FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

This is the Punot Ilonggo Brekky consisting of classic breakfast fares like pork tocino, beef tapa,  fried danggit and garlic rice. It was the among the highlights of the food tasting session organized by Andrea Arañador for the bloggers and media during the launch of Punot Weekend Brunch Specials.    Andrea, who just flew in from Singapore hours before, runs Punot Restaurant with her chef brother Tope who manages the kitchen and the menu. Inspired by her brunches in Singapore and abroad, Andrea collaborated with Chef Tope to introduce brunch at Punot. The results are the flavors of modern Iloilo - traditonal Ilonggo cuisine infused with international taste. Or interpreting international dishes using local ingredients. To start with, they serve us Ilonggo Toast - a local take on the classic French Toasts. A breakfast fare known to many but with an Ilonggo twist - served with the native local delicacy called B ucayo or sweetened coconut strips.  But one ...

Members of the Iloilo Bloggers and the Iloilo media were the first group of people to be officially invited to have a sneak peek of the upcoming Krispy Kreme Doughnut Store. Located at the main entrance of SM City Iloilo, this will be the doughnut chain's first store in the region.  The store which will officially open to the public on November 30, Sunday at 10am  Here are some of the highlights of the media visit today... A counterful of doughtnuts The store can seat 30-40 persons Krisy Kreme HOTLIGHT: When the "HOT NOW"  letter are turned on... ... the store is currently making their famous Original Glazed Doughnuts. And if you're lucky, you might get a complimentary doughtnut The staff and crew - excited and ready to serve the Ilonggos And there are the famous Krispy Kreme Doughnuts... More doughtnuts! And even more doughnuts! And as the Krispy Kreme tradition, every (first) opening of a store in a new city, they are givi...

It's chocolate with a fishy crunch! The rich goodness of chocolate blends perfectly with the crunch of fish crackers. At PhP95/pack, Nothing But Desserts makes something special out of something ordinary by giving it a touch of chocolate. It may not seem to be a perfect combination at first but once you've tried it, you'll ask for more!  

If this looks good, it tastes even better! Nothing But Desserts brings not one nor two but four new gelato flavors that would surely tickle even the most discriminating tastebuds. I had a chance to sample these upcoming flavours in a food tasting session yesterday and the tastes are still vivid in my memories. I just love the Black Forest Gelato with its vanilla gelato base mixed with chopped cherries and topped with chocolate and more cherries.  The Red Velvet Gelato has the rich consistency and taste of cream cheese in a rich red hue gelato base.  Here's a cool version of a classic hot dessert - S'Mores . It has all the ingredients of this popular Amercian dessert - chocolate in the form of the gelato topped with marshmallows and graham cracker bits. What's "S'more"can you ask for? And something exotic to end this post -  Black Sesame Gelato . Popular in traditional Chinese cooking, black sesame may not be on your usual dessert menu but t...

Polvoron is a staple in most bakeshops and is a favorite Pinoy candy-cake mix. While there are so many variations available, making your own polvoron makes you choose the ingredients of your choice and the flavor you love. Ingredients 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 cup melted butter or margarine 1 cup sugar 1 cup powdered milk Flavoring/variation (Optional) - chopped kasuy (cashew nut), pinipig strawberry, chocolate coated, ube, peanut and cookies-and-cream, etc  Procedures Toast flour in a pan over medium heat for about 10 minutes or until light brown. Mix constantly for even toasting. Add powdered milk and mix for another 5 minutes. Remove from the pan and let it cool. In a bowl, place the cooled flour and milk mix then add in sugar and melted butter. Mix thoroughly until it can be formed or shaped. Test a small portion of the mix if it retains its shaped (Add your flavoring options here. Make sure the mixture remains almost dry after the addition) Using po...

With the array of authentic Thai specialties in an unpretentious manner, Nam Prik Thai Kitchen in Sambag, Jaro always offers a satisfying food trip. Simple looking fried "molo balls", I wasn't the one who actually ordered it but I really thank whomever it was. They were a discovery! Though it came with some sweet and spicy sauce, I didn't bother since on their own they were very delicious. The blend of the ground meat, the spices and seasonings were so good that there was no need for me to dip them. They would certainly be part of my lot the next time I found myself at Nam Prik Thai Kitchen.  I just love the rice noodles soup - it's a cross between pasta and sotanghon (lol). The noodle itself is already worth the order and with big slices of meat and vegetables in this soup it's another must order at the resto. Of course, one of my ultimate favorites- nam tok . Its a cold porkloin salad likened to kilawin but with cooked pork strips. The highly...

Two weeks ago, Inday Joy of IloveIloilo blog shared another gastronomic discovery - somewhere in Oton was an unassuming bakery that makes yummy lengua de gato. But aside from that they also sell ensaimadas, puto cheese, banana & carrot muffins and brownies as well other pasalubong items and goes by the name - Brendan's. I then planned my own trip and discover what Brendan has to offer but my schedule won't permit. But as if my silent prayers were heard and answered, a boxful of Brendan's specialties found itself at home. The ensaimada had cheese, butter and sugar toppings and is light and fluffy. Even though it was refrigerated when I got hold of it, it remained that way (except it was cold) and I think could finish 5 in just one sitting. They also have flavoured versions like strawberry, mango and ube which is by special orders (meaning 1 day before) and costs a little bit more.  The puto cheese which tickled my tastebuds more was more of a cake rather th...

The long wait is over! Krispy Kreme will finally open this on Nov. 30 at SM City Iloilo located at the upper ground floor near the main entrance. It will be the 59th store in the country and 4th in the Visayas area. Finally, Ilonggos will have to experience the long queues in order to have these mouth-watering doughnuts that has for years been a staple pasalubong from Manila and other places. It will be a "Hotlight Store" which means that once you see the hotlight sign come on, you’re sure that you will get that melt in your mouth doughnut freshness that Krispy Kreme is known for Continuing the KK tradition, Krispy Kreme SM City Iloilo will have the Golden Ticket promo of giving guests a chance to enjoy a 1-year supply of Original Glazed doughnuts and 8 oz. Signature Coffee! Here’s how it works: Golden Ticket : The first person in line to buy a DOZEN doughnuts on opening day gets a certificate that entitles him/her to a one-year supply of doughnuts and co...