More goodies for foodies

Here is an addendum to the Christmas list I put out two weeks ago.
Even if you’re sure you’ve already thought of everyone, chances are you may have missed out on a few. Last-minute-but-thoughtful-nonetheless – that seems to be everyone’s mantra this season, so choose a treat from any of the eight additional sources listed below. Satisfaction guaranteed, I promise.

• Chicken pie from Conti’s – for the person who does not have a sweet tooth, a box of these pies will make for very happy smiles. I love their chicken pie (it comes in two sizes, the mini and the regular, though you have to pre-order the former because it is not readily available on a daily basis) but I have heard very good things about their other flavors as well: ham, tuna, and embotido. The mini pie goes for P15 per piece, while the regular-sized one is priced at P20. Boxes can fit 10, 12, 15, 20, or 25 pieces, depending on the appetite of the recipient or how many mouths he /she may want to share it with. If you need lots, try to order in advance. Since Kris Aquino made me try it, there has not been a week that I did not send my driver to get me a big box. Lately, though, their pies have been flying off the shelves so much faster than usual, maybe because of the season. I love eating it cold, but I absolutely adore it heated a bit in the toaster. The delicious filling then becomes even more savory and warm, the crust flaky and just absolutely perfect.

Conti’s has two branches, one in Parañaque at 61 President Ave., BF Homes telephone number 842-5265 and the other at 53 Connecticut, Greenhills, contact number 727-6898.

• Orange cake from Bellini’s – Because it was love at first bite, there has not been a gathering in our house without the famous orange cake from Bellini’s. And always, the cake platter is wiped clean, there is absolutely none left over. The orange cake is the kind of dessert that you can still eat even if you are so stuffed you swear you cannot take in another bite of food. The mere sight will melt your resolve, make you eat your words. It looks gorgeous, with its bright color and the candied orange rind swirled generously on top, but it tastes even better. Take my word for it.

The orange cake comes in four sizes: small, P300 (6 1/2-inch diameter), medium P450 (8-inch diameter), large P800 (10 1/2-inch diameter), and extra large P1,600 (13 1/2-inch diameter).

Other delicious desserts from Bellini’s include panacotta P80, authentic Italian tiramisu P80 per slice or P900 for a whole order, and profiteroles which go for P25 per piece.

Bellini’s is also offering a Noche Buena Special to make your gatherings at home even more special. For appetizers, there are the prosciutto melone, P250 per order which includes100 grams of prosciutto ham, mixed platter with vegetables and seafood and balsamic dressing, P250 per order for a small size and P500 for large, and eggplant parmigiana at P250 per order.

Main-course specials are pasta platter, four kinds of pasta, four different sauces, P900 per big platter good for five to six persons; veal escalopine ai funghi P250 per order, roast pork with baked potatoes P200 per order, roast beef with baked potatoes P250 per order, and chicken jabola, a spicy baked chicken P190 per order. Each order is good for one to two persons. You can ask them to put together a meat platter with all kinds of meat on it.

Bellini’s is in the Marikina Shoe Expo, Cubao and you can contact the owners, Ma. Luisa or Roberto, at 913-2550. They are wonderful people and they will do what they can to accommodate whatever special requests you may have.

• Tocino del cielo from Café Ysabel – Decadently sinful but absolutely heavenly. This tastes like leche flan but is maybe 300 percent richer because it is made out of pure egg yolk. It is almost bite-size but the taste and memory of it lingers much longer. Guaranteed to have you craving for more, a box of P15 goes for P380. They also sell at P24 per piece. Contact Café Ysabel at 725-50-89.

• Macaroon’s from Mrs. V. – Still the best macaroons I have ever tried, it is priced at P250 for 30 chubby pieces. Mrs. V.’s version is loaded with the rich, moist coconut taste that every macaroon should have. As a friend of mine put it, her macaroons are so good that once you taste them, you will always want them. You may place your orders at 807-02-64.

