Seafoods at Diotay's

When I was making my own list of places to eat in Bacolod, some friends interjected to include Diotay's.  Huh?  Where is that?  That was when I became curious about it.

One day, when I had a few hours to kill, I decided to make a turn at that area at the back of the Provincial Administration Center.  I drove slowly at the narrow street and there were small eateries catering to the employees at the Provincial Capitol.  Until I saw the name "Diotay's".  They were cleaning up the place as it was a Sunday afternoon.  One guy was telling me to come back at 5pm when they open.

I came back the next day when I was able to convince fellow tour guide, Bambi,  to try this new find of mine.  We had head of fish which was cooked sinigang and half of it was grilled.  Since Bambi didn't want to eat pork, I was obliged to order adobong squid.  It was perfect for both of us.  We paid P520 for 3 kinds of cooked seafoods plus rice and drinks.

a wide selection of seafoods

Bambi and myself

This prawn costs P210 when cooked.

The owner, Diotay Magallanes, was just around the place.  In Ilonggo, 'diotay' means tiny or few.  The guy didn't look closer to 'tiny' at all.  I wasn't able to take a photo of him because Bambi and I were busy feeding ourselves.  The eatery has turned a year old last December 2013.

a plate of  cooked scallops is P160

I failed to ask how much this crabs cost.

first time I saw a blue fish that could be eaten

Location:  Gatuslao St., Bacolod City

How to get there: Coming from the Gatuslao St. side of the Provincial Capitol Bldg., go straight North, passing by the Sweet Captel (formerly Kadiwa).  It is on the right side of the street, a few houses away from the Office of the Provincial Veterinary.  If you get lost, just ask around.  You won't miss it!  Enjoy the seafoods!

Batchoy on a Cold Day

One rainy afternoon, my friend and I were thinking of what to eat after working on a project. Our eyes met and both of us uttered 'batchoy!' together.  We laughed our heart out knowing that we were thinking of the same thing.

In times when it is cold and raining, having a hot noodle soup gives comfort to the stomach.  But this is one big comfort!

21 Original Batchoy

Batchoy is a noodle soup with thin slices of pork organs, green onions and chicaron bits (pork crackling). The broth is simmered for hours extracting the flavor from the pork bone parts.  Some orders would have a fresh egg on it which you would mix while the soup is still hot.

Batchoy originated in a market stall in La Paz, a district in Iloilo City.  Concocted by Federico Guillergan in 1938, Deco's La Paz Batchoy  proudly says they are the original one.

21 Restaurant, located at 21st  St. corner Lacson St., has evolved into  a fine dining restaurant from a small space from the house of the owners in the 1980s.  Thus, the name 21 because of its location.  It was batchoy that made the restaurant popular.

Aboy's Restaurant

Aboy's started as a small carenderia along Burgos St. in 1990s.  But now they have grown into a byword in Bacolod when it comes to places to eat in Bacolod.  Now, it can seat up to 400 guests at one time.

Tinum-an

Aboy's is the only restaurant I know in Bacolod who serves the dish called 'Tinum-an'.  It is oyster mushroom with tomatoes and onions, wrapped in banana leaves and steamed.  You can open it on your table just before you eat.  It tastes so good knowing that it has no oil or other food extenders!

blue marlin

Service is excellent!  You can see lots of waiters serving food and supervisors are stationed  at corners monitoring the flow of food from kitchen to table.

And what more!  They serve you a complimentary tarragon tea after your meal.  Very relaxing after gorging all those tasty  grilled choices of pork and seafoods.

Located at Liroville Ave., Bacolod City.  They are closed on Sundays.  Why?  To give their staff rest day to spend with their family and go to church.

6 Reasons to Dine at Ading's Pala Pala

Bacolod residents love to try new restaurants where they can bring family and visiting friends. When Ading's Pala-Pala opened last December 20, 2013, most evenings had been full house for them.  

The entrance during its blessing

 Here are 6 reasons why Ading’s Pala Pala should be in your list of dining options in Bacolod City:

1.     The concept of this restaurant is for you to choose from their fresh display of seafoods and have it cooked the way you want it.  You can choose all the big prawns since you also pay for its weight.

prawns

fishes for sinigang or grilling

ideal for kinilaw

2.  The tangy taste of the kinilaw leaves you wanting for more. The sourness in the sinigang is just right to the discriminating taste of the Negrense palate.  I could still remember the feeling when I bit into the garlic prawns.

kinilaw na tangigue

buttered prawns

3.  The long tables are just right for big groups.  No hassle in moving  some tables together to accommodate your whole gang.  Ading’s can accommodate up to 300 guests.

the white tables reflect cleanliness

4.   The high ceilings resemble space and openness.  This used to be an abandoned warehouse for years that restaurateur Ricky Trinidad would pass by until one day he thought of renting the place and convert it into a dining place.

5.   The service crew are very warm and they can suggest how to put variety in your  menu.  Despite the busy kitchen, Ricky sees to it that he meets the guests by going from one table to another making sure the guests are properly served.

