Updated August 31, 2009 12:00 AM
WHEN Marilou Concepcion-Gonzales of Tabacalera, Nueva Ecija came to visit Cagayan de Oro way back in September of 2003 upon the invitation of her uncle who was assigned here in CDO as a consultant for USAID, little did she know that Cagayan de Oro City was known as the “City of Golden Friendship” (and opportunities!) for her and that she would be moving in here for good!
Located between Capistrano and Pacana streets, her uncle used to own a “billiard” shop in this long-standing wooden commercial building. And being a foodie, Marilou started her little “corner shop” selling lugaw (congee) and a few dishes to the “bilyaran’s” patrons. Soon to follow her was her equally entrepreneurially-inclined husband, Constantine Gonzales (originally from Cabanatuan City) who’s family “Carinderia” was known all over the city as the # 1 Carenderia selling traditional home-cooked meals and dishes. Constantine or Dante (as he is fondly called) started from the ranks (starting as dishwasher!) in their family business until he eventually got all the trade secrets from his parents. Unfortunately, their flourishing business was burned down not only once, but twice in a span of a few years!
Luckily for us Kagay-anons, we now have the time-honoured and conventional recipes from Luzon to savour here in the city. La Creole Lugawan & Bulalohan finally opened its doors to the public a few months after, serving traditional “Lugaw” and “Bulalo” and a lot more!
Lugaw is basically made with rice, water, ginger and other spices that makes it already a meal by itself. However, at La Creole it can also be “upgraded” with the following to liven up the already tasty lugaw: chicken, liver, egg, goto, itlog-itlog (these are the small eggs found inside the chicken). This specialty of the house is available from 3 p.m. downwards. So don’t make the mistake of going there before this time or else you’ll be disappointed! The secret according to them is to cook the congee slowly and continuously stirring it until it reaches the “perfect” consistency where the rice and the liquid with the spices are mixed well enough to give you that kind of melt in your mouth feel!
What about the Bulalo? They only use selected premium beef shank that is slowly cooked and simmered (which would really take a lifetime!) with select aromatic spices and vegetables until the meat just falls off from the bones when eaten. No wonder they also serve this dish late in the afternoon! I have had my share twice (on two different occasions, of course!) and an order of it can feed three to five people! A dash of Calamansi and a few Siling Labuyo (for those who like it spicy like me!) would indeed make the dish truly unforgettable!
The shop opens at 8a.m. everyday and serves breakfast. Aside from their home-made pork tocino, they also serve lumpia shanghai, luncheon meat, hotdog, corned beef, daing, egg with plain rice. Price range for a decent breakfat can cost between Php22.00 to Php32.00, excluding drinks. And by 10 a.m., lunch menu is already available. On a daily basis, they can have about 20 to 25 dishes to choose from like: Menudo, Paklay, Beef Steak, Chicken Curry, Four Seasons, Tokwa’t Baboy, Pork Halang-halang, Humba, Chicken Adobo, Pork & Beans, Mongo Guisado, Stir-fried Kangkong, Dinuguan (with lots of pork cubes!), Fish with Tausi and many, many more!
For snacks, aside from the Lugaw, other favourites include: the very famous and notorious RM (remember me), Siki, and Batchoy. All these can be served as it is or with egg for an additional fee and is available till 5 a.m. the following day!
This “restaurant” is more of a “turo-turo” type where one can just point and order the dishes one likes and want since they are all displayed visibly on the left side upon entering the premises. Peak hour is during lunch and dinner time when office workers and students have their meals. La Creole can accommodate about 80 people all at once in their “lutong bahay” ambiance. Noticeably, music being played belongs to the 70s and 80s era. Place is not air-conditioned yet people don’t mind at all and I should say, they are here for their exceptional traditional food from the North! Prices are nonetheless very affordable to everyone from all walks of life.
La Creole Lugawan & Bulalohan is open from 8 a.m. to 5 a.m. the following day and ably managed by the very energetic Gonzales husband & wife team!
Incidentally, Marilou recently won the Grand Prize of the Lutong Makro Cooking Contest (Cagayan de Oro City area) last month where I also served as a judge. Congratulations and more power!
http://www.goldstardailynews.com/content.php?id=5610
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