Doughnuts galore: Krispy Kreme and GoNuts

Pasalubong from Manila always consists of things (specifically food items) not available in Iloilo. And most of the time it's dozens of boxes of doughnuts! I often go for Krispy Kreme even those simple Original Glazed doughnuts would often be greeted with excitement. But when I passed by a GoNuts Donuts store I couldn't say no to their visually appealing donuts.

Even though I had a hard time carrying 9 half dozen boxes on my way home, it was worth it. Good thing my careful handling of these boxes preserved them - very minimal damage despite the transfers, etc.

These Disney Donuts from Gonuts really caught my attention that I made changes in my pasalubong plans. I got 1 dozen less from Krispy Kreme to accomodate these visually appelaing donuts. The hindrance that tiem for me was carrying all these boxes (9 in total) without causing much damage that would ruin the presentation. But in the end - I got home and my nephew got to recognize these Disney Donuts rather than just colorful stuff.

I also got a dozen of assorted Prima donuts based on the visuals and almost totally forgot one of GoNuts Donuts best sellers - Pastillas de leche. Good thing another customer was egging her son to get one that I remembered it. But among these donuts my favorite would be the one filled with cream cheese. Unfortunately, I only got one!

Krispy Kreme seemed to be the more popular pasalubong doughnuts since I wasn't the only one carrying signature green-white-red box on the plane. But I think no one carried more doughnuts than I do that - lol. In fact my carry on "luggage" were nine half dozen boxes of donuts! Anyway, simple as they may seem KrispyKremees Original Glazed still is a favorite and best seller. Even though it's now too sweet, I cannot refuse a bite.

As the Valentine season is just now in the air, so as it is at Krispy Kreme with their doughnuts being heart shaped. Most popular of which is their Kisses Donut with a piece of the chocolate (with label too) marking a spot.

They also have Snickers, Cookies and Cream and a whole lot more. Even their New York cheesecake also became "hearty."

As these two donut shops serve a following of their own, I can only help but wait for these two to open up a branch here in Iloilo to serve their mouth watering doughnuts to the Ilonggos.

Ultimate Ilonggo Favorite: KBL Kadyos, Baboy, Langka

K.B.L. or Kadyos, Baboy, Langka is the ultimate favorite dish of most Ilonggos. It is also one of the most missed native dishes as kadyos and the souring ingredient, batwan , are hard to find when outside of the Ilonggo region. Basically, it is boiled/stewed pork dish owing its "deliciousness" to the combination of the soft and tender pork, the tamed sourness of batwan and the malinamnam na sabaw . One of the "secrets" of the malinamnamn na sabaw , is the fact that the pork, whether just the plain meat or pata (hocks) are first grilled or broiled. This gives the broth a rather smoky taste that makes it more appetizing.. Learn how to make the Ilonggo dish KBL (Kadyos, Baboy, at Langka) with the recipe below. Ingredients 1 kilo Pata (pork hocks) or pork cubes, GRILLED and sliced into bite size pieces 1 unripe Jack fruit, cubed 2 cups pigeon pea (kadyos) 6-8 pieces batwan fruit (or tamarind powder) 1 piece pork broth cube (

An Ilonggo favorite - Valenciana

Found in almost all occasions like fiesta, birthdays, reunions and others, Ilonggos really love valenciana because most if not all have grown accustomed of having it in special gatherings at home. A complete " go, grow and glow " dish because it has the carbohydrates, protein and vitamins and minerals in just one spoonful, Valenciana is really an " occasional dish ". Here's the recipe for Valenciana

Takway

The gabi (taro) is just one of those plants which is edible from "roots to tops". The most popular of which is the tuber part which is used in a variety of dishes and mostly in combination with coconut milk. Its leaves, of course, is the main ingredient of a Bicol specialty, laing . It is dried then chopped and sauteed with other ingredients including, again, coconut milk. Then there is takway . The local term for its tendrils/runner, that part which is torn between being a stem or a root for it neither grows upwards nor downwards - it grows sideways . Scraped off of its outer skin, takway is often a key ingredient in vegetable dishes like laswa and the gabi tuber with coconut milk and local snails know as bago-ngon . It is also popular when cooked adobo style with guinamos , the local bago-ong . It is very popular in the region that even big supermarkets sell takway in style - cleaned and plastic wrapped in styro with some additions to make it easier to prepare.

Batwan

Ilonggos know batwan or batuan by heart as the fruit is almost endemic to the Western Visayas. Its scientific name is Garcinia binucao, derived from the Tagalog name for the fruit, binukaw. It is a large green fruit with large seeds and its a favorite souring ingredient in most Ilonggo dishes especially KBL or kadyos, baboy, langka and the Ilonggo-style paksiw known as "pinamalhan". It is characterized by a tamed sourness compared to tamarind and kamias . The fruit is sold by pieces or kilo in wet markets and even big grocery stores. Batwan is the preferred souring ingredients for the Ilonggo favorite- KBL. The photo shows boiled batwan with skin and without skin (right) A favorite riddle when we were young - "Among the many fruits in the forest, but one (batuan) is the best. What is it?"

A native (foods) welcome in Guimaras

Even after having breakfast less than an hour that time, we couldn't say no to this lot of native delciacies that welcomed us in Guimaras. First and foremost, Guimaras best known produce is their sweet mango famous almost worldwide. And it comes with it's best partner, ibos. This brown baye-baye variety is made from toasted rice thus giving it a more disctinct flavour compared to it's more "caucasian" cousin. I like the one wrapped in banana leaves compared with the one in plastic for it gives it a more native feel. So when you're in Guimaras, be sure to check out the markets for these native delicacies that can make your trip more gastronomically satisfying.

FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

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