ILOILO FOOD TRIP

Buko Pandan is among the most popular Pinoy desserts and easiest to make. Its just a combination of young coconut strips called buko , gelatin cubes with the essence of pandan and a creamy concoction made with milk and cream. The preparation of a basic Buko-Pandan recipe is mainly on the making if the pandan-based gelatin.  Here's a simple recipe for Buko-Pandan:

This simple sauteed dish consisting of these two vegetables plus shrimps and pork is one of the favorites as the taste of the two veggies collide at the same time mix in a good way. Kalubay is what Ilonggos call upo or bottle gourd and tawgi sounds like togue which are monggo sprouts.  Here's a simple recipe for Ginisang Upo at Togue

On most Filipino occasions, aside from lechon baboy, a pancit dish would always be present. Be it bihon, sotanghon, canton or combinations like bam-i (sotanghon and canton); it is always on the handa-an table. And like many Filipino dishes, the pancit recipe varies from household to household much more in different restaurants and food place. Here's a basic recipe for a Pancit Guisado where you can tweak using more or less ingredients of your choice.

Pancit Lomi is another Pinoy noodle soup dish which has a big Chinese influence on it. It has a rich, thick and egg "enriched"broth that complements the meat and vegetables. The noodles used is among the thickest in the Philippine culinary scene and most of the time, soaked in lye water to give it more texture. Because of its popularity around the country, the recipe varies from household to household as well as in the carinderias and restaurants offering the dish. Here's a simple Pancit Lomi recipe...

I love making on-the-spot appetizers and side dishes. Usually, I just check out the fridge and pantry to see what's available and then start my "experiment". Seeing that there was more than okra and kamote tops, it took no more than a second for me to decide to make one of my fave side dishes. And it is as easy as 1-2-3... Here's a simple recipe for Kamote Tops and Okra Ensalada