Filipino Food in South Bay?

Andrew B. wrote:
>
> : Gotta question.  Is Filipino food really as oily as what I've gotten
> : on my few excursions to Filipino restaurants?  The impression I've
> : gotten is that typical fare is noodles, oil and fatty meats.  I'd
> : like to think I've just had bad food.
> :
>
> Typical Filipino restaurant food, sadly, yes.

I have only eaten in 2 Filipino restaurants - Goldilocks and Sisters (which my mom and aunts happen to own; they're the "sisters". Really a bakery that makes a small lunch buffet on occasion) - and they do serve very fatty, oily foods.  Goldilocks tends to be more of a Filipino fast food place, and Sisters is more like what your mom or aunt might make (which in my case, is literally true). From what I've heard from others, is that Filipino restaurants tend to be the mom and pop establishments which serve typical Filipino home style dishes, but weighted towards the heavy, oily foods that aren't exactly daily faire for typical Filipinos.

I think you're best bet is to try some place like Tito Rey's in Daly City or find a Filipino friend who can cook the dishes for you.  I've made Chicken Adobo with boneless, skinless chicken breasts, and non-stick cooking spray instead of the oil, to cut down on the fat. Doesn't taste quite the same though.

Typical Filipino foods eaten at home consist of lots of rice and fish, with the occasional pork and chicken dishes.  Filipinos do tend to favor very heavy sauces in their dishes, but, again, this is leavened by all the fish and rice they eat.  Dishes like Adobo, Lumpia, and Chocolate Meat (no, there's no "chocolate" in it, it's meat in a blood sauce, which I won't eat, btw) aren't served every day, and I usually only get to eat them occasionally, and at family get togethers or parties.  And there are some dishes like Balut (don't ask) that I can't even begin to understand.  But, I think you'll find that typical Filipinos in the Philippines are skinny, since their daily diet isn't so fatty.  Of course, Americanized Filipinos tend to be bigger because of the all the food available.  My mom was seduced by Kentucky Fried Chicken when she first came over, and it took her a while to drop the weight.  The temptation of cheap, tasty foods (at least for Filipinos) like that can be overwhelming.

Some dishes get westernized.  My mom puts potatoes in her Chicken Adobo for instance (blasphemy! But I like it)  And a lot are borrowed from Chinese cooking.  Actually, there's a lot of Chinese and a little Spanish influence in the food Filipinos eat. What's interesting is what the people in the Philippines like in terms of Western foods.  Everytime we send a Balakbayan box (care pkg) back, we always include canned corned beef and Spam.

Of course, the experiences of other Filipinos might be different, depending on what Island, or Province you're from.  I was born in San Francisco, and am totally Westernized, so my viewpoint can be biased.

Louie