FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

Even before its ground floor renovation, it was already home to countless food shops. Turo-turo, batchoyans, snack and pasalubong shops made up majority of the ground floor of this 3 storey building. Located along Valeria Street, La Salette building has long been a gastronomical magnet. Its being almost located at the center of big shopping centers makes it a melting pot in this part of the city. Spanning almost a block, its accessibility to most destinations creates a foot-traffic the envied by other buildings Surprisingly last year, it embarked on a move now common in this part of the city. It gave a new and refreshing look to its ground floor with a line up of restaurants and food shops showcasing the Ilonggo pride. From history to the cuisine it presents and the innovations it brought after the reinvention, the new La Salette beckons. Mang Inasal The country's fastest growing chicken inasal and Iloilo's most famous restaurant export nationwide. This store proves how stron...

Just a single mistake made my dinner "crashed like dominoes". But that will come later. Today’s gastronomy trip started in Deco’s La Salette with Lee and Marc for Lee’s batchoy survey. With super special batchoy and two kinds of pan de sal; pre war and that of Pa-a . Over these, we talked about almost anything under the sun. We then had a side trip to Deco’s pasalubong shop where, as I always say, you can find almost everything for your pasalubong box. Ever since this opened I have been very vocal about my “thumbs up” for this one stop shop. On our way to the Capitol, we met accidentally bumped into Rex, under the pedestrian overpass of all places. Having idle time at hand, he joined our adventure that afternoon. We decided to let our lunch settle down first before having our next batchoy meal, this time at Ted’s, by visiting the Capitol and going up the 6th floor for (almost) a birds eye view of the city of Iloilo and beyond. It was really a great first time for me and Lee...

Got these few item at the town grocery without any idea what to call this post. It was until my picture taking session that I noticed the packaging of these items that title came to mind. Packaging plays a very important role especially in the food business. It doesn't only attracts buyers but also is key to preserving the food item's shelf life. In Iloilo most commercial bakeshops are contented with the usual wrap around plastics for breads and those candle fire burned edged packs. Though some have progressed to heater stamps, most products still are not that packaged good. I can only think of Mama's Kitchen , Rgies butterscotch and that Guimaras Best fruta piaya as some of the better packaged ones (though I may have missed some good packaged products). Even Biscocho Haus, being the best pasalubong shop/bakery is still not that well packaged. Okay so much for my rantings. It sure is as clear as day and night that the following items are classified as either big time or sm...

From being a trendsetter in batchoy, Deco's now bring something new. A one stop pasalubong shop! Situated beside its flagship batchoy store in La Salette building, this must go to shop brings around 12 local pasalubong brands for everybody's convenience. It has even an entrance to its restaurant and playing almost every time on the LCD tv are feature presentations about Iloilo. From Dinagyang to batchoy to golf, its an infotainment visit as well as gastronomical. Half of the shops perimeter is lined with choiced among the city's pasalubong brand and mostly it has biscuits,cookied and sweets of all kinds. One can get Biscocho Haus' butterscotch and yema to Mama's Kitchens' chewies and crunchies to Trappists products plus other varieties and brands, literally, within steps. The middle portion has two shelves having some bottled pasalubong, dried seafood, shirts, keychain and other sweets. For variety and convenience, this is a top recommendation where to buy pas...