Imagine this with the deli's special charcuterie board

We haven't entered the Ber months and yet here we are already craving for some warm bibingka thanks to the culinary creation of Deli by Chele. Dubbed as the Chika, the dessert merges the flavors of a Christmas bibingka and the creamy texture and smokey notes of a Basque burnt cheesecake.

The traditional bibingka, according to food historian Felice Prudente Sta. Maria, is made of rice flour, carabao milk cheese, salted duck egg, and grated coconut meat cooked in a clay pot with two fires, one from the stove and the other from the burning charcoal on a lid. For the deli's version, co-executive chef Carlos Villaflor elevates the humble rice cake with the inclusion of cream cheese and cashew, promising a unique and satisfying dining experience. He accomplishes this "by romancing the techniques and textures that he learned from the Basque country and lovingly married it with his Filipino heritage."

It has been the mission of the Chef Chele Gonzalez-led BGC deli to reimagine Filipino dishes to come up with eco-conscious practices on how they cook and serve their food. Since its launch, it continues to raise the bar when it comes to sustainability and culinary work, from its artisanal fruit vinegar and wagyu tapa to the burnt cheesecake and bibingka hybrid.

“In creating any of our products, we start by searching for high quality, sustainable, and organic produce,” chef Carlos said in a previous story by Manila Bulletin Lifestyle editor AA Patawaran. “Next is the painstaking process of recipe development. It is an involved exercise in trial and error, mixing and matching until we get the perfectly balanced note.”

“Each box we deliver to our customers tells a story,” he continued. “It is the story of us as a business making thoughtful decisions. From big things like working with local, sustainable ingredients to finer details like using biodegradable packaging, we make choices that not only make for the most delicious products but also leave a lasting impression on the world we all live in.”

The Chika is available in a 6.5-inch cake size and costs P960 per piece. Head on to www.delibychele.com to order.