FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

Food memories during our childhood certainly have a special place in our hearts (and tastebuds too.) Given the chance revisiting these places would mean reliving these taste memories that form a good part of our childhood. And Balbi's Snackshop along Valeria Street is certainly among these food places that our hearts would certainly long for. Pancit Palabok First and foremost is their Pancit Palabok. A tasty concoction of shrimp sauce over pancit bihon and topped with chicharon and tinapa. Many swear it's the best in town, costs around PhP75 and you certainly won't regret it. Then there's their dinugu-an. Balbi's makes use of lean pork and no innards plus the blood s filtered and cured before cooking to ensure utmost quality. Thus explains the price of a single small serving is also around PhP70. But it's more than worth it especially if paired with puto manapla. Their two best selling breads are ensaymada and cheeseroll. These treats are ...

With a resounding crunch and finger licking goodness in every bite - I now believe why Balbi's grilled ensaydma with guava jelly and cheese filling is among its best seller. At first, I had doubts what would this combination of flavours be like. I like them all individually but having them all in just one bite plus the fact that the ensaymada is just off the grill - it was somewhat biting into the unkown.  We got the only ensaymada left on the display when we arrived - that's how popular their ensaymadas (and cheese rolls too). But I was surprised that these breads are now very small small compared to what I've tried before. Plus the fact that the texture and consistency were very diofferent from the last time I had them. Good thing, I tried something new and it gave me another wonderful gastronomic experience that I'd love to have over and over again. The ensaymada turned out to be crisp on the outside yet still fluffy inside. With cheese and guava jelly...

I've heard and read so much about Balbi's dinuguan being very good that if people rave about a dinugan of a small and almost hidden snackshop, then it really must be good. I've had many chances of satisfying my curiosity before but I doubt if it really is what people say it is. Add to that, a (small) bowl of their dinuguan costs around 75 pesos, much more expensive than the biggest bowl of La Paz batchoy . But finally I gave in and got rewarded big time. It was really true, Balbi' s pork blood stew is among the best, if not the best, dinuguan in town. It's dark colored and a bit sour, my preferred dinuguan and it's all meat - no entrails whatsoever not even pork fat. That makes it even on the "healthy side". I was so overwhelmed and excited that time that I didn't realize a mismatch side order of cheeseroll and ensaimada - lol. But nonetheless these two breads are also Balbi's specialty, just like their dinuguan and pancit palabok, that i...

Rumours have it that, at present, a battalion of these beings is plaguing the region. Text messages say that they come in droves - in boats, and have become a hot news item lately. Even a local news program, Ratsada , has mentioned it in one of its newscast. More so, its Facebook fan page is bombarded with this “human interest” news. So to be IN, I thought of being a “good host” to these beings if ever it’s true that they are having their midyear convention – no matter where it is. I’ll share the best places in town where these beings (and humans too) can get dinuguan (pig’s blood stew). It was through comments in my blog that I have discovered one of the best dinuguan s in town. A small snack shop along Valeria Street named Balbi’s got my thumbs up the first time I tasted their dinuguan . It was the one I prefer, dark and a bit sour. It doesn’t have any innards and made entirely of pork (meat and fat). It is perfect with puto manapla but that time, I also paired it with the food sho...

Balbi's is one of those simple snackshops that serves extraordinarily good snacks items. I found out online that the "trinity" when it comes to Balbi's are pancit palabok, dinuguan and sweet breads specificially cheese roll and ensaymada. I've blogged about this Balbi's "trinity"before but it's so good that it's worth blogging about them again. I bought a lot of cheese roll and ensaymada last time and even before my shoot was finished half of it was already gone - lol. I just love their cheese roll. (Very) Soft bread that could easily melt in your mouth topped with sugar and butter and of course filled with cheese. I can easily devour it in just two bites or even a single one (lol) and would certainly ask for more. I don't know how many I can eat in one sitting ( and I don't wan't to answer myself either.) The ensaymada is just as good but it's plain and one kinda looks for the cheese inside especially after having a cheesero...

Their signages say it all; how old they are and what their specialties are. That's why when I first visited Balbi's last year, I got their pancit palabok, ensaymada and cheese roll. Mostly it was for blog purposes but I ended up bringing half a dozen of both bread back home for me to continue enjoying my gastronomic discovery that had existed for almost half acentury. Photos courtesy of CasaBaluarte Don't be fooled by the simplicity of the display for it almost sold out daily. Probaby their best seller, Balbi's pancit palabok is among the best in town. It also comes in bilaos for big orders. Balbi's goodies; "nostalgic" cheese pimiento sandwich, soft ensaimada and cheese topped with sugar "crystals"

What would you expect when food bloggers meet? An afternoon filled with food; whether being prepared, eaten, photographed and/or talked about! Natie's invitation to meet at her house was a welcome change from the usual eat-and-run meetings we had before. Thinking of what to bring proved to be an adventure for me. Living far away was the factor that made me decide to buy rather than "experiment". It did not solve my dilemma but even widened the possibilities. The real adventure was going to Natie's residence for it is always out of my way though I pass by the area from time to time. But the directions they gave me were crystal clear that I reached the place without a hitch though I thought I was lost since the path that led was a world away from the hustle and bustle of the outside. Pancit Palabok from Balbi's Assorted chocolates and nuts Amy was already there when I arrived and after catching my breath we started preparing for what to be an afternoon "sn...

After watching the latest installment of the 007 movies, Quantum of Solace on its opening day, I decided to find out why both Cecile and Inday Hami rave about Balbi's . It was Cecile who first mentioned it in the comments section and luckily Inday Hami blogged about it so it already had a bull's eye mark for me. Around 4pm I was at their snack shop and ordered the items which Inday Hami mentioned to be favorites . I got pancit palabok, ensaimada and cheese roll. It was then a usual clicks and flashes scenario while waiting for my order. I can’t believe that this snack shop is almost 50 years old for it was only days ago that I got to know about it. The place is small, only 5 tables, making a homey and unpretentious ambiance. They only have a few items on their wall menu plus some turo-turo items for lunch with some breads and pastries on display. My order arrived, the palabok looked and smelled enticing plus the breads were inviting. It was a good thing that I was the only c...