FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

It was my busiest Dinagyang celebration ever! For 5 days and 4 nights, it was all about food, food and food as I made my way around town joining in the festivities that highlights as the same time "sidelights" the festival. I've discovered new places, new dishes, new events and especially new friends who share almost the same passion. It was indeed an enjoyable and awesome celebration of Dinagyang 2012 . First stop was the home of one of Iloilo's most celebrated chefs, Ms. Maridel Uygongco . I tagged along through the invitation Ms. Regine Algecera , executive producer of two cable tv shows (for both Sky Cable and Cable Star). In her kitchen, Ms Maridel demonstrated the preparation of her YSL recipe she made during the My City, My SM, My Cuisine event. It was a very casual video shoot with all of us enjoying not only the designer ibos she prepared but also the fun of it all. I then rushed to Maki Japanese Restaurant where a friend celebrated his birthday p...

The tag seems too good to be true but Maki Japanese Restaurant ’s Bento Bento buffet is back – bigger, bolder and better. This whole month of October Chef Pauline Gorriceta Banusing’s Japanese specialty restaurant give its diners a “full on food at half the price” treat. From Mondays to Fridays during lunch time (11am to 2pm) avail of their promo bento bento meal buffet for only PhP122.50 (from the regular price of PhP 245). I got the chance to relive the experience I had years ago when I had lunch at Maki today. On each table, one finds a list of Japanese specialties that will make up your bento box meal. After filling up necessary items and getting the basic reminders, one is now faced with the delicious dilemma of choosing what will make his meal and usually the first one is often the hardest. The bento meal has five categories; Soup, Sushi and Sashimi, Misono, Fried/Steamed and Grill . You will have to choose one from each category in order to make your own bento meal. Juts mark ...

It’s a buffet of selected Japanese specialties they serve - all the Japanese food you can eat as you create your own bento meal. But it’s not like the usual buffet where you go around the set up and choose what is appetizing. It was a few years back when I had my first “bento-bento” experience at Maki. While searching the menu on what to eat that time, Chef Ms Pauline Banusing, restaurateur and owner of Maki came to our table and easily convinced to try this bento bento experience. It is a more relaxing buffet where the food servers present you with a list of what you can have in your bento box. Sushi and sashimi; appetizers, noodles and soups; teriyaki and teppanyaki; tempura; and rice. All you have to do is check one per category – you must be familiar about Japanese cuisine or just order what seems to “taste good” on the list. That time the sushi and sashimi list was already worth it. Each order of California maki, New York maki, Crazy maki and Spicy Tuna roll brings in 4 pieces...

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...