When opportunity came to visit this shop, I took it and it was a decision worth my time and palate. :-)
Kat's Cafe is one cafe here in the south of the metropolis that is worth your time and taste! They are one pastry shop that thinks about your health which truly reflects in what they offer; something that is rare here in the metro. They offer cupcake treats that are not that sweet but still packs flavor in every bite.
When I was there on my first visit, I was graciously entertained by Kat's herself despite her busy schedule (they are to transfer to a new location by late October). She told me stories about some of her offerings and truth be told, most of the best things in the market are accidents made into reality. From being a photographer, she took up culinary lessons in College of St. Benilde and from there everything was history so to speak. She started as a home baker and when the space came along, Kat's Cafe was born.
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| Kat, the owner |
Presently they are located inside BFRV Las Pinas and after nearly two years, they will then be part of the new Robinson's Mall in Las Pinas (mall is set to open by late October 2014). Can't wait to see how her new shop will look like. I mean, to those familiar with this shop, her cafe interior is whimsical by nature. Having her new shop located in the garden area of this new mall in the south means her present interior would be enhanced making it more whimsical.
As mentioned, her offerings are health friendly and delicious. Unlike most cupcakes in the market, her cupcake frostings are not sugar pack and has a flavor that either compliment or enhanced the whole cupcake creation. With her new home, people are sure to expect some cupcakes creations that are gluten free, lactose free and less sugar. Treats that answer the needs of those who has some health challenges or simply wants some healthy options in the dessert department.
Here are my thoughts on some of Kat's Cafe creations:
When you think about cream puffs, you have that thick bavarian like filling in every puffy piece. In Kat's it is still the same puff pastry that is baked right but instead of a sweet bavarian-like filling, what you have is a light chantilly-like cream that is not sweet and drizzled with caramel or chocolate - depending on the type of cream puff.
Kat's offers three types of cream puffs: caramel cream puffs, nutella cream puffs and red velvet. Just a head's-up, the red velvet cream puff when served won't be similar to what you see at the display. When served, it would look like a french macaroon with a thick filling BUT it would still taste like a cream puff, that I assure you.
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| Cream puff display |
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| Red Velvet and Nutella Cream Puff |
Her cupcakes are right at my palate's liking! Both her frosting and cupcake bears flavor and, again, not sweet compared to a good number of cupcakes available in the market right now. I have tasted 4 of her available creations and I enjoyed it! And it is all served in a cup!
Kat's Fruit and Nutella Cupcake is something similar to the fruits and nuts chocolate in the market. If you like the chocolate bar then you would enjoy this cupcake treat. The cupcake is filled with cranberries and hazelnuts, topped with a chantilly cream and drizzled with nutella with a whole hazelnut crowning it. I am not a choco and nuts person but I love fruits and the cranberries are yummy! The nutella drizzle gives the chantilly the right level of sweetness, when combined with the cupcake there is a sweet harmony of flavor and texture.
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| Fruit and Nutella Cupcake |
Kat's Macha Cupcake is good also! Its macha green tea that has the right sweetness level and not bitter - bitterness may come from the green tea flavor. It also has a berry compote giving it a good flavor dimension.
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| Kat's Macha Cupcake |
The Cheesecake Crumble and Mango-Pecan Cupcake are my favorites!
The Cheesecake Crumble is what I would say as a deconstructed-reconstructed cheesecake. Deconstructed because when we talk about cheesecake's, the normal layering would be crust at the bottom, then the cheesecake, last would be the berry compote. With Kat's, it's the cheesecake first, then a piped cream at the edge holding the strawberry-blueberry compote exactly at the middle, topped with a crunchy crumbled crust - making it somewhat deconstructed but constructed cheesecake cupcake when served. The cheesecake is smooth, as expected - and it should be as cheesecake goes, and the compote has a mix of sweet and slight tart giving the whole creation dimensions. The crumble toppings is a texture delight! I need control when presented again with this treat. I can finish more than 3 of this creation in one seating!
