inang charing cakes and pastries – Jellybeans in the City

Did you know that Carrot Cake Day falls on February 3?

On this day, the world celebrates one of our favorite cakes which happens to have a lively and storied history.

Food historians posit that the carrot cake originated from the carrot puddings eaten by Europeans in the Middle Ages. During this time, sugar and sweeteners were quite expensive so bakers used carrots as substitutes for sugar.

In 1814, a recipe for “Gateau de Carrottes” was included first included in the book L’art du cuisinier by Antoine Beauvilliers, former chef to Louis XVI which was soon copied in competitor cookbooks until an English translation came out in 1824. Thanks to these written works, the recipe for this delectable was handed down through generations and traveled across continents so we foodies can enjoy it.

Here in the metro, the carrot cake remains a foodie favorite and many local bakers have put their own spin on it.

One such baker is Mylene Capili who operates the online bakeshop Inang Charing Cakes and Pastries. Having named her business as a tribute to her beloved grandmother, she applies modern takes to the classic dessert favorites that her store offers.

Her Carrot Cake (Php395 for sampler | Php545 for 8×8 square pan | Php1,245 for family-size 10×12 pan), for instance, like many modern iterations of the dessert, is made with freshly grated carrots incorporated into a moist and sweetly spiced cake topped with a thick layer of cream cheese frosting and beautifully garnished with grated carrots and chopped walnuts.

It’s a showstopper of a dessert, definitely, and a perfect sweet treat for Carrot Cake Day.

Couple this with an order of premium Cookies (Php180 for box of three | Php355 for box of six) made with decadent Belgian chocolate. From the Classic Chocolate Chip (made with dark and semi-sweet Belgian chocolates) to the Aurum (made with white and golden Belgian chocolates topped with almond slices and Maldon sea salt flakes, these are tasty ways to indulge your sweet cravings anytime you want.

So go ahead. Find reasons to celebrate such as Carrot Cake Day and treat your loved ones to lovingly crafted desserts from Inang Charing Cakes and Pastries.

Order now via Facebook or Instagram with a three-day lead time and pay via GCash or BPI bank deposit a day before your preferred pickup or delivery date.

Disclosure: Items featured here were received as gifts.

Check out my blog posts on other small enterprises and startups in the food business:

Is it strawberry season in the Philippines already?

Way, waaaay back into my youth, I only got to taste this luscious red fruit when a family member brought home a precious basket as a pasalubong from a Baguio trip.

Due to its scarcity, eating the fruit fresh was considered sosyal… or shala, as the kids say it nowadays.

Thanks to developments in agriculture and transportation, strawberries are more widely available, making it easier for bakers and dessert makers to incorporate this delectable fruit in their creations.

Such is the case with Inang Charing Cakes and Pastries (read my previous post on this enterprising homebaker here), recently launching its newest offering: the Strawberry Shortcake.

Mhai Capili, the baker behind Inang Charing’s Cakes and Pastries, decided to add this dessert to the menu, taking advantage of the fresh Baguio strawberries being sold in the metro. She decided to test out the recipe forming in her head to see if it will work.

The result is a delightful eight-inch diameter confection made with a light spongy cake layered with thick whipped cream and fresh strawberries.

It is a delight to the senses: The spots of bright red made by the fruit against the light-colored cream and sponge cake draw the eyes. The smell of the fresh strawberries whet the appetite. The contrasts in textures in these elements make for an exciting mouthfeel. And, of course, the bursts of fruity sweetness against the sugary cream filling and cake sates any sweet tooth’s craving.

The best part is that this absolute showstopper of a dessert can be yours for just Php985!

Just order via Facebook or Instagram with a three-day lead time and pay via GCash or BPI bank deposit a day before your preferred pickup date.

Thank goodness there’s no need for me to break the bank, nor travel far, for that shala (or sosyal) feeling you get from eating a decadent slice of Strawberry Shortcake.

Disclosure: I got my cake for just Php785 as I chanced upon Inang Charing’s post regarding the sale price for one of its first-ever batch of Strawberry Shortcakes while I was browsing for dessert ideas for my daughter #ExhibitA’s birthday. You could probably say that I just couldn’t resist. Oh, #ExhibitA (and the whole fam) loved it too. 😋

Check out my blog posts on other small enterprises and startups in the food business: