A taste of the Philippines’ most unique ‘kakanin’

Pinoys are known for having a soft spot for sweets, and there are few desserts as Pinoy as the traditional kakanin.  Kakanin is a Filipino snack that can be made of different types of sticky or glutinous rice mixed with coconut milk, sugar, or fruit. There are almost as many types of kakanin as there are types of Filipinos, with almost every community in the Philippines making its own unique version with local ingredients. Last week, “Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho” scoured the Philippines in search of the most deliciously sinful and creative native kakanin. Here's what they found: Inutak Don’t be fooled by the less-than-palatable name of inutak, a tasty delicacy from Pateros and Taguig named for its gooey, "brain-like" consistency. Made of purple yam or ube sandwiched between layers of bibingka or rice cakes, inutak is best partnered with at least two scoops of vanilla ice cream. It comes in other flavors too, like quezo de bola, corn, and chocolate. If you want a slice or two of this, then head to Kristina’s Premium Inutak at The Fort, where servings can be purchased from P120 to P400 depending on the flavor and portion size. Mochi When in Pampanga, make sure to try mochi—a mixture of sticky rice, sugar, water, and oil filled with sweet beans and topped with a special coconut milk sauce.  Foodies from neighboring provinces travel all the way to Pampanga’s famous Nathaniel’s Restaurant to try the mochi, based on a recipe by the restaurant owner's mother. A small bilao of mochi costs P165. Mache Laguna is famous for its coconut delicacies, but few people are familiar with mache, a small, buko pandan-flavored ball made of sugar, flour and sesame seeds. Mache can be purchased for just P3 per piece from a just a handful of street vendors in the province. Dodol A traditional delicacy of Filipino Muslims, dodol is made of durian cooked in coconut milk and mixed with brown sugar. Normally wrapped in banana leaves and colorful cellophane, dodol serves as a symbol of royalty among Muslims. For more mouth-watering stories on Pinoy food and more, watch “Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho” every Saturday night at 7:30 PM on GMA-7. Follow the show on Facebook and Twitter. —Angel Bombarda/PF, GMA News