Title:
NATIVE PLATES
Date Created:
2021-10-09
Description:
The Sanlucar-Noceda Tagalog dictionary of 1754 describes DAMPOTAN as a plate made from palm leaves. It probably is rooted in DAMPOT, to take with “la punta de los dedos o con tenazas” meaning with the tips of the fingers or with tongs. Note that eating was done using fingers not the whole hand. A number of words are given designations based on their functions: that from where one made dampot, for instance. But the dictionary also has SAMAT, palm leaves woven to serve as plates. MAGSAMAT is to make or weave the plates. SINAMAT are the leaves that have been made into a plate. The SAMAT seems to have been well entrenched. We are very thankful that Elmer Nocheseda found examples of SAMAT and gives a step-by-guide how to make the ancient organic, eco-friendly plate. For restaurateurs and food stylists seeking Filipino heritage tables, the SAMAT can be revived. Weaving a SAMAT is not as simple as laying food directly on a flat banana leaf. But by giving each guest a personal SAMAT the image of Filipino culinary history becomes a salute to weaver-artisans and how creative our ancestors were using what the landscape offered as art materials.
Subjects:
Sanlucar-Noceda Tagalog dictionary Leaves Plate Plating Palm Customs Eating
Exhibition:
Tagalog 1754
Source:
Elmer Nocheseda. PALASPAS. Ateneo Press. 2009. This is a book every Filipino should have. Palaspas is our own, home-grown origami.
Type:
Image;Still Image
Format:
image/jpeg
Source
Preferred Citation:
"NATIVE PLATES", Philippine Food History, Felice P. Sta. Maria
Reference Link:
felicepstamaria.net/items/coll289.html