• Triple-ginger biscotti – From my favorite brownie and cookie lady comes another delectable treat. For the many years I have been ordering from Roshan, I always just stick to her chocolatey treats, not knowing what I have been missing out on. Yesterday, I got the chance to try her triple ginger biscotti and it was so, so, so good. You have to try it. Priced at P750 for 28 large pieces. So refreshingly good, I’ve never had anything like it before. Since she makes other flavors of biscotti as well, like her double chocolate walnut and apple cinnamon flavors, you can ask her to put together a biscotti hamper for you, complete with a box of tea and mugs if you wish. Roshan may be reached at 0917-833-6286

• Bizu – What is Christmas without their French macaroons (they have many new flavors now) and their chocolate mendiants? At Bizu, you are bound to run into a sweet treat you will love. Their cakes are consistently good and are always freshly made. They have sugar-free variants, too, so no one is ever deprived.

• Fruitcake cookies – Call 911-3443 or 0917-622-0083 for moist, delicious, rich cookies that have Christmas written all over it. I remember when I was pregnant I harassed my poor source by convincing her to make for me even if it was not Christmas and she did. Oh, how she made a pregnant girl very happy. Long after I had given birth, I still love these fruitcake cookies and can eat them any time of the year. Yes, they last very long in the fridge, too.

• Mainland Cheese – Try their vintage cheddar, Gruyere, and creamy Havarti which are my absolute favorites. Everyone deserves to enjoy good cheese and a selection of Mainland cheeses packaged prettily in a pouch will make for a sure-hit present this season. They also have really delicious Brie, Camembert, Gouda and Emmenthal. Available at leading supermarkets like Rustan’s, SM and Robinsons.

• Empanaditas, pili bonbon, and Anguilas de Pili – Growing up in the province, Christmas was never without without these treats that my parents ordered from Tia Milagring. To this day, even with all the many goodies readily available, I will jump at the chance to order all three from Cebu. Yes, it is available there only but perhaps you have friends or relatives who can send them over to you. Be sure to try it. Really yummy. The empanaditas are bite-sized pieces of savory pastry that you fry till crisp although you can achieve the same results by heating them in the toaster. This is my favorite and I will never tire of it. I used to order huge batches and just freeze them, they keep very well. It is priced at P400 for 100 pieces or P4 a piece.

The Anguilas de Pili is what we used to call bitin-bitin (bitin is snake in Bisaya) because it was shaped like such – a circle of mazapan de pili delicacy with frosting in white striped all over it. I remember it was always laid on top of a delicate lace paper doily and then the whole thing was placed in a pretty box with a window-top. Oh, we could never have enough of it as children. Even as adults, the same holds true. Prices start at P260 per 6-inch diameter. The pili bon-bon is the bite-sized version of the anguilas de pili. For orders, call Editha at 032-254-7847

• Whole wheat bread – Mang Ben, a chef-sailor family friend who has concocted his own version of whole-wheat bread, is now accepting orders, just for the Christmas season. He makes use of only the finest whole-wheat flour and other choice ingredients that he has brought in from his travels and he makes this healthy bread in two flavors, plain or with fresh, home-made pesto. Prices start at P180 for a moist, delicious 500 gram loaf and P260 for a large 700 gram loaf.

Mang Ben is leaving already on Thursday so you only have today until Tuesday to place your orders. Text or call 0906-308-3995 for orders.

• Goldilock’s – If you want madalian treats for Noche Buena that are guaranteed to be good, look no further than Goldilocks. Their bola-bola siopao is excellent, so is their dinuguan, their polvoron, and their chocolate sans rival. The sans rival especially is a precious steal because it is priced only P357.50 for an 8-inch diameter size at but it has all the goodness of those cakes we order from specialty shops. For deliveries, you can call their hotline 888-1999.

• Pancit Lucban from Buddy’s – Blame it on Kris. She taught me where to get this delicious pancit and since then, like the chicken pie from Conti’s, there has not been a week that I did not send my driver to get me some. Available at Market! Market!, this delicious pancit with lechon kawali as sahog is supposed to be eaten with vinegar generously drizzled all over it. It is the absolute best. I think I will forever love this version of pancit. I love pancit, and I love suka, so to have both in one treat is heaven for me. Apparently, in Laguna where this originated, it is known as pancit habhab. Try this please, you will love it.