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 Preparing For My Cheese Ball Christmas
Wed, October28th of 2009
7:42 am
I say that it’s not Christmas until I’ve sunk my teeth into a thick wedge of queso de bola followed by a bite of ensaymada chased down –ooh, careful! – with sips of the thickest hot tsokolate .
Most, if not all Filipinos know that December is near when the first queso de bolas appear in the stores – chubby, red orbs whose red wrappers catch the light like balls on a Christmas tree. As a kid, it was easy to like the slivers of queso de bola that my lola would serve beside strips of Yunnan ham, a killer salty-on-salty combination.
As an adult making my first queso de bola purchase, I naively think that all red cheese balls are equal, a glaring blunder evident on first taste: what I’ve bought is processed cheese food. Ick! A proper Edam, which is what a queso de bola is, is made in Holland and allowed to ripen for 20-24 weeks. This enables it to acquire its characteristic flavor and crumbly texture. Anything less is a fake.
People in the food industry are in consensus when it comes to queso de bola: it’s got to be Marca Piña. It’s what bakers tell me they use for their queso de bola cheesecakes and those famous ensaymadas, and most important of all, it’s what my mom serves on her holiday table.
Available in “baby” and “regular” sizes, Marca Piña is easy to spot in the red sea of cheese ball poseurs. It possesses the same sphere shape with a gently flattened top and bottom, its red wrapper protecting the red rind of the precious cheese within. Definitely pricier too, but it’s an edible example of getting what you pay for. Look at the difference. Every Marca Piña cheese ball has a “freshness sticker” indicating its use-by date, assurance that I’m not buying last season’s leftovers. And when I rip open that wrapper, the waxy rind is smooth and moist with no off-odors. Inside, the cheese is supple and fragrant, its edges a deeper yellow than its flaxen hue within. And its taste? Salty and subtly sharp, it’s crumbly but not too much. It’s a taste that has grown up with me and stayed since that Christmas long ago at my lola’s table.
This year, I decide to treat myself to an early queso de bola. I make a two-cheese bread, shreds of queso de bola dotting a white loaf made nubby with nuggets of cheddar; and then I prepare a simple cheese board with wine. Another time, I offer a friend some wedges of queso de bola which we pair with dates and chocolate covered almonds accompanied by a white Zinfandel. Looks like it’s going to be a good Christmas.
Marca Piña Queso de Bola
Imported and distributed in the Philippines by Wilmington Imex, Inc.
Approximately P800 (regular) / P460 (baby)
Available at larger supermarkets.
For bulk orders: 721.9763 / 721.9766
wilmingtoninc@skyinet.net
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i’m missing christmas in the philippines for the first time. this brand (marca pina) is what we usually get for christmas. i remember making christmas bibingka with queso de bola paired with hot tsokolate during sundays.
[Reply]
Comment by misao — October 28, 2009 @ 8:54 am
Hi Lori! Me and my Dad share the same passion for queso de bola (Marca Pina, definitely). We even have this in our ref all year-round. The other night, I had to get my midnight treat, slicing myself some really thin slices of queso de bola and then, I’m ready to snooze! Love it that you featured this at this time when the holiday season is starting to catch up with everyone!
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Comment by Hannah — October 28, 2009 @ 9:19 am
my hubby loves this melted on toast! Or just plain melted. He zaps some thin slices in a microwave for a few seconds till they become gooey and spreadable– any longer and they become a hot mess of rubber! love the cheeseboard picture.
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Comment by ragamuffin girl — October 28, 2009 @ 9:24 pm
Hi Lori! Im glad that you featured the Marca Pina quezo de bola because it reminds me to get some in the supermarket soon as X’mas gifts for our friends and relatives here and abroad. They normally get sold out quickly before X’mas. I agree with you that Marca Pina quezo de bola is definitely a lot better than any other brands you can find in the market.
[Reply]
Jane Reply:
November 7th, 2009 at 12:42 am
Hi Yda! My name is Jane. We are selling Marca Pina quezo de bola and we get our supply directly from the importer and distributor of this truly delectable food product. We only sell on a per box basis. Each box contains 6 pieces of quezo de bola.
Here are the prices:
regular (1.5 kg) – P4700.00
small (750g) – P2700.00
The minimum order is two (2) boxes and the delivery is free within Metro Manila.
Kindly contact me at 09237024333 if you are interested.
Due to limited supply, we will only be waiting for orders until November 15.
Thank you!
[Reply]
Comment by Yda — October 30, 2009 @ 4:15 pm
Thanks for the interesting feature on marca pina cheeseballs . I remember my mom used to make cheese pimiento using nothing but the marca pina quezo de bola. She doesn’t compromised anything less because that is the secret of her recipe. More power!
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Comment by carlitos — October 30, 2009 @ 5:00 pm
I bought a marca pato cheeseball before and was so disappointed coz it had a foul odor when i consumed it on the day itself. Since then, i switched to marca pina cheeseball and found out that the quality is consistently better. Everybody in the family loves it especially during Christmas holidays!
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Comment by mica — October 31, 2009 @ 6:32 pm
MARCA PINA IS THE BEST QUEZO DE BOLA IN TOWN!!! EVEN MY COUSINS IN THE U.S. ARE ALWAYS ASKING ME TO SEND THEM ON A REGULAR BASIS.
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Comment by chin — November 10, 2009 @ 2:59 pm
This reminds me of my dinner last night. I had several cold cuts and Edam cheese with grapes and herb bread.
Now I really look forward coming home for Christmas.
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Comment by The Artist Chef — November 12, 2009 @ 6:49 pm
Wow this is my favorite Quezo de Bola brand. Our Noche Buena isn’t complete without this one. I’m looking forward to get my hands on this cheese this Christmas.
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Comment by Vix — November 16, 2009 @ 3:43 pm
I was planning to stock up on Marca Pina Queso de Bola for the holidays but was disappointed when I found out the supermarket I visited was out of stock. I purchased Marca Pato instead thinking it was probably the same.
After a few days as I was about to pack and send them to my relatives in the province, I was surprised because the cheeses became quite oily and smelled odd.
I’ve learned my lesson and will definitely buy only Marca Pina. Hope you don’t make the same mistake. Enjoy the holidays!
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Comment by Stephanie — November 18, 2009 @ 10:57 am
All I can say is Marca Pina Quezo de Bola is my favorite quezo de bola. I remember everytime my mom bought the quezo de bola oh gosh! I always snack them all the time never get tired of it…In other words ”QUEZO DE BOLA IS AWESOME” MARCA PINA LOYALIST!
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Comment by ally — December 4, 2009 @ 2:40 pm
I was at my local grocery the other day to get my Marca Pina Cheeeballs and I was shocked that it was almost sold out!!
Good thing they told me that Rustan’s Makati had more stocks and I was able to get my stash at last!
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Comment by Michelle — December 15, 2009 @ 7:41 pm
I went to a supermarket yesterday in a hurry coz I heard from my friends that the Marca Pina quezo de bola are going fast and are sold out in some supermarkets. I can’t celebrate Noche Buena and Media Noche without a Marca Pina cheeseball. Beware of the other imported brands such as Marca Pato and Dutch Master coz they appear to be from last year old stocks… oily and smell bad. I can’t tolerate the foul odor. They should take them out of the market coz they really look bad. I think some of them are already unfit for human consumption. Their prices are cheaper but don’t spoil your holidays with bad quezo de bola!
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Comment by Diane — December 17, 2009 @ 10:17 am