Course 01 · Luzon · the national braiseAdobong Manok
Chicken AdoboChicken thigh and drumstick simmered low in soy, sugarcane vinegar, garlic, bay, and crushed peppercorn. Cooked twice — once in the marinade, once seared in its own fat. Served over white rice with the pan jus.
- soy
- cane vinegar
- garlic
- bay
- black pepper
Course 02 · Pampanga · the bar plateSisig
Sizzling Pork SisigPork jowl and ear simmered, then chopped fine and finished on a cast-iron plate with calamansi, chili, and a raw egg cracked at the pass. The egg cooks against the iron in the time it takes to reach the table.
- pork jowl
- calamansi
- siling labuyo
- onion
- egg
Course 03 · Manila · the celebration foodLumpiang Shanghai
Filipino Spring RollsPork, water chestnut, carrot, and scallion rolled hand-tight in a thin wheat wrapper, blanched-fried at 350°F until the skin shatters. Served with a vinegar-garlic dip we mix to order, two pieces per stick.
- ground pork
- carrot
- scallion
- wonton skin
Course 04 · Cantonese-Filipino · the everyday platePancit Bihon
Rice-Noodle PancitRice vermicelli stir-fried in a chicken-soy reduction with cabbage, julienned carrot, snap pea, and a confit of chicken thigh. Finished with a calamansi wedge — squeezed at the truck window, not at the table.
- rice vermicelli
- chicken
- cabbage
- calamansi
Course 05 · Cebu · the summer ritualHalo-Halo
Shaved-Ice DessertShaved ice layered over sweetened red bean, jackfruit, coconut strings, and ube halaya. Crowned with leche flan and a scoop of purple yam ice cream. Eaten standing, in the cold, with a long spoon. Filipino math.
- ube
- leche flan
- jackfruit
- red bean
- coconut