Sweets by Cha
What started out as a simple passion for good food is now a profitable home-based business which Charissa Lecaros, owner of Sweets by Cha, started back in 2004. She shares, “I always knew I’d get into something food-related, but I’d always ask God for His guidance. And one day, without my own cookie recipe yet, I decided to try my hand at baking cookies. It took a lot of trial and error, with family and friends as my taste-testers, but I soon perfected my cookie recipes. Then people began to take note, and from there I slowly gained the confidence to bake other things like cupcakes, cakes, pastries, and now even wedding cakes.”
Finding a balance between managing her business and pursuing her other interests has been an act she has learned to perfect over time. And Charissa or Cha, as she is known to friends, has learned to take things in stride. “I make sure to allot enough time for every order I get. And even if it’s hard work, I love what I do because my personal creativity is continuously challenged.” she says. Though her goodies range from all sorts of sweets, it’s her cupcakes that many loyal clients fawn over and first-timers get hooked on.
Must-tries: Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting, Moist Chocolate Cupcakes, Banana Walnut with Cream Cheese Frosting, and White Chocolate Butterscotch.
For price details and other inquiries, contact Charissa Lecaros, +63(917) 826-1533, sweetsbycha@gmail.com, Facebook Page: Sweets by Cha
Coco Cakes
For nearly a decade, Michelle Teves would bake her heart out for friends and family as a thoughtful gesture, all the while pursuing other business ventures. Late last year, she heeded a good friend’s suggestion to post photos of her customized cakes online, and they were practically an instant hit. But it was the Stacking Teacups Cake that she made for her daugher’s birthday that really caught peoples’ attention and orders began pouring in. Michelle says, “Not many people have the privilege of finding their passions and living them out, and I’m very grateful I get to do what I love.”
Running her own business while caring for her family is challenging, but as she shares, “Baking and decorating cakes for me is not a job. It’s my way of expressing my passion for making things beautiful. And because of it, I can really feel God making my life more beautiful.” Since Michelle specializes in custom-made desserts, she always makes sure that her cakes not only taste good but look good as well. In fact, her creations are known to be detail-intensive, no matter what the theme.
Must-tries: Butter Lemon Cake with Vanilla Buttercream Filling and Icing, Banana Cream Pie, Mocha Sans Rival, Chocolate Decadent Cake, and Pecan Tarts.
For price details and other inquiries contact Michelle Teves, ilovecococakes@gmail.com, https://ilovecococakes.wordpress.com/
Karen’s Kitchen
Karen Young, owner of Karen’s Kitchen, has had a love affair with sweets for as long as she can remember. Many have said that she was born with a sweet tooth, since even as a child, each meal she had needed to end with dessert. If other girls her age stared at the display windows of clothing stores, she stared at bake shop window displays, looking longingly at the cakes and treats in all their sweet glory. And as she grew older, her penchant for pastries continued to grow with every cook book she read and recipe she altered and tried.
In college, she decided to pursue the more practical world of business and even majored in it, never thinking that her hobby could and would turn into a profitable venture. After taking baking classes here and abroad when time would permit, her ever-increasing passion and knowledge for the craft led her to learn even more. After having taken up a course at the Asian Institute for Management, she realized that it was time to pursue her love and talent for creating delicious dishes fulltime. With the support of her husband, she set up Karen’s Kitchen. Though she makes delectable cakes, different kinds of bread, and a lot more, her frozen desserts are in a league of their own.
Must-tries: The Frozen Brazo Trio of Strawberry, Green Tea, and Manilla Vanilla, Chocolate Ganache, Red Velvet Cake, and Sticky Toffee Pudding.
For price details and other inquiries contact Karen Young, 107B, 210 Zodiac Street, Palm Village, Makati, +63(2)898-2880, +63(2)898-2280, +63(2)211-1086, and +63(917) 527-3671, mykarenskitchen@yahoo.com, https://karenskitchen.com.ph/