6.    The last reason!  The prices are very reasonable.  Guests always leave the restaurant not with a heavy heart but with a heavy stomach.

price board

blue marlin

grilled scallops

chili crabs

Ricky Trinidad (standing, left) with brother Bobby (standing, right) with guests

By this time, our table was cleaned except for the dessert which we can hardly touch.   

Before we left, we had a souvenir photo with the owner knowing that we had a grateful heart and a satisfied stomach.

Location:

San Juan St.

Bacolod City

Tel. No. (034) 458-1594

Operating Hours:

Mon-Sun 11:00am to 3:00pm

                 5:00pm to 11:30pm

C's at L'Fisher Hotel

It's almost a year since C's have opened.  It's a coffee shop serving cakes, breads, sandwiches and more.  Located beside L'Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City, it opens from 7am to 11pm so you can drop by anytime and have a fill from their wide selection.   

It is not surprising that they named it C's because it is the initial of the owner's family name.  But actually, it stands for Cakes, Coffee & Chocolates.  A perfect coincidence!

Bacolod is indeed a Sugar City.  Guests who come to Bacolod always make it a point to visit one of our cake houses

Chef Denis Laumone, French pastry chef

Try their cakes to know which one is good!

@ P80

@ P135/P80

@ P90

The calamansi tart is very unique.  This flavor is not very popular with us Filipinos despite the its abundance. 

P135

                                                   

@P125/700

@P120/P850

They have good wifi and is a good place to hold group meetings  as it is very accessible to the parking area and public transportation.  The crew are very friendly and courteous.  I could sit there all day and watch the traffic from their glass walls.

Meet Churros con chocolate

A churro is a fried-dough pastry based snack sometimes referred to as a Spanish doughnut.  This is usually eaten dipped in thick hot chocolate.  People in Bacolod do not have to go too far because it is now available at C's by L'Fisher Hotel.

Media people and tour guides were invited at this very intimate launch of C's churros.

with Chef Pancho Bringas and the media

Here is how it is done.

Enjoy your churros con chocolate for a snack or breakfast at C's beside L'Fisher Hotel.  Opens 7am to 11pm.

Aida's Manokan

When you come to visit Bacolod, what comes into your mind? Bacolod chicken inasal?  You are right!  

The Hiligaynon word "inasal" means skewered.  The root word is 'asal'.  

In Bacolod, the chicken inasal has become popular because of its simplicity.  It is a meal in itself.  In the early 80's, chicken inasal was prepared and cooked in a small street starting 5pm just when people go home from work.  Then they were relocated to what is now called the Manokan Country, where you can find a number of stalls, all selling chicken inasal.  The pecho (breasts) and paa (leg) are the most popular parts of the chikcen.  Then there are also the wing, liver, gizzard, neck and the butt parts.  No part goes to waste.  For the more adventurous people, the intestines can be eaten too.

these are containers for the oil, soy sauce (toyo) and vinegar (sinamak)

 The chicken oil can be mixed in your rice.  It adds a tasty flavor to the rice.  In Bacolod, we have this kind of vinegar called 'sinamak'.  It is vinegar with chili peppers, garlic and galangal (commonly called langkawas).

Fried garlic and the dipping sauce

 Our dipping sauce, locally called sawsawan, is made of a mixture of vinegar, soy sauce and a piece of freshly squeezed calamansi.

Garlic rice with pakpak

A meal consisting of pakpak and garlic rice would cost about P95.00

Garlic rice with paa

This meal costs P95.00

facade

Don't miss this when you are in Bacolod!

Aida's Manokan

Manokan Country

Bacolod City

Tel. No. 434-0603
opens 9:30am - 12mn

Lower Ground Floor

Makati Cinema Square

Pasong Tamo St., Makati City

Tel. No.  02-9949605

Cookies 'N Crumbs

They started selling cookies.  Then cupcakes.  Their first branch was along the Circumferential Road near the New Government Center.  They were the only ‘decent’ place to eat in that area. When the area evolved into a beer-and-barbecue type, they seemed to have been drowned in the market.

When a new area in the vicinity arose, Cookies ‘n Crumbs was there.  With a bigger place, a better set-up and a better environment.  That place was meant to be theirs.

They serve the all-time favorite menus.  My favorite is their bruschetta.  My benchmark had been that Italian restaurant in Manila.  I love the tangy garllc flavor mixed with onions and basil.

The baby back ribs melts in your mouth.  It can be shared  as the serving is a bit big for me.

bruschetta

Greek Salad

Grilled Herbed Chicken w/ Pasta Pomodoro

Baby Back Ribs

Lasagna

my personalised mug!

To make you come back for more, a personalized mug awaits for you!  And I labeled mine so when I come back, I can use my own mug.  Isn't that cute?

Now with 2 branches in Bacolod to serve you:

Hi-Strip 5

Carlos Hilado Highway

(in front of Panasiatic and beside 7-Eleven)

2F The Azotea Bldg.

Mandalagan