More than just chika at Chika-an

A quick lunch a few days ago had our tastebuds enjoying the Filipino specialties of a Cebu-based restaurant landing in Iloilo City. Chika-an is among the most popular native restaurants in Cebu having Filipino cuisine as their "main dish" to serve their patrons.

Something new on our menu that day was the Buttered Shrimps which was literally swimming in butter. It was good but was too overwhelming with butter that spells cholesterol in every bite.

Good thing we had Binago-ongang Kangkong with Gata to balance off the buttery sensation of the shrimps. Though it wasn't that good for the bago-ong and the gata were too light for the flavour I was expecting.

Everyone's favorite was the Grilled Chorizo de Cebu and this alone always makes my Chika-an experience already complete. Has a tinge of spiciness in every bite that had us refill our rice more than three times. Yum yum yum ...

My latest discovery proved to be their simple Pork Sinigang. The borth just had the right sourness and the consistency - though they could have just used a sinigang mix with gabi. But it was all worth it - the pork was so tender that it melts in your mouth. Oh so good!

Capping our lunch was the Citrus Quencher or so. But I only tasted a small percentage of citrussy flavours for all I tasted was cold water and sugar with hints of citrus. Yes, we mixed the pitcher before we had our glasses filled. Despite this mixed review, I'd still go back to Chika-an anytime, knowing what to roder to make my next Chika-an gastronomic experience more than just chika!

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

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

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

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...

Bitso-bitso

What is bitso-bitso ? Also spelled/called bichu-bichu or bitsu-bitsu , this native delicacy is made with fried rice flour dough then coated with coconut cream and muscovado sugar syrup. Its like a combination of making palitaw and banacue . The rice flour based "dough" is usually twisted and deep fried. Then it is placed/cooked in a mix of muscovado sugar then dried out. The sugar then "re-crystallize" making a crisp coating for the fried rice flour. The result is a local delicacy that crisp and sweet in the outside yet chewy inside. Cooking bitso-bitso is done many different ways and with different mixes of ingredients. These particular ones in Santa Barbara, Iloilo are still crisp even after being exposed - they are peddled every afternoon around town for 5 pesos a piece. I particularly like the fact that the sugar coating crumbles in every bite, though messy at times, but its alway a treat to have these bitso-bitso . ...

FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

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