It was my busiest Dinagyang celebration ever! For 5 days and 4 nights, it was all about food, food and food as I made my way around town joining in the festivities that highlights as the same time "sidelights" the festival. I've discovered new places, new dishes, new events and especially new friends who share almost the same passion. It was indeed an enjoyable and awesome celebration of Dinagyang 2012.
First stop was the home of one of Iloilo's most celebrated chefs, Ms. Maridel Uygongco. I tagged along through the invitation Ms. Regine Algecera, executive producer of two cable tv shows (for both Sky Cable and Cable Star). In her kitchen, Ms Maridel demonstrated the preparation of her YSL recipe she made during the My City, My SM, My Cuisine event. It was a very casual video shoot with all of us enjoying not only the designer ibos she prepared but also the fun of it all.
I then rushed to Maki Japanese Restaurant where a friend celebrated his birthday party with a galore of Japanese specialties and lots of Ilonggo and Filipino favorites from Freska. It was also meeting blogger friends who were there from start to literally when everything was being packed.
My Friday started off with Amazing Appetite 2: Dinagyang Festival Edition. It's a two-day and five restaurant buffet conceptualized by Chef Pauline Gorriceta-Banusing that includes almost 50 of her specialties. Together with blogger friends, we invaded Al Dente Ristorante Italiano and 101 Luna Steak House at the Sarabia Manor Hotel for lunch. There I met my favorite, Chicken Barbecue and Godfather pizzas and gelato from the Italian resto and the US Roast beef from the steakhouse. It was indeed amazing!
After a few errands, I directly went to Amalfi Cucina Italiana at The Avenue for a presscon called in by Globe Telecom. Over pasta and pizza, we were briefed about their latest products and promos centering on their newly launched campaign entitled Resistance. With Dong Ronquillo, Head of Broadband and Landline Marketing of Globe Telecom, the Iloilo bloggers were "unable to resist" asking the latest news as well as the upcoming services Globe Telecom has to offer. And for the first time, Globe Telecom offered free wi-fi services at selected areas during Dinagyang to which we all said "irresistible"!
Then I just had to wait a few minutes and took a few steps for the 4th Dinagyang Bartending Cup held at the complex. A gathering of culinary schools in Iloilo City, this annual competition organized by Great Foods Concepts Inc. is among the biggest events for these hospitality schools. I was among the judges of the event and took on the responsibility of choosing the best tasting cocktails for the night. There were 18 tandem teams, so that means 18 cocktails to sip and scrutinize. But it was really a show of flair and skills (60%) for it was the highlight of it all. Despite the intoxication, I merely had sips of these cocktails (see those glasses above, I already tasted them) and enjoyed the skills as well as drama (not to mention endure the shouts of fans behind me).
Saturday started with this piece of King sio pao from Roberto's for breakfast. Good thing they were open that day and early that time so I was able to have a taste of a sio pao I was craving for. The Kasadyahan Festival became a regional showcase of the best festivals all over Western Visayas. It was made possible with the help of the Depart of Tourism Region 6 under the helm of Atty. Helen Catalbas. With 9 competing tribes and 4 exhibition tribes (the return of Tribu Kahilwayan was well anticipated and applauded), the fun and flair of Kasadyahan upped the momentum for this often neglected part of the festvities. But what I loved most was the participation of the Ati Atihan from Kalibo, as the finale tribe, the audience was called to join them and created a really interactive celebration that will surely become a staple of the next Kasadyahan Festival.
Lunchtime came and I continued my Amazing Appetite journey at Maki and Freska in Smallville. It was almost a reflection of the birthday dinner I had last Thursday that I knew what to get on my plate and eat. I missed the sisig but enjoyed the KBL, I gorged on tempura and lumpia as well kare-kare and binagoongan. It was again, Japanese specialties like sushi, maki and sukiyaki side by side with ensaladang, chicken inasal and pancit Molo. By then, I perfected the art of halo halo making, just putting the right portions so I won't sipping the sides of my overflowing small bowl again. Actually, I just got ube sorbetes and garnished it with sago!
Then I was off to the Iloilo Airport to fetch the awesome couple - Anton Diaz of Our Awesome Planet and his wife, Rachelle. They were guests of Mr. Eugene Jamerlan who met with us at the Concepcion Chalet in Jaro. It was my first time inside the renovated ancestral house that it houses an office, a small dining area and two to three rooms for accommodations. But they are not really open to the public, unless you go there without reservation. We had a wonderful talk over coffee and with Sir Eugene, it is always a learning experience of historical facts and interesting information.
