While I have been in La Union for most of the lockdown, I have also had a chance to taste the fantastic food our local purveyors are outdoing themselves with. Either sent to me here or had when I went home briefly, here it is! These are the best of the best in my book.

Cookies:

1. Kaye Garcia’s Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies with Sea Salt. Divine in every way. The texture, the balance of sweet and salty, chewy and rich is just magnificent. Instagram: @kayegarcia13

2. Joy Ortega’s Reese’s Peanut Butter Cookies. Tastes like home. It gives you that fuzzy feeling like you just want to curl up in bed and pop them in your mouth with a warm cup of milk. Instagram: @joyful.cookies

Savoury Pastries:

3. Pan de Quiejo by Chew Baker Manila. These cheesy mochi like mini buns are so addicting. Savoury and chewy you can’t stop at one. Add some jam and it becomes a whole other experience. Instagram: @chewbaker.mnl

4. Chicken Pie by Pastry Princess. It’s literally a whole pie that you slice and share with your nearest and dearest. A light, sweetish (but not sweet) pastry, lots of chicken chunks in a creamy vegetable sauce. Super enjoyed this. Instagram: @pastryprincess_tm

Cakes:

5. Tiramisu by Chef Cathy Choi. A confection of fluffiness. From the cream to the ladyfinger filling and everything in between. Very European in the way that it was not cloyingly sweet. Pro tip: you can request extra liqueur. Instagram: @littlebutterph

6. Burnt Basque Cheesecake by Kaye Garcia. Hands down, the best in Manila! Order, compare and see what I mean. Instagram: @kayegarcia13

7. The Olive Oil Lemon Cake or Amalfitana by Chermaine Cuasay De Guzman. Simple and straightforward. This moist and well made confection shone from the best ingredients used. I had to go back for seconds. Drizzled with some citrus and pistachios, this is a total winner. Oh and look how beautiful too. Instagram: @ccdeguzman

8. Sushi Platter (not a bake) by Roxanne Lee. Generous amounts of lobster and ikura atop sticky sushi rice. My family enjoyed this A LOT! Instagram: @roxlee

Tapa:

9. Camille Ongpauco’s old school tapa. It’s on the salty side (which I prefer) with fatty edges. So my type. Repeat ordered and hoarded with no intentions of sharing. Instagram: @camongpauco for @lapetite_bella

10. Melo’s Steakhouse for the type of tapa that’s on the sweetish side, the kids loved this one. @meloscarmelosofficial

Take out Chinese: photos don’t do justice but trust me on this one.

11. Acachan Cooks Green Onion Chicken. Succulent and moist chicken slices bursting with umami and the freshness of spring onions, ginger and sesame oil. You’ll need loads of rice for this. Really satisfying. Instagram: @acachancooks

12. Acachan Cooks Char Siu. It was tender and had a good blend of the sweetish savoury sauce of char siu with hints of grilled smokiness. Good portions and their items are very reasonable. Order at least a day ahead. Instagram: @acachancooks

Seafood:

13. Marvs Seafood Delivery. Fresh. Good. Fresh. Efficiently delivered. Fresh. And a good assortment of seafood. You get how fresh it is right? Haha! @marvsboqueria

Chips:

14. AROMA TRUFFLE & COMPANY, Black Summer Truffle Potato Chips. Best truffle chips I’ve had and I’ve tried many. Purchase them along with a great assortment of grocery items from DELIDROP. Instagram: @delidropph

Comfort Food (ulam):

You know it was a family’s go-to dish growing up. The type they served once a week. Made with lots of love. Check out the Grace Park Dining weekly specials and order these in advance.

15. Cubao Butter Chicken and Sausage Instagram: @graceparkdining

16. Wawa’s Lamb Caldereta with Vodka. Instagram: @graceparkdining

17. Artisan Cellar Door’s Mayura Beef Brisket Platter with Chimichuri. Beef quality bursting in every bite. We had this over and over and even put the leftovers in a sandwich with some mustard and bottled red pimientos. Lovely. Instagram: @artisancellardoor

Deli franks:

18. Hungarian Cocktail Franks. Who doesn’t love a snappy frank? A good crunch in each bite, quite addicting and can be had for breakfast with scrambled eggs, merienda in a hotdog bun and all the trimmings, pica-pica with mustard on the side and whenever you feel like it! It’s been around a while but we’ve only discovered how good it is these days. Great to have on hand as a freezer staple. Instagram: @santisdelicatessen or call Beth at Santis Rockwell, 02 84030144

Cooking Ingredient:

19. Cocomama Fresh Gata. Tastes as good as the real thing. Economical, hygienic, easy to use and delicious for both cooking and baking! Sold at most groceries and 7/11.

Fruit:

20. Peaches from Bea Baluyot. The ones I had tasted like it came out of a bottle laden with syrup. Yes, it was that (naturally) sweet and juicy. I hope you try and enjoy these as much as we did! Her seedless lychees were delicious too. +639178993800

Remember, helping small businesses helps the economy! Stay safe everyone! xoxo