Wednesday, November 9, 2011
THE most important meal of the day should always be “breakfast.” Break and fast, meaning, we are breaking our fasting through the night after our dinner from the night before. And what a better way to start our day with a hearty meal?
It is a wrong misconception and practice for many of us when we try to skip breakfast because “we are trying to lose weight” or because “we are running late for work or school.” Why? Because breakfast should always be the most important meal of the day.
In fact, this should be the heaviest meal of the day. But I am sure everyone will agree that we take this for granted, a lot! And we practically fill ourselves during dinner time. Why? Maybe because it is the time when we are not in a hurry, we have more time to spend sitting down and watching TV, maybe while eating. Besides, this is also the time when we get to attend parties and gathering where delicious and full meals are served!
At any rate, everyone knows that our Pinoy almusal/pamahaw is one meal that we look forward to when we get up in the morning! Waking up to the aroma of “bulad,” tocino, sardines, tapa, chorizo, longganisa, eggs and fried rice with accompanying sikwate/hot cocoa or coffee (usually 3 in 1!) can make one salivate even before getting out of bed!
And this Pinoy Breakfast has gone global indeed! Aside from those mentioned above, many other options are added to the “silog” meals like corned beef, tuna, boneless bangus, adobo, humba, pork chop, curry and many more. Served with a portion of atchara, the eggs can be scrambled or sunny side up.
I also see this trend, or should I say practice, to be found all over. Be it in small affordable carenderias to big and exotic expensive five star hotels! In hotels, they would have Pinoy, American or Continental choices. And what I have observed is that, we still prefer our very own savory dishes.
Depending on where, who and what, these tasty meals would definitely depend on who is preparing them. And how much is being served in the amount one pays. Ranging from P30, a complete “silog” meal is offered. But do not expect it to have much for that price range.
For a more decent portion, maybe we should go up to about P70 to P100. Of course, hotels charge more and might not be as filling, unless it is buffet or eat all you can.
With eggs, (I prefer sunny side up), and plain steam rice (although garlic or “bulad” fried rice would be much welcome), the main” course should be the meat, fish or chicken.
Pork or chicken tocino, for one, is great and especially if it is made in the more “sweet” way. Besides, we like sweet stuffs, don’t we?
As for the Beef Tapa, it should complement the rest. Better if it is a bit salty (just enough), although I have also tried and liked the sweet version of the tapa. But just make sure the meat is tender, not tough.
Chorizo and longganisa. What else can I say? Just make sure they are not made from too much fat! Sticky, a bit sweet (see?) and with the proper flavor and spices, this sure is one good meal!
Corned beef. I love it with lots of garlic and onions.
Tuna, plain or sautéed with onions and tomatoes is another favorite. And of course, the very famous sardines!
Humba or Adobo with lots of its thick sauce is enough and goes extremely well with eggs and rice! And with that yummy atchara, that is just sweet and sour and “crunchy,” it becomes a very exciting appetizer indeed!
Without rice in the morning, I would still love to have any of the above choices with our very Pinoy bread, the crusty but soft Pan de Sal! Sipping coffee (brewed with be nice), or sikwate can definitely start our day right! Don’t forget, a slice of fruit before or after the meal should be included and that means either a piece of banana, a slice of mango, watermelon or any “cheap” fruit in season.
And mind you, these are now almost available all throughout the day (and night) in many of our restaurants, carenderias and eateries! Which means, we can now really have our breakfast at any time of the day, depending on the time one wakes up.
Wake up past 10:00am, then one will have breakfast for lunch! Wake up at 5:00pm and have any of the “silog” meals for dinner. And if one goes home late or should I say, early in the morning, then definitely one will have breakfast in the “real” sense of the word!
So, what’s for breakfast? It’s your choice!
(Email: potsnpans@yahoo.com; website: www.potsnpans1976.weebly.com)
Published in the Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro newspaper on November 10, 2011.
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