Here and There in Iloilo

Hello, readers! GONG XI FA CAI to all our Chinese friends! I’m just going to post everything I haven’t been able to post so far on account of being so busy with school (I’ve started on my thesis, ugh) and all. So I’m catching you guys up and because there are so many I’ll be quick with it.

Crepe Samurai at MARIDEL’S, Plazuela

I really liked it (crepe + mango ice cream = legit) although it was a bit messy.

KOREAN ICE CREAM (P60 each; bought from the Korean grocery store across Jollibee, E. Lopez, Jaro)

Vanilla ice cream with a sort of black bean thing. It was good but a bit hard to eat on account of it being messy. Or maybe it was just me…

Basically an ice cream sandwich made of vanilla ice cream and cheese cake. I loved this!

Zatazza

I’ve been to Zatazza twice, tried their coffee twice, cursed their coffee twice.

MARIDEL’S, Plazuela

VODKA CAKE: I liked it fine but I don’t think I’m going to eat it again. I guess Vodka’s not my thing after all.

SNICKERS PIE: Basically this pie is made with all the components that you can find in a Snickers bar. I personally am not a big fan of Snickers (my favourite chocolate bar is Mars) so this was just okay for me.

MADGE CAFE

If you live in Iloilo you’re bound to hear about this wondrous place called Madge Cafe, located inside Lapaz Public Market, which supposedly has the best coffee in the city. Madge is also the oldest kapihan (coffeehouse) in Iloilo. I suggest you don’t come here if you’re used to Starbucks or Coffee Break ‘coffee’ because Madge brews their own coffee and it’s a far cry from those commercialised crap. Each mug costs only P20!

CASHEW ROCA

Nothing. I just wanted to profess my love for this.

OCEAN CITY BISTRO, Iloilo Ayala Technohub

Baked scallops, chicken teriyaki noodles, sizzling crab meat = all delicious!

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My friend (and frequent partner-in-crime) Poch and I decided to try out this place after seeing a banner while on the way to my house. It piqued our interest because a) it said “ANGUS BURGERS” and b) it was hanging at the Shell gasoline station along Diversion Road. Oh, man. OH, MAN. IT WAS GOOD. Everything was good! So we each got a 100g burger, which costs P130 (a 200g burger costs P190) and comes with a side of fries. Actually, I really liked the burger, but those fries were my favourite! We also each got raspberry iced tea (P45) which was delicious as well. I’d really love to go back there soon.

23 January 4 Permalink

Maridel’s, Plazuela de Iloilo

My sister, henceforth known as Phil, who is often my parter in crime when I go on food adventures, told me about this new place called Maridel’s in Plazuela and said that I had to try their ice cream burgers. I’m really, really into ice cream, so I didn’t need any other reason to check Maridel’s out. Well, to be honest it takes little to none to motivate me to check out anything to do with food haha. School is starting again soon for Phil and me so we decided to go to Maridel’s together before we’re faced with the brand of poverty that only college kids face.

We were more than disappointed to find out that they weren’t serving their ice cream burgers that night, so I still have yet to see what they mean by ‘ice cream burger’ (I imagine it’s some sort of ice cream sandwich). However we decided to stay and sample some of their other desserts. (By the way Phil expressly asked me to mention that their ‘ice cream burgers are to die for’, which makes me all the more frustrated that I still have yet to taste it. Dammit.)

Heaven and Hell (P108/slice)

This is basically combined layers of peanut butter, angel food cake and devil’s food cake, hence the name. It’s topped with a delectable chocolate ganache that my sister and I just couldn’t get enough of. I really like this one because it’s not too sweet despite its very rich ingredients.

Frozen Lemon Meringue (P86/slice)

Holy crap. HOLY CRAP. When I first took a bite of this, I immediately felt an overwhelming plethora of emotions. I was happy and excited and fulfilled but also at the same time confuzzled as to how something so delicious could come into being. It was amazing, I cannot stress that enough! Here’s the structure of the marvel that is the Frozen Lemon Meringue:

We weren’t sure what the crust was made of but it tasted nutty to us so we gathered that it could be walnut. Anyways I think this pie is absolutely genius. You start off with the light airy taste of the meringue and then you immediately get this explosion of amazingness from the lemon custard, and then you get the bite of the cold of the ice cream, but the ice cream isn’t too sweet so your tastebuds are sort of ‘calmed down’ after the sour sweetness of the lemon custard, and then you get the pleasant crunch of the base. It was the least boring pie I’ve ever had.

The only bad thing about it is that as the ice cream melts the pie starts to fall apart and it gets difficult eating, but who cares really when it is just that delicious?! Also, isn’t it unbelievable that it’s only P86?! Considering how mindblowing it is, it’s practically f r e e.

I’m definitely going back and I’m determined to try every single thing on their menu eventually. I also hope to be able to talk to the eponymous Maridel ‘coz I think she’s absolutely brilliant. She wasn’t there the night we went but I talked to her brother and his wife and they were really pleasant and accommodating. So please, I implore you, for the love of God, go to Maridel’s. Immediately!

Maridel’s can be found in Plazuela de Iloilo, beside Ponsyon and across Coffee Break. Also, check out their Facebook page here.

12 November 10 Permalink