When Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise announced their divorce I wasn’t really heartbroken. I was never a great fan of Mr. Mission Impossible neither of Mrs. Dawson’s Creek, but I felt sad that their relationship didn’t work specially there’s a Suri left in the equation. As I read that news, I just realized all the magnificent photos of our recent trip to historical city of Vigan in Ilocos Region last summer. Well you see, in the late 80′s when Mr. Cruise was still a struggling actor creating a name in Hollywood he came to this almost unknown but beautiful city of Vigan for the filming of the movie Born on the fourth of July. We got lucky reserving the most coveted room of the Old Mansion that Mr. Cruise slept. I can brag about it now, that we slept on the same bed 
and my husband was there too . He heheh,
But kidding aside both souvenirs and photos of this summer trip were put into oblivion because of the road accident we encountered. After months of hospitalization, theraphy the trauma is finally over. Time heals all wounds. I think, our family is ready now to savour the Vigan memories after hibernating for months in our head.
Old Spanish Inspired City of Vigan
From top to bottom: Vigan is great place for hunting Antiquities and Handicrafts
Our Calesa waiting for us
Let the cat out of the bag.
Vigan is known for their longanisa, a country’s favorite Spanish inherited local pork sausages. They are much more famous than Tom Cruise’s Vigan escapade in the Philippines. Anyways, Vigan longanisa are not sweet unlike the ones we have in Manila. These vigan longanisa are used also in Empanada that are excellent to taste in the Plaza of the city. They are meatier and lots of garlic flavor on it truly perfect for this Pasta dishes.
I’m sending this yummy Longanisa Bolognese to Ruth of Once Upon a Feast for this week Presto Pasta Night # 273 creator and hostess of this yummy event.
???
Recipe: Vigan Longanisa Bolognese
Ingredients
- 12 pieces of vigan longanisa
- 5 cloves of garlic, ^peeled and minced
- 1 red onion, peeled and chopped
- 1 carrot, peeled
- 2 sticks of celery
- 50 grams of fresh parsley
- 50 grams of fresh basil
- 1 can tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon of tomato paste
- half a cup of pork stock (1 pork bouillon cube)
- 2 tablespoons of catsup
- 1 tablespoon of sugar
- 3 bay leaves
- salt, pepper
- 1 kilo of pasta
- cooking oil
- Prep time: 15 mins
- Cook time: 45 minutes
- Servings: 5 servings
- Difficulty: easy
Directions
Cook the pasta as indicated on the package. You can follow the instructions if you want it al-dente. The secret to cooking pasta; lots of water, salt and adding oil to avoid them from sticking. Peel the skin of your longanisa and mash them using a fork. Keep at least one longanisa in tact for decoration. Grate the carrots and celery. Then In a saucepan, add some cooking oil put the onion, garlic, carrots and celery, fry them together until wilted. Then add salt, pepper, chopped parsley, sugar, tomato paste. Then put on the meat of the longanisa. Continue mixing. Add tomato sauce, catsup and pork stock. Cover and let it simmer for about fifteen minutes. Lower the fire, taste and adjust the seasoning by adding more or less salt and sugar depending on your taste. Add more pepper and some chopped parsley. Simmer until sauce thickens. Serve the pasta with bolognese sauce topped with fried sliced longanisa.
Mabuhay! This is a place for all Pinoy food lovers! It's about time the world discovers the wonders of Filipino cuisine. Hop on and enjoy our daily culinary journey. 
Would love to try this but the problem is where can I find the VIGAN LONGGANISA
!?? Anyway, you’ll cook this for me the next time I come home. I love the place and would love to visit this as well. Naku I am not a fan of Tom Cruise either, but Katie Holmes I like her during Dawson’s Creek 
! GREAT photos 
.
since you are living in France, you an replace the vigan longanisa with chipolata (french herb sausages) just add more garlic to achieve that vigan taste
Lovely photos – and now another place to visit…not to mention a great looking dish of pasta to try. Thanks for sharing with Presto Pasta Nights.