ABS-CBN News Online Beta

Food and fashion in 2009: Restos should satisfy palate and pocket, fashionistas will be wiser

---

By ALEX ALIKPALA, abs-cbnNEWS.com | 01/05/2009 1:13 AM

Printer-friendly version | Send to friend | Share your views

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Editor’s note: This is the 14th in our series of year beginners.

Heading into the new year, while facing and fearing the effects of the global economic crisis, Filipinos are bound to see some changes in two of their favorite things: food and fashion.

Filipinos will no doubt continue to eat, drink, and be merry, but some feasting behavior will necessarily be affected by the uncertain times.

Comfort feeding

One trend that will become apparent is the popularity of comfort food. In times of stress, there is comfort in the familiar, and this applies even to food. When it comes to dining out, restaurants that serve feel-good dishes will see a surge in popularity.

“I believe that cafes and bistros will be the way to go. Simple great food that reminds people of home. Comfort food to take the stress of everyday problems away,” said Chef Bruce, resident chef of popular talk show “Boy and Kris”, and host of cooking show “Tablescapes”.

Diners will also tend to stick to their favorite restaurants, as well as their favorite dishes.

“Everyone who has tried my food always asks me to cook something that is different than the last time. But at the end of the day after the event… we always end up at the same Chinese resto,” according to Chef Bruce.

Edsa Shangri-la’s director for food and beverage Eddy Sarton also thinks that for the coming year, Filipinos will stick to what they know.

“I think the trends will remain the same as 2008… I think… that the Filipino diner is loyal to local cuisine and Chinese.”

Comfortable does not necessarily mean boring, though. Familiar dishes are seen to be served up with a twist. Ramon Eugenio of Myron’s Place in Greenbelt 5 said that dishes will be prepared with “heightened and more creative presentation”.

The popularity of comfort food will not be confined to restaurants. Filipinos are also likely to whip up their old favorites at home.

Small is beautiful

Another trend that logically follows from the economic downturn is smaller portions.

This could be bad news for the hearty eater. But this does not mean only that a serving of one’s favorite steak will simply shrink to bring the price down. This also means that dishes are now available in smaller portions, whether bite-sized or half-portions, allowing one to eat more of other offerings.

This could be seen as a positive development for diners because this will enable them to experience more during their meal.

These “light bites”, being served from appetizers to desserts, offer a wider variety of selections for the customer. Thus, when dining out, one can experience two or three dishes, instead of one.

Head to tail

Another trend that 2009 will see is the use of more parts of the fish, meat, and vegetables when cooking. Filipinos are already good at using almost all parts of the animal being cooked.

This year will see even more ingenious ways of doing this. Old recipes will be dug up, and new ones will be created, all in the spirit of using every last bit of meat and produce available.

Eugenio admits that it won’t be business as usual in the food industry as the economy heads south. The challenge for restaurateurs is to change with the times, and satisfy both palate and pocket.

“The past won't do; the consumer will need to feel they are getting their money's worth,” he said.

Fashion in 2009

The fashionista in the Filipino will continue to flourish in the coming year. Stylist and fashion columnist Ana Kalaw says shallower pockets do not necessarily mean lesser wardrobes. Filipinos will continue to dress up; they’ll just be a little wiser about it.

“(The economic crisis) will affect their shopping habits more than the way they dress. We will be more conscientious with our spending definitely and will think twice about designer labels,” said Kalaw.

The Grecian look

She said the Grecian look will be back in 2009. Draping and loose silhouettes, considered the most flattering silhouette of all, will make their return. This is good news for those whose figures are far from what is normally viewed as perfect.

“The way we view sexy now has changed and the modern version looks to Grecian dressing for a show of shoulders and skin to account for sexy rather than to body-fitting clothing,” Kalaw said.

She said sheer fabric is also expected to be a big hit for summer for both night and day. Jewel-encrusted pieces were a very visible trend in the runway showing of the 2009 collections.

Chunky accessories

Kalaw said statement jewelry will be big, literally, in 2009: huge, architectural pieces, multi-layered necklaces, chandelier earrings, chunky bangles and pendants. The trend already started this year but will be more pronounced come 2009.
 
Of course, one’s look will not be complete without footwear.

“We're nearing the end of our love affair with gladiator shoes and now beginning one with architectural footwear. Shoes will take on a modernized look in 2009 with tapered heels, blunt square toes and thick straps. Though the stiletto heel is making a comeback, the chunky platform or the chunky, stacked heel (which made itself known in 2008) will still reign in 2009,” she said.

Many brands and designers, both foreign and local, will come into the Philippine fashion scene next year. Competition will be fierce, but perhaps the bleak economy may tip the scales in favor of the locals.

“Filipinos are very resourceful when it comes to looking for alternatives and this will translate to their fashion purchases. Maybe now, we'll consider quality local brands priced more affordably than looking to foreign brands,” Kalaw said.