0

Traveloka Accomodation

03 Mar 2023 - 6 min read

What Makes Filipino Cuisine Unique and How to Incorporate it into a Hotel Breakfast Menu

Have the most authentic experience in Philippines by eating these delicious Filipino cuisines!

Filipino cuisine is one of the most diverse sets of food because it pulls different inspirations from other indigenous cuisines. Namely Spanish, Chinese, and Indian influences.

So, whenever you're enjoying some Filipino delicacies, remember that the recipe you’re tasting is the aftermath of the rich background of Filipino culture.

To incorporate these into a Filipino-inspired breakfast menu, you need to know what food and ingredients Filipinos prepare their food with.

If you want to know more about these, then read along as we will make it easier to bring Filipino food to every hotel meal and kitchen that is willing to embrace it.

Hotels in Phillipines

8.6

Best hotel in Philippines

Starts from ₱1000

The best dishes to include in your Filipino-inspired breakfast menu from top hotels in the Philippines

Even though Filipinos enjoy a variety of meals for their breakfast, they still tend to go back to the same meal repeatedly. After all, these foods have been served to them by their mothers and it has become emotionally associated with the word comfort.

If you want to know what meals Filipino keep going back to, then read along because we’ve outlined the best Pinoy breakfast menu items. Read along if you want to get authentic Filipino breakfast menu ideas

Silog

Silog is one of the staples of Filipino breakfast. It has sinangag (fried rice), itlog (egg), and a protein of choice. Depending on what meat you add, the name of the dish changes accordingly (examples below).

Almost 20 variations of this dish exist, but you can only see a few of them being sold in eateries. This is because Filipinos keep going back to specific types of silog every time. Among all the variants, here are the top three silogs that stand out. These three are perfectly popular Pinoy food for hotels.

Tapsilog (tapa or cured beef + sinangag + itlog)

Tapa is a thin-sliced beef marinated with soy sauce, vinegar, minced garlic, sugar, black pepper, and salt. It is then either pan-fried or grilled.
Longsilog (longganisa or Filipino sausage + sinangag + itlog)

Longganisa is a type of Filipino sausage made with ground pork and spices.
Tocilog (pork tocino or sweet cured pork + sinangag + itlog)

Tocilog is prepared from pork shoulder or pork belly that has been sliced thinly and pan-fried after being mixed with soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and other spices.

Silogs are perfect for customers who want a proper meal. And by proper, I mean it’s not too light that you feel hungry, but it’s not too heavy either that you feel lethargic afterward. One serving of this is enough to jumpstart your day.

Taho

Every morning in the Philippines, you’ll notice someone carrying a big metal container, roaming around the streets shouting the word “taho.” If someone yells the word back and approaches him, he would stop on his track, lay down the container, and grab a dispensable cup that he then fills with the food he’s selling -taho.

This food is the embodiment of Filipino breakfast. In fact, you will never see this sold at any other time of the day except in the mornings.

Taho is a comforting, sweet, and satisfying snack that Filipinos enjoy. It is prepared with heated silken tofu, brown sugar syrup, and sago pearls (small and translucent pearls made from tapioca).

If you want to share what Filipino taste buds enjoy every morning, you should definitely have this food on your menu.

Pandesal

Pandesal is a bread roll known for its soft and fluffy texture. Filipinos love to brush it with butter, cheese, or peanut butter. Some even like to dip it in their black and sweet coffee, which is the Western equivalent of Oreos dipped in milk.

Given how small and lightweight this bread is, having this on a Filipino-inspired menu is perfect for customers who want to have a light breakfast.

Adobo

Adobo is one of the most well-known traditional Filipino breakfast dishes. Talk to a westerner who has access to different types of cuisines and they would assert that adobo is one of the most delicious meals there is.

The ingredients used to cook this dish are chicken, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, pepper, bay leaves, and oil. When it’s done cooking, it’s mostly served with steamed or fried rice.

Adobo is one of the Filipino dishes that almost everyone knows about. The familiarity is perfect for people who have never tried it, or for those who want something familiar from a Filipino menu.

