Sweetened with sugarcane and served a la mode in a coconut shell, the Kelapa is a summer cooler that beats the heat no matter the season.
It is but essential to enjoy a tall glass of halo-halo in Manila's oftentimes sweltering heat — even if it's more rainy than dry, the icy dessert delivers, its familiar sweetness comforting. There's even its Korean counterpart, bingsu, which is now sprouting in more stores in the metro. There's something truly comforting to our palate to have these Asian shaved ice meal-enders or mid-day snack to cool us down or just spike up our day with a little sweetness. And at Makansutra Hawkers in Megamall, their summer-appropriate merienda good to share is the Kelapa.
Kelapa means 'coconut' in Malay and in Makansutra they serve this dessert in a young coconut (buko) shell. If you're familiar with and like the flavors of cendol, a Southeast Asian shaved ice treat, then the Kelapa is for you. Topping the dessert are corn, red beans, strips of pandan-flavored green rice flour jelly and red jelly. It's also topped with vanilla ice cream, which you should blend well with everything by digging your spoon all the way in and mixing. It's mildly sweetened with sugarcane juice rather than white sugar, making the sweetness is distinct (you won't get tired or umay of the flavor as easily as white sugar). Each spoonful is refreshing, but not overindulgent.
Another thing that makes this Kelapa quite a treat is scraping all the coconut meat clinging on the inside of the buko shell; it adds big chewy bites into the ice dessert. It's nothing complicated, really, especially with our fondness for halo-halo. One serving is good for sharing–a big bowl that's all about cool comfort and value for money.
The Dish: Kelapa (P200)
Where to Find it: Drinks & Desserts Station at Makansutra Megamall
Visit Makansutra Hawkers at L2 Mega A, SM Megamall; they are open daily from 10am-10pm. Like Makansutra PH in Facebook (/makansutraph) and follow on Instagram (@makansutraph). #MakansutraPH #KainMakan
