FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

Made with toasted ground glutinous rice (pilit) flour, mixed with sugar and coconut/coconut water, mixed and pounded until well blended and sticky, baye-baye is among the most ubiquitous native Ilonggo delicacies. Throughout the years, baye baye remained true to form – simple yet delicious. Usually sold in packs of five or special boxed orders, baye baye is still plain in form and in taste.  I found out for myself that baye baye can have a new perspective during the “ Baye-baye Night ” – a sidelight of Pavia’s 19 th annual Tigkaralag Festiva l. I was invited to be one of the judges to the first ever baye baye competition and it was a galore of this native delicacy from start to finish. It was a competition to reinvent of this simple native delicacy using simple other ingredients that at first, dont seem to match it. Together with Dr. Elvira Banico PhD, Head Teacher of the Technology and Livelihood Department - Pavia National High School and consiste...

It was during a get together that I tasted this rich and delicious ube haleya. Inday Hami (of ILoveIloilo ) brought it just for the occasion and ever since then we at the party can't help but rave and crave about it. Not until I reposted the photo of this ube haleya on Facebook that I knew of it's popularity among my readers that I seek Inday Hami's help in contacting the haleya maker and to make it even more helpful I am reposting her blog article on this ube haleya. Mommy Ondette's Ube Haleya written by Inday Hami of ILoveIloilo Halaya/haleya is actually more popular in Luzon. Also Bohol, they have this but with a different name. Heritage worker, Gardi revived his lola’s recipe for this ube dessert and makes it avaiable to visiting friends and tourists. Although born in Tapas, Capiz, Mommy stayed long in Manila. I think that’s where she perfected her ube halaya. Now that she’s back in Panay, she decided to start her simple home-based business (on a per order ...

It's a new packaging for an old favorite, Angelina Cheese bread now comes in a more eye-catching pack that truly brings out the cheesy goodness of this popular product. With a promise of "more toppings than ever", indeed it got more cheese flavour inside out. Though one won't find actual cheese inside, it still packs in the flavour of what's on the outside. Each bite is rewarded with cheesy crumbs that sticks to the sides of the mouth that one finds it irresistible not to do some tongue acrobatics to get them. Most of the time I can eat half of the pack in just one sitting and its a delight to have them heated until they become softer. Even with just a glass of water, its one good gastronomic moment I wish would never end. But this packaging is not as sealed as the previous one since it is just "tied" around the top. Chances are it may not be as good if time would be a factor. Good thing I always find a newly delivered one that makes my every Angelina ch...

I can now cross out Inggo's Lapaz batchoy on my to visit/eat list as I finally visited it's branch at the back of Robinson's Place Iloilo a week ago. Despite the searing noon time heat I braved the unfamiliar part of the city to satisfy my curiosity for this Lapaz batchoy. The ambiance of the batchoyan was reminiscent to that of La salette building before it go renovated with Ted's nat's or even Oak Barrel, it was atypical modern batchoyan caught between the past and trying to be "in" at present. It was like a deja vu of sorts. I read a lot, heard and seen this batchoy before and since then my curiosity heightened especially on its claim to be the "original" beating the other "original" (Deco's) by 17 years. On tarpaulins, Inggo claims to have been serving batchoy since 1921 compared to 1938 of Deco's. But enough of who's original claim! It's time for the real thing ... So I got the biggest bowl of Inggo's Lapaz ...

It's a galore of cupcakes and a mix of my nephew's two favorites computer games plus of course the fun eating them all. Upon knowing that Daily Buns Bakery makes customized cupcakes, I didn't have second thoughts of inquiring and ordering a big batch of these cupcakes for his 8th birthday. At first it was just Angry Birds , his current addiction, but having 35 of these cupcakes featuring the different birds popularized by the computer game plus their nemeses, green pigs would be just too many... ... So I also got his other favorite game (which he has already outgrown) - Plants versus Zombies. Seeing the likes of the Sunflower, Jalapeno, Peashooter, Wallnut and Squash plus the funny looking zombies, ignited his back interest. But this time, devouring them - the zombie first!. It's a good thing that Ms. Ann of Daily Buns was very kind enough to accommodate this 2 in 1 customization and when I first saw them, I just can help but smile and be happy with the colorful and y...

The tag seems too good to be true but Maki Japanese Restaurant ’s Bento Bento buffet is back – bigger, bolder and better. This whole month of October Chef Pauline Gorriceta Banusing’s Japanese specialty restaurant give its diners a “full on food at half the price” treat. From Mondays to Fridays during lunch time (11am to 2pm) avail of their promo bento bento meal buffet for only PhP122.50 (from the regular price of PhP 245). I got the chance to relive the experience I had years ago when I had lunch at Maki today. On each table, one finds a list of Japanese specialties that will make up your bento box meal. After filling up necessary items and getting the basic reminders, one is now faced with the delicious dilemma of choosing what will make his meal and usually the first one is often the hardest. The bento meal has five categories; Soup, Sushi and Sashimi, Misono, Fried/Steamed and Grill . You will have to choose one from each category in order to make your own bento meal. Juts mark ...

Finally, a place in Iloilo City where gastronomy goes beyond eating. Happy Kitchen is a one stop culinary boutique located at Amigo Plaza mall and basically its a shop where kitchen gadgets, from those used in cooking to those used in presentation (plus everything in between) are found. It is also a haven for those in the culinary arts, whether restaurant owners or just studying to be one, since it also has a lot of related literature, wardrobe and more. It also (will) operate/s as a restaurant to truly complete the gastronomic experience. And to those who are really into the culinary arts, it also has equipment and a kitchen corner where one can rent by the hour to practice his hobby or just put his imagination to work. A first of it's kind, I would assume in Iloilo, not counting those found in schools, etc. Happy Kitchen just opened today, Oct. 8, 2011 and expect more of it's offerings very soon. It is located at Amigo Plaza mall, accessible from the mall or the parking are...

The cool interiors of the new branch Daily Buns Cafe and Bakery was the perfect hideaway from the searing Monday afternoon heat. "Cool" both refers to the more than ambient temperature and to the interiors of the cafe. With brown and yellow shades all throughout, it also complemented what they had on display (that time.) My stomach was still full but looking at their display of cakes and muffins among others that, my order of butterscotch shake got an extra blueberry muffin that got my attention. I had to pass over those mouth watering cakes since I had the feeling they would be too heavy for me that time and my muffin choice was just right. And light too. I love how it became to be crisp outside yet light and fluffy inside. For only PhP25 it was already a good treat, not to mention the butterscotch shake I had. It was a perfect combo and tastes like the butterscotch we are all familiar with. This branch was opened last July 2011 but Daily Buns had been in the business for m...

For most Ilonggos, Tibiao is often associated with a bakery making good breads and treats for more than half a century earning its tagline “Symbol of all Foods”. Being the first bakeshop in Tibiao, Antique, it earned the right for the “namesake” and became among the proud “exports” of this town. BREAD TOWN “Tibiao Bakery started in 1953 with a capital of around 20 thousand pesos” shares owner Walden S. Lim who is also the mayor of the town of Tibiao. For generations, the Lim family has transformed what was just a neighborhood bakeshop into one of the biggest and most popular bread companies in the whole island of Panay. Mayor Lim being interviewed by Arangkada, GMA TV 6 Iloilo's morning show It was under the sole proprietorship of Manuel B. Lim Sr. when it started in the fifties and in 1982 his sons, Vicente and Stephen, started the business operations in Iloilo City. Eventually in 1989, the business was converted from sole proprietorship to a corporation. It has numerous products ...