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Bibingkinitan with Iced Barako

Hello, fellow foodies!

Sorry, I wasn't able to post for Weekend Eating last Monday because I was in La Union and I didn't bring my net book and I wasn't able to go to an Internet Cafe because we were busy preparing for my cousin's wedding. My apologies, too, for not commenting on the other week's posts - I will do that within this day.

Anyway... my weekend was a blah. With heat shooting up to 35 - 36 degrees C, it was just way too difficult to enjoy the day as I tend to get tired even if I am not doing anything. We planned to go out and beat the summer heat with a glass of Halo Halo yesterday, but mom attended some events, so I basically just stayed at home. Hopefully this coming week will be a much better week for me.

What I am about to share was something from last Thursday. Right after eating our meals at Bar-B-King (please see previous post), we were also given some food products from Bibingkinitan - a quaint little shop known for its mini bibingka. Well, the name of the store pretty much tell what their product is, and I assume they got the name from the Filipino word "Balingkinitan," meaning small or slender. Since their main product is the bibingka, I think they just coined the term to Bibingkinitan.

It wasn't a new store for me, as we already got to taste their Bibingka back then. It was my sister who introduced the product to me when she wanted to buy something to take home to mom.

Bibingkinitan

Baked Mini Bibingka. When I first saw their store and saw how they prepare the bibingkas, I wasn't raving much about it because I grew up eating the kind one can buy on the streets - using charcoals to cook the bibingka. That time, too, I found their products a little pricey for 20 pesos each (as the street kind is slightly bigger at 35 - 50 pesos)... but when I finally got to taste it, all qualms and hesitations were erased. Even if it's baked, it still had the smokey banana leaf smell and flavor I loved in my bibingka, and that the taste and the quality make up for its price.

Tasting it again last Thursday renewed my love for this bibingka. The previous weekend, sister and I got to buy a big bibingka (maybe 2 to 3 times the size of these little babies) for 90 pesos at a restaurant in La Union... and now I appreciated Bibingkinitan's price - it was really cheaper because x2 of this would cost 40, x3 would be 60... still much cheaper than the 90-peso bibingka we had.

It may be small, but I guess that was another good thing about it... it doesn't overwhelm the one eating the product, and if one is enough, then you can have another one, right? Personally, I ate two bibingkas (one after the other) because it was just so good.

If you're wondering, these native bibingkas are made from rice flour batter with milk topped with slices of salted egg, cheese, and margarine.

Iced Barako Coffee

Iced Barako Coffee. As with most native delicacies, a perfect pair would be a cup of hot coffee, but since it's summer, Bibingkinitan came up with the iced variety of the well-loved Filipino Kapeng Barako. I still haven't tasted the hot variety, but this iced one was one of the best iced coffee I have tasted. It had everything I wanted in coffee - strong, rich coffee flavor combined with creaminess and sweetness. My brother thought it was a little too sweet for his liking, which is slightly true, but I do love my coffee sweet, so I loved it instantly. As I was sipping my Iced Barako, I was telling my brother and co-blogger Aylin that I would try to sip as little as possible so the drink will last longer, but as the ice melts away, I noticed that it made the coffee flavor a little mild and the milky flavor was the one overpowering the drink. Lesson learned: drink it as quick as possible, and maybe take out the ice once it reaches your preferred temperature.

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So... what did you have last weekend? If you're new to the Weekend Eating meme, you can read the rules and get the badge codes HERE. My heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined last last week.







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Bar-B-King (SM Megamall)

Bar-B-King
Basement, Bldg. B - SM Megamall
EDSA corner J. Vargas Avenue, Mandaluyong City

I really love trying something new, so when I received an invitation to a Bloggers' Event at Bar-B-King, I didn't hesitate to say yes to it. Actually, I almost didn't get to attend this event because I was still in La Union and my aunt wanted me to stay a bit longer, but I told her I have "a date" (with my brother, that is). I traveled back to Manila on Wednesday night and arrived home morning of Thursday, so I was still able to rest before brother and I went to SM Megamall.

Bar-B-King SM Megamall

The invitation said "Basement - SM Megamall," and first question brother asked was, "Which building?" I just answered, "Let's just walk, we will see it." Well, it wasn't really difficult to locate, as the red facade caught our attention quickly.

Bar-B-King SM Megamall

Bar-B-King

Entering the restaurant, I immediately liked the look of the place - it was clean and it had a great view of the kitchen... ensuring the quality and ensuring the cleanliness of the food served to the diners.

