Growing up four houses away from the old Pluming's Pancit Malabon may have had something to do with it. Whenever my Mom was pressed for time to cook or needed something to quickly serve to unexpected guests - or the family simply had a hankering (which was often) - she would just send someone to Pluming's and in fifteen minutes, there was pancit malabon on the table. So we grew up with pancit malabon.
But the really special pancit malabon treat for me from as far back as I could remember, has always been ROSY'S PANCIT MALABON.
ROSY'S PANCIT MALABON
We made a sentimental visit to ROSY'S PANCIT MALABON in Cuatro Cantos the other Sunday just to have another taste of their delicious pancit.
Entering the place, I felt an instant familiarity because nothing seems to have changed after all these years. It still looked and felt very homey - except initially for the blaring of a radio, which thankfully, the guy assisting us quickly turned off. We ordered a plate each of the pancit, camachile biscuits, and coke. Such a simple lunch but I was ecstatic. What with all the familiar flavors instantly flooding my tastebuds -- the rich, delectable shrimp paste coating the noodles, and the freshest seafoods, pork chunks and vegetable garnish. But more than the "in the moment" appreciation of good food, there was also that flashback to all the good memories our family has shared, with ROSY's pancit malabon gracing our table.
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| A feast for the eyes and the palate |
ROSY'S PANCIT MALABON - circa 1940s?
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| The original eatery - on a poster in Rosy's Pancit Malabon |
According to one of the many write-ups posted on the wall of ROSY's, it was more than 60 years ago that Aling Felisa Pacheco opened a small eatery at Cuatro Cantos serving only pancit malabon and tokwa at baboy. As her brood of seven children grew older, they learned the secret of preparing what came to be known as the best tasting pancit malabon. Mang Silvestre soon expanded the small eatery started by his wife.
With the passing of Aling Felisa in 1951, eldest daughter Rosy took over the operations, assisted by her brothers and sisters. The siblings still continue to operate the eatery both at the original site in Cuatro Cantos and at their branch in Philtrade across the Department of Foreign Affairs.
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| One of Rosy's customers - a very young and good-looking Eddie Gutierrez |
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| Just one of many write-ups about Rosy's posted on their wall |
ROSY'S PANCIT MALABON - JULY 2010
Aside from the scrumptious pancit malabon, the Pachecos of ROSY'S are also known for the Santacruzans that they sponsor as "hermana mayor" in May each year, where they invite reigning beauty queens and movie stars as sagalas. This is an event that Malabon residents have come to look forward to.
NANAY'S PANCIT MALABON
NANAY'S PANCIT MALABON by Nanay Remedios Cruz, is also good and has become increasingly popular with a new generation of pancit malabon-lovers. It is more conveniently located on Governor Pascual Avenue in Barangay Concepcion.
My NANAY'S pancit malabon memories don't go a long way back, but nowadays we tend to order NANAY'S more because it is just a walking distance from my Dad's house. It has its own delicious flavor that has acquired a huge following among Malabon residents and out-of-towners. The eatery also looks and feels very homey.
I've tasted other kinds of pancit malabon, both within Malabon and outside of it. I have to admit that other restaurants and individuals have also been successful at cooking the dish extremely well.
But it is not just taste that completes the eating experience - it's also how the food makes you feel and where it takes you. Eating, after all, is also an emotional experience.
...And part of that emotional experience is how you find yourself reassured that, no matter how everything else may change, some things in life are constant and comforting, like a plateful of vibrant, delicious pancit malabon -- right here in MALABON!
ROSY'S PANCIT MALABON
Cuatro Cantos
C. Arellano corner A. Bonifacio Streets
Malabon City
NANAY'S PANCIT MALABON
Governor Pascual Avenue corner Sta. Ana Street
Malabon City
(near the entrance of Sto. Rosario Village)
To get to ROSY'S and NANAY'S from Monumento:
Take a jeepney at Dagohoy Road near the corner of Samson Road
going MALABON passing through Governor Pascual Avenue.
Tell the driver if you're going down at either NANAY'S or ROSY'S
so he knows where to let you get off.
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