X Marks The Spot

Nothing beats chocolate for a wonderful dessert. Whether it's chocolate cake, chocolate ice cream, or chocolate milkshake, nobody would say that they made the wrong decision in choosing their dessert. In fact, not only can chocolate be a delectable dessert, it can also be healthy. It has been proven (Well, just because we love food doesn't mean we don't do some research hahaha) that dark or bitter chocolate is rich in antioxidants that can fight certain types of diseases. Chocolate also contains phenylethylamine, an organic compound that can stimulate our brain to produce serotonin, a mood-enhancing chemical. Some of us might not understand those terms, but the bottomline is chocolate is healthy (just make sure that it's dark or bitter, since milk chocolate has added sugar in it). So, sometimes it's better to give in to our chocolate desires. In fact, where else to give in to this desire than this food place at Katipunan.

The place might not look like a restaurant, but Xocolat offers delicious and mouthwatering chocolate desserts and drinks. The place is very cozy, perfect for students who want to study or make their projects. There's free WiFi here so you won't have any problems if you need internet for research or if you just want to check you Twitter or Facebook accounts. The place is beautifully designed, with colorful chairs and tables and other decors that would make the place more comfortable-looking. Their staff are very courteous and very accommodating. Overall, the place is great. It really will make you want to stay a bit longer than planned.

Their food is as great as the place. Xocolat's food is delicious, not that cheap, but worth the price. Their servings are kind of big, and it seems as though they don't cut costs on their ingredients, because every dish is packed with flavor. Of course, your Xocolat experience won't be complete without trying some of their chocolate drinks or desserts. We tell you, you won't regret whatever you choose on the menu, because every food on the menu is as delicious as the others. They also offer rice meals and pastas for those who want to have something heavy. So, you have more than enough reasons to dine here any time of the day.

Here's what we tried during our Xocolat experience:

Hot Xocolat, 145 php


Glutton Guy: I know it sounds weird drinking a hot chocolate drink on a hot day. But, this drink is just too good to resist. Whenever I eat at Xocolat, I make sure to order this drink. It's a drink I usually crave for whenever I want a chocolate drink. It not only is delicious, it really makes me feel relaxed. Every sip of the drink is packed with that bittersweet cocoa flavor. The milk makes the drink creamy and adds a bit of sweetness, too. Plus, it's served beautifully, with a nice glass and a personalized (it has an 'X' mark haha) small plate or 'platito', as we call it. If you want to have something better than Milo and Chocquick, I recommend trying this one. : )

Meaty Lasagna, 165 php


Glutton Girl: This was my order. I didn't want rice for lunch, because I felt that it was kind of heavy for me. So, I ordered pasta instead. I didn't like the sides of the lasagna because the cheese on top was kind of burnt. The middle, though, was soft and delicious. It wasn't too cheesy, yet it wasn't too mushy. There was enough cheese and enough meat in the lasagna. The pasta was cooked al dente. For me, it was perfectly cooked. It's a pasta worth trying at Xocolat. 

Cream Dory, 185 php


Glutton Guy: I ordered Cream Dory for lunch. I tasted it before and I have to say, it's probably the best Cream Dory that I've tasted. Aside from how beautiful it was presented, it absolutely is delicious. The fish is soft and tasted really good.The cream sauce that comes with it was also delicious. It was so good, I actually finished the sauce even before I finished the fish. I wanted more, but of course that wasn't possible. The mashed potatoes was also delicious. It was burnt on top, like creme brulee, which made it really good. There wasn't a trace of mushiness in the mashed potatoes. It was very creamy and it complements the fish really well. Overall, it's a perfect dish. : )

Churros Con Xocolat, 95 php


Glutton Guy: I'd have to say, this is one of the best desserts of Xocolat. It's a dessert that's hard to resist. The churros sticks are served hot and crunchy. Dipping it in the creamy chocolate sauce is heaven on earth. The sauce also has that bittersweet taste, which is good for me. It wasn't too sweet to make me feel that I'm eating too much sugar, yet it wasn't too bitter to spoil the whole dessert idea. Try it out when you visit the place. : )


Glutton Girl: A very delicious dessert. Xocolat's churros would probably be in my top 5 list of best desserts in the Metro. I love the crunchiness of the churros sticks. If you're craving for a delicious dessert, 6 sticks would probably not be enough. The best part would be when the churros sticks are all gone and what's left is the delicious and creamy chocolate sauce. Scooping the sauce all by itself is lovely. Even without the sticks, the sauce is very delicious.

