Ultimate Taste Test 5.0 Winners! (3 of 3)

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This is the last batch of winners for Ultimate Taste Test 5.0. We are raising the passing bar to >3.55 from 3.30 for succeeding Ultimate Taste Test events. Congratulations!

21. Sweet Finale’s Dark Chocolate Flourless Cake3.62

If you are looking for a different cake, try Sweet Finale’s Dark Chocolate Flourless Cake. I find it too sweet andrich but some people like it that way and it’s flourless! Congratulations, Chef Janice!

What is the Story of Sweet Finale?
by Chef Janice

My passion for food began early growing up in a family where cooking and eating was, and still is, a
very special time to bring everyone together.

After earning a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management in St. Paul University, Quezon City. I went on to pursue my Associate in Applied Science degree at the prestigious School of Culinary Arts Kendall College in Chicago, IL(1999-2001).

Since then, I worked in the fine AMBROSIA (Euro-American Patisserie) in Barrington, IL. In which Chef Richard Rivera became my mentor for two and a half years. My yearning for education did not stop in the gastronomic world. I finished-off a Masters Degree in Business Administration majoring in Entrepreneurship and Marketing at the Brennan School of Business-Dominican University in River Forest, IL.

In 2005, I decided to come home to be able to share the knowledge and the culinary skills I attained
to my fellowmen. I am currently teaching at Siena College Quezon City (Hotel and Restaurant
Department) and OB Montessori College (F&B and Culinary Management Department).

I also does food styling for Mini-Stop and Unilever just to name a few of the companies she had worked with for the past years.

Now, I am offering culinary classes (per session or one on one) at my homely kitchen and actively baking on my eclectic patisserie business “Sweet Finale”, were Dark Chocolate Flourless Cake is my best-seller.

What Foodies say about Sweet Finale?

Too sweet
Im a sinner, this is a sin
Couldn’t been sweeter
Rich Chocolate
Yum!
Wow! Cant believe this is good
Nothing Special
Love it
Super Smooth chocolate, yum!
Excellent! Love it!
Tasted like Red Ribbon Chocolate cake
Moist, chewy, chocolate!
very rich! Not too sweet!
the dark chocolate was great & moist!
champion!
too sweet! Loved it!
I loved the sweetness!
taste is divine
keri!
so rich & dark
Chocolatey but too rony
Yummy! Melts in the mouth
Melts in your mouth!
Yummy! Melts in the mouth
Very fudgy and sinful
Too much flavor
too sweet! Loved it!
Good chocolate
YUM! I love this!
Ordinary but rich chocolate taste
Too common
creamy, chocolatey, heavenly
moist! Love it!
Amazing!

Sweet Finale
Contact: Janice Gaylene Cruz
Email: janicegaylene@gmail.com
Mobile: +63 915 258-7117
Website: http://sweetfinale.multiply.com
Sweet Finale & Culinary Studio
http://jcruzculinarystudio.multiply.com

Dark Chocolate Flourless Cake – P650 (8″ cake) / P450 (6″ cake)

22. Sassy K’s Korn Krisp and Gourmet Dips ^3.62

What is the Story of Sassy K?
by Sansan Tagarino

Sassy K is a partnership between 4 ladies who love good food and good friendship namely: Kristine, Suzzane, Jennifer and Sabrina. We have known each other for over 20 years. We value our friendship and have been there for each other for our own personal highs and lows. All our dads and moms are really good friends. We take annual vacations together and hold christmas parties together.

Sansan and Kris are sisters. Sansan worked for the corporate world for over 12 years as a Demand Manager. Kris is a doctor who resides in the middle east right now and recently gave birth. Sansan graduated from UPLB while Kris from Ateneo.

Jenn is into real estate and handles a lot of high-end properties. Jenn graduated from Ateneo. Jenn’s mom and Sansan and Kris’ mom were best friends since elementary.

Sab is currently a food blogger and does some catering. Sab’s father and mother in law were officemates with Jenn’s dad since the 80s. Jenn and her siblings lived a few houses away from the Go’s during the 80s. Sab has studied in La Salle since birth.

If you look into all our old and new pics, we will always have the same faces and guests in every minor or major gathering. That is prior to Sassy K starting. We were all friends first before we became business partners. And we promised each other that we will not let business ruin the friendship and bond we have right now, nor the friendship our parents have or even the friendship our kids will have.

Our parents started a business 20 years ago with their own vow to never let the business get into the way of their friendship. To this day the 7 families are still very close and have an unusual bond that is similar to a family but sometimes you’d think it’s deeper. That bond and success inspired us to start Sassy K. That was June 2009.

