One good taste of Linamnam by Claude Tayag and Mary Ann Quioc

I, unexpectedly, got this handy foodie guide as a Christmas gift. This recently launched book from Claude Tayag and Mary Ann Quioc is about their gastronomic journey around almost the 7107 islands of the country thus entitled LINAMNAM: Eating One's Way Around the Philippines.

It's a 300+ page book detailing what's good to eat and other gastronomic sidelights in major places in the country including ofcourse, Iloilo. I recently met Mr. Claude Tayag during a food competition at Esca's Garden Restaurant. He casually mentioned this book that he will launch soon and SOON turned out to be just 3 weeks after we've met.

So yesterday, I was surprised to receive this signed copy of Linamnam. When I got home, it was just the time when I got to read/scan it almost thoroughly even the acknowledgement page. Seeing some familiar Ilonggo foodie personalities and even food bloggers were also included to which I am familiar with most of them until ...

I got an even bigger surprise - I was one of them! I had no idea nor Mr. Claude Tayag mentioned it that time. It was like Oh My Blog moment, just like how most of these bloggers reacted. It's really an honour to be part of the book, but not just any book, it's THE book about food and gastronomy around the Philippines written by THE Claude Tayag and his wife, Mary Ann Quioc.

Now, this is more than a Christmas gift ... it's something that makes me suddenly speechless, lost for words .........

If I had known of this earlier I would have greatly considered attending the launching of this book last Dec. 1 at The Podium in Ortigas. :D

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

Quix! Mart now open at Stoplight-Diversion Road

Steady but surely, home grown and local convenience store Quix! Mart is on a roll. Opening its 4th branch at the busy intersection known as "Stoplight", the 24/7 mini mart will "make life in Iloilo easy and convenient". With no less than Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog leading the opening rites, the opening of this local brand's fourth branch is a testament of the very good business climate Iloilo City is currently going through. Even with the entry of big developers and international chains, local businesses thrive and go with the business flow. Located near one of Iloilo's very own university belt, Quix! Mart offers snacks on the go like assorted rice toppings, sandwiches, cool treats like sundaes and the slush (Mountain Dew and Mirinda) and lots of desserts choices. That's on top of the 24/7 convenience of the grocery they have. For a quick grab of your favorite ice cream, siomai, sandwich, and many others, Quix Mart is conveniently locate

Starbucks Coffee to open at SM City Iloilo Southpoint

After more than two years of anticipation, Ilonggos are getting ready to welcome the newest coffee shop in town. Starbucks Coffee is set to open its very first branch in Iloilo City located at SM Southpoint . Soon, anyone will have a taste of the various offerings food and drinks this coffeeshop have and what made Starbucks a hit in the Philippines when it opened years ago. The two-storey extension building of SM City Iloilo will house food shops at ground level and rumors say. a call center on the second floor. It is conveniently located at the crossroads of two larger shopping centers, SM City Iloilo and Plazuela de Iloilo which is set to open on Oct. 10, 2010. Photos courtesy of zynet and lewdsaint of SSC forum

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.

FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

Search This Blog