Devouring Davaoist: Peri Peri Charcoal Chicken
Peri Peri Charcoal Chicken
Peri Peri Charcoal Chicken was one of the few restaurants I was looking forward to try when SM Annex opened its doors to the public. Not that there is a scarcity of restaurants in Davao offering chicken on the menu, for the likes of Penong's is all the craze among the local taste buds, but because it was not afraid to be different. At the same time, it might have been what appealed to me - the promise of a unique chicken experience that no other restaurants in Davao City can offer.
As the first branch in Davao and only the third in the Philippines, Peri Peri Charcoal Chicken in SM Annex is trying to set itself apart from other chicken houses in Davao. There is a balance between a familiar ingredient and a foreign method of cooking that caters to the local palette. Also, the restaurant adheres to stringent quality control that ensures the quality of food being served to their patrons.
Peri Peri uses local produce in preparing their dishes on the menu, yet the African-Portuguese style of cooking and use of charcoal grill helps to incorporate new layers of flavor that most Davaoenos probably haven't experienced about their chicken before. The chicken is marinated for at least 24 hours to allow the spices to seep into the meat so that you can enjoy the flavor down to the bones instead of just sitting on the skin. Also, you can credit that unique flavor to the Peri Peri spice discovered by Portuguese explorers in Africa, which provides a spicy hint to the flavor - sort of giving it a little "kick".
Last week, I had the honor of sampling some of the bestsellers on their new menu. I am happy to report that Peri Peri has retained the same quality that has endeared me to it on my first visit.
The Full Platter Lemon and Garlic Chicken Meal is a true-blue chicken buffet. Every serving comes with 8 pieces of Peri Peri chicken, which sits on a large serving of java rice. This is the ideal meal for the entire family, even for those with a big appetite.
Another bestseller that we got to try is the Clubhouse Quesadilla. I have tried this dish before and pretty impressed with the size of the serving and the taste. You cannot expect anything less with a quesadilla that is made out of a fresh soft tortilla and filled with grilled chicken, ham, cheese, egg, onions and tomatoes.
Also a noteworthy dish that I've sampled is the Cornflaked Chicken Tenders. This is a fantastic dish that provides a nice contrast of the crunchy exterior and tender interior. It also comes with honey mustard dip that is probably the best one I had!
For the side dishes, we munched on their Famous Coleslaw Salad (that comes with a sweet flavor but with the spicy hint that has become Peri Peri's signature) and Corn and Carrots. These side dishes offer the perfect complement to the strong and savory taste of the chicken.
Did you know that Peri Peri Charcoal Chicken also serves pizza? It was m first time to sample their Burger Pizza and Shrimp Diablo Pizza. The latter (pictured here) is a spicy vegetarian pizza that is topped with large, juicy shrimps and a thick layer of fresh lettuce.
Peri Peri Charcoal Chicken is a home grown brand but it has come a long way. It continues to delight Davaoenos' taste buds with their unique style of cooking. Hopefully, there'd be more branches of this restaurant in the city to make their offerings more accessible to the rest of Davao.
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