The people living in the
Philippines are known to be food lover. The Filipino, sometimes called
“pinoy” or “noypi”, knows no time when it comes to eating. The foods in the
Philippine archipelago are mostly influenced by various cultures. The most
dominant are the Chinese and Spanish cultures. The Chinese introduced noodles
and taught the Filipinos some Chinese dishes like noodles and lumpia,
vegetables wrapped in an edible wrappers. During the Spanish colonization, the
Spanish people introduced some ingredients and flavors that made the Filipino
cuisine into new level. Ingredients such as spices, pork, chicken and a lot
more had made the Philippine dishes more enticing to eat and mouth watering.
The Philippines is said to be
the melting pot of Asia. So, Filipinos prepared their dishes with a touch of
either Western culture or Asian Culture. Since the country is divided into
three beautiful islands, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, Filipinos cooked their
dishes dependent on the setting. Even though each region in the country has its
own way in preparing and cooking a food, the ingredients and taste are quite
the same. Thus, if you are on a travel in the Philippines, it is very luxurious
if you can have a taste of Filipino food.
The foods from the Philippines
are commonly a mixture of sweet, sour, and salty flavors. In the Philippines, rice
is the staple food and the perfect buddy in every meal. Ingredients are,
somewhat, have limited life span. This is because the Pinoys eat three times a
day and two snacks in between. For breakfast, almost all Pinoys will surely
have pandesal on the table, a cup of either coffe or milk, and a piece of
newspaper. Eating becomes, somehow, the most relaxing, fulfilling event in the
lives of the Pinoys. Eating by hands is the traditional way by Filipinos in
savoring a well prepared food. It is fun actually and you can have more control
over your food. This tradition may look primitive to other country, but in the
Philippines, this is one way of showing that you are, indeed, a Pinoy. There
are even restaurants in the Philippines that serve this way, no spoon or fork,
just your bare hands.
Filipinos are known to be very
hospitable, aside from being a food lover, a trait that observed by many
tourist in the country. In the Philippines, a home is not complete if there is
no area for accepting visitors. Inviting someone and serving others are what
makes the Filipinos stand out in hospitality. If you ever came to a house at
mealtime, the host will sure invite you to come and eat with them. It may be
sound awkward, but for the Filipinos, it is a sign of the start of friendship.
Philippines is a great country
where people make eating as one of their social activity. The food from the
Philippines and the hospitality of the Filipinos are as colorful as its
history. Philippine cuisines are great and worth cooking for. There are dishes that
captured my taste buds along my travel in the Philippines. I have listed some
delicious Filipino foods that will sure makes you crave for it.
