Five Filipino street foods have been ranked in the Top 50 World Street Food Masters awarded by the 2017 World Street Food Congress (WSFC).
The Pinoy sisig, lechon, pinangat, kansi beef soup, and BBQ made it to the Top 50 choices of heritage street food that started out as hawked one-dish items but have become culinary icons.
The WSFC panel of widely travelled commentators, writers, food celebrities and professionals looked at dishes from around the world that are found comforting to their community, lifted from heirloom home recipes that are sold in the street and have become successful.
The 2017 best street food awardees were reviewed for their mode of operations – ingredients sourcing, food preparation, basic hygiene factor, adaptability, consistency, confidence and the quality and flavour of food,
“We also factor in their ability to inspire and create jobs, reputation and opportunities for the populace, even the displaced and disadvantaged,” states the WSFC criteria.
Here are the 5 Filipino street foods that made it to the Top 50 World Street Food Masters list:
No. 4. Aling Lucing Sisig, Pampanga, Philippines Corner G. Valdez and Agipito del Rosario Streets, Angeles City, Luzon, Philippines Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 6:00am to 3:00am Contact No: +63 45 888 2317, 0906 288 8905 “This is the second generation of the grand dame that created this dish from very desperate and humble beginnings last century in Pampanga, Philippines. This chopped hog head salad with soy, lime and chilli is regarded as a national dish of sorts.”
No. 7. General’s Lechon, Manila, Philippines Second Floor, Petron Gas Station, EDSA Corner Arnaiz Avenue, Dasmariñas Village, Makati City, Manila, Philippines Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9:30am to 9:00pm Contact No: +63 2664 1700, +63 2509 4122, +63 91 7853 2466, +63 91 7553 0600 “This humble food shop that sees more delivery orders than at their little shop has this Negros style lechon perfected down pat. ‘Crispy out and soft inside’ is a common call cry among their fans and we must should add ‘juicy and oh, the garlic chilli’. They have a masala risotto lechon that beckons the jaded lechon lover.”
No. 22. Zeny’s Pinangat, Bicol, Philippines PNR Rd, Gapo, Camalig, 4502 Albay, in Bicol, Philippines Contact No: +63 916 288 5491
“They once sold this as a side dish in their carinderia but it was so popular that they close the street food shop down and concentrated on making nothing but this. This is a take-out only place, in a cottage backyard kitchen but it is peerless. They sell out every day and folks meander down the dirt lane to their charming house for it. The pork is wrapped in dry taro leaves is simmered for 3 hours in seasoned coconut milk in a sooty back kitchen that delivers a smoky, coconut- ty and soft taro pork parcel.”
No. 32. Sharyn's Kansi Beef Soup, Bacolod, Philippines C58, Narra Ave, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines, (034 433 1374). 7:30am to 8:00pm “This rare beef broth, stewed for hours with a local sour agent and fruit called Kansi, is a dish the Bacolod folks call their own. The beefiness, often made with the shank, is calmed by the sourness of the fruit. It all adds up to a beefy yet refreshingly piquant broth that goes with steamed rice.”
No. 46. Doods Ihaw and BBQ, Davao City, Philippines, Roxas Extension (Rotunda), hp 0909190 9146. 9:00am to 12:00am.
“Blink and you’ll miss this street food shop at the corner of a town intersection, unless you realise the smoke isn’t pollution but just the freshest wood fired tuna jowl being grilled and awaiting a dip in a better-then- yakitori-sauce. Best to come at night and jostle with the crowds for the complete experience.”
