Five Christmas Delicacies

December 15, 2021

Hi lovely Readers!

Christmas is just around the corner and everyone seems to be getting ready for that big day. Everyone is busy shopping for clothes and stuff that they'll give out to their loved ones but I hope you don't forget to be very careful while you are out shopping. Sad to say, there are now 2 cases of omicron here in the Philippines, one is a Filipina overseas worker that came home for Christmas and the other one is a foreign nationality that is just visiting the Philippines, so please, please be very careful outside and always follow the health protocol.

Christmas is one of those occasions that will not be complete without food. Of course, I'm not saying that it is just about food because we all know the real reason why we are celebrating Christmas. However, what I want to talk about today are the foods that you'll only see here in the Philippines when the Christmas season starts. Christmas delicacy that you'll find along the streets near the Church during this season.

Most people have their breakfast outside or buy from these vendors before going home after attending the night mass. Making the morning extra special after hearing mass. So what are these delicacies?

Puto Bumbong or Filipino Purle Rice Cake

This Filipino purple rice cake is traditionally sold during the Christmas season. It is mostly sold outside the church or along the streets near the Church. Puto bumbong vendors can easily be spotted because you will see a steaming bamboo tube using a not-so-ordinary-shaped steamer. It is served in a banana leaf with freshly grated coconut, margarine, brown sugar and some do add grated cheese for extra flavor. The video below will show how you can spot a puto bumbong vendor along the streets.

I doubt if you will not get curious seeing something like that early in the morning or before midnight.

Bibingka or Filipino Baked Coconut Rice Cake

Another Christmas delicacy that you will see along the streets or from vendors outside the church. Traditionally it is cooked in a terracotta oven lined with banana leaf with charcoal under and over the bibingka. It is made of glutinous rice, water, milk, sugar with salted egg and cheese as toppings. Though it is traditionally cooked in a terracotta oven there are also some who prefer cooking it in the oven. But personally, I think it is the smoke from the charcoal that made this delicacy tastier.

See how they cooked the Bibingka? Isn't it the smoke from charcoal adds flavor to it? This one is my favorite among the two of course best served with hot coffee especially in the early morning when the breeze is still cold.

Castañas

For me, roasted chestnut or castañas is one of the traditional Christmas delicacies. Ever since I was a child I have only seen this cooking outside the groceries or along the streets when the Christmas season starts. When I was younger I didn't know that castañas and chestnuts are the same lol all I know is that it's castañas. After knowing that, that's the only time I understand the lyrics of one of the Christmas song "chestnut roasting on an open fire."

I'm always fascinated by the way they cooked it and its taste! It gives a sweet, smoky flavor and it is best when it is warm. Expensive? Yes, but it's a well-worth-it price tag.

Queso de bola – The round Edam cheese coated in red paraffin wax

When I was younger there is only two brands of Quezo de bola that you will see in the market. It is either Marca Pato or Marca Pina both are imported from Holland. What's their difference? I'm really not sure but my Dad prefers the Marca Pato while my Aunt likes the Marca Pina but if you are going to ask me., they are both Edam cheese and they both taste good though I think Marca Pato is firmer than the other brand and a bit saltier. This round cheese only appears in the market after the Halloween period when people are starting prepping for Christmas.

Christmas Ham

Others called it Christmas ham and I called it Chinese ham. Of course, there is a difference between the two. It's a pork leg that is cured for months with a smoky taste and usually with a glaze of sugar on top, the Chinese ham has a bone in it when they cured it while the Christmas ham is a big chunk of pork all meat and no bone and with a fruity sweet-salty flavor. Both can be eaten as an appetizer or in a sandwich. The Chinese Ham can go well with your wine too and of course the quezo de bola.

There are two traditional Chinese ham that you can find somewhere in Quiapo, one is Excellente and the other one is Liberty, and you can find Majestic ham in Greenhills though there are small branches that you can find in some grocery like Rustans and Cash & Carry. You can never go wrong with those there brands of ham.

These are the top five traditional Christmas delicacies that you can find in the grocery, markets, and along the streets, they make Christmas more exciting by having them on your table.

Thanks for your time reading this article, if you enjoy reading it hope you're gonna click that button to like and subscribe. By the way, let's talk some more so I hope you will leave a comment below and share with me your thoughts.

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