Wednesday, November 15, 2023
Here's another beautiful heritage house transformed into a cafe/restaurant/gathering place for the denizens of Iloilo City. We visited Balay Remedios along Bonifacio Drive one lazy, sunny afternoon for merienda as we were aching for cold refreshments and snacks. I have heard of the opening of this Filipino-Spanish cafe and museum restaurant from the Facebook page of the good mayor of Iloilo City. I have always been intrigued by this house as the facade is beautiful despite its faded antiquity. You can see the full architectural view of this house framed by native trees when you visit the rooftop of National Museum- Western Visayas Regional Museum.
With Chef Miguel Cordova at the helm, Balay Remedios serves elevated lunch hour Spanish-Ilonggo heritage specials like Native Chicken Binakol, Paella Negra, Remedios Pollo y Chorizo, and Costillos de Muscovado among others. Merienda selections are quite limited so we decided on ordering the prosaic Bam-i, a mixed noodle dish served in Ilonggo homes, carinderias and in your local school canteen. With the Balay Remedios touch, this ordinary dish turned out to be the most flavorsome Bam-i we have ever tasted.
We would love to come back again to try the lunch hour or breakfast specials! If you have a sweet tooth, their coffee accompaniments like table mousse cake, bibingka cheesecake, calamansi leche flan, banana cake and chocolate custard cake will literally take the cake.
The old rich charm of this dining set-up attracts Iloilo's young, old (and sometimes very old) foodies who yearn their hometown's nostalgic culinary treasures, ambiance and how Iloilo's elite probably wined and dined.
See you again soon, Balay Remedios!
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BALAY REMEDIOS
183 Bonifacio Dr, Iloilo City Proper, Iloilo City, 5000 Iloilo City
Email: balayremediosiloilo@gmail.com
Saturday, November 11, 2023
One of the must-visit places if you're visiting Guimaras Island is the Trappist Monastery in Jordan municipality. It is home to the monks of Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance. I have visited this monastery many times in the past when my mom was still alive and it has given me spiritual refuge when the tempests of life leaves me vulnerable, weak and drained. A visit to the chapel for introspection, contemplation and nuggets of spiritual advice from the Cistercian brothers always renews one's spirit.
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, inter-island travel came to a halt and I have not visited ever since. My very recent travel to Casitas de Palma gave me the chance to once again visit the monastery even for just a short while.
To my dismay, the old Trappist Monastery gift shop I knew was no longer existent! The doors were bolted and locked and it looked like it has fallen into decrepit. I felt a surge of panic and sadness as monastic products like bakery and jam products were goodies that I had to bring home everytime I visit the mango province. I simply can't go home empty handed!
We discovered that adjacent to the chapel is a new building that houses the Trappist gift shop and behold, a Trappist Cafe! From a bamboo hut gift shop in the 90's, the Trappistines have indeed grown and evolved their enterprise for sustenance and dedication to the Lord's work. Talk about progress in the Lord's vineyard!
The new building that houses the Trappist gift shop and cafe were designed in the style reminiscent of European Cistercian architecture. Gray, somber brick walls, high ceilings and dark wooden furniture devoid of superfluous ornamentation were evident. True to the Cistercian way of life, churches and abbeys should be simple enough to not distract one from prayer and contemplation.
We regret we did not have time to sit down for a cup of coffee as our schedule did not permit but nevertheless we filled our baskets with take away goodies to be enjoyed and savored at home. If you're a coffee connoisseur, you should be familiar with Monk's Blend Premium Coffee, a product of Transfiguration Monastery, a Catholic Benedictine Monastery in Malaybalay, Bukidnon famous for their mountain grown coffee. Trappist Cafe uses that blend for their hot and iced coffee preparations and recipes.
I should go back another time to have coffee at Trappist Cafe as one should be unhurried and unfettered by the evils of urban busyness. Once in a while, one should contemplate life over a cup of mountain grown coffee amidst the stillness of a monastery. Drinking coffee in such setting is contemplation in action.
