Eat breakfast like the locals do in Dumaguete

Check out Sison, the last stall at the Dumaguete Public Market…

My silverhaired friend, Verna told me, when I asked her where to get the best budbud kabog in Dumaguete.

Budbud kabog is a native delicacy that is popular here as well as in the municipalities of Carmen and Borbon, Cebu. It is derived from kabog or dawa (millet). Budbud is the general form, elongated, wrapped in banana leaves and steamed. In many provinces across the Philippines, it has many forms but usually made either from malagkit (sticky rice) or balanghoy (cassava).

The budbud is a bit pricey, because of the millet which is a bit difficult. But its well worth the try. It’s semi sweet and breaks down into millet granules when in the mouth and best paired with hot thick sikwate or chocolate. When in Dumaguete, cheaper budbud is sold at the port but better go to this stall.

But I was only expecting to eat budbud. When I went inside the market, I found that these are a series of snack stalls offering breakfast fare of pan de sal, popular local bread, fried eggs, puto and sikwate (native rice cake and chocolate).

Just simple food but it is being patronized by locals, both elderly and people on the go.

Stall number 24, under Teofilo Sison came highly recommended and I didn’t have to chose where to eat. It is located at rightmost, the last one in the long line of eateries. But if you go here, you’re not only eating at an ordinary diner. Pina, the one who cooks the budbud kabog (or spelled also as kabug). She will proudly tell you that they have been featured in a national food magazine and even told me that a blogger interviewed them the other day I was there.

My breakfast was just simple but filling. But one thing that I can never forget other than the budbud kabog is their chocolate-e (sikwate or chocolate drink) made from pure cacao tablea.

Its hot, thick and mildly sugared. The taste is just awesome! Paired with puto with hints of ginger, it becomes a very delicious breakfast to start the day.

One small cup, bigger than the size of a shot glass is five pesos and I had to get another one because it was just so delicious. Perhaps, the best one that I have ever tasted.

When in Dumaguete, check out Teofilo Sison Stall #24 (opens from 4AM – 7 PM) serving breakfast and snacks. You won’t be disappointed.

Ang Langyaw’s trip made possible by Airphilexpress, the fastest growing budget airline in the Philippines!