Serving Only The Finest: Kitchen's Best

They say you have to end everything with a sweet note, and that also applies in eating. Dessert is one of the must-haves every after meal, and cakes are one of the most common ones we have. One slice of sweet goodness will surely erase the bad memory of a bad meal, or heighten the satisfaction of an already great meal. While cakes are generally good (making them a safe bet for desserts), not all can be called "the best". Luckily, we stumbled upon a quaint but apparently very known cake place along Pasong Tamo Extension: Kitchen's Best, and they sure have the right to claim "good" in its superlative form.

The place is very regal. The seats were a combination of huge, comfortable sofas and those high, wooden chairs (painted white) with cushions fit for royalty. Huge crystal chandeliers were hanging above the customers, giving the restaurant the dim but yellow-ish light feel. Magazines were spread on the coffee tables, making the customers feel like they're in a coffee shop, only better. Prototypes of their best-selling and award-winning cakes were displayed near the entrance, showcased alongside the actual trophies they received. Several write-ups and features from numerous magazines were also posted on the walls. If a lot of people gave this cake place recognition, then it must be really good.

Wanna Have a 'Wicked' Meal?

Define 'wicked'. Well, according to the dictionary, 'wicked' is an adjective which denotes evil or mischievousness. This adjective often applies to evil people or entities such as witches and demons. But, if you've been studying your English, the term 'wicked' could also be used as a New England slang to add emphasis to what you're saying. In fact, the word is actually synonymous to 'really' and 'very'. So, if you want to say that the food you're eating is fantastic, but you want to say it in a manner different from how you usually sat it, you could say "That was some wicked food!". Well, with a lot of good food places around the Metro, you might just need to prepare yourself in saying this more often, especially when you eat at a restaurant where the 'wicked' word is not only for the delicious food. It's actually the name of the place.

Just within the the vicinity of the ABS-CBN compound is a food place named Wicked Kitchen. It's not that big a place, but people keep coming back to the place for their delicious dishes. In fact, they have already opened a branch at Katipunan Avenue to cater to more avid customers. Wicked Kitchen is a restaurant that serves delicious food during the day and more of an 'inuman' place during the night. But, the place is most famous for some of their rice meals and their desserts. They have a really diverse menu that would give you a hard time in choosing what to eat. The servings here are also quite large, so you definitely won't have a problem when you want to be really full afterwards. The menu at Wicked Kitchen offers a variety of dishes ranging from delicious Western food to scrumptious Pinoy meals with a Wicked Kitchen twist. As compared to other food places that serve the similar dishes, Wicked Kitchen is more on the affordable side. It offers yummy dishes that you'll surely like at not-so-expensive rates.

Craving For Chicken Wings?

One of the best parts of a chicken would be the wings. Despite the fact that it's a bit difficult to eat, it can give you that satisfaction which no other chicken part can probably give.This is probably one of those reasons why people still crave for chicken wings. In America, for example, people enjoy delicious chicken wings with a special sauce coated on the wings and a delicious dip that blends well with the flavor of the chicken wings. One of the most famous types of chicken wings would be the New York Buffalo wings. Usually, the chicken wing sauce would be a mixture of hot sauce, butter, and other spices. It is usually dipped in a blue cheese dressing. But, we're not in America, are we? This is the Philippines, and we love something different. We want something with a twist, without sacrificing the lovely flavors given by the authentic version. This is exactly what Flaming Wings offer.

Most of the students at Katipunan and at Taft may know this food place.Flaming Wings offers delicious food which are affordable enough even for students. Flaming Wings offers a delicious array of dishes, from yummy pasta to delectable desserts. Of course, the must-try of this place is their Buffalo, New York style chicken wings. You can order it and choose your sauce and your dip to go with your chicken. This is what's good about Flaming Wings' chicken wings. You can mix and match your chicken, sauce, and dip and experiment on which sauce and dip go perfectly together. They have sauces such as 'Original' for those who want the authentic Buffalo chicken wing taste and 'Wild' for those who want it extra hot. As for the dips, they have delicious ones such as the original blue cheese, aioli, ranch, and wasabi mayo. Whatever sauce and dip you choose, it's guaranteed to be delicious and mouthwatering.

