Hot Ube Piaya and more at Merzci

I just love Merzci's "hot of the grill" ube piaya and everytime I pass by one of its stores (most of the time at Marymart Mall), I always have a piece or two to satisfy my cravings. It's filled with all the ube goodness and being freshly cooked makes it even more delicious. And today, I think I may have eaten more 5 pieces of these delicious treat as Merzci opened its 4th store in Iloilo at the intersection of Delgado and Iznart streets.

Used to be named Merci, as in the French word meaning “Thank You”, it was rebranded as Merzci back in October 2014. This family business started in 1995 and is the market brand of CM and Sons Food Products. It started as a small bakery supplying bread to a single store at the Libertad Market in Bacolod City and evolved in making pasalubong products and having a fastfood restaurant in some branches.

RIBBON CUTTING RITES at MERZCI DELGADO BRANCH with (L-R) Ms. Josie Rizada (Merzci Area Manager), Ms. Jo Villegas (Senior Tourism Operation Officer, DOT-6), Ms. Ma. Fe Jimenea (Tourism Officer II, DOT-6) and Ms. Ches Gellecanao (Senior Area Manager, Merzci)

Today's blessing of the Delgado branch brings the total of Merzci stores to 46 with more openings in the comings months. The simple rites was led by Merzci managers and representatives from the Department of Tourism, regional office. After the ribbon-cutting, a filling snack of Merzci products and treats followed - piaya galore for me!

After which, eager Ilonggos who were patiently waiting in line, packed the store as the newest branch offered a "Buy 1 Take 1" promo on selected products.

With a galore more than 70 pasalubong treats and goodies, one can entirely get lost in gastronomy. Take your pick from piaya, tarts and napoleones to barquillos, biscocho and butterscotch, it surely have a field day choosing what fills in your pasalubong box.

I highly recommend their napoleones, aside from being neatly and conveniently packed they really taste good – brings out the flavour of the city of smiles, literally. Their boxed tarts - caramel, mango and cheese among others, also are good buys.

But to bring some signature Bacolod delicacy, there’s always piaya, comes in regular -muscovado filled and ube. Then there’s kwakoy, (in) famously referred to as "plywood" for it looks like one and it’s mainly made with rice flour and sugar. They also have biscocho (which I'm munching at the moment as I make this blogpost- namit!) meringue, squid rings, ugoy –ugoy, egg crackers (one of my favorites) and my new discovery pita crackers – it’s just plain and lightly salted, good for endless munching.

Quality products, good packaging and innovative marketing (e.g. Travel Plus Promo just present any travel ticket upon purchase and you’ll get 10% off on some products) collectively made Merczi what it is today. Thus uplifting not only the morale and pride of the people – not only the bakers, food attendants and bosses of the company, but also to anyone and everyone who buys, tastes and enjoy what Merzci has to offer.

And true to its tagline “Sa Merci, tanan Manamit!” (Everything's delicious at Merzci!)

Merci Pasalubong Treats has now four branches in Iloilo - Ledesma Street near Plazoeta Gay, Marymart Mall, Iloilo International Airport and this newly opened branch on Delgado Street across Amigo Mall. A fifth branch is set to open in May along JM Basa Street and will be their 1st branch with a fastfood store component. Check out their website www.merzci.com.ph and like them on Facebook. For direct inquiries, just call or text 0197-303-7511

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FLAVOURS OF ILOILO

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