Based in Manila, Philippines, Dessert Comes First is a chronicle of the food-obsessed food writer, Lori Baltazar. This website is all about desserts, restaurants, coffee, and the pleasures of homebaking. Read more about me How Many Bars Of Butter In These Butter Bars?
Tue, July14th of 2009
5:00 am
“Er, what exactly is a butter bar?” I ask.
Admittedly, it’s a scary proposition – a (cookie) bar made out of butter. (!) Though I have no problem ingesting loads of butter melted and mixed into cakes and cookies, to actually eat something so unabashed of its “provenance” is daunting.
Yes, even for dessert-obsessed me.
It arrives looking like cheesecake made in a 13×9-inch pan, complete with the sunken “custard” and crusty edges. For some reason, my previous conversation with Lovely Ann Palanca, the baker of these bars, echoes in my head: “Please don’t ask me how much butter I use to make one recipe, Lori, ‘cause it might scare you away.” (Ha, not likely). On a more serious note, Lovely struggles to describe her creation. “… they’re like brownies without the chocolate. Some people say it’s like cheesecake too… [with] a crust and a moist filling. I used to call them death by butter.” Hmm, not a bad way to go. On another occasion, Lovely attempts more descriptions.
“A cross between a cheesecake and a blonde brownie crust?”
“Toasty butter cake crust and buttery topping?”
“Butter bars because it has loads of butter in it?”
We could go on all day.
A cross-section yields what appears to be cheesecake on a blondie (white brownie) crust. My front teeth glide into the cheesecake, its residual cool from the refrigerator initially numbing my tongue. Then the flavors open up: cream on vanilla softly bound by eggs and the slow heat of the oven.
And the crust. Ooh. Like the true blondie it is, butterscotch and vanilla pitter-pat and push-pull on my palate, frank flavors as exuberant as the name of the cookie bar they belong to. It’s also distinctively salty, a salty-sweet that makes my mouth water, makes me reach for another slice. How serendipitous that Lovely “… ended up with this [butter bars] when I was craving for the butter cake of Vargas Kitchen.”
I send a batch of butter bars off with my Bin when he goes to the office. He returns and reports, “They loved them but agreed that the name didn’t do it justice.” “Well, what would they call it then?” I ask. “Cheesecake blondies.”
- I heart butter bars
When I talk to Lovely again, I ask her if the name “butter bars” insults present-day health sensibilities. “Not really, anything with butter is good.” (Hear, hear!) “Foodies know that butter makes the party complete. Filipinos love their sweets. As long as it’s “delish,” [it] doesn’t matter whether they gain or not. Eating in moderation is the key. A small piece will go a long way.”
Butter Bars by Lovely’s Kitchen
Savory items available: Chicken liver pate with brandy, Sardine Pate, Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce, Roast Beef, Tartufo Pasta with Prosciutto, Gorgonzola Rigatoni with Prawns, Seafood Supreme on Puff Pastry Shells
Baked goods: Butter Bars (P700), Deep dish cookies/chocolate chip lava cookies, Tres leches cupcakes.
0928.3244051 / (02) 8535752 for inquiries.
Email: lovelyp99@yahoo.com
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I LOVE ANYTHING WITH BUTTER! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR POSTING THIS. YOUR BLOG IS AMAZING!
[Reply]
Comment by kim cruz — July 14, 2009 @ 7:33 am
I was saving a pan of these to reward myself after a long and hard work-out. To my horror, I opened the fridge at the end of the day and saw two giant bite marks – my dear husband had discovered them far earlier than I had anticipated.
These bars are divine with hot chocolate or coffee. PERFECT for the rainy season. Comfort food in its finest scenario.
[Reply]
Comment by Pen Tuviera — July 14, 2009 @ 10:09 am
I love the description, “…a salty-sweet that makes my mouth water, makes me reach for another slice.” WOW… Those butter bars look amazing. Will have to order soon, VERY soon.
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Comment by Chuck Afable — July 14, 2009 @ 10:51 am
I LOVE… LOVELY!! her baked goods are awesome.. i will have to order some of thes “butter make my mouth waaahtaaa” soon..
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Comment by kat — July 14, 2009 @ 11:26 am
gaaahhh….i have a love affair with butter! i don’t care if it has 200 calories per tablespoon. butter is love!
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Comment by Joy Cruz — July 14, 2009 @ 1:18 pm
at first glance i thought it was cheesecake! it looks good
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Comment by Glenda — July 14, 2009 @ 2:02 pm
As an avowed butter lover, I have absolutely no problem with the name; in fact, I think it should be mighty proud of its main ingredient!
I’m curious, does it actually have any cream cheese in it, or is it just the appearance that makes people compare it to cheesecake?
I must try these soon. And her other baked goods sound delish, too!
[Reply]
Comment by Katrina — July 14, 2009 @ 4:57 pm
Thank you for the wonderful description of the bars, Lori.
Glad you liked it.
Thank you to those who left comments too
Hope you all get to try these bars.
Katrina, people compare it to cheesecake cause of it’s appearance and texture.
May you all be blessed…
Spread the butter love
[Reply]
Comment by Lovely Palanca — July 14, 2009 @ 5:42 pm
hi lovely! cant wait to go home and eat your products again.. simply delish!!! my thai friends really liked the pate i brought here, they said its one of the best they had! wait til they taste too your butter bars hehe..cant wait..
[Reply]
Comment by ian — July 14, 2009 @ 8:33 pm
Lori..ooooowow! i wonder what kind of buter is used in these bars? im passionate about butter.. in fact, if you open my refrigerator, all you’ll see are all sorts of butter – french, english, american, australian, etc.. (plus of course a variety of breads and cheeses) – and im raring to try this product you blogged about.. looking forward to your next post Lori!
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Comment by teddy — July 15, 2009 @ 11:37 am
They look so yummy! It’s like a flan-bar. Can’t wait for more posts.
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Comment by Ken — July 16, 2009 @ 5:22 am
i’m so glad Lovely finally decided to offer her much raved about tartufo.. it is simply wonderful! This pasta is my ultimate comfort food
and i was blown away with her Seafood supreme on puff pastry shells! her products are a definite must try 
[Reply]
Comment by The Steak Lady — July 16, 2009 @ 11:27 pm
Iam with you on this one, Teddy…BUTTER RULES!!!!
The picture up above reminds me of something I used to make ages ago…it looks very similar to Paula Deen’s Gooey Butter Cake/Bars. It is very easy to make that my boys can make this in no time at all…because they like this so much and it is very addicting. I just altered the sugar a bit (less is better).
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Comment by betty q. — July 18, 2009 @ 5:28 pm
Thanks Lory for introducing us to Lovely’s creations. The rich and buttery Butter Bars are well worth every calorie! And the Chicken Liver Pate is the best! Absolutely delicious!
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Comment by magy — July 31, 2009 @ 11:28 am