Why choose Ilocos Norte? The Gem of the Northern Tourist Destination.

                                    

HISTORY

 Ilocos Norte is a province in the northern Philippines. In the capital Laoag City, grand Paoay Church is a fusion of local and baroque architecture. At the province’s northern tip, the town of Pagudpud is known for its beaches, like Blue Lagoon, plus bell-shaped Timmangtang Rock and towering Kabigan Falls. Ilocos Norte is noted for being the birthplace of former President Ferdinand E. Ilocos Norte is also known as a northern tourist destination, being the location of Fort Ilocandia, an upper-class hotel and beach resort famous among expatriates, and Pagudpud.

ILOCANO FOOD CULTURE

Ilocos may be a wonderland of heritage sites, coastal attractions & exquisite handicrafts but it is always their food that lingers in our travel memories the most. Ilocano cuisine always has something to make any foodie burp — from the hearty & healthy, to the crispy & naughty. And whether original to Ilocos or a version of our favorite food from somewhere else, eating your way around here is surely a delightful travel experience. Ilocos is recognized for its strong culinary traditions across our island-sprawling nation. It is a salt-happy & porcine-dominated regional cuisine, so adored for its flavourful dishes.

In my opinion, out of all these famous dishes, there's a famous dish that is known and can be made not only in Ilocos Norte but also in different parts of the Philippines. Get your tummies ready because you will see one of the famous and delicious cuisines in Ilocandia, and that is Pinakbet or Pakbet Ilocano. 

Pinakbet is the Ilocano’s to-die-for mélange of vegetables stewed & shriveled with shrimp paste. Indeed, Ampalaya or bitter gourd is the star of this dish. But if you put in the rest of the gang like the poqui-poqui, utong & kabatiti, what you get is a savoury orgy of vegetables. Pinakbet is made from mixed vegetables sautéed in fish or shrimp sauce. The word is the contracted form of the Ilokano word pinakebbet, meaning "shrunk" or "shriveled." But before I tell you my insights and opinion about this famous dish, let me first show you what is the anatomy of a pakbet or pinakbet. Pinakbet was our dinner last night so I decided to make an anatomy of it. 

As a Filipino, We really love this kind of cuisine especially our oldies since it's originally full of vegetables which gives different types of nutrients we need in our body. This type of food is perfect for solo, group, couple, or family. This regional variation derives its characteristic taste from bagoong alamang or shrimp paste instead of bagoong isda and usually includes kalabasa for a touch of sweetness. This is also a type of food that our family even my siblings enjoy every lunch or dinner time. As you can see in the photo, my sister really enjoys eating her bunch of pinakbet that best partnered with fried fish or fried meat that can full your tummies. 

This is not the only dish that can make your heart complete, there are a lot of dishes in Ilocos Norte that can make your heart and tummy flutter So what are you waiting for? grab this chance to discover different delicacies and cuisines that Ilocos Norte notable for! This is the reason why you need to choose Ilocos Norte, the gem of the Northern Destination!