Based in Manila, Philippines, Dessert Comes First is a chronicle of the food-obsessed food writer, Lori Baltazar. This website is all about desserts, restaurants, coffee, and the pleasures of homebaking. Read more about me For Dad: Smoke It Like Groucho Marx
(1st of 2 Father’s Day Specials)
Wed, June17th of 2009
11:45 am
Or you could smoke it like Mark Twain or Fidel Castro or any of those other famous cigar smokers. Whoever it’s for, these cigars are too good to be ignored.
They look like big Cohiba cigars, cylindrical objects reclining inside a faux felt-lined box. Their textured gold and silver wrapper is unfurled much the same way a suman is – an over-under motion of one hand while the other holds the object aloft. As each paper layer falls away, the darkness of its chocolate cloak is revealed, a “cigar” whose size and heft bespeaks quality, long filler (continuous not ‘chopped leaves’) and rolled by hand.
In this case, these cigars’ “fillers” consist of gianduja, a hazelnut milk chocolate enmeshed with feuilletine (FOO-ye-teen; French feuille: leaves). Feuilletine are shards of crispy wonder reminiscent of shattered sugar cones but much more delicate and immensely more addictive. When combined with this that tastes like glorified Nutella presented in a compact hand-held sweet, the taste sensation is akin to that of nibbling on Ferrero Rocher or Kinder Bueno, but magnified 100 percent. Imagine that.
It’s the type of thing that I eat slowly, every bite, every crunch resounding in my ears, the reverberation somehow cascading to my tongue, exemplifying the experience. Sooner or later, I’m going to bring out the Cognac and call my dad to come over. I almost forget to give him his box of hand rolled, chocolate cigars.
Handmade Chocolate Cigars by Bizu
P1,025 per box, 5 cigars to a box.
Total weight: 767 grams (approx); measuring 7.5”x1.5”
Each cigar is 5” across, 1” in diameter.
See Bizu website for details and store information.
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(Last of 2 Father’s Day Specials) »
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Wow, I thought for a moment there you have taken on smoking cigars! i should have known…
btw, a more accurate pronunciation of feuilletine would be foy-teen
[Reply]
Comment by chrisb — June 17, 2009 @ 12:58 pm
I Want!!!
My dad would have loved these… but he can’t so ako na lang!
Man, I’m hungry!
[Reply]
Comment by aBE pOSADAS — June 17, 2009 @ 5:56 pm
You know who’d like these? Chef Ed.
He and his partner at ‘Two Sisters’ in the Salcedo Market have filo-wrapped baklava cigars that you also dip in a delightfully warm sauce. Yum!
[Reply]
Comment by Aina Luna — June 17, 2009 @ 10:12 pm
Bizu…never disappoints us with their superb sweets and pastries! And food too!-oh god! you should try their food also! 10-Hour roast beef! yum! makes me so hungry now!
I’m glad they made something special to give for dads this father’s day! Father’s day has always been less celebrated, that’s why i always find it bit hard to think of a nice gift for my dad! Thanks Bizu! Will definitely try this! One box for me and the other one for my dad! hahaha..
[Reply]
Comment by Jessie — June 18, 2009 @ 10:55 am
Already tried this handmade chocolate cigars of Bizu!!! its heaven!
With just the right amount of sweetness and bit of bitterness–pangtnggal umay! soooooo yummy! Im not really a chocolate person, but when i tried it, i can’t get enough of it! hahaha..perfect for my hot drink or can be for wine too 
[Reply]
Comment by Alyssa — June 18, 2009 @ 10:59 am
i love everything from Bizu.
from their cakes to macarons. love it all.
[Reply]
Comment by willis — June 18, 2009 @ 2:15 pm
aside from being delicious little treats, i find them quite inspiring.
[Reply]
Comment by raven — June 18, 2009 @ 3:03 pm
Only available for delivery in the Philippines. Sadness.
[Reply]
Comment by Marc — June 19, 2009 @ 9:36 am
O my! sarap nyan! sad lang may dad is diabetic eh!
but who says this stuff is for dads only huh? none! so will still get one for my self and for the dad of my bf too! hehe
[Reply]
Comment by Dianne — June 20, 2009 @ 4:31 pm