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One soupy afternoon at Green Mango

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 Green 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 much like the homemade arroz caldo goodness most Ilonggos love, I instantly like it better than the goto upon my first spoonful and finsihed the rest of the bowl in no time at all. It's more subtle yet flavourful and really just like the taste I love.

Green Mango Sotanghon came in second to last on our table and a welcome change to the first two congee type soups. Juts like any sotanghon soup, it has chicken, egg and vegetable garnish to go with the vermicelli noodles. And when it comes to sotanghon, I have my standards set with a local brand - Marca Pato. Whether as a pancit or soup, this creates the best sotanghon dish. But this wasn't the brand used, so it's just like any soup I've tried, good but not spectacular.

And lastly, the most foreign to the Ilonggos is Green Mango Beef Pares. Coming in last when I was already almost full gave me a little chance to appreciate its taste much better. The beef was good though yet beef pares served with meke noodles almost made this foreign dish almost more "alien" because of the unusual combo. Rice would be the perfect partner but at that time, even rice wouldn't make a big difference for taste buds that already had much.

These soups are now available in all Green Mango branches all throughout Iloilo City with prices as shown. Whether eaten for a snack or side dish to GMs combo meals, the soups will surely make one burp ... SoOohpas!

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