2011: The year in (food) review

It seems like it was only yesterday that I had my first feature published on The News Today and how time flew for the next 10 months. Now, looking back at 2011, it was a year filled with sumptuous feature writing, appetizing food events and mouth watering food tasting.

ICONS

To start with, I visited some of iconic food places and one of my first features was about Buho Bakery and its famous breads; pancho and teren teren among others. I also had a first hand look on how the Deocampo barquillos was made and I had a very inspiring interview with Alicia Deocampo and her family’s love affair with this rolled wafer.

I also invaded a makeshift bingkahan and discovered how the popular Mohon Bingka was made. There’s also a trip to the La Paz market –going straight to Madge Café to enjoy good native coffee. I also found myself inside the kitchen of Ted’s Oldtimer for my Batchoy 101 feature plus an interview with Adelfa Borro.

NEW PLAYERS IN 2011

A galore of new food places also opened in 2011 – be it an entirely new restaurant or additional branches. There was Peppy Thai Deli’s bold move to Plazuela de Iloilo and Bourbon Street’s homecoming to The Avenue.

Bluejay Coffee and Floyd's Famous BBQ joined in the Ayala Techno Hub crowd while Coffeebreak branched out at Plazuela and 168 Plaza.

Lamesa Grill opened with a big bang with no less then Sen. Kiko Pangilinan gracing their formal opening at SM Southpoint. Stavros and Piccolo Mondo gave Ilonggos a taste of Mediterranean cuisine with its branches at Amigo Plaza mall and SM City under the helm of Chef Mervyn Whitfield. Then there’s Pixie’s Sinugba which prides itself with the world’s first live bangus restaurant located in Villa Arevalo.

Calda Pizza brought Cebu’s giant pizza to Iloilo with its restaurant near Smallville. A new café concept was brought in by Amular Studio + Café with the combination of a photographic studio and coffee shop in one. And Happy Kitchen is a gadget shop, a test kitchen (for rent), and diner, all in one place.

BUFFET GALORE

A foodie experience is incomplete without a buffet and I had lots of it last year starting with Indulgence and the new Amazing Thailand buffets, among others at Days Hotel Iloilo.

I also had a taste of Esca’s Friday dinner and Sunday lunch buffets which had me raving and craving for more of Chef Miguel Cordova's family recipes.

Then there’s the galore of Ilonggo heritage dishes like Estofado nga Pato sa Tuba, Hinubog nga Kanding sa Cerveza Negra and Lison ala Bacalao, among others at a dinner buffet.

Also, a “buffet” of 10 French wines during a tasting session at The Venue Function rooms proved to be one amazing gastronomic journey. And speaking of amazing, Ilonggos would never forget “Amazing Appetite” – Chef Pauline Banusing’s two-day buffet across her 5 restaurants (Al Dente, 101 Luna Steaks, Steps of Rome, Maki and Freska). How’s that for the ultimate buffet experience?

OUT OF TOWN

Going out of town brought me to Tibiao in Antique where I got to tour the bakeshop that made the town more famous – Tibiao Bakery. It was part of the Tanum-Lagaw activity that showcased the natural beauty and culture of the people of Tibiao.

On the island of Guimaras; mangoes played a big role together with chico and cashew as we hopped from one island to another searching for coves, beaches and red shrimps along the way. Of course, there’s the newest attraction on the island – the ZIP line at Camp Alfredo in Sibunag.

Off to Negros, I had an “O”some preview of O Hotel’s newest menu offerings like the Pan seared Norwegian Salmon, Osso Buco and Millionaire’s salad among others. An hour away from Bacolod City is the Paris of Negros – Silay City. I attended the Visayas Leg of the Philippine Blog Awards (which my blog Flavours of Iloilo again won – thanks!) and had a whole day gastronomic and heritage trip.

From El Ideal Bakery to a sugar cane plantation then off to an organic farm and to be capped off with a superb lunch at the Balay Negrense Museum grounds.

POTPOURRI

Going “out of the country”, a galore of sausages and wheat beer welcomed me at Bavaria Restaurant and Bar. This quaint food stop in Jaro has the food and ambiance that reminds of and transports diners to Germany – in a plate.

Back to the Mediterranean, I had my share of Greek Cuisine at Terra with the launching of its new menu – I could still taste the Watermelon and Feta salad! I also had a heavenly slice of Chicago as Father Boy Celiz shared his passion for cooking and his story how his Chicago Style Pizza place came to be.

The Chinese community gave Iloilo sio pao galore so I had I hard time tasting them all from Kong Kee to Roberto’s along JM Basa Street to Dinagyang and Nang Pat’s in Villa to Wewin’s and Jiecel and Thea’s in Mandurriao plus Jaro’s Deocampo. Same goes for kilawin as I tried many them in many forms - from fish to the pork skin to the shrimps and banana heart.

FOOD EVENTS

I also covered food events last year - from cooking competitions to food fairs. There’s SM Hypermarket’s Supersized La Paz Batchoy cook off wherein almost 1900 cups of this Ilonggo specialty was concocted. The Chinese New Year themed Chocolate Cake Decorating Contest organized by Tinapayan bakeshop.

I also had a sort of preview of Sabor Bisaya, as one of the competitors (and eventually the winner) Chef Miner Del Mundo showcased his entries for the competition during a private dinner. My taste buds still remember that Braised Pork with Ube Mash.

A “Tsokolate Experience” at the Camiña Balay nga Bato in Arevalo completed a heritage food trip in Iloilo.

It was indeed a very good year of food and food writing for not only have I enjoyed eating them - I also got to discover them deeper. Several had fascinating stories on how they came to be, others gave me a one of a kind gastronomic experience and some opened a lot of new opportunities for me to meet the people behind these wonderful dishes and places that surely made 2011 an truly unforgettable year!

An edited version was published on The news Today dated Jan. 6, 2012

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