Time Stood Still...Vanilla Cupcake Bakery

Lettuce Says,

Time stood still... (A Thousand Years, one of our wedding songs)

Time stood still ... as I took a big bite of a Red Velvet cupcake.

Red Velvet Cupcake
Downright Yummy

The start of this year, right after we got married, Sunrise and I's life became a whirlwind  of  events, projects, business start-ups, promotions, things to do, things to think about, people to care for, people to tolerate.  As a summary, chunks and slices of both challenges and successes.  As I sat here, a sip of freshly brewed coffee for me, and Sunrise's battle with the Candy Crush (as I write this blog entry, he's still concentrating on that fudging game...), I came to recap these events in my mind with the fast forward button pressed.

Cupcakes here in Vanilla Cupcake Bakery seemed to have  this melancholic effect in me. With their big pastel colored curtains, floral chairs, and pink fridge, I became a small girl in a big Barbie house with freshly baked aromas surrounding me. I'd love to bring our niece, Sofia here. I can imagine how her big brown eyes will widen at the sight of this.
We always pass by this quaint cupcakery in Glorietta. But as soon as I told Sunrise how much each cupcake costs, he quickens our pace. Hehehe

Homey Ambiance

Trinkets here and there.

After a week of eating riceless meals, Sunrise took pity on me and had me eat a boodle feast from Seafood Island, just to fulfill my cravings for a steamed crabby. Then I was feeling all bloated and coffee was the missing element in my body that time.

Cupcakes!!!

More Cupcakes!

I can say that the place is always packed whenever we pass it by on our way to the customer lounge. It's carinderia-waiting style, meaning there are customers waiting by your side who impatiently wait and hope that you eat quickly and leave so they can take your table. :) Good thing we were located deep inside the bakery, Sunrise was able to nap. 

Their best seller is the Red Velvet cupcake, which I thought was burnt because of its brownish reddish color. But surprisingly, the cake was moist and the combination of cream on top sent me to heaven for a few yummy seconds.

Our Quaint Corner

Favorite Red Velvet Cupcake

Banoffee Jar

Cute Coffee

Sunrise, I like for our home!

For Sunrise, I ordered Banofee Pie on a Jar. He said he's missing the hard crust of Banapple's, which I do not eat and always set aside for him, so that small jar made me happy. I love the concept of small jars for pastries and as drinking glasses. I was not happy with their coffee, though. The serving size was really small which I only finished in 3  gulps, seriously, no matter how cute the cup and saucer was. Their iced teas were also only 3 gulps in volume.

Like Cupcakes by Sonja, they pour in quality ingredients that may justify the expensive prices. Although, for working people like us who came from humble beginnings, this is already on our splurge-slash-guilty column of our budget worksheet. But once in a while, maybe, I can drag Sunrise here again (as long as I can occupy him with the 335 levels of Candy Crush). :)

I know some of you always took a look in Vanilla Cupcake Bakery's way, in life, you may splurge a little, live a little. Your hard work always deserves a sweet treat. Let me know if time stood still for you. Happy Cupcaking!

Till next time!

April 2013
Vanilla Cupcake Bakery
Alabang Town Center

PhP 190 per person

*All articles and photos posted are owned by LettuceandSunrise and should not be copied and/or used without prior written authorization from us. You can always SHARE our posts with the applicable trackback by putting the corresponding links. We will also do this ethical act for other people's posts, websites, and photos that we want to share on this blog. This is a personal blog. Like a diary or journal, all the views, insights, and opinions written here are solely based on our own point of views and belong to ours alone and not of the companies we are part of. Information may not be accurate and may only be applicable at the exact time and situation we experienced it. We will not liable for any errors in this information or any losses or damages arising from its display or use.

Craving Waffles in Caffe Ti-Amo

Lettuce's Thousand Cravings Series

Lettuce Says,

For some people who truly know me, I am the girl who has different and sudden cravings every other day. I would always repeatedly mention the food that I was craving for until I got to eat it. The longest one I had was for two weeks. I would tell everybody around me that caramel popcorn would make me happy. But not an ordinary popcorn would do. I was craving for Chicago Popcorn in Cheese and Caramel Mix. Yes a tinful of those yummilicious "sosyal" and expensive popcorn. I resisted myself to buy one from Greenbelt because it's PhP300++. I finally gave in because I was irritated already with myself. LOL Hehehe

After I've read Richie's blog post about IHOP, I have been craving for pancakes and waffles. BGC was way too far for a commuting working Makati-based sans Binan, Laguna citizen like me, unless we purposely go there. What's keeping Sunrise and I from going there was the unthinkable long queue of hungry people. I gave up on J. Co Donuts a long time ago.

So, after a hard day's work, I trooped to Greenbelt in search for an answer to my pancake cravings.

I passed by one of my fave stores in Gb5, Mango, and just across it, is this cool italian gelato and coffee shop, Caffe Ti-Amo, Italian Gelato & Coffee.

Caffe Ti-Amo is a sister/brother cafe of Cafe France, which is owned by the Jollibee Foods group.

I have to give it to them for getting a great location for their cafe. Caffe Ti-Amo is located at the boundary of Gb1 and Gb5, getting a chunk of the  middle and upper class shoppers. It is the perfect place for leaving our dads to have their coffee and our kids to tame them with gelatos, while we, the girlaloos, shop and relax.

