Ann's Home of Cakes and Pastries: Choco Caramel Fudge Cake, and more

As promised, visited Ann's Home of Cakes and Pastries again, this time, my sister visited for cakes! (For pastries blog, click here.)

Here's her pasalubong for us:

From left: chocolate caramel fudge cake, red velvet cake and carrot cake

CARROT CAKE

This is one of their well-known cakes. When it's asked where to find the most delicious carrot cake in Batangas, one would point Ann's. 

The walnuts did a wonderful job.

Most of the carrot cakes I tried were too dry and plain, but this one has the right amount of moist (the white creamy top and center filling was perfect), and the walnuts made it interesting. It's truly one of the best carrot cakes I've tasted.

RED VELVET CAKE

I'm not really a fan or red velvets - I just don't get the flavor. Still I tried Ann's version, and I must say I like this better than what I've tried before (a more expensive one in Katipunan).

As always, the nuts (in this case, almonds slivers) are a great touch. As said, though not a fan of the flavor, that didn't stop me from eating it. It's not nakakaumay (I don't know the English term. Help, anyone?) unlike other red velvets that I tried, may it be a cupcake or cake, so I must say it's a must-try for all red velvet lovers. :)

PRICE: PHP 58 per slice.

CHOCOLATE CARAMEL FUDGE CAKE

This is their best tasting cake for me. It was addicting, not too sweet but oh-so-chocolaty, and the moist is perfect! 

The caramel part complemented the chocolate well.

We were so in love with this that my sister bought a whole cake a week after. This I recommend to everyone. I would even recommend Starbucks to let them distribute this over their chocolate cakes so that I can have cheaper cakes there, if only I have the power.

PRICE: PHP 58 per slice.

Over all, I can say that they have the best tasting and cheapest cakes, ever. I hope they could penetrate the Manila market soon. 

Please, Batanguenos, try one of their cakes. Highly recommended. :)

DISCOUNT ALERT! Get free discount vouchers from Human Nature

Human Nature, a social enterprise in the Philippines known for its natural products, is giving us 15% discount vouchers!

Here's the link to the voucher! Image from Human Nature

If you're wanting to try their products, here is your chance!
I promise you, you won't be disappointed. :)

Check out their products here!
Discount vouchers are valid until September 12, 2014 only, so shop now! 

Visit Human Nature Lipa at Seasons Lipa ground floor (near Tambo exit). :)



What? Want to have food thingie in this post? Well, all branches of Human Nature have free unimited brewed coffee! 

That's one more reason for you to shop there. :) 



Here's their number: 0917-885-8865

lilwihims.com is giving away cameras!

GIVEAWAY ALERT!

lilwhims.com is giving away 4 Instax Mini 8 Cameras!

They started this giveaway on June 28, and since then, gave Instax biweekly.
As of the moment, only 1CAMERA is left, so let's hurry and join now!

Contest runs until August 23, 2014.
Click here to join the Instax Mini 8 Camera Giveaway.

First Harvest's Salted Coco Caramel

Here's something that is starting to invade Batangas City: Salted Coco Caramel!

First Harvest's Salted Coco Caramel with Sesame Seeds!

Gawad Kalinga's First Harvest introduces Salted Coco Caramel, made with love by the GK moms! (Social entrepreneurship is gaining grounds, as it should be!)

I loved coco jams when I was young. I was 'notorious' for eating too many of those at my cousin's house. But I got scolded a lot because it could cause tonsilitis.

So this price of heaven is definitely a good news! 

For orders from Batangas City, contact 0922-24-25334.

The Best Before date assures you that they're not filled with preservatives! (Bought this on July 1, 2014)

The secret to fame that rock salt and cheese flavored drinks gain is in this jar too. Its hint of saltiness compliment its natural sweet flavor. 
And surprisingly, what's more addictive is the additional sesame seeds!

Tip: Spread into a slice of bread and toast it :D YUMMY!

If you're into jams, please don't miss this~! 

'Grilled Burger for Sale' at Twinvilla Subd.

Burgers are becoming popular now in Batangas City (check this out). 

Now, if you're into cheap finds, you must try "Grilled Burger for Sale" at Argon corner Boron St., Twinvilla Village, Kumintang Ilaya, Batangas City. (Recommended by my friend Sani. Check her instagram here.).

Yes, it has no branding/name yet, but their burger (with pure beef patty!) tastes ohsogood already that it reached one company's ears and ordered 90 pieces!

Check the burger out for only Php 50!

What's inside: Grilled beef patty, cucumbers, cheese, onions, tomato, lettuce, mayo. (Mine's with extra mustard by request)

Photo by Sani. 

PS: You can order in advance by texting 0915-334-8442. They also have tables and chairs so you can 'dine in.' 


Have you tried their burger? Share your thoughts below! :)

Mom's Lutong Bahay: Seafood Lomi

Batangas lomi is one of the delicacies in Batangas. A now-closed restaurant in Ilijan made a twist and added seafood as toppings in lomi. Toppings are usually pig liver, egg, chicharon and meatballs. 

And because my mom missed it, she cooked some! 

Seafood lomi with crab, shrimp and squid

Just sharing her awesome cooking~! :D

Taal Heritage Town: Anniversary Date

Another Aniversario Especial! This is a long due post btw. XD 

Last year, we spent our anniversary at Cafeno (by my request) and we had a lovely date! 
For this year, we spent it in the nearer-in-Manila Vigan: Taal! 

Welcome to Taal - the balisong and barong capital of the Philippines!

BASILICA DE SAN MARTIN DE TOURS (TAAL)
Our first stop was the biggest church in Asia - Basilica de San Martin de Tours - aka Taal church.

J posing with the majestic church

It was grand outside. I applaud the management for not painting it with horrid colors (Basilica in Batangas looks horrid with the paint). Inside, I felt it was just like every other church in Batangas, but wider. THOUGH, you can really feel that it is managed better.

Inside

Back of the prayer room

The picture below is adjacent to the comfort rooms. Sad to say, it's smelly near it. Maybe they should put many sampaguitas around the CR or fix the pipes or whatever that is causing the stench. 

 

Look how huge this structure is!

Colored version

Antique-looking building adjacent the prayer room

The church is famous for weddings, of course. Perfect metaphor with that structure to say vows to.

Posing time again!

Photo of me and the church. Grand, it is.

Left side angle of the church. 

The magnificent church

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We also walked around near the area. 

Saw a not-so-maintained Jose Rizal statue. Please, if anyone with power in Taal is reading this, please please repaint this statue. Jose Rizal, being our national hero, should have a more dignified statue. It partially reflects on how we view our culture. 

Buntong-hininga. Going back... The town is filled with ancestral houses. 

Interesting old houses nearby

The common two-storey house type during the Spanish colonial period.