WHERE TO FIND BACOLOD's BATCHOY at the EAST AREA

Hungry? Craving for something hot and delicious? Well, You've come to the right place. Rain or shine, we get to have this hot food craving once in a while.  Thanks to Batchoy, it is an all-one-one Ilonggo dish, that's comforting during normal days and best for rainy days. Thankfully in Bacolod, there are 3 diners in the East area which serves Batchoy that are truly worth the price.

1. SUPER BATCHOY HOUSE
Since 1980s, Super Batchoy House has served Bacolodnons with an array of options. You can either choose original, Special or Super Special (a bigger bowl with egg). Its legacy continues by serving tasty batchoy Bacolod at the east area in Villa Angela East Block.

2.  ROLI'S DINER
This diner is also very famous restauran since the 1940s. Its surviving and current branch is located inside Lopue's East Centre. Not only it offers great tasting burgers, sandwhiches, Bijon Malabon, Pancit Molo, Arroz Caldo and snacks, they do have also regular La Paz Batchoy and Batchoy Special (with egg) you can enjoy rain or shine.

3. FIVE STAR BATCHOY at Shell Select
This is an unusual place to serve batchoy. However it works as the place is just inside Shell Select, a convenience store which targets only drivers but also those who need refreshments.  It is open 24 hours and is secured. Their batchoy, dubbed "FIVE STAR" has the distinct taste that you
can truly say it's worth the price.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

UNLI HOT POT iN BACOLOD FOR CHINESE NEW YEAR OR ALL YEAR ROUND?

We were curious to know where's this new Unli Hot Pot Restaurant called Jin Long  that just opened in front of the Bacolod's Yuan Thong Taoist Chinese temple. Indeed, we decided to eat there one Saturday, weeks before the Chinese Lunar New Year, Year of the Snake. We were on time for lunch.

 AESTHETIC 80s CHINESE VIBE
Aesthetically, the building doesn't really represents Chinese architecture overall. However, the red signage and door handles, golden dragon knockers, give away a hint that indeed we are entering a Chinese resto. Upon entering, there's a nostalgic vibe to the surroundings though as they utilized those cemented air flow wall vents which are popular in the 80s construction in homes and buildings. 

INGREDIENTS GALORE

We were greeted by a pretty and nice receptionist who showed us their menu options and promotions. Upon entering, some diners are already lining up at the freezer to choose their array of veggies, noodles and soy-based food to dip on a solo 'golden' hot pot container. Meats like pork and beef as well as seafoods  like raw squid and shrimp are ordered at the table. Unlike other hot pot or steamboat dining, which uses one big pot, here, each one is given his or her own pot with his own choice of soup.

    

EAT UNLIMITED 
Well, there are  many kinds of soup and lots of sauce to choose from. Just check the video above for our full dining experience. If you're full, there's also ice cream as a dessert that's part of the promo. As this is an eat-all-you-can Chinese restaurant, there are some rules to follow. 

RULES AND LIMITATIONS
One is strictly no sharing and "touched" meat will considered paid. Note that this is not a review blog as each person has his own taste preferences. 

If you wanted a different oriental dining experience with friends or families, do check out the video above  and decide if you're in to this kind of cuisine, too.

HELPFUL INFORMATION for LOCALS and TOURISTS:

JIN LONG HOT POT restaurant

Address: Anahaw Arcade, Anahaw St, Bacolod, 6100 Negros Occidental, NIR, Philippines Asia

Google Maps Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/RMwtC1fZ6Q5Wa1LH6

FB page: https://www.facebook.com/jinlonghotpotph/

SILAY FOOD FEAST and CINCO DE NOVIEMBRE IN ART

When we went to KAON TA! Silay Food Festival, everything seems relaxed. People were chatting and enjoying great food and drinks from local sources. Well, not only there's acoustic music and songs being belted at a open air event but also the place itself breathes essential history. Just beside the festival is the BALAY NEGRENSE and also the Cinco de Noviembre street.

KAON TA! Sila Food Festival at Balay Negrense in SIlay's Cinco de Noviembre street (VIDEO)

CELEBRATING THE REVOLUTION
KAON TA! is an event not only just for eating though. Going around the place, you will see art alive. There are local artist selling their crafts as well as kids yearning to have their face painted. There are also Cinco de Noviembre coloring books being sold for P500 and it's limited edition. 

Al Cinco de Noviembre History through Art (VIDEO)

NIGHT OF FOOD AND FUN
We got to see also a group of antique collectors who also sell rare stuff from Jollibee toys of yesteryears to Spanish era cabinets to obsolete Nokia phones which, by the way, are still working. These guys knew that there is money in a supposedly junk pieces or garbage to some. Memorable scenes included a sorbetero beside a Negrense-pride famous alcoholic drink Don Papa's tropical-themed booth. Ice cream and a spirit-filled beveage doesn't mix but they have one thing in common - a living heritage

Mcdonald's Silay

THE PAST IS ALIVE
And speaking of heritage, Silay has great amounts of it and it makes the night in the city romantic. You're like a traveler lost in time. Caught between two timelines. The remnants of past is too strong to ignore.  As you roam around the city in a fiesta week, you'll be amazed how the old Spanish era-structures can still accommodate modern buildings and business such as McDonald's which utilizes one of the buildings beside the Plaza.

Jollibee Silay

LIVING HERITAGE
Meanwhile, Jollibee Silay designed its store in line with Silay's heritage rules, it's a respect to the living traditions every Silaynon and Negrense knew. Well, when passing in Silay when we were still kids it's like we are traveling to a portal of Spanish rule. Indeed, the romantic and nostalgic feeling you'll feel in Silay gives respect to the now popular line: Silay is the Paris of Negros.

BATCHOY: THE PERFECT RAINY DAY FOOD

It's a stormy week again? Well, one thing that can cure our hunger on a rainy day and gives us a comforting feeling is one soup that really is satisfying to the stomach. BATCHOY or batsoy is a very popular FIlipino noodle soup cuisine that originated in the Visayas. And it is one perfect rainy day food.

21 resto's batchoy

It is usually composed of pork offal, crushed pork cracklings, chicken stock, beef loin, and round noodles. There are many origin stories about this delicious dish. The original and most popular variant, the La Paz Batchoy, traces its roots to the Iloilo City district of La Paz, in the Philippines. However, the origin of the La Paz Batchoy is unclear with several accounts claiming credit for the dish.

One restaurant that's filled to to brim especially during rainy days is Super Batchoy House. Super Batchoy House is located in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental. They have branches spread all over the city. Their delicious Batchoy has been sold for many years and still has the consistent flavor that many are still hooked to eat even up to this day.

Meanwhile, a Shell gasoline station in Bacolod where its convenience store serves Special Batchoy with cheaper price. It's very tasty for its price. However, drinks are sold with the usual convenience store pricing which is usually higher compared in restaurant or eatery. Batchoy is a Filipino noodle soup of pork offal, crushed pork cracklings, chicken stock, beef loin and round noodles. There are more restaurants that serve batchoy and these are Ted's, Deco, 21 restaurant in Bacolod, Nick's in Manapla, and even Shell convenience stores.

Different VARIANTS of BATCHOY:

ORDINARY or REGULAR BATCHOY - no egg and no offals or chicharon (sometimes smaller serving) SPECIAL BATCHOY - with egg, chicaron and offals (bigger serving) SUPER BATCHOY - with raw egg, offals, chicharon, bone marrow. usually served in bigger bowl