Sassy K is not just about food. It’s where you remember delicious food with good company. Like frienship, Sassy K is something you go back to over and over again because you found something wonderful and one of a kind.

Sassy K chips are made out of the finest imported flour. Our chips retain it’s crispiness far longer than the leading chips. We have it in regular flavors but in 5 different colors — white, yellow, pink, purple and green.

What Foodies say about Sassy K:

Awesome Spinach and Salsa Dip
Salad Dips too!
Colored Crunchies!
Cheese Korn krisps- Awesome
I love pesto the dip
I love corn chips
Spinach Adtirchole d’best
I like the spinach
Yum!
slightly above average
Love the chips! Kahit walang dip
Great Dips
The dips are good!
Sour cream nachos were good
My Super favorite!
Spinach dip was good!
BBQ & sour cream’s the best
Crunchy
so-so
heaven
Dips are a bit bland
Dip is great / chips stage
Good
Like it!
Pesto! MMM!
Dips are just right for health conscious!
the artichole dip was the best
Tasty & very delicious
refreshing dips
the sour cream & chives chips are nice
Appetizing color!
Pesto is good!
Pesto cream was bland
addictive! Sour cream
Ordinary lang!
Good salsa’s!
Pesto is good!
Spinach artichoile! Best!
Normal
Love the spinach artichole
Yummy! Flavor chips pesto cream!
Super yummy & truly crispy!
I like the antichole dip!

Sassy K
Contact: Suzanne Tagarino
Email: sansan_1025@yahoo.com
Mobile: +63 9178571727
Website: Sassy K
Products: korn krisps and gourmet dips

CHIPS
Regular (125g – P45, 250g -P85, and 500g – P150)
Yellow Corn, White Corn, Purple Colored, Pink Colored

Flavored (125g – P60, 250g -P110, and 500g – P200)
Zesty Barbecue, Sour Cream & Chives, Fromage (Cheese)

DIPS
Regular (3 oz. – P60, 10 oz. -P180, and 18 oz. – P300)
Salsa K. Tex Mex Salsa with a Kick!
Kiss-O. Creamy Cheese Dip with Jewels of Fire Roasted Pepper that’s Lip Smackin’ Good!

Premium (3 oz. – P90, 10 oz. -P270, and 18 oz. – P450)
Perky Pesto. Ciao Bella! Double Pesto Cream Cheese Dip that’s sure to Perk up your Day!
Sassy Spin Dip. Spinach Artichoke Dip. Healthy, Rich, Oh-so Yummy! What more could you ask for?

23. Dulces Y Tapas aka Christina’s Kitchen 3.60

I personally liked the bread pudding which has the texture and sweetness of a leche flan but with a “bite”. Congratulations to Christina’s Kitchen!

What is the story of Christina’s Kitchen?

After working in the corporate world for 26 years, I returned to my first love – baking.

In 2006, I formally launched my home-based baking business Christina’s Kitchen, which is named after the second name of my three daughters. Christina’s Kitchen specializes in “uncommon” desserts, not the usual fare sold by the bakeshop chains, with emphasis on good taste. I started joining Rockwell’s Baker’s Dozen in 2007.

My bestsellers are the carrot cake (“will change the way you view carrot cakes”), bread pudding (“leche flan goodness in every bite”), chocolate turtle pie and panna cotta, original and flavored.

My other offerings are apple crumble pie, Vienna Torte bars (from an old family recipe), frozen custard meringue or Brazo de Mercedes.

My butter cookies (in seasonal shapes) remind me of my childhood fixation on “Red Label” cookies (those of you old enough to remember this brand will know that these are way better than the imported ones now flooding the market).

I am constantly developing new desserts and variants, and improving our products to cater to Manila’s discriminating dessert clientele. I am a certified foodie – my bedside reading fare is cookbooks!

Christina’s Kitchen also offers savories such as Chicken Pot Pie, Lasagna and other pasta dishes, an embotido of the old-fashioned type (with chorizo de Bilbao) and a flavorful Iberian Chicken.”

Creme Caramel Bread Pudding

What Foodies say about Christina’s Kitchen:

The Carrotcake is soft and sweet
Alchoholic Froyo the punch!
Yummy Bread pudding
carrot cake moost & nicely sweet
Too sweet
A bit too sweet, but leche flan like
The best bread pudding
It’s good soft & fluffy but like icing too sweet!
Sweet
Light!, right blend of sweetness
Love cream caramel
cream caramel is good!
just the right sweetness texture!
loved the crème caramel bread pudding!
delicious!
love their crème caramel but its too heavy for dessert
Perfect! Not so sweet but yummy!
Not too over whelming
Good!
Melt in your mouth carot cake!
Love the cream cheese topping
Tastes like leche plan
Fan of the carrot cupcake
Leche flan w/ more bite!

