Food Trip: Baguio's Bread and Jams

To me, Baguio is synonymous to Good Shepherd's Ube Jam. This must-bring pasalubong left a lasting impression the first time I bought home one during my first Baguio visit where I had to endure a long queue together with tourists wanting to bring home bottles of different jams from Good Shepherd.

A few weeks ago, I was back in the city of pines for the fourth time since 2006. I was with a group who visited Eagle Crest Villa and its owner. We checked out some townhouses for sale. After a good lunch at Star Cafe, we walked our way to the market and started our pasalubong slash vegetable shopping.

Everyone in the family enjoyed that one large bottle of ube at Php270 market price - it's gone in two days! Yes, Good Shepherd products are also available in the market. I also bought a bottle of strawberry jam for Php60 and honey from Kalinga for Php150. Mom and I loves to use honey in most of our recipes so I didn't hesitate to bring home one and sure nothing beats products freshly harvested from the mountains and put straight into the bottle. The honey is so damn good! 

Pili Pasalubong Shopping

Pili dessert from Bicol

Went to Bicol last month and it was a weekend trip to remember, the more than 12 hours on the road is in itself an adventure - tiring but awesome. The province has been famous for its hot and spicy cuisine. Thankfully I got to try some of Bicol's specialties like Bicol Express, binutong, biniribid etc. So when we finally ready to take another long road trip back home, I wanted to bring home something to share with my family. Just when our group took a sidetrip to Guinobatan, Albay, I grabbed that chance to buy a local and tourist favorite - PILI!

Pili shopping at Morato Pili Sweets in Guinobatan, Albay. I love the Mazapan de Pili (the green covered bar in the picture).

Camiguin's Vjandep Pastel

VjANDEP PASTEL (pronounced with silent "j"), which originated from Camiguin in 1990 has become a famous food pasalubong. So when my sister traveled to Cagayan de Oro, she bought home boxes of these luscious pastels from their CDO branch. 

PASTEL is a Spanish term for CAKE. By our ingenuity in grammar, PASTEL has long been called in English, as a soft dough coffee bun whom the Spaniards has generously taught our ancestors and made PASTEL as part of a Camiguingnon's delicacy. This made PASTEL a common treat in the tables of the affluent Camiguingnon's of the time, especially during special gatherings and occasions, such as birthdays, weddings, fiestas, Christmas and the likes. http://vjandep.com/

The custard  is covered with a soft fluffy bun plus the yema filling (a family favorite) has just the right sweetness and creaminess. A good box of bread right there!

GenSan: Tuna Pasalubong

Citra Mina's Tuna Belly and Panga

Sharing with you a cooked, no fancy plating pictures of Tuna Belly and Panga fresh from Citra Mina branch in Koronadal, South Cotabato. A must bring home pasalubong every time we visit our province down south.

tuna belly

Palawan Pasalubong: Baker's Hill Deli

Baker's Hill pastries

My brother toured Palawan recently along with his High School friends. Also excited for my first Palawan visit  early next year, I have searched the web for some things to do, sites to see, and must bring pasalubong. Other than being one of the most visited tourist spots, pastries from Baker's Hill has been consistently earning some good reviews for their baked products. So I requested my brother to give it a try and bring home some of their goodies. He bought a box of Hopia Baboy, his all time favorite crinkles, a box of brownies and pieces of chocolate minicakes. I just wished he bought a set of some real local delicacies from Palawan. Anyway, I for sure will share more Baker's Hill goodies after my trip :)

Biscocho Haus: Iloilo's Famous Pasalubong Shop

A few weeks ago, my aunt brought home some really yummy pasalubong from Iloilo. A trip in Iloilo wouldn't be complete without visiting the famous Biscocho Haus. This outlet has been serving some of the best ever food pasalubong in the Philippines, having existed for more than 3 decades now. Dad used to frequently drop by this place and he'd surely bring home bags of these yummy treats. My favorite however is their butterscotch!

Piaya, Butterscotch and Pinasugbo from Biscocho Haus

click here to check out other flavorful pasalubong from iloilo my dad use to bring home then.

Pasalubong: Sarangani Bay Milkfish in Corn Oil

One thinks of fresh tunas when in General Santos City. But there's another kind of fish worthy to be a must have pasalubong. The Sarangani Bay Milkfish in Corn Oil is basically a ready to eat bottled milkfish. Definitely one of my favorite pasalubong from General Santos.

This bottle of milkfish sells for P133 and can be bought in any malls around General Santos City.

Sarangani Bay Milkfish in corn oil (spicy)