What Makes Filipino Cuisine Unique?

The blend of savory flavors and textures in Filipino food is quite unique. Even here in Orange County, California, the Pinoy cuisine culture is regarded as distinctive because of its diverse ethnic background.

But what is it about Filipino food that truly makes it unique and delightfully tasty? Does it go beyond its interesting past? Let’s try to learn more!

#1 A Mix of Local and Foreign Cultures

Non-Filipinos are frequently taken aback by Filipino cuisine, which is understandable. It is because they sometimes recognize the Spanish, Chinese, Indian, or western traditions in a specific dish.

For instance, the country has developed certain variations of Chinese noodles, or pancit, and spring rolls, or lumpia. Likewise is the deliciously sweet halo-halo which was originally introduced to us by the Japanese! All of which have a Filipino flair while being inspired by foreign flavors!

Being an archipelagic country, Filipino dishes also tend to vary per region. There could just be a little tweak in the preparation of the dish or the condiments being used like a liver sauce for your lechon kawali and calamansi with labuyo for your tasty bulalo.

To understand Filipino food essentially means allowing your palate to experience the adventure!

It’s just great that Manila Food Mart offers a variation of the traditional cooked meals ‘turo turo and carinderia style’. Now you can delight your taste buds with some Bopis, Pinapaitan, Kare-kare, Lechon Kawali, Bicol Express, Sisig or your favorite Pinakbet!

#2 It Gives Off A Festive Spirit

It is easy to identify Filipino food because it has those festive, vibrant colors and the special way it is served like using those banana leaves which can create a truly wonderful sight on the table.

Filipino celebrations means having a lechon or a cochinillo (a slow-roasted suckling pig) as the centerpiece. This most requested dish signifies a feast where everyone is enjoined to share the joy of sharing the abundance of delicious dishes especially during Fiestas. The meticulous preparation of each ingredient explains how the harmony of flavors can uniquely satisfy any guest palate preference.

Fiestas exhibit the rich Filipino culture as you are served with all those Filipino delicacies on a long table. It is truly a sight to behold and it only gets better as all these dishes give every guest a unique gastronomic experience!

#3 Rice Works Like Magic

For any Filipino, a meal is never complete without steamed white rice, a significant partner of every ‘ulam’ from breakfast until dinner. Steamed rice smells so good and wonderful when cooked with ‘pandan’ leaves.

Though most Asian nations partner their viands with rice, still, Filipinos think that their love for rice is just incomparable! Imagine how a nicely cooked white rice pairs with the tangy, spiced flavor of adobo! The richness of the kare-kare peanut sauce can be somewhat basic when eaten on its own, but its harmony with rice always works like magic! I mean, who could possibly resist getting that extra rice?

Rice just enhances the whole Filipino culinary experience whether steamed or sinangag’ from your bahaw (leftover rice). It serves to balance the bold flavors of Filipino dishes like dinuguan and provides texture to soups like sinigang.

Overall, the Filipinos’ known secret to a truly satisfying meal is pairing the wonderfully seasoned ulam with white rice.

#4 Resourcefulness in the Ingredients

Many are amused that even pig or chicken parts are used in cooking some tasty local cuisine like the famous pulutan–sisig. But did you know that one of the most defining qualities of Filipinos is their resourcefulness? Nothing goes to waste even when preparing a hearty meal!

For instance, the pig skin can be made into the favorite crunchy, salty and sometimes spicy Chicharon. Pig knuckles are deep-fried to create a crunchy favorite, the crispy pata. The blood is ideal for a stew like the favorite dinuguan (which goes best with puto). A pig’s mask is excellent for sisig while the heart and lungs are prepared to cook the spicy thinly chopped bopis.

Most of these dishes are quite time-consuming to prepare because of the meticulous process it requires. At Orange County Filipino restaurants like Manila Food Mart make sure that everything is done cleanly and perfectly tasty!

#5 Even 'Meriendas' are Hearty!

After eating rice, one suddenly experiences that craving for a sweet dish.This is where you can prove that Filipinos are very unique and creative beyond preparing viands.

Ice-cold desserts, anyone? Who would have thought that corn and bananas when combined with sugar, milk, and shaved ice would make a tasty dessert or merienda? Have you tasted authentic Mais Con Yelo (corn) and Saging Con Yelo (sweet banana) lately?

Do you remember your favorite kakanin? Kakanin or rice cakes create the perfect Merienda mood. Some popular rice cakes at Manila Food Mart are Puto, Biko, Sapin Sapin and Kutsinta, truly a favorite merienda for anyone.

Wrap It All Up

Filipino food is a diverse cuisine that would never be complete without the chefs who put their hearts and souls in the creative use of ingredients coupled with contagious Filipino smiles.

Relive and create new memories, let Manila Food Mart, Orange County create the perfect setting for savoring this wide variety of authentic Pinoy dishes. Choose from a delectable variety of meat, fish and veggies. Finish it off with an indulgent, all-time favorite Leche flan, halo-halo, or Buko pandan.

Indulge and have a taste of our savory Filipino viands to sweet desserts that will either excite your senses or will leave you with that nostalgic feeling!

We are waiting! Visit us now!