How to Present Your Filipino Breakfast Dishes with a Modern Twist

Traditional Filipino food is more than enough to satisfy everyone’s taste buds. But it’s also not wrong when cooks try something different. In fact, creative food enthusiasts have been reinventing traditional breakfast dishes. And Filipino foods are one of them.

Thanks to their innovation, people can now enjoy modernized Filipino meals with unique flavors. If you want to know what dishes I’m talking about, read below as we’ve outlined the best creative breakfast dishes with a Pinoy twist.

Chicken adobo with coconut milk

Chicken adobo is traditionally enjoyed as a savory dish. However, as time passed by, Filipinos tried different things until they came up with rich, creamy chicken adobo.

The dish is made by marinating chicken pieces in a mixture of soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, and bay leaves, then simmering the chicken in coconut milk until it is tender and infused with the flavors of the marinade.

Some variations of the dish include the addition of ginger, onions, and other spices to enhance the flavor. It is usually served with steamed rice and garnished with green onions and chopped cilantro.

Chicken adobo with Sprite (Yes, the softdrink)

Aside from the savory and creamy version of Adobo, sweet, tangy adobo exists.

Chicken adobo in Sprite is prepared by marinating chicken pieces in a mixture of soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, bay leaves, and sprite or other lemon-lime soda. The marinade is then used to simmer the chicken until it is tender and infused with the flavors of the marinade.

Ube Pandesal

Pandesal is traditionally made from flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. But recently, purple yam (ube) has been added into the mix and this version is getting popular in the Philippines.

Ube pandesal’s extra sweetness is what separates itself from traditional pandesal. If someone wants to have a sweet, light breakfast, then this is perfect for them.

A Guide to the Perfect Ingredients for a Healthy and Delicious Filipino Breakfast Menu

People often associate delicious food with unhealthiness. While that may be true to some extent, Filipino meals —if done the right way— can be both healthy and delicious. All you have to do is pick the right foods and ingredients.

If you want to know what a healthy Pinoy recipe for hotels looks like, then you should look at what the country’s government suggests. The Department of Science and Technology suggests Filipinos should divide their plates into quarters.

The first quarter should have one cup of rice. As you may know, Asians love rice and Filipinos are one of them. Aside from rice, you can have good alternatives to this as long as they fall under the category of carbohydrates.

The second quarter should have either a piece of protein or fish.

The third quarter should have vegetables in it.

While the remaining quarter should have one piece of fruit on it.

If you want specific suggestions on what to prepare, then here are nutritious hotel meals with a local touch

Ginisang ampalaya (sauteed bitter melon)

This dish is made with bitter melon (otherwise known as bitter gourd) and scrambled egg cooked in hot oil that has garlic and onion.

Bitter melons, as the name suggests, are bitter. But, if you sautee it properly, the bitterness will go away and it will become tender and caramelized.

This dish is perfect as it has both protein and veggies. Add fruit on the side, like a piece of banana or one cheek of mango, and you’ll complete the health requirements.

Tortang Talong (Eggplant Omelette)

Tortang Talong is a popular Filipino dish that consists of grilled eggplants that are mashed and then coated in beaten eggs and fried until crispy. This is how most Filipino cooks prepare their tortang talong. Some, however, prefer to add minced tomato to the beaten egg.

This is perfect because it perfectly hits three required nutrients: protein, vegetables, and fruits.

Silog with added fruit and veggies

As we’ve said above, silogs are one of the most consumed dishes in the Philippines. Even though this doesn’t hit the nutrient requirements, as it lacks fruits and vegetables, all you have to do is add the missing ingredients to make it complete.

Takeaway

You can never go wrong if you want to incorporate the rich culinary history of the Philippines into a hotel breakfast menu. From its sweet and savory sauces to its grilled meats and fresh seafood, Filipino food has something for everyone.

So grab a pen and paper, list all the ingredients you need, go to the grocery store, and start crafting that Filipino-inspired dining experience for hotel guests.

Always Know the Latest Info
Subscribe to our newsletter for more travel & lifestyle recommendations and exciting promos.
Subscribe