At Savoy Cafe Boracay Where Aklanon Dishes are Served Alongside Hotel Staples

Then it happened, and I learned that Aklanon cuisine has distinct characteristics of its own, even though having historical traces from the Visayan region.  After stumbling upon Boracay Island Flavors at Savoy Hotel Manila, I couldn't undo my admiration for the said cuisine.   The Chicken Binakol made me remember my Lola Vita, (she's a Boholana) who has a recipe book with that dish included and she wished she could have cooked it when we visited her when I was young.   I never had a chance to taste it even knowing about it in my early teen years.  That recipe book happened to be a treasure trove and the only book I read when I was on vacation at that time, which probably inspired me to be who I am now, a food lover.

Do you know where I finally had a taste of the Binakol?  It's at Savoy Hotel Manila during the launch of Boracay Island Flavor menu offering, which sadly ran for a couple of weeks only.  

How happy I was when I saw it at the menu of Savoy Cafe Boracay.  I guess you know what transpired next? 

It was until dinner when I had a chance to again rekindle my liking for Aklanon dishes.  Savoy Cafe has an extensive selection for Filipino and international cuisines.  But what I love is how they have infused the regional dishes and their local ingredients to some of their dishes.  Aklanon dishes are so steeped on Visayan traditions and mainly uses what the islands are rich of, like the coconut. Hence, most of the native dishes uses gata or coconut milk, it's water and the meat of course. Various use of the coconut have been passed on from one generation to another, from different meat to seafood and to their meryenda (snack) or desserts, and the hotels' restos in the Newcoast area were not exempted to this.

It was hard choosing the dishes we are to have as everything looked appetizing.  My husband then asked  the staff  for help in ordering, likely their best-seller or her preference.  Her initial suggestion was The Binagoongang Lechon Rondalla. With a cheerful smile and warm service, I can tell what the culture of this hotel is, such a charm, and so we did order her suggestion and it was beyond our expectations.

Here are the dishes we ordered...

Chicken Binakol

Grilled Pompano

Savoy Special Pizza

Binagoongan Lechon Rondalla

Grilled Salmon with Salad