Western Visayas heritage cuisine takes centerstage in the Annual Western Visayas Ilonggo Heritage Cooking Competition.

Hopping from one city to another, I realized that aside from meeting new people and discovering new destinations, I’m always looking forward to tasting a locality’s cuisine. I’ve been to many food fairs, newly opened restaurants, degustation events, food-tasting tours, and recently, cooking competitions. The latter is always so special to me, not only because I get to taste food that is more presentable and delicious, but also because I learn the story behind each dish, watch them create new dishes using local ingredients and age-old techniques, and still be surprised by the outcome. And so every year, I fly to Iloilo City excited and hopeful to rediscover food in the eyes of inventive cooks.

Tabu-An Cookout

If there is one culinary event that I’m most excited about every year, it’s the annual Tabu-An that I visit every year in Iloilo. This culinary competition was organized by Chef Rafael “Tibong” Jardeleza Jr., who is also the man behind the ‘The Flavors of Iloilo’ cookbook. The book features many of the region’s local recipes that have become staples in Western Visayas cuisine. Related to that is the Tabu-An Annual Western Visayas Ilonggo Heritage Cooking Competition and Food Fair, which has been held every year for 10 years. I’ve long been a fan of Western Visayan food as a foodie myself, but this time, I’m more excited because I was invited to be part of the judging panel once again.

The Tabu-An Annual Western Visayas Ilonggo Heritage Cooking Competition aims to promote traditional cooking methods and the use of local ingredients in the region. I must say it’s an excellent way to rediscover the region’s rich culinary heritage by inventing new dishes and creating unique flavors from it. Food is naturally evolving, and so should the ways to prepare it.

As mentioned, I was invited to be part of the judging panel for this year’s Tabu-An competition. It’s never easy to judge food and declare a winner, since they all prepare such delectable dishes with so much hard work and passion. However, being seated alongside the Philippines’ most notable chefs and food heritage icons, I learned a great deal from their experiences judging culinary competitions. I was part of the diverse range of esteemed judges as a travel and food blogger, together with TV chef and Manila Bulletin Sandy Daza, Simpol Kitchen host Mike Tatung, Food Writers Association of the Philippines President Michaela Fenix Macabenta, Corporate Chef of the Raintree Restaurants Group Kalel Chan, and Linamnam owner Don Baldosano. 

The Competition Proper

During the competition, culinary teams from all over the region come together to create three courses: an appetizer, a main course, and a dessert. Each course would have its own respective winners before an overall champion is selected.

Indeed, the winning dishes in the competition are a testament to the rich culinary heritage of Western Visayas. For the appetizer round, Team 10 won with their very special Batchoy Kag Puto, a unique take on the batchoy dish that used egg noodles, grilled liver katsuobushi, chicharon, fried garlic, spring onions, black peppercorn, and ginamos oil. It was savory at its best, one that’ll make you want to slurp on another bowl. 

For the main course and dessert, Team 7 wowed the judges with their Callos de Iloilo con Chorizo Español y Moricillas and Postre de Panay. The Callos dish was made with ox tripe, chorizo español, and chorizo morcillas.

Meanwhile, the dessert dish featured Balasan cassava bibingka, Ilonggo butterscotch sorbetes, bugnay-poached mangoes, and casuy bandi from Antique. 

Team 6 from Colegio del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus took home the top prize with a tantalizing three-course meal. For their appetizer, they served up a warm Linugaw nga Ugat sang Baka kag Prepilia nga may Tinapa, a savory rice porridge with beef tendons, tripe, and smoked fish. For the main course, they served a mouthwatering Bat-ang nga Pata sang Kanding sa Vino sang Bugnay kag Tablea Tsokolate, a sweet and savory braised goat shank in bugnay wine and tablea chocolate. Finally, for dessert, they presented a delectable Dinulce nga Ube Sorbetes, Pastel de Leche, and Quezo de Bola Pinipig, a heavenly combination of candied ice cream, milk cake, and tuile of quezo de bola and pinipig. 

Chef’s kiss for every Tabu-An challenge

The names of their dishes are mouthfuls; nonetheless, they were all mouthwatering. Every bite of the three-course meal was packed with flavors, and you can tell that they really synthesized a great dish through the use of local ingredients and traditional cooking techniques. This year’s participants were all impressive, which made it hard to judge, as they wowed us with every dish they presented. Each team impressed us with their renditions of Visayan dishes, from appetizers to desserts. Although I am not from the Visayas, I appreciated its rich culture and heritage even more. 

I have been covering this event for more than five years, and I must say this was the best year so far. Aside from all the food presented to us, we are also glad to have a much bigger venue for the competition– huge thanks to SM City Iloilo for accommodating us. 

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Southwest Tours for providing us with comfortable transportation during our food crawl. The trip filled my tummy and heart with good food and good memories. It hasn’t been that long since the Tabu-An ended, but I am already counting the days to the next culinary competition for 2024. For now, we explore other culinary delights I have yet to try. I look forward to more culinary delights when I come back to Iloilo! Salamat gid, mga Ilonggo!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some famous dishes from Western Visayas?

Western Visayas is known for its rich culinary heritage, and several dishes are famous in the region. Some of the most popular dishes include chicken inasal, La Paz batchoy, pancit molo, and kadyos baboy langka (KBL). These dishes are unique to Western Visayas and are a must-try for anyone visiting the region.

What are some unique flavors found in Western Visayas cuisine?

The Western Visayas cuisine features a variety of unique flavors, including the savory taste of Batchoy, a noodle soup with pork offal and crushed pork cracklings, and the delightful sweetness of Guimaras mangoes. Additionally, the region offers the distinct flavors of KBL (Kadios, Baboy, Langka), a local dish made with pigeon peas, pork, and unripe jackfruit, and the aromatic combination of river shrimps, coconut milk, batuan leaves, and ginger in Binaba. These flavors contribute to the rich and diverse culinary experience of Western Visayas.

What are some popular ingredients used in Western Visayas cooking?

Popular ingredients in Western Visayas cooking include coconut, sugar, coconut oil, pinipig, and banana leaves, used in various dishes. Additionally, common ingredients in the region’s cuisine include chicken, pork, jackfruit, pigeon peas, river shrimp, batuan, and ginger, which are used to create flavorful, traditional dishes.

What is the history behind Western Visayas cuisine?

Western Visayan cuisine has a rich history influenced by the region’s cultural heritage and abundance of local ingredients. The area is known for indigenous dishes that have been preserved over time, as well as those influenced by historical and cultural factors.

How has Western Visayas cuisine evolved over time?

Western Visayas cuisine has evolved over time due to various influences and historical factors. The region’s culinary heritage has been shaped by centuries of trade and cultural exchange, leading to a fusion of indigenous flavors with foreign influences. The Chinese trade introduced seafood and sea plants to the region, while Spanish colonization brought new cooking techniques and ingredients such as tomatoes, onions, and garlic. The region’s cuisine has also been influenced by Indian flavors and Southeast Asian culinary traditions. These diverse influences have shaped Western Visayas cuisine, resulting in a rich and varied culinary heritage.

Iloilo Travel and Tour Packages

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Read: Iloilo: The Philippines Premier Culinary Destination