Sans Rival Bistro in Dumaguete

From Bluewater Sumilon Island Resort, we returned to Dumaguete to take a ferry that will bring us to Bohol. 

But first, we had lunch at Sans Rival Bistro which was not only conveniently situated near the port but is also home to the famous silvanas of Dumaguete. Sans Rival Bistro stands out from the rows of restaurants along Rizal Boulevard because of its modern look.

Facade

There's an al fresco dining area for those who want to enjoy the fresh breeze from the sea.

Al Fresco Area

Pre-cooked meals displayed carinderia style are available at San Rival Bistro but we preferred to order ala carte:

Sizzling Fries

Would have loved it better with cheese!

Bistro Signature Salad

Fresh crunchy vegetables

Pritchon Pockets

Enjoyable appetizer with authentic flavours

Seafood Paella

Moist with generous serving of fresh seafood

San Rival Bistro has a cake window with many inviting sweets but it's best to order the classic silvanas to avoid disappointment.

Cakes, Cakes, Cakes

Butter Sansrival

 At less than 30php a slice, it's no surprise that this was just ordinary. 

Chocolate Silvanas

I applaud the effort but the chocolate experiment didn't work.

Do not leave Sans Rival Bistro without buying a box of silvanas. It's buttery with just the right level of sweetness. Best pasalubong from Dumaguete.

Sans Rival Bistro is located at 3 San Jose Street, Dumaguete. For more information, call (035)4210338 or click here.

Desserts at Cake Club

One of my favorite dessert places in Manila is The Cake Club by Diamond Hotel at Bonifacio Global City.

The Cake Club also offers savory dishes for the lunch or dinner crowd but I always come for the sweets.

Here are the items I've tried from their dessert menu:

Ispahan (250php)

Practically a giant macaroon, perfect for those who are not into very rich cakes.

Baked Cheesecake (250php)

My favorite Cake Club cake! Rich and pure making it a cheesecake that's hard to resist.

Supermoist Chocolate Cake (250php)

True to hype, this decadent chocolate cake is very moist indeed.

Diamond Ensymada (120php)

Diamond Hotel is very famous for its ensymada but I'm not much of a fan. It's very ordinary for me. Also tried their ube version on a separate trip, but I wasn't swayed.

Foie Gras Macaroon (150php)

A lot has also been said about this very sinful macaroon but I don't like it as well. Too exotic for my simple palate.

Ice Cream: 150php for 2 scoops

Truth be told, more than the cakes, it's the homemade ice cream that makes me keep coming back to The Cake Club. One can never go wrong with the Salted Caramel and Baked Cheesecake flavors. 

The Cake Club is located at UG/F Bonifacio High Street Central, East Superblock, 7th Ave cor 29th St. Fort Bonifacio, Taguig. For more information call 621-3176. 

In A Land Far Far Away...

Wish I could say the trip to Katipunan for Boulevard Diner was worth it...

BUT 

cheap cheese,

 sour wings,

and soggy buns just won't make the cut.

Tried to erase the memory of dinner with desserts at Mom And Tina's.

I can't say it worked.

Boulevard Diner is located at 91 Xavierville Avenue, Loyola Heights, Quezon City. For more information, call 5045634 or click here.

Mom and Tina's has three branches in Metro Manila. For more information, click here.

Cakes, Cakes, and More Cakes

It's time for another cake roundup! Here are some of the cakes I've consumed the past few months:

Estrel's Caramel Cake

Fluffy with a mamon consistency, the caramel icing is not as thick as Hizon's. A good alternative for those who prefer their caramel cake less rich.

Formosa's Taiwan Style Cake

Icing overload and sour fruits made this cake a disaster.

Lia's Cake in Season's Avocado Sansrival

The bitter avocado frosting ruined the experience for me.  

Cara Mia's Di Lusso

Loved the vanilla, chocolate, and pistachio combination of this ice cream cake.

Taza Platito's Yema Torte

Sweet! Not surprising since this cake is made mostly from condensed milk and sugar.

Aristocrat's Check It Out

Forgettable. Next!   

Peninsula Boutique's Blueberry Cheesecake

Pretty to look at but it didn't have the right balance of flavors. The sweetness of the cake made it impossible to taste anything else.   

Estrel's is located at 54 Scout Tobias cor. Fr. Martinez St. Quezon City. For more information, call 3722965 or click here.

Formosa Bakery is located at 518 Banawe St. Quezon City. For more information, call 5168319. It also has branches in San Juan and Binondo.

Lia's Cakes in Season is located at 25 A&B East Capitol Drive, Barangay Kapitolyo, Pasig City. For more information, call 3774808 or click here.

Cara Mia has 9 branches in Metro Manila. For more information, click here.

Taza Platito is located at 12-A Scout Tobias cor. Fr. Martinez St. Quezon City. For more information, call 3732732 or click here.

Aristocrat Bakeshop has 4 branches in Metro Manila. For more information, click here.

The Peninsula Boutique is located at The Peninsula Manila, corner of Ayala and Makati Avenue, Makati. For more information, call 8872888 or click here.

Stella and the Rocket Room

Stella is one of the more popular restaurants at Bonifacio High Street Central. Reservations are not welcome and it's almost impossible to secure a table during peak hours.

We, however, preferred to dine next door at Rocket Room to experience the best of both worlds: food from Stella and drinks plus music from the Rocket Room. The two restaurants are owned by the Raintree group so cross-ordering is allowed.

Bar at Rocket Room

Lamb Cochifrito (295php)

The only hot dish we ordered from the Rocket Room menu, this fried lamb is perfect bar chow. A bit too oily though.

Quinoa Tabbouleh (195php)

A unique grainy alternative at Stella that I didn't care for.

The Stella Salad (295php)

Vegetables with bacon. Not exactly healthy but it's at least tasty.

Wood Fired Garlic Mushroom Cream Fettuccine (425php)

Creamy with light truffle flavors. 

Roasted Seafood Piza (350php)

Thick and burnt dough. Dry to boot. My least favorite of our orders.

Stella's Porchetta (395php)

Soft and succulent pork with crispy skin. The rosemary sauce worked in enhancing the flavors of the meat. 

A little before 10 p.m., the lights dimmed at Rocket Room and we took it as our cue to order cakes and drinks:

Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake

I love anything with a salty and sweet combination and this was no exception.

Red Velvet Cake

A decent version of a very popular cake.

Rocket Fuel (195php)

An intriguing drink with a hint of spice.

A Girl with Violet Eyes (195php)

Mojito with mixed berries and lots of mint.

I commend the Raintree Group for coming up with another hit concept but I have to say that among the Raintree restaurants (M Cafe, Chelsea, Mr. Jones, and Momo), Stella and Rocket Room are at the bottom of my list. 

Stella and Rocket Room are located at G/F Bonifacio High Street Central, East Superblock, 7th Ave cor 29th St Fort Bonifacio, Taguig. For more information click here.