An invitation from one of Iloilo City's top bakeries for an afternoon of coffee, tea and chocolates is one temptation I easily gave in. In preparation for it's annual chocolate festival, Tinapayan Bakeshop has invited members of Iloilo Bloggers Inc. for an exclusive look of what's to come and expect on its 5-week long chocolate festival.
Sinful Desires at Tinapayan, officially starts on Monday Sept. 27, 2010, and in the next five weeks, Ilonggos will again go loco over choco as the bakeshop highlights chocolate based cakes, breads and pastries on top of their usual line of baked products. Each week, Tinapayan will showcase a selected number of chocolate based products like breads and choco bars plus a featured cake of the week. Plus for a minimum purchase (PhP25) of any of their products, one can get to experience a dip on a 4 feet tall chocolate fountain.
The previous two years saw Chocolate Fashion highlighting Iloilo's first and only chocolate festival with also the country's first and only chocolate dresses. But this year, Tinapayan will hold its first ever "Cake Decorating Contest" on Oct. 1, 2010 to highlight this years chocolate festival. Participants from different schools in Iloilo City will battle it out in creating the most visually appealing chocolate cake that will land in Tinapayan's cake collection in time for it's annual chocolate festival.
Last Thursday, we were graciously hosted at The Promenade by Ms. Evelyn Que, owner of Tinapayan Bakeshop and Mr. Scott Sarria, General Manager of Days Hotel Iloilo. It's actually my second year to be invited this launching activity but this year it is way different, for it was solely organized for and attended by bloggers. It was an up close and personal afternoon as we were briefed on the highlights and sidelight of the chocolate festival over the mouth watering and delicious cakes, breads and bars Tinapayan is known for.
The previous two years saw Chocolate Fashion highlighting Iloilo's first and only chocolate festival with also the country's first and only chocolate dresses. But this year, Tinapayan will hold its first ever "Cake Decorating Contest" on Oct. 1, 2010 to highlight this years chocolate festival. Participants from different schools in Iloilo City will battle it out in creating the most visually appealing chocolate cake that will land in Tinapayan's cake collection in time for it's annual chocolate festival.
Last Thursday, we were graciously hosted at The Promenade by Ms. Evelyn Que, owner of Tinapayan Bakeshop and Mr. Scott Sarria, General Manager of Days Hotel Iloilo. It's actually my second year to be invited this launching activity but this year it is way different, for it was solely organized for and attended by bloggers. It was an up close and personal afternoon as we were briefed on the highlights and sidelight of the chocolate festival over the mouth watering and delicious cakes, breads and bars Tinapayan is known for.
A display of Tinapayan's chocolate based products that would highlight the first two weeks of the festival provided both visual and gastronomical appeal during that "exclusive for bloggers " event. And we really enjoyed them from the start, taking a lot photos , to finish, the tasting.
(Next to choco mint) Choco orange is my favorite combination so naturally this Chocolate Orange bar was an instant hit! The mandarin orange mousse perfectly complemented the rich chocolate base and with cream, chocolate and fresh mandarin orange as garnish - it wasn't easy resisting a third bar.
Bananas are too common that often we take them for granted but with the Choco Banana bar, it changes one's perception of this lowly fruit. Smelled and tasted like bananas but made even more exciting with walnuts and ofcourse, chocolates.
Aptly named as Mocha Decadence, this melts in your mouth mocha fudge bar is made with a rich chocolate base topped with walnuts and smothered with caramel syrup. No wonder it was called as such - truly indulgent in every bite!
Nothing spectacular on this coconut and chocolate combo but this Coco Fantasy bar is a can become addicting and a guilty pleasure even if one is lost in fantasy or not.
Smelled like it was freshly baked, this Marble Pound Cake presented a tasty combination of vanilla and chocolate in compact cake. On it's own or even smothered with icing, it's a a good eat, pound for pound!
Seems irresistible with those chocolate shavings on top complementing the icing. Tinapayan's Choco Ensaimada is the among its ensaimada lineup (together with cheese and ube). Though it wasn't as soft as I expected it to be and personally I like other two ensaimadas better .Now who took a bite of the ensaimada?
The Choco Hazelnut Mousse Cake is made up of alternating layers of chocolate cake and choco hazelnut mousse that I can only describe in one word - heavenly! And I finished a big slice of it even wanting more.
The Choco Mango Torte could easily have been the centerpiece of the entire display because of its very appealing design. But what's inside is a revelation - layers of butter cake, mango mousse and chocolate cake, making a delectable cake both visually and gastronomically appealing.
It was a really a gastronomical afternoon of coffee, tea and chocolates for we did not only enjoy the goodies offered by Tinapayan (and some take home too) but the chance of being trusted, as bloggers, to promote up and coming events of the bakery. And as "Sinful Desires at Tinapayan" officially kicks off two days from now, be ready to indulge and go loco over choco with the great selections and activities the chocolate festival has to offer.