These edible offerings—from cookies that raise funds for kids with cancer to Spanish tapas—guarantee delight and satisfaction
It’s just days before Christmas, and people are still in a mad rush to get their gifts sorted and wrapped. A calendar seems like an afterthought, while a mug might look dated next to those trendy thermal tumblers. What will guarantee delight, satisfaction and instant gratification? Any of these edible gifts, which range from cookies that raise funds for kids with cancer to Spanish tapas.
1. Joel’s Place is exactly what Manila needs, a place that beautifully marries food service, retail and an overall great experience. Patterned after and inspired by the markets in Europe such as Le Bon Marché in Paris and Selfridges, the Proscenium Retail Row hub is divided into sections, from coffee, juicery and bakery to seafood, and even a gifting department where you can curate your own set. And what’s great is that it champions lesser known local brands, including artisanal chocolates and yogurt drinks from Bukidnon.Among my picks are the Maggie Beer fig Vino Cotto, Wagyu bacon from Red Kitchen, Fu Kwei Majestic Ham and the cronada, a croissant and empanada hybrid. Joel’s Place is named after the Tantoco owners’ late brother who enjoyed the finer things in life—from food to aesthetics. (@joelsplaceph on Instagram)
2. Bizu Patisserie always has a lot to offer come holiday season, from savories to sweets. This year, their hampers are stuffed to the brim with the same variety. Lodged in their wicker picnic basket are breads, spreads such as tomato and pesto focaccia and herbed cream cheese spread as well as confections like chocolate truffles, carrot walnut loaf cake, assorted macaron de Paris, coconut tuile, chocolate florentine, pistachio lemon langues de chat, and chocolate cornflakes. (@bizuph on Instagram)
3. From the maker of my favorite artificial ingredient-free beef hot dogs and siomai lumpia comes a gift set that will set the mood for a Spanish fiesta. Berry’s Deli by Berry Tenchavez-Stehmeier gathers our all-time favorite tapas in a single box, composed of bottled boquerones en vinagre, chorizo picante de arancini that just needs a quick deep fry until golden, pulpo de gallega that can be reheated in the vacuum bag it comes in and a hearty tortilla de patatas. It also has a casuela to serve the octopus in. (@berrysdeliph on Instagram)Signature pastry
4. Jen Gerodias of Casa Luisa brings back a signature pastry I have come to love—now in a smaller, party-size form. The mini Macapuno Dayap Napoleones has fresh macapuno from Laguna and Batangas, coconut custard and Don Papa rum syrup sandwiched in between flaky butter pastry that’s crowned with a crystalized glaze and dayap rind. (@casa_luisa on Instagram)
5. Good Morning Wines and Stanford Shaw have teamed up to keep everyone in high spirits this holiday season. Inside their box are two bottles of Stanford Shaw ginger ale, two bottles of Nanyo Cider made from Fuji apples and La France pears, cinnamon sticks and star anise, and a recipe that will have you enjoying a tangy and refreshingly crisp cocktail. (@goodmorningwines on Instagram)
6. My favorite “southern” fried chicken (because they’re located in BF Homes Parañaque) has already come up with a number of sides to go with their tender, juicy chook—from saucy fried rice to cafe spaghetti. For Christmas, their holiday box pairs their signature dish— which always comes with fluffy dinner rolls, garlic spread, house-blend banana ketchup and pickles—with spinach cream lasagna and, for dessert, lemon pound cake, making for a complete meal. @aguirrefriedchicken
7. The Everything Nice Cafe and Good Shepherd collaboration, both iconic Baguio brands, started last year when they sold hundreds of ube crinkles and used part of the proceeds to fund the medical treatments of children with cancer and the education of Good Shepherd’s scholars. This year, the tandem is back for another item that will surely be another pass-along hit—Ube Flakes. Crunchy morsels of cereal are bound together by white chocolate and real ube haleya. @everythingnicecafe
8. Chef Baba Ibazeta Benedicto of Nono’s has a wide range of delectable stocking stuffers for you—and they run from French classics to the colorful and creative. There’s their famous almond crunch (roasted almond toffee covered with chocolate), chocolate chip shortbread cookies, Russian tea cookies, roasted mixed nuts and pretty sugar cookies. nonos.phGoing green
9. Japanese bakery and cafe Kumori has gone green. They are giving people three decadent choices to celebrate the holidays with: heavenly Mochi Puffs filled with pistachio cream then topped with pistachio crumble and chocolate, and another with vanilla cream; Choco Pistachio Ring, fluffy bread dipped in premium dark chocolate and topped with chopped pistachio nuts; and the Pistachio Holiday Dream Cake, made of chocolate sponge and pistachio mousse that’s cloaked in a chocolate mirror glaze. @kumoriph
10. During the pandemic, Bea Gonzales’ mom began making her food for the gods—her own recipe from 35 years ago. The daughter convinced her mom to accept orders until she finally relented. Amelia’s Food for the Gods is what I always recommend when asked. @amelias.ph
11. Kevin Ong’s pastry business has been running for six years now, churning out, among others, French macarons and picture-pretty cakes with interesting flavor combinations such as banana and tonka bean, as well as lotus seed, mango yuzu, salted egg crumble and soft caramel. Not to be outdone are his handcrafted bonbons, which, though small, hold their own in terms of flavor and beauty. There’s raspberry margarita, banoffee, ube ice cream, caramel popcorn, and peach lemonade. @kopatissier
12. The pandemic may have stunted the growth of her humble food business, but Boleng Serrano is back offering two of her bestselling products from a once diverse menu—lasagna and crabmeat patties, the latter akin to rellenong alimasag. What started out as a hobby back in 2015, selling beef tapa mostly to friends and officemates, is now a small family business. @belunaskitchenFollow the author @fooddudeph on Instagram.
Angelo Comsti writes the Inquirer Lifestyle column Tall Order. He was editor of F&B Report magazine.