 What lured me in was their poster for a Waffle Gelato, a perfect solution to my pancake craving! The staff were all smiles and patiently explained the different combinations of gelato that I can try with the waffle. Another good thing was you can sample their gelatos  before deciding on what flavors you will get.

My Plate

A Closer Look

Waffle Gelato

Golden Waffle topped with Gelato and Fresh Fruits Regulare (PhP 189)

When you order a regular size, you will get 2 pieces of waffle with 2 scoops of ice cream and a few slices of peach and kiwi, sided with whipped cream and drizzled with chocolate syrup.

Unfortunately for my craving palate, I was not that happy with the quality of the waffle. The outer covering was too hard and the inside was not soft but more on the chewy kind. Good thing, the gelatos were sweet and creamy.

The girl behind the counter had recommended for a hot coffee to go along with my Waffle Gelato. I got the Cafe Americano with hot milk. The coffee has the right strength and attitude that I instantly loved at first sip. The clear cup allowed me to enjoy the coffee more. 

It's a sad thing that my cravings for waffles that time has not been satisfied, but the good thing was, I got to try a great cup of coffee  served by friendly faces.

I think I'll bring Sunrise here to try one of their bestsellers, Affogato, a tiramisu gelato drowned in espresso. Hmmm, got you curious as well? Let's try it then, next time! :)

For you IHOP, you'll have our next time as well! (PANCAKES!!!! repeat nth times until fulfilled)

February 2013
Caffe Ti-Amo
Greenbelt 5

 

*All articles and photos posted are owned by LettuceandSunrise and should not be copied and/or used without prior written authorization from us. You can always SHARE our posts with the applicable trackback by putting the corresponding links. We will also do this ethical act for other people's posts, websites, and photos that we want to share on this blog. This is a personal blog. Like a diary or journal, all the views, insights, and opinions written here are solely based on our own point of views and belong to ours alone and not of the companies we are part of. Information may not be accurate and may only be applicable at the exact time and situation we experienced it. We will not liable for any errors in this information or any losses or damages arising from its display or use.
 

Sewing Machines and Barako Coffee at Cafeño

Lettuce Says,

While I was searching for some resort reviews for our Laiya beach getaway, I found Cafeño. I immediately noted it down on my mind as one of our pit stops.

When we arrived at San Juan town proper, Cafeño greeted us. You can't simply miss it when you are going to Laiya. Just look for Petron and Puregold who shared the same intersection. 

After a long jeepney and bus rides, a quick break was demanded by our bodies and bladders. Hence, the immediate discovery of this quaint coffee shop, Cafeño.

Cafeño is a part of an old heritage home which used to be a gas station, owned by former Cong. Marasigan. The gas station was later transferred across the street (now Petron). Cafeno opened in 2006 and has known for their Barako infused menu items like Barako ice cream which was made from scratch. They have a lot of offerings from rice meals to cakes. They use locally grown and organic produce. They also support sustainability by using manila papers as placemats. Cool!

 

Intrigued by the title?

See for yourselves.

Bag of Beans Tagaytay

Lettuce Says,

Whenever we go to Tagaytay, we never fail to drop by Bag of Beans in the afternoon. I had to remind Sunrise of the smell of freshly baked bread to sway him away from Starbucks, which is our usual hang-out and coffee place.

Here are what we always have.

Bottomless Kapeng Barako, PhP110

Look at that golden mine. I only got a refill once since my head is already ballooning from too much caffeine. Their milk is very light. I prefer mine thicker and creamy so I added it to the hot chocolate instead. 

Shepherd's Pie, PhP115

This is Sunrise's fave. With all that ground beef and mashed potato, we can't help but get some for take away. Just pop  it in the microwave and it stays as good as what they served here. This is seriously heavy on the tummy, a meal on itself.

Beef and Mushroom Pie, PhP120

Beefy goodness! Unlike other pies that have super thick crust, they never skimp on the filling.

Apple Pie Ala Mode, PhP145

The photo speaks for itself. Inside, cinnamon envelops the apple chunks well.

Lettuce Says,

Nov. 25, 2013

Wow, I badly miss Tagaytay after seeing this post by Lettuce. We would usually go there during weekends when our budget would permit us because it was just two jeepney ride away from Binan, Laguna. 

Bags of Beans would always stay fresh on my memory. Believe me, my brain still knows how those breads smelled. 

Please do drop by one of Bag of Beans if you are in Tagaytay. No we are not paid to promote them, but they are definitely worth promoting. (Sana mabasa nila! Ok na ako sa Free Shepherd's Pie and hot choco)

I'll be coming back. Soon.

Bag of Beans
3650 Aguinaldo Highway, Mendez Crossing West
Tagaytay City, Cavite Philippines
(046) 413-2724

 
2011

*All articles and photos posted are owned by LettuceandSunrise and should not be copied and/or used without prior written authorization from us. You can always SHARE our posts with the applicable trackback by putting the corresponding links. We will also do this ethical act for other people's posts, websites, and photos that we want to share on this blog. This is a personal blog. Like a diary or journal, all the views, insights, and opinions written here are solely based on our own point of views and belong to ours alone and not of the companies we are part of. Information may not be accurate and may only be applicable at the exact time and situation we experienced it. We will not liable for any errors in this information or any losses or damages arising from its display or use.

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