The chocolate effect

PHOTO buffs would easily recognize the term CMYK. It’s printing jargon they know by heart; an acronym that stands for cyan, magenta, yellow and key—which aficionados would immediately point out as “black.”

But in this little dessert shop, CMYK means something else.

“Chocolate makes you kiss,” she said. One of the shop’s owners, Lea Ann Duhaylungsod, has given a sugary flair to its otherwise very technical definition. She said that indulging in chocolates give an aftereffect that could make one feel a wave of emotions similar to what one would experience when one is in love.

That’s pretty much what she and her cousin and business partner, Vanessa Maliao, had in mind when they put up their first food venture CMYK Dessert House.

The cousins have fused their talents together: Vanessa, a graduate of the Philippine School of Culinary Arts, manages the food side while Lea, who is a photographer, shows her artistry through the shop’s charming interiors. The dessert house opened last November.

Its pastel-colored, homey interiors are actually enough to make one feel the heartwarming sensations Lea and Vanessa were going for; with its French windows, pink cushioned seats, and a shelf, which stands at the center, spelling out the word “Love” in different colors.

Some—particularly guys—might find the sight too sweet, or even girly, for their liking. But before scaring one’s self at the possibility of walking in to a doll house, attention should be at CMYK’s impressive food selection.

In their craftily-designed (and pink!) menu is a variety of appetizers, salad, pasta, main courses, and of course, dessert. Everybody’s bound to have something to enjoy there, whether it’s a spicy bowl of ramen, spring rolls, salted salad, or even a cheesy serving of mousakka.

Vanessa, whose culinary background includes working in five-star resorts, has added an innovative twist to the dessert house’s creations. Ever tried custard baked inside an egg shell? Or brownie on a sizzling plate? How about a cake in a mug? These are only a few of her unique dessert specialties.

Other bestsellers in CMYK are the baklava and the vanlava. Baklava is the famous Greek dessert made with assorted nuts and prunes baked inside filo wrapping. As for the latter, Vanessa creates her own recipe also using filo wraps, in which she put in freshly baked melted chocolate and nuts, paired with vanilla ice cream at the side.

CMYK also has its own line of freshly mixed beverages such as blended coffee, milk shakes and smoothies, all of which offered at different flavors. The house specialty, according to Lea, is the “Last Tear Drop,” a lemon-based drink topped with whipped cream.

Leaving CMYK feeling like a giggly schoolgirl, now this idea is not far off from happening. Indulging on sweets—chocolates and whatnot—can do that. Add in the place’s equally sweet aura and there goes a formula for fabricating the feeling of being in love—or at the very least, a case of sugar rush.

CMYK Dessert House is along Archbishop Reyes Ave., Waterfront Drive, Cebu City. It is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.