“Chocolate Island”
By: Robby Alugar
Chocolates are a small but integral part of people’s lives. They can be unassuming yet also a symbol of a grand gesture. They come as a new experience or evoke memories of a time long past filled with flavours of nostalgia.
This segment of RMA News showcases the wonderful world of chocolates as it finds a renaissance in the Cebuano culture. New-world artisans craft the Visayan variant of the cacao, Criollo. Let’s explore and create sweet memories as the sun rises and sets here on this Chocolate Island.
My family is spoiled for a weekly generosity from the adorable Choa family.
Another gesture of love, again we got a package full of breads from “The Chamber Keepers” Hannah, Angelie, Jonathan, AJ and JP. The siblings want us to try The Chocolate Chamber’s latest bread creations such as the Olive and basil Focacia baked by “Chocolate Princess” Hannah while his brother Jonathan innovated three flavors of pandesal namely; Tablea pandesal with tablea chocolate ganache, Plain pandesal and Malunggay flavor.
The Olive and basil Focacia bread baked by “Chocolate Princess” Hannah
Jonathan’s Tablea pandesal with tablea chocolate ganache
Plain Pandesal
Malunggay Flavor Pandesal
The Chocolate Queen Raquel Choa made sure to include the Tablea Peanut Butter Spread which is best paired to the different varieties of Jonathan’s chewy Pandesal. The Tablea Peanut Butter is one of Raquel’s first few product developments. I like the texture of the spread, it’s not so sticky so it spreads easily and it taste delicious! She shared that her food tech friend asked her how did she develop the Tablea Peanut Butter after tasting it? Raquel simply replied that she developed it by just using all of her senses. That’s how amazing these TCC products were created.
Tablea Peanut Butter
The next day, my wife prepared a banana pancake mixed with TCC’s Cacao de Bola and we simply spread on the Tablea Peanut Butter on top of it. We also had spaghetti for snacks and we paired it with toasted Olive and basil Focacia bread with butter. The bread is comparable to the authentic Italian breads so to speak. What a yummy treat from the Chamber Keepers!
Tablea Peanut Butter on top the banana pancake
Toasted Olive and basil Focacia bread paired with spaghetti
Well, you must really try their truly Filipino made products. Something to be proud of!
You can place your orders and pick-up at Ralfe Gourmet Chocolate Boutique located at 3349 Topaz St., Casals’ Village, Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City.
You may call these numbers for reservations at 09175561521 and 09176287661. They also deliver via Lalamove or Angkas.
