Like other countries, each Philippine destination is synonymous with one particular food. Iloilo, one of the best places to visit for heritage tours is also home to many flavourful treats but one food reigns on top – La Paz batchoy.
No one knows how the word “batchoy” was coined. But it was “invented” by a local butcher who wanted to create a dish from pig’s internal organs from liver to its intestine. He created a soup and added noodles since his first market were Chinese living in the city. The result is a mouth-watering noodle soup with pork meat, internal organs topped with freshly cut scallions, fried garlic and pork crackling known as chicaron.
Yes, it is one heavy meal but do you know that it is eaten in Iloilo as a snack? It is paired with rice cake or puto as the local call it. Sometimes, pan de sal is eaten along with this noodle soup. You can also choose what kind of noodle. The most popular is the miki, a thick yellowish noodle.
Though served by some diners in Metro Manila, get a taste of authentic batchoy in Iloilo, in La Paz in particular. La Paz is one of the districts that compose the city of Iloilo and in its market is where this famous soup was born. It is unique in a sense that this noodle soup is not really Chinese in origin. The most famous names when it comes to La Paz batchoy are Deco’s and Ted’s.
You can have them in malls or in special restaurants. But if you are aventurious, go to La Paz market. The original stores are still there. No worries, Iloilo is one of the safest and cleanest places in the Philippines. You can have a complete meal of batchoy, puto and a cola for less than 100PHP.
La Paz batchoy is one of the living testimonies of a Pinoy’s ingenuity and resourcefulness. Travel to Iloilo and end your day with a bowl of batchoy.
Never leave Iloilo without satisfying your hunger with a bowl of batchoy.
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