Flaming Wings has promo meals such as the Tender meal and the Wing meal. The Tender meal comes with delicious chicken breast strips (with the sauce and dip of your choice), rice, and a drink. The Wing meal comes with 2 pieces of chicken wings (with the sauce and dip of your choice), rice, and a drink. For 120 php, it really is not that bad. It's light on the budget and delicious at the same time.

Here's the mix and match we made on our wing meal. We also had a delicious dessert to end our meal with a yummy bang:

Wing Meal, 120 php (Drink-Red Iced Tea, Sauce-Mild n' Sweet, Dip-Ranch), add 25 php to upgrade rice to Pomme Frites, add 30 php to upgrade rice to mashed potato


Glutton Guy: Whenever I eat at Flaming Wings, I always order my favorite Mild n' Sweet sauce and my favorite Ranch dip. The sauce and the dip complemented each other very well. The sauce had that kick but not too much as to make it overwhelming. It also had that sweetness that I like very much. The dip had that sour taste and that tangy-ness that blends well when you dip the chicken to it. The chicken had that crispy outside and a soft and tender inside. You would really gobble it all up and leave only the bones on your plate. That's exactly what I did, at least. I'm not much of a fan of the mashed potato, though. It had that herby taste which I though was a bit weird. Plus, the potato strips on top was not crispy at all. The red iced tea was a bit bland for me. But, overall, the meal was delicious. Clap clap for Flaming Wings' Wing meal. : )

Glutton Girl: The Wing meal for me is a really great dish, price wise and flavor wise. You really get a reasonable amount of chicken wings. Some food places serve chicken wings that are only of small portions. The Mild n' Sweet sauce was great for my taste buds. It wasn't too spicy, but it had a bit of spiciness that blends well with the sweetness. I really liked the mix of those flavors when I eat the chicken. The dip was also wonderful. There even was a time that I was just scooping a bit of the dip on its own. When you dip the chicken and eat it, you would have that burst of flavors that just blends altogether perfectly. I didn't like the mashed potato. It had a very different taste from the usual mashed potato that I get. I also found the red iced tea to be a bit bland. It didn't taste like that the last time I ate at Flaming Wings. However, it didn't upset my meal. It was still a satisfying Wing meal for me.

Wicked Oreos, 75 php


Glutton Guy: A Flaming Wings experience would not be complete without having a try at their famous Wicked Oreos. I order this dessert everytime I visit Flaming Wings. I just couldn't get enough of it. I actually want to do this at home. But, I guess I can't do it as delicious as Flaming Wings does. I loved the hot Oreos and how it complemented well with the cold vanilla ice cream. It's best eaten when you, with your spoon, get a small portion of the hot Oreos and a scoop of the yummy and creamy ice cream. Wicked Oreos is a heavenly dessert. It also is beautifully presented with candy sprinkles on top. It's perfect for sharing with friends. : )


Glutton Girl: It's absolutely a wonderful treat. I tell you, when you mix deep fried Oreos and ice cream you're gonna get one hell of a dessert. The deep fried Oreos are hot when served, which makes it really yummy. The ice cream is also very delicious. It's cold and blends well with the deep fried Oreos. The powder sprinkled around the dish is wonderful. The candy sprinkles add color to the dessert. For 75 php, it really is an affordable dessert since it's great for sharing as well. I would exchange a slice of cake for this for dessert. If you aren't satisfied with Flaming Wings' Wicked Oreos, I really don't know what will.




Whenever you are craving for delicious chicken wings, Flaming Wings is one of those food places you should try. It's yummy and it absolutely gives you your value for your money. It also is not something usual, so you would really keep coming back for it once you've tasted it. Plus, it gives you that freedom to choose what flavors you would want on your chicken, whether you like it sweet, a bit spicy, or extraordinarily hot. That's one good thing that Flaming Wings does. Aside from the chicken wings, they also have other bestsellers such as their pasta dishes that are also worth trying. If there's one thing to say about Flaming Wings' chicken it's this - It's one of the best chicken wings in town! ^_^

Rating: Buddhalicious!
(Flaming Wings has 3 branches: 1. Katipunan Avenue, Loyola Heights, Quezon City (near Pizza Hut), 2. Ancher's Nook Dorm, 5624 Taft Avenue, Malate, Manila (Behind Yellow Cab), and 3. Phase III 302 A. Aguirre Avenue, BF Homes, Paranaque.)

