Pandesal-- the Filipino quick fix :)

PANDESAL

In the Philippines, pandesal is a very common and known food!. best for breakfast and a quick snack. It is mostly paired with other types of food and drinks such as pancit, ice cream, coffee, noodles etc.

Definition: Pan de Sal is the most popular yeast-raised bread in the Philippines. Individual loaves are shaped like garrison caps due to its unique method of forming. (wikipedia)

PANDESAL. often comes in your adorable brown paper bag.
photo from isaakmendez.atbhost.net

Bakers nationwide have their own way of making pandesal. At this time, the pandesal has already a lot of variations and names. The name maybe different but they still root down to the good old "pandesal".  Ingredients to making the best pandesal vary. My dad said that they used *, which is an ingredient I never expected to be used in making pandesal. He said that it was what made the bread yummy. haha. My dad's family used to own a bakery. Sadly, I never got the chance to see or experience it. haha. [btw: my mom's family also used to own a restaurant and sadly again, I never got the chance to see and experience it]

I may not know everything about the so called "pandesal" but I know what I know and of course, what I want.haha. following are the ones I like so far from the various establishments here in Baguio and in La Union.

A. small sweet pandesal from the bakery near our home in trancoville

This is the first pandesal I have tasted and I grew up eating it. I used to really like and crave for it since I was little. haha :) haven't had them for so long now.haha :)

B. Pandesuello (? spell) from Swiss Baker

Another pandesal that I grew up eating. these are big pandesals. haha. My mom used to buy them everyday before. she likes it so much. perfect for an afternoon sandwich :)

C. Big pandesal from French Line at Sunshine Supermart

I used to think that this was the same thing as that from Swiss Baker when I was a kid. haha. I remember the pandesal here usually sells like hotcakes that people would wait in line for the newest batch. talk about smoking hot pandesal.

D. Dinner bread from French Line at Sunshine Supermart

I really do not know if this counts under the term or family of the old pandesal but I think it can be.haha. my brother and I was addicted to this bread. It comes in "almost" bite sized pieces. We love this with the famous Cheese Whiz :)

D. Mulawin hot pandesal in San Fernando La Union

The first time I knew about this and the first time I tasted it was when I had my DR completion duty in ITRMC (Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center). haha. It is across one of the hospital entrances. Small sized pandesals with a sweet taste. yummy! there is a "Mulawin pandesal" here in Baguio but I really don't like their pandesal as much as I did in La Union. La union Mulawin tastes better.

E. Pandesal from Cafe by the Ruins

I really don't remember tasting this but Cafe by the Ruins is famous for their pandesal. My mom says it is really great. will try to bag some in the future :)

F. Pandesal from Cuevas

Cuevas is actually a bakery located in the Baguio City Public Market (IDK the exact location). I usually get a taste of this when I visit our store in the market. Our store is a loyal customer of theirs and when I say loyal I mean "everyday without fail customer".haha :). sometimes, Papa brings home some.

G. Plain pandesal of Pan de Manila

So good. also comes in a cute paper container.haha :)

H. Cheese pesto pandesal of Pan de Manila

My current favorite and the favorite of my family too. haha. I just tried this out of curiosity when Pan de Manila opened their branch in SM Baguio.haha. tasted good. it stands to its name. Pesto bread (with the green stuff you usually have in pesto pasta). I think it is basil but I am not quite sure about that.haha. It also has yummy cheese with it. I always wish that the cheese is present in the whole of the pandesal bec. it is only concentrated on a spot or two.haha. I like this bread best with Pan de Manila's herbed cream cheese spread.haha. perfect for breakfast and fast snack!

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So those are the pandesals I like.haha. at least those are what I can remember right now.haha. care to try them if ever you reach this. (if ever anyone reaches this blog for that matter.haha). the good old pandesal in the modern world ;)

I like my pandesal HOT. Who wants it cold and clammy anyway? haha (clammy talaga)

tada. Still off to a million rants.