My First Time In Iloilo City

I am trying to broaden my horizon.  My usual hangouts are Boracay and Cebu.

This time around, I went to Iloilo to check out the food scene.

Vinnie and FGM Cindy were with me.

The airport was very clean! We were so surprised!  Getting around Iloilo is a little difficult if you do not have a car.  We had to hire a taxi to take us to our hotel.

We checked in a Injap Tower....

across SM Iloilo.

We used the same cab to go to Tatoy's Manukan Restaurant near the bay.

I LOVE Tatoy's!!!!!!

Especially the Chicharon Bulaklak.

We also ordered.....

Steamed Oysters

Lechon

Lato

Lechon Squab (native chicken)

Pancit

Grilled Blue Marlin - I want to eat it again!

Green Mangoes with Ginamos

After dinner, we asked the cab driver to drop us off at SM so we could start buying our pasalubongs.

The next day, I woke up very early.  I went to La Paz Public Market.

I enjoy going to the palengke!  .

My suitcase was filled with my loot from the market.

Batwan - I just bought for Tita Ope, Cat and for myself.

Ginamos - their version of bagoong. 3\4 K.... gave some to my neighbors as pasalubong.

Guimaras mangoes and tuyo!

I ate La Paz Batchoy at Netong's located inside the market.

The puto manapla was so good! I should have bought some to bring home.

The waiter told me to dip the puto in the soup.

I had my 2nd breakfast at the hotel.  It was a simple buffet spread.  I tried the pancakes.

At first I was very wary.... how could they cook good pancakes????

The hot plate had melted butter and they were cooking the pancakes on it!  GREASY!!!!

NOT! Ohhhhh I was so surprised the pancakes were moist, soft and fluffy!

I am so used to eating dense and dry  pancakes in the provinces but not at our hotel.   PLUS!  They used caramelized muscovado sugar instead of pancake syrup!  It tasted like molasses.

After breakfast, Mona arrived from Manila.  We headed to Breakthrough Restaurant near the bay.

BUT...... before going to Breakthrough, we passed by Tatoy's to buy Chicharon Bulaklak.

We wanted Mona to try it.

It was not as crispy as the night before but still, we ate it all.

The restaurant's view was beautiful.... you can see the water while dining al fresco.

We ordered a lot of food.

Baked Oysters

2 platters of Butter Garlic Scallops

Kansi Soup

Grilled Liempo

Grilled Managat Fish, it can only be found in the waters of Iloilo.

Pinangat na Laing

Steamed Shrimps

Vinnie bought food to take home to Manila. Her flight was in the evening.

Lunch at Breakthrough was just ok.

Then we went around the city to go to different pasalubong shops.

I tried the famous siopao from Roberto's.

Bought different kinds of Biscocho and broas!

Barquillos from Deocampo was the best!

When I came home from Iloilo, after unloading my suticase at home, I went to Rockwell to buy ice cream so I can enjoy my barquillos!

We just discovered you do not have to go around the city to buy delicacies to take home.  You can buy almost everything at the airport!

When Vinnie left, we just had dinner at Shakey's.  No more native food for us.

The next day, I had the same pancakes for breakfast.  They also served Sunpride longanisa.  I better remember the brand.  The next time I go to Cebu, I am going to buy it in the supermarket.

As usual, I was overweight again!  Hahahahaha

Namalengke kasi!

Friends wanted me to buy food stuff for them but I could not possibly buy more.  The problem is, before leaving Manila the weight was already 9 kilos.  I only had 6 kilos to spare.  I bought fresh produce from the market so that was the culprit.  I do not like to hand carry things but I was forced to put the box of barquillos and blanket (my security blanket) inside my travelling bag.

We were at the airport quite early because Mona and I wanted to be transferred to FGM's flight because it was earlier than ours.

I know there was a nearby Tatoy's.  I could not get the chicharon bulaklak out of my mind.  I had to eat it or else I will go crazy!

As soon as I dropped off my luggage at the counter, I immediately called Tatoy's to order chicharon.  I told them I was at the airport and to please make it crunchy.  I also told them the chicharon I bought yesterday was not that crunchy.

I hired a taxi to take me to the restuarant.