Oh, the cafe's coffee menu is extensive so methinks many scheduled visits to the Trappist Cafe should be in order! I would love to try every hot or iced coffee blend in the menu especially the Mango Matcha Mamboo which I'm sure tastes divine!
Guimaras, my Middle-earth! I will be back soon! In the meantime, eat, drink coffee and pray.
Friday, November 10, 2023
Dreaming of cozy evenings by the campfire? Guimaras Island affords a quick escape from the city for a nature filled getaway. I’ve been wanting to do “glamping” for the longest time and Casitas de Palma in Brgy. Tamburong in San Lorenzo, Guimaras is the closest campground to offer that experience.
Last weekend, I treated myself and a friend to a playful woodland weekend staycation at Casitas de Palma for a much needed nature trip to celebrate my birthday month with all it’s autumnal inspiration. I rented a tiny hobbit cabin which came with its own grass covered rooftop lounge, wooden bridge and a meandering, bubbling brook. Just in front of our cabin was a log picnic table which was a perfect spot to enjoy an afternoon snack of Casitas Cafe nachos, soda and hot cocoa. It was also cozy spot to enjoy a book that I purchased from the recently concluded Big Bad Wolf Book Sale. Five o’clock in the afternoon would have to be the magical hour in the woodland valley as the sky turns into a carpet of gold and crimson. Birds start chirping among the mountain trees and nocturnal insects start singing. Chirping cicadas make the most relaxing white noise! At around six o’clock in the evening, the staff of the Casitas started building a tall bonfire from twigs and branches gathered from around the 3 hectare property.
While listening to Bing Crosby's classic Christmas songs on our portable speaker, we enjoyed watching the bonfire being meticulously built. There's nothing more relaxing than seeing embers fly through the air like fireflies and hearing the crackling of wood fire. In the distance the waning gibbous moon shed its lovely light and stars started peeping from the cosmic mantle. Being nestled in an enchanting woodland valley while being warmed by gently crackling bonfire feels so wonderful!
We enjoyed the bonfire for a good forty minutes. A few minutes later it started to drizzle and we climbed up to the Casitas Cafe for a hearty meal of homestyle Bicol Express and rice. Later we retreated to our cute hobbit cabin in Middle-earth that is Guimaras Island.
Our room was simple, comfortable and so conducive to restful sleep. We woke up early in the morning greeted by glistening sunlight peeping through the tiny windows. After an energizing shower of cold, mountain water we trekked back to the Casitas Cafe for free breakfast that came with our accommodation.
We spent the rest of the morning enjoying the rustic simplicity of surrounding attractions like the fishing cottage and pond. We also took some fun pictures with the A frame houses as backdrop. Also, a nature trip would not be complete without a tree hug!
The rest of the morning was spent just soaking in the view and taking in all the good healing energy that the great outdoors provide. At 2 pm, we checked out of our little hobbit cabin which we know we will surely miss. Ground transportation was provided by the Casitas for a fee. In no time, we were back in Iloilo City with bodies recharged and spirits renewed.
Overall, it was a short and sweet staycation and we can't wait to go back!
CASITAS DE PALMA
Brgy Tamborong, Jordan, Guimaras
Email: casitasdepalma01@gmail.com
Mobile: +967 2 315 752
Friday, October 20, 2023
Heads up, Ikea is now in our area!
The moment I have been waiting has arrived! IKEA Philippines which opened it’s biggest global store in Pasay City, Manila back in 2021 now ships nationwide. That means for folks like us who live outside of metropolitan Manila, we can now access affordable and well-designed products that can help build and improve our living spaces minus the hassle of travelling to Manila to visit the physical store. Minus the legendary Manila traffic, the massive physical store in MOA complex is actually an amazing retail wonderland to experience the full Ikea lifestyle--showrooms, restaurant, cafe and bistro plus the mind boggling assortment of products and design solutions. Given that I live in Iloilo and it's impossible to bring home wide and bulky Ikea products without breaking the bank, Ikea's nationwide delivery is really the best news of the year. Depending on the size and weight of the product you're ordering, the shipping fee is still cheaper than a plane trip to Manila. The shipping rates are sensible and affordable given the super fast delivery!
