One of the people that has inspired me to cook is my dad.

I’ve always remembered him in the kitchen since I was a young girl. Cooking, cooking and cooking. When he was assigned to another province, his boss/best friend wanted him to stay in the same house with him so he wouldn’t get hungry! I remember my Nanay telling my sister and me that my dad courted my mom by cooking for her rellenong bangus (stuffed milkfish). In my dad’s family, the men can cook. I have memories of my grandfather and me in the kitchen as well as preferring my uncle’s pork dishes whenever we have potluck parties.

Birthday invitation in Tagalog

But back to my dad. I learned Tagalog cooking from him. Some of my favorite dishes are his chicken adobo in coconut milk and his Filipino style spaghetti. I know I inherited my love of cooking from him. He likes to roast chicken or turkey the old-fashioned way. Much like I do, I especially like the planning and preparations that goes with it. After cooking a dish, he would always sample his cooking. I do, too. Each of us trying to catch the other eating in the kitchen, shouting “sample time”! He has a sense of humor when it comes to food. Whenever our birthdays are near or their wedding anniversary is close by, he would always say at breakfast that he cannot sleep anymore because he is already planning what to cook for us.

“Sample time!”

So recently, it was our turn to turn the tables on him. On how we cannot sleep at night because we are planning for his birthday! He turned 70 last February 11 and we had a celebration the following Sunday. Most of the dishes were his favorite, we asked him in advance what he would like to eat. Most of the dishes I have blogged before, though some are new and which I will blog in detail later.

I baked Dad’s birthday cake!

The buffet table, the centerpiece are flowers from weeds that grew in our garden (my sister’s idea) and the origami cranes are the birthday souvenirs.

Happy birthday Dad!

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For more stories of men and women who inspired us in the kitchen, check out Apples & Thyme at the Passionate Palate by Jeni.

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