Lumpiang shanghai combo meal at Orange Panda Fastfood

There's a new player in the Iloilo fastfood industry and it goes by the name Orange Panda. You'll never miss it along E. Lopez street and despite the concentration of restaurants in the area, it literally stands out - that glaring orange motif inside out. I dropped by Orange Panda a few days ago to try what they had to offer on their soft opening and I had lot disappointments zeroing on my order - lumpiang shanghai combo and panda red tea.

I had lots of expectations upon learning that this is the fastfood version of the Iloilo Summer House - among the most popular Chinese restaurants in Iloilo. But the moment I tasted their signature Panda Red Tea, uh-oh, it seems the worst is yet to come. I am adventurous when it comes to iced tea flavours but this one - I almost never finished it. 'Twas too sweet at the same time bland as if it was just water, sugar, flavouring and coloring.

Orange Panda is almost like a Chowking rip off based on their initial offerings - Chinese inspired combo meal. Ofcourse its understandable as it is under Iloilo Summer House. As they will compete with many other fastfood restos in the area, they seem to target students and residents in the area for there are many schools, boarding houses, hospitals and offices in the area. But price-wise they seem to fail especially in their combo meals. My lumpiang shanghai meal costs PhP 139 and that's without drinks (ranges from PhP 25-42) so one will still spend more than PhP150 for a full meal all. Not budget friendly.

And then there's the actual taste - the only items I liked on my platter were the chicharap and the butterscotch dessert. Their lumpia was bland even with the sauce, the sio mai too despite the chili dip and the bihon was very ordinary and the meatballs had no taste at all. And I can't believe it adds up to PhP139 (let me dissect the price, 49-solo lumpia meal, 30 for two sio mais, 12 for butterscotch so that leaves 48 for the bihon and chicharap.)

But I'll be back as maybe their other items will be in tune with my tastebuds and I might eventually like Orange Panda. But no red tea and meatballs please ...

Mama's Kitchen and Sinamay House in Arevalo

A stones throw away from the plaza of La Villa de Arevalo is an ancestral house where one can find not only good pasalubong items but also a look into the past of the district. Known as the Sinamay House , this well preserved ancestral house is an attraction not only in the outside but also what it houses inside. A collection of what the past like is housed in the two storey edifice which also acts like a museum of sorts. Sinamay is simply known as abaca by most and, here, a variety of products made from this fiber can be found. I remember watching a feature on tv wherein the owner proudly showed a framed letter signed by the late Princess of Wales, Diana, showing her appreciation of the handkerchief she was given as a gift coming from this very shop. But the attraction I am most familiar with are the chewies and crunchies made by Mama's Kitchen. Attractively packed in boxes showing their current flavours and variety, this is among the better...

An American Adventure Buffet at Days Hotel Iloilo

I just came from a meeting for an upcoming event dubbed as "America in 3D" and when I arrived at The Promenade at Days Hotel Iloilo, it was like "America in 3D" all over again. But it was delicacies, drinks and desserts that time for it was the launching of their newest dinner buffet called American Adventure. As it promises guests to embark on a culinary journey of the flavours of America, guests will surely the taste of America with it's line up appetizers, salads, delicacies, main course and desserts. I kicked off my journey with a bowl of the clam chowder which was just as good as the one I had a few days earlier at The Venue . It was rich and flavourful, so good that sometime during the course of the buffet I had anotherone. There was a beautiful display of Oyster Rockefeller which turned out to be delectable that I got one each time I stood up and take another round. A play on Las Vegas, I assume, were these chicken nuggets they call Gold Nuggets. Indeed t...

Ultimate Ilonggo Favorite: KBL Kadyos, Baboy, Langka

K.B.L. or Kadyos, Baboy, Langka is the ultimate favorite dish of most Ilonggos. It is also one of the most missed native dishes as kadyos and the souring ingredient, batwan , are hard to find when outside of the Ilonggo region. Basically, it is boiled/stewed pork dish owing its "deliciousness" to the combination of the soft and tender pork, the tamed sourness of batwan and the malinamnam na sabaw . One of the "secrets" of the malinamnamn na sabaw , is the fact that the pork, whether just the plain meat or pata (hocks) are first grilled or broiled. This gives the broth a rather smoky taste that makes it more appetizing.. Learn how to make the Ilonggo dish KBL (Kadyos, Baboy, at Langka) with the recipe below. Ingredients 1 kilo Pata (pork hocks) or pork cubes, GRILLED and sliced into bite size pieces 1 unripe Jack fruit, cubed 2 cups pigeon pea (kadyos) 6-8 pieces batwan fruit (or tamarind powder) 1 piece por...

An Ilonggo favorite - Valenciana

Found in almost all occasions like fiesta, birthdays, reunions and others, Ilonggos really love valenciana because most if not all have grown accustomed of having it in special gatherings at home. A complete " go, grow and glow " dish because it has the carbohydrates, protein and vitamins and minerals in just one spoonful, Valenciana is really an " occasional dish ". Here's the recipe for Valenciana

100% Pinoy: Flavors of Iloilo

I remember watching this episode years ago around 12mn on GMA 7. It was truly a gastronomic delight even at that time since I was still in Manila and it sort of satisfied my cravings for Ilonggo delicacies. Here's a snippet from that episode that eventually inspired my blog name. This page requires a higher version browser From 100% Pinoy GMA NEWS Pista ng mga pagkain Kilala ang Iloilo dahil sa Dinagyang Festival na talaga namang dinarayo rito tuwing Enero. Sa Dinagyang – na nangangahulugang "kasiyahan" – makikita ang iba't ibang palabas at parada. Syempre hindi mawawala rito ang pista ng mga pagkain kung saan kilala rin ang Iloilo. Dinayo ni Raffy Tima ang pistang ito ng pagkain at inumin para makisaya sa taunang pagdiriwang ng Dinagyang. La Paz batchoy Kapag sinabing Iloilo, kakambal na nito ang La Paz Batchoy. Kapag sinabing La Paz Batchoy, agad na pumapasok sa isip ang Deco's – ang sinasabing original na gumagawa ng La Paz Batchoy. Ito raw ay pagmama...

FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

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