'''pili nut products''' : brittles, salted, roasted, mazapan de pili
'''santan''': coconut jam with slivers of pili nuts. Great with toast or even over ice cream!
'''dried fish products''': Ligao is not far from coastal areas with abundant fish and seafood, hence, the wonderful array of dried and smoked fish products. A word of caution: do not attempt to bring these items through international flights unless they are packed and sealed.
'''woven fiber products''' (abaca, hemp, banana fiber, etc.): mats, bags, totes, screens, etc.
N. Siat 4/26/09
'''Jollibee''', a popular national chain serving burgers, fried chicken, spaghetti and quick fastfood fare.
'''Kuyang's Grill''',run by Marcelo Garcia, is a full dining restaurant with an al fresco patio and banquet area, a large kitchen ,a menu of local food favorites.
'''Mexita Pizza Parlor
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'''Foodie note to the adventurous trekker:'''
For the more adventurous traveler who is not squeamish about trying street food, it would be worth the adventure to seek out the following food favorites in this city:
'''Pancit rinuguan''':fresh egg noodles in meat broth, sauteed garlic and spring onions, topped with a tart and savory stew of cubed pork, tripe, various innards and pork blood. Ask for directions to Deling and Boy del Valle's noodle shop. Most people in the city know them and swear by their pansit rinuguan.
Another street food favorite is '''Sinapot''': ripe sliced saba bananas dipped in rice flour and sugar batter, held by cacao leaves, and fried in hot coconut oil until crisp.
'''Puto sa abab''', a rice cake steamed in coconut shells and filled with some type of coconut jam. A variation of the puto sa abab uses purple yam added to the ground rice.
Feeling like shopping for grubs? Head straight to the city market, previously busy on Thursdays and Sundays but recently more accessible and pretty much open from mornings until the evening hours all week.
The local 'carinderias' are a delight and sample '''linutong balaw''' (shrimp paste with chilis and pork cooked in coconut milk until reduced and creamy). Another Ligao specialty is the '''pinangat'''(pork, coconut and shrimp paste, and sometimes, river crabs, wrapped in taro leaves and cooked in coconut cream). also ask for charcoal grilled pork belly or chops. THey are great paired with a soy, chili and vinegar dressing, and lots of steamed white rice. They are usually sold to take home. There are also little stands not far from the Catholic Church where pork bits on a stick, roast chicken and various other grilled meats are sold. These stands are usually open way past midnight.
Craving late night food? Looking to bust that hangover? Check out noodle and congee stands near the bus terminals, try the '''pansit'''(noodles with hard-boiled eggs and a splash of chili and vinegar),''' balut''' (boiled fertilized duck eggs), or '''goto''' (rice congee with ginger, chicken and an optional boiled egg, served with patis or fish sauce and some cracked peppers). N. Siat, 4/10/2009
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