FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

Special Batchoy  Ube Ensaimada   Batchoy up close Inside the ube ensaymada Perfect partner for batchoy - mini pan de leche

Tinapayan Bakeshop is my favorite bakery in Iloilo City. Most, if not all, of their products are (very) good and worth the price you pay. Not to mention they are attractively presented and packaged too doubling as a pasalubong treat. One of my favorite breads at Tinapayan is ensaymada - both ube and cheese! I always buy them in tandem or none at all. What I like most about them aside from the rich sugar-butter topping plus either cheese or ube, is that quality of the bread plus the ube (and cheese) "extends" inside the bread. Most of the time it's the regular ensayamda ( monggo ) that is filled but not these "sosyal" type for obviously this adds to the price of the ensayamada. That explains that each of these ensaymada costs PhP22 but it's worth it. Enjoy these ube and cheese ensaimada from Tinapayan Bakeshop "up close and gastronomical".

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...

I have been a fan of Lala fish crackers since it came out years ago. From being packed in ordinary clear plastic to its present foil vacuum packaging. With new flavours like sweet & chili and salt & vinegar, it really has come a long way. PhP15.50 each I gave up my trip to Deco's batchoy for this Bolo bola sio pao of Goldilocks and regretted that decision. Php 39 But I was more satisfied eating JD's monggo ensaymada. PhP13.50 each

Tinapayan's special ube and cheese ensaymadas are always a good buy for me. A little expensive (at P22) compared with other local commercial ensaymadas but it worth more than the price. A single bite would often trigger my appetite for finish at least two of these yummy treats.

Part of the Iloilo Supermart "family", Tinapayan is my personal choice for the best commercial bakeshop in the city. With quality and affordable baked goods ranging from breads and cookies to cakes and pizza, they have a wide variety of baked items to bring out the child in you. From the usual pan de sal, special ube and cheese ensaymadas , local faves like galletas, principe and meringue to ice cream rolls, egg scallions, pizza bars, madrilenas , assorted dessert "squares ".... the list goes on and on. Though they “carry over” their cakes and pastries to their sister company, Coffeebreak , I really hope they will have their own cafe where patrons can relax and enjoy all what they have to offer. Pizza, dinner rolls and crema de fruta from Tinapayan as served during our Noche Buena last Christmas.

A popular Chinese restaurant in the past, I remember it being located in an old building in front of the JM Basa side of the Socorro drugstore building. It had a grand staircase which welcomes every visitor inside. Sadly I cant recall those times we actually ate in the resto since my memories of Dainty resto are limited to "taking out" my then favorite, asado roll. Years later, it transferred to a new location along Iznart street. Its a two level resto with the lower level having a bakery, shorts orders and serving turo turo style cuisine. The second level serves as their main restaurant. More.... At present there's still their asado roll but it seems that I have outgrown it. They also have this pan de leche which is compact yet soft. Their monggo hopia which is unlike others since its more of a mongo-filled pan de leche. They also have this very simple ensaymada yet big in size and filling.