A Quest for Pancit Canton, Chinese Style I had Pancit Canton (Cantonese Chow Mein) in Quiapo back in 1980 and the world was never the same. I've always taken that as my benchmark, but nothing came close. In the Philippines, the more popular version is the Filipino style. I'm in search of the Chinese style. With my wok and countless Youtube videos on how to make it, I rolled up my sleeves for a kitchen adventure.
Youtube The thing about Youtubve now is that it's highly competitive because people can now realize serious money. Thus, the new standard is leveled-up. You can't just feature a recipe. You have to divulge well-kept restaurant secrets! It's not just recipes but tips, techniques and interesting narratives. After viewing a few videos, I created my own recipe with what I can work with here in Siquijor (being a small isolated island, it's hard to find all the ingredients). From Lazi, I even went to Larena (30 km away) to get my ingredients.
Prepare the following in the exact order:
CORNSTARCH SLURRY
1 tsp of cornstarch mixed with 1 tbsp of water. Set aside.
SAUCE
Ingredients:
1.5 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tbsp fish sauce
.5 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp water
ground black pepper, to taste
Preparation: combine all the above in small sauce bowl and set aside
PANCIT
Ingredients:
4c water
pancit canton (227 g package, Super Q, per instruction)
Preparation:
Boil water and add pancit
Simmer 1 min then reverse and simmer another 5-6 mins until tender
strain (don't throw water) and blanche until cool and remove immediately from water (or pancit will absorb it and swell). Set aside. Make sure the perforated bowl is empty again and the bottom bowl is full of fresh cold water for the veggies.
VEGETABLES Blanching
Ingredients:
1 carrot, sliced about 1mm
1/2 chayote, sliced about 1mm
1 pechay, cut up into 2-inch parts
1/2 cabbage, cut up into 2-inch parts
other veggies you have in mind
Preparation:
on the hot water in the wok, blanche the veggies - 2 mins carrots, sayote and add the cabbage and pechay. Strain and set aside
VEGETABLES + Liver, Saute
Ingredients:
1/4 kilo, chicken liver, already cut-up (better if Chinese sausage)
1/2 onion, sliced
3 cl garlic, pressed and cut
1 cup chicken stock
green onion, white part, cut up
Preparation:
saute onions and garlic until brown
add chicken hearts, then chicken liver, veggies + green onion (white part)
add chicken stock
add cornstarch slurry and mix
drizzle the prepared sauce around the wok (not directly on the pancit)
ALL TOGETHER
Ingredients:
green onion (green part), cut-up
3 calamansi
Preparation:
with veggies on the wok, add pancit, turn and toss to mix. turn heat off
put on serving plate
garnish with green onion (green part)
squeeze calamansi
Serve while still hot
looks decent enough
Ending Thoughts The taste was ok...not bad for a first time. What it lacked though was the distinctive Chinese flavor you only get in Chinese restaurants. I don't know what that ingredient is, and I can't seem to identify that with the many Youtube videos I've seen. Additonally, I really wanted to use Chorizo Bilbao or Chinese sausage, but there's none in Siquijor. Altogether, it was a good kitchen project for the day.
(September 2023) This September, after moving to a small house with a kitchen, I became active in the kitchen again after a long hiatus. I bought a gas stove, wok and other kitchen utilities. It's still an exciting time for me rediscovering what I can do in the kitchen...more »»
(October 27, 2023) Since making bread/pizza dough is base to many of my recipes, I'm putting it here for easier perusal. It's very simple, and once you've done it, it's hard to go back and buy commercial bread.....more »»
More on Lazi:
Lazi Local Info
Resorts - Lazi has some beach/dive resorts on its west coast - Gabayan Riviera, Lazi Beach Club, Bahura Dive Resort. However, the popular area for tourist resorts are in San Juan
Transport - Lazi is the junction where the jeeps begin their clockwise route (Lazi-San Juan-Siquijor Port) or the counter clockwise route (Lazi-Maria-Larena Port). Because the jeeps are rare with about 2 to 3 trips/day only in the morning, it's practical to just have a motorcycle here in Siquijor. With its affordability (a brand new Rusi motorbike is as low as P45k), people just buy motorcycles...especially those who live up in the mountains.
The Boulevard - Lazi's main draw is its seaside cobblestone promenade. When the sun goes down, people gather here for eats, drinks, open-air, harbor view and the sunset
Lazi Port - Kho Shipping, the shipping line operating from Lazi Port, has stopped its service to Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Dumaguete, Tagbilaran and Cebu. Passengers can go to Siquijor Port or Larena Port for boat services out of Siquijor Island
More on Siquijor Island:
Siquijor Island Local Info
Jeeps - there are only 2 routes for jeeps within Siquijor Island - and they are rare. Most people have their own motorcycle transport.
Siquijor Port to Lazi - last trip leaves at 3pm from station near market
Lazi to Siquijor Port - jeeps depart from the Lazi Port area. 5 jeeps, the last trip at 12:30 pm. Lazi to San Juan, P50.
