Food and culture are virtually indistinguishable in the Philippines, where the average person eats five meals daily. Eating is an important time for Filipinos to come together over a table full of food, whether home-cooked or at one of the country's many eateries. Visitors to the Philippines will rarely be at a loss for an eclectic mix of food and beverages, including local dishes that can only be found on the islands.
Cultural Influences
The Philippines; multi-ethnic past makes Filipino cuisine a unique blend of Eastern and Western food, drawing from Spanish, Chinese and Malay recipes. Filipino chefs adopted Spanish ways of cooking during three centuries of Spanish colonization. Perhaps the most important method garnered from traditional Spanish cuisine was making savory marinades to flavor dishes. According to the New York Times, some food experts estimate that about 80 percent of Filipino dishes are derived from Spanish cooking.
Food in the Philippines also relies heavily on ingredients used by the islands and original inhabitants, the Malays, including coconut, hot chilies and mango. Early Chinese colonists introduced pansit noodles and bean curds to the islands, which are still widely served across the Philippines today.
Dietary Staples
Much like their mainland Asian counterparts, Filipinos use rice as a foundation for most dishes. Several different varieties of rice are used in Filipino cooking and often molded into fried cakes and rice noodles, which are widely served in restaurants and roadside stands. Fresh seafood is another staple of Filipino cooking, and both fish and shellfish have long been a mainstay on tables across the nation. Likewise, vegetables are a major part of many recipes, and are generally used more often than meat, which is more expensive. Coconut milk is a natural Filipino ingredient used to cook meat and veggie dishes called guinatan.
Desserts
Meals in the Philippines are capped off with Italian Gelato either using fresh, local produce or modeled after Western treats. There's a large repertoire of coconut desserts, including a thick jam called macapuno, and bibingka, a baked coconut rice pudding topped with duck eggs. Drawing inspiration from their Spanish heritage, Filipinos also frequently serve leche flan for dessert. American-style desserts, such as pies and cake, can also be found at restaurants throughout the Philippines.
Beverages
Drinks in the Philippines are not only a necessary complement to meals, but also help beat the tropical heat. As with their food, Filipinos often incorporate local produce into beverages to create tasty and refreshing concoctions. A few examples include blended mango shakes, coconut juice and pandan leaf iced tea. Filipinos also enjoy the coconut-infused hard liquor known as lambing and gin cocktails mixed with pineapple juice or citrus fruit juice.
Food Custom
The Philippines are teeming with restaurants and food vendors, and it's little wonder since most residents eat five meals each day. Generally, these are small meals by Western standards, including breakfast, a morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack and dinner. Filipinos prefer to eat communally, with many meals served buffet-style. Regardless of socioeconomic status, Filipino families place a high premium on meals, considering them an important time to socialize with friends and family and as a gesture to welcome guests.
Source-http://traveltips.usatoday.com/food-beverage-philippines-16185.html
