Comfort food

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“I might sound over the top but there is a lot of truth that when people see food as a source of comfort, connection and control, then it falls under the category of comfort food.”

In the hierarchy of needs, food is top on the pyramid. While it is a basic need for any human to survive, there is more to eating than it is supposed to feed our bodies.

In these present times, especially this year 2020, food has taken centerstage even more for all that it has become to us. The pandemic has brought out the inner cooks in so many people that cooking has seemingly become the point of pivot of many.

For a lot of people who were busy doing other things before COVID-19, the kitchens at home became the busiest room in the house.   In the moments of uncertainty when I had to close the restaurant during the lockdown, I would crave for food that made me feel better while thinking of what to do next to survive the crisis.

Bachoy

I noticed that most of those who started selling food online were cooking out of the kitchens of their homes and were confidently doing so because they were proud of their family recipes. They were confident because they wanted to share food they have been finding comfort in. The word COMFORT, in the dictionary, is defined as:

1. A state of physical ease and freedom from pain;

2. A satisfying or enjoying experience;

3. Something that gives or brings encouragement and relief.

These definitions can easily describe the feeling you get as you take the first bite of whatever you are craving for that goes beyond hunger. What makes food become someone’s “comfort” food?

On a cold, rainy and gloomy day, I would always want to eat something with soup. Paired with steaming hot rice, Cansi is the soup Negrenses would most commonly make sure they have on their table, made unique to the Ilonggos because of the flavors enhanced by batwan.

Bisaya na manok arroz caldo

Hands down, my foodie soul always reaches out for a steaming hot bowl oBisaya na manok arroz caldof batchoy, paired with buttered toast on the side and a glass of my favorite RTOrange softdrink and I am very okay.

When I was studying in Manila, away from the comforts of home, I was always homesick for the food I grew up eating and even if the big city has a huge scope and all the varieties of food available, they could never hit the right “spot.”

From ramen, steaks, shawarmas, barbecue, to food from other regions and provinces, exploring the world through food is a common hobby I share with the friends I have made while in school. I would likewise introduce friends from Manila to inasal, batchoy, KBL, cansi  and other Ilonggo dishes that were available in the area and while they loved, enjoyed and appreciated the tastes that remind me of home, I would always tell them there was nothing like eating all of what they were trying right in Bacolod and all over Negros.

To this day, I would still get messages from those who have come to visit and indulged in our food that they keep dreaming about everything I made them try and miss the places we went to when they were here.

Kadios, baboy, langka

So what exactly is comfrt food? First of all, aside from feeding the tummy, it also feeds your heart and soul! A lot of times, it reminds you of childhood memories.

Did your Lola use to feed you with arroz caldo when you were down with a cold? Did your favorite tita always make sure that her signature tres leches for dessert when family would get together every Sunday was on the table? Did your mother always include kinilaw every time there was KBL in the meal?

Growing up, was there always a siding of guinamos with green mangoes? There is no hard rule in finding the satisfaction that indulging in something that makes you close your eyes savoring what you just put a spoonful of into your mouth requires. I might sound over the top but there is a lot of truth that when people see food as a source of comfort, connection and control, then it falls under the category of comfort food. It’s food that you can take little of but goes a very long way.

My favorite comfort food is fried chicken, what’s yours? – NWI