Cuppies for the Tired Soul

Just because I'm feeling blue and too stressed out, my husband decided to take me out on a surprise dinner date.  After a month of too much overtime, my payoff came with a question by hubby, "so where do you want to eat?"  The most beautiful question I have heard the entire day.  That definitely put a smile on my face.  I had the entire day of thinking of ways not to think of this one thing.  It's confusing I know, don't ask anyway.

Hubby knows I've been meaning to test the cupcake I have been spying for weeks now.  I've been stalking cafes and bakeries for that perfect cuppies.  And so far I have discovered four delectable indulgences here in Abu Dhabi.

How do you like this?

Yes, it is something.  This is one of the ladies of Bloomsbury.  Set in the middle of Al Wahda Mall, this cupcake stall gives you the classy and elegant feel of a English cafe.  You can choose from one delicately decorated cuppies to another.  All of them looks too good to be eaten.  You'd rather have them serve in a plate and stare at it dreamily.  Their cuppies have two categories, red cards cost AED 12.00 while the black card cuppies cost AED16.00.  This on the picture is one of the black card member and its called raspberry temptation.  The cupcake was a bit dry for my liking, but the jam compensated the lack of moist in it.  The icing was too much as I have expected and the fresh raspberries are a welcome delight with the sweetness of the icing.

Next on the list is Kitsch cupcakes in Central Market.  It was a bit difficult to locate because if you check the floor plan of the building, the stall looks like its inside the mall.  Anyway, turned out its the bakery outside the mall next to cafes.  The location would have been a perfect spot for a cup of joe and a cuppy.  Unfortunately, its summer, so anywhere with A/C is more preferable.  Kitsch reminds me so much of Lachi's and Baby Cakes in Davao city.  It was difficult to choose from a wide array of delicious cupcakes.  Good thing they have small portions that only costs AED 6.00 per piece.  The regular size costs AED 15.00 and they even have the Giant size that serves 5-6 people which costs AED 159.00 a piece.  Too bad all their giant size is already sold.  Not that I would be buying one, I'd just like to take a picture.

 Anyway, we got the lemon twist, double choco and the red V.  The lemon icing was refreshing.  The tanginess of the lemon complements the sponge cake and mildly sweet icing.  The double choco was okay.  Their red V was also good, the icing and the cake tastes like what you would expect from a red velvet cuppy.  Again, their cake was too crumbly for me.  I like my cuppies moist and savory.  Even stands alone without the icing.  These I found in the red velvet cupcake of Cinnabons.  As well as mini cupcakes from Spinney's.

If I have to eat cupcakes for the entire day, I think I'll choose Cinnabons.  Light and airy but still has that moist that leaves a luxurious feel to your tongue.  I must say this is too much advertisement for Cinnabons already.  I should get a free red velvet for this one.

Bread Anatomy

I grew up in a bakery. Every meal is not complete without bread on the table. What ever the time of the day, there are variety of bread to choose from. I am a bit spoiled when it comes to bread. And because I am so into breads I made it a point to learn on how to make it. But that was my life before I got married. Baking was my stress-reliever and my way of keeping the family "healthy." When I got here, my search for the perfect bread (a.k.a the kind that I am accustomed to) had began.

My search for that perfect bread took some time to commence, since I was so overwhelmed with new flavors that I have encountered. Until one day, when I woke up for breakfast, I began to crave for loaf bread. In the Philippines, loaf bread or the white bread or the milk bread is known with so many nicknames. American bread, Tasty Bread, White Bread and Loot Bread (this is for those who doesn't really know the real name of the bread but just uttered the word that sounds the same with loaf bread).

So the first bread I bought was the milk bread. Most groceries have many bread to offer. I tried the milk bread. This kind of bread looks like the Filipino loaf bread but has the different texture. It is flaky and does not taste as creamy as what I have expected. Next is the White Bread. Still looks like the loaf bread but not that soft. The taste is okay but still not that taste that I am looking for. And finally, I found Golden Fork White Bread. (This is not free advertising, seriously). This is the kind of bread I am used to eating. Soft and chewy texture. It doesn't break up when you try to flatten it or roll it. Just perfect.


Then I went out for a ciabatta craving. A variety of ciabatta is hiding in the baskets of Spinney's grocery. I particularly like their sun dried tomato ciabatta. Try reheating it in the grill and dip it into a balsamic vinegar and EVVO mixture. Perfect combination for any soup and salad. A perfectly grilled ciabatta is when the outer crust is crispy and warm on the inside and easily absorbs the soup when dipped.

Speaking of crusty shells and chewy insides on the inside - this also spells the perfectly cook pandesal. Let me tell you about the pandesal. This is the staple break fast food of most Filipino in the Philippines. This can be dipped into coffee - commonly done by Lolo's and Lola's whose set of teeth has long retired. Pandesal also goes well with any sandwich spread. And it also goes well with any viand. After 11 months here in Abu Dhabi, I have finally found pandesal. Choitram supermarket sells them here in Khalidiya for 1 AED for 4 pieces. Pandesal came from a Spanish word pan meaning bread and de sal meaning of salt. Pandesal is a bread made basically with salt.

Good to know that some corners of the city offers food that reminds you of home. Comfort food for the homesick soul, I must say.