The Philippines -

The Philippines

The Philippines location between the South China Sea and the Pacific Ocean has made the islands a crossing point for migrating people from all around the world. Consequently, the Philippines are made up of a variety of different people and ethnic groups. While there are many different dialects and languages, Tagalog is the national language. The people of the Philippines are called Filipino. Filipino cuisine reflects the blending of these wide and varied cultures.

People from Malaysia, were among the very first inhabitants of the Philippines over 20,000 years ago. They brought with them the understanding of preparing hot chillies and using ginataan or coconut milk, in sauces to balance the spiciness.

The Chinese established colonies in the Philippines between 1200 and 1300. They introduced pansit or Chinese noodle dishes and bean curds. Later came egg rolls and soy sauce. Like the Chinese, the Filipinos consume a wide selection of dipping sauces to accompany their dishes.

Spain occupied the Philippines for almost 400 years, beginning in 1521. This colonization had a major impact on Filipino cuisine. A majority of the dishes prepared in modern Philippines could be traced back to Spain. In fact, everyday Filipino dishes resemble Spanish cooking a lot more than native meals. The Spaniards introduced a Mediterranean kind of eating and preparing food. Techniques such as braising and sautéing, and meals cooked in olive oil, are examples. Spain also introduced cooking with seasonings, such as garlic, onions, tomatoes, sweet peppers and vinegar.