from Sweet Tooth's Dream
by Sandy Daza
in his PDI Column, Word of Mouth

Common interests bring people together. Like Matuts and Vicky, who became friends because they both love to eat. These pretty ladies had traveled from the streets of Paris, San Francisco and New York, to Cubao and Escolta. Wherever there's good food, the looks of the place does not matter.

They have been to the fanciest and most economical dining places in the world. They enjoy getting ideas from goodies they've tried.

For many years, Matuts has been developing a candy inspired by her first bite of the famous Almond Roca. Matutina's Almond Crunch is addicting. It is a flat candy with layers of crunchy caramel, creamy chocolate and toasted almond on top. It is definitely a sweet tooth's dream.

A word of caution, though: double the adhesive of your dentures (baka mahulog). This is something that depressed people can pour their frustrations on- and it relieves stress. It comes in 200-gram boxes.

For her part, Vicky created something straightforward: old-fashioned Jalea de Mangga. It is a flavorful mango jam that is not too sweet but absolutely delicious.

I kept it in my fridge beyond the reach of anyone (disguised as a melon). This easily beats the strawberry jam that Tasmania is so famous for-truly a labor of love! She uses the sweetest, most outstanding mangoes. With some butter, or cheese or just on a spoon, it is heavenly. Sarap talaga! This is something the Philippines can promote and push as "sariling atin." A sure winner!

To check out the Almond Crunch, call tel. no. +63 2 8420348. For the Jalea de Mangga, call +63 2 8421375.

Happy eating!

More Goodies

• Ensaymadas - Ms. Cunanan, 631 0798 / 632 9967
• Brownies, Prune Cake and Lemon Squares - Becky's Kitchen 1061 P.Ocampo cor. Bautista St. Singalong Manila 525 1648 / 523 4245
• Caramel Cake (butter sponge cake with caramel sauce) - Estrel's, Scout Tobias St. Quezon City 3722965
• Caramel Cake - Juda Liu
  
