Good Life: Sofitel's Spiral Buffet

2011 Valentine’s Day, my family had a date at Sofitel Hotel Manila’s Spiral Buffet.   Spiral is one of Manila’s fashionable and expensive buffet eatery with different international food selections; American, Italian, Thai, Chinese, Japanese and not to mention the mouth – watering dessert station.  You need to have a reservation though because when we got there, there were lots of people swarming all over the place.  Couples, families, friends name it.  We also heard that the price of the Spiral buffet got doubled to a P4,200 because of Valentine’s day.  Whew!  

 

I am not fond of soups but when I was able to taste the Tong yang soup (don’t know if this is the right name), wow. It was heaven.  I love the milky taste with a bite of spiciness inside your mouth.   I immediately went to the Japanese cuisine area and binged myself with tempura, California maki and tuna sashimi.  The buffet tables were encumbered of foods that my mind cannot decide what to eat first.

It was Valentines and their dessert table was overloaded with sweet treats like cotton candy, gummy bears, gummy worms, chocolate fountain which you can choose from white or dark chocolate, cakes, pastries and more.  My son munches over with tons of candies.  Well, I know it’s bad for his teeth but it’s just for the night.  

Sofitel's Spiral has this stylish ambiance that all you can think about is to munch over for the good food.  The dining tables were set below the famous Spiral staircase which they got its name.  You can sit beside the window overlooking at the pool where you can relax your mind while having a tasty champagne.  The service was superb.  Their staff were all over the place to attend to your every needs.  You will never see your glass half empty.  The food stations were always full as well.  The sultry voice of the singer serenading you while you are eating heaven sent foods is definitely a fantastic treat.

Expensive food?  Yes.  The satisfaction that you'll get?  Priceless.

Sweet Treat: Gooey Revel Bars

I was thinking of a gift for our friends last Christmas without spending too much.  Then it hit me, why would I spent money if I can make our own gifts.  It would lessen my spending during the holiday season, at the same time, it would be more personalized.

I decided to make revel bars.  I don't know why they are named like that :) but really they are yummy and very scrumptious to the taste.  Wow, I am drooling as am writing this.

The incredible taste of the fudgy, dark chocolate filling sandwiched between the good for the heart and yummy oatmeal layers that will keep you asking for more.  I also mix with the chocolate filling some crushed walnuts, sliced almond nuts and chocolate chips for a crunchy bite.  Once it is in your mouth, you can feel the nuts rolling inside your mouth mixing with the gooey dark chocolate filling.  I prefer this bar partnered with hot coffee or sometimes hot chocolate (sweetness!)

All i can say is...YUMMY. 

CHOCOLATE REVEL BARS

1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1 (14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

2 tablespoons butter or margarine

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

3 cups quick-cooking oats

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons salt - divided use

1 cup butter or margarine

2 cups brown sugar, packed

2 large eggs

4 teaspoons vanilla - divided use

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan; set aside.
2. In a saucepan over low heat, melt the chocolate chips with the sweetened condensed milk, 2 tablespoons butter and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, stirring often. Remove from heat and stir in walnuts and the remaining 2 teaspoons vanilla. Set aside to cool slightly
3. In a medium bowl whisk together oats, flour, baking soda and 1 teaspoon salt; set aside.
4. In a large mixing bowl, cream 1 cup butter and brown sugar together with an electric mixer until light and fluffy; add eggs and 2 teaspoons vanilla and beat until well mixed. Stir in oat/flour mixture until just combined.
5. Reserve 1/3 of the oat mixture and press the remaining 2/3 into prepared baking pan; spread chocolate mixture over dough layer. Crumble remaining 1/3 oat mixture evenly over the chocolate layer.
6. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on wire rack and cut into bars.

Makes about 1 1/2 dozen bars.

recipe from http://www.cooksrecipes.com/bar/chocolate-revel-bars-recipe.html

Sweet Treat: Chocolate Coffee Cupcakes with mocha buttercream frosting

I have a love - hate relationship with coffee.
I love it when I wanted to experience the bitterness and sweetness that it brings.  I often consumed my coffee with dessert or sometimes, I just drink it alone. 
Now, here comes the hate part.
I hate coffee because every time I drink it, I always had an upset stomach.  I don't know why but well, I just forget the discomfort that it brings me, I would still drink coffee.
Good thing, I made some experimenting during my baking session.  I made these dark chocolate coffee cupcakes and topped it with mocha buttercream frosting.

Recipe for the Chocolate coffee cupcakes

1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup coffee granules
1/2 cup hot water
1//4 cup milk
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tbsp. baking powder
 1/2 cup chocolate chip

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Beat softened butter, add the sugar and mix.  Combine the egg and mix until fluffy.  In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt and baking powder.  Mix all the dry ingredients then mix with the butter mixture.  Put the hot water in another bowl then dilute the coffee granules.  Once diluted, mix with the batter together with the milk and put the chocolate chips.

