BLESSED with a rich culinary history and the fertile resources of both its land and sea, Iloilo has grown to become a burgeoning culinary haven – countless travelers are lured by the city’s mouth-watering offerings. Here are a few local favorites you need to taste for yourself when in this vibrant gastronomic paradise.
QUINTESSENTIAL BATCHOY
There is no other dish as synonymous with Ilonggo dining as the iconic batchoy, its origins traced back to Iloilo City’s La Paz district.
Usually topped with generous helpings of chicharon and chives, the Ilonggo staple is highlighted by thick miki noodles and freshly-sliced pork innards, complemented by a rich chicken or pork stock bursting with savory flavor.
MOLO COMFORT FOOD
There’s nothing quite like the simple joy of a hot bowl of Molo Soup in the morning. Also known as Pancit Molo, the wonton soup dish is the most beloved Ilonggo comfort food – bite-sized Molo dumplings floating in a hearty broth, best served with fresh onion chives and a generous sprinkle of toasted garlic bits.
SACCHARINE SURPRISES
Sugar was once Iloilo’s main export, so it’s no surprise that the Ilonggos have developed a taste for sinful sweet treats. The city’s myriad saccharine surprises go from the classic barquillos (crisp rolled wafers) and biscocho (toasted buttery bread topped with a sprinkle of sugar) – both the perfect partner for your afternoon coffee or a cup of local hot chocolate tablea – to caloric butterscotch bars, baye-baye (a native snack of toasted pinipig, coconut water and grated young coconut), to piaya (a flaky muscovado-filled flatbread), and so much more.
BOUNTY OF THE SEA
Where should you begin? Hearty crabs heavy with fatty aligue, some tender grilled squid stuffed with tomatoes and chopped peppers, or mouth-watering buttered scallops, prawns, and oysters freshly plucked from the ocean – Iloilo’s sprawling shoreline ensures abundant sea harvests all-year round, and sold at fairly agreeable prices too.
GUIMARAS MANGOES
With over 35,000 of the fruit-bearing trees on the idyllic island, Guimaras boasts what are claimed to be the sweetest mangoes in the world. The appeal of Guimaras’ famous mangoes is easy to understand – with its vibrant yellow hue, its silky and smooth texture and its rich sweetness that will make you want to lick your lips after every morsel. The dazzling Manggahan Festival is celebrated every month of May in the island of Guimaras./PN
