These cafes in Makati serve bibingka as a croissant, latte

'Tis the season for bibingka!

A Filipino holiday and Simbang Gabi staple, bibingka is a popular kakanin made from rice flour, coconut milk, sugar, and salted egg, and served on a torched banana leaf.

Although bibingka is great on its own, these two cafes in Makati City serve the delicacy in new ways.

One café in Poblacion, Makati City fused the Philippines and France to create a bibingka croissant.

According to pastry chef Kaeila Ruiz on “State of the Nation,” the treat is comprised of a sourdough croissant, filled with a salted egg custard, topped with coconut frangipane, salted egg, and torched melted cheese. The croissant is served on a torched banana leaf “para nandun pa rin ‘yung essence ng uling, ng coal na hindi pa rin nawawala.”

It is one of the café’s bestsellers during the Christmas period.

“Minsan, gusto din natin maka-try ng kakaiba pero we don’t want to sway from tradition as well. It’s more of a fusion, but ayaw namin alisin ‘yung classic take on the kakanin,” Ruiz said.

Another café in Makati City did their own take on the kakanin and created a latte version.

Café owner Rosario Juan said they were approached by Google to create a drink using the Gemini AI tool. “September ‘yun, ber months na.”

“Syempre gusto namin something na very Filipino but also very Christmassy para angkop sa season.”

Juan added, “’Yung special bibingka latte namin doesn’t really have bibingka in it, but the experience is supposed to stimulate a bibingka. So parang, while iniinom mo ‘yung kape na ‘to, bakit parang wow, reminds of you bibingka, tastes like bibingka.”

The coffee has coconut syrup, queso de bola, and salted egg. It is also served with a torched banana leaf. —JCB, GMA Integrated News