a bite of brownie

I’ve (not) recently reviewed a similar restaurant before that served bingsu, page here. And just that we’re clear, I am rating this restaurant against that one. So here goes. Welcome to Ice Flower!

Apart from a family of 4 near the snow machine (yes, they have this makeshift playground that has a snow machine where children can play, just children, boo!), I was the only customer inside the restaurant. There was a very serious looking Korean guy sitting on one of the tables where his laptop and phone were on display. Later on, I would determine he’s the owner because he inspected my bingsu before I was called (they have that buzzer thing) and reprimanded the employees when I had gone back to my table.

The chairs and tables were of mismatched colors and forms while the walls were just smoothened cement perhaps to accentuate the seats and tables to full effect? But honestly, the vibe was quite sad, unlike other bingsu shops you might have visited. Maybe it just looked a little unfinished. Or I didn’t get the concept haha!

Going back to my dessert, I realized I ordered the wrong size because when I looked up at their menu, right after the Mango Cheesecake, the prices for S M L sizes were written neatly, and at the very end, came the cheapest price and it read Cup. I ordered the small bingsu but found it really huge for someone who recently had a heavy lunch. Anyway, that’s a note for future visits. The bingsu came with the standard shaved milk ice, a little on the sour side mango bits, melt in your mouth cheesecake cubes, sliced almonds, and the mango sauce drizzle of course. It tasted just right and they gave me an extra small cup of milk for my perusal in case I needed it to be more milky or sweeter.

Verdict: 2/5
Presentation was so-so, I had better! My favorite part was the cheesecake, it was so yummy, I had to stop myself from asking more of that instead of the milk LOL the ambience of the shop could be improved, that goes without saying, and maybe have the owner smile a little, to attract more customers, no?

Still on our special day bingeing, ReiMart and I met with Sandy at Kayu for another round of dessert (yes we had dessert back at ICAAC but so what?!). The restaurant is located inside a subdivision so it’s tucked away from the usual hustle and bustle of the metro.

Seated on a booth while waiting for our party, the a/c was directed at us or maybe it’s just because I was so full from the previous meal not an hour ago. We looked at the menu, found nothing light we could try consuming, so I asked for the desserts menu. We asked the server which is the bestsellers and we ordered those.


I got the Sizzling Caramel Bar and it did not disappoint with the sizzling part. The waiter had to call our attention before he poured the caramel onto the sizzling plate. We watched it with awe as it produced that crackling sound and the caramel hugged the ice cream, bananas, and the pudding. It’s a dessert channelling the sisig plate that we all so love. After that, dissecting the dish, I found it a little underwhelming. Because that’s that, pudding with ice cream on top and banana slices around the plate. But among the 3 (yes, 3) dishes we had, this was the first to go. Am I just too technical about this dish? LOL


Drei got the Chocolate Fix for his dessert. It’s got chocolate n-ways! Crunch, crémeux, gelée, and the non-chocolate stuff in there, vanilla ice cream and milk crumbs. Well, if you ask me, this is more complicated than my dish. It's also better looking! But I don’t know, maybe you get more than a fix with the amount of chocolate there, and I can’t believe I’m saying that because I am such a sweet tooth, but Drei had to finish his plate alone haha!

Sandy got a Nutella Cheesecake, the only best seller left that’s not on our table. So this is the hazelnut galore dish, from Nutella truffle, candied hazelnuts, and hazelnut flavored granola crumbs, the works! We also had a hard time finishing this one because of the sweetness level haha!

Oh, Sandy and I got the Strawberry Lemongrass mocktail because I’m the designated driver! And well, I haven’t been exactly putting down crates and barrels of liquor haha so yeah mocktail it is!

Verdict: 2/5
Just went here for desserts, I heard they have this tapas menu you can order and a few tables around a fire pit. Would have been nice to dine there, when you’re cold, but it wasn’t available when we arrived.

I remember saying here before that I like having dessert any time of the day, because it’s dessert! So while being trapped by the number coding scheme in place in Metro Manila (it was a Thursday then and my car plate ends with 8), we had to look for a resto where we could have a quick bite, just to burn the 2hr window from 6-8pm. So St Marc Café was the winner among 3 finalists.

Looking at their display, I can’t imagine someone passing by without giving it a second look. I mean, look at it! The desserts are screaming for you! For your name! And if you just pass by, man, you’ve got no love. You’re dead in the bones. Haha!

