Bicol Express

by Nikka Marie Barbudo

The Bicol region is well recognized for its stunning scenery, which begins with the Mayon Volcano in Albay. The greatest way to round up the vacation experience is to try all of Bicol’s characteristic foods. The Bicol region has a lot to offer, not only stunning beaches, mountains, and other picturesque sites to explore and extreme experiences to do, but also savory foods that will make you fall in love with the place and keep going back Bicol, which is known for its sweet pili nuts, coconut milk-infused foods, and super-hot chili peppers blended into out-of-this-world creations, should be at the top of every foodie’s bucket list. Every province in the Philippines may already have version of this dish, but once you have tasted this dish you will all agree on what makes it an authentic from Bicol and you won’t be looking at any other Bicol Express outside the region. Bicol Express is what Bicolano’s are known for. It has that good amount of heat that can awaken your taste buds. It has pork cubes cooked in coconut milk and sili with that yumminess you’ll crave after.

The Bicol Express, like many other Filipino dishes, has numerous varieties. However, the usage of pork, balao, or balaw or local salty baby shrimps, coconut milk, chile, and aromatics remains consistent. In some parts of Bicol, it may include veggies including string beans, winged beans, and bell pepper. Some people would add pineapples to the meal to add sweetness. Others serve the Bicol Express cooked and pan-fried with a little coconut milk, while others serve it in its original stew style. And I’m confident that you can’t even leave Bicol without tasting some authentic Bicol Express. The recipe represents Bicolano cooking. The creamy, rich, and with just the perfect amount of spice to give it a bite. It works so well with simple white rice, the flavors bouncing off one another to produce a wonderful feast. My father was born and reared in Bicol, precisely in the town of Daraga, Albay. So, every time we eat, he always includes chili in his dish. Every Sunday, we have a family tradition in which father cooks a traditional vegetable meal and Bicol Express is always provided, even if he has a different dish to prepare. He never fails to prepare a Bicol express, which I always like eating. Bicol express is a creamy and tasty meal with the appropriate amount of spiciness to give it a kick. It is often cooked with pork, shrimp paste, tomatoes, onions, green chile, and coconut milk. However, to extend the life of the Bicol express, father will just sauté the ingredients together, adding just a bit of extra red and green chili and mix together. It’s like keeping it in the fridge and reheating it every time you eat. I grew up enjoying the Bicol Express, and my father has always remade it whenever he had the opportunity to prepare to add some spice to our meals. Tinapa Bicol express, for example, replaces pork as the main course with Tinapa, and shrimp paste, among other things is my favorite. In fact, in some parts of Bicol, Bicol Express is made without chili or pork like what my father just did.

The benefits of a hot and spicy dish of Bicol Express go beyond its mouthwatering, meaty taste. It also contains certain beneficial nutrients for the body. And you don’t have to worry if you don’t like spicy meals because there are several eateries in the locality that provide a variety of Bicol Express versions. You should get out of your comfort zone food and try or appreciate the variety of dishes served by the place you’re visiting. There’s no time for being a picky eater there’s a lot of food we need to taste and appreciate.