Larena Port to Lazi - jeeps are unpredictable. As of this writing, there is only 1 jeep plying the Larena-Lazi route. This jeep leaves Larena for Lazi at 9:50am. After that, no more jeep. You'll have to take a tricycle to Siquijor Pob for jeeps going to Lazi
Lazi to Larena Port - 6am (daily) and 9 am (M-Th)
Food - these were suggested by a local to me
Lechon manok & liempo - roasted pork belly and chicken at Joel's in Siquijor Poblacion. I've tried this myself...yummy, even if the chicken was no longer hot
Bibingka - sweetened rice cake by Fidy's Bibingka (P30) in Sawang, Maria. I've come back for this and I buy for other people as well as 'pasalubong' - they love this
Siopao - at the Rosita store near Thrifty (P25) in Siquijor Poblacion
Peanut butter - by Rene. Just ask around in Siquijor Poblacion. It's popular
Torta - sweet cakish bread at the Thrifty story in Siquijor Poblacion
Siquijor Island Map Siquijor - Dumaguete Boat Trips(as of Jan 2023)
Montenegro Lines - at Siquijor Port, P234.00/pax, P169/bicycle, 7:30am/10:00am/2:00pm/4:30pm
Aleson Shipping - at Siquijor Port, 6 am and 6 pm daily, 1:30 pm M-Sat, Regular P200.00/pax, Aircon P250.00/pax
Siquijor - Tagbilaran - Cebu City Boat Trips(as of Jan 2023)
En route to Cebu City, the ferries usually make a stop-over to Tagbilaran (Bohol) to pick-up more passengers or unload.
Ocean Jet - 8:20 am, at Siquijor Port To Tagbilaran: P800/tourist & open air, 2 hours (arrive 10:20 am), P1200/business class To Cebu(Pier 1): P1600/tourist & open air, 4 hours (arrive 12:40 am), P2400/business class
Lite Ferries - at Larena Port, no Senior Citizen discount for online ticket purchase To Tagbilaran: T-Th-Sun, 3 hours, depart 7 pm - arrive 10 pm, P475/standard (Tourist, PHP 750) To Cebu: T-Th-Sun, 10 hours, depart 7 pm - arrive 5 am, PHP 605/standard (Senior P484), Tourist, PHP 770
Apekoptravel - at Larena Port to Tagbilaran: 1:00 pm, xxx hours, P750
Reserve through call or text: Cleare - 0938 283 4760 | Grace - 0936 534 6564 | Jessel - 0961 759 6711,
Pay via G-Cash: +63-917-880-1464, Email: momovillageadventure@gmail.com,
Facebook messenger: Apekoptravel. Enter your birthday and nationality to get discounts:
0 to 3 years old free,
4 to 9 years old will have 20% discount,
10 years old and above full price,
Filipino Senior Citizens will also have 20% discount
Siquijor - Plaridel Boat Trips(as of Jan 2023)
Lite Ferries - at Larena Port, T-Th-Sun, 2:00 am, 5 hours, PHP?
Siquijor - Cebu (Liloan) - Cebu City BUS Trip(as of Jan 2023)
There is only one bus plying this route - Sugbo Urban. Tourist class coach, a/c, comfortable, Sun-Fri (these dates keep changing). P420 for bus, P275 for ferry to Liloan. Larena Port around 5 am, makes a clockwise roundtrip around Siquijor Island - Larena, Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi (stops at Lazi market for breakfast and leaves 6:50 am), San Juan, Siquijor (arrives 8am, P50 from Lazi to Siquijor Poblacion) and catches the 1pm ferry at Larena Port (Sundays at 3 pm) for Liloan, Cebu and resumes its land route. Arrives Cebu City (South Bus Terminal) 10 pm.
Sugbo Urban is the cheapest and most convenient way because it goes around the island (clockwise) along the circumferential road, passing through - Enrique Villanueva, Maria, Lazi, San Juan, Siquijor...and back to Larena where it takes the ferry at 1 pm. This saves you the hassle and high transport cost of a tricycle. Besides, it's a long trip from the other side of the island to be taking by tricycle.
Suggested Destinations After Siquijor Island
These are the nearest popular destinations from Siquijor by boat
Bohol - Bohol is an island northeast Siquijor. Tourist attractions are Chocolate Hills, Tarsier Monkey, Loboc River Cruise, Beaches of Panglao, whale sharks (recent offering), freediving (recent offering)
Cebu - Cebu City is the usual gateway into the Visayas. But in Cebu Island itself, there are many offerings - Whale Sharks of Oslob, sardine run at Moalboal,Thresher Shark of Malapascua
Dapitan (Zamboanga del Norte) - I haven't been there but a lot of island ferries ply this port. There must be something here.
Dumaguete - Dumaguete is a small charming progressive coastal town in Negros Oriental. Cafe and restaurants line the famous Boulevard Boardwalk. Tourist attractions include Japanese Shrine, Casaroro Falls, snorkeling along the southern coastline (Dauin, Masaplod Norte, etc), Balinsasayao Twin Lakes