FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

It’s my kind of pata – soft that it almost melts in your mouth with a sour and sticky broth that clings to the side of your mouth! Finally, I’ve been to this hole-in-the-wall that has been an open secret to gastronomes in Iloilo City. However I am “years” late as this former roadside carinderia in Mandurriao now has more comfortable accommodations, a big improvement from what it had been.  But the people still come in droves as long lines of parked cars along R. Mapa street often pinpoints the restaurant to first timers. What formerly was their dining area is now the receiving area as they already built an al fresco eatery. Set up in what formerly could have been the front lawn is a testament of how strong the business was during their “carinderia” years. Now they have elevated into a “restaurant” status with its relaxed al fresco ambiance brought about by the wooden benches and tables What’s available for that day is listed on the menu but their signature pata is ...

Never mind the ambiance in and outside this “payag-payag” restaurant, Andres serves pata as if it's your last meal. Slowly boiled pata with sticky and sour soup base, it would certainly unleash the rice monster in you. Or you could opt for pan de sal. Either way, it would still be an unforgettable food trip in this part of the city. Then try to burn all the calories you've just taken in by walking along Iloilo Riverside Boulevard up to Barbecue Park. Photos courtesy of CECILLE's CASA BALUARTE

If La Paz has the iconic batchoy and Molo has that wonton soup called Pancit Molo, then the district of Mandurriao might as well claim pata and kansi to be it's contribution to Iloilo City's gastronomic delights. The district boasts numerous hole in the wall restaurants that serves the best of these two dishes. Zeroing in with pata , one of the most popular patahan in Mandurriao is Bac's. Located along the highway that connects Manudurriao with Molo (near the entry to the old Iloilo airport), this native restaurant boasts of a clientele that ranges from the simple passersby to those coming with "security". Pata refers to both the pigs legs (hind and front including knuckles) and that soup dish it has become after slowly boiling them in spices and seasoning. Usually it's the latter that comes to mind. And why not, the sight of this soft and melts in your mouth pata plus the thick, sticky and sour broth makes it an instant sinful desire. You'd wish they...

I never had forgotten that day when I had a quick snack at Biscocho Haus at Robinson's Place. I was there for pancit molo quest but upon inspecting what else they had to offer, I saw a big bowl of pata. It was forever etched in my mind and planned on coming back. Around 50 days later, it came true. Better late than never as they say and I then asked why I deprived myself of this mouth-watering dish! I made it a point to be there before the lunch hour to have choiced cuts and less people at the shop. For PhP55 a bowl, it was already expensive but was well worth it! It had the sourness I wanted and sticky enough that I used tons of table napkin to wipe my lips. I had a very delicious lunch with 3 cups of rice (hey, their serving was actually small) for as what they say "sabaw pa lang ulam na!" I am now setting my eyes on the pata that Ted's Oldtimer have on their menu. I also have tried the one at Dapli, just okay though. I think the best place where I can get a go...