FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

VALENTINE'S DAY. It’s the time of the year when love is felt all around; when red is the dominant color and how everybody is having a sweet tooth all of a sudden. Desserts and everything sweet play a major role during heart’s day, whether as gifts, giveaways or food around us. As the cliché goes, the way to one’s heart is through the stomach and yes, let’s talk about nothing but food - what to buy, where to dine and how to prepare … Sweets for my sweet! BUY AND BRING HOME Heart Cakes Tinapayan Bakeshop has a wide variety of special Valentine cakes and yes, they are all heart shaped. They do not only look good but also taste good as they come in different colours and flavours inside out. And you can personalize them for your sweet Valentine. Butterscotti A trademark of Rgies Delicacies, butterscotti comes from the words butterscotch and biscotti. They were remnants of butterscotch that stick to the pan after being baked but after being discovered to be deli...

When I first blogged about RGies Delicacies years ago, I had a (day) dreamt of visiting its factory and having an up close and personal look on how those yummy butterscotch are made. An assignment for a local magazine last March brought me to Gran Plains Subdivision in Jaro to interview Mrs. Grace Javelosa, the “G” in RGies. I first met her together with her husband Ramon – the “R”, months ago when I was scouting for sponsors for the Visayas Blogging Summit . From then on, I knew that it won’t be our last meeting. “ Butterscotchelicious ” and “ yemarrifi c” described that afternoon as my ogled in all directions the moment I stepped inside the premises. A display of their goodies greet visitors as packs of butterscotch with variants, yema, butterscotti and walnut flake cookies scuffle for one’s attention. As I was led deeper into the lair of sweets, I found myself in the heart of it all – the kitchen. There, I was lucky to have seen what usually off limits to most - how both buttersc...

From afar, I thought it was a new product but upon closer inspection – it was a revelation of the new pack of Rgies yema. A complete turn around from its previous one, the new packaging combines a sleek look and feel and can surely compete with the big players in the industry. But what’s inside is still the main of gastronomical event – a bite of the savory, sweet, and chewy candy coated in crystallized sugar. Still retaining the original packaging and the same sweet taste Ilonggos loved since then. As we are all familiar with the line – looks good, tastes even better. Grab one now and share in agreement with two thumbs up!

Life was bittersweet but her penchant for baking made her enjoy the sweetness of it more often. Out of a hobby, coupled with enthusiasm and perseverance, Grace Javelosa made a big switch - from being an employee to managing Iloilo’s Pride, RGies Delicacies. In a small rented abode tucked away in a maze of streets in Alta Tierra Village in Jaro, she and her husband Ramon raised the family. “As a wife, a mother of three and career oriented (both working as an insurance agents), juggling my time between them took dedication and hard work but I see to it that I still hone my skills in the kitchen” she reminisced. Cooking is in her blood. “But I never thought of it as a business for I know the hard work it entails”. Throughout the years of perfecting her craft, she finally found that “one little spark” that started it all. “It was one of those family gatherings that I first tasted butterscotch and instantly loved it” she says. “One of my sisters-in-law made it for the occasion and since th...

BUTTERSCOTCH business started in a small rented residence at Alta Tierra Village, Jaro, Iloilo City in 1985 . Out of cooking hobby, Butterscotch was introducted to friends and relatives as samples, gifts and pasalubongs . Their positive feedbacks inspired the Couple to do business in selling this product. Thus, the backyard industry for butterscotch was initiated. Business commenced by displaying the product to some outlet stores in Iloilo City. Eventually, it catered not only BUTTERSCOTCH but YEMA as well, to some establishments with its own labels in the two products. This has guided every aspect of their Butterscotch/Yema business for more than 19 years. The solid and quality foundation, that has supported its products and withstood the time has led the couple to register their business on March 2003 under the name, RGIES DELICACIES Because they wanted to make some variations on the traditional Butterscotch with cashew, they decided to try experimenting with Mang...

Rgies Delicacies was first to introduce this "gourmet" butterscotch and they do it best! Really moist, chewy and you can actually see and taste the mango bits. For now this got to be one of the best butterscotches in the city. A (really) good buy for pasalubong to bring to impress your recipients or just to indulge in yourself. For PhP53 per pack 10, its very much worth the money spent and in fact you might consider buying more than one pack rather than regretting it.