Top Filipino Media Noche (New Year's Eve) Favorite Dishes

Here comes the New Year 2016, just a few days from now and we're pretty sure that nobody want to miss it. Media Noche means "midnight (12AM)"  which is a lavish midnight feast that supposedly symbolises hopes for prosperity in the coming year, and lasts until the following morning.

Filipino Media Noche Favorite Dishes

It is the time of the year where families and all people in the world celebrate the new year ahead. There are loud sounds, fireworks, and specially the Pinoy food!

So we've created a menu list suggestions that may help you in preparing on last day / hours scenario:

PORK DISHES
Lechon (Roasted Pig)

Usually a whole roasted pig with or without apple on the mouth, the skin is made crispy and very irresistible to eat. This one is one of the most Filipino favorites and wished during occasions, but of course this dish is quite expensive to have as a dish. Also it's high in cholesterol too *ahem putok batok*


Barbeque (BBQ)

Who doesn't love Barbeques? The savory grilled chunk of meat on a stick, definitely will be served on any occasion.


Ilokano Bagnet (Crispy Fried Pork Rind)

Ilokano Bagnet is a Filipino food specialty that originates from the Ilocos province, it is a pork belly deep fried till its really crispy. One of the Filipino favorites, almost available on any occasions and in pulutan. *putok batok*


Patatim

Patatim Filipino dish made out of slowly braised pork leg. It is also one of the Filipinos favorite pork dish. Usually avoided by elders and health conscious as this can raise cholesterol levels *putok batok* 


Hamonado (Ham) 

The term "pata" is a Spanish word for "leg" and the "Tim" is a Chinese word that refers in a cooking style or how a dish is cooked. Usually one of the pork favorites especially on "pulutans".


BEEF DISHES
Beef Caldereta

Beef Caldereta Filipino beef dish that stew with flavors that is heavily influenced during the Spanish colonization. It is a mix of beef, tomato sauce, vegetables and a semi-spicy taste that makes us wanna eat more rice.


Beef Mechado

Beef Mechado is a Filipino dish where the beef is stewed with tomato sauce. It is a beef dish mixed with vegetables, tomato sauce and some spices that makes it different from beef caldereta.


Morcon

Morcon is a rolled beef meat with vegetables and other ingredients on the inside, often mistaken as an embutido.


Lengua Estofado (Braised Beef Tongue)

Lengua Estofado is a Filipino dish made with tongue (usually a cow's tongue) braised in tomato sauce. It's a bit of an exotic dish that is served during special occasions.


CHICKEN DISHES
Pininyahang Manok sa Gata (Pineapple Chicken in Coconut Milk)

Pininyahang manok sa gata is a chicken that is marinated in pineapple juice then cooked together with pineapple and other vegetables. It is like a chicken curry but instead using a curry powder, we use coconut milk and add a sour-sweet taste with a pineapple.


Inihaw na Manok (Roasted / Grilled Chicken)

Anyone loves inihaw na manok, specially the deep marinated ones, they're very tasty! Smoked chicken baby!


Kalderetang Manok (Chicken Caldereta)

Same as the beef caldereta, it is a Filipino dish stew with flavors that is influenced during the Spanish Colonization. How we love the mix of chicken, tomato sauce, vegetables and the semi-spicy and distinct taste of this dish.


FISH DISHES
Relyenong Bangus (Stuffed Milkfish)

Relyenong bangus is a stuffed milk fish with a mix of fish, pork and some vegetables that's already pre-cooked, usually the fish's bones were taken off, so hooray!


Inihaw na Bangus (Grilled Milkfish)

Inihaw na Tilapia (Grilled Tilapia)

If you don't want bangus (milk fish), this one is a good alternative. It has less bones and has a pure white meat and best served with soy sauce with calamansi or a tomato.


OTHER DISHES
Paella

Paella is a very popular dish that originated in Valencia region of Spain. The dish is served with a mix rice, tomato sauce, various seafoods, eggs and vegetable/s and of course we love it too.


Embutido

Embutido is a type of meatloaf in Filipino style that is stuffed with eggs, vegetables or other meat inside.


Lumpiang Sariwa (Fresh Spring Rolls)

Siomai (Pork & Shrimp Dumpling)

Oh siomai! You have have this as a side dish or sometimes can be a main dish to be served during the occasion. They are like a meatball but taste quite different, it's more of a shrimpy taste. Best served with a soy sauce with calamansi plus a chili paste.


PANCIT & NOODLE DISHES
As superstition says it's good luck in eating long noodles as they symbolizes long life

Filipino Style Spaghetti

Of course, any occasion wouldn't be complete without the Filipino style spaghetti. With the mixed tomato sauce, hotdogs, beef grounds, noodles and the very distinct sweet taste of our spaghetti, we loved it.


Pancit Malabon

This is quite similar to Palabok but with a thicker noodles, different kind of sauce and seafood toppings on the top. We can recommend Malaboni which is located in Boni Mandaluyong, they sell one of the best Malabon around! You can contact them via phone: 532-1098


Chicken Sopas (Chicken Noodle Soup with Milk)

One of Filipino favorites, best served hot during the Midnight where the temperature is cold. *Yummy*


Macaroni Salad

Chicken Sotanghon Soup (Vermicelli Chicken Noodle Soup)

Another alternative to chicken sopas, this one is pretty traditional too. Best served when hot.


DESSERTS & SWEETS
Leche Flan

Ube Halaya

Fruit Salad

Crema de Fruta

Buko Pandan

Cake (Tiramisu, Mango Float, etc.)

LUCKY DISHES
Fruits (Orange, Grapes, etc.)

As old superstition says, preparing 12 round fruits (or 8 as per Chinese for Infinity), which will serve as one piece per month in the year, will bring good luck in the rest of the year. Sample fruits are oranges, kiwis, apples, melon, watermelon, grapes, lemon, etc.


Lumpiang Shanghai (Spring Rolls)

As per superstition says, this food symbolize unity, cooperation and understanding in the family all-year round.


Rice Cakes 

Rice cakes such as Palitaw, Puto, Biko, Puto Bumbong, Bibingka, Maja Blanca. As old superstition says eating a native delicacy that's made from a sticky rice will make a good fortune stick with the new year.

Well folks, that is all the list of the dishes we have compiled so far. If your favorites is not on the list, kindly comment it out below :) Happy New Year Geeks!