"My merienda of choice is what this Elmhurst spot called Kape’t Torta - or “coffee and cakes” - specializes in. Their cake is a soft, spongy one also known as mamon in certain regions of the Philippines, and while I like plain best for maximum airiness and dunkability, you can also get a yema version, or one with a bit of ube jam inside. This goes with the other half of the equation: a cup of kapeng barako, a particularly strong coffee native to the Philippines (barako means “stud” or “wild boar”) that can only be found in the few cafes that import it. If you prefer denser cakes, try their take on the scarlet bread pudding pan de regla." - paolo espanola