Filipino festive culinary favourites - In pictures

  • Chef Veron Ramos, aka Queen Saba, owner and founder of Queen Saba Cafeteria, home of comforting Filipino food and desserts. All photos: Victor Besa / The National
    Chef Veron Ramos, aka Queen Saba, owner and founder of Queen Saba Cafeteria, home of comforting Filipino food and desserts. All photos: Victor Besa / The National
  • During the busy holiday season, Queen Saba gets bulk orders for Filipino favourites, such as chewy and colourful desserts typically made with glutinous rice and coconut milk
    During the busy holiday season, Queen Saba gets bulk orders for Filipino favourites, such as chewy and colourful desserts typically made with glutinous rice and coconut milk
  • Another party classic is pancit guisado, made of rice noodles, shredded chicken, shrimp and vegetables. Guisado means sauteed and refers to the method used to cook the dish
    Another party classic is pancit guisado, made of rice noodles, shredded chicken, shrimp and vegetables. Guisado means sauteed and refers to the method used to cook the dish
  • Pancit is made by soaking the noodles in soy or oyster sauce
    Pancit is made by soaking the noodles in soy or oyster sauce
  • Loyal patrons drive from across the UAE to eat at Queen Saba Cafeteria
    Loyal patrons drive from across the UAE to eat at Queen Saba Cafeteria
  • Queen Saba's nickname is derived from the saba banana, a hybrid cultivar originating from the Philippines. It is primarily a cooking banana and an important ingredient in Philippine cuisine
    Queen Saba's nickname is derived from the saba banana, a hybrid cultivar originating from the Philippines. It is primarily a cooking banana and an important ingredient in Philippine cuisine
  • Pancit lug lug is a noodle dish made from a buttery, bisque–like shrimp sauce tossed with white rice noodles and topped with chicharon and crisp-fried chicken skin. The sauce is made from ground shrimp heads and shells blended with annatto seeds, water and corn starch. The dish is usually topped with a hard-boiled egg
    Pancit lug lug is a noodle dish made from a buttery, bisque–like shrimp sauce tossed with white rice noodles and topped with chicharon and crisp-fried chicken skin. The sauce is made from ground shrimp heads and shells blended with annatto seeds, water and corn starch. The dish is usually topped with a hard-boiled egg
  • Two of the most loved Filipino desserts in one. Puto flan (or leche puto) is a combination of leche flan and puto
    Two of the most loved Filipino desserts in one. Puto flan (or leche puto) is a combination of leche flan and puto
  • Veron Ramos gets up as soon as the Al Mina Fruit and Vegetable Souq opens to get fresh ingredients for her dishes
    Veron Ramos gets up as soon as the Al Mina Fruit and Vegetable Souq opens to get fresh ingredients for her dishes
  • Hollywood actress Vanessa Hudgens, a Filipino-American star, once said: 'It’s not Christmas without lumpia and pancit'
    Hollywood actress Vanessa Hudgens, a Filipino-American star, once said: 'It’s not Christmas without lumpia and pancit'
  • Suman maruecos is made from glutinous rice flour, coconut milk, sugar, and flavoured with purple yam, wrapped in banana leaves
    Suman maruecos is made from glutinous rice flour, coconut milk, sugar, and flavoured with purple yam, wrapped in banana leaves
  • Veron Ramos has been serving the community since 2013
    Veron Ramos has been serving the community since 2013
  • Lumpia is the Filipino term for spring rolls
    Lumpia is the Filipino term for spring rolls
  • Kutsinta is a type of steamed rice cake found throughout the Philippines. Made from a mixture of tapioca or rice flour, brown sugar and lye, enhanced with red or yellow food colouring or annatto extract
    Kutsinta is a type of steamed rice cake found throughout the Philippines. Made from a mixture of tapioca or rice flour, brown sugar and lye, enhanced with red or yellow food colouring or annatto extract
  • Laing is a dish of shredded taro leaves with meat or seafood cooked in thick coconut milk, spiced with labuyo chili, lemongrass, garlic, shallots, ginger and shrimp paste
    Laing is a dish of shredded taro leaves with meat or seafood cooked in thick coconut milk, spiced with labuyo chili, lemongrass, garlic, shallots, ginger and shrimp paste
  • Pichi-pichi is a dessert made of steamed cassava flour balls mixed with sugar and lye. It is often flavoured with pandan leaves and served rolled in freshly grated coconut and cheese
    Pichi-pichi is a dessert made of steamed cassava flour balls mixed with sugar and lye. It is often flavoured with pandan leaves and served rolled in freshly grated coconut and cheese
  • Chef Veron Ramos, aka Queen Saba, and her team
    Chef Veron Ramos, aka Queen Saba, and her team