The Cultural Roots of Filipino Food Run Deep

It takes more than a superficial exposure to Filipino cooking to get an overall sense of the cuisine. This may explain why, as Filipinos observe to each other whenever the subject of Filipino food comes up (which it does constantly among people from such a food-loving culture), the cuisine isn’t as well-recognized in the West as that of neighboring countries.

To fully understand and appreciate Filipino food in context, one must consider the importance of hospitality and generosity—two of the most universal aspects of Filipino culture. Filipinos are truly the most giving, open, embracing, sentimental, and maddeningly hospitable people I’ve ever known. Never make the mistake of going to the Philippines without first shedding a few pounds in preparation. Once there, you’ll be fed as many as six or seven times a day.