Larsians, Cebu City.
This was where we ate on our first night in Cebu.
Now, if you’re the prissy type who hates smelling like food and can’t eat with your hands, then I suggest you stay away from this place. But if you do that, you are missing out! It is a dining adventure!
First, you pick a stall where you want to order, but I don’t think it matters cos they pretty much serve all the same things. I got to eat in two different stalls, and they tasted the same, really. The first night, we ate at Tita-Tits. Awesome name, no?
After you pick a stall, choose your grub. They display all the raw meat right in front, so all you do is choose which stick you’d like - big or small, with fat, chicken, pork, beef, skin, feet, liver, ear…the possibilities are endless! Of course, I had to go for arguably the unhealthiest one, the chicken skin.
Next, you order rice. Their rice is different. They kind of look like presents, wrapped up in little leaves, and they’re cooked in a special way so that the rice comes out all gummy and yummy.
Now, by the time you’ve grabbed your rice, ordered drinks (soda or beer), and found seats, you’re barbecue is halfway ready. And in-between chatting with your friends and taking in the gritty, neon-lit environment, you won’t even feel like you’re waiting.
THEN, the food comes, along with plastic bags for you to wrap your hands in.
That to me was the most defining part of the experience. The whole idea of it is so typical Filipino - eating with your hands of course, is a natural Pinoy tendency. But its also that miraculous balancing act of two Pinoy mindsets - the kuripot mindset, that is, foregoing everything but the absolutely necessary just to avoid spending; and the hospitable mindset, where guests are always first priority. See, they might have deprived us of utensils, but they still kept our comfort in mind when they gave us plastic bags to protect our hands. I was amazed.
Anyway, so the food comes, you wrap your hands in plastic (be sure to secure the knot!) and dig in and taste the most AMAZING barbecue you will ever taste. The Liempo was also the most AMAZING I’ve ever tasted.
I miss Cebu so much, if only for the food!
(Source: holidaywinkle)
