FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

JD Bakery and Cafe is among the pigging out food places in Iloilo City for the reason that it stretches your peso longer. Nowhere you can find such ambiance and food quality for a much bargain price. From their short orders for meals and snacks to their baked goods and desserts, it is such a gastronomic pleasure for less. I found this photo of JD's cakes and desserts display online ans what struck me is that I've tried them all before. Except for that "green" cake ( at the right, above the ube cake), my foodtrips at JD have in one way or the other made my taste buds familiar with these desserts (lol). Among my favorite is their simple yet delicious Buko Royale . Not too sweet yet it makes a perfect dessert. The Choco Moist is a simple chocolate cake bar smothered with dark and white chocolate - simple decadence. The Brazo de Mercedes is just like most, sinfully appetizing. The Decadent cake is their own version of a moist chocolate cake but the one I tried wasn...

When I was little, my fish diet was limited to bangus and a silvery brown fish called abo . I have no idea what it's called elsewhere but I remembered being excited when the sud-an ( ulam ) was pinirito (fried) nga abo .From then on even as my list of fish eats expanded, this remains as one of my favorite fishes - but still just the piniritong abo . Now, it seems that my 6 year old nephew has also acquired the same taste preference for this fish - also just the fried one. Even if we explain that the paskiw na abo is just the same fish swimming in "brown water".

It's midsummer but that ain't stopping Bluejay Coffee and Deli from offering it's patrons the best drinks and dessert that would quench one's thirst and beat the heat at this time of the year. Presenting the top of the line summer treats Bluejay Coffee and Deli has to offer this summer. Siam Pearl Jelly Nothing beats this original and winning Bluejay concoction: iced coffee mudslide, espresso, tapioca pearls and coffee jelly topped with a big scoop of Arce chocolate ice cream and white chocolate sprinkles. Banana Strawberry Smoothie The perfect summer smoothie drink, enjoy the deliciously classic combination of bananas, strawberries and (low-fat)milk topped with rainbow sprinkles. Baked Ice Cream Brownie Sinfully rich fudge brownie topped with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream rolled in crushed chocolate cookies and garnished with rainbow sprinkles. Make your summer more gastronomically enjoyable with these treats from Bluejay Coffee and Deli.

Attention coffee, food and wellness afficionados. You can now enjoy your summer with Bluejay Coffee and Deli & Kasanag Well-being Center's Summer Wellness Promo For every P200 worth of accumulated food purchase at any Bluejay Coffee and Deli branch, consumers may avail of 10% discount on any individual servcie (e.g. Traditional Hilot mas sage) at Kasanag Well-being Center (KWC) and 15% on any of its packaged services. And for every P299 worth of services availed at Kasanag Well-being Center , customers may avail of 10% food discount at Bluejay Coffee and Deli . Consumers must present the official receipt/s at any of the establishements anytime within the promo period to avail of these discounts. This promo is valid from April 14 to June 14, 2010 . For inquiries you may contact Kasanag Well-being Center at 338-0181 and 0929-209-0695 or visit them at 104 G/F Perpetual Succor Business Centre, 38 San Agustin Street (formerly Jalandoni), Iloilo City. Or visit them online at htt...

Pasalubong from Iloilo is almost synonymous with Biscocho Haus , the iconic bakeshop named after one of the city's most popular treats - biscocho . Despite it's numerous branches around the city, a trip to it's original branch near Jaro Plaza completes one's pasalubong experience. There, one can choose pasalubong items displayed in old plateras ranging from their famous butterscotch and biscocho to even dried squid and danggit . Next door is their snackshop that serves short orders like dinuguan and pancit molo . Indeed this Biscocho Haus has come a long way from a small family run bakeshop to an Iloilo icon it is today. So when in Iloilo, don't go home without.

Freska Ilonggo Seafood and Inasal Restaurant is among the big players when it comes to Ilonggo restaurants venturing out of Iloilo. Just this week, the restaurant opened its 7th branch located at the heart of the country's financial district, Makati City. Now food lovers from the Central Business District can enjoy their favorite Ilonggo dishes at Freska-Makati located at the RCBC Plaza, Ayala Ave. corner Sen. Gil Puyat Ave. Makati City This is another testament of how Ilonggo cuisine is being patronized outside Iloilo, for many other Iloilo restaurants are now making waves in many parts of the country. It is also came at the right time as Freska was recognized as one of the top 10 restaurants in the country serving the best chicken inasal . Photos and info courtesy of Freska Ilonggo Seafood in Facebook

True to it's name, this pastry from Green Mango fastfood made me almost reach heaven. No, it wasn't that extraordinarily spectacular but the moment I had my first bite, I was more than satisfied. Maybe because I wasn't expecting too much from a fastfood restaurant dessert that only costs PhP35. If I were to describe Green Mango's Heaven's Torte, probably it's a toned down recipe of brazo de mercedes for its lacks the richness of the latter but still maintains the flavour of the former. It probably would contain less calories and other "unwanted" things too - lol. It was a curiousity satisfying snack that time at Green Mango and now I have found a new favorite in this fastfood restaurant.