With some meke noodles, I experimented on this non conventional batchoy with kalkag as the main ingredient. Kalkag is what Ilonggos refer to tiny dried shrimps that are lightly salted and sun-dried intact with its shell. It is used in flavoring pancit and in making kalkag flavored rice. (Edgie Polistico's Philippine Food, Cooking, and Dining Dictionary). With broth made from instant shrimp cubes and the addition of fresh egg, it seemed to be some kind of different batchoy - a lot different yet hints of familiarity. Next time there would be fried garlics, chicharon, chives and a lot more to "mimic" the original batchoy with a big twist.
It's not Catbalogan nor Katagalugan, it's CA-TA-LU-GAN, Catalugan. I also had the same problem when I was a kid when reading and remembering the name of this bread. But the many years of enjoying this specialty from Tibiao Bakery, I think I have it in me. So what is catalugan? It's basically a filled bread and like what you see, it has more filling that the "bread" itself. Tibiao Bakery makes the more "high end" catalugan as they are big, individually wrapped and deliciously addicting. Smaller bakeshops also make catalugan but its just the regular "one of those" breads. But this one from Tibiao is worth every "bit and morsel". For around 12 each (few years back it was only PhP 10), this bite size bread is heavy as the filling is a compact and flavouful blend of "secrets" for this one had no ingredients listed on its packaging. So I can only assume what they are everytime I am ...
