In some cases, Google uses a Google Doodle in place of its regular blue, red, yellow, and green lettering to commemorate a significant day in history on its homepage, but what does the image of two smiling children sniffing hot, well-seasoned chicken thighs on March 15 have to do with it?
As NationalWorld.com reported, Google is celebrating “Filipino Adobo” chicken in its Google Doodle because “adobo” was added to the Oxford English Dictionary in December 2006, as well as the OED’s quarterly update on this day in 2007.
As of late Tuesday, Google did not respond to MassLive’s request for comment. Filipino adobo chicken is a popular dish that originated in the Philippines. According to the outlet, it is sometimes considered the country’s unofficial national dish. There are a variety of recipes and variations on how to make adobo in multiple cultures, and Filipino adobo recipes also vary according to different parts of the Philippines.
As a general rule, adobo-style cooking requires braising meat or seafood into a stew, usually with vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, bay leaves, and black pepper, then serve it over rice. It was reported by NationalWorld that Filipino adobo depends on the ingredients available in the region, with places like Visayas and Southern Luzon having their own regional styles.
Locals in the Visayas make “adobong puti,” which uses vinegar only and no soy sauce, and is considered by some to be the original Filipino adobo. In Southern Luzon, “creamier adobo with coconut milk is more popular,” the outlet reported.
NationalWorld reported that Anthony Irwin, the artist behind the March 15 Google Doodle, has a special affinity for food and cultural ties.
The relationship children of immigrants have with their parents’ food can be complex, Irwin said to the outlet. On the one hand, my mother’s cooking made me feel like I was exactly where I needed to be. It felt special, safe and warm. But on the other hand, most kids just want to fit in. I grew up in the U.S., so I didn’t want my food to be special. I didn’t want to feel different. I just wanted to be like everyone else.
