There are many things that amaze me in this world.  And, one of the greatest things that has always enchanted me since childhood is motherhood.  There is just so much unspoken purity in the love and sacrifice that mothers put in for their child.  So when I encountered Sweet Delights by Charlotte, I was thrilled with their concept.


You see, I was the second out of five children which my mother breastfed entirely for the first two years of our lives.  My mom, like all mothers, have never shared her postpartum journey.  But, I myself have felt and seen all that she has endured for us.  In order for a mother to be able to give the best for her child, she must be at the best condition she could ever be.  And, that's where the ge lai concept comes in. 

Traditional Filipino-Chinese has adopted rules to bring the balance of yin and yang (hot and cold) of the body and restore the body to its fullest.  For picky eaters, the limited selection of food choices can be quite dreadful for the 30-day period.  With Sweet Delights by Charlotte, mother's can satisfy their cravings and have fun with the process.


Sweet Delights by Charlotte lactation goodies contain galactogues such as flaxseed meal, brewer's yeast fenugeek and malunggay to enhance lactation and also warming ingredients such as chocolates. And, their products are also consulted with a nutritionist to meet the 2,180 calories recommended by the Food and Nutritrition Research Institute.  

Goodies are ordered per set such as the 7-day supply lactation goodies box that contains: 

• 3 pcs Lactation Oat Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins - 1 Serving: 245 Calories
• 3 pcs Lactation Chunky Chocolate Walnut Blondies - 1 Serving: 195 Calories
• 3 pcs Lactation Brownies - 1 Serving: 185 Calories
• 3 pcs Lactation Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies  - 1 Serving: 150 Calories 

Lactation Cheesecake Brownies

and the 6-day supply 12 pcs Lactation Cheesecake Brownies.

Just to be clear, no... I'm not a mother yet.  I'm just in for these delicious treats!  That is of course, another option for having these right?  

Lactation Oat Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins and Lactation Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies

My mom is a big fan of the Lactation Oat Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins and Lactation Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies.  While, I ate the rest. =)

Sweet Delights by Charlotte
Instagram	@sweetdelightsbycharlotte
Facebook Fan Page	Facebook Fan Page
Contact	(0917) 577-4845

A decadent smell that sometimes comes from the kitchen is chocolate as it melts on the stove. You can also encounter a hint of heaven while something made with chocolate is baking in the oven, such as a pie or a cake. There are a few things to keep in mind when working with baking chocolate or any other kind of chocolate. If you are using the kind traditionally set aside for baking, you will discover that it has a slightly bitter taste. You need to add a bit of sugar for there to be a sweet taste, but there are some recipes that you can make that do well with a bitter chocolate, such as creme pie.

Chocolate is an ingredient that is sensitive to heat. You have to use a lower heat so that it doesn't burn. While it's in a pot or a pan, you need to stir it at a constant rate. If you don't, then it can begin to stick to the sides of the vessel. High heat can make the chocolate lose its shine. This is something to consider if you are making a pudding or a ganache.

Cut large pieces of chocolate into small chips before melting. This will decrease the melting time. A double boiler can help control the temperature. This is a saucepan of water with a bowl sitting on top of it so that the product isn't directly in the heat. When you begin making cakes, pies and other treats, use the chocolate when it's at room temperature. This is when it usually tastes the best. Salt can enhance the sweetness as well as the cocoa flavor. You can add butter to give chocolate a shine. Vanilla also adds a sweet taste, but you need to think about how much is used as it can be overpowering.

When you're using a solid block of chocolate or chips, avoid mixing it with powder. The flavors are usually completely different, and you will often get a mixture that is grainy. If you add sugar to the product, then consider melting the sugar with butter before adding it together.

Once in awhile, we like many other prefer to enjoy a simple Korean grill.  A perfect option in our area is Makchang Korean Grill.  Unlike its neighbor Doniz Korean Restaurant which I've shared before that offers an extensive Korean menu,  Makchang offers only a dozen items which are mainly grilled.

Seating during peak hours usually have to be assigned by numbers.  You can sat inside their sister establishment "Unlimited Buffet Korean Food Bbq Grill & Shabu-Shabu" while waiting.  But if you can't stand the smokers in such an enclosed area, you can just wait by standing outside watching the staffs burn their charcoal endlessly.


The interiors are downright simple with big round tables that are equip with charcoal grillers and exhaust.  You'll see servers running to and fro to cater to customers necessities.  

Food
Upon being seated, we were supplied with baek kimchi (spicy fermented cabbage), lettuce, raw sweet potatoes, pajori (green onions mixed with chili powder and sesame salad), garlic and doenjang (soy bean paste sauce).  You can eat the sweet potatoes raw which will have a crunchy consistency like singkamas or cook it to make it mushy like fries. 

Complimentary Miso Soup

We were also given our a bowl of Complimentary Miso Soup each.


Makchang has a minimum order rule:

• 1-3 persons: Minimum of 2 orders
• 4-5 persons: Minimum of 3 orders
• 6-7 persons: Minimum of 4 orders

Beef

Kotdungsim (550 php)

For beef we tried the Kotdungsim.  The staff fully assisted in the cooking of each dish. 

Kotdungsim (550 php)

Pork

♥ Pork Galbi (250 php)

The Pork Galbi is a thick marinated pork rib meat. 

