‘Tis the season again of giving—preferably one with the element of surprise. To me, a successful surprise is about giving something unexpected with the hope that the gift is cherished or enjoyed.
I use this philosophy in creating the dishes we serve at our restaurant Wooden Spoon—serve the unexpected and hope we surprise our customers with the taste, price and experience of our food. Familiar flavors with unusual dishes is how I like to call it. So far, so good.
Allow me to give you my list of Christmas goodies and services that make for good surprises.
Ube and regular ensaymada made by Baby Pat: Moist, different and sarap. (Call tel. no. 0917-7901127)
Bebeth del Rosario’s Chocolate Earthquake and Cheesecake: Pampasira ng diet ni mom, it’s that good. (Call tel. no. 0917-8976970 or e-mail [email protected])
Bob and Ninay’s Turkey Roast, with gravy and mashed potatoes: A sure hit for these days of celebration. (Call tel. nos. 9840065 or 0918-9098850)
Porketta Man: Italian crunchy porchetta served with a green pesto-like sauce. This is the standard to beat for all other local porchettas. (Call tel. no. 0917-8102218)
Patty Betita’s longganisa: Proud of her hometown goodies, this former beauty queen offers Tuguegarao longganisa toasted with sinangag and fried egg. (Call 0917-8258128)
Mandy’s Cupcakes: Ask her for her yummy bestsellers. (Call tel. no. 0917-8114443)
My Cookie Lab: Delicious cookie sandwiches in a variety of flavors. (Call tel. no. 0906-2260276)
Peachy’s Kitchen. For good food and topnotch catering. (Call tel. nos. 0917-6261006, 0918-9081006)
Felicia’s Ensaymada from Bacolod: One of the best ones I’ve tried—buttery, moist and delicious. For a fee, the company delivers to Manila. (Call tel. nos. 034-4336586, 0918-5514638)
Diamond Hotel’s Le Royale Cake: Light chocolate cake with a sudden crunch. To-die-for. (Call tel. no. 5283000)
Black Paella or Paella Negra with homemade aioli from Nawwty’s Kitchen: This is authentic Spanish paella. (Call tel. nos. 0918-9369854, 0939-8529958)
Valrhona Chocolate Cake by Dolcelatte: Simply among the best chocolate cakes in Manila now. (Call tel. no. 0915-9129038)
Best Upside Down Cake, Prune Cake and Amaretto Cake by badminton sensation and chef Tani Bautista. (Call tel. nos. 5346359, 5322495)
Chicken Empanada by Kris Ompaoco: You will not find better-tasting chicken empanada than this. Kris also makes a mean chocolate cake and soft, mildly sweet bread with ham and cheese filling. (Call tel. nos. 9200927, 2341990)
Crème Brûlée Cake by Camille: Unique, delicious, perfectly sweet, this will be talked about in any get-together. (Call tel. no. 0916-7457729)
Chef Jyn’s Mediterranean Chicken: Whole roast chicken made perfect with chili oil, flat bread and yellow basmati rice. Healthy pa! (Call tel. no. 0917-5280563)
La Tasca’s Bibingkang Malagkit: One of the best desserts to serve if you want to impress a foreign guest or balikbayan. Many times, we look too far for a good Pinoy dessert. Look no more. (Call tel. nos. 8979749, 8965543)
Chef Heny Sison creations—Red Velvet, Classic Fruit Cake, Lemon Torte: She just happens to be one of the best pastry chefs we have. (Call Desserterie at Victorino’s at tel. no. 9228558)
Colorful eclairs made by pastry chef Sunshine Pengson of Gourmandise: Authentic Parisian goodies with a variety of fillings. (Call tel. nos. 8402568, 0917-7047118)
Czar’s Old-fashioned Apple Pie: The ultimate in classic apple pie, and winner of the Great American Food Festival. With a slice of Queso de Bola, heaven! (Call tel. nos. 6220830, 0917-5411167)
Kitchen’s Best’s Plaisir Sucre: Divine chocolate cake, along with Turtle Pie and Mango Sans Rival. (Call tel. no. 0917-8966248)
Macadamia Sans Rival made by chef sensation Jill Sandique: Crunchy, chewy, unlike any other! (Call tel. nos. 4978811, 0922-8262673)
Frozen Food for the Gods: A secret family recipe of the late Flor Jimenez, now shared by her daughters. I keep them in the freezer until I get one of those cravings. (Call tel. no. 0917-8471777, 0917-5704678).
Chef Penk Ching’s creations—Chocolate and walnut clusters in tin can; carrot, banana and apple walnut in loaves; six-inch decorated fondant cake. She made the Bird’s Nest Cake for the Beijing Olympics—ganoon siya kagaling. (Call tel. no. 0917-8122676)
Lyn’s General Lechon: Still the best-tasting lechon in Manila in my book for years now. Never disappoints, and a must-try. This is the Negros Occidental version. The company also delivers. (Call tel. no. 0917-8975966)
Double Fudge Cake: A sure winner! (Call tel. nos. 9139875, 4393069)
Giant Ensaymada from Pampanga, made by Melissa Legaspi: Super sarap! (Call tel. no. 0920-9478819)
Stevie’s authentic Hainanese Chicken and Vietnamese fresh spring rolls: I dream about these two. Beautifully and perfectly packaged, they will surprise the recipient. (Call tel. no. 0906-5084155)
Delicious Sans Rival: I tried this version during a Bible get-together, and I couldn’t wait for the session to finish so I could return to it. The creator Guy Vasquez makes a Macadamia and Kasuy version. (Call tel. no. 6310125, 0917-3010615)
Catherine’s Apple Pie: Perfect à la mode or with cheese. (Call tel. no. 0917-8409598)
Torta Torrejon: Like an unfinished sans rival that will make you hum in satisfaction. (Call tel. no. 0917-8192228)
Peanut Butter Cake made by chef Sam: Made with Butterfingers and Reese’s chocolate, the cake is mildly sweet with occasional bursts of salt and peanut butter—a sweet tooth’s dream. (Call tel. no. 0920-9207268)
Rico’s Lechon authentic Cebu Lechon: One of the first ones I tried years ago, now one of the most popular and best lechon in Cebu. Rico sends the lechon by plane. Have it picked up at the airport; the skin, oozing with herbal aromas, is still crunchy when it gets to you. No need for sauce. (Call tel. no. 0917-4072033)
Queso de Bola Cheesecake: Many attempt this version of cheesecake; this tops my list. (Call tel. no. 8284474, 0920-9278188)
Mara de La Rama’s Gateau Crepe: Layers of crepe filled with cream. (Call tel. no. 0917-8116272)
Vinvin’s giant siopao: One I could only have when I fly Philippine Airlines, since the lone outlet is by the departure gate. But you can now order it. Pop in the microwave for three minutes, and game! The bolabola version with all the works is better than the one across the US Embassy. (Call tel. no. 0920-9602182)
Match Point catering: Chef Nanie Jimenez shuttles from coaching tennis to fencing in the stoves to come out with delicious catering items. (Call tel. no. 0917-5225450)
Kangen Water Machine: We all need something to neutralize all the acid-forming indulgence of the holidays. You will not find a better investment for your health than this water machine. (Call tel. no. 0908-2492114)
Happy Eating!
Visit the author’s blog at www.sandydaza.blogspot.com. Follow him on Twitter @sandydaza.
