• Subic Roadtrip and Foodtrip One Summer Weekend…

    April 13, 2017 / 0 Comments
    Subic is one of those places that are nearby yet, it has taken me ages to explore it. For one, I am not sure of how to commute and what interesting things to see there and I think it is better for when you have someone show you around. Well, one summer weekend, the work colleagues planned a Subic weekender trip with nothing on the agenda but lots of eating and eat we did.
     
    Colleague AM had a caterer for a tita, and as luck would have it, we were fortunate enough to be there when they had several functions so we had so much food already in the house of AM and I had one of the yummiest Lechon outside of Cebu. We explored several places of interest in the once US army base that is Subic Bay. There were lots of duty-free shops as well selling at good prices and clothing stores which were relatively cheap compared to their counterparts in the Metro. Subic is a gem for good deals for a lot of things. But what really stuck out were 2 very good restaurants we ate at.
     
    The first restaurant we explored on our first and last night was Xtremely Xpresso Cafe. Apparently it is known as one of Subic’s institutions standing out for its delicious food and reasonable prices.
     
    I saw a lengua on the menu so I immediately gravitated toward it. I haven’t had delicious lengua in a long time. This was great. Melt-in-your-mouth ox tongue slathered with delicious gravy paired with white rice and served with steamed corn and carrots.
     
    Colleague AM, being a fan of KPOP like me, ordered Korean beef ribs. This dish is one of those that I really like. It’s sweet and savory at the same time and the beef ribs are oh so soft. She had rice to go with this as well.
     
    AB ordered a chicken and mushroom steak dish with rice too and steamed vegetables at the side. 
     
    Colleague L ordered a nut-pesto with seafood pasta which was cooked just right. 
     
    We also ordered a platter of ribs which had a side serving of fries. The ribs were finger lickin’ good.
     
    And for our dessert we ordered the Giant Brownie. A brownie and ice cream tower all piled up with chocolate wafer sticks, whipped cream, and a cherry on top. We couldn’t even finish this one and there were 4 of us.
     
    For lunch the next day, we went to another Subic Institution – Meat Plus. They have steak cuts you can choose from and they were really good in quality and the price is one of the best parts about this resto. It won’t burn a hole in your pocket. Aside from steaks, they also have a variety of other dishes you can choose from.
     
    All of us got the New York steak though and we had it cooked to our liking because they will ask you at the counter while you are paying for your food how you would like it to be cooked. We got so full here and promised to go back and eat some more. This is one stop you shouldn’t be missing in Subic.
     
    Overall our Subic food adventure was 2 days well spent. We had good meals at great prices and the team bonding was added incentive too. Til next time Subic!
     
    XoXo
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  • The Maginhawa Chronicles: Artsy Cafe – a delicious revelation!

    July 17, 2016 / 0 Comments
    Who hasn’t heard of the famous street in Quezon City – Maginhawa? Foodies and food neophytes alike flock to this place to experience all the tasty pleasures it offers in just 1 stretch of a long street. It’s like “the destination” for all who are in search of good value eats.
     
    For this first peek into the delicious treasures of Maginhawa, we check in to the Artsy Cafe located at 36 Maginhawa Street. The first thing you will notice would be its quaint color scheme. It has pastel blue colors and white lacey trimmings. Very quaint and cozy. I forgot to take a picture of its interiors. I think I have been there for a total of 3 times already but I am in need of more visits to further explore their menu. (wink) (wink)
     
    These are some of the dishes I have had that speak to my taste buds so far. Their market salad. You have 2 options with it, you can either have chicken or shrimp in it. When we had it, we picked the one with chicken. Fresh leafy greens, local tomatoes, cucumber and carrot sticks, grilled chicken strips, olives, grapes, and a very generous sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese. This dish alone can serve as 1 meal for any person. Light and refreshing but also filling.
     
    For a healthier sisig option, they offer the Bangus sisig. Their own fishy version of one of our beloved sizzling meat dishes this time with bangus flakes. Really good and much more healthier than its meaty counterpart. This is a heaping sizzling dish as well.
     
    And for one of my more favorite ones in this restaurant – their gigantic T-Bone steak. It’s a huge plateful of a steak grilled to your liking paired with buttered vegetables and your choice of either mashed potato or a cup of rice. I have always opted to have mashed potatoes with it since I want to avoid the carbs. This dish is one of our favorites really. A good deal and delicious too. I haven’t eaten here in Artsy without ordering this every time. Really good value for money!
     
     
    All dishes mentioned here are below the PHP300 price tag. So it is really good value for your money. Artsy Cafe has a cozy ambiance and although the menu is not that extensive yet they really do offer delicious eats at good value.
     
    P.S.
     
    They also have an all-day breakfast selection….
     
    XoXo
    EV
     
     
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  • The Pattaya Experience: Baan Pictory and Pattaya sidestreets…

    November 7, 2015 / 0 Comments
    Last year, we were on a recording jaunt for the company and we ended up in the well-equipped and amazing Karma Sound Studios located just nearby the famous “Pattaya” in the outskirts of Bangkok. 
     
    We also stayed in a very charming resort owned by 2 very charming French gentlemen who had decided to settle down in Thailand and build a business there. We were well taken cared of and the food was very sumptuous all around during that trip. 
     
    We had a welcome dinner hosted for us in the resort by the owners and it was a beautiful dinner spread indeed.
     
    All the requisite Thai dishes were there and so much more. It was spread out all in one setting and we immediately got down to business. For appetizers they had Thai-style fried chicken wings, fried spring rolls, and my favorite shrimp cakes! So yummy! 
      
     
    We also had another one of my favorites – the Tom Yum. Spicy and sour soup with tiger prawns, mushrooms, kafir lime leaves, and lemongrass. This is always a winner and comfort food for me. Baan Pictory’s kitchen prepared this perfectly together with the delicious shrimp cakes.
      
    Lastly, dessert was the bomb. Traditional sticky rice with mangoes and coconut cream. Delicious, rich, satisfying, and a perfect end to a great dinner.
      
    I think we literally had this everyday for the rest of our stay there. 🙂
     
    Morning’s at the resort were also enjoyable treats with a continental breakfast and Thai breakfast served buffet style. But what caught my attention was their version of our Filipino “arroz caldo”. Their version is not that starchy, more like clear broth but with a heavenly burst of flavor with each spoonful that we really liked having it every day.
      
    As we were already near Pattaya, we were granted a chaperoned excursion by the 2 owners and the big boss. We also stopped by their favorite French restaurant there which is right smack in that district but mind you, they served us really amazing food. We had steaks and fritters (mine cooked to medium). The steak was humongous but wonder of wonders I actually finished 3/4 of it until I called it quits and finishing 3/4 is quite a lot considering that it more than half the big plate. It was just pan fried and cooked with some sauteed onion garnish and it was amazing. The quality of the beef itself was the showcase of that dish.
     
    One of our French hosts also got us to try his beef stroganoff and it was a lovely dish with very tender pieces of beef and beautifully cooked. The French do really know their food.
      
    It was also during this night that I first got to try one dish I always dreaded to try for fear of it’s taste or some other thing – the steak tartare. Can’t get any more french than that. Pure raw beef. I dreaded trying it out since I cannot imagine having to eat raw beef but to my surprise I wasn’t repulsed by it and I found it really nice. I just didn’t get to take any photos of that lovely beef.
     
    The food I had was amazing in Pattaya and the red light district was really a sight to behold. I think I will be visiting this region again.
     
    Sawasdee Thailand!
     
    XoXo
     
     
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