One of my favorite Chinese influenced Pinoy dishes. Although I go for canton, but with bihon it is also fine with me. Preparing this dish is easy I think, just sautee the main spices/condiments add the veggies, put stock (chicken/pork broth), put to a simmer then add the soaked noodles (bihon) and pansit canton. Mix, add some seasoning, soy sauce, fish sauce and ground pepper. This one is topped with boiled quail eggs. This is usually served in many different kinds of occasions or handaan, in particular birthdays, with the belief that the long strand of the noodles will make the celebrators life longer also.
Pancit or pansit is the term for noodles in Filipino cuisine. Noodles were introduced into the Philippines by the Chinese and have since been adopted into local cuisine. The term pancit is derived from the Hokkienpian i sit (Chinese: 便ê食; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: piān-ê-si̍t or Chinese: 扁食; pinyin: biǎn shí) which means "something conveniently cooked fast."[1] Different kinds of noodles can be found in Filipino supermarkets which can then be cooked at home. Noodle dishes are also standard fare in local restaurants. Food establishments specializing in noodles are often referred to as panciterias.
Nancy Reyes Lumen of the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism writes that according to food lore handed down from the Chinese, noodles should be eaten on one's birthday.[1] They are therefore commonly served at birthday celebrations and Chinese restaurants in the Philippines often have "birthday noodles" listed on their menus. However, she warns that since "noodles represent long life and good health; they must not be cut short so as not to corrupt the symbolism."[1]
Source - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pancit^ a b c Lumen, Nancy Reyes. (2005). Republic of Pancit. Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism iReport, (1). Retrieved 2009-10-27.
