FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

One of my fondest memories of having to tag along during a Sunday "marketing" chore is seeing piles of kalamay nga pula  sold in the town's market. It really excites me to see this brown mound, most especially  if it has much bitog-bitog .  As the transaction goes on, I'd sneak around and pocket as many as I could. So even if we didn't buy any sugar at all or how long the whole panindahan takes place, at least there's something to keep me busy along the way. On the downside, most of the time I'd forget about this when we come home and I just remember it when the ants feast on the remains of the days - LOL

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?

Back in 2019, I remember having lunch at Cafe Belmont during one of my Manila trips.   It was that serving dish of crabs that had me at first glance and it never faded in my memory.  Now, five years later, it’s the breakfast buffet that would tickle my gastronomic fantasies.  We stayed at Belmont Hotel Manila for my parents 50th anniversary and for  two days we had our fill of delicious breakfast. Check out more photos on Facebook From the staples like bacon, ham and sausages to Pinoy faves like tuyo, dilis and danggit. I just love this kind of spread of which local faves go side by side with contemporary fares.  As the first meal of the day where one stocks up carbo, I’m glad there was plenty. From rice, potatoes and pancit to pancakes, waffles and breads - I love the pudding. There’s an egg station where you can request how you would like your eggs cooked - hardboiled, sunny side up or scrambled You can DIY your omelette with lots of fillings to choose from w...

The past days of rain was the perfect time to crave for a hot bowl of soup. And it was Lomi that I was craving for. But then, all I had were mostly ingredients for Pancit Molo, so I decided to combine the specialties of Iloilo and Batangas into one, I must say delicious, noodle dish. Though, it's not really the authentic recipe for the Batangueno soup but it satisfied my lomi cravings. And it's very easy to make despite how heavy and complicated the resulting dish becomes. It's more of the fact that the noodles used are Pancit Molo wrappers and meat are the filling but you can also use dried flat noodles and plain ground meat. Check out the RECIPE .

How about some labanos or radish?  Most likely you've encountered labanos in a Sinigang recipe or as an appetizer with vinegar dressing. But on its own, I love its peppery-bitter (or how might you call it) taste. If it's in season or if its really  cheap in the market , we'd have like a "Labanos Festival" at home. And here's one of the simplest recipes using radish. Here's the recipe for Labanos Guisado with Ground Pork .

Suman Latik is one of my ultimate favorite native delicacies ( check out more ) and most of the time these are sold in the public markets in pairs. It consists of a flattened ibos (or suman as referred up north) topped with bukayo - coconut strips sweetened by muscovado sugar. But most of the time, my appetite hungers for more than a pair of these or the bukayo portion is bitin that I wish there's more. And at times we just make our own at home so that we can enjoy this suman-bukayo combo to our heart's content. But the wrapping of the sticky rice in banana leaves when cooking and unwrapping it for eating, is labor extensive - sort of. So out of the blue, we just thought of making it "Trifle-style". Inspired by the British dessert which Tinapayan at Iloilo Supermart recreates in Ube and Strawberry , our Suman Latik "Trifle" is a native delicacies version made with layers of suman/ibos and bukayo. It's a delectable presentation, easy ...

In a city where heritage meets progress, Iloilo stands tall a both a cultural gem and an economic powerhouse. Whether you're traveling for business or pleasure, the heart of the city offers more than just a destination - it offers a journey. And at the center of this experience is  Courtyard by  Marriott Iloilo , your ideal base for both exploring and excelling. This season, the hotel invites you to  take advantage of two exclusive promotions tailored for discerning travelers:  Explore Iloilo  and  Business Travel Privileges. Explore Iloilo Package Designed for leisure seekers, cultural explorers, and weekend wanderers, the Explore Iloilo Package  is a gateway to the city’s best-kept secrets. Guests stay in a Deluxe Room with daily buffet breakfast  for two at Runway Kitchen, setting the tone for a comfortable and satisfying day. The package includes a complimentary one-time drop-off to any Iloilo heritage church (choose from  Mandurriao, Jar...