What is Pinoy Food?

The Philippines is an archipelagic nation. We live in over 7000 islands, we speak different dialects, and we are surrounded by hils, mountains, and the seas. We are a diverese nation.

So if we’re asked what really is Pinoy food, it is not surprise that we ourselves sometimes cannot answer.

In order for us to fully understand the complexities (or its simplicity) f the Pinoy food, we embarked on a journey where we got to understand the history of certain Filipino foods we loved and. It was a whole day food tour where we got to sample Filipino favorites like sinigang, halo halo, adobo, crispy pata and a whole lot more.

The tour was made possible through the initiative of Unilever Food Solutions who started the Sooo Pinoy advocacy campaign. The goal of the campaign is to increase the appreciation for local dishes. By engaging both food businessnes and diners, the movement enables people to learn more about Filipino cuisine and how it contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the nation’s identity.

Our food tour started a lunch at Adarna Food and Culture in Quezon City. For lunch we were served with Adobong Batangas, Seafood Espesyal, and Bicol Express. More than just good food, there are stories worth telling behind each dish. These stories were shared to us during our lunch.

After lunch we then headed to Nathaniel’s for its famed frozen Buko Pandan. Nathaniel’s is a popular food outlet in Pampanga that sells kakanin or afternoon snacks.The store became an instant hit because of their frozon buko pandan which is just so delicious. Buko Pandan is a favorite dessert in the provinces especially during town fiestas because of the abundance of coconuts and pandan leaves.

From Nathaniels we moved to another food stop for another dessert. This time we went to Cabigting’s Halo halo. Cabigting’s halo halo started as a small family enterprise in Pampanga, but has now a branch in Quezon City. Halo halo is a very popular Filipino snack especially during summer. Cabigting’s version of the popular cold treat is only made of five ingredients: shaved ice, milk, pastillas, cream of corn, halayang white beans. the halo halo is so heavenly. the ice is very fine and the flavor is very subtle and creamy!

From Cabigting’s Halo halo we then proceeded to Quiapo for another not-to-be-missed foodie experience. We got to try Halal foods along the streets near Globo de Oro. I have been to various parts of Mindanao, have been to Basilan, Zamboanga, and Marawi before, but walking along the streets of Quiapo is a totally different experience. The streets are llined with Maranao traders. The carinderias all over the place are offering halal since majority of the people living in this area are Muslim.

While we were in Quiapo, we got to sample some local foods but there’s one thing that common among them all: it’s spicy! I am not a big fan of spicy foods, but there were several items served on our table that I really enjoyed.

From the Halal eateries, we took a walk to enjoy food, many Chinese people love: Hopia. And where to get it? Where else, but in Master Hopia! Just a few meters away from the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene or more popularly known as the Quiapo Church, the Master Hopia offers really good hopia thats cooked to perfection. As Spanky would call it, The Krispy Kreme of Hopia! I love the kondol and pork varieties.

Our last stop while in the Quiapo district is Excelente Ham. It will never be called Excelente Ham for nothing! Excelente is just one of the very few stores that’s being mobbed during the Christmas season. Their hams are easily sold out during the holiday season as hams are a must-have in every Filipino table during Noche Buena.

Their hams are really good. and is a big hit among those who joined the tour. Syempre hamon yan eh!

From Quiapo our tour bus took us to our final destination: Cafe Adriatico along the Remedios Circle in Malate Manila.

Cafe Adriatico is a fine example of how Filipino Cuisine should level up, and be promoted to the foreign guests. It’s a fine dine experience with Pinoy food on your table.

For our dinner we were served with Sinigang na Bangus sa bayabas, adobo, and crispy pata! I totally love the sinigang. you can smell the sweet guava! and the texture of the soup, it’s so thick! And the crispy pata? it’s so deadly but really good!

SO now if you ask me, What really is Pinoy Food? It’s everything. I can be as simple as ubeng halaya, to a dish as complex as rellenong bangus. It can be as plain as puto (rice cake) or be as colorful as sapin sapin.

The Sooo Pinoy campaign encourages each and everyone of us to treat our foreign friends and guests to Filipino foods, rather than bring them to restaurants that offer international fares.

It is through experiencing these foods and sharing it to others that we get to promote our Filipino cuisine a notch higher.