No offense to homemade banana bread or to people discovering a newfound talent in baking while quarantining, but sometimes a proper fudgy cake with a decadent frosting is about as essential to people’s sanity as getting three square meals a day (OK maybe not, but stay with us).
If you want a break and a treat from everyday home cooking, we’ve rounded up a number of cakeries around the metro that do pickups and deliveries during the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). If you feel guilty for spending money on non-essentials (or are they?), know that you’re at least supporting local businesses through this tough time, while treating yourself.
Good enough deal? Your options below.
M Bakery
M Bakery, Manila’s import of Magnolia Bakery — the little Manhattan cupcake shop that rose to fame thanks to the Sex and the City gang — has reopened this week with a limited menu which includes several cheesecakes, classic and specialty cakes and cupcakes, and the bakery’s signature banana pudding.
The Manila-exclusive Ube Cake (PHP3,250 / US$64), made with buttercream and creamy ube halaya dolloped between fudgy ube-flavored cake slices, then topped with meringue frosting and a sprinkle of coconut flakes, shouldn’t leave you asking for more options. What limited menu?
Ships from: Bonifacio Global City. Order by calling or texting them via Viber at (+63) 917 6331718 or by sending them a message here.
Big Al’s Cookie Jar
You can’t go wrong with a classic fudgy chocolate cake.
Case in point: Big Al’s Cookie Jar’s Decadent Chocolate Cake (starts at PHP550 / US$11), baked and served in a tin tray, the chocolate cake base is thickly doused with chocolate ganache. The dessert shop also has a range of cheesecakes for you to choose from, as well as a variety of caramel cakes, tinned cakes, and (as the shop’s name gives away) cookies.
Big Al’s has three locations but only one shop is open during ECQ. They’ll be reopening on April 24, so consider this a heads up. Orders must be placed at least three days before your pickup date.
Ships from: Sikatuna Village, Quezon City. The store does pickups only while on ECQ, and you can place your orders here.
Boulangerie 22
French-patisserie inspired Filipino cakery Boulangerie 22 ships from seven cities in Metro Manila, and in two cities in Laguna. Their range of specialty cakes that can be bought whole or by the slice should hit sweet spots. The Chocnut Fudge Gateau (PHP799 / US$16) for example, is a fudgy cake layered with a rich ChocNut (from the popular local chocolate peanut candy brand) cookie crumb buttercream.
Smaller cakes like fudgy brownies, buttery madeleines, plus sweet and savory muffins are also on offer.
Ships from: Various locations in Metro Manila and Laguna, a three to four-day lead-time is needed as the cakes are made to order. Delivery is every Tuesday to Saturday. Order here.
Wildflour Cafe & Bakery
Popular among ladies who brunch, Wildflour has a respectable lineup of cakes and pies with a distinctly local flavor, including an ube cake, a bibingka (baked rice cake) cheescake, and a coconut-flavored pie.
Among its decadent offerings is the Tres Leches Cake (PHP235 / US$4), which consists of three types of milk (whole, condensed, and evaporated) packed into a fluffy cake base. It’s as sinful as it sounds.
Ships from: BGC, Makati, and the Podium only, while on ECQ. Takeouts and pickups are also available. Deliveries require a minimum spend of PHP1,000 (US$20) between 8am to 2pm daily. Order here.
Pasteleria Costa Brava
This Makati City cakeshop has somewhat of a cult following despite operating on a smaller scale compared to other cakeries on the list. They’re known for their ridiculously soft chiffon sponges and campy customizable cakes. Costa Brava also sets itself aside by using coco sugar in each of its made-to-order cakes.
Among the crowd favorites is the shop’s Caramel Cake (starts at PHP650 / US$13), a melt-in-your-mouth cake base with a creamy caramel icing.
Ships from: Bel-Air 1, Makati City. Pickups are available, deliveries can be made by calling (+63) 896-1267 or by messaging them here.
Conti’s Bakeshop
What Filipino who likes fruits in their sweets wouldn’t be tempted with Conti’s famous Mango Bravo? (starts at PHP895 / US$17). The best-selling cake is a concoction of wafers and chocolate mousse spiked with ripe mango cubes. The bakeshop’s humungous (even for a “mini” size) cakes and decadent confections will probably be among the first to pop in mind when you’re hankering for dessert.
A variety of sans rivals and chocolate cakes are also on offer, along with local desserts like Leche Flan (a caramel custard), lengua de gato (“cat’s tongue” shaped butter cookies), and ensaymada (fluffy pastry made with cheese).
Ships from: At least 10 stores around the metro, and in Cavite and Laguna for ECQ. Order at (+63) 8580-8888, or message them here.
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