My Angkong's Noodles

Dishes that celebrate the Chinoy journey

By Earl D.C. Bracamonte

In this groundbreaking book, the author Clinton Huang Palanca takes us into the fascinating and not-so-explored world of Chinese-Filipino food culture. From the kitchens of migrant families to the secret eateries of Binondo, from market stalls to gourmet restaurants, this recipe collection is a journey into the cuisine of the Fujian-based traders, merchants, and farmers who made the Philippines their home.

“This book is dedicated to our immigrant grandmothers and great-grandmothers, they, who had to work daily at the stove. Their love for and loyalty to their families were best shown in the food they served on the table during family meals. Their intention was to please the palates of the men of the house, even though they were not schooled in precise methods of cooking, nor did they know the exact measurements of ingredients. Nevertheless, they were able to pass the recipes on to their descendants,” enthused book publisher Elizabeth Yu Gokongwei.

“Their heritage recipes were methodically remembered and recreated, kitchen-tested and reproduced for photography. All those who contributed in writing did so with fond memories of past meals and family reunions. We hope the recipes that you find in this book will not merely stay within these pages but be cooked by generations now and in the future, and bring families closer together,” continued Mrs. John Gokongwei.

Part recipe-book, part photo-essay, part ethnographic study, the 265-page work is a culmination of years of research to capture a world of treasured secrets, food culture, and cultivated techniques, passed down from generation to generation, and now accessible to all. Written by Clinton Huang Palanca, and photography by Neal Oshima, this over-a-hundred-recipe treasure of a cookbook is a must in every cooking station and kitchen library, especially those who can trace their lineage to mainland China.

“All profits from this book will go towards student scholarships and educational endowments through the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation,” she concluded.

My Angkong’s Noodles is available in both hard- and soft-bound copies. Grab yours at any of the bookstores nearest you.