Category Archives: Food Trip

Foodtrip: The Battle of the Batchoys in La Paz

Posted on by
20

You haven’t been to Iloilo if you haven’t tasted their batchoy in La Paz District where it got its name.

Batchoy is a noodle soup dish with pork innards, liver, and chicharon. The history of this Ilonggo dish dates back in the 1930s but let’s leave it at that. Let me share my batchoy experience in La Paz itself.

My early flight to Iloilo made me crave for a good breakfast. It’s on my list to eat batchoy at the place where it started, La Paz. From the Iloilo International Airport, I rode a van going to Jaro. The driver said that it’s nearer to La Paz.

The van stopped and parked in front of SM Jaro. I went out of the van with no one but Dora and my backpack. The Jaro Belfry welcomed me with the sun’s rays hiding behind it.

Clueless on what multicab to ride, I approached the traffic enforcer in blue uniform. “Ano pong sasakyan papuntang La Paz?” (What multicab should I ride when going to La Paz?), I asked.

The traffic enforcer answered me, “CPU.” He did not just answer my question but also hailed the multicab for me. Wow. What a helpful local. From that time on, I knew I would have a great time in Iloilo.

I sat at the front seat and told the driver that I would be going to the La Paz Public Market. The fare from Jaro to La Paz was Php 7.00. It only took me 10 minutes to get to La Paz.

The driver then told me to walk across the street and pointed the public market. All eyes were on me while I was walking at the market. The big backpack and Dora caught people’s attention. “Uy si Dora!” 

When I reached the first store, I asked the vendor where I could find “the batchoyan”. He then told me to just walk straight ahead and I’d see the eateries offering batchoy.

TED’s OLD TIMER

I didn’t know that another Ilonggo was walking behind me. He heard my question and guided me to the eateries. “Kung batchoy, dyan sa Ted’s.”  I would have wanted to avoid Ted’s because they have branches in Manila. I wanted to try something different but the helpful local was looking at me and even led me inside the eatery.

So, I first tasted the La Paz Batchoy at Ted’s Oldtimer. They have different types of batchoy. I ordered the extra super batchoy for Php 68. I wanted coffee or juice as partner but they only have softdrinks. No choice. I ordered 7-up for Php 17.00.

When the bowl of batchoy was placed on my table, it was smoking hot. I prayed and sipped. The soup was thick and rich. It really felt good in the stomach.

Observations: Prepared well with chopped liver on top & ground chicharon.  Few noodles. few ingredients

DECO’s Original La Paz Batchoy

When my Ilongga friend Hera learned that I ate at Ted’s, she said, “Mare, you should try Deco’s. Dapat with egg yung batchoy. Masarap dun!” (You should try Deco’s batchoy with egg. It’s delicious.). J, who has visited Iloilo before, also recommended Deco’s but I didn’t listen to him. hehe. But since my friend Hera is a local, I gave Deco’s a try. Fast forward to my third day in Iloilo.

I was early at the venue for the Kasadyahan Festival. Good thing, I was assigned near the La Paz Public Market. I already saw Deco’s on the day that I arrived in Iloilo. It was just a few steps away from Ted’s.

There were locals eating at Deco’s too unlike in Ted’s where I was the only customer. I ordered the batchoy with egg (extra- Php 65.00) and a bottle of water (Php 13.00) all for Php 78.00

Observations: Eating with egg was indeed better and made the batchoy tastier. There were pork strips aside from the liver. The chicharon was crunchy. Deco’s batchoys are cheaper than Ted’s too.

Which of the two won my stomach? For this battle, Deco’s won.

***Special thanks to Hera for this recommendation! And of course to J. I know I should have listened to you too. :)  

Batanes Diaries: Chill-out with Mineovaheng

Posted on by
3

Dear Batanes, 

You hold so much uniqueness. You gave us a first impression that would surely last a life time. Our first day in your land of beauty was laidback yet fulfilling. I saw the simple life in Mahatao, drank from the fountain of youth, captured the rustic appeal of Diura, listened to the waves at the Chawa viewdeck and watched the sunset at Naidi Hills.

But as you know, the fun never stopped there. Though your island is far from the party atmosphere, the winners of SEAIR’s Batanes Winter Bloggers’ tour still had the chance to chill-out.

We went to Shanedel’s Inn to check out the online world. Thanks to Tita Dely Milan who allowed us to use their wifi. Of course, we wanted to buy some food or drinks as a way of saying, “Thank you” for the free wifi. And then, we saw this bottle with red liquid on it. The label reads Mineovaheng but it was pronounced as [minyo-va-hang].

I learned that your mineovaheng is made of fermented sugar cane and yapo (natural yeast from blackwood tree). Tita Dely said that it was just newly fermented from Itbud, Uyugan. She showed us another wine bottle which was a lot older.

Of course, we tried to taste both wine to compare. The newly fermented one was a bit sweeter with a taste of vinegar. The older one had that “kick taste”. It had a stronger taste than the newer wine.

For the guys, they liked the older Mineovaheng. But for me, I liked the newer one. And when I looked closer at the bottle, it says 20% alcohol compared to the older with 5.78%.

