#EverydayLechonHappiness: Lydia's Lechon Turns 55

It's a success story that continues to inspire from its humble beginnings in a small stall in Baclaran and fifty-five years and more than twenty-five branches later, Lydia's Lechon promises even more Everyday Lechon Happiness to its loyal customers... 

Since 1965, Lydia's Lechon has been the brand synonymous with the iconic Filipino staple in countless celebrations and fiestas, the whole roasted pig or Lechon. Celebrating 55 years of #EverydayLechonHappiness, Lydia's Lechon highlights this key milestone with exciting new offerings for a new generation of customers, available at selected outlets starting July 15, 2019. Curious? Read on for a sneak peek...

In the early sixties, Manila had quite a number of famous lechon brands. Back then, the leading names were concentrated in the La Loma district famous for its lechon-lined street. For Lydia De Roca, striking it out in Baclaran was a bold move. The daughter of a hog butcher, Lydia De Roca already knew at a young age that the much-loved Filipino staple would be her ticket to success. At the age of 12, Lydia started selling lechon in the sidewalks of Baclaran. Married at the age of 17, Lydia opened her first stall in Baclaran. The rest, they say, is history. Lydia and her husband would sell slices of lechon to church-goers from their stall located beside Our Lady of Sorrows Church. Soon, they would be selling whole lechons to their regular customers.  

With a growing family, Lydia and her husband placed everything they had in the business along with long tedious hours and hard work. But she needed an innovation that would set her lechon apart from the rest. A sudden stroke of inspiration would soon change the game in the competitive lechon market...

Lydia's Lechon blazed new trails with her pioneering and famous Original Boneless Lechon Stuffed with Seafood Paella, an innovation that elevated her name to popular lechon lore and legend. Word soon spread about her signature lechon, and an order from a leading hotel for ten lechons everyday set everything in motion. Without fear or doubt, Lydia pressed on and confirmed the order. For the young Lydia De Roca, it's about timing and seizing the moment. In 1986, her stall in Baclaran became her first restaurant with the addition of a table and a few chairs. Her entry in the various food courts of a leading mall chain solidified her position, and what started as a simple stall in Baclaran has now evolved into an enduring contender in the metro's lechon landscape.  

It's a simple idea that transformed the iconic lechon, an idea that's still as popular as the day it was introduced. It was the key driver in the success of Lydia's Lechon, but Lydia De Roca didn't stop there. With an exanding network of branches, Lydia's Lechon now offers an impressive and growing product portfolio...

...from tasty local snacks like Cashews...

...Chicharon (L) and even a wide assortment of condiments. Lydia's All-Around Sauce (R), the perfect partner with the signature lechon, is now bottled and sold in all the branches so you can bring home that unique Lydia's Lechon experience. It's now a brand that's associated with the very best of comforting local flavors.

Lydia's All-Around Sauce completes the flavors for her signature lechon, and many say, the recipe is still a closely guarded secret known only by a few. Lydia's Lechon is going global too, exporting their packaged products all over the world. Lydia's Lechon is also a brand that's constantly evolving with the times to remain relevant...

...and the future looks good for even more Everyday Lechon Happiness. In partnership with Globe Rush, they now have an online Customer Rewards App. Lydia's Lechon also launched their new Lydia's Lechon HAPPYCard entitling bearers to 5% discount on whole lechon purchases and 10% discount for dine-in orders.
 

Her recipes for the classic lechon remain unchanged, but founder Lydia De Roca continues to explore untapped opportunities with her new product offerings. Lydia De Roca now manages a diversified business that includes restaurants, lechon delivery, food court operations, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), commissary and franchising all built around her signature lechon. Lydia De Roca still exudes that same confidence and positivity that guided Lydia's Lechon from the sidewalks of Baclaran to where it is today.

And it's quite an experience chatting with this extraordinary woman, where she humbly shared her secrets of success. Hard work and dedication, and absolutely no short cuts, continue to drive Lydia De Roca and the brand's growth. Now on its 55th year, Lydia's Lechon constantly seeks new innovations to remain relevant and connected with its loyal customers.  

At an intimate gathering in the Marcos Highway branch of Lydia's Lechon, Lydia De Roca shared her remarkable story. As her signature lechon was gently laid on the table, Lydia De Roca, or Nanay Lydia to her family, friends and close associates, showed she still has that touch as she carved the lechon with ease.  

Our festive meal at Lydia's Lechon began with a serving of crunchy Chicharon Bituka paired with a vinegar dip. No parts of the pig are wasted, maximizing the yield for a variety of dishes. Lydia's Lechon also offers other tasty options like Calamares, Chicharon Balat and Chicharon Bulaklak.

For the mains, Lydia's Lechon served up a sumptuous feast with Laing Con Lechon, a traditional vegetable dish simmered in creamy coconut milk with hot chili peppers topped with crunchy Lechon for that playful Lydia's Lechon twist...

