A Craving for Bulalo

Yes, that’s what I’ve been having for the past few weeks. A deep-seated need to slurp down some soft, hot, slippery marrow scooped out of a giant bone of a beef shank. Revel in the tender Batangas beef swimming in the most flavorful broth.

It’s so hard to find a good bulalo place here in the metro. The nearest I can think of is Sosing’s where they churn out vats of bulalo like it’s no one’s business. But bulalo is meant to be enjoyed at one’s leisure and it is just crazy over at Sosing’s. Patrons (mostly cabbies and jeepney drivers with 15 minutes to spare for a meal) stand beside you, pressuring you to vacate your table. Who needs the aggravation?

And so we drove up to Leslie’s in Tagaytay. Aaaah…who doesn’t go into rapture with the mere mention of Leslie’s Bulalo? The heart starts beating a tad faster at the thought of hot, steaming bowls of Bulalo served in a table overlooking the iconic Taal Volcano. Perfect.



We arrived just a bit past lunch one lazy Saturday afternoon. It was actually hubby’s birthday weekend. Plans include a Leslie’s Bulalo meal and major R&R at Discovery Country Suites. We stayed there last year, pregnant moi and hubby. This year we returned with our darling 7-month old baby girl Micky and her posse, Yaya Jazz and Yaya M. From the incredibly romantic Japanese-themed Nara suite, we booked the family friendly Nantucket suite. How times have changed.

Anyway - complimentary bulalo broth greeted us in Leslie’s, along with fresh buko juice (now this one, we paid for). For people like us who can’t decide, the Sinugba platter is a blessing. A little bit of everything : mussels, steamed prawns, grilled squid, grilled chicken, the indispensable liempo and my fave, grilled Maliputo with the sweetest flesh. Incidentally Maliputo is a type of fish I am told resides exclusively in Taal lake.



Sinugba platter + Leslie’s Bulalo = Extremely ecstatic Blair Mitch


Let's sing all together now, "L is for Litid, that's good enough for me..."


Obviously I couldn't resist eating the marrow before I took this shot. It's criminal to let the marrow wait. So just imagine it, will you (really evil laugh).


Ooooh. Sinugbaaaaaaaaa...

Bulalo is nasty stuff that tops the cholesterol scale so best to save it for special occasions. I can’t remember the last time I ate Bulalo prior to Leslie’s so you can just imagine the extent of my craving. Sharing with you my not-so-new rule when it comes to sugar, fat and all them forbidden goods: Don’t dilly-dally and waste your precious once-a-month ration with the amateurs. If you have to get your fat fix then go to the master, like Leslie’s.

See ya next quarter!