FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

You have to prepare for this. Get ready for a plus plus fun at The Avenue ! These days, Iloilo’s premier dining and entertainment destination treats its diners with an overload of your most valuable indulgence: Beer! Tagged as BEER AVENUE! The Avenue will let Iloilo feast on the best local beers: San Mig Lights, San Miguel Pilsen, and your favorite Red Horse, in a 3+1 promo. Diners who purchase at least three same beers will get another 1 FREE! After savoring the variety of Filipino, American, or Italian dishes at Bauhinia Filipino Cuisine , Mojave Grill and Steakhouse , Amalfi Cucina Italiana , and Bourbon Street , diners can indulge with the 3+1 promo for a fun-filled night! And if you and your friends are in for an amazing clubbing experience, avail of the 3+1 Beer Avenue at Club Aura! Beer, music and the dance floor can just never go wrong! (The Avenue Complex is located at Smallville, Mandurriao, Iloilo City. Call Bauhinia at 329-6951; Mojave at 329-5616; Amalfi at 329-5289; Bour...

Calda Pizza means “hot pizza” in Italian and had its beginnings in Lahug, Cebu City in January 2008. Conceived by a Cebu-based couple, Bernard and Frances Therese Palang, the pizza chain started with a capital of PhP 400,000. But prior this venture, Bernard worked in the family-owned furniture business while Frances heads a chemical repackaging business. With success already in the bag after only the first year, they eventually ventured out of Cebu and opened their first branch in Quezon City. They sacrificed their respective jobs to concentrate in their new business. Frances’ attention is devoted with the administration and commissary works while Bernard is in charge of marketing, expansion and franchise expansion as well as the daily operations of company owned branches. Now more than three years later, it has taken the country by storm as around 35 branches have opened nationwide. NOW IN ILOILO But Ilonggos need not to travel out as Calda Pizza recently opened its first bra...

When on a gastronomic trip, be sure to make that delicious stop at Bauhinia Filipino Cuisine to get a taste of its latest menu offering: MANOK FIESTA! Thrill your appetite with the most palatable table delights, with Magnolia’s free range chicken cooked in your favorite Filipino dishes. Satisfy your cravings with the mouthwatering likes of the classic Binakol, Adobo, Tinolang Manok , and Piniritong Manok . One must-try is Bauhinia’s Chicken Afritada . Peppered with the sumptuous chorizo bilbao, the dish is bursting with mouth-dropping delight. And if you think that you’ve tasted the most delicious Inihaw na Manok , think again. Bauhinia’s toast to the Ilonggo favorite is oh-so flavorful and satisfying; definitely worth a comeback trip. Roll your sleeves for Nilasing na Manok , braised chicken in tuba reduction, and the appetizing Sinampalukang Manok , in sour-tamarind broth and fresh vegetables. And if you want to savor something indulgent, sample the lip-smacking Tinuom na Manok , in...

Much has been said about people going for “green” and sustainable practices. Weather changes abruptly and the globe goes warm- hence everyone gives “greening” a second thought. Whether it be in daily routines or in building and maintaining homes, “green” is in. There is, however, the perception that green is posh and therefore not affordable. Well, perceptions are often without basis. Green is in fact, inexpensive… More Than Just A House What is a green home? It is a house that uses environment-friendly designs and affordable construction materials thus making a house a home. Such features bring the owner closer to owning a sustainable eco-friendly home that allows saving on electricity and water. It is a home that allows one to experience new, comfortable, and easy lifestyle which is certainly worth having. Such a home is now within your reach. Greenovate Corporation Builds Green Homes Greenovate Corporation is Cebu's leading supplier of eco-friendly and healthful building mater...

When I first blogged about RGies Delicacies years ago, I had a (day) dreamt of visiting its factory and having an up close and personal look on how those yummy butterscotch are made. An assignment for a local magazine last March brought me to Gran Plains Subdivision in Jaro to interview Mrs. Grace Javelosa, the “G” in RGies. I first met her together with her husband Ramon – the “R”, months ago when I was scouting for sponsors for the Visayas Blogging Summit . From then on, I knew that it won’t be our last meeting. “ Butterscotchelicious ” and “ yemarrifi c” described that afternoon as my ogled in all directions the moment I stepped inside the premises. A display of their goodies greet visitors as packs of butterscotch with variants, yema, butterscotti and walnut flake cookies scuffle for one’s attention. As I was led deeper into the lair of sweets, I found myself in the heart of it all – the kitchen. There, I was lucky to have seen what usually off limits to most - how both buttersc...