Swedish hygge at IKEA store in Manila
The first two things I ordered online from the home office category are an Elloven computer monitor stand for my home office and a Pluttis wallclock for the work office. Both have clean, stylish design and are highly functional. I especially love the bamboo drawer of the monitor stand that keeps my desk clean and organized. The drawer can store peripherals like mousepad, mouse and a bluetooth keyboard plus other essential school supplies like pens, notepads and a stapler set. With the help of Ikea I look forward to tidying up all the disorganized places in the house. I guess that's a goal I look forward to in 2024!
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| I ordered on a Friday and the items arrived 3 days after. Not bad huh? |
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| Delivered on a rainy afternon by LBC Express |
Thursday, October 19, 2023
I've always been a big fan of The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond whom I consider the Southern style Martha Stewart. I enjoy her recipes, home and lifestyle ideas and her sassy cowgirl approach to celebrating and entertaining. She has a range of lifestyle products that is a delightful cross between Cath Kidston and French/American Country.
Surprise, surprise! You can find some Pioneer Woman kitchen ware at Super 50 Store at Robinsons Place Iloilo- Main. These sturdy and stylish kitchen spoons, turners and ladles sell for Php 250 each. Totally a great holiday gift idea for friends and family who love to cook. Check it out while supplies last!
Sunday, October 15, 2023
The Big Bad Wolf, the world's biggest book fair has arrived at the City of Love and just like any other Ilonggo bibliophile, I did waste any second as book fairs are akin to premium ukay-ukay at rock bottom prices. You know, early bird catches the best deal or that hidden gem of a book. As fellow shoppers swarm around endless piles of books (2 million of them!), you just wish nobody will pick up that obscure book that you have always wanted and of course you'd wish it would be dirt cheap. Hah!
I didn't have any book title in mind as I wanted the Big Bad Wolf to do a blitzkrieg, surprise me with books that I cannot resist! In Filipino lingo, it's a budol thing. With glazed eyes, you will gladly hand over your wallet with a big smile and not worry if you will subsist on instant noodles for the next 15 days. After all, the Big Bad Wolf visits once in a blue moon. Yeah, right!
Silly me, I spent more than an hour at the Gen Z and millennial book aisles (the young adult/fiction) not knowing that there are other BBW corridors to explore for Gen X like me. My goodness, those Gen Z kids who saved their allowance for this book shindig not knowing if they indeed got their end of the bargain. Save for a few rich kids with the parentals in tow, there were a few kids with trolleys (or shopping baskets for that matter). Damn, where are the Php 20 peso novels??!! Buy a mid-range priced book and checkout as fast as you can, kiddos! Make sure you have enough allowance left for that every other day milk tea.
Hunger pangs eventually gnawed on my book hungry brain and I decided to refuel at a nearby restaurant. The restaurant was situated next to the Graphic Design/Photography/Home and Garden BBW section which was absolutely my thang! So many art and architecture books that I wanted to bring home! Afraid that I might blow a month's salary on those books, I hastily bought (but thoughtfully considered) a few interior design and cat related books (mostly cute and useless but nevertheless will look nice on my shelf) and quickly ran to the nearest exit door. Will probably visit again (the history and biography section) when the book fair comes to a close (praying there will be more books in the A-E price range). To tell you the truth, I have not seen any Php 20-40 peso books. The VIPs/select buyers (the criteria of how they were selected will always be dubious to me) who were given the chance to shop before the grand opening probably carted the ultra-barato books before regular customers had the chance. I definitely got red riding hoodwinked on this part!
That being said, let the budol games begin!
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