July 17, 2017
My sister loves to cook and her busy kitchen is one true testament to Filipino families’ love for eating. Her breakfast table is witness to 25 years of family gatherings, happy Tan family moments centered around great meals.
When my parents were still living, they also made sure we had a good meal upon arriving from the long flight from Manila, and another great meal just before we catch our flight back. Sinigang na kanduli, roast duck, steamed alimasag, manggang hilaw at ginisang alamang were regular fares.
Just like in all families, the Tan’s are not immune to family dramas. And this kitchen is also a witness to a lot of them. One time Aileen was eating rice, pritong bangus, and sawsawang suka. When my mom saw what looked like sunog na bangus, she asked my sister to stop eating the milkfish because it was not good for the body. She heard somewhere that eating sunog food could cause cancer. My sister ignored her and continued eating kasi nga ang sarap nung bangus. My mom, tired of repeated requests, grabbed the bangus and threw it away in the waste can. I did not expect my mom would go to that extent. Nagulat din ako and all I could do was exclaimed “Ma!”
Ano pa eh di umiyak si Aileen.
My sister prepared a hearty meal for my send-off. The three pounds I lost in Vegas was gained back in one meal! How could one resist a steaming sinigang na sariwang-sariwang giant hipon with mustasa?
Ginisang upo
They recently bought a Salad Master (brand) set of cooking pans and a smokeless grill. Bong grilled skinny strips of pork liempo which went perfectly well with the sinigang. I ate at least 5 strips. Very yummy.
Good cook, good sister.
Time to go to the airport for my 11:30 flight to Manila.
