FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

More than a decade ago, a simple restaurant set “amidst the rice fields” in the outskirts of Iloilo City created quite a buzz among Ilonggo foodies. But first, finding its location posed a major challenge to those who wanted to discover and experience what the fuss was all about. When chances see m bleak, out of nowhere - rows of parked cars and patrons spilling over reveal the open secret! Peppy Thai Deli is the brainchild of former missionaries who served in Thailand before. Upon retirement they decided to bring their experience to Iloilo in the form of gastronomy. The restaurant was originally located in Sambag, Jaro (then moved in the Desamparados area). The concept of the Gequillana family serving a foreign cuisine “turo-turo” style revolutionized the Iloilo dining scene. It was by then Ilonggos have tasted authentic Thai cuisine from those who actually know the taste by heart and lived the art of cooking. On the menu Thai cuisine is among the most celebrated in the world and Il...

Expect a lot of good ol' authentic Thai cuisine at Peppy Thai Deli in it's new swanky branch at Plazuela de Iloilo . Almost full to the brim when it's open, it's new location gives it more convenience and a better ambiance than ever. No frills, no VIPs, no announcements - just words of mouth, “the one and only” Peppy Thai Deli opened early this year at Plazuela de Iloilo . Excited patrons poured in making its opening day a success already in the bag even at noontime. But none was more excited than I was – already there a little past 9am! So I got to enjoy the restaurant without the crowd of hungry people craving for Peppy Thai ’s specialties. Just like what the owner said “Still the same concept just in a new and better location”. Indeed, as one enters the new resto, a display of Thai dishes greet his eyes just like the old restaurant - still the same turo-turo idea. But with its strategic new location in a swanky new mall come more polished furnishings and finally a...

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 ...

Thai cuisine is among the most renowned cooking in the world. And here in Iloilo City, among the more notable restaurants serving Thai specialties is a little hole in the wall food joint, aptly named Peppy Thai Deli . Delighting Ilonggos for more than 10 years now, Peppy Thai serves authentic Thai cuisine, Filipino style – that is turo-turo . Most of their food items are already cooked and displayed in front of the restaurant and patrons just turo (to point) dishes that they like and it will be served to them. Aside from these, they also have items on an order first then cooked basis. Peppy Thai Deli used to be located in the outskirts of the city, in a place reflecting both rural Thailand and Philippines. It used to stand amidst the rice fields just beside a not so busy highway. It was a two-storey, al fresco restaurant that is just open only during lunch. There was no big landmark near the place, but usually people find it easily because of the number of vehicles clustered in the...

I always love my (food) trips to this no non sense Thai restaurant along El 98 street in Jaro. Never mind the turo-turo/carinderia style nor the lack ambiance ambiance, it's the food that's what everybody is craving and raving about. There had been a big discussion about Peppy Thai Deli (online) when it transferred to it's present location and it intrigued Lee a lot. So we decided to have lunch last Friday at this authentic Thai resto that also started his gastronomic adventures - the Thailonggo way. Thai fried rice is a staple order for it serves as the base of any meal. You can order onewithut egg if you're concerned with your cholesterol levels. I still forgot what this one's called but refers to it as "Thai noodle soup". This bowl is much better than the one I had months ago. The broth was much milder andt he noodles were still as good. The handsdown winner - papered squid! Almost everybody raves about this fried tenderized squid. Very crunchy and ...

True to it's tagline, Peppy Thai Deli is really the one and only authentic Thai resto in Iloilo City. Despite more classy competition elsewhere, itremains to true to the taste and very simple that patrons keep coming back - just like me. But I know that Peppy Thai's tagline isn't related to what I've said - lol and I think it's the fact that another Thai resto has occupied it's former place at Diversion Road. Usual orders everytime I visit Peppy Thai Deli include fried tofu and one of my favorite cold pork loin salad plus ofcourse their Thai fried rice. It's always a treat to visit Peppy Thai but be sure to come earlier than lunchtime, if you can, to make the most of out of it. For if it's a bit later, then you might find yourself having lunch elsewhere.