Michi Photostory

I learned about Tokyo Milk Cheese Factory when they opened their first-ever cafe in the world and it is located in the Philippines. Since then I wanted to try their cookies, cheesecakes, or ice creams but as usual, their branches are too far from where I live so it took me years before I finally tried it. 

A few weeks ago, my friend called me for an impromptu meet-up but I declined the invitation because I couldn’t leave the house that day, wala kasi magrereceive ng online orders ko. I told her next time na lang so she set a new schedule. 

If Bacolod has Calea then Dumaguete has Sans Rival Cake House and Bistro and this is one of the reasons why I want to visit Dumaguete. I’m a sweet tooth so when my friend messaged me kung gusto ko magpasabuy ng silvanas at sansrival, wala ng isip-isip pa. Hehehe! I ordered Mini Sansrival PHP375, Buttercream Silvanas PHP260, and Ube Silvanas PHP270. My friend even delivered my order to our house. :)  I was cleaning my phone gallery and I found these photos. It’s been months since the last time we ate silvanas so when my husband asked me if I want silvanas, I immediately said yes. He was in Shangri-la Plaza and he saw the Sans Rival Cake and Pastries branch. He sent me some photos so I can choose. 

I started limiting my carb and sugar intake last year + exercise and I was so happy that slowly, I’m losing weight. But when summer vacation came, I totally forgot about my diet and exercise. Just this month, I bought clothes online and when my order came, one blouse did not fit me well, kasya naman huwag nga lang ko hihinga. My mom even asked me kung nagdadiet pa ko, kasi mukha na daw ko mataba ulit. So I checked my photos and weight. Reality bites, I’m almost back to my old weight.

“My life is a constant battle between my love for food and not wanting to get fat” 

Anyare! Napasarap ko ng kain ulit. Hahaha! In addition, may branch na ng Cafe Mary Grace na malapit sa amin so I’m starting to try their cakes and pastries. Yes, sugar overload. Take note, I’m just buying the mini cake pero ang calories hindi nawawala.

“Calories, tiny creatures that live in your wardrobe and sew your clothes a little bit tighter every night” 

Anyway, I don’t know when I will start my diet and exercise again but for now, let me share the cakes and pastries that we have tried in Cafe Mary Grace.

Read: Cafe Mary Grace Southwoods Mall

Ensaymada 

Cafe Mary Grace is very popular with their ensaymada because their cafe started with ensaymada. It was the year 1994 when Mary Grace started selling ensaymada and cheese rolls in the bazaar. After several years, she opened her first kiosk in Glorietta, then her first cafe in Serendra, and the rest is now history.

So when we first dined at Cafe Mary Grace, we ordered their famous ensaymada. The classic ensaymada is made of butter, eggs and topped with Edam Cheese. The bread is soft, whether grilled or not. It is best paired with their chocolate drink daw but I haven’t tried it yet, maybe next time. You can buy their ensayamada per piece for P85 but if you want to save money, buy 6, 8 or 12 pieces so you can get discount. They also offer ensaymada with a twist too.

I remember, when I attended a baking class, while we’re making ensaymada, nashare din nung chef yung story ng Cafe Mary Grace.


Cheese Roll 


Aside from ensaymada, Cafe Mary Grace is also famous for their classic or grilled cheese roll. You can buy this at P55 per piece or buy 6 or 12 pieces for a discount. I always buy this, since mas mura siya kaysa sa ensaymada. Hehehe! The cheese roll is still soft kahit galing fridge pa siya, so I can eat it kahit hindi ko na initin pa.

Tiramisu 


When my husband celebrated his birthday at Sambokojin, I bought a Mini Tiramisu before going home. It is a simple coffee-brandy sponge cake with cream filling. We also enjoyed this cake.

PHP1125 - Whole

Chocolate Cake 


My son likes chocolate cake so every birthday celebration niya, yun ang gusto niya. So I bought Mini Chocolate Cake P320. It is made of premium Belgian Chocolate with a creamy custard filling. So if you are a chocolate lover, you will love this. It is not overly sweet too, mas matamis pa yung Contis Chocolate Cake.

Classic Cheesecake 


I also bought Mini Classic Cheesecake P390. It is simple cream cheese with graham cracker crust. The taste is good but I still prefer the cheesecake of Calea in Bacolod, ang layo lang. Hehehe!

