Why is Lechon something that I believe is important to talk about? What is the big deal?
It’s as easy as how Peter Pysk puts it in his article, “Food just brings people together, no matter what the differences—in our case, nationalities and lifestyles—might be” (Pysk).
Family is such an important aspect in many peoples’ lives, but it is incredibly cherished in the Filipino culture. I have been lucky enough to have experienced this aspect first hand.
My grandparents and Mom came to America when my Mom was in her early twenties. My Mom then met my father and had both me and my sister. All we had were each other, and that was all that I could ask for. I had all that I wanted knowing I had my family by my side throughout it all. Knowing we had more family back in the Philippines, who were less fortunate than us, made me grateful to be living how I am and makes me realize how lucky my life has been. How does food, especially Lechon, tie into this?
“We grow up eating the food of our cultures. It becomes a part of who each of us are. Many of us associate food from our childhood with warm feelings and good memories and it ties us to our families, holding a special and personal value for us. Food from our family often becomes the comfort food we seek as adults in times of frustration and stress” (B Le).
Chau B Le explains in his article that food tells us about our culture. The food that we eat and enjoy all ties into our personal culture.
On a larger scale, food is so important within your own family. Recipes and methods of cooking are passed down from one generation to the next. This is key to preserving cultural identity.
There are several ways to baste and season your pig, but the way your family goes about it, makes it special and unique. This is just another recipe that can be passed down from the older and wiser, to the young and inexperienced.
I love reminiscing on the days where my Grandma would teach me how to bake her signature desserts. Or when my Mom would make me stir her sauce so it wouldn’t burn, and that lead me to just finish cooking the dish for her.
Food is a reflection of our family and it is a part of us.
