Thanksgiving Day Food Filipino-style

First of all, it’s a well-known fact that Filipinos don’t celebrate Thanksgiving. But with many Americans migrating to the Philippines and vice versa, some have adopted the tradition and made it their own.

If ever Windsor Tavern were to host a Thanksgiving Day feast then we’d switch out the customary food and turn it into a Filipino-Style fiesta with all-time Pinoy favorite food.

FROM ROASTED TURKEY TO GRILLED CHICKEN

When the Thanksgiving tradition started, the English used turkey that was just walking around. In the Philippines, we don’t have turkey but we have a lot of chickens clucking around every empty lot available.

That is why we’re switching the roasted turkey to roasted chicken which is a total Pinoy favorite.

FROM ROASTED TURKEY TO GRILLED CHICKEN

When the Thanksgiving tradition started, the English used turkey that was just walking around. In the Philippines, we don’t have turkey but we have a lot of chickens clucking around every empty lot available.

That is why we’re switching the roasted turkey to roasted chicken which is a total Pinoy favorite.

FROM CRANBERRY SAUCE TO GRAVY

In the America, they pair their turkey with a sweet cranberry sauce for extra flavor. But we’d rather much flood our chicken with classic Mang Tomas gravy.

FROM MASHED POTATOES TO FRIED RICE

Most Westerners get their source of carbohydrates from bread and potatoes, a popular dish they use a carb supplement is mashed potatoes. We Filipinos love it too, but when caught in between choosing mashed potatoes and rice we all know who would win by a landslide.

Maybe a classic fried rice with garlic and onion, maybe even some corn, carrots, and peas can make our stomachs full and happy.

FROM SAUTÉED BEANS AND CARROTS TO CHOPSUEY

To go along with the mashed potatoes and chicken and to claim that the meal is “healthy”, Americans quickly sauté string beans or carrots and add some herbs and spice for extra flavor. But Pinoys would just rather boil the string beans and carrots plus some cabbage for a more filling meal like chopsuey. Plus, it’s free soup to go with the rice!

FROM PECAN PIE TO LECHE FLAN

Pies are a big part of the perfect Thanksgiving meal. There’s Strawberry Pie, Blueberry Pie, Apple Pie, and so many sweetened fruit pair with baked bread. But the Pecan Pie has to be classic American Thanksgiving pie that ties the whole meal together.

Filipinos would ask, why would we eat bread for dessert? We’d rather much have leche flan! This sugar and egg white combination is the best way to appease our sweet tooth and the celebration.

But Thanksgiving or not, we should all celebrate and be grateful for what we have in our lives like family, good friends, good food, and a good life.