Fine Life On A Budget + + +

I don't have the perpetual sugar rush as some foodies have, but once in a while I take a break from hefty meals and just settle for something short (in serving) and sweet. This is why I always manage to squeeze in a dessert at least twice a week.

I've always found Chinese desserts exotic only because I am not familiar with any of its kind. I have lots of Chinese friends, but food never really bonded us. School and the arts did. Just imagine my surprise for tasting the peanut roll pictured above. I call it my Hong Kong surprise. The black sesame filling gave the treat the omph it needed. I dislike tikoy. I like-y like peanut roll. I had it at Lutong Macau restaurant, by the way.

I was not familiar with S'mores (short for some more of marshmallow) until I tasted a cake version at Red Ribbon. It tasted soft and rich, but I just couldn't finish it because the combo of marshmallow, chocolate, and caramel was a bit overwhelming to my taste. I recommend this to kids.

I also ordered this in another occasion at Red Ribbon but I already forgot what it's called. I'm guessing it may be vanilla caramel. Correct or not, this cake slice worked for me.

An officemate sold me the pastillas de leche treat above. It's from San Miguel, Bulacan, the land of everything pastillas. The classic milk bar is soft and just sweet enough for one to finish a box full of 24 pieces.

Everyone combines anything with banana these days. Likewise with coffee. And, so it's only logical that both banana and coffee converge in one treat. I was cajoled by a friend to try the banoffee pie at Starbucks. I was told that there's a more delicious one available somewhere in Katipunan, Quezon City. I just may try that some time because the Starbucks bannoffee pie I had was only good when chilled. I didn't realize that the whip cream would disappear once I left the pie alone for a few hours.

I first had to be disappointed with Bo's and Blenz Cafe's lemon squares before I got amazed with Mary Grace's. I had the above photographed piece (the set includes four pieces) only yesterday and I will return to Robinson's Galleria today to buy more because I absolutely love the version by Mary Grace. It doesn't have to be chilled nor refrigerated for a number of hours. Being left out on a table somewhere, it still tastes flavorful with that signatgure citrus kick and it doesn't fall apart easily.

The sugar-free tiramisu I had was at Seattle's Best. It had a rich, creamy flavor that's not overwhelmingly sweet. It didn't matter, though, if it was not served with low fat anything. I don't gain weight easily anyway.

Puto or steamed Filipino rice cake is a comfort food for me. I always recall my Baguio summers whenever I'd get a fill of putong malagkit or the sticky version of this rice cake. I don't really fancy the slightly dry version that's being sold in Goldilocks. These days, I get my puto fix from Razon's.

Secret Recipe offers the best cake slices in the metro. They even get their selections straight from Singapore. This caramel cheesecake slice is good for 2-3 people. Order coffee to drown the intense caramel taste.