El: In school we studied the Makabayan, history and culture of the Philippines, famous people like Rizal and Bonifacio. Jose Rizal is a Philippine hero. What did Rizal do? I can’t remember, something about the Americans? We studied nagsulat. You should know that word: nagsusulat in Tagalog and nagsulat in Cebuano. Writing in English.

What is important to us? Money is important to us, but God is more important. (Just then a man walked by selling peanuts.) Money, mani. (The girls broke out in laughter.) Money, mani! In Cebuano, mani is peanut. Money, mani, Manny! Do you know Manny Pacquiao, the famous boxer? Money, mani, Manny!

Welcome to Fish Sauce--thefishsauce.net--a travelogue of the Philippines and neighboring countries of Southeast Asia. 

Why the name Fish Sauce? Fish sauce is a staple of Filipino food, and most Southeast Asian cuisines for that matter. It's often used by cooks to add savory flavors and depth to food, and by eaters as a dipping sauce. No doubt I'd eaten fish sauce many, many times in Filipino, Vietnamese, and Thai food over the years, but I'd never cooked with it. I knew nothing about actually using it. While this blog will be about more than just food, fish sauce--its pungent but subtle importance to food in the region--seems emblematic of the journey I'm on and the explorations I hope you'll find here over the next few months.

Plus, there are plenty of puns in the title Fish Sauce, starting with the word sauce. (Filipinos love their puns.) Think sass or the spice of the story. 

With any luck, I'll update you on the best Pinoy puns I encounter. Join me as I get to know the people, history, literature, geography, and food of the Philippines and Southeast Asia.