Mango Bene


Mango Bene is a frozen layer of meringue, custard cream, and mangoes. It is not overly sweet but I prefer Mango Bravo of Contis, nangingilo kasi ko sa frozen mango.

Toasted Almond Sansrival


This Sansrival is adorned with toasted almonds, hindi tinipid sa almonds. The price of this mini sansrival is P595, isang kainan lang namin 3. It is more or less PHP200 for a dessert per person. Mas sulit siguro pag whole na lang bibilhin PHP1,595.

Update: August 2020

When community quarantine became less strict, my husband was able to visit the mall and buy cakes and pastries. He either visits Red Ribbon or Cafe Mary Grace. He bought Ensaymada PHP658 (6pcs), Cheese roll PHP404 (6pcs), Chocolate cake PHP1,129 for Mother's Day, Toasted Almond Sanrival, Tiramisu PHP1,125 for my birthday, and Cafe Mary Grace Cheesecake P1,238 for my his birthday. I was surprised when I saw the receipts parang masakit na sa bulsa ang presyo. hehehe!

Two years ago, we celebrated my husband’s birthday at The Bellevue Manila. And because it was a birthday celebration, I went to The Bellevue Manila Pastry Corner to buy a cake, I bought a mini cake and plain ensaymada. We really enjoyed the cake and ensaymada. 

Read: Staycation: The Bellevue Manila

Just last week, we went back to The Bellevue Manila to attend the Bellevue Kids Club Grand Launch. I did not leave without buying their yummy pastry. They have different flavors of ensaymada such as Malolos Ensaymada, Black Forest Ensayamda, Red Velvet Ensaymada, Leche Flan Ensaymada and Ube Ensaymada. 

Read: Bellevue Kids Club Grand Launch


I bought Leche Flan Ensaymada P85, Ube Ensaymada P85 and Cheese Roll P75. The serving was big and they did not scrimp on the ingredients. You can see the generous amount of cheese on top and the yummy filling inside.

The Leche Flan Ensaymada has slices of leche flan inside and the leche flan was not that sweet.


The Ube Ensaymada has ube jam filling and this is really good. Every bite is heaven because I also like ube jam too. Unfortunately, I only bought one. Maybe that is the reason bakit naubusan ako but I was still glad, may natira na isa. Lol


I was surprised with the Cheese Roll, I was expecting that it was a simple bread with one slice of cheese inside just like the cheese roll of Red Ribbon and Purple Oven but I was wrong. Aside from the generous cheese toppings, there is also cream cheese filling. Cheese na cheese talaga. 


As I mentioned, the serving is really big and I can’t finish it in one sitting because I’m full already. But it really depends on your appetite because my husband can finish it in one sitting. Lol 

I just hope the hotel is just so near so we can buy this every time we crave it. I just can’t hoard because of the expiration date. I bought it on June 19 and the expiration date is June 22. 

I’ve tried ensaymada of Starbucks, Cafe Mary Grace, Purple Oven, and other Pastry shops, they are all good but now my top one is Ube Ensaymada of The Bellevue Manila Pastry Corner. How about you, what is your favorite ensaymada or cheese roll? 

When we went Cebu, we booked our tickets 8 days before departure and that was my first time. I usually buy our plane ticket, several months before or even close to one year to take advantage of the seat sale. Aside from the big discounts and savings that I will get, it will also give me more time to plan for our itinerary. 

But because of the limited time, we went to Cebu without a definite itinerary, I just listed the possible things that we can do and of course a list of restaurants that we can try for a food trip. Of course, number one on my list is to eat Cebu’s lechon. 

Anyway, according to my research, when in Cebu we should eat at 

AA’S BBQ 
Harbor City Dimsum House 
Golden Cowrie Native Restaurant
Chikaan sa Cebu 
La Marea 
Lantaw Floating Native Restaurant 
Cucina Uno 
Larsian’s barbeque 
Casa Verde 
Ilaputi 

I noted the recommendation and I was surprised to see the La Marea Pastry Shop in Ayala Center Mall. I did not bother to check where those restaurants located, pag sineswerte ka nga naman. So on our third day after eating at CnT Lechon again, we dropped by at La Marea to try their famous warm brownie cup.

