( Page 45 of Philippine Airline's PAL) Mabuhay Magazine March 2014 issue)
Phenomenal Inasal of Iloilo
Today , Everywhere in the Philippines , in every street in Manila , in any provinces towns and cities there's nothing more popular dish as Inasal that originates from Iloilo. It was served as lunch during Pope Francis visit in the Philippines.
Iloilo Inasal
The word usage and the Ilongo cultural identity is interwoven in Inasal .Iloilo designate the phrase “ Inasal nga manok “ from the Spanish word – Asar which means to grill while Luzon or Tagalog people call it “ Inihaw or litsong manok”. On the other hand , Bacolod used old Hiligaynon word “ Sinugba nga manok” and very recently , adopted the word " Inasal " of Iloilo. During Dinagyang Festival , thousand upon thousands of Inasal is displayed along the famous " Calle Real" , and every streets in Iloilo , in Diversion Tourism Strip and in many food feast celebration of feast of Santo Nino . It is a compelling evidence how people of Iloilo loved the food for hundred of years.
Cebu normally done in a furnace of coal laid in a pit-like platform .
Inasal association with Iloilo as Bamboo Capital of the Phil
“Inasal nga manok” will be only called inasal because of bamboo-stick used to grill the chicken in an ember . . In Spanish times, the utensil that only could be used in Iloilo is “alasalan”is a grill-stick made of bamboo grass which is abundant in any part of Iloilo especially in Maasin , as bamboo capital of the Philippines. Bamboo stick does not insulates heat from the embers enabling a grip while turning the chicken to cook every side. However in modern times , mechanical grilling called rotisseries is used.
What is Inasal
It’s an ilongo dish by marinating native chicken called darag or bisaya nga manok using asian spices overnight. Spices include ginger , garlic pepper and lemon grass. Grilling them until cooked while painting with achuete oil . It is served with sauce as combination of –kalamansi juice , vinegar , chilly pepper and soysauce.
Inasal in Iloilo
1. Mang Inasal
2. Barrio Inasal
3. Chicken Sari-Sari
4. Jo’s Inato
5. Pecho Pak in E. Lopez
6. Inasalan in Plaza Jaro, Plaza Mandurriao, along UP in front
of Doctor’s Hospital, near the freedom grandstand, at La Paz Market
7. Tatoy’s Manokan
8. Breakthrough in Arevalo
9. Nes & Tats in Diversion
10. Nato & Helen in Bolilao
11. Rawit’s at Central Market,
12. Corning’s and co. at Valeria extension