Although the name Picea is derived from the Latin word meaning pizza, this homey restaurant is best known in Iloilo for their delectable cakes. Patrons usually go out of their way to visit the restaurant now located behind Iloilo Supermart Mandurriao Branch. We were already heading home when we accidentally spotted their colorful signage from afar and suddenly Angie got an aching for cakes. We were greeted by the friendly owners, who recommended their best sellers (unfortunately we didn't get to try the blueberry cheesecake because it was already sold out).

The prices were a little on the high end and because I wanted to eat some pasta and pizza too, so we only ordered only a few of their cakes.

Putanesca

Ok, I have to admit that I ridiculed their serving size for the pasta since we had to share it and I thought that this wasn't enough. Others at the same price range can feed up to three individuals. But after tasting it, I just had to shut my mouth and set aside my evil thoughts. You get what you pay for. If I had to cook pasta, I would cook it this way. The pasta was cooked to perfection, not too hard, not too soft, just right... And the sauce was just right for my taste. Next time I'll buy a plate just for myself...

Pizza

Next to graze my palate was the pizza. Again, its not as big as the competition, but one thing that really hit me was that the crust was not rock-hard. It was just the way that I liked it. Its just crunchy to an extent, but not teeth shattering and burnt like another restaurant's pizza, which I really despised and I swore that I'll never eat there again. And I haven't, until now...

Oreo Cheesecake

This one is a banger. The taste of oreos rush in your mouth. The consistency is also nice. It may fall short of the consistency that I prefer, but it not bad either, its just a few points below. But what I really like is that its not too sweet. I'm not really a fan of too sweet cakes since I can have a sugar rush afterward. This one hits the spot.

Black Forest

This one reminds of of my Christmas experience in the late 90's. We used to have black forest cakes then, and I felt nostalgic after taking the first bite. I also liked the fact that we each had a cherry and the texture was just right.

Strawberry Cheesecake

Unlike the strawberry cheesecakes of a newly opened bakeshop here, the strawberry is not just jam. It had strawberry bits which is a must have for this cake. This one also hits the spot just right. Not too sweet and the strawberry taste is not overpowering. My only regret is that after the meal, the owner didn't charge us for the cakes. We SHOULD have ordered more. haha(evil laugh). Put this one on your wish list, its worth it. Really worth it... I mean it....

Vince says: When I judge lechon, I always try to compare it with Aklan's lechon. And this is really far from the taste. I must say, it looks good, But you cant really eat the skin unless you have a set of metal teeth, and this is really disappointing! What's lechon without the savory skin?? Whats up with that???!! Grandma and Granpa better beware... There seems to be an absence of flavor in the muscle area. Good thing there's a sauce to flavor things up. But still, A lechon must stand alone with-out the sauce. It seems that they went short on the ingredients. If you ask me, if Ill eat something that's loaded with cholesterol and doesn't taste good, then probably I'll answer HELL NO!!!

Marcos says: The Lechon in Iloilo in itself generally has a subdued taste. The tastier part of the lechon is the meat near the inner part of the roasted pig since it has absorbed more of the delicious stuffing. What makes the lechon of Iloilo delicious is the "sarsa" or sauce, which really transcends the taste to a whole new level. What I enjoy most of the lechon is the skin which is very crunchy and fun to eat.

Angie says: I wasn't with them when they ate at Erning's that day, but, ever since I was a child my parents, being Lechon fans, always chose Erning's over the others, so I'm quite familiar with the taste. Honestly though, I was never a Lechon fan myself. For me, any lechon taste basically the same and at times all that matters is the sauce. Personally, i liked the parts near the bones because the meat is juicier and it packs more flavor. Without question, Erning's does satisfy, even without the sauce. However, when it comes to thick layers of fat and muscles, I always opt to have a lot of sauce or ''sarsa" because they're a little more bland. Don't worry, Erning's sarsa is definetely moutwatering. It compliments the meat perfectly, adding more flavor and lessening the greasiness of the fat.
You might be confused with Marcos and Vince's opinions about the skin, but here's the real score: if your quick enough and you beat everyone else whose dying to dig their claws on the skin (heck they'll even push people), then you'll probably be able to land yourself one of the crispiest skin in the city. Piece of advice, you only have a small window of opportunity, so grab what you can, otherwise you'll be stuck with the rubbery ones.



Cebu's CNT Lechon - Cebu is infamous for its sumptuous lechon and CNT Lechon is one of Cebu's famous lechonan. A 1/2 kilo of lechon costs P160.

Vince says: Ok, this one really stands out. It tastes like the lechon i know and love. Even though they serve it without the sauce, I can still taste the flavor, and unlike Erning's, you can hear the skin crunch in your mouth. And it's really delicious. Altough it's a bit more greasy, it gives more flavor, and what's lechon without the grease anyway... The lechon is also really soft and people with dentures can take a sigh of relief. This, for me is how lechon should taste. Nevermind the guilt for eating pounds of fat, it tastes like heaven anyway... ;p

Marcos says: At first taste, Cebu's lechon tasted really good. You don't need any sarsa because the lechon can stand out in itself. I had high expectations of Cebu's Lechon and after finally getting a bite of it, I was not disappointed. Unfortunately, I'm sensitive to fat and I experience lightheadedness when I ingest too much, so after eating lechon in CNT, I had to rest for a while to get the cholesterol out of my head. Their lechon is greasier than the one I ate back in Iloilo, and for me, it's a significant factor, because it affects my gastronomic experience.

