FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

It was a few months ago that I got wind that ANG PINAKA , one of the longest running shows on GMA News TV (even when it was still QTV), will finally be listing the Ang Pinaka Yummy Restos in Iloilo for its monthly food feature. Based on the info I got of their "eatinerary", I had the suspicion that my 2010 blogpost about the 13 Gastronomical Pitstops in Iloilo would play a big role in their list. And a few hours ago, I was right for I had 7 out of 10, though I can say 9, since during the time I made my own list, I have yet to discover the other two. So here's how the list went on... No. 10 Green Mango Filipino Fastfood Grilled Bangus Combo Meal No. 9 The Mango Tree Chopsuey No. 8 Roberto's House Queen Sio Pao No. 7 Netong's Original Lapaz Batchoy Extra Super Lapaz Batchoy No. 6 Afrique's Parmesan Crusted Fried Chicken No. 5 Al Dente Ristorante Italiano Biscuit crust Chicken Barbecue Pizza No. 4 Bourbon Street Bac...

Roberto's is among Iloilo City's iconic food places - opened on May 25, 1978 Since then, it is almost filled with patrons from sun up to sun down - either lining up the counter or sitting down, munching down their specialties. More popular nowadays because of its Queen sio pao , but Roberto's they say actually started as a hamburger joint decades ago.     So one day instead of queueing for their sio pao, I had their double cheeseburger instead. I like the how the patty comes out very tostado , for it adds more flavour and character to the burger itself. As simple as it is, just layers of burger patty and cheese with mayo and catsup - all in a bun. That's when you get all the flavours without all the conflicting flavours of additions - a signature of Robereto's eversince. Roberto's Restaurant is located along JM Basta Street near the Iloilo City Freedom Grandstand. You may contact them through telephone numbers (033) 3350484 or 3371595.

As the Dinagyang Festival is also the "fiesta" of the City Proper district of Iloilo City , it has been a tradition for most residents to have a feast in their homes despite the abundance of food in the city. And I was part of one of these fiesta's the Dinagyang Sunday of 2012. Together with the awesome couple Anton Diaz ( Our Awesome Planet ) and wife Rachelle , we snaked our way through the crowd and found ourselves in a more crowded place - Roberto's Restaurant . During regular days, Roberto's is already crowded so given this is one very hectic day for the Ilonggos, the crowded never thinned out. With their famous Queen sio pao selling like "hotcakes" plus their other specialties like meatballs, pancit bihon, hamburger and a lot more, the Ilonggos still favor the homegrown taste of Roberto's . But we went further up the building and joined in the fiesta fare prepared by the family of Claudes , that guy you'd often see manning the ...

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 siopao, a Filipino fast food favorite, may be counted among “Filipinized” Chinese dishes, like pancit” points out food writer Margaux Salcedo. But her quick search on the Internet shows that nowhere else in the world are these buns also called siopao. “ The Chinese (apparently) calls them baozi, the Thais – salapao, Hawaiians refer to them as char siu bao; the Vietnamese identifies them as banh bao” she writes in her column on the Philippine Daily Inquirer ” But they all mean the same thing - a filled bun.” “The difference seems to be in the filling. The Hawaiians’ char siu bao offers barbecued pork inside, similar to our asado siopao, while the Vietnamese version offers ground pork, like our bola-bola siopao” reveals her further search. “The “Filipinization” is obvious with the asado filling, pork asado being a viand of Spanish influence derived from the Spanish word “asado” meaning “roasted,” although pork asado is a favorite at Filipino-Chinese restaurants” she finishes. Il...

It’s been a while since I featured (read gorged on) Iloilo's most popular chinese bun - Roberto’s Queen sio pao. Aside from being unavailable most of the time (I think it’s now every two weeks rather than monthly), the restaurant is out of my usual way. Good thing I got an errand in the area though not expecting to find one (it’s Friday and usually it’s from Tuesday to Thursday), I literally g rabbed one, lest I might not get one. Still priced at PhP65 and though the size isn’t that overwhelming as before yet still big compared to other sio paos in the city. It was still hot when I got it from “Roberta” LOL and around two hours later with some rainy escapade, I was surprised to sense it warmth when I got home. Aside from what’s inside, I really like the bun of Roberto’s sio pao. With a hint of gumminess yet soft to each bite, it greatly complements the filling. Though I got a rather one sides sio pao with the filling almost bursting out the bottom part while the top was all bun. ...