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| Taste the complex noodle dish--pansit batil patung in Cagayan |
The curiosity of my mind drove me to this far end province in the
Philippines. Unlike the other places that I have already visited such as the
golden beach in Pangasinan or the quietness of Camotes Island in Cebu where the
tourist destinations pushed me through, it was the food—that famous noodle
dish, pansit batil patung that made me crave for it and visit Cagayan and its
capital city of Tuguegarao.
Part 3 of The Northeast Diaries
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| Typical Filipino style sauce--limes, soy, vinegar and onions |
Pansit batil patung (sometimes spelled as pancit batil patong), is a
noodle dish composed of a wonderful mixture of meat-based (beef) toppings, bean
sprouts, poached egg and the locally made pansit miki (miki noodles). The dish
goes also with a cup of egg drop soup. And an addition of that typical
Pinoy-style condiments of either vinegar, soy sauce, chopped fresh onions or a
combination of two or more of the said ingredients. In other words, pansit
batil patung is a wild burst of authentic Cagayan flavors.
To say that the people of Cagayan love noodles, they cannot live without
it and every street has its own version of pansit batil patung served in a
people-friendly pansiteria (noodle restaurant) is an underestimation. The love
of Cagay-anons with pansit batil patung is a cult! When I was there, people go
to pansiteria to get their early morning serving of the said noodle dish (Special price at Php 80 only). Some
even eat it for lunch and some for dinner. But what makes people go over and
over again with this noodle dish—can I call it, Pinoy ramen?
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| In preparing the toppings of the noodle dish pansit batil patung |
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| Complimentary egg drop soup |
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| Cooks of Dodies Panciteria in Tuguegarao, Cagayan |
The way my friend described pansit batil patung when we were still in
Manila, it really sounded so interesting that I think my saliva was already
oozing. He described it in a way a pansit, or Pinoy ramen, was flavorfully
powerful than the pansit I used to eat. The usual Philippine noodle dish I eat is
pansit bihon (guisado), and if I’m lucky enough, pansit palabok, pansit
malabon, pansit sotanghon and pansit canton also follow. Of course, the popular
mami doesn’t shrug you off with its typical street flavor as well as the tasty
pansit lomi with its thick noodle and soup.
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| Smoking hot pansit batil patung! |
Before, I wasn’t really a fan of noodle dishes especially that most
birthday parties serve that walang kamatayan pansit bihon dish. I find some
pansit bihon to be bland, boring and simple. You will only get me to crave for
more bowls of pansit bihon for 3 points—the noodle strands were cooked
perfectly and not dry, it has a multitude of street food toppings and seafood
and pansit bihon is mixed with pansit canton. Great! That’s how I grade
Filipino noodle dishes before and I even typecasted all the other noodle dishes
in other regions of the country. However, when I tasted pansit batil patung, it
tasted so great that I think if I will live in Cagayan someday, I will eat it
in a regular basis. No kidding—seriously, the second time I went to the
province, it was the first food I ordered when we stopped by a restaurant (I
think most eateries and restaurants serve pansit batil patung). I was affected
with a last noodle syndrome.
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| Dodies Pansit Batil Patung recognitions |
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| Pansit batil patung as one of the best noodle dishes in the Philippines |
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| Sisig style--eggs are put on top of the noodle dish--thus pansit batil "patung" |
The complexity of the dish made me crave for it and remember its flavor in
my mind. From a person who disregards the noodle dish, I became a noodle dish
lover. After my noodle episode with pansit batil patung, I was up to discover
more noodle flavors in the Philippines. In fact, I brought pansit batil patung
and the less popular pansit cabagan (both were cooked with miki) when I left
Cagayan. Pansit batil patung is an experience—the time I mixed the egg with the
multitude of toppings plus the side dish egg soup and condiments—I almost told
myself that this is so comparable with the Japanese ramen. As a matter of fact,
I even like it more than the typical Japanese noodle dish served in some Manila
restaurants (where I find many of them as salty).
It was a breakfast meal, but when I finished the pansit batil patung in
Dodie’s Pansiteria, I was so full I think I can last the day all along. The
meal was great in preparation for our next adventure.
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| Dodies pansit batil patung are served in this small eatery in Tuguegarao |
The reason why people from the North have a lot of noodle dishes is
because of its proximity to China. History tells us that Filipino and Chinese
people used to trade goods and food and from there, the locals learned how to
make and cook noodle based dishes. While I’m writing this, I’m craving for an
Ilocano miki noodle soup and pansit batil patung. My love for noodles was
ignited by pansit batil patung. When I visited a friend in Quezon province a
year after, one of my top lists to do was to eat pansit habhab, however I was
unlucky because I haven’t have enough time to do so.
I wonder if there are also flavorful noodle dish in areas of Visayas and
Mindanao? If there are please comment down below. I guess I need to try then
the Iloilo La Paz Batchoy.
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| Pansit batil patung prices |
Enough has been said and I’m now starving. After noodle breakfast at
Dodie’s Pansiteria in Tugegarao, Cagayan, we headed to Penablanca, a nearby
town for the popular Callao Cave.
The Northeast Diaries Series:
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