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Published: April 5th 2010
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What a tedious 4 hour flight from Osaka to Manila via Cebu Pacific. The air feels hoarse, our throat became sore and dry. But the airfare was a measly $180 for 3 passengers and not a single dollar for my infant daughter. We didn't have previous plan to travel to the Philippines, but who could resist such an offer. Should we fly Cebu Pacific again?..... absolutely!
We arrived home 30 mins past midnight. And no matter what time of the day you arrive in the Philippines from abroad, there will be a bounty waiting for you. We dined with my parents and sisters on spicy pork sinigang (meat and various veggies cooked in tamarind soup), fried milk fish and chilled fresh mangoes in cream.
Philippine food has always taken a flak for its simplicity and lack of variety as some people may suggest. In one discussion on Asian food I had in the States, a Japanese-Hawaiian guy even said our food is peasant food, and offered a conciliatory tone that he loved peasant food anyway. Quite frankly, I don't know how to react. I love love our dishes, but I understand where he is coming from.
Being married to a Japanese
desert
mango crepe in hot choco syrup wife and have eaten different international food. I know we lack presentation and healthy options. But I believe our food is one of the best tasting out there. Our food is rich, oily, creamy, sweet, salty, spicy and heavy. The excesses in our food can be compared to that of the Filipino family's excessive warmth. Filipinos have an eating culture, we love our food as well as we love our family and friends.
Family share stories while cooking in the kitchen. Laughter, senseless chit chat and serious conversation are all part of Filipino dining experience.
For this trip, I just wanted to eat as much Filipino food as I can, with the people I really cared about. This trip is about being with my parents, sisters and relatives; and them spending as much time with us.
DAY 2
We met my cousin, Patz who treated us to lunch at Abe, a well reviewed Filipino restaurant located at Serendra. I was pleased that its not located in a mall, as most Filipinos love to hang out in the mall. It was Filipino with a twist, but solely on its presentation. We ordered pork adobo (meat cooked in soysauce, vinegar, onions and
garlic), the most popular Philippine dish. But this was however different in way that the sauce was served separately from the meat. And the meat, it was heavenly, crispy on the outside yet very tender in the inside. We also ordered bangus (milk fish) in tamarind sour soup (sinigang) and fried plapla with fermented fish sauce on the side. And the desert, mango crepe in hot choco syrup was a dud. Too sweet, all you can taste was the sweet choco. But the entrees' are definitely a hit.
Next stop was the house of another cousin, Jen. We told her not to prepare anything, but then that will be against Filipino hospitality, heheheh, and we knew she'll have something ready. Voila!!! Amber's sphagetti delivery. Pinoy sphagetti at its finest. Pinoy sphagetti has these following ingredients you wouldn't find in an Italian pasta: banana ketchup, sugar, hotdog ! The result: sweet sinful pasta concoction! Amber's Pinoy spaghetti is the best one I've tasted.
DAY 3 and 4
Off to the province of Pampanga. Its local and cooking is referred to as Kapampangan, probably the most popular cuisine in the Philippine islands. My Tita Baby was the host for the overnight affair.
We were served hefty variety of grilled food for dinner. Grilled chicken ass being my favorite. Then, we ate at a Kapampangan buffet for lunch. The buffet spread was ok but it was the watermelon juice that made Rinka very happy.
Later that evening we drove to Makati and meet some of my cousins for buffet dinner @ Dad's. It was too much, Rinka and myself could no longer enjoy the food as we were eating way too much already just the past hour and the past 3 days. But we had great company and for this trip, that what really counts.
Day 5
T'was the eve of my birthday and I celebrated it with aunties and cousins on my father side. It was all day of fun at the pool and karaoke machine. And of course food was the highlight. And for this day, it's all about Mother's cooking. We feasted on kare kare (beef and veggies cooked in peanut sauce), pork adobo, caldereta (beef stew in red sauce), Bicol express (pork cooked in chilly and coconut milk) and pork belly BBQ.
I was very happy that my friend from HS, Jeff who I haven't seen for the past
15 years came to the party with his wife and my godson.
Day 6 and 7 and everything in between as you guessed it, was all about hanging out with my family and relatives, while dining out or cooking in. As the best way to celebrate Filipino family is on the dining table.
My kids had a great time hanging out with the grandparents and aunties. I'm sure with the cheap cost of flying to Manila now, we can go home more often than before. My kids can grow up cherishing the beautiful Filipino family... and its great food tradition.
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Ken
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If I just had not just got back from Easter dinner your blog would have made me really hungry. Looks like you had a great visit. Happy Easter!