Ilocanos to serve up their dishes in June 16 festival. ‘Mangantayon’
Dinengdeng, possibly the most well-known Ilocano staple. Photo: Panlasang Pinoy
On June 16, A Taste of Ilocano Food & Culture will unveil culinary specialties from the Philippines’ northern region. If Dinengdeng is the only Ilocano dish you know, you will leave this festival with a palate that is slightly more discerning – and accepting — of the Ilocano taste which is a blend of crunch, salt and spice.
Ilocano food is not as simple as it appears, but an edible concoction of mouth-watering recipes derived from various influences like Spain, China and other neighboring countries, said Atty. Dulce Barangan, president of the Ilocano American Association, Inc. (IAAI), which is organizing the event.
When asked about the menu, she said their Ilocano members have prepared a carefully curated lineup of dishes and delicacies.
“Famous traditional dishes such as Dinardaraan, Longganisa, Igado, Dinengdeng/Inabraw, Pinakbet, Pinapaitan, Dinakdakan and much more will be served for everyone to enjoy,” she said. “Tupig, which is available only in some provinces during Christmas, and other ‘sinamit’ (sweets) that Ilocanos are known for, will be served as well.”
Warek-Warek is similar to Sisig. Photo by Brenda Dacpano
Tupig, a type of Suman or rice cake
She stressed all the meals will be cooked without MSG.
A Taste of Ilocano Food and Culture was announced on social media on June 1st. Tickets were sold out in less than a week. This inaugural event, to be held at the Philippine Center and hopefully to become an annual community activity, is organized by the IAAI in partnership with the Philippine Consulate.
Said Barangan, “The idea of featuring the famed Ilocano cuisine in NY Tri-State area came about when Consul Arman Talbo — a fellow Ilocano — asked me a few months after he took his post, if we can do a project that would feature our heritage and culture. Challenged and excited to do something different, the idea was initially shared with the members of the IAAI only. But then I thought, why not do it with other Ilocanos within the Tri-State?”
Ilocano Americans from Abra, La Union, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, Pangasinan, Isabela, Tarlac and Mindanao all expressed their desire to share foods from their provinces.
“You may be asking yourselves: What? Mindanao? Yes, there are Ilocanos in Mindanao! In the past, a lot of Ilocanos migrated to Mindanao due to government-sponsored resettlement,” she said.
There will be a little bit of fashion on the side on this festival: A presentation on the Ilocano woven cloth, the Inabel, through the designs of couture designer Edgar Madamba.
The festival is sponsored by GMA Pinoy TV, RIA Money Transfer, Victor G. Sison, P.C., Dra. Dolly Rivera, and Synergy Production & Marketing, Inc. — Cristina DC Pastor
© The FilAm 2018
Ilocano American Association, Inc. President Dulce Barangan. Photo by Boyet Loverita
