Marriott Hotel Sweets

Bought the following sweets at Marriott Hotel's Bakeshop:



*Brownies


I were told that its their bestseller and that it doesn't have nuts. What it has are caramel swirled in with the brownies.
I didn't like it as all I can taste was sweetness or all caramel and none of the chocolate.

*Assorted Cookies
- strawberry, oatmeal, walnut, pistachio, crinkles (most ordered cookie in their shop) and butter eclair (not sure with the name)

Strawberry
- with white chocolate chunks
- it almost tasted bland when eaten right after the crinkles. But I like it as it wasn't that sweet, and that it was moist, soft and chewy, like it has coconuts in it.
Oatmeal
- just like any oatmeal cookie
-  moist and not that sweet
Walnut
- the big walnut in the middle tasted stale and ruined the whole chocolate cookie experience.
Pistachio
- also not that sweet, moist and tasted like it has coconuts. Didn't taste like pistachio but had quite a number of pistachio nuts scattered in the cookie.
Crinkles
- crispy and very sweet.
Butter eclair
- the butter cookie alone was bland, the chocolate coating alone was slightly bland too, but together they were okay.

*Rocky Road Bark

- milk chocolate, nuts and marshmallows
- I didn't think I would like it but I did, a lot. I was sad I just bought one pack and not more. It wasn't that sweet and it had almost everything that I like. A great pre-bed snack with tea. But better if it's dark chocolate and not milk chocolate. Tasted like Cadbury's chocolates too.

There were a lot more to try. Like their assorted truffles, dark chocolate, dark chocolate with nutella, white chocolate bark, strawberry white chocolate bark and huge heart-shaped cookies that can be shared by 8 people.

Happy Eating!

Max's Cream Cheese Brownies

I first tried these when I was looking around Robinson's Pioneer for something to eat while inside Azta Urban Salon for my digiperm.

I bought popcorn from the cinema and a box of Max's Cream Cheese Brownies.



My appointment was at 1PM. They were busy that day (with just 3 clients at that time),  and the girl at the reception told me to wait for my turn, since they only have one digiperm machine, and it was being used by another customer.

An hour passed and it wasn't until one of their senior hairstylist noticed me and asked what I will have done, that I was worked on. It seemed the receptionist forgot me. To think that I was seated right across from her, on plain view. And there were only 4 clients, including me, there.

It was a blessing that I came prepared with popcorn and brownies. They really filled me up, and playing on my phone entertained me while I was waiting.

The brownies, even though they're extra sweet (trademark of Max's), were moist and slightly fudgy. Tasted okay too. While the cream cheese layer on top were more like the top of a cheese muffin. Weren't firm too and disintegrated at the slightest touch.

Now back to my digiperm. It wasn't the same as at David's. My perm from 2009 were still intact up to the time I went at Azta, but only at the bottom, as I had it cut, since it was getting too long and drying out my ends.

Now my perm were not that distinct. More like bedhead hair than curly.

I also didn't like the layered look with side bangs that the hairstylist gave me. It just made the perm have this  "all over the place" look. Made me look like a lion. I hope my hair grow out soon. So I can cut it straight again.

I miss the ringlets that I formerly had courtesy of David's Salon.

But I don't have any complaints with the one who did my digiperm. He was very attentive and nice.

BTW, they offer complimentary drinks like iced tea, coffee and milk tea (Lipton).

I had the Milk Tea (cold) and liked it.



Just took a few sips of it though, since it was cold inside and I'm strapped, rather my hair were connected to the machine, and I wouldn't be able to go out if ever I needed to.

Happy Eating! 

Mrs Fields Rocky Mountain

We were waiting for Super 8 to start at Greenbelt 3 Cinema, and have just had dinner at Mr Jones. And to kill time I went around the cinema level looking for what to eat inside.

I went from one stall to another before settling at Mrs Fields.

I am making up for all the lost chocolates from 6 months of not being able to eat them.

I bought 2 each of Rocky Mountain and Peanut Butter Brownies.




From the two I liked the Rocky Mountain more. It all comes down to texture again. I like crunch in my food, thus I like rocky mountain more. There's nuts and a somewhat chocolate bar layer in the brownie.



On my succeeding purchases, I still always buy both. I just want a break in taste. Like, if I had too much chocolate or sweets there's the peanut butter to break the monotony.

Happy Eating!

Kocco Brownies

Aside from the Mango Walnut Torte, I also bought a box of 8 of their assorted brownies.

I chose their Classic, Fudgy Swirl and Butterscotch to try at home.


- classic


- fudgy swirl


- butterscotch

Their Fudgy Swirl was a note lower than the Walnut Swirl of Brownies Unlimited in taste, the same goes with their Butterscotch. And even if I like chocolate and nuts together, I still prefer their Classic over their other brownie flavors.



The Classic is a fudgy brownie with chocolate ganache icing. This was fudgy, moist and dark, just the way I like my brownies.


I also followed what a staff of Kocco told me, that their classic brownie is best served warm, when the ganache's slightly melted, so I warmed it up before eating. And she's right, it was decadently-good. But, I still prefer it chilled 'coz I like my brownies fudgy and not cake-like.

Happy Eating!

Goldilocks

It’s been a long time since I last ate at Goldilocks. Some of the food changed (for the good, some otherwise), others remained the same.
Here are just some of the items I tried this month:

Palabok
Just okay, good when paired with their buttered puto. But personally, I still like Jollibee’s Fiesta Palabok over this.



