Spotlight’s on Ivatan Cuisine
There is more to Batanes than its beautifully raw scenery.
Two days ago, I went on a weekend escape to the island expecting food that was nothing extraordinary. A couple of friends had visited Batanes before raving about the view, but claiming that Ivatan food was bland so I expected the worst.
Well I do not know where their little group went for food, but I bet they’ve never been to Pension Ivatan’s Therese Coffee Shop which served one of the most flavorful dishes I’ve had the pleasure to taste.
Our first day there, we had a mix of savory dishes like Beef Binagoongan, Grilled Fish, and Hapa (the Ivatan version of Laing):
The day after, we broke our fast with fork-tender Beef Tapa and garlic rice.
The picnic lunch that followed at the Rakuh-a-idi Springs (also known as the Spring of Youth) was a lip-smackin’ medley of rock lobsters, lunis (a dried version of adobo), pinakbet that tasted like laing, and Turmeric rice.
The pièce de résistance, however, was served on our last night in the island. Behold, the heart-stopping Pension Ivatan Platter:
The platter is good for 5 to 6 people and includes supas (turmeric yellow rice), tatus (coconut crabs), mixed Ivatan salad, lunis (dried pork adobo), payi (lobster), uvud balls (made of pork, flying fish and banana trunk), venes (dried taro), and an assortment of grilled chicken, beef and fish. The beauty is that this pile of heavenly goodness is only worth P750. So cheap and so worth more than the price!
I think the only downside to the food from Pension Ivatan is that you’re guaranteed to gain a pound or two. But every inch gained is worth it. :P When you find yourself in Batanes, make this a must-visit destination.
Pension Ivatan is a five-minute walk away from Basco Airport.
