The comforts of Noche Buena in these discomfiting times

Never underestimate the power of food when it comes to evoking the simplest joys or the grandest thoughts, perhaps even impossible dreams. In a few days, we will all take our place around the table laden not only with the most celebratory dishes we can think of, but also with dreams and memories.

In most cases, though the dishes handpicked for Noche Buena are either traditional or considered a notch more special than our Sunday Best, what we want, as we have discovered from conversations with some of our favorite lifestyle personalities, is comfort food or dishes that take us back to our childhood, when we, with our parents around, were sheltered from the harsh realities of life.

It could be a steaming bowl of arroz caldo or buttery bibingka cooked over coals and topped with salted eggs, cheese, and coconut shavings or, in my case, my mother’s chicken macaroni salad. Which of the Noche Buena staples will bring you comfort in these discomfiting times?

My Noche Buena dish for our post-pandemic future is Sunday Morning’s Cerveza Negra Christmas ham with truffle fig sauce and melba crisps. I love it because my dear friend Joanna Preysler has amazing taste and a delicious recipe for it. —Cat Arambulo Antonio

If there’s one dish in mind that would bring me so much joy, it is my mom’s roast beef, cooked the Kapampangan way. No matter how my sisters and I replicate the dish, no one cooks it like my mom. I wish she was here to celebrate Noche Buena with us. Is there a time machine so we can all go back in time when food was more festive and no one cared about dieting? —Suzette Malig Ayson

It’s roast turkey for me for Noche Buena. With it, one doesn’t have to go overboard or spend so much. Also, roast turkey meat is good for satiety, muscle retention, and muscle growth. It helps with energy (B vitamins), fights anemia (vitamin B12 and folate), has antioxidants (selenium), balances the immune system (zinc, iron), promotes better sleep (tryptophan), supports bone and teeth health (phosphorus, calcium and magnesium), and is also good for metabolism (potassium). Compared to other lean meats, turkey packs quite a punch. It’s still less expensive than beef and it has less fat than pork. It has less toxin than fish and higher nutrients than chicken. —Dr. Kaycee Reyes Bacani

To me, it’s sweet ham with pineapple. It’s comfort food. It’s very festive, perfect for Noche Buena. It reminds me that no matter what happens, like this whole pandemic, especially for us Filipinos, we will always celebrate Christmas, our lives, our families. It assures me that we will carry on, like we always do, always finding something happy or beautiful or meaningful to celebrate. —Love Marie O. Escudero

My Noche Buena dish would be halo-halo in the hopes that I witness more mixing, mingling, and connecting in the New Year. Human beings are inherently social creatures. Our relationship with others provides happiness, purpose, and fulfillment. I hope to see more people embrace authentic human connection in our post-pandemic everyday lives. —Stephanie Kienle Gonzalez

Our Christmas dishes are mostly inherited from family, a combination of Finnish and Filipino, like Karelian pie and menudo. This year, however, we are including a vegetarian pancit palabok on our Christmas menu. Serving noodles on special occasions, a practice that originates from the Han dynasty, has become the ultimate symbolism in Filipino culinary tradition. Noodles equals long life and good health. This dish also brings back memories of childhood and family gatherings. It is comfort food when I’m missing my Mom and siblings, who reside in California and Colorado, on special days, especially the holidays. I am excited to be reunited with loved ones again soon! —Joyce Mäkitalo

My kitchen represents hope, dreams, blessings, and possibilities. Prior to the pandemic, this was my domain. But during the lockdowns my husband Patrick unlocked some skills and learned how to cook tongkatsu, salmon steak, pan-seared steak, and asuhos tempura.

Though my husband's creations have become family favorites, the one Noche Buena dish that is special for us is my adlai paella. I’ve mastered it in this very kitchen the past year. It is an all-inclusive one pot dish, slow cooked with constant supervision, and comes guilt-free for those watching their diet. Adlai is a grain that is used as a healthier substitute for rice. It scores very low on the glycemic index, helping lower blood sugar and cholesterol. This is our new celebratory dish at home and it will always remind me of how we, as a family, turned our lockdowns into a productive and special time. —Daphne Oseña Paez

What easily comes to mind is bibingka and puto bumbong. These dishes are representative of the Filipino spirit, a tradition that, just like the Filipino people, seem unbreakable. The thought of eating such delicious Christmas treats with my family is enough to bring me comfort and holiday cheer. Just like when I was a little kid, I’m excited for Christmas and I am hopeful for better days ahead for all of us. We will rise above this pandemic, stronger and better. —Dr. Aivee Aguilar Teo