FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

Chances are, you might already be munching and enjoying a lot of native delicacies in your respective provinces when this time of the year arrives. It's an "unexplained tradition" why native delicacies are the staples of the season. Some say it's Filipinizing the Halloween that instead of candies and other treats, we have these native delicacies to share. They say it started in the rural areas, with the abundance of rice and coconuts, make these the season's staples. ( Link to the recipes is posted at the end of the blogpost ) Let's start with linugaw , though it is made year round as ingredients are not seasonal, it is always during Pista Minatay that we make the biggest batch. A concoction of coconuts, kamote, ube, sab-a, sago and rice flour balls all simmered in a thick rice flour and coconut milk mix. A simple yet tedious cooking process makes this one of the most satisfying home-cooked meryenda for all seasons. And I like it c

From indulgent flavors like Nutella , Speculoos Cookie Butter and tiramisu and to the exotic like ampalaya , ginger and sili , Nothing But Desserts teases the palate of the Ilonggos when it comes to the variety of the  Mokki Lato gelato they serve. And just recently, the exotic flavor the evaded me ever since has finally landed - Tisa Gelato . And in the nick of time as the whole batch was almost finished off when I was there. I tried tisa a few times before but I don't really crave for it. But for it to become a gelato, there's the novelty as well as the exotic factors that raises the level of curiosity. The tisa gelato tastes like the real fruit if I remember my taste memories correctly. The hard-boiled egg texture of the tiesa fruit is evident but not overpowering as it is mixed with other ingredients. Indeed, my taste curiosity satisfied and when it becomes part of the selection again, I'll have another go at it!

What is the best way to celebrate this Chocolatey month? Of course, spend it with all your sinful desires! As this choco festival month fills in the atmosphere, Tinapayan would definitely make you ask for more! Love this week with all the new sweet treats of Tinapayan.  And on its third week (Oct.5-11, 2015), Tinapayan Bakeshop Iloilo will make you ask for more! Enjoy this yummy collection of chocolate creations. CHOCO ROLO BAKED CHEESECAKE CHOCO HAZELNUT BAR CHOCO S'MORES BAR CHOCO SWIRL LOAF It's been three weeks of great chocolate goodness at Tinapayan’s annual chocolate festival. So, what are you waiting for? Indulge in Tinapayan’s chocolate creations and fulfill your sinful desires.  Tinapayan Bakeshop is located alongside Iloilo Supermart at The Atrium, Marymart Mall, Jaro, Mandurriao, Molo and Villa. Opening on Oct. 10 is Iloilo Supermart at CityMall Tagbak

Biscocho Haus is not only a pasalubong shop (think butterscotch, yemas, buttered toast and biscocho) for some of their branches serve short orders. Among the food they serve, I love their dinugu-an and pata .  But I haven't been to Biscocho Haus for a long time to eat (but for pasalubong, yes).  So recently I tried what seems to be their current best-seller - Campfire S'Mores . Yes, it's a dessert and a perfect way my taste buds to reacquaint with the taste of Biscocho haus. A s'more (for some more ) is basically roasted marshmallow (synonymous with campfires) and chocolate sandwiched between graham crackers.  But of course, there wasn't any camp fire at the Atria branch of Biscocho House nor we did some roasting. The Campfire S'more came in a skillet covered with perfectly "roasted" marshmallows with the graham crackers on the side. And instead of eating it like a sandwich, one uses the crackers to scoop the mallows that stand on a "p

You won't find any love birds or parrots sold in this store for it isn't an aviary or a pet shop. The Iloilo Bird House is one of the original Ilonggo snack shops that survived the test and taste of time.  Opened on July 15, 1971, it still retains that simple homey atmosphere that eating becomes a leisure activity - no need to rush just enjoy every bite as you watch the hustle and bustle of Iloilo City through the glass walls. Located at the St. Elizabeth building along Valeria Street, the snack shop is a good place to take a rest while enjoying desserts, sandiwches, pizzas and other short orders like pancit Malabon or pancit Molo. Their pizzas are thin and crisp ever since and even before pizza chains began offering their own. And they have many flavors to choose from that you may have a hard time choosing. What makes the Iloilo Bird House pizza unique is the crust are almost like spring roll wrappers - thin, that one is simply not enough.