Homemade Cheesecake by Treasure Oven

One thing that I am always grateful about is that I grew up in a family of foodies.  In particular, my elder sister Eichel happens to share the same passion with me when it comes to trying out and discovering whatever source of food we could get our hands on.  She introduced me to Gel Sebastian’s Homemade Banana Loaf with Chocolate Chips and Walnuts way back, and recently, she brought home one of the most affordable and best tasting homemade cheesecakes I’ve had so far.  She bought it from a colleague who happens to be a home baker at Treasure Oven,  Anna Balao-Bunda.

In appearance, the cheesecake may look downright simple, unpretentious, and unapologetically homemade.  In terms of taste, it was surprisingly the bomb.   We are talking about pure cheesecake here as there was no gelatin used.  In my book, it was way better than the cheesecake we can buy at some shop. 

Jollibee Hash Brown Burger

Truth be told, I like Jollibee Yum Burger.  It’s not the type that I would usually crave for, yet, it’s not the type that I would say no to when I am offered one.  Maybe because it brings a lot of childhood memories.  Of the times when school Christmas parties were held on a budget.  Of the times when every children’s party in our neighbor was held at the nearest Jollibee store.  Of the times when a wound can be healed by a loving touch of my mother and tears can be put into a halt just by a mere presence of a tray full of Jollibee goodies. 

Although I may have encountered and fell in love with different burger joint while growing up, Jollibee will always be well acquainted with my memories and my palate.  

The Chocolate Kiss Cafe

First time I tasted the Devil’s Food Cake by The Chocolate Kiss Café ( ChoKiss) was at a friend’s birthday party and I was smitten by it.  For a while it played as one of my favorites.  It has been pretty popular among my foodie friends but they were adamant in pushing me to try the Kahlua Butter Cake which they think I would enjoy as well.

When a craving for Devil’s Food Cake hit me one day, my friend Glenn and I decided to visit The Chocolate Kiss Café for an afternoon tea.  I was dead set on getting a slice of the cake and had completely brushed off the idea of trying out all the other cakes.  I guess it’s just me, when I am craving for something, I got to have it.  I don’t want my opinion of the food to be affected just because I wasn’t able to get what I want to eat in the first place, so I knew that I could reserve our so-called-cake-taste-test at the café on some other days.  I just want to have that Devil’s Food Cake regal my palate, and satisfy my craving.

Then the inevitable thing happened.  Due to massive orders that happened that weekend, they run out of the Devil’s Food Cake.  Sweet dear heaven.  If you are a foodie like me, you’ll know what I mean when I say that it was heartbreaking.  Glenn was sure that the Kahlua Cake will somehow save the impending doom of unfulfilled craving, only to find out that the café run out of it as well.

Royal Luncheon at Pan Pacific Manila with Master Butler Wayne Fitzharris

Pan Pacific Manila, known as the first and finest Butler hotel in the Philippines, conducted a Royal Luncheon / Press Conference yesterday to welcome the return of Master Butler Wayne Fitzharris, Director of the International Guild of Butlers & Household Managers.   

Master Butler Wayne Fitzharris

In line with the recent launch of Pan Pacific’s newly renovated guestrooms, the return of Master Butler Fitzharris is considered as a perfect chance for the hotel to refresh and further improve their Butler concept and service.  The Butler Education will ensure that Pan Pacific will maintain the status as the only luxurious hotel in the world made up entirely of professional Butlers that provide the best extra ordinary experience for their guests.

The Ultimate Taste Test 6.0 PART 3 : My Top Picks

Presented with different scrumptious food by 50+ hardworking food vendors at the Ultimate Taste Test 6.0, one of the hardest things to come up with was a list of top picks.  I have mentioned in my previous post that some food were really good while some were just okay.  One thing for sure though, was that no single food served that I didn’t like.


Every food vendors who participated at the Ultimate Taste Test 6.0 are all winners in my book in terms of courage and hard work to get through the day feeding 1000 foodies or more.  My family is also into food business that is why I can imagine how hard it is to come up with an ideas and strategies just to please customers, aside from providing them with good food products.  

I salute each and every food vendors at the UTT 6.0.  You all did a great job.

Now, in order for me to come up with my own list of top picks, I stick to those food which taste lingers in my memory days after the event.  Those food which up to now, I crave. 



Cupcake Boutique by Klar Joseph


I have tasted some of their cupcakes during the Best Food Forward Food Fair early this year.  I fell in love with their Diplomat Cupcake.  While I enjoyed the Red Velvet and The Green Tea cupcakes nothing compares to the ultimate satisfaction that the Diplomat gave me.  It was the best tasting chocolate cupcake I ever had.  This rich chocolate cupcake was so sinful, and I wouldn’t mind repenting a million times over just to have a bite of this. 

Luigi's


This was the first stall we visited and upon my first bite of their Philllychangga, I know I am really up for a mean food tripping.  Philly Cheese steak wrapped in what looked like to me a spring roll wrapper and Chicken Cordon Bleu with a choice of aligue mayo, cream cheese or wasabi sauce were the food that they served.  Both were extremely good, but it was the Phillychangga I was crazy about.

Tina's Pie Outlet


I have always been a fan, and will always be a fan of Tina’s Pie.  During the UTT, I tried their Callos and Prawns In Aligue Tart and it has the same effect on me during the first time I got crazy over their savory pies!  Tina’s Pie Outlet is definitely one of those I highly recommend.  If you have not tried her savory pies yet, you prolly missed half of your life.