Dishes served at this "Quick Serving Restaurant" obviously focuses on charcoal-grilled dishes, but the "king" of their menu (if I may call it like that) is their Grilled Angus Beef Belly. Just the sound of the dish already made my eyes go big as Angus Beef always tasted great for me, but the price was the one that really made me go "wow."

150 pesos for grilled Angus Beef Belly, carrots and corn sidings, 12oz. of soda, unlimited Bar-B-Rice, and unlimited soup. Just the sound of it is already a great value for money.

For the soda, they serve Pepsi products, so I went for Mountain Dew.

Tinola Soup

Tinola Soup. Our meal was served with this soup. It was tasty - it really tasted like Chicken Tinola we cook at home, though I have to say it was a bit salty for my taste. Other than that, this was a good soup to accompany the meal.

Grilled Angus Belly Grilled Angus Belly

Grilled Angus Beef Belly Meal. The Bar-B-Rice isn't Java Rice, if you want to know. They didn't tell us what was in it, but we felt it was annatto. :) As for the beef, people behind Bar-B-King said it's USDA Certified Angus Beef that they imported then marinated in secret seasonings, baked then grilled. The beef was hot-off-the-grill so it was so fresh when we had it and it was indeed juicy, flavorful, and very tender. Their Au Jus Gravy was a little thicker than the regular gravy served at different food places and I really loved it.

The plate on the left was Aylin's (of BubblyFluffy), the one on the right was mine. Looking at it, it was quite obvious that the one on the left had more meat than the one on the right, but even if my plate didn't have much meat just by the look of it, it certainly made me feel full... and no, I didn't fully eat the fat, though yes, I tasted it (out of curiosity) and it was indeed good! I asked about it and they told us that even if plates had different cuts of beef, each cut was weighed and every plate had the same amount of beef by weight. I guess if you're not into fatty cuts of meat, you can just tell them beforehand that you prefer a cut with more meat.

In the end, I can truly say it was a good value for money and I sure want to eat it again and maybe try their other dishes.

In case you wanna know, these are their other dishes:

Bar-B-Meals
  • Pork Bar-B-King
  • Liempo King
  • Honey Chicken Bar-B
  • Bar-B Chops
  • Bar-B Shrimps
  • Inihaw na Pinaputok na Bangus (with Ensalada)
  • 1/2 pound Angus Bar-B Burger

Noodles and Merienda

  • Sweet Style Bar-B Spaghetti
  • Pancit Bihon
  • Pancit Canton
  • Pancit Luglog

Soups and Sides

  • Tinola
  • Sitaw at Kalabasa
  • Monggo
  • Ensalada with Bagoong

They also offer Pork Bar-B-King for Take Out at 35 per stick, 330 for a box of 10 and 650 for a box of 20. For desserts, they have Sundae Twist.

Cheapest food on the menu were the vegetable sides (Sitaw at Kalabasa and Monggo) as well as the Sundae Twist at 29 pesos. Most expensive would be the 1/2 pound Angus Bar-B-Burger and 2 pieces Bar-B-Chops at 165 pesos. Even at the most expensive, it was still very affordable, especially that all Bar-B Meals come with a glass of soda and unlimited rice and soup.

Bar-B-King is at the Basement Level of SM Megamall - Bldg. B, near Worlds of Fun. You can check their website HERE and their Facebook Page HERE.




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Bellissimo Bellevue!

There’s more to great Italian dining than pasta, pizza and panini! Let The Bellevue, the best 5-star hotel in the Southern Metro, take you closer to the sprawling wineries and quintessential cities of Italy for an authentic Italian dining at its main dining outlet Café d’Asie. Experience a soulful gastronomic journey around Italy and discover the cultural flavors of each of its 20 regions for an Italian Food Festival dubbed "I Love Italy" from April 26 to 30. The Bellevue’s Italian chef Tonino Ianocceli shall titillate your taste buds with a live cooking station and mouth-watering buffet of specialties.

Savor the richness of flavors from its northern region in Lombardy through its creamy risotto and the irresistible array of pizzas coming from its southern region as far as Sicilia. Indulge in a bed of succulent antipasti from prosciutto di parma, carpaccio, panacetta, to smoked salmon and cold seafoods. Take pleasure in a serving of insalata rich with fresh greens, herbs and dressings; a wide array of famous formaggio from the cheese capital of Piemonte. Get acquainted with its traditional meat dishes comprising of beef (bue), pork (miale), chicken (pollo), lamb (agnello), veal (vitello) as well as an array of pastas in a various shapes, colors, and blends. And surrender to sweet endings with heavenly dolce de frutta such as panna cotta, creambrulee, cioccolato, gelato, tiramisu.

