My biggest headache is deciding what to give to friends for Christmas. Add to that what to bring for potlucks. Here are 41 suggestions.

1) Bimbim’s customized party trays for potlucks—can include stuffed olives, grapes, chips, dips (spinach and artichoke), assorted cheeses (gorgonzola, parmesan, manchego, cheddar), deli meats and dried fruits, depending on your budget. Name it, they’ll make it. (Tel. 09263618737)

2) Sugarbee—Alfajores and salted caramel to die for (Tel. 09053784774)

3) Estrel’s Caramel Cake by pastry chef Gina Navarro—An all-time favorite since 1946. Try as well the lengua de gato with toasted almond slivers. (Tel. 3722965)

4) Baby Phat Ensaymada—moist and heavy flavored. I love the ube and Nutella variants. (Tel. 09175330443)

5) Kris Ompaocao—the best chicken empanada in town. Also try the moist, soft bread with ham and cheese. (Tel. 09272341990)

6) Chef Jill Sandique—best crunchy, chewy macadamia or pistachio sans rival Tel. 09228262673)

7) Red Roasters party trays—tenderloin salpicao, lengua con champignon and gambas

8) Mara dela Rama—gateau crepe, chocolate panna cotta, flourless truffle cake (Tel. 09178036272)

9) Crème Brûlée Cake by Camille Ocampo—moist, crunchy on top, reasonably priced (Tel. 09167457729)

10) Valrhona Chocolate Cake by Dolcelatte—I love that it’s not too sweet. (Tel. 09175563374)

11) Stevie’s Hainanese Chicken Rice—First to offer this takeout with Hainan rice and three sauces. He also makes a delicious Vietnamese spring roll with sriracha sauce. (Tel. 09065084155)

12) La Tasca Bibingka—Want to impress a balikbayan or foreign guest? Get this! (Tel. 8979749)

13) Karla and Millie Reyes’ ham—with their wasabi mayo, a winner! The corned beef is to die for. Both boiled and roasted. (Tel. 09175874267)

14) Tatang’s Cebu Boneless Lechon—has branches all over Metro Manila. (Tel. 09189677437)

15) Pasteleria Mallorca—by the family of chef Gene Gonzales. The giant ensaymada is said to have half a pound of butter. Also try the mamon special, arguellanas, Palillos de Milan. (Tel. 09053704433)

16) Hector’s Chicharon Bituka—a must-try if you want to bring something unexpected to a drinking party or any party, for that matter. (Tel. 09062661564)

17) Chocolate Velvet Cake by Sylvia Cancio—It opened my eyes to what a good chocolate cake is. Available only on Dec. 18. (Tel. 09178352102)

18) Peachy—well-made party trays for potluck parties. (Tel. 09176261006 or 09189081006)

19) Delicious Hainan Chicken Rice for takeout. I love the sauces! (Tel. 09189595772)

20) Giant Ensaymada made by Melissa of Pampanga and sold in Manial. She is at the Legaspi Sunday market. The ensaymada is moist, huge and such a winner. (Tel. 4046582, 09209478819)

21) Ginny de Guzman’s Gustare products—out-of-this-world truffle cake and champorado cookies. Yum! (Tel. 09178350820)

22) Felicia’s Ensaymada from Bacolod—one of the best I’ve tried. Orders can be sent to you overnight. (Tel. 09185514638)

23) Kitchen’s Best—cake plaisir and turtle pie. Also makes a mean mango sans rival and an extremely delicious chocolate sans rival. (Tel. 09178871988)

24) Queso de Bola Cheese-cake by Cru Kitchen—best version I have tried. (Tel 09209278188)

25) H Cuisine—most awesome Angus beef belly. Melt-in-your-mouth goodness with delicious gravy (Tel. 09177771411)

26) Upside-down cake, amaretto cake and prune cake by pastry chef Tani Bautista—Many times we look too far to find something good. Check these out, they’re the best! (Tel. 09175320816)

27) Chef Jyn’s Mediterranean chicken—moist, flavorful and perfect with her flavored basmati yellow rice and chili oil. Comes with all the fixings. Her Hainanese chicken rice is also extremely delicious and well-packaged. (Tel. 09175280563)

28) Casa Medillano—Authentic Spanish paella. This is different from the rest. (Tel. 09165568842)

29) Rico’s Lechon—best of Cebu. Deposit the payment, the lechon is sent by plane, pick it up, and it’s still crispy. The lechon can be sent two hours before the party starts. Affordable, too. (Tel. 09174072033)

30) Cakes by chef Sunshine Puey—delicious and classy cakes, colored eclairs in a variety of flavors. Sunshine is one of the three most talented pastry chefs in Manila today. (Tel. 09177047118)

31) Sans Rival by Guy Vasquez—a winner. (Tel. 09173010615)

32) Czars Apple Pie—This is a winner of great American cookfests. Perfect with sliced queso de bola or any salty cheese. (Tel. 09175411167)

33) Shirley’s Bottled Tuyo—Convenient and masarap without making the house smell like fried tuyo. Best gift idea for a huge group. (Tel. 09998820635)

34) Margie de la Rama’s crisp Cochinillo—very impressive. Also try her roast turkey, complete with trimmings. (Tel. 09178971017)

35) General’s Lechon from Negros Occidental—No. 1 in Metro Manila today. It comes in four flavors: regular, garlic, curry and chili garlic. I love the chili garlic variant with its sudden burst of spiciness. Recently the brand started making cochinillo (roast suckling pig) also in those four flavors. Delivery for a fee. (Tel. 09178975966)

36) Nana Meng’s Tsokolate—from Sta. Maria, Bulacan, thick, creamy, peanuty, instant tsokolate at its finest. (Tel. 09177962731)

37) Sandy Daza Bottled Gourmet Tuyo and Tinapa in Extra Virgin Olive Oil—healthy and diet-friendly. Pour it over pasta, toast or eat with fried rice and egg. Marketed by my boys Franco and Turo. Super yummy! (Tel. 09175120193)

38) Italian Porketta by Ram Jorge—delicious, crunchy, flavorful pork belly with a green sauce. Highly recommended. (Tel. 09178102218)

39) Chef Bob and Ninay’s Roast Turkey and Boneless Crispy Lechon Belly— (Tel. 09189098850)

40) Tinee de Guzman’s Cochinillo—amazingly cut with a platito. There is also a much leaner baboy ramo (wild boar) version. (Tel. 09175251025)

41) Love Cakes by Ann and Gan—deep, dark strawberry chocolate cake topped with fresh strawberries. (Tel. 09989981726)

Health gift

A pricey but most effective health gift is the Kangen alkaline water machine. In the body it neutralizes acid—
which causes most of our illnesses like cancer, acid reflux, high cholesterol, gout, diabetes, etc. Book a demo to understand its benefits better. (Tel. 09173100958)

I hope you find something interesting in this list to give this Christmas!

Watch out for the opening of my new restaurant Casa Daza at the UP Town Center in Quezon City.

Happy eating!

E-mail me for the schedule of the Japan food tour:
[email protected]