The Armchair Critic

If you love desserts as much as I do, chances, are you've already been to Bizu Patisserie & Cafe. My first visit, I was first drawn to the deep purple colors in the cafe's facade and once I was inside, there was no turning back. Imagine being welcomed by rows and rows of these.

The thing about desserts is, how it looks is as great a draw as how it tastes. And I've met many desserts I've loved at first sight, only to be disappointed at first bite. Not so at Bizu. They use high quality ingredients and they don't scrimp, so what you see is what you get.


I've visited Bizu many times and I can't say that I've tasted all they have to offer. While I would love to taste everything - all the flavors of their Macarons de Paris (no, these are not the coconut macaroons we are used to), for instance - I never will because Bizu introduces new gastronomic creations every month. I will never be able to catch up to their prolific chefs.


For these hot summer months, Bizu has come up with unique and enticing Summer Sorbets which come in five cool combinations - Raspberry and Merlot, Lemon and Ginger, Passion Fruit and Mango, Green Apple and Mint, and Lychee and Vanilla. Now, sorbets are usually served between dishes to cleanse the palate, but there is nothing usual with Bizu. You can have your sorbet any which way you want. After a meal of pasta before moving on to a dessert of cakes and pastries, or as the main dessert itself. These unique blends of pureed summer fruits make for the perfect frozen desserts to cool you down. These are all served in chilled shot glasses and one set of five is only P285.00, so be sure to taste all. Or share the five with friends. Just a reminder, when these are served, stop the conversations and dig in. You want your sorbets frozen, not melted. You can ooh-and-ahhh afterwards.
I like the Lychee and Vanilla flavor, I guess, because my taste buds are no stranger to the taste of lychee. And vanilla always makes desserts smell and taste better. But then I like the Raspberry and Merlot, too. Chef Sander explained that he reduced the merlot so, no, you will not get drank on the Merlot, there's only the slightest hint of its presence. Passionfruit and Mango is kinda crunchy with those passionfruit seeds. I wasn't so enamored with the Apple and Mint, the apple bits were chewy but ruined the smoothness of the mint for me. Lemon and Ginger, a more common combination reminded me of the salabat my aunt makes when I have a sore throat, so I shied away from it psychologically, hahaha.

Bizu's most recent masterpiece is the Yoga cake - a blissful union of tropical passion fruit and hearty yogurt, spread with just the right amount of lemon custard, placed in between layers of moist sable and genoise sponge. It is a smooth mousse cake with a chewy cookie dough-like base. It is a very light cake and while I loved its texture, I missed the sweetness of traditional cakes. But then again, I am partial to chocolate so if you love the strong flavor of fruits this is perfect for you.

There are many other delights I love at Bizu that I was lucky enough to try out with friends recently.



And did you know that their breads, which go perfectly with their jams are 30% off after 6 pm? My kids who don't like bread loved the ciabbata and focaccia so much that I can see myself going back to Bizu soon. Sigh. Not soon enough for my already hungry stomach.

Bizu Branches:

Greenbelt 2
G/L Greenbelt 2, Ayala Center, Makati City
Tel. Nos.: 757-BIZU • 757-4749

Greenhills
The Promenade, Greenhills Shopping Center
Tel. No.: 724-2498 • 726-2496

Glorietta 4
3/L Glorietta 4, Ayala Center, Makati City
Tel. Nos.: 757-2086

Alabang Towncenter
G/L Corte Delas Palmas, Alabang Town Center, Muntinlupa City
Tel. No.: 809-BIZU • 772-1917 • 772-1918