How did you start your 2011?
My family and I had totally different New Year’s eve. For the very first time in my 34 years of existence, I defied family tradition, superstition and beliefs about New Year celebration. We never had fireworks and firecrackers. We didn’t have 13 round fruits on the dining table that were supposed to symbolize 12 fruitful months and a surplus for the incoming year. We didn’t prepare any home-cooked meals neither bought dishes or cakes from restaurants or fast foods even as take-away. Perhaps because Tina, Gabby and I just came home from Malaysia a day after Christmas and we became so busy allowing time to just pass by. Nonetheless, I extremely enjoyed my days off with my family. 
Few hours before the clock strikes midnight last New Year’s eve, Tina, Gabby and I spent simple dinner at Sulu Hotel in Quezon City with my wife’s balikbayan dad who checked in there for his holiday here from Missouri.
During my vacation, we also got a chance to visit my dad and brothers in Pasig City and had dinner with them too.
The three of us watched 2 Pinoy movies (comedy and horror flicks), dined and strolled in malls I truly missed (Greenbelt, Glorietta, Gateway and TriNoma) and really savored my week-long break from work.
Before I report back to work in Penang early next week, I’d like to share with you the foods that I am extremely pleased to eat again after 5 months of being abroad.
Our very first meal after we got home from the airport : Pandesal at goto…
Tina, Gabby and I arrived on 26th December from (Penang via) Kuala Lumpur at around 6AM after we were fetched by my 2 brothers from NAIA terminal 3. We walked to Kawilihan bakery (the best bakery in Anonas/Chico Streets, QC) and bought a supot (brown bag) of pandesal and goto for me! Sarap! miss na miss e! Pandesal never tasted that delicious!
Reyes Barbecue, Glorietta Makati… Five months of no pork barbecue was worth the wait!
Christmas season in Pinas won’t be complete without bibingka (rice cakes). This one was from a stall near Greenbelt chapel. We also had Ferino’s, one of the best tasting bibingka in town.
I am more of bibingka fan rather than puto-bumbong (purple rice cakes steamed from bamboo poles; do you like them both?).
Pancit Malabon : I’d count the days until I can enjoy you again…
Crispy Pata and Kare-kare from Dencio’s …classic Pinoy favorites.
And yesterday, my sister-in-law invited us for a dinner treat with Tina’s balikbayan-dad at Dampa in Libis, Quezon City.
Other than those calcium and iodine -rich yummies, my dad-in-law also missed Dinuguan, so he ordered one…
Of course it was seafoods galore! We had Tiger-Prawn Tempura, Sweet and Sour Lapu-lapu,
Halaan (clam) soup … deliciously soothing!
I cannot imagine a world without baked scallops! hehehe!
Among those sumptuous treats I had with my family in Manila, these two are the ones to be missed…
Purefoods hotdogs (you know that we have raw pork meat in Penang, even various ham but there’s only beef and chicken-dogs).
And, it would take time again before I can dunk my fork at those crispiest Chicken Joy and delightful Spaghetti from Jollibee. I’ll also surely miss that Yum burger and Peach Mango pie… Can someone put up a Jollibee branch in Butterworth, please… hehehe..
On one of our meals at home, Tina prepared Crab meat Siomai, beautifully steamed and was perfectly tasteful but I forgot to capture them in photos *toinks!*
Despite the fact that Penang has been considered as food capital of Malaysia and I and my family and friends are lucky to experience their diverse gastronomic flavors, my palate still belongs to Pinoy foods.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, we’ll have Tuyo, Itlog na Pula at Kamatis and Sinangag for breakfast. 
Happy 2011, everyone! May we all have a more blessed year.
Here’s to more blog posts about Family.Food and Fun!
cheers!
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OPINION COUNTS…