FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

How cholesterollific this linaga is but admit it it looks very delicious! On the way out of the the Iloilo Central Market , we chanced upon this stall serving this stewed lanit-lanit or tendons.  The lady who ordered it was about to take spoonful of her lunch when we stopped her just to take a photograph of her lunch bowl and she found it funny-lol. But I found it very salivating looking at the steaming broth that probably is soured by batwan just like most linaga served in Iloilo. The thought of having the chewy portion of the cow or pig is a steaming and sour soup easily made me forget that I just had lunch .  I usually dig in/look for this part whenever I order linaga or kansi but this bowl has lots of it so I might be checking this one out very soon when I get back to the Iloilo Central Market.   

Netong's is a popular batchoyan in the middle of the Lapaz Market. But it is also turo-turo with more than 20 dishes on display but that didn't distract from the order I actually came for - pata or linaga. Actually, I had my tastebuds set on on their pata but it wasn't available until 3pm that day, so I had to settle for linaga. Equally appetizing and cholesterol laden ... I am not quite accustomed to linaga being cooked in large "kalaha" or frying pan that I looked for deep kalderos in the area until the server pointed that big kawali as the container for linaga. It didn't quite look appetizing at first that I thoughts of cancelling my order and opt for their batchoy instead. But the linaga started to have it's familiar look as the server got a piece of beef then cut it into bite size pieces. From an almost cancelled order to an appetizing bowl of slow-boiled beef, Netong's linaga instantly became a favorite and wouldn't mind having another bowl ...

That's what I got when I order linaga with caldo sang batchoy at Netong's. It was actually linaga but the batchoy lady suggested that it's also good with caldo so I tried it. And she was right - though cholesteroliffic as it may seem. Okay it is really full of cholesterol! The aroma is seemingly Lapaz batchoy and when you take your first sip, it seems the Lapaz batchoy essence gives way to another delectable - to that of linaga . I can go on forever describing how the two taste complement and how they taste good but there's no substitute of having them yourself. So if you're in Iloilo and you found yourself at the Lapaz market, just ask for Netong's and then try the linag-choy . You might develop a liking for it too!

Linaga is the term for nilaga or stew. But in Iloilo, when one says linaga , it is synonymous with beef boiled with langka and batuan. Almost the same as KBL but having beef instead of pork and without the kadyos. From ILOVEILOILO " Linaga can be stated in English as a stew. It’s the leisure of beef/pork with a touch of fruity sour flavor of batwan. Some put libas or alubihod. Big chunks of unripe langka are added to the linaga. " >>> RECIPE