Fresh Lumpia
Good peanut sauce, with just the right level of sweetness. Soft and almost creamy wrapper. A filling snack or a light meal.




Langka Tart P12
I don’t know if the tart they gave me was old, ‘coz it sure did taste like one.
The crust needed a lot more pull to bite, almost rubbery, the same goes for the langka filling. There’s no moistness from either of the two.



Butter Macaroons P35/12pcs
I often buy this. First, because I like sweets. Second, it’s affordable and third, ‘coz I like crunch in my food.



Bopis P59
This is my favourite viand from Goldilocks. Even on my rice-free days, I can’t not have it with rice. I also don’t eat pork fat or chicken skin nor any innards, but I eat bopis. I like that it has a kick to it.



Dinuguan
It’ s just okay tasting, needs more vinegar though. But good with the buttered puto.



Laing P39
I still prefer the Laing we make at home/my relatives make (I’m a bicolana). Our version is drier (that’s how bicolanos make it) and spicier.



Cassava Cake with Macapuno P29/slice
Soft and not that sweet, with no hint of macapuno.

Buttered Puto P13.50/3pcs
Buttery and soft, a perfect pair for their Palabok and Dinuguan.



Brownies Classic (small) P18
Chocolate brownies with cashew nuts.
It was moist, chocolatey and sweetened just right. The only problem with Goldilocks was their inconsistency with their products’ taste. Just like in the case of the brownies, sometimes they’re just okay other times they’re salty.




GOLDILOCK’S CUSTARD ROLL
I have more fave cakes from Red Ribbon than Goldilocks but it doesn’t mean that Goldilocks doesn’t make delicious cakes ‘coz they do, though not as much/many as Red Ribbon. In fact I have a couple of faves from them like their Chocolate Mousse, Choco Cherry Torte and Crema de Fruta.
One Sunday lunch, my uncle went over and brought with him a whole roll of Custard Cake.
It is made of sponge cake with custard filling, topped with butter cream icing and caramel.



The icing was nauseatingly rich, the sponge cake was soft and fluffy and the custard filling was good although not proportionate with the size of the cake.
Overall, the cake was just okay.




Happy Eating!

Petra & Pilar's Brownie

Back at Petra & Pilar and with no San Moreno Cake nor Biscotti Dipped in Chocolate & Nuts in sight, I settled for their just-out-of-the-oven Brownie P50.


This is not the type of brownie that you'll rave about, but just a decent tasting brownie.


It is moist but not fudgy, not too sweet and with a strong chocolate flavor.

Happy Eating!

White Chocolate Blondie

With still half a package of cream cheese to spare, I browsed the recipe book on what to bake. I zeroed in on the White Chocolate Blondie for 3 reasons. I have all the ingredients needed for the recipe, from the cream cheese to the maple syrup. Second was, I love white chocolate and lastly, I haven't eaten a Blondie yet. The closest I have been to having one was at Ruby Tuesday, but it was too expensive that I backed out.

Since I don't know how a Blondie should be, taste-wise, texture and all, I over baked it, especially on top. With help of course from my malfunctioning oven. The last five minutes of the Blondie in the oven, the top was still jiggly, but the bottom was already done. Thus, I decided to put it in broiler. Hence, the crusty top.


But I still like, I especially like the crusty top because it's as sweet as caramel.
My sister & I even fought for it.


The Blondie reminded me of a pancake in taste because of the maple syrup and a Japanese cheesecake in texture. But was also buttery, softer and creamier than both. Also lighter, since it has less sugar but richer, because of the cream cheese, butter and white chocolate.

A recipe I would love to make again, but this time with more white chocolate (melted and in chunks) in it.

Happy Eating!

Cheesecake Brownies

I still have a lot of opened cake and pastry ingredients at home, and since I don't want to throw it away, just yet, since they're still in good condition, I opted to bake brownies instead.

I chose the cheesecake brownies recipe I got from the net. The recipe called for a brownie mix, a package of cream cheese, egg and granulated sugar.

Since, I don't have any brownie mix, I made one from a fudge brownie recipe that I also got from the net.


Instead of using the entire package of cream cheese I just used half and also used brown sugar instead of granulated. A mistake on my part, since doing so had a different effect on the taste and color of the cheesecake brownies.


The cheesecake brownies were good, dark and fudgy. I only had a problem with the cheesecake top. The egg was overcooked & resembled omelette instead of cheesecake, plus it is darker in color =p

Maybe I should have also used half an egg when I decreased the cream cheese in half. And also used granulated sugar instead of brown (lazy me, I don't want to open yet another package of granulated sugar, since that would mean I should consume it right away. Just like what happened with the big can of condensed milk I opened. I partnered it with almost every breads and pastries possible. At last I'm down down to the last 1/2 cup).

Happy Eating!

Bo's Coffee

While passing time waiting for my family to finish their close to endless window shopping, I ordered the Marshmallow Fudge Brownie P50 from Bo's Coffee.


It is a fudge brownie with melted marshmallows on top.

The brownie was, surprise, surprise, fudgy. The marshmallows on top added an extra flavor and texture to an otherwise common brownie.

Happy Eating!

Fudgy Brownie from Mister Donut

BROWNIES P15

Since the brownies sold at KFC's from Mister Donut, I expected the ones sold at their stores to be good as well.

I was not disappointed. It was moist, chewy, with lots of nuts and big for its price.

Its only difference from the KFC brownies were the chocolate frosting, the chocolate chips on top and its size (it was bigger).

Happy Eating!