Tuesday, September 4, 2012

What to Do in Legazpi City

Pinay Ramblings Tuesday, September 04, 2012 Bicol cuisine, bicol express, bicol food, cagsaua ruins, mayon volcano, mobile phone photography, waway's restaurant legazpi, whalesharks legazpi, what to do in Legazpi city albay philippines

When in Legazpi city, you should:

1. Enjoy the view of Mount Mayon
We were dying to see Mount Mayon in its full glory but the weather sucks the whole time we were there (4 days!)

The only time we saw Mount Mayon

This is more like what we wanted:

source: www.wallpapersforyou.info

2. Visit Cagsaua Ruins (The ruins of a 17th century church destroyed by Mayon’s 1814 eruption.)

3. Eat Bicolano Food

I was so disappointed to find out that Legazpi is lacking of authentic Bicol Food restaurants. Most of the restaurants there are the typical Western fast food chains such as Shakey's, Mcdonald's etc. and the so-called local restaurants at the mall serve Bicol-western fusion cuisines that didn't really thrill me. After asking local residents, we ended up at Waway's (supposed to be famous for native dishes). We went there around 6pm and we were the only customer. It is more like an upgraded canteen and they have several dishes for you to choose from. They serve authentic Bicol cuisine but the quality isn't so great and they didn't even bother to reheat the food we ordered. Their food didn't look so appealing and after tasting it, it was bland and lacked seasoning and spices. This is not like the Bicolano Food I grew up with (my grandparents used to cook tastier Bicolano Food when I was a kid).

Inside Waway's restaurant

Squid in coconut milk (ginataang pusit)

Laing

Bicol Express

Steamed Prawns (sugpo)

If you are looking for good food, although not authentic Bicol cuisine (more like a fusion between other Phil dishes), head over to Jasmine restaurant in Oriental Hotel. That is where I had my Bagnet ala Bicol Express and it is to die for! :)