This post is part of a special Pampanga Food Trip series. I went on a one-day degustation spree with Electrolux Philippines for the Discover-E Kitchen Campaign. Check out the first part where I met food connoisseur Atching Lillian Borromeo for the first time. After that very filling breakfast, we traveled from Mexico (Pampanga) for 45 minutes to Arayat (also in Pampanga). This was just the second stop and it was the perfect morning merienda! haha. Why? Well, (one) because it was super hot and (two) because I finally got what our guide said about the introduction to Neo-Filipino cuisine part of this Viajeng Kusinang Matua Tour. The owners were very open and even showed us how to make their special halo-halo but, of course, it will probably taste different when others make it.
This is the infamous Kabigting's version of the Halo-Halo. You can still recognize the outer look of the mix and consider it as "halo-halo". It's also an effective coolant like the normal "halo-halo". BUT let me tell you, it's nothing like any type of halo-halo I ever tasted.
The ingredients they used were so ingenious and it all mixed perfectly. Plus, unlike the traditional Pinoy halo-halo that I know (where we put everything and anything like pinipig with two scoops of ube ice cream), Kabigting's only put in 3 toppings with the milk and crushed ice!
What makes it special is the unique blend of Haleyang Beans, Cream of Corn and Homemade Pastillas made of Carabao's Milk!
The haleyang red beans looked homemade too. It made me think about hopia filling.
This is most likely the ones you can find canned in supermarkets.
I believe the pastillas makes it distinctly Kapampangan (at least from my childhood experience). I remember our cook used to bring us back these individually wrapped super rich carabao's milk pastillas rolled in sugar as a treat whenever she goes back to her province (Pampanga). The ones they mix in the halo-halo is still the unsweetened pastillas.
As we ourselves do when making our DIY halo-halo from the buffet table, you just put in all the toppings you want in your desired amount.
No ice cream for the Kabigting's Halo-Halo but it's perfect the way it is. Atching just topped it with evaporated milk!
You can buy the Pastillas for less than P100 if you want to do DIY but good luck doing the haleyang beans hahaha.
My friend said their Palabok (P40) is also good. There's also some Fresh Lumpia (P50).
You can also buy palabok per bilao but it will most likely need advanced ordering.
Soon, they will move to... the structure beside the present one! Haha. A lot of demand I assume. The town people kept on stopping by for some morning merienda too!
They also have branches in Marquee Mall, Nepo Mall Angeles (2nd floor), Robinsons Balibago, Robinsons Starmills and I heard in Banawe Quezon City (we tried it! mwahaha)!
Thanks to Electrolux PH and Fleishman Hillard PH for introducing me to this! Now, I'm looking forward to looking for that QC branch hahaha. Still, though, iba pa rin talaga ang original town where everything started since 1970! This is definitely one unique creation of the Pinoy Halo-Halo that you can only find in the Kabigting Halo-Halo.
Here are some of the details I found for the Kabigting address:
Kabigting's Halo-Halo by Jacinto and Flora Kabigting
Paralaya, Arayat, Pampanga (you can probably just ask around)
(045) 409-9646 / 0920-5009439
kabigtinghalo2@yahoo.com
Kabigting's Halo-Halo Manila
528 Banawe Avenue, corner Calamba Street,
Quezon City
10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
(02) 3546156 / 0922-8511770
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