What is adobo? Google Doodle celebrates Filipino dish (2024)

Google Doodle is celebrating popular Filipino dish adobo on the 16th anniversary of its inclusion in the Oxford English Dictionary’s quarterly word list update.

While there are many kinds of adobo in the Philippines, the basic elements of the dish are marinated meat or vegetables braised into a stew. Adobo is often made with vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, bay leaves, and black pepper but its flavour varies depending on the local ingredients used.

There are many regional twists on adobo. In Visayas, locals eat adobong puti (white adobo), which uses vinegar but not soy sauce. Meanwhile, in southern Luzon, adobong manok sa gata (chicken adobo with coconut milk) is popular because coconut milk is a food staple in the area.

What is adobo? Google Doodle celebrates Filipino dish (1)

The Google Doodle says of Adobo “the history is rich, the taste is unmatched, and the aromas are enticing”

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The Google Doodle says: “After evolving throughout the centuries, this iconic dish is now enjoyed worldwide. It’s a symbol and expression of Filipino pride that varies from region to region, family to family, palate to palate.

“The history is rich, the taste is unmatched, and the aromas are enticing – the children in today’s artwork would definitely agree! Wherever and however it’s served, adobo leaves stomachs happy and mouths watering for more.”

The Google Doodle of Wednesday March 15 was illustrated by artist Anthony Irwin. He told Google: “For children of immigrants, our relationship with our parents’ food is a complex one. On one hand, my mother’s cooking made me feel like I was exactly where I was supposed to be. It felt special and safe and warm. But on the other hand, most kids just want to fit in. Growing up in the US, I didn’t want my food to be special. I didn’t want to feel different. I just wanted to be like everyone else.”

Irwin continued: “Now as an adult, I get to find all of these opportunities to be proud in ways childhood didn’t let me feel proud. I can claim Filipino food as a part of my culture and celebrate the connection it creates between my mother’s identity and my own.

“I ordered some southern-style chicken adobo from a local restaurant to stir up some memories while working on the art for this Doodle, and the first thing that hit me was the smell. It was so bright and nostalgic and instantly filled my apartment with that familiar feeling: this is exactly how things are supposed to be. So I tried to capture that simple childhood joy of leaning in and savouring the kind of food that makes home feel like home. Kain nang mabuti!”

What is adobo? Google Doodle celebrates Filipino dish (2024)

FAQs

What is adobo? Google Doodle celebrates Filipino dish? ›

Adobo means "vinegar-braised" in English, and is derived from the Spanish word "adobar," which means "to pickle" or "to marinade." The name was given to the dish by colonial-era Spaniards in the Philippines, though the adobo cooking method that's native to Spanish and Portuguese cuisine has little to do with that of ...

Why is Google celebrating Filipino adobo? ›

It's a symbol and expression of Filipino pride that varies from region to region, family to family, palate to palate. “The history is rich, the taste is unmatched, and the aromas are enticing – the children in today's artwork would definitely agree!

What is the Filipino food on Google Doodle? ›

Illustrated by Anthony Irwin, a Doodle artist from Google, the Adobo Google Doodle showcases two Filipino kids sniffing the scrumptious looking dish. The word "Google" is also drawn with a spoon, garlic, bay leaf, chicken wing, coconut milk, and a fork.

What does it mean to say that adobo is a Filipino dish? ›

The cooking method for the Philippine adobo is indigenous to the Philippines. The various precolonial peoples of the Philippine archipelago often cooked or prepared their food with vinegar and salt in various techniques to preserve them in the tropical climate.

Is adobo Spanish or Filipino? ›

Filipino adobo is a stew

In the Philippines, the concept of adobo was around long before the Spanish arrived in 1521. Like the native people of the Iberian Peninsula, indigenous people in the Philippines had long used vinegar and salt to preserve proteins.

Why is Filipino adobo popular? ›

The key components of Filipino adobo are vinegar, protein, salt (or soy sauce, after Chinese traders arrived in the islands), garlic, and black peppercorns. One of the reasons adobo got its unofficial “national dish” title was because its ingredients are widely accessible across each region in the Philippines.

Why do Filipinos celebrate? ›

Sense of Identity: Festivals provide an opportunity for Filipinos to celebrate their cultural identity and heritage, contributing to a strong sense of pride in their cultural heritage. This sense of identity is an important factor in shaping the Filipino workforce and promoting a positive work culture.

What is adobo in English? ›

Adobo or adobar (Spanish: marinade, sauce, or seasoning) is the immersion of food in a stock (or sauce) composed variously of paprika, oregano, salt, garlic, and vinegar to preserve and enhance its flavor. The Portuguese variant is known as carne de vinha d'alhos.

Who invented the Filipino adobo? ›

The word adobo is derived from the Spanish word adobar, which means “marinade” or “pickling sauce.” The existence of the tangy dish was first recorded in 1613 by the Spaniard Pedro de San Buenaventura.

What does Filipino adobo taste like? ›

What does Filipino adobo taste like? With the mix of vinegar, soy sauce and garlic, Filipino adobo is a savory dish that is a little tangy, a little sweet and a little salty. The blend and balance of sour and sweet in one dish is a hallmark of Filipino cuisine overall.

Is adobo healthy? ›

Adobo is a delicious Filipino dish with nutritional value, primarily as a source of protein and essential vitamins and minerals. However, be aware of portion sizes, the type of meat used, and the sodium content to enjoy the dish as part of a balanced and healthy diet.

What is a fun fact about adobo? ›

Adobo's roots trace back to before the Spanish colonization. Filipinos have always had a way of preserving food, and marinating meat in vinegar and salt was one method. When the Spanish arrived, they recognized the cooking process and named it “adobar,” which means “marinade” in Spanish.

Is adobo a meat? ›

Adobo is a dish that is usually made with meat (chicken, pork, or beef) marinated in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, and other spices. The meat is slowly cooked until it becomes tender and flavorful. Adobo is often served with rice and is a staple dish in many Filipino households.

Why does Google celebrate bubble tea? ›

Google's new Doodle is an homage to the bubble tea emoji which was created three years ago, forever immortalizing the drink's place in popular culture. Bubble tea, also known as boba tea or pearl milk tea, can be traced back to centuries of traditional tea culture in Taiwan.

Why is Google Doodle celebrating pizza? ›

Why are we celebrating pizza on Dec. 6? On the same day in 2017, the culinary art of Neapolitan “Pizzaiuolo” was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In other words, pizza became a cultural touchstone of the human race.

Who invented Filipino adobo? ›

The word adobo is derived from the Spanish word adobar, which means “marinade” or “pickling sauce.” The existence of the tangy dish was first recorded in 1613 by the Spaniard Pedro de San Buenaventura.

Is adobo part of Filipino culture? ›

Adobo, or adobo chicken or adobo pork, is a classic Philippine meal. The marinade for adobo is made with pantry staples including white vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, peppercorns, and bay leaves.

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