FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

What’s a hole-in-the-wall, you may ask. Foodies would define it as a place with something very special (and popular) to offer. Despite a straightforward ambiance and maybe almost obscure location plus all the hassles just to be there, still a lot of people (from all walks of life) make and find time to visit. It could be street side carinderia with a to-die-for specialty, maybe a stall in a corner that sells something special or can be a small restaurant having a unique recipe. It’s really all about good food and the e xperience! There could be many hole-in-the-walls in the city but one really stands out - for it has, literally, a hole in the wall. A “hole” new world This bakery, owned by a rather conservative Chinese family (the Foos ), started decades ago (presumably before the war era) and their business of baking and selling breads surv ived slowly but surely. What started out as a nameless bakeshop is now among the most popular because of its qu...

An article entitled Wheat Matters: Living the Legacy of Chinese Ascendancy appeared on a school based publication and it featured three of Iloilo City's nostalgic bakeries. Buho Bakery is among the most notable bakeries in Iloilo mainly because of it's "iconic" hole in the wall. Dainty though known mostly as a Chinese restaurant has quite a good range of baked goods. And Panaderia ni Pa-a , among the oldest bakeries in the Philippines (since 1896) and makers of an iconic pan de sal in Iloilo City . Enjoy these features courtesy of the The Augustinian Mirror Vol. 75 No.2 dated March 2009. Introduction Buho Bakery Dainty House Restaurant and Bakery Panaderia ni Pa-a

We often refer a "small unpretentious out-of-the-way place especially a food place" as a hole-in-the-wall. But here in Iloilo City, there is actually one bakery that is literally REALLY a "hole in the wall" and its business mainly revolves around that hole. Known for decades as "Buho" bakery as it means "hole", this bakery has been an open secret for many of the city's residents and seem to keep their fascination about the place with them even as they now someplace else. Buho like any other bakery-snack food establishment where one can buy breads for take out or just merely sit down and have some drinks to go with them. But it’s really the hole that makes business for them since it serves as their connection to the outside world as early as 530 in the morning until closing time as insides bakery itself is closed to the public. Aside from pan de sal, their pancho (grated coconut filled bread) and teren-teren also are best sellers and made ...