The Bulawan Festival’s Cookfest featured "Nilotlot na ‘Ito', a dish cooked on a bamboo pole.  The challenge for the students was how to make a fire without using a match.

Nilotlot na ‘Ito has the following ingredients: deboned Hito or Catfish, Coconut Milk, Yellow Ginger, Onions, Herba Buena, Sangig (Herb), Lemon Grass, Red and Green Pepper, Tomatoes and Ground Black Pepper.

Yellow ginger is pounded or grated.  Coconut milk is poured over the grated ginger then squeezed to get the yellowish liquid.  All the ingredients are mixed then placed inside a bamboo pole then cooked.

The fish has a 10-15 minute cooking time after which it is removed  from the fire th and transferred to a bowl. 

The ginger and coconut milk combination lends a slightly spicy and sweet taste that is truly delicious.  The catfish is infused with the flavors of herbs and spices and cooked just right making it so delicious.

The dish can be cooked in a pan but the unique flavor the bamboo contributes to the dish cannot be duplicated.