Chocolate Diary

Midnight snacking!

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 23:48:05 +0800

Midnight snacking!

When Hershey’s rolled out their TREATS line, I thought,...

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 22:15:00 +0800

When Hershey’s rolled out their TREATS line, I thought, there must really be market for “pwede na” goods in the Philippines. As if the mountain of inferior-quality chocolate products in supermarket shelves wasn’t enough, Hershey’s comes in to compete. Inferior-quality chocolate products IMHO are those which are more sugar than cocoa butter -and/or- more cookie/rice crispies/marshmallow than chocolate. It’s ironic to think about a highly regarded chocolate company lowering their standards to reach down to the tight budget (hence low expectation) of Filipino consumers. Or maybe, cynically thinking, the TREATS line is by a local player in the food industry who spent millions of pesos for rights to stamp “Hershey’s” on their packaging. Highly pretentious treats (pun intended) if I think of it, but then sometimes I think too much. This is just food and no one is forcing me to buy them, anyway. Also, since I’m on a sad budget these days, I benefit immensely.

Hershey’s TREATS cookie bar costs an affordable PhP 7.00 at 7eleven. Unimaginable price for the giant American brand. It’s small but… frankly, pwede na. Sa halagang seven pesos, naka-Hershey’s na.

Photo taken using an officemate’s Samsung SIII. My hands...

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 22:38:00 +0800

Photo taken using an officemate’s Samsung SIII. My hands were a bit shaky because I was nervous about dropping it. So, sorry for not giving the phone’s camera any justice.

Sigh. That smartphone is so beautiful. It’s more beautiful than dark chocolate KitKat and that is saying a lot because I love KitKat and dark chocolate.

I don’t appreciate when labels say ‘dark...

Sun, 24 Jun 2012 23:41:24 +0800

I don’t appreciate when labels say ‘dark chocolate’, when it’s really just creamed Milo. :-s

DI MASARAP.

As the bookworm in the family, I’m the go-to person...

Sat, 23 Jun 2012 23:56:00 +0800

As the bookworm in the family, I’m the go-to person whenever anyone feels like reading a paperback. I have a small collection of books kept in the same closet as my clothes. It’s a tiny library of hardcopies gifted, bought and borrowed (I meant to return them one day) through the years.

A couple of days ago, my baby sister asked to borrow a book. She wanted to do a bit of light reading before she starts hitting her medical books. Basing from her personality, I thought she might appreciate something fun and a little bit weird.

“Suggest ka ng title”

“Help yourself na lang to the cabinet.”

“Is ‘Disappearing Girl’ any good, ate?”

“That’s depressing and pang-depressed.”

“‘Neverwhere’ by Neil Gaiman. Neil Gaiman!”

“Meh… ‘Try Water for Chocolate’.”

Tootsie Roll Pop. Ooh cavities…

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 22:07:22 +0800

Tootsie Roll Pop.

Ooh cavities…

36 Chocola’s Crispy Choc [sic] are saddle-shaped, thin...

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 23:04:00 +0800

36 Chocola’s

Crispy Choc [sic] are saddle-shaped, thin chocolates in a box. Pringles should sue!

I’m not sure if this is really good chocolate but I can’t stop popping them in my mouth! Lots of extender rice crispies though. Will save some for my sister to decide later, if I can help myself.

Sorry for the bad quality photo.

Models wearing chocolates in Europe

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 17:09:02 +0800

Models wearing chocolates in Europe

“There’s someone who’s just gotten back...

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 22:36:00 +0800

“There’s someone who’s just gotten back from official travel at the pantry.”

Plop. Plop.

2 candies drop and roll slightly on a table.

“How’d you get these?”

“There’s pasalubong, of course. Nicked these from some girl’s loot.”

“That’s nice and thoughful of her for carrying chocolates from London to the office. Really sweet.”

“No! The person is a dude.”

“Ohh… Wow… I didn’t know dudes give chocolates to dude co-workers now… But, thanks!”

*Immediately grabs one and tears open.*

*NOM!*

End.

—-

Re-thought Tagalog conversation into English.

That phone is a real Blackberry Curve 8520. It has been reduced...

Tue, 19 Jun 2012 20:48:56 +0800

That phone is a real Blackberry Curve 8520. It has been reduced to a size of a keychain when placed next to this Toblerone. TOBLERONE. Its so big, we call it the laundry detergent bar of chocolates. Kung baga sa Tide, taba bar. It’s giving me a tooth ache just by looking at it.

Knick knacks was my favorite snack in Elementary school. It has...

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 21:48:00 +0800

Knick knacks was my favorite snack in Elementary school.
It has been at least 12 years since I last brought a bag of knick knacks to school.
12 years 0_o

Reunions with friends are always the best. :-) (Special thanks...

Sun, 17 Jun 2012 20:51:35 +0800

Reunions with friends are always the best. :-)

(Special thanks to Joy for today’s chocolates.)

Caramel Sea salt Brownie, (some stall in) Mercato This is a...

