Baker’s Dozen
A Cake and Pastry Fair at the Power Plant Mall
I have not visited Power Plant in months, mainly because Fully Booked has opened in Fort Bonifacio and I find it more accessible from where we live. But when I learned about the Baker’s Fair, I just knew I had to head all the way to Rockwell for it. It runs on all weekends of September, and I’m so glad my Bea and I went last Saturday. From the plain and simple to the downright sinful, you will find all these cakes and more at the fair. To tell you the truth, I’m still in a dessert high as I write this. Ahhh…a cake lover’s paradise indeed it was!
The affair was participated in by famed homebakers, as I call them, and even by some more established outfits. They are, as far as I can remember: The Tiny Blessings, From the Kitchen of Susie Quiros, Pattycake Desserts Bar, The Sweet Life by Ange, Cosmo Bread by Elaine Lo, San Lo’s Famous Empanadas & Tortas, Bohemia Cakes and Pastries, Jammie’s Ensaymada, Vargas Kitchen, Saltine, Cuptails and Dreams, Karen’s Kitchen by Karen Young, and Diamond Hotel.
Caramel Martie cupcakes from Pattycake Desserts Bar
It was a day of feasting on cakes and every pastry imaginable. There were free samples on every table and I took bites upon bites of those heavenly desserts. I found the turtle pie from Pattycake Desserts Bar (tel. 889-1609 / 0920-9544960) very remarkable. It’s not your typical turtle pie because it’s made with "chocolate mousse with caramel and chopped walnuts on a chocolate cookie crust."
The wonderful display table of Bohemia Cakes and Pastries
I was like a child whose eyes lit up at the sight of Bohemia Cakes and Pastries‘ nook, which had a really impressive-looking three-layer cake covered with fondant, and some freshly baked cupcakes and biscotti. I wondered why I’ve never heard of them, and I was told that they’ve only been around for 3 years and that they just rely on word-of-mouth advertisement. Well, here’s my share of spreading the word–Bea and I loved the orange poppyseed cupcakes (P46 each), which were deliciously fluffy with a nice citrusy buttercream frosting. Bohemia Cakes and Pastries (tel. 807-1266 / 0917-8430915) is based in Alabang.
Blue and white motif of Vargas Kitchen
Even simple things give me so much pleasure and satisfaction. The famous butter cake of Vargas Kitchen did just that. Bereft of any embellishment or intricate decoration, the plain-looking cake tasted so light and buttery with a melt-in-your-mouth quality. Each bite is sheer joy. A small, thin slice sold at P20, but I’m not complaining. Vargas Kitchen (tel. 810-7529 / 817-8483) is a family business run from their home in Forbes Park, Makati.
Attractive cupcakes from Cuptails & Dreams
I’ve known about Cuptails & Dreams (mobile: 0927-5653261) even before the fair, and I must admit I was pretty reluctant to try it because of the cupcakes’ alcoholic content. But I was mesmerized by the incedible display of cupcakes with matching blow-up photos framed on one side. The "Cuptails" line offers novelty cupcakes like Cosmopolitan (lemon butter cupcake infused with Absolut Vodka Citron topped with Cranberry buttercream frosting) and Tequila Sunrise (orange butter cupcake laced with Jose Cuervo Tequila, topped with pink buttercream icing). The Dreams line, on the other hand, has non-alcoholic cupcakes like Vanilla Sky, Don Cappuccino and Pink Lemonade, among others. Prices range from P40 to P55 apiece.
The bestselling Chocolate Ganache cake from Karen’s Kitchen
Many of the bakers were friendly enough to engage me in chit-chat upon seeing my camera aimed at their products. But if there’s someone who deserves the "Miss Congeniality" plum, it has to be Miss Karen Young of Karen’s Kitchen (tel. 898-2280). She’s the friendliest baker ever (and pretty, too!). Her bestselling chocolate ganache cake, gloriously enrobed in shiny, lush chocolate frosting, really made my mouth water. When a new batch of her chocolate cupcakes with ganache icing arrived, I was having halo-halo at the nearby Milky Way, and I watched how the cupcakes sold like hotcakes–they were completely sold out by the time I finished my halo-halo. Maybe I’ll just order from her soon.
Chic cupcakes from The Sweet Life by Ange
…and the award for flair and best presentation goes to *drum roll* The Sweet Life by Ange! Goodies adorned with pretty pink ribbons, cakes that come in pink and silver boxes and with a revolving display panel to boot–teen baking sensation, Ange, definitely takes the cake! Her cakes have stylish and sophisticated names such as Vuitton (moist chocolate cupcakes with caramel Fleur de Sel buttercream) and Moulin Rouge (moist red velvet cake layered with cream cheese frosting and decorated with chocolate hearts). I bought the Marie Antoinette (Madagascar Bourbon vanilla cupcake with Tequila Rose buttercream) and Chanel (moist chocolate cupcake with Valrhona buttercream) at P50 each. I liked the cake bases but the frosting of Marie Antoinette tasted a bit like medicine, to be very candid. However, knowing that the statuesque Ange, who’s only in her senior year of high school, is so young and very promising, I’m quite sure her business will go a long way.
Cosmo Bread by Elaine Lo
The beautiful Elaine was manning the booth (or table) of Cosmo Bread at the fair that day. I was able to try the refreshing peppermint torte and her chocolate pound loaf, which was very, very moist and velvety. I bought a chocolate decadence mini-cake (P90)–luscious chocolate and caramel cake that looked utterly familiar because Elaine supplies to coffee shops (Figaro?). She gave me 3 complimentary cookies just for being there. Life is delicious, ain’t it?
You still have the chance to visit the fair this coming weekend. It’s ideal for those hunting for food gift ideas for the Christmas season, or even for those who simply love cakes (just like me).
