Hopia de Pili

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Hopia de Pili Can you imagine pili as a filling for hopia?! Unknown to many, Samar has hectares of pili plantation. Take a luxurious journey of relishing mazapan de pili as filling for a crunchy, dome-shaped cookie. The dough is placed in a “hurmahan,” a wooden mold chiseled with filigree fitted for royals. Embark on … Read more

Bola Catalana

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Bola Catalana Meet the Catbalogan version of embotido. The ground pork mingles with sausage and cheese, flour, salt, and pepper. What makes it unique? Milk is added while the mixture is enfolded in “sensal,” or leaf lard, which goes through the steaming process followed by baking. Some families go straight to baking. A heritage dish … Read more

Salvaro

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Salvaro Coconuts are widely cultivated in Samar Province.  From the tree comes this coconut-dusted wafer: thin, light, crisp, and sweet. Call it vegan, a healthy nibble any time of the day. It is also a perfect accompaniment to a warm cup of coffee!  Indulge in this crispy-licious goodness in Samar! How to make Salvaro (Kabkab) … Read more

Queseo

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Queseo Did you know that you can make cheese out of three ingredients? Meet queseo, a native cheese made from pure carabao’s milk. The procedure starts by boiling the unskimmed milk. Once it cools down, scoop and place it in a bowl with a small amount of coconut vinegar. Swiftly gather the mixture at the … Read more

Tamalos

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Tamalos This culinary jewel of Catbalogan, Samar, is a luxurious version of typical tamales. A Mexican-inspired dish that landed on Philippine shores during the Manila-Acapulco Trade (1565-1815). Chunks of vinegar-pork belly (simmered with vinegar and spices) and “Pipi-an” (sweet and spicy peanut sauce) rest in layers of lumpia wrapper – on a bed of larded … Read more