A side trip to the Tibiao Fish Spa at SM City Iloilo was next where we met with Flord and Rex, the young and hip owners of the fishy sensation that will soon tickle the nation. Anton and Rache enjoyed their first ticklish experience with casual interview with the owners. We then dropped by Maridel's Cakes and Pastries at Plazuela de Iloilo and forgot we haven't had dinner. We got a galore of desserts - frozen lemon meringue, napoleones, snicker's pie, concerde, tarts and the one I've been eyeing for months - guava cake. And it really tasted like the native guavas we used to pick in our backyard!
We dropped by Henry's Wines and Liquor's and met with the owner, Dr Mae Panes who is also involved with the city's tourism sector. Over the hundreds of wines or so among us, we got the feel and the vibe of the direction of Iloilo City's tourism sector. But we had our sights on having dinner, thus no wine for us that time.
And dinner it was with the specialties of Bavaria German Restaurant. I really love the charm and ambiance of this quaint little shop in the side streets of Jaro. One feels to be transported into a German tavern with all the trimming and the fixtures. But of course, their specialties will be the ones which will give you the real taste of this European country. And it starts with the German Wheat beer that went well with our Osso Buco, Crispy Pork Knuckles, German sandwich, German bread basket and potato soup. Even the sidings are good especially the sauerkraut and pickled cucumbers. Now how's you say delicious in German?
The next day was the highlight of the Dinagyang Festivities - the Ati ati tribe competition. We were there at Freedom Grandstand early but I didn't eat breakfast - I just had water and cookies to sustain me. Then for lunch, Anton, Rache and I went up the residence of (one of ) the owner of Roberto's restaurant - Claudes. It was my first time past the restaurant which was overflowing with people and the "penthouse" was no exception. It was also full of guests invited for the Dinagyang lunch Claudes always hosts for years or even decades now.
We then decided to go on foot and traveled the streets of Iloilo City and our feet brought us to Dulgies Desserts along Delgado Street which at first we thought was closed. There we indulged in Caramel Pecan cheesecake, Mango nostalgia, bread pudding ala mode, brownies and flourless chocolate cookies. Their display was quite limited for most of the cakes were taken to Ted's Diversion where the bulk of Dinagyang visitors were expected. But nonetheless, it was still a galore of my personal favorites.
Dinner that day brought us to Esca's Garden Restaurant in Aurora Subdivision. I was late that time due to the traffic cause by the fire that razed near the area, so I had to walk. So I only got these Fort San Pedro chicken inasal in my photos but we had pancit Molo, bakareta, lengua? and my new discovery - Pinamalhan na Bangus, though it was paksiw, since the sauce was plenty. And it was very good , I love how the sweet and sour flavours tickle my taste buds with the fat bangus and it belly giving it some bite. Now I know what will be part of my next order at Esca's.
And what do you know, we found ourselves at Maridel's again. We literally entered the dessert shop with the CLOSED sign hanging on it's doors. And we had Heaven and Hell, Death by Chocolate and these special tarts which had these melts in the mouth crusts. We stayed in there past their closing time discussing well - food! The past, present and future of our Dinagyang food tour so to speak. Another perfect ending of a hectic but delicious day.
Lunch the next day was at Buto't Balat in Jaro. I always love the abiance of any of their branches and thought it was my first time in this branch, it became an instant favorite. The food has always been very good (they have among the best sisig in Iloilo) and our lot includes apan-apan, kansi, linagpang nga pantat and chicken liver & gizzard adobo. All were very good and enjoyed it to the last morsel. I always think that Buto't Balat is among the under rated restaurants for maybe it has this "inuman" feel for most but they actually served really delicious food.
To cap this 5-day and 4-nights of gastronomic adventure, we headed to Camiña Balay nga Bato in Arevalo for yet another session of good eats. Along the way, we picked up an order of Pancit Molo from Kapitan Ising which satisfied our tasebuds of being of the best best pancit Molo's in town. Despite just having lunch, we all had second servings of the pancit Molo so we can savour the goodness more and without "reservations". As this was the house the serves best tsokolate in the world (according to Jessica Zafra), the Tsokolate Experience at this ancestral house is not to be missed.
And with that, the tsokolate e describes the very rich experience of gastronomy and enjoyment I had with all these food, activities and compnay thus making this Dinagyang 2012 among the best 5-days and 4 nights in Iloilo City.
Now, Im' hungry ... what's there to eat?