5 ways Cafe Mary Grace’s ensaymada solves your holiday gifting dilemma

Ooh yes! We’re in the BER months now and, for many, the countdown to Christmas has begun.

And you know what we’re all excited for during the holidays, right?

Gifts, course!

Showering our loved ones with presents is one of the most rewarding feelings.

However, given the new situations we are faced with due to the still raging pandemic and different phases of community quarantine it necessitates, we may have to adjust our holiday gift-giving strategy.

So let me present the case for Cafe Mary Grace’s Ensaymadas as your go-to holiday present for your nears-and-dears.

1. Ensaymadas are rich in history.

Did you know that the origin ensaymadas can be traced all the way back to the 17th century in the Balearic Islands in Mallorca, Spain?

During celebrations and festivities, Mallorcan bakers would combine strong flour, water, sugar, eggs, mother dough and a kind of reduced pork lard called saim, from which the resulting pastry, the ensaimada de Mallorca, gets its name.

The ensaymada found its may to the Philippines during the Spanish colonization and is now among the most common delicacies in the country, found in most neighborhood bakeshops. Modifications made from the Mallorcan original include the use of butter instead of lard, as well as the addition of sugar and grated cheese.

It has even become part of our Christmas tradition to enjoy these pastries together with a cup of hot tsokolate made with local tableya.

2. They’re also steeped in good childhood memories.

Most of us can recall those afternoons we spent enjoying an ensaymada roll or two – still warm and fresh from the neighborhood bakery – for merienda after playtime with our childhood pals, right?

3. Cafe Mary Grace’s Ensaymadas is an upgrade of our childhood ensaymada.

Cafe Mary Grace made its name from the homemade goodness of its cakes and baked goods. Its ensaymadas are no different.

Made with 100% real butter and eggs as well as topped with grated Edam cheese, these soft and fluffy pastries have that combination of sweet and salty flavors we Pinoys so adore with a premium and delicate mouthfeel.

4. They already come beautifully packaged.

For just Php658, you can already get a pretty box of six ensaymadas, ready for gifting.

The ensaymada pieces are also individually wrapped so it’s no hassle to give them out to guests as desserts during small gatherings or save a few pieces for later munching.

Boxes of eight pieces and twelve pieces are also available at Php756 and Php1,098, respectively.

5. They’re easy to get.

Given all the restrictions on retail operations and protocols on social distancing, Cafe Mary Grace has made it easy for its customers to get their offerings by making them available online so there’s no need to line up to get a hold of them.

Orders may be coursed through Cafe Mary Grace’s website for pickup or via GrabFood for delivery.

These pastries will arrive chilled as they were taken fresh from the chiller. Before serving, only thaw out the number of pieces you want to eat. Do this by placing an ensaymada in a bowl, covered with a damp cloth, and microwave for ten seconds on the lowest heat settings to restore its original softness.

So go ahead and gift yourself and your loved ones with a box of Cafe Mary Grace Ensaymadas this Christmas!

This Cafe Mary Grace branch is located at Ground Floor, SM City East Ortigas, Ortigas Avenue Extension, Santa Lucia, Pasig City.

• Pasig: Rockwell Business Center, Ayala Malls Feliz, Estancia Mall
• Quezon City: Eastwood Mall, Robinsons Galleria, Gateway Mall, UP Town Center, Trinoma Mall, SM City North EDSA, SM City Fairview, Ayala Fairview Terraces
• Marikina: SM City Marikina
• Mandaluyong: Shangri-la Plaza
• San Juan: Unimart Greenhills
• Taguig: Uptown Place Mall, Serendra, St. Luke’s Medical Center, One Bonifacio High Street, Venice Grand Canal Mall
• Makati: Powerplant Mall, Steps Dance Studio, Century City Mall, The Enterprise Center, Greenbelt 2
• Manila: SM City Manila, SM City San Lazaro, Lucky Chinatown Mall
• Pasay: Mall of Asia Arena Annex, SM Mall of Asia
• Paranaque: SM City BF
• Las Pinas: SM Southmall
• Muntinlupa: Alabang Town Center, Festival Mall

Download the Grab App and get a discount on your first food order when you use my code: GRABJELLYBEANS.

Check out my reviews of other dessert shops in the metro:

• Cafe Mary Grace, Eastwood Mall
• Cafe Mary Grace, Greenbelt
• Krispy Kreme, San Isidro
• Krispy Kreme, SM Center Pasig
• Bake My Day, Libis
• Avocadoria.PH, Greenhills
• Avocadoria.PH, Estancia Mall
• Avocadoria.PH, Robinsons Galleria
• Dairy Queen, Greenfield District
• Tim Horton’s, L&Y Plaza
• J.CO Donuts, SM Megamall
• Shari Shari, BGC
• Avocadoria.ph, Ayala Malls Vertis North
• Cara Mia, Robinsons Galleria
• Fiorgelato, Sta Lucia East
• Morelli’s, Shangri-la Plaza
• Morelli’s, Powerplant Mall
• Tsoko.Nut Batirol, Tomas Morato
• Miguelito’s Hyped Mangoes, Tomas Morato
• Hui Lau Shan, Eastwood Mall
• Loraine’s Coffee and Pastry Shop, Santa Lucia
• Hui Lau Shan, SM North EDSA
• Coffee Time, Santolan
• Taki Taki, Century City Mall
• Aqua S, SM North EDSA
• BLK 513, SM North EDSA
• Hui Lau Shan, Greenhills
• Affojeans, SM North
• Gelato Lab, Tomas Morato
• Hobing, BGC Stopover
• The Lost Bread, SM East Ortigas
• LlaoLlao, Glorietta
• Sugarhouse, Glorietta
• BLK 513, SM Megamall
• BLK 513, Glorietta
• Elait, Tomas Morato
• Elait, Eastwood Mall
• Cold Stone Creamery, BGC
• Chocolatier, Tomas Morato
• Jang Da Bang Cafe, Ortigas
• Auntie Anne’s, SM Hypermart
• Sugar Fix, Tomas Morato
• Coreon Gate, Metrowalk
• Indulge, Cubao
• Le Reve Patisserie, Ugong
• Hui Lau Shan, SM Megamall
• Hobing, SM Marikina