Summer may be over in the Philippines, but it is just starting in the United States.
And it's a good time as any to savor delicious foods, such as the favorite Filipino dessert halo-halo and the exotic durian fruit.
In fact, these two were among those picked by Cable News Network (CNN) as among the “top 25 summer delicious foods.”
“In some countries, the coldest, sweetest dishes are considered the best foods for summer,” wrote Elizabeth Leigh, author of the report. “In others, the hottest – in both senses of the word – are considered the best way to beat the heat.”
Halo-halo, the 'mix-mix' concoction
Cool and colorful, halo-halo is a favorite summer treat of Filipinos and foreigners alike. Photo by Danny Pata
Although the summer foods were not ranked, halo-halo came in at number 11, after Vietnam’s “bun cha” and before Hawaii’s “spam misubi.”
“The name of this Filipino dessert means “mix” and that’s just what it is – a jumble of sweet and colorful ingredients mixed together,” Leigh wrote of halo-halo.
Halo-halo, she said, “can include anything from sweetened beans and chickpeas to preserved fruit and ice cream flavored with mango, taro, coconut or other summery fruit.”
Leigh said halo-halo got the thumbs up from American celebrity chef and television personality Anthony Bourdain when the intrepid eater had it at Jollibee in Los Angeles for his show, “Parts Unknown.”
Bourdain is not alone. In fact, foreigners who have tried halo-halo considered it as one of the best impromptu treats. “Bright, sweet, and bursting with attractions,” one American author wrote in Gourmet magazine. “Halo-halo is the Las Vegas of iced desserts.”
Halo-halo was also featured as a Quickfire Challenge dish in the seventh episode of the fourth season of the American reality television series, “Top Chef.” The halo-halo, which featured avocado, mango, kiwi and nuts, was prepared by Filipino-American contestant Dale Talde and named as one of the top three Quickfire Challenge dishes by guest judge Johnny Iuzzini.
In Japan, halo-halo is mentioned the television show, “Degrassi: The Next Generation.” In the Season 7 episode, “We Got the Beat,” Jay was eating dinner at Manny’s house when Manny’s mom inquired, “More halo-halo, Jay?”
Durian, king of all fruits
Although Leigh did not mention that durian is popular in the Philippines, she described it as “the alleged king of all fruits in Asia.”
Durian is 22nd on the list, after American’s peach cobbler and before Middle East’s meze.
“Durian addicts who love the fruit’s distinct rotten-garbage odor look forward to durian season every year – the fruit can be grown only in tropical areas and is available between June and August,” Leigh wrote.
In Davao, durian is a popular pasalubong among tourists despite its smell. Photo by Froilan Gallardo
In the Philippines, durian is mostly grown in Mindanao, particularly in Davao, which is considered the durian capital of the country.
A century and a half ago, traveler and naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace praised the durian as “a new sensation worth a voyage to the East to experience.”
“(I)ts consistence and flavour are indescribable,” he wrote in his 1869 book “The Malay Archipelago.” “A rich custard highly flavoured with almonds gives the best general idea of it, but there are occasional wafts of flavour that call to mind cream-cheese, onion-sauce, sherry-wine, and other incongruous dishes. Then there is a rich glutinous smoothness in the pulp which nothing else possesses, but which adds to its delicacy … it is in itself perfect … and the more you eat of it the less you feel inclined to stop.”
Durian can be made into an excellent ice cream, or a cold milk shake. As a blender ingredient, though, it seems the king of fruits does not mix well with lesser commoners. The distinct durian flavor usually dominates, and in some cases mixing with other fruits accentuates the garlicky component of durian in unfavorable ways.
One known harmonious flavor with durian is coffee. Drinking coffee while eating durian is quite pleasant and invigorating – and a durian-flavored gourmet coffee, which one can have in Davao City, would be an exotic treat. —KG, GMA News
No comments:
Post a Comment