Foodie Goodie | Kumori Signature Hanjuku Cheese.

Japanese bakery Kumori has been making waves in the Philippines for almost four years now, but it wasn't until this weekend when I finally got to try their pastries and realize why people rave about them. Blame it on my geographical location (I live in the province), and the fact that I hardly go to Metro Manila these days because I hate traffic.

Thankfully, my sister now goes to Manila every so often, and she remembered me while passing by the Cafe Kumori at Festival Mall. She got me a box their Signature Hanjuku Cheese, one of Kumori's best-selling and well-loved products.

Kumori Signature Hanjuku Cheese - best with coffee. :)

Palm-sized and individually-wrapped, the Signature Hanjuku Cheese is a half-baked Japanese-style cheesecake with a rich and moist cream cheese center. It has a mousse-like texture with just the right sweetness.

Also comes in chocolate flavor.

No wonder Kumori's tagline is 'Bite Into Clouds' - you'll really feel like biting into one with this soft and fluffy cheesecake and its melt-in-your mouth goodness.

Melt-in-your mouth cheesecake.

I did my best not to finish the entire box in one sitting, haha. Each box contains six pieces and sells for Php 294. My sister got me the assorted box, which contains three chocolate flavored cheesecakes and three original Hanjuku cheesecakes. You can also buy them individually for Php 49 each.

Kumori Signature Hanjuku Cheese box, Php 294.

Cafe Kumori is located at the following malls: Festival Mall, Robinson's Galleria, Robinson's Manila, UP Town Center, Gateway Mall, Ayala Malls Makati, and SM Mall of Asia. Kumori kiosks can be found at Landmark Makati, SM Makati, and SM North Edsa.

Seoul Searching | Mouse Rabbit Cafe.

"Mommy, are we done looking at the palace? I want to go home!" Yue kept on asking halfway through our Gyeongbokgung Palace tour. "Almost done, just a few more pictures!" I kept on telling him.

My seven-year-old was getting impatient and cranky, and I could not blame him. We've been walking all morning, starting from that uphill tour of the Bukchon Hanok Village. I was feeling pretty tired myself, and cold, too. It was winter, after all, and the temperature that day was at 4 degrees Celsius.

Yue was all smiles when we exited Gwanghwamun Gate, very much excited at the thought of going home. We could have gone straight to nearby Dongdaemun, but I chose not to because Yue gets very impatient whenever I go shopping.

"Yue, let's have cake before we go home," I told him with a bright smile. He gave me a tired look, but agreed with me anyway. And so we hailed a cab, and headed straight for Mouse Rabbit Cafe. Yes, it's the coffee shop owned by Yesung of Super Junior. And that's exactly the main reason why we went all the way to Hwayangdong for cake (and coffee, too).

Mouse Rabbit, finally!

Traffic was a bit heavy that day (maybe because it was Christmas Eve?), and it took us about twenty minutes or so to get to the cafe. Yue slept in the backseat the entire time; it took me forever to wake him up. Good thing the cab driver was very kind. "Aga, ireona... ireona..." (Wake up, son) he said, while tapping Yue lightly on the knee. After a few minutes of coaxing, Yue was awake and managed to alight from the cab.

The Mouse and the Rabbit.

"We're here?" he asked while yawning. "Yes, we just walk a few steps down this alley, and look! There it is!" I said, pointing towards the logo of the mouse and rabbit. Yue gamely posed for photos outside the cafe.

Welcome to Mouse Rabbit!

We made a beeline for the restroom before we placed our orders. Sorry, I didn't take pictures inside the restroom. Haha! But I did take photos - lots of photos - inside the cafe.

Welcome to Mouse Rabbit!

Foodie Goodie | No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake.

So you want to make your Mom a cake for Mother's Day. But you don't know how to bake. You don't even know how to turn the oven on. And you can't ask Mom for help because it's supposed to be a surprise.

Consider yourself lucky for stumbling upon my blog! Today I will be sharing a no-bake cake recipe that's so easy to follow and takes very little time to make. And I'm pretty sure this yummy dessert will make any mom's heart melt. :)

No Bake Chocolate Cheesecake

Ingredients:
1-1/2 cups Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Chips or Hershey's Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 pack (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1 pack (3 oz.) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter or margarine, softened
2 cups frozen non-dairy whipped topping, thawed
1 pack (at least 6 oz.) graham cracker crumb crust

Procedure:
1. Place chocolate chips in small microwave-safe bowl.
2. Microwave at medium for 1 minute, then stir. If necessary, microwave at medium an additional 15 seconds at a time, stirring after each heating, just until chips are melted when stirred. Set aside to cool.
3. Beat cream cheese, sugar and butter in large bowl on medium speed of mixer until creamy.
4. Gradually add melted chips, beating on low speed until blended.
5. Fold in whipped topping until blended; spoon into crust.
6. Refrigerate overnight.
7. Garnish as desired before serving.

As seen on Hershey's Kitchens. Shared with Food Friday and Food Trip Friday.