All her cakes are baked on site by her team – who are not all from Paraguay, but considering there are only 300 Paraguayans in the UK, that’s understandable. Nevertheless, authentic sweets such as alfajores, rogel (a kind of millefeuille with a dulce de leche filling) a dulce de leche cheesecake and carrot cake (with yes, you guessed it dulce de leche) can be found.  It’s all utterly delicious; this is the ultimate sweet tooth heaven. To wash down the treats there is a range of coffees and fruit juices and the very authentic drink Yerba mate. The herb drink is strong and smokey and designed to be shared as a group. Marianna also serves her drinks in traditional cups. The one we share is a polished bulls horn decorated with silver engraving. The dried herb soaks up the first lot of water she adds to the cup – “the first is for Saint Anthony” she tells me, as the liquid disappears. We drink the hot liquor through a cleverly designed silver straw. It’s an unusual and fun addition to the visit but it certainly isn’t for the faint hearted!

When Mariana is not serving from Cheshire Street she can be found at Brick Lane’s weekend markets, selling her goods from a stall. But, her beautifully designed café is something to behold. Decorated with handmade brightly coloured handmade lace, made by women from Paraguay and patterned leather stools, this is a great place to escape from the hustle and bustle of East London. (Words: Laura Thornley)

Morena Bakery is located at 40 Cheshire Street, E2 6EH.For more info, visit: www.facebook.com/pages/Morena-Bakery/342434109167888

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On February 14th you’ll get the chance to indulge in hand-made ‘Chocolate Gelato Tartufo‘ (truffle-shaped chocolate and hazelnut gelato filled with melted chocolate fudge and dusted in cocoa powder), ‘Prosecco Cocktail Sorbets’, and a complimentary giant heart-shaped Curicino Meringue to share – and you don’t even have to be a couple to get in on the action.  Just send an e-mail to info@theculturalexpose.co.uk with your name and your friends by Sunday, February 4th for your chance to win! Good luck!

About La Gelatiera

La Gelatiera is home to London’s finest artisan gelato and coffee.  Londoners looking for alternative ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day can book dessert dates at the parlour on February 14th from 12pm to  Midnight. To book a table at  email info@lagelatiera.co.uk or call +44 (0)207 836 9559. For more information visit www.facebook.com/lagelatiera.

Terms and conditions

•  The prize is dessert for two on February 14th only.
•  The opening date and the closing date for prize draw is as follows: 30/01/2012 to 04/02/2012 at 12pm
• Only one entry per person.
• All prizes are non transferable and there are no cash alternatives.
• Any personal data relating to participants will be used by the Promoter solely in accordance with current UK data protection legislation and will not be disclosed to a third party for any purpose other than prize administration of this promotion without the individual’s prior consent. By entering the competition, we may use your details to contact you about our products and services. We will not sell your name, address or phone number to any other third party. All our email correspondence contains an unsubscribe option by which you can opt out of further email contact if you so wish.
• The Promoter is The Cultural Exposé, Kensington London.

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