27/365: When In Iloilo: Going Korean and Dimsum

When you are done trying all the must eat Ilonggo foods and looking for some authentic cuisine, you might want to try going Korean and Chinese.

With that you may want to hear again my two cents worth of opinion when it comes to Korean and Dimsum dishes.

KOREAN

I’m not a Korean food lover for two reasons:
1st - I feel that all their foods smells the same (LOL)
2nd – I can’t remember their name’s (more LOL)

Not that I hate them.  It’s just that they are not the first on my list when dining out.   I usually dine Korean when a group of friends invited me and I can’t say no ha ha.  I do however discovered the best time to eat Korean food is – when you are drunk!  LOL but true!  I can assure you it’ll make you feel sober afterwards.

Well I discovered this one time coming from a bar-hopping-cocktail-mixing-on-our-throat-night.  We have real shots of whatever and leading home but feeling hungry while bottle of beers still on our hands.  It was again on a Dinagyang night and most foodie houseS in Smallvile was jam packed with people.  Suddenly this signage caught our eyes.

Catchy eh?
KGB = Korean Grill Barbeque located at Smallville Complex

The owner of this Korean resto was so accommodating that she personally supervised her crew while serving our table and even assisted in cooking the super spicy noodles right on our table.

The equally spicy “food” that for me just smells the same. 

By the time that we are done slurping our super hot/heat soup we are also all blowing our noses (LOL) and we all turned SOBER!  Try it!

DIMSUM/CHINESE

Contrary however to how I consider Chinese food .  For me they taste how they smell and look.



I believed in the popular joke that Chinese food have lots of MSG (and seasoning) on them.  I thought that maybe that is the reason why they taste so yummy. 

But this Dimsum place inside the Robinson’s Mall claimed that they are authentic and their food is said to be “NO MSG”.   So we did try them. 



We discovered this place after meeting some people in the bank and doing some documentations in this area and we are so feeling hungry and we wanted to eat something heavy that will last until dinner because we have a full itinerary on that day.

The food that we had didn’t fail us –we were full after dining.  However we can’t tell if there’s really no MSG on the food because we don’t know how to do that ha ha.  But they are definitely are all delicious and the service is just fine. 

What I like most about Chinese food houses is that they always have a pot of tea to offer.  Drinking tea after a heavy dimsum meal makes you feel lighter.  For me it is better than desert!



There!  Two foodie house that you may want to try after you’re done trying all the delicious Ilonggo food!

Burp!

Sunday Memory and Photograph: Hala Bira Iloilo!

Today, January 26, 2013.  Iloilo is celebrating the climactic Sunday of the biggest festival in this city that is comparable to Cebu’s Sinulog - the Dinagyang Festival 2013.  Expect everyone to be in the streets and shouting Hala Bira!

Going back to the Monday that we were leaving Cebu, my heart was aching to stay longer and explore Cebu City.  If not for a business appointment that was waiting for us in Iloilo city, I was ready to miss that Monday morning flight and go on flight hunting once more.  But that was one important appointment that we can not afford to miss so off we go to Cebu International Airport with heavy hearts.

“Pit Senyor” was still playing in my ears and my foot is still hopping to the tune.  But as we step on familiar grounds at Sta. Barbara Airport, another festival air welcomed us.  It’s in the breeze, it’s all around us.

Hala Bira Iloilo!  It’s the Dinagyang Festival!



The photo is taken from one Korean restaurant in downtown Iloilo during the Kasadyahan Night.  KGB stands for “Korean Grill Barbeque”.  There was so much business competition during the Dinagyang festival.  Cheaper food “tiangge” were scattered all around the streets and it sort of became the major competitors versus the more established restaurants. I say the owner is so witty to post this signage on her Korean restaurant.  It did serve its purpose for whoever passed at this place is amused of the signage.  Some got curious and made them come in and check the place.  We are one among the curious and we got lucky to be served personally by the owner.  She cooked the super hot Korean noodles that we ordered right on our table.  Unfortunately, with some beers and so much going on during the day and night of the "Kasadyahan", I can’t remember any name of the Korean dish that we had.  what I do remember was that all of them tasted awesome and hot!

A series of posts under the category “When in Iloilo” will be published on this blog.  That is to share my awesome experiences in this beautiful city that I considered my third home.  I hope that the things that I will be sharing in my "When in Iloilo" posts will be helpful to those who wanted to explore this beautiful city.   Meanwhile you may want to join me as I reminisce my Dinagyang Festival experience.

Iloilo Gearing for Dinagyang festival 2012

Dinagyang 2012 Kasadyahan Night

Dinagyang 2012 - Ati Parade and Competition.

Hala Bira! Kadto na sa Iloilo!