Serves 12 3oz. size cupcakes

For the mocha frosting.

1 cup butter
4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup coffee granules

Beat the softened butter, add the powdered sugar.  Mix the water and coffee then add to butter and powdered sugar.  If the buttercream icing is still dry, add some teaspoon of milk.

Yummy treats that made my day complete.

Purple and Orange themed Wedding

Planning a wedding is a challenging experience for the soon to be husband and wife.  There’s the tiring supplier hunting and meeting with them until they find the ones that would fit for their taste.  I know most of the couples that I met were looking for affordable packages for their wedding cake.  Of course, who doesn’t? At the same time, they wanted it to be memorable and delectable that even after the wedding, their visitors would still talk about it.

The couple, well I only talked to the groom about what they want for their wedding cake.  He just wanted to incorporate their color motif to the cake which are purple and orange and purple as the dominant color.  I made two sets of cake, one is for the top of the five layered cupcake stand and the other one is two tiered cake for the cake cutting ceremony.  I also made 200 pieces of vanilla - walnut flavored cupcakes (I made the cupcakes itself colored purple and orange) topped with vanilla buttercream frosting with the same color.  I also put royal icing flowers and white edible beads as toppers of the cupcakes.

I set up the cakes and cupcakes two hours before their wedding and after this, I know the couple really liked their wedding cakes and cupcakes.  I am so glad to be part of that memorable event of their lives.

more images at www.fairycupcakes.multiply.com

Tinkerbell Themed Birthday Cake

It was my second time to create a Tinkerbell themed cake.  My client saw my first work and requested that she wanted a cake for her daughter's first birthday to be like that one so I didn't let her down.

The three tiered cake which the bottom of the cake was the edible part. The client requested a vanilla - walnut flavored cake filled with vanilla buttercream icing and the middle and top tier to be mock cake.  I covered the cake with fondant icing which I made from scratch (I make all of my cakes, fillings and icings from scratch) and decorated with flowers, leaves and butterflies made of royal icing. 

The number 1 on top of the cake is made of styro which I covered with pink fondant.  The fairies were non edible plastic toys which I put also on the top of the cake for decoration.

 I also made dozen vanilla - walnut flavored cupcakes topped with chocolate buttercream and royal icing pink flowers.  I also made Tinkerbell toppers for the cupcakes to match the themed birthday.

My client loved the cake of her daughter and told me it really made the birthday of her daughter.

More images from www.fairycupcakes.multiply.com

Alice in Wonderland Birthday Themed Cake

Last January 29, 2011 I created a cake that has an Alice and Wonderland theme.  This was requested by the parents of the birthday celebrant Lia.  It was Lia's 1st birthday and her parents wanted a memorable party for her.
The party was held at Decagon, Silver City in Pasig.

  

Ms. K (Lia's mom) wanted the cake to be five tiered Alice in Wonderland inspired.  She just ordered the cake and I made free chocolate flavored cupcakes with topper that says "Eat Me"

Ms. K told me that she loved the idea of the red hearts that's why I put those evenly on the cake.

With the name of the celebrant on top of cake.

You can visit my website at www.fairycupcakes.multiply.com for more images.

Buffalo Wings and Pasta for dinner

After several weeks of being busy cramming with client orders, I had the time to cook for my husband again.  My dad cooks at home when I am busy with work.  And since, I don't have orders to fulfill this day, I told Eric (my husband) that I cook Buffalo wings and Pasta for dinner.  He promised to be home early and he did.  It was only fifteen past six and he was already knocking on our door.

I had this recipe even when I am still single, and up to now, it never failed to wow Eric.  He loved it and almost ate the entire serving.

 These wings are coated with flour, pepper and salt.  Deep fried and then mixed with my special buffalo sauce.  I served these with fresh celery, carrots and dip.  I made the dip from mayonnaise and fresh milk with pepper.  Tasty!

 The pasta.  Yummy.  Even my kid loved it.

BUFFALO WINGS
- half kilo chicken wings (cleaned)
- 2 tbsp. all purpose flour
- 1 tsp. black pepper
- 1 tsp. iodized salt
- 1/2 cup cooking oil (I like my chicken wings deep fried)
- fresh celery and carrots
FOR THE BUFFALO SAUCE
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
-  1 bottle Tabasco Sauce
-  Pepper and Salt to taste
How to cook.
- coat chicken wings to mixed all purpose flour, pepper and salt.  Deep fry then remove.  Put on paper towel to remove excess oil.  Set aside.
- For the Buffalo sauce, melt butter, add the garlic powder, tabasco sauce and salt and pepper.  Wait until thick then pour over the fried chicken wings.
-ENJOY.