FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

As the cliche goes, save the best for last . True enough, this is the best among of B luejay Coffee and Deli 's promo blitz since they launched their summer drinks and dessert weeks ago. I've always been a fan of the cafe's cakes and desserts, so this is almost like "Christmas in summer" for me and those who have a sweet tooth. So off you and I go to Bluejay and indulge in those sweets at half the price! Promo Poster from Bluejay's Facebook account

One of Iloilo City's top hotels, Hotel del Rio offers not only the best of Ilonggo hospitality with scenic rooms beside the Iloilo river but also Ilonggos penchant for the good life and good food. And a galore of good food you'll get with the hotel's array of buffets for any time of the day, any day of the week! From Filipino and native dishes to international and continental cuisine, one can satisfy his cravings from Hotel del Rio's buffets throughout the week. Promotional posters from Hotel del Rio's Facebook account

Unilever Foodsolutions, in cooperation with the Department of Tourism and the Philippine Daily Inquirer, has launched the “Sooo Pinoy” campaign, a search for the Filipinos’ favorite local dish. The campaign also introduces UFS’ three newest products: Knorr Lime Powder, an alternative to calamansi or dayap; Knorr Bango Kecap Manis, a modern barbecue sauce; and Knorr Osyter Flavored Sauce, a sauce of Chinese origin that’s fit the Pinoy taste. “More than a campaign, “Sooo Pinoy” is a movement aimed to enhance what is already good about Filipino food,” says Pinky Laurena, UFS Managing Director . “We want to put the Philippines on the cuisine map.” Ten well loved Pinoy dishes have been short-listed by UFS Culinary Team: Kare-Kare, Adobo, Chicken Inasal, Sisig, Sinigang na Hipon, Crispy Pata, Pinakbet, Bulalo and Daing na Bangus . Voting for your favorite can be done either online at Inquirer.net , or through SMS through Inquirer mobile. Voters won’t go home empty-handed; they ge...

One of the better commercial bakeshops in the city, Tibiao is actually a name of a town in the province of Antique. It has a wide range of breads, pasalubong items, pastries and cakes with branches in SM malls. Some stand alone branches serve short orders like pancit molo , hamburger and one of their best selling items, sio pao. Royal Bibingka

Roberto's Queen sio pao is not only known to be a big sized sio pao with more than the usual filling ( it has bacon and Chinese sausage on top of the usual chicken-pork adobo combination and hard boiled egg.) It also takes a deal of good luck to get one since it is only available for 3 days a month. Yes, only 3 days a month - you miss the exact dates then you'll have to wait for almost a month. So it's always recommended to call them before venturing out to taste the " Queen " or you'll end up with the " King ". It has ham instead of bacon and the rest are the same yet this one's much smaller. And I did call Roberto's today to inquire more than "when it is available next month?". It was actually for the upcoming bloggers meet. Not for sponsorship (but we'll try-lol) but to ask if the "Queen" can be made to order. And "Roberta" said yes if one orders a minimum of 30 pieces and must call 2-3 days ahead for the...

It was just fitting that our Iloilo Bloggers meet today (in preparation for the 1st Visayas Blogging Summit in November 2010) was over Dos Marias Pizzeria's gigantic pizza. Yet it's 32-inch diameter and 30 slices were no match for the number tasks to be done and preparations to be made (especially sponsors to seek-lol) for the upcoming bloggers meet, seven months from now. Its thin crust was like a piaya and had the usual toppings of ham, peppers, mushrooms, pineapple and of course cheese (we got two flavours in one). Just like the summit, bloggers coming different parts of the country will merge in Iloilo City for two days of fun, learning, and experience on top of the usual blogging activity. Size comparison to a 1.5 liter softdrink bottle Though many said there's nothing spectacular in the flavour (only the size) but it tasted than expected for me. Just your ordinary thin crust pizza made extra ordinarily BIG! And BIG is what Iloilo Bloggers aim by hosting the summit...

After 3 years of being the bridesmaid, Iloilo City once again claimed victory in the recently concluded Aliwan Fiesta 2010 held at the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex from April 22-24, 2010. Aliwan Fiesta is an annual event that gathers different cultural festivals of the Philippines in Star City Complex in Pasay City wherein contingents compete in dance parade and float competitions, as well as in a beauty pageant . Organized by Manila Broadcasting Company (MBC) together with Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) and the cities of Manila and Pasay , the event is dubbed as "The Mother of All Fiestas ," with prizes totaling to P 3 million (roughly US$ 70,000). Aliwan Fiesta, which began in 2003, aims to showcase the richness of different Filipino cultures and heritage not only to the people in Metro Manila but also to the rest of the world. [ 1 ] The contingents, meanwhile, aim to promote their respective regions both economically and tourism -wise...

