FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

Ilonggo specialties welcomed the Sooo Pinoy Foodie Team as the Roadhouse where Emilion Modern Filipino Cuisine was located. I remember the famous Chef Gene Gonzales coming to Iloilo years back to launch the newest offerings of Emilion. From then on, the restaurant has enjoyed the Ilonggo patronage because of its affordable price and authentic Ilonggo and Pinoy flavour.  I was part of Sooo Pinoy, Food Trip na Pilipinas! which is set to visit 300 restaurants in 10 key regions/areas all over the Philippines and Iloilo is the first food stop . The goal of the Food Trip is to show that Filipino dishes per region have different identities based on the culture, lifestyle and history of the area.  The food trip also aims to show that there are many Filipino recipes from different regions of the Philippines, each having its own specialty that has to be recognized for the unique flavor it adds to the Filipino Cuisine. As the second restaurant on our second day, Emilion has prepared t

When The Avenue Complex was built a few years ago, I was excited to see a new development in the Smallville area that eventually brought nightlife to a higher level in terms of food and entertainment. It offers a complete dining and entertainment experience that cater to different crowds and palates as well as a club, mini-casino and function rooms. It has a Filipino fusion restaurant named Bauhinia Filipino Cuisine, an Italian restaurant Amalfi Cucina Italiana, an American bistro named Bourbon Street, a Greek inspired joint named Terra, a steakhouse named Mojave, an all dessert shop aptly named Nothing But Desserts, and a coffeeshop Coffeebreak. It also has function rooms named The Venue, Golden B mini casion and a club, Aura. It's a one stop dining and entertainment destination when in Iloilo City. A few weeks ago, together with popular travel blogger, Eric D of Byahilo travel blog, we experienced the best of The Avenue Complex upon the invitation of it's Marketing Manager

I dropped by Bluejay Coffee and Deli at the Ayala Techno Hub a few nights ago for a cup of coffee and I ended up trying their latest dessert - Mango Cheesecake. Actually, I didn't notice it on their display for it was just a plain cheesecake on the stand but good thing I asked what's new on the menu. So came this mango cheesecake on the table and first thing I noticed is how smooth the texture was compared to their other cheesecakes. It was smooth that each bite just slides in with the rich flavour of the cheesecake. It is a refreshing take on this indulgent dessert with the just the right blend of sweetness and also texture on the toppings. It had tapioca and mango bits and sauce creating a tropical flair to the dessert. The aroma lingers from the start right until I had my last bite. I really like the texture and the flavour of the cheesecake for it is something different among Bluejay's dessert line. The tapioca adds a nice touch as topping and also contributes in making

A quick tour around Iloilo City gave the Sooo Pinoy foodie team a breather from all the Ilonggo dishes that welcomed us all with gusto. It was just the first day of Unilever Food Solutions Food Trip na, Pilipinas as it travels around the country in 10 cities dining in more than 100 restaurants trying to discover what makes Filipino, truly our own.  Passing by the Iloilo Central Market then unto Fort San Pedro to have a glimpse of Guimaras Island. A quick stopover at San Jose Church and Plaza Libertad for a bingka break and a courtesy call at the Iloilo City Tourism offices at the new Iloilo City hall and at the Freedom Grandstand.   Then it was off to Green Mango Fastfood along Valeria Street where Chef Mandy Hisuan Jr. welcomed us with the Filipino fastfood best seller – Lechon Kawali. It was so invitingly appetizing that we didn’t waste time finishing them off our plates.   The Sooo Pinoy event had the participating restaurants prepare their best seller at the same time

A few months back, Unilever Food Solutions launched the Ultimate Food Blogger competition in search for the “ Foodie of all foodies ”. It was part of its Sooo Pinoy advocacy that aims to get to the belly of what makes up Filipino cuisine. Together with t he Department of Tourism, the culminating activity is a food tour to 10 gastronomic destinations and dine in more than 100 restaurants across the Philippines dubbed as Food Trip Na, Pilipinas ! Last week, the gastronomic tour kicked off with a 5-day and 22-restaurant food trip that spanned Iloilo City and Boracay Island . And Ilonggo restaurateurs and hotel owners graciously welcomed the Sooo Pinoy team as they ate their way around town. DAY 1: WELCOME TO ILOILO Chef Pauline Gorriceta Banusing presented a galore of typical Ilonggo cuisine dishing up Native Chicken Binakol and KBL (Kadyos, Baboy, Langka) to represent Freska’s best s ellers downed with fresh dalandan juice and fresh Guimaras mangoes with buco gelato