July 26, 2011

EAT TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT : BAKE AND CHURN



I love cakes! I love ice cream! If I had to choose one, it would be a difficult - errr grueling choice. But with the arrival of Bake and Churn, I did not have to sweat at all. Bake and Churn is a cake and an ice cream rolled into one. Now that's my kind of dessert!


I am a Mango lover and Mango Madness Cake by Bake & Churn tops my list

When they had a kiosk at our office "foodcourt," I used to have my daily fix after every meal. Either a slice of Chocolate Roll or Mango Madness Cake instantly lifts my spirit specially during "ngarag" moments.


Cookies and Cream by Bake & Churn


Black Forest by Bake & Churn


There are variety of flavors to choose from, cakes like Cookies and Cream, Black Forest, Nutty Caramel, Concorde and logs like Buco-Pandan, Strawberry Cheesecake, Rocky Road and Black Forest.


SECTION : DESSERTS UNLIMITED

BAKE AND CHURN
have several branches :
SM City North EDSA, SM City Fairview, SM City Manila, SM City Marilao, SM City Clark
 
Bake and Churn was included in my article "Cold Comforts" published by Republic of 7107 Island Travel Magazine Issue 1 Volume 3 at the Island Food & Cuisine section.


Pie Rivera is a food columnist of Republic of 7107 Island Travel Magazine. For subscriptions to the magazine, you may email them at subscription@7107magazine.ph. You can also check their website at www.7107magazine.ph



Feel free to email me at eattoyourheartscontent@gmail.com - I love to hear from you.


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Some photos were provided by Bake and Churn.

July 24, 2011

EAT TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT AT CARA MIA GELATERIA



I often wondered what was the fuss about Cara Mia Gelateria until I checked it myself. You may think that it is another gelato-serving station as I did but it was so much more. After enjoying an authentic Italian meal at Amici Restaurant (Amici & Cara Mia Gelateria enjoys their complimenting creations - the former serves Italian dishes while the latter offers Italian gelato & cakes), I could just instantly have my fix of their mouth-watering cakes and fresh-made gelato.




Mango Cake, simple yet I can't seem to get enough of just one serving from Cara Mia Gelateria

No matter how simple their Mango Cake is, with alternating layers of graham crackers and cream with mango bits, then topped with more of the rich creamy mixture, mango puree and diced mangoes, it's one of the reasons why I keep coming back to Cara Mia Gelateria.


SECTION : DESSERTS UNLIMITED

CARA MIA GELATERIA
have several branches which includes
T. Morato in Quezon City at the former building of Ratsky

Pie Rivera is a food columnist of Republic of 7107 Island Travel Magazine. For subscriptions to the magazine, you may email them at subscription@7107magazine.ph. You can also check their website at www.7107magazine.ph


Feel free to email me at eattoyourheartscontent@gmail.com - I love to hear from you.


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July 22, 2011

EAT TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT : WATERFRONT INSULAR DAVAO

 
I have always loved Davao City. Named as the most livable Asian city and despite being a city, somehow projects a provincial feel. If many fear the Mindanao Region, I felt Davao City was the area I should have been born in - it was like my second home. In my heart and gut, it is in a competing place with Cebu City. The abundance of seafood, the proximity of SAMAL Islands and the scent of fresh Durian, not to mention the place where I met the love of my life, all makes Davao City a charming environment to be in.



Waterfront Insular Davao's individual desserts

During a reality TV search, my group was billeted in Waterfront Insular Davao and mornings were always a joy. With buffet dining, I stuffed myself to have energy for a long day while evenings end with sweet concoctions.


Dark Chocolate, Concorde Cake or Blueberry Cheesecake?

Personal sizes of cakes abound with a variety of flavors to choose from -Dark Chocolate Cake, Black Forest, Blueberry Cheesecake, Concorde Cake and Sans Rival. Each night was a pleasant dream of unforgettable delights.


SECTION : DESSERTS UNLIMITED

WATERFRONT INSULAR DAVAO
Davao City
www.waterfronthotels.com.ph

Pie Rivera is a food columnist of Republic of 7107 Island Travel Magazine. For subscriptions to the magazine, you may email them at subscription@7107magazine.ph. You can also check their website at www.7107magazine.ph






Feel free to email me at eattoyourheartscontent@gmail.com - I love to hear from you.


