For months, my aunt would rave about custaroons every time we had a family gathering. She said that…read morethis dessert, a combination of macaroon and flan, is simply heavenly. Unfortunately, she would always forget to bring samples of the treat during our potluck lunches. According to her, the only store she knew that sells custroons is in Quezon City. Since I'm not really a fan of anything sugary, I didn't really mind not being able to taste custaroons, although I was a bit curious about it. Who wouldn't be? It's two types of pastries in every bite. It's insane! Finding ourselves in Century City Mall one Saturday, my sister pointed a dainty looking kiosk. She thought that it's what my tita was talking about. My sister was right. We stumbled upon a kiosk of Gigi Gaerlan Custaroonery at the second floor of the mall. We immediately ordered a box of six, composed of three original and three cheese custaroons. It was a bit pricey but I was already admiring the packaging. So what's my verdict? I give it five stars or two thumbs up. I loved every bit of it, particularly the cheese flavored ones. The sweetness of the custard was tempered by the saltiness of cheese. And I'm just glad that I don't have to go to Quezon City just to have a box of custaroons.

To fight the sweltering heat during the summer months, I usually head to the nearest restaurant…read morethat serves halo-halo. This Filipino dessert, however, is often served too sweet and a bit too filling such that I find it difficult to finish one order. At SM Aura Premier, I have discovered a lighter alternative to halo-halo. And that's mochi from Mochi Sweets. This Japanese treat is made from flavored glutinous rice which is formed into balls and added with various fillings inside. What I like about the mochi from this store is that the balls are served cold. Each bite of the sticky sweet ball can be refreshing and helpful in beating the summer heat. Just like ice cream, mochi comes in different flavors. If you want something on the sour or tart side, the lemon mocha is just perfect for your palate. The bestseller, on the other hand, is the chocolate mousse flavor. It's a standout for kids. Personally, I like the red bean mocha. Its sweet cream and red bean filling gives life to the sticky rice. The only downside is the price. A small mocha ball for PHP 70.00 can be expensive for many, including me.

The Japanese like their restaurants and stores discreet. When you are in Tokyo and looking for a…read morespecial place, it is sometimes so difficult to find with no signs etc. The Mochi Sweet store also has a bit of these elusive vibes. Sure they have a big sign outside, but the storefront is dark and dimly lighted. The display of the mochi's really makes it feel very luxurious. I felt a bit awkward going in the store because I was intimidated by just being in that space with the two service staff, but my mouth was stronger than my brain once again so I went in. The mochi lived up to my expectations, and maybe even exceeded it a bit because the inner core was actually bigger than the outer layer of rice. I had their best seller which is the chocolate mousse and it felt like such a treat and left me wanting to come back. Next time I'll try their mochi donuts which i'm very curious about!

Something happened yesterday that made me, well, love Manila even more. I was coming out of my bus…read moreon my way home from work, dropping off my stop at Makati Avenue corner Buendia, when I noticed tons of people with cups of dirty ice cream. I decided to look for the source and walked up to the dirty ice cream vendor. It ordered the P20 cup (of course) with all three flavors - avocado, mango, and cheese. Little unusual combination, but nonetheless it's a nice break from all the chocolate ice cream I eat all the time. Wow. Just, wow. Kuya Nilo's dirty ice cream might just be the best of its kind I've ever tasted. There was just something about it that made me, I dunno, think about when I was a kid and I used to love when the ice cream vendor passed by our house. The ice cream was of course made in the Filipino way, which you could discern from its unique texture and consistency, but the flavors were absolutely fantastic. The flavors tasted like home - you just get the feeling that the fruits used here were bought fresh from the market. This is Filipino ice cream making at its finest. In case you were wondering, kuya changes his flavors daily. So you could run into Melon, Ube, or Dalandan flavored ice cream the next time you go there. I asked Kuya Nilo, the owner of the stall, why his ice cream tasted so good. He says that it's because it's his own recipe - he makes it in a slightly different way from all the other ice cream vendors out there. He has a specific "timpla," that he's been making every moring since he started. In what way this is, I'm not sure, but whatever it is certainly elevated this particular vendor. He's been doing this every day for the last 15 years; so the next time you stop by this particular corner of Manila, make sure to watch out for Kuya Nilo's cart.

If you want dessert, this is one of the places to go to...I am rating only for the dessert mango…read morefantasy we ordered. Has mango ice cream, corn flakes, fresh mango colored whip cream and some pound cake on bottom. It's located in Greenbelt three, second floor. The cafe is quite roomy and AC works. They do offer wifi access that works and it's a bonus to me anyway. Customer service is as expected.

