Lenten Season is here, and in Cebu, you can really feel it. People slow down a bit, avoid meat, especially pork and start looking for something that still feels filling without breaking the tradition. It’s one of those things that’s been passed down for years, rooted in Spanish influence, but now it just feels like part of everyday life.
And somehow, every year, one delicacy always shows up and that is Binignit.
It’s not fancy as it doesn’t try to be but a hot bowl of Binignit just works. You’ve got coconut milk, saba bananas, sweet potatoes, taro, and those chewy little tapioca pearls all coming together.
What makes it even better is how filling it is. One serving can already keep you going for hours, which is perfect during fasting. You don’t feel deprived, you just feel okay. Like you can get through the day without thinking about food every five minutes.
And the best part? There’s no correct version of Binignit. Every place does it differently, some make it thick and creamy, others keep it lighter. Some add jackfruit for extra sweetness, some don’t. It really just depends on who’s cooking, and what they grew up with.
If you’re around Cebu and don’t feel like cooking, here are a few spots where you can grab one:
Binignitan sa Fuente
Right beside Rizal Memorial Library, this place is as straightforward as it gets. You walk up, buy a tub, and eat. Just great and warm Binignit when you need it.
Cavs
Cavs is a go-to if you want something easy and consistent. They’ve got branches around the city, and they bring in native delicacies from Leyte and Samar, so you know what you’re getting.At the end of the day, Binignit isn’t just there to replace meat. It’s one of those small things that make Lent feel like Lent in a city that’s always busy, that kind of pause actually means something.