I was then ambling along the streets of Kowloon city, hunting for a famous Nasi-Satay when I prognosticated “Someday, Filipino street food will have its own taste of fame in the global dining table. Food evangelists from other countries will also visit and search for our street food like what I am doing here in Hong Kong.”.
A year and five months from that random prophecy, a list which recognizes the world’s best street food made me one of the proudest Filipino street food disciples. Another yardstick for calibre street food apart from the Michelin Guide, the World Street Food Congress included 5 Philippine Street food stalls in their list of 50 World Street Food Masters for 2017. One of these five, is in Davao.
READ ALSO: Eight First-to-try Eateries in Davao
Igniting more flame to every tourist’s gastronomic adventure in Davao city, Dood’s Ihaw-Ihaw (Now Dod’s), a humble carinderia/ barbeque stall near the rotunda (traffic circle) on the vertex of Roxas and Ponciano streets, fronting the City’s Postal Building, made it to the 46th spot as a World Street Food Master for their “Sinugbang Panga” (wood fire grilled Tuna Jowl).
READ ALSO: MICHELIN-RECOGNIZED STREET FOODS HONG KONG 2016
The 12-year-old tandem of the marinade sauce and the basting oil according to Mrs. Dod’s, is the secret why their grilled tuna is peerless amongst the other versions you have tried. Apart from that, the couple’s choice of serving only the “Bigeye” tuna species also gives a distinct quality to their award winning dish.
“This species is really the one that is made for grilling. Especially the “Bawug” part of the jowl where layers of gelatinous fat melt and slather into the layers of meat once grilled.” Mrs. Dod’s explained. I agree. Every spoon of freshly-cooked steamed rice deserves to be slathered with those melts from the grilled tuna. Drizzle it with “sawsawan” (Yakitori sauce-like dip) before finally dunking it! Lami!
Hop in to any jeepney that passes by Ponciano St. and ask one of the ever helpful Davao jeepney drivers to drop you at the Davao Light Building. Right across the street, the redolence of an andante-grilled fish meat would smoothly guide your way. Be there by 9am to get the “Bawug” cut. When you want some real Davao street food dining immersion, lunch and dinner until 10PM is such a touristy jostle. Wander along Roxas Street Market, it is just a block away, after.
READ ALSO: 8 FIRST-TO-TRY EATERIES IN DAVAO
WORLD STREET FOOD MASTERS 2017 : PHILIPPINES
4th
Aling Lucing Sisig
Pampanga, Philippines
Corner G. Valdez and Agipito del Rosario Streets, Angeles City, Luzon, Philippines
Monday to Sunday, 6:00am to 3:00am I +63 45 888 2317
“SISIG” chopped hog head salad with soy, lime and chilli
7th
General’s Lechon
Manila, Philippines
Second Floor, Petron Gas Station, EDSA Corner Arnaiz Avenue, Dasmariñas Village, Makati City, Manila, Philippines
Monday to Sunday, 9:30am to 9:00pm I +63 2664 1700, +63 2509 4122, +63 91 7853 2466,
Negros style, masala risotto “Lechon”
22nd
Zeny’s Pinangat (TAKE OUT ONLY)
Bicol, Philippines
PNR Rd, Gapo, Camalig, 4502 Albay, in Bicol, Philippines I +63 916 288 5491
“Pinangat” – simmered wrap of pork in dry taro leaves
32nd
Sharyn’s Kansi Beef Soup
Bacolod, Philippines
C58, Narra Ave, Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines,
7:30AM-9PM I 034 433 1374
“Kansi” Beef Soup
46th
Doods Ihaw-Ihaw
Davao City, Philippines,
Roxas Extension (Rotunda), 9AM-10PM I 0909190 9146
“SINUGBANG PANGA” – wood fired grilled tuna jowl
*Also on the list are (14) hawkers from Singapore with the Michelin starred Hill Street Tai Hwa at the 1st rank for their Bak Chor Mee, (7) from Indonesia, (6) from Malaysia, (5) from Thailand, (4) from China, (3) from Vietnam (2) from USA, (2) from Mexico and (1) each from Taiwan and India.
READ ALSO: MICHELIN STARRED STREET FOODS – SINGAPORE 2016
The inclusion of five Masters from the Philippines for the list’s first edition is such an uplifting accolade to Pinoys, especially to a Filipino street food advocate like me. The Philippines has still a lot of award-worthy dishes which are expected to sizzle every world wide food award-giving body. I am excited.
In the meantime, when you visit Davao, trot like a hobo in this city which is not just known for its civil calmness but also now known as home of a World Master in grilled tuna jowls according to the World Street Food Congress Council.
Who made the list:
*Anthony Bourdain, world renowned television personality, author and avid street food advocate *KF Seetoh, Makansutra’s Founder/CEO *James Oseland, Author of one of 2007’s Time Asia and the New York Times best books, Cradle of Flavor *Johnny Chan, Top China TV food host and winemaker (http://wsfcongress.com/world-street-food-congress/)
JOHNDAPPERCLOSER 
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