Filipino adobo: what is Filipino dish and why is it being celebrated by Google Doodle?
Filipino adobo: what is a Filipino dish and why is it being celebrated by Google Doodle?
Today, March 15, 2007, is a significant day since it was the
first day the term "adobo" was published in the Oxford English
Dictionary.
There's a solid reason why visiting Google today may have
made your tummy turn over and your mouth water: today's Google Doodle honors
Filipino adobo.
The Google Doodle always has relevance for the topic on the
date it appears, and today's Doodle is no exception. The word "adobo"
was added to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) in December 2006, and on this
date in 2007, it was added to the word list of the OED quarterly update. For
these reasons, Google has selected March 15 to honor Filipino adobo.
What is Filipino adobo?
Popular Filipino cuisine called adobo is from the
Philippines and is occasionally referred to as the unofficial national meal of
that nation. Adobo comes in various forms, but all of them start with the
same fundamental ingredients: meat, seafood, or vegetables that have been
simmered into a flavorful stew, typically with vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, bay
leaves, and black pepper.
Some people believe that the popular Visayan dish adobong
puti is the original, native form of Filipino adobo. Instead of soy sauce, only
vinegar is used in this variation of the dish. Meanwhile, creamier adobo with
coconut milk is more common in regions like Southern Luzon. The elements that
are readily available in that region usually determine how the recipe is altered
regionally.
As seen in the Google Doodle, the adobo is often served
after being cooked over a bed of rice.
While the word adobo might make you think of Spanish adobo,
Filipino adobo is a separate dish developed and evolved
independently from the Spanish version.
Who designed the Doodle?
The creator of today's Google Doodle is Anthony Irwin.
Irwin said the following when explaining his design
philosophy for the Doodle: "For children of immigrants, our relationship with
our parents' food is a difficult one. On the one hand, I felt like I was
precisely where I was supposed to be thanks to my mother's cuisine. It was
cozy, unique, and safe. On the other hand, most children simply want to blend
in. In America, I didn't want my food to be particularly unique. I wanted to
remain the same. I merely desired to resemble everyone else.
"As an adult, I have access to a variety of
opportunities to feel proud in ways that were not available to me as a
youngster. I can celebrate the link it makes between my mother's identity and
myself by claiming Filipino cuisine as a component of my own culture.
When working on the graphics for this Doodle, I got some
chicken adobo in a southern way from a nearby restaurant to evoke some
memories. The fragrance was the first thing to hit me. It instantly filled my
apartment with the sensation that this is precise as things should be because
it was so cheerful and nostalgic. Hence, I made an effort to depict the
innocent delight of savoring comfort food while leaning in. Mabuti kain nang!
