Stores and Restaurants in Balamban, Cebu. It’s time for a local cuisine legend to open Northwestern Cebu’s first Filipino Family Restaurant. Erlinda “Nang Linda” Villanueva-Sangre decided to make a braver move by launching a full-service restaurant in her name, with the support of her children, to commemorate her 75th birthday. .
Last July 28th, NANG LINDA’S opened to the public to cater the growing demand for well-loved comfort food homemade dishes such as: Hamonada, Humba, Balamban Liempo, Manok Bisaya Inasal, Sisig and a lot more.
Balamban Mayor Alex Binghay, together with Balamban Vice Mayor Alfie Binghay and property owner Concepcion Yu were the guests of honor of the “Liempo and Inasal Chopping” opening ceremony.
“I am personally attending this because Kumare [Nang] Linda is close to my heart. I can still recall the first carinderia in front of the old Municipal Hall because it was my first term as a Mayor of this town,” recalls Mayor Binghay.
When it first debuted in 1988, it was called as “Balamban Chikaan,” but it has since been renamed NANG LINDA’S. It is now a full-fledged restaurant brand that gives diners an al-fresco dining experience. TAKE OUT and ONLINE DELIVERY are also available at www.NangLindas.com and www.facebook.com/NangLindas.
Entrepreneur at 75
Nang Linda is a Balamban, Cebu native. At 12, she became the family breadwinner after their parents abandoned them to the care of their relatives. She worked as house help to an aunt to be able to continue her studies and at the same time support her other two sisters. It is also where Nang Linda first learned how to cook dishes for the whole family.
At 18, she fell in love with a young debutant Balambanon, Jacinto Sangre. With a fast growing family of 7 children, Jacinto’s poultry work can no longer suffice the growing needs of the family. Looking for alternatives, Nang Linda started a carenderia beside the old Municipal Hall of Balamban.
But it was not always that way for the then aspiring cook. Nang Linda herself recalls, “I think the informal training I had in appreciating ingredients and actual experience with these ingredients had allowed me to understand each of its unique flavors and characters,” recalls Nang Linda.
From every food she tasted and loved, Nang Linda slowly built her own repertoire of local Filipino dishes, mastered and perfected in Nang Linda’s.
Since then, Nang Linda has been the go-to lady for quality home cooked meals. Her “suki” will always order her Hamonada Espesyal, Balamban Liempo, Manok Bisaya Inasal, Sisig, Pinakupsan and a lot more.
One of its re-opening guests Concepcion Yu recalls, “Nang Linda has become a well-known name synonymous with good food here in Balamban.”
Her carinderia became a must-dine food stall every Balambanon’s came to know about.
Carinderia to Restaurant
Today, standing proudly along the busy thoroughfare of the National Highway, Pondol, Balamban, Cebu, is a native bungalow alfresco restaurant of Nang Linda’s.
“We decided to open a native al-fresco restaurant in tribute to my mother’s passion for good food. It is her legacy to us and the people of Balamban. Nang Linda’s has already touched so many and different types of people from Balamban. The legacy and passion needs to continue,” says Nang Linda’s Chief Executive Officer Iren Sangre-Licera.
With Nang Linda’s youngest son Chef Jojo Sangre manning the kitchen, Nang Linda’s completes its full-circle of providing local diners sumptuous dining experience that is affordable on the family’s pocket.
Nang Linda’s Expansion
CEO Iren Sagre-Licera confirms more openings and expansion plans are in order.
“We believe in the brand NANG LINDA’s stand for. More than food, it emphasizes close knit family values,” adds the CEO.
CEO Licera adds, “Entrepreneurs and investors are contacting us for possible franchising and co-ownership opportunities. And we are already opening our doors to that.”
If you are interested in any of the NangLindas Franchising or Co-Ownership Programs, please visit www.NangLindas.com/own-one.
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