There's something about St. Marc Cafe that is so inviting and homey. A Japanese cafe franchise that…read morewas recently brought in by the Bench group, the place is definitely a welcome addition to the cafe scene here in Manila. In Japan, the cafe is actually named Chococro, named after their best-selling chocolate croissant. The croissant is also available in two other flavors - marble and matcha. I've tried the chocolate one myself and it is very delicious. The bread is just the right amount of thickness and flakiness and the chocolate is rich and there's a generous serving of it. Perhaps what sets St. Marc Cafe apart from the other cafes is their selection of ice cream cones and sundaes that have a Japanese twist to them because of ingredients like matcha and red bean. Aside from the sweets, they also serve all kinds of coffee and tea drinks and delicious pasta dishes as well.

First time to eat at Kopi Roti, first time to eat Kaya Toast, and I regret doing so. I dislike coco…read morejam, and it is only after taking my first bite that I realized my mistake. I should have asked! Ah well, I was hungry and I didn't want to waste anything, so I forced myself to finish my kaya toast with cheese and egg. The cheese seemed non-existent, while the egg was dry and bland. I did, however, enjoy the siomai (so siksik) with chili toyomansi and the Ruby iced tea. When I saw the "iced tea," I was disappointed because it had so much ice! The drink is actually more like a slushie instead of the usual "liquified" form. I warmed up to this drink as I carried on with my meal.

I've tasted coffee buns in some bread shops, and hands down, Kopi Roti's is still the best coffee…read morebun I've tried. Though yes, it's more expensive than the coffee buns I buy in bakeries. It's a soft bun with some crispiness on the edges, with a mild coffee flavor, and a sweet filling inside. It's delicious maybe also because it's served fresh and hot when you order it. And also because Kopi Roti comes from Singapore, home of the kopi tiams (their local term for coffee shop) where they serve this delightful bun. I'm not really a coffee drinker but I had to try it with the coffee because it is, after all, a coffee bun. And they have a value meal for it too. It's a good thing that the coffee is sweet - it turns out that this is how Singaporeans prepare it. Kopi Roti has other interesting items on the menu like choco milk toast, kaya puff (looks like cream puff), and coffee jelly. But it's always the kopi bun that I order.

This place is a solid 4. Maybe even a 4.5…read more We ended up at Chocolate Kiss on a whim, while in traffic, after making a wrong turn during rush hour on Quezon Ave/Panay area and missing the U turn. 20mins later, at the QC Circle, I thought about my old college date cafe, Chocolate Kiss. Cause why not? The cuisine is American-Filipino fusion with the usual salad, soups, entrees. and dessert! Glorious desserts! Hubs got pasta and I got Chicken BBQ with mashed potatoes. Devils Food Cake is always a best finisher. Sweet but not too sweet. The meringue is a winner. I think the price points really make up for everything, just hated the grody public bathrooms in that building. But as a pleasant hole-in-the-wall surprise, this will surely be a nice date night place (some days they have someone playing guitar or piano). Quiet, relaxing, amidst the cool background of the state uni, where this restaurant is located. The restaurant is on the second floor of Bahay ng Alumni (Alumni house, roughly translated). You can park anywhere around the building or just walk.

There is nothing better to pair with tons of schoolwork like good chocolate cake. I was staying in…read morea dormitory inside the campus while I was studying in Diliman, but I never liked staying in since it's hot and studying is hard enough without being bathed in sweat. That's why I usually stay in the airconditioned restaurants in the campus, and Chocolate Kiss is one of my favorite ones. How do I love thee (I'm talking about Chocolate Kiss now, but I love you too, dear reader)? Let me count the ways. This place has some of the best cakes in the metro. Yup, you heard me. Their devil's food cake is out of this world (and maybe in the next - heh). If every bite meant another year in hell with Lucifer himself, I'd keep eating. Oh and, did I mention they have excellent, FREE WiFi? You're welcome.

I've always viewed crepes as sweet snacks, so I was surprised to prefer Crepeman's savory crepes to…read moretheir sweet ones. I tried 3 variants:: mango peach, Philly cheesesteak, and Porky's bacon. The mango peach crepe had dark chocolate spread, white chocolate chips, whipped cream, and of course, mango strips and peaches. Not a fan of this, but maybe if the mangoes and chocolate spread had been sweet, I would have enjoyed this more. The Philly cheesesteak had beef, caramelized onions, cheese, and cheese spread. One has the option to include hot sauce, which I did, and I know that they used good hot sauce because I had the sniffles after haha :D The beef and cheese were really flavorful! Lastly, the Porky's bacon crepe was as good as the Philly cheesesteak. Amoy pa lang ang sarap na! It had sweet corn, lettuce, mayo, cheese, and BACON. Bacon's enough reason for me to like it! Crepeman Cafe also offers a wide range of drinks, and their wintermelon milk tea goes well with the savory crepes. Can't wait to try the other crepe flavors! :)