Is this where you can eat the best miki in Bangued?

Just imagine this: very early in the morning, as the sun is still a little above the horizon and you are already sitting at this residence cum panciteria with a hot steaming bowl of miki infront of you. It’s yellowish with thicker than usual strips of handmade noodles irregularly cut swimming in that broth and strips of brown meat as well as a freshly broken egg (or if you opt a hard boiled egg).

You took a spoonful of the soup, blow to cool it a little bit before putting it in your mouth. And you just close your eyes in surrender, the taste of the savory soup was akin to being in ecstasy. Hot and warm, pork flavored and a few seconds, the spicyness kicks in. It warms your belly and you just feel oh so good. You open your eyes and have another spoonful before taking in the noodles, egg and meat.

It was the second time I’ve tasted Abrenian miki, the first was in Piddigan which was delicious. But my hosts brought me to another, this time, just in Bangued, in Patucannay which is a little bit outside the town proper, much farther than the Partas Terminal.

Baldara’s Pansitan has been there for more than ten years and just looks like an ordinary residential house with a smaller structure beside it which has tables and chairs at the front, the inside and the back. As my host said, it’s one of the best, if not the best in Bangued.

You can actually watch how the miki is being prepared and cooked. When we were there, a man (image below) was slicing boiled meat taken from the head part as a pile of jawbones were placed at his side. The noodles is made from scratch and you have the option of having a hard boiled egg or one that is uncooked.

The broth is really good. It has that savory, well seasoned taste although you can add some seasoning if you’re not satisfied with the saltiness. You can also add in vinegar with lots of chili. While it was quite filling, good for a morning breakfast, the noodles though are not evenly cooked.

You have to start early though as the volume is enough for the morning and usually they are done by 0930H, especially on weekends. There are a lot of diners coming in ranging from neighbors, bikers and joggers, all filling the tables. Many do arrive in cars for that morning miki.

GETTING THERE: Baldara’s Pansitan is located in Patucannay in Bangued, Abra and is so out of the way, far from the town center. Hire a tricycle and tell the driver to bring you to the pansitan in Patucannay and he should know about it as it is quite popular.