Enjoy the flavors of Malabon Cuisine as one goes through the historical streets of the city via Tricycle Tour
It was last year, summer then when I was invited for a food tour in Malabon. Saddened that we had a scheduled road trip on the same day. Before the end of that year, again I was invited by the Tourism Office for the heritage tour which on the middle I opted again not to attend because of a timely work implementation.
Good thing with those numerous of turning down those remarkable events last year, I was again invited for a food tour riding in a tricycle which definitely I don’t like to missed this time.
Malabon would always be close to my heart especially when I was working in the bank then. Maybe the officers and staffs where I did my tech support always welcome us with good food aside from the sweet treats they will prepare for us to take it back to our office like cheesy pichi-pichi and sapin-sapin
It’s nostalgic to be back again even I know going there would be a lot of traffic and once you are inside, those narrow road would be distractions in passing by. It’s not. Using tricycle to explore the city is recommended transport which also a way of giving additional income to the drivers.
Launched last March 14, the tricycle tour would take guests to the six most of the popular local yet unique restaurants namely Lugaw Xperience, Hazel’s Puto, Jamico’s restaurant, Dolor’s Kakanin, Nanay’s Pansit and Betsy’s Cake Center.
We were given food stubs which we can claim upon arrival on each eatery that costs P 600.00 per passenger that is P 400.00 covers the food that was served to us and P 200.00 goes to the tricycle driver.
We were two batches then. While waiting for the first batch to finished, we were tour around first at San Bartolome Parish church. This is also part of their heritage sites visit for P 400.00 per tour covering all passengers in one tricycle.
Once I entered inside the church, I was stunned how intricate the dome’s ceiling is – an ancestral interior that made me love heritage churches once I go for travel. Splendid as this is inspired by Greco-Roman temple which made this facade conventional gem’s treasure.
After some orientation with the church, now we were heading to our first stop – Lugaw Xperience. Established in 1984 opened from 9am – 11pm is managed already by the son Renante Pangan. Their lugaw or porridge can be bought as low as P 10.00 for the plain one. Once you include chicken parts like feet, breast, wings or liver / gizzard, a bowl would cost P 40.00 per serving.
It’s the traditional arroz caldo that simmered in chicken parts to make the flavor more tasty. Toppings like fried garlic squeezed by calamansi made this dish a comfort food on its own which is a good start for all of us who were not taking their breakfast. I’m missing here those tokwa’s baboy. Still, that’s how simple this carinderia is.
While waiting for others for their food, we came to see Ibaviosa prewar home built in 1860 which is one of the heritage itinerary to visit. At the back of this house is the factory of the famous Rufina Patis.
Our second stop was Hazel’s Puto built year 2000 which continued again by their daughter Hazel Faustino that made the purest and whitest puto in the town of Malabon City using egg while as their base. Puto topped with salted egg cost P 13.00 while puto pao is P 15.00 each.
I ate the salted egg puto which is soft in texture but also moist and spongy in taste – not too sweet yet its flavor balance well once you started to bite it. Now, I was looking for black coffee to partner this silky puto. Available also is their Puto Pie.
Our third stop, Jamico’s Restaurant which was timing for lunch. Settled way back 1972, their famous Judy Ann Crispy Pata was named after the owner’s daughter which was now managed also by their eldest daughter Susan Antonio Corvera. We were also served some of their bestsellers like Tortang Alimasag and Shrimp Embotido.
Eversince, I am not a fan of crispy pata. Maybe because the skin is too thick and one has to get the best front pig’s leg to get those pork meat. Sometimes, it is tough once it is not hot already. With Judy Ann Crispy Pata, still, the crispy, succulent taste of the pork skin is still visible yet the soft, tenderness of the meat is sooo soft. It is also well-seasoned with spices that made this pork dish luscious and mouthwatering.
I dig in more with these two seafood dishes especially the Tortang Alimasag. Usually, they put the crab meat and some stuffing in the crab shell dip in egg but this time, they put the whole rellenong alimasag in one circle plate swim in sweet asado sauce. It has more crab meat to taste rather than extenders like carrots or potatoes to make it fully packed. Not also too oily.
For the Shrimp Embotido, we ate it quite cold already. Still the shrimp used was divine in taste.
Our fourth stop – Dolor’s Kakanin which became already our “panghimagas” or dessert for that hearty meal.
Dolor’s sapin-sapin and pichi-pichi would be my fave sweet treats during Friday night where I bought it in the mall that would become tomorrow’s breakfast. Soft and sticky that melts to each mouth would always be those adjectives when one started to chew it.
A warning during the orientation, one has to purchase only in red box for the authenticity of the products bought.
This Malabon food crawl would never be complete without tasting Pansit Malabon with Nanay which became our fifth sttop. I was full already and fair enough, hubby did ordered a plate which I have a spoonful of it. He told me, its much better to eat those best seller to savor the taste of the food. Still, I opted to take it out as a treat for kiddos at home.
Our last stop which was definitely not the least was Betsy’s Cake Center which is near Malabon City Hall named after her daughter Betsy established 1960 which become popular because of their different taste of their cakes, pastries and sweets.
One example is their best seller broas which is soft and fluffy with buttery filling unlike with the traditional that is crunchy and can be put sometimes as a base in a cake. It’s like sweet, velvety, powdered mamon. They have also ube flavored broas which first time to see and tasted it which is also cottony.
Actually, I already bought the one that was packed and just have to taste a little on what they were serving. I was already in food comma but overall I enjoyed the food tour. Thanks again for Malabon Tourism for inviting us to indulge into Filipino culture of food.
The food tour is well orchestrated – from breakfast, morning snack, lunch, dessert, afternoon snack and treats that one can also bring it home.
My advance congratulations to the Mayor and his wife for organizing such an activity that would promote Filipino tourism of culture and food.
Definitely, will come back for more.
For more inquiries:
Contact Nos: 281- 4999 Loc. 1003 / 6399-896-54761
Email Address: malabontourism@gmail.com
Visit them: 7th flr., Events & Tourism Team, Malabon City Hall
For more information, visit their:
Facebook Page: MalabonTourism
Pee….Ess…
Do you think I already stop then? Did I told you I bought those delicacy at home as treats? Nahhh, yah as sweet delights and still pamper my breakfast feast with those delicacy.