If you had a rough and tumble day or if you want to start your day in a perfect way, Xocolat is the place to be. They offer wonderful meals and delectable desserts and drinks, with excellent service to boot. It's a perfect choice, whether you want to have a nice meal, or if you just want to hang out and snack with some friends. Truly, Xocolat's delicious food places that 'X' on the food map.

Rating: Buddhalicious!
(Xocolat has 4 branches: 1. 172 B. Gonzales street, Loyola Heights, Quezon City (Near Bo's Coffee and Citibank), 2. Topy's Place, Economia corner Calle Industria, Bagumbayan, Quezon City, 3. Ground Level, Serendra, Taguig, and 4. Lobby area, The Promenade, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan City.)

Chocolat Haven

Don't you just love the taste of chocolate? May it be bitter, sweet, or even both, no one can deny that chocolate is really a dessert made in heaven. And we have just found a place in the Metro where they've taken chocolate into a whole new level.

While strolling at MOA (Mall of Asia), we stumbled upon a small yet unique store that offers delicious and mouthwatering chocolate cakes and other desserts. The name of the place is Chocolat Deep Dark Chocolate Cakes. True, dark chocolate may be bitter. But, Chocolat has maximized its potential, making this type of chocolate one of the best tasting chocolate cakes in the Metro. It has been found out that dark chocolate is actually healthier than normal chocolate like milk chocolate. So, this fact must be an added plus for those health-conscious people who think that chocolate is sugar. Regardless if it's healthy or not, Chocolat cakes would make you forget the health topic because of its delectable taste.

The store's interior is very comfortable. It will really make you feel like having tea at a house. It's not very modern, because the approach is somewhat "comfy-looking". It's actually better because it takes you into a whole different place, since the mall outside has lots of hustle and bustle. There's also soothing music while having your dessert to make your stay more relaxing. It's a good place to have a rest and chat with your friends after a long day, since the usual Starbucks would be very crowded, I'm sure. 

Here's what we ordered and here's what we have to say:

Bailey's Chocolate Cake Classic, 60 php per slice, 505 php - whole
(Classic choco cake soaked in Bailey's Cream liqueur, topped with chocolate curls)

Glutton Guy:  I really liked this chocolate cake. I like that the sweetness of the chocolate in the cake is not as overwhelming as I thought it would be. I think it's because the bitter taste of the Bailey's balanced out the chocolate flavor really well. So yeah, the bitter liquor taste and the chocolate flavor just taste really perfect together. : )

Death By Tablea, 75 php per slice, 620 php - whole

(Dark chocolate cake with bittersweet icing made with crushed native cacao and condensed milk)

Glutton Girl: To tell you honestly, I'm not a big fan of Dark chocolate. But, this cake didn't actually remind me of the bitter dessert. There's still a hint of bitterness in it, though, but it's not too much. And it's also not too sweet. So, I really like the balance of tastes. Plus, the cake is very moist and it melts in your mouth. It's a really delicious cake.

Strawberry Milkshake, 80 php

Glutton Guy: I love love love their milkshake. I like the taste of the strawberry flavor. It's not too sour and not too sweet at the same time. I like that the strawberry flavor does not overpower the creamy taste of the milk. It's really the perfect blend of everything. It's really really good, and drinking it made me feel all happy inside. My only gripe about it is probably its serving size. : )

Vanilla Milkshake, 80 php

Glutton Girl: Vanilla milshake is really heaven! Chocolate cake and vanilla milkshake is like the adult's version of milk and cookies. It's really good, considering that the weather is really hot. There aren't any lumps of ice that aren't crushed. The vanilla flavor is really not too sweet and not too bland. You really have to try their milkshakes. I would really recommend this one to you!

What a rewarding dessert, indeed! Chocolat has really made our sweet tooth satisfied. What's cooler is that it's very affordable. If you're in for a wonderful chocolate experience, why not visit Chocolat? It has 4 branches scattered around the metro. Come visit them, and when you do, be ready to experience chocolate cake heaven!



 
Rating: Buddhalicious!
(Some pics are courtesy of Chocolat Facebook Page and Chocolat Multiply site. Visit them if you have time! ^_^ )
(Chocolat has 4 branches - 1) G/F North Parking Bldg. SM Mall of Asia, Pasay City (Near McDonald's), 2) 26 Sgt. Esguerra street, Courtyard Building, South Triangle, Quezon City (Near ABS and GMA), 3) G/F Llanar Bldg., #77 Xavierville Avenue corner B Gonzales, Loyola Heights, Quezon City, and 4) #205 Burgos corner Mabini streets, Addition Hills, San Juan (near Cafe Ysabel and McDonald's).)