By Tracy Anne Cruz
Besides its stellar education, the University of the Philippines Diliman campus is a popular destination for college students in the area for the wide variety of delicious street food and affordable restaurants in the shopping center and various buildings. One of the most sought-after goodies in the campus is their isaw (intestines), which you can find near the Kalayaan Residence Hall. At around three or four in the afternoon, you can find the vendors from the UP Coop setting up their barbecue grill and bringing out their sticks of pre-cooked isaw baboy (pork intestines), isaw manok (chicken intestines), barbecued pork, chicken feet, and other barbecued meats.
After the isaw baboy and manok is grilled in front of you, you dip it in vinegar seasoned with garlic and onions. The crunchy exterior of the pork intestines and the chewy texture of the meat makes isaw baboy something I always crave for when I smell the aroma of barbecued meat. Be warned though – this snack is high in cholesterol, and eating too many sticks at once just might bring you a little bit closer to death.
Mang Larry's Isaw is one of the most famous choices here.
Neighboring students from Ateneo and Miriam also cross the streets of Katipunan Avenue just to buy some Isaw from UP. Coming from what they say higher class in the society Ateneans still claim that they love this isaws.
So if you are just in the vicinity, go ahead and try some of these sumptuous Isaw.
(photos from http://www.facebook.com/pages/Quezon-City/UP-isaw/97617643852)