Got these humongous ube ensaymada during the presscon for Megaworld's Richmonde Hotel Iloilo. It was a literal "taste of what's to come" as the megadeveloper announced that it had tapped an award-winning global designs firm, Gettys, to do the interiors of what will be Iloilo City's first luxury hotel. very soon Ilonggos will get to taste not only these luscious ensaymada but more as the hotel will house a top calibre restaurant that will feature continental cuisine with an Ilonggo touch.
It's not Catbalogan nor Katagalugan, it's CA-TA-LU-GAN, Catalugan. I also had the same problem when I was a kid when reading and remembering the name of this bread. But the many years of enjoying this specialty from Tibiao Bakery, I think I have it in me. So what is catalugan? It's basically a filled bread and like what you see, it has more filling that the "bread" itself. Tibiao Bakery makes the more "high end" catalugan as they are big, individually wrapped and deliciously addicting. Smaller bakeshops also make catalugan but its just the regular "one of those" breads. But this one from Tibiao is worth every "bit and morsel". For around 12 each (few years back it was only PhP 10), this bite size bread is heavy as the filling is a compact and flavouful blend of "secrets" for this one had no ingredients listed on its packaging. So I can only assume what they are everytime I am ...
