It’s that time of the year again when we wrack our brains trying to figure out what to give to someone special, more so for someone who has everything money can buy. A gift should be unexpected, be able to surprise, deliver a smile or make the receiver hum in satisfaction.

Here are my 2019 Christmas food gift suggestions:

1) Sunshine Puey’s Chocolate Cookies and many other delicious pastries.

Tel. 0917-8832532, 84039051

2) Joy San Gabriel cheese rolls, to me, the best. She also makes an ensaymada with a delicious ube filling.

Tel. 0917-5278837

3) Red Roasters party trays: Tenderloin Salpicao, Lengua con Champignon and Gambas.

Tel. 0917-7930734

4) Wawa Bing’s Bacolod Fresh Lumpia. Mildly sweet and garlicky, it’s healthy as well as authentic tasting and delicious.

Tel. 75060303, 0966-4388513

5) Casa Daza Empanadas. Kakahiya but you decide whether it deserves mention here. Original or chicken. To me, the original has a slight edge.

Tel. 87202290, 0917-1490021

6) Best baked chicken empanadas by Kris Ompaoco.

Tel. 0927-2341990, 8920 7282

7) Lorenzo’s Food for the Gods. It’s a 50-year-old family recipe that is so addictive. I featured this almost a decade ago.

Tel. 0917-5441105

Crowd favorite

8) Chef Judy’s Chiffonelle Cake. It’s a light caramel cake with a tinge of lemon. Simple but delicious! This is the up-and-coming cake in Manila. Bring this and, for sure, it’ll be a crowd favorite.

Tel. 0917-8975839

9) Korean Beef Stew by Chef Yrish de la Rosa. Tender, tasty and delicious.

Tel. 0917-7196462

10) Brazo Cupcakes. A different take on cupcakes.

Tel. 0928-7545327

11) Margie de la Rama’s delicious cochinillo. Also, try her roast turkey.

Tel. 0917-8971017

12) Outstanding Upside Down Cake, Amaretto Cake and Prune Cake by badminton and golf sensation Tani Bautista. Simple but delicious cakes.

Tel. 0917-5320816

13) Best Macadamia and Pistachio Sans Rival in town by pastry chef Jill Sandique.

Tel. 0922-8262673

14) Estrel’s Caramel Cake. This cake needs no introduction. Also a must-try is the lengua de gato with toasted almond slivers. Manginginig ka sa sarap.

Tel. 83722965

15) Uno Baking Company’s Tartados, custard tarts. It also has one with ube filling.

Tel. 0917-5528001; @Unobakingco on Facebook, Instagram

16) Imang Salud giant ensaymadas from Pampanga. Made by Melissa, at Legazpi Sunday market.

Tel. 0920-9478819

17) Bottled Gourmet Tinapa by Turo’s Heathy Tinapa in extra-virgin olive oil with herbs and spices. Best on toast, over pasta or simply with sinangag and egg.

Tel. 0917-5120193

18) Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake and Alfajores made by Sugarbee. The alfajores are very good and different.

Tel. 8520557, 0905-3784774

19) Delicious callos by chef Victor Sanchez.

Tel. 0917-5777099

Best around

20) Pastry chef Mara de la Rama’s Gateau Crepe—a winner—Chocolate Panna Cotta and flourless truffle cake.

Tel. 0917-8116272, 0917-8036272

21) Queso de Bola Cheesecake. Best one around.

Tel. 0920-9278188

22) La Tasca Bibingka. This, to me, is the best Pinoy kakanin ever. Serve this to foreigners and they’ll kiss you.

Tel. 88979749

23) Festive Roast Turkey with all the fixins by chefs Bob and Ninay. Ask for extra gravy.

Tel. 0918-9098850

24) Baby Pat Ensaymadas by Chef Pearl. Huge, unique in all its various flavors, and delicious. A favorite gift.

Tel. 0917-7901127; Facebook: mybabypat

25) Italian porchetta by Ram Jorge. A different take on the boneless lechon, Italian-style.

Tel. 0917-8102218

26) Tinee de Guzman cochinillo.

Tel. 0917-5251025

27) General’s Lechon—best lechon in Manila. Among the four variants—regular, garlic, chili garlic and curry—my favorite is the chili garlic. Order early. There’s delivery.

Tel. 88lechon/88532466; 0917 8lechon/0917-8532466

28) Czar’s Apple Pies. Winner of Great American cookfest. Perfect with queso de bola.

Tel. 0917-5411167

29) Crème Brûlée Cake by Camille Ocampo. Want a topic of conversation in a party? Try bringing this.

Tel. 0916-7457729

30) Delicious sans rival by Guy Vasquez.

Tel. 0917-3010615

31) Stevie’s Hainanese Chicken Rice and Vietnamese fresh spring rolls. Comes beautifully packaged complete with all the sauces. Super sarap.

Tel. 0906-5084155

32) Plaza Ham and Corned Beef. Try it with their sauces. I love the light green one. Made by chefs Millie and Karla. So yummy!

Tel. 0917-5874267

33) Hector’s Chicharon Bituka. Masarap! Something good and different to bring to a potluck.