THE Best Chocolate Crinkles Ever!

     A wide selection of authentic international cuisine and to die for desserts at dirt cheap prices in a bank? Yup, you read it right. Korean, Japanese, Filipino, Italian, Grill, Vegetarian, a fresh salad bar, soups, appetizers, dessert, and drinks; they've got it all, the ultimate one stop destination for any food lover. But despite all that, the reason I rave about this cafeteria is because of it's Chocolate Crinkles, which is the best I've ever had.

    It's moist, rich, chocolately, and big! I mean big, it's about the size of my palm and at only P13 pesos at that. It's already a 33% price increase compared to last year's P10, but it's still a heck of a deal. Actually all the food in the cafeteria is a heck of a deal . They last long, too. I still have some from 5 days ago, and they're still good even without refrigeration. However they only serve these at certain days of the week.

     I would love to had taken pictures of the cafeteria and the food that they offer, but I'm always overcomed with inferiority complex while a midst foreign intellectuals, and I tend to be discreet (I only took a shot of my take out loot). Dirt cheap cafeteria, tax-free Starbucks (among other shops in the bank) this really makes me so envious of my sister.

     You might want to ask me what bank this is, it's ADB. But before you go rushing there, let me remind you that you need to be accompanied by a bank employee just to go inside.

Kenny Roger's Froyo

     Whilst Red Mango offers the best frozen yoghurt in town, Kenny Rogers' Froyo can give you that same tarty indulgene for half the price! 

     Though it would have been prettier with a tall pointy swirl, I won't complain. At only P70, I got a large sized froyo with my choice of toppings. You can also have it in plain (P35 regular, P55 large) and just add P15 for toppings (fruits or brownie bits). Yummy.

Baseline's Delicacies - a taste of home

     Pasalubong is a Filipino tradition of a homecoming gift. It's a souvenir a tourist would usually bring home from a trip. Back in the day when you visit Roxas City, besides the seafood, tourists would usually bring home boxes of delicacies like barquillos, piaya, and barquiron and there was only one place to get the best - Baseline's.

     

     Baseline's was the to go shop when it comes to pasalubong, and barquiron was it's no. 1 export. Barquiron is a small wafer roll filled with powdered milk and sugar. It's like a combination of barquillos and polvoron, but not as fragile and sweet. It's a favorite among locals and tourists alike, and because of it's popularity I used to think of it as a local invention. Baseline's used to have a shop in Plaridel St., Roxas City, and since it's been a long time since we bought there last, I was a surprised to know it was no longer there. What was more surprising was that it's no longer "made in Roxas City" but imported from Guimbal, Iloilo City.

     

     When I came to Manila for a visit last week, my sister asked for Baseline's Piaya. Piaya is like a thin shortbread with Mascovado (raw sugar) filling. I searched high and low at the shelves of several grocery stores, only to find them (of all places) sold exclusively at a hardware store at Roxas Ave. (I forgot the name of the shop, but it's located beside William's Auto Supply). I bought some barquiron as well for old time's sakes.

     

     Baseline's Piaya is thinner compared to other piaya brands. Unlike other piayas with thick and flaky flour layer, Baseline's only has a thin sheet of flour covering the sugar so you get more of the mascovado goodness rather than just bread. And since it's not that flaky, you won't have to worry about the mess you'll make while eating them. It's not oily, nor overpoweringly sweet, just the right balance of sweet piaya goodness. My sister just loves them.

     A pack of Piaya (10 pcs) for only P32 and Barquiron (50 pcs) for P38.

     BASELINE'S DELICACIES

     Dr. Baseline Negro-Bartolome - Proprietor

     Igcocolo, Guimbal, Iloilo City

     Cell: 09192116162