Ilocos Norte boasts of a rich history and culture, evident not only in its Spanish colonial architecture but also in its delicious cuisine.
Known for its unique flavors, fresh ingredients, and resourceful use of local produce, Ilocos Norte offers a wide selection of rich culinary traditions. A trip to the province wouldn’t be complete without trying some of the best of Ilocano cuisine. And we’re talking about its classic empanada, savory bagnet, and flavorful longganisa.
Well, there’s no need to travel for a good number of hours from Metro Manila to experience these authentic dishes as an Ilocano restaurant is offering a taste of the Philippines’ north to people in urban areas.
Founded by chef Al Purugganan, B.E.L. Iloco takes pride in its authentic dishes. The name itself is a tribute to the region’s most iconic dishes: bagnet, empanada, and longganisa, aiming to bring the comforting flavors of his homeland to diners in Metro Manila.
During a recent cooking demo at Gateway 2, Purugganan demonstrated firsthand how they prepare their bestsellers like Ilocos Empanada, Poqui-Poqui, and Diningding at B.E.L. Iloco.
Speaking to Manila Standard Cravings, Purugganan said that more than bringing Ilocos’ dishes to the metro, he wanted to serve his diners home cooked and relatable dishes, especially Diningding, which he described as his “battle cry” in terms of cooking.
“I hope I’m not offending any of the food business. But there’s so much fast food in the Philippines. I saw that in Bangkok, they eat real Thai dishes in the streets. In Manila, we always have the staple food – fast food,” he said.
“And every time I go for lunch, I like home cooked food. There’s always that disparity for me. ‘Where can I eat?’ The only options – the fastest, the quickest are all fast food. So, I said to myself, I want to have something that’s real food, hearty, that can nourish that’s close to home,” Purugganan said.
That’s how B.E.L. Iloco was born, with the goal in mind of having a kiosk that serves vegetable dishes.
“The second reason why I want to push it is because even in Filipino restaurants, they have a very limited variety of vegetables. It’s either kangkong, pakbet, or chop suey. But with B.E.L. Iloco, I want to widen the variety of vegetables that people eat,” he said.
“And then I realized when I opened this, there are people who really appreciate eating Diningding. I was really surprised. Suddenly, there are a lot of people ordering Diningding. I realized that they are clamoring for something homey. Something real and not fast food,” he added.
The chef expressed his hopes of making vegetables a part of every diner’s comfort food.
“To make it a healthy meal, eat your vegetables. As a matter of fact, that will be my next battle cry. I will add a wider array of vegetables in our menu,” he said.
B.E.L. Iloco is located at Palenque, Upper Ground B, Gateway 2 in Quezon City.
