06 Aug2007
We had dinner last night at Serendra and spyed the newly opened (Saturday at 6 p.m.) store of Marta Matute. I don’t normally go into food shops or restaurants that have been open less than a month or so, allowing them time to achieve some equilibrium, but The Kid was attracted to the bright colors and the scent of sugar… The place seems geared to a younger crowd than say the nearby Sonja’s cupcakes, and little tables are set out so that young kids can decorate their own cookies or have a sweet snack. It is bright, cheery, colorful. We were having pre-dinner sugar lows so The Kid tried a gingersnap cookie with some icing…two thumbs up, according to her. Then after our dinner nearby, The Kid asked if she could go back to the store to get a cookie decorating kit to do at home… Now this surprised me, at 11 going on 21, it’s nice to know she is still occasionally thrilled to fool with butter cookies and icing. A “kit” of 2 sugar cookies with icing outlines, small bags of icing and little candies to stick onto the cookies were just PHP85, now that is a good deal, if you ask me. I shall return to the shop after it has had time to settle and stock its shelves, but I can tell you this is going to be kiddie party central for the Makati crowd… gorgeous little cookies, do it yourself cake/cookie decorating, spectacular birthday cakes… Check it out the next time you are in the Serendra area…
Marta’s Cakes
martascakes@gmail.com
09178409984
COMMENTS:
Candygirl, Philippines says:
Oh how cute! Affordable too, perfect for loot bags for parties :-)
Aug 6, 2007 | 9:47 am
zee, Philippines says:
oh my god! i tasted her cupcakes 2 years ago and fell in love! but sadly i haven’t been able to get my hands on them ever since.
this is absolutely exciting!!!
her goodies are divine!
Aug 6, 2007 | 9:59 am
Didi, Philippines says:
Damn! I was just at Serendra yesterday but I didn’t see this one! Where is this exactly located?? Argh!!!
Aug 6, 2007 | 10:01 am
Marketman, Philippines says:
Candygirl, yup, rather than making these myself for a party I would definitely pay those prices instead… zee, someone borught a cake from Ms. Matute to a Marketmanila eyeball last year and it was beautiful. Didi, it is located near Chelsea market Cafe and Abe restaurants.
Aug 6, 2007 | 10:32 am
Maricel, Philippines says:
Mmmmmmm gingersnaps! I love these cookies but they are pretty hard to find here. Thanks for the tip MM!
Aug 6, 2007 | 11:04 am
erleen, Philippines says:
Hey MM!
You were given as a reference on bagoong on this food blog!
http://ninecooks.typepad.com/perfectpantry/
Coolness!
Aug 6, 2007 | 11:15 am
Lei, says:
thanks for the tip. i am excited to bring home some of those cookie kit for my daughter. she will surely love it.
Aug 6, 2007 | 11:33 am
nang, Philippines says:
hmm, this looks like another creative activity that my nephews and nieces will enjoy. they so love painting those plaster figurines in the malls… this should be even better, though, because they can gobble up their finished product afterwards. hehe.
Aug 6, 2007 | 12:01 pm
Blaise Fortuna, Philippines says:
Gee, have to go back to Serendra.. ;)
Aug 6, 2007 | 1:21 pm
allen, Philippines says:
Is she going to profit with the price of her cookies? Why are her cookies cheap while the cupcakes at Sonja’s so expensive, considering they have the same location?
Aug 6, 2007 | 2:35 pm
Katrina, Philippines says:
I’m so glad to hear she’s opened the Serendra shop already. The one at Big Red Barn is too far and is just for takeout/orders. Can’t wait to check this new branch out. If you return to the store and see Marta (she’s the mestiza with big, happy eyes), you might want to say “hi.” She’s very friendly and cheerful. :-)
Aug 6, 2007 | 3:59 pm
Jade186, Europe says:
Thanks for the post! Might try this one of these days :)
Aug 6, 2007 | 4:22 pm
Joy, Philippines says:
wow! that is perfect for my 3-year-old foodie! thanks for the heads-up!
Aug 6, 2007 | 5:42 pm
Maria Clara, says:
I love the color of her bags very nice color combination – the woman is an artist aside from being a baker!
Aug 7, 2007 | 1:50 am
Marghi, Philippines says:
Congratulations to Marta for finally opening a store….
Aug 7, 2007 | 2:08 am
connie, says:
Thank you for this post. Like Candygirl said, the decorating kit will be a good idea for party favors in kid’s parties.
