Special Pancit Palabok, Lucky Me!

One of my favorite Lucky Me! memories was way back when I get to set foot back at home before the sun is down.  I remember late afternoons spent with my sisters trying to find the best snacks / merienda cena to share among the three of us.  4-5 packs of Lucky Me Pancit Canton were just right between three hungry tummies.  Joyce, Joanne and me never get tired of those flavorful noodles of IPC (instant pancit canton) since it’s very tasty, it tastes like stir fried noodles and it’s easy to cook.  Sometimes you can add tuna.  We heat some bread on the toaster and we’re good to go.

Yesterday, I received this one whole bilao of individually packed Pancit Palabok bearing the brand of Lucky Me! Special. I’ve heard of the many variants of their Instant Pancit Canton from the original we used to chow then to my now favorite chili-mansi to kalamansi to the hotter version to the sweet and spicy kind (I’d like to believe I just described myself). But this is actually the first time I’m hearing about their Lucky Me! Special Pancit Palabok, which in fact, after being inclined, I found out it was released in late 2011.

Initially, I was a bit skeptical on how this will turn out.  We’ve come to know Pancit Palabok from buying it at a fast food chain or restaurant or when our grandmothers make it from scratch.  But I have never in reality tried cooking Pancit Palabok coming out of a pouch as “instant noodles.”  Well, I was up for a challenge to cook it and see how it will turn out.  I check the instructions at the back and it’s the easy 1-2-3 preparation with barely any prep time needed.  Dip in hot water, drain and mix in the little bags it came with.  Voila!  Convenient Instant Pancit Palabok at home in no time, ANY TIME! 

Lucky Me! Special’s version still retains that thin glass-like strands of rice noodles and when mixed with the thick bright orange sauce come to life and the waft of real Palabok starts to fill the air. The whole quickie ensemble is finished with the garnish topping.  I was quite surprised on how the aroma resembles the smell of freshly cooked palabok like real ingredients of shrimp, tofu and the rest were actually present.

I’m impressed with Lucky Me’s tenacity to duplicate the flavors of these Filipino favorites.  The Pancit  Palabok by Lucky Me! Special locked in the flavors of the ingredients ought to be present in a real palabok, like shrimp, boiled pork, salty shade from tinapa flakes, scallions and fried toasted garlic. I love how the flavor rebels with a slight tang on the finish – giving that citrus profile of calamansi.  The garnish adds that crushed chicharon aspect. 

It’s amazing how close this product came to the true aroma and taste of an authentic Pancit Palabok.  Equally unexpected is to have this strong shrimp flavor come from a pouch and how convenient it now is to enjoy Palabok anytime at home.                       

If you like Palabok, you can surely eat two miles of this.  When I have friends over, I’d like to do a little experiment.  I’m thinking of a fun blindfold taste test with my friends or maybe serve Lucky Me! Special Pancit Palabok in a traditional bilao and see if they can tell the difference.  I’d ask them if they can guess where it was from. 

Better yet, I will add a few ingredients to make it even look more authentic.  I’ll add some pork, and tofu bits.  I can already imagine how surprised they will be to know it actually came from a Lucky Me! Special Pancit Palabok pouch.

Enjoy the time-honored goodness of traditional Filipino favorite, Pancit Palabok, minus the tedious preparation and time for cooking and deals right up with your shoestring budget.  In under 4 minutes, taste the delightful richly flavored rice noodles covered in golden shrimp sauce garnished with chives and real chicharon bits.

I think I might just have found a new merienda buddy in Lucky Me! Special Pancit Palabok.  Of course, I’d still squeeze in a lot of calamansi.  I love calamansi and I’m a calamansi baby! If you enjoy Pancit Canton, try out the new fancy Lucky Me! Special Pancit Palabok–Buy a pouch or two and share your own experience of the authentic-tasting LM! Special Pancit Palabok.

Lucky Me! Special Pancit Palabok surprisingly tastes like the authentic Palabok dish!   It first convinces you when its steam releases the pleasant aroma that can almost signify freshly cooked and the authentic taste seals the deal.  Another flavorful fuss-free Palabok meal only from Lucky Me!