Satti de Zamboanga at Andy's Special Satti: Halal-Certified Sweet and Spicy Breakfast

Wazzup Pilipinas!

I've done a lot of readings online several days before going to Zamboanga to check out what to expect and look for to satisfy my cravings for native delicacies of the city. It isn't everyday that you get the opportunity to visit the place so it's best to make the most of it rather than contend myself with what the hotel has to serve.

One that caught my attention was the Satti - an exotic Hala-certified local culinaria signifying the unique ties between Christians and Muslims in Zamboanga City, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. It is a mix of cubed rice and grilled beef or chicken (meat or liver) barbecue poured with a generous amount of sweet and spicy thick sauce. The meat were like literally swimming because the sauce were so plenty.

The dish is a hit among tourists because the taste of this piquant soup is something to perk up one's day especially when eaten early in the morning.

Best for breakfast, the Satti is a regional delicacy popular in Zamboanga but may not translate well for the people from Manila. We are used to sweet and salty in the mornings along with our favorite 3-in-1 instant or brewed coffee, but at Andy's Satti, they recommend sodas or softrinks as a thirst quencher, and spice reliever just in case you are not used to the spiciness.

Alavar Seafood Restaurant of Zamboanga: Everyone Went Gaga Over the Curacha

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The spanner crab or more popularly known in Zamboanga city as the Curacha is like a gigantic brilliant-red orange cockroach with pincers and fringed with hair at its sides. The name curacha is so close to the chavacano word cucuracha which literally means cockroach, thus the name.

It may be a weird looking monster-like crustacean but many are longing to dine on these Indo-Australian crabs once they are cooked, minimally either steamed or boiled, because it is best experienced in its natural exotic flavor, so as to preserve its original taste.

You should add sauce toppings made with a combination of gata (coconut milk), ginger, chili and other aromatics to enhance the flavor. But the well-loved special sauce from the Alavar Seafood Restaurant seems to be the most highly recommended in the city.

Contrary to what others are saying, these sea creatures can also be found in other waters aside from just Zamboanga. It just so happens that Zamboanga was the one that made it popular as the iconic must-try native delicacy when you go visit Asia's Latin City.

Palmeras Restaurant of Zamboanga: Doing the Knickerbocker All the Way

Wazzup Pilipinas!

You'll know everyone liked it when we can't stop talking about it. The ultimate proof is when everyone votes to order it on the last day before going back to Manila. This delectable dessert from Palmeras Restaurant of Zamboanga was simply a blockbuster hit for all of us that we persuaded our host to treat us out again with the yummy treat while we ate at another restaurant.

The Knickerbocker from Palmeras Restaurant is not really that complicated to make because its simply similar to our native halo-halo but instead of beans, sweet potatoes, and other traditional halo-halo ingredients with ice, they used an assortment of fruits instead, plus a few jellos then generously trickled with cream and topped off with a scoop of strawberry ice cream.

There was melon, banana, ripe mango, watermelon,.... and one of our companions even said he tasted avocado somewhere in the mix.

The Palmeras Restaurant serves a lot of delightful dishes but it was their dessert that became the talk of the afternoon, and until the next grueling days when we felt hot under the scorching heat. "How I wish I was eating a knickerbocker right now" I would say to myself. Maybe because it had an extraordinary name unlike any other but what is a name if it didn't taste great as well.

In fairness to the other dishes from the restaurant, I will also share them with you as they also brought out a huge appetite from our group.