01 Apr2009
This was to be our last lunch in Bacolod, and we were so incredibly stuffed from 35 hours of constant eating and food tripping, that everyone agreed to just “eat lightly” at Pendy’s. Located on Lacson street, the main drag, Pendy’s recently moved from another location but brought with them some of the vestiges of their old space. The food was comforting and place is hard to describe except that it struck me as the Bacolod equivalent of a neighborhood diner where everyone in town gathered to get the latest buzz. We ordered whatever we felt like from an extensive menu of local favorites and international dishes. We had some of these open “sandwiches” of chicken salad and cheese in toast that were an immediate throwback to the 1960’s…
We had two dishes of sizzling gambas served with fried egg. I must say, these were the most generous servings of gambas I have ever had at a restaurant. And they were good!
And how could we resist a few bowls of batchoy, which were very satisfying as well, but I must say that I enjoyed the batchoy at 21 more.
We also had a dish of pancit “efuven,” with bits of liver and some vegetables, served with kalamansi… It was deceptively light in feel, but I suspect it still packed a caloric punch.
The restaurant, while new, had old gothic like carvings from their original location. I guess one could say eclectic. But in a mean moment I would say confused. But it doesn’t matter, I don’t think their intention was to win an interior decorating award. Oddly, it was a bit like dining in someone’s house, albeit with 20-30 other strangers…
Pendy’s also has an extensive store with an incredible selection of goodies from around Bacolod and nearby towns. They also had pies, cakes and other baked goodies on offer. Staff were incredibly efficient at wrapping up our substantial purchases for checking onto our flight. Overall the food was comforting and compentently executed, and the prices were outrageously reasonable as well. I can see why this institution is often mentioned as a place to dine when you are in Bacolod… :)
COMMENTS:
Joanie, United States says:
Woo hoo the first one to made a comment :-)
I have to add this on my “must have” list when we visit Bacolod. That pansit efuvin looks really good!
Apr 1, 2009 | 12:17 pm
VickieB, Philippines says:
On my last trip there I got several tubs of the dulce de leche from Silay. Yummy!
Apr 1, 2009 | 12:33 pm
Katrina, Philippines says:
We spent quite a sum shopping at Pendy’s while waiting for our orders of Angus Beef Tapa, ensaimada, and Half-Moon Cake, all of which were yummy and definitely worth going back for.
Apr 1, 2009 | 1:26 pm
maver, Philippines says:
i love their napoleones! so looking forward to my Bacolod trip this April!
Apr 1, 2009 | 1:27 pm
Mik, Australia says:
Ah Pendy’s! :) The chicken dinuguan used to be on the menu when they were at the original location. And you’re right, that’s exactly what it is –like eating home cooked food when you don’t want to do dishes! Pendy’s does a nice half moon cake and prune cake, childhood memories :)
Apr 1, 2009 | 1:28 pm
D, Philippines says:
We used to vacation in Bacolod almost every summer when I was a kid. You made me miss it so much. Although it looks nothing like the Bacolod I remembered from 10 years ago. =)
Apr 1, 2009 | 2:12 pm
Fabian M, Philippines says:
thanks for the post mm.
i cringed at the open faced sandwich though! brought back memories of terrible grade school cafeteria fare. ugh.
Will keep Pendy’s in mind when I go to Bacolod. :)
Apr 1, 2009 | 2:51 pm
sunset, Philippines says:
gambas looks good and generous serving indeed!
Apr 1, 2009 | 3:52 pm
MrsS, New Zealand (Aotearoa) says:
Pendy’s is my last stop before I go back to Manila. I always stock up on goodies there especially dulce gatas which is my favorite. The staff is always efficient and know us already by name.
Apr 1, 2009 | 4:07 pm
Rhea, Philippines says:
yep, when it comes to good food, Pendy’s is a Bacolod institution! Try Calea for their cakes the next time you visit. I’m just not sure if they’re still at their old place beside the L’Fisher Hotel though.
Apr 1, 2009 | 4:21 pm
sanojmd, Australia says:
the pancit efuven looks so appetizing.. hmmm.. i love all kinds of pansit..also the gambas look so good..yumm!
Apr 1, 2009 | 4:47 pm
chrissy, Philippines says:
I’m not into piaya but the crispy/crunchy piaya they sell in Pendy’s is addicting!
Apr 1, 2009 | 5:10 pm
Maria Clara, United States says:
Like their presentation of open-faced chicken salad sandwich looks like a tulip flower. The gambas looked awesome!
Apr 2, 2009 | 12:21 am
jonhhar, Philippines says:
Marketman this is awesome! Ginutom ako! hehe, ang ganda at ang linis ng layout mo. Matagal ka na sigurong nagsusulot noh? Ang galing moh! :)
Apr 2, 2009 | 3:22 am
Jel, says:
delicious….i smell bacolod this far
Apr 2, 2009 | 10:20 am
Robert Esser, Hong Kong says:
Marketman, nice blog! I sent you a PM. We are looking to open a branch of our kitchenware chain in Manila in 2009 and are looking for franchise candidates. Hopefully we can sell you some copper pans for that Viking 6-burner. I will be in Manila from April 15-17 and would like to meet up if you have time.
Apr 2, 2009 | 12:39 pm
semikewl, Philippines says:
Some trivia: the gothic carved wood “dividers” came from my grandparents old Hotel Mallorca (formerly on Rizal/Locsin Sts).
Apr 2, 2009 | 12:45 pm
Lex, Philippines says:
semikewl, if those dividers came from your grandparent’s house, you must belong to the Alonso family who used to own Hotel Mallorca.
Apr 2, 2009 | 1:08 pm
semikewl, Philippines says:
Yes I do via my mother.
