My Pandesal Story

The scent of freshly baked bread is very comforting, it's one of the best scents in the world. 

It's funny that this scent was at some point a source of mild resentment to me. I remember being forced to wake up early as a child to buy pandesal at the neighborhood's bakery/ corner store. It didn't help that the owner/baker was a middle-aged man with quite an unfriendly, rough, and intimidating disposition. I can still remember his voice whenever he yells at his help in the store. He was not a pleasant man to deal with, his baseline facial expression was the exact opposite of the atmosphere of the warm inviting scent, as soon I got my bag of freshly baked pandesal, I zoomed out of his place to have it enjoy at home with coffee.

Freshly baked pandesal

As I learned my way around Metro Manila, I came across the "pugon" baked ones, they are fluffier, bigger, and tastier, the only downside was pugon baked pandesal price was unfriendly for my student budget, it's one of my "humble" splurges. After leaving Manila, I never taste pugon-style pandesal for so many years...until...A few years ago, there was a bakery in Richmond that specialized in Filipino bread, and their main star - pugon-style pandesal, I recall that 🐻 and would regularly visit Old Manila Bakery for our pandesal and ensaymada fix...but sadly my beloved Old Manila closed...(a common occurrence in Metro Vancouver food scene)

Fast forward to Covid lockdowns, one of my "projects" was to learn to make pandesal and find ways to make it "healthier" for my daughter...

I figured  I should start with the basic: semi-whole wheat pandesal, the taste has to be the same (slightly sweet, and milky) and can be enjoyed even with less white flour.

I found a recipe that matches my memory of how pandesal should be. I tweaked the recipe so the taste remains the same and whole wheat flour is not overpowering. If I don't add whole wheat flour, I could emulate the 'pugon'- style pandesal - bigger, fluffier, and buttery - the way I like it. 

(っ˘ڡ˘ς)

The scent of pandesal emanating from the kitchen is now a source of excitement. Anything pandesal has become our bonding activity, we love it with butter, jam, cream, cheese, and Nutella, it doesn't sound healthy for now, but there are plans to add spinach or moringa powder in the future...I'll keep things simple for now as my dear daughter wants to get involved in the baking process.

My helper

Mr. Grumpy Baker passed on a long time ago (may he rest in peace), not sure who is the new current go-to-pandesal person of the town, but I hope he/she greets the patrons better.

With You - Seiko Matsuda

This is my first post about songs I enjoy singing to our dear family pet. My long-suffering dog - the sole (loyal) audience for my out-of-tune mini-concerts in our household, 

Concha, hoping to get my attention

Let's start with the "Eternal Idol" Seiko Matsuda's With You. Based on my online search, this song was not well known like her other singles like 'Sweet Memories'. Her single duet with Donnie Wahlberg (yep, Mark Wahlberg's older brother) is still popular on the radio stations in the Philippines.

I discovered this song when I was rediscovering my appreciation for J-pop during Covid lockdowns. Seiko's demure vocals match the song's theme - a girl hoping for her crush's attention. So simple and so innocent. There's something nostalgic about the memories of our younger selves admiring someone and longing to be seen by this special person.

Below is my attempt at translating the lyrics into English, and the last column is the Romanji (in Roman letters)

Lyrics 声をかけてね もう祈るように 見つめているの あなたを パーティーの夜 二人が知りあう きっかけだけが無いのね 遠くから好きなの キャンドルの透き間に あなたが踊るのが見えたわ 他の人の誘い みんな断って 一人で待ってるの Let me dance with you 今日のために買った 真っ白な靴が 踊りたがってるの Let me dance with you 遠くから好きなの そうずっと前から 片想いしてたの ほんとよ 空のグラスを手に そばに立ってても 気付きもしないのね Let me dance with you こんな可愛い娘を ほっておくなんて センスを疑うわ Let me dance with you   あまりダンスは 上手じゃないから 靴を踏むかもしれない でもあなたなら うまく踊れそう だから気付いて 私に   Romanji Koe wo kakete ne  mou inoru yo-u ni  mitsumete iru no-u anata wo-u Pa ti noyo-uru futari ga shiri-au  kikkake dake ga nai no ne to-oku kara suki nano kyandoru no sukima ni anata ga ooru no ga mieta wa hoka no hito no sasoi minna kotowatate  hitori de matte’ru no  Let me dance with you  kyou no tame ni katta  masshiro na kutsu ga  odoritagatte’ru no  Let me dance with you tooku kara suki nano sou zutto mae kara kataomoi shite’ta no honto yo kara no gurasu wo te ni soba ni tatte’temo kidzuki mo shinai no ne  Let me dance with you  konna kawaii ko wo  hotte oku nante sensu wo utaugau wa  Let me dance with you amari dansu wa jousu jana i kara  kutsu wo fumu kamo shirenai demo anata nara umaku odoresou  dakara kidsu ite watashi ni

English Translation I’ve been watching you, hoping that You would look and talk to me, On this fun night, will we ever have a chance  To get to know each other? I am admiring you from afar Watch you dance between candle gaps Rejecting other boys’ offers to dance Just to be with you alone Let me dance with you I really want to dance wearing these white shoes I bought Just for this day Let me dance with you Been admiring you from afar.  I’ve had a crush on you for a while, Yeah, it’s true  You never seem to notice me Standing next to you  with empty glass in hand  Let me dance with you How could you ignore a cute girl like me? I am curious what’s in your thoughts now Let me dance with you I’m not that good at dancing,   And might step on my shoes  You dance well and can take the lead Please look at me

I would like to credit the owner of KMNBT Translation for providing the Romanji lyrics.

♪( ´θ｀)ノ U＾ェ＾U