FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

Photos courtesy of CECILLE's Casa Baluarte This was known before as the restaurant the replaced Ocean City, but it’s now the controversial restaurant that caused a boulevard to stir away from its original course. Controversies aside, it's located at the foot of the Diversion Road bridge and had undergone a massive makeover inside out months ago. It’s among the few restaurants (and nightspots too) capitalizing in its location beside the Iloilo river. Barbecue Park serves rice combo meals on top of its barbecue galore from pork and chicken to seafood. The restaurant comes alive at night at its host bands to entertain its guests.

One of the Iloilo City’s favored Chinese restaurants, The Summer House was originally located in the old business district of the city along Calle Real (now J.M Basa street). As time went by and commerce seems to have flourished elsewhere, the restaurant found itself in limbo so to speak. Then years ago, it left its old place and now forms part of the lobby of the Iloilo Midtown Hotel. Photos courtesy of Cecille of Casa Baluarte The last time I visited (and actually ate) at The Summer House Restaurant was around two and a half years ago. I was with a group of online buds who were on vacation here in Iloilo. It was not really part of my plans that day but as we were inquiring at the hotel, we suddenly got hungry and right on the spot, it was lunch. During that fateful visit, I was surprised that my buds were raving about our orders specifically the pancit bihon. Until now I never really understood why that of all the items in the table. Thanks to Cecille of Casa Baluarte whose recent va...

Photo courtesy of ExploreIloilo Afrique’s… Remaking history and adding up a modern twist to the palate by Jinki Beldia from THE NEWS TODAY The name Afrique’s is well-known to epicureans in Iloilo. If you’re a guest and would want to leave this city with great memories of pizza and pasta, Afrique’s can give you all that. Miguel Cordova, Iloilo’s most popular young chef, takes us back to history. “Hughes Street used to be a strip where big business establishments were built. There are still many beautiful structures you can see around but only a few of them have been maintained. Somewhere at the end of this long street was where the casino used to be.” The once lonely old house now known as Afrique’s is a fresh face among old structures in the district. The Cordovas did all they could to maintain the original façade of the house. MORE ... Afrique's Sicilian pasta Pasta carbonara Pasta Anchovy Afrique's special

Arroz caldo in Iloilo City is synonymous with the name Luna's . Though many other restos and snack shops serve this dish, Luna's always had been the top pick. So if you crave for arroz caldo anytime of the day, this branch along Gen. Luna street serves you a hot bowl 24/7. Peppy Thai Deli transferred to a much better location along El 98 Road in Jaro and is almost a month old. If you want Thai specialties served "fastfood", better be there earlier than lunch time or you'll never get to taste it. Among the newest addition to the row of restos in the Riverside Boardwalk. Ramboy's Lechonan and Restaurant serves a variety of Filipino favorites mostly meat and seafood; grilled, sizzling or just anyway you expect it to be. Another new resto at the Riverside Boardwalk is Mangay's , just a few steps away from the above resto. Here, it's mostly seafood cooked in various ways to be enjoyed as a meal or as pulutan . Photos courtesy of ExploreIloilo and Skyscr...

Thanks to Marc of ExploreIloilo , Alvin of OHmyILOILO and Junn of GIGSILONGGO After almost seven months since it had set up those "brewing soon" tarpaulins in the newly renovated Amigo Plaza mall, Bluejay Coffee and Deli finally revealed its newest (and third)branch in the city. A stylish cafe serving more than just coffee and desserts but also pasta and sandwices. Plus they also have a line of deli items and other imported food products. Unlike their other two branches, this one looks brighter and more chic. Being adjacent to a hotel and inside a mall certainly prompted this design to adapt itself to its environs. What striking for me are those stacked up crates that serves as display area for their decors and items on sale. Plus they even have a special area from wines (above photo) with their fine selection on display.

Can you guess where these crimes of gastronomy took place? There are clues within this post. Just be "enlightened". CLUE: Bourbon Street * Dulgies * Uncle Tom's * Afrique's * Tatoy's * Krua Thai * Esca's * Perri Todd's

Aside from the church and the golf course, among the recognizable symbols of Sta. Barbara are Gen. Martin Delgado's bronze statue and the 120 foot high flagpole located in front on the Municipal building and the town plaza. They were among the priority projects of the National government for the Centennial Independence Day celebration more than a decade ago. It also included a museum nearby. Usually it's just a regular sized flag waving it's colors but since its Independence Day weekend, this big one flew. Luckily I brought my trusted camera phone so I had a "field day" getting some shots here, there and everywhere. People were scattered in the plaza and at first I had second thoughts of taking photos. I was staring at the symbols of courage of early Sta. Barbaranhons and 111 years later there I was enjoying the freedom they fought for but never got the "courage" to shoot photos. Isn't it ironic? I was so sure Gen. Matin Delgado's statue was re...