Mother’s Day weekend is always a great excuse to embark on "cheat days." And given the Filipino’s sweet tooth, you know how gladly we'll welcome that opportunity.
Here’s a rundown of some of my favorite sweet go-to’s this year. Some are newly discovered and I’ve been pining for more of their offerings, and some came onto the scene during the last couple of years and immediately earned my praise. We all have our regular "suki’s," but it’s also nice to know who the new players are, what they offer, and that they can offer that "something new" we take home to Mom and the rest of the family.
Chef Ely’s Coffee and Chocolate Entremet Cakes (from their IG page); The wonderful Passionfruit Dacquoise of Patisserie Le Choux-Colat.
Chef Ely Salar and his Patisserie Le Choux-Colat
Located at The Podium and at Molito, pastry chef Ely established these two physical stores in 2022. I love his Entremet Cakes, especially the Chocolate entremet with its croquante, crispy middle layer. If you want something different, something very subtle in flavor, go for his Passionfruit Dacquoise. It’s got different flavors and textures coming together in wonderful symmetry.
He also has a selection of Chocolate Bark and Gateau de Voyage. They may look like eclairs, but they’re shortcake and super-good! I mention these, because beyond Mother’s Day, when we’re looking for a cake to share, these other menu items of chef Ely are well worth exploring. He’s worked in Canada, and promotes the cacao from his home province of Leyte, so seek out @patisserielechouxcolat on IG, and feast your eyes on his goodies.
The special Mother’s Day package of Monique Tancongco; Cakes from the IG page of moniquecakes
Monique Tancongco and her moniquecakes
If you haven’t heard yet, Monique Tancongco is behind the Guava Cake that’s become such a favorite of dessert lovers over the last two years. It’s organic guava jelly, matched with layers of chiffon. Her Caramel Cake is another steady bestseller, with its vanilla chiffon and caramel frosting, rich and sweet, but not over the top. And look out for her Strawberry Shortcake.
Monique came from an F&B background, working in hotels and luxury cruise ships, and now proudly calls herself a home-based baker. She jokes about how from a career that was front of the house wearing crisply pressed suits, she’s now relegated to the back of the house in an apron. Her IG page is filled with testimonials from happy eaters, and being a tennis fan, I liked how one of her cakes, the Grand Slam, is in honor of Roger Federer.
Sweet and savory come together in Melc Patisserie’s Tomato Tart
Melc’s A.C.B. (Arabica Cold Brew); Mango Mascarpone and Strawberry Yuzu of Melc
Melc Patisserie of Melissa Chloelia-Lim and Sean Paolo
Melc just opened last month at the Ayala Triangle Tower. It’s quickly gained a reputation for bringing that Japanese ethos of dessert perfection, quality, and visual appeal to our shores. You won’t find a cake as such to bring home, but a bevy of individual-sized desserts that will appeal to various tastes and predilections. I especially liked their Mango Mascarpone Mousse and Strawberry Yuzu Dacquoise.
The Strawberry Yuzu Dacquoise is a cross between a macaron and a sponge cake, truly one of a kind. They also have a Tomato Tart that blurs the lines between sweet and savory, three kinds of cheeses in the base, pecans, honey, white chocolate, and of course, tomatoes. I’m not a coffee drinker myself, but both Issa Litton and Spanky Enriquez gave their thumbs up to Melc’s Arabica Cold Brew with Valencia Oranges. Their IG page is an eye turner.
Chef Oye’s NY-Style Cookies; Ollie’s Kitchen Moist Banana Cake
NY-style Cookies from Oye Isidro’s Ollie’s Kitchen
Ollie’s Kitchen and his IG page have been around for some time now, but it was only last week that chef Oye launched his NY-style cookies. There are six flavors: Classic Chocolate Chip, Almond Toblerone, Double Chocolate, Macadamia Pastillas White Chocolate, Walnut Dark Chocolate Chip, and Pistachio Dark Chocolate. Gooey in the middle!
You say NY-style, and I think Levain. And these do come close, rich with flavors. One can also check out their Moist Banana Cake, topped with peanut butter chips and pistachio kernels. In short, a harder-working banana cake would be difficult to find. The moistness is as promised, and he doesn’t skimp on the peanut butter and pistachio.
Chermaine de Guzman’s Lemon Olive Oil Cake; The Strawberry Marsala Cheesecake with Balsamic Glaze
Marcelina Chermaine de Guzman’s craftedbyCG
Last but not least, I have to mention Chermaine’s Lemon Olive Oil Cake. This, for me, was the ultimate cake I had the pleasure to indulge in over the last few years. Lemon-infused shortcake, wonderful cream frosting, pistachio bits, and you get a bottle of olive oil to drizzle over your slice of "heaven." Subtle, but super delicious.
CraftedbyCG offers fine artisanal jams and other delicate homemade cakes—did I mention her Strawberry Marsala Cheesecake with Balsamic Glaze? All given the special Chermaine touch and treatment, and while the other cakes are fine, I’ll forever be singing praises to her Lemon Olive Oil Cake!