Here is the third wave of food gifts Chez Marketman… If you can’t make something, the next best thing is to hunt down a terrific and unusual delicacy or confection and give that as a Christmas present. Practically speaking, a less perishable food item is also easier to 
manage with respect to deliveries since you won’t have to rush around town making sure the tortas or budbud get to their recipients soon after they are cooked. Last December, we happened to be in Bohol for a staff Christmas party and on the way back from Tagbilaran, we had arranged for 100 packs of the finest broas I have eaten since childhood. Two balikbayan boxes of broas were checked into the hold of a PAL jet and the next day, we delivered the broas to friends across Metro Manila. Feedback was surprisingly intense… “so airy and crunchy,†or “so fresh, parang gawa just yesterday,†or “how can we get more?†So we knew that the idea of ordering these provincial treats, from an artisanal baker that frankly cringes at such large single orders, and bringing them as fast as possible to Manila, was a REALLY good idea.
So last week, with the knowledge that we would be having some out-of-town guests, I ordered more broas from a friend in Bohol and 20 packs arrived a few days later by LBC overnight cargo. Some of them were a bit crushed, but never mind, they were just 36 hours old and brilliant as always. We wrapped some of them up in this spectacular buri fabric/wrapper made by hand on Panglao Island, Bohol and added a ribbon… I think these are terrific presents because the underlying food item is delicious on its own and is made by a great source, it is difficult to find in Manila, it is incredibly fresh and it comes nicely packaged…I am sure all of you can come up with dozens and dozens more ideas with similar local, simple, delicious and highly appreciated holiday presents… Leave some of your clever ideas here, so other readers who are crazed can benefit and not be so crazed finding Christmas presents in the next few days…
7 Responses
It is difficult to find words adequate to capture all that Mr.MarketMan has presented to us in this site. They are incredibly interesting! You’re giving me a thrill to visit home. Truly, I miss all those delicacies.
I have decided to take my daughter this coming Christmas break. With all the good stuffs we have in the Philippines, I hope to be able to show her some (if not all).
Your fine ideas are inspiring. Keep it on!
Thank you very much!
You keep our local industry alive from broas maker to the buri fabric maker, excellent ideas utilizing our very own products. Broas are versatile Christmas present. They can be eaten plain or if the recipient is as creative as you they can be used as a base for trifle, tiramisu or charlotte. Thanks for sharing with us your brilliant, awesome and wonderful Christmas ideas.
MM,you’re my Hero! Besides patronising our local delicacy makers and utilizing our beautiful products etc.etc.,you’re promoting our country to thousands of readers of your blog.
Many many thanks for sharing with us your heartfelt,inspirational, and brilliant ideas for this coming season!
More power to you!
that’s a pretty good idea. i love discovering really well-made provincial delicacies, or finding a food company/delicacy maker committed to good, old-fashioned, quality.
beautiful ideas market man wished am home… but for us we bake tons of swiss xmas cookies lovingly wrapped as our give away presents. Like you we start giving them away early on.
Best wishes from Italy
kudos to you marketman for patronising local products. its really good to know that people like you keep the local food and craft industry alive.
If only we can get hold of broas from Bohol, that will be really great. The quality of broas in the supermarkets is bad. For my tiramisu, I had to buy the Italian brand. If only there is somebody enterprising enough to distribute Bohol-made delicacies esp. broas!