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Manila Bulletin devider Lifestyle devider Food devider A food campaign in the Visayas

A food campaign in the Visayas

Published May 12, 2022 08:00 pm
VISAYAN BREAKTHROUGH Clockwise from top left: Fish lumpia; grilled managat; grilled fish eggs or bihod; and crispy crablets

The recently concluded campaign has become so toxic and negative that friends have been lost. Many unfriends happened on Facebook and even family members have become divided. Sad. I’m hoping after May 15, we can all be friends again. I say 15 because I anticipate there will be accusations of cheating, etc. oh well.

I was blessed to attend the last few phases of the rally here in Visayas. Every time I travel, I have two things in mind. The job that needs to be done and a food trip!

Iloilo is Chef Tibong Jardeleza’s territory. I’ve been invited by him many times and he shows me the best dining places in this beautiful city. Not necessarily the expensive ones but the local and unusual finds, which I love. I always say each province should have a Chef Tibong. Not interested in promoting his own food (he cooks great food, by the way) but the food of the province. I called him but didn’t want to bother him. So with Chef Tibong's previous tips, I became the food guide of our Visayas tour.

PURPLE YUM Ube brazo

I arrived with a bunch of hungry foodies. From the airport, I took them to the La Paz market where all had never been before. Netongs La Paz Batchoy! (Tibong prefers Decos) I ordered the mega size, the most popular of the various sizes. With that, we had the puto wrapped in banana leaves. Everyone loved the rich and delicious broth with the beef and pork innards and the “utak ng Baka.” Winner!

I also bought an ube brazo de Mercedes. This looks like the real brazo only purple on the outside. The filling is made with pure ube halaya. Unusual and delicious! Got a whole roll and we were able to share it with the entire restaurant.

We started with crispy crablets, kilawin na puso ng saging, and kilawin na tanguingue, which I all ordered for the group. Kilawin here has gata. Sarap!

We then checked in and planned for an early dinner. At five in the afternoon, we met at the lobby and went to Breakthrough restaurant. This seafood paradise is one of the most popular restaurants in Iloilo. We started with crispy crablets, kilawin na puso ng saging, and kilawin na tanguingue, which I all ordered for the group. Kilawin here has gata. Sarap! And based on the ooohs and aaahhhs, I had chosen the right place. We ordered grilled fish eggs, crab omelette, grilled Managat (a delicious local fish), fish lumpia, pakbet, chopsuey, sizzling beef ribs, lechon—the last two were out of place and were hardly touched. We each had two servings of garlic rice and two pitchers of buko (coconut) juice. Everyone was so happy. We not only had a great meal, it too was a healthy one. All these dishes we enjoyed right beside the beach.

ILONGGO FOOD CRAWL Clockwise from top left: Kinilaw na tanigue; La Paz batchoy; crab omelets; and kilawin na puso ng saging

We all left happy and headed to another place I was eager to surprise them with. Maridel;s makes the best cakes in Iloilo. I was sad to learn she had closed. Darn Covid. See you again, Maridel!

We had dessert at the hotel instead, where some had cheesecake piaya. I found it a bit forced but good enough to try nonetheless.

We were focused on the mission at hand, to help bring our candidate where we all we felt he belonged. In the meantime until May 15, hinay-hinay lang. Di ka nga kilala ng candidate mo e (Just relax, your candidate doesn’t even know you personally). Peace!

Related Tags

iloilo Kilawin Visayas Sandy Daza Tibong Jardaleza food
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