FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

One of the more visually appealing and "curiosity-beckoning" dishes during the launch of Bauhinia Filipino Cuisine's vegetarian menu was the Pinaksiw na Saba sa Labog . Even Ilonggos who are attuned to paksiw , sab-a and labog , also did a double take on this particular dish. Paksiw is a cooking method that mainly uses vinegar and spices - and mainly used for fish preparations. Letting the fish simmer until almost dry on the concoction makes another cooking method called pinamalhan -  which is essentially " paksiw made dry".  Labog "buds" during an Organic Picnic at  from Orchard Valley Farm. Labog is known as roselle , a vine that produces a deep violet "bud" and the leaves (in green or red violet variants) are mainly used in cooking some Ilonggo specialties especially those involving native chicken. Using the leaves, the chicken dish becomes a fusion of tinola and sinigang , as the broth gets it sourness from the leave...

The long wait is finally over as J.CO, the lifestyle café that serves a mean cup of the best-tasting coffee that goes perfectly with their delectable donuts, simultaneously opened two branches in the buzzing center of Iloilo City bringing their store count to thirty-three in the Philippines in just less than three years. What’s more, the Ilonggos were in for a treat as J. CO gave away 50 half-dozen donuts to the first 50 customers of each branch.  J.CO-ers were treated with the best of both worlds as the interiors of the two branches offer quite distinct features and ambience from one another giving customers a different vibe while enjoying their favorite J.COFFEE creations and unique, delicious and cleverly-named donuts.  The J.CO store located at Robinsons Place Iloilo , at the corner of Quezon St. and De Leon St., is similar to most of the J. CO’s stores in the country, which feature bright interiors and a playful atmosphere that is perfect for hanging out with fam...

Banana cue is a staple Pinoy meryenda fare. Almost anywhere in the country you'd find fried caramel-sugar coated saba bananas on barbecue sticks. But in the homes, skewers are not part of the preparation as one can just enjoy with a fork. And I always crave for the ripe bananacue - soft and naturally sweet on its own on top of the coating. Good thing, there are just a few who prefer this kind. Lucky me! Here's a very simple recipe for a home-made banana cue. Happy cooking Ingredients Saba bananas (ripe and over ripe) Brown sugar Cooking oil Sesame seeds Procedure Thoroughly wash the bananas and pat dry. In a pan (or wok) over medium heat, place enough oil for deep frying.  Fry the bananas for 2-3 minutes. Add the sugar gradually and mix until it melts. Make sure each banana is evenly coated in the caramelized sugar. Remove from pan then sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve If you want the "experience", place 2-3 bananas in a skewer and enjoy ...

Finally the wait is over! Ilonggo's won't have to travel far to have a taste of the popular J.Co Donuts as the chain will open its first two branches in Iloilo (and the region) at SM City Iloilo  and Robinson's Place Iloilo on Feb. 25, 2015 . Will you be one of those who will be lining on its opening day? The first 50 customers on the opening day at 10am with any purchase will get half dozen doughnuts! Very soon donuts with fancy names and flavors like Al Capone, Avocado DiCaprio, Green Tease and BlueBerry More, among others will just be a few minutes away. Welcome to Iloilo, J. Co Donuts and Coffee!

There's nothing more inviting than the lure of the heart-shaped Ferrero Rocher (spherical chocolate sweets consisting of a roasted hazelnut encased in a thin wafer shell filled with hazelnut cream covered in milk chocolate and chopped hazelnuts) cake with yummy Nutella frosting. Even more inviting when you see what's on the label! Now everybody wanted not only to have a taste of this sinfully good cake but also a selfie and more...

I just had the first cup of Coffeebreak 's Heart Stopper coffee and I am still feeling the effects now even after six hours! A special treat for the Valentine weekend, Iloilo City's homegrown coffee shop will serve its own version of the popular Bulletproof Coffee and only available on Feb. 14 and 15 . ( EXTENDED until further notice in select outlets ) So what is a Bulletproof Coffee? Basically its black coffee served with butter. It is defined in Wikipedia as Bulletproof Coffee is a drink consisting of black coffee blended with butter and medium-chain triglyceride oil. The term was coined by Dave Asprey and first posted to his blog in 2009. Asprey claims that the drink boosts cognitive performance and weight loss, and it is consumed by entrepreneurs and athletes. Read more about Bulletproof Coffee . I was expecting to see shavings of butter melting in my cup of coffee but good thing it was already blended in the coffee thus the coffee gleams in its golden hue. I...

The district Jaro, Iloilo celebrates biggest fiesta in the region characterized by the pageantry and the grandeur of the occasion paying homage to Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, the patron saint of Western Visayas. Every February 2, all roads lead to Jaro as Ilonggos celebrate the feast of O ur Lady of Candles in different aspects - religious, gastronomic, enterprising, and more. (For) As early as December the Jaro Plaza is teeming with the Jaro Grand Carnival with activities like carnival games, food stalls, fruit stands and ukay-ukay, among others. It culminates on fiesta day with the coronation of the Fiesta Queen, chosen among the lasses of Jaro families. For the fourth straight year, I was at the Jamerlan household (thanks Sir Eugene) to celebrate the gastronomic part of the Jaro Fiesta. And just looking at the spread alone, it is indeed a grand way of celebrating the fiesta with one of the prominent Jareño families. And the gastronomic journey started with these...

Every year countless flowers are sent, boxes of chocolates are devoured, and candles burned brightly into the night on Valentine’s Days. Indeed, February 14 has become a big annual celebration of romantic love… This Valentine, Days Hotel Iloilo creates the perfect atmosphere to let the persons special to you feel the love in the air. Whether they’re your special someone, your friends, or your relatives, express your affection and appreciation with what Days Hotel Iloilo has to offer.  Enjoy a Sweet Escape this Love Month with this “Ultimate Valentine Package”. For only PhP4000, couples can enjoy an overnight accommodation, Valentine Dinner Buffet for two, a glass of wine for two and breakfast buffet for two.  Those in the mood for an ultimate gastronomic experience should look no further than The Promenade as Days Hotel Iloilo brings “ Romantic Interlude ”. It will surely be a night to remember – filled with romance, teeming with exquisite food, select wi...