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Forget Pan de Surf, Siargao's #BukoPanada is here! @LouiseCakes&Pastries



I think I rattled them when I asked "is your store popular?". I didn't mean to be rude, and actually, I was meaning to ask "are you popular for something?". My goal after all is to hit something unique that I can share to my readers. We were lucky! They are selling something I never seen or heard of before -- an empanada with young buko meat inside. Thus, "bukopanada".


When one searches online for something to eat in Siargao, Pan de Surf comes out on top. This is a bread that is shaped like a surf board. Makes sense because Siargao is the surfing capital of the Philippines known the world over. It is actually a clever idea. It is so popular that the advise I read is that be early because it easily runs out. So we went around 1:00 pm after lunch. It was our last day in Siargao so we had to seize every time available. Our receptionist at the hostel told us " it's just in front of the Catholic Church in General Luna". Immediately off we go with the three of us in one habal-habal.

What I didn't expect is that there is actually no shop. I was anticipating a bakery but what is there is a stall at a narrow sidewalk in front of a house that almost occupied the main road. I was like " that was it?". Worse, it was closed! Our driver managed to call the attention of the people inside and ask what time they will be baking. The lady inside said "around 4:00 pm".

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Louise' Buko Panda is perfect. The bread is thin and tender, 
almost crunchy, and the buko inside is really soft and young. 
You will get so addicted to it that couldn't stop eating one after another. 
Kulang pa small box kung sakin lang. 
And while eating it, my mind keeps saying ' this is a brilliant idea". Indeed! 
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But we have surfing schedule 5 pm so we could wait nor manage to go back. Never mind then. We decide to move on and find something else interesting. Immediately next to where they make the popular bread is a sari sari store that sells home made ice cream in small cups for only 15 pesos. We saw many interesting flavors like ube and buko pandan. We tried it and it was good. Moving on.

We decided to go for a walk along the main road from the church area since we didn't have any definite schedule before of surfing session. The idea spurred from Mon, our friend. He loves walking around places checking establishments for something unique in them. This turned out to be a very different experience I tried in the many years I've been travelling. Yes,I have talked to local, owners of businesses, but not on this in-depth level and not in this manner where we checked one interesting place after another and talk to their owners.


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One of the establishments we dropped by in was Louise' Cakes and Pastries. Maybe it was because of the effect of the ice cream or simply because I am a sweets lover that's why I got attracted here despite the simplicity of the store. I noticed that it is new. And this was confirmed by the owner who happens to be present at that time. I think I rattled them when I asked "is your store popular?". I didn't mean to be rude, and actually, I was meaning to ask "are you popular for something?". My goal after all is to hit something unique that I can share to my readers. We were lucky! They are selling something I never seen or heard of before -- an empanada with young buko meat inside. Thus, "bukopanada".


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We all love empanada, in fact many kiosks in Manila sell them in many diffirent stuffing. And I need not to mention our love for buko pie too. Not only Tagaytay or Laguna. Ride a bus somewhere and you encounter somebody selling buko pie with the promise that it is the best buko pie in town.''

And the thing about buko pie is that you have to be exyra careful. Not all buko pies are good. It's not only the crust that is the problem, the buko meat inside is often the cause of much frustration. Either it is too little or too old to be soft. Louise' Buko Panda is perfect. The bread is thin and tender, almost crunchy, and the buko inside is really soft and young. You will get so addicted to it that couldn't stop eating one after another. Kulang pa small box kung sakin lang. And while eating it, my mind keeps saying ' this is a brilliant idea". Indeed! 

Maybe I am in no position to compare but if it is true that Pan de Surf is just ordinary bread with a special shape then I am so ok missing it. I can completely forget pan de surf as long as I try buko panada. My prediction is that "bukopanada is gonna be the next hot thing in Siargao!"

It sells in a small meal box of 5 pcs for 75 pesos but you can opt for individual purchase for 15 pesos each should you want to give it a try first.



We were lucky that the people behind bukopanada, Mr and Mrs Salvador were in the shop. They supply bukopanada there and other delicacies like  cassava cake among others. Mrs Salvador was a nurse but she gave up her job to start their small business,small venture (NR GaSa) and bukopanada is her brainchild together with her husband Richmon Salvador who is a local of Siargao Island. The more apppropriate name for it would be "GASA Buko Panada".We talked to to the couple and I praised them for their bukopanada. The term was actually coined there by Mrs Salvador then and there as I told her they should have an official name for it that people can easily remember and bukopanada is the prefect choice!


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You can buy cassava cake in whole or in slices, and in small lunch box sizes too.
I can say their cassava cake is also nice. Not the best I tried but so worth trying as well.


And we talked to the owner of the shop too --- Louise Mozo - Esmeralda herself, who happens to be a registered nurse too. Louise was very friendly and very honest in answering the questions we threw at her while we were sampling their delicacies including carrot cake. Louise has the passion for baking so she thought of putting up this business. We gave her lots of unsolicited advice on how she can maximize and improve her store. One can tell that the cakes she bakes personally are a labor of love. Very unique designs that will delight both the palate and your eyes.

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Yes, Louise' Cakes and Pastries doesn't just sell cakes and pastries they accept events planning and party needs too. I am not sure if this is their official Facebook account >> https://www.facebook.com/Louise-Cakes-Pastries but I will try to confirm with them and update it the soonest. 

So other than the cakes, I can highly recommend you try "bukopanda" at Louise' Cakes and Pastries. It sure is the next big thing in Siargao! 



_____________________
DISCOLOSURE:
This is NOT  A SPONSORED POST. 
We came as paying customers and I am writing this blog post because a place this good deserves publicity so that other people can enjoy it too. All the best to you Loiuse and to Mr and Mr Salvador.


Comments

  1. Can you tell where is the location of the store in siargao, thanks

    ReplyDelete

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