Chocolate Discovery: Patchi

I'm always grateful for family and friends visiting.  Whenever that happens, the Husband and I would request for them to bring something we don't have here in Sydney.


One of our requests to my Mum was to bring us a couple of Patchi chocolates.  We've heard about this chocolate for a couple of months now.  We have them in Melbourne (Shop 203, Level 2, Melbourne Central, 211 La Trobe Street) but not in Sydney.  

I requested my Mum to buy us a few bars, specifically the Milk, Dark and White.  One of each was enough for my Husband and I to enjoy and know what this brand is all about.  My Mum also bought a small pack small chocolates to the mix.

We tasted the white chocolate bar first (when tasting food, start with the ones with less flavours), Patchi Harmonie: White Chocolate filled with rice crispy and hazelnut.  Biased aside (I'm a white chocolate fan), this was the best from all the three bars we've tasted.  It was creamy, smooth and the sweetness does not overwhelm.  The fusion of rice crispy and hazelnut brought substance to this chocolate.

Next was the Patchi Finesse: plain milk chocolate.  While I appreciate the smoothness of their chocolate in general there's nothing spectacular with this bar.  I sense a blandness when I ate a few more blocks and at one time realized that it reminded me of Goya chocolate.

Always in search of the best dark chocolate, we tried the Patchi Noblesse: dark chocolate with 70% cocoa.   To the Husband's tastebuds, this fell short of expectations.  There's that smooth consistency once more but we felt it was lacking in cocoa.  The Husband being a fan of dark chocolate, wants the strong and bitter chocolate taste.  On the other hand, I told him that if there was one dark chocolate I could, this would be it.    

The small pack of chocolates turned out to be milk chocolates.  However, compared to the Patchi Finesse, these ones tasted better.  It was more creamy and sweet.  It was small but packed with milk chocolate.

In case we come across a Patchi store, we'll definitely buy the Patchi Harmonie and the small milk chocolates. 


The Patchi chocolates featured in this article were bought in Greenbelt 5, Makati City, Philippines.


Follow @ibyang

Morning Tea and The View

Our planned morning tea today was supposed to be indoors but when the sun came out by mid-morning, we decided to have it out in the sun.  It was such a beautiful day.  The sun was shining, the weather warm but breezy.  We had a simple morning tea.  Just cupcakes, scones and fruits.  Both pastries freshly-baked by my workmates.  

While having tea, I walked towards the end of the balcony (we were at the 6th level of the building) and took a photo of Sydney's cityscape.  The view from where I work is always breathtaking.  When the weather's this great, you'll see the bluest skies and "fluffiest" clouds of Sydney.

I shared this photo with my workmates and one said, "Your photo made me realize some of the things I take for granted, such as how beautiful this city is. Thank you."

After an hour, dark clouds appeared and Sydney was once again enveloped in a thunderstorm.  The sun re-appeared after lunch but the warmth was gone...it was cold once again.  

Follow @ibyang

See Australia!

I started following See Australia (@seeaustralia) via Instagram last week and thru the photos they share, I realize the so many breathtaking places this country has.  See Australia reposts an instagramer's best photo of anything Australian once it is tagged #seeaustralia.  They also have a facebook account where people also posts photos depicting the life and beauty of Australia.

On Saturday (21/4/12), my family and I witnessed The Three Sisters (famous mountains at Blue Mountains, seen at Echo Point) surrounded by fog.  I almost ran to the end of Echo Point so I can capture the beauty of The Three Sisters surrounded by fog, afraid that if I delay, I would entirely lost the moment.  I tagged my "Three Sisters" photo as my first #SeeAustralia photo.  

Yesterday, @seeaustralia chose my photo and reposted it on their instagram.  I was very happy my photo got picked and shared to a bigger audience.

As of now, it has 687 likes!  


It's a wonder what a photo can do.  I've received a couple of comments in my instagram account (@ibyang) and I've learned that most people are wanting to travel to Australia and see The Three Sisters.  Thru See Australia, one is able to travel to a this country thru captivating photographs shared by photographers/hobbyists.  Thru these photos, one is able to dream and want to travel here.  I hope one day, those dreams and wants will come true.


Follow @seeaustralia in instagram or facebook https://www.facebook.com/SeeAustralia and share in appreciating the beauty of Australia.

Follow @ibyang

Filipino Bread and Pastries at Starlight Bakery (Doonside, NSW)

I have always been asked where I buy freshly-baked Filipino bread and I'm finally making the reveal today.  Apologies if it took so long for me to feature this favourite Filipino bakery of mine.  It was only recently that I had a chance to take some photos of the store.

Starlight Bakery can be found not too far away from Doonside Train Station.  I used to get off this train station during the afternoons and one should only follow the aroma of delicious bread to find the store.  It is a small store that gets filled up with customers during mornings and afternoons.  

They bake a lot of Filipino favourites such as Pandesal, Spanish Bread, Bicho Bicho, Ensaymada, Pan de Coco, Pan de Ube and Empanada.  They also sell Siopao (pork bun).

 They make cakes too, such as Brazo de Mercedes, Ube Macapuno Roll, Vanilla and Chocolate Sponge Cakes, Caramel Cake, Buko Pie and Egg Pie.

Our "Fantastic Four"--the ones we buy whenever we visit Starlight Bakery: Bicho Bicho, Spanish Bread, Ensaymada and Pandesal.  They've got the softest Filipino bread this side of Sydney Metro.  

