Batchoy on a Cold Day

One rainy afternoon, my friend and I were thinking of what to eat after working on a project. Our eyes met and both of us uttered 'batchoy!' together.  We laughed our heart out knowing that we were thinking of the same thing.

In times when it is cold and raining, having a hot noodle soup gives comfort to the stomach.  But this is one big comfort!

21 Original Batchoy

Batchoy is a noodle soup with thin slices of pork organs, green onions and chicaron bits (pork crackling). The broth is simmered for hours extracting the flavor from the pork bone parts.  Some orders would have a fresh egg on it which you would mix while the soup is still hot.

Batchoy originated in a market stall in La Paz, a district in Iloilo City.  Concocted by Federico Guillergan in 1938, Deco's La Paz Batchoy  proudly says they are the original one.

21 Restaurant, located at 21st  St. corner Lacson St., has evolved into  a fine dining restaurant from a small space from the house of the owners in the 1980s.  Thus, the name 21 because of its location.  It was batchoy that made the restaurant popular.