Jollibee offers crispy Chickenjoy and Yumburgers- sold on the happy names alone! I'm so there... Who doesn't need more happiness?! Known as the "McDonalds of the Philippines" their logo is an also cute grinning cartoon bee, but what exactly is Jollibee? They're the largest fast food chain in the Philippines, that's who! While they have existed in America since 1998 and are ever expanding, Jollibee is less well known here. So I'm letting you in on a delicious fried secret...
Jollibee is best known for their crispy Chickenjoy...it's fried chicken, but hey when was the last time fried chicken didn't bring you copious amounts of joy? See, Chickenjoy is truth in advertising. Supposedly it's their secret marinade and accompanying gravy that make the Chickenjoy oh-so-joyous! Also on the menu is the Yumburger which you can get "Aloha Style" with a slice of pineapple. Jollibee is also known for their traditional ube (taro) based desserts including my fave...that everything-but-the-kitchen-sink-in-a-cup halo halo! I'm not so sure how I feel about their popular sweet spaghetti, some of my friends really love it, but the idea of spaghetti being sweet instead of savory throws me.
One of my Pinay friends Carina tells me the secret to their sauce is something called Jufran or "banana sauce" or "banana ketchup". Born out of wartime ingenuity and a stockpile of bananas, this sweet condiment was the result of a shortage of tomato-based ketchup during WWII. The Jolly Spaghetti doesn't stop there...it also features hotdog slices and cheese, both things I love...but together on a bed of banana sauce and pasta...I'm unsure of.
Carina tells me that hot dog slices were a big part of her upbringing and a popular Pinoy food. Her mom would often make hotsilog a traditional Filipino breakfast where hotdogs are served with sinangag garlic fried riced and itlog fried egg. Her mom would even throw hotdogs into typical American dishes like mac and cheese. However, of course, the American hotdog fails to live up to its pork-based bright red Filipino counterpart. I do love the Asian obsession with Spam- my mom's own version of hotsilog was Spam fried rice with eggs scrambled into it, and Spam misubi was often something she would make for lunch.
Jollibee was started in Manila in 1975 by the son of Chinese immigrants. Originally an ice cream parlor (love the ube ice cream) but slowly hot food items were added to the menu, and thus Jollibee was born! Not long after the first McDonalds arrived in Manila to challenge their stake in the fast food market. In 2005 an article ran in The Economist comparing the two fast food chains to David and Goliath. "If McDonald's is the Goliath of fast food, Tony Tan's Jollibee is its Filipino David."
This heart warming rags-to-riches story only makes Jollibee even more worth trying...the chicken I tell you...go for the chicken!
Have a Jolly Day!