For the Meat Lover at Heart: Meat Plus!

I got the impression that this is one of the most popular restaurants in Subic area by the volume of people during the time I first came here back in 2008. I still drop by this restaurant every time I find myself in Subic. They have this almost diner ambiance but not quite. It's a self-service place that is relaxed, cheerful, a family place even, where you can get good steaks at affordable prices.

I seem to be friends with a lot of meat eaters so this is really a place that I cannot miss. When I last ate here, I was with one of the meat-eaters at heart and we ordered the following:

Special Wild Mushroom Soup (Php 100) - this was served hot which was a good thing. Always order soup when you are really hungry as it should be one of the easiest to prepare and should come to your table soon. This was really good when I tasted it. It had that right amount of saltiness and flavor in it. This wasn't listed on their main menu, so I'm not sure if they offer this regularly.

Tenderloin Steak (Php 240) - it wasn't as tender as I would want my meat to be, but it was good enough for the price. The serving was quite huge for me I can actually split it up with someone. The gravy also added flavour to the meat which was a good thing. You may opt to choose how they will cook your steaks but I always have mine medium. I probably should've gone with medium rare.

Spaghetti with Meatballs (Php 140) - this tasted like the ordinary Bolognese pasta I tend to eat. They are good enough and serving was good enough for one.

Topsirloin Steak (Php 270) - I am not a steak expert and I really couldn't distinguish the taste of this meat from the tenderloin. They're quite the same for me. As well as the serving is quite huge.

Aside from different kinds of steaks, they also offer sandwiches, salads, desserts, and a good selection of coffee. They also have a selection of raw pre-cut meat which you can have them cooked for you according to your preference. For the price, I would say it's worth coming back here again and again.

Meat Plus Café
Bldg 65 Sampson Road, Subic Bay Freeport Zone
Olongapo, Zambales Philippines
(63-047) 2526090‎
(63-047) 2527091

Xtremely Xpresso

Meat Plus has always been a part of a Subic Getaway (I'll write about that in a day or two) but this time around to be a little different from the Subic trips before, I decided to look for a place to dine where I haven't been.

Xtremely Xpresso is my answer to this. I have gone through threads (as I was also looking for a place to stay) and found about this place to which people are raving on. The curious me, as always, wanted to know what it was all about.

Here are some of the food I have tried:

Big Ben (regular-Php 549; large-Php 699) - to say that this pizza is fully loaded is actually an understatement. It has everything on it. There are various types of meat (pepperoni, sausage, bacon and beef) -- very meaty indeed. Adding to that all sorts of toppings including garlic, onions, peppers, mushrooms, black olives and two kinds of cheeses. I ordered this because it is said to be the specialty of the house. It tasted good but meat isn't really my thing. I should've ordered the sardines with cheese instead. The next time I get back, I will order that. This order is just the regular one, if you want to order the large one, beware, it is really huge. It can feed around 10-12 people already. We got the regular one since there were only four of us.

Platter of Ribs (Php 350) - this tender piece of meat detached from the bones is really great. It was really tender. I loved the fries that it came with as well as they were thick and flavourful. I asked for more barbecue sauce because it's almost always that I feel the need for more barbecue sauce, but for this one, I didn't. The barbecue sauce ended up being used as the fries' dip. This dish also came with shredded corn which I love.

Korean Beef Ribs (Php 180) - the meat of this dish was tender as well though I can seem to pin it if it was the meat or the sauce that was burnt. This came with a cup of rice and it really should, because I also find the dish having an overpowering taste and without rice, it's going to be hard to finish.

Tex-Mex Style Nachos (Php 220) - this was the typical Tex-Mex Nachos, only in a huge huge serving! It was the perfect appetizer for me because I love nachos and as I said, this was really a lot for a serving so it is good enough to fill your stomach for a little while waiting for your food to arrive. More salsa over the nachos is also suggested, but it tasted really good.

Since I still have a lot of activities to do in Subic, I will surely be back one day. When that day comes, I will try Xtremely Xpresso's Spanish Sardines Pizza and their breakfast meal next time around. The cozy laid-back environment inside this establishment is absolutely love.

Xtremely Xpresso

#1 Dewey Avenue corner Sta. Rita Street
Subic Bay Freeport Zone
Operating hours: 6am-12mn

Subic

Tagaytay really is my place to go if I wanted a quick getaway. Ever since SCTEX opened, North became more accessible and convenient to go to. Going to La Union, which I used to frequent (read here, I miss the place. Take me surfing! Do I hear Thunderbird Resorts perhaps?) became really convenient and faster. Driving up North became much smoother.

This is the reason why driving to Subic Bay is appealing to me. Besides the fact that there are several places you can visit that cater to everyone. It’s a near enough place (a little less than two hours away from the Manila end of NLEX) if you want a different environment.

