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Southern Dessert Stop: Larcy's Cupcakerycafe

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         The first cupcake stop in the B.F. and Alabang area has finally opened! Passing by Aguirre Street every so often, the huge signboard with the words "Larcy's Cupcakery Cafe"was enough to intrigue residents and even those who just happen to drive by the area. A first of its kind, Larcy's Cupcakerycafe has just fed the cupcake trend even more by giving enthusiasts a chance to select a freshly baked cupcake on the spot, sit down, drink a nice cup of coffee or maybe pair it with a nice meal (they also offer savory dishes). 

          When it finally opened, my aunt suggested that we give it a try. Of course, I would never say no to dessert..or anything food-related for that matter. So on a sunny Sunday afternoon, we headed off to check out the newly opened cafe. Upon entering, I noticed that it was well-lit, with added lighting from the huge windows facing the road. Everyone was busy either eating, picking out the cupcake they wanted to try or being acquainted with the cafe's  interior.




        I mentioned earlier that Larcy's Cupcakery Cafe also serves savory dishes. You'll find in their other menu, which is hung on the rightmost part of the counter, breakfast entrees such as Vigan Longganisa with scrambled eggs, Smoked Bangus Belly with scrambled eggs, Mushroom Truffle  pasta, and even sandwiches with either pandesal or ciabatta. Why not wash down all those desserts and palatable servings with either seven coffee drinks to choose from or shakes. 


These are the packaging options customers have in case they wanna take some home or give the cupcakes as gifts. 




A small spot of the cafe is dedicated to the merchandise, such as shirts and mugs, available for sale to reminisce about your cupcake experience at Larcy's. 


Some of the cupcake flavors on their baby pink wall boards.


            Next to the counter, you'll be able to watch the staff "bake behind the scenes" and see how the cupcakes and cakes are made. I always enjoy eating places that give their customers the a glimpse of the ingredients and process that all the food has to go through before putting it on display or serving it right before our very eyes. I've always loved Willy Wonka and being able to gawk at food this way makes me feel like I'm one step closer to winning the golden ticket. Perhaps one day I'll eventually get to fly to an actual chocolate factory and drown in fudge. Hmm. Anyway, let's not wander off too far now. I'll save that adventure for another post. 


Cream cheese frosting being piped on the Pink Velvet Cupcakes. 



You can to hold onto these cute pink buttons while waiting for your orders.  

Larcy's Chocolate Obsession Cake, P125
         A chocolate cake with a thick fudgy center and an even thicker topping, the Chocolate Obsession Cake is enough to feed two or three people because each bite carries itself swiftly into your mouth like a 3-pound morsel. Plated on a thin bed of cream and a little drizzle on top helps create a certain evenness between the bold taste of the cake and the lightness of the cream. I feel like I'm describing a Yin and Yang attraction here, where opposite forces interrelate wonderfully. *laughs*

Pink Velvet Cupcake
              The term "cupcake holder" was taken to a whole different level as the cupcakes we ordered were served on dainty stands of different heights. Notice how there are light pink sprinkles atop and each cupcake is lined with  pink and shimmery liners. I don't think you'll have to think twice as to why it was given the name Pink Velvet Cupcake, which is also dubbed as their "Cupcake for the month of December."


             As I undressed this well-received dessert, I couldn't help but ogle at the color of the cupcake. The shade of red was hypnotizing, but the real star here is the frosting. Once you sink your teeth into the cupcake, you wouldn't care for the base as much as the topping. It's that good. But of course, the cake is not to be underestimated - both make a good pair. I must confess, I was trying to see if I could spot the ingredients they used in making cupcakes since I bake myself. I let out a mental "AHA!" when I caught site of Anchor butter as one of their main ingredients. That explains the richness and creaminess of their icing! 


My cousin Neo and his Oreo Freeze

           Not only are the cupcake holders fancy, but their water bottles are just as lavish. At first, it would seem like we were having wine to go with our cupcakes but don't let the photo fool you, this is just a luxurious approach to hydrating ourselves. 

Larcy's Oreo Freeze
           Tall, (slighty) dark and delicious are three words to describe the perfect man..I mean, milkshake. It's been a while since I've had one of these babies and I think that if I wasn't too bashful to sip the whole shake in one go, I would have. Milkshakes always have this certain effect on me - they remind me of diners and my childhood. So as I sipped away, it was a delightful mix of recollecting and basking in the taste of the shake.
















