A feast of Christmas flavors

You hear Christmas songs played on the radio, children caroling dangerously at every traffic stop sign, the peso appreciates against the dollar, solicitations flood your office, employees in the malls in Santa outfits, blaring LED lights, the service sector becoming friendlier and the M. Lhuillier Christmas tree lighted in Fuente Osmeña; then one thing is certainly clear, the Christmas season has officially begun.

The Philippine version of this season is definitely the longest in the world, although it officially starts on December 16 with the Roman Catholic Church celebrating the Misa de Gallo. For personalities who have filed with the Commission on Elections their certificates of candidacy for the 2010 elections, they pray for a cloak of invisibility because their friends and supporters multiply geometrically. There are lots of invitation gyud to attend this or that Christmas party, preferably with a donation of lechon or two and some cash for drinks and raffles. Unfortunately for these candidates, the Christmas season will last much longer… until May 2010!

For workers in the communications industry, invitations were received by cards, e-mail or text messages to attend the Christmas Tree Lighting and Media Appreciation dinners in major hotels almost on a daily basis the past two weeks. I have two photos to share with my beloved readers.

For many Filipinos, Christmas means the “family: coming home, being together, giving thanks with the best one can afford, renewing the faith, affirming the bonds rooted in culture (Palayok by Doreen Fernandez).” Christmas is merely ten days away and very busy na preparing the food to celebrate the traditional Noche Buena. This includes Christmas Day breakfast, luncheon or dinner and only immediate members of a family share this most intimate celebration of Christmas. This includes the foods served on New Year’s Eve to bring prosperity in the upcoming year.

Some food and wine destinations your favorite food columnist visits to replenish his continually emaciated food supplies are the following:

1. The Gustavian (No. 1 Paseo Saturnino, old, Ma. Luisa Road, Banilad, phone 344-7653; Ayala Branch, The Terraces phone 238-8971) – Home-made breads, sausages, hams, cheeses, imported meats, wide selection of beers, etc.

2. Hola España Spanish Restaurant (Paseo Saturnino, Banilad phones 344-6493 and 344-6149; Ayala Branch, The Terraces 236 –0643) – Spanish Hams, cheese, beers and wine

3. D&B Revolutionary Wines, Crossroads (phone 2330832) – Australian, New Zealand, South African, French wines

4. IL Ducato Trading Inc. (Pelaez Bldg. A.S. Fortuna St. Bakilid, Mandaue City, Phone 345-3368, fax 422-3108) – sausages, chocolates, wines and spirits (beautiful containers) from Italy

So much goodies to select, I only wish for a dozen items on my Christmas table. Many families wish for the Philippine favorite dish, the lechon, to be the centerpiece of the family celebrations. For those blessed with an extra budget, there is a service called Lechon Padala nationwide delivery for those families who have relatives living outside of Cebu (PINO! Filipino Cuisine, phone 2320-939/ 505-4840).

Merry Christmas to all my beloved readers!!