THE Noche Buena (literally, “good night”) is the meal all Filipinos look forward to as a way to honor the God and tradition, as well as share our bountiful blessings with friends and family after a year of challenges in our careers and personal lives.
The traditionalists among us will usually have a Chinese leg of ham topped with pineapples and caramel glaze, a tray of rich and buttery ensaymada topped with grated quezo de bola with a steaming cup of hot tsokolate on the side, and a creamy fruit or buco salad for dessert.
Like many of us, our kapatid in the entertainment profession also partake of classic yuletide fare that epitomize our Spanish-Chinese-American influences, even as a few dream up of delightful (or zany!) dishes to enliven their midnight supper.
But amid all the holiday food and festivities, they stressed that what was great about the Noche Buena was not just the meal itself, but having their loved ones around to share it.
• LORNA TOLENTINO – Every Christmas, I always look forward to the food made by dear friends. Sandy [Andolong] makes the best sardines, Bibeth [Orteza] gives tuyo, Tita Pilar’s [Pilapil] ham is very good. I also look forward to the roast turkey my best friend will make. Basically, my Noche Buena feast is food made by friends. I can feel their love for me through these gifts.
• DINA BONNEVIE – My dream Noche Buena would have roast lamb, baked chicken, tuna waldorf salad, baked salmon with lots of cheese and garlic, pasta puttanesca and assorted cheese like gruyere, pecorino, edam and brie, lots of fruits, but most of all bagnet, ilocos empanada and tupig sa kawayan.
• ROSANNA ROCES – I thought of bubble tea and pizza for Noche Buena, just to have something new on the table. But Pinoy tradition is hard to miss. We always have Caldereta and other Pinoy food. This time I want to try dining on banana leaves.
• JC DE VERA – I’m looking forward to having lechon this Christmas. It’s the first time that we’ll be having lechon on Noche Buena.
• NADINE SAMONTE – I want to continue practicing our German traditions. We’ll have turkey stuffed with fresh fruits. When it’s cooked, we make a syrup out of the fruits and serve it along with the turkey. Klose (German Potato Salad) and Rotkohl (Red Cabbage Dish) would be present as well.
• TESSA PRIETO-VALDES – If I’ll have it my way, my Noche Buena would be all desserts. Christmas is the time of the year that we shouldn’t be thinking about diet. I’ll have all the brands of ice cream and frozen yogurt, and every flavored coffee. Basically, no healthy stuff!
• VICTOR BASA – My uncle makes lamb with mint jelly, while my aunt makes fresh Caesar salad dressing. It’s just real good food. But what would make it really different this time is to have live music, like a show band that would sing pop songs that we could all relate to.
• CARLA HUMPHRIES – If I could not worry about gaining weight for a night, a Willy Wonka-inspired Christmas would be nice. Imagine all the chocolates, candies etc. and not a single calorie on them.
• AMY PEREZ – I usually get my paella from Louie Heredia but this year, I want to make own paella for Noche Buena.
• GABBY CONCEPION – In my dream Noche Buena, I’d want dark green greens! Beans! Adobong kangkong! Durian! Olives!Tuna! Tuna belly!
• AJ MUHLACH – Siguro ang dream feast ko ay ‘yung simpe lang. Kasama lang ang mga pinakagusto kong makasama sa Christmas. Yung siguradong mag-e-enjoy ako at magiging masaya ang pagsalubong ko ng Christmas. Kahit anong food okay na ako. Basta may hamon na may syrup. Favorite ko ‘yun eh.
• NADINE LUSTRE – Gusto ko ng sushi, leche flan, lechon, assorted cakes, and roast beef. ‘Yung sushi kasi favorite Japanese food ko. Every Christmas gumagawa mom ko ng maraming leche flan. Christmas lang niya ginagawa ‘yun kaya super special. Super favorite ko rin ang lechon. I also love sweets like blueberry cheesecakes. Yung roast beef kasi tradition na ng tita ko every Christmas na magdala ng roast beef. Ito na ang dream Noche Buena feast for me.
• ERWIN TULFO – My dream Noche Buena feast would be to have Filipino dishes including lechon.
• PAOLO BEDIONES – I’m a fan of pasta. This Christmas I want to have a pasta feast. All sorts of pasta – from red sauce, white sauce, seafood, chicken, to vegetables, as long as it’s pasta.
From the homes of our Kapatid stars to yours, a blessed Merry Christmas and wishes for a peaceful and prosperous New Year!