I'm thankful we have a Filipino bakery near our place.  Anytime we crave for our good 'ol Filipino breads, a trip to Starlight Bakery for freshly-baked Pandesal immediately gratifies and make us feel like we're back home in the Philippines.

Starlight Bakery

15 Hill End Rd

DOONSIDE, NSW, 2767

Phone: (02) 9621 5607

Style Musings: My Favourite Words on a Bracelet

My Mum had these reminder bracelets made at a store called The Bead Shop in the Philippines.  Each bracelet is a reminder of my favourite words and each word are some of the things I believe in and my passions in life.

WANDER.  For my love of travel and learning.  This word reminds me to live curious, think of possibilities and adventure, and be open to changes in life.  When I lust for wander, I don't only lust for a place to see, I lust for adventure and learning too.

CHARMED. For my strong belief that all good things happen when we believe that it will and that God and the universe conspire to make our dreams come true as long as we work hard for it.

LOVE.  This word inspires me to be kind, to think of love first before anything else; to love myself, my family and friends.  This word reminds me that the universe will never run out of goodness because love is within all us.  

CHERISH.  "Live in the moment and enjoy being"--this is what I always say to myself all the time, that's why I cherish everything in my world.  Life has taught me to never take anything for granted--such a hard task--so I try.  

INDULGE.  I love this word it reminds me to truly enjoy the things that bring me joy and to also shower my loved ones with things that make them happy. 

These reminder bracelets are available at The Bead Shop Philippines.  Subscribe to their Facebook page and know more about their products.

The V8 Cake by Adriano Zumbo

I'm a Vanilla person--from ice cream, dessert, food and even perfume--I love the scent and taste of Vanilla.  I've lusted for Adriano Zumbo's V8 Cake since it got featured in Masterchef and wished to the heavens that one day I will get to eat it.  However, the whole V8 cake's price is too steep for me (AUD$125.00!) so I can't, for the love of my stinginess, spend all that money just for a cake. 


Thankfully, Zumbo made small V8 cakes and had it available in his patisserie.  A visit to Zumbo's branch at The Star led me to buying a AUD$10 V8 cake and bringing it home to share with the Husband. 

It is called V8 Cake because it consists of 8 layers of Vanilla.  EIGHT LAYERS OF VANILLA!!!!

Vanilla crème chantilly

Toasted vanilla brulee

Vanilla water gel

Vanilla ganache

Vanilla macaron

Vanilla dacquoise

Vanilla chiffon cake

Vanilla almond crunch

Sounds good, aye?  I cut it open to see the inside of the cake and it reminded me of the Philippines' Sans Rival cake. 

After the inspecting the innards, the Husband and I devoured the small but indulgent cake.  I was in Vanilla heaven, baby! Such a beautifully created dessert. A myriad of textures inside your mouth but a harmony of all things vanilla.

It's very sweet that I felt intoxicated.  I'm glad we were only finishing a small cake.  As much as I love vanilla-flavoured desserts, my taste buds have a limit as to how much sweetness it can take.  The small cake left me satiated and not overwhelmed.

I hope they continue to make small V8 cakes so I can always get them from their patisserie should I crave for it again.


V8 Cakes are available at Adriano Zumbo Patisserie. 

Follow @ibyang

Two-week Mini Reunion

The last two weeks of March were all about family.  My Mum and my Aunt from America arrived in Sydney to spend time with my Grandma and their sisters.  I called it our clan's "mini-reunion".  For two weeks, my Mum, her mother and sisters were complete in one place.  I took a few days off from work and also had a break from blogging so I can focus on family.  I tagged along to anywhere they pleased so I can be with them. Compared to our reunions from the past, this one was somehow relaxed as my Mum and Aunt didn't really want to be anywhere but Sydney.  Our days were mostly spent shopping, dining and seeing friends.

I'm sharing a few highlights here because I want to remember the memorable two weeks I spent with them.  Such precious moments. 

One of the happiest places on earth: Arrival area of an airport.  My Mum and Aunt C arrived on the same day.  

Parties: Welcome lunch and dinner, My Grandma's birthday celebrations, my Aunt's going away dinner.

Foodtripping: Sydney Fish Market, Panarotti's, Fuel at The Star, Phoenix Parramatta, Red Spoon, Casa Asturiana, Chef's Gallery.

Husband and I hosted a BBQ dinner at my Aunt's place.

The days and nights we bonded over our love for theatre, Draw Something, hanging out at a club playing pokies or just chilling at a restaurant.

Skyped with family living overseas.

Talking to my niece Sophia

Like any reunions, it all comes to an end.  On Black Saturday, our Aunt from America left and even if we are used to things like this, even if we are used to living apart, goodbyes are always painful.

Nevertheless, we are truly grateful that our clan had a mini-reunion here in Sydney.  It brings me joy seeing my Mum happy in the company of her mother and sisters.  The good news is, my Mum is still here so I have a few more weeks to be with her.

Follow @ibyang

How I Store Loose Leaf Teas

I have once shared that I have a bamboo tea organizer for our tea bags at home.  However, the Husband and I also like drinking loose leaf teas.  Some loose leaf teas are packaged in plastic and must be stored in an air-tight container to maintain its freshness.


Here's how I store our loose leaf teas:


I buy a couple of 600ml containers.



I cut out the packaging.  Then place the name of the tea on the surface of the container and stick it with clear tape.  I also include the expiry date of the tea.




I transfer the loose leaf tea unto to the container and seal it properly.  These containers are kept inside our pantry.



Other options for storing loose leaf teas: spice jars or spice bottles.  


Follow @ibyang