♥ Pork Galbi (250 php)

Upon being cooked, it is cut into bite-size pieces.  We loved this!  It as flavorful and tender. 

♥ Samkyupsal (250 php)

The Samkyupsal is the classic unmarinated pork belly slices known to have a fatty layer.  I enjoying eating this with the lettuce, pajori, garlic, baek kimchi and doenjang.

Galmekisal (290 php)

The Galmekisal is pork skirtmeat taken from the portion beneath the ribs and between the pig liver and the midriff. 

Galmekisal (290 php)

This is tougher to chew that the Pork Galbi probably because it is leaner. 


Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
Makchang Korean Grill Restaurant offers a no fuzz and straight forward menu.  Their prices are very affordable making it a great choice for regular korean grill cravers.  As expected from the price, the meat quality is passable and the blend is nothing special. The service is great as staffs are lively and friendly despite being very busy.

I've heard a lot of raves about Pao Pao Xiao Chi Milk Tea from other blogs.  I've read remarks that thsi local brand even tops their lists against globally recognized milk tea chains.   Being a huge milk tea fan, this has long aroused my curiosity. 


A few weeks ago, I've spotted Pao Pao Xiao Chi Milk Tea at the new U-Pad Residences along Vito Cruz or Pablo Ocampo and decided to buy some for the family.  I also bought some takoyaki from a neighboring stall which the family failed to appreciate. =(

The staff was very friendly and even helped me in deciding what to order.   

Drinks

Milk Tea
 

♥ Banana Milk Tea (80 php)

 Being a fan of Korean banana milk drinks, I was excited to spot Banana Milk Tea in their menu.  The fact that I've never had Banana Milk Tea enticed me even more.  I asked the staff if they use fresh bananas and I was informed that they use powder.  I was skeptic at how it would taste like but still insisted on it.  I'm glad I made the right choice!  This is the best variant we've tried there.  It even got to buy this again for the following weeks.


Rock Salt & Cheese

♥ Chocolate RSC (90 php)

My brother requested the Chocolate RSC. It was delicious!  It was dark and rich with a slight bitter sweetness. 

Green Tea RSC (90 php)

The Green Tea RSC failed to impress all of us.  It just lacked in terms of tea flavor. 
 

Peppermint Milk Tea (70 php)

The Peppermint Milk Tea was okay but nothing spectacular.


Tsinoy Foodies Verdict
I don't know if it was because we set our standards to high because of the lot of online raves Pao Pao Xiao Chi Milk Tea received from other blogs but we were honestly disappointed save for the Banana Milk Tea.

Well, I've heard a lot of rants about the promo but it was a really good deal for us.  Based on my little sister's experience, she lined up at Robinson's Place Padre Faura Branch at around 4 pm and then by 5 pm they ran out of doughnuts but the staffs were very apologetic about it and still accommodated all those who lined up until 6 pm by letting them sign up and claim the doughtnuts 1 or 2 days after.  Thus, we were able to buy a box of the Original Glazed Doughnuts for only 76 php. 

Availing the 76 peso per box for Krispy Kreme's 76 years blow out a few weeks ago, reminded the us on how much we missed Krispy Kreme.

When we noticed that Krispy Kreme had two new interesting variants, as they too join the Speculoos Cookie Butter craze, we just couldn't let the chance of trying it out pass.

Dark Chocolate Vanilla Cookie Butter (45 php)

The Dark Chocolate Vanilla Cookie Butter has a rich belgian chocolate top layer with bits of french biscuit bits. 

Dark Chocolate Vanilla Cookie Butter (45 php)

The combination of the rich and smooth belgian chocolate and french crisp is a great mix match of texture in every bite.  But, what made me indulge in it more is the vanilla cookie butter filling that adds comfort to the its soft dough.  As compared to the spread, the filling did not have the thick consistency and instead it is pretty much light like their other shelled doughnut fillings.

I like my Krispy Kreme doughnuts warm so I popped some of this in the microwave and it become even more awesome as it delivers its signature melts in your mouth sensation. 

White Chocolate Vanilla Cookie Butter (45 php)

The White Chocolate Vanilla Cookie Butter is a shell doughnut dipped in white chocolate and topped with Belgium chocolate chips and caramel crunch. 

White Chocolate Vanilla Cookie Butter (45 php)

The White Chocolate Vanilla Cookie Butter is sweeter than the Dark Chocolate Vanilla Cookie Butter due to its white chocolate coating and toppings.  I guess that is the reason why I've always been an advocate of dark chocolate than the white ones.  I enjoyed the chocolate chips but the caramel crunch bits were hardly noticeable.

Original Glazed Doughnuts (42 php)

The Original Glazed Doughnuts is still my favorite!  Nothing can beat the classic.  I always add in these in every box.  But, I'm want to try their other variants like the Salted Caramel too.

Patchi is a chocolate brand established in Beirut, Lebanon in 1974.

Patchi Eighty Bar (500 php)

Step 1: Just press the design you want.  Everything is easy with their touch screen program.  


Step 2: Choose chocolate or cream.  


My Emoti-Cake
The Emoti-Cake is packaged in a yellow round box with a yellow polka dotted ribbon.

♥ Emoti-Cake (380 php)

The Emoti-Cake is covered in thin icing.  Inside is a deliciously moist chocolate cake.  Yum!  


Tsinoy Foodies Verdict