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All photos in this site were captured by Pie Rivera unless otherwise stated.

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July 20, 2011

EAT TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT : ASYA RESTAURANT



I have always been very picky when it comes to one of my favorite desserts - Brazo de Mercedez. I preferred the eggwhites to be fluffy and airy while the eggyolks should be thick, rich and a bit gooey. And only a few bakeshops can live up to this preference so when visited Asya Restaurant, I was more than pleased. Asya Restaurant prides with a variety of Asian cuisine, hence the name.


Asya Restaurant's Brazo de Mercedez is a sight to behold!

After feasting on their main course (which I will be sharing in my future posts) my dessert was served as if on cue. A colorful ensemble of red and green syrup with a piece of fresh sliced strawberries played supporting cast to the soft white meringue that envelopes the sweet yellow yolks. What's even better, at the time of my visit, this lovely dessert was less than Php100.

Sago't Gulaman from Asya Restaurant

A tall slim glass of Sago't Gulaman was also a good order. Having ordered several viands, their tall glass was quite sweet for my taste that I practically multiplied this drink by adding more water from another glass.


SECTION : DESSERTS UNLIMITED

ASYA RESTAURANT
Eton Centris
EDSA (near Quezon Avenue MRT Station),
Quezon City


ASYA RESTAURANT was featured in my article "11 Must-Dine Restaurants in the Metro" published at Republic of 7107 Island Travel Magazine Issue 6 Volume 2 at the Island Food & Cuisine section.


Pie Rivera is a food columnist of Republic of 7107 Island Travel Magazine. For subscriptions to the magazine, you may email them at subscription@7107magazine.ph. You can also check their website at www.7107magazine.ph



Feel free to email me at eattoyourheartscontent@gmail.com - I love to hear from you.


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All photos in this site were captured by Pie Rivera unless otherwise stated.

All rights reserved. Eat To Your Heart's Content.

July 18, 2011

EAT TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT : TSOKO.NUT BATIROL



Think of tablea, chocolatera, batirol and Tsoko.Nut Batirol comes to mind specially with an old lady who was all-smiles while preparing something downright delicious.

Tsoko Nut Batirol in SM Makati

Tsoko.Nut Batirol prides their tablea of having 100% pure cacao. There was one point in my life not too long ago, that I was practically a regular at their Makati branch. Savoring their rice meals like Dinuguan, their Pinoy merienda like Bibingka and Palabok plus a variety of their chocolate concoctions from desserts to drinks.


Revel Bar served at Tsoko Nut Batirol

Freshly baked Revel Bar was made with old-fashioned oats, with the addition of pinipig and pure cacao. Hot from the oven, this chocolate bar was quite addicting.


Chocolate Cake by Tsoko Nut Batirol

Two chocolate desserts were difficult not to miss. The square-shaped Chocolate Cake was smooth, rich and made more chocolatey with the addition of chocolate shavings around. It was the perfect chocolate moist cake I love to gorge over and over.


Tsoko Nut Batirol's Table Cake

The round Tablea Cake was somehow lighter in hue, with a bittersweet kick. The richness of the tablea and its difficulty to bake made the cake on a bit of a dryer note, but nonetheless, it was intoxicatingly full of chocolate goodness in every bite.


SECTION : DESSERTS UNLIMITED

TSOKO.NUT BATIROL
They have several branches :
2F SM Makati is one of their convenient spots
SM Makati (816-4305), RCBC Plaza (403-1507), The Eastwood Excelsior (489-4617), Worldwide Corporate Center (571-3902), SM Cubao (709-3823), F@stBytes Alabang (491-5609), SM City North EDSA, Soho Condominium (661-4716)
tsoko.nut.batirol@gmail.com
WEBSITE


Pie Rivera is a food columnist of Republic of 7107 Island Travel Magazine. For subscriptions to the magazine, you may email them at subscription@7107magazine.ph. You can also check their website at www.7107magazine.ph

Feel free to email me at eattoyourheartscontent@gmail.com - I love to hear from you.


For more deliriously delicious dining discoveries and updates, feel free to follow and connect via these sites :

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All photos in this site were captured by Pie Rivera unless otherwise stated.

