Icon Alcantara’s ube pastillas cake is a Filipino obra maestra

This was, by far, the best cake I received last Christmas. No, make that the best dessert I got as a gift all through the holiday season. It’s from Consuelo “Icon” Alcantara, a home baker, a promising entrepreneur who was formerly a culinary professor at the Siena College of Taytay.

Icon handled the Baking and Pastry Arts course, and it is apparent that academe’s loss has become our collective blessing.

She’s an extremely talented chef who started with humble aspirations. She began her business by baking a few cupcakes now and again for family and friends, until she felt confident enough to take the plunge, and introduced herself to the public through the “Let’s Eat Pare” community on Facebook.

Her cakes were warmly received, and when she joined the Ultimate Taste Tests in 2018 and 2019, her cakes and cookies were easy, and very deserving winners. Inspired, Icon let her creativity loose.

This is, so far, her masterpiece. A perfect harmony of ube chiffon cake, her signature pastillas custard, homemade ube halaya, and ube whipped cream.

It’s a gorgeous creation. Periwinkles and purples embracing the precious layer of pastillas. Every flavor and texture, distinct and decadent.  A genuine Filipino obra maestra.