VJANDEP Pastel

In my table 2 weeks ago.  Thanks to ICC Team!

I have travelled a lot locally but I have never been to Cagayan De Oro (CDO), work or off-work based.  I’m glad that this didn’t preclude my chance of getting a bite of CDO’s yummies.  Thanks to these wonderful people (you know who you are!) who never forget to get me some pasalubong.

Aside from Cheding’s peanuts, I love the mouthwatering pastel.  How I wish that these would be available in Metro Manila through franchise, like Roli’s of Bacolod.  Now, it is incorrect to say that it is orginally from CDO (only a branch) since VJANDEP is from Camiguin.  VJANDEP means Virgilio Jose AND Eleonor Popera, the business owners.

Originally the pastel was only available in Camiguin, which was then produced by the Bollozo’s family. It was such in demand during their town fiestas, that one family member, Eleanor Jose-Popera, saw some business prospects in commercializing this native delicacy. In tandem with her husband, Ret. Lt. Col. Virgilio Jose who provided a small capital, they produced their first three boxes of pastel in1990. The fast growing demand for their products pushed them to look for financial assistance.   They were assisted by DOST and the current packaging and label design was also provided through the Packaging Research and Development Center of ITDI-DOST.  Amazing beginning!

I experimented on some “yema thing” months ago.  You can try boiling an unopened can of condensed milk (I used Alaska).  You will come up with a yema and use this as a spread/filling to a pandesal, loaf, etc.  It works.  Of course, VJANDEP’s will always be better. :p  

Good news, they deliver pastel anywhere in the US now!

Pastel Food, Inc.  2616 W. Street Gertrude PI, Santa Ana, CA 92704, 714 435 9697. 
Email:  pastelfood@yahoo.com,  Website (under construction):  www.pastelfood.com