Ask a Filipino if he ever tasted a banana que, it is likely you’ll get an affirmative response from a salivating person dreaming of sinking his teeth in the soft flesh of the fruit. Try to walk along the busy streets of sidewalks and almost everyone will see a makeshift booth peddling banana ques on sticks. Some people can’t help but stop by and partake of the sweet snack. The bananas are stuck together through a trimmed bamboo stick. Sometimes, you can buy a stick with two or three bananas in it. It is a food snack that people from all walks of life eat. They flock at the improvised booth and don’t mind waiting to be served. What’s more, it is cheap, costs only P10.00 or P12.00 a stick (US$.25). Although it is known as a street food, it is nevertheless, nutritious.
Bananas are rich in potassium which is good for the brain. (www. bananabenefits.com) Bananas are aplenty in kind; there is lacatan, latundan, senorita, etc.. But banana ques are made from banana SABA. These are rolled in brown sugar and deep fried. The caramelized smell while being cooked wafts through your nostrils and gives you a cue to get one for yourself. It’s quite addictive, if you may ask me.
Admittedly, I am a certified banana addict of whatever kind. A true blue banana lover. I can live through the day with just bananas for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Thankfully, Filipinos with gustatory expertise, are a genius in creating a variety of snacks from SABA, an all time favorite merienda for the Filipino tastebuds.
· Minatamis na saging with or without sago (Sweetened banana)
· Ginataang saging with bilo-bilo (Banana with coconut milk)
· Turon with langka (Banana wrapped in spring roll (lumpia) wrapper with sliver of ripe jackfruit
· Maruya (Banana with flour)
· Nilagang saging (Boiled banana)
· Pritong saging ( plain fried banana without sugar)
· Inihaw na saba (Grilled banana)
· Nilupak na saging (Mashed Banana)
Recently, I came across an article about a foreign national named Andrew Zimmern. He is a famous chef in New York who stars in his own food show called , “Bizarre Foods.” His short stint in the Philippines to look for unusual and bizarre foods led him to different places in the metropolis. He discovered “balut,” “soup no. 5” in Angono and “Banana ques”. “My hands down favourite, banana que,” said he. According to the article, Mr. Zimmern stuck two sticks of banana ques before leaving the banana que stall. He got hooked on it and was wondering why banana ques haven’t reached international status in the food /cuisine industry. Maybe, he can make an improved preparation for the banana que lovers less the cholesterol causing oil. That, I am waiting with bated breath.
So, you see, a banana que is just a simple sweet snack for the Filipinos with sweet tooth. But simple or ordinary it may seem, it’s a wonderment where these bananas get their distinct taste. Perhaps, it’s because, they thrive in Philippine soil. Yes, only in the banana republic.
3 comments:
I agree! The only banana food prep I'm not fond of are the chips. I don't know why. Maybe because it doesn't taste the real thing anymore with all its preservatives. SABA and lacatan in the Philippines are still the best. Miss ko na!
Hmm I love ginataang saging with bilo bilo and langka. Yum!
Oh yah I love all kinds of bananas. When I was just a little girl, Ate Rosie(canada) and I used to sell boiled bananas for nanay Hila(her lola). That used to be my favorite snack as a child(no other choice).In high school,every recess time is bananacue time,everyday. In college it`s ginatang halohalo (w/bananas) in PWU canteen and in your mom`s kitchen it`s that sweet smelling banana from Paco market. oh my gosh,no comparison.It`s not yellow or white inside but orangey and so sweet smell. I cannot eat american bananas coz it taste chemical to me. I forced myself to eat it but I could only consume half. Luckily last month we went to Sams warehouse and I smell thisDel Monte bananas w/ brown spots on it . I remember the bananas your mommy used to buy. Wow it bring back memories and I told uncle Tom"this is the banana that I`m talking about, that smell". It`s not quite as good as that Phil long orange one but a little similar. i could not wait to gethome. I finished one right away in the car. Now I only look for the Del Monte brand and then I let it ripe some more w/ the brown spots to get the Paco banana smell.
Last week, we went bananas at the Filipiniana(Filipino buffet rest) your ate Jane ate one whole plate of minatamis na banana w/ sago , and fritong banana(so sweet and soft) But she prefers yor mom`s minatamis. I ate half a plate.
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