I, as usual, is always on the lookout for places to eat. I do search over the net which establishments to go to and try out. My trip before this, I went to Meat Plus (which I gather is always or a must, especially for the meat-eater I’m always with :P) and Xtremely Xpresso, which I read a lot about in Female Network. These two will have separate posts.

Getting there:

I have absolutely no idea on how to take the public transportation going to Subic , so it’s no use if I talk about it. But if you are bringing your own vehicle, just take the North Luzon Express way, exit to SCTEx Exit. Take SCTEx and exit on to Subic (Tipo exit if I’m not mistaken, but there are a bunch of signs that says Subic anyway).

Accommodations:

I used to go to Subic when I was younger and we used to stay in White Rock Hotel. I have no recollection about the rooms, services or the rates because it was that long ago.

A year ago, I got to stay at The Lighthouse Marina Resort. Silly me I didn’t take pictures of the room. It was pretty spacious and everything inside the room was modern. The ambiance of the room made me want to stay in it for an entire day. My only complain would be their bathroom. I’m not sure if it is standard for all rooms in the hotel but the see-through glass wall of the bathroom is really putting me off. I suggest they place it only in honeymoon suites. The rest is great. They have very friendly staff. The room we got was packaged with breakfast for two which sadly, I wasn’t able to avail of because of waking up late. The location of The Lighthouse is here as well as the outline of the entire Subic Bay Free Port. Rates start at Php 6000 for two persons plus 10% service charge.

Just recently, I stayed in The Villas Moonbay Marina. The room we got had a kitchen inside (because there was no available room without the kitchen anymore) which we were charged at Php 4,500/night. Pretty reasonable considering that it is a one-bedroom type of villa. It can accommodate up to four people. I like the blue and white splash of colors inside the villa as it made the room look really clean and had this ambiance like you are in Santorini. I think we actually got to avail of the La Luna Room at Php 4,500 (when it should be Php 6,500). Don’t ask me how. But the staff are friendly and very accommodating. It came with free breakfast which you actually order at the front desk, and they’ll have your order delivered to your room. Their swimming pool is under construction but for the meantime, I think you can swim in a different hotel’s pool (not sure which). I bet once their pool is finished, they will be charging more for the rooms (I sure hope not though). As for the location, right across The Villas is The Lighthouse. So for Php 2,100 difference, plus a wider space, The Villas is very reasonable. Contact them at (63-047-2521663 / 63-047-2529718 / 09289668413 / 09053715831 or e-mail at subic_coastal@yahoo.com.ph / contact@moonbaymarina.com.ph for reservation and inquiries.

Activities:

I have yet to try a lot of things but one thing I was able to do was swim with a dolphin and a whale. That was awesome! Whenever I would watch dolphin shows, I would always hope that I get to be picked as a volunteer. I wasn’t thrown off the air (which I wouldn’t mind, really, haha) but I was able to grab on their flippers and ride with them. That was such an experience. The whale scared me for a bit because I think it was twice as long as I am and so much more times heavier than me. You can do this in Ocean Adventure, for Php 4,200 including entrance to the park. For more information, visit their website here.

Yachting would really be an experience. It’s something that I want to do one day. Preferably on a not-so-hot-day but on a not-so-windy day either. The Lighthouse offers this type of service. It’s a nice idea to do on a birthday if it wasn’t too expensive. Haha. I suggest you gather around ten people and grab some beer while doing this to have fun.

Tree Top Adventure is something for the adventurous people. You can cross suspension bridges, ride motorized cables, trek, zip-line, and rapel down a 60-foot tree. Visit Tree Top Adventure here for rates and packages. Also call them at 63-047-2529425 / 63-047-2529427 or e-mail them at treetopadventure@yahoo.com for more information. I will also try doing this some other time.

Visiting Zoobic Safari is a good place to bring your kids. The zoo offers tiger safari ride, meeting with the crocodiles, and encounter with serpents among many others. Admission rates are Php 449 for an adult and Php 349 for kids 4 feet and below. Call them at 63-047-2522272 / 63-047-2529489 / 09285245557 open from 8:00am to 4pm daily.

There is also a whole bunch of water activities if you are looking for one. From riding a jetski to kayaking, they offer it in Subic . Contact Networx Jetsports at 63-047-2523469 for details.


But if you're there just to relax, it won't hurt just going to your favorite spot in the area, have a cup of coffee while chat with friends while enjoying an out of town ambiance. ;)

A Year After: Louis Vuitton Alma in Epi Black

My favourite bag is now a year old. I still remember the time when I was debating with my own thoughts on whether to buy it or not. I know that the cheapest place you can get this is in Europe, France in particular. But a year ago, Paris wasn’t one of the stops for the European tour I did. Even so, getting any Louis Vuitton item would be cheaper in Europe than anywhere in the world. So I actually did research online on the prices. I jotted down the information that included the addresses and phone numbers of the branches.

