FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

When one speaks of tambo or bamboo shoots, ginat-an nga tambo   would always be the first that comes to mind. While the latter would have  dahon sang tagabang  ( saluyot  leaves),  okra ,  takway  ( gabi/ taro tendrils) with shrimps or crabs,  paklay  or  pinaklay nga tambo  at home would just be plain and simple - bamboo shoots sauteed with meat. It could almost be mistaken as a lumpia filling! Though the recipe varies from region to region, it seems that pinaklay is consistent to be something that is cut into thin strips. Be it vegetable, meat or combination of both made into one dish. Potatoes and carrots would most probably be the most common but ours would sometimes be made with labanos (radish), singkamas (jicama) and tambo with most ground or small bits pork or hibe or dried shrimps. With the variation of recipe, there would be around a hundred and one paklay recipe! Bon apetit!

Locals adore it. Tourists love it. So what make makes Roberto's a big hit?   Most probably it was the Queen siopao that made Roberto's come back to my tastebuds. And it was really hard back then to get hold of the queen as it was only available 3 days a month compared to almost daily today.   Also back then it was just around PhP65 for this royal siopao and its now at PhP105. But the Queen still reigns with its equally regal  filling of chicken and pork adobo, Chinese sausage, hard-boiled egg and bacon. Then there's the ever so popular meatballs!  Sure it may look dry and bland but its equally famous sauce makes it more iconic. As for me, I like it even without the sauce since I can fully taste the memories of my childhood this way. At PhP30/stick of 4, it's one delicious way of reconnecting to the past and for some - discover what makes them ever so popular! And take some Lumpia shanghai on the side too. Crisp...

The City of Love named as the next Coca-Cola Foodmarks Epicenter in the Philippines The golden afternoon sun casts long shadows across Iloilo City’s Calle Real, where the scent of sizzling chicken inasal mingles with the salty breeze from the nearby Iloilo River. It’s a symphony of aromas, a feast for the senses, and a testament to why this vibrant city in the Philippines has earned its moniker as the ‘City of Love’. But love isn’t the only thing brewing in Iloilo; it’s a culinary cauldron where history, tradition, and a dash of the unexpected create a flavor profile that is uniquely Ilonggo.  After the successful debut of Coca-Cola (Philippines) Foodmarks in the world’s oldest Chinatown in Binondo, Manila last May, it’s no wonder that Iloilo City, with its vibrant culinary heritage, has been chosen as the next destination for this campaign.     Coca-Cola®, a long-time companion at Filipino tables, recognizes the magic woven into Iloilo’s food culture. Their Coca-Cola Foo...

Cassava cake is among the most popular Pinoy native delicacies. In Iloilo, one can find it in the stalls insides malls and groceries in ready to go boxes or in bite size pieces ready to satisfy one's cravings. But it is also easy to prepare as the ingredients can be mostly found in the wet market or even grocery stores. Here's a simple cassava cake recipe: Ingredients : CAKE  2 and 1/2 cups grated cassava 1 and 1/2 cups coconut milk 1 cup sugar  1 can condensed milk  TOPPINGS 1 Can Condensed Milk 1/2 cup Coconut Cream 1 Egg yolks 1/2 cup grated Cheese Procedures : Preheat the oven to around 350°F. Mix CAKE all ingredients thoroughly. Place the mixture in well-greased baking pans. Make sure the mix in the pan are just about an inch thick to ensure more even cooking. Bake from around 45 minutes to an hour. ( Or insert a toothpick in the middle, if it comes out clean, it is good to go) In a separate pan, combine TOP...

The Iloilo Central Market community has a lot of finds especially those in food and food ways. Turo-turo stall owners and market vendors are drawn to this showcase of Ilonggo gastronomy. Among them, an enterprising couple who don’t only sell live and dressed native chicken but also makes one delectable litson manok! BEST “SELLERS” For Jesus Janeo Jr. and wife Evangeline, their business involving Bisaya nga manok has been a way of life for almost 35 years.   Having a stall at the Iloilo Central Market, they’ve been selling live or dressed native chicken for years to bring up their five children.  “Rawit”, as Jesus is fondly referred to, is among the big suppliers of dressed Darag chicken in the market. Darag is a Philippine native chicken strain found in Iloilo and the rest of Western Visayas. Best known for its unique flavor, taste and meat texture - it has become famous as an alternative to commercial chicken, and has captivated the taste buds o...

Now who doesn't love puto? One of my favorites before was the puto I christened " Puto Calaboa " as it was made in Brgy. Calaboa Santa Barbara, Iloilo. But after sometime, they supply stopped coming to town as the maker of the puto had some personal health issues. Now enter another puto maker from Santa Barbara - this time coming from Brgy. Lanag, an adjacent baranggay to the poblacion. Wrapped in 5's using banana leaves, the puto is made fresh daily every morning. The puto-maker just make a limited batch so as to ensure the quality and avoid having oversupply to be sold the following day. The puto smells very good as if you are already eating it. Each bite (though I could easily eat it all in one bite) gives a full flavour esp. of the richness of the coconut milk. Its the kind of puto that you can't stop eating given its almost dainty size at the same time rich flavour - but it's not " makasalum-od " ( ...

There are a hundred and one ways to cook laswa. Basically, its just a mix of vegetables seasoned with salt, garlic and onions. It could come as plain all-vegetables or with seafood like shrimps and crabs. Commonly used vegetables for making laswa are tagabang (saluyot), kalabasa, okra, sitaw and talong. Check out this basic Laswa recipe. Yet this one makes use of kolitis or Chinese spinach instead of the usual tagabang. Kolitis is very nutritious as it is rich rich in dietary fiber, iron, calcium, phosphorus, riboflavin, niacin and many more. It also helps prevent from anemia, asthma (just boil the leaves), it has diuretic properties that prevents urinary troubles and diarrhea.  Its high high fiber content helps remove the toxins and eliminate waste easily. It also contains calcium, phosphorus, and iron which helps in enhancing production of mother's breast milk . Source Happy Eating!