In Bacolod City, we have our own way to celebrate the Chinese New Year and we call it as the Bacolaodiat Festival. It is a three-day festival celebrations intended to showcase the culture, art, food, and dances in partnership with the Filipino-Chinese community living in the city, and also, as well as the business establishments and Non-government offices that is founded by the Filipino-Chinese owners. In this tradition, there is that one delicacy that is famous not just in our city but nationwide, and that is Tikoy.
Tikoy or Nian Gao is made with glutinous rice flour, water and sugar, popularly prepared during New Year. Before I share my Tikoy experience with you, let me tell you a little background on how I got it. Since we are not living in Manila area, it's not popular here like other local rice cakes which you can see on the markets, and only it is only sold on exclusive stores, Chinese food chains, or at the food alley located at the heart of the Festival in Lacson Street, Bacolod City.
Different Plans, Different Place
Chinese New Year is considered as a National Holiday here, therefore, we don't have class since Friday and enjoying a long weekend that we deserve to have. My initial plans were to watch the Street Dance Competition, Dragon Art and Music Fest, and check on some foods on the opening of Chopsticks Alley. However, there is a sudden change of plans when I knew that @kjl26, @grsyll, @jiboyskie123, @agnola, @pixie.maya, and @iam.jelay were at the New Government Center. I prefer the company more than the event, so I went along after some errands at downtown.
They were done with their dance practice as I got there, so we went straight to Upper East since Twilight wanted to register his Landers' Membership Card and have a haircut at the place. I just want to tag along not knowing what exactly to do, but I have that one food cravings which I was thinking for days before.
And yes, I've said it already earlier, it is Tikoy!
After he was done with his membership, he accompanied me to look for Tikoy and check on some items. There, I surely found the one with different flavors. I didn't even know at first that it can have many flavors like Ube and Chocolate aside from the original one, so I bought the Ube.
After that, we went back home. Though I'm excited to eat that delicacy, I still have to delay it for the other day because I forgot to buy some frying oil and eggs. Too bad!
Cooking Time!
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The next day, I went to the market as soon as I woke up to buy eggs, frying oil, rice and my refilled butane fuel. Tikoy is best to be eaten dipped in beaten eggs and fried.
I've prepared the beaten eggs and cut it out in the wrapper, placed in the plate and cut it into slices. i don't have a chopping board here in my dormitory, so it was twice hard to slice it I think, harder than I thought. My slices we uneven, some were thin and some were thick. I want to fry the whole piece initially, but changed my mind as I saw that half of it were a lot for me. I saved the other half for the next day since I'm the only one who'll eat this anyway.
This was after I cooked all the slices. I'm not a good cook, and actually this is my first time cooking it myself, so I don't really have an idea of how it will properly looked like when cooked. Though we usually eat this since I was a kid because my Grandfather used to sell this, and my Aunt was the one cooking this when I was in Manila. Besides, I don't really cook, that's why I'm anxious of the steps and the texture as I was cooking this. Thanks to @demotry for guiding me all the way.
And that's how I satisfy my cravings once again!