FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

Another gastronomic invasion of JD restaurant and bakeshop, this time at their Roadhouse branch. Believe it or not we only spent around P235. Pancit Molo (P21) and Chicken rice meal (P32). Two of their best sellers. Buko Pie (P10.25). A letdown for I've tasted much better local and even nameless buko pies. See those two slices of buko pie? If there's another thing JD restaurants are famous for (the first one being very much less expensive yet quality), its the fact the orders are not strictly monitored. Most of the time one gets an extra dessert or drink but if you're lucky enough you even get a rice meal. Of course we informed the counter of their mistake but would have thought twice if they gave us other than buko pie. Just kidding! Baked macaroni (22.50). Another best seller. Its very cheap that it often becomes a side order for most patrons. Based on experience each branch of JD has somewhat a different flavour for this recipe. Club sandwich (P65). One of the more ...

One of my comfort snacks when I was a kid, these butter sticks are much like the smaller version of principe. A good munch whether for snacks or just passing time away, these butter sticks are vitamin enriched and bromate and sold at PhP15.50 per pack of 10 sticks. Just be careful when taking a bite since it's harder than it looks.

Article and Images above courtesy of FOOD Magazine March 2008 Issue

Almost all PEx EB's I had before centered on food, whether in the restaurants, coffee shops, somebody's house or condo unit and even out of town. HULA HULA Shangri La Plaza mall A luau feast for dinner was as we staged a comeback EB after weeks of hiatus. DOME Shangri La Plaza mall Dessert and coffee followed our luau feast. I got flourless chocolate cake MR CHOI'S KITCHEN Robinson's Place Pioneer An EB for two over dim sum, congee and salt and pepper squid. MAX'S RESTAURANT People Support Makati An office lunch break EB with fellow Makati peeps over fried chicken, pork sinigang and kare kare. HAP CHANG Market Market One of our favorite small group EB venue and it helps that they have the best iced milk tea. HOUSE Cainta, Rizal A birthday party turned EB that lasted past midnight. A good source of fiber disguised into something that looks like thinly pressed cornflakes. Took home this one during the above EB. NIPA HUT Pasig City Considered to be our biggest EB ...

Reposted en toto from www.exploreiloilo.com with permission. Picea is known as a cake and dessert shop in Iloilo City. For quite some time now, they have been creating sumptuous cakes for Ilonggos during their most special celebrations like weddings, baptisms, and birthdays. After reading about Picea on MyIloilo, I learned that they weren’t all about cakes and had other foods in their menu as well. Curiosity had lead me to their shop in Mabini Street, near Central Elementary School and SPED. While I was waiting for my order, I was able to talk to the owner, who gladly accommodated me with my questions. I had learned that she together with her husband mastered the art of cooking in the Center of Culinary Arts in Manila and personally prepare the food themselves. Neapolitan Cheesecake of Picea The food in Picea is certainly not the cheapest in the city but they offset that by providing quality and great service. I found my gastronomic experience in Picea pleasurable; I would certainly...

This all-in-one store in my hometown of Sta. Barbara, Iloilo, has around since time immemorial. It started as a sari sari store and bakery then served short orders and eventually become a turo-turo restaurant. For us, it always a take-out especially their pancit lomi and beef nilaga. I’ve been craving for their sisig-kilawin (slices of roasted pig's ears and face seasoned with soy sauce and vinegar mixed with onions) and I was right it really was great.

I never had forgotten that day when I had a quick snack at Biscocho Haus at Robinson's Place. I was there for pancit molo quest but upon inspecting what else they had to offer, I saw a big bowl of pata. It was forever etched in my mind and planned on coming back. Around 50 days later, it came true. Better late than never as they say and I then asked why I deprived myself of this mouth-watering dish! I made it a point to be there before the lunch hour to have choiced cuts and less people at the shop. For PhP55 a bowl, it was already expensive but was well worth it! It had the sourness I wanted and sticky enough that I used tons of table napkin to wipe my lips. I had a very delicious lunch with 3 cups of rice (hey, their serving was actually small) for as what they say "sabaw pa lang ulam na!" I am now setting my eyes on the pata that Ted's Oldtimer have on their menu. I also have tried the one at Dapli, just okay though. I think the best place where I can get a go...

One of the more nutritious line of juice drinks and iced teas basing on then nutritional info on the label, these drinks are also lesser expensive, to think it's made by Magnolia. Their iced teas are very much worth it since you can actually taste the tea unlike others which are "drowned" in flavours. Two of my favorite chichiryas. Salt and Vinegar Cracklings always perk up my mood even just after opening the pack (I made this post eating one) since you can actually smell the saltiness and sourness of the crackers. Oheya on the other hand is a much cheaper version of Nova. Both snack foods ride the multigrain bandwagon making these "junkfoods" appeal to the health conscious people. The name sounds foreign at first but actually is Philippines made. Its another pasalubong idea for my 4 year old nepehw who always asks for "something" everytime people at home goes to the city. Upon taste test, the are just chocolate-covered graham cookies, nothing spect...

Ever since Chymera (of http://www.exploreiloilo.com/ ) raved about Dulgies' latest offering, banana-strawberry cake, I immediately checked on my calendar and planned my Dulgies trip. Today, I had to pass by the cafe again and again to check the crowd; the smaller the better since I am going to take pictures. Finally I decided enter the cafe an hour before closing time upon seeing only two customers. Good thing there's still few slices left of my "cake of the moment". I also decided to have another cake, pecan-caramel cheesecake, since it was the only one I haven’t tasted yet among their display. Banana-Strawberry Cake Made with layers of banana cake and white icing and topped with strawberry preserves. The banana cake layer tamed the sweetness of the icing and strawberry, but it still too sweet for me that I didn't finish the icing and toppings. For me it was good but not spectacular. Pecan-Caramel Cheesecake It’s just the usual cheesecake with pecan and caramel...

Joy-joy's Kalan-an along the Coastal Road in Dumanagas is fast becoming aa favorite stop among native food lovers. Its no non-sense style of cooking plus its relatively low price spread through words of motuh among its loyal patron's that with virtually no advertisement, it rakes in the visitors Krystal Ice , as the name suggests, first started out as cold desserts shop and eventually evolved into a complete restaurant now serving shorts orders and combo meals but still its their halo-halo and ice cream creations that brings in the customers Even the big name restaurants in the city are branching out into the food court scene. This enables them to reach more customers in a more convenient way. Breakthrough 's main restaurant is along the seaside of Villa district with another one at La Salette building in Valeria street. Marina is along the Iloilo River in Diversion Road. Completing this trio is Ocean City having its main branch along Gen. Luna Street. Only Marina am...

Used to call this recipe "adobong tuna sisig" but it seems this is the more appropriate name. It really looks like the shreds of meat in pork adobo and since it's tuna, its a lot healthier. This is one of those times when I discover ( and/or rediscover ) a recipe and I cant seem to get over with it thus prompting me to perfect it. I remember making one months ago, and it did not come out right thus making me "abandon" the said recipe. It was only after having made the entry Simple recipes made with Century Tuna , that I decided to cook this one again in order have a picture posted. And what do you know ... it got a new name and having an entry to itself! For this recipe, I used 2 cans of Century Solid in Water then added a cup of water with sinigang mix (flavour adjusted to personal preference, for me the more sour it is the better). Then I added soy sauce, pepper, chopped garlic and sliced onions. I also added some chopped pickled peppers ( since I'm su...