For generations, a trip to Baguio City was never complete without a pilgrimage to the Good Shepherd Convent. Tourists and locals alike would line up to secure a jar of the famous Mountain Maid ube jam, a sweet staple traditionally enjoyed straight from the container or scooped over halo-halo and turon.
A Childhood Memory Reborn
For Robbie Pantaleon, founder of Good Shepherd Café, these childhood visits laid the groundwork for a unique culinary concept. Instead of following the traditional business model of transitioning from a dine-in restaurant to a pasalubong center, the café flipped the script. The mission: take the nostalgic, beloved jar of ube jam and transform it into a full table experience.
“People get to enjoy ube in many different forms, ” he reflects. “They never thought they could have ube as different kinds of coffees, iba-ibang cake, or pasulubong.”
The “Jar-to-Table” Philosophy
The core of the café’s identity lies in its close relationship with the Sisters of Good Shepherd. Every single gram of ube used in the shop’s creations comes directly from the convent. Far from just a commercial arrangement, this partnership ensures authenticity while honoring the deep roots the ingredient holds in Filipino culture.
By turning traditional pasalubong items into contemporary café offerings, the establishment bridges the gap between comforting nostalgia and modern culinary innovation.
“From pasulubong, we turn it into a full experience on the table,” he proudly exclaims. “For a lot of people, for the locals and the tourists, it’s a new experience for them.”
Signature Offerings and Bestsellers
With a cozy space tailored to focus on comforting Filipino merienda, the menu highlights creative, ube-forward interpretations of classic favorites.
Their Shepherd’s Latte, a standout coffee creation, combines pure ube halaya with rich espresso served cleverly in a recycled Good Shepherd jam jar. One of their bestsellers, Ube Crinkles, are made fresh with ube at its core, rolled like a dim sum wrapper before baking to achieve a crusty-yet-cakey texture.
For dessert lovers, the Ube Sans Rival Chiffon Cake stands out as a multi-layered masterpiece showcasing alternating textures of sans rival, ube chiffon, custard filling, and crunchy nuts. Rounding out the selection are hearty merienda staples that include ube champorado, ginataang bilo-bilo, and traditional halo-halo.
Bringing the Baguio Experience Beyond the Mountains
More than just serving good food, the team behind Good Shepherd Café views the business as a community-driven endeavor. Operating with a vision of becoming true ambassadors of Baguio City, the long-term goal is to bring a taste of the Cordilleras to other parts of the Philippines—allowing people nationwide to experience the warmth, local flavors, and community spirit of Baguio without having to pack a bag.
For visitors currently exploring the summer capital, the café stands ready right beside the iconic Baguio Cathedral stairs, welcoming everyone to taste ube in ways they never imagined.
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