FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

It was love at first bite on something I thought to be just a so-so item from JD Bakeshop - Garlic Biscocho. But I sure did eat my words when I got myself a pack of the delectable biscocho and until now I am craving for more. It could as well be like any other garlic toasts out in the Iloilo pasalubong scene but this one seems to have a resounding crunch and taste.  I was fortunate enough to have pick the one still with garlic bits and each bite bursts with the flavour that could end the "Twilight Saga" in no time. The toast had the right crunch - not too hard nor soft; and each dangles as the topping still holds. Its the biscocho topping most Ilonggos love - like having condensed milk as topping and becomes chewy in every bite. The garlic bits give you the assurance that hey use actual garlic rather than process flavoring. Each pack (a big one) has around 15 pieces and costs PhP25. But take my advice and buy more than one pack make that a minimum of trhee packs j...

What makes Ilonggo style fresh lumpia different from others is that it can be eaten on its own. No need for a sauce since the ubod filling is already packed with flavour and seasoned well enough. It's also convenient to be eaten on the go and here in Iloilo, it is more of a "street food" rather than those served in plates with all the trimmings. Individually wrapped and sold in most native restaurants, native food stalls and even pasalubong and bake shops. When I crave for fresh lumpia, I don't even think of JD Bakeshop . I never really tried their version of fresh lumpia again since, if my memory serves me right, the last time I had their fresh lumpia it was mediocre even when compared to those generic ones sold in stalls. The many times I've been to any JD store, their fresh lumpia would never make it in front of me. But I became curious then, a friend brought back these fresh lumpia back to Manila to satisfy the cravings of his lola . So when I was at...

Ask Ilonggos (or just anybody who have been to), what to do in Iloilo City, the most likely answer would just be one word – punctuated with an exclamation point. Eat! And it’s nonstop eating one will get with this list of 13 food places, which in my opinion, puts in a nutshell the gastronomic delights of Iloilo City . A useful guide for tourists who want to enjoy the heart of the Philippines through their stomach. Breakthrough Restaurant Among the easiest choice is this restaurant along Villa beach that combines good food and ambiance for a truly relaxing gastronomic experience. It is often one of the first stops for balikbayans and tourists; Breakthrough is synonymous with the freshest seafoods. A row of their cooked specialties is displayed for one to choose but check out their fresh seafood section. You won’t go wrong with grilled scallops , shrimp kinilaw, sizzling crabmeat and diwal on top of the usual grilled fish and squids plus crabs, prawns and oysters. Afriques ...

A few weeks ago, I met a friend from Manila and toured her and her kids around Iloilo City hours before their flight back home. It started with a breakfast that tuned out to be a brunch after all. We went to JD Cafe and Bakeshop at The Roadhouse and as usual our peso went long way. The pancit molo came in a medium sized bowl and for the prices I paid (PhP21++) it was already worth it. Not that it was spectacular or tasted very good, but you can't get a more decent bowl of pancit molo than this at the same price. It has around seven large pancit molo balls and enough chicken strips and flavour too to make it worthwhile. Their chicken ala king is among the most popular. For Php27++, it's just a few slices of toast topped with a creamy chicken and vegetable concoction. Just a light snack and perfect side to some pasta or soups they have. And lastly their fresh lumpia was a rediscovery. I got some not so good memories of their fresh lumpia before - I never really liked how i...

JD Bakery and Cafe is among the pigging out food places in Iloilo City for the reason that it stretches your peso longer. Nowhere you can find such ambiance and food quality for a much bargain price. From their short orders for meals and snacks to their baked goods and desserts, it is such a gastronomic pleasure for less. I found this photo of JD's cakes and desserts display online ans what struck me is that I've tried them all before. Except for that "green" cake ( at the right, above the ube cake), my foodtrips at JD have in one way or the other made my taste buds familiar with these desserts (lol). Among my favorite is their simple yet delicious Buko Royale . Not too sweet yet it makes a perfect dessert. The Choco Moist is a simple chocolate cake bar smothered with dark and white chocolate - simple decadence. The Brazo de Mercedes is just like most, sinfully appetizing. The Decadent cake is their own version of a moist chocolate cake but the one I tried wasn...

Breakfast was first in our itinerary when we went to Guimaras. With island hopping and visiting the attractions of the nearby island in our list that day, we need to build our energy to accomplish these things in just a day. So we had our first meal of the day at JD Bakeshop and Restaurant that morning in downtown Iloilo City. Our lot consisted of JD Rice Squares (Spanish and Japanese variants), pancit Molo and ginat-an for dessert. This Spanish rice square is almost like a a meaty paella with pork bits, sausages and greens topped with sunny side up egg. A serving of this rice topping is almost good enough for two but just enough for one having a big appetite. A Japanese version of this rice square consists of a mix of seafood and ground meat with a hint of ginger also topped with egg. Our hot soup was pancit Molo but it wasn't that appetizing and not the taste I love compared to the one I had at JD Roadhouse before. This ginat-an was too sweet and lacks the homey flavour one looks...

FOOD is simply one of the highlights of any trip to Iloilo; from its iconic cuisine and a wide variety of delicacies to its landmark restaurants and (of course) pasalubong. La Paz batchoy, baye-baye, Tatoy’s Manukan & Seafoods and butterscotch are just a few of the reasons why tourists love the Iloilo gastronomical scene. This week, I played host and guide to a former officemate and his wife who made an Iloilo side trip from their Boracay honeymoon. The places we went and activities we had were almost centered on food that I called it an EATinerary (lol) After settling at the hotel, we had late lunch around 4pm. The great ambiance and view plus good cuisine and delicacies made Breakthrough Restaurant my first choice where to bring them. Grilled scallops, sizzling crabmeat, grilled and sinabawang managat, adobong pato, kilawin na hipon and fresh lumpia made up our lunch table. We then left for “Smallville” for a taste of Iloilo nightlife and after a quick survey, we settled at Bourb...

A nameless yet eye catching cake by Tinapayan Bakeshop Tiramisu cake by JD bakeshop Cherry Choco Moist cake by JD Bakeshop White Forest by JD Bakeshop Black Forest cake by Goldilocks Bakeshop