Who would have thought that something as ordinary as the Filipinos' favourite breakfast of pan de sal could be turned into big business? The answer is Pan de Manila, which has branches all over the metropolis because Pinoys simply cannot live without their daily pan de sal.
Yes, there are countless neighbourhood bakeries that bake the lightly salted bread every morning. But the problem is one of quality control. The pan de sal comes out in various sizes and can become bigger or smaller than usual depending on the whims of the baker.
Then there's the matter of taste. Regular bakers will make do with whatever is available where raw ingredients are concerned. As a result, one batch of pan de sal can taste great, while another batch can be flat, all from the same corner bakery.
Not so with Pan de Manila, which has a branch along Dona Soledad Avenue in Paranaque City. Not only is their pan de sal baked in a wood-fired oven, but the size is always uniform.
The branch in Better Living is one of the bigger ones, which means that besides the ubiquitous pan de sal, all sorts of 'palaman' are likewise available, from cheddar cheese to peanut butter to bottled sardines. They also have their own brand of instant coffee. Pan de Manila has two sizes of the basic bread, regular and large.
And since pan de sal can also be served for merienda, Pan de Manila is open all day all the way to early evening. Enter the store and the aroma of freshly baked bread immediately fills your nostrils, enticing you to buy your favourite bread.
For good taste and consistency, Pan de Manila deserves five stars. read more