FOOD is simply one of the highlights of any trip to Iloilo; from its iconic cuisine and a wide variety of delicacies to its landmark restaurants and (of course) pasalubong. La Paz batchoy, baye-baye, Tatoy’s Manukan & Seafoods and butterscotch are just a few of the reasons why tourists love the Iloilo gastronomical scene.
This week, I played host and guide to a former officemate and his wife who made an Iloilo side trip from their Boracay honeymoon. The places we went and activities we had were almost centered on food that I called it an EATinerary (lol)
After settling at the hotel, we had late lunch around 4pm. The great ambiance and view plus good cuisine and delicacies made Breakthrough Restaurant my first choice where to bring them. Grilled scallops, sizzling crabmeat, grilled and sinabawang managat, adobong pato, kilawin na hipon and fresh lumpia made up our lunch table.
We then left for “Smallville” for a taste of Iloilo nightlife and after a quick survey, we settled at Bourbon Street Grill and bar for some Buffalo wings with some beers and cocktails. I ate almost half of the Buffalo wings (lol) since I really loved its reinvention. We decided to “call the night early” for we have a big day ahead of us.
The next day saw us having a heavy breakfast at JD Roadhouse. Rice squares, chicken cordon bleu and pork chop rice meals, ramen and pancit Molo, were the right jump starters as we head cross the sea to the island of Guimaras which also made a “tourist” out of me.
Around halfway to Raymen’s Resort in Alubihod beach, we had side trip at the Trappist Monastery for some pasalubong items. I loved their mango biscocho and mango cookies (which I taste tested later that night) but my officemate’s wife got intrigued by the instant salabat.
We had a lunch at Raymen’s Beach Resort consisting of sinigang na tangigue, fried bangus and fish escabeche before our very enjoyable island hopping. Our trip ended with a visit to the biggest mango plantation (also bought a kilo of sweet Guimaras mangoes at a stall) and it was almost 6pm when we went back to Iloilo City.
After a tiring yet enjoyable Guimaras trip, we decided for a “light” dinner at Deco’s La Salette. Their signature extra super La Paz batchoy with three equally famous side orders of pan de sal ni Pa-a, pre war pan de sal and puto manapla, made us ready for the night ahead. Puto manapla instantly became a favorite that they planned on bringing home some plus of course batchoy – if their baggage would allow them to.
It was the lure of the multicolored and flavoured Rastaman that made Lumpiga Bar and Resto our stop for the night. Same good ambiance but they new menu and I was dismayed not to find my favorite fried baby squids. I also noticed the performers that night made my guests sleepy (lol) that I decided to hurry up finishing the drink and transferred to another location.
We made a stop at the Riverside Boardwalk for a quick survey but eventually settled at Pirates since they had good sounds that night. Just the usual drinks, Super Dry for my officemate, San Mig Light for his wife and Strong Ice for me plus tempura completed the night that went almost towards midnight.
The morning of our third day concentrated in the heritage district of Jaro. We had breakfast at Green Mango consisting of smoked longganisa and tapa combo meals plus my usual order of bistek Tagalog. I don’t know if they changed their sauce but I find it different as of my last time. (I liked the original one)
After visiting CPU, Jaro Cathedral, its belfry and plaza, it was too early for lunch. So a side trip to Panaderia ni Pa-a and Biscocho Haus for some photo ops and for them to look around for some baked goods that interest them. Mini pan de sal, kwakoy and botton biscuits from Pa-a were among the novelty items they bought.
Actually the reason why I toured them in Jaro that morning was that I wanted to bring them to Peppy Thai for an authentic Thai lunch (lol). It was rewarding when we all enjoyed our lot especially the papered squid, cold pork salad and a soupy noodle dish on top of pork curry, fried tofu, pandan chicken and Thai fried rice.
That afternoon was reserved for their “free time” since I had some errands to go attend to. They roamed around and eventually bought pasalubong from Biscocho Haus. While waiting for their boxes, they said they were enticed by the aroma and look of the dinuguan being served. But they were still full after having another bowl La Paz this time at Ted’s Oldtimer.
It was chicken inasal at Jo’s Chicken Inato Restaurant along Quezon Street for dinner on our last night. It was my first time there and I can’t believe how big the place is. It was almost 9in the evening so we almost had place to ourselves that they even took pictures besides the “mascot”.
Our final “happy hour” was at MO2 Ice and good thing we were there early enough to be seated comfortably in on of the side cushioned seats. The crowd poured around 11pm and I now know how the sked of this bar is done (lol) 11pm is the time when everybody goes “all out”. Only had 4 rounds (lol) or drinks that time (the usual Super Dry, San Mig Light and Strong Ice trio) but I “seated it” downstairs beside the waterpark (lol). Capped the night off (it was past midnight actually) at Coffeebreak with coffee, desserts and green tea frap (for me -lol)
On the fourth and final day, even though I had other places in mind where to have breakfast, I brought them instead to Biscocho Haus near YMCA. So three orders of dinuguan plus, of course, puto manapla (3 pieces for each of us). It was also a good thing that the shop had baye baye for them to try.
A quick photo-op again around the Capitol area that ended with our visit at Museo Iloilo. We then went to Port San Pedro, Plaza Libertad and Freedom Grandstand. We even stopped by Roberto’s Restaurant but the “Queen” was not available. The morning ended with us haggling at the dried fish section of the Iloilo Central market. With usual orders for danggit and dried posit, it was made exciting when they saw boneless dilis for the first time that they also got some. I also got a 1/8 kilo myself. Then I got another 1/8 kilo from another stall since the one they had was the larger variety of balingon (twice as big as the regular ones).
After checking out of the hotel and leaving our things at SM City, we just then settled at SM Food court for lunch since we don’t have time anymore (though I was planning our last meal at Tatoy’s and a trip to Molo Church). I just made up and brought them to the Ocean City stall for some KBL, blue marlin, fish kinilaw with gata and bird’s nest soup. We then proceeded to the airport, had our last photo ops, and finally said our goodbyes.I really enjoyed the last few days just like them, though more on the thought that my EATinerary (really) worked. I can now make use of it online based on experience (and correcting some mistakes I’ve made). Now I’m feeling the weight that resulted from this 4-day/3-night food trip in and around Iloilo City!
(I'll post more and better pictures soon)