But don’t worry, we didn’t get drunk. It was just pure fun to get a taste of your wine.

With Tita Dely Milan, her grandson and granddaughter, and the group

Till here,

Trip@dora

***Batanes Diaries are series of posts of my experiences in Batanes. This is my way of encouraging you guys to get to know one of the best places in the Philippines. Special Thanks to South East Asian Airlines for bringing us to Batanes as part of the Batanes Winter Bloggers’ Tour Contest. And for the warm hospitality, my utmost gratitude to Tita Lydia Roberto of Batanes Seaside Lodge & Restaurant and Hiro’s Cafe, and to DOT Region 2 director Bless Diwa for the assistance.

Food Trip: Gastronomic delights in Ho Chi Minh City

Posted on by
Reply



In every place you visit, treat your taste buds to new discoveries. It’s part of getting to know the culture of the people and experiencing the destination.

In my visit to Ho Chi Minh City, I didn’t expect that I would love eating Phở (noodle soup) and drinking cà phê sữa đá (Vietnamese Iced Coffee).

Vietnamese cuisine was a sweet surprise because in the Philippines I didn’t like this caramelized porkloin rice toppings that I ate in one of the Vietnamese food chains. That was my first taste of Vietnamese food. I gave it a second chance. This time, it’s authentic Vietnamese cuisine in Ho Chi Minh City.

Here’s my list of places to eat when you’re in Uncle Ho’s city:

1. QUAN AN NGON (160 Pasteur St., Dist. 1, HCMC)

If you’re looking for great food, ambiance, and value for money, then Quan An Ngon should be on the top of your list. This was recommended by fellow Pinoy Travel Bloggers. Thank you PTB! 

The French colonial-inspired facade of Quan An Ngon might seem intimidating. It looked like an expensive place and you might skip it if you’re on a budget. But don’t let that “rich-ambient-looking” facade fool you.

At the entrance, the staff would readily assist you to a vacant table. We were so happy that we tried eating at Quan An Ngon despite walking, crossing in between motorcycles up to the point of getting lost. The food was worth the sweat!

When the staff handed the menu, we asked about their specialties. The staff recommended the following:

  • Bún cá thì là (Vermicelli in Soup with fish and dill)- sour and spicy taste

Cost: 48,000 VND /Php 100 / $ 2.00

  • Cha gio (Fried spring rolls with vermicelli, fresh herbs and the fish sauce dip)- The fish sauce was soooo delicious! hahaha. I kept on dipping the spring rolls until it absorbed the fish sauce. Their fish sauce (or patis as we call it in the Philippines) was different. It’s not that salty unlike what we have back home.

Cost: 52,000 VND/ Php 109.00 / $2.50

  • It’s also a healthy dish since you eat the spring roll together with herbs and vermicelli. Based on my observations, most Vietnamese prefer eating noodles than rice even if this country is the 2nd world largest exporter of rice.

  • Bánh xèo (Vietnamese rice pancake)- At first glance, I thought that it’s an omelet with shrimp and bean sprout (togue) stuffing. It looked like an omelet and so I ate it like an omelet. I sliced it.

Cost: 50,000 VND/ Php 105.00 / $2.40

  • But then, there’s something wrong. What are the basil and mint leaves for? We then asked the staff and learned that we were eating it the wrong way. hahaha. Blooper of a first-timer. She then showed us how. She picked one leaf and wrapped the pancake.

Total Dine-in cost: Php 400.00 (with the drinks included) for 3 people.

2. PHO 2000 (1-3 Pan Chu Trinh, adjacent to Ben Thanh Market)

-If you’re looking for good-tasting Phở, then Pho 2000 is your best bet. Its location is strategic. It’s adjacent to Ben Thanh Market.

Pho 2000 was again a recommendation by a Filipino friend who lived in Vietnam for a time. Thanks Amiel! This Phở food chain is also popular because former US president Bill Clinton once dined there. Since then, they marketed the place as “Phở for the president.” They displayed photos of Clinton on their walls.

  • Phở bo (beef noodle soup)- After buying souvenirs at the night market, we stuffed our stomachs for dinner. So far, Phở 2000′s Phở bo was the best that I tasted in my pho quests in HCMC. It tasted like the Filipino cuisines, Bulalo and Nilagang Baka. The serving can be good for two.

 Cost: 45,000 VND /Php 94.00 / $ 2.16

  •  Seafood noodle soup- Papa ordered this type of pho, which was hot and spicy.

 Cost: 55,000 VND / Php 115.40 / $ 2.64

  • Cà phê sữa đá (Vietnamese Iced Coffee)- Their Vietnamese iced coffee has a strong taste compared to the others that I’ve tasted in HCMC.

Cost: 17,000 VND / Php 35.65 / $0.82

Note: The waiter would give you wet wipes along with what you ordered. When you use it, you would have to pay for it as well. Wet wipes here are not for free.

3. Nhà hàng MIMOSA (88 Bui Vien St.)

-Nhà hàng means restaurant. We were so hungry after the Cu chi tunnel tour and was walking along Bui Vien St. to find a place to eat. A staff of the restaurant invited us to try out their food. Because we’re really hungry, we entered the small resto.

