From the City of Smiles

Notes on the food,
the festival, and the fire

Longer pieces on how Bacolod eats and how we cook — written for visitors planning a first trip, and for anyone thinking about opening a branch of their own.

A plate of chicken inasal with garlic rice, skewers and calamansi
Guide · 7 min

Chicken Inasal in Bacolod: Tangy, Not Sweet

Why the Bacolod version tastes nothing like the one you'll find in Manila, what to order alongside it, and when the MassKara Festival runs this year.

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The Masskara Chicken Inasal dining room, with timber booths and reclaimed wood walls
Franchise · 6 min

Franchising in the Philippines: What You're Actually Buying

What a food franchise really gives you, what it costs you in autonomy, and how to start a conversation about opening a branch of your own.

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