Journeys in photographs and words.

A little of each town’s story

Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu

Banana cue and Lakatan bananas

From: Everyday life on Mactan Island

Sugar-coated fried banana skewers in a glass case
Sugar-coated fried banana skewers in a glass case

Banana cue is a Filipino street snack of saba bananas deep-fried in a coat of caramelized brown sugar and served on a bamboo skewer. The name blends banana and barbecue, though the bananas are not cooked on the skewer. Lakatan, which I saw at the market, is one of the most common banana cultivars in the Philippines, turning a characteristic yellow-orange when ripe.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

This moment in the journey

Fried bananas and picture-perfect streets

I'm on Mactan Island. At a roadside stall, bananas were frying in a big wok, and a glass case held skewers of bananas fried golden in a coat of sugar. This is banana cue, a familiar sight at Philippine street stalls.

I took one skewer. Motorbikes passed along the shady road, and tricycles rolled by in front of brightly painted houses. Nostalgic streets that look like a picture wherever you turn. I strolled to the far end of a long, straight street.

At another bakery, boxes of bread were stacked above the counter, next to a very tropical poster for ice candy.

Watch this scene on YouTube0:43

Read this scene in the full journey

Bananas frying in a wok
Bananas frying in a wok
Walking past a shopfront hung with posters
Walking past a shopfront hung with posters
A fried banana skewer held up in front of the stall
A fried banana skewer held up in front of the stall
Motorbikes coming and going on a shady road
Motorbikes coming and going on a shady road
Walking down a street of colorful houses
Walking down a street of colorful houses
A bakery counter with boxes of bread stacked above
A bakery counter with boxes of bread stacked above
Walking far down a long, straight street
Walking far down a long, straight street