Patti's Palette: Wild Cakes and the Ginger Club

Mar 10, 2009

Wild Cakes and the Ginger Club

I visited Rockwell for the first time during my trip the Friday before heading to Boracay. Usually Rockwell is my first go-to place to check out what's new, but after coming back from Hong Kong and doing pre-Spring break shopping in LA, I know where the real finds are at. This time we went for lunch... and got lured into dessert.

Jon and I ate at Wild Ginger, located on the basement level along the restaurant strip. This South East Asian concept serves dishes from the entire region, in particular the ones that they are best-known for. Chicken Rice from Singapore, Nasi Goreng from Indonesia, Tom Yam from Thailand, etc. The outdoor wicker decor and the indoor ceiling fans together with the white walls dressed in antique photographs is reminiscent of a home in the colonial era. The food is probably a bit more progressive than it was back then in terms of preparation and style; take a look at our lunch picks to decide for yourself.

On the way to Jon's store (http://greyonesocial.com/blog/) in the Archaeology section of Rockwell, a dessert oasis is planted: Cake Club by Diamond Hotel. Who knew a little display of sweets would be a big scrumptious hit! Personal-sized delicacies lined the three levels of the refrigerated glass casing. The menu lists all the treats offered, but only the ones available on the day are ready to be served. Cake Club is a patisserie-bakery-coffeeshop bundled into one; I think it's a satellite branch from their full-service operations at the Diamond Hotel. I hear they cater too :) We tried two cakes, a chocolate one and a "something else." Because if it's not chocolate, it's just something else...