Classic Deep Dark Chocolate Cakes (P43/ slice)
I’ve always wondered what Lori meant with this description of a chocolate cake in her post ” 5 of the best chocolate cakes in Manila ” :
“For me, a chocolate cake has to have structure – it shouldn’t be one big fudgy brownie slathered in icing. The cake should have “bite,” and a consistent crumb. The cake should be moist, an indication that it was mixed well, baked properly, and most importantly, not a week old. I’m not fond of eating cakes that are so dry it feels like my throat is being scrubbed with every swallow. Lastly, a good chocolate cake should have enough icing: ganache, marshmallow frosting, 7-minute icing, or simply the instant stuff from a can – whatever it may be, there should be enough of it. A cake that lacks icing is like eating kare-kare without bagoong or peanut butter without bread. Sure, it tastes good enough, but why settle for good enough? “
Finally I was able to taste the moist Chocolat cake that Lori is taking about ! I’m glad that Chocolat opened up a store in Mall of Asia and you should look out for this place when you are craving for that perfect chocolate cake dessert to finish your meal. Their place is actually hidden behind a huge pillar in the North parking towers.
This is one of those places that can impress your date in Mall Of Asia. This would give an impression that you are in-the-know about the best places to eat specially dessert. I teased my wife last friday that I know the perfect dessert place in Mall of Asia and she thought that I was just fooling around. She kept on guessing until we arrived at the place and finally ate the best Chocolate cake she ever tasted. Chocolates are always a winner with women so let’s just hope that she is not reading this post too 🙂
It was surprising also that their only piece of advertising poster was a printout of Lori’s description in her posts “5 of the best chocolate cakes in Manila“
Chocolate Cakes from Chocolat (from dessertcomesfirst.blogspot.com)
This little store in Quezon City is perhaps the best-kept secret of hard-core chocoholics. Called Chocolat: the Chocolate Baker’s Store, it’s a tiny place that sells a mishmash of baking equipment and surprisingly, wines too. There appears to be no order to the clutter here, which gives the place a somewhat homey feel that I like.
All is forgotten however, once I laid my eyes on the two chillers displaying the chocolate cakes. Obviously the star of the store, these are simple cakes, wet in their chocolate magnificence and enrobed in glistening fudge frosting. There are four kinds available, each differentiated by various sprinklings (chocolate chips, nuts, etc.): Classic, Kahlua, Irish, and Bailey’s. You can buy the cakes in slices, six-inch and nine-inch rounds (P250-P360).
When I visited Chocolat, a woman was sitting at the lone table in the room generously icing individual cake slices, an enormous pot of ganache sitting beside her. So deep and inviting was this ganache that I had to physically restrain myself from dipping my finger into the pot while the girl’s back was turned.
Despite the cakes’ alcoholic names, the alcohol is barely detectable, so have no worries about feeding these chocolate delights to children or non-drinkers like me. Frankly, it’s difficult to imagine a more honestly rendered chocolate cake.
Lori is now the defacto authority for the best desserts in the Philippines. I’m happy for her for setting that level of credibility and standard for other bloggers to emulate.
Bailey’s Deep Dark Chocolate Cake (P45/ Slice)
I love Bailey’s and putting it in a chocolate cake is a formula for diet amnesia. You can barely taste the alcohol but you can taste the bailey’s flavor once you take a bite with your chocolate slice. Although, my wife and I agreed that the classic one is still the best because of its simplicity in its chocolatey taste.
We also tried the spanish hot chocolate but it was a disappointment because of the lack of consistency in the chocolate. I can safely say that this is not part of their core competency 🙂
Chocolat has lovely interiors with a library bookshelf as a backdrop on the right side and a large rectangular mirror on top of a long leather covered seats on the left side. The place is small so I could imagine this place to be full of people hanging out on weekend nights after a hearty meal of what MOA food stores offer. I keep on reminding readers of my blog that the best time to go to Mall of Asia is during the weekdays specially on friday nights. But then, to those who live or work far away from MOA, you have no choice but to join the crowd on a weekend.
If you are not familiar with mall of asia, let me try to help you. Chocolat is located beside the elevator entrance in the north parking near the intersection of North Wing st. and Pacifica st.. For a bigger picture of the map, click here.
Other Dessert Place @ MoA:
Sebastian’s Ice Cream @ Shepherd’s Staff, Mall of Asia
Best Halo Halo in Town — Razon’s of Guagua, Pampanga!
