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 ...

Adobong Pusit

Adobong Pusit or lukos is among the most popular ways of cooking squid. It combines the Pinoys favorite way of cooking - adobo , with one of the most delicious bounty of the sea. For some, the blackness of the dish is a sort of turn-off but to those who have discovered the gastronomic delights of this cooking; it's a taste of heaven - on a plate with hot rice! Here's a simple recipe for Adobong Pusit Ingredients Squid, "gutted" and cleaned Vinegar Soy Sauce Laurel (Bay leaves) Garlic, crushed Onion, sliced Chili Salt Pepper Oil Procedure Wash and drain the squid. Remember to remove the membrane - that sort of bony inside. In a pan, place the squid at the bottom then add garlic, chili and onions. Pour in vinegar and soy sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Boil until the squid is cooked. Pour oil over the cooked squid and mix before serving. You can also separate the ink sauce and give the squid a sort of toasting in oil before mixing...

An Ilonggo favorite - Valenciana

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Easy Century Tuna Recipes

If you're looking for simple, easy and delicious Century Tuna recipes online, congratulations, you've found it right here! How about spicy tuna sisig or tuna sinigang ? Maybe stir fried tuna with pickles or just yang chow fried rice . I love Century Tuna from its flakes in oil variety, the spicier the better, but when I discovered the versatility of its solid variant, it became an obsession. At first I was just into the usual tested recipes; pasta and sandwich filling, but then it got simpler – I just eat it straight from the can! Usually with a piece of bread or an apple. I just add a few drops of vinegar to spice it up a bit. Then came the experiments. Yup I got tired of that habit that one day, I decided to test my skills in the kitchen. Serendipity, you might call it yet most of them turned into good recipes that I have shared now and then. Satisfying my Palabok cravings had me experiment on this recipe on the spot. With Century Tuna in lieu of the us...

Ultimate Ilonggo Favorite: KBL Kadyos, Baboy, Langka

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Bitso-bitso

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FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

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