Prior to the galore of fiestas last Sept. 10, I had my share of another kind - Manok Fiesta at Bauhinia. A galore of exciting and scrumptious chicken recipes that had me “crowing” for more!
“Manok Fiesta is our latest batch offering made possible with Magnolia’s Authentic Free Range Chicken products” says Arvi Clavel-Sumayo, Marketing Specialist of Great Foods Concepts Inc., operator of Bauhinia Filipino Cuisine at The Avenue Complex.
“We have 10 delectable recipes making use of what usually referred to as “native chicken” she continues.” We have classic recipes like adobo and afritada to tinola, pinirito and inihaw. And we made sure include favorite Ilonggo native chicken dishes like binakol and tinu-om”.Being a savoury soup, their Chicken Binakol has the familiar tinge of ginger moderately sweetened by young coconut meat and coconut water with the flavour of authentic manok “Bisaya”.
Their reinvention of Tinu-om nga Manok takes this delicacy a notch higher. The same concept - native chicken wrapped, cooked and yes, served in banana leaves, but innovated with peanut-coco crème sauce and selected mushrooms. “It’s an experience of a genuine cuisine fused with modern culinary arts” says Sumayo.
Their mouthwatering Adobo (with other meats) is braised in annatto and chili oil for a delectable and savoury spicy kick while Piniritong Manok is served with Filipino chicken gravy and authentic chicken oil.
Nilasing na Manok is among the more interesting finds on the menu. But as one would expect it to be marinated in beer or other alcoholic beverage, it turns out to be braised chicken in tuba reduction. Now that’s a natural and genuine “high” that comes with a satisfied tummy.
I really loved the home-made aroma and taste of their Tinolang Manok. With lemon grass and ginger essences plus greens and garnishes, the broth was poured right before our eyes. 
I think you can even make a request for the flavour that suits your taste – they’ll add or tone it down as your palate prefers.And I would ultimately request a Sinampalukang Manok that is more on the sour side. Using tamarind as soup flavour base, this is basically a sinigang recipe with select fresh and organically grown vegetables. Extra rice, please!
“Another must-try is our Chicken Afritada” she recommends. “It is peppered with sumptuous chorizo Bilbao with assorted vegetables and flavourful tomato sauce”. But her personal favorite turned out to be Inihaw na Manok. With a galore chicken inasal restaurants around, I asked myself could this be any better …
… And I ended up eating almost the whole plate of Bauhinia’s version of chicken barbecue, even wrestling the last piece of chicken from Ms. Sumayo, as we all satisfied our tummies with these mouthwatering chicken creations.“Bauhinia is known to give its diners an exciting and innovative twist for the traditional Filipino fare” finishes Sumayo. “And our Manok Fiesta is just one of the many ways we are living up to that recognition.”
(Bauhinia is located at The Avenue Complex, Glicerio Pison Avenue, Smallville, Mandurriao, Iloilo City. For reservations, call 329-6951)
