Wazzup Pilipinas!
A few days before the Year of the Earth Dog, we are already craving for "Tikoy" or Nian Gao.
“Tikoy” is known to bring good luck to both the receiver and giver. It is referred to as the year cake or Chinese New Year's cake. It is a food prepared from glutinous rice and consumed in Chinese cuisine. While it can be eaten all year round, traditionally it is most popular during Chinese New Year.
How to prepare or cook tikoy? Slice the tikoy, beat eggs and coat the tikoy in the egg mixture, and then pan-fry! It's that simple. But many have also concocted a few deviations by adding additional ingredients to perk up this traditional delicacy.
Some say it is not worth wasting time going through traffic and the few parking areas available. Most areas are very filthy, with garbage or rubbish, stinking esteros because they are clogged and stagnant, due to being highly commercialized.
This is why many are suggesting that you just go to the malls instead of buying at Ongpin for tikoy, as well as hopia, kikiam, siomai, etc.,
There will be less stress and will save you the frustration to see the once historic place turned into a waste land.
Just curious, what are your criteria for "best"? And "best" in what sense (taste, variety of flavors and sizes, price, buying experience, etc.)?
Tikoy doesn't vary much anyway mostly only slight variances in texture or sweetness. Aside from the ready to eat, there are brands that have conceprualuzed different colorful variations and flavors like the ube, pandan or even peanut butter-flavored ones.
Here are the most accessible options available in Metro Manila aside from Ongpin or Binondo:
Eng Bee Tin is available in most malls including SM Supermalls. It has so many branches that you can say it's everywhere. For me it has the best quality and the profit they make has visibly impacted heritage efforts & firefighting. They have also created Mr. Ube, a fastfood Chinese restaurant, where Eng Bee Tin products are also sold. I've been to their Lifehomes branch along Ortigas Avenue Extension, so I also got to try their dishes.
Holand has a branch in Century City Mall in Makati. DEC has a couple of shops around the metro too. There is also Ching’s Tikoy, and Sun Goddess, a few more highly recommended options. They are now available in SNR also.
But the best is to actually to wait for your Tsinoy or Chinoy (Chinese Pinoy) friends to gift you some....or directly ask them where to buy so maybe they'll just give you. Many companies, especially those owned by Chinese businessmen, also give away tikoys to their clients or even employees.
Do you think it is true that Chinatown in Manila (Or Ongpin or Binondo) has somehow lost its heritage?
Regardless of the inconveniences, many continue to visit the mentioned places because there is nothing more comparably nostalgic being at the places where the traditions are still felt stronger than the superficial malls. The people may have been modernized because the new generations are taking over business from their parents or grandparents, we could still appreciate the glorious past by being amidst the celebrations even when only held once a year.
May success and prosperity stick to you all year round. Attract all the good luck you need. Have a blessed and bountiful weekend to everyone!
Kung Hei Fat Choy!
#ChineseNewYear #Tikoy #KungHeiFatChoy #WazzupPilipinas #PambansangBlogger
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
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