Kinilaw na Tuna

Staying in Gensan is not complete if you are not going to eat tuna.  One of the best way to experience this is to eat it raw. If the Japanese have their raw fish dish called sushi, we Filipinos have a version called “Kinilaw” or “Kilawin”.  It is the combination of raw tuna meat with cucumber, tomatoes, onions, vinegar, salt and pepper and chilis. In General Santos City, this is very common dish at the area and one which I can recommend to have kinilaw is at Nikolai.

Where to Find  

Nikolai Barbeque Grill and Seafood is located downtown of General Santos City along Aranghita st. THey are known for their delicious seafood dishes and very affordable price. I bet  you, you will be surprise how may dishes you can have with your 500 pesos.  They serve the freshest catch of the day at a very affordable price.  When you are in the place, never miss their Kinilaw. One of the best kinilaw that I have tasted.

Luto ni Nanay

After spending too much of the cholesterol overload at barbeques, bulalo, durian, inasal and beer, I decided to eat at a simple restaurant with veggies, simple food, simple dessert, simple soup but all were delicious.  I came into this eatery and it is called Nanay’s eatery.  They have this specialty of the house called Saucy Wong.  This is one breaded meat with plenty of sauce that is mouthwateringly great!!!  Another great stuff in Nanay’s eatery is the  Kinilaw na Langka.  It is jack fruit served with vinegar sauce.  Delicious padin!!!  I also had  ginisang Baguio Beans. Wow!! This is really a food tripping.  What about the fish dish? Of course!!! There should be two and that is  paksiw na galunggong and another  kinilaw na dilis.  Rapsa talaga!!!  These are served with their free soup.  What about the dessert? It will not be complete without it.  Syempre, we had our cassava cake.  One of the best cassava cake I had for years.  Ang sarap sobra!!!  This was one of my best lunch that I had in my stay is Davao.  

Sometimes we look for known and flamboyant places only to find out that what they serve are very simple to make and commercial in taste.  There reason for it is because who i in charge of the kitchen?  Some are those who studied in prestigious culinary schools whose creation are more of the presentation and not on the taste.  The taste is what these small carenderia’s leverages on and not too much on the presentation.  That is also the reason why people frequented these places because most of the time, the owner is the cook.  It is like eating in the house and the prices are much less than the big and known restaurants. 

Where to find

Nanay’s Eatery is along J.P. Laurel st. Lanang Davao city. It is beside Bayan Building and infront of Grand Regal Hotel and Casino.  This restaurant are frequented by people for the near by offices.  They are open as early as 7:00am and closed before 9:00pm.  This is one restaurant in Davao that I use to go since 1999.  Up to now, they still serves one of the best Lutong Bahay in the area.  When Davao, don’t forget to pay Nanay a visit in her humble restaurant that serves awesome food!!!  Iba parin ang luto ni Nanay. 

Kinilaw

Another delicious kinilaw version aside from fish has originated in Navotas and Cavite. .  This is Kinilaw na Talaba. It is raw oysters, in vinegar, chilis, onions, pepper and salt. It is also very good with cucumber.  I tasted this during one my drinking session last week. This was very delicious and I goes very well with my favorite white wine, GATO BLANCO.  This was given to my uncle by his brother-in-law who is from Navotas.  Navotas and Cavite are places where there is an ample supply of oysters.

Where to find

This is common in coastal areas and you can have this prepared by the people who live there.  Rarely that you will find it served in restaurants but you can request.  For me, I suggest you have it prepared by yourself because there are some factors that might give you an upset stomach specially that this is raw.  Make sure also that there’s no red tide if you are to taste this very delicious delicacy.  Caution:  Eat this with stomach full. Never eat it if you are hungry. For those whose stomach is not yet strong when it comes to raw food, make sure that you have your medication within reach.  I experienced it already and the pain will make you very weak.  Right now, I got immune to it already. No more pains,  only pleasure in eating oysters. Pero, ingat parin.  J          

Kinilaw

Tuna is everywhere in General Santos one of my favorite dish is Kinilaw.  It is made of raw tuna, mixed with onions, cucumber and sometimes tomato is added in other version. Final ingredient is salt and vinegar. I also tasted a version with mayonnaise.  Something not usual but it does taste good.  The freshess of the fish and vegetables made this Kinilaw in Gensan tangy and sweet.

Where to find

It is everywhere in our land.!!!  This dish is one truly “tatak Pinoy” in our culinary masterpiece.  Simple but very tasty.  In General Santos, you may find it at every restaurant.  One of the finest that I tasted is at Nikoli.  It is located at Naranjita st. downtown of Gensan.   Once you are in Naranjita st., the land mark is the restaurant.  There is also the “Tuna Grill” along Quirino ave.  It is very easy to find because both are known in the place.

Kinilaw is one of the best tuna receipe I ever tasted. Sarap ng hilaw! Sarap ng kilaw!