So. Among the selection, I chose the Choco Berry Celebration sundae. It had rice crispies at the bottom, which I found weird, because it eventually turned soggy because of the sundae. It’s topped with strawberry slices, sliced almonds, a chocolate wafer sticks, and a panna cotta. Finally, it’s drizzled with chocolate sauce. It’s not too sweet, too!

Verdict: 3.5/5
For 250Php per pop I’d gladly come back next week! Try this resto when you’re in the area. It’s at the ground floor of Fashion Hall in SM Megamall.

after a scenic stroll at montalvo arts center in saratoga and los gatos downtown, i was so looking forward to have a hearty dinner. a branch of this restaurant is very near to my place so it's funny that i get to try this branch which is farther from my place. i went with my vegetarian friend and i felt like doing family style. we decided on their "roasted vegetable california wood-fired pizza with homemade pesto sauce, burrata cheese, oven roasted tomatoes, cauliflower, zucchini and topped with arugula" and "mushroom pesto penne with mixed mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes tossed in a pesto cream sauce garnished with fresh basil and parmesan". both were so good! the vegetables on the pizza were fresh and the burrata cheese was a perfect on the pizza. if i am to choose, the penne had more edge on the pizza. the pesto sauce with the sun-dried tomatoes and mushrooms were so tasty! i could eat the entire plate!

even though i was full already, my mind was set on trying the famous gelato place which got some awards on being the best ice cream place. we were lucky to get in before the crowd. i took a taste sample on the pistachio and oreo. i decided on the white pistachio gelato on a cone. it was a very generous scoop. it was so yummy!





Verdict: 5/5

Willow Street Pizza
20 South Santa Cruz Avenue #218
Los Gatos, CA 95030


Verdict: 5/5

Dolce Spazio Gelato
221 N Santa Cruz Ave
Los Gatos, CA 95030

i found this place after looking up on yelp for recommended seafood places. i read that crab stuffed salmon is a must-try. i mistakenly went into the bar section where it was dark and people were drinking and  playing on a billiard pool. i was thinking to myself if i'm on the right place. i debated if should stay considering the unusual dining ambiance. i decided to leave and while walking i'm glad i found the door to the actual restaurant. it's a romantic place for fine-dining. they served me french bread with butter. the bread was not fresh and tasty. i ordered the crab stuffed salmon, "wild salmon stuffed with dungeness crab, cream cheese, spinach, artichoke hearts, parmesan and garlic then baked and served with garlic mashed potatoes and seasonal fresh vegetables". it was so delicious! the salmon and crab were fresh and high-quality! i wanted to make it at home after having it. the vegetables were cooked just right too, not over-cooked. the vegetables and mashed potato worked perfectly with the crab stuffed salmon. the entire dish leaves you a satisfied yet light tummy leaving me room for dessert.




on my way to the beach to catch the sunset, i passed by a donut shop which has this stick of 6 mini-donuts. i asked if i could get a stick of 2 flavors but the server said i couldn't. i ended up with chocolate glazed chocolate donut. it wasn't a remarkable one and it was so sweet.


Verdict: 4/5 (-1 for the bread, it should be served hot and fresh.)

McKeown's Restaurant & Bar
1 S Holladay Dr
Seaside, OR 97138


Verdict: 2/3 (not many options)

Dundee's Donuts
414 Broadway
Seaside, OR 97138

after picking up a package from the post office, i took a look at available food restos next door and found this place but I was a few minutes early. three other parties were also waiting for the restaurant to open so i thought this must be a good sign that this resto is good. I checked the other stores close by. there's Starbucks and nothing bundt cakes. I stepped in the latter and I was greeted with a friendly crew saying if I would be interested in trying their raspberry chiffon cake. it was delicious and not so sweet so I thought I can't leave that bakery without getting something. my eyes were set on buying the chocolate-chocolate chip bundtlet. I asked the cashier what's their best seller and guess what? it's the same as my choice!

I proceeded back to pho wagon and by the time I came back, they turned the closed sign to open. their daily special is grilled pork or chicken sandwich with chips and Thai iced tea. I asked the waitress if I could change the sandwich to meat with rice. she thinks no so I opted to get the special combo pho, an unexpected order from me since I don't like noodles or pasta. surprisingly, I enjoyed it! the broth was tasty. the rice noodles were perfectly cooked, not over cooked nor soggy. special combo pho has steak, well-done flank, brisket, tendon and tripe. I like best the latter three. small order was still too much for much. I wasn't able to finish the noodles but drank all the soup.

there are not many options for rice plates though. this place seemed popular considering almost 10 parties came within thirty minutes after the resto opened.

the chocolate-chocolate chip bundlet was delicious! the sweetness was just right, not so sweet and not so bland.

