When you were younger, you just ate whatever that is laid out in front of you, at least that is what I had to do, or try to dodge a spank. I was always exposed to Filipino culture and dishes every day. Tagalog buzzed all around me, Filipino food stewed on the stove, and Wowowee, the popular and ultimate game-karaoke-dance-celebrity-sweepstake show extravaganza, was blasted on the television throughout the whole day. Wowowee was powerful, but it was the Filipino food that brought all of my family to settle and sit together at the end of the day. The dish that still brings the most memories from my childhood happens to be my favorite, kare-kare. Kare-kare (ka-reh ka-reh) is a traditional Filipino stew that was served alongside with rice. I knew it took my parents hours to prepare because it was stewed. Whenever that sweet aroma of peanuts filled the house, I was always the first to sit on the table for dinner. I had no idea what was in it or what I was eating, but I was perfectly happy with my peculiar stew and rice. It was the year I moved to California from Guam that my not-so-favorite cousin said to me, “Ew, you eat that, peanut butter ox butt?!” I looked down at my plate of kare-kare, orange from the peanut butter sauce, big round bones with marrow and thick meat, and pieces of tripe scattered on my bed of rice. I doubt my beloved dish for just a minute, then went right back to stuffing my face. Whatever kare-kare was, I did not care! My mother later butted in and explained, it was a very old and traditional Filipino dish that consisted of stewed ox tail, beef, tripe (cow stomach) and peanut sauce. Bok choy, eggplant, atsuete, string beans and young banana flower bud were also thrown in. Peanut butter can used as a substitute for the peanut sauce. It is served with a side of bagoong, a shrimp paste that smelled awful and bitter. This dish brings me comfort and memories and that is why I love kare-kare; peanut butter, ox butt and it's entirety.Sounds interesting? Make it!
