Karasa: Celebrating Catbalogan’s Culinary Traditions (Antonio Eduardo B. Nachura)

“Karasa” means “delicious” in the Samarnon language. Aptly, this is the title of the new book on culinary traditions of Catbalogan City in Samar province in the Philippines.

Karasa: Celebrating Catbalogan’s Culinary Traditions is a book project of retired Associate Justice of the Philippines Supreme Court, Antonio Eduardo B. Nachura who is this year’s hermano mayor of the Catbalogan Fiesta in Catbalogan on August 24.

The book has five chapters – Chapter 1, written by Charo Nabong Cabardo, gives a background on the history and culture of Catbalogan City that explains the culinary traditions. Chapter 2, written by Nestor Nachura, centers on the everyday food of Catbaloganons – the seafood from Maqueda Bay and the farm products that are stewed, grilled, pickled and steamed. Chapter 3, also written by Charo Nabong-Cabardo, is about the fiesta fare – the delicious meat dishes from the Spanish era and the food brought by our Chinese ancestors. Chapter 4, written by Rene Nachura, is about Sumsuman (in Filipino, this is “Pulutan”) the food that goes with the “protracted” drinking sessions of the Catbaloganons. The last chapter, written by Kalayaan Cabardo is dedicated to “Postre,” the sweet delicacies with stories and heirloom recipes of the Catbalogan women.

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