hot cocoa with espuma
When I was younger during our short Christmas vacations in Iloilo, thickened table a is an early morning staple. By the time we wake up at around 4.30 am to 5 am, its heavy and beckoning smell surrounds the kitchen and slowly makes its way in our rooms.
Back then, my childhood tablea simply consisted of sugar melted with the chocolate. I later realized that grown ups drank it with liquer. I’m not that interested now but as a child, back then it spells delight! The thought of getting giddy and red-faced
and warmed up before and during a Simbang Gabi was a truly delightful thought. But, alas, once I tasted it I swore I’ll never have it again.
This traditional morning abruptly ended as the rise of instant pre-individualized hot drinks populated each and every sari-sari store, supermarkets and households. Not that I disliked that change its just that I’ve always believed that a carefully prepared tablea cooked over wood fire feels the most magical and integral part of Filipino Christmas.
Old Style Hot Chocolate
1 pc tablea (10g)
1 cup water
2 tbsp all-purpose cream, whisked
1 pinch of semi-sweet chocolate
2 tbsp sugar (or to taste)
Shave the tablea into a saucepan with salt and water. I only added a smithereen of salt, that’s all you’ll need. Melt over low heat, stirring constantly and making sure it doesn’t burn. Once the chocolate is smooth and shiny add sugar ( I liked it sweet). Bring to a slow simmer for 5 minutes. The chocolate will bubble up and thicken rapidly.
Spoon over foam then sprinkle with the shaved semi-sweet chocolate. Serve at once with any pastry or of course, pan de sal.
This is best enjoyed right before attending the midnight mass. For the Roman Catholics, midnight masses are religiously attended because one: it’s tradition and two: it was said to grant wishes. The latter of course was made up by the older folks to encourage their little one, who are still fast asleep, to join them.
Until I fully severed my ties with organized religion, I never did completed the nine day event.It wasn’t the the Catholic church who made me stop it was the people I knew who made me. Despite that I still believe that the Lord above loves me.
Oh, but God forbid, those kids who goes house to house to house then back to our house then then the cycle repeats the next day…
Positive thoughts…
Positive thoughts…
They do say, thank you, all the time. So that’s good.
