STREET FOOD

STREET FOOD
By Aly Abaquin

Remember the time when your parents would not allow you to eat street foods. Reminding you that this street food is not good, unhealthy and somewhat diarrhea laden or if not careful you’ll have food poisoning.
But you always noticed all people are eating and ever wonder why are they eating it if its not good?
My mom will always have all these answers that she will whip up just for me to shut up.

For instance she will tell us that the ugly food will produce little monsters in our stomach and cause stomach ache. For the word diarrhea for a 7 years old kid will not understand at all.

I remember every summer when the dirty ice cream man/ "SORBETERO"  will peddle this ice cream in wheels  in the afternoon and all kids in th neigborhood except us will not buy them because its dirty ice cream. (refers to how they make them locally in their homes or some dirty factory)

We will have fights over why the other kids eat them while us will wait for Magnolia (the brandname of locally produce ice cream in the philippines) that is more safer and cleaner.


Ttill then my mom will have galloons of Magnolia Vanilla & Chocolate  ice cream stash in our fridge when that dirty ice cream sound its bells and allure all the  neighborhood kids to have a taste of the refreshing candy colored ice cream. In doing this everyday  the "Mamang Sorbetero" Ice cream man won over the battle with us because  later on my mom  allowed us to eat the "good" dirty ice cream saving her trips to the supermarket. Freedom at last as we tasted in delightful glee every bit of flavor: cheese, ube, chocolate and vanilla : dirty ice cream never tasted so good.

So my fascination with street foods are honed and thru the years grew up loving to taste this little food wonders which are staple of each country, showcasing their food culture.

FAST FORWARD To HCMC.
The term "street foods" describes a wide range of ready-to-eat foods and beverages sold and sometimes prepared in public places, notably streets. Hence: no hygienic control or better yet the food safety preparation is null and void.

The demand for relatively inexpensive, ready-to-eat food has increased as people have less time to prepare meals. Urban Migration has stimulated the growth in street food vendors in many cities since the daily need among many working people eat outside the home is evident due to the daily commute to their work place.

One in particular very popular in vietnam is the FISH BALLS. Yummy in capital letters!

So in picking your street food stalls and if your adventurous eater outer like yours truly.

I advise you to pick streets foods stalls that are busy. Seeing many patrons lining up is an indication of sumptuous meals being prepared constantly fresh. Locals who hover like bees hungry for nectar is an indication that this food stall is very popular and clean enough. The food should be cooked in high fire killing any bacteria and clean flowing water is seen. These things are important if you are very particular about hygiene. No food monsters here mind you.

If not there is always the reliable Imodium pill that helps you ease the pain of diarrhea.

That jagged little pill will do the trick once you feel your stomach is growling.

Like fast foods, the final preparation of street foods occurs when the customer orders the meal which can be consumed where it is purchased or taken away. Street foods and fast foods are low in cost compared with restaurant meals and offer an attractive alternative to home-cooked food.

Which brings me to again to my YUMMY favorite Street food : FISH BALLS, SQUID BALLS, SHRIMP BALLS and Hot dog. They are skewered pieces of balls made from flour mixed together with morsel of either fish, squid or meat and seasoned with salt pepper & spices then deep fried in a hot pan along the streets of Saigon. Then served with hot sauce or catsup.

Here are the delectable pieces in picture. Help yourself to one when you pass by any street corners in HCMC. Some are being peddled along thorough fares by HA LONG  Boy  and vendors are amazing marketers institutionalizing Street food in every nook and cranny.