10 things to eat in manila

Lee Johnson, co-founder of Bong Bong’s Manila Kanteen, tells us what makes the food of the Philippines so special

- Lee Johnson

Bong Bong’s Manila Kanteen is the latest Filipino food venture from Lee Johnson and his partner Sinead Campbell. They started with food truck BBQ Dreamz in 2014, winning BBC Two’s My Million Pound Menu. Based in Kerb’s indoor market in Covent Garden, Bong Bong’s has a menu based on the founding flavours of Filipino cuisine.

1 Ube

This purple Filipino sweet potato is slightly sweeter and nuttier than the ones we’re familiar with in the UK. It’s used in all different types of desserts and sweets, from ice creams and cakes, to jams, doughnuts and pastries. Despite its predominant use in sweet foods, ube has been found to have very high nutritional value, good carb content and flavonoids, meaning that it’s high in antioxidants. What more would you want in your dessert?

2 La Paz batchoy

A noodle soup dish originating from La Paz in Iloilo, nearto where my family comes from. It’s made with beef or chicken stock, pork offal, sliced pork and shrimp paste, and topped with chicharrón, spring onion, crispy garlic and an egg. It’s basically a Filipino version of a ramen, but the best you’ll ever have.

3 Dinuguan

This won’t be to everyone’s taste but it’s honestly so, so good, we have it whenever we see it on a menu. Dinuguan is what we would describe as a blood pudding stew – it’s made from cooking pork and pork offal in vinegar, garlic, onion and pig’s blood. It may not sound it but it’s honestly amazing.

4 Calamansi