...and the unique and inventive Pancit Con Lechon, the popular local noodle dish with roast pork topped with crisp lechon cracklings. The addition of lechon transforms the noodle dish with its rich flavors and contrasting textures, the same way it elevates the other classic local dish, the Laing Con Lechon. Everything's just better with lechon, right?

Another tasty surprise comes in the form of a creamy pasta given that Lydia's Lechon spin, the Lechon Carbonara. The double-dose of richness comes from the juicy pork and crisp bits of crackling, and it just works. Seconds? Absolutely.

From Lydia's Lechon's popular bestsellers, the Classic Kare-Kare with fork-tender ox-tripe stewed in a rich and thick peanut sauce delivered that comforting taste of home. And yes, you'll want some extra rice with this one. You'll find many of your local favorites at Lydia's Lechon, including Pork Barbecue, Beef Nilaga, Beef Papaitan, Bopis, Crab Relleno, Lechon Paksiw, Lechon Sinigang, Pakbet, Seafood Paella, Sinigang na Salmon Head sa Miso, Sinigang na Tanigue, Crispy Tilapia, Crispy Lechon Pata, Crispy Pata and Ampalaya Con Egg. 

Our lunch feast becomes even more special with the signature lechon stuffed with seafood paella. The seafood paella stuffing is infused with the savory richness of the juicy pork for indulgent flavors. And the crisp crackling adds that perfect finish to the dish. The crackling remains crunchy long after it's carved and served. Add a dab of Lydia's All-Around Sauce to the juicy pork lechon and you've just experienced a true culinary legacy. The sizes of the signature whole lechon range from Small (8- 12 kg) to X-Large (32-35 kg) with prices starting at P 7,800 all the way to P 15,800. You can also opt for their Lechon Baka (P 48,000/100-120 kg). 

As soon as you pick up the plate, it's loaded requiring a second trip back. And why not, you just feel so right at home when you have all these quintessential Filipino dishes at the spread.

Some juicy Lechon with crisp and crunchy crackling, Seafood Paella (L) and the local Dinuguan (R), a traditional pork blood stew complete your lunchtime feast at Lydia's Lechon. The servers at Lydia's Lechon then bring out another specialty of the house in a sizzling cast iron plate...

...the Lechon Pork Sisig topped with onions and chili. The Lechon Pork Sisig is perfectly executed with tender pork and crunchy crackling for textural contrast. There isn't a single tough piece that's overcooked in the dish. The richness of the dish is perfectly tempered by the calamansi, onions and chili. Sticking to your one cup of rice quota will be the first of many rules that's easily brushed aside.

To complete the local vibe, wash it all down with Lydia's Lechon's refreshing Sago't Gulaman, and head back for a second serving at the sumptuous lunch spread. 

Back at the spread, Lydia's Lechon's new offerings were laid out, the Pinoy Classic Bowls. Hearty and complete meals with rice, these bowls are just what you need for a satisfying lunch or dinner...

...like the Pinakbet & Pork Barbecue Classic Bowl...

...the Lechon Sisig Classic Bowl...

...the Lechon Paksiw Classic Bowl...

...the Dinuguan Classic Bowl...

...the light and healthy Chopsuey Classic Bowl...

...the Bopis Classic Bowl and Kare-Kare Classic Bowl for affordable yet satisfying meals, all available within the month of June in selected branches. The full roll-out will be implemented by July 15.

The new Pinoy Classic Bowls are welcome additions to the wide menu selections at Lydia's Lechon offering both value and variety. And that's what you've come to expect at Lydia's Lechon. In their restaurants, food courts and now, on-line through their food delivery partners, FoodPanda and GrabFood.

Lydia's Lechon then presented another new innovation for those who want to enjoy their lechon without the fuss and mess of chopping or going the whole hog. Conveniently packed, the new Lechon-In-A-Box (R) is loaded with juicy pork and crunchy crackling and ready to serve as soon you open it.

The signature Lechin-In-A-Box will soon be available starting September 1 and priced at P 2,500 and can serve up to twelve persons. That's happiness in a box with the signature Lydia's Lechon touch. For your added convenience, the new Lechon-In-A-Box along with other menu items from Lydia's Lechon can now be ordered online through FoodPanda and GrabFood. After all, any celebration at home or at the office just isn't complete without lechon, and the new Lechon-In-A-Box is perfect for any festive occasion (for more on the new Lechon-In-A-Box, see my next post, Happiness in a Box: The New Lechon-In-A-Box by Lydia's Lechon). From a stall in Baclaran 55 years ago to innovations like the Lechon stuffed with Seafood Paella, Lydia De Roca isn't slowing down anytime soon with her latest product offerings at Lydia's Lechon. That's #EverydayLechonHappiness...by Lydia's Lechon.    

For more on Lydia's Lechon, visit their website at https://lydiaslechon.ph/ or call 939-1221 and 939-4665 (Quezon City), 851-2987 to 89 (Baclaran), 0917-538-0304 and 0917-820-2989 (Globe), and 0918-967-5213 (Smart). 

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