The Philippines is a multi-ethnic country. Therefore, the art eaten in the Philippines also incorporates some characteristics of these countries, and the most far-reaching influence is the Spanish taste. Spain occupied the Philippines in the 6th century and ruled for more than 311 years, bringing western-style food system to the Philippines.
The diet in the Philippines is unique. Fresh and delicious, fragrant and juicy, colorful and exotic foods have become a feast for tourists. Whether you are crowded into a street food stall (locally known as Kainan) or eating in a fancy restaurant, there are authentic Filipino food and European dishes for you to choose from, which will make tourists memorable and satisfied.
Philippine cuisine, like its culture, reflects the characteristics of multi-ethnic integration in food types and cooking methods. For example, rice, as the main food, is often cooked in a foreign way. Coconut milk (gata), a famous dish in the Philippines, originated from Malay ancestors. However, popular dishes such as lumpia and pancit are of China flavor, especially China's roast suckling pig (Liu lecbor), which has become a famous Philippine dish. Of course, there will be no shortage of Spanish cooking flavors in the dishes, such as adobo, mechado, menudo and pochero.
The Philippine coast is continuous, so seafood is particularly rich, and seafood has become a must-have style in most restaurants. Fresh shrimps, lobsters, crabs, midges, fish and fresh squid are all kinds of seafood, among which injhaw cooking is the most popular, which makes people drool and greatly increases their appetite. Zambeanga is rich in a crab-like lobster mixture, which is delicious and attracts many customers, making it a famous brand of local restaurants. And DaVao's famous dish, inihaw napanga, is even more famous. All kinds of fresh fruits and baked snacks provided after meals make the eaters feast their eyes, especially a sweet mango, which makes people feel fragrant. If you come to a famous restaurant specializing in Filipino food, then you can enjoy an ancient and elegant exotic atmosphere. The ceiling of the restaurant is covered with dense white palm prints, which are said to be those of prominent local stars, left by these dignitaries after eating here. The authentic way to eat Filipino food is to grab it with your hands. Therefore, there is a drainage faucet on one side of the restaurant, and hand sanitizer and paper towels are all available. However, in order to avoid trouble, many diners use knives, forks and spoons instead of their hands.
The most famous Philippine delicacies are roast suckling pigs. In the restaurant population, you can see the whole production process of roast suckling pig through the transparent glass window. The roast suckling pig with thin and crisp skin is fragrant when served on the table. It must be cut into small pieces with a knife and dipped in special sauce before it can be imported. If accompanied by sauerkraut made of white radish, the taste is better. Needless to say, the roast suckling pig is delicious, and its price is quite expensive. Each roast suckling pig costs 1,911 pesos, which is usually sold in half or one.
The catering industry in the Philippines has rich levels and diverse styles. Drinking tea is one of the local lifestyles. Many local teahouses are run by Cantonese, and their flavor is similar to that of Guangdong and Hong Kong. Its exquisite refreshments and elegant environment are no less than those of tea houses in Hong Kong, and its prices are similar to those in Hong Kong. Generally speaking, a plate of pork bun with oyster sauce is 32 pesos (37 pesos is about 1 US dollars), a plate of fresh shrimp dumplings with bamboo shoots is 42 pesos, a plate of pearl glutinous rice chicken is 41 pesos, and tea is 21 pesos per pot. In addition, there are many unique porridge crystals, pasta, dumplings, rice and drinks for customers to choose from. Many teahouses have delivery service. Generally, each dim sum or porridge noodle can be delivered with a service charge of 3 pesos.
afternoon tea is a habit inherited by Spanish rulers. Filipinos attach great importance to afternoon tea besides lunch and dinner. Like English afternoon tea, all kinds of crystal-drinking, sandwiches and cakes are Filipino afternoon tea foods. But Philippine afternoon tea is more abundant, and there are usually several hot snacks. Cooking pig intestines with pig blood is a snack with the most cooking characteristics. There are also spring rolls in the Philippines, but there are two kinds, fried and non-fried. The materials used are the same as those in China, but the pineapple shreds, which are rich in Philippine Island, are added. Non-fried spring rolls are more delicious than fried ones. The white leather bag has a variety of Philippine vegetables and shredded chicken, plus some sweet and sour juice, which makes people want to eat more after eating.
Compared with popular tea drinking, eating seafood is a luxury consumption mode in the Philippines. According to insiders, its profits are high and the competition between industries is fierce. Even so, its business is still surprisingly good. The local Chinese always like to hold weddings, funerals and birthday celebrations in the seafood restaurant. Although the price is not cheap, they enjoy it.
In Manila, besides China restaurant, there is also China Noodle Restaurant, which specializes in selling Yifu noodles and meat buns. Filipinos eat, including Chinese food, in a western way. Each person has a plate, a knife, a spoon and a fork. They mainly eat rice, chicken and meat, or stew or fry, and stir-fry is not much. Fried small fish is also their home cooking, and this dish can always be seen in the canteen.
In Baguio City, which is known as the "Summer Capital", you can eat authentic Cantonese food. The climate there is good, and Guangdong's broccoli and Dutch beans are available all year round. In Naya city, there is a Guangdong teahouse opened by an old overseas Chinese in Guangdong, which sells Cantonese dim sum such as shrimp dumplings and Shao Shao, as well as barbecued pork buns.
On the east side of Rojas Street in Manila, there is a restaurant called Jollibee. Dining here can not only enjoy the rich Filipino food, but also enjoy the wonderful, vivid and lively song and dance performances. Jolibi, which means "Happy Bee". Jolibi Catering Group is the largest group in Philippine catering industry. In addition to operating dinner, it also opened 129 fast food restaurants, including 6 overseas branches. In 1993, the group's turnover was 4 billion pesos and its net profit was 272 million pesos. The group plans to spend huge sums of money to sell 81% of the shares of Greenwich fast food chain.
After nightfall, if people come to Jolibi's restaurant for dinner, they will see colorful neon lights, and the characters "Jolibi" are dazzling. The restaurant is full of excitement and joy. The dishes here are mainly seafood, with pigs, cattle and mutton. The practice of Filipino cuisine is similar to that of China Lai, except that they use more spices and are very spicy. There are many people who eat in this restaurant, most of whom are foreign tourists. Most customers come here not only to taste the unique flavor of the Philippines, but also to enjoy the unique cultural and entertainment programs in the Philippines. There are many young men and women who can sing and dance in this restaurant. They are not professional artists, but chefs and waiters in this restaurant. Some of them go to stir-fry or serve dishes after the show. What's more interesting is that some waiters sing loudly at customers' tables after serving them dishes, and some customers put down their knives and forks to sing with them. The combination of eating and entertainment is really a wonderful enjoyment. Although the meal fee in this restaurant is 1/3 more expensive than that in ordinary restaurants, it is still full of customers.