  • Stir- fry shrimps (I wasn’t able to take note of the local name due to hunger): Among what we ordered, this was what I liked most. Tasty.

  • Pho bo- Yes we wanted to try and compare the phos. But the Pho bo at Pho 2000 was still the best.

Cost: 35,000 VND / Php 73.40 / $1.68

  • Com chien hai san (Vietnamese Fried Rice) -This was the most expensive among what we ordered. The serving was small. It tasted good but I would still prefer the Chinese’ yang chow. 

Cost: 75,000 VND/ Php 157.32 / $3.60

  • Chicken curry- Not that satisfying. The Indian curry is better.

4. Phở 24 (Ben Thanh Market)

- On our last day in HCMC, we tried Phở 24, a popular fast food chain in Vietnam. Compared to other pho places, this has a more modern look and ambiance. As much as I wanted to try their pho, my taste buds were craving for rice. Yes, rice! Pinoy ako e. Naumay din sa pho. hehe

  • Com tam bi suon (broken rice with shredded pork and porkchop) – Nothing special. It’s just average.

Cost: 50,000 VND /Php 104.88 / $ 2.40

And now after writing this, I miss Vietnam and its food. In the Philippines, I know of three Vietnamese restaurants (Pho hoa, Pho bac, Pho24). Still, the authentic taste is different.

What are your favorite Vietnamese food? What other restaurants would you recommend?

Photo: Eating.It’s More Fun In the Philippines.

Posted on by
3

A picture is worth a thousand words. Check this photo taken in Benguet, Philippines.

Starting this 2012, Tripadora.com shall be posting photos showing why “It’s more fun in the Philippines.” This is in support of the campaign of the Department of Tourism.

But as DOT sec. Ramon Jimenez puts it, “This is not my campaign, it’s not my slogan, it’s OURS.” 

“It’s the Filipino people that make the difference. The Philippines is not just about pristine beaches. Tayo ang unique! The people are the differentiating factor,” said Jimenez.


One night in Bislig: Finding Sheilah’s Pension

Posted on by
7

Darkness filled the surroundings. Only few lamp posts illuminated the streets. The slow-moving multi-seater tricycle finally stopped in front of a building with the painted words: Sheilah’s Pension. We found ourselves along Espiritu Street in Brgy. Mangagoy.

A month before the trip, I’ve placed my reservation via phone. Good thing, I texted Aling Ester about the reservation on the day of our arrival because she has forgotten about it.

When I went out of the tricycle, I had mixed feelings upon seeing the facade of the pension house.  This was the first time that I booked an accommodation without seeing any picture of its room. I just trusted my instinct.

Aling Ester led me to my room, a single airconditioned bedroom with its own comfort room. The white-painted wall made it look clean. Aling Ester and the staff even sprayed a disinfectant before she gave me my keys.

Izah Morales

The bathroom was so narrow but clean. The age of the pension house was evident on the tiling of the bathroom. The aircondition unit was a bit noisy but at least it cooled the room. For a price of Php 400, it was a good deal for me. After all, I’m just staying for a night.

Most travelers to Bislig City stay at Paper Country Inn. But I wanted to try a different accommodation. Hence, I chose Sheilah’s Pension. It was actually a toss coin between Casa de Babano (a new pension house in Brgy. Mangagoy) and Sheilah’s Pension. The cheap price of Sheilah’s won me over.

After freshening up, J and I went out of the pension house and began searching for a place to eat along Espiritu Street.

There were only few choices: eateries, bakeries, chicken roast kiosk, and then, there was Dan’s Grill.

My hungry stomach didn’t mind the price of the food. I ordered Kinilaw na Tanigue while J ordered liempo budget meal and pork with veggies.

The Kinilaw na Tuna in Davao was still the best that I’ve tasted. The Kinilaw na Tanigue costs me Php 105.00

We returned to Sheilah’s Pension and called it a night. I don’t know if a night life exist in the city of Bislig but we chose to rest and recharge for the following day.

Around 3 am, I suddenly woke up. My pupils became enlarged hoping to find light. There was no electricity. Brown out! I didn’t panic for the first time and closed my eyes again.

In Bislig, electricity is distributed on schedule. It goes out from 1 am up to 8 am.

Sheilah’s Pension house may be a bit old but I got more than what I paid for. When we were about to leave for Tinuy-An Falls, Aling Ester talked to our habal-habal driver, Kuya Gilbert.

“Ingatan mo ang mga batang ito ha. Dahan-dahan lang ang maneho. ‘Yung dati naming guests, naaksidente nung papunta sila ng Tinuy-An Falls, [Take care of them. Drive carefully because our former guests met an accident while they were on their way to Tinuy-An Falls.],” said Aling Ester.

I felt so touched with her words. It’s rare to find someone like her who shows concern to people who just stayed for a night in their pension house.  That is her brand of Filipino hospitality.

Travel Notes: 

  • Sheilah’s Pension- Aling Ester (0949-6178029) / (086) 853-1510