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.)

French Desserts...The Chinese Way

True, common Chinese desserts would include buchi, tikoy, moon cakes, and the lot. I do have to admit, they're really good, which is why a lot of Filipinos crave for these kinds of food. But, that doesn't mean the Chinese are limited to such desserts. Recently, we found an interesting food place that brings western desserts to a place where you would least expect it to be.

We were at Binondo, Manila when we found a little dessert place called Crepe de Chine. Although it's kind of hidden (the place is like at the lower ground level), you can't miss it because of their sign. Peering on their window we found the place intriguing, so we gave it a shot. True enough, the place is inetersting. It's kind of cozy and the people there gave comforting smiles. The place had regular wooden tables (nothing special about those). But, what really caught our attention were the place's tables with swings for chairs. It was really cute and we asked the waiter if we could sit there. We were actually fortunate to be given permission by the owner (we think she was the owner because the waiters took orders from her) to sit there because the area where the tables with swings are was decorated (There were balloons all over the floor and chairs with the words "I Love You" written on the balloons). The owner said that there was a proposal that's gonna happen, but it won't happen for about 2 hours after we arrived. So, we decided to eat and savor our food as fast as possible so as to give them enough time to clean our plates and prepare for the event.

Crepe de Chine's food were not expensive at all. You would think that they are, given the 'classy' name of the place. But, they actually are the opposite. The servings are also big, enough for a person to be full in no time. They also offer other dishes like pastas and salads.

Here's what we got:

Chocolate Milkshake, 90 php


Glutton Guy: What better way to mix chocolate and milk together than to make it into a wonderful and delicious shake! There were ice lumps on my shake, but it actually didn't matter because the milkshake is really good. In fact, I even think that the lumps were a plus for me. It was not too sweet (probably because of the ice) so it really worked. I actually wanted to have more. And I think you will too, after having one of these lovely shakes. : )

Lemonade Slurpe, 50 php


Glutton Girl: This is actually a great summer drink. It reminds me of having fun at the beach and drinking lots of this delicious Lemonade Slurpe. The lemonade had that sweet taste, yet it still had that citrus and tangy taste. The flavors were well-balanced, making it really good and also making it a good thirst quencher. I suggest you have a try on this one, Glutton fans.

CDC Party! Platter, 270 php


Glutton Guy: It wasn't joking when it said 'Party'. It's a lot, considering we were only two people. There were lots of fruits (peaches, mangoes, bananas), three scoops of ice cream (strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate), and lots of nuts and chocolate syrup. Every dessert that they have on the menu, it's all here in one big plate. You'll definitely feel satisfied after this, I'm sure. : )


Glutton Girl: What I'm after here are the 3 scoops of ice cream. I'm a big fan of ice cream, so this dessert really worked for me. I really think that it would work more without the crepe, though. Plus, It was too big for us, because I really had a full stomach before we even finished it. Good thing Glutton Guy had a big appetite (Sorry Glutton Guy hahaha).

Choc-o-Nuts, 165 php


Glutton Guy: Once again, I loved the chocolate syrup and the ice cream. I'm really not sure if the crepe worked for me. However, the crepe had that chocolate flavor, which kind of worked for me. I just felt that the crepe was a bit dry despite the ice cream and the syrup. The nuts was also an added plus. However, I think that there shouldn't be too much because it could be overpowering. : )


Glutton Girl: Like Glutton Guy, I also loved the ice cream. I'm just not sure about the nuts. I think it gives the dessert that crunch. But, I also agree with Glutton Guy that it shouldn't be too much. Overall, I think it's an okay dish for me.

It's not all the time that Binondo surprises you with something different, especially when it comes to food. True enough, Binondo is a mix of different cultures, where one can embrace the diversity of both the Chinese and the Filipino culture. Crepe de Chine is one of those testaments that Chinese aren't just limited to their culture, rather, they can also do more and explore to become competitive, not just in the culinary world, but in life in general.

