Many people would associate Bacolod City with piaya and chicken inasal. However, the sugar capital has more to offer to satisfy one’s sweet tooth. Pastry shops in Bacolod City has some of the most sought after delicacies that can only be found in this part of the country. One such delicacy is the napoleones which has long been the favorite of visitors and locals alike.
What is Napoleones?
Napoleones is a layered puff pastry filled with custard cream and glazed with white sugar on top. It comes with small square size and a larger rectangle size and usually sold in boxes. When you bite into napoleones, you’ll immeiately feel the flakiness of the layered puff then a soft, creamy and sweet taste from the custard cream filling and sugar glaze. Those who had a taste of napoleones could attest to its mouth watering taste, with just the right creaminess and sweetness.
Food blogger Kai noted that napoleones possibly was adapted from the napoleon, which is how the French pastry mille-fuille (a thousand leaves) is called outside of France, which in turn is claimed to have originated from Naples in Italy, thus the name.
When talking about napoleons, two pastry shops in Bacolod come to mind, Roli’s and Virgie’s. Though Roli’s is the more well-known for napoleones, Virgie’s is easily gaining popularity.
Napoleones Recipe
This napoleones recipe was by the late Conchita Cuenca, considered the doyenne of Negrense cuisine. If you have to share this recipe, please acknowledge the original chef who’s hands lovingly crafted this recipe so we may enjoy the creamy and sweet taste of napoleones.
The different pastry shops in Bacolod serving napoleones may have different recipes but one thing doesn’t change, if it’s bacolod napoleones, it must be delicious. Nothing beats the original. As in all other recipes, you just need to know the basic, you are free to create your own. So don’t be afraid to experiment and innovate on this napoleones recipe.
Napoleones Ingredients and Procedure
CUSTARD
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2 cups evaporated milk
- 5 egg yolks
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup flour
- In a heavy saucepan, place the butter, evaporated milk, egg yolks, sugar and flour. Stir to combine.
- Over low fire, cook the mixture stirring constantly to prevent scorching. When the mixture has thickened, remove from the heat.
GLAZE
- 2 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
- tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 to 3 tablespoons boiling water
- In a medium mixing bowl, put in the confectioners’ sugar and vanilla. Stir in enough boiling water to make a glaze of spreading consistently.
PUFF PASTRY
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cold water
- 1 cup butter, chilled
- Make a well in the middle of the flour mixture and pour in the water. Mix well.
- With a rolling pin, flatten dough into a rectangular shape. Place chilled butter in the middle and fold the corners, right over left, making sure to seal the edges. Pound dough and flatten into a rectangle. Put in freezer to chill butter inside the dough.
- After 30 minutes, remove dough from freezer, fold again right over left and pound with a rolling pin to form another rectangular shaped dough. Repeat this process 4 times. Cut into desired shape.
- Preheat oven to 3500F. Bake for about 20 minutes or until crust is golden. Cool completely.
- Cut puff pastry in half to insert custard filling.
- Pour glaze over the top.
Where to Buy Napoleones
Manila-based buyers no longer have to wait for friends and relative from Bacolod to give them pasalubong in order for them to have a taste of napoleones. Both Roli’s and Virgie’s has napoleones available in Metro Manila.
Tips: If you’re in Bacolod City, do buy at the main outlets because the price is lower. Buy Virgie’s at their showroom at San Sebastian Street. Roli’s Bakeshop at Roli’s Arcade has a much cheaper price than in other outlets.
Virgie’s Homemade Products
#59 San Sebastian Street, Bacolod City
Tel. Nos. (034) 434-1788, 434-1588
Fax No. (034) 434-6188
Other Outlets in the Visayas
• Edemar Store- Iloilo City
• Gaisano Metro – Cebu CityAbaseria Café – Cebu City
• Sally Young – Cebu City
• Other Major Supermarkets and Upscale Restaurants & Cafes
In Metro Manila & Luzon
• Michelle’s Homemade Putong Ube
• Shopwise & Rustans Supermarket
• Pinoy Eats Pioneer Supermarket
• Orientways Marketing
• Rowena’s Pasalubong (Tagaytay).
Roli’s Bakeshop
Roli’s Arcade, La Salle Avenue, Bacolod City
Tel. Nos.: (034) 433-3257, 709-3162, 709-2772
Other Outlets
• Lopues East Centre, Bacolod City
• Lopues Mandalagan, Bacolod City
• Plaza Mart, Bacolod City
• Building A SM Megamall
• The Block, SM North Edsa