Just a random thought.. haven't been blogging since years. Forgive me for the randomness  and for the possible grammatical and typo errors. :)

Old school music equates to nostalgia... nostalgia equates to a feeling of longing ... of sadness... of missing someone who's  no longer here.

Old songs which bring you to the times when you were once listening to these together with your departed loved one... or singing with her while letting time pass by... Such songs that Mama and I once enjoyed listening to...

Old songs which remind you of the places you have been or you enjoyed visiting together... A downtown restaurant with mellow music playing in the background as Mama and I were chatting while nibbling our foods...

Old songs which make you cry when you're heartbroken... I never told my Mama but she always knew and had a cue because of the music that I was listening to...

Those were the times when the days were better, when the worries were lesser and when the times were much happier... the days when Mama was still around and the music kept on playing...

Sweet Haven --- Vanilla Cupcake Bakery

So here I am again... blogging!

Bear with me as my entries are mostly long overdue... *shy grin*   I just couldn't let this one passed away.

Joh and  I discovered this place by serendipity, while on our way to meet Joy. Without having second thoughts (as both of us have sweet tooth), we happily dashed inside this eye-catching haven ---- Vanilla Cupcake Bakery.

Allow me to give my verdict:

PLACE (3rd flr, Glorietta 4,Makati Branch) : 5/5 stars!

 The place is so awesome! I was dreamy for some time; it gave me a very distinct feeling like I've just entered  a wonderland. The interior is somewhat Victorian-inspired and every surface were ornately decorated like that of a playhouse. ( They got authentic Daphne chairs too... hmmm, expensive, isn't it?)

"Bru" taking pictures right after placing our orders

 CUPCAKES:  We tried vanilla pink and red velvet cupcakes.

CAKE: Texture: 3/5 stars. A little bit light as it tends to fall apart so easily when you take a bite or make a slice.  Taste: 3/5 stars. Taste was just ok; nothing really very special.

FROSTING: 4/5 stars. It brings out the best in the cupcakes we had; texture and sweetness just compliment each other. Taste was heavenly however, they could  improve more in decorating the top.
 

pink vanilla, red velvet and caffee latte 

 

STAFF and SERVICE: 3/5 stars.

Though we quite lose track of time as we're busy for a "selfie" pose,  we never forget of our order. So, could  you bring them in the table, pretty please???  Dismay. Dismay. We've waited for almost 20 minutes  for our cupcakes ( coffee haven't served yet) which were just sitting contentedly on the rack.

Staff are ok though, and they never seemed ashamed of sweeping the  floor every time customers leave. :)

PRICE:  3/5 stars.

Quite expensive. Cupcakes range from 60php- 90php per piece. For menu and prices, you could check it out  at munchpunch website. 
EXPERIENCE: 5/5 stars.

If you really really just want to relax while enjoying sweet goodies over brewed coffee or a tea, this place is for you. Well, just try it to experience the magic in this place... :)

OVER-ALL VERDICT: 3/5 stars! Will definitely visit this place again!  (BIT OF ADVICE: If you're a kuripot like me,  forget the price and just enjoy the place. *winks* )

(Vanilla Cupcake Bakery has branches in Glorietta 4, Trinoma and Alabang Town Center.)

 

BAKE AND CHURN ICE CREAM CAKE

Last month, I purchased a "sweet" deal from MetroDeal: 

Since I haven't tried their cakes yet, I did some research before redeeming my voucher: (1) Googled and learnt that  Bake and Churn has won the 2011 Consumer's Choice Award for Best Tasting Ice Cream Cakes and Scoops (2) Bought  Ube Classic chilly cup at a kiosk in Alabang Festival Mall (@50php) ---not so sweet, just fine though my husband and I didn't enjoy it much since it was as hard as a rock! 

So came 12th of February, my husband and I  redeemed our cake at SM Sta Rosa  to have a sweet something for our Monthsary and advance Valentine's Day celebrations.... ;-)  

They are in different flavors:  Mango Madness (not available) , Cookies and Cream, French Chocolate, Strawberry Cheese Cake, Ube Classic, Black Forest , Rocky Road, and Midnight Cookies and Cream. All of them are beautifully crafted and really mouthwatering that we find a hard time deciding what to get.  We ended up choosing  their peculiar, not rounded cake. 

Allow me to introduce you to the star of our day--- the Midnight Cookies and Cream : 

TOP VIEW: designed with choco sheet (that tastes like Goya), halved vanilla-filled chocolate cookies, rounded choco-covered cookies, a cherry and white cookies similar to eggnog 

B&C Cookies and Cream is just perfect for those who have low tolerance for overly sweet goodies since its level of sweetness is just right (but still, not recommended for diabetics. :-) ).  Revealing what's inside, you'll have thin layer of icing and generous amount of  ice cream sandwiched with equally moist chocolate cake.  (  I was thinking I'm gonna get cookies and cream - flavored ice cream , but alas, it's still chocolate! hehehe..  I would rather name this cake Choco Overload , instead. )   

 All blended well, this is a sure treat to your taste buds.

B&C cakes are housed in a thick box, just enough to keep it cool. The storekeeper told us that the cake will not melt for 3 hours. We'll, I initially believed so since the Ube Classic (in chilly cup) we purchased days ago  was so frozen.  But this time, the ice cream was starting to melt after an hour (as seen in the picture above) .  It's strongly recommended to put your cake in the freezer right after your first slice and be sure to keep your freezer knob at medium to high level. 


OVER-ALL VERDICT : ( 4/5 stars) 

Price : 4 stars (w/o voucher; 5 stars with voucher ;-) ) 
Taste: 4 stars
Presentation:  4 stars 

Tip: Check Ensogo, MetroDeal and CashCash Pinoy for Bake and Churn Deals. It really feels good to enjoy great foods at discounted price. ;-) 

List of Some Bake and Churn Branches: 
SM Megamall
SM Megamall Building B 2nd Floor, Mandaluyong, 1550- Accross SM Dept. Store entrance
Phone: 0917-887-2537 (Grace) / 0922-856-7330 (Mary Ann)

SM Manila
SM City Manila 4th Floor, Manila, 0000
Phone: 0917-809-1820 (Adrian)

SM City Fairview
SM City Fairview Ground Floor Annex Near Chowking, Fairview, 0000
0917-809-1805 (Charlie)

SM North EDSA Annex
SM North EDSA Annex 3RD Floor, North Edsa, 0000- Near Active Fun
Phone: 0922-897-4604 (Naty)

SM Marilao
SM Marilao MacArthur Highway, Brgy. Ibayo, Marilao, Bulacan, Philippines
Phone: 0922-897-4604 (Naty)

Robinson's Metro East Cainta
Ground Floor area near Rob. Supermarket Robinson's Metro East Cainta
Phone: 0917-809-1820 (Adrian)

SM Clark Pampanga-near Shakey’s Pizza
SM City Clark, Clark Special Economic Zone, Angeles City, Pampanga
Phone: 0917-809-1805 (Charlie)

SM Taytay-Food court Area
Phone: 0917-887-2537 (Grace) / 0922-856-7330 (Mary Ann)

SM Sta Rosa-2nd floor near SM Cinema
Phone: 0922-856-7330 (Mary Ann)

SM Lipa City-Ground Floor
Phone: 0917-809-1805 (Charlie)

Robinsons Lipa-2nd Floor
Phone: 0917-809-1820 (Adrian)