Bono Gelato

There's a new gelato place at The Podium -- BONO GELATO. Been hearing about their different and yummy flavors, but haven't had the time to try it out.

They have a cute setup just at the entrance of the mall from St. Francis Square. 

I found myself at Podium during closing hours last Wednesday and found they had 2 flavors on half-price! Oh, joy! Perfect time to try out their gelato -- Cioccolato and Red Velvet single scoop was just P65 :)

Found Cioccolato to be dark and rich, and I think you really need a counter-flavor to finish it off. Good thing we had the Red Velvet flavor. Also rich and creamy, found the Red Velvet delectably yummy. A friend suggests I try out Rogue next time. Will probably do :)

Cupcake Lab

 

I was intrigued with the new stall at the Podium, decided to check it out, and ended up buying CUPCAKE LAB cupcakes! And I sooo wasn't disappointed! :) Most of the regular-sized cupcakes were already sold out, so I was only able to try Red Velvet and Tiramisu. And I couldn't resist trying that cute Mini Ferrero cupcake. One bite of the Ferrero cupcake was all I needed -- I was hooked! :)  Couldn't wait to try the other two flavors.

 

However, I was too tired when I got home that I wasn't able to try them at all :(  It was inside the ref when I woke up the next morning.. I was thinking "wouldn't the cupcake texture become dry, making it difficult to eat?" But lo and behold, the cupcakes were still soft and moist :) Amazing! (Actually I still had some leftover inside the ref the day after, which I ate; and it was still soft and moist! I couldn't believe it).

 

Okay, the cupcakes were a bit too sweet for my taste; but hey, aren't they supposed to be? For me, they got to capture the taste and coupled it with the quality of the cake itself -- Another yummy treat :)  But don't take my word for it, go and get some! Regular cupcakes are about P70 - P80, while Mini ones are about P35 or so.

 

Contact:

02.4002296

cupcakelabph@yahoo.com

 

 

Tiramisu, P70 or P80

Red Velvet Cupcake, P70 or P80 

Mini Ferrero Cupcake, P35

Everyday Mom

After a pedia check-up at St. Lukes QC, we scoured the Tomas Morato area for a quick bite before we met up with some friends. We chanced upon a homey cupcake place named Everyday Mom along Sct. Tuason. The place was small, but bright and cozy. 

We tried their specialty cupcakes, although they also offer cookies, banana bread, and other goodies :)  Cupcakes cost about P40 each; we ordered three : Carrot, Cafe Mocha, and of course, Chocolate. All three cupcakes were good! Wasn't too sweet and texture was perfect -- not too dry or too moist. Of the three, I loved the Cafe Mocha the most :) Really goes well with coffee :) 

 If you're in the area, better try that Cafe Mocha cupcake!

Carrot Cupcake

Chocolate Cupcake

Cafe Mocha Cupcake

Theo Philo Chocolates

I first saw Theo Philo Artisan Chocolates at the Eastwood Weekend Bazaar. I was immediately intrigued, as these are locally made chocolate bars which come in a variety of flavors and come in interesting, colorful packs :) Each bar costs about P80.

A friend gave me a bar of Theo Philo's 70% Dark Chocolate :) I loved the cute design on the pack!

There's an additional sealed foil cover as you open the pack.

The bar was not cut in the usual rectangles; instead it had large, diagonal cuts. 

I love the bitter taste of Dark Chocolate. And at 70%, this Theo Philo Bar was just right on the taste. Worth to try their other flavors :)

Sweet Tooth :)

Cakes galore! I love my birthday cakes! 

BANAPPLE Smorgasbord of Flavors.

Huge Mango Torte from CUERVA BAKESHOP!
Look at all those yummy mangoes!

AGGY'S frozen Brazo de Mercedes.
Ice Cream inside!

...But now I have to find a way to lose all those calories! :)

Gelato Cakes

I first encountered this specific Gelato Cake at Friuli Trattoria.. And I've been hooked ever since! I was glad to find that the same kind was also available at Gotti's Ristorante. However, Gotti's priced them at a premium, considering of course that it's located at a mall, whereas Friuli is just a hole-in-the-wall resto. Nevertheless, the Gelato Cakes are what I'm after; I'm just happy it's available!

Should you find yourself in any of these two restos, be sure to try my favorite Tartufo Nero for dessert - dark chocolate gelato with a cherry inside. You'll absolutely love it! 

And if you find other restos which offer these Gelato Cakes, please do inform me :)

Tartufo Nero (Dark Chocolate)

 After Eight (Mint & Chocolate)

Tiramisu

Stick House

I saw this array of colors from afar and it instantly lured me in! :) Stick House gives us all a great taste of Gelato on sticks! I absolutely love the concept!

Available in plain flavors, or dipped in chocolate and/ or with toppings :) Plain sorbet/ gelato flavors range from P60 to P80. I had a hard time deciding what to get, and went for their best-seller, Pistachio. One bite and I'm hooked! So looking forward to ALL other flavors!

*Stick House booth is at Trinoma, near the cinemas. I believe its also available in SM North Edsa Annex :)

La Creperie

We weren't exactly looking for a heavy meal, so we readily grabbed a seat in La Creperie, a cozy, quiet, and cafe-like establishment in the midst of the bustling restaurants in Eastwood's new mall.

You won't fail to notice La Creperie despite its small space, the bright yellow facade and well-lit, simple interiors prove to be a perfect place for a night cap :)

Being a Creperie, it was a must that crepe would be part of our meal. I ordered Soup for the Day and the famous Le "JJ," while Rob had Chorizo Al Oglio (which he followed up with a Croque Monsieur after some time).

There wasn't anything spectacular about the soup, really. But I can say that their Chicken Stew was, more than anything, full of flavor, with a touch of spice. Definitely a good way to beat the chilly wind that night.

Soup of the Day - Chicken Stew (P85)

The Aglio Olio was disappointing. I was expecting alot more flavor, since I had just finished the Chicken Stew. And what the soup was so bold about, was completely lacking in this dish. There was little Chorizo flavor too, considering that the Chorizo could have spiced up the olive oil & garlic combination.

Chorizo Al Oglio (P145)

Now we go to what the restaurant should be know for -- their crepes. I had hoped that the attendants would actually explain what Le "JJ" meant, not just tell me what the dish consisted of. I left the store not knowing why the dish was called Le "JJ" in the first place. Nevertheless, this savory crepe was filled with melting cheese, ham, sausage, and garlic, with a small serving of side salad.

Good thing there was salad on the side, as the vinaigrette sauce tempered the crepe's flavor. Le "JJ" can well contend with Cafe Breton, the crepe was flavor fusion (although the garlic-ky taste was a bit too much for me) and definitely a must-try.

Le "JJ" (P175)

Croque Monsieur is deadly! A moment onyour lips and forever on your hips! Toasted ham & cheese sandwich with melted cheese on top is calories galore. I like the Le "JJ" better, even though this dish was as (or even more) savoury. Plus, I'd say that the dish did not come up to par with its price. Well, that's my opinion. You can also order Croque Monsieur with a sunny side up egg on top, just add a minimal amount.

Croque Monsieur (P265)

We didn't want a heavy meal, but ended up eating more than what we originally intended. As the restuarant name suggests, I'd say La Creperie is to be tried more for their crepes; although I still have to grab a bite of their dessert crepe concoctions before I can say that they can be actually be an alternative to Cafe Breton.

** Food photos taken by mobile phone only =(