We love food! Especially food that rockets you away to far off places with just one mouthful! You may think that you’ve eaten all there to eat is when it comes to delicious Asian cuisine, but it turns out that Filipino food is the next big thing in delectable dishes and it will be making its way to America soon. So get your palates cleansed because we’re taking a bite out of it to see what the deal is!
Why Filipino food?
Food from the Philippines is so unique compared to the rest of the world, as it is a delicious tapestry of Chinese, Japanese, American, Malay and Spanish influences! What could be better than a collaboration between some of the world’s most incredible cuisines? A collaboration of several of them! This mixing pot of various cultural influences when it comes to food is thanks in part to their history of Western colonization and the various occupations the island has encountered.
Perfect for America
As Americans, we love to be ahead of any trends, and the fact that Filipino foods are close in concept to Spanish, Japanese and Chinese foods (all of which we love!) makes this new cuisine the next logical step. It is just so filling and wholesome – perfect for a cold winter’s day when you just need some comfort food full of taste!
Ingredients
Items such as tofu, soy sauce, and biryani, as well as the concept of stir-frying dishes, is thanks to the pre-colonial trades between Southeast Asia, India, and China. When the Spanish arrived in the 1500s, the Philippines was introduced to ingredients such as potatoes, garlic, tomatoes, chili peppers, and corn. Spam is another key ingredient in Filipino dishes, as is vinegar, so it is certainly a unique style of cooking where acidity and sweetness both find their way.
An example dish
Jollibee is a Filipino fast-food chain who are looking to expand over to America. One of their most popular dishes is the spaghetti; however, it is slightly different to what most Americans will be used to. With Jollibee’s spaghetti, the sauce is sweeter, almost sugary but still with the taste of tomatoes and garlic. Chunks of both Spam and sausage really mix up what spaghetti means and yet it still offers that delicious comfort that you expect from a spaghetti dish.
Not so delicious
There might be some options that aren’t so appealing to the regular American Joe. A popular dish in the Philippines is dinuguan which is a stew consisting of pig blood and pork offal. Other options include a fertilized duck embryo, otherwise known as balut. Unless you are pretty open-minded about food, these might not be your first choices, although there is so much variety when it comes to Filipino dishes, you will easily find something you enjoy.
So if you’re feeling a bit bored of your usual Chinese, curry or take out, why not be ahead of the trend and try out a Filipino dish! But perhaps avoid the dinuguan eh?