Rating: Buddhalicious!
(Crepe de Chine is located at LG-2 World Trade Exchange Building, 215 Juan Luna street, Binondo, Manila. Facing Binondo church, just take the right side of Juan Luna street.)

Getting Bedazzled Over Banapple

After a satisfying meal, we usually look for something else. It's not that we're that gluttonous (uhhh don't take our names seriously hahaha). It's just that we love food and we usually look for something sweet after a meal. That's common, I mean, there's dessert as the final course of every meal. So, I guess it wouldn't hurt to have a dessert at some food place we could think of.
 

This time, however, the case is different. We came there on a late afternoon, which means it's more of a 'merienda' than a dessert after a meal. Interestingly, since we were near the Katipunan area, a place came into mind. This time we tried the popular Banapple Pies and Cheesecakes. This is one, if not the only one, of those food places where one of its branches can be found on the same street. Probably another one was built to accommodate more customers, since the first one is too small. Once you get inside, you'll feel comfortable because of the ambiance. Although it's a bit noisy (well, there are a lot who eat here) you won't really be annoyed. There are times, though, that you'll have to wait for a table because there are a lot who eat here, especially during lunch and dinner.

Their desserts are very delicious. They're not too sweet, thus not making it overpowering. They also offer meals for lunch and dinner. They have pasta and entrees if ever you really feel that hungry. Plus, the food is affordable, so you won't have to worry regarding the budget issue.




Here's what we got:

Banana Chocolate Peanut Butter Smoothie, 90 php


Glutton Guy: This was my drink. It was an ultimate thirst quencher and a summer chiller combined in one. You can really taste the peanut butter and the banana. The flavors aren't overpowering, which means the banana flavor, the peanut butter flavor, and the chocolate flavor are well-balanced. It's a very delicious smoothie that I'm sure you'll also love. : )

Cold Milk, 30 php (small), 50 php (large)


Glutton Girl: It's very lovely to have cold milk match your dessert. The milk was just ordinary, nothing special about it. But having it together with your favorite Banapple cake is a bliss. I knew even before I ordered that it would make a good tandem. And heck, it did.

Old-Fashioned Chocolate Cake, 85 php per slice, 730 php (whole)


Glutton Guy: This was Glutton Girl's order. I really love chocolate, but, this cake was kind of hard and dry. It wasn't a favorite of mine. However, I'm not saying it's not good. As I've said, I love chocolate. So, it's a good thing to try it out as well. You might want to have this with cold milk. I think it's better. So, I guess Glutton Girl did a good job pairing the two. : )



Glutton Girl: As Glutton Guy said, this was my order. I love the smooth chocolate on top of the cake and the caramel in the middle. For me it improved the cake since the cake itself was not too delicious. Good thing I ordered milk for a drink. It really made a huge improvement.

Super Caramel Fudge Cake, 85 php per slice, 780 php (whole)


Glutton Guy: This was the vice versa version of the Old-fashioned chocolate cake. This time the caramel is on top and the chocolate (and some more caramel) is on the inside. It's sweeter than the previous chocolate cake, but I liked this one better since the cake is a bit softer and more moist. : )


Glutton Girl: This is also a good one. The caramel blends well with the chocolate, making it more moist and more delicious. The presentation is also nice, making it more yummy. It's also a good tandem with my cold milk hahaha

Santa's Chipper Chocolate Cookie Cheesecake, 95 php per slice, 900 php (whole)


Glutton Guy: This was my order. This is one of their newest cheesecakes so I tried it out. Plus, it looks good on the outside hahahaha I have to tell you, this is one of the best tasting cakes I've tasted. I'm really not a fan of cheesecake, but, this is really good! I just can't get enough of it. Just merely mentioning the cake makes me crave for some. The icing on the top, the cheesecake on the middle, and the chocolate crust on the bottom, it all works. It blends well and it melts in your mouth. It really is worth the price.  : )


Glutton Girl: This is the reason why Banapple keeps on creating good cakes that sell and another reason why people keep coming back to this place. This is one of the best so far (I still love Banoffee more though hahahaha). In fact, it's the best among the three that we ordered. The chocolate chips melt in your mouth together with the icing on top. I can't distinguish the taste of the icing though, but it's very very good. It's a bit pricey, but it's worth it because it's really really good.

