Pralines

The beauty and grace of the Filipina woman is unmatched in the world. From their physical beauty that has been praised and crowned in all international beauty pageants, to the beauty of their hearts as witnessed by the world in how well Filipino nannies, teachers, nurses, and doctors have taken cared of their wards. Like the Filipina, the terno is a delicate and intricate piece of clothing that exudes grace and femininity but also gives the woman an equal stature to that of the man. Its trademark butterfly sleeves and its serpentine cut make the terno a Filipino classic that brings out the beauty of any woman that wears it. Unlike other dresses, the terno showcases both structure and flow; of femininity and strength; of simplicity and intricacy – just like the beauty of the Filipina. Just as delicate as the Filipina’s beauty, the Palawan Honey is a flavor that is both soft and tang. Sweetness so perfect that it is graceful without overwhelming but with an exotic kick. Found only in the beautiful island of Palawan, which is considered as one of the last frontiers in the world. The delicate taste of Palawan honey in dark chocolate is a subtle yet wonderful explosion of flavors that can only be best described as beautiful.

Before becoming one of the largest Catholic countries, the Philippines was predominantly Muslim. The Sarimanok is a testament to the colorful and rich Muslim heritage that is continuously present in the southern part of the country. A symbol of fortune and prosperity, the Sarimanok is a common feature in the houses of the noble Muslims. The fish in its beak and in its claws are symbols of the abundance and prosperity of the house where it is displayed.

In Muslim culture, there is a dominant presence of coconut in their cuisine, and one of their more popular desserts is the coconut macaroons or bukayo – which is a favorite snack throughout the Philippines. Flavored with coconut flakes, this dark chocolate is a taste of the Muslim culture in the Philippines.

The American era has brought a lot of influence on Filipino culture, especially in its public transportation and in its cuisine. The jeeps used by the Americans in World War II were turned by enterprising Filipinos into a mode of public transportation – turning dreary war remnants into colorful, vibrant, and useful public transportation, a testament to Filipino ingenuity.

And just like how the Americans have left their influence on our public transport, they have done the same in our cuisine. Known as poor man’s sugar, the panotsa was made by a crude milling process – giving it more texture and flavor. Making caramel out of panotsa is a tribute to how Filipino ingenuity can make something Filipino out of American products and how something as American as caramel can be made out of the Filipino panotsa.

One of the world’s largest archipelagos, the Philippines is composed of 7,107 islands. Just as many are its languages, cultures, tribes, flavors, and beaches. Aside from the diverse culture, the Filipino nation is also a treasure trove of talents and ingenuity. The Ube, or purple yam from the taro family, is one of the local root crops that Filipinos have mastered in their kitchens – from being a source of carbohydrate to being dessert or being part of a viand – a true Filipino ingredient. A rich purple color, the Ube also shows how rich the Filipino culture is in the kitchen.

A tribute to a typical farm life for Filipinos, the bahay kubo is a trademark of the Filipino’s ingenuity. No other structure is as well ventilated, as flexible, and as sustainable as the bahay kubo. Made of bamboo and nipa leaves, the bahay kubo is the symbol of the provincial life and culture of Filipinos and bayanihan, a word that has no direct English translation but means a community coming together to help a neighbor in need. And did I mention that it could be moved from one place to another by just having a group of men carry it? Life on the farm is simple and, to most Filipinos, it brings back memories of how childhood summers were – with banana cue, that’s banana deep-fried and coated in caramelized sugar, as afternoon snacks. Bananas play a crucial role in the life of Filipinos as it is one of the highest revenue producing products of the country, being one of the top exporters of Cavendish bananas. The simple crop has transformed many arid and rural communities as it helped millions of Filipinos create a better future. The banana puree in the chocolate praline gives the banana flavor and chocolate a fresh but familiar flavor – something that you can’t quite put your finger on but can definitely put a smile on your face.

If Philippine history could walk, it would rack up a journey’s worth of stories about the bakya, the footwear of Filipino rural folk. The original bakya sole was made of light wood, with straps made of rattan or cloth. The sides were usually decorated with carvings or paintings depicting scenes of provincial life. These wooden clogs whose construction is a simple art form unto itself is a testament to Philippine artistry and craftmanship . This utilitarian footwear is still used and made today. Laguna, a province in Southern Luzon, is recognized as the capital of bakya production. Laguna is also known as the location where the first cacao trees were planted in the Philippines. According to records, Spanish monks planted cacao trees in Laguna in the 1700s. With the introduction of cacao came the production of tablea: round tablets made of ground roasted cacao beans. Like the Spanish and Mexican versions of hot chocolate, tsokolate is traditionally made by dissolving the tablea in water or milk in a tsokolatera. The drink is briskly whisked with a wooden baton called a batirol , giving the drink its characteristically frothy appearance. Our tablea pralines pay homage to the first chocolate in the Philippines and the place where the first cacao trees were grown. The pralines are enrobed with white chocolate to balance the bitterness of the ground roasted cocoa beans. Take the first step and discover our pralines that celebrate history and origin.

The Pampanga Lantern is in itself a celebration of Christmas and the colorful artistic wealth of Pampanga, a province in Northern Philippines. Each Pampanga lantern is unique in its appearance! The illusion of dancing lights highlights the bright colors and intricate design of each individually crafted piece. The Pampanga lantern has become so famous that it is one of the most popular icons of the province! The lantern also shines a light on the other aspect for which Pampanga is famous: a rich culinary tradition of good food and great desserts, such as the sans rival. Sans rival is a dessert cake made of layers of meringue, buttercream, and chopped cashews. It can be served plain or decorated with a sprinkling of nuts. Its name means “unrivaled” in French. Our sans rival praline captures the unrivaled taste of this Kapampangan dessert by using white chocolate to match the creaminess of the cake. It is a celebration of all things festive and sweet about Pampanga.

Toiling under the sun is the best way to describe how hardworking the carabao toils the land to make it suitable for farming and as a mode of transportation in the rural areas. And at the end of the day, a cool dip into the clear waters of a nearby spring. Dubbed as the best friend of the Filipino farmer, the carabao is an all-around animal that has been bestowed the honor of being the Philippines’ national animal.

After a hard day’s work, most Filipinos would indulge in a sweet dessert like the buko pandan – a refreshing salad of freshly grated coconut (buko) meat and jelly flavored with pandan (screwpine) leaves, an aromatic plant that’s indigenous to the Philippines. Chocolate, flavored with buko pandan is just as refreshing as the dessert itself.

Sorbetes is the local Philippine ice cream that evokes memories of summers in the streets, colorful ice cream pushcarts, and the ring of sorbetero (ice cream man) bells. Typically, sorbetes is made with coconut milk or carabao milk and served in small wafer sugar cones . Philippine ice cream comes in unusual flavors, such as langka, ube, mango, and cheese, with cheese or “queso” being one of the most popular. Edam is a sphere-shaped Dutch cheese that is coated with red wax. It is known in the Philippines as “Queso de Bola” and was introduced by the Spaniards to the country. The round shape and red color make it a festive addition to the traditional Filipino Christmas table.

Our queso de bola praline elevates and evokes memories of queso sorbetes. It is made of milk chocolate with morsels of queso de bola. The saltiness of the cheese is an excellent contrast to the sweetness of milk chocolate. Each bite will bring you back to those dreamy summer days. Do you hear the bell ringing?