We were standing there for so long and the staff was on the phone, she just kept on talking, parang di pansin na may customer na siya. Finally, pinansin na rin kami but still, may kausap pa rin sa phone so she took my order, prepared and served the brownie cup while talking on the phone.


I don’t think it is a good customer service, she should serve the customer first. Honestly, kung taga Cebu lang ko, nagback out na ko. Inisip ko na lang, nandito na sa Cebu, itry na rin namin. I just ordered one Classic Brownie cup at P120 and one box of Butter Sylvannas at P175. 


The staff placed the brownie cup in a microwave oven and put a scoop of ice cream before serving. It is a combination of hot and cold desserts that is good for sharing. The taste is good and I was planning to do it at home. I’ve been seeing recipes of brownies in a cup and I just need to buy ice cream. Hehehe! 


The Sylvannas was good too, naubos din agad.

I’ve learned about custaroons last year during my blog hopping but I haven’t tried it yet because of the location. If I remember it right, the blogger bought it at Robinson’s Magnolia. I don’t even know where is Robinson’s Magnolia. Hehehe!

Last Saturday after eating our early lunch in California Pizza Kitchen, I told my husband that I will buy Eng Bee Tin Hopia. There are tables in the center of Alabang Town Center where they sell different products and I always buy hopia there because it is our family favorite. After buying our hopia I passed by this table and I saw custaroons.

I stopped and tried the free taste pero di ko malasahan sa konti ng free taste so I decided to buy a box, 6 pieces for P210 (P35 each). I love their packaging.



When we got home, I just placed it inside the fridge, it was only last Sunday when I tried it and I was so surprised because the custaroons are so yummy. Custard + Macaroons = nom nom nom. 



According to website, custaroons is deliciously unique combination of smooth and creamy flan topped with a chewy, buttery crust. I love and if I did not practice self control, I can finish it in one sitting. 



The following day I told my husband to try the custaroons and asked him about the taste, sabi niya ok lang, matamis. My son had a bite but he didn’t like it. I wonder why because he likes leche flan and macaroons that I made three years ago. 

Anyway, at least I can have the custaroons all by myself but it did not last long. How I wish I bought at least 12 pieces. Hahaha! I checked the website to see if they have store here in south and I’m so delighted to know that they have branch in South Supermarket but I hope they will always sell in ATC too. 

South Supermarket - Filinvest Ave
2nd Floor (beside the Customer Service Booth)
Monday - Sunday, 8:30 am - 9:00 pm

I’ve been loyal to Ghirardelli Triple Chocolate brownie mix for the last three years because my family loves these brownies. It is so easy to prepare and the brownies are really good. 



Last month while we are doing our grocery in S&R, my husband saw this Duncan Hines California Walnut brownies mix and he said I should try it. I’ve tried other instant mixes of Duncan Hines before like the Devil’s Food and Red Velvet and the taste was just ok so I was a bit hesitant to try this mix.



Anyway, I bought a box and I baked it two days ago. Just like the Ghirardelli instant mix, all you need to do is add egg, water and oil then bake. Surprisingly, we love it! These brownies are not sweet and we like it because there is walnut too. The taste is close enough to Fudge Brownies of Purple Oven.  Now we have a new favorite, I will buy Duncan Hines California Walnut mix again.

Read: Red Velvet
          Devil's Food Cupcake

Most of the time I prefer baking alone to avoid spills and mess. But baking is one way to bond with my son since he loves mixing. It also one way to teach him in reading, following instructions and measurements. 



Thank God for instant mixes because it makes my baking life easier. Last Thursday, our advent calendar activity is “Bake something for someone special”. The timing is right because we can bring the brownies in his school Christmas party. 



We love this triple chocolate brownie mix of Ghirardelli, I’ve been buying this for years already. My son read the instructions and mix all the ingredients which is egg, oil, water and instant mix while I preheat the oven and transfer the batter in the baking pan. I bake another batch of brownies the following day. 



The Christmas Party theme is Olaf/Frozen so I printed cupcake topper for decorations. 





Click here and here for the free Frozen printables.
P.S. The brownies are really yummy. First time na makatikim nito, gusto ng umorder ng brownies. But I always say, instant mix lang yan. :)