2PM’s Nichkhun likes a new Filipino dish

MANILA, Philippines — 2PM’s Nichkhun has recently discovered a new dish to like, and it’s the Filipino local food sisig. Alexander Lee, former member of K-pop band U-Kiss and actor, was there to watch his friend’s first taste of the famous pork dish.

This is all thanks to TvN’s new season of One Night Food Trip – International Edition that brought Nickhun and Xander to all the way to Pampanga, home to the "real sisig," to taste the meal that Filipinos love.

Nichkhun and Xander went around Pampanga and Cebu for two days and one night to taste some of our local dishes while competing with Filipino celebrity cousins Danica Sotto-Pingris and Ciara Sotto.

Speaking to reporters at the press conference of TvN Asia’s second season of the hit variety show, Nichkhun shared his first taste of the famous Filipino dish.

“I like it. That’s made with the pork face that was really good," Nichkhun said, adding that it was first time he had a taste of the dish. He said that Xander told him about the famous sisig.

Xander chided Nichkhun that he looked that he really enjoyed sisig. “His cheeks are glowing!” Xander said of his partner in the show.

The K-pop idol said that he has always liked his food spicy, so he savored the dish while holding a chilli pepper in one and taking a spoonful of the pork dish at the other.

Xander, who stayed in the country for half a year to film his drama "My Korean Jagiya," also had one bilin to his friend: Nichkhun has to taste the halo-halo.

“Everytime I come here, I really like halo halo, because every country they have their own version of it,” Xander said adding that his favorite is one with ube ice cream.

The two also had their fill of calamansi juice, which they said was one of their strategies to win the variety show.

Sotto cousins discover more love for Filipino food

The Sotto cousins, meanwhile, had a newfound appreciation for Filipino culture and dish while they were brought to Coron and Legazpi, through Cebu Pacific and Tourism Promotion Board. Pingris, who is a celebrity chef, said: “I’m a Filipina but I fell in the Philippines more.”

Sotto said that through the show, she and her cousin bonded and “found love for Filipino food.”

The two also had a taste of Korean variety challenge, sharing that they had to take a selfie while traversing a bicycle zipline.

Fans can tune in to TvN Asia on July 30, 6:30 p.m. to catch the four in gastronomic experience around scenic Philippines.