All rights reserved. Eat To Your Heart's Content.

July 16, 2011

EAT TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT : CAVITE'S CHATEAU HESTIA


Intrigued by its name, inspired by the Greek goddess of hearth, fire and entertainment, some friends accompanied me to an evening of tete-a-tete with the man behind this charming country-European dining destination, Chateau Hestia.


Chateau Hestia's country-style cozy interiors

July 12, 2011

EAT TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT : BANILAD'S BADGERS SPORTS AND DINING PUB


I may be a night owl if only for work and hardly for night gimiks, but when I visited Cebu, I could not help but check out the vibe in an English pub called Badgers Sports and Dining Pub.

As if stepping into a country pub, the place is donned with dark wood furnishings and decorated with large flags of various nations. At the right side is where pool players enjoy while the focal point is a huge bar with about a hundred of spirits to choose from.
 
Completing their array of liquors, they also have a hundred of dishes to offer, although at the time of my visit, owner Wayne McCallum was contemplating of cutting their menu and offering their best-sellers and all-time favorites to a decent number.
 

Blueberry Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream from Badger's Sports & Dining Pub

During this visit, I got to taste two of their delectable desserts. Blueberry Pie with Vanilla Ice Cream, a simple name with simple plating but you get some of the world's best - blueberry goodness in a pie and creamy vanilla ice cream. Simply satisfying!


This English Trifle is so irresistible!

A night out at an English pub would not be complete if I don't try an authentic dessert - English Trifle is a blend of thick cream and the richness of butter whipped in a variety of fruits and topped with maraschino cherry then served in a tall glass you can enjoy, spoonful after spoonful.


SECTION : UNLIMITED DESSERTS

BADGERS SPORTS AND DINING PUB
GOV. CUENCO AVENUE
BANILAD, CEBU
www.badgerspub.net
OPEN : Mondays - Thursdays 5pm to 2am
Fridays - Sundays 11am to 2am



Location: at the entrance of the El Dorado Subdivision and the Region VII DENR offices. Near BANILAD TOWN CENTER (BTC) and walking distance to GAISANO COUNTRY MALL and FOODLAND building in Banilad.



Pie Rivera is a food columnist of Republic of 7107 Island Travel Magazine. For subscriptions to the magazine, you may email them at subscription@7107magazine.ph. You can also check their website at www.7107magazine.ph




Feel free to email me at eattoyourheartscontent@gmail.com - I love to hear from you.


For more deliriously delicious dining discoveries and updates, feel free to follow and connect via these sites :

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All photos in this site were captured by Pie Rivera unless otherwise stated.

All rights reserved. Eat To Your Heart's Content.

July 10, 2011

EAT TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT : DAVAO CITY'S FUDGE FACTORY



Fudge Factory's brownie squares


Established in 2005, Davao City's Fudge Factory started as a home-based business of two sisters, who got tired of being employed and started living their passion. Their simple love for baking produce a number of delicious brownie concoctions initially being sold to some friends. Eventually, they joined food bazaars and food festivals.


Take your pick from this 24-variety brownie box from Fudge Factory

This is Davao City's "first 24-variety brownies in a box" and eventually evolved into producing more delights such as muffins, cupcakes and pies. Pride themselves for not compromising quality, from their NCCC kiosk they can now be found at the chic Ayala Mall in Abreeza in Bajada, Davao City.


SECTION : UNLIMITED DESSERTS


FUDGE FACTORY
2F Abreeza Mall, Davao City
CP : 0922-8467646




Pie Rivera is a food columnist of Republic of 7107 Island Travel Magazine. For subscriptions to the magazine, you may email them at subscription@7107magazine.ph. You can also check their website at www.7107magazine.ph



Feel free to email me at eattoyourheartscontent@gmail.com - I love to hear from you.


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All photos in this site were captured by Pie Rivera unless otherwise stated.

All rights reserved. Eat To Your Heart's Content.

July 8, 2011

EAT TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT : RESTAURANT VERBENA'S HEAVENLY DESSERTS


Discovery Country Suites in Tagaytay City boasts not just of its luxurious themed rooms but of its equally grand dishes served at its resident dining spot, Restaurant Verbena. Headed by seasoned chef Columbian-born David Pardo de Ayala who executed an exquisite menu which he labelled as contemporary country cuisine.


