The early bird catches the worm. Or so the saying goes. In the case of food items put up for sale during the Christmas season, the earlier you finalize your list of products and offer them to the market, the better for you because consumers will get wind of it and seriously consider ordering it for their various holiday get-togethers and for gift-giving to family and friends.

Tindeli, a Filipino deli and café owned and operated by celebrity chef Myke “Tatung” Sarthou, has long been ready for the holidays with its Ensaymada Grande. It’s a giant ensaymada that is meant to be shared by a number of people. With a soft and moist dough to begin with, the Ensaymada Grande is filled and topped with cubes and bits of Christmas Hamon, a sweet-glazed, dry aged and smoked ham that gives the sweetness of the dough a balance of light saltiness and goes very well with the grated cheese.

Specifically for this Christmas, though, Chef Tatung decided to give consumers an option by making smaller ensaymadas, which he calls Ensaymada Minis but which are not mini at all. They are bigger than the regular ensaymada that is sold by other bakeshops and uses the same dough used in the Ensaymada Grande, giving it the same flavor and mouthfeel. The Minis are also studded inside and out with Christmas Hamon, making them perfect for those who prefer single-serve ensaymadas. The Minis are sold at P145 per piece, but for gift-giving, they are also available in boxes of four for P580 per box.

The Ensaymada Grande, available year-round, has a price tag of P680 and fits beautifully inside Tindeli’s elegant gift box. The itlog na maalat (salted egg) topping adds to its texture and flavor profile, making it a delightful pastry for gift-giving for any occasion.

Both sizes of ensaymadas are always available at the store, but just to make sure that you get what you need this holiday season, it is best to pre-order online at least three days in advance.

For Christmas gift-giving, Chef Tatung also recommends Tindeli’s Hardinera, available on the regular menu. Tindeli’s take is a cross between Embotido and Menudo, which is a flavor profile that is not usually offered by other Hardineras. It is expected to be a best-seller this Christmastime since it is a versatile food item that you can have with rice and make into a sandwich as well.

Then there is the Pancit Palabok that you can just order in a party platter for any get-together, whether hosted by you or a potluck party. Regularly available in servings good for one to two persons only, Chef Tatung is working on making it available in party platters for the holidays because there is a demand for it. It is so good, as there are no shortcuts when Tindeli chefs make it. It comes loaded with shrimps, squid, tofu and tinapa (smoked fish), and the sauce is to die for. Those who have tried it always go back to Tindeli for it, and it should be good to be able to share it with family and friends this Christmas.

Chef Tatung is coming up with a lot more Christmas treats. Busy with his other commitments, he makes sure he takes time out to work on Tindeli’s holiday menu, which he will finalize soon.