When I got there, my order was waiting for me.

It was still hot I could hardly hold the bag!

Even the driver was going crazy because of the delicious aroma eminating from the paper bag.  I gave manong driver a piece.

Cindy and Mona were so surprised that I got back very fast!

I let Mona try a few pieces, the rest was all mine!!!!!!!!!

Paper thin chicharon so crunchy!

Imagine, I ate chicharon bulaklak 3 days in a row!!!!

What is so surprising about it???

I do not eat chicharon.

I do not like chicharon.

It is not my favorite food.

But the chicharon bulaklak of Tatoy's Manukan if cooked right???

I will eat it over and over again.

So..... ask me.... Do I want to go back to Iloilo?

Yes!!!!

But maybe just a day trip is enough.

Will go to the market in the morning to eat batchoy and puto, buy in the palengke, have a long lunch at Tatoy's Manukan near the bay then head back to the airport.

Buy all the pasalubong at the 3rd floor.

By the way, the staff at the Iloilo International Airport was so helpful!  I am not used to people being nice to me!

In Manila, if a stranger is extra nice to you, be cautious!

But in Iloilo, it is the nature of the people to be nice and helpful without expecting anything in return.

So.... yes.... I am going back to Iloilo!

Ka Escapades in Bangkok Part 2

On our 3rd day in Bangkok, we had breakfast at the nearby market.

I LOVE this place!

The market was so clean!  I told Tita next time we should just buy fresh seafood and cook it at home!

I ate my favorite Khanon Buang which I fondly call, Tacos.

My favorite Moo Ping!!!!!

Can I say Moo Ping over and over and over?!?!?!?!?!

Spices!!!!!

Chili Peppers!

Fresh Pad Thai Noodles

And a whole lot more!!!!

Miniature eggplants

We had soup again for breakfast.

And rice and more moo ping and white corn!

It was really sweet and you can suck the juice from the cob!  Well, I did!

Tita bought us Roasted Coconut juice.

It was our day to go to Chatuchak Weekend Market!

We took the BTS then transferred to MRT and got off at Khampeng Phet Station, Exit 2.

When you get out of the station, you will see the gate of Chatuchak.

First item on the agenda.....

Moo Ping!

I could not forget the moo ping Jing and I ate last July but I have a new favorite vendor now.  The one from the market.

We saw a long line of people at the Original Coconut Ice Cream stall so we also lined up to try it.  I had a coconut ice cream with corn.

We also tried the Fried Quail Eggs.

I had the fresh orange juice.

Have I told you how hot it was in Bangkok?  I saw the popsicle vendor!  I bought the orange flavored ice lolly.

And then I had Coke.

And then..... the grape flavored one!

I had several bottles of sodas.  It was really hot, as in, I had to drink one bottle after another.

Mango ice cream with coconut gel and strawberries.

Roast Pork dipped in spicy sauce.

Wish I had space in my stomach for the Paella!

It was just too hot too eat anything.

After eating all the popsicles and drinking all the sodas, my friends asked me if I drank water.

Ooops! It did not enter my mind!

I just bought a few pasalubong items in Chatuchak,  Nothing for me.  But..... I bought Snowball her "prom" dress!!!!!

It is embroidered with gold thread.

Did I say it was very hot?  I thought I would expire from the heat.  We all went home at 2 pm so we can take a shower.

What was waiting for us when we got home?  Tita bought Durian!  It is Doc Bernie's favorite.

I love the fruit, as well.  So creamy and not stinky at all.

Tita said the fruit cost more than a thousand Baht!!!

And then.... it was time for an early dinner!

But before dinner, we dropped by Holy Redeemer Church to say a few prayers.

Dinner was at DAO by Coffee Bean.  Ryan drove for us again.

I told Tita a few months ago, over and over, that I want to have my own order of Chicken ala King.  I announced it to the group in the car that I want my own order.  When we got there, they only had 1 serving left!

Of course, nobody dared to say anything.  It goes without saying that the only remaining Chicken ala King was for me.

I had to offer them out of "delikadeza".  I really did not mean it! But Mona and Pinky tried it!  I told them they can split  one Chicken ala King.  It was really small, as small as a piece of siomai.

