Palabok freak
I love palabok so much that my first ever e-mail address declares me as a total freak for the noodle dish. I’m not at all disturbed by the fact that this dish has become a part of my online identity.
Ironically, my love for palabok, a dish identified with the Tagalog region, was ignited in Cagayan de Oro. I remember this cozy restaurant, which seated only a maximum of 12 people, run by a Tagalog couple. The restaurant, which no longer stands today, was named Jem’s. Or was it Gems? I forget. It was that long ago.
Anyway, no palabok dish that I’ve ever tasted elsewhere has ever come close to the palabok I first tasted when I was five. The memory of that superb dish has ruined me for life. I, in fact, have never had the inclination to learn how to cook it because, well, once I’ve tasted something that’s superb, I don’t even try to compete.
Back then, some 27 years ago to be exact, a huge plate of that glorious palabok cost only 10 pesos. Imagine that. I remember it came with buttered toast, too. You can imagine why I was teary-eyed when I heard that the place had closed. That was when I was about nine.
They say that childhood memories of food are unreliable. That the shock of the new deceives a kid’s taste buds into thinking that something is more delicious that it is. And, over the years, the “delicious-ness” of the dish is magnified to mythical proportions.
But I beg to disagree. I got a little taste of heaven back then. That’s for sure. The yummy taste of that long-ago palabok will always haunt me. I fear that no other noodle can measure up to it.
Correct me if I’m wrong. Palabok uses the thin, white, sotanghon noodles, right? And Malabon uses the thick ones? I love food but these two always confuse me!
Comment by KV — October 9, 2007 @ 10:14 am
Which one is Pancit Luglog? I prefer Paella though:)
Comment by Denis — October 10, 2007 @ 3:40 pm
i like palabok too. like you, i remember when i was in high school- after school that was my merienda from our nearby palengke, which cost … 5 pesos per plate (ha, ha- gives a hint of how old i am!) but up until now, the flavor of the good old palabok still remains in my mind.
Comment by v — November 17, 2007 @ 10:49 pm
there is a place in zamboanga city (unbelievable but true) which serves one of the best tasting palaboks ever. like Faye, i have loved palabok since i was 5 and that was in 1970, so much so that the only reason i go to a certain fastfood chain is because they serve palabok, unfortunately it doesnt taste the same way it did when it was first introduced on their menu in 1982 (that went with pineapple juice which they dont serve any longer, the total which cost P17.25 at that time) that place in zamboanga city is right next to its city hall and is called ‘Flavorite’ established 1950ish somewheres. They have served palabok ‘to-go’ in wax paper then manila paper since its inception. By the way they also are the procurrers of ‘zamboanga chorrizzos’. For zamboangenueos, that place has a reputation for good food. If you believe yourself a gourmand of filipino food you shoud try both their palabok and the chorizzo!
Comment by Johanan — January 16, 2008 @ 5:53 am
Holy noodles, Johanan! I am going to Zamboanga City the first chance I get! (But then I’m not eligible for a long leave until August 2009!) I haven’t exactly been a traveling enthusiast due to budget constraints—but, hey, I’m willing to go the distance for palabok.
Zamboanga’s nice, I’m told. One of my best friends is from there and my dad went there to attend the Boy Scout Jamboree in the 60’s. Hehehe.
I wish they could send palabok through LBC or something.
Teka, V, any tips on which palengke still serves good palabok?
KV, palabok is thin noodles.
Denis…paella’s cool. Heck, food is cool!
Comment by Faye — January 16, 2008 @ 11:30 am