Ilonggos urged to witness city’s bid for world’s biggest bowl of batchoy
City Tourism Officer Ben Jimena is inviting all Ilonggos to witness the cooking of world’s biggest bowl of Lapaz Batchoy at the Lapaz Plaza on Thursday. They want to place Iloilo City on Guinness World Record having the title of the world’s biggest bowl in soup and noodles category.
Jimena said a record on the biggest soup bowl has already been made. This attempt to cook the biggest bowl of Lapaz batchoy is another category which the adjudicator of the Guinness World Record may consider. There is no record yet on the world’s biggest bowl of soup and noodles, he said.
The kitchen crews of the Deco’s Lapaz batchoy will prepare their soup and noodles by 2 a.m. at the Lapaz Plaza. About 100 kilos of noodles locally known as pancit, pork innards, spring onions, garlic, chicharon and their secret ingredients are being readied for this Thursday’s activity, said Jimena.
The attempt of the city to establish a record is part of the innovation in promoting Iloilo City for its “culinary attraction” other than the Dinagyang festival. The plan to have a world record on biggest bowl of soup and noodle was already toyed since last year.
The kitchen crews of Deco’s will cook the soup and noodle in a 2-meter x 1.5-meter stainless steel bowl. The stainless steel bowl can hold 3,000 to 3,500 liters of liquid. Deco’s wants to keep the exact measurement of their ingredients a kitchen trade secret.
The Dinagyang festival is the appropriate time to hold the activity where there are lots of foreign and local tourists visits Iloilo City to witness the yearly festival in honor of Sr. Sto. Niño. The Lapaz district is known for its batchoy.
In Iloilo City, there are foods or cuisines which placed each district in food enthusiasts list. Other than Lapaz, the district of Molo is also known for its Pancit Molo, another kind of soup which originates from Chinese.
Jimena said once the batchoy is cooked, it will be served to about 3,000 orphaned children and indigent children at about 10 a.m. The Iloilo Convention and Visitors Bureau (ICVB) have already identified the children who will eat and enjoy the soup and noodle. Guests can have their share too.
The activity will add additional color in the holding of the 2009 Dinagyang celebration. Number of innovations and new activities are included to make Iloilo City more festive without leaving the religious aspect of the yearly festival.