For this month’s Lasang Pinoy 4 blogging event, I am honoured to host my colleague and inaanak, Joji-Languido-Castillo, an interior designer like moi, who also works at The Empire Hotel here in Brunei. This entry is also a direct result of Joji’s monitoring of the recent events surrounding the “Yemagate” photo-napping incident at Karen and Marketman’s blogs . . .“What is your comfort food?” Mang Mike once asked me. Gosh, I don’t think I have any comfort food. If I need some comforting, just give me a “comfort” pillow where I can scream to the top of my lungs without bothering anybody and get back to my composure.

“What is your comfort food?” Mang Mike once asked me. Gosh, I don’t think I have any comfort food. If I need some comforting, just give me a “comfort” pillow where I can scream to the top of my lungs without bothering anybody and get back to my composure.But thinking about it, yup, there are food that make me smile [and in fact, cry] and wished I’m at home with my Mama . . . isn’t that what’s really comforting? Kahit paminsan-minsan en nauuwi sa away ang maigsi ninyong pagkikita . . .

Anyway, one comfort food I could think of is our own version of Binagoongan, one that is almost dry. I remember how my siblings and I would scrape the bottom with fresh steamed rice, hide the last chunk of meat so they can’t steal it while you are so engrossed watching the TV. We all love this dish. Actually, anything with bagoong [shrimp paste] is a hit for me. I don’t know, but I think it is very versatile, gaya nating mga Pinoy — adaptable everywhere we go. Ihalo mo sa gulay, pwede, i-partner mo sa mangga o singkamas, pwede, iluto mo sa pork pwede din! Or as it is with tomatoes and fried fish! Yum!

I guess my comfort food will always be related with home cooking. There is nothing more comforting to me than eating what is being experimented in our small kitchen, and I would say experiment because my mother is not a well versed cook herself, but nonetheless it is the best that she can offer.

“Ayan na nga ba sinasabi ko eh, naiyak at na-homesick naman akong bigla. Kaya nga ba ayaw kong sumali sa ganito, nagiging emotional ako eh.”

BINAGOONGAN SA GATA

Ingredients

1 kilo pork liempo
1/4 cup atsuete [annato seeds]
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 cup onions, finely sliced
2 pieces tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 cup bagoong na alamang
1/2 cup vinegar
400 ml coconut milk
1 teaspoon black pepper
some pork lard or cooking oil
some sili [green, used for sinigang]
some sliced eggplant or okra as extender

Method

Boil pork pieces until tender or when broth has almost evaporated. set aside and let cool.

In a saucepan, heat pork lard or cooking oil and add atsuete, stirring constantly for one minute or until oil has absorbed the colouring of atsuete.

Remove atsuete seeds and keep oil in the saucepan. Saute garlic, onions, tomatoes and bagoong.

Add pork, vinegar, pepper, eggplant or okra, and sili. Simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Turn heat to medium and pour in coconut cream. Continue to simmer, stirring continuously until coconut cream thickens.

Serve with hot steamed rice.

By Joji Languido-Castillo

Lasang Pinoy 4