TASTE OF ZAMBOANGA
ZAMBOANGA City – During my four-day stay in Zamboanga City last October 9 to 12 for the celebration of Zamboanga La Hermosa Festival, I didn’t miss the chance to explore and get a taste of their popular seafood dishes and other local specialties which had a little Spanish influence.
After covering different events of the Hermosa Festival 2015 that include the Mascotta de Zamboanga, Regatta de Zamboanga, Parade of Lights: Float Competition, Street Dance competition, among others, we were privileged enough to roam around different restaurants and get a taste of the wide array of their specialties.
CURACHA
The whole trip made me really happy since I’m a big fan of seafood particularly crabs and shrimps. That’s why one of the must-try food when you’re here in Zamboanga is their Curacha. Curacha, is a specie of deep sea crab which according to the locals can only be found in the waters of Zamboanga.
But the best place to try the Curacha dish is at Alavar Seafood Restaurant. Our group was lucky enough since the trip was sponsored by the Department of Tourism (DOT) Region 9, we were saved from the burden of the expenses. Now back to the Curacha, the minimun order of Curacha is around P850 and it may be more pricey but depends on the kilo of the Curacha you want to order. Curacha is served with an alavar sauce, a mixture of coconut milk and other spices. It’s much better if you bring your friends with you so you can split the bill.
ZAMBOANGA WHITE
After a long exposure from the heat of the sun, the best way to feel refreshed and relaxed is to take a sip of their Zamboanga White shake. It is a refreshing drink served in most restaurants and hotels in Zamboanga City. The fresh fruit shake is made from milk, sugar, lychees and pineapple. Definitely it’s a good drink to pair with your inihaw and seafood dishes.
KNICKERBOCKER
Another famous ‘panghimagas’ or dessert in Zambo is the knickerbocker which is the local version of an ice cream sundae. A pink ice cream sits on top of the variety of fruits with milk. It costs at around P80 per order.
But local entreprenuers added new twist to this dessert as they added a chocolate popsicle to the mix which made it more sweet but the orginal flavor still lingers.
SATTI
Satti is a local favorite barbecued meat similar to the Malaysia’s Satay. For those budget-conscious tourists, Jimmy’s Satti and John’s place are the best choices for this one.
The barbeque meal is served with puso (rice which is wrapped in coconut leaves shaped like a heart thus its name) which is sliced into chunks and placed on a thick spicy sauce.
You may want to come early on these places as they are usually filled with customers all throughout the day. They say mornings is the best time to eat at a Satti place.
Definitely the entire trip satisfied my cravings for seafood and local specialties. I’m now eager to be back again in next year’s Hermosa Festival not only to indulge myself with these food specialties but also to take part in the festivities. Thank you again to DOT-9 especially to Regional Director Mary June G. Bugante and her staff for the accommodation and tour all around Zamboanga City.