FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

Those familiar with buko pies that come in a box and cut into several slices, this buko pie seems out of the ordinary. Esguerra’s Special Buko Pie from Passi City is a staple gastronomic treat to those plying the Central Panay route particularly those passing by the component city. Like an overgrown mamon or cupcake, a single serving seems big from the outside. But a bite off its flaky top reveals its entirety. Buko strips in the pie concoction that sank and filled with air to the top. The taste of the pie is just ordinary – maybe the usual milk, sugar, flavouring, corn starch, coconut water and buko strips. It may not be overwhelming in taste but for its price and the presentation but for only around Php10 each (a box contains nine and one serves as the “patikim” – as I understood) it is already a good buy as snack or pasalubong.

A landmark in the heritage district of Jaro is the iconic Deocampo Barquillos . Makers of fine products since 1898 with barquillos at the forefront, it has maintained quality and the tradition of Ilonggo since then. Around five months ago, the lure of a popular sio pao brought me to Deocampo Barquillos and it surprised me to see their new pasalubong shop slowly taking shape inside out. But it wasn’t all that finished and given the popularity of the meat filled bun, there wasn’t any left when I got there. With few more attempts in vain, I almost gave up but just like hitting two birds with one stone, my visit a few days ago, proved to be both a nostalgic and gastronomic experience. From the outside, the façade of the new pasalubong shop commands attention to every passersby whether on foot or taking any mode of transport. But the interiors make the patrons feel at home for it makes them feel to be inside the living room of a modern yet in some ways traditional villa. The most notable ...

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...

Coffeebreak aficionados now have more reasons to enjoy a cup of coffee and more at their favorite coffee stop. Iloilo City’s homegrown coffee chain now offers three scrumptious cakes - perfect with a cup of Americano, smoothies or frappes. Coffeebreak’s menu additions - cake slices that come in three exciting new variants; banana chocolate chip, carrot and orange poppy seeds . Banana chocolate chip cake Indulge in the goodness of bananas blended with the richness of chocolate making a delectable cake of gastronomic proportions. Enticing, fragrant and delicious – a pleasure for the senses! Carrot cake A treat for “Bugs” and anyone who loves (or even dislikes) this vegetable. A pound cake having the healthy goodness of carrots in a delightful twist. Orange poppy seed cake Smells good tastes even better, a slice of orange poppy seed cake surely would bring a new perspective to your taste buds as tang of the orange in the cake perfectly with the texture of the poppy seeds. Grab these cak...

Californiaberry is now open at SM City Food court area , among the very first frozen yogurt (fro-yo) store in the city. Franchisee couple Reginald and Annabelle Mocling never doubted that opening a branch in SM Iloilo is going to be a great success. Since Californiaberry non-fat frozen yogurt opened its first flagship store in Silver City Ortigas, it started taking the franchising scene by storm and growth was unstoppable. http://justthotushudknow.blogspot.com/ Currently, the company is operating 14 stores in Metro Manila with one provincial branch in Davao. Set to open new branches in Sta. Lucia Grand Mall Cainta, Ateneo Katipunan, Festival Mall Filinvest Alabang, UST Manila, Waltermart Makati, SM Fairview, SM Novaliches, and SM Davao, fro-yo proves to be not just another fad. Francorp, a worldwide leader in franchise development and consulting awarded Californiaberry in 2009 as the fastest growing franchise store in the country with a profitable turn out. For more information, che...

Foodie, traveler and TV host Andrew Zimmern always ends his show, Bizarre Foods on Discovery's Travel and Living Channel , with these words. Though there's nothing bizarre on what's about to come but still those words truly reflects on what I always believe - that eating starts with the eyes. Three Cheese Cheesecake Buffets always offer eye catching, mind boggling and stomach grumbling array of food choices and that's exactly what awaits at Meshi - A Japanese Buf fet at The Promenade restaurant of Days Hotel Iloilo . Have a visual and virtual feast on the some of the offerings this buffet have in store for its patrons. California maki Sashimi Assorted breads from Tinapayan Bakeshop California sarada (salad) Nasu No Mushimono (eggplants with sesame seeds in savoury sauce) J agaimo sarada (potato salad with shredded crabsticks ) Gyoza (Japanese dumplings) Sakana Tsukune (chicken lollipops?) Chahan (Mixed fried rice) Yaki Ramen with Tonkatsu sauce Iyasai Itame (...

This is one restaurant that most Ilonggos have fond memories of. Love and Kisses is a homegrown foodie stop for pizza and pasta. The "more recent" original store was located along Gen. Luna street fronting University of San Agustin to which I also had fond memories of “just passing by” when I was a kid. Living and schooling far away from the area served as one of the reasons for me to discover what others had been raving about for years. It was a delight to have seen a Love and Kisses stall during the Dinagyang 2009 Food Festival . It was my first time actively participating in the said festivities that I got to go ‘round the city. Finally I can blog about and taste (yup in that order-lol) this well loved pizza. Without much thought I got slices of all the available pizza varieties that time and enthusiastically blogged about that gastronomic experience. Now Love and Kisses have put up a second branch in front of an Iloilo landmark – N elly Garden mansion. And it was ...