Crimson Heavens

Despite of what the title suggests I do not have the talent to write a lyrical poem about Filipino Food. I just simply cannot write poems even if my life depends on it (so much so that if ever I end up in a situation where some twisted poem-loving homicidal maniac tells me to either write verse or die, I’ll just beg my murderer to make my execution quick and painless). But, I do love Filipino Food and that is what I am going to write about.

It really disappoints me that in these three friggin’ years that I am living in this goddarnfersaken country, I still have not yet found a decent Filipino restaurant. Of course again, that’s probably just picky ol’ me. But still, I bet a lot of OFW’s had experienced entering a Filipino restaurant with such high expectations and then leaving the same joint with that “Wotdafrigginhellwasthat?” reaction afterwards. This had happened to me many times already (and to different restaurants too) that I actually avoid going to ANY FILIPINO RESTAURANT to spare myself from utter disappointment.

You see, I adore food. And really, really good food makes me more happy than those heavy-duty bling-blings (I swear, ask the hubby). Of course there are food that I really cannot bring myself to eat…take balut for example…and ‘em lil one-day-old chicks…I’m sorry but they totally do freak me out…And well, siopao…don’t ask, I won’t be able to answer you anyway, I just don’t like it.

As for all time favorites, pork sinigang will always be number one on my list. Nothing can beat the taste of that hot, uber sour (I prefer it with the chili “kick” ) tamarind-flavored broth, and of course the pork meat dipped in fish-sauce with kalamansi (local Filipino lime) or just toyo (soy sauce) and ‘em sliced tiger chilis.

Next is sisig, inihaw na baboy and pork kilawin. Again pork-dishes people. Of course, I don’t eat just any sisig or kilawin…they have to be cooked in a particular way, where the meat (meat? do you even call that meat? ) has this charcoal-broiled first so they have that slightly grilled taste…and NO LIVER…hate ‘em icky-tasting buggers *shivers*. It is such sad that pork is BANNED in this country, I will have to wait til my next vacation (BOO!)

My veggie favorites would be lato (some kind of seaweed thingie) salad, ensalada with dahon ng kamote (sweet potato leaves salad), pinakbet, lumpiang gulay (veggie spring rolls) and of course, kangkong kernitz!

Of course I can cook the veggie dishes here, as for the pork ones, I had tried substituting chicken for pork in the kilawin, complete numminess! I used to cook caldereta at home too, (using mashed liver for the gravy…and not liverspread) and bistek as well, But well, there’s too much of beef in this country that I am sick of it (hubby doesn’t eat much of beef either…except when it’s really, really tender).

So all you Filipino foodies, what are your favorite Filipino Food?