Inquirer president and CEO Sandy Prieto-Romualdez (second from left) hands a copy of “Best Desserts” to SSI marketing communications head Mitch Suarez, with Lifestyle editor Thelma Sioson San Juan (far left) and author Vangie Baga-Reyes

A curated selection of bakers and dessert makers from Inquirer Lifestyle’s “Best Desserts” Book 4 is featured in a Mini Best Desserts Fair at Central Square, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, ongoing until 10 p.m. today, Aug. 12.

Shoppers at the SSI Group-owned mall can get free samplings of a motley of sweet (and some salty) treats from home-based and commercial bakers alike.

In her welcome speech, Inquirer president and CEO Sandy Romualdez took note of how most of the bakers have turned their hobbies into a fulfilling and profitable enterprise.

“Now you’re selling your desserts in a place like Central Square. How amazing that must be if you started out as a home baker,” Romualdez added, addressing the sweets makers.

Early favorites at the Friday opening were native rice cakes (suman with ube and leche flan filling, pastillas cake), a version of brazo de Mercedes, crispy waffle churros, mango torte, and a massive quezo de bola-filled ensaimada.

The “Best Desserts” fair is an annual blockbuster event of the Inquirer, which gathers yearly at SM Aura over 100 of the best dessert makers—all featured in the book of the same title.

But unlike the annual event, a no-selling affair where attendees can sample a vast buffet of desserts, mallgoers in the mini fair this weekend can also buy and take home their favorites.

The featured dessert makers are: Diana Ang Uy of What’s Cookin’ Kitchenette (Mango Torte); Rina Go of Nic’s (Chocolate Tower); Valerie Sotto (Rum Cake); Beatrix Atienza of Bellefleur (Ube Leche Flan Ice Cream); Portia Dee Baluyut of Rustic Mornings (Crispy Waffle Churros, Brownie Brittle Waffle); Jertie and Jaq Abergas of Jertie’s Kitchen’s (Gluten-free Vegan Dark Chocolate Cake); Ann and Chino Abacan (Low-Calorie Banana Langka Cheesecake); Erika Pereña of Wrapsody; Pixie and Aina Sevilla of Brazo de Remedios; Edylyn Gamboa-Liu of Fog City Creamery Artisanal Ice Cream; Rossana Hwang (Mocha Cake and Ensaymada); Arie Cuerva Kidder (Cheesecake Fudge and Strawberry Dream Cake); Agapita and Greggie Mercado (Pastillas Cake and Suman Cake); Gina Villanueva (Flavored Leche Flan); Cory Untalan (Premium Ube Cheesecake); Kristine Basilio (Homemade Truffles); Margot Sanchez Pablo (Cashew Sans Rival, Cream Puffs and Meringue Kisses); Cay Cuasay (Green Tea Strawberry Shortcake); Angela and Ninay Zamora (Ooey Gooey); Rocelle Gonzalez Lizares (Sans Rival and Ensaymada); Judah Liu (Bibingkang Malagkit with Coco Sugar, Organic Caramel Cake and Palillos de Milan); Cory Roxas-Untalan of CruKitchen; Greggie Mercado of Aging’s Food Delight; Waffable; Rocelle Lizada of Pasteleria Mallorca; Angela Zamora of Arc & Vine.