Pangasinan Food Tour 2014: Dagupan City

Food trip to the MAX

Going beyond and offering more than what others do will surely turn on customers looking for dishes other than the regular fare that can be found in most diners. These are acts put together by Maximo Alexis Tan, the owner of Kuya Max Grill and Restaurant in Dagupan City.

About 15 minutes from Mangaldan, our next stop during the Pangasinan Food Tour 2014 exceeded the satisfaction rating that our stomachs can give. It was lunch time when we arrived at Kuya Max situated along De Venecia Road, Dagupan City. We could hear our stomachs grumble at the sight of food. Add to that the inviting ambiance of a combined stone and wood architecture which gave us the cozy feeling of dining.

Soup

Many restaurants and eateries in Pangasinan offer clam soup to their customers. So does Kuya Max. But what makes Kuya Max’s version exciting is its spiciness, a perfect appetizer for a big feast which was the scene at the restaurant during the food tour.

Sizzlers

Three sizzling dishes were served to the tasters: Sizzling Boneless Bangus (milk fish), Sizzling Bangus Max and Sizzling Pork Binagoongan (with talong). Literally gone in less than five minutes, the last one obviously became a favorite (and the top sizzler on that day).

Fish

Inihaw na Bangus (grilled milk fish) and hito (catfish), regular finds in restaurants in Pangasinan, were also presented to the group, only this time, the bangus was boneless and the hito, crispy. What everyone was curious about was the Crispy Bunor, small fried fish with a vinegar dip, a dish which can serve as finger food.

Veggies

Vegetarians will never miss out on their healthy diet. Kuya Max introduced to the group its version of the Ilocano specialty, Pinakbet. What makes it different is the tomato sauce which renders a flavorful mixture of vegetables. The Gulay (vegetable) Kare-kare is equally delectable. The rich flavor of peanuts in the sauce brings the taste of vegetables to a whole new heavenly level.

Pigar-pigar

And because Kuya Max is located in the city which is most famous for Pigar-pigar, everyone will definitely look for it. Sure enough, Kuya Max offers this delicious dish. It boasts of its take on Pigar-pigar where in real Angus beef imported from the US is used. The tender meat cooked to perfection instantly became a hit.

Thirst quenchers

With a wide array of food served to us, we definitely needed some fluid intake to drive the bits down. Kuya Max served us with Frozen Lemonade which indeed has a cooling effect. Kamias Shake, however, held everyone’s attention.

Offering old favorites in a different light is one act mastered almost perfectly by Kuya Max. The twists are indeed enticing, making diners enjoy an extraordinary food experience.