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 You’re Invited to a Tea Party
Mon, February 20th of 2006
11:10 am
Admittedly, it’s a dizzying concept: 13 of the best desserts in Manila that I most highly recommend, done by seven of the best home bakers I’ve had the honor of coming across. To those who aren’t proud members of the “cult of the sweet,” it sounds like a toothache of (g)astronomical proportions. But for those of us who pledge allegiance to sugar highs, this event is a utopia.
This sweet morsel of an idea is not mine. The genius goes to Carlos Celdran, he of the now-famous and much-in-demand walking tours of Manila. This “streetwalker” is also an artist who has recently opened up his own art gallery aptly called The Living Room. It’s a space for living in specific senses of the word. Carlos and his assistant, Ria Limjap, have extended an invitation to me to “hold an exclusive dessert event of which you are the curator.” That was how they described it to me, after which I promptly fell off my chair in sheer flattery and terror at the thought of organizing it all.
The event is an afternoon of pasta and finger foods, just enough to pique our appetites. It will be followed by the main course, a parade of desserts, during which I introduce the bakers, and they are:
1. Imelda Go – White Velvet Symphony, Triple Hazelnut Mousse
2. Karen Young – Mixed Cheesecake, Xanadu
3. Sharlene Tan of Qitchen – Carrot Cake, Strawberry Shortcake, Banana Cream Pie
4. Dulcelin – Mango Torte
5. Homemade by Roshan – Lemon Torte, Cookies
6. Trina Imperial of Vanilla Bean – Turtle Cake
7. Gerald Gan – Cheesecake, Coffee Crunch Cake
I’ve already featured some of these bakers namely, Roshan, Dulcelin, and most recently, Sharlene of Qitchen. I’ll be featuring the other bakers in the days that follow.
During the event, everyone will have their fill of the various sweet treats, and to fuel the already heightened sugar-wired state we‘ll all be in, I’ll be raffling off some cakes kindly donated by the bakers for the event. I’m also raffling off five of my favorite food shots blown up to an 8×10 size and framed, ready to hang. Of course dessert is nothing without an accompanying libation, so I’ve procured a coffee sponsor, Cordillera Coffee, which I’ll feature in a few days.
Regular readers of this website will ask me if this is (finally!) the long-awaited and much-asked-for “sugar-holics convention” or “eyeball” (EB), similar to that which Marketman hosted last November and which I attended.
Well, yes and no. In as much as I’d like to make it a free for all, I’m limited to a guest list of 30 people, since Carlos also has a guest list of 30 people. Those interested in attending should email me and I will in turn, reply. The first 30 people whose emails I receive will have a slot reserved for them at the tea party.
The event is on :
Apt. 24, Syquia Apartments,
1991 M.H. del Pilar St.,
Malate, Manila
3:00 pm
At the event itself, confirmed guests must pay P500/head for registration and a chance to win a cake and/or a food photo. I can’t stress enough about emailing me if you want to be there. If your name is not on the list, you can’t be let in. It won’t be fair to the bakers who were told to prepare only for 60 people, and to the people who were denied a slot. Also, if you’ve confirmed that you’ll be there, please PLEASE be there. Don’t say you’ll come and then flake out on us at the last minute. I will hold a running countdown on this website of the remaining number of slots.I’m excited about this event, but I’m even more excited to meet you and introduce you to the some of the most talented bakers and their sweets. Say you’ll be there?
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Wow – I wish I was close enough to take part in this.
Pictures are amazing!!
[Reply]
Comment by Fiber — February 20, 2006 @ 11:17 am
Mmm…
[Reply]
Comment by Carina — February 20, 2006 @ 11:55 am
Oh Lori! I am so sad that I will have to miss this!!!
Goodbye yummy cakes! I will be out of town for my Grandma’s birthday…
I am still looking forward to that EB though
[Reply]
Comment by joey — February 20, 2006 @ 3:02 pm
Lori, this post seriously made me check out flights to the Philippines. If I was any closer, I’d be there in a heartbeat! *sigh*
[Reply]
Comment by Anne — February 20, 2006 @ 5:56 pm
Lori,
I have an idea.
Why not make photo postcards of the same ones you have in this entry for those won’t win anything? They are downright wonder-delicious-ful. A picture postcard will serve to:
. Yeeeeheeee
1) convince ourselves afterward that it wasn’t a dream (not that I’ve given up on winning);
2) mark the date, place and event (AKA souvenirs); or
3) to have something for your autograph
Just print them on photo paper right? And maybe the title of the event, address, contact info of the museum?
Can you tell that your excitement is infectious?
[Reply]
Comment by riagirl — February 20, 2006 @ 6:32 pm
I just sent you an email. SAY I‘LL BE THERE? =)
This’ll be a feast for the senses! I’ve never been to something like these…gosh, I CAN’T WAIT!
[Reply]
Comment by Abster — February 20, 2006 @ 7:37 pm
hey, it was like my husband’s UP Law Christmas party. The theme was dessert! We had all sorts of dessert…(shucks, can’t remember from where) but we had chocolate cake, chocolate fondue (in a pot), bibingka (Ferino’s), mango torte, Estrel’s caramel cake, it was heavenly! (and sinful at the same time!)
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Comment by jencc — February 21, 2006 @ 8:00 am
Anna Gan forwarded me this invitation. I’d love to be there! I might be bringing at least two more people as well.
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Comment by Charo Nuguid — February 21, 2006 @ 9:38 am
are you sure about the address? if you are having it in carlos’ flat i know that that’s on the 2nd floor. unless he moved in the last day or so, ‘the living room’ is definitely not in apt 14.
great idea though.
[Reply]
Comment by gonzo — February 21, 2006 @ 10:11 am
Gonzo:
Thanks for that. It’s Apartment 24.
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Comment by Lori — February 21, 2006 @ 10:22 am
Oh jesus, I wish I could go…:(
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Comment by Robyn — February 21, 2006 @ 10:42 am
Oh, my stomach is happily anticipating this event. I’ve marked it on all my calendars!
[Reply]
Comment by Mila Tan — February 22, 2006 @ 9:33 am
sayang I wasn’t able to email in time:( hope you can arrange another tea party
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Comment by Anne — February 22, 2006 @ 12:19 pm
Please please please hold one of these parties again in the summer (July-August). Unfortunately, I`m not in the Philippines (I study in HK) and I would LOVE to attend these parties. Hehe.
Cindy.
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Comment by Cindy — February 22, 2006 @ 4:43 pm
riagirl’s idea is a great one! maybe include a directory of the featured bakers on the back as well?
i’m re-reading all the tea party bakers you featured, and i’m getting positively giddy!
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Comment by Deepa — February 23, 2006 @ 10:47 am
Hi there Lori,
May I know if this invitation is open to non bloggers (is the term correct?)like me?
I chanced upon this “event” c/o Carlos Celdran’s blog and I would really love to attend.
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Comment by darwin — February 24, 2006 @ 8:54 am
Hi Lori, I didn’t know about this party till today, months after the event! The cakes looked amazing and for someone who sometimes has a cake for lunch, you can probably sense my disappointment at having missed a wonderful chance.
Will have to keep a close eye on your blog from now on, should you decide to repeat the event.
Please do have another tea party. Thank you.
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Comment by Agnes — October 27, 2006 @ 12:42 pm