Discovering more of Dumaguete's 'Sans Rival Cakes and Pastries'

June 10, 2012

I had a few hours to spare between arriving at Dumaguete City from Siquijor and my flight back to Manila. With my backpack in tow, I walked my way under the unforgiving sun along the city's famed 700-meter boulevard to Sans Rival Cakes and Pastries for some pasalubong.

Dumaguete's Rizal boulevard.

It was my first time to this pastry shop cum restaurant although I've already tried their silvanas a few times already (thanks to an office colleague). I was there to get me some silvanas myself and pick up some pasalubong. The place had two indoor sections and one outside. There's an explosion of cakes and pastries here, as expected, but they also serve some hearty meals FYI.

Inside Sans Rival Cakes and Pastries.

There was almost always a cue at the counter, which suggested that they must have some really good stuff. I can attest to their silvanas but I was aching to sample something else. So even if it was less than an hour to lunch, I had two slices of their coffee bread with chocolate and walnut filling, a jam square, and coffee.

Coffee bread with chocolate and walnut filling; jam square on the side.

I thought the bread had a coffee flavor but after tasting it I realized that maybe by "coffee bread" they meant it to be paired with a cup of coffee. Nevertheless, I loved it -- the bread's texture, the oozing sweet filling balanced by the crunchiness of the walnuts -- yum! I originally ordered only a slice but lunch be damned, I got another one. Their coffee was good, too.

I sampled the jam square so I'll know whether it'll be great for pasalubong. The base was a thin biscuit or something with just the right amount of pineapple jam spread on top, so it's not overly sweet. And people at the office and a few of My Bibe's colleagues loved them! I guess I picked great.

I also tried their chocolate silvanas. It had the same thin, crunchy exterior of its butter counterpart but with a chocolate buttercream filling and dusted with cocoa powder.

How much they cost:
Silvanas (original butter flavor) - Php 110, box of 10
Silvanas (chocolate) - Php 180, box of 10
Coffee bread with chocolate and walnut filling - Php 20/slice
Jam squares - Php 5/piece, Php 145 for a plastic container of around 30 pieces

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Sans Rival Cakes and Pastries is located at #3 San Jose Street, very neer Rizal Boulevard in Dumaguete City (Tel. +6335-225-4393). They have a branch at Robinson's Place Dumaguete (Tel. +6335-226-3506). You can also visit their Facebook page here.