When we went to New York last spring, one of the things I wanted to do was eat Filipino food. Good thing I was able to contact a mentor in my early teens.
We met at Grand Central Terminal. I learned from her that we were relatives on my mother's side. She was so kind and generous. She brought me to Rosario's Ihawan in Woodside, New York and paid for everything we ordered.
The kare-kare (a Philippine stew with thick savory peanut sauce) was really delicious as well as the ginataang kalabasa at sitaw (long beans with squash in coconut milk). The latter was paired with bagoong (a paste made from fermented small fish or shrimps). We also had BBQ with atchara (pickled grated unripe papaya with grated carrot). I forgot I was trying to lose weight!
We were not able to finish the kare-kare and ginataang kalabasa at sitaw. Ate (a Filipino word used to address an older sister, female relative, or friend) told me to bring them to my in-laws. For dessert, we both had the delicious halo-halo. I never had one for a long time. I was so happy.
