Saturday, October 31, 2009

Food & Dining - Shoppersville Bakeshoppe

Pastries from Shoppersville Bakeshoppe have been one of my favorites since I was a kid; their Chocolate Chip Cupcakes and Sacher bites (mini sacher torte) were a staple in my lunch box. The bakery’s chocolate cake is one of the best in Manila and nothing beats its price – less than 300 pesos for a regular round cake.


This Halloween season, they have cute mocha-based theme cakes for only Php 110.


Take a break from your chocolate cravings and try the overly cute and shockingly pink Strawberry Cake.

With the plethora of patisseries around, Shoppersville Bakeshoppe must be the most affordable store offering delightful sweet treats with a homemade appeal.

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Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Food & Dining - Buenisimo by Cafe Ysabel


The Vibe
Located in Eastwood Mall, Buenisimo brings Café Ysabel—one of Manila’s heritage cafés, closer to the young urbanites. The modern vintage ambiance is highlighted by the white and dark wood motif. The dining area is small which doesn’t harmonize with the huge furnishings. The place is great for a quiet get together with your close friends and a simple indulgent date with your significant other but not recommended for big groups.

The Taste
The menu is a collage of Spanish, Italian, French and Filipino flavors. While waiting for our orders we were served with free ciabatta and oil dip. The dip was pretty interesting, unlike the usual balsamic dressing, it is quite sweet… a wonderful twist! My girlfriends and I wanted something light so we just settled for appetizers, salad and soups. We had a sampling of the following dishes:
  • Smoked Fish Wantons with ripe mango salsa is a delightful interpretation of the good old tinapa.
  • Marinated Smoked White Cheese with ciabatta slices is oily yet feels guilt free.
  • Grape Salad with White Cheese (Red/Green Grapes, Grilled Laguna White Cheese, Capers, Olives, Balsamic Vinaigrette) has a balanced sweet , sour and tangy profile.
  • Crustacean Bisque with Salmon Confit and Saffron Foam is rich but has slight dried shellfish note.
  • Roasted Tomato Soup with Bacon Wafer is a thin soup with the right savory taste.
The Service
The staff seemed pretty well trained, fast and very attentive to the customers needs. The open kitchen is also small but food preparation was organized. Price ranges from 200 – 800 pesos; very reasonable considering you pay for the stylish ambience, great service and pleasurable cuisine.
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Buenisimo by Café Ysabel
Level 2 Eastwood Mall Veranda
Phone # (632) 7092136
More info on: http://www.ilovebuenisimo.com
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