FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

This Valentine Season   Lamesa Grill Iloilo  excites the City of Love as it offers Ilonggos their Heart's Days special - Couples Meal. For only PhP 799, this set meal good for two persons includes: Main entree (choice of Chicken Teriyaki, Beef Tenderloin, Dory Fish Fillet or Baby Back Ribs) Pasta (choice of bolognese or carbonara sauce over linguine) Soup (cream of mushroom or cream of corn soup) Steamed rice or garlic rice Four scoops of ice cream (flavors of your choice) Free bottle of wine (choice of red or white) Happening from February 14-16, the Couples Meal is avaialable during lunch and dinner with live acoustic band from 8-11pm.  Lamesa Grill Iloilo SM South Point SM City Iloilo, Mandurriao, Iloilo CIty Tel. Nos. +6333 3333327 or +63 9175263724.

So how to start a month the month of Love in terms of gastronomy? I didn't have to try hard as they come on their own terms.After the revelry of Dinagyang, the next big celebrations in Iloilo are the Chinese new Year, Jaro Candelaria Feast and Paraw Regatta. And it was on the mid celebrations (Jaro Fiesta) that February gastronomy marked its start.  I went to two fiestas during Candelaria - the rainforest inspired set up at the Jamerlan residence and one at Afrique's Jaro, where the restaurant business all began. But in between I just got a call informing me of a photoshoot happening at Days Hotel Iloilo and when I got there it was cakes, cakes and cakes all over. Tinapayan was readying for Valentine and the Heart Cakes were at the center of it all. The next day I was out to lunch at the Central Market and got to discover the old way of having Coffee on the Go at De Leonian Cafe . The month also brought in more discovery as for the first time I got to taste a hambu...

Lamesa Grill Iloilo welcomes the early arrival of summer (and it's only February) with the ultimate cooler - halo halo! And what better way to enjoy this colorful melange of sweetened fruits, beans and other ingredients than creating your own mix and going back for more! Lamesa Grill's Halo-Halo Buffet brings in more than 30 ingredients you can mix and match plus enjoy to your hearts and appetite's delight. Happening daily from 2-5pm and for only PhP 99, one can enjoy the all the works for personalized halo halo. Take you pick from sweetened fruits like langka, saba, ube and kamote to fresh mangoes, melon and buko to canned peaches, pineapple, avocados and lychees. There's also nata, sago and gelatin to give color and texture to your creations. Giving a crunch to your halo-halo are rice crispies, pinipig, corn flakes and peanuts. One can also find sweetened garbansos, red and white beans. Finally garnish it chocolate filled rolled wafers and marshmallows! You can opt t...

An event almost two months in the works and finally it became a reality. Lamesa Grill Iloilo had its grand opening last Thursday, June 2, 2011, with no less than Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan as the guest of honor. The mega senator who is one of the owners of Lamesa Grill just had made a “cut, eat and run” for this literal “ Iloilo food trip ”. He was just in the city for about 3 hours then went back to Manila. But it was enough to give thrill and appeal to grand opening to one of Iloilo City’s up and coming hotspot for good food and entertainment. It was also a gathering of VIP’s as invited guests include Congressman Jerry P. Trenas and Councilor Lex Tupas among others plus added glitter to the event. Other invited guests included businessmen, friend, relatives and the media. Armed with red candles, guests listened to short mass after which the owners together with Senator Kiko and Councilor Lex led the ribbon cutting ceremony. The blessing of the restaurant commenced as guests poure...

I asked myself that question hours before the restaurant opened its doors for the first time in Iloilo. And after a very satisfying dinner, I have more than the answer to share. The concept of Lamesa Grill came from one of its owners, Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan. The mega senator wanted to integrate the concept of grilling food right at the customers table such as those found in most Korean and Japanese restaurants. The original branch at the SM Mall of Asia was an instant hit among the big city foodies when it opened around four years ago. As the franchise grew, it ceased offering the “lamesa grills” and became a more standard restaurant. FIRST TIME With the menu being used for the first time, invited guests during last Sunday’s soft opening at SM City Southpoint, took moments to scan over and scrutinize items before giving out orders to the food servers, doing their jobs also for the first time. A variety of items can be found - some familiar, some “alien” and some intriguing of ...