Makihalo, a Cleveland maker of Filipino-inflected sweets and toppers, is giving the city’s pop-up circuit a serious sugar upgrade with polvorón-inspired treats and ube-heavy bakes. Owner Mariel Bernarte launched the brand after moving from California and has been quietly building a following with dessert toppers and ube brownies. On Wednesday, the shop landed a feature in a local TV segment that is shining a spotlight on small food makers.
The TV piece aired on Fox 8 New Day Cleveland, which showcased samples of Makihalo’s lineup and called out the brand’s growing social media presence. The appearance gives Bernarte fresh visibility as she lines up more pop-ups and fields wholesale inquiries.
Owner story and shop origins
Mariel Bernarte told Spectrum News 1 that she started Makihalo in 2018 after moving to Cleveland and feeling culturally isolated. “So, the name ‘Makihalo’ translates from Filipino to ‘mix it up,’” Bernarte said, explaining that the brand’s mission is to fold Filipino flavors into everyday items.
What to try
Spectrum News 1 highlights a gluten-free pistachio polvorón yogurt topper and ube brownies as Makihalo standbys. “This is a yogurt topper or a dessert topper that is rooted in a Filipino item called ‘polvorón,’ which is a pressed cookie,” Bernarte told the outlet, and those items are designed to make Filipino flavors approachable for Cleveland diners.
Where to find Makihalo
Bernarte debuted Makihalo at the Young Latino Network’s International Women’s Bazaar and has since appeared at farmers markets and community pop-ups around town. For the quickest updates on dates and photos, Makihalo posts regularly on Instagram at @makihalo_cle.
Why it matters
Small, specialty producers like Makihalo broaden Cleveland’s culinary map by bringing ingredients and sweets from the Filipino diaspora into formats locals already recognize. Local TV and news coverage can help turn pop-up momentum into sustainable small-business growth and greater visibility for immigrant- and women-owned brands in the region.