Oyster Boy may not be a restaurant that serves Ilonggo cuisine nor it is owned by Ilonggos but it some way it continues the onslaught of Iloilo gastronomy in the big city. It is evident in their menu that Iloilo is their main source of seafoods especially that one that makes it name - oysters. They claim they oysters are sourced and flown daily from Iloilo. And so are their danggit , dried squid and palad . Thanks to LEWDSAINT of SSC forum for the photos Not only limited to these seafoods, Oyster Boy also makes reference to Ilonggo cuisine in their menu items as my Google search reveals. From the Philippine Star Have some soup for warmth. The restaurant offers the humble halaan shells in miso broth, made with some clams, chives, and yellow ginger. Afterwards, have some more starters — a hunky beef and mushroom salpicao, smoked tinapa roll, chicken wings, crispy palad, crispy danggit, deep-fried Pancit Molo balls , calamares prittos, crispy dried squid as well as several kinds of sisi...

Upon hearing the word "Tibiao", most Ilonggos would associate it with the gastronomic delights a bakery and snack shop named after one of the towns of Antique province. It is understandable enough since the restaurant has been a favorite of Ilonggos eversince because of it's quality breads, pastries and short orders like pancit molo, spaghetti, hamburger and sio pao. Now, there's another "Tibiao" brand making waves and even though it involves fish, it is not related with gastronomy. Welcome the arrival of the Tibiao Fish Spa ! Tibiao Fish Spa is the newest tourist attraction in the province that offers a unique experience by combining the relaxing and exfoliating effects of fish nibbling on a person’s layer of dead skin. It is totally safe, totally fun, & very effective. Read and see more at Tibiao Fish Spa in Facebook . They now have an on going promo Good news! We now offer a 5 + 1 Barkada Promo. Come in groups of 6 and 1 of you is free! Only from 10A...

Fresh from it's "victory" of being one of the Top 10 restaurants in the country that serves chicken inasal , Freska now now launches a chicken inasal so hot you'll be wanting more. Freska's Spicy Chicken Inasal is served in all branches at PhP 89. Photo courtesy of Freska At Facebook. And here's a backgrounder about this restaurant from their website (www.freskagroup.com) Freska started out as a desire of a group of full-blooded Ilonggos to bring authentic Ilonggo home cooking to Manileños and Ilonggos alike. The concept originated when the founders saw a lack of reasonably priced and authentic Ilonggo fare in Manila. The vision eventually evolved into bringing families together to enjoy Ilonggo ...

Balbi's is one of those simple snackshops that serves extraordinarily good snacks items. I found out online that the "trinity" when it comes to Balbi's are pancit palabok, dinuguan and sweet breads specificially cheese roll and ensaymada. I've blogged about this Balbi's "trinity"before but it's so good that it's worth blogging about them again. I bought a lot of cheese roll and ensaymada last time and even before my shoot was finished half of it was already gone - lol. I just love their cheese roll. (Very) Soft bread that could easily melt in your mouth topped with sugar and butter and of course filled with cheese. I can easily devour it in just two bites or even a single one (lol) and would certainly ask for more. I don't know how many I can eat in one sitting ( and I don't wan't to answer myself either.) The ensaymada is just as good but it's plain and one kinda looks for the cheese inside especially after having a cheesero...

The onslaught of Ilonggo restaurants invading the big city continues with Pat-Pat's Kansi House . Popular among Ilonggos, kansi is the local version of bulalo - stew made from beef shanks and marrow bones. And Pat-Pat's Kansi House is among the more popular restaurants where one can indulge in this cholesterolific dish. It's popularity has now "gone out" of Iloilo City as more and more branches of this native fastfood mushroom throughout Manila. These photos ( thanks to OBOI of SSC forums ) were from it's newest branch in BF Homes Paranaque. Quite a leap in terms of ambiance from it's original branch in Jaro, Iloilo City yet still serves the good ol' kansi, Ilonggos love and non-Ilonggo discover.

I was given the chance to taste test the best treats Bluejay Coffee and Deli has to offer (halfway) this summer. With three of the cafe's best sellers to taste test, bloggers and members of the print media were accommodated by Miss Arlene Juantong, cafe owner, and Miss JoAnne Pijuan, Marketing and PR Consultant, at the cafe's newest branch at the Amigo Plaza mall. At regular intervals, three summer drinks and desserts were served as we chatted and shared insights not only about the food and drinks at Bluejay but on almost all topics under the sun. First in line was one of their best selling smoothie, banana-strawberry. "I ts low fat by the way "; Miss Arlene emphasized. I’m no stranger to this drink since it was among the first drinks I had at Bluejay. That time being a first timer, I was enticed by its being one of the best sellers. Since then I knew why it was such. One can actually taste the freshness of the bananas and ingredients as they sip the smoothie. Thoug...

In celebration of EARTH DAY on Thursday, April 22, The Avenue will indulge everyone with melodic Neo-Ethnic Music featuring MAHARLIKA BAHANDI. The band will treat you with unforgettable neo-ethnic songs and soothing instrumentals as a way to inspire global awareness. Come to The Avenue and enjoy a sumptuous dinner while relaxing to the Neo-Ethnic vibe of Maharlika Bahandi. Celebration starts at 7:30pm. (From Facebook)