FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

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.  Priced at PhP105 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” before (he's Clauds by the way, RIP 🕯) 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.  But it’s one of the more photogenic ones I had so far – I halved it perfectly with without much damage to the...

What makes Queen Siopao one of the most sought after food items at Roberto's is more than how the sio pao tastes. Indeed it tastes good and delicious and it's BIG. It has chicken and pork adobo, Chinese sausage, egg and bacon inside that big "pao". But it is only available on certain times - like three days every two weeks. Long before, it was 3 days a month only but as it became more popular, they made it every fortnight. So you ask why a popular item like this be of limited offer? The reason I got before was the availability of the bacon but I didn't buy it. But now with a minimum order of 30 pcs it can be made available at your convenience. It is sold at PhP70 a piece.