a second helping of Vanille

I could not help myself and I just had to go back to Vanille. Desserts came a-calling last Sunday and I listened to my sugar craving.

For that day, I, my wife and Cacing indulged on two treats.

1. Calypso. The dessert looks like a baked Alaska at first glance, with its icy and frosty white shell. Attractive caramel brown patterns are skirted and scorched around the folds of the white mousse dome. A heap of mango cubes is perched on the concoction, announcing its tropical intention. Inside, the sponge cake is soft, light but gladly, not watery. When sliced, the coulis (ku'li or "coo-LEE") sauce of mango essence is viscous but did not spill over the cake. It pays that there is no shortage of sweet mangoes in Cebu for the final flourish is this queen of Philippine fruits. The sweetness is divine! I couldn’t help but contemplate if I should order the big cake version for Christmas, as I am always partial over mango cakes.
price= P65


Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/125s, f/1.8, 50mm, ISO 200, +1/3EV



Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/100s, f/1.8, 50mm, ISO 200, +1/3EV


2. L’Opera. Unlike the Ube, this is the French classic made of chocolate butter cream, chocolate ganache with rich coffee-soaked sponge cake. The cake gets a high rating for sheer physical construction value. I can imagine how finicky assembling the layers must be, with restraint and skill needed to make the sponge cake the right thinness and the ganache paste the right thickness. Upon slicing, the cake held up on its own, firm and retaining plenty of spring. It did not collapse into a mess even with the eager battering of our fork. And as far as richness go, what do you expect with a treat of premium butter and cream? It rolls perfectly in the mouth and melts in no time. As I took some time photographing the cake we sliced, our 9-month old Cacing could not help but squeal loudly for more. Babies just have no patience!
price= P65


Canon EOS 350D Digital, 1/80s, f/1.8, 50mm, ISO 200, +1/3EV


On our way out, there was a new display on the counter. There were oblong cakes covered with green powder. The waiter said it’s green tea with raspberry. We were tempted but could not stay any longer.

There’s always another time.

Vanille Cafe and Patisserie
The Terraces, 2nd level
Cebu Ayala Mall
Cebu City, the Philippines

More on Vanille in part 1 and part 3.