Apr 2, 2009 | 10:09 pm
mariasaamerica, United States says:
Semikewl, I wish your family could revive the Hotel Mallorca bakery. As kids, we would wait out in the car for the “pan” which comes out of the oven at 6PM, piping hot. One of my best memories…
Apr 3, 2009 | 2:56 am
ada, United States says:
id always read your site (everyday)..and finally here i am posting a comment..Thanks marketman for your posts..your recipes were great, ive tried to use some of them in my everyday cooking…i just hope you could post more recipes…Please give us the recipes of the menus u had in bacolod especially this one
Apr 3, 2009 | 4:32 am
thea, United States says:
hi! have you guys ever tried the dulce gatas from a cow’s milk at pendy’s? it’s the best!!! yumyum!
Apr 3, 2009 | 7:46 am
fried-neurons, United States says:
So… that cup sandwich in the photo is the Betty Crocker version of chicken a la king. :)
Apr 3, 2009 | 8:12 am
Marketman, Philippines says:
fried neurons, that is EXACTLY what it was!
Apr 3, 2009 | 8:21 am
betty q., Canada says:
Holy! That is one of the first things I learned (chicken ala king in patty shells) in 19 kopong kopong ( no offense, Mrs. Anton…and I can’t ever forget your generosity in providing lunches for me) when I was 12 or 11 years old. We made patty shells using sliced bread and put it in muffin tins. I still do that until now. OLD HABITS NEVER DIE!!!!
Apr 3, 2009 | 8:54 am
jadedfork, United States says:
betty q, you said it. that’s how they taught us to do chicken ala king as well during high school cooking class. lol.
Apr 3, 2009 | 10:54 am
maricar, Philippines says:
hi MM!!!! the gambas looks good and nakakagutom…..shrimps is really my favorite….do you happen to have a recipe of gambas MM? bettyq, can you share your chicken ala king recipe………tanx…..
Apr 3, 2009 | 12:56 pm
Celina, Philippines says:
Thea, the dulce gatas from Pendy’s are all made from carabaos milk
Apr 3, 2009 | 3:24 pm
Ariel, United States says:
does anybody have a recipe of pancit “efuven”.? It looks so light but I may have to replace the liver with something else so my wife and kids will eat it.
Apr 3, 2009 | 4:01 pm
juls, Philippines says:
MM, is chicken ala king not found/popular in the Manila food scene? It seemed everyone i know in bacolod knows how a chicken ala king looks like… and yes, that is a staple at office parties and when we were children… but does this mean that such product is already a remnant of “old” food in bacolod (60s boom time)? you’re right, it’s like betty crocker 1960s served in a 21st century provincial resto… same goes for Bob’s Sate Babe…. also for Chicken Asparagus, and Chicken Hawaiian… Nora Daza Redux.
Apr 3, 2009 | 7:23 pm
juls, Philippines says:
and.. the Chicken Cacciatore of Pendy’s… yum.
Apr 3, 2009 | 7:24 pm
thelma, United States says:
this is out fo the topic, mm. where can i buy the dried fish,
lamayo? i will be in the philippines on april 19th so i thought i’ll buy some to take back with me. i am only staying there for a week so i will be able to buy this dried fish that i heard so much about. thanks, mm.
Apr 4, 2009 | 6:47 am
Marketman, Philippines says:
thelma, lamayo isn’t completely dried, more like semi-dried, and would definitely upset U.S. customs officials… the easiest place to find it is at blue kitchen at rockwell or shangrila mall. But the weekend markets at Salcedo and elsewhere carry it as well…
Apr 4, 2009 | 11:28 am
Connie C, United States says:
Hi Betty Q. You can update the chicken ala king by putting the chicken in wonton wrappers after you bake them in small pastry molds, diba? Mas marami kang makakain kasi parang aperitif.
Apr 4, 2009 | 1:22 pm
thelma, United States says:
thanks,mm, for the info. maybe i will just have a taste of it while i am there since i cannot take some with me back to the united states…
Apr 4, 2009 | 2:25 pm
marissewalangkaparis, Philippines says:
I saw my best friend a week back and I told her we had better take a trip back to Bacolod like we used to.(Her mom side is from the Aranetas). We will find time to visit and eat at Pendy’s and 21…and look up all the food that have left me salivating. Gee I want to try that half moon and dulce de leche…the gambas look so good…I want to try that when the Holy Week is over and seafoods are no longer as expensive as now..hahaha. Blessed Holy Week to all!!
Apr 4, 2009 | 2:58 pm
marissewalangkaparis, Philippines says:
P.s. bettyq,we have long holidays and I stocked up on my baking stuff so I can bake …wheeee….to the kitchen. Have been so busy lately…I miss my baking/cooking. I have some of your and MM recipes on line-up which I will do.
Apr 4, 2009 | 3:01 pm
iya, says:
the gambas looks sooooo yummy….
that pacit reminds me of pancit tisoy, so pale and innocent looking but tastes like chicharon, sin and garlic. yummmmmm!
:D
Apr 5, 2009 | 10:01 pm
Cris H., Philippines says:
Love your blogs! Bacolod is my 2nd home and you’re blogs make me miss it even more. I love Pendy’s! I must go place. They have everything you want to bring home. Their half-moon cake is to die for and their lumpia. Yum! They have chicken diniguan, their angus tapa, too. I love most of the stuff they serve :D Pancit efuven is also popular in Iloilo and takes the place of the usual pancit and stuff during occassions. I call it when pancit and chopsuey marry.
Apr 6, 2009 | 10:33 pm
teny, Philippines says:
Pendy’s spaghetti = comfort food :)
Apr 7, 2009 | 9:12 pm