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| Fresh oysters and scallops from Iloilo at the Intercon's Ilonggo Festival |
Last month, the Intercontinental's Jeepney Cafe had as guest chef Pauline Gorriceta Banusing for an Ilonggo Festival. It takes a person with a lot of will power to deny himself the goodness of Ilonggo cooking so I found myself accepting the invitation of Chef Pauline and making my way to the Intercon before you could say "namit" (delicious)!
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| Ginataang Alimango |
I met Chef Pauline back in 2008, when former President Joseph Estrada was just pardoned and had started on his Lakbay Pasasalamat (Tour of Thanks). One of the first stops was Iloilo, at the invitation of former Governor/Congresswoman Emily Lopez. She had hired Pauline to cater at their beautiful home.
At first I was skeptical about her, as one usually is with girls with vibrant personalities. And then I tasted her baked scallops. Then she made me try various Ilonggo specialties such as this Lato salad below.
We were definitely won over. Manila is fortunate that some of these are now available at the
Freska chain of restaurants, owned by Pauline and her brother Atty. Mark. But what especially surprised me at the Ilonggo festival at the Intercon - because Pauline's mastery of Ilonggo cooking is not news to me anymore - were her desserts. The yummy creature featured below will greet you like a sexy headturner would glide into a room.
This is Pauline's yema cake. Eat it without the icing; it's the body that is absolutely heavely - creamy, caremlized, with moments of crunchiness. You'll hear Smokey Robinson singing My Girl when you bite into it.
What's amazing about Pauline is that in her own little way she has become an ambassador of Iloilo, sharing with everyone not only the delicious flavors that Iloilo has become known for but also its culture of smiles, sharing, storytelling - that appreciation for life that makes not just food but living in general, no matter how the rough the times, absolutely
namit!
PS The Ilonggo Festival's over but do check out the Jeepney Cafe that has various festivals at different times of the year. Check out their
website.
Cafe Jeepney
Intercontinental Hotel
Ayala Ave., Makati
793 7000
