Chow Buzz got this photo of Dolphy taken in Hizon's in the 70's from her friend Spanky Hizon Enriquez. The Comedy King is shown here with Spanky's Lola Sally Hizon and a son of one of the Hizon's owners.
Chow Buzz pays tribute to the late King of Comedy by revisiting a familiar Malate haunt for a taste of some of Dolphy’s favorite treats.
Facade of Hizon's and Za's Cafe. Chow Buzz photo for InterAksyon.com.
Feeling nostalgic, I dropped by Hizon’s last Tuesday afternoon to relive my past T.M. Kalaw work days, when afternoon merienda breaks usually meant a trip to nearby Hizon’s Cakes and Pastries for ensaimada. This was, after all, during the early 90’s, pre-Starbucks era, when the Malate area was still considered a major stop for most intrepid foodies—the time when a hip bar called Insomnia was serving one of the best garlicky crispy patas in town.
Inside Hizon's Cakes and Pastries, the sight of classic baked items bring back happy and youthful memories. Chow Buzz photo for InterAksyon.com.
Hizon's pianono. Chow Buzz photo for InterAksyon.com.
Candied orange peel, available at Hizon's Cakes and Pastries. Chow Buzz photo for InterAksyon.com.
It was well known among the regulars of Hizon’s Cakes and Pastries’ main branch, located at J. Bocobo corner Arquiza Streets in Ermita, that the popular bakeshop was Dolphy’s secret hangout. Dolphy was already patronizing the more than 65 years old establishment as early as 1959, the year that the bakery moved to J. Bocobo from its original Raon location. Later on, he started hanging out in the bakeshop’s café section—Za’s Café—which opened in the early 60’s. It was, according to many insiders, like a second home for Dolphy especially during the time one of his children was still living in the apartelle behind the bakeshop.
To pay tribute to the late King of Comedy and fellow foodie, I asked the mostly male servers and waitstaff what Dolphy’s favorites were at Hizon’s so that I could try them, too.
The list included must-orders like the Queso de Bola Ensaimada, which he always ordered grilled, and a cup of hot chocolate he always takes with it. Hizon’s tsokolate is a real good tablea version that is whisked into drinking consistency with the use of a batirol and contains just the right amount of peanut flavor in it.
All the buttery and cheesy goodness are in Hizon's grilled ensaimada. Chow Buzz photo for InterAksyon.com.
A merienda fit for the Comedy King includes grilled ensaimada and, of course, hot chocolate made from good tablea. Chow Buzz photo for InterAksyon.com.
Then, I was told that he always enjoyed his ensaimada and hot chocolate with pancit on the side. A pancit canton, as that is the only kind of pancit the café serves.
Hizon's pancit is so flavorful even Dolphy can't resist having it 'on the side.' Chow Buzz photo for InterAksyon.com.
Here's the complete meal of Dolphy when he drops by Hizon's. Chow Buzz photo for InterAksyon.com.
There are days that he will deviate from his usual treat and order a slice of chocolate cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side, though he really prefers it with mango ice cream that the restaurant most of the time will not have on hand.
For a heavier meal, Dolphy will either order their Ox Tongue, Burger Steak, or a Burger Sandwich. When he was already too ill to come to the resto, he was regularly ordering tapa and freshly squeezed orange juice for delivery whenever possible or he will have food picked up when delivery is not available.
Hizon's spacious and clean interiors—it's easy to understand why the Comedy King liked it here. Chow Buzz photo for InterAksyon.com.
The King of Comedy was obviously well loved in this place, even if most of the servers described him as a serious person. One of the younger servers shared that they will surely miss Dolphy especially this Christmas, as he never forgets them during the happiest time of the year.
Hizon's light and buttery Mocha Chiffon Cake. Chow Buzz photo for InterAksyon.com.
Chow Buzz recommends: On your next visit to Hizon’s Ermita Branch, try the café’s Grilled Quezo de Bola Ensaimada, Hot Chocolate, and a slice of its melt-in-the-mouth Mocha Chiffon Cake, with its light, buttery, mocha buttercream icing and caramel filling.
Hizon’s Cakes and Pastries
1197 J. Bocobo cor Arquiza Sts., Ermita, Manila
Tel: (+632) 524-8790
