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Taking snacks and desserts can be quite a challenge for [tag]diabetics[/tag] like me. Our body screams “sweetness”. We can only stare and drool at that mouth-watering chocolate cake or blueberry pie on the party table. It disappoints me that not many coffee shops carry sugar free desserts or low carb, low fat dishes. I often chastise high-end coffee shops to place these healthy dishes on their menu. After all, their market includes the health – conscious who watch their carbohydrate and sugar intake. So when Blooey invited me to try SugarNot!, I couldn’t help but say “YES”.

I read that Sugarnot! is the country’s first and only completely [tag]sugar-free coffee shop[/tag]. Sugarnot! serves not only cakes, pastries and breads but also soups, salads, pasta, sandwiches, and of coffee – all sugar free, low on carb and low in fat.

My husband, Lauren and I trooped to Sugarnot! located at the 5th level of Podium, Ortigas Center last week to sample the sugar free desserts. Angeli Lambsdorff, one of the partners of SugarNot! graciously showed us all the desserts lined up on the table as she talked about the history of the business. I love hearing startup stories and how a business grows. Sugarnot was conceptualized by Angeli’s dad, Eli Beltran, who was diagnosed with diabetes a few years ago after feeling frustrated about the very few sugar free food choice “Diabetics don’t need to feel deprived and should be able to eat the food they love.” If my dad were alive , I am sure he’d be overjoyed to sample these yummy dishes. He often felt frustrated that he could not eat a whole slice of sugar laden pies. See how pain (the pain of being a diabetic) can be transformed to something so positive as to benefit diabetics like me. Kudos to Sugarnot! owners for being different from other bakeshops. Okay I am digressing.

Our eyes just popped out with glee as the mouth-watering desserts were laid out on the table. Take note though. Even if it’s sugar free, there are calories but at a much lower value and blood sugar can still get elevated if one eats too much. Angeli added that their products are tested in SGS laboratories, to obtain the carbohydrate, fat, and other nutrient facts, so that their customers can make an informed decision. Take note diabetics: Their branches also have a glucometer so that diabetics can test themselves.

Basic ingredients are olive oil, wheat flour, and Isomalt, a natural sweetener (polyol / sugar alcohol) derived from sugar (beet sugar).

I know you will ask the same question “Olive Oil?” It took their research staff a few trial and error sessions to get the right consistency and taste. Sometimes the looks are scrumptious but the taste would be a turn off. The research for the right proportions of ingredients took months until perfection was attained. We got to taste heavenly perfection as Angeli rattled all of these facts.

Last Temptation Chocolate Cake with truffle filling and ganache frosting
This cake is one of their best-sellers along with Tiramisu. My husband and Lauren’s faces glowed after each bite. They can’t believe it’s sugar free.

Canonigo (with custard sauce) – 58 pesos
The lowest caloric count among the desserts. Only 68 calories yet this light and fluffy dessert can satisfy that “sugar” need.

New York Cheesecake added with Blueberry Topping- 118 pesos plus 40 for topping)

Remember the blueberry pie I baked for Lauren’s birthday? Their cheescake tasted just as superbly sweet as the one I baked. I read in Anton’ review of SugarNot which mentioned that the taste was forgettable. Perhaps it was because they used maltitol powder a year ago instead of the Isomalt.

Mango Cream Cake- 78 pesos
My all time favorite because I am crazy over mangoes. Just like the other cakes I tasted earlier, the Mango Cream Cake tasted naturally sweet. This guilt-free eating relieves me of the stress over my blood sugar levels.

And the family verdict?

We are coming back to taste their pastas and taste the other sugar free desserts. Coffee is the best tasting ever. Lauren loved the Mango Cream Cake and the “Last Temptation” Chocolate cake. Butch loved the “Last Temptation” too while my top favorite went to the Mango Cream Cake. We even bought Strawberry Shortcake for M.

Strawberry Shortcake at 78 pesos.

Though the sugar free cakes are a bit more expensive than the usual desserts offered in other bakeshops, we are paying a premium on our health. Health is wealth , of course.

More mouth watering photos in here

Contact Information

Head-Office:
Labaire Building, 5462 South Super Highway, cor. Malvar
Bangkal, Makati City
Tel.:847-5197
Telefax:8893427
Email:info@sugarnot.com.ph
URL:www.sugarnot.com.ph

Branches

1.Labaire Building, along South Superhighway corner Malvar in Makati, just after Pasay Road heading towards Magallanes/EDSA from Quirino.
2. At the fifth floor of The Podium, in Ortigas Center- 636-1714
3. At the third floor of The Block, at SM North- 442-0146
4. Westgate, Alabang, along Commerce Avenue- 0922-7604611
5. At the fifth floor of SM Megamall- 0922-7292497

Tags: Cakes, Pastries & Desserts, Low-sugar/Low-fat, Restaurant and Eating Places