Revisited: Paper Moon Cake Boutique and Café

It's not every day that you get to a chance to meet a cake artisan who is known and respected in the culinary industry worldwide. And so, when I got an offer to get acquainted with one, I quickly said yes. Needless to say, it was one memorable afternoon.

Hello, Paper Moon Cake Boutique and Café. 

Paper Moon has been in Manila for quite some time now. It has been raved by many and became a staple treat to tea parties and all sorts of gatherings. Despite its steep price compared to other cake shops, people with discerning taste didn't mind as they know that they are paying for quality. 

Though I enjoyed its Mango Crepe Cake, I was quite unaware of the history of this brand and the wonderful person behind it till last Tuesday when I was fortunate to be a part of the intimate group to meet Madam Kazuko Emy Wada. 

Madam Emy Wada is the person behind the delicate and exquisite crepe cakes. Contrary to the common notion that this concept came from Europe due to the word "crepe", this twenty-layered crepe sandwiched with divine light cream and topped with a gorgeous caramelized crust is very much Japanese. The ones you'd see in other countries would usually have about two to three layers, often topped with powdered sugar. 

It all started in the 1970s where she made use her baking skills she learned and honed under the tutelage of her Austrian mother-in-law to become a cake supplier to 7 out of the 10 best cafes in Tokyo. It took several more years later when she decided to open her own chain of specialty cake shops and that was when Paper Moon Cake Boutique was born.

As Paper Moon continues to gain popularity, Madam Emy Wada also remains as the cake supplier of giant Japanese coffee shops such as Tully's and Doutor. And in 2001, she began to expand her operations to New York as the supplier to Dean and Deluca, Takashimaya and Neiman Marcus. And yes, she also supply cakes to our local Dean and Deluca!

I got to try some of her heavenly desserts that afternoon such as Ube Mille Cake (PHP225), Tiramisu Mille Cake (PHP225) and Strawberry Shortcake (PHP325). I opted to go with a cup of regular Cappuccino (PHP120) to go with the sweets I was about to indulge. 

As ube becomes more popular worldwide, I thought that the Ube Mille Crepe is available in Japan as well. But it turns out that this is a Philippine exclusive flavor. 

It was my first time to try this out and loved it! I enjoyed the beautiful balance of the light cream and ube as well as its chunks on top. It blended harmoniously and did not try to overpower each other.

Tiramisu was great too. It tasted just like one sans the typical chiffon which was replaced by the thin layers of crepe. 

But the star that afternoon was Madam Emy Wada's Strawberry Shortcake. It was the best shortcake I've had to date! A fitting subject for "Take my money" meme, this huge slice of cake is topped with ginormous fresh strawberry slices giving n exciting texture to the fluffy chiffon stuffed with mouthwatering cream and strawberry tidbits. 

My cup of Cappuccino was your usual foamy joe. It wasn't overly milky making it a great drink to have with cakes.

I noticed that they also have some savory dishes. I'll definitely try those next time. 

Paper Moon Cake Boutique and Café is located at 3rd Floor, Shangri-La Plaza Mall, Mandaluyong City.