The pleasures of Pan de Sal

CEBU, Philippines - You know you are Pinoy if you are fond of eating “pan de sal”: roundish golden brown buns that are crusty and dusted with breadcrumbs on the outside, light and airy on the inside. Many great childhood memories revolved around pan de sal still hot off the neighborhood bakery oven, packed in a brown paper bag with both ends twisted to seal in an aroma so warm and comforting, it wafts around the breakfast table as soon as the bag is opened to everyone’s delight.

Whether eaten plain, dipped in coffee, buttered or served with your favorite fillings like corned beef, fried spam, fried egg, salted egg, or simply cheese, the pan de sal has found its way as a delicious staple from breakfast to snacks to even meal times throughout the day. In fact, pan de sal is so versatile; you can give it a new, creative twist on any occasion or season. Fill it up with leftover strips of Chinese ham inside then slather with creamed butter, dust with sugar, top with grated keso de bola or any quick-meting cheese on the outside, lightly toast and voila! You have “pan de saymada espesyal” to satisfy post-holiday cravings!

Literally translated in English as “bread of salt”, pan de sal is a lean type of dough made from flour, yeast, eggs, shortening, sugar and salt. Its taste and texture are similar to its foreign counterparts such as the pan de agua of the Dominican Republic and the bolilos of Mexico.

As tastes and needs evolved through years, the pan de sal was transformed into a soft, slightly sweet and denser type of bread that not only became filling but more importantly, stayed soft and fresh longer than the usual neighborhood bakery variety.

One such bread is Gardenia Pandesal, which is made to cater to the sweet taste buds of Filipinos. A product of premium ingredients and state-of-art bread making technology, Gardenia Pandesal is packed with great taste, oven-baked aroma, freshness and softness that last longer than most neighborhood bakery pandesal, which makes it a perfect satisfying meal accompaniment and a snack anytime of the day. The true test?

Heat it in an oven and discover how much it tastes like it was just freshly baked.

What’s more, Gardenia Pandesal is filled with essential vitamins and minerals such as Vit A that helps promote good eyesight, Vit B1 (Thiamine) that may aid in fatigue prevention, Vit B2 (Riboflavin) and Vit B3 (Niacin) that help promote good metabolism, Iron that helps in making the blood healthy while promoting mental alertness, plus Folate that helps in keeping cells healthy. Top that off with Zero transfat and Zero cholesterol for a worry-free eating experience.

And if you are now craving for Gardenia Pandesal, worry no more! The good news is right here in Cebu! Gardenia Pandesal is now made available for the whole Cebuanos! So if you want to experience the only delectable pandesal in town, get one pack of Gardenia Pandesal available at supermarkets, groceries and stores nearest you. (FREEMAN)