Verdict for Pho Wagon: 3/5 (-2 for few rice plate options)
Verdict for Nothing Bundt Cakes: 4/5 (it's a little expensive)

Pho Wagon
1712 Meridian Ave
San Jose, CA 95125

Nothing Bundt Cakes
1702 Meridian Avenue Suite B.
San Jose, CA 95125

Among the restaurants that we have not eaten yet in Ayala, Maitré Chocolatier is probably one of the most curious of them all. Situated beside the old space of Healthy Options and below Hukad in Ayala Terraces, this restaurant boasts its use of chocolate in dishes listed in their menu.

Curious as to how they would add the "secret" ingredient to dishes like pork chops and pizza, we checked out the place while there was still very little people inside.

The ambiance was that of a cozy cafe decorated with quotes and facts about chocolates. Not to mention several boxes of imported cocoa products by the far wall of the establishment. The seats were cozy, and were clearly aimed for dating individuals or married mates.

We got the answer to our question when we did get our orders on the table. My sister had a serving of grilled pork chop with dark chocolate drizzles while I got myself a plateful of vegetarian pizza with white chocolate and a bowl of hot chocolate for the cool afternoon.

The service was quick and we enjoyed the ambiance altogether. We spent the remainder of the rainy afternoon to wait it out and chill.

The hot chocolate was good, in my opinion. A bit thick for my tastes, but it sufficed. I'll give them brownie points for the added chocolate chip cookie~!

 The pork chop wasn't that exceptional because it didn't even have a distinctive chocolate taste on it.

Oh, I forgot to add. This is where this restaurant shines: dessert. We both had a lava cake to share. It was sweet and somewhat bitter; understandable because of the dark chocolate used in it. It was a balance between hot and cold with a scoopful of vanilla ice cream on top of a biscuit. It also had this screen-like layer of hardened chocolate while there was a generous amount of chocolate all around it. It was really good!


Maitré Chocolatier
Ayala Terraces, Cebu


Verdict:
A: 3.5/5

The food is still hit and miss. There are some that tastes great, and some that tastes mediocre. I like the concept though!

La Vie Parisienne has got to be one of the hippest places in Cebu since 2013. This place sells a very wide variety of breads imported from France. Their wines and cheese are also imported from the place, shipped weekly to get them restocked.

I personally like the place for having a laid back atmosphere, not to mention slightly affordable food. But then again, you're not here to just for the food; you're here for the ambiance of the place. They have swings and faux sakura blossom trees in the garden area where patrons can lounge around while drinking their select coffee and wines and chatting with their friends. Most guests who had children with them could opt to let the young ones play in the huge organic onion shaped hammock.

If in case you're full and has just had lunch, you could opt to close your stomach with your select cheese or dessert pastries or even the hyped French macaroons.








La vie Parisienne
Lahug, Cebu City


Verdict:
A: 4/5
Service could be a little better. That one girl at the counter has an attitude problem whenever I pay or inquire for something. The place is nice, though.

I was a little put off by the people who serve customers in this place because the menu was shoved into our hands by their main waiter. I personally found this rude and unaccommodating because it felt impersonal and without desire to serve.The food on the menu didn't look appetizing either and everything on the menu seems simple enough to make at home. Sister decided to get us a pitcher of CMC (cucumber, mint, calamansi) to go on the side of the Aligue pasta and "prawn" pasta as well as the pork steak slathered with mushroom gravy. We were mislead when they mentioned prawn in the pasta, because we were a huge size of shrimp. Much to our dismay, there was at least 10 pieces of small local shrimp while the serving side of the dish.

I'll give them plus points for the steak cut fries, I just love them given the rarity of the restaurants serving these cuts. The pork steak, I didn't appreciate so much. It had vegetables, sure, but I'm afraid it wasn't exceptional. The pasta's serving size seems small too and it didn't look like it will feed a
couple of people (unlike that Greek place where the servings are huge!)

Anyhow, Fudge seems to be a dessert place to me because the desserts all look delicious. We got a lava cake to end the meal, a good order to save our otherwise disappointing experience. It was warm and moist and almost buttery at the center, with a slight hint of dark brown chocolate. It was also topped with a cool scoop of vanilla ice cream to complement the warm treat.






Fudge
Ayala Center Cebu



Verdict:
A: 2/5

It was an ok enough experience. I am slightly disappointed with the food. They should have specialized in desserts or better yet, hired a good chef for food. Needs a lot of work.