The Department of Health, DOH, has a campaign that warns us against the hazards of patronizing street food.  But there are some street food that are hard to resist especially if it is deemed to be safe enough to be enjoyed by the whole family including the kids.

First on my list of classic Filipino street food is the “taho” which is made of fresh soft tofu, caramel syrup and sago pearls.  When we were kids we would eagerly wait for the call of the “taho” vendor who does his regular rounds in our neighborhood early in the morning.  Armed with our own cups or glasses, the size of which depends on our appetite, we would race to the gate and make our requests for additional syrup or sago pearls as the taho vendor scoops the tofu in our cups.  Taho seems to taste better then but despite of the smaller portions and thinner caramel syrup, the appeal of the taho is still strong.  Our next most awaited vendor is the “binatog” vendor who is quite hard to miss with a bell that precedes his loud call for his fare.  “Binatog” is a snack made out of boiled white corn kernels mixed with grated young coconut and seasoned with salt or sugar.  Some vendors combine the salt and sugar for a unique sweet and salty taste. Until now, my sisters would patiently wait for the binatog vendor whenever she gets a craving for this tasty and healthy corn snack.

Other classic street food that we can also share with the kids include: banana-que, camote cue or fries, and turon.  The good thing about these three is that you don’t have to worry if you miss the vendors on their rounds.  These sweet snacks are also served in food stalls or eateries that you can visit during daytime.