Go-To Comfort Food You Should Try That Are Owned By Female Entrepreneurs

Gelai Castor |

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Everybody has their own go-to place. Depending on your mood or the type of food you want to eat, you have a go-to place for healthy food, or if you're up for carbo-loading, or you just want a cozy, rustic date night. In your own go-to place, there’s no second guessing whether the food is good or not. You might even have a go-to order in mind before you can even order.

As we celebrate International Women’s Month, here are Te Namit Man’s go-to-places that are owned or managed by female entrepreneurs whose establishments are solidifying their mark on the Ilonggo gastronomic scene through delicious and well-thought-out food.

1. Cafe Gloria

Cafe Gloria is a neighborhood cafe in Villa that has a rustic charm that instantly captures your heart in terms of the food and ambiance. You will love how low-key the place is that it fits right in the neighborhood. It’s a perfect location if you want a quaint place to study or get coffee during the day, and can magically transform into a cozy date spot during the night. Their pasta dishes are absolutely delicious! Best paired with their pizza, the combo was surprisingly light but satisfying.

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Aside from running this neighborhood cafe, the owner Ms. Mary Ann Darroca-Matiling, is the current president of IHRRA (Iloilo Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants Association) and is equally passionate in promoting Iloilo to revive the tourism industry and helping businesses recover from this pandemic. Talk about Girl Power!

Location: 56 Quezon Street Arevalo, Iloilo City

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cafegloriaph

Delivers through: Move Delivery, Gora Delivery, Lihog Ko

2. Healthy Kitchen Cafe

There are only a few restaurants here in Iloilo City that means business when it comes to offering healthy food. If you’re in the mood for healthy AND delicious food, there is no doubt that Healthy Kitchen Cafe can deliver. Their bestseller is the Vietnamese Spring Rolls but a personal favorite would be their quesadillas and super green smoothie. If this is how delicious healthy food are, the “mood” could easily shift a “habit”

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Source from Salads and Wraps

And believe it or not, they have been very consistent with their branding in pushing for healthy food- where and how their supplies are sourced, and even when diversifying their brands (Salads & Wraps, Clara Farm, Mamaca Froyo, Chicken Po). Although this may not come as a surprise since their owner is a consistent advocate of healthy living and wellness (Check out Myka Perlas on IG)

Location: Q. Abeto Street, Manduriao, Iloilo City

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/healthykitchencafe.ilo

Delivers through: Grab Food, Food Panda, Gora Delivery

3. Drunk Spaniard

Nope, there isn’t a drunk Spaniard in sight. But even without getting drunk, this might just be one of the best (if not the best) hangover sandwiches. You just have to GET IT! This is Te Namit Man’s personal fave and go-to sandwich because who doesn’t love cured meat with oozing cheese in a perfect toast?? Especially sourdough toast! All sandwiches are chef’s kiss but the Papi Cristo is really our Papi.

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Location: The Daily Social, Mandurriao, Iloilo City

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrunkSpaniard

Delivers through: Grab Food, ANA

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Gelai Castor

Gelai Castor is the woman behind Te Namit Man (Is it delicious?) food reviews on Instagram in an effort to support local food entrepreneurs through reviews and featuring their best dishes. She is a full-time marketing consultant who loves watching travel and food documentaries which inspired her to write about food and adopt it in the local setting to uplift MSMEs.