The famous Taal Lake in Tagaytay City, Cavite

Amidst a spectacular view of the misty Taal Lake and Volcano surrounded by the cool crisp air, every dining pleasure would not be complete without a sweet finale. To end on a heightened note of an epicure's feast are two scrumptious desserts.


Restaurant Verbena's Panna Cotta Heaven, need I say more?
Panna Cotta Heaven, as the name suggest, brings you not one but three heavenly panna cotta variants - saffron and caramel oranges, pepper and raspberries, lemon balm and pistachio. Cooked in cream, the smooth, velvety creation bursts with flavor as you savor each concoction.


Bouchon's Chocolate Marquise

Second dessert but definitely not the least is Bouchon's Chocolate Marquise. Made from chocolate terrine and vanilla custard sauce, this soft, smooth, rich and mousse-like consistency is a recipe from Napa Valley's famous bistro. Adding a nutty crunch are whole roasted pistachio nuts. Every time I look at this luxurious dessert I could still savor its light and delicate taste, and remember how my eating buddy Spicy Susan dug into this mouth-watering goodness even before I took some photos.

Restaurant Verbena's desserts were simply gratifying.


SECTION : UNLIMITED DESSERTS

RESTAURANT VERBENA
DISCOVERY COUNTRY SUITES
AGUINALDO HIGH-WAY, TAGAYTAY CITY


Pie Rivera is a food columnist of Republic of 7107 Island Travel Magazine. For subscriptions to the magazine, you may email them at subscription@7107magazine.ph. You can also check their website at http://www.7107magazine.ph




Feel free to email me at eattoyourheartscontent@gmail.com - I love to hear from you.


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All rights reserved. Eat To Your Heart's Content.

July 6, 2011

EAT TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT : MACHIAVELLI CHOCOLATIER





Machiavelli Chocolatier


Filipinos are known to be as inventive as baptising a name for a child or a business name and Machiavelli Chocolatier is no exception. Although Italian Niccolo Machiavelli's writing were enraging to many Philosophers, Machiavelli Chocolatier's concoctions were engaging and downright addicting.



I have once said and will say it again that combining chocolates with Filipino and Asian fruits was ingenious. Raul Matias is a chocolatier visionary to come up with a marriage of two pleasurable eats - chocolates and Asia's well-loved fruits. And so, Machiavelli Chocolatier was born.



A box of Machiavelli Chocolatier with a variety of Eurasian flavors

Prides that "Machiavelli is Eurasian," using European milk (white and dark chocolates), Matias infuses Asian flavors through blending some produce - purple yam (ube), jack fruit, muscovado sugar and jasmine tea with names such as Purple Yam Yum, Ivorie Jack, Negros Crunch and Jasmine Blossom respectively. I highly favored Ivorie Jack and Negros Crunch as it uses dark chocolates but is never bitter nor were the Asian flavors overpowering. It was simply a match made in chocolate heaven.


Take you pick at Machiavelli Chocolatier

If you haven't tasted Machiavelli Chocolatier, I suggest you head out to their store and buy a piece or a box. Hope you share what's your favorite Eurasian fusion!


SECTION : UNLIMITED DESSERTS

MACHIAVELLI CHOCOLATIER (Eurasian Fusion)
GF Essenses Area, Rustan's
Glorietta 4, Makat City
Email : contact@mach-chocolatier.com




Pie Rivera is a food columnist of Republic of 7107 Island Travel Magazine. For subscriptions to the magazine, you may email them at subscription@7107magazine.ph. You can also check their website at www.7107magazine.ph



Feel free to email me at eattoyourheartscontent@gmail.com - I love to hear from you.


For more deliriously delicious dining discoveries and updates, feel free to follow and connect via these sites :

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All photos in this site were captured by Pie Rivera unless otherwise stated.

All rights reserved. Eat To Your Heart's Content.

July 4, 2011

EAT TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT : SOFITEL'S LE BAR


Whenever I think of exquisite fine dining hotel restaurants, Sofitel Philippine Plaza often comes to mind. Sofitel's restaurants are a few of Metro's finest and never fail to deliver. Whether I think of their longest buffet at Spiral or their ala carte dishes from their restaurant Le Bar. Le Bar is no ordinary dining spot as it provides habitues with a three-in-one atmosphere - a bistro, a music lounge and a patisserie. I checked out their patisserie, and I was treated to a glittering moment.

