Food Glorious Food!
Experiences of world food with Filipino food centre stage!
Hello and a hearty welcome to this last posting of February 2023! Two months have disappeared before I consciously am even aware of it or so it seems! The end of february is a time for me to remember my loved ones: 27th is my Mother Birthday; 28th my Brother David’s birthday; and 1st March my brilliant Son Joshua’s birthday!
Yesterday evening I went for a walk as is usual. I ended up in the Souq area, sitting on a bench watching the world go by on this cool evening. I had ordered some karak tea. Which happened to be far to sweet for my taste. Not my intention to drink such: normally it is more subtle with clear cardamon flavours that is certainly more in tune with my tastes.
Anyways as I took my place, a couple were also getting some food and karak as well and joined me on the bench. They are approximately my age but later told me they have been in Bahrain itself for 18 years whereas I am here for 6 months so far.
I find it interesting as I travel to various places to listen to how strangers begin a conversation. In England and the wider UK an informal enquiry is a pretty safe bet. Specifically an enquiry or statement regarding the weather such as,“ Pretty cold for the time of year isn't it?” Or perhaps even more generalised to garner a more open response, “Can you believe the weather ( here you add the particular or even better peculiar atmospheric conditions pertaining at the time)
Thus if a person responds there could be the possibility of further conversational topics as you dance the linguistic minefield of finding commonalities with a stranger. Of course all the while closely observing the facial expressions to add weight to your idea of continuing or most probably not advancing any other comments!
Filipinos it seems to me have a different modus operandi. As I sat on the bench sipping sugary tea listening to couple speaking a language I recognised as Tagalog with a regional lilt, I knew we might at some stage engage in basic civilities. Unlike myself, most people from outside of the UK have at least a bilingual ability with English in some form as it is a common second language. Thus as their food arrived, chicken burgers, they asked if I had ordered food? Now was my chance. Filipinos love their national and regional dishes.
I told them burgers are not a particular favourite food of mine but added that Sinagang na hipon certainly would be. They were amazed. At first uncomprehending of my words until they realised, mouthing it back to themselves, that I spoken to them using tagalog (with a broad East Sussex accent!). Now, we were off and running!
I find it amazing that the food of Thailand, Vietnam, China is so celebrated, yet Philippines is hardly known. Then again it might be that the dishes of the Philippines are rooted in ordinary working peoples lives and that its not considered unique by connoiseurs outside of the Philippines. Yet all the great French culinary delights are themselves rooted in folk cookery.
As we talked about the dishes I liked and they described back to me some their favourites including sizzling Sisig ( pork/ lechon version) we were happy to be in conversation. I even hope it made those appalling looking burgers taste better! Though, I hardly doubt it!
Later as I wandered home and revelled in the cool breezes wafting over my body I began to recall the culinary experiences I have had in my life. Steak and Kidney pie and Treacle pudding from the much maligned English cookbook. The delicious French Crab Bisque. The Czech Svickova na smetane. Thai Green curry. Spanish paella. Chinese dumplings filled with mushrooms.
Then in particular I thought to myself about Filipino dishes I love. Gosh! I was getting hungry and my fast had already started! So I got home and tried to find some pictures from my photo library. Normally I keep pictures to a minimum on my Substack articles. Here though, it seems appropriate to show some filipino dishes that I have tried and enjoyed.
From left to right on the top row:
Only last week I had Bistek Tagalog.
Buko Pandan: delicious creamy coconut desert.
Menudo made by Jean at Christmas. It is so good!
From left to right on the middle row:
For Breakfast on rainy days, champorado and tuyo
Nilagang Banoy that I made!
Bottom Row left to right:
Ginataang alimasag (fresh crab)
Bulalo: one of my favourites for winter days.
Have a good week everyone! Enjoy getting into your kitchen and cooking for yourself! Have a go at looking up a recipe from the Philippines and enjoy a tasty Filipino dish like these above!
Blessings, One and All.
PS: As I was writing I was singing this tune from the Musical Oliver! Hence the title of todays posting in case you were wondering!