FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

In his book, Linamnam: Eating one's way across the Philippines, Claude Tayag singled out Aboy's squid fat adobo as he featutred this restaurant. To quote a few lines, " But what literally bowled us over during our last visit was the adobong taba ng pusit. Using broad bodied squid, or cuttlefish (pusit-lumot), its taba or fat is carefully squeezed out and then sauteed adobo style. The flavor is so intense, yet so simple and familiar. Nakakakilig sa linamnam . " It was the last line that got me and when i had my chance a few weeks ago to be in Bacolod City and our "eatinerary" included Aboy's, I personally joined into the order fracas (they were turo-turo style) in case this adobong taba ng pusit might be forgotten. And we all surely enjoyed it and we all felt the gastronomic "kilig" Claude Tayag might have felt that time.he was right at " it was so intense, yet simple and familiar. " I mean how many ways can you cook squid adobo,

Ox Tongue ala Afrique's Pork Napolitana Callos Herbed Rosemary Chicken Glazed vegetables Herbed Rice Pilaf Porchetta Crisp porchetta skin Roast beef Roast beef slices Orange slices Assorted cakes and pastries

Assorted sausages, cold cuts and cheeses Crudites and chips Apple and potato salad Blue cheese? Grreek Salad - watermelon, olives, feta cheese and greens Afrique's Special Pizza Hawaiian Pizza Penne Pasta el Pesto Linguini Pasta with basil and Tomato Spaghetti Bolognese Spinach and Mushroom Quiche

Enjoy these boxful of Valentine Treats as Tinapayan brings brings Choco Hearts for this season of love. each box if already a perfect giveaway itself and contains chocolate hearts of different "flavours" like strawberry, ube (purple yam) and mint.

With no less than Chef Pauline Gorriceta-Banusing herself welcoming us, bloggers and Skyscrapercity "forumers" to  Steps of Rome at Plazuela de Iloilo a few days ago, it was indeed a very wonderful dinner right from the start. "It's a long overdue treat" she says and it was indeed a treat ... make that TREAT ! And the appetizers started pouring as we all enjoyed the Mozarella Cheese Sticks , oozing with deletable creaminess. So good that we asked for a second order that eventually vanished right then and there as everybody loved it. With a resounding crunch in every bite, I personally loved this Herbed Crusted Calamari . It really came in fresh from the frier and even after some period of clicks and flashes from us bloggers, it still remained deliciously hot - literally and figuratively. As Steps of Rome is by Gruppo Al Dente , pasta and pizza are integral part of its extensive menu. First to come out the kitchen was Spaghetti Bolognese and even