FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

Lemongrass ( or tanglad ) oftentimes make it into various recipes by providing a subtle citrus aroma and flavours in different dishes involving poultry, fish, beef, and seafood. But my recent gastronomic encounter with tanglad at Bauhinia Filipino Cuisine changed all that!  I was introduced to two of their lemongrass drink selection during the launch of their Vegetarian Dishes Delight a few months ago making them among the few restaurants in Iloilo City offering vegetarian specialties. Still recovering from a sore throat then, I opted for the hot tanglad drink. It came in a teapot that's good for two cupfuls with honey on the side. It was a refreshing drink - from the aroma that tickled my nose to the lasting trail of citrussy flavor down my throat, the lemongrass drink certainly gave a lasting impression. I particularly liked the subtleness of the flavour especially when mixed with honey.  And those trying to beat the summer heat but still on the healthy...

After the entries of Krispy Kreme and J.Co Donuts in Iloilo City, another of my personal fave and frequent pasalubong "galore" from Manila or Cebu is finally within reach. BreadTalk , a Singapore- based breadshop is finally opening in Iloilo - at The Shops at the Atria Park District by Ayala Land. Now, everybody's favorite like Floss is just a short drive away! Baking Soon at The Shops at Atria Photo from OUREA Real Estate Services Here are some of the other locators that will open soon at The Shops at The Atria Park District Asian Spoon Biscocho Haus Bo's Coffee BPI Core Pacific Money Exchange Healthy Kitchen Griller's Oyster House Kevin's Toys and Library LBC Netong's Lapaz Batchoy Pizzaro Salon de Rose Day Spa Seafood Island Site for Eyes, Inc Y2K Zatazza Cafe Ang Kamalig Restaurant Branded For Less Bread Talk Express Pay Jollibee Mercury Drug 7-Eleven Stores in BOLD will open on April 15, 2015 while others w...

My favorite kind of halo-halo has reached Days Hotel Iloilo! Part of its Summer Specials offering, The Promenade offers two buko (young coconut) coolers that will surely ease the summer heatwave.  The Buko Halo-Halo is both a visual and "gastronomic" treat. In a nutshell (no pun inteneded), it consists of ube halaya, sweetened bananas, sweet potato, sweet beans, tapioca pearls, nata de coco, gelatin, corn flakes, sweteend coconut strips, leche flan and mango ice cream. And that's not counting the fresh coconut meat you can actually scrape off the insides of the coco shell! Ingredients at the Halo-Halo Station during buffets at The Promenade Aside from Buko Halo-Halo (PhP195), there's also Coco Loco (PhP75) - fresh buko juice served in freshly-cut coconut shell. This summer, its the perfect time to go loco over buko at Days Hotel Iloilo!

It was great to be back at Orchard Valley Organic Farm in Tigum, Pavia last Thursday. It was an invitation I couldn't resist, as I remembered the memories of touring it for the first time  and a having a delightful picnic  under a mango tree.  This time it was for the blessing of its training room and dormitory facility. The training room can accommodate around 100-150 people (hope my estimate's right) and is set in the middle of the farm. The alfresco facility gave an authentic farm ambiance and experience at the same time a cooling breeze that could lull us to sleep. And sleep if we must, there's the dormitory having these standard  accommodations perfect for an overnight farm experience. But if there's one thing that always get us to say "yes" to this organic farm invitation - it's the food. From the rustic and bucolic to the gourmet - it's always both a visual and gastronomic treat. How about some balinghoy (cassava) French F...