The Perfect Macaroons

The butter macaroon is a product of Goldilocks, a famous Filipino pastry shop. Its bright yellow color gives emphasis on the butter ingredient. As for the taste, each macaroon explodes with flavor. The sweet butter complements the crunchy coconut coating. The bakery was also able to add a twist to the usual shape of the food. The macaroons are ball-shaped instead of the traditional cup-cake form, making them easier and more fun to eat. It is an excellent treat to bring home to the family. But I warn you, these butter macaroons are very addictive. You can't have just one.

Choco Lava

When I was a child, the two dominant chocolate drink products in the market were Ovaltine and Milo. Whenever I craved for cocoa drinks, those were the only options I had since they were and affordable available in every supermarket. The only problem is that they did not capture the rich chocolate taste that my taste buds were longing for. Other alternatives I had were cocoa mixes imported from America like Swiss Miss and Hershey's. However, they were expensive and were only available in specialty stores. All of my gastronomic dilemmas were solved with the arrival of Choco Lava in the market.

The product was recently launched by the manufacturing giant, URC. It has excellent quality since it is made by URC and best of all, it is affordable because it is made locally. As for the taste, Choco Lava captures the rich, deep, smooth essence of real chocolate. Probably because it has no malt, the ingredient that, I suspect, dilutes the cocoa extract in Milo and Ovaltine. Choco Lava is so rich that the taste doesn't become too bland even if you dilute it in 500mL of water (the recommended is only around 300mL). On the other hand, the balance between water and Milo/Ovaltine is so delicate that you could immediately lose the flavor if you get the mixture wrong. You end up instead with a dull, watery chocolate liquid.

I highly recommend mixing Choco Lava with coffee creamer to add more texture to the drink. But for those chocolate addicts who want the real, pure, untainted chocolate taste, then no alteration is necessary. Once again, I applaud URC for giving the Filipino consumers access to an affordable yet flavorful chocolate drink.

At Cafe Xocolat

Sunday mornings are usually the perfect time to drive to Katipunan Avenue and hang out at the coffee shops. There is no traffic and parking is plentiful. But today, I decided to try out the restaurant that I read about in business magazines. Cafe Xocolat, or simply Xocolat for short, is a Filipino-owned cafe/restaurant that serves, what else, chocolate products. From ice blended drinks to cakes and brownies, they always have something to offer the average chocolate addict. I've always been primarily curious about their chocolate drinks. Now, I had the chance to check them out for myself.

I bought the Xocolat Lava. It's one of their best-sellers. The title "Lava" gives justice to the richness of the chocolate drink. It tasted just like those hot coca drinks served in luxury hotels. What I can say about it is that the taste is very, very genuine as if the drink was made from freshly processed cacao beans. It's not over sweetened with sugar nor is it diluted with too much milk. The bitter-sweet taste captures the true essence of chocolate. But for a small cup (refer to picture above) priced at Php 115 it's certainly not a substitute for those expensive chocolate drinks made by multinational corporations like Coffee Bean and Starbucks. I personally haven't tried the imported counterparts of Xocolat so I can't give a conclusive comparison between Xocolat Lava and the other brands yet aside from their prices.

URC's Answer to Rebisco

Shortly after Rebisco released its Extreme Choco Sandwich into the market, URC (Universal Robina Corporation) countered with its own version of chocolate-infused crackers. Using their sandwich product line, Magic Creams, the company created a chocolate cream filled variety with choco coating. URC is notorious for having quick answers to almost anything their competitors can throw at them. The aggressive nature of this manufacturing giant makes them a formidable rival in the industry. URC may have the edge in market performance, but what about the all important taste of the product? Unfortunately, I'll have to put this question on hold for now because I haven't tasted Magic Choco Coated Creams yet. But from the looks of the product, I think I can predict that Magic is less intense than Rebisco Extreme. The crackers are plain and don't have chocolate flavor. It also looks like there are no chocolate sprinkles. Maybe it compensates with its thick coating? I'm not sure. I'll have to buy one on my next visit to the supermarket to find out.

It's All About Flavor

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What I appreciate in any food is the intensity of its flavor. And nothing is as intense as the new product KFC cooked up last month. KFC Flavor Shots are just like their Hot Shots and Fun Shots counterparts. The only difference is that the sauce is marinated deep beneath the breading. The strong, sharp, piquant savor of the seasonings and spices leaves a great tangy aftertaste. I highly recommend the barbecue variant for those who like a smoky and spicy gastronomic experience. The sweet chili is for those who want a milder and more balanced zest yet leaves a sharp impression on their taste buds. The Flavor Shots are excellent with rice, mashed potatoes or on its own. Their exquisite tastes leave me craving for more. The only problem is that good food doesn't come cheap. At around Php 55 for a small box, a frequent supply will be bad for my wallet, not to mention my weight. So if you want intense flavor and don't mind the price to pay, then try KFC's Flavor Shots. It's food with a personality.