Starbucks sweets for the dieter

Sat, May7th of 2005

7:21 am

Summer means string bikinis and the South Beach (Bitch) Diet. To help make vanity just a little tastier, Starbucks has unveiled what I call their summer line: a “lite” (their quotes, not mine) banana cream pie and the slimmed down Frappuccino, a calorie lightweight at only 145 calories. Their tag line: “the calories stop before the flavor!” Comes in two flavors: Caramel and Mocha.

I’m as much a Starbucks junkie as anyone else, but I stay away from the Fraps as well as the (always!) optional squirt of whipped cream. I’d rather save my calories for their butterscotch fudge bar or the oatmeal cookie. So when the lite Frap came out, I knew I had to try it out.

The verdict: I like.

I don’t think much of diet or lite food. Fat is what gives food flavor, and most calorie-reduced foods are pathetic substitutes for their original counterparts. I’d rather starve. But this Frap was cool and creamy and sweet. I didn’t even miss the original, fully-loaded Frap. Hmm, I see a habit forming.

A few days ago, I made a dessert meal out of the Starbucks Frap and their lite

banana cream pie. The pie consists of thick banana chunks “glossified” to death sitting on a somewhat hardy crust. To me, it looked like they tried to make it as appealing as possible since the taste wouldn’t match up.

Surprise. The pie was actually good. It’s not going to replace my own banana cream pie any time in the near future, but this was definitely all right. The crust was a bit tough, the pastry cream gluey, and the banana slices were mixed with just a tad too much calamansi juice (which prevents darkening). And of course, that gloss looks unnatural. But put together these not-so-ideal components, and they actually work, strangely enough.

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5 Comments »

Lor,

I’m scared of Starbucks food. When I bring myself to, I eat a croissant (and sometimes it’s day old, blech).

Question:
Where are the good non-hotel brunches you know of? Any new ones?

Eternally in search of good brunch,

Mar

[Reply]

Comment by mari — May 7, 2005 @ 10:54 am

Hi Lori!!!! Got to read your blog through Mari. BTW, I love your blog. Anyway, just got back from my honeymoon and would love to catch up with you sometime.

[Reply]

Comment by Justine — May 7, 2005 @ 12:25 pm

Hi Mari,

The bakery that makes Starbucks pastries is generally very good, and I think highly of the stuff that comes out of their kitchen. That being said, not every one can have a good day everyday. Croissants are one of those iffy things. It’s really better on the day it was baked. Since that’s not possible, ask for it to be heated (toasted!) before being served to you.
As for the brunch places, this is my short list:

Something Fishy at Eastwood
They serve brunch from 1-10am, and it’s a whole smorgasbord of stuff from Pinoy to Continental.

Lumiere
They’re only open for brunch on Sunday, and their menu revolves around Eggs Benedict in all of its incarnations. Not a bad thing, but I can’t vouch for the quality. Lumiere leaves a bad taste in my mouth after our lunch there together.

Westin Philippine Plaza
Again, only on Sundays.

Old Swiss Inn
This place is open 24 hours a day, and I love it here. Imagine having pigs’ knuckles and roesti at 11am! Woohoo!

Heaven ‘n’ Eggs
I have heard just too many good things about this place along Morato: pancake stack half a kilometer high, different flavored syrups, large omelets, it just goes on.

Lastly, as for Breakfast at Antonio’s, half the people tell me they like it and half say it’s not worth the drive. I have yet to find out for myself.

[Reply]

Comment by Lori — May 9, 2005 @ 12:05 pm

Hi Justine!
Glad you found me. I’m honored another writer likes my blog. Welcome to the married life! Talk to you soon.

lori

[Reply]

Comment by Lori — May 9, 2005 @ 12:08 pm

Lor, thanks for the list!

I’ve tried Heaven and Eggs on “soft opening” week, so I can’t say I was too thrilled. Maybe I should go again.

Hear mixed comments about Something Fishy (the name ain’t so great, doesn’t help mwahahaha), and Lumiere too.

Antonio’s breakfast is only fun if you had a long day or if you are really enjoying your day in Tagaytay. Otherwise, it’s crowded and harassed.