Karinderya - History in the Making

The Philippines is known for tons of hole-in-the-wall food stalls catering to the everyday weary traveler. Though each stall seems to be selling the same recipe as the other ten stalls within 50 mile radius, the way the dish is prepared distinguishes whether you'll eat in that 5-seater diner or the 20-seater across the street.

One of the most popular Filipino dish is a kind of beef broth called "Nilaga." Nilaga typically means boiled beef. What sets it apart from each Karinderya is what they mix in the pot. Basic ingredients would be potatoes and cabbage seasoned with salt and whole peppers.

Depending on what kind of meat you put in the stew, it becomes more palatable. Boiling cubed beef for stew together with beef marrows makes it a bit more tastier. Add your veggies and seasoning and you have a great comfort food, perfect for rainy days - like today.

Epilogue: Experimenting with this stew, the possibilities are endless. Add bananas (Saba) or cut cobs of corn in half to add sweetness. Mix in some roasted garlic to bring out the best beef flavor. Finally, mix fish sauce together with Calamansi (or lemon) to use as a flavorful condiment. Enjoy this stew over rice - the ultimate Filipino way.