Purple Mustard


They are one of the food vendors I know who sells the best tasting ravioli in town.  I’ve tried some of their raviolis in Mercato Centrale, and loved it.  When I learned that they will be serving Fried Ravioli with Rosemary Honey, I was a little apprehensive.  I am cool with rosemary but not on my food.  Purple Mustard made me look at it in a different light.  

Mochiko


They launched their new flavor Cookie Dough & Cream Mochi at the UTT and I am lucky to be among the first foodies who tried it.  Cookie Dough  Cream Mochi. Who could have said NO to that? Definitely not I.  I loved their Azuki, Caramel, and Choc-Nut flavors and now I have a new favorite!

Sweet Life by Ange


They had me at their Angelina Cake.  A combination of cheesecake, red velvet cake, and sour cream frosting.  It was so good I am planning to serve it on my birthday next month.

Carmen’s Best Ice Cream


I’ve been hearing a lot of raves about this ice cream and I’ll definitely write a separate post about this in the coming days because I went gaga over their Malted Milk Ice Cream!  I can’t wait to try all the other flavors!

Concept Specialist Inc


I am a caffeine lover and honestly I am a bit choosy when it comes to my coffee.  Rarely do I encounter coffee vendors which can satisfy my palate.  Surprisingly, Concept Specialist Inc. was able to do just that with their Hazelnut flavored coffee.

Pink Wasabi


I’ve written about My Pink Wasabi before  It was aesthetically pleasing to the eye and to the palate in my opinion.  What can I say? despite the size, the quality of taste wasn’t compromised.

Eat My GF


Okay, I am proud to say that during the UTT, I ate someone else’s GF, and I loved it!  Well, I used to make my own fries when ill bouts of cravings hit me, but now, I’ll be craving for someone else’s GF for sure.

The Fruit Garden


They introduced three new flavors: Fruit Cocktail, Lychee Berry Rose, Winter Season during the UTT.  It was their Winter Season that got me raving. For some reason, it’s like tasting childhood memories.  Now I have new addition to my list of their jams.

Almost Gourmet


First thing I blurted when I tasted their parmesan chicken sticks was  “Oh my gosh! This is so good!”.  I probably said those words 20 times during the course of eating my share of that awesome heavenly delight! It was that good.

Dek A Authentic Thai


I’m not a big fan of spicy food, but their papaya salad and spring roll has just the right amount of spiciness.  But it was their Milk Tea that I enjoyed immensely. 

Joy's Fuzion Kitchen


Their fried chicken wings remind me of bonchon chicken.  I love that it was a little sweet and crispy.  I could eat it non-stop! I also loved the pianono that was served with it.

Gourmet Keso


Between their Chevre (Goat Cheese) w/ garlic & herbs and Chevre w/ cashews & truffled salt, it was the latter which favors my palate.  But the most interesting about it was that it was made by Gawad Kalinga, a community group which aims to end poverty. 

Yoh-Gee Frozen Kefir


Frozen Kefir which has a gelato-like consistency is now my favorite alternative to the usual froyo.  The flavored ones were good, but I liked the original flavor more since it’s not too sour to my taste. 

Big Daddy Jay's All American BBQ


Their smoked pork ribs rocked my world.  Seriously.  The first thing that comes to mind was I want some rice with it! The pork was so tender and moist, plus the sweet smoky flavor of it lingers, making you crave for more.

Symphony of Flavors


Their Leche Flan Cheesecake doesn’t look like pure cheese cake to me.  I think it’s a combination of sponge and cheesecake with Leche flan on top.  Despite that, I still loved it. 

Farm n' Deli


I have tried their Barang’s Tinapa during Yummy Eats, and I still loved it during the UTT.  I think it can be used as a pasta sauce aside from having it with crackers.

5 Loaves and 2 Fish


They served vegetable chips with different dips.  Among the tablea, chicken pate, and pesto dip, It was their pesto dip that I enjoyed more with the chips.  I love that the pesto was a bit sweet and it does not overpowers the taste of the vegetable chips.

Yummy.Aco


I love their Banana loaf with walnuts and choco chips!  Banana Cake reminds me of my childhood and I am very particular when it comes to choosing my banana cake, but this one passed my standards on so many different levels.

Okay, that was a long list I know, but I can’t help it!  Everything was so good I cannot settle choosing just 10 of them.  In the coming days I’ll probably give myself a shot at trying everything on this list again and write a separate post each if situation permits.  I have my fingers crossed for that, but meanwhile, I would like to commend these wonderful vendors for pleasing my palate and rocking my cravings.  I’ll see you again soon, I guess.


I know everyone is waiting for the result of Rockwell’s Ultimate Taste Test Winner, and I am one of those who are really excited.  On that note, I suggest you to visit and like The Ultimate Taste Test Facebook Page and check out Anton’s Our Awesome Planet website because they will be posting the results there.


Congratulations to Anton and his team for this Awesome and Rocking Event.  It was indeed a success and I am sure that foodies will be waiting for more Ultimate Taste Test in the future.

The Ultimate Taste Test 6.0 PART 2 : The Feast

Despite the heavy breakfast my mother served me last Saturday, I was able to try all the food served during the Ultimate Taste Test 6.0.  We started around 11:30 in the morning, took 3 breaks from eating, then finished at around 5:30 in the afternoon and left to attend a dinner buffet.  Too much eating, eh? I am a foodie, people, I am hardcore that way.

Some of the food vendors were familiar since I frequent to Mercato Centrale during weekends, while some were new to me.  Not all of them were generous with their food servings but I understand because they have 1000 foodies to feed, for that matter.  Also, it’s not advisable to gorge on specific food of large quantity as you might be too full to enjoy other dishes.  On the other hand, there were some vendors who were generous enough to encourage a second round.