More Desserts For You:
The Battle of the Gasoline Cakes
Sonja’s Cupcakes— Creating the Cupcake Craze in the Philippines?
those cakes look really yummy! and cheap, too! great post again, anton. i wonder if i would be able to visit all the places you’ve featured in your blog the next time i come down to manila =) but i’d definitely spend a day in Mall of Asia to try the new restos in there!
My, my, Anton, such words of flattery! Thank you. I’m quite humbled by your compliments. I found Chocolat to be the the place I’d want to hang out in when I’m at MOA. It’s just got that cozy vibe I feel was lacking in the more than 5 other coffee shops I went to that day. Perhaps that’s where we should finally meet one day. 🙂
Those cakes look so delicious! Thanks so much for the post.
Hi Anton,
I just happen to live 5 minutes away from MOA, but I hardly pay the mall a vist since it is always crowded during the weekends. I tried Chocolat a few months ago in Xavierville and I was able to sample 3 flavors the Kahlua, Baileys, and Classic. I agree with you that the Classic is the still the best. I wonder how they keep their prices so affordable. I find their chocolate cake a bit bland but it was very moist indeed. I still like the Chocolate Ganache Cake of Karen’s Kitchen and the Chocolate Decadence of Pastry Passion. Thanks!
I went to the Cafe Chocolat in their Xavierville branch. I was so looking forward to eating there, unfortunately, I think that branch is for pick up and take out orders only. Along with my sister and I, there was another guy who got there earlier and was still waiting for somebody to open the shop. Although their sign said their open from 8-5 mon-sat. the shop was locked last saturday at 2pm. we kept on knocking until somebody finally came out of the kitchen.
I was so disappointed bec there was no ambiance whatsoever and no customer service as well. We had to help ourselves to the chocolate cakes in their ref.
Good thing that the cakes good and reasonably priced. We tried a slice of each and brought a deep dark chocolate loaf for 150. I agree that the deep dark chocolate cake was the best tasting of all the flavors. and i absolutely love how their so moist and so gooey. If i werent so sacred of getting lost in MOA, i would go there instead =)
i tried to go to their xavierville branch, but i couldn’t find it. I traversed the whole xavierville avenue and up to Chico road, still couldn’t find it. Please help me. I only get to go to MoA once a month because of the distance between that and my place of residence, so the xavierville branch is my alternative site.
Thanks in advance. The pics serve to heighten my craving ….
Thanks for the kind words about our shop. Actually its run by my dad and my sister (and her husband), and I just try to help out by relaying feedback from anywhere I can find them (friends, the blogsphere, etc.) and by manning the store when my sister and her husband need a break. Will forward this entry to them so they can improve the store’s fare! Thanks and more power, hope to see you there again!
hey anton, I agree that the chocolate cakes from chocolat are a few of the best chocolate cakes out there. I usually order to go at their xavierville branch, but i think i need to visit the one at MOA as their branch in xville isnt really conducive to dine-in customers.
Dale
-i’m not sure if you still remember me from a few years back. Ako yung kasamang P&G newbie ni veira na nagbadminton sa CSA courts. Haha!
Here’s another chocolate cake to try out (pardon the suggestive name – I didn’t think it up!): Cheesecake Melliza’s Wet Dreams Cake. They have branches in Glorietta Food Choices and in Eastwood City. I know, I know, it’s supposed to be known for cheesecakes, but I like their chocolate cake more than their cheesecakes. Try it!
Oh you should try the desserts at Fleur de Leys in Tomas Morato too! They have this entry called “the next best thing” (which really lives up to its name) which I believe is the most sinful chocolate dessert, ever! They also have pasta, sandwiches and waffles that are to die for. Their potato chips are quite addictive too. This quaint little restaurant is close to ABS CBN. Anyhow, here’s the address:
Fleur de Lys
F.L.P Bldg.
305 Tomas Morato Ave., Q.C., between Popular Bookstore and Belo
Tel no.: 372-0631
If it’s sinful, it must be good
Went to SM Mall of Asia yesterday and had a slice of probably the best chocolate cake since I came to the Philippines at a place called, fittingly, Chocolat.
