in a matter of two hours, and we still craved to return.
There are others in the menu, but trying to eat all meals and snacks in two hours is too much.
Davao’s Pers Satti Restaurant is along the Matina Pangi Road, right across the exit gate of the Centerpoint parking lot, in a one-storey yellow building that has a parking area cum driveway.
It’s best if you call ahead to check on what you can have (or to order what you want), since they usually run out. The number is 09355997344.
Piyanggang needs several hours to prepare, so you can order it a day before (so that the chicken will be marinated longer, or at least in the morning so that you can have it for lunch). Otherwise, the satti can be ordered right off the menu. You can also have tiula itom (black soup), and beef culma (beef curry).