Categories: BACOLOD CITYFOOD & DININGNEGROS OCCIDENTALNEGROS OCCIDENTALPHILIPPINES

4 REASONS WHY WE CHOOSE QUAN’S CASSAVA CAKE

Cassava Cake

Cassava Cake of Quan

We were doing a window shop at SM City Bacolod and pass by the food court area. That was almost 5 in the afternoon and the food court was filled with people dining.

Our attention was brought to the food stall of Quan. Quan is specializing in native delicacies. Many people are lining to buy snack items from the stall. We went closer and wanted to buy one of our favorite Quan Delicacies – Cassava Cake. Maybe we were a bit lucky because there were only 4 slices left but more people wanted to buy as well.

Indeed, Cassava Cake is one of the most popular products of Quan. There are 4 reasons why we choose Quan’s Cassava Cake:

Unlike other Cassava cakes that you can buy from some native food peddlers, Quan’s Cassava Cake is soft and moist.
The texture of their Cassava Cake is just perfect for a snack or even as a dessert.
Perfect for any occasion. Oftentimes, we order this delicacy and wrap it in a cupcake wrapper especially if we bring it to an outdoor event.
This delicacy is just a good pasalubong or gift item because Quan can pack this in a nice box.

Cassava Cake

The Social Rites of Cassava Cake

At times I would ask myself why do I am so fond of Cassava Cake. Oh well, I have great memories of this delicacy way back.

I come from a big family on both sides of my parentage. My father has four siblings (all of whom have their own cooking specialties) while my mother has got 5 other siblings (all of whom have their own culinary secrets as well) and for a precocious child as I was at that time, it was (and to tell you the truth, it still is) heaven.

Every time school’s out, my relatives would find time to visit our house on the farm and we’d have a huge gathering. It would inevitably be centered around food and delicacies simply because ingredients were abundant in the farm. And for a child who loved food and the company, it was a good time. I would float from uncle to aunt and get unparalleled attention. Oftentimes, I would be given a delicacy and regaled with stories that would be a bit bawdry at times but still would be enjoyable to listen to.

One of the most memorable tales that they used to tell me involved how they’d make a production out of making their favorite cassava cakes and how they would use it as a meeting place for youngsters who would be wooing each other. It was a spectacle that they were allowed to do because their parents knew the importance of being social with the rest of the young ones. So they would take advantage of it and make it a social event that always became memorable.

They would always choose the farm of the most accommodating family (usually my grandparents) and they’d send word to their friends that there would be a gathering. And it would be such a huge social event – it was like a coming-out party of sorts for them. Males would put on their best shirts and bell-bottoms. They’d apply a generous amount of their pomade and dash of their favorite fragrance and off they’d go. The females would come in dressing to the nines as well, their hair all made up and ready to interact with the males at a rather rate unsupervised outing.

Cassava Cake

The males would be busy pulling out the cassava from the ground and piling them up for the other guys to bring to the table. The ladies would be busy removing the cassava and making sure that they are peeled and ready to be prepared. All the while, they’d maintain a continuous stream of chatter – a good banter that would have courtship implications, heavy on the innuendo, heavy on the pasakalye.

One by one they would then congregate on a huge kitchen table to start grating the cassava using an improvized grater – all the while stealing glances, conversing with their eyes, conversing with their smiles – everything has a meaning, everything has a secret code. In their world, they’re slowly coming out of their chrysalis, announcing to the world that they’ve matured and grown and ready to face the world. I have been told, a lot of marriages got arranged this way – with both parties quietly conversing, quietly sealing the deal with quick glances, stolen touches, and a slight nod and a saucy wink.

And at the end of the day, they’d all partake of the product they have so consciously produced, bringing some from their pile back to their homes along with memories of the day – memories that would last a long time. Until another call would bring them together again – and the cycle would repeat itself.

Order your Cassava Cake and other Delicacies in any of the following Quan Outlets:

Bacolod Branches
MC Metroplex – Northdrive – (34) 433-9987
La Salle Avenue (034) 707-1982
Gaisano City (034) 707-8440
Phoenix Gas Station, San Sebastian
Robinsons Supermarket (034) 476-1518
SM Food Court – 213-9149
San Juan – (034) 704-1253

Talisay Branch
Super Metro, The District North Point (034) 702-3466

Manila Branch
1797 Dian St, Palanan. Makati (02) 833-5843