WHO needs a green-thumb when you can have a buttercream frosting one? Jocelyn Ann “Joy” Chua’s beautiful cake creations, especially those bedecked with Korean buttercream flowers featuring a gorgeous palette of colors, are indeed a sight for sore eyes. Her designs are nothing short of stunning! Each flower is expertly formed on a flower-nail by building piped layers of thin and glossy petals.
Her cakes actually don’t look simple, but they look like works of art, painstakingly made. They simply do bring joy and happiness to whoever is looking at them. Her buttercream flowers, are almost too pretty to eat. I say almost because her cakes aren’t just a visual treat, but they’re mouthwateringly delicious too, making it ever so hard to say no to a delectable slice. But hey, if you’re going to splurge, you won’t regret the calories that come in choosing her cakes and pastries.
We’ve long been stuck with unpalatable fondant or sugary flowers that are too cloyingly sweet. Typically, those aforementioned cakes, come with a high price but inedible decors. But with Joy’s Korean buttercream flower cake, you get what you pay for. Her buttercream is made with 100 percent butter, but it remains very stable (doesn’t melt easily). It is not overly sweet, and the frosting serves as a perfect accompaniment to whatever cake flavor you choose. Nothing goes to waste!
Her best sellers are ube, which comes from her own homemade halaya recipe. It comes with thick layers of ube infused sponge cake, with halayang ube as a filling. Her moist chocolate cake is also to die for accompanied by a ganache frosting that makes you want to lick every last drop. She also has banana chocolate chip, carrot walnut, butter, red velvet, lemon pound, pistachio, and many more. She likes experimenting with different flavors, so if you have something in mind, don’t be afraid to ask.
Joy said: “I am really very hands-on. Unlike the other bakeshops who have delegated, I am on top of everything—whether it is a simple cake, barrel cake, tiered cake, cupcake, or wedding cake. I may have assistants, but they only do minor work. All the stuff that I send out really passes through my own inspection. I am very mindful of quality because I don’t want to compromise my name and my products!”
She is a creative chef, who likes to play with flavors, because her artistic nature has always been strong ever since she was young. She even finds it quite therapeutic to paint designs on buttercream. Joy said: “I can also draw and paint on paper. I am not on the level of the master aritsts, but mine are pretty decent. I also have a passion for design. In fact the interiors of my shop and my home were all made by me. Aside from that, I’ve also dabbled into designing clothes. I enjoy it when I can express myself through art!”
Aside from her beautiful cakes, she is also famous for her Ensaimadas which is made with pure butter. All of these are available in her quaint shop along JR Borja. The cafe in itself is also as beautiful as her cakes. It has a shabby chic theme that makes you want to take pictures of every nook and cranny. In the cafe, patrons can also have a chance to taste Joy’s cooking. Her specialties are seafood pasta, chicken teriyaki, beef with mushrooms, beef lasagna and many more. Apart from dining in-house, food trays are also available.
Joy said: “My passion for the kitchen really started since I was young. I have been baking since I was 10. I’ve done a few day courses, but nothing fancy. I can honestly say, most of what I know comes from my mom’s influence. She was really a great mentor to me. She cooked for us ever since I can remember! It may be simple food, but for us her kids, what she did was really important. Even reminiscing the memories bring a lot of happiness!”
Joy’s love for her kitchen is simply phenomenal. It is evident in the happy twinkle in her eyes and the enthusiastic way she describes her life’s calling. She shows that working hard for something you don’t care about is called stress, but working hard for something you love is called passion and purpose. Above all else, Joy exemplifies that finding joy in simple pleasures paves the way for a contented, peaceful, and meaningful life. Choose simple joys!
Dropby her shop along JR Borja St (at the new bridge). For inquiries, check her Facebook and IG with the same name. You can also call 09177060199 for inquiries and orders.
For comments hop-on over to www.orochronicles.com