Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Food. What can I say about food? Well, it is THE thing that we need to survive. It is THE thing we need to nourish our body. It is THE thing that can be good for us or can do harm to us. It is THE thing that we look forward to upon waking up in the morning, THE thing that we eat at lunch time and again, at dinner time. Well, aside also from the other in-between feedings we call snacks!
We practically eat anything and everything that is edible. But this article would dwell on the foods that we devour mostly as "fill-in" while waiting for the BIG mealtime, or shall I say foods that we eat anytime of the day? In any other way, these are the foods that we enjoy alone or with company, eaten straight from the pot or wok, be it in hot, cold or rainy weather, but more importantly, the foods that we like to munch on or gobble on the streets, hence it is called Street Foods!
And in no particular orders, here they are:It was banana cue/banana turon and camote cue at one time and one can find this in almost all corners of the city. Because of the stiff competitions, entrepreneurs would outdo each other by either lowering their prices, making their banana cue or turon bigger, or adding more sugar syrups in their items which was really a big come on for the buyers. From a few centavos, the price has gone up to P5 or even more.
Shakes, whether fresh real fruit or powdered, also made a mark in the market, ranging from the very popular fresh tropical mango to watermelon and other fruits in season to artificially flavored juices, mixes and the like. Depending on the "concentration" and the "freshness" of the juice/shake, prices can range from P5 (street vendors) to as much as P100.00 or more in plush restaurants. Not to forget also the "lowly" buko juice, sago at gulaman and other coolers. Just make sure "real" sugar is used in the mixture!
Remember the times when we use to buy popcorns at P1.00 per pack? And it was only at the park, near the church or in movie houses where they can be bought, until such a time when this very affordable snack food was repackaged and sold in supermarkets or malls at a higher price. Now it is priced at P20.00 and up.
What about sweet, tender golden, yellow corn on the cob, binaki and "sinugbang" corn? The aroma of these delicious treats is so enticing and is available seasonally. In Bukidnon where it is being produced, corn can be bought along the highway at a cheaper price, of course. A healthy option, I must say.
How can anyone forget artificially colored "kwek-kwek," fish balls, shrimp balls, tempura, and everything that is "on a stick"? And remember, the one thing that makes it taste so much better is in the "sweet, sour, salty & spicy sauce" that one dips in before putting that fried item in the mouth. They mushroomed lately and can be seen all over, especially at night. Wonder what kind of oil is being used here!
Lumpia, be it fresh (ubod or the typical Chinese style) or fried also got a niche in the market but because the ingredients spoil easily, it is not seen as much. But I have seen this being peddled from one place to the other rather than being sold in the streets.
Oh, chicken! Fried Chicken. Deep golden Fried Chicken. Flour-coated, spicy or plain, thighs, legs or wings, chicken "proven" (whatever it is!), crunchy cholesterol- laden chicken skin is another fad and preferred food the old and young likes very much. How can one resist the "crunch"?
What about fried peanuts, be it plain or spicy, sugar-coated, roasted peanuts or "boiled" peanuts? An all-time favorite of everyone I must say. It goes very well with soda while having short talks with friends, watching a movie, or just munching them alone! Here's one for our arthritis! Cashew is quite expensive so mostly available in supermarkets.
How about the truly Pinoy food? Balut. Does that ring many bells? Balut is sold mostly at night which is said to contain "aphrodisiac" qualities? From a few pesos it has increased to about P15 each. Now, how many can one devour in one sitting? Also pork and chicken barbecue, isaw, and so many more. And these are also eaten with what we call as "hanging rice" (puso, as we fondly call them).
Dirty Ice Cream! How can I almost forget this one? I grew up with this. And every time I hear the bells ringing, I would run outside to meet "Mamang Sorbetero" for a scoop and if I am lucky, 2 scoops of mango, ube or chocolate ice cream during my childhood days! This is becoming a novelty since I can see this mostly during "kiddie" parties only, well except if I go the more rural areas. By the way, why is it called dirty ice cream? Nowadays, we see commercially prepared ice cream being peddled in a bicycle and with their music loud and clear!
There's also pizza. Well, a far cry from the real Italian pizza that is being sold in stalls all over. With a little tomato sauce, a few slices of pineapple and ham and sprinkling of cheese, this is what we get for about P5-10 or a bit more. But lately, I have noticed the increase in the number of establishments selling pizza. And the sizes are getting monstrously large! And with more toppings to choose from!
This list can still go on but I thought I'd just write about the more common and much loved foods that can evoke not only childhood memories but can also become something to remember and eventually we talk about once we grow old and share these fond memories to our younger generations to come.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/lifestyle/dychauco-street-foods
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