Present almost everywhere in Philippine urban and cultural landscapes, the carinderia is a local food stop that regularly cooks meals at affordable prices.
In early illustrations, the pre-colonial carinderia structure consisted of a display area for the food, the small usually roadside kiosk conveniently shaded under thatched roofing. More modern carinderias are fixtures in marketplaces.
This structure’s etymology is still disputed; however, it’s not as unlikely.
The word carinderia came from the word “kari” which is a Tagalog term for curry. Before the term was coined in the 1920s, it was called Karihan which was a place where kare-kare was served. Back then, immigrant Indians who married Filpinas sold dishes with curry flavors by the street and this place was called karehan.
We all have our favorite carinderia in our locality and a favorite “Nanay” serving our meals. The food reminds us of home and that is why these food stalls are a very important part of Filipino culture.
Tell us about your favorite carinderia.
References:
“A Bit of Carinderia Love and History.” Yapak / Yakap. Accessed November 9, 2020. http://yapakyakap.blogspot.com/2008/08/bit-of-carinderia-love-and-history.html.
BusinessMirror. “Upholding Heritage through ‘Carinderia’ Cooking.” BusinessMirror, April 20, 2018. https://businessmirror.com.ph/2018/04/22/upholding-heritage-through-carinderia-cooking/.
Philippine Daily Inquirer. Accessed November 9, 2020. https://www.pressreader.com/philippines/philippine-daily-inquirer-1109/20110922/283742720912815.
“The Story of the Carinderia.” Traveler on Foot, June 16, 2008. https://traveleronfoot.wordpress.com/2008/06/16/the-story-of-the-carinderia/.