The basis of most Filipino breakfasts is sinangag, or garlic fried rice. Loaded with fragrant bits of crisp fried garlic, sinangag is a simple dish that comprises just a handful of ingredients – garlic, salt, pepper, oil and rice – but it requires a lot of technique and precision to ensure it's cooked properly.
Silog is a class of Filipino breakfast dishes containing sinangag (fried rice) and itlog (egg; in context, fried egg). They are served with various viands or ulam, usually meat dishes such as tapa, longganisa or ham.
Rice is the one thing that ties any Filipino breakfast together—whether in the form of sinangag (garlic fried rice), champorado (chocolate rice porridge), or kakanin (rice cakes).
A typical Filipino lunch (tanghalian) is composed of a food variant (or two for some) and rice, sometimes with soup. Whether grilled, stewed, or fried, rice is eaten with everything. Due to the tropical climate of the Philippines, the preference is to serve ice cold water, juices, or soft drinks with meals.
The most popular Filipino food and referred to as the unofficial national dish of the Philippines, Adobo is commonly chicken (though pork is a 2nd favourite option) simmered in vinegar, garlic, black peppercorns, soy sauce, and bay leaves.
An average Filipino eats five meals a day: breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack and dinner.
Halo-halo has a wide range of where it can be found, from food stands to 5-star hotels. Filipino fast-food restaurants like Jollibee, Max's, and Chowking serve halo-halo.
Leche flan is one of the most popular and beloved Filipino desserts.
Mangoes are the national fruit of the Philippines and are grown by around two and a half million smallholder farmers on over 7 million mango trees.
When asked what a typical Filipino bread is, I would have to say pan de sal. Sometimes spelled pandesal, these rolls are the star of a traditional breakfast in the Philippines. The dough for pan de sal is rolled in breadcrumbs before dividing into rolls.
"Rice is integral to the Filipino concept of a meal. It is the basis of commensality, defining small local entities, particularly the household and its associated relations," the PIDS study said. The variety of rice one serves or eats tells of one's economic standing.
Breakfast is served from about 7:30 to 9 A.M., and usually consists of tea or coffee and rice; the latter is served either as a porridge-type cereal that can be flavored with any number of ingredients (nasi gorang), with eggs in a variety of styles, or with pickled vegetables.
Kamayan is a communal-style buffet of delicious Filipino food: it features seafood, grilled meats, vegetables and garlic rice served on fresh (or frozen and thawed) banana leaves. In Tagalog, kamayan means “by hand” — and refers to how the meal is eaten.
In the United States, breakfast often consists of either a cereal or an egg-based dish. However, pancakes, waffles, toast, and variants of the full breakfast and continental breakfast are also prevalent.
Malunggay has been declared as the national vegetable of the Philippines as it is a source of 49 vitamins and minerals and essential amino acids. In addition, it is also known for its abundant medicinal benefits.
The Philippines' hottest months are April and May, with the coldest months experienced during December, January and February.
There are symbols such as the carabao (national animal), mango (national fruit) and anahaw (national leaf) that are widely known as national symbols but have no laws recognizing them as official national symbols.
Beer is the go-to drink for most Filipinos, mostly because it is cheap. A single bottle can be bought for PHP40 or less than $1, while bigger ones for sharing is only around $2. San Miguel Beer is the dominant player, with varieties such as Light and Pale Pilsen as the most popular.
In its simplest form, bibingka is a simple Filipino cake that consists of rice flour and water.
Ube cake is a staple in any Filipino celebration. Light and fluffy ube cake layers frosted with the most luxurious ube buttercream.
Pampanga holds the title of being the Culinary Capital of the Philippines as they offer some of the best Filipino dishes, but there's more to this Central Luzon province that just good food.
Sinigang, another traditional Filipino food and one of the most famous food in the Philippines, refers to a soup soured by a sour fruit or leaf. Usually, sinigang can be pork, beef, salmon or shrimp cooked in a broth with vegetables like kang kong (swamp cabbage), radish, Chinese long beans, tomatoes, and onions.
Filipino food continues to surprise people due to its distinct taste, creativity, and diversity. The reason why Pinoy food is so unique is that it draws inspiration from several influences and you can definitely taste the Spanish, Chinese, India, and western influences with each dish.