My Iloilo Food Trip - Last of 4 Parts

On our last day in Iloilo, lunch was a feast of progressive Filipino cuisine at Bauhinia, still found at the Avenue. I call it progressive because, interestingly, as soon as you look at the menu, you will find that the items are quite regular Pinoy meals a local is familiar with. However, as soon as the meals are served, you will find that the familiar treat is actually served with such delightful twists.




I particularly admire the bright interiors of the restaurant as it consciously used natural light and also featured works of local artists found in its walls. What also struck me were the beautiful tables wrapped in banana leaves, and coated for a smooth finish.

Smoked Bangus Pate




We were presented a tray of crisp crostinis with Smoked fish pate. We were told that they smoke their own fish to ensure that these come in really fresh and full of flavor.

Kinilaw shooters


Our meal started with shots of Kinilaw na tuna. It was a pleasant combination of tuna, onions, cucumber, carrots and mangoes in a light vinaigrette.

Sinigang Na Lechon


Next was sinigang na lechon kawali. Generous chunks of crisp (and insanely good?!!) fried pork belly chunks served with batuan-soured clear broth.

Other items on the menu which we've tried are;

Longanisa Fried Rice


Longanisa Fried Rice, a combination of fluffy rice cooked with crumbled chorizos and garlic and topped with sliced salted eggs and tomatoes.

Perhaps we were all too guilty for pigging out for the past few days, so we opted for mostly seafoods for our viands.

Seafood Kare-Kare


Seafood Kare-Kare included a medley of mussels, prawns and fish coated in thick achuete colored peanut sauce and served with a side of sauteed bagoong.

Tinuom na Hipon


Tinuom was a dish of your choice of meat (prawns, chicken or fish) wrapped in banana leaves and cooked in delicately seasoned coconut milk.

Dessert was composed of Chocnut cheesecake and Leche Flan. Each bite screamed "calories" but hey, we only live once right?!

Dessert Galore


Global flavors, beautiful company, wonderful food. Iloilo is truly a wonderful food destination.

My Iloilo Food Tour Part 3

Dinnertime was set at Amalfi, an Italian restaurant also found at the Avenue. After an incredibly awful experience at the Hotel we stayed in (which deserves another post), we were ready to calm ourselves with good company and great Italian food.

We found that the menu presents classic Italian favorites and here are our finds. Please excuse the photos - Amalfi was dimly lit which sets the elegance of the ambiance but mind you, the food was fantastic!

Mixed Vegetable Soup


The meal started with soup, their version of mixed vegetable soup. Initially, we thought of the usual minestrone - cut up vegetables and pasta floating in tomato-chicken broth; theirs however is just plain chicken broth, still with pasta and vegetables including chopped stewed tomatoes.

Soup Shooters


If you really love warming up your tummies for that full meal, I recommend trying the Soup shooters as it provides you a medley of rich and savory flavors - tomato, brocolli and squash cooked in either cream or broth and enjoyed in between sips, straight from the shot glasses.

Risotto Balls


I've made risotto balls before, about the size of an inch in diameter, and found this quite interesting considering its enormous size and it being just a couple of pieces, well, it is quite odd. Crack it open and you'll find mozzarella cheese oozing generously.

Salsiccia Pizza

A visit to an Italian restaurant of course will not be complete without having a bite of their pizza. As expected, thin crisp crust, fresh tomato consomme and a trio of sausages finished with just the right number of fresh basil leaves.

Tenderloin with Prawn Stuffing

If pizza is not your thing, you may want to consider their line of main dishes which include this roulade stuffed with prawns or their Osso Buco which practically is falling off the bones and its gelatinous meat with a melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Osso Buco



Duck Breast with Pasta in Truffle Oil

Pasta anyone? How about some roast duck breast with pasta drizzled in truffle oil? What can I say, anything with this oil, I will no longer argue. I'm happy.

Chocolate Salami


We ended our meal with their signature dessert of chocolate salami, imported chocolate formed into a log and sliced and their rendition of the tiramisu, still characterized with layers of coffee laced sponge fingers in between mascarpone, but served in a fancy footed glass.

Tiramisu


The food tour continues. . .