I’m still here! I haven’t abandoned this blog, even though I’ve been absent for a few months (you can always find me on Instagram). If you’re still here, too, thanks for sticking around. And if you’re new, welcome! I’m Bianca and...

This coming week marks the one year anniversary of staying home because of the pandemic. I’ve baked my heart out. I made layer cake, cheesecake, brownies, ice cream pie, icebox cake, chocolate cake, snack cake, and many more desserts that...

It’s a party as long as there’s cake. Birthday Cake 2021 is an Olive Oil Layer Cake with Dulce de Leche Filling and Chocolate Frosting. A mouthful, indeed, and a twist on a classic. I turned 40 this month, and in a...

Basque cheesecake has a burnt top on purpose. There is no crust, no water bath needed, and cracks and deflating are expected. It’s exceptionally creamy, with the burnt top lending a slight umami flavor to each bite. I wanted to make it...

My husband and I were fighting over the last tube of Shanghai Tang lotion. Little did we know that the last time we mindlessly took home a couple of miniature amenities from the Conrad, one of our favorite hotels, that we would be cooped up...

I don’t know what the future holds but I know there will be brownies. It’s been over four months since we last had people over, which was the last time I made brownies. That’s four months quarantine with my sweet husband, filled...

I’d like to take a moment to celebrate. Even in the midst of a pandemic and a heartbroken and enraged nation, this weekend we are celebrating Juneteenth, the Summer Solstice, and Father’s Day. And to me, one of the best ways to celebrate...

A classic Black Forest Cake is a chocolate sponge cake, layered with a cherry filling and whipped cream, and topped with chocolate shavings. It is one of those things that I grew up with and never really cared for, until I became an adult...

Do you want to bake something but don’t have eggs or butter" Do you have an aggressive craving for chocolate almost every day" Do you need a distraction from what’s happening with the world" Do you want a snack cake / breakfast cake /...

Hello, there. To those who are still here, reading and following, thank you. To those who are new, welcome. These are scary times we live in right now. Everything feels surreal, and my heart breaks to hear the news of the devastation...

Should I change my profile info to Ube Girl" My love for all things ube goes far and wide, something that I have developed from childhood and carried proudly into adulthood. I hoard it, I push other people to try it, I push people...

Birthday Cake 2020 is a Dark Chocolate Truffle Cake. It’s a very rich cake, intense with deep chocolate flavors, smooth and velvety. It’s also fairly easy to make and it’s flourless (yes, gluten-free). It’s a lovely way to celebrate...

You may have noticed that I have been unusually quiet the last few months. For those who know me in real life, stop laughing! And for everyone who are still here, thank you. But it’s true: I’ve been quiet on the blog front (even...

“Taipei is the new foodie destination,” said so many friends when they heard that we were going on a family vacation. I wasn’t sure what they meant – until we got there and we ate roast duck, noodle soup, torched beef, and multiple...

If you’ve been reading this blog closely, or if we’re friends IRL, you might remember that my husband Matt and I root for opposing baseball teams. I’m a Red Sox fan (just like my dad), while Matt is unfortunately a Yankees fan....

It’s almost Father’s Day and I made carrot cake. It’s almost Father’s Day and I wish the Philippines wasn’t a 24-hour flight away so I can hang out with my dad as often as I want to, but for now FaceTime will have to do....

I don’t remember the first time I ate this dip but I do remember it was with my mom. I think it was more than two decades ago. We were at one of her favorite restaurants, Cibo, which eventually became my favorite, too. Cibo...

The night is dark and full of chocolate. Sorry for the Game of Thrones puns, but I am super excited for the last season premiere tonight. Matt and I are having a two-person viewing party, where we’ll be eating lots of finger food...

I finally did it. I combined two of my favorite treats – ube and chocolate – into one dessert. Ube White Chocolate Fudge. And oh it’s so pretty. In all my years of lapping up ube by the spoonfull, and eating so much chocolate...

In true Bellefleur by Beatrix. I have been ordering special cakes from Bea for years now and this one was a masterpiece, topped with strawberries and jam. I also tried this brazo de mercedes cake that my friend Sabs served...

Smorrebrod, Danish pastries, more hotdogs, and gourmet chocolates were my favorite things about Copenhagen. Oh and the little mermaid! My sister Patty and I went on a little Scandinavian vacation, first going to Sweden and then to...

My love for all things ube goes far and wide, and most recently expanded to Ube Cookies. If you’re new here or to

This is just the recipe you need when you need a bowl of comfort. Or when you’re entertaining and want to impress. Or when you want to turn your husband into a mushroom fan. It’s for all that and...

The first thing we did when we arrived in Stockholm was buy caviar. If you’re familiar with Swedish caviar, which is very different from Russian caviar, you’ll know that it’s a love or hate type of food. Swedish caviar (creamed...

Every January for the last eight years or so, I’ve been baking my own birthday cake. It makes me so happy to whip up something with my very favorite ingredients, and share it with my very favorite people. A few years ago, I...