The chocolate cakes at chocolat are really the best. Much more when you see the price… You get the homey feeling when you are there (MOA). Unlike in other cake shops (where in the space is just limited) you dont get the feeling the the staff wants you out immediately once you’ve finished eating even if you are still having good conversation with friends especially when there are lots of people. They’re very friendly and accomodating. They have presentable container for the cakes for take outs, although I think the white plastic bag should be changed into something more personal to chocolat that even when you’re strolling inside the mall, they know that what you’re carrying is from chocolat
Apart from the yummy chocolate cakes, I tried their orange poppy seed cake. Twas good and somewhat moist, although too crumbly. I honestly think they used yellow cake mix for the base, but taste-wise, the cake won me over … it was not too sweet, and the candied orange topping was a good fit.
It definitely exceeded my expectations in terms of price points. (who can go wrong w/ P43-45 a slice?!:) if your date is “barat”, at least this place will literally take the cake [no pun intended])
the staff and they guy who looked like the owner were friendly and efficient. i’m definitely going back, maybe to try the white chocolate cake creations 🙂
interestingly, they placed anton.blogs.com on their official receipt. 🙂
i heard Chocolat is opening a new place at SM north edsa…..good to hear. Hope it will be open by christmas time. Good job great cakes!
They have a new menu with lots more yummy cakes!
haha I didn’t know you already got this shop featured until last night, upon seeing their receipt. I love their shop interiors & I love their chocolate hazelnut cake!!!
i hope you can feature the branch in north edsa..id like to see if it looks alike in the moa…thanks…
I will appreciate it very much if you can give me the address and contact number of Chocolat: the chocolate Baker’s Store in Quezon City? Thank you very much.
that cake looks yummmyyy!! i’m not actually fond of chocolate cakes…but then after seeing this blog..i decided to go there today right after office hours…heheheh
hi.
can you suggest the best blueberry cheese cake?
i wanna surprise my hon.
and do chocolat delivers cake to Makati?
Thanks!
Hello, hello Anton,
They’ve opened a branch in The Block in SM West. It’s so much easier to find than the one in Xavierville. 🙂
Hi Anton,
I love your site and I couln\’t help but share with you my latest food escapades… and it\’s not just any ordinary food but … CHOCOLATE CAKES.
At Salcedo Community Bazaar (this is a new cakeshop, i think they just started this year…), you can find this cake shop called SYMPHONY SWEETS and to tell you honestly, ive tried almost all the cakes you have on your top 5 list but theirs is the best so far…. You should try their STRAWBERRY CHOCOLATE TRIFLE (a bit frozen) and their ULTIMATE CHOCOLATE CAKE (its so scrumptious with the heavenly raspberry after-taste). It is to die for….
Thanks
Jenn
Hi Anton!
For cakes and pastries, do check out http://cakeitawaymanila.multiply.com. I have tried all their cakes and they taste great and not too sweet. They have been around for quite a while. It’s a homebased business in the Greenhills area.But do deliver in some places.
Cheers!
looks so sinful! i heard they have choco carrot cake too. wanna try that! 🙂
thanks Dale for the compliment on the Cheesecake Melliza Wet Dreams. Anton, i have tried the Bailey’s chocolate cake. very nice. I do hope you get to try our new choco almond mini cake. Maybe you can drop by robinson’s manila midtown wing on monday, May 26. We’re opening our first dine-in, Cheesecake Melliza Cafe. thanks
just went to chocolat in MOA last week. my fiance and i was supposed to have ice cream at shepherd’s staff, but none was available so we decided to get chocolate cake instead.
i saw a large laminated print out of this blog by the door. =)
I so love their choco carrot cake and death by tablea!
hope they open a branch in the south real soon!
My husband and I were in MOA celebrating our wedding anniversary and decided to get a chocolate cake in Chocolat before heading home. I asked if they can put some greetings on top and they agreed,so i wrote on the paper for them to copy ” Happy Anniv Darleng”… the “E” in Darleng was deliberate and that’s how we really call each other, much to my surprise , they changed my “E” to an “I” ( Darling ), i was really pissed off and told them that all they have to do is copy what I wrote ! If a spelling is not right that’s my problem since they just copied what I wrote. My husband and I are professionals and hold multiple degrees, do we look like we don’t know how to spell “Darling”? Really pissed off, could not redo it because its going to be messy, and to think its been paid for already. Just one of our sad experiences with Chocolat that I will never forget.
sorry buy i just couldn’t find the reason why its included in the top 5 best chocolate cakes,it’s cheap thats it.