Some people say that to experience the culture of a certain locality, you have to taste their cuisine and specialties. After a long walk, I decided to take my guest to Mila’s. Mila’s is a bakeshop café fast becoming famous to those who regularly visit Hinigaran or those passing by for a trip to the South. I first heard of Mila’s from an online forum and fellow Negros Blogger Glady Tomulto -Reyes who blogged about it before at her blog, Experience Negros. Not far from the town plaza and the local Ceres Bus Station, Mila’s is taking the lead in showcasing the best of what Hinigaran can offer through their amazing selections of treats and pastries.

Upon entering Mila’s, you are greeted with a framed panorama picture of Hinigaran River and a short detail of the town’s history to circumstances surrounding the town name. Hinigaran does not have a museum as of the moment, but somehow, this café is taking the cudgels in promoting this veritable town’s unique history and culture like the “Hijos de Ponggol”, the whos who of the town and old pictures as well. Another frame shows the magnificent façade of the town church, the Mary Magdalene Parish Church, with the corresponding histories and  legendary stories as well. This was my initial source of information about their church.

So what’s the big deal with Mila’s? The talk of the town or should say the blogosphere is their potato cake, not those hashbrown or fritters made from mashed potato but a real cake! Impossible? Of course not since potatoes is made up of starch and can be made to flour though this one has potato bits too. Butter frostings with sugar caramelized enriched the flavor but the potato cake bare is one flavorful treat already. You can go by some several slices without feeling “sum-od” or “umay” but, if you feel that you can eat this for days, you can order a whole batch with a good sturdy box for just PhP510- but if you also order half for just PhP255-.

The fun does not end with potato cake since their Royal Bibingka is a big hit with its softeness, with the balanced tastes of coconut meat and grated cheese. Each serving costs PhP17-  but a serving is generous and you will never be as contented with any ordinary bibingka anymore and a must bring since it has longer shelf life than the rest of their pastries. My guest’s favorite though was their buko pie since he has never seen buko pie with the buko filling thicker than it’s crust! Laguna buko pie does not even come closer to this one. Visiting the town or just stopping by, never forget to pass by Mila’s and have the unique taste of Hinigaran.