Goodies from Biscocho House

I recently posted about pasalubong or souvenirs from Iloilo. Here are the usual ones that I got during the most recent trip there:

Pinasugbo, barquillos, and, of course, biscocho

I would have gotten some piaya, too, but we still had some piaya from Negros Occidental from when my brother-in-law was visiting from Montreal and made a stop at his wife's hometown in Kabankalan to check on their house that's still under construction. I already look forward to the next trip to Iloilo, which is coming up very soon!

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Chocolate review: Scharffen Berger 62% Cacao

We have not had some Scharffen Berger chocolates in a while so we really enjoyed this bar from the wife's trip to San Francisco earlier this year.

The cacao used to make this chocolate is ethically and sustainably sourced.

Ingredients and nutrition information on the chocolate

Nutrition information

This is very smooth chocolate and the semi-sweet tag is a good description. There's no after taste bitterness that you get from other 62% cacao dark chocolates. This is definitely a must buy the next opportunity we find this in a store. As I write this, the Clairvoyant is actually in SF and I will ask her to check out the stores for this particular chocolate bar.

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Pasalubong from Biscocho House

A trip to Iloilo, no matter how short, requires pasalubong or souvenirs. The usual stuff includes food like piaya, pinasugbo, barquillos and biscocho. The go to place for these can be according to one's preferences but for me the one stop shop is Biscocho Haus. While they have many branches in the city including kiosks at the malls, the usual store I go to to buy pasalubong is along the national highway en route to the airport from the city. The roadside store is a convenient place to purchase pasalubong.

Store sign along the highway

Inside the store are various goodies for pasalubong displayed inside wooden cabinets.

The most popular are the biscocho, butterscotch, piaya, barquiron, banadas and pinasugbo.

There are many products to choose from for pasalubong

There are small and bigger packs depending on the quantity you want to purchase and/or distribute as pasalubong.

Most of the items can crumble or can be crushed if not handled or packed carefully. I would suggest that you prepare your bags for these whether you plan to hand-carry them or place them inside the luggage you will be checking-in. Another option is to have a separate bag for the pasalubong or to have them placed inside a carton box.

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Fruits in season - dalandan

The regular Saturday trip to the market to get fruits and vegetables yielded this seedless dalandan, which is one of the more popular citrus fruits in the country. While most dalandan in the market are unbranded, these had stickers on them like the kiwis, apples and oranges, even bananas, that are usually on supermarket shelves.

The dalandan came from a farm in Nueva Vizcaya. I thought it was good to have these labels or branding on the fruits. There's a perception there of quality and the origin adds to that.

Fruits available at my suking vendor at the market.

I recall my times in Japan when I bought bananas and sought out those from the Philippines rather than from other countries. The sticker on the bananas identified them. The same goes with pineapples and mangoes that are labeled and allowed me to purchase those from my country. Of course, when were here and especially in the provinces, you know the fruits are good especially where you know they are produced. The suha or pomelo in Davao are great regardless of the label or brand. Mangoes from Guimaras or Zambales are also great regardless of the label or brand.

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Taal volcano at dusk

I just wanted to share these couple of photos of Taal Lake and Volcano as we were having an early dinner at the Lake Hotel. We have not been to Tagaytay for a family trip since before the COVID-19 pandemic so this was a special trip in that our daughter was only 5 years old when we were last here.

Here's a decent photo of the lake and volcano islandjust as towns were starting to light up for the evening.

It wasn't a full moon yet and there was something eerie about it but it was a beautiful view with the lake and volcano.

Much has changed about Tagaytay but now we've found that there are still areas that are not so crowded and you can enjoy. It was also good to eat out again here and we hope to come back more often. More about Tagaytay in future posts. Hopefully, I can get on to writing those posts after I return from this trip.

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DITS - Desserts in the Sky, Atria

After our meeting at UP in Iloilo City, we decided to go have some snacks. Our friend took us to what he said was a popular cafe at the Atria. DITS stands for Desserts in the Sky and a nice place to have some snacks over conversations not to mention meetings.

Store front

Their halu-halo is highly recommended and reminded us of Razon's

They also have baked products like cakes and pastries

The interior was welcoming. There is a second level or mezzanine.

Breads and pastries

Various baked delights including cookies, otap and crinkles. You can get these for souvenirs.

