Do you like eating bibingka every Christmas season? Do you miss the chewiness of buchi when it’s snacktime? Are you also imagining the sweet taste of ginataan? There is only one answer to your cravings and that is Cavite City’s very own bibingkoy.
Bibingkoy is a glutinous rice (galapong) dumpling filled with sweetened boiled mung (monggo) beans. It is served with sauce made with coconut cream (gata), jackfruit (langka) strips and tapioca balls (sago) which makes it taste like bibingka, buchi and ginataan all in one.
This classic kakanin is an original Caviteño delicacy cooked like bibingka. This is a special invention by popular cafeteriaperson Aling Ika during the Japanese period, which she passed on to her children and grandchildren.
This budget-friendly chewy bite food is best eaten warm, paired with coffee or any hot drinks. If you are craving it now, the famous bibingkoy can be found at Aling Ika’s Eatery inside the city’s public market. Since it can be sold out as early as 7 a.m. to 8 a.m., you have to catch it really early.
But when you run out of it or are looking for a plot twist in bibingkoy, you should try to visit Hattdy’s Kitchen along Padre Pio street. For only P25, you can now taste their bestselling soft bibingkoy.
The ingredients are the same although when compared to the original version that’s made in a pugon, their proud bibingkoy is steamed just like how sapin-sapin, a glutinous rice cake, is cooked. According to Randy de Guzman, owner of the said famous eatery, they tried to make this kind of bibingkoy for their customers to enjoy.
“Kung papansinin ninyo, itong bibingkoy namin is rectangular-shaped kumpara doon sa original (Aling Ika’s Bibingkoy). Tsaka maganda siya tignan since ini-steam namin ito. Kasi gusto namin pagkakita pa lang ng customer, masarap na para sa kanila,” de Guzman said.
The bibingkoy will no longer be missing in their ‘Meriendami-dami’ menu as the eatery’s avid customers are always eager to taste the best snack in the city.
With this unique delicacy, bibingkoy certainly makes Caviteños feel home when they are having it — no matter how it is made or what it looks like.
