Danggit

Of the many things I missed when I moved to Japan, it is the various delicacies from Cebu that I miss the most. One such delicacy is the famous Danggit of Cebu. On the pictures are the danggit (dried fish) as served (with the ever popular Datu Puti Vinegar as dip in the background) and of course the other pic of me about to gleefully getting my first morsel of danggit in almost 10 months of being danggit free. The picss were taken over dinner today at John's place and the danggit was courtesy of Bong (who brought it in from Cebu just a few days ago).

This food is very popular among filipinos and is something most enjoy for breakfast together with fried rice. The danggit is sold at TABO-AN Market (Tabo-an is the Danggit mecca of Cebu where all sorts of danggit and its related products could be bought at its cheapest price (buying danggit at the supermarket is a bit more expensive, around 30% more). Tabo-an is a Visayan (Cebuano-local language of the island) word that means "meeting place". Though over the years Tabo-an has been closely associated with Danggit and is becoming a famous must see place for tourists (local and international) for danggit and other exotic food items such
"sun dried fish bones". If you ever visit Cebu, do try the danggit (it might smell...but its really delicious...oishii as the Japanese would say). For those buying danggit for the first time...choose the medium size or small unsalted danggit..or the medium sized ones made with lemonsito (small lemons)....and if buying in Tabo-an market, dont be afraid to haggle..thats part of the experience...they will (at no extra cost) pack it in plastic bags and seal it...for example when I buy 1 Kg of danggit I can have it packed in 10 100 gm packs (just about enough for a meal of 2-4 people). This is specially convenient if your brining it elswhere for friends or family.