FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

As the choco invasion started last week, for sure everyone wants more chocolate creations. Definitely, Tinapayan’s Cupcake Decorating Contest rumbled our appetite as we witnessed different schools innovate their wondrous intricate details from a simple cupcake to mouth watering scenery. This has been possible as Tinapayan opened its doors to another “Sinful Desires” that is well watched by its spectators. Yes! A week filled with chocolate creations twisted with different flavours, also made us go loco over choco! And on its second week (Sept. 30-Oct.6, 2013), Tinapayan will make you ask for more! Enjoy this yummy collection of chocolate creations. Chocho Espresso Bar Chocolate Buns Double Chocolate Mousse Bar Choco Blueberry Torte

An unlikely pizza, Punot Restaurant at the Riverside Boardwalk Complex concocts this gourmet offering that would surely be a "curiosity order". Seeing it on the menu, you'll ask what's on it and when explained you just say "I'll have one". Sans the bight red tomato sauce, you get a pizza with a chocolate sauce and in lieu of the meat and veggies you'll have peanuts, cashew and chocolate bits. It is then finally off topped with vanilla ice cream. Now, does this PhP180 tsokolate pizza makes you curious? 

COMING off its fresh victory in the inaugural Iloilo leg of the Ajinomoto Umami Culinary Challenge, Hercor College brushed aside the jitters accompanying a visiting team and grabbed a bit of the spotlight in the Ajinomoto Umami Culinary Challenge – Visayas 2013 (UCC-V 2013) last Sept. 21 at the SM City Cebu Trade Hall. Hercor College lived up to its stature as Iloilo champion and turned up the heat on hometown-favorite International School for Hotel and Restaurant Management (ISHRM) as it proved to be more creative in maximizing the full potential and usage of the umami taste to win the Visayas Showdown for the Best Filipino Umami Dish. Ma-Umaming Haligi ng Kalusugan HERCOR College's Winning Entry during UCC-Iloilo Finals   The triumph landed Hercor College a berth in the national finals for the Best Filipino Umami Dish, which will be held in February next year during the 5th Ajinomoto Umami Culinary Challenge in Manila. Expenses of the four-man Hercor College team to...

It was caffeine overload that day and I literally almost woke up and smelled the coffee . La Roasteria hosted a whole-day coffee seminar yesterday and we ended up making our very own espresso from scratch. The smell of freshly roasted coffee beans was everywhere and it perked up our senses even more for us to appreciate the coffee connoisseurs brought in by Mr Bodi Mijares - master roaster and owner of La Roasteria. Lanz Mirondo Jr. (above) Lanz P. Mirondo Jr. was the 2009 Grand Barista Cup National Champion and represented the Philippines in the 2nd Asia Barista Championship. He was a finalist in the Greenfields Latte Art Challenge at the Singapore National Barista Championship in 2011. Currently Lanz is the head barista at 40 Hands Coffee in Singapore. Kevin Israel Fortu is the 2013 Philippine Barista Champion and is the barista of The Curator, the newest third-wave coffeeshop in Makati. He will represented the Philippines in the 2013  World Barista Championsh...

Nothing compares to a grand dessert treat that satisfies every sweet craving. Always introducing new creations that entice the dessert-loving crowd of Iloilo, Nothing but Desserts at The Avenue brings another set of delights that will make you forget your sugar diet.  Don’t miss the line of the extremely deliciousJapanese Cheesecake with a variety of toppings you can choose from.  If you fancy dulce pralines, Nothing but Desserts has the cream Dulce Rosette (sweet and milky egg custard shaped into a rose). If you want variety, you have the Mango or Chocolate Dulce Praline.  Vanilla will overflow with the classic L’Opera (layer of vanilla roulade, chocolate and coffee cream), and White Velvet (layer of vanilla roulade filled with white chocolate mousse and strawberry filling). Other must-trys are Mango and Sweet Citrus Crostata, a sweet creation of buttery crust filled with cream mango or kalamansi filling topped with fresh mango or kalamansi slices, respe...

Chocolate has never been renowned as much as it is today. With its immense popularity, chocolate is the always the sweet talk of the town. Bring new wave to your taste buds as you satisfy your sinful cravings with the delightful array of chocolate concoctions. Enjoy a 5-week showcase of chocolate creations as Tinapayan brings you your “Sinful Desires”. Now on it's 4th year, Tinapayan's Cake Decorating Competition became "Cupcake Wars" this 2013 with eight schools competing for the yummiest and best looking cupcakes. The cupcake decorating competition last Friday dubbed as " Chocolates, Cupcakes and More " commenced the 2013 Chocolate Festival celebration of Tinapayan Bakeshop.   And here are the Sinful Desires of the Week:  Dark Chocolate Surprise Choco Banana Bar Cappuccino Hazelnut Bar Chocolate Loaf Be ready for more surprises as Tinapayan unleashes more and more chocolate creations every week. Have your chocolate fill tod...

Now on it's 4th year, Tinapayan's Cake Decorating Competition became "Cupcake Wars" this 2013 with 8 schools competing for the yummiest and best looking cupcakes. The annual competition commences the Chocolate Festival celebration of Tinapayan Bakeshop. Within the next 5 weeks Tinapayan will feature a weekly collection of cakes, bars, breads, and squares - all having the delectable touch of chocolate

Classic Savory Chicken is the newest import restaurant that has touched Iloilo and now enticing the Ilonggos at Robinson's Place Iloilo. The queue is like a blockbuster especially at night as curious passers-by want to be in the know and taste the popular chicken that was created by the Tings borthers back in the 1950s in Escolta, Manila. Actually, I haven't tried Classic Savory here in Iloilo and this blogpost is sort of remembering my Savory experience in Manila almost four years. I was at Food Choices in Glorietta looking for a place to eat and suddenly saw their stall. Without much though I got this combo meal with spicy squid and pancit lomi on the side plus lemonade that totalled almost PhP200. It was a price worth my curiosity. I really thought it was fried before seeing my plate but was surprised to see a roasted chicken leg came on a plate with rice and side dishes. It was good - the chicken skin was well spiced and cooked and the meat was juicy that needed no gra...