Christina’s Kitchen (Dulces Y Tapas Bake Shop)
51-A Dr. Lazcano St. QC (near Tomas Morato)
Telephone: +632 373-4562, 384-2243
Mobile: +63 920 542-8408
Contact: Mariles Ibarra
Email: mariles_ibarra@yahoo.com
Products: Carrot Cupcakes, Creme Caramel Bread Pudding

Desserts:
Carrot cake
Big (9“ round, single layer) – P450.00
(8” round, single layer) – P350.00
Loaf (4 x 7”) – P 230.00

Bread Pudding (“leche flan” goodness in every bite!)
Big (5”x 9” loaf) – P 380.00
Small (4″ x 7” loaf) – P200.00
Mini (4″ x 3.5” loaf) – P100.00

Pls. order at least 1 day in advance (1 week or more during the Christmas season). Look for
Mariles. Orders are for pick up please.

24. United Village Breadhouse’s Crostini Toasts3.60
We love the garlic bread perfect with a good cup of coffee 🙂 Congratulations, United Village Breadhouse!

What is the Story of United Village Breadhouse?

United Village Breadhouse started when Johannes Alejandrino lost his job in 1981. He and his wife, Ting, then asked for the Lord’s guidance, through novena, if he will continue looking for a job or put up his own business. After the 9th day of the novena, a friend suggested for them to put up a bakery business, since Joh used to bake pandesal for personal consumption.

They used their savings as capital to buy equipments and start the business. Joh bought bread baking books and did a self study and experimented until he got the taste that he wanted. They started coming up with recipes for pandesal, sliced bread and dinner rolls. They literally went from house to house in United Paranaque to offer the breads to the neighborhood.

Joh was in charge of production, while Ting was in charge of marketing. Eventually, they were able to have daily bread rationing in the whole subdivision, including Merville and some offices in Makati. After a few years, since the kids were already in grade school and with twins on the way, Joh decided to put up other businesses, but didn’t work out. So they decided to just focus on the bread business and just add more products.

He then remembered the French bread that he loved eating when he worked in Switzerland for 10 years. He again experimented, until he got the taste that he wanted, similar to the ones he had in Switzerland. As the kids entered high school, they decided to add another product and try entering the supermarkets so they then came up with the Garlic bread with crushed parsley.

They started offering their products to supermarkets and restaurants. They eventually got in Major Supermarkets like Cash and Carry, SM, Makati Supermarket, Hi-Top Supermarkets, South Supermarket and Unimart. They also supply breads to Makro and Robinson’s Supermarket and is labeled as their home brands.

The couple then decided to just focus on the Frozen French and Garlic Breads that they supply to supermarkets and restaurants. In 2007, they again, added new products which are actually a great partner to compliment the breads, the assorted homemade spreads. The business has been literally the family’s bread and butter and has put all their children to school until they all graduated.

At present, the business is now slowly being taken over by the kids as Joh and Ting are about to retire, and is continuing to expand by innovating new products.

What Foodies say about United Village Breadhouse?

loved the sardines dip
Their garlic breads are very tasty
I love cream cheese
I forgot what spread I liked but its good
Garlic bread was nothing out of the ordinary
Too strong
Not really unique
Great Garlic bread
Creative
Sardines & Garlic bread are super yummy!
Great garlic bread delicious spreads
so-so
The pesto is too salty
Mackare!
Could do w/a little more flavor
Like the pimiento spread!
Good condition of ingredients!
loved the spreads!
just ok!
love the dip!
love the spreads!
garlic bread? Seriously?
Ordinary
Nice flavor
Dips are good!
Interesting dips!
Pogi nung supplier!
Love the cheese spread & pate, yummy!
Okay!
Nice & crunchy very flavorful
I love cream cheese spread
Love the variety
Bread is great but spreads are a bit intense
I like the yellow spread!
Good Flavor!
Bakit sweet?

