As I woke up, I had the meanest craving for some ensaymadas. The buttered bread with sugar on the top made me drool just thinking about it. But where could I get this Filipino treat, and how far from Waimea
As I woke up, I had the meanest craving for some ensaymadas. The buttered bread with sugar on the top made me drool just thinking about it.
But where could I get this Filipino treat, and how far from Waimea must I go?
As I called my mom, she reminded me of a bakery nearby, and if I got in the car immediately to get her pandesal (another Filipino baked good), she would buy me my ensaymada.
You know I couldn’t refuse the offer; it brought the kid in me out, so I got in my car and made the five-minute journey to Thrifty Mart in Kaumakani. It’s known to locals as Kaumakani Bakery.
Thrifty Mart is located in the heart of the Kaumakani plantation houses and serves the community’s need for a grocery store-bakery.
Besides nearby residents, fishermen and children, both Westsiders and Eastsiders come in to fulfill their sweet tooth, because here is a place with fresh baked goods and great customer service.
As you walk in and take a look around, you will find a mini-mart to your left serving up drinks, produce, meats and a farmers market station for your produce needs.
If you are on the go, they have a mini bento station, too, which makes me see why the fishermen come here. Bento are well known in Hawai‘i for that hot dog, Spam, chicken, rice and noodles combo.
But I didn’t go there for the bento. I was on a mission for the famous Pandesal bread, which sells for $4.69 a bag and ensaymadas.
“Our top seller is the ensaymadas and pandesals,” said Clyde Nada, president of Thrifty Mart.
I know why, too: It’s because the ensaymadas are fresh bread with the butter and sugar glaze on the top that is so bad for my health but oh so good, so you know I will drink a lot of water and go for an afternoon run to burn it off.
But it’s just one of those sweet treats you’ve got to have. I could eat five, if I really wanted to.
When you get to Kaumakani Bakery, come with a craving or empty stomach. You can try all sorts of baked goods, even ones like brownies, donuts and special cakes that you can order by phone in advance.
Of course, I ended up talking story with Clyde and his hardworking employees and found out that Thrifty Mart has been open since 1966. My jaw dropped because that was before I was born, and of course way before Costco or Walmart opened here on Kaua‘i.
They really know how to cater to their community; in fact they give back by donating to Waimea High School and local Pop Warner teams. I love hearing how businesses in Hawai‘i give back. They sure gave back to me with their scrumptious ensaymadas.
To check them out in person, head down to Thrifty Mart in Kaumakani or call Clyde for store operation hours at 335-3178.
No matter where you are on Kaua‘i, you have to try their baked goods; they will have you coming back for more.
They have an assorted selection, so maybe for your co-worker’s birthday surprise or morning office donut run, whatever it is, Thrifty Mart has the baked goods you need to cross off your busy to-do list.
