I haven’t been to SM Food Court for a really long time. I can’t remember anymore when was the last time I was there.
But two Saturdays ago when AJ and I were doing errands at SM Makati I asked him if he’d like to have lunch there. Am glad he said yes. Look what we found:
It’s Ted’s old time la paz batchoy! Let me describe what batchoy is by quoting this from Wikipedia: “Batchoy is a noodle soup made with pork organs, crushed pork cracklings, chicken stock, beef loin and round noodles. Its origins can be traced to the district of La Paz, Iloilo City in the Philippines, hence it is oftentimes referred to as La Paz Batchoy.”
I ordered the most expensive noodle dish on the house – the Extra Super Batchoy (which is priced at less than P100) – and enjoyed more meat fillings in my soup (but I didn’t eat the pork organs hehe!).
Batchoy is best eaten hot and with puto (steamed rice cake) on the side. A perfect comfort food! It’s a good thing AJ ordered his own bowl of batchoy too, so I won’t have to feel guilty of keeping it from him hehe.
I learned from munchpunch.ph that Ted’s Old Time La Paz Batchoy has 3 other branches in Metro Manila, to wit:
- SM Bicutan
- SM Makati
- SM Sucat
- Festival Supermall
Whereas before I get my fix of la paz batchoy only when I travel to Iloilo, now I can get it from SM! I just hope that this franchising business won’t compromise the unique broth flavor of Ted’s batchoy which, back in Iloilo, is already in stiff competition with Deco’s – the pioneer or “inventor” of la paz batchoy. The term “original la paz batchoy” can be accredited only to Deco’s, nothing else.
Now, if only Deco’s will start establishing more branches in Manila too, then that would be the ultimate happiness for me. For now, I am happy and very satisfied with Ted’s!
http://www.tedslapazbatchoy.com/