Angie says: Ok, this time, I wasn't lucky enough to grab me a piece of crunchy skin. All I got were the soggier ones. I still think that lechons are basically the same. However, I'll give credit to their meat. It's a lot more tender. The downside though is, that's a whole lot greasier. I'm not sure whether, the actual meat has more flavor, or if it's from the added grease, but it sure does have a little more flavor than that of Erning's. It's like Lechon Kawali, maybe, not really made for sarsa, but I still would prefer to have some. Not only does it counteract the grease but it also adds a lot of flavor. When it comes to the meat aroud the boney areas, CNT's lechon will definitely do more than just satisfy your cravings for lechon.

Ever thought of going around the burger joints in Iloilo in search for the best burger in town? If you have, then you're in luck because we've already done it for you and saved you from ingesting a whole lot of calories. If you haven't, then you should probably read this post to find out why you should be thinking about it. The first shop we visited was Glor's Burger, one of the oldest and most recognized burger joints. We reviewed their burgers only as a reference and decided not to include them in the final rankings.

GLOR'S BURGERS


One of the older burger joints in the city, Glor's Burgers' recipe hasn't changed since 1974 using all-natural ingredients. The burger patties are made fresh daily with no MSG, and yes, no oil either. There's no added fat here, just pure grilled beef goodness. They offer an array of burgers which range from Php 25 to Php 60 and if you add 3 bucks more, you get all the works- tomatoes, lettuce and onions. So if your looking for grilled, affordable, and not to mention, healthy burgers, why not pay them a visit? They're located at Cor. Ledesma-Valeria St.


Big Glor's


Vince: I like this burger, but not that much that it will make me go back there every week. Its like the double burger minus one layer and the cheese does not compliment that patty. It was too dry for my taste. But its really cheap, the all natural ingredients and all that history you're gonna buy, and its really worth it.

Angie: This burger has 2 patties on top of each other, but unlike Jollibee's double-pattied-burgers, they're thinner, less greasy, and, of course, has a lot more flavor. I like this one better than the other 2 from Glor's since they're not too heavy for the stomach but still big enough to satisfy your craving.

Marcos: It's very affordable and crave satisfying but by putting the two patties on top of each other, it made the burger a bit dry. If I we're in Glor's, I would probably buy their other burgers instead of Big Glor's. This aside, I got to hand it down to Glor's for offering great burgers in such a cheap package.

The Verdict
Cost Factor: 5
Deliciousness: 3.25
Patty Brutality: 3.25
Burger Madness: 3
Visual Impact: 4


Double Burger


Vince: Now, this is a must-have when you go to Glor's. I'm a patty freak and this burger satisfies my patty tooth dead on. Coupled with grilled buns and minus the cheese, this burger will make you buy another one just after you savored it. And maybe one more...

Angie: I can definitely compare this to a double-decker bus, there's more space for everything. Now ain't that better? Yes, if you believe in the philosophy that bigger is better. But it has the same sized patties as Big Glors, only there's bread between them, and they sure do have the same flavor only without the cheese. Personally, I'd rather go for the cheese than bread. But it's up to you since they just cost about the same.

Marcos: The thin slice of bread seperating the two patties made all the difference and made the burger less dry. You can appreciate the great tasting patty better without the unpleasant dryness.

The Verdict
Cost Factor: 5
Deliciousness: 3.25
Patty Brutality: 4
Burger Madness: 3
Visual Impact: 3.25

Deluxe Burger


Vince: This is the most expensive burger that Glor's has to offer. But even though its their flagship burger, it fails to satisfy my taste. Don't get me wrong, the patty is big, but not quite that tasty compared to the double burger.

Angie: To me, its missing something I can't quite put my finger on. Basically, they have the same ingredients as Big Glors, only with a single but bigger patty but there's just more flavor on

Marcos: It looks like it has all the ingredients of the Big Glors and the form of the Double Burger but as Angie and Vince said, it doesn't taste as good as the two. Still cheap though, and it woudn't hurt the bank if you try one.

The Verdict
Cost Factor: 5
Deliciousness: 3
Patty Brutality: 4.25
Burger Madness: 3
Visual Impact: 3


TERRAZA GRILL

Terraza Grill, formerly named as American Legacy, is located in the La Terraza wing of Marymart Mall. People have come to know this shop for their tasty burgers. Terraza Grill serves an assortment of burgers, which cost from around P60 to P100+

AL Burger


Vince: This burger can be compared to a 2005 Honda Civic. Its not a bad car but after a drive, there's nothing to write about. It tastes good but not that good. Just not enough.

