What’s on your Christmas table?

Traditionally, Filipinos and perhaps balikbayans anticipate to be served lechon during special holidays, like Christmas. The sight of a whole pig, perfectly browned with skin so temptingly ready to be pinched, always leads to a mouth-watering desire to have it on our plates.

Have you decided on your big meal on Christmas Day? What would be the main item on your table? Do you want a really grand dish for your holiday feast? Will it be lechon or perhaps a roast turkey? Are you health-conscious or not? Lechon is festive but it is calorific. Maybe a turkey, if you did not have it on Thanksgiving Day. Both command practically the same cost, depending on the size.

Traditionally, Filipinos and perhaps balikbayans anticipate to be served lechon during special holidays, like Christmas. The sight of a whole pig, perfectly browned with skin so temptingly ready to be pinched always leads to a mouth-watering desire to have it on our plates. The thought of paksiw na lechon also evokes memories of a great dish after the festivities.

To the Western world, a roast turkey is THE dish for Thanksgiving. And isn’t Christmas also a time for giving thanks? So, perhaps a roast turkey will be a good alternative this time. The thought came to our mind when our friend Nana Nadal cited the roast turkey as a holiday dish. She referred to a gentleman who is a food/wine writer, an editor of a culinary magazine, who has recently turned into a gourmet food supplier, Dino Datu. His speciality is, yes, roast turkey. He brines the fowl then stuffs it with sausages, sage and potatoes. He garnishes it with buttered French beans, cinnamon and candied carrots, served with giblet gravy and cranberry jelly. Call 0917-3116965. Orders must be made 3 days in advance.

Dino has packaged his turkey with an interesting dessert – kesong puti cheesecake, made by chef Gel Salonga of Sta. Cruz, Laguna where they produce the best kesong puti. This cheesecake is done with cottage cheese, cream cheese and coconut cream.

So there, make your choice – lechon or turkey.

In the course of our food sourcing, here are some finds. French Baker in Solenad, Nuvali serves an A-1 chicken relleno as one of their meal offerings. We asked if we could order a whole to take home. But no, they come sliced. Too bad, maybe they can offer to sell it as a whole relleno one day. Their walnut bread remains to be very popular.

Bread Talk is no longer at Rustan’s in Evia Lifestyle Center on Daang Hari. We found the store at the new Landmark in Festival Mall. They have the mini croissants which we often buy. Speaking of croissants, Tous les Jours, which has tagged itself as The Authentic Bakery, also has this and much, much more. They have branches all over Metro Manila and their list of bakery products is extensive. Check them out for some unique offerings.

Now, are you ready for the holidays?

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