Flavors of Catbalogan: Comforting Cuisine at City Grill

The flavors of Eastern Visayas continue to amaze and surprise at the Secret Kitchens of Samar Kulinarya Tour, with each stop offering yet more insights into the rich culinary heritage of Samar. And now it's the turn of Catbalogan...

After a sumptuous early morning breakfast and mid-morning snack in Calbayog (see my earlier posts, Secret Kitchens of Samar Kulinarya Tour: Flavors of Calbayog on that epic breakfast and Flavors of Calbayog: Chillin' at Rebelito's Refreshments for their classic Halo-Halo) and roughly an hour and half drive, we arrived at the city of Catbalogan, the provincial capital of Samar. Known as the "Gateway to Samar Region," the capital city has its own unique culinary heritage, and my Secret Kitchens of Samar Kulinarya Tour continues with a taste of Catbalogan at City Grill. Seafood plays an important role in Samar's economy and tradition, and City Grill's Kinilaw, with fresh fish in coconut milk, green tomatoes, and red onions is the perfect way to start your taste of Catbalogan...

Hosted by the Catbalogan City Tourism Office, my first lunch at the capital city of Samar showcased the best of the region's seafood, including these Crispy Baby Squid. And once you start munching, you just can't stop. With an abundant supply of the freshest seafood caught off the coast of Samar, you'll never run out of seafood options at Catbalogan.

The Camaron Rellenado, a stuffed prawn dish with Chinese origins is a popular dish at City Grill. Plump prawns coated with juicy pork and chunks of pork fat, carrots, and spring onions combine for rich flavors, with the lighly crisp deep-fried outer layer adding textural contrast. Served with a sweet and sour dip, it's a comforting dish that typifies the style of cuisine at City Grill. 

A vegetable dish with pork and seafood...

...and a whole Grilled Fish adds to the festive vibe at City Grill. The leisurely drive from Calbayog to Catbalogan does build up an appetite, despite the heavy breakfast and snack earlier, and you may surprise yourself as you go for seconds and thirds at City Grill. And the team from the Catbalogan City Tourism Office made sure you had a taste of each dish. In between bites, the staff explained the city's various tourism projects with its popular natural attractions, including waterfalls, caves, and beaches. And with summer in full swing, it's been a busy month for the staff at the Calbayog City Tourism Office.  

And if you're still hungry, City Grill's Pork Ribs should do the trick, draped in a sweet and smoky glaze. Up ahead, a short tour of the city and more good eats from the Secret Kitchens of Samar Kulinarya Tour (more on on the city's iconic sights soon on my travel blog, Solo Expeditions).

And thanks to the friendly team from the Department of Tourism Eastern Visayas and the Catbalogan City Tourism Office, the second part of my Secret Kitchens of Samar Kulinarya Tour was off to another great start. 

On the way to the hotel, we passed by some of the city's iconic landmarks, including the Rizal Monument across Catbalogan City Hall sculpted by one of Catbalogan's native sons, Miguel Alcazar. The monument depicts the bust of Dr. Jose P. Rizal on his two novels, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, serving as a base held up by three men representing Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, the country's three main island groups.

The Samar Provincial Capitol, with its gleaming white facade stands out against the grey skies before the rains...

...with its iconic Obelisk Tower overlooking the square. But there's so much more to discover, experience, and taste in #CaptivatingCatbalogan, stay tuned for my next post...

City Grill is located at Del Rosario Street, Catbalogan City Proper, Catbalogan. You can also visit their FB Page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/City-Grill-Catbalogan for more information.

For more information on Eastern Visayas, visit the Department of Tourism's cool FB Page for Eastern Visayas at https://www.facebook.com/easternvisayas/.

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