No part
of the humble chicken is spared when it comes to street food. In some parts of
the country, the feet, the gizzard, the intestines, and even the butt are
cooked and sold as street snacks which you can munch on the go.
In
Cagayan de Oro City (as well as in lots of places around the country),
especially in the streets of DVsoria and in busy alleys of Cogon Market, you
will find food-carts that cook and sell Proven, a local street food
delicacy. Usually swarmed by students
and young professionals whose only aim is to bite a piece of chicken on-the-go
for only Php 5.00 (that’s about $ 0.10).
The name
“Proven” comes from the a part in the chicken digestive system called
“proventriculus”. It is marinated in
some form of salt and vinegar (along with other spices), and then coated in wet
batter, and then tossed in dry flour just before frying. It is skewered and
served in heaps.
Don’t let
the fact that you are eating an internal organ that probably carries microbes
prevent you from eating this delicious treat. Go to the nearest proven station
and just get one stick (you can pay later, that’s common custom) and dip it in
one of the three choices of sauce: Vinegar, Sweet Sauce, Sweet and Spicy
Sauce. On the outside, it is crunchy and
has the texture of fried chicken (careful it is HOT) while munching you will
find that it is, in fact, juicy and savory and just a tad bit chewy.
A lot of
us Kagay-anons eat proven with puso (rice wrapped in coconut weave); a meal in
just under Php 10. After you have eaten your fill, make sure you throw your
stick and your coconut leaves in the trash right beside the food cart
(appetizing—but that’s how we roll). And for the love of all that is holy, do
not forget to pay Manong for your meal. Subsequently, you can also buy buko
juice or a bottle of Sparkle (or any other soft drink) from a nearby foodcart.
FAQs:
How do I pick the best food cart?
>>Look for the foodcart that has lots of people gathering around it. Let the population choose for you. Also, because there are lots of people buying from it, chances are you will get to eat freshly cooked proven due to the quick lead time. Do not buy proven from the food cart next to the busy one. They usually do not get enough sales because their food do not taste as good and they sit next to the busy one so if you can't get through the crowd, you will be tempted to buy from them. Don't. they serve cold proven and un-appetizing sauce.
What is the best sauce?
>>It depends on your taste. Personally, I am not a fan of anything spicy so I either pick the sweet sauce or just the vinegar one. If you are a sucker for anything spicy, pick the spicy one (quick tip: it is really spicy).
Is proven good for take-out/to-go?
I strongly advise you not to do this. Unless you plan to eat it on the way home or you live right next to a proven station, do not have it wrapped in plastic and brought home. There is a chance that when you get home, the meat will smell a wee bit stinky to the nose and the sauce will get watery. Eat it while it's hot.
Is it safe to feed proven to my dog/cat?
I'm not sure about dogs but since it's chicken, you should know if your dog has chicken allergy and therefore it should not eat proven. As far as cats are concerned, not one cat died on me while I fed them with proven, usually, they die 3-4 hours later.
Is the buko juice beside the proven station any good?
No. If you are health conscious and your immune system is easily compromised, you should probably stay away from streetfoods altogether. If not, then buko juice is a fresh thirst quencher. Also, do not forget to ask for a free refill of buko juice (PROTIP).
What are some street food etiquette I should remember?
>>DO NOT DOUBLE DIP. This is a major NO-NO for any street food. If you start double dipping, everyone will too, and then it's time to get checked for Hepatitis.
>>Wait for your turn. Especially when dipping in the sauce, always wait for the person before you. When you get to the sauce station, take your time. Make sure you get sauce to all the nooks and crannies of the proven to avoid double dipping.
>>Honestly is the better policy. Especially when there's a lot of people, chances are the vendor will forget how many sticks of proven you have eaten or how many puso you have gobbled. Count your food intake and pay before you leave.
If you
have other questions about proven, let me know and I will answer you will all
that I know. Bon appetit!
--A
(image
sources: Google search, let me know if you need anything removed.)
