nonetheless, i did brave the frigid temperature because xmas on this side of the family is always a blast because it pretty much focuses on the kids, food, catching up, kids and the food. the whole set up is reminiscent of family reunions past. then, all the kids were all forced (yes, forced) to do a talent show. one either sings, dances, plays an instrument. whatever. that way, the parents get to be proud of their kids and the elder family members get amused.
i remember avoiding the talent show like the plague. i would hide out with my cousins (my age) so no one could force me to do anything. of course, once you reach a certain age, you are no longer subject to such torture.
well, things have changed. in this chicago version of the family reunion - christmas style - the talent show involves kids who actually want to show off their talents. in years past, the kids started off with singing or banging on the piano (literally). but as they aged, their talents have gotten better. and it is quite a joy to see that.
video taped talent shows of years past show my nephew, who is now 18 but was then about 8 or so, running to grab the mike to sing as many christmas carols he could think of -- and then, making some up -- to the amusement of his adoring public. he was, of course, quite embarassed now and he received a lot of good natured ribbing as only family could give. and to protect the innocent, i will not mention his name -- but he is the oldest son of my eldest brother! haha!
all in all, the kids have been great at providing entertainment. they are pretty much kids desiring to enroll at julliard. they play the piano, violin, cello, clarinet. and if my 18 year old nephew did not "graduate" from the talent show, he would have played the saxophone. and if my 13 year old nephew was around, perhaps an electric guitar would have been involved (although he plays the trumpet and has done so at the NY pops). to my 13 year old nephew's credit, he did play his electric guitar for us -- also willingly and with minimal prompting -- over the speaker phone. he was quite good.
yep, it is true, my torture, apparently, to these kids, is not theirs. aaaaahhhhh, kids. go figure! (or maybe, it was just me.)
on to the food. it was a smorgasbord. the food included kare kare (oxtail with peanut butter), kaldereta (goat), dinuguan (pork blood), pansit (noodles with shrimp and chicken and veggies), fresh lumpia (which should be differentiated from other kinds of lumpia, which are all fried), empanada (pastry with ground pork, chopped hard boiled egg, raisins), pork sinigang (tamarind flavored soup with pork), grilled fish (pompano).... oh and yeah, ham.
veggies pretty much consisted of a veggie platter from costco, that as far as i knew, remained untouched. :D
dessert was also quite a treat. we had buko salad (coconut meat, jello and milk), tinudtudok (sweet rice flour and sugar) and palitaw (coconut and sweet rice flour). i must admit that a chocolate mousse, sees candies, baklava and some brasilian candies also showed up at the dessert table.
i am sure there was more food, but i only have one stomache and could not eat/remember everything. darn!
but most importantly (to me, at least), these types of gatherings afforded me to catch up with family - uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews, nieces, and the whole lot. cuz i have got plenty. and that is alright with me.
to be fair, my other side of the family also has the same talent show and the same smorgasborg of food -- albeit on a smaller scale - but that was a function of quantity - my grandparents on that side did not reproduce as much as the grandparents on this side. :D
some of the family
my grandparents started it off. ...and this isn't even close to including everybody!
and some of the food
fresh lumpia - individually wrapped
pansit
kaldereta - goat meat
kare kare - oxtail and tripes in peanut butter sauce
grilled pompano - must be eaten with the chopped tomatoes and onions and patis (fish sauce)
buko salad - coconut meat, jello and milk
left (top to bottom): baklava, palitaw, pork empanada, brasilian candy, sees candy
right (top to bottom): chocolate mousse pie, some candies
my half eaten empanda - served warm. yummy!
mamon on the top left. tinudtudok on the top right. and my half eaten tinudtudok, which one of my cousin says has the highest sugar content.... i ate about 5 or 6. so yummy!
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