Gourmet products local specialties and wines Philippines

The Pala-Pala Market is a huge covered market, located in Bacolod, of fresh seafood and fish. The little extra is an original concept: you stroll around, choose and buy your fish and have it cooked in one of the adjoining restaurants. On the program, tasting of oysters, crabs, shrimps, blue marlin... All this is very fresh and the prices are quite reasonable! We love it.

Zamboanga has six markets including the central market, along J.S. Alano Street, for fruit, the Santa Cruz Market and the BCC Shopping Center for textiles (childish) and electronics.

Cogon is the largest of the city's public markets (the others being Puerto, Carmen, Agora-Lapasan and Bulua). The four-storey main building spans four city blocks. It's a great place to rummage, hunt and find authentic handicrafts and souvenirs. As the market is sometimes very lively, it's advisable to go without jewelry or other valuables. It's also the perfect opportunity to sample the region's culinary specialties at one of the many street-food stalls.

Attention, agoraphobic, abstain! Welcome to the largest street market in the capital and one of the oldest. A colorful, noisy and animated place, where the crowd jostles. Famous for its eclecticism, its variety of fabrics and cloths, you can find everything, jewelry, shoes, souvenirs, food, but also many counterfeit products. It is located on the northern bank of the Pasig River. Going there is a real experience, but be careful with your belongings.

Cebu's largest and oldest market, the Carbon Market is well worth a visit. This very popular market is located on MC Briones Street. You'll find everything in an anarchic maze of stalls and a heap of trinkets, fruit, vegetables and other local curiosities: there's not a product that isn't represented, from food to clothing to handicrafts. It's an ideal place to stroll, chat with the vendors and indulge in the many street-food stalls. Late-night opening sometimes on weekends.

A real covered Asian bazaar where you can find everything! Slipping into its narrow aisles is an experience of all the senses, between the smells of fish, the chickens that are cut, the greedy stalls of exotic fruits, and the ambient hubbub. The Daraga market is also famous for its handicrafts, especially those made of abaca fiber. The specialties are bags, baskets and shoes. You can also try the local sweets made from pili nuts, a type of cashew nut from the Bicol region.

It is one of the largest and most famous markets in the city and region of Manila. And it is also one of the best organized. You can find almost everything: fresh fruits and vegetables, fish of the day, meats, flowers, plants, typical Filipino desserts... The stalls are overflowing, all more colorful than the others, the smells mingle with the general hubbub, it is a real place of life. If all this whets your appetite, it's the perfect opportunity to taste all these gourmet curiosities and discover a piece of local life!

In the heart of El Nido, it's hard not to stop in front of El Gusto's small shop to enjoy a home-made ice cream or a waffle at snack time, at the end of the evening or even a full brunch since some savory dishes are also on the menu. Xavier and Maxime (the owners, a Frenchman and a Belgian) also propose original drinks like milkshakes with cookie ice cream. It is possible to compose your own pancake or waffle with the toppings of your choice. A gourmet break not to be missed!

Located in the heart of the park in a lush setting, Batirol's Choco-late serves a delicious hot chocolate, concocted the old-fashioned way with cocoa from Pampanga, "the culinary capital of the Philippines". Flavored with cinnamon, almond, ^Cointreau® (our favorite), kalhua (coffee) or strawberry, this creamy chocolate is best enjoyed with a bibingka, a rice cake baked in a banana leaf. Smiling service on large wooden tables. A gourmet break particularly appreciated when it's foggy, or after having hiked all day.