The Next Best Thing: Fleur de Lys Patisserie!

I have actually lived my whole life in our residence in Quezon City. Though I am confined now at the corners of our unit in Pasig-Cainta, still I miss that place where it all started. It was at home in Kamuning, through my ever caring mom, that I existed embodying the love for food, especially for desserts. Just like the other places that I've been to, QC has a lot of hidden treasures yet to be discovered. I consider myself lucky enough to have known one of them. It was way back when I was still in high school, through a friend that I haven't seen for such a long time (I couldn't even remember his name... oh please! spare me... hehehe...) that I visited a patisserie near ABS-CBN and had tasted my very first molten chocolate cake - and they called that place Fleur de Lys.

The name Fleur de Lys pertains to a stylized lily (comes from the French words fleur, meaning flower and lis, meaning lily) or iris and is used as a decorative design or symbol. According to my friend, Wiki (haha! ^_^), it may be one and at the same time, political, dynastic, artistic, emblematic, and symbolic, especially in heraldry. But as for me, hearing this name is nothing but gastronomic!

Fleur de Lys is conveniently located along Tomas Morato Ext., beside Belo Medical Clinic and in front of Dolce Bar. This cute pastry shop has been awarded and nominated for several food and dessert award giving buddies. Upon entering the shop, a small yet very inviting counter with a display of beautiful desserts awaits every sweet tooth. I also love the warm welcome that I received from their staff; their smiles reflect those of what they sell - sweets and a bunch of my comfort foods. The walls are painted light blue with some golden fleur de lys on it; very simple, classy, relaxing and cool to look at. Contrasting these colors are their pink menus which really urges you to pick them up, browse, and order.

So, to start what with my FLD experience, I ordered their famous The Next Best Thing and paired it up with Minty Chocolate Drink. The Next Best Thing is a warm, molten chocolate cake with a scoop of French vanilla ice cream. This fantastic dessert offers a great chocolaty experience (imagine a very moist and warm chocolate cake that is oozing with more melted chocolate at the center! A must try for all chocoholics!) I like my molten cake usually combined with the cold vanilla ice cream, that way you can enjoy the flavors of how the bittersweet goodness of the chocolate combines with the rich creaminess of the vanilla ice cream. And oh! not to forget how the chocolate melts in your mouth... (oh soooo good!)

The Next Best Thing, 120Php

I have been long in love with the combination of mint and chocolate. So, instead of having the Macadamia Nut Latte or the Earl Greyer (which I had before; it amazingly compliments the cake) I decided to get the Minty Chocolate drink. It is topped with whipped cream, chocolate and mint syrup and you can have it either warm or cold - hot coffee or as a dessert drink respectively. A very light and simple drink to finish off a rich dessert.

Minty Chocolate, 125Php

Another cake that truly amazed me was their Pavlova Picasso. It is made up of layers of strawberry walnut meringue with cream, carefully topped and decorated with fresh fruits; definitely a feast for the senses. This cake doesn't just taste great but it's very pretty to look at, more likely a work of art. Its very light and I really admire the textures as you chew the meringue together with the cream and walnuts, add to that its balanced sweetness. I've never had such great pavlova before.

Pavlova Picasso, 110Php

Fleur de Lys does not only offer delectable cakes but also certain French-American-Filipino fusion food. Off their menu, they have a wide range of something to have for breakfast - Garlic Tapa, Spicy Bangus, Chicken Galatina (comes with your choice of sunny-side-up or scrambled egg/plain or garlic rice/tomatoes and atchara); lunch and dinner; love their pasta creations - pesto, carbonara, puttanesca, even aligue and garlic; awesome sandwiches, waffles, sausages, healing soups and salads that are both yummy and healthy; truly enough reasons for coming back.

My experience at Fleur de Lys is such a blast. They have truly satisfied not just my tummy but also my heart. I believe that good food should not only bring fullness but also warmth and happiness to one's troubled mind. It should allow you to relax and enjoy each and every bite. There is nothing more rewarding than to have great tasting food that can uplift your once dampened spirit (I guess it's the rain, sometimes it makes me feel gloomy... thanks to the fantastic desserts! I was saved! hehe...^_^) I think that's the reason why it's called comfort food. From its small doors, this shop sincerely screams not just affordable and first-rate rations but also how sweet life is, and that we should always remember how good it is to be alive and be able to experience its goodness. I will surely come back and taste more of their delicious offerings! I have to try their savory dishes, famous cheesecakes and the Autumn Leaves Cake that I'm very curious about...

Fleur de Lys

Tomas Morato
Ground Level, FLP Bldg.
305 Tomas Morato Ext., South Triangle
Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines
Phone Number: (63 2) 372-0631

Credits: Special Thanks to http://anton.blogs.com for the pink menu, cake display and facade pics. The rain made me unable to capture the latter. Thanks much!