Sunday Lunch @ Home: Cocido Madrileño

Another non-wine-related family/food post. After a big Spanish dinner with Navarran rosado at Terry's 2º Piso last night, I was in no mood for wine for lunch the next day. There will be a lot of time for wine, though, in 2010.

Sunday lunch (the 3rd January 2010) was at home, with my dad, youngest sis and in-laws - an advanced celebration of my wife's and my 18th wedding anniversary.



My brother and his wife just got back from the Tokyo winter, so were not feeling well enough to join; so we were 19 in all including one of my wife's aunts and the nephews and nieces.


Clockwise from bottom-left: My sis, dad, wife, mom-in-law, an aunt, father-in-law and sis-in-law


My brothers-in-law


My HK-based bilas (i.e., husband of my wife's sis - there is no equivalent English term) between calls on the patio.


My youngest son's dachshund was wondering what all the fuss was about - he did ask.



My wife decided to serve her version of Cocido Madrileño ("cocido") for the lunch - one of my dad's favorite/comfort dishes.



Basically, the version of cocido my wife serves is, as may be seen above, a 3-part meal: (1) the broth in which the meats and vegetables were long-simmered (noodles added in after the meats were done); (2) the vegetables (cabbage, green beans, chick peas, potatoes, a sort of bok choy locally called "pechay:, etc.); and, (3) the meats themselves (beef brisket, pork belly, chicken, chorizo, etc.).


Cocido (broth with noodles on the left; there is a thick, moderately-spiced, tomato based sauce served with the meats)


The Vegetables


The Meats

Naturally, my wife had prepared a few other courses:



To start: Our Usual House Salad which our friends are all very familiar with by now (butter lettuce, arugula, tarragon leaves, toasted pine nuts, grated parmesan, Parma ham and a honey-mustard-vinegar-garlic dressing)...


Grilled Prawns


Solomillo (de Vaca)


Chow time



Even with an extra table set up, we couldn't fit everyone inside, so two of the younger teen-agers had to sit with the kiddies outdoors - much to their chagrin.



My sis-in-law didn't think I was quick enough with my camera to take a shot of her clowning around the buffet table. Well, as Yosemite Sam says: "That'll learn 'ya!"



Desserts were...


Butter Cake, Chocolate Sans Rival, Coffee Crunch Cake and Date Bars (a.k.a., "Food for the Gods")



Of course, there was some fruit as well: Cantaloupe and a local Pomelo called "Suha". I think I was the only one who had any though. That was quite a filling lunch. A double espresso ended it for me. I'm having the the fruits as my dinner, that's for sure.

My HK-based bilas (i.e., husband of my wife's sis - there is no equivalent English term)...

Isn't that brother-in-law? That's what we would say in English.

Or are you saying that bilas distinguishes between the husband of your wife's sister and the husband of your sister (both of which are b-in-law in English)?

[Jenise]

Beautiful family, beautiful food. It's quite special that you share not only your home life, but your cultural and culinary traditions. We can feel the love! I of course drooled over every shot.

Some thoughts: that pomelo must be larger than any pomelo I've ever seen which, while big, would not yield segments to rival a canteloupe slice. So a codido is the Filipino version of the French pot au feu, or the Italian Bolito Misto? Looks wonderful, and every culture seems to have their own version of this kind of dish, or at least one. You may be familiar with the American New England Boiled Dinner, and Corned Beef and Cabbage . What is the large round ball on the meat platter?

How wonderful to have so many family members putting together such lovely meals. I would love that! Do you all participate in the clean up and putting away the left overs as well? Speaking of left overs...do you eat them the next day? In our home, we love the left overs for the next day at lunch or even dinner, if we have enough.

Or are you saying that bilas distinguishes between the husband of your wife's sister and the husband of your sister (both of which are b-in-law in English)?

Yes, "bilas" specifically refers to the husband of one's wife's sister. A brother of one's wife and/or the husband of one's sister is referred to as "bayaw" in Tagalog.