Nice and Spice: My Food Journal in Legazpi City

The interiors of Bigg’s Diner in Daraga, Albay

As interesting as every travel I take is the food experience of the place and Legazpi City is definitely not to be missed out. Bicolandia’s array of food selection will and is always associated with gata and sili. Most people associate the spicy viands from the province to the hot and fiery icon of Bicol - Mayon Volcano, the most active volcano in country.But it is not only the recipes from the province that I am interested in but also the restaurants and food stores that are endemic to the locality. Every city or town will always have a place to eat where everyone in the community would experience dining in. These places attract the locals and are famous in the city or town.

Bigg’s Diner

Bigg’s Diner is probably the biggest local fastfood chain in Bicol. It started as a small enterprise in Naga and later grew to be what it is now – having more than 10 branches spread across the Bicol region. The interior of the diner is reminiscent of a 60’s design, everything from old posters to the seat designs which actually made the restaurant more appealing.

Bigg’s Diner offers a great selection of food that covers steaks, chicken, and burgers. They also offer set meals. The great thing about Bigg’s is the affordability. The price is really value for the money that you will shell out. I had the chance to visit two of their branches – Daraga and Embarcadero.

I really loved the cozy atmosphere in Bigg’s Daraga. It is situated near the town center so you can actually enjoy watching the town at work while having your meal. The place is spacious and was just right for lunch. The food service was fast and the crew was attentive enough to my concerns. The food was great and I really enjoyed my lunch date with Bigg’s Daraga.

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Korean Barbecue Set Lunch at Bigg’s Daraga

Impressed with my Bigg’s Daraga experience, I decided to enjoy dinner on my last night in Legazpi at Bigg’s Embarcadero. The branch was a little less attractive to me. The location was really perfect with a view of the bay however the place was a bit small for me. Food selection was of the same standard but the service standard was bit different from my previous one. There were a number of diners, hence, the crew was just all over the place. When my meal was served, I requested for a spoon. I finished my meal without any spoon in sight. The meal was great, however, my experience with them was not at par to my expectations.

My Baby Back Ribs dinner at Bigg’s Daraga was good but the service was not.

First Colonial set meal comes with soup and tinapa rice.

First Colonial Grill

First Colonial Grill is not to be missed out when you visit Legazpi City. It is a fastfood restaurant that offers Bicol’s authentic recipe. Currently, it has two branches – one in Pacific Mall and another in Old Albay District. The ambience of the restaurant is similar to that of a regular fastfood joint however food selection is a lot more varied. Prices are affordable and you get value for your money. First Colonial Grill is famous for their tinapa rice, Bicol specialties, and specialty ice creams.

My first taste of a Bicol dish is Pinangat at First Colonial Grill. Pinangat is a mix of taro leaves, chili, and meat wrapped in gabi leaves and cooked in coconut milk. At First Colonial, you can tell them how spicy you want your Pinangat to be cooked. I am not a person who loves spicy food and probably Bicol dishes and I might be a mismatch. However, since I am a traveler, I am obliged to try out the delicacies and the dishes of the places that I go to.

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First Colonial’s Pinangat was my first Bicol dish taste during my visit.

For my initial taste, I decided to forego the spices. My decision was due to the fact that I was more interested with trying out a spicy dessert after the meal. Honestly, the decision was probably not a good thing. Although, the Pinangat tasted really good but I also realized that had I gave in to the spices, it would have been a memorable dish that I would probably be raving about in this blog.

Finally, the highlight of my food trip in Legazpi – the Sili Ice Cream!

First Colonial Grill’s Sili Ice Cream made my food trip in Legazpi City a success.

The best tasting Lomi that I have tasted, served at Sarung Banggi in Sto. Domingo

I have read it in the internet and I have read how people raved about it. I was bent on trying this specialty ice cream even before boarding a plane for Legazpi City. It is one of the desserts that are available at First Colonial Grill only. The initial taste is sweet coconut milk as the ice cream touches the tongue. Then you would taste a bitter tinge, similar to that of biting into a sili and then the spicy feel follows suit. It was heavenly! The mix of sweet coconut milk and the sili really complements and I would surely recommend it.

Some felt disgusted when I told them about Sili Ice Cream but I can assure you that once you have tasted it, you will go back to have a taste of Bicol’s Sili Ice Cream.

Sarung Banggi’s Lomi: My Most Unusual Find

“Expect the unexpected” and that was how it went when I visited Sto. Domingo, Albay. The initial plan to check out the black sand beaches turned out to be a good find for the best tasting lomi that I have had so far in all my travels.

Sarung Banggi is a resort within walking distance from the town center. The resort sits on the edge of town which offers a great view of the bay and Kapuntukan Hill in Legazpi City. It offers cottages for those who would want to spend the night and huts for those who want to stay in the resort for a day.

I decided to order their lomi while I was spending time at the beach. It was a good choice. It was very tasty and yummy. The soup was not that thick and you really get to enjoy the beach as you take a sip of the broth. The order was good for 4 people at a remarkable cost of only Php85.00. It was really your money’s worth. I finished it all, yes, all…good for 4 people. It was that good! Highly recommended!

Coconut and Rice Cake: A Lignon Hill Breakfast

An early morning hike up Lignon Hill will not be complete without indulging yourself to fresh coconut juice and rice cakes.

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Rice cakes in Bicol are cooked with coconut milk.

Located near the entrance of Lignon Hill are stalls that sell these delights. You can sit down and enjoy the fresh air as you dine al fresco. One thing that is different with the rice cakes sold in Legazpi is a lot of coconut milk with it. It is hard to eat the rice cake because eating the cakes tends to be messy. But it tastes really good and has more flavor compared to the usual. The great thing is that it complements a great workout with a healthy breakfast.

Fresh coconut milk is the best way to cap off a great Lignon Hill workout.

Legazpi City offered a unique palate experience for me. I am not fond of spices and Bicol is known for its spicy cuisines. It may look that Legazpi City and I may be incompatible when we talk about dining experience however I really did enjoy the varied taste that Bicol dishes can offer. In the end, it is not about whether I am fond of spicy food. It is about food giving you a complete picture of what rich culture the place really has.