Western Trip and Dessert Trip

On my first trip to the States I was extremely excited because I would get to go to Disneyland, Universal Studios, possibly see Johnny Depp (when my father promised to take me to Sunset Blvd.), go to the Museum (like what Claudia did in the movie: From the Mixed-up files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler), and finally test if KFC's chicken is way bigger than ours. When I got there and spent a month, I didn't expect my dad would rest the tour on my own hands. My dad had his own itinerary and it didn't quite include me. So when we got to LA, he immediately left for Vegas and didn't have second thoughts of allowing me to stay put in LA to meet my friend Vanessa So. After a week of LA visit, she dropped me at LAX and I went to Vegas to meet my dad. In Vegas we went straight to Bellagio for lunch and he...again...left me to tour on my own. Despite the people frenzy and the foreign place, he somehow assumed that I'm a walking radar and strangers are more disadvantaged around me. I'm getting used to this touring treatment, so I toured the whole Vegas stretch alone, went in and out of the famous casinos there, had a lone roller coaster ride at New York New York and I just used my camera for some landscape shots.

When we flew to San Francisco, I was used to our father-daughter set up already. He had friends to meet and his own itinerary to fulfill, which didn't really include me. He wanted me to have fun, and he knew the fact that I'm capable enough to have fun on my own. He gave me a sufficient amount of money, I got a map from a Filipino Concierge at the hotel and walked...walked...explored...ate at Segafredo...rode cable cars...went to the Fisherman's wharf and decided to pay 20 bucks for a bus tour. When I got home, I have books and souvenirs in my bag, met a few acquaintances and I know more about San Francisco than my dad who's been going there ever since. He was impressed, and I had loads of fun.

Aside from actually touring (on my own) and going to salient places like museums and theme parks, one highlight of the trip was FOOD. Some of my dad's friends got very excited for us when they planned to bring us to specific FOOD establishments. They were more excited to bring us there than accompanying me to the museums, train stops and bookstores. They treat the restaurants there as an immediate point of comparison to what we have or what we don't have in the Philippines. They took me to KFC, which a single order consists of 2 humongous chicken with biscuits, which I nailed from too much walking. WE drove the freeway almost every night to buy some Krispy Kremes for our midnight snack. We had a Jamba Juice ritual almost everyday. In and Outs have become a weekly staple and STEAKS...STEAKS...STEAKS...galore. No wonder when I got back, I gained 15 pounds. And for them, it was a success.

Starting on my Dessert Side Trip for this post, I remember when I was on my way home from San Francisco, I shared a specific cabin area with the Defensors and Em-Em Aglipay. Aside from the celebrity presence, I was amazed to see that the compartments contained boxes of Krispy Kremes. It was a time where Gonuts Donuts was a far fetched concept and those who have traveled the western areas were the only ones aware of the addicting and comforting "melts-in-your-mouth" doughnuts. I laughed at most parts, while my dad lectured me on why I didn't remind him to bring some Krispy Kremes for my brother and sister. Seriously, I was thinking that whatever I ate at the States, should be left at the States forever. I can't afford to have too many temptations when I get back, it's enough that I have kilos of chocolates with me to spare from my sudden food separation.

Anyways, now I'm assessing that I haven't seen any Krispy Kreme pasalubongs from the States because we already have the real deal here. Go Nuts Do Nuts, a rival of Krispy Kreme, took on a large market first and already had a number of following before Krispy Kreme decided to open a shop here in the Philippines. Doughnuts are still popular and it has gained a large amount of following, but a new dessert tries to fight for a powerful market share. These are CUPCAKES.



Cupcakes are present here in this country way before some Cupcake shops opened. These desserts were not unknown here, but admittedly it was less sophisticated. But now, since New York (cupcake capital of the States) popularized a new sophisticated, yummier version of what a good cupcake should be, then it wasn't long that these specific cupcakes cafes took a stake to promote and introduce these new desserts to the elite and general market. Sonja's cupcakes and Marta's cupcakes are established here to name a few.

The cupcake's popularity is rising here in the Philippines, thanks to its pioneers who mostly hail from the States. Even other mainstream and popular bakeshops and dessert concessionaires even tried to accommodate the demand. Brownies Brownies (A brownies specialty shop in SM Outlets) released their cupcake versions. Go nuts Donuts even has their own cupcake version. Aggy's (minor cake shop and bakery) showcased their own cupcake version. Even dessert makers and concessionaires in local bakeshops in Iloilo City (I have to ping Kegler of get the site), and those registered in MULTIPLY like thesweetlife.multiply.com, offer customized, creative and sophisticated touch to the cupcake bandwagon.


I've tried a couple of cupcakes and know some people who swear by them. I can see the reason why it has a major following. Aside from the now available, creamy, quality and sophisticated recipes, cupcakes are much easier to eat. Compared to cakes, these midget versions don't need any plates or added utensils to eat. It's portable, cute and easier to customize

It has a good start here, and lots of cupcake makers are joining the band to expand choices. However, in some states across the globe the sudden boom and expansion seem to be more strategic. Taking for example Krispy Kreme's popularity at the West Coast. They gained a large following, boomed to fast and too wide, but with saturation and mismanagement, it fell. That's why major cupcake vendors and makers in New York City try to keep it low key as they tend to do the extra effort to deliver to people rather than over expanding. We almost get the same treatment here..including the SATURATION part. Go Nuts Do nuts, a doughnut shop, expanded their specialty with cupcakes. Other bakeries are expanding their list and experimenting on cupcakes. It's funny because it makes an impression of a must have. Taking in consideration the multiply concessionaires who have managed their own cupcake businesses. They all make this dessert more accessible, fun and evidently more sophisticated..hopefully not that saturated.

Got to hand it to those westerners to populate the market with new stuff. These foods that I vowed to steer clear from continue to haunt me! If food was the only concern, I'd save myself a plane ticket and just stay here. We pretty much have everything already. No need to go to the States and get fat.

PIX source:
http://images.thesweetlife.multiply.com/image/3/photos/23/600x600/6/Sweet-Life-6.jpg?et=kaVx73qUTH5qp8UHy856mg&nmid=112266056

Ref:
Sonja's cupcakes are located at Fort, Serendra
Marta's Cakes are located at Fort, Serendra
Go Nuts Donuts located at various SM outlets (makati), greenbelt
Krispy Kremes at Fort Bonifacio High

Thanks to:
http://anton.blogs.com/awesome/2006/06/sonjas_cupcakes.html
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/04/will-cupcakes-be-the-next-krispy-kreme/index.html