The Army Baker

It was my sister's birthday yesterday and we were debating what cake to get for her party. I was thinking of getting a Strawberry Shortcake from Baby Yulo in Forbes Park, but didn't want to have to drive all the way to Makati and then come back to Quezon City. It was a good thing that I didn't though, as the traffic was rather horrid this weekend. 

Instead, I decided to order a fondant cake from a good friend of mine, Ruby Anonuevo-Domingo, who owns and is the talent behind The Army Baker. 

The theme of my sister's party is Cath Kidston, she's pretty obsessed with that brand lately, even though she has been using Cath Kinston bags since she was in high school. So I asked Ruby to come up with a Cath Kidston themed cake, and here is the finished product:

The cake was so beautiful. All I had to do to dress it up when I received it at home was to put it on top a crystal cake platter and it was perfect. 

I got the cake also for a good price, considering the amount of fondant it required to cover the moist chocolate cake, and the cute details that I asked put on it. 

If you're interested in celebrating in style, please feel free to contact Ruby at 09985621782.

Merced Bake House

When I was a child, I would throw a hissy fit if they didn't serve a Merced cake for my birthday.

Seriously, there was one birthday, I might have been 10 or 11 when some idiot (definitely notify parents since they know how pihikan I am) decided to purchase a Goldilocks cake for my birthday. I refused to go down for the birthday celebration, making the guests wait for me to blow the candle, unless there was a Merced cake.

Then I grew up and birthdays ended up being celebrated in restaurants where they usually have complimentary cake for the celebrant for the blowing of the candles - and Merced got pushed out of the picture.

I made a request from my mom this year, if they can source a Merced cake for my 7th Annual 25th Birthday Celebration. Mommy did not disappoint, and she bought me a cake from Merced!

Merced has been around since 1972, and they're still located along EDSA. They're right before Quezon Ave., in front of the Quezon Ave. Flyover.

They have quite a selection of cakes now, and my parents got a chiffon cake with mango-flavored icing - I guess their take on Mango Bravo.

If you're like me, and grew up to Merced cakes for your birthday, why not have a nostalgic birthday by ordering a cake from them, here are their details:

Merced Bake House
869 EDSA, Quezon City
telephone numbers: 02.924.2108
email: mercedbake@yahoo.com.ph

Cab Cafe in Bo. Kapitolyo

Went out of the house this holiday Friday because I needed to have my car washed. I ended up getting my car washed in Bo. Kapitolyo, in the carwash next to Charlie's. Of course, I didn't end up eating in Charlie's because it was too close to dinner time. It was perfect for afternoon tea though.

So leaving the keys with the carwash boy, I ventured to the coffee shop on the other side. Cab Cafe, like most of the establishments along East Capitol Drive, was a house. Now, it's a coffee shop, serves interesting looking pizza. I will definitely go back to try their pizza.

But since I was just waiting for the car to finish with its bath, I just ordered a cake, and a smoothie. They have quite a collection of cakes, I so want to order a whole cake from here for my birthday this November, granted I don't find a better alternative.

I ended up getting a Chocolate Carrot Cake, which is quite a different and unique take on a carrot cake - which is one of my favorite cake variants. I also ordered a Mango Caramel Drink. Surprisingly enough, the drink was good as well.

If you want to visit Cab Cafe, because I know I will have to go back to try their appetizers and main courses, below are their details:

Cab Cafe
18 East Capitol Drive, Kapitolyo, Pasig
tel. no. 02.477.5382

Manila Peninsula Breads, Cakes and Pastries

This is what I was telling everybody about last night. Look at the horde from Manila Peninsula!

This is the box the cakes and quiche came in, several of course, and not crammed into just one. Strawberry cake up next:

Then we have New York Cheesecake. One whole cheesecake if bought during the sale costs only PhP 450.00:

The Chocolate Fudge Cake was also PhP 450.00:

The quiche was such a hit, a little too moist for my taste, though. It was as big as the cake, and one whole quiche cost only PhP 275.00:

The pictures are all halved, so the cost should still be divided further into two. That's how cheap these were!

Bread was also sold at 50% off!

It's a bit of a sacrifice though because some hotels would actually put their bread on sale at either 5:00PM or 6:00PM, just in time for the people leaving their offices. Manila Peninsula's pastries go on sale after 7:30PM, so it's just in time for the people who brought their color-coded cars for the day.

I only enjoyed the quiche though. The cakes were a bit drab. And although I enjoyed the quiche, it was too moist! Maybe they should have put more cheese to solidify it a bit.

Keep you guys posted for more!