Is there anything more satisfying than a home-cooked dinner? One of my favorite meals growing up in the Midwest was my dad’s beef stew. It would simmer in the slow cooker all day, filling the house with the most irresistible smell that would leave me impatient for dinner time. I crave it to this day.
This love for a parent’s cooking is something Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Bruno Mars and I have in common. When it comes to his favorite foods, Bruno also has fond memories of the foods he ate while growing up in Hawaii—especially one particular dish prepared by his Filipino mother.
What does Bruno Mars love to eat?
Bruno’s favorite dish is chicken adobo, which is the unofficial national dish of the Philippines. In a past interview, Bruno mentioned that his mom would prepare the tangy, savory dish for him when he was growing up. She typically served it with a helping of yellow rice combined with olives and diced peppers—a recipe from his grandmother—on the side.
What makes chicken adobo so special is the deceptively simple balance of vinegar, soy and garlic in the marinade. Before the chicken even touches the skillet, it marinates in these strong flavors, which team up to give it its signature velvety texture and rich taste.
Bruno loves his mom’s chicken adobo so much, he even embraced the dish as his own nickname. In an Instagram post the singer shared from an appearance in Manila, he revealed his alter ego: Lil Prince Adobo. The dish connects to his heritage and, we can only guess, makes the globe-trotting performer feel closer to home wherever in the world he finds himself on any given day.
The family recipe also inspired the “24K Magic” singer to get into the kit