🇵🇭 NAGA • I Ate Squid After 13 Years (Bicol Express Squid)

"I thought I will never eat squid again but my travel infection is manifesting that conquering your fear and eating the food you never attempted to taste (or eat again) is part of the symptoms."

I remember, I was 10 years old when I last ate squid (that's 13 years ago). It was not even a real squid because the squid I used to eat when I was a child was the dried one then sweetened. I used to buy it for 1 peso per pack and I was actually after the "sweet" thing and I was not aware at all that the core of that sweetened food was squid. Personally, just smelling the odor of any squid dish disgusts me. I really don't want the odor and I developed that response since childhood.

Naga City Food Trip: Bicol Express Squid

Maps by Wikipedia

Location Highlighted in Red

Until I landed in Naga City in Camarines Sur where eating a food that is not common in our province was the craving of my heart, naks!

Asking the locals where can we have a good eat for lunch, they have pointed the way to SM Naga. The bus (where I just hitched) took us to SM Naga. Without too much adieu, the food court was my target. The people I was with (mostly my first time to meet) shared a table with me. At first I know myself that I am not a squid-eater but I gave it a try since Bicol Express is not common in our province.

SM Naga, where I ate Squid Bicol Express

Of course at first I thought Bicol express was just limited to vegetables and meat with spices. But I was wrong. Anything could be a Bicol Express meal, just add some gata or siling labuyo and there you have it!

Taking the first spoonful of my meal that day, hesitation seemed to be out of my senses. The tip of my tongue was hurt though -- because it was so spicy!

This time I was actually suffering of Gastrointestinal disturbances that eating spicy food is contraindicated but never mind about it. It may take me a long time to go back to Naga again and eat this.

Naga Garden was the name of the restaurant, ironically, I never saw any garden, lol!

About the taste, of course it was spicy -- that is given! The spice is very prominent that I can not honestly distinguish the taste with the spice.

Some foods that I also ate are Chop Suey and my favorite Halo-Halo.

I thought I will never eat squid again but my travel infection is manifesting that conquering your fear and eating the food you never attempted to taste (or eat again) is part of the symptoms.

So this is it, I ate squid after 13 years -- I ate squid without me vomitting!

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