FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

People on the go always have little time, that often eating at regular times seems like a luxury. Good thing there are those that cater to busy people giving them fast meals without sacrificing the quality and the food most Filipinos are accustomed to - rice. Rice 'n More has been giving Ilonggos meals-on-the-go that’s light on the pocket but full of flavour. Rice meals have never been this quick and convenient not to mention satisfying. Together with some members of the Iloilo Bloggers Inc ., I was invited during the dry run of Rice n More ’s newest offerings that would soon hit the market. It consists of new flavours for their rice-in-a-cup meals and a new product – meat and veggie wraps . Rice meals consist of chicken or beef strips mixed with assorted vegetables like cabbage, cucumber, carrots, corn and peas spiced up by tomatoes and onions. A variety of sauces makes the rice meals even more sumptuous as one can experiment on the combinations. All these done and presented wit

Chocolate has never been renowned as much as it is today. With its immense popularity, chocolate is the always the sweet talk of the town. Bring new wave to your taste buds as you satisfy your sinful cravings with the delightful array of chocolate concoctions. Enjoy this 5-week showcase of chocolate creation as Tinapayan brings you your “ Sinful Desires ”. For the first time, Tinapayan will hold its first “ Cake Decorating Contest ” on Oct. 1, 2010 at The Atrium lobby, as different schools compete and unleash their creative skills and design. Witness and be amazed with their intricately designed creations. Be part of this celebration and also have the chance to voice out you favorite cake design and support your respective schools by voting. For the first week (Sept. 27 - Oct. 3, 2010) of the Chocolate Festival enjoy the following creations by Tinapayan Bakeshop Choco Hazelnut Mousse Cake A sweet fusion of hazelnuts and cream - chocolate cake blended with creamy chocolate hazeln

Not one, but four, soup creations were presented to us, as together with some members of the Iloilo Bloggers Inc ., I was invited for another series of food tasting session at G reen Mango Filipino Fastfood chain's Nelly Garden branch . We were given a chance to taste of the restaurants newest product days ahead of its scheduled debut on Green Mango 's menu. Dubbed as SoOohpas , this collection of four well-loved Filipino soups is the latest addition to Green Mango 's menu. First served was Green Mango Goto . A flavourful rice porridge served with harboiled egg topped with fried garlic and chives. Though I found it a bit salty at first but really enjoyed it until the tasting bowl went empty. Though most Ilonggos aren't familiar with goto, Green Mango 's version will surely wouldn't fail. Next one is a very familiar soup, Green Mango Arroz Caldo and by the looks and taste of it, I predict this would be the selling among the four soups. Familiar and very

How about laswa , pinamalhan nga bilong-bilong and pancit canton ? Just a typical noontime meal for people here in Iloilo but for Ilonggos residing elsewhere especially out of the country, it could spell a glorious meal of old favorites or dishes they haven't had for a long time. Usually the pinamalhan nga bilong bilong often gets the most cravings since it's a rather hard to find fish even outside the region. A silvery flat fish often cooked pinamalhan but also delectable when sinugba , pinirito or binuro . It is considered the Ilonggos signature fish for it seems non Ilonggos are haven't discovered it yet. Then there's laswa - the Ilonggo mixed vegetable stew cooked in the simplest way with the freshest vegetables one can find. Usually It has okra, kalabasa, saluyot, talong, patola , etc but the addition of puso ng saging makes it even more fiber enriched and adds texture. Now who can say no to this dish? And lastly just a typical pancit canton with meat an

An invitation from one of Iloilo City's top bakeries for an afternoon of coffee, tea and chocolates is one temptation I easily gave in. In preparation for it's annual chocolate festival, Tinapayan Bakeshop has invited members of Iloilo Bloggers Inc . for an exclusive look of what's to come and expect on its 5-week long chocolate festival. Sinful Desires at Tinapayan , officially starts on Monday Sept. 27, 2010, and in the next five weeks, Ilonggos will again go loco over choco as the bakeshop highlights chocolate based cakes, breads and pastries on top of their usual line of baked products. Each week, Tinapayan will showcase a selected number of chocolate based products like breads and choco bars plus a featured cake of the week. Plus for a minimum purchase (PhP25) of any of their products, one can get to experience a dip on a 4 feet tall chocolate fountain. The previous two years saw Chocolate Fashion highlighting Iloilo's first and only chocolate festival with also

I have always loved string beans cooked adobo style ever since. Usually served as an appetizer or side dish but in my case it is as good as my main dish as I often overlook other dishes when adobo nga hantak is on the table. The mild sourness of the local vinegar used complements the savoury taste of the soy sauce plus with garlic, onions and pepper concocts a perfect adobo even if it is just the lowly string beans. The recipe at home calls for hantak ( sitaw ) cut around half an inch long cooked adobo style often with ground meat. This makes it even more than a side dish or an appetizer. And one of the most awaited things to do, aside from enjoying this adobong sitaw , is placing hot or even left over rice in the pan where it was cooked, to get the leftover goodness of the adobo . Of course this practice is very common among Filipino households. Now, where's my adobo nga hantak ?

Tinapayan' s annual Chocolate Festival is back! Now on it's 7th year, Sinful Desires at Tinapayan is going to make Ilonggos "Go Loco over Choco" as the bakeshop brings an array of chocolate concoctions for five weeks starting Monday, Sept. 27, 2010. The previous two years saw " Chocolate Fashion " highlighting Iloilo's first and only chocolate festival with also the country's first and only chocolate dresses . This year, Tinapayan will hold its first ever "Cake Decorating Contest" on Oct. 1, 2010 to highlight this years chocolate festival. Participants from different schools in Iloilo City will battle it out in creating the most visually appealing chocolate cake that will land in Tinapayan's cake collection in time for it's annual chocolate festival.

For urbanites, anything that spells sophistication and lush is a weakness. Their penchant for luxury is such a noted characteristic, especially when it comes to desserts. What can only tempt them are the most luscious confections that will excite their taste buds to heavenly pleasure. With this yummy craving, dessert enthusiasts will surely fall in love with the sinfully tempting desserts offered in Nothing but Desserts , the new dessert mecca of Iloilo City. Once you step in Nothing but Desserts you’ll surely start to understand the real meaning of indulgence. It’s a posh dessert shop that takes your dessert indulgence to a whole new level. You’ll sure to get addicted once you get to taste N othing but Desserts ’ terrific line of sweet treats and irresistible beverages. The shop offers an extensive line of sweet treats that’s sure to keep you compulsively coming back. You’ll surely experience heaven when you taste NbD’s arresting cakes and mousses, with such attention-grabbing names

An invitation from Floyd’s Famous B-B-Q came at the right moment for it has been a long time since my last visit to this restaurant at The Atrium Mall . Together with the owner, marketing consultant and other bloggers, it was a hearty lunch consisting of the restaurant’s specialties – some, my personal favorites, while others worthwhile discoveries. To start with, why Floyd’s ? I mean none of their lineage is named Floyd or were they inspired by that sassy cook I often seen on TV making dishes and among them, barbecue. I learned it was simply just a good name and quite a catchy brand for an Ilonggo restaurant. It was later revealed, that decades ago, “Floyd” was the “it” name to call a buddy or almost anyone. Our lunch came one by one and true enough, their best seller, specialty and the one that earned Floyd’s the line “famous barbecue”, was served first – pork barbecue . Ironically when I had first stick years ago, I didn’t quite like it. But the next visits changed my liking and ev