Sat, 16 Jun 2012 16:38:37 +0800

Caramel Sea salt Brownie, (some stall in) Mercato

This is a brownie that had spent 2 days drying in the fridge after surviving a journey from a midnight food market in the city to my home. It was tossed and turned and got flung around along with the random contents of my bag. It was probably pressed and got heated up too.

When I unearthed the thing from the fridge, I thought this must be the ugliest brownie I have ever seen. Ang panget pero pwede na. I was hungry and there wasn’t anything good in the house since our help left a month ago. I’ll wash it down with milk. This will be enough to tide me over til merienda.

After one bite, oh Lordie ang sarap pala! NOM!

(Special thanks to Fri for today’s chocolate.)

Merienda tray of Jr. burger and chocolate milkshake from Burger...

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 20:00:37 +0800

Merienda tray of Jr. burger and chocolate milkshake from Burger Avenue, Fort Strip.

Sad Photo resolution by my Blackberry.

Disclaimer: You won’t be seeing any fancy chocolates...

Thu, 14 Jun 2012 20:28:00 +0800

Disclaimer: You won’t be seeing any fancy chocolates here.

Unless someone will sponsor me or I’m PMS-ing (read: insane cravings/impulse buying), stuff I’ll be posting in this diary are the everyday treats readily available in the places I frequent. This mean that if you visit on a regular day, you are more likely get Fibisco Choco Mallows than Royce’s Nama.

For the record, I find Fibisco Choco Mallows and Royce’s Nama chocolate equally delicious. Just thought I make that clear!

I strive to make this site a reflection of my daily *struggle to find the word* affairs. And I want to make it as honest as possible. It would be nice to feature the likes of Machiavelli Chocolatier or Haagen-Dazs all the time, but that is just not practical for a blog that requires posting 7 days a week. Supermarkets, tindahans and 7elevens offer convenience and affordability so these are where I usually run to.

If there’s an opportunity, I do reward myself with expensive chocolate fondue or an imported $$$ chocolate bar. But expect that these come only once in a while.

Just being real, yowz. :)

(When trusty supermarkets, tindahans and 7elevens fail, I always have friends and family who I can nag. Heehee. Special thanks to Lori for today’s chocolate.)

Ano sabi? Pumunta raw tayo doon ng 5 (pm). Sige. Bili muna ako...

Wed, 13 Jun 2012 16:39:00 +0800

Ano sabi?

Pumunta raw tayo doon ng 5 (pm).

Sige. Bili muna ako ng gamot sa Generics.

Ang init. Saan tayo pwede mag-antay?

Sa 711, presko dun diba? May aircon.

Bakit wala silang aircon? Pati sa HBC naka-off ang aircon!

Ang init!

May bagong dunkin donuts sa tabi ng palengke. Tara.

Ahhh… Aircon…

Ahhh… Asukal…

Oreos and milk - midnight snack for the working girl at home. I...

Tue, 12 Jun 2012 23:43:21 +0800

Oreos and milk - midnight snack for the working girl at home. I initially wanted chips but we have none and I’m on a limited budget so whatever the fridge can offer will do. Dark chocolate cookies dunked in milk, so yammy!!!

PS. I should stop eating on my bedroom floor.

The range of moods I go through is widely diverse and those I...

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 19:53:00 +0800

The range of moods I go through is widely diverse and those I choose come in poles.

I’ve noticed that in the past few days I’m on my listening mood, the polar opposite of my state of talkativeness. Once a month, my brain goes on a basking holiday and will refuse to spew out anything material. During this time, however, my curiousity level is at its peak. My questions abound and I find a yearning to hear all kinds of noise from just about anywhere.

An interesting conversation happened during merienda today. The topic was love stories. The guys surprised me with their eagerness to discuss their favorite romantic movies. Between cornik and instant coffee erupted a reliving of the effects of “Chances Are”, “Up”, “Casablanca”, “The Notebook”, “Ghost”, “Zorro”, etc.

I wanted to share how “An Education” made me kilig but was embarassed this may not be cheesy enough for their standards. Instead of blabbering too much, I listened. It was fun.

(Special thanks to Joebert for today’s chocolate.)

SO MUCH TO DO SO LITTLE TIME.

Sun, 10 Jun 2012 23:27:56 +0800

SO MUCH TO DO SO LITTLE TIME.

It’s nice having a parent who earns a living by feeding...

Sat, 09 Jun 2012 23:15:00 +0800

It’s nice having a parent who earns a living by feeding people. Since I’ve received a fair share of indiscreetly envious comments from friends when they learn that my mom caters, I can say that there are others who wish they had the same privilege. “Wow caterer!”, they say. Sometimes it goes by “Naks naman!”.

I suppose they were thinking about all the food we get. Honestly, catered food is hardly enviable. The copious amount of dishes my mother’s kitchen churn out is for us to see and smell, not to eat.

What people should be jealous of really are the juicy tsismis we get to hear. Imagine the drama behind weddings, big birthday parties, sosyalans… Chika minute!