Bakerē Café proves that delicious desserts are best served with carbs, and these mom-made ensaymadas are best served toasted and slathered with some bacon and chocolate.
Bakerē Café's ensaymada hails from owner RJ Galang's mother, a long-time recipe of hers. The ensaymadas have had many fans even before the cafe opened shop, as Eleanor Calo Galang has been selling boxes upon boxes of these soft buttery rolls for a long time. But now, with the cafe equipped with a kitchen ready to put some spin into dishes to be enjoyed by diners, the ensaymadas take different forms and flavors, thanks to the magic of bacon and chocolate.
Under 'Bakere Specials' are the cafe's grilled ensaymada creations. You can have it as is, which is already perfect with a cup of hot chocolate or coffee. But their Grilled Ensaymada with Bacon Jam is something you should try, especially now that December is just a few weeks away. The bacon jam is a creation of RJ Galang, something he obssessed over and perfected years back, even before everyone made their own version of it. The homemade bacon jam tops the toasted ensaymada sprinkled with grated cheese, and gives each bite a sweet, salty, and savory finish.
Another glorious ensaymada you need to try at Bakerē is their Grilled Ensaymada Sandwich with Chocolate — where they take the warm ensaymada, slice it in half, and slather a good amount of melted local chocolate (Risa Chocolate). With your every bite, a gush of warm and thick chocolatey goodness assaults your mouth in the best way possible. You can also have the Grilled Ensaymada Sandwich with Ham, too, but really now — who says no to chocolate?
The Dish: Grilled Ensaymada (P95, P165 with bacon jam) and Grilled Ensaymada Sandwich (P185/Chocolate, P200/Ham); Ensaymada (plain) is also available by the box (P700/box of 12).
Where to Find it: Bakerē Café, located at the ground floor of Brixton building on 3 Brixton Street, Kapitolyo, Pasig. The cafe is open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 9pm, and Sunday from 11am to 6pm. Follow Bakerē on Facebook and Instagram (@bakerebakery).