When I say Bacolod, what comes into mind? Chicken inasal? Piaya? Bongbong's? Tired of the same old pasalubong, we set out to find something different to bring home.
First up: Merci Bakeshop. Why? Because it was just a few steps from Saltimboca Tourist Inn. Scanning the shelves, it was the same old fare: piaya, barquillos, mango tart, meringue, etc. Vaguely remembering napoleones, something I received as a pasalubong years back, I asked if they had any. Unfortunately, the answer was no. They had run out of napoleones (and it was just 1PM). Not finding anything interesting, we decided to head back to the inn, pack up, and get ready to go to the airport.
At the airport, with some minutes to spare, we stopped by Bongbong's Pasalubong Center. Lucky us, we found half a dozen boxes of napoleones piled on a table. There were pieces without the white icing which turns out to be their sugar-free ones.
A box (12 pieces) of Bongbong's napoleones costs Php 150 at the airport. I am guessing it is cheaper at the branches in the city. Merci Bakeshop also has a stall inside the airport terminal and there they had some available for 5 pesos cheaper than Bongbong's. Virgie's, another pasalubong center in Bacolod, also has napoleones. Yup, napoleones is pretty popular in Bacolod.There's probably a question that's been gnawing on your brain two and a half paragraphs ago: What are napoleones? These are sugar glazed puff pastries with custard inside. Probably a close relative of mille-feuille, also known as napoleon.
The napoleones from Bongbong's are melts-in-my-mouth-heaven. Merci's aren't as soft as Bongbong's and it's sweeter (in fact, it is too sweet for my sweet tooth). Virgie's is at par with Bongbong's.
To whoever goes to Bacolod and thinks of getting me a pasalubong: Forget the piaya! Forget the barquillos! Remember napoleones! :-) Thankyouverymuch!
Navigating (a bit of) Negros Occidental:
Napoleon(es): Bon Pasalubong (you're here!)