FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

Always in the center of a typical Filipino Noche Buena is the " hamon ".  No matter which brand or what kind ham it maybe, the Christmas Eve midnight gastronomic gathering would seem incomplete without it.  One ham that seems to be just within the taste and price range of the Ilonggos is the house brand of Iloilo Supermart - Right Choice. For around 600 per kilo, the Right Choice Piña Ham is a delicious and freshly made ham that's a perfect centerpiece for the Noche Buena this coming Christmas!

This is a staple offering in almost all small bakeries around and is one of my favorites.  The mix of sweet first bite is complemented by the salty aftertaste brings back the flavors of yesteryears.  Though not necessarily a half-moon - it's more of a quarter moon really, this distinctive shape was among the come-ons why this cookie appealed so much to the younger me.  Nonetheless it still is a fave order when ever I find myself at a local bakery. Is this your favorite too?

Get ready  Brown Sugar Boba fans, Tiger Sugar is finally here in Iloilo!  When Tiger Sugar opened on Manila in 2018, it had almost a two-hour long waiting line.  And even after months after, the queue was still long and even grew longer as word spread out like wildfire. I had my first sip of the trendsetting Brown Sugar Boba Milk drink when I was in Hong Kong! Luck was on my side there - the line was tolerable and it was just across the place where I am staying. Tiger Sugar along Lock Road in Tsim Sha Tsui district in Hong Kong And forward a year and a half later, I don't have to travel to Manila or abroad to have another taste of the world famous Brown Sugar Boba Milk! Tiger Sugar Philippines just opened their 1st Visayas branch at The Grid (across Seda Atria) in Iloilo city bringing the much talked about and revered specialty closer to the Ilonggos. Tiger Sugar Iloilo interiors and main counter Why TIGER Sugar? Tiger Sugar originated from Taichung in T...

A stones throw away from the plaza of La Villa de Arevalo is an ancestral house where one can find not only good pasalubong items but also a look into the past of the district. Known as the Sinamay House , this well preserved ancestral house is an attraction not only in the outside but also what it houses inside. A collection of what the past like is housed in the two storey edifice which also acts like a museum of sorts. Sinamay is simply known as abaca by most and, here, a variety of products made from this fiber can be found.  I remember watching a feature on tv wherein the owner proudly showed a framed letter signed by the late Princess of Wales, Diana, showing her appreciation of the handkerchief she was given as a gift coming from this very shop. But the attraction I am most familiar with are the chewies and crunchies made by Mama's Kitchen. Attractively packed in boxes showing their current flavours and variety, this is among the better...

It had me on SPICY, so choosing was not a really dilemma on a menu that was unfamiliar. In the end, no matter what the taste will be, the spiciness will just embrace my tastebuds. And Tantanmen it was... Tantanmen（担々麺),  as defined by  ChopstickChronicles   is the Japanese take on Sichuan Dan Dan noodles. In this dish, yummy ramen noodles are swimming in a deliciously balanced soup with hot spiciness from rayu Japanese chili oil and a mellow nutty sweetness from soy milk and sesame paste. And my tastebuds savored that definition word for word! But not the spiciness I expected it to be but nonetheless, it was a good start for a noodle experience at Ramen Musashi. With the interiors making you feel like you're in some quaint noodle house in Japan, this unassuming ramen house near La Paz plaza across the Iglesia ni Cristo church had been on my foodie radar since I got wind of it on social media. Inside, you can cho...

 After months of anticipation, Jollibee's Langhap Sarap goodness is now within reach for the people of Santa Barbara, Iloilo and its neighboring towns. October 15, 2020 marks the fastfood giant's opening of its 6th (?) branch in the province of Iloilo, aside from its numerous branches in the city. Located at Bangga Dama, this Jollibee Store and Drive thru is at a strategic and convenient corner as the intersection is a busy crossing linking the major central towns of Iloilo. Not to mention its proximity of the Iloilo International Airport, which is around 10 minutes away. Plus some upcoming regional government offices being constructed or already existimg - DOH, DILG, OCD, DPWH and PhilHealth. There are also a numberof subdivisions nearby and a large hospital, Western Visayas Sanitarium - all within 1o minutes. A blessing and ribbon cutting ceremony was held a few days prior to the public opening and was led by Santa Barbara Mayor Rema Somo and the franchisees - the...