Davao City has vast fruit markets selling fresh produce such as mangosteen and pomelo but among them, Durian, the ‘king’ of fruits, dominates. I visited some homegrown restaurants and tasted their specialties. Here are the following items in my little foodtrip:
I’ve tasted different kinds of steamed ricecakes, but this one is unique, as they infused durian in it. Imagine when I went out of cathedral after attending morning mass, I followed the unique smell. The churchgoers then led me to this vendor. I immediately bought a piece and it was heaven in a bite!
Durian Candy
Before going back home, I made sure to bring with me sweet delicacies especially these candies from Davao’s famous maker, Lola Abon’s. My former officemate led me to this and we’re glad we made it before closing time.
Durian Halo-Halo
Their famous local halo-halo topped with homemade durian ice cream is very refreshing. No wonder they opened branches like this in SM Lanang Premier.
Durian Sans Rival
Commuting within the city can be tricky but with the help of locals, I was able to locate this dessert place. It was then packed with diners, but I waited for my turn to eat their specialty. That slice of sans rival with crunchy meringue layers, cream and pistachio bits was made flavorful with kick of durian. Somewhat unusual but delicious.
Durian Ice Cream
After taking lunch at nearby Delumbars Chicken resto, I saw an ice cream cart selling exotic flavors and immediate bought a cone of durian ice cream. The color is somehow weird at first but the taste is incredible. You can feel bits of durian seeping inside. It was awesome!
Kinutil at Puto Maya
Lugaw at Tokwa’t Baboy
This homegrown restaurant serves the best snack pairs in Davao City. The plain white rice porridge is mixed with pork-tofu combo akin to chopped lechon. I took this meal for lunch.
It was not a splurge but to eat something this good is a great reward for exploring the destination of your dream. Tuna grilled to perfection with pickles on the side made my lunch with a smile.
Mangosteen Candy
Another product from Lola Abon’s is this mangosteen candy. I bought few packs of these for my loved ones.
Balbacua
Balbacua, also spelled balbakwa or balbakoa, is a Filipino beef stew made from beef, collagen-rich beef parts (oxtail, skin, and joints), and various spices cooked for several hours until very tender. It is typically served with white rice or misua or miki noodles. It originates from the Visayan regions of the Visayas and Mindanao islands.
When in Davao City, try some local chicken barbecue from their homegrown resto chains such as Penong’s and Delumbar. They taste good!
Don’t forget to bring some back home! (n_n) -bengoeswhere
Ben Goes Where 
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