There was a news photograph recently in which a Filipina bride in Iloilo on the island of Panay carried a bouquet of onions down the aisle rather than flowers. She explained that while flowers would soon be thrown away the onions would last and ensure the newlyweds have something to eat in the ensuing weeks. Now that is a practical housewife.
The bride's actions highlight the fact that the Philippines is currently suffering an acute shortage of onions and as that vegetable is the mainstay of Filipino cuisine it is not good news.
The onion is an extremely versatile vegetable and some might say doesn't receive the respect it deserves. In fact it is the star of the Allium kingdom which includes garlic, shallots and leeks. It can be fried, roasted, sautéed, baked, boiled, braised and even eaten raw. What's more, you can throw the rotten ones at people you don't like.
