Barbecue Filipino Style in Delaware

Tried a place called Balan's tonight, in Newark, on old Baltimore Pike, close to the juncture of Rt 72.
They have a big smoker and turn out extraordinary brisket, as well as other items.
The sauce is piquant and unique.
Am going back tomorrow to try more of their offerings.

quote:

Originally posted by Phildelmar

Tried a place called Balan's tonight, in Newark, on old Baltimore Pike, close to the juncture of Rt 72.
They have a big smoker and turn out extraordinary brisket, as well as other items.
The sauce is piquant and unique.
Am going back tomorrow to try more of their offerings.

You need to post an address and helpfully a phone number too. I've not
been to Delaware but plan on getting that way this year.

MikeS.

Take Rt 72 south out of Newark, go about 4 miles to Old Baltimore Pike, hang a left, and look to your left, it is right there.
Fairly new, am seeking a phone #..will post as soon as I get one.

What is Filipino food? This is a culture's food I have very little knowledge of. What are the traditional dishes? Is it comparable to other Asian food?

First things first

Balan's Barbecue
851 Old Baltimore pike
Newark, DE 19702

302-292-2606

Next, I know nothing about the cooking of the Phillipines. i do note that many of the products that Balans sells are also found in Newark's wonderful oriental grocery.
I lucked into Balan's by accident.
I was driving home from work, and the smell from their smoker literally pulled me into the first u-turn I could make.
A true Road food moment

I do know that most Filipino food is made with "fish sauce"(which I think tastes horrid.) Do you think they used this sauce on the BBQ?

Don't think so
I didn't taste fish sauce in the food, nor smell it in the smoke.

The scent of smoke pulled me over again today for their sweet sausage. My tongue is smiling. Not sure about sauce ingredients, but I encourage locals to experiment.

This weekend we are in this area, and came across ("discovered") Balan's. (I just found this post from '06)

This is quite the place. First of all, it's practically hidden. We stopped to get an ice cream (the sign for IC is much larger than BBQ). I saw the Q then, and ordered 1/2 (huge) chicken and one (huge) pulled pork sandwich (not slaw was on it). It was pretty amazing food - smoky, huge, with a slightly sweet sauce, a sort of Filipino accent. These (did I say huge) dishes were in total $7.50. (total, not each). We have been eating leftovers for 2 more days!



All the people who worked there were Filipino and rather odd for this part of Delaware. The food was served our of a rather antiquated grocery with mostly Asian products, with very friendly staff.

Check it out!!

quote:

I do know that most Filipino food is made with "fish sauce"

I don't know about Filipino barbecue, but I have a good friend who is Filipino and I've never seen her cook with fish sauce. She has always said the backbone to Filipino seasoning is a mixture of soy sauce and vinegar.

Interesting! Last week my Filipino girlfriend made steaks for dinner. She was dipping her steak into a bowl of soy sauce mixed with vinegar. I had never seen that before.

But when we were visiting a friend of hers in Chicago, they were enjoying something she called a "stinky fish sauce".

I worked with Philipino cooks in the Navy. Went to the islands too. I remember buying bbq chicken on the street, we called it 'monkey meat on a stick'. Try the pancit, a traditional noodle dish that is mildly flavored. Lumpia is their eggroll that are fried and served with a dipping sauce on the side. Try chicken or pork adobo, it is different from the Mexican versions of adobo.
The fact is that Philipino food has a strong influence of when it was colonized by Spain.
No different than the French influences in Vietnamese cuisine.

mark

quote:

Originally posted by forurlungsonly

quote:

I do know that most Filipino food is made with "fish sauce"

I don't know about Filipino barbecue, but I have a good friend who is Filipino and I've never seen her cook with fish sauce. She has always said the backbone to Filipino seasoning is a mixture of soy sauce and vinegar.

That is how I was taught by the Philipino cooks I knew. Add Garlic!!!!

mark

quote:

Originally posted by forurlungsonly

quote:

I do know that most Filipino food is made with "fish sauce"

I don't know about Filipino barbecue, but I have a good friend who is Filipino and I've never seen her cook with fish sauce. She has always said the backbone to Filipino seasoning is a mixture of soy sauce and vinegar.

Actually it was a slight vinegar taste that made this Delaware BBQ distinctive. It was a lot like "regular" BBQ but there was very slightly different taste to it.

quote:

Originally posted by NYNM

I do know that most Filipino food is made with "fish sauce"

A cute little[url='http://www.filipinasoul.com/patis-fish-sauce/']blog[/url] about Filipino fish sauce.

quote:

Originally posted by doggydaddy


I worked with Philipino cooks in the Navy. Went to the islands too. I remember buying bbq chicken on the street, we called it 'monkey meat on a stick'. Try the pancit, a traditional noodle dish that is mildly flavored. Lumpia is their eggroll that are fried and served with a dipping sauce on the side. Try chicken or pork adobo, it is different from the Mexican versions of adobo.
The fact is that Philipino food has a strong influence of when it was colonized by Spain.
No different than the French influences in Vietnamese cuisine.

mark

Filipino BBQ? I'm jealous.

My mom was born and raised in and around Manila, so I was fortunate enough to have consumed many a Filipino meal. One of my favorite dishes was always mechado, which is simply a pork dish with a tomato based sauce, but it's good stuff.

If anyone is interested...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filipino_cuisine