Merienda

MERIENDA

Merienda, generally translates to a light snack in Spanish speaking countries, is a concept that was adopted by Filipino people from the colonization of the Philippines by Spain. It’s typically a meal enjoyed between the hours of 3-5PM since many Filipinos don’t eat dinner until 8PM or later. So, if ‘tanghalian’ is the meal that holds the day together, ‘merienda’ keeps it going. And merienda is the wild card! Merienda can feature sweet or savory fare, and they can range from small bites to something as filling as a main meal.

A popular stop for merienda is the famed Filipino fast food chain, @jollibee, where one could order an individual portion of the party favorites: Filipino Spaghetti and Pancit Palabok.

PANCIT PALABOK is a dish comprised of rice or cornstarch noodles topped with a rich shrimp stock based sauce that is reminiscent of a ragu. Classic garnishes include boiled eggs, chicharron, tinapa (dried fish) flakes, scallions, and fried garlic. We take it up a notch by subbing the fried tofu with fried calamares.

FILIPINO SPAGHETTI is a sweet style spaghetti that is a product of western colonization and the introduction to processed & canned foods in the Philippines. It’s prepared like a bolognese sauce, but with additions like banana ketchup and/or a little sugar to give the sauce a savory sweetness. Hot dogs are mixed into the sauce, and the dish is topped with shredded cheese (processed or cheddar to get the full effect).

Those who will be joining us for our first Tikim Supper Club pop up at @mestizo.pdx this Sunday will get a taste of our takes on these cult classics. We’ll continue to give you all sneak peeks of the “A Day in Our Life” menu in store for Sunday, and we hope you stay tuned!

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