CITY OF BALIWAG—Crunchy, finger-puffin, nutritious “okoy’ in a 16-foot-diameter bilao highlighted Bulacan’s celebration of its rich culinary heritage during the launch of SM City Baliwag’s “Bestival Chef,” held in line with SM’s Foodie Festival campaign on Saturday.
The team of Okoy King, a homegrown brand that serves original okoy or caramba recipes from the City of Baliwag, used at least 200 kilograms of shredded squash to create the giant okoy bilao.
The unique attraction yielded 2,400 servings, which were given freely for shoppers to enjoy.
Okoy, or crispy deep-fried fritters, is a popular dish in Bulacan, usually served as breakfast, appetizers, or snacks. While okoy evolves with different flavors over time, Bulakenyos continuously preserve its traditional recipe, making it a favorite cuisine among locals and tourists.
“The largest serving of food is not just a celebration of the best flavors in the province but also a way of fostering patronization in our local products,” shares SM City Baliwag Mall Manager Rodora Tolentino.
Okoy King Business Manager, Avon Garcia, said the business made a very humble beginning of just a P200 sales and earnings in 2011 and had grown now to 75 stalls in different parts of the country.
Okoy King, he said, had helped the nutrition of many people during the pandemic in 2020 and 2021 as it did not stop cooking the vegetable menu and delivered them to residents.
Okoy, also called as “caramba” in other towns in Bulacan, is best cooked and served in Okoy King as they are made without preservatives and squash are directly taken and bought from vegetable growers in different towns in Bulacan including in Baliwag City.
Eliseo dela Cruz, head of the Bulacan Provincial Tourism Office said, Okoy King is another addition to the revival and fusion of Bulacan’s rich culinary tradition and modern street food cuisine.
Following the unboxing of the giant okoy bilao, Okoy King’s Business Manager, Avon Garcia, facilitated a cooking demo for aspiring Bulakenyo chefs. During the event, selected Tourism and Hospitality Management students from National University (NU) Baliwag branch had the rare chance to experience hands-on training on the step-by-step process of cooking okoy.
Aside from the largest serving of food, a curated selection of the best provincial and homegrown dishes is currently showcased at the Favorite Food Market in SM City Marilao, SM City Baliwag, and SM Center Pulilan. Here, local MSMEs offer a diverse array of flavors that promote the rich culinary heritage of Bulacan.
Baliwag City now has five Okoy King branches. Mayor Ferdie Estrella said Baliwag today continues to expand its cultural horizon from its homegrown Baliwag Buntal Hat, to Baliwag Lechon Manok, Baliwag Bus and now, the Baliwag Okoy King. With reports from Anton Luis Catindig