United Village Breadhouse
Contact: Jeff Alejandrino
Email: jeff_alejandrino@yahoo.com
Products: Garlic Brad, Assorted Spread and Crostini Toasts

United Village Breadhouse
1149 Estrada St. Singalong, Manila
Contact Person: Jeff Alejandrino
Email: jeff_alejandrino@yahoo.com,
Mobile: +63 917 881-5333
Website: http://breadhouse.multiply.com
Products: Garlic Bread w/ Crushed Parsley, Assorted Spreads and Crostini Toasts

Garlic Bread w/ Crushed Parsley – P72.00
French Bread – P57.00
Crostini Toasts – P45.00
Banana Cupcakes w/ Choco Chips – P12.00
Banana Loaf – P110.00
Pandesal (6 pcs.) – P18.00
Cheese Bread – P10.00

Cream Cheese w/ Garlic & Herbs – P40.00 / P115.00
Cream Cheese w/ Garlic & Spinach – P40.00 / 115.00
Garlic Butter w/ Crushed Parsley – P40.00 / 115.00
Cheese Pimiento – 40.00 / 110.00
Spanish Sardines – 40.00 / 110.00

25. Kitchen of Elaine & Cara’s Peppermint Bars3.59

A bit too minty for me, but some foodies love the combination of chocolate and mint! Congratulations Elaine!

What is the story of Kitchen of Elaine & Cara?

Carla and Elaine’s Creative Kitchen Inc. started in 2008. Its aim is to become an upscale, one-stop bakeshop for custom and dessert cakes. Prior to this, there was CakesByCarla and Cosmobread.

Carla’s CakesByCarla created beautiful intricate custom cakes for all occasions, while Elaine’s Cosmobread made breads and to-die-for dessert cakes. And both started their baking businesses at home, right at their kitchen. Their individual successes through the years enabled them to combine their skills to start Carla and Elaine’s Creative Kitchen, Inc., and open their first flagship store, Kitchen of Carla and Elaine, in December 2008 in San Juan.

Backed by the sisters’ 10 years of experience, KC&E has become THE go-to bakeshop of the discriminating AB market by consistently using quality ingredients and maintaining the high standards of cake decorating.

KC&E’s highly personalized custom cakes, and signature desserts (Almond Toffee and Leche Flan Cake) garnered a following that includes celebrities and high-profile socialites in the Ortigas, San Juan and QC area, thereby solidifying their presence further as a premium bakeshop.

They also now accept orders for vegan and low-glycemic index cakes to address the needs of the diabetic and health conscious. By doing this, KC&E continues to evolve and innovate their products to better serve their customers.

What Foodies say about Kitchen of Elaine & Cara’s Peppermint Bars:

Minty..too minty
Too Minty
Too strong peppermint
Too sweet
Packaging & taste is super
Love it! Would be more attractive if icing is colorful
for peppermint colors
Sorry, Just not into chocomint
So good!
The best
Good taste mint
Love it!
Super yummy!
Heavenly deserts
Peppermint my fave!
Yummy but can improve texture!
good! But a little dry!
christmassy!
refreshing
I love mint but this one tastes like tooth paste
not too sweet
I love it yummy!
Too much flavor
Super yummy!
Unique taste
Yummy!
Not a fan of peppermint but the bars are good
Peppermint In a brownie unique taste
Unique taste
Normal
Cool taste because of the peppermint
Peppermint choco was perfect!
Finally.. A stone that serves moist might sweet!

Kitchen of Cara & Elaine
Contact: Elaine Lo
Email: elainechanlo@gmail.com
Products: Peppermint Bars

Original Peppermint Bars. (P150/12)
A Carla & Elaine Original. Chewy fudge bars with a peppermint layer

Peppermint Cookies. (P210/12)
An addicting chocolate cookie with white chocolate peppermint chunks

26. Aunt May’s Escargot and Beef Tapa
3.57

They serve the best commercially available kuhol (escargot) cooked in coconut milk in Manila! Filipinos love it specially as a pulutan. Congratulations, Aunt May’s!

What is the Story of Auntie May’s?

Special Beef Tapa (Imported Beef)

Marinated into perfection that my dear mother-in-law Blanca taught me a few years after my marriage. She said that this special tapa has been an all-time favourite of her children, relatives and friends.
Now, I receive orders not only from my friends and relatives but even for special occasions, birthday parties and during the Christmas season.
Perfect for breakfast, pulutan and main dish. Easy to cook and prepare as pambaon to schools and offices

Ginataang Kuhol (Escargot)

A favourite of my Tito Oggot. Everytime he comes home from the U.S., he would always request me to cook this for him and his guests (balikbayan and relatives) with the malamig na SMB Pale Pilsen.
I only buy kuhol (Escargot) from very reliable sources to be sure of cleanliness and freshness of the kuhol.
Cooked in freshly squeezed coconut milk and secret spices. Topped with our very own kangkong and siling Tagalog.
Highly recommended as appetizer, pulutan and/or main dish.