Angie: I'm not really sure if the patties are grilled. It just doesn't have that slightly smoked/burned taste I'm looking for. Maybe that's a good thing in your book, but for me, it just doesn't have that oomph that sets it apart from fried patties. The veggies taste well though.

Marcos: It's an okay tasting burger. A fitting snack after roaming around the city or just lazing the afternoon away. I find this burger quite "generic" so if you want to eat a better tasting burger, Terraza Grill still has a lot of burgers to choose from in their menu.

The Verdict
Cost Factor: 4.25
Deliciousness: 4
Patty Brutality: 3
Burger Madness: 3
Visual Impact: 3

Bacon Beef Burger



Vince: Maybe they should rename this as Bacon Sandwich with a patty. I don't taste the patty on this burger, its all bacon. It overpowers the patty too much and this is not a sandwich review.

Angie: I don't care what Vince says, I'm a bacon kind of gal, so i absolutely love this one. To me, bacon always adds a lot of flavor and even if it overpowers the patty, the beefy goodness is still, slightly, there. Just order the AL burger if you don't want bacon.

Marcos: If you don't want your beef to be empowered by bacon then this is not the burger for you but if you're a bacon kind of gal (or guy), then this could just do the trick.

The Verdict
Cost Factor: 4.25
Deliciousness: 4.25
Patty Brutality: 3
Burger Madness: 4
Visual Impact: 3.75


Perri Todd's Burger


Perri Todd's burger is a recent discovery for us, we first knew about it from the Flavours of Iloilo Blog. They started their business as a take-out joint but now, they are renovating their space to give customers a "dine in" experience. Perri Todd's is fast gaining popularity in Iloilo for serving delicious food in oversized rations. If would like to check them out, they are located along Cuartero Street in Jaro, in front of the Jaro I National Elementary School. Their regular grilled burger costs P100 only and if you want addons, they have all sorts available like blue cheese, mushrooms, extra patty etc...

Vince: Filipinos are like Americans. Bigger is always better. But not for me. This may feed 10 anorexics but it just misses out on the patty flavor by just a bit. The sauce and the bun (they bake their own buns) are excellent, but like the new Toyota Hilux, its f#cking ugly. The patty is not as big as the buns and people who don't like onions beware. But its not all bad, it certainly has the most bang for the buck.

Angie: I agree. It definitely has the most bang for the buck. Even if you share it with a friend, it still leaves you more than just satisfied. I'm a healthy eater (actually, I eat a lot more, compared to most girls) and I would definitely return here, without even the slightest hint of hesitation. Even the vegies here are grande-sized. Plus, the burger's sauce gives it a unique flavor that will certainly satisfy your appetite. And, hey, it even taste and looks better (maybe, even bigger) if its for dine in. i swaer, once you've tasted this burger, you're hooked for life.

Marcos: The burger is really worth buying, for just P100 you get this monstrous burger that tastes great. This burger has everything and if it were only up to me, I'd give this burger "the crown" any day because it is so sulit. If you want to give Perri Todd's a try, I suggest you eat at their joint and not as take-out because it tastes better and is more presentable.

The Verdict
Cost Factor: 5
Deliciousness: 4.75
Patty Brutality: 4
Burger Madness: 4
Visual Impact: 4.25

Be in the watch for the second installment of the search for the Takeout-Burger King in Iloilo!

Shellsyd Burger

The Food Rivalries blog was created to guide both foreign and local food lovers in their search for the ultimate palate delight. This blog mainly features local restaurants found in Western Visayas, Philippines.

Contributors of Food Rivalries


Marcos
I'm not a voracious eater but I enjoy good food. I would usually try anything even weird exotic foods as long as they do not move inside my mouth. I like eating seafoods the most because they are fun to eat. My other hobbies include blogging, photography, traveling, and web design. To learn more about me, you can check out my personal website at Ambot-ah.


Angie
I'm a foodie down right to the bones. I probably have a sweet-tooth the size of a bear's molars and an appetite like that of an elephant's. I'd probably eat anything but I'm a little picky when it comes to vegetables. To me, food can make everything more exciting, that's why I'm willing to spend hard-earned cash on food. I also try to be a objective s possible but I believe that good food should always be reasonably priced. They should be worth what you pay for, not just the taste but the serving size as well.What's the point n making the flavor incredible, if you can finish the entire meal i just a bite? I'm currently experimenting on sandwiches, coffee and deserts.


Vince
I'm a real pain in the ass when it comes to food. I eat a lot, and I'll give almost anything a try. I really like food with lots of flavors but not that overpowering. I'm a critic at heart, if I hate that thing, I'll find more ways to hate it. But if I like something, I shut my pie hole at first and yap about its goodness later. Also, I like really big servings of food and I want to spend a whole lot for something that's worth every penny. I can also be tactless and can be easily disappointed. What's the point of never counting the calories and dying to live? Its because I'm not so fond of living and I'm not some lug who was bullied at school with a big L on the forehead and strives for perfection because of insecurities in their pitiful life.