Do you or your family make any special dishes for the holidays?

Every holiday season, our home comes alive with the sights, sounds, and smells of a Filipino-American feast in the making. The kitchen transforms into a vibrant hub where tradition meets innovation, laughter mingles with sizzling oil, and family ties grow stronger with every dish prepared.

At the heart of the commotion is our lumpia—both vegetable and banana varieties—always on top of the list. We guard our lumpia recipe like a treasure; it’s a family secret passed down from grandma to Mom, and now the torch has been passed—to me. The filling is a perfect balance of finely chopped vegetables and a seasoning blend that mama insists must be just right. “Too salty, and you’ll ruin it,” she warns, her expert hands deftly rolling the wrappers. Beside her, the kids carefully stuff bananas into thin sheets of turon wrappers, giggling as the sugar spills everywhere. It’s a little chaotic, but that’s part of the charm.

At our front or backyard, is the grill waiting for the steak. I do the prepping—ribeye, our favorite cut, though sirloin and prime rib sometimes make an appearance. I season the meat with my signature blend of spices and Arnel (my other half) grills it to perfection, making sure the sear is just right. “This one’s for the grown-ups,” he says with a wink, though the kids always manage to snag a piece when he’s not looking.

On another counter, pancit bihon is taking shape, a dish the younger ones claim as their absolute favorite. I carefully sautés the garlic and vegetables before tossing in the thin rice noodles, seasoning everything with a deft hand. “It’s all about the balance,” I says to my nephews and nieces, which words an echo of my mom’s own advice. The pancit is always the first to disappear, proof that some traditions never grow old.

And, of course, no Thanksgiving is complete without the star of the show: the roasted turkey. While lumpia may represent our Filipino roots, the turkey symbolizes our embrace of American traditions. Arnel takes his time basting it, ensuring it’s golden and juicy. It sits proudly at the center of our table, flanked by dishes that tell the story of our blended heritage.

But food is only part of our family’s tradition. The true essence of the holiday is in how these recipes and rituals pass from one generation to the next. As our elders teaches us the art of rolling lumpia, they shares stories of their childhood in the Philippines, of festive gatherings under coconut trees and kitchens filled with love.

Year after year, these moments become memories, and the recipes turn into heirlooms. One day, it will be our turn to teach the next generation how to roll lumpia, grill the perfect steak, and sauté pancit just right. And when that time comes, we’ll tell them what mom always tells us: “Food is love, and tradition keeps us together.”

So every holiday, as we gather around a table filled with Filipino-American flavors, we’re reminded of who we are—a family united by culture, strengthened by tradition, and nourished by the meals we share.