What Foodies say about Auntie May’s:

Escargot Masarap
Ozzom!
Liked the escargot
Salty
Naubusan
good, the escargot was just hard to eat
loved the tapa for tenderness
Tender, too salty Though
Beef Tapa Rating
Not good for food tasting
tapa is a little salty
Tapa was kinda salty
Beef Tapa was salty
Yummy!
No stack anymore!
Interesting
Salty Beef
Salty beef, escargot was ok
Beef too salty
No food served
Too Salty!
I miss kuhol and it made justice!
Escargot is perfectly seasoned tapa is a bit salty
Almost as good as ours
Great taste / soft beef!
D’ Best!
The tapa is excellent
Tapa very tasty
tasty!
beef tapa is best!
yummy but beef tapa can be less salty
fast time to try escargot, not bad!
tasty! Love the timpla/flavor
yummy!
too salty! Escargot lacks salt
Too salty
Beef tapa is tender
Tapa taste like know seasoning, escargot nothing great!
Yummy snail
Escargot to the next level! Love this!
I like the beef tapa although it’s a bit too sweet
beef tapa!
a bit salty but I like it that its thin
Sabaw is okay lang!
was not able to taste
Too salty
Good god, whats my name? snails!
Beef tapa is salty
love the escargot sarap!

Aunt May’s
Contact: Bon Reyes
Email: bonlreyes@hotmail.com
Mobile: +63 917 800-1088
Products: Escargot and Beef Tapa

Ginataang Kuhol (Escargot) – Price: Php 100.00 per serving
Special Beef Tapa (Imported Beef)- Price: P 250.00/ half kg

27. Fortune Empire’s Roast Pork
3.55

We love Fortune Empire’s Cha Siu or Roast Pork authentic HK-style taste! Sarap 🙂

What is the Story of Fortune Empire Food Specialty?

Our Vision
Bringing “Authentic Hong Kong Food” to the people around Makati and beyond.

About Us
To truly enjoy an authentic Cha siu, one has to put aside time and effort to sit and enjoy it. Fortune Empire Food Specialty gives our target market the luxury and convenience of having our Hong Kong style food served to them at their own place.

Hong Kong has been our backyard for quite some time now. The cuisine there has been our comfort food ever since. We would like to share to our customers, that there are more to Hong Kong food than sweet and sour pork.

Our desire to cut no corners in creating our food is what we offer our customers. Leading us in our goal are two professional chefs that enhance our food senses.

Mission
The FEFS mission is to develop uniquely branded food special that offers an authentic Cha siu taste and healthy take-out/eat-in menu for busy business people, singles, and families.

Service
The FEFS will offer a limited-menu of healthy fast-food products, ordered from either an order counter. The customer may order the meals ‘to go’ or eat-in at eight interior self-bused dining tables.

We believe that the three most important elements in the Food Kiosk value equation are food, service, and price.

The FEFS will have an upbeat, modern interior design that is both comfortable for customers and easy to maintain.

What Foodies say about Fortune Empire’s:

Tamang tama ang Lasa
Sure tasty
Tasty
Very good but quite ordinary
Flavorful
Delicious roast pork
food is a bit cold, but pork is still good
Good but a bit salty
taste not tender enough
flavorful pork
Great taste
A bit salty
Very nice taste pork is tender & juicy
Plain Nothing Special
very flavorful
Fantastic
a little bit too salty
The roast pork was dry like bubble gum
Fatty
Yummy but not extraordinary!
Pork is crispy / great!
Good & Soft
Great taste & texture love!
Excellent
Yummy!
Very tasting!
Panalo!
great!
tasty!
yummy! Love it!
taste like the usual
Even if served cold, I like it and its good!
just write! Not too salty & not too sweet!
Not tender
Cold rice but rice tasty pork
Normal lang
Yummy!
I like the taste but the pork was a bit tough
Tastes like the one on his!
Big portion of rice
Wow! So great!

Fortune Empire food Specialty
Contact: Mary Tan
Email: queen_mchan@yahoo.com
Product: Roast pork/ white chicken HK style

Pork BBq 700/ kilo and can be sold by grams. For Toppings cost 125 Php

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Full Disclosure: All the suppliers who participated in the Ultimate Taste Test 5.0 event provided free samples to 1,000 foodies who rated them anonymously.

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