Vcente Batchoy Keeps Hot!

In the tradition of the renown dish from Panay Island, Vcente Batchoy carries with it the authentic flavors of this Hiligaynon dish, now made Mandauehanon in its new home in Ibabao, Estancia, Mandaue City.

Vicente Rabino was born in Romblon and went to La Paz, Iloilo where he learned to cook batchoy. It was here where he met his wife. He was later invited by his relative to start a batchoy business in Roxas City, Capiz. Unfortunately his business went down when his wife got sick, which prompted him to work in Cebu City. He came to Cebu to work for Carlo’s Batchoy that was originally located in Food Street, right in front of the Cebu Capitol Building.  Bringing his family with him, Vicente established his home in Centro Mandaue and eventually moved to Casili, Consolacion.

Among Vicente’s children, it was Nelson Rabino who exhibited the same interest and passion in the business. So when Vicente retired from Carlo’s Batchoy, he set up his own soup stop in Mandaue City with his son Nelson.

The small unassuming soup kitchen has now generated a loyal following of customers who would drop by Vcente Batchoy any time of the day to fill their bellies with the delicious broth of pork and beef sprinkled with slices of meat, spices and crispy pork skin or chicharron on a bed of egg noodles.

Nelson inherited the original recipe of Vcente by observing his father cook in their kitchen and carefully watch the proportions of meat and spices that were added to the broth until he got the right taste of an authentic Vcente Batchoy!

“There may be many batchoy recipes in Cebu but only one is that of my father’s.” Nelson shared when asked what he thought of the various batchoy outlets in Cebu. “With his cooking came his love for his hometown and his love for his family. This was the dish that helped raise us when we were young and this is the same dish I prepare to support my own family,” Nelson shared.

When Vicente Rabino passed away in December 2019, Nelson promised to take on the business of his father and further it. However, the pandemic badly hit the restaurant industry and the small eatery of Nelson was not exempted. They had to rent a bigger place aside from the small nook they used to occupy to be able to provide proper social distancing. Slowly, with the help of the support from the Sugbo Negosyo program of the province of Cebu, they were able to get their business back to its footing. 

“Nagpasalamat mi kang Gov. Gwen sa iyang tabang hasta kang Board Member Glen, sa pagpili niya sa among Negosyo.  Daku kaayo ug natabang sa maong  programa.” (We are grateful to Gov. Gwen and Board Member Glen Soco for selecting our business. The program is really of great help.)

Nelson Rabino was among the beneficiaries of the Sugbo Negosyo financial assistance that the province gave to entrepreneurs who were affected by the slump brought in by the pandemic. Because of the said program of the province, the businessmen and women who benefitted from the program were able to regain back their momentum and mainstream.

For Nelson and his family, the pandemic had them close an newly open outlet they set up in Consolacion. But with Sugbo Negosyo, they learned to respond to the demands of the times and have become more innovative. They are open 24/7, feeling it their duty to provide for those who get hungry any time of the day.

Their menu takes on the following variants: Batchoy Special is the basic brew of batchoy without the addition of egg.  Batchoy Super has fresh egg topping the serving. Batchoy Gran ads boiled egg instead of fresh egg and Batchoy Extra has both fresh and boiled egg added for a truly hearty meal.

Vcente Batchoy now delivers with 750 and 500 ml packages. So if you want a steaming hot comfort soup, you can reach Vcente Batchoy at 09202972150 and 09177134903.