Southern food is as distinctive as its scenery. Not surprisingly, the coconut, which grows widely throughout the region, plays a prominent role in many southern dishes for its milk tempers the heat of chili, its oil used for frying, and its grated meat serves as a condiment.

Also only expected is the abundance of fresh seafood from the surrounding waters. Cashew nuts from local plantations are eaten as appetizers or stir-fried with chicken and dried chilies, while a pungent flat bean (Sataw) adds an exotic, somewhat bitter flavor much admired by southern diners. Regional fruits include finger-sized bananas, mangosteens, durian, and small sweet pineapples.