While its “sale” to the Big Bee haven’t really dented its sales, the taste and what everyone is afraid of – no more unlimited rice, still is the same old story. Only the Ilonggo pride seems to have been affected but that’s just within the weeks when the rather “disturbing” news came out. Since then it looks like nothing big happened with Mang Inasal months ago. Anyway, I’d rather not dwell on that but move on to this pecho combo meal (yes, with unlimited rice). Gone are the days when I detested the taste of Mang Inasal ’s chicken inasal – the original “ginger-infested” flavour I hated. Rumours say Injap just pulled out on the chicken inasal vendors in front of a hospital in Molo and made him his cook. Now it now seems that this is fast becoming a comfort food – juicy inasal dipped in s inamak, calamansi and soy sauce concoction with hot rice with drops of chicken oil and eating “ kinamot ” (with bare hands). And it would go a long way if you’re “matipid sa ulam” (read 4 cups of ri...

It came as no surprise to know that the pinakbet concocted by Chef Miner del Mundo for Bauhinia Filipino Cuisine at The Avenue is nominated in Sooo Pinoy Inspiring Filipino Food Campaign as one of the best pinakbet in the country. Just looking at it, one can almost savour the crunchiness of the vegetables – okra, ampalaya and sitaw among others. And of course, its very special toppings, no less than a perfectly- fried lechon kawali! Embraced with a gourmet style bagoong sauce, Bauhinia Filipino Cuisine certainly brings this Ilocano specialty into a higher level. It fuses native gastronomy with only the best and freshest ingredients for one delectable serving of pinakbet. With no second thoughts, I voted for this pinakbet hoping it would be included among the Top 10 Pinakbets across the country in Unilever’s Sooo Pinoy Campaign . Here’s the link and hoping you’d also be voting for Bauhinia’s Pinakbet!

Just a recent discovery, I thought this was the original biscocho . It was almost stale breads toasted again to have a new lease of shelf life. Somebody then told me this is referred to as podpod . But still it's the same as how the biscocho orignated. Podpod in local dialect is simply crumbs and I had no idea why it was named as such. Looking at the variety of breads that become podpod , it really shows that these bakeries put nothing to waste. A pack costs 5 pesos only and you get slices of breads - pan de sal, pan de leche, catalugan , spanish bread, pancho or pan de coco , star bread, pogi , and a whole lot more. Sometimes, if you're lucky you'll get hopia, mamon and cupcakes too.

Waffle Time always try to answer your delicious dreams of savoring the mouth-watering waffle flavors that take your snack experience into the most terrific level. You’ll surely be thrilled with the healthylicious Century Tuna Hotdog! Savor the super juicy hotdog wrapped in the classic waffle delight. With this new flavor, Waffle Time becomes all the more irresistible as two giants converge as the Philippines’ leading waffle company teams up with the country’s #1 tuna for one exciting product – Tuna Hotdog Waffle. Century Tuna Healthy-licious Hotdog now comes ready to eat in a delicious waffle available in more than 400 branches nationwide of Waffletime. For only 18 pesos each, have a filling, healthy and delicious snack anytime, anywhere - only from Century Tuna Hotdog and Waffletime . Hurry get this Healthy-licious waffle now for it's for a limited time only! ----------------- Waffle Time started on September of 1998 in the province of Iloilo, Philippines as a simple business...

The disreputable Adobo Ilonggo, a popular meal not only among Ilonggos but Filipinos from all walks of life, has come under fire from fellow culinary treats in Iloilo for conduct unbecoming, gross misrepresentation, etc. The legendary La Paz Batchoy , whose exploits and reputation has long surpassed the boundaries of Iloilo, has lodged a complaint with the Iloilo Culinary Association’s Board of Governors (ICABOG) saying that Abodo Ilongo has disgraced Iloilo Cuisine. “Adobo’s recent behavior is bringing disrepute to Ilonggo food and the people that love them unconditionally,” Mr. Batchoy said. Mang Inasal , ICABOG chairman, said Adobo Ilonggo, if found guilty of the charges, will suffer the penalty of prison correctional (being relegated to the kitchen, for the minor offense), or prison mayor for the major offense, which means cancellation of membership and a total ban from the franchise and other association member outlets. Here’s a litany of charges against Adobo Ilonggo: ●...