Pinoy Food & Other Cuisine :: Food PhotoBlog and Events |

Coke Zero is the Coca-Cola Company’s version of the Pepsi Max, a zero-calorie/sugar drink aimed at male teenagers and young adults who think that “diet” Coke is for girls.  It just hit the Philippines a little over a week ago, claiming to taste just like regular Coke minus the sugar content.  In that sense Coke Zero disappoints because it doesn’t differ from from Diet Coke - or any other diet cola drink for that matter - in terms of color, taste, fizz, or caffeine hit.  What gives regular Coke its distinct flavor is the sugar itself, and I don’t think any sugarless concoction can replace that.

Bottom line - if you want to eat food that tastes great, be prepared to pack in all those extra calories.  The most delicious treats are the ones that add extra poundage you don’t need.

Caramel Apples or toffy apple are created by dipping or rolling apples-on-a-stick in hot caramel, and sometimes rolling them in nuts or other small savories or confections, and allowing them to cool. They are the same sweet desserts one can find while walking through chilly Pier 39 in San Francisco and different amusement parks in the U.S. Now they are available in the Philippines from SanFo Treats.

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Gone are the days when eighteenth birthday cakes were decorated with pink ruffles and candy flowers.  Birthday cakes today are more like colorful culinary creations that look too yummy to eat, and Marta’s custom cakes are no exception.  Ideal for femme fatales who want to spill over their love for all things girly onto their birthday decor, Marta’s cakes feature fashion items done in intricate detail.
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You don’t have to travel all the way to Manila if you’re craving for one of the Diamond Hotel’s giant ensaymadas or a slice of their super-moist chocolate cake.  The Cake Club is the Diamond Hotel’s coffee shop and bakery, an ideal place for you to relax and enjoy a warm cup of rich-flavored coffee and freshly baked breads, cakes, and pastries.  Expect to shell out a little more cash than you would at your typical coffee shop, but the goodies you’ll be getting are far from ordinary. The Diamond ensaymadas alone are delightful combination of cheese, ube, and cream and they’re so large, one esaymada is practically a meal by itself.  Unlike most pastries, which start becoming too sweet when you’re halfway done with them, you’ll want to savor every single tasty morsel of the Diamond ensaymada.

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It’s been over a year since our last visit to Sonja’s Cupcakes and it was a pleasant surprise to see that not much has changed in terms of the mouthwatering quality of their cupcakes, the intricate presentation of the goodies, and the prices.  They’re not exactly the cheapest pastries in the bakeshop but once you step inside their store in Serendra, you’ll understand why they charge such a hefty price.  The candy-colored interior of their store definitely puts you in the mood for something sweet.  Looks-wise, the cupcakes are delicious eye candy; how could you not want to eat one with colorful icing and irresistable toppings?  Once you grab a bite, you’ll discover that every flavor is a sinful treat that holds a little surprise for your insatiable sweet tooth.
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(From Pinoy Centric via Chicago Tribune article by John Kass.)

America was a free country, once, before the Barbecue Police put their boot heels on our necks.

“Or, you can call them the Pig Police, since they hate people cooking pigs in their own back yard!” Amante Enad, 55, of Wheeling told me Thursday.
“That’s what I was doing, until they wrote tickets on me and took me to court. I said, ‘What rights do I have to cook in my own back yard? Don’t I have rights to cook a pig on my own property?’ And they gave me the tickets.”

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Eat to Love, Love to Eat

Casanova is said to have braced himself with oysters and a cup of chocolate before venturing into a lady’s boudoir.

The Aztec emperor Montezuma drank 50 glasses of honey-sweetened chocolate each day to sustain his virility.

Early American settlers—their Puritan heritage notwithstanding—consumed dandelion weed to cure impotence.

Throughout the centuries, food and drink have been used to enhance a person’s allure, increase fertility and improve vitality. Today, evidence that this practice is still followed is shown by star-crossed lovers who wittingly or unwittingly treat themselves to decadent aphrodisiacs.

And for amorous souls and food connoisseurs alike, the selection of treats from Delifrance–the premiere European styled café in the region are especially designed to ignite love this Valentines season with their Valentines offering.

Take the Delifrance Flaming Choco Lava Cake, aptly named by virtue of the chocolate which deliciously trickles through when cut. While a definitive treat to all sweet-tooths, the chocolate in this cake is said to contain phenylethylamine – the substance in the brain which according to psychiatrist Michael Liebowitz “stimulates romance and goes up when we meet the right person.” Aside from igniting romance, the Flaming Choco Lava Cake is all fired up once served—literally.

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