I also offered one to Cristina but she declined!  That was kind of you, Dra.!

Why do I love it so much that I could eat 12 pieces in one go?  The filling was just ok but the vol au vent case was something else!  So flaky and really...... YUM!

We also ordered the Crispy Pad Thai.

Wonton wrappers were used.

Doc Bernie ordered the traditional Pad Thai.

Shrimps wrapped in paper.

Clear glass noodle salad.

Laab Namtok

Stewed Ox Tongue

I also loved the garlic bread and dippped it in the ox tail stew sauce.

Pinky had the macarons for dessert.

We went to Central World to go to the supermarket.  I bought a lot!  My suitcase was just filled with food and ingredients for cooking.

Another early night for us because it was going to be another shopping day the next day.

Breakfast was at Kalpapruek.  A restaurant frequented by the Royal Family.

Look at all the cakes and pastries!  Sugar rush so early in the morning!!!!

They have the best Pad Thai in my opinion because the taste is the same as my Pad Thai.

Hahahahaha Yabang!

Tita said it is old fashioned cooking.  That's why I like it.

We each had the Bagoong Rice.

Chicken Wrapped in Pandan for sharing.

Dessert was not for sharing!  I ordered the Orange cake.

It is an orange flavored sponge cake with white frosting.

Someone ordered the moist chocolate cake.

Mocha Crunch Cake ?

We took the BTS to Mega Bangna where the big IKEA is located!

I tried the Swedish Meatballs at the cafeteria.  It was just ok.  Hahahaha Not worthy of a picture.  I do not like creamy gravy but I wanted to try the famed Swedish Meatballs.

I bought a crepe turner.  And a dish drainer for 59 Baht!!!!

Supermarket was my destination.  As usual, I bought more food stuff and ingredients.

It was time to head home.  The cab drivers did not want to take us to Tita's house because it was too far.  Ikea is nearer the airport than the city.  We took a chance and requested a car from Uber.  Yes! A big DMAX!  When it arrived, I just told them to go inside! We were 5, the cars are usually good for 4 people only but since the driver did not complain, we all piled into the pick up.

When we got home, we started preparing for dinner.  This time, we told Tita we will just cook at home.  Earlier in the day, she already cooked the Ox Tail Kare-Kare, Pinky's request.

Do you know that one ox tail cost only 90 Baht?!?!?!

Doc Bernie and I grilled the squid and the pork neck.

Cristina was in charge of setting the table.  Pinky's assignment was to cook the rice and Mona was the dish washer.

We also had fresh steamed shrimps

and Crabs in Curry Sauce.

It was time to pack!  I needed Hermie! I was so overwhelmed I did not know what to do with the things I bought!

Good thing Cristina helped me.  I was also overweight!  I bought canned goods and sauces in bottles!  Plus a whole lot more!!!!

I kinda blackmailed them.  I told the group I will do the web check in for them if they will give me their extra baggage allowance!

Cristina and Doc Bernie said yes!

Pinky used Mona's excess baggage allowance.  She definitely needed Mona's because she went shopping in Ikea for the new house she is having built.

On our last day, we asked Tita Jit to take us to the market again for breakfast and do last minute shopping.

I tried the Steamed Chicken Rice.

Doc Bernie had the stewed pork leg.

Everybody went to MBK including Ryan and Tita Jit.  I separated from the group because I had to go to Siam Paragon and eat at Somboon Curry House.

I ordered the small Fried Curry Crab.

At Siam Paragon, I tried the Hokkaido soft served ice cream.

It was smooth and silky!

I went home on my own.  I rode the BTS and took a cab from the train station.

And then..... it was time to head to airport.  Tita Jit and Ryan brought us there.

Thank you so much Tita Jit and Ryan for your generous hospitality!  I hope you also enjoyed our company.

We cannot wait to go back to Bangkok!

So many more places to explore and so many more food to eat!

This was such a memorable trip!

And the funny moments we had were unforgettable!!!!

Thank you Ka Escapades for putting up with my silliness and craziness!

I hope to have more travel escapades with you.

P.S.

The naughty Ka Escapades strikes again!

Ka Escapades in Bangkok 2017.

Ka Escapades In Bangkok Part 1