For sure there were stories about this - a first timer in any town/city in Batangas and looking for goto or lugaw but later on they will find out that it is not the Manila version but the province's own take of it without the glutinous rice. Well, I am also one of those people before.
The porridge that we all used to know before was hard to find in the Philippines' third richest province so far (in terms of earnings) especially in a place that is dominated by thousands of lomihan stalls that you can find in every corne. Not now (aside that two of those popular food delivery apps and local-based Alaehxpress as your cheat sheet) that we saw one in Lipa City.
Situated nearby the roads that separate in Cuenca|Alitagtag|Sta. Teresita|Taal and Batangas City is Boss Tado Lugawan. For those who are wondering as I asked one of the owners (Lloyd) it is not related to the late comedian/host/radio DJ/vocalist that became my friend during Brewrats Days but it was the nickname or alias that was brought in before by some of his friends.
Before this, I already tried their plain lugaw at their former satellite branch beside Mary Mediatrix Hospital and got the invite in their only main branch. From there, we saw their full blown menu.
They served three food items which are significant. Their most expensive in their menu Lugaw Overload (Php 155) with toppings that made the bowl full with fried siomai, goto, lechon kawali and boiled egg,. Second is their best-seller in their ala carte selection which is tokwa't baboy and their secret (but not so secret anymore for those who order via a food delivery app) Gyoza.
Like what I tasted in their plain lugaw, the porridge itself from the Overload menu was very good to me that I only had a few dashes of their special sauce that can go in any of their food items. The siomai was good enough as well as the goto and lechon kawali was on the spot. Their gyoza (3 pcs. for Php 40, party platter also available) was quite meaty - no doubt that it was successful even that it is not yet listed in their menu. Their ala carte tokwa't baboy served in that miniature kawali was on the right balance that I can easily partner it with rice.
Still got some space in my tummy (which also served as my recovery day from my hectic sked last week and fresh from a travel in BGC, I also ordered their Lugaw with Laman which they also called it as maligat - a Batangueno word. Now aside from the goto laman in the mix, now I appreciate the amount of onion chives and fried garlic bits that they put on it.
In one of the long conversations that we had with Lloyd's wife Nicole (who is also hustling as a Facebook and Tiktok content creator for some business-related content), they are aiming that someday that the place will have more branches but the main branch must be as popular as a known fastfood chain. When I suggested one of Batangas' known restos and the pioneer of sizzling food Maria's Kitchen, she agreed to that. The place is a hit that most of the time, they are closing before the early evening because they are already soldout. It was also one of the fave merienda choices of Hello Lipa creator and now known Tiktok-based food blogger Jayzar Recinto.
The growth is there that they are planning to release a "rice meal series" within this July so that's something for me to come back soon so you can check out their Boss Tado Lugawan FB page. For those asking in the directions, search "Boss Tado Lugawan 2" (do not forget the number 2) on Google Maps. The place is commute-friendly via that Lipa-Batangas traditional jeep or if that Batangas City-bound provincial bus will go thru the highway and not thru Star Tollway
With Lloyd and Nicole, the power couple behind Boss Tado Lugawan
Yes, there's lugaw in Batangas province and the province does not only limited to Lomi or Gotong Batangas if you are thinking of a hot, quick bowl of food.
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