By Stephanie Joy Ching
As the capital city of the Philippines, Manila is not only the seat of power, but also home to a wide array of ethnicities. A true melting pot of cultures, Manila can certainly boast of many kinds of cuisines found within the city. After all, what better way to celebrate Manila Day than to indulge in the traditional cuisines that characterize Manila?
Kinilaw
Kinilaw is not really a dish, but rather a way of cooking. The meat or seafood is soaked in vinegar, the flavor further enhanced by an acidic agent, like calamansi or green mangoes. Then, it is seasoned with peppers, ginger, or even sugar, and young coconuts. Kinilaw means “eaten raw” but unlike the seafood kinilaw, the meat variant is cooked. Kinilaw made from meat is also traditionally served with a bittering agent made from animal gallbladder. If meat or seafood doesn’t strike your fancy, fear not, kinilaw also comes in a vegetable variety! Vegetable kinilaw, or ensalada (salad), is usually made from cucumbers, papaya and even banana flowers.
Binatog
Also known as bualaw, this popular soft-boiled-corn delicacy comes in variety. It can be served hot or cold, salty or sweet. People with a sweet tooth might enjoy this treat sprinkled with grated coconut or sugar. If you want a saltier variety, the buttered version or the salted binatog might be for you. Another alternative version of the binatog is the creamy gata with its evaporated or coconut-milk topping.
Pancit
Pancit came to the Philippines along with the early Chinese traders. Derived from the Hokkien word for “convenient food,” noodles have been adopted into a multitude of different ways. Each region in the archipelago has its own variety of pancit. Noodles can be made from rice, egg or starch, then seasoned with meat, broth and even squid ink. Famous varieties of pancit include palabok, sotanghon, mami and molo. As a symbol of long life and health, pancit, in any way, shape or form, is a staple in many Filipino celebrations, such as weddings and birthdays.
Satti
Although Manila has a predominantly Christian population, the Muslim community has grown quite a lot over the years. If you want to have a taste of Muslim culture, satti is a good place to start. Satti, also known as satay, is three pieces of meat grilled and seasoned with a spicy red sauce. It is considered as a Muslim variant of barbeque and is a popular breakfast food among Filipino-Muslims. This dish is more popularly served in the Zamboanga regions, but has slowly made its way into the streets of Manila.