Mad about FOOD

I love Tuesdays. Tuesdays are my and Bea’s special day for food-tripping. Our last few weeks were spent in Glorietta and Greenbelt, checking out the restaurant scene as well as the annual book sales. During our brief absence from Serendra, a new store has opened that is creating all the buzz these days. Having a sweet tooth, I was drawn to it like a moth unto flame.

                   

I read somewhere that the color orange can boost one’s appetite. Marta’s Cakes obviously didn’t need that–pink and green colors dominate the shop. With its undeniably chic yet welcoming interiors and sophisticated display cases, one cannot help but be magnetized toward the store. Cake lovers–young and old alike–will surely have a fun time hanging out in the shop for some sweets and coffee.

         

Take note of the small chairs and tables–aren’t they just cute? They have a dream-like quality about them, as though they came straight out of a candy factory or a Disney animated movie. Well, actually, they’re there to encourage kids (and adults) to be creative. You’ll see how later.

         

Everything about the shop is well-planned and well-executed. The ceiling is decorated with attractive, colorful lamps that will have you craning your neck so you can admire them. Two lavatories have been thoughtfully set up in a corner for hand-washing (the liquid soap even smells so delicious!). The main glass display case features an assortment of cookies and mini-cakes that are a delight to behold. Jars filled with knick-knacks provide more colors to this dreamland. On one side of the wall are display shelves that showcase the cakemaker’s sample works. Here’s just one of her many wonderful and unique cake creations:

         

My favorite design is the "Noah’s Ark" cake but I couldn’t get a nice shot of it because it’s way up there on the shelf. Anyway, the cakes look so meticulously crafted and, according to her customers, they taste great, too. I know this because I’ve encountered the name Marta Matute before. She used to accept orders for made-to-order cakes  (for birthday, baptism, wedding and other special occasions) from her home in Alabang, or so I’ve read.

         

As I was saying, kids are encouraged to bring out their creative streak, so Ms. Marta herself approached us and asked if Bea and I wanted to try decorating cookies. Of course we did. So we bought a decorate-your-own-cookies kit (P85), which consists of two shortbread cookies (one heart-shaped and the other one a cow) and a small pack of candies. The staff lent us bottles of liquid frosting in different colors. I sat down with my little girl and I felt like I was an 8-year-old again. Now I’ll let the photos do the talking:

         
              That’s my Bea trying her hand at cookie-decorating. Go, baby!!!

         
Now she’s putting on the finishing touches–small ‘marshies’, candy-coated chocolates and rainbow sprinkles.

         
                    Our masterpieces…love that blue-and-yellow cow!

         
            The verdict: wonderful to look at, even better to eat. Yummy!!!

Now that was one of the best Tuesday afternoons we’ve ever had! Bea even remembered it before we went to bed: "Thank you so much, Mommy, for taking me to that cake shop!" I promised her we will visit it again one of these days.

As for the gorgeous Ms. Marta, I told her how I learned about her new store. I said I belong to this online community and there’s a topic about ‘Marta’s Cakes’ on one of the boards. She said that someone emailed her a link to that topic, in fact, but when she clicked on it, it was all about ‘Wendy’s.’ "That’s what happens when you’re not high-tech," she added. Well, if we can be anywhere near as imaginative and creative in baking as she is, who needs to be high-tech?

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