The otap and cookies were really good. I brought the cookies home but started eating the otap at the hotel. I thought the otap was among the best I've tasted (no, Shamrock is not the best though it's good enough and better than many, ordinary otap). I will probably buy their otap if I get a chance to go to DITS the next time I'm in Iloilo.

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Roberto's "Jumbo" Siopao, Iloilo City

During our meeting at city hall, we were treated to a nice snack by our hosts. The siopao (steamed pork bun) from Roberto's was a welcome snack after a very early breakfast at NAIA Terminal 3 prior to our morning flight to Iloilo. Theirs is supposed to be the best siopao in the city and it certainly did not disappoint.

Roberto's is supposed to be the best siopao in the city

The siopao is revealed

Inside is a savory meat with egg

The siopao was definitely good and did not disappoint. I am not so sure it is the best siopao I've tasted but perhaps it is the best in Iloilo so it should be added to the must eats in the city recognized for its gastronomical delights.

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Back at Tatoy's Manokan & Seafoods - Atria, Iloilo City

One cannot say he or she has been to Iloilo without eating at one of the popular restaurants or eateries in the city. Among those people go to is Tatoy's Manokan & Seafoods. The original branch is in the Arevalo district of the city near the beach. I lost count how many times we've eaten there since my childhood days.

Entrance to the restaurant's branch at the Atria

Menu at the entrance of the restaurant - customers are requested to order their food here after getting a table. Drinks and additional food may be ordered through the staff (waiters and waitresses).

Baked scallops

Stuffed cuttlefish (or squid as its generally called) - this is lucos (stuffed) in the menu

Lechon baboy (roasted pork)

Kinilaw na tangigue (ceviche)

What Tatoy's is most famous for is its barbecued chicken (the Ilonggo version of the inasal). We didn't order the chicken for lunch as we went for a quick one with the easier to finish (eating) dishes. Of course, they also have other items on the menu but many were not available as shown in the menu on the tarpaulin.

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Comfort food in Iloilo

I remember that almost right after the disaster brought about by Typhoon Ondoy (Ketsana) in 2009, I had to travel to Singapore not once but twice for a workshop and a conference I had to attend there. One focused on road safety while the other was on sustainable transport. Work aside, the trips to Singapore offered some consolation from the sadness I felt after the losses from the flood. It was a welcome break for me to go to Iloilo though on official business and only for an overnight stay. Among those I missed were the food and here are snapshots of some establishments as we traveled to our first meeting at Iloilo City Hall straight from the airport.

Merzci is a popular bakeshop but originated from Bacolod City in Negros Occidental. I wasn't able to take photos of the JD bakeshop and the Tibiao Bakery branches but Iloilo has so many bakeries and stores selling bread with the taste bringing me back to my childhood days.

My preferences for pinasugbo and other souvenir food items are Wewin's and Biscocho House. My aunts and cousins were the ones who recommended both decades ago.

Iloilo was recognized as a city of gastronomy by UNESCO. It is no wonder to me as the food there was terrific with much to offer those wanting to go on a food trip.

Old building location of a Biscocho House branch. The original one is in Jaro.

Atria branch of the popular Tatoy's Manokan & Seafoods restautant

More on food in Iloilo in future posts!

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The Grounds, Sumulong Highway, Antipolo

We begin the so-called ghost month with a post about one of the restaurants near the Haven of Angels memorial chapels and crematorium in Antipolo. While we had been in Miguel's across the chapels, we had been curious about its sister restaurant "The Grounds". The July, we had the chance to go there after attending a service for the mother of a good friend. She passed away after a short battle with cancer. As with tradition, we decided to do 'pagpag' before we headed home that night.

They have a bar for those mainly wanting to have some drinks.

The restaurant is spacious and airy. Just don't be seated near the highway as it can get noisy apart from the hazards of emissions from vehicles traveling along Sumulong Highway.

Another photo of the restaurant interior

Their take on the classic pansit palabok. That's bagnet with the palabok.

Old fashioned children's spaghetti

 

There are function rooms for more private events or gatherings.

There are also ample parking spaces for customers.

We had their Brazo de Mercedes for dessert

It was really good

The food was good and the cost was not hard on the wallet. Pagpag aside, we thought it was a good place to have a meal at whether for a date or large gatherings. Of course, don't mind the usual groups who probably just came from a wake at the nearby memorial chapels.

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