For just P1, 390 nett, you can avail of this special lunch and dinner buffet that go along with a free glass of red wine. Bon appétit!

For inquiries, call 771-8181, 09178718181 or 09188718181.
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Madge Cafe (La Paz, Iloilo)

Madge Cafe
La Paz Public Market
La Paz, Iloilo City

While planning the holiday, I got to read an article on YUMMY Magazine about Negros. It featured a small coffee shop in Iloilo, something I hoped K and I would visit because I know he loves coffee and taking him there would be a unique Filipino experience. When we decided where to stay while in Iloilo, I was so pleased that all things just jived - the inn and the coffee shop are located in the same area. What made me happier was that the inn is just a few steps away from the market, so that meant K and I could have our morning coffee at the said coffee shop.

Madge Cafe

We didn't bother with the free breakfast included in our inn booking anymore, and quickly, we went to La Paz Market to look for Madge Cafe. We asked people around but they couldn't give us a straight question, until one person who sort of heard me asking someone else gave us the directions.

Madge Cafe was established in 1951 and is now one of the oldest family-run businesses in Iloilo. The coffee they serve is Iloilo grown.

Madge Cafe

The place wasn't full yet when we arrived, and upon entering, we were greeted with friendly Ilonggo smiles. Minutes after we placed our orders, people started entering... students, people having their morning coffee before going to work, as well as locals who would like to drink coffee and share stories with their friends.

Madge Cafe - Back Area

The place doesn't have air conditioning system, but of course not everybody appreciates the smell of cigarette smoke, so they do have this area for smokers, but it could also be a good place for big groups of people to gather round and talk about a common topic - be it sports, politics, or current events.

Preparing Coffee

The way they prepare coffee is something so interesting, too bad I wasn't able to video it to give you a step by step demo. :) They have four kinds of brew: strong, regular, mild, and milky. A cup of coffee is p20.

Personalized Cups

Regular customers already have their own cups... though I wasn't able to ask how often should one visit the place to get him/herself a personalized cup.

K's Coffee Pandeciosa

K's Breakfast. Strong coffee and a piece of Pandeciosa. This place also serves breakfast - breads and rice meals... and K chose the bread. I was hoping they'd give it to me right there and then, but the staff said they'd serve it on our table. Well, they did cut the bread in half (lengthwise), spread some margarine, and toasted it. I loved the taste of this bread, tasted a lot like pizza crust.

Puto and Coffee

My Breakfast. Well, I planned to eat La Paz Batchoy that morning, too, so I just went for the milky cup of coffee and puto. The puto I didn't eat.

We welcomed our mornings in Iloilo by visiting Madge Cafe. On our last morning, I was able to personally talk to the cafe's owner and I also ate a rice meal - Paksiw na Bangus and Fried Rice... and it was so delicious!


FTFBadge

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Lunch Gone Bad

Happy easter, fellow foodies!

The girls (mom, sis, friend Ria) and I were in Ilocos over the weekend. Mom's friends at work booked a roadtrip because this has been the longest span of time without work for them (no office since Thursday 'til now, Monday) so they really planned to do this weekend getaway.

Day two of our trip (Saturday) - we visited the Kabigan Falls, Patapat Viaduct, and Paraiso ni Anton... going to Blue Lagoon, we were told that we could opt to buy fresh seafood at a roadside market and take it to Blue Lagoon, where we would find a restaurant to cook the seafood to our liking. They didn't like the idea and thinking there were restaurants along the lagoon where we could buy cooked food, we headed to Blue Lagoon hoping to have a sumptuous lunch.

We were wrong. So many people, too much heat... to the point that I found Blue Lagoon not as pretty as I hoped it would be. I guess seeing too much people, too much vehicles and bearing a very scorching summer heat caused for me to lose interest in the place - especially that it was difficult to find a place to eat at... one resort's restaurant served buffet lunch at p500 per person, but their food were so unappetizing - just three dishes all looked like something we could eat at a roadside eatery. At p500 I could have a great buffet lunch at Tong Yang where I could eat all the expensive fish I want, so we didn't grab it.

Jhun's Eatery - Pagudpud

Right next to the resort was a place called Jhun's Eatery. Seeing an empty table, we decided to just have lunch there, afterall, they have two dishes to choose from.

