STORY TELLERS

We invite readers to share thoughts, anecdotes, views or stories on a particular subject. Last week we asked: ‘Have you tried Filipino food? If not, why not? If so, what is your favourite dish?’ Here are your replies:

A page for readers to share their views, thoughts and stories.

I actually tried Filipino food for the first time at Max’s and quite enjoyed the traditional fried chicken. It was a little blander than I’m used to but it was great to experience a new cuisine. I’d love to try more dishes if only I knew what I should order. Lekshmy Divakara Menon

I have tried Filipino food and especially love the desserts. My favourite are the steamed buns – sio pao asado with the chicken stuffing. A variation of the Chinese/Thai bun, this too is soft and the filling is sweet(ish) and available at Chowking. In desserts, I love ube (purple yam ice cream) and halo-halo (which translates to ‘mixmix’), which is made with evaporated milk and a mix of various ingredients like sago, coconut, beans, fruit etc... The version I’ve had was home-made with sweetened condensed milk, sago and jelly cubes. By far, one of my favourite desserts. Alba D’Souza

My favourite Filipino food would be chicken adobo. Every Filipino home has their own version. But like everyone else’s claim, my mum makes the best adobo. Evelyn De Castro

I’ve worked with many Filipino colleagues and loved their sweets. If I just remembered what they were called. It’s a lot sweeter than our European cuisine. Agni Skafidas

I once tried a food item called lumpia. It resembled spring rolls except that the wrapping was crispier. And taste wise, it were almost like Chinese spring rolls containing a mixture of meat and vegetables. I have also eaten at some Filipino restaurants such as Jollibee, Golden Fork and Marry Brown. I have had their spaghetti umpteen number of times and absolutely love it. It’s fresh, not too oily or heavy and mild in flavour. And I remember a few years back, our helper at home, who hails from Philippines, made us a cake that she said was their traditional sweet. It was soft, decadent and tasted much like coconut. The cake had a Filipino name. I’d say Filipino food has a lot of similarities with Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine. But all in all, it’s very healthy, bursting with flavours and light on the stomach. It is a must try! Fatima Suhail

I tried bibingka, a sweet cake, from my office colleague while I was working. That was the very first time I got introduced to Filipino food. I like people from Philippines, they seem to be happy-go-lucky people who don’t take much tension. Their food is simple and not so spicy, like the adobo chicken – it was light on the stomach. Jaseera Coticollon

I am upset to answer this question because I have not tried Filipino food. I remember going to a Filipino bakery near my home that certainly had the best cakes and all the bakery stuff alongside Flipino dishes. Unfortunately, I have not tried Filipino food because when I think about Filipino food, I recall standing in the bakery for a good 15 minutes just trying to read the name and understand the meaning of it (somehow). To be honest,I would need a certified

Filipino chef to help me understand even the smallest details of that particular Filipino dish. Moreover, I would like to blame my shyness – as a result of that, I spent my entire time thinking whether I should ask someone or figure out myself. I would definitely love to try some because food is not only a need when it comes to me – it’s an enjoyment and in this case, another fun way to discover the culture of a respectable country. Kanwal Rana

I haven’t tried Filipino food, as it’s mostly non-vegetarian and I am pure vegetarian. Surabhi Baid

I tasted Filipino food at a potluck lunch. I’m not too sure if it was authentic cuisine so I would love to taste authentic Filiipino cuisine some day. I do not get to try different foods very often but would be delighted to taste this unique cuisine. Sarah Ronad

I have never tried Filipino food. I would not know what to order if I was in a Filipino restaurant. Perhaps Friday magazine can do a story on Filipino food, origin, type, what a first-timer should try, and most important, where to go to try authenic Filipino food. Priya Malhotra

I have a deep love for South East Asian cuisine, I especially enjoy the exotic and eclectic mix of ingredients in Filipino cuisine. I have tried all their popular dishes like lumpia, adobo and pancit. The adobo dish I tried was not the usual chicken one, but was a combination

I have only tried lumpia and pancit, to be honest, and I am not a big fan as it is too sweet for my liking. Simy Mathew

of meat with okra, if you have a palate for that kind of flavour, you will enjoy this dish. I also appreciate their variety of breakfast and snack items, many of them are steamed, so they are pretty light on the tummy and without any oil. Anupa Mathews I’m not a great fan of Filipino food, I tried it once and was a bit low on the spices and flavour, and I haven’t tried it since. Actually a little too sweet for my palate. I enjoy food that’s on the spicier side. Alvin George

This week’s question… What do you do to fall asleep? Email your replies to friday@gulfnews.com, or comment on facebook.com/FridayMagazine. Answers may be edited for clarity and/or length.