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Erica's Happy Bacon Chocolate :)

ULTIMATE TASTE TEST 3.0 RATING: 3.4 out of 5.0

Happy Bacon is a personal favorite, and I've been addicted to it ever since Erica shared it when we met in Singapore. I encouraged her to join the Ultimate Taste Test to really put it to the test among foodies.

This is one of the highly debated foodie discoveries in UTT3 (see comments below). Fifty percent loved it because of the unique sweet-and-salty combination that is almost aphrodisiac in nature, while the other half hated it because it's deadly, sinful and they didn't like the aftertaste of bacon. But it passed the test with a rating of 3.4. This is a great Christmas gift for foodies who love new adventures with their chocolate.

The packaging can definitely be improved on and maybe Erica could create a version with the truffle-like quality of chocolate. Some think that its price of P250 for 100g is too high, but for us, the only problem is that the product has to be picked up in the QC / ABS-CBN area.

I'm a Happy Bacon fan, are you?

Happy Cream Puff by Maricel Yamagishi

ULTIMATE TASTE TEST 3.0 RATING: 3.6 out of 5.0
 

The story of Happy Cream Puff is very inspiring. Ever since we discovered them last December 2006, I've seen how they expanded from being an Alabang-based business to a Makati-based one with two branches. We should be proud of homemade ventures and entrepreneurs pursuing their dreams.

I had no doubt that they would pass the Ultimate Taste Test 3.0. Most foodies raved about them. However, some commented that it is nothing new already, but I still think that after 3 years, there are still some people who have never been introduced to Happy Cream Puff.

Their fresh preparation of the Cream Puff is something hard to beat. Our personal favorite is the eclair with a little chocolate topping. Their small Legaspi Village branch is a hit and it is like a neighborhood cafe around the business district.

Related OAP Blog Posts:
Happy Cream Puff! We love the Eclairs!
Beard Papa vs. Happy Cream Puff
Happy Cream Puff -- finally in Makati!

Instant Teh Tarik that I Love

ULTIMATE TASTE TEST 3.0 RATING: 3.6 out of 5.0
 

Have you heard of a home-based coffee and tea drink supplier? El Kapitan is a "home-based Starbucks" that supplies espresso machines and really good instant drinks with unique blends.

Most foodies raved about his instant Teh Tarik Blend, which is a concoction of powders done in Singapore out of 3 Teh Tarik blends. It is way better than the Lipton Milk Tea available in the market today.

Next to the teh, foodies also approved of the Banana Nut Coffee. It is a combination of Baristo's 3in1 Coffee with Big Train's Banana Nut Cream syrup.

I'm addicted to the Teh Tarik -- I didn't know instant tea could taste this good.

Related Blog OAP Post: El Kapitan Food Enterprises in Ultimate Taste Test 2.0

Homemade Savoury Pies by Tina Raines

ULTIMATE TASTE TEST 3.0 RATING: 3.6 out of 5.0
 

Tina Raines came back from her successful Ultimate Taste Test 2.0 debut and offered more filling variations of her Savoury Meat Pies and Gourmet Sausage Rolls.

(See Related OAP Blog Post: Callos Aussie Pies by Tina Raines)

Some of the foodies already became groupies of Tina's pies and awaited their comeback in UTT 3.0. The foodies in the Australian Embassy were also enthusiastic about them after ordering a few dozens after UTT 2.0. OAP is also a fan, especially of the Callos Special Pie and the Shrimp and Smoked Salmon Gourmet Pies.

With an Aussie husband to do the quality control of the meat pies, Tina is now ready to compete with some home-bakers who started offering meat pies in Salcedo Market and other places. I believe she will win because of the quality of her crust, the flavorful filling, and her passion in sharing the best in her life. :)

Good luck, Tina! Go! Go! Go!

The Fruit Garden - Best Fruit Jams in Manila

ULTIMATE TASTE TEST 3.0 RATING: 3.6 out of 5.0
 

I think this is the local and better version of the Bonne Maman Fruit Jams from France. Instead of apricots and other foreign fruits, The Fruit Garden uses locally available mangoes, strawberries and pineapples.

I actually tried The Fruit Jam and Bonne Maman side by side, and I prefer The Fruit Jam because it has a smoother, fruity flavor. There's this fresh homemade taste to their products, unlike other jams that have a heavy-on-preservatives taste.

I also like their unique variants and combinations. OAP highly recommends the Mango Ginger Fruit Jam! Sarap! The ginger was not too strong and it provided that anghang taste tempered with the sweetness of the mango.

For me, this is the Best Fruit Jam in Manila! We are already planning to make it our giveaway.

Cookie Monster Cheesecake!

ULTIMATE TASTE TEST 3.0 RATING: 3.7 out of 5.0

We got introduced to Symphony of Flavors through Jason of WheninManila.com. I actually stayed away from it because it was too rich, too sweet and too tempting -- even just by looking at it.

I must admit I thought it would not make the 3.3 cut but it did very well at 3.7. A lot of people like it because it is especially made for those people who like a sweet, rich, overloaded cake. I must agree with one foodie that this would be perfectly paired with strong, black coffee (no sugar needed).

Congratulations to Symphony of Flavors! Their Cookie Monster Cheesecake is quite unique and it would stand out among other usual cakes.

Dulcelli's Avocado Sansrival - Super Yummy!

ULTIMATE TASTE TEST 3.0 RATING: 3.7 out of 5.0

Dulcelli Cakes is our personal favorite and one of our best finds in the Ultimate Taste Test series.

My wife loves Sansrival, and we would often only go for the tried and tested classic flavor. But Denise's Avocado Sansrival got Rache's approval and we ordered a few cakes ever since to share with a few people. If you ask anybody in the Ultimate Taste Test 3.0, Dulcelli Cake was the most raved about next to Dulcelin.

During the taste test, the sansrival was a bit soggy already because it was a bit hot. Surprisingly, the Avocado Sansrival still managed to WOW the foodies. We agree that it is better served chilled. The magic is in the way it is able to capture the flavor of avocado with the right balance of sweetness (without being nakakasawa).

Congratulations, Denise! If you are tired of your usual cakes, try Dulcelli's Avocado Sansrival. :)

*** AVOCADO SANSRIVAL PROMO!  Its now P 640 only for this 2009 Christmas season. ***

Divine Desserts (Indeed!)

ULTIMATE TASTE TEST 3.0 RATING: 3.7 out of 5.0

It was the first time for Divine Desserts to join the Ultimate Taste Test. They only presented two of their best sellers -- Double Double Fudge Cake and Cookie Caramel Crunch Cake. Both of them were a hit and most foodies raved about them. Rache and I both love the Cookie Caramel Crunch Cake, which is way better than the Caramel Crunch Cake we used to order at Red Ribbon. We are now Divine Desserts Fans. :)

When it comes to dessert, I believe that it should be sweet but not nakaka-umay; it should be rich in taste but you should still feel light after you finish it. Divine Desserts has mastered this balance in their cake creations.

Divine Desserts is highly recommended! Check out their other heavenly goodies. :)