Whether made into a pancit style (dry) or into a soupy dish, sotanghon will always be "tops" for me. The versatility of this glass like noodles plus its "strength" compared to others makes it easier to prepare more than the usual noodle dish.But this is just the usual sotanghon recipe of mixed vegetables and chicken but what makes this special is, of course, the brand, Marca Pato. It's a local brand, made in Iloilo City, but it's way better than even those imported ones and it is more expensive despite being produced locally. It has been proven and tasted here at home that when we will prepare any sotanghon dish, it's alway Marca Pato or none at all.
A stones throw away from the plaza of La Villa de Arevalo is an ancestral house where one can find not only good pasalubong items but also a look into the past of the district. Known as the Sinamay House , this well preserved ancestral house is an attraction not only in the outside but also what it houses inside. A collection of what the past like is housed in the two storey edifice which also acts like a museum of sorts. Sinamay is simply known as abaca by most and, here, a variety of products made from this fiber can be found. I remember watching a feature on tv wherein the owner proudly showed a framed letter signed by the late Princess of Wales, Diana, showing her appreciation of the handkerchief she was given as a gift coming from this very shop. But the attraction I am most familiar with are the chewies and crunchies made by Mama's Kitchen. Attractively packed in boxes showing their current flavours and variety, this is among the better...