• Fudgy Bonbons - 633 1513
  
• Rhum Cake - Ana Zosa
• Chocolate Ganache Cake - 898 2280
• Homemade Ice Cream - Nat Go at 922-2889 or (0920) 923-3423 (Mango Cream Pie, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip ,Dark Chocolate made from Belgian chocolate, Chocnut, Nutella, Cherry Chocolate Chip, and Dulce de Leche. He even accepts custom-made ice cream and is willing to experiment on any flavor a client might suggest (Kitkat was one such custom flavor).
• Chocolate Velvet-Sylvia Lim's Cake Lady. A chocoholic's dream. A must! Tel. nos. +63 2 893-7537, 810-7106.
• Bibingkang malagkit-The best in the country. La Tasca. Tel. nos. +63 2 896-5543, 897-9749, 897-6056, 897-9872.
• Rum Cake-Sandy Romualdez. The yummiest rum cake ever. Tel. nos. +63 2 671-1089, 727-5013.
• Food for the gods-Mara de la Rama. Tel. no. +63 2 635-3327.
• Chicken empanada-Chris Ompaoco. +63 2 920-7282, 435-6958.
• Apple pie-Tina Tamesis. Delicious apple pie baked fresh everyday. Perfect with cheese. Tel. no. +63 2 727-5324.
• Pecan pie and cinnamon rolls-Jack and Icee Colet. Tel. nos. +63 2 631-4221, 910-1363, 910-1364.
• Pecan pie-Millet Soberano. Heavy and delicious! Tel no. +63 2 929-1090.
• Heny Sison-Diva of the Pastry Kitchen. Ask her what she recommends. Her shop is loaded with delicious goodies. Tel nos.+63 2 726-5316, 412-7792.
• Mini-siopao-sioplets! A pika-pika favorite and superb midnight snack. Tel nos. +63 2 631-3450, 637-1448.
• Tita Paring's Suman Latik The best in the East. Found in malls like SM Megamall (food court), Shangri-La, etc.Chicken nuggets-Belcap. Comparable to McDo's. Tel. +63 2 929-9432.
• Chocolate almond crunch-Ana Lorenzana De Ocampo. Tel. no. +63 2 809-1410.
• Mango bars and fudge brownies-Gela's Kitchen. Tel nos. +63 2 852-5814, 852-6045.
• Cebu lechon-Rico's Cebu Lechon. Tel nos. +63 32 344-0119, +63 917 407-2033.
• Pandan cake and cheesecake-light pandan cake, perfectly sweet and unbelievable-tasting cheesecake, by Buddy Trinidad. Cellphone no. +63 918 901-7013.
• Mango tarts-Rosanna Angeles. Tel nos. +63 2 415-6880, 721-2890.
• Black and white chocolate mousse-Melanie Platito. Ask her about her bestsellers. Tel. nos. +63 2 436-1757, 0917 520-1307.
• Galantina-Dulcinea. The best in town.
• Chocolate truffle cake-Ginny De Guzman's Sugarhouse. Megamall, Robinson's Manila, Rockwell.
• Sugar-free desserts. For the "sweet-tooth" who wants to stay away from sugar. Lisa Asuncion's pastries are the best. You can hardly tell they have no sugar. Ask her about her bestsellers. Tel. nos. +63 2 631-7434, +63 917 528-2707.
• Mango torte and walnut meringue with lemon and mango filling. Perfectly sweet and light. Made by Patty's Cake. Cellphone no. +63 917 837-9533
• Martha's Creations. The ultimate in children's cakes. The most simple but delicious icing I have tried. Tel nos. +63 2 842-3836, +63 917 520-7265.
• Fruitcake-Maryann Villanueva. Heavy, not too sweet. Tel no. +63 2 641-7176.
• Chocolate almond crunch-Tina Gutierrez' delicious candies. Super-nice packs. Cellphone no. +63 917 822-4466
• Nono's Chocolate Oblivion the "quintessential chocolate cake": layers of chocolate cake and ganache textured with walnut praline and dusted with cocoa powder Baba Ibazeta (Classic Confections) 8423969/ 7462773
• Strawberry Shortcake and Turtle Pie - Baby Yulo 8124961/ 8108078
• Mango and guava jam-superior quality home-made jams. +63 917 523 8759.
• slowly roasted Black Angus Prime Roast Beef. Made by Chefs Mon and Monique Eugenio with Chef Mel Resuma. They are gold medal winners in the Chefs on Parade competitions. I tried their Angus beef with Cabernet Sauvignon shallot au jus, and I almost fainted. It was superb! They also make a nice green peppercorn or Morel sauce with roast beef that can be made the centerpiece of any Christmas dinner. Call Mon at + 63 917 533-1155.
• light fluffy Chocolate Decadence Cake Dennis Hipolito, 0917516578/ (044) 8404082
• Chef Rox-Bottled sauces. Catering, too. Call +63 917 538-3284.
• Reasonably-priced catering-Call Penny for simple home-cooked food: +63 919 327-1723 or tel. nos. +63 2 893-8348, 893-8359.
• Butter cake, Prune cake, and Lasagna - Mom and Tina's 9140833
  106 E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave. Pasig City
• Peach Walnut Torte - Nina Intengan 9116452
• Chocolate Carrot Cake Melissa Lim, 9112329
• Banana Toffee Pie Roselyn Tiangco, 8120908
• Chocolate Rum Cake Joyce Aragon, 09175232913
• Polly's Chocolate Cake straightforward moist yumminess Polly Garilao, 8247612
• Lemon Torte Ginny Abela, 8525341, 0917-8472549
• Mango Torte a thin layer of meringue similar to sans rival without the buttercream, crowned with mango balls and decorated with whipped cream rosettes Tony Cuerva, 8509182
• Chocolate Chip Bars and Fudgy Bonbons St. Clements Kitchens, 4264076, 4362850, 0918-9157984
• Fruits and Christmas scented candles in all shapes, colors and sizes for your Christmas dinner and buffet tables, 0917-8990306/0917-8222122
• Food orders for the holiday season-simple and delicious home cooking, Offie Benavidez of O's Kitchen, 0917-8150822; Boots Salas, 0916-5265284; Joel Vilches, 0917-5414880; Ditas Lumpiang Hubad, 6330205
• Chocolate Ganache Cake Karen Kitchen's, 8982880 or 0917-5394968
• Roasted Lamb on a Spit-2790556/0920-2090330
• Ready-to-cook corned beef, steaks and roasted Australian calf (prime beef), JR & Vinia Camacho, 9265647, 0918-9104913
• Baked Virginia Ham and giant chicharon, The Plaza, Myrna, 7182211
• Beautifully packaged food and wine baskets, Girlie Canoy, 6471316/6471366

Ehe! And I wonder why its so hard to lose weight. I think 40% of my thoughts are about food. :(

This entry was posted on 8/02/2004 at 8/02/2004 12:58:00 pm. You can skip to the end and leave a response.