Pralines from Sofitel's Galette Patisserie Chocolaterie


Galette Patisserie Chocolaterie offers excellent array of Pralines of various shapes and colors, highlighting their Maracaibo Chocolates made of extremely smooth and rich cocoa. The chocolate that the patisserie uses comes from the most expensive cocoa known as Criollo referred to as the "Prince of Cacao Beans." This kind of cocoa produces a delicate flavor without the bitterness found in other cocoa beans. I have always enjoyed eating pralines by swirling it in my mouth, allowing each chocolate layer to melt away as I savor every inch of its complex taste. They also offer alcohol-based pralines called Praline Malibu which is made up of coconut liqueur in white chocolate.

Maracaibo Chocolate Mousse from Sofitel's Galette Patisserie Chocolaterie


Quite an interesting sight is their Maracaibo Chocolate Mousse made with fresh cream, Grand Marnier and almond powder. The top-most layer resembles layers of shaved carnation petals in deep chocolate hues then dusted with more chocolate powder and embellished with a 23-karat edible gold ribbon. The serving plate is adorned with Physalis, a small fruit encased in its thin leaf-like cover akin to a Gumamela petal.



SECTION : UNLIMITED DESSERTS


LE BAR : GALETTE PATISSERIE CHOCOLATERIE
SOFITEL PHILIPPINE PLAZA
 

Pie Rivera is a food columnist of Republic of 7107 Island Travel Magazine. For subscriptions to the magazine, you may email them at subscription@7107magazine.ph. You can also check their website at www.7107magazine.ph


Photos in this article were captured by Mike Caballes.



Feel free to email me at eattoyourheartscontent@gmail.com - I love to hear from you.


For more deliriously delicious dining discoveries and updates, feel free to follow and connect via these sites :

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All photos in this site were captured by Pie Rivera unless otherwise stated.

All rights reserved. Eat To Your Heart's Content.

July 3, 2011

EAT TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT : OLD SWISS INN'S TOBLERONE CHOCOLATE FONDUE




For chocolate lovers out there, who has not tasted Old Swiss Inn's Toblerone Chocolate Fondue? Toblerone chocolate melted to a rich, thick, creamy consistency resembling a chocolate ganache will surely create a wonderful dining ending in this 70-year-old establishment. A choice of milk, dark and white, their Toblerone Chocolate Fondue is served with a platter of fresh fruits like bananas, apples and mangoes, butter and chocolate chiffon cake cubes and multi-colored marshmallows. I just have not tried their fondue with strawberries which would be a definite palette pleaser!

Old Swiss Inn's Toblerone Fondue
A popular communal Swiss dessert, chocolate fondue is great for bonding moments with friends and family whether you want to celebrate a special occasion or simply hanging out and catching a chat.


SECTION : UNLIMITED DESSERTS
 
OLD SWISS INN
have two branches.
Paco (Main) is open from Mondays - Saturdays from 7am to 11pm
Tel : 521-3002
Makati branch is open 24/7
Tel : 818-8251


Feel free to email me at eattoyourheartscontent@gmail.com - I love to hear from you.


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All photos in this site were captured by Pie Rivera unless otherwise stated.

All rights reserved. Eat To Your Heart's Content.

July 1, 2011

LIFE IS SWEET AT EAT TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT!



Life is sweet and made even sweeter with life's simple pleasures.


This month of July, Eat To Your Heart's Content will celebrate life's simple joys with pure unabashed eating bliss.


Life is Sweet at Eat To Your Heart's Content


Desserts abound in this month's pages of EAT TO YOUR HEART'S CONTENT. So join me as I punctuate each day with nothing but sweet endings. Life can't get any sweeter than this! As I always say, "live well, laugh often and eat to your heart's content."



Feel free to email me at eattoyourheartscontent@gmail.com - I love to hear from you.


For more deliriously delicious dining discoveries and updates, feel free to follow and connect via these sites :

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All photos in this site were captured by Pie Rivera unless otherwise stated.

All rights reserved. Eat To Your Heart's Content.


Some Photos by Mike Caballes.
Check out Mike's amazing photos at