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| Cheesecake Crumble |
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| Mango-Pecan Cupcake |
At present, most of Kat's cupcakes are priced at around Php 65.00 - 75.00. When they go to their new home in Robinson's Mall Las Pinas, expect a slight price change. One thing is definite, the price would still be lower when compared to those known cupcake stores in the market.
Not only did I tried their baked treats but I was also treated to two of her pasta creations being served in the shop. Her pastas are light but filling. Being a cheese lover myself, the Quattro Formaggi (priced at Php 180.00) is good! Pasta is cooked right. The cheese used blended well. If you like it with a little kick, ask for spice. The spice, when blended with the creaminess of the sauce creates another way to enjoy this treat. Since it was originally created for kids, making it spicy is unto your hands.
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| Quattro Formaggi |
Kat's Aglio Olio (priced at Php170.00) is truly a light pasta that has good flavors. They use angel hair pasta, chopped herbs, spanish sardines and olive oil as dressing with a slice of lemon on the side. To those pickie with the fishy taste and smell because of the sardines, make sure that you squeeze the lemon first on to your pasta before diving in. They made use of the normal oil coming from the spanish sardines and simply added a little olive oil to fully blend everything as you mix your plate, thus making it not that greasy. Since spanish sardines has a little heat, expect that light bite. But if you want a little more heat then ask for their spicy flakes.
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| Kat's Aglio Olio |
Being a coffee and tea drinker, I need to try their offered drinks. Like what I do to other shops that offers brewed coffee or has their own blend, I need to taste their caffe (cafe) latte.
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| My 1st 3D latte art given to me by Kat's Cafe |
Their coffee is a blend designed for them and by them. Not that they literally make their own blends but they made specifications as to what the blend should be and I LOVE THEIR COFFEE! When I had my first sip, I got the foam and just a light flavoring of the coffee. The second sip cleanses the foam that I had in my palate. The 3rd sip was divine! The coffee is velvety smooth in texture! It has body and good flavor! The way it was brewed was just right to give you that coffee fix without the acid attack that one may have with some coffee's in the market. Add the fact that they know how to do latte art . . .I LOVE THEIR COFFEE!
Their iced tea offerings are also something worth your time. It is a refreshing drink served with mint leaves and some bits of iced fruit pulps or seeds. Served in a glass jar type which totally blends with the theme of the place.
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| Cherry Carnival |
Would I recommend their cold drinks creations? Yes! Kat's Cherry Carnival may not look much but the flavor is wonderful! Making sure that its not like a cough syrup, since cherry is a normal flavor with kid medicines, the cherry aspect is subtle but lingers in your mouth in the course of you drinking it. I was hoping for some red swirls to show what I was drinking but as what Kat has mentioned, she wants it to be a surprise. It was indeed a good surprise! Kat's Macha is the drink version of the cupcake version of the same name. If you get to like the cupcake, then you would definitely enjoy this.
Besides the food, the people behind the shop is also a delight. They know their products, they know how to talk to customers when inquiries are made and are courteous. The way they do things, it shows their enjoyment in what they do.
Is their anything that I don't like with this place? In their present location, the food preparation place is 2 shops away from the drink preparation area making it hard for one to order something if he is new to the place. BUT with the transfer, this would be resolve. I wish they keep that factor of people able to see how their food order is being prepared in their new home. I hope there would be power outlets available in their smoking area for those who wishes to work while enjoying their offerings.
Who ever did her shop's interior, I would like to know and hire that person to build my own space. According to Kat's, she will maintain the same concept and add one more. What am I talking off? Ask her staff where the rest room is and you are in for a surprise.
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Come and visit Kat's Cafe when they open their new home in Robinson's Mall Las Pinas, this October. They are to be part of the garden area. Since they are not directly part of the mall, they would be keeping different store hours to cater to those who wants either an early or a not too late treat.
I like what they offer for two simple reasons: (1) it is not sweet and (2) they have the health of their customers in mind. Enough said.
It is sweetness from the heart and not in your food.
Enjoy!
Photos:
(Photos used were personally taken by me during my visit)
The Treats:
The interior:
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