Blessed by an abundance of natural resources and a robust agrarian-based economy, Negros remains the nation's prime producer of sugar despite these challenging times. The fourth largest island in the country with its own unique cultural and culinary heritage, there's more to Negros than vast sugar cane fields, much more.
Showcasing the richness of its culinary heritage to Metro Manila, the University of St. La Salle Alumni Association - Manila Chapter and Rockwell Center Bacolod are bringing to Makati the festive flavors of Negros Island for three days, coinciding with the Cinco De Noviembre holiday celebration which is a public holiday in the province of Negros Occidental. On November 4, 5, and 6, 2022, the driveway of the Powerplant Mall will be closed and covered with a large tent to serve as the venue for the first ever Namit Namit Food Festival.
The Namit Namit Food Festival allows visitors to savor the well known goodies of Negros in one location. To best describe what it would be like, it is a Negrense food trip without having to hop on a plane and leave Manila! As we know it, no Negrense experience is complete without some tasty chicken inasal. Thus, at the Namit Namit Food Festival, there will be three food outlets serving your real chicken inasal, straight from a charcoal grill. These are Bacolod Chicken Inasal, Inasalan sa Dalan, and JT's Manukan of Joel Torre fame.
For those who want to ward off the gloom of the recent typhoon, a bowl of Kansi from Pat-pat's Kansi will serve to warm not just the stomach but the palate for some batwan-infused goodness, batwan being the unique souring agent in most Western Visayan dishes. The favorite roadside resto from Silay City which has been around since 1962, Sir and Ma'am will also be treating visitors to their famous morcon, lechon kawali, and pangat (the Visayan version of laing).
If on the second day of the festival, you find yourself wanting for more Negrense food, on the opposite end of the spectrum from native Negrense dishes are the ones handed down from the influence of Spain. For this, one can have Manolo's paella, callos, fabada, lengua, and bacalao as served by Chef Manny Torrejon. There's also the more continental flavors of Grem's Deli which features honeycured hams and sandwiches.
The Namit Namit Food Festival, with all its tasty goodies are not just a delight to the palate. It is also a delight to the soul of every visitor with Negrense roots. It can be said that food can be a momentary time machine to the past. This holds true for those who grew up in Bacolod in the 1960s to the 1980s and recall the well loved tastes of Bob's and Roli's. Bob's serves up the all time favorite Sate Babi and Fruit Punch plus more, while Roli's treats us with the original Napoleones which Negrenses have learned to love through the years.
Capping the food journey would be the desserts and "kakanins" of Quino's and Quan Delicacies.
Overall, it's going to be an exciting day of food and strolling down memory lane with one's stomach for those of Negrense descent. And as stated in this article's title, the Namit Namit Food Festival is not just good for the palate, it is equally good for the soul.
The original Roli's Napoleones
Complete list of food outlets in the Namit Namit Food Festival:
1. Manolo’s of Chef Manny Torrejon
2. Bacolod Chicken Inasal
3. Sir & Ma’am
4. Inasalan sa Dalan
5. Pat-pat's Kansi
6. JT’s Manukan
7. The original Roli's Napoleones
8. Quan
9. Bob's
10. Quino's
11. Grem's Deli
Namit Namit Food Festival is co-presented by Globe, San Miguel, Don Papa Rum, and Plantsville Health.
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