True enough, Banapple is a dessert haven for people like us. You'll definitely feel satisfied with their cakes. Even just a slice is really enough to make you come back. And it would be a good idea to get your cakes there, too, for your parties or for gifts. It's also a good place to sit down, chat, and have fun. Katipunan is really a long road full of food choices. You'll definitely have a hard time choosing where to eat. But when it comes to desserts, there's no question that only one stands out among the rest - Banapple.

Rating: Buddhalicious!
(Banapple has 3 branches: 1) 225 Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City, 2) 206 Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City (These two are at opposite sides of the street, meaning, one at the right side if you're coming from Ateneo, the other at the right side if you're coming from Eastwood), 3) 2nd Floor, Il Terrazzo, Tomas Morato corner Scout Madrinan, South Triangle, Quezon City (This one is near ABS-CBN))

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).)

Yogurt fit for Kings!!!

Becoming fit and healthy has been the recent trend in today's lifestyle. More and more people are now becoming aware and conscious of how they look and how healthy they are. Which is why most of us diet or exercise, to keep us fit and fab. Even in what we eat, we always have to see to it that what comes inside our stomachs are low in fat, low in cholesterol, low in carbs, and the like.

One of the most popular healthy and irresistible foods today is the "yogurt ice cream". It became so popular, that everybody now knows it by the name of "Fro-Yo". One by one, Fro-Yo stores have been popping out introducing different flavors and different toppings.

Since this Fro-Yo has become the new "in thing", we just couldn't let it slip our taste buds (Yes, we're avid fans of Fro-Yo). So we came across one Fro-Yo store that you'll surely love.

Located at Shangri-La Mall is a Fro-Yo store named GOLDEN SPOON. Sure, from the name itself it sounds like it's gonna be expensive. But actually, it's not. It's actually cheaper than you think it is. It's like an affordable version of Haagen Dazs. Plus, it's super delicious, you won't even notice it's yogurt. This is because normal Fro-Yo's would taste sour (The first time I ate Fro-Yo, I thought they used expired milk hahahaha - Glutton Guy). However, Golden Spoon's Fro-Yo's taste like original ice cream. What's even better is that they have different flavors to suit your sweet tooth. Actually, they have 50 Golden flavors (that's what it said in the ad inside the store). The best thing of all, they offer free tastes!!! (Talk about thinking on what flavor to buy) Yep, whatever you wanna try to taste they'll offer it to you for free. They'll even give suggestions as to what you might like. And they have different toppings, ranging from cold syrups to hot syrups. And of course, they also have the other toppings like marshmallows, cereals, choco chips, brownie chunks, and even gummy bears. The prices range from 85php (The "mini" size. Believe me, it's not that mini at all - Glutton Guy), to their biggest size which is around 475php (I have yet to see how big this actually is. For a price that much, it better be. - Glutton Guy). Other sizes are 155php-small and 220php-large. You have to pay additional 20php for each topping, but believe me, even without the toppings you'll surely be satisfied. Anyways, here are the flavors we tried and tasted:

Boysenberry

Glutton Guy: Best flavor, in my opinion. It actually is one of their bestsellers according to the Fro-Yo man there. It has a different flavor that I can't quite distinguish. I think it tastes like cotton candy, only better. It's not too sweet, so you won't easily get that feeling that you can't eat more of it. This is one of the flavors that's good and delicious even without the toppings. Be sure to have a free taste, in case you're in doubt of what it tastes like hahahaha (According to the very trustworthy Wikipedia, a boysenberry is a cross between a raspberry, a blackberry, and/or a loganberry. It is a large compound fruit, with large seeds and a deep maroon color.) : )
Glutton Girl: This Boysenberry flavor is actually my favorite. It's super delicious, yet it's not too sweet. It tastes like candy with a mix of strawberry and raspberry. It's really good and one of the flavors you have got to try at Golden Spoon. We ordered it without any toppings. And I have to say, it's really really good. We didn't actually know it was the bestseller, since we didn't know what "Boysenberry" was. So, we ordered Old Fashioned Vanilla and New York Cheesecake. If not for the Fro-Yo man's free taste, we wouldn't have tasted it.

