FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

Mention Kong Kee and Ilonggos would always associate it with siopao on top of its equally delicious Chinese specialties.     But what used to be just a gastronomic melting pot in Downtown Iloilo City has now branched out to the progressive town of Pavia, Iloilo. Located just beside Puregold supermarket across the Poblacion and town hall,tou won't miss its iconic logo in its signature font in white and red motif. And of course, you've got to try their specialty - sio pao. Ilonggos have grown up with Kong Kee sio pao eversince and there has been a cult following for the resto's steamed bun. Freshly made daily to ensure its  quality, Kong Kee's sio pao is handcrafted everyday to serve the best tasting sio pao that is soft, moist and juicy. It comes ins three variants - Pork, Chicken and the Chicken-Pork combo. It prides to have no artificial flavors plus no preservatives added for us to taste all the ...

The Feast of San Jose is celebrated every March 19 with a big fiesta in places honoring the saint be it a city, town or barangay. But the one I experienced a few weeks ago was more than just the gastronomic side - it was a feast alright but in a different setting. Not just because it was held during breakfast time but it also included a traditional ritual which brought back a lot childhood memories. I joined the feast at the Camiña Balay nga Bato in Arevalo on that day and it brought the memories of yesteryears. I was no more than 10 years old when I witnessed the "San Jose" ritual in my lola's house in Molo. I can still vividly remember the "role-playing" which had elements of eating, washing and "kissing".  As explained by Sir Eugene Jamerlan (of the Iloilo City Cultural Heritage Conservation Council), this ritual is  a tradition in rice-producing places like Iloilo. It is a sort of welcoming San Jose and his family into the household to...

Got a surprise delivery from Punot Restaurant just in time for dinner hours ago and I  can still taste what I've eaten everytime I burp... 😋 And just the mere thought of it makes me salivate for the yummy leftovers that in the fridge and hope I can survive this temptation. Punot Restaurant is always my first stop whenever I find myself at the Riverside Boardwalk which is just beside the Iloilo River and the popular Esplanade. With the exciting view  it offers, also comes a lot of excitingly delicious dishes. From local Ilonggo favorites to fusion Filipino and other cuisines, it is always a good and fulfilling gastronomic experience at Punot. Good thing that they have already re-opened and to make their specialties more convenient, they also offer delivery and pick up services. And that brings us to the two dishes that were delivered just a few hours ago. First was the BAKARETA. This beef version of kaldereta has very tender and almost fall off the bo...

No pasta? No problem! Let's create your favorite lasagna recipes using the Classic White Bread from Gardenia! But let's first talk about Gardenia! Among the most popular and widely available brands in the country, Gardenia is famous for its Classic White Bread - its signature product. GARDENIA Classic White bread is not only known for its freshness, softness and oven-baked aroma but also for its nutritive value. It is made with high-protein flour, is folate-enriched and has vitamins (A, B1, B2, B3 and C) and minerals  (calcium, iron and iodine) It is also cholesterol-free, has zero transfat, zero saturated fat and bromate-free! And definitely, one loaf is not enough! So always stock up whenever you do your grocery shopping. With a lot Gardenia breads in my midst (again madamo gid nga salamat, Gardenia ), I was up for another challenge - creating a Gardenia recipe which is not a toast nor a sandwich. GARDENIA TOAST TOPPINGS CHALLENGE After some quick check of what's ins...

Celebrate an exquisite Valentine romance with your special someone with a medley of enticing flavors in a curated five-course dinner with wine and music at Seda Atria Iloilo. Under the helm of hotel’s new chef de cuisine, Chef Neil Ledesma has prepared this special 5-course dinner that will surely make another memorable Valentine’s Day. An exclusive preview, food-tasting session was arranged by Seda Atria for the members of the Iloilo media and bloggers. Here’s a taste or what’s to come this Valentine with Seda Atria’s Flavor of Love. As you get cozy at the Straight Up Bar, your Valentine Dinner begins with a delightful appetizer - a stack of savory crabmeat, refreshing mango and creamy avocado. With a visual play of colors, a burst of flavors and textures, this sets the bar high for your romantic gastronomic night. Setting to continue your dinner’s sophistication is a local touch to a Mexican culinary invention - Caesar Salad. Seda Atria’s version consists of lettuce, g...