The dishes were sort of expensive at p100 pesos per serving, but we were so hungry, we just grabbed the chance. We encountered a bad experience while placing our order. One man approached the counter and started complaining about a bad service - their group asked the eatery's staff about reserving a table and the staff told them their food will be ready by 12nn (they made reservation around 10am as they said). They came a little past 12nn, and while the dishes were ready, rice wasn't. We all know how important rice is to us Filipinos, so it made them upset, since it was two hours ago when they made the reservation. The eatery's staff answered all their concerns, but as firm as the customers were, the staff was even firmer with her words. She said, "Did you even pay deposit for your reservation? If you didn't then you're free to go." In the end the group of people just left their table and offered us their fish dish - which they asked the restaurant to cook for them.

The eatery's staff told us to wait 15 more minutes for the rice to cook, so we waited. However.... when another group of people arrived, the staff served them the rice instead of serving it to us and when we asked about it, the staff said they were still cooking rice. They served us 1 and 1/2 cups of rice (we ordered 7 cups as we were 7 in the group), which a few of us shared. One hour of waiting and we were getting the same response - they were still cooking rice.

On our part, we were there earlier than other people... they should've served us the rice first. The staff went to our table and saw some banana leaves (mom opened the suman we bought earlier that day just to ease the tummy ache) and the sarcastic staff said, "You have this... this is good as rice." She was pointing that we shouldn't complain about rice not being served because we had suman to eat anyway. I wanted to talk back to the staff, but because my mom, her boss and other colleague was there, I decided to keep the thoughts to myself.

We didn't pay for the fish dish as it was given to us... but we did pay for the other dishes as well as the first 1 1/2 cups of rice because we did eat them. I know business is booming that day because there were so many tourists, but it was just a bad service, and food wasn't good either. It reminded me never to travel anywhere during the Holy Week.

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So... what did you have last weekend? If you're new to the Weekend Eating meme, you can read the rules and get the badge codes HERE. My heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined last week.







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Deco's Original La Paz Batchoy

Deco's Original La Paz Batchoy
La Paz Public Market, Iloilo City
22 November 2010

Our first morning in Iloilo welcomed us with a bright sunshine. Our booking at the Urban Inn included breakfast, but because the inn didn't have a dining area and the rooms didn't have telephone, we didn't know how to inform them about our breakfast.

Since we were staying in La Paz and we read about this quaint coffee shop inside the La Paz Market, I told K we would just go there to eat breakfast. Actually that coffee breakfast happened first, but because I wanna link up to ABC Wednesday, let me just share this first because this is the only "L" food related post I can think of for now.

They say, you've never been to Iloilo if you haven't tasted La Paz Batchoy. I admit, I already got to taste La Paz Batchoy months before as there are now branches all over the country, but since I was in Iloilo and I was in La Paz... I surely didn't want to pass up the chance to eat authentic La Paz Batchoy - where else, but in Deco's located in La Paz Public Market.

Deco's La Paz Batchoy - Iloilo

Copying from their website, "In 1938 a young culinary entrepreneur, Federico Guillergan , Sr. (nicknamed Deco) pioneered in serving a soup from meat stock garnished with a concoction of local herbs and spices. The soup was an instant hit as evidenced by the regular crowd that flocked around his make shift carinderia inside La Paz Public Market in Iloilo City." Right now, there are quite a few Deco's branches - all look modern - but I still want to experience something close to the original, so I really asked K if he could accompany me here because I wanted my Iloilo breakfast to be very special.

Deco's - Interior

I was sort of hoping we would eat at the rustic roadside eatery like place, but it looked a bit modern and it already had air conditioning system. K already had his breakfast so it was just I eating for this food trip, so I just asked the staff what would she recommend.

La Paz Batchoy with Puto

La Paz Batchoy (Extra). Miki Noodles, Broth, slices of pork, liver, intestines... topped with crushed chicharon (pork rind cracklings), spring onions, and toasted garlic. They say the success of a good La Paz Batchoy lies in the broth... and this one satisfied me a lot! The broth was so tasty, it had the right seasoning, and it was so comforting. I didn't eat the liver slices, but the intestine slices I ate and it was good in the sense that it didn't have the usual foul odor and taste.

La Paz Batchoy

Zooming in on my bowl of La Paz Batchoy. It was so good, I wanted more. :) By the way, I ate it with some Puto Manapla, which was a great pair to this bowl of comfort.

Yep, you haven't been to Iloilo if you haven't tasted La Paz Batchoy... but if you're not into innards, they do serve other types to suit your taste.


PS - I will be offline from tomorrow 'til Easter Sunday.

FTFBadge

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