Aug 7, 2007 | 4:12 am
isabel manzo, United States says:
Way to go, kid! I’m so proud of you. All those tears you shed will be worth it!
Aug 7, 2007 | 6:08 am
Marketman, Philippines says:
? what tears? :)
Aug 7, 2007 | 8:25 am
stella floresca, Philippines says:
Marta is one great “cake angel”! She’s been doing my 3 boys’ birthday cakes and cupcakes since 1996. Ultimate favorite is chocolate, to die for! For more than 10 years, it is a “requirement” to have Marta’s goodies on my kids’ birthdays every year (even if there’s no party planned!) I love challenging Marta’s creativity, she can easily translate a theme to a cake (she even made cakes for my boys which matched with the party invitations). I don’t mind paying a little extra for her goodies since her cakes/cupcakes are just sooo good, anyone in my parties who got a slice just finished it up. Now, that’s worth every cent I spent!
Marta’s cakes will always be part of my family’s birthdays and of course other occasions as well.
Congratulations, Marta! I look forward to seeing you make my sons’ wedding cakes in about 20-25 years!
Aug 7, 2007 | 8:44 am
Marghi, Philippines says:
as a caterer like me, seeing Marta outdo herself is a regular occurence….some awesome ones have been the Moroccan inspired birthday cake for Anton Barretto’s lola’s birthday, Margarita Gomez and Triccie Gomez’s wedding cakes, Tita Liding Oledan’s Faberge egg, Bianca Araneta’s daughter’s christening cake cake, not to mention my lolo’s 100th birthday Coliseum cake and my mom’s studio 54 birthday cake….for the best results with the most intricate and super OC details, do give Marta enough time to do her 3D ones…More power to you, Marta…and touche MM, What tears? never had them either, aftera lifetime of loving food and 20 years of loving to prepare it……and sweating it out is always goodfor the soul ….
Aug 7, 2007 | 11:02 am
Kongkong622, Philippines says:
I love her simply because she personally helped my two imps when they were trying (hard) to decorate some cupcakes and cookies at her FunRanch branch. She was just smiling even if my youngest managed to sneak a lick off one of the frosting tubes :)
Aug 7, 2007 | 3:28 pm
Marketman, Philippines says:
Glad to see Marta has a built in fan club! :) Allen, I suspect she will still make money, she just hasn’t priced her goods up too much… Her cakes sound fabulous.
Aug 7, 2007 | 8:00 pm
Mandy, Philippines says:
i too, am a fan! i have ordered a couple of cakes from her and they’ve both turned out amazing and super yummy. and since we live in bf, we always order our buns from her bakery. her bread products are always baked fresh. we order 2 or 3 dozens of her buns and stock them in the freezer. sarap pa rin to toast again. she also sells her cupcakes there and my daughter and i always pass by when i pick her up from school.
Aug 9, 2007 | 1:56 am
Didi, Philippines says:
MarketMan – I finally located it! Thanks! :) I like her mini-cakes!! :)
Aug 16, 2007 | 11:55 am
Bing, Philippines says:
Chanced upon this blog! Thanks!!! I ordered from Marta once, a very long time ago, maybe 10 years ago. I remember being completely satisfied and it was only the distance that kept me from reordering for pick-up. I am headed to her Serendra store!
Aug 25, 2007 | 4:36 pm
Angel, Philippines says:
My daughter is turning 7 this Jan. 5 and I am so excited to order at Marta’s. Infact, I have already booked my calendar for a trip this long break. =)
Oct 31, 2007 | 2:36 pm
ayna morales, Philippines says:
I was kina hesitant to try the cupcakes at first, last night i was with some mates & try the martas, the cakes & capcakes are really good & the decors are cool, the next time ill be at serendra ill see to it that ill grab a bite at martas.
Nov 24, 2007 | 1:02 pm
carlynn san gabriel, Singapore says:
Her cupcakes are so so so good!!! and looks as good too. I ordered my daughter’s birthday cake and giveaways from her. It was the BEST!! No other cake maker can do this. Keep up the good work and we will keep on oredering….
May 13, 2009 | 12:57 pm
rochie masaki, Philippines says:
may i know where marta’s shop? co’z my daugter’s birthday is coming.please anyone can tell me where is the exact location? thank you…
May 27, 2009 | 4:19 pm