Old Fashioned Vanilla

Glutton Guy: This was what I ordered. I asked Hershey's Chocolate Syrup and Gummy bears for toppings. (Yeah I know, the toppings aren't related at all... But, hey, it's still good. At least for me hahahaha ) It tasted okay. However, it only had a slight edge to the vanilla ice cream. It's healthier, though. It also had a similar taste to another flavor of theirs, New York Cheesecake. We tried both of it and it had the same taste. So, up until now we still do not know the difference between the two flavors. (Aside from their name, of course) : )
Glutton Girl: It was just the same as the New York Cheesecake flavor. However, it wasn't as sweet as the original Vanilla flavor, which is good for me. I didn't like Glutton Guy's idea of mixing chocolate syrup with gummy bears, though. Separately, I think they're good. But together, I'm not quite sure hahahaha Try it out for yourself. I have a strong feeling that you're all gonna like it (I meant the flavor, not the combination of toppings hahahahaha).

New York Cheesecake

Glutton Guy: Like I said in the previous flavor, it actually has the same flavor with Old Fashioned Vanilla. I didn't get the cheesecake flavor, much less the New York Cheesecake flavor. Nevertheless, it's still good. It's creamy and yummy, just like the other flavors. It's still a must-try though. (Actually, all the flavors are a must-try..Oooohh except for the...you'll see later on hahahaha) : )
Glutton Girl: I didn't get the real taste of the cheesecake. It's like more on Vanilla flavor. It wasn't evident that the flavor was New York Cheesecake. But, like Glutton Guy, I still liked it, especially with my brownie chunks topping. The combination of the Fro-Yo flavor with the brownie chunks was delicious for me. Unlike Glutton guy, I don't have a bad taste for toppings hahahahaha


Pistachio

Glutton Guy: This is Golden Spoon's epic fail. And I mean it. It really didn't taste good, not one bit. It tasted like Chinese medicine. Even the guys at Golden Spoon disliked the flavor. What's worse is that the flavor stays in your mouth for some time. I really had no choice but to ask for another free taste of a different flavor just to remove the Pistachio taste in my mouth. I don't know why they still keep this flavor, having 50 flavors and all. No offense meant, though. It really just wasn't good for me. : )
Glutton Girl: I really hate to say this, but here it goes. Pistachio is not a good idea for me. It wasn't good. It really really tasted like yucky medicine. It really had this unexplainable bitter flavor for me. I wouldn't order this if I were you. Simply put, I wouldn't recommend it, not even one bit. You have 49 flavors to choose from, so don't be dismayed hahahahaha If you're a fan of Pistachio, well, too bad because it would really destroy your admiration for the flavor. Still, you might like it depending upon your taste (or if you're really a fan of the flavor, no matter how bad it tastes). You have that "free taste right", though. So, I suggest you exercise it before you order the flavor hahahahaha

Cake Batter

Glutton Guy: Another best seller of the store. I have to say, it was also good. It wasn't as good as Boysenberry, though. But, it's in my number 2 position. It did taste like cake batter. Not to sweet, yet the flavor was there. Plus, it was very creamy. Another must-try flavor for you guys. Still, you can have a free taste of this flavor in case you're in doubt. : )

Glutton Girl: I can't quite recall the flavor (since it was just a free taste hahahaha). However, based on what I remember, it tasted like a real cake batter. I did wonder if they really use cake batter and just put it in the ice cream maker to chill. Maybe I'm right hahahaha Do try it out. It's good. I just wasn't able to eat a lot since we only asked for a free taste of it.

Those were the flavors we tasted. And we have to say, we were very much satisfied with what Golden Spoon had to offer. There's still a lot of flavors to taste. Some of them are also bestsellers such as Espresso, Cafe Latte, Strawberry, Peanut Butter, Cookies n' Cream, Chocolate Malt, and many many more. Truly, Golden Spoon is worth a trip for you Fro-Yo peeps out there, even for you guys who just want to have a nice chat back-to-back with a nice and yummy dessert.

 

 

Rating: Buddhalicious!

(Golden Spoon is located at Level 1 of the Shangri-La Plaza Mall. It's just near Starbucks and the big rotating entrance door below California Pizza Kitchen.)