Wednesday, August 20, 2008 Dinner (Part Two) By Rene Lizada Papa's table
THE Lizada dinner last Saturday pushed through. And because it was a lot of fun, we decided to do it again. So come next dinner my Titas and cousins will be heading towards our home. We agreed that we start earlier so we can have more time with the food. And also we are inviting more Lizadas to join the party.
The other reason why we are having this party is because of two words. Two words uttered by a cousin. He said, Ho Hoy. If you are not familiar with the phrase, Ho Hoy is that famous Davao Chinese sausage. My cousin said that he found the source of the sausage because for some time it disappeared from the city.
I have eaten many Chinese sausages in my life but Ho Hoy is by far the best. It is a comfort food of mine. I eat the sausage together with chicken noodle soup and rice. That has been a favorite of mine. I could eat Ho Hoy for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
During dinner, we discussed the many ways it was cooked. Some said they had to boil it first then cooked in its own oil. Others preferred that you just threw it into the pan and let it sizzle. But one thing was for sure most of us agreed that the way to eat Ho Hoy was to singe it a little till it was crispy and a little burned.
I would eat Ho Hoy with plain rice. I would take the sausage and mix it together with the rice. Because the sausage was so oily, the rice would absorb it. My cousins said that they would eat Ho Hoy where they would "bahog" the rice with coffee. Different strokes for different cousins.
Ho Hoy was really part of my life. In fact many years ago, Manang Diday, our beloved housekeeper used to give me Ho Hoy during my birthdays. She would drop by the house and give the sausages to me. They would be wrapped in newspaper and love. I will never forget her gestures.
But for a time Ho Hoy disappeared and it became the life mission of Chona to look for it. After some searching, she found where it was being made. Somewhere near the Central Bank, so we were happily having our cholesterol together with chicken noodle soup. But one day Ho Hoy disappeared again.
It seemed that the earth had swallowed my favorite Chinese sausage. So once more my ever reliable wife started looking for Ho Hoy. (My wife has this knack for finding things!) And as usual she did not disappoint for she found where Ho Hoy was. Would you believe in a bicycle shop along Monteverde? But then Ho hoy vanished. Ha hay!
And for some time now we could not find it. But then during the dinner, my cousin said that he knew where to order the elusive sausage. In fact he said in the next party he would be bringing two kilos of the sausage. It was unbelievable on how we all reacted. As if in a choir we asked: "Saan ang Ho Hoy?" He said that it was a secret and we all demanded that he tell us. So now we have a connection to Ho Hoy and now Ho Hoy will be our very special guest in our home. I can hardly wait.
So when we were discussing Ho Hoy, someone said that what else could we bring for the party? We simply just could not Ho Hoy. As much as we loved the sausage that would have been a little too much. So an aunt suggested bopis. Approved! Then a cousin said: "Masarap yung chicharon bulaklak ni Tita!" Approved! Then Chona out of the blue said that our contribution would be kinilaw, rice and softdrinks and red wine. Hmm, I thought.
My wife normally does not volunteer our house for parties, but here she was not only offering the house but also food as well. I think she is as desperate as I am in eating Ho Hoy.
As I was reviewing our menu I was a little worried. Bopis, Ho Hoy, chicharon bulaklak, kinilaw, Ho Hoy, spare ribs, Hoy Hoy. It seems like a really rich menu but as one of my cousins said, if you eat, do not think/if you think, do not eat. Agree! Then of course we will have red wine and strong brewed coffee.
Last week one of my Titas was confined in the hospital in which I work in. I visited her and she told me that she was confined because of many things; eating forbidden food was one of them. After a day or two she was discharged with the doctor telling her, "you can eat anything?" And true to Lizada fashion she was at the dinner last Saturday. And true to form I know she will come to our home to faithfully obey her doctor! But just to make sure I will be requesting discounts from the hospital for check-ups!
Now the next problem is where and when are we going to eat durian?
