‘Noche Buena’ food that celebs can’t do without

Liza Soberano

What food reminds Liza Soberano so much of Christmas?

“Fruit salad always reminds me of Christmas,” Liza told Inquirer Entertainment. “When I was little, that was what my parents would always make me do for noche buena. I later realized that this was because I was still too young to help them cook actual dishes. With fruit salad, you just dump ingredients in a bowl and mix everything.”

IZA CALZADO

Actress Iza Calzado had to fight back tears when she tried to answer our question about which food reminded her of Christmas. This was because thinking about the holidays would often bring back memories of her late father, TV director and choreographer Lito Calzado.“When I think of Christmas, I think of him, as well as of ensaymada and embotido,” said “Culion’s” lead actress, with her voice breaking.

She then paused for a few seconds and took deep breaths before adding cheerfully: “We used to eat that for noche buena. But now, it’s turkey, potatoes and Food for the Gods!”

Iza is married to Filipino-British entrepreneur Ben Wintle. They often fly to the United Kingdom to spend the holidays with Ben’s family.

Alexa Ilacad

ALEXA ILACAD

“It’s got to be hamonado. Even back when I was young, I would know that Christmas was just around the corner when I start seeing TV commercials of different kinds of ham,” said the cast member of the drama series, “The Killer Bride.”

Another regular on the dinner table during noche buena is buko pandan, which is the favorite dessert of the family, Alexa said. “My mom doesn’t cook. I’m the one who cooks at home,” the 19-year-old actress said. “But in order to avoid stress in cooking during the holidays, we just have food delivered at home. I still cook during Christmas, but mostly pasta dishes because that’s the easiest to make.”

ALLEN DIZON

“For me, Christmas is not complete without ham, with pineapple and the sweetness that comes with it,” said the lead actor of the Metro Manila Film Festival drama “Mindanao.”“I look for it on the dinner table during noche buena, also when I eat breakfast the following morning or even at lunch time. I make sure that we always have ham during Christmas. It’s also what I give away as Christmas gifts to friends.”

Allen further said: “It reminds me of my childhood, back when we still couldn’t afford to buy ham. Mahirap lang kasi kami. On holidays when we had ham, we would eat it slowly and in small pieces. We make sure everyone in the family gets a piece. We’re already so happy just to be able to have one box.”

Shaina Magdayao

SHAINA MAGDAYAO

“I would have to say lechon Cebu, because I’m from Cebu; although, unfortunately, I don’t eat that anymore,” declared the lead actress of the ABS-CBN horror series “The Haunted.” “Let’s just say it is always on the dinner table of every family gathering. It makes every dinner and every occasion extra special.”

CEDRICK JUAN

Actor Cedrick Juan, who grew up in a farm in Bulacan, said lechon reminded him so much of Christmas. “It’s a staple in our house during noche buena, be it the normal-sized lechon or the lechon de leche, or just the really crispy lechon skin dipped in flavorful sauce. Sometimes, I make my own version of the sauce by mixing different herbs and spices.”“Christmas Day for the Juans is like a festival,” said Cedrick, who is the second of eight siblings. “Relatives from both my mother and father’s side gather at our farm for a reunion. We number from 30 to 40 people. It has been like this ever since I was young.” INQ