On her second year as a member of the panel of judges for the Nescafe Gold Spot Awards, pastry chef Aileen Anastacio is also a columnist for Yummy magazine and hosts QTV 11 shows, "True Confections" and "My Favorite Recipes." A graduate of California Culinary Academy, she started baking when she was in grade school and turned her childhood hobby into a profitable business, now overseeing operations for the pastry shop Goodies n' Sweets.

Chef Aileen also compiled her recipes in the book, Home Cafe: 100 Recipes for Irresistible   Coffees and Delectable Desserts. Available this January, she shares her tried and tested recipes for yummy drinks like Dark Chocolate Truffle Freeze and desserts like Fallen Chocolate Cake.

Anastacio, who considers herself a foodie, says, "I actually like exploring food. When I go out of town or out of the country, I don't just try the fancy [restaurants or spots] but I also try eateries along the sidewalk and in food courts. I'm interested in [learning about] new flavors and the way the locals cook their food." She shares that Restaurant Cicou at Hotel Celeste, one of the nominees for New Restaurant of the Year, is one of the best additions to Manila's dining scene in 2009.

Chef Aileen shares her thoughts on this year's Nescafe Gold Spot awards:

If you could bake only one pastry for the rest of your life, what would that be?

Banoffee Pie. It has a little bit of everything: fruit, cream, chocolate and a good crust.

Culinary idol?

Daniel Boulud.

Best meal you've ever had in Manila and where?

Sala and Sala Bistro.

What is the standard for the Nescafe Gold Spot Awards?

Quality, quality, quality and consistency.

How do you feel about this year's contenders for the Nescafe Gold Spot Awards?

There's a good mix [of restaurants] now and I'm actually excited that we, the judges, get to participate in the voting together with the public.

Photograph from Chef Aileen Anastacio. Book cover from gourmetgoodies.blogspot.com.