That Christmas feeling

MANILA, Philippines - “My car broke down!” says Nic’s Bakeshop’s Rina Go apologetically as she sorts through towing details with her assistant. But as she sits across me looking vibrant in a red dress and gold heels without a hair out of place, her poise and grace belie her stress.

Now while some people will have this pulling their wits out, others like Rina prepare elaborate feasts.

Showcasing a festive buffet selection, Rina offers some of the tastiest holiday dishes in the metro, each teeming with a story of its own. For starters, Maggie’s East Coast Turkey, inspired by a Go family tradition Rina and her siblings started while living in the East Coast, is the turkey of the season. Sitting gloriously on top of the spread, filled with generous servings of stuffing, candy red cranberry sauce, and boats of gravy, it’s the stuff holiday dreams are made of — and the best part is it’s real. “It became such a hit with the family; whenever we have special birthdays, Christmas and reunions, it’s a request! So I decided to incorporate it in our menu,” shares Rina. 

Among her other favorites would be the Salmon Crunch, baked to perfection with juicy salmon meat and a strongly spiced topping; Spaghetti with freshly made tomato sauce and hearty Porcini Meatballs; and bruschetti topped with decadent jamon and a spreading of grated tomatoes. Not to mention, the desserts alone are enough to force those jeans loose, with award-winning picks like the Peach Walnut Torte, Dark Turtle Brittle and Key Lime Pie.

Like much of the offerings at Nic’s Bakeshop, each dish is prepared from family recipes. “My late sister was a big baker. She started the baking in the family and I jumped in. Remembering my sister Maggie whenever I troubleshoot food or cakes or pastries…I sometimes run into problems and still refer to her notes and handwritten recipes.”

It’s no wonder then that with a natural love for food, Rina decided to venture into the culinary business despite being in the fashion industry for years. Explaining that the creative aspect is never one she has to tire over, she constantly interjects our discussion with new ideas and details for the buffet, “Let’s add some apples here, and how about grapes over there?” More than that, some dishes like the artisan pizzas and French Onion Soup are of her own making, influenced by the few cooking classes she took at Sur la Table and the Institute of Culinary Education while in New York last summer.

“I try to come up with something new every quarter,” she shares, to which she cheerfully mentions latest additions: “The Strawberry Cheesecake! Oh, we also have an Espresso Mousse!” It’s her enthusiasm that lends one to see that beyond a natural affinity, food is Rina’s passion. A self-confessed foodie, she shares that her trips abroad are filled with taking in the location’s spirit and culture through its flavors. “I get excited! I’m always studying. My good friend Carmela will say, ‘You know, it isn’t fun when I travel with you because you’re always studying the menu, you’re always pinching the menu, it’s never relaxing!’”

Operating for over 14 years now, Nic’s Bakeshop (named after her eldest daughter Nicole) has come a long way since Rina and her sister decided to send dessert samples to food chains like Seattle’s Best Coffee, Figaro, Kenny Roger’s and Rustan’s then Bon Appetit. “The ride has been fast, bumpy and exhilarating. I love food and I’m always reading or researching by trying different food trucks to fine dining in different parts of the world.”

It’s hard to believe that it was only two years ago that the café doors of Nic’s Bakeshop opened to the public. To this Rina shares, “I feel elated when some of (the customers) say, ‘You know when we come to UP Town Center, we don’t go anywhere else, we just come here because we just want to try everything on your menu’.”

Rest assured, each visit to Nic’s Bakeshop feels like the perfect homecoming.

(Visit Nic’s Bakeshop branches at G/F Phase 1B UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City (958-5574 and 0999-9933234) and 172 A. Mabini St., Addition Hills, San Juan City (571-1818 and 0999-9933231). Check out www.facebook.com/nicsbakeshop and www.nics.com.ph.)