The Joys of Food & Culture Discover-E with Electrolux

 

All of us has become instant food critics with the boom of social media, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other online sites such as blogs and other portals, and I can't blame other people for sharing what they thought of the food they ate, or their latest food Discover-E. I can't blame us Filipinos for being that way. It is within us, the passion for food and the love for having a good meal. Eating out and dining in has never been the same, Eating... it's a hobby.. it is like our 2nd nature (aside from speaking Tagalog). So when I got an invite from Electrolux to re-discover my appreciation of Filipino food, culture and heritage of Vigan.. who am I to say no right? :)

Elextrolux's campaign is simple, Discover-E is designed to promote culinary discovery and enjoyment of Filipino cuisine. This nationwide initiative is part of Electrolux's committment to meet the needs of Filipinos. So... here goes our food tour!

Our first stop was a courtesy call to the Municipal Mayor of Caoayan Mayor Germy Singson Goulart. Here's what she offered us,

My first Vigan Discover-E! Clams in Oil local term for this is Rosangis.

 

Tasty and just addicting! mixed with some vegetables and olive oil. good for biscuits or pastas. Nope the clams are not chopped into small pieces. Check out how small the shell of the clams are.

This is one of the featured products of Caoayan. Every district and every barangay is coming up of their own specialty products. Nice idea Mayor!

Discover-E #2 Crackers with cream cheese, calamansi and Bagoong Ipon

I am a big fan of bagoong alamang. This however is totally different and something new to me. I never thought that I would like it after my 4th piece cracker. :)

Discover-E #3  Vigan Empanada with Suka

What can I say. Visiting Vigan would not be complete with out this one right here. It was just so good that I had to get a second one.

And just like that, I'm down to my three Discover-E already. Thank Mayor Germy! I am going back there and to visit you again and try these delicacies!

After the Vigan appetizers, we headed to a loom weaving place. Discover-E #4 Loom Weaving

It was my first time to see women doing loom weaving. It looks so complicated but it seems like they do it so easy! The pairing of colors and the patterns was just so amazing to look at... oh and how they do it? I don't know where to start. They were so nice and accomodating to our inquiries.

Now I don't know what Liana is trying to do here but she seemed determined to finish what she is doing.

Bought a couple of place mats and then we visited another loom weaving place.

That night we visited the house of Mayora then together we visited Casa Caridad where her brother Mr. Jose "Bonito" Singson lives Discover-E #5. Bonito was the one who restored and maintained Casa Caridad. His passion in restoring and retaining the architechtural vigan designs encouraged other owners of old vigan houses to restore their own. Toured the beautiful place and listened to their stories when they were young and how Bonito restored this ancestral home.

Bonito also shared with us one of their local food there. The Pasotes. It consists of toasted brown rice-pounded. Atchuete, Kamias and Chicken. Looks yummy. Discover-E #6

We ended the tour and story telling with a couple of beers and went off to our next destination. But before that, I couldn't help but try their segway. Sped off the streets of Vigan at night. It felt bad ass! :)

Next stop is Cafe Leona in Calle Crisologo. Discover-E #7

Your travel they say wouldn't be complete without visiting Cafe Leona. This is tru for those who have been in Vigan and well ofcourse google points to this place as well. During night time, they set up tables and chairs outside for an al fresco dining.

Cafe Leona serves a mix of different cuisines like Filipino, Japanese, Thai and Italian. Okay, here's the food...First up! Sashimi Italiano. It has olive oil, salmon, pepper. Owner says it also goes well with tuna and tangigue. Discover-E #8

Sashimi Italiano

Discover-E #9 was a nice surprise. Longganisa Maki. :) Go figure the taste.

Longganisa Maki

The next one was just as awesome. Discover-E #10 is the Bacon Bagnet Maki. Again... I don't need to explain how good this will be. :)

 

The food that night didn't stop there. Next are the pizzas and we had 3 kinds. Discover-E #11-13!

Pinakbet Pizza  - Cafe Leona

Bagnet KBL Pizza - Cafe Leona

The food highlight for me that night is the Dinuguan and chicharon.

Here's how you eat your chicharon. You dip it to the dinuguan bowl the munch crunch! This is by far the best dinuguan I've ever tasted. :) (with chicharon of course)

 

All great nights has alcohol in it.Yes, beer helped in capping the night off, or should I say morning. (it was around 2am when we finished) I gotta say, I love the vibe in that Cafe Leona. :)

The next day, after our vigan breakfast, we went to this place called Kusina Falicitas / Uno Grill. They did a cooking demo to us and tasted the food they had prepared.

 

Discover-E #14 Poqui Poqui balls!

 

A traditional eggplant dish in Ilocos. Cooked in a way that is appetizing. (also appealing to the kids) this dish comes with two kinds of curry sauce. I'm not a fan of egg plant dishes but with this one, I can make an exemption. :) Woohoo!

Poqui Poqui balls!

Discover-E #15-16 Bagnet Quesadilla and Longganisa Quesadilla. 

Here's the Longganisa Quesadilla

 

A very nice twist to a Mexican appetizer and fusing it with longganisa and bagnet is so simple yet so awesome! Yum! Love their mix of salsa. :)

Discover-E #17 Bagnet Miki
A nice comfort food but at the same time deadly good. :) Yuuummmm- ehhhhh

Discover-E #18 Bibingka
Looks like a simple bibingka to you? well, it has Vigan longganisa inside. So you can just imagine the taste!

This one right here is another Discover-E #19 Abu-os (also known as ant eggs)
These ants eggs were harvested from the highland barangay of Ilocos Sur and now it's deep friend and served!

That wasn't lunch. That was just an appetizer. I was halfway full and anxious to what is going to be served for lunch. We transfered to this nice looking place across.

Bagnet

Binagoongang Baboy

I forgot what this is... help anyone? :)

I wasn't able to take photos of the Sinanglaw, Lumo Lumo and Dinuydoy. I guess I was just so overwhelmed with the food that I forgot to take photos of it.

In a few minutes we were done with lunch. Thank you kind sir for accommodating us!

Our second the last stop is the Vigan Baluarte.  Discover-E #20

We headed up to the top and well... Photo-op. JUMP!

We also had the very rare change to visit the place of former Governor Chavit Singson. The place was amazing! Like a 6 star hotel of some sorts. Really luxurious. I felt like I was in another country.

Jacuzzi inside the room. No, not in the bathroom. In the actual room! near the bed! Oh yeah that's how it's done!

Visited the Singson's tigers and saw some animals roaming around the place. (No, not in the room)

We toured the place and it was amazing. Just amazing. I can see myself living there one weekend. :) Incoming Governor of Ilocos Sur Honorable Ryan Singson. 'Thank you sir for opening your home to us'

This was our last stop at Vigan. On the way to the airport we stopped over at Paoay. Known for century old stone churches and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Paoay Church. Discover-E #21. Probably one of the most beautiful church in the country and in Asia.

After taking a couple of shots... guess what we did? Yes... food break!!! Headed to the best place to dine that afternoon in Paoay. Herencia Restaurant.

We ordered the Longganisa Pizza.

and then the Pakbet Pizza. Trivia: They say that Herencia started the whole Pakbet Pizza craze. Yes, Paoay did that!

After another fulfilling food adventure. We hit the road again and headed to the airport for our flight back to Manila.

It was indeed an amazing 2 days of Discoveries. I learned a lot about the rich culture of the Ilocos, about Vigan and oh my gawd the food.... the good food that they have there.

All thanks to Electrolux! :) Thank you! Till Next time!

What about you? What has been your recent Discover-E? :) 

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