World Class Chefs
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Ramilo (Ram) Villaluna
Ram is a budding chef from Iloilo City (Molo). He gained his training in Culinary Arts at the Center for Asian Culinary Studies under food guru Gene Gonzalez, Institute of Culinary Education (formerly Peter Kumpps) in New York. He took up bread making, and he studied food styling under Delores Custer of the Culinary Institute of America. It all started in Antique where his father owned a restaurant many Antiquenos learned to love. He continued the culinary legacy of his father and now, Ram owns a catering business, Cindy\'s Catering. Food is Ram\'s life, seriously speaking. I am short in saying that he is married to the food industry that, he spends most of his time teaching and mentoring at the Department of Culinary Arts at the University of San Agustin in Iloilo. If one cannot find him in the classroom, Ram will be on the road crisscrossing Iloilo and Antique having first hand in the management of his thriving businesses from both provinces. He also has a once-a-week TV show in GMA 7 \"Food Trip\". I met with Ram once before and he exudes perfectionism, the character that will beam him up to the limelight of culinary arts. At present time, Ram is extremely busy in Manila. I believe he is one of the finalists in The National Food Showdown 2010 sponsored by ABS-CBN. We wish you all the luck, Ram! Maybe, after this showdown, Ram will have the opportunity share favorite recipe here at ILONGGO LIVING.
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Oh My Siopao
February 2, 2010
It is a hot topic when one wants to compare siopao from one place with the other. Siopao is basically a kind of a dinner roll with meat inside, steamed instead of being baked. For the simple reason, steaming foods is a cheaper way of cooking rather than baking. Siopao used to be just chicken or pork to choose from. Simple. Now days, discriminating consumers, at times, are in limbo as to what kind of siopao they want to savor. An array of almost a dozen kinds make selection a daunting task. I used to remember when I was residing in Makati, Aberdeen Court caters about a dozen different kinds of siopao. We used to try all of them and then later, just narrow ourselves down to our favorite ones. Here in Iloilo, the siopao competition is brisk. One claim theirs is better over the other, and vice versa. Initially, I was hesitant doing the task of critiquing siopao as my preference may not reflect the other person’s liking. But, with fun in mind, I decided to do it instead. Furthermore, due to time constraint, some other popular brands were not included in my survey. My apology, maybe in my next trip back I will include them. So, here we go.
WEWINS. My first encounter with this kind. Very meaty and flavorful, I give it +++.
The venerated KONGKEE'S PORK SIOPAO. I give this pao ++. They also comes in chicken and chicken plus pork type.
TIBIAO siopao is very generous in meat and very saucy. I like it but I rate them as +++.
DINAGYANG siopao faired ++.
ROBERTO'S KING siopao is superior in flavor and texture. I give it ++++.
ROBERTO'S QUEEN siopao is only available at a certain day of the month. Good marketing strategy! It is loaded with Chinese ham and bacon, making it really the "queen of the crop". So, the winner is Roberto's Queen siopao as I give it +++++.
The King & Queen of ROBERTO's side by side deserves the name, literally. Not overating them but, just an honest taste test. But, be your own judge!
had my kongkee sio pao yesterday.
from the looks of it, what makes Ilonggo revere this brand is not the size nor the quantity of the filling but the unique taste of the filling plus it’s sauce. despite not being big nor not fully filled, i enjoyed that sio pao.
ano pa kulang mo?
jiecel and thea’s
deocampos
dinagayng pork
yokpek
hehehhee
til your next sio pao adventures
not a big fan pero i prefer bola-bola siopao.. it’s my sister who loves eating asado siopao.. she like the one from Gloria Maris, North Park or Chowking.
U8… how about mamon-luk sio pao in Manila?