FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

The long walk along the Iloilo Esplanade easily burned what we had for dinner so instead of having coffee and desserts for a nightcap last Sunday, it was visit at  Crave Burger  in Smallville. Over an order Crave burger, potato wedges and blue lemonade we let Sunday turn into Monday as we munched our way through their juicy and great tasting burger with the works, perfectly fried and seasoned potato wedges and their signature blue lemonade. I just love how their patty is tostado outside yet still juicy inside - you get all the meaty taste in every bite. And the potato wedges were just perfect to go with the burgers as I sloppily "deluged" it with mayonnaise, mustard and ketchup.    Looking back at them, now I know why it's called Crave Burger, because you'll surely crave for more ...

To be part of its menu starting this Dinagyang 2013 celebrations, Bauhinia Filipino Cuisine launches twenty-four Ilonggo dishes and specialties to pay homage to Ilonggo cuisine. I had the pleasure of having to taste them yesterday during a selected media presentation of these dishes that will become a staple on the menu starting Jan. 25, 2013. So here's what's on its MAIN DISH (Part 2) selection...  KBL Kadyos Baboy Langka Ginisia nga baboy kag Alogbati Lina-ga Laswa Tinola nga Bisaya nga Manok Pata Kansi

To be part of its menu starting this Dinagyang 2013 celebrations, Bauhinia Filipino Cuisine launches twenty-four Ilonggo dishes and specialties to pay homage to Ilonggo cuisine.I had the pleasure of having to taste them allyesterday during a selected media presentation of these dishes that will become a staple on the menu starting Jan. 25, 2013. So here's what's on its MAIN DISH (Part 1) selection...  Chicken and Pork Adobo sa Estiwitis (Achuete) Pinaksiw nga Baboy Manok sa Monggo kag Puso sang Saging Pinaksiw nga Bangus nga pinutos sa dahon sang paho (Vinegar stewed milkfish wrapped mango leaves) Ginat-an nga Langka kag Monggo

To be part of its menu starting this Dinagyang 2013 celebrations, Bauhinia Filipino Cuisine launches twenty-four Ilonggo dishes and specialties to pay homage to Ilonggo cuisine.I had the pleasure of having to taste them all yesterday during a selected media presentation of these dishes that will become a staple on the menu starting Jan. 25, 2013. So here's what's on its SIDE DISH menu...  Adobo nga Takway Apan-apan (adobong kangkong with guinamos, local bago-ong) Baboy sa Balatong (String beans) Linatik nga kalabasa (mashed squash) Tortang Talong with Guinamos Relleno nga Amargoso (ampalaya or bitter gourd)

To be part of its menu starting this Dinagyang 2013 celebrations, Bauhinia Filipino Cuisine launches twenty-four Ilonggo dishes and specialties to pay homage to Ilonggo cuisine.I had the pleasure of having to taste them all yesterday during a selected media presentation of these dishes that will become a staple on the menu starting Jan. 25, 2013. So here's what's on its KINILAW and ENSALADA menu...  Ensalada nga Puso sang Saging Ensalada nga Langka Kinilaw nga Gulaman Kinilaw nga Rabanos (radish) Kinilaw nga Amargoso Kinilaw nga Talong

Over the weekend, Ilonggos will go Hala Bira in celebration of the Dinagyang Festival 2013. But as early as yesterday Bluejay Coffee and Deli celebrates the festival frenzy with its Dinagyang Breakfast Buffet. From Jan. 23-26, 6am until 1030am, enjoy breakfast at Bluejay with its delectable line up. I particularly loved this Skinless Longganisa - meaty, sweet and full of the longganisa flavour I grew up with. Good thing it was a buffet so I had no less than 5 of them during the hwoel duration. And I just love dipping it in vinegar! There's also Beef Tapa which I had big spoonfuls of and it was also perfect with the vinegar dip. These two went well with the Baked Beans on the side. i was so eager to eat that I forgot to take photos of the Daing na Bangus and some Scrambled Eggs that were just beside this plate of Fried Garlic Rice. Good thing it wasn't the Ube Puto that I missed or I would have regretted it. This was my personal favorite because I really loved...

Roberto's is among Iloilo City's iconic food places - opened on May 25, 1978 Since then, it is almost filled with patrons from sun up to sun down - either lining up the counter or sitting down, munching down their specialties. More popular nowadays because of its Queen sio pao , but Roberto's they say actually started as a hamburger joint decades ago.     So one day instead of queueing for their sio pao, I had their double cheeseburger instead. I like the how the patty comes out very tostado , for it adds more flavour and character to the burger itself. As simple as it is, just layers of burger patty and cheese with mayo and catsup - all in a bun. That's when you get all the flavours without all the conflicting flavours of additions - a signature of Robereto's eversince. Roberto's Restaurant is located along JM Basta Street near the Iloilo City Freedom Grandstand. You may contact them through telephone numbers (033) 3350484 or 3371595.

The district of La Villa Rica de Arevalo is home to the 3rd oldest image of Sto. Niño in the Philippines and celebrates its patronal fiesta every 3rd week of January. It's during the Ati-atihan and Sinulog Sunday that Villanhons "eat, drink and be merry" - a prelude to Iloilo City's biggest street party - Dinagyang, which happens the following Sunday. Among the best tourist attractions in Iloilo City can be found in the district of Arevalo - the century-old Camiña Balay nga Bato. Considered a "living museum", the house hosts a curio shop where assorted Panayanon products are on display and for sale, a hablon weaving corner, a vast collection of antiques - furniture, vases and memorabilia of the Avanceña family, among others are on display.  And the house's antiquity also provides a great setting for gastronomy as it is very famous for its native tsokolate served with old world charm. But the fiesta of Arevalo makes house come alive likened to...