Larcy's Cupcakery Cafe
178 Aguirre St., 
BF Homes, Paranaque

Crazy About Kim's Cupcakes!

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People's intense and widely shared enthusiasm for cupcakes has undoubtedly helped make this iced petite cake incredibly sought-after. As a child, I never expected the popularity of cupcakes to surpass most desserts and Kim's Cupcakes is giving dessert lovers another reason to stay loyal to this craze. Kim Jao has been selling cupcakes since she was in high school and had already been joining bazaars and supplying school organizations and a food stall at her school. Interestingly enough, it was her economics teacher who helped her discover her niche, "She taught us how to bake in class back in third year and I got inspired. After that, I started exploring the world of baking. I sold to my classmates and schoolmates back in high school. In college, I supplied for various events and fund raising activities of school organizations. Now that I've graduated, I've been focusing on how to make my business grow and how to get more people to try my cupcakes." 

Kim's Cupcakes are divided into two sets of flavors - classic and special. Classic flavors include Vanilla, Strawberry, Espresso, Cookies & Cream, Lemon Cream and Mint Chocolate all of which are P40 each while her special flavors include Tiramisu, Red Velvet, Chocolate Ganache, Cookie Dough, Peanut Butter and Yema are P50. 

Classic Flavors
Cookies & Cream 
Eye candy!

It's hard to miss the bright-colored icing on these cupcakes and the tiny edible peearls atop it. These remind me of the waves in the ocean, only this time, they're for human consumption.
Vanilla

If you want a simple cake base with a decorative top, you'll enjoy the fine taste of the Vanilla cupcake. The fine taste can be attributed to Kim's use of quality ingredients, "For me, it's not really about how many of my products I sell but how many customers come back for more. I really put my heart into making these cupcakes for my customers."
Mint Chocolate Chip
Lemon Cream

Sunshine in a cupcake is what this is. The tanginess of the lemon cream wasn't overwhelming and balanced it off with the level of sweetness. Now, I know that cupcakes have been getting so much attention lately for obvious reasons, but that didn't stop me from asking Kim why she decided to venture into the tiny cake business when there are so many other dessert choices to choose from. Apart from convenience, Kim delights in the many cupcake flavors you can come up with to suit different palettes, "There are so many things you can try making. You can combine a buttermilk cake with a chocolate icing, chocolate cake with cream cheese icing, chiffon cake with caramel icing. The possibilities and combinations are endless with cupcakes."
Special Flavors (clockwise): Cookie Dough, Red Velvet, Chocolate Ganache,  Yema, Tiramisu, Peanut Butter


This two-tone cupcake bunch made me wonder where Kim gets inspiration and ideas for the flavors of her cupcakes, "I'm a dessert lover myself. I love all kinds of desserts. I try to think of my favorite desserts, turn it into a cupcake and voila!"
Chocolate Ganache

Kind of looks like a Ferrero cupcake, doesn't it? Chocolate cream atop a chocolate cupcake can never do you wrong. Its as sinful as it looks, although don't let its tempting exterior fool you. The cupcake base is light and delicate. 
Tiramisu


I love how the top is smothered with what tastes like caramel and is sprinkled with cocoa. Cramming all the flavors of the famous Italian dessert into a tiny cake can be a bit tricky, although you can definitely savor the different ingredients that are used in an original tiramisu. The sifted cocoa has a bitter taste to it but the rest of the cupcake willingly makes its way to your mouth as you try to explore the different layers.
Red Velvet, Tiramisu, Yema

My personal favorite has got to be the Yema flavored cupcake - I mistook it for the Vanilla cupcake at first given how light and sweet each bite was. Yema, originally popularized in Bulacan, is a kind of candy made of egg yolks, condensed milk and crushed peanuts. In the end, you have a custard-like candy shaped like a pyramid. I could taste the condensed milk and loved the sweet center. I could eat 10 of these in one sitting without breathing in between each cupcake. Okay..maybe I'd gasp for air a few times.

