Choco-late de Batirol in Baguio is heaven in a cup!

The rich chocolate aroma wafted in our general direction, and all of us went... "mmmm... sarap!"

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Chocolate de Batirol, the perfect place to spend a cool and sunny Baguio afternoon

Inside Baguio City's Camp John Hay is a little restaurant called Choco-late de Batirol. Oozing with character, this rustic resting spot is the perfect place to spend a cool and sunny Baguio afternoon, sipping chocolate based drinks while reading a good book, or just hanging out with friends and family...

Wooden chairs surround wooden tables and are divided into nooks decorated with small Philippine flags and adorned with eccentric ornaments like this wooden sculpture of a sexy little floglet. It reminded me of that time in my childhood when my overactive imagination would allow me to create a hideaway in one corder of the garden, a fort made of branches and twigs - adventures ala-Swiss Family Robinson or Huckleberry Finn.

The music: Pilita Corrales and her contemporaries, singing classic, folk songs and traditional melodies like "Ang Pipit", "Ibong Kakanta-kanta" and "Ay, Ay, Ay, Pag-Ibig" that brought back memories of our childhood.

Try the Cointreau, a chocolate orange blend Chocolate de Batirol style

The menu was comforting in its simplicity, familiar chocolate based drinks including their specialty Chocolate de Batirol Traditional Blend and, of course, the Chocolate de Batirol Baguio Blend (Strawberry Flavor). Everything has strawberry flavor in Baguio! There were other interesting ones like the orange blended Cointreau, Cinnamon Blend, Almond Blend and the Kahlua.

I tried the Cointreau - a chocolate orange blend. I was hesistant at first because I never really liked chocolate-orange combinations, but after that first sip I was sold. The orange flavor was not too sour nor too sweet - it was more like an afterthought at the back of your mouth as the drink spreads across your tongue. There is no orange aftertaste either. My only complaint was that my cup was not large enough for a bigger serving.

Drinks are Php 80-100 per cup, less expensive than Starbucks, but hits home just as well.

Like Chocolate in your food? You'll LOVE this.

A good list of snacks made more exquisite by the chocolate toppings were also available: the suman, banana turon, bibingka - topped with spinkles of chocolate was in perfect combination with the chocolate drinks.

Special Bibingka

Sugary Sweet Suman

Just looking at that Turon de Langka really makes my mouth water and the hairs at the back of my neck stand in anticipation of the sugar rush. Hahaha!



Mouth Watering Turon de Langka!

Chocolate de Batirol also serves equally magnificent versions of Filipino breakfast and lunch dishes including rice meals, and cold Chocolate drinks as well!

What more can you ask for? A cup of steaming hot chocolate and a cool Baguio breeze - and just the right amount of sugar for an irresistible high, a laugh and a hoot... a fantastic way to spend your afternoon.

This is not a paid post. For inquiries about Choco-late de Batirol, contact them at (+63-74)446-7006 or email chocolatedebatirol@yahoo.com.

*Photos are by Mei-an Zamudio and yours truly

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