FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

Surprisingly, a coffee shop and deli serves the Filipino's ultimate summer treat - halo-halo. A melange of corn, coconut strips, sago and cornflakes among others, it is topped with a luscious ube ice cream that makes it a doubly heat buster. But what sets this apart among almost all halo-halo I tasted so far in Iloilo is the quality of the ice. While most halo-halos have this coarsely shaved ice, this one got's a smooth "texture" that melts in your mouth yet still has a bite. So, wave goodbye to the summer blues with Bluejay's halo-halo, and juts like their coffees and specialty drinks - it's good to the last "drop"!

VALENTINE'S DAY. It’s the time of the year when love is felt all around; when red is the dominant color and how everybody is having a sweet tooth all of a sudden. Desserts and everything sweet play a major role during heart’s day, whether as gifts, giveaways or food around us. As the cliché goes, the way to one’s heart is through the stomach and yes, let’s talk about nothing but food - what to buy, where to dine and how to prepare … Sweets for my sweet! BUY AND BRING HOME Heart Cakes Tinapayan Bakeshop has a wide variety of special Valentine cakes and yes, they are all heart shaped. They do not only look good but also taste good as they come in different colours and flavours inside out. And you can personalize them for your sweet Valentine. Butterscotti A trademark of Rgies Delicacies, butterscotti comes from the words butterscotch and biscotti. They were remnants of butterscotch that stick to the pan after being baked but after being discovered to be deli...

I dropped by Bluejay Coffee and Deli at the Ayala Techno Hub a few nights ago for a cup of coffee and I ended up trying their latest dessert - Mango Cheesecake. Actually, I didn't notice it on their display for it was just a plain cheesecake on the stand but good thing I asked what's new on the menu. So came this mango cheesecake on the table and first thing I noticed is how smooth the texture was compared to their other cheesecakes. It was smooth that each bite just slides in with the rich flavour of the cheesecake. It is a refreshing take on this indulgent dessert with the just the right blend of sweetness and also texture on the toppings. It had tapioca and mango bits and sauce creating a tropical flair to the dessert. The aroma lingers from the start right until I had my last bite. I really like the texture and the flavour of the cheesecake for it is something different among Bluejay's dessert line. The tapioca adds a nice touch as topping and also contributes in making...

Yesterday, I dropped by Bluejay Coffee and Deli and came at the right time when they were debuting something new in their dessert line up. And in time for Valentine’s too as their Red Velvet cake caught my eye first. It was more of the name actually that got my attention for their Red Velvet mini cake was covered in white icing that turned out to be cream cheese and topped with mini white chocolate kisses. I am more familiar with Red Velvet cakes and cupcakes with their reddish hue screaming for attention but this one, you won’t know it unless you give it a close look or it is offered to you. Googling, I found out red velvet cakes are smothered with Buttercream icing but it’s the cream cheese that is most popular. The red hue of cakes now is mostly food coloring but it before it was the addition of red beets that made the color more pronounced. Bluejay’s Red Velvet mini cake is made with a dense red cake layered with cream cheese. It’s not fluffy or airy like those in cakes or cupcakes...

Ilonggos are surely busy preparing for the holidays - where to bring the family for some treats, what’s on the menu for the Noche Buena and what gifts to buy and which goes to whom – the never ending questions of the holiday rush. And you should already have answers to these for Christmas is just around the corner. But don’t fret if you haven’t for I’ll be listing down of my personal favorites as well as the “IN” gastronomic gifts and giveaways for the Yuletide season. DULGIES' ALFAJORES AND RASPBERRY CHEESECAKE SATINE. Make an impression with these insanely delicious one-of-a-kind cookie treats. The former is a Dulce de Leche filled short bread cookie smothered with confectioner’s sugar while the latter tastes as good as a real cheesecake! (PhP 190/20pieces and PhP160/dozen respectively). Don't forget their heavenly cheeseroll and ensaimada too! THE CHOCOLATIEST CHOCOLATE CAKE. There are many good tasting chocolate cakes in the city but only Uncle Tom’s could claim being t...

Brewing up an enthusiasm for the good things in life, Bluejay Coffee and Delicatessen has wisely carved its niche as one of the best coffee shops in Iloilo. Built not just be cause of the owners’ love for coffee but also to answer to Iloilo city’s need for a more sophisticated venue. With two swanky branches located at strategic districts in city, Bluejay was born out of passion and concern - passion for coffee and concern for a developing city that was and still is in need of more top-rank establishments befitting its progressing status. The restaurant has upped the ante by offering the Ilonggos a classier and hipper take on the usual coffee-and-dining experience. Cleverly resisting the compulsion to put all its beans in one filter basket, it did not just limit its market to the java-loving crowd, but has also introduced the deli-cum-coffee shop concept to local food enthusiasts. But as first impressions tend to last, many people still think that one has to have a deep pocket in orde...