You can order by phone, email or catch Kim's Cupcakes at these bazaars to instantly get your cupcake fix: 


* Emporia at Glorietta 3: December 7-8
* AMA Mall at Ateneo Zen Garden: December 10-14
* Bazaar for All Seasons at UP Bahay ng Alumni: December 14-15



















Kim's Cupcakes


149 Katipunan Avenue. 




Saint Ignatius Village, 




1105 Quezon City
0917 835 8886

Cukay's Cakes & Pastries

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When I first came across the name "Cukay's", I honestly did not know what to make of it. I wondered if it was a fancy way of saying "cuckoo". However, the cakes, cookies and pastries were enough to make me forget or even ponder some more about the reason behind the name. After several conversations with the owner of Cukay's and a good amount of crumbs left on the table from eating the mini cupcakes and cookies, I found out more about the real reason behind the name and where you can get hold of these delicious treats! 



1. Your business has such an interesting name. Why did you decide to use the name Cukay's? 

Cukay is my real name and I figured that if I use my name, it would be something that will catch anybody's attention. It's unique and it makes you wonder the meaning of the name.  It's just my nickname, usually used in spanish families and true enough, most of my clients, ask my sales ladies, "what is cukay?" "Is it a name?" "Is she pretty?" (lol), etc. So it worked just fine. It leaves everybody curious.

2. Have you always been into baking? How did your business start? 

I started baking since I was 16 and till now, I still use some of my baking cups.  I attended short courses and enjoyed them a lot.  When i was 18-19, I started selling cookies in school.  When I got married, would practice cooking for the family until I started selling spanish food then in 2004, when all of my kids were out most of the time, I enrolled in a long course of baking and I started making use of what I learned. In our school there is 1 specific cake that I loved so I started to master it until relatives loved it, friends started loving it until 1 would order, then 2 until it became a word of mouth.  I started selling the lemon torte one cake a month until it started growing, started to join bazaars and after 2 years, it boomed especially the red velvet and the smore's cookies. I have been actively joining the bazaars for almost 3 years now.

4. What are your best sellers on the menu?

My bestsellers are the Red Velvet, Decadent, Lemon torte, cookies and the sans rivals.

5. Where do you get ideas for the flavors of your pastries? Who are your target market?

 I get my ideas from my own taste and what my children tell me.  I always ask my girls, ages 18 and 21 what they think would sell because it is usually their age group that buys a lot until my daughter started working and they find out Im her mom, then office would make it a regular thing to give away to clients, then my son in csa would take a slice to donate or something then classmates will find out and buy, bazaars really a hit too especially ATC and ROCKWELL.  My target market are the teenagers and moms.  

6. What's something your customers can look forward to in the future?

When you are in the business, little by little, you will learn from experiences and all and you will also feel if you are getting bigger.  You will notice you already lack mixers, refs, stocks getting more and more so you will just have to go with the flow and that is how I do it.  I really join bazaars for exposure number one and marketing. As much as I want to be there to meet my customers, I am stock in my production area to make sure everything is in order but there are sunday's when Im don baking, I make it a point to go and visit .  Regarding expanding, eventually I will have to open my own coffee shop bakeshop because clients have been texting me to do so but until I can keep my expenses down while I am growing, I think that is important. It is so hard to have many overheads like rental, people, etc so maybe I would want to supply coffee shops and join bazaars, accept orders until I have enough capital to open one of my own.


Red Velvet mini cupcake
Assorted mini cupcakes: Carrot, Mocha with espresso buttercream, Chocolate with peanut butter, Dulce de Leche and Red Velvet

S'mores Cookie (left) and Oreo Stuffed Cookie (right), both P60

Sneak peak: Gooey marshmallows



What's inside? Graham crackers layered with chocolate and marshmallows

The Dulce de Leche was definitely my favorite. Once I took a bite, it literally dissolved in my mouth. The topping was even thicker than the cupcake itself!

At first I thought there would be too many flavors going on with the S'mores cookie since I usually just enjoy eating plain chocolate chip cookies. But I guess you can't go wrong with chocolate, graham crackers, marshmallows and a soft cookie base!

Apart from buying from their bazaar stalls in Alabang Town Center and Rockwell, you could also order through text and have it picked up in any of Cukay's stalls or in her own home (address and contact information below).


Cukay's
844-5707 / 0917-859-6244
1632 Dian St.
San Isidro, Makati City