Holiday food–a variety of specialties dished out by professionals and ladies who know quality and taste. Makati Sports Club on 1227 Leviste (former Alfaro) St., Salcedo Village, Makati is known for one of the best buffet spreads in town. At Christmastime, their roast turkey is almost an institution. For the holiday season, they accept orders for roast turkey (P645 a kilo) with one gallon of gravy, bread stuffing and cranberry sauce (two tins). Alternatively, a customer can bring the bird and have it done by the club at a charge of P985. American ham (loaf), another popular item, is tagged at P355 a kilo and comes with sauce, cherries and sliced pineapple. They have a long list of must buy and taste dishes ranging from Chicken Gallantina to Bangus Relleno. Cut off is Dec. 20 for collection on Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 for New Years. Seis Sabores supplies the club with deli items and ready-to-heat/easy-to-give away packs of Spanish specialties like paella, cocido, callos and fabada. Call 817-8731.
The ladies Mench, Cayen and Minit call their offerings one-of-a —kind gift novelties. Trust this trio to give customers deliciously flavored food elegantly wrapped, packed as Singles from P100, Duos at P300 and Entrees from P500. The premium items are Extra Special Polvoron, Crispy Crackers with Meat Lover’s Cheese Pate and Grilled Rosemary Chicken with Mustard Sauce for P850. They are located at 266 Ibuna, San Juan. Call 744-4154. Rina Andrews provides traditional and innovative dishes, blending multi-flavors ingeniously. There’s Pollo Iberico at P750, Gambassetti Pasta from P1000 to P1900 depending on size and Rosemary’s Chops from P850. Rina also sells unique scented candles topped with icing or whipped cream from P266 and stuffed teddy bears dipped in scented wax called Scraggles (P450 each). Fax no. 910-3230.
Bottled/canned goods, locally produced and imported, can be packaged into holiday baskets, thus one can make individual selections. Barcino Gourmet Wines, Cava and Delicatessen (2/F City Golf Plaza, Julia Vargas Ave.) has Marie to consult about all your needs. Likewise Ricky of Seis Sabores, who reveals that Spanish wines are the best in the world. They import Spanish items from Manchego cheese to patés, stuffed olives and boutique chocolates under the brand Gourmet. This place is a haven, just check their extensive inventory. The wines come in a wide range of prices, from P250 to P3,000.
Each gift can be prepared in baskets of banig or in wine bags of abaca. It’s not only for the Christmas season that you can go to Barcino. They make a variety of baskets for birthdays and other special occasions. The theme can be breakfast, wine selection or a combo of their products, depending on how much you want to pay. Call 636-2963 or 634-6307. Tierras de Espana, another supplier of Spanish products, can package goodies according to budget and taste just like Barcino and Tierras.
Distributor Monchet is in the process of putting together a variety of baskets from P750 to P2,500 each, with combinations of jamon serrano, chorizo Pamplona, salcichon, and others. Call 724-4502 or catch him at the Saturday market in Salcedo Village or any of the bazaars currently going on around the city.
Cakes and Sweets — people forget calories during the holiday season and indulge. We have long abandoned baking cakes, simply because we can never produce a good one. In our file is a collection of bakers who do their job well. Marta’s cakes are about the prettiest cakes we have ever seen and tasted, truly a feast for the eyes and palate. During Christmas, they have an array of creatively decorated cookies and cakes. Try the Square Gift Box (P630), Cookies in a Pot (P575), Round Mini Cake with 3D Christmas décor for P276. Call 842-3836 or 775-0287.
Fruits in Ice Cream, a collection of fruit-based ice cream categorized into Gourmet (Raisin Amaretto, Double Dutch), Premium (Tsoko-Nut, Nagkasoy) and Lite (Café Latte, mixed berries). In the Parañaque area, MJ Hyndman will accept orders (for pick up). They are seeking sub-distributors. Call 730-3777 or 0917-818-8551.
There is more in our list for a subsequent column. Meantime, plan now so you don’t panic when Christmas comes.
Email comments and questions to: inmybasket@tri-isys.com