Berlin was my target city to purchase the Alma from, if ever I decided to. I found the location of the branches quite convenient to go to by means of their U-bahn (their version of Metro, Underground, subway, you get the idea). Also, it was relatively easy to go from one place to another in Berlin as their trains have stops everywhere. The shops are located right at areas where tourists usually linger as well.

Up until I was in Berlin, exploring the city on our own under the overcast sky with a bit cool weather, I still haven’t decided whether to buy the bag or not. It was impractical, to say the least. But just in case, I already converted the amount of the bag in Euros before I even left Manila. I, together with my Mom and my brother, were actually going to each Louis Vuitton store I located prior and asked about the availability of the bag, which of course, it was. That didn’t convince me to buy it, I thought, maybe I can just let it go. Put it behind me and just go home without it. I do not really need it anyway.

It was in the afternoon that it started to rain quite heavily. We were back at the Eastern part of Berlin, wind blowing against us while I was just in two layers of clothing, so I was freezing. I now blame it to the wind that my rationale of buying the bag was non-existent. I kid. I finally decided, somewhere between the hopping from one street to another, fighting the wind, while holding an umbrella, transferring from one platform to the other, that I will buy the bag. I know that if I didn’t, I would want to kick myself in the head if I could.

So I went inside Louis Vuitton in Friedrichstrasse, folded my umbrella and felt relieved once I stopped feeling the harshness of the wind. I turned and asked the sales associate in the store if they had what I wanted. Sure enough, they did. I carried the Alma for a bit, inside the store as I was still deciding up to that minute because I know I can still back-out. But it looked good, really good. I couldn’t think of letting it go right then and there. It was in simple shape, sophisticated material, understated design and classic black. It was perfect for me.

Well, as you know, I bought it, and one year after, I still love it. It’s my favourite bag to date. It was irrational and impractical to buy, but a little reward for myself isn’t so bad once in a while.

Louis Vuitton Berlin Friedrichstrasse
Quartier 206, Friedrichstraße 71, 10117 Berlin, Deutschland
Tel. No.: (49) 30 20946868
Mon-Fri: 10:30am – 7:30pm
Sat: 10:00am – 6:00pm

P.S. I know I should be writing about my travels more often, and I promise I will be writing about Europe really soon, I’m just finishing all my back logs so I can finally start doing that. :)

Cooling It Off at Qoola

Just a few nights ago, I happened to find myself on Greenbelt grounds. The heat being quite unbearable and after having a really heavy dinner, I knew I wanted to have a serving of frozen yogurt for dessert. I had Red Mango in mind as I really love it there. But then a friend told me that there's a new establishment that offers frozen yogurt by the hundred grams, self serve. That intrigued me.

So once we got there, I got excited because I saw a bi-level establishment in green. The area was pretty big especially for a frozen yogurt place. There were several people coming in and out of the area.

Qoola, is the brand of this new discovery. They offer frozen yogurt in four flavours: original, green tea, wild berry and strawberry. For those who love the tangy taste of yogurt may avail of their original flavour. Those who like a more tarty taste with a bite of bitterness in the end, get the green tea (which is actually my personal favourite). For those who like a cross between sweet and sour, get the wild berry flavoured yogurt. And to those who like their yogurt sweet, get the strawberry. If you still can't decide, just approach one of their really friendly and accommodating staff and they will give you a sample serving. But then if you still can’t make up your mind, why not mix and match? It’s perfectly fine Qoola charges Php 75 per 100g.

After, go to their selection of toppings. They have fruits, sprinkles, nuts, and a lot more. A few mango, chocolate chips and almond on my original flavour yogurt already made me happy. When I got green tea flavoured yogurt, I only topped it with almond and I was a happy eater.

Besides their friendly staff, Qoola has free wifi which is awesome and something that Red Mango does not have. They also offer drinks with frozen yogurt, coffee, tea, and a whole lot more, just ask. The only thing that I’m not really fond of are the seats on the ground floor. They are all outside seating which won’t be a problem if the weather in the Philippines is somewhat cool, but these days, when the heat is killing us all, it really helps for us to stay indoors. But they do have indoor seating on their second level which I have yet to see.

So there's actually something for everybody at Qoola. I actually want to bring my siblings when they all come back here in Manila because it is a place where both adults and kids can have fun.

Qoola
Across Flapjacks of Greenbelt 2
Paseo de Roxas, Makati City

My MYOH Experience

On its fifth year, saying that Make Your Own Havaianas is a success is such an understatement. I have never been to one of these events before as I am not really a collector of Havaianas slippers (this is actually overstating it already). I happened to drop by because a few officemates of mine were at the event and I figured, it was time for me to finally get my first pair of Havaianas. I was astounded at how much people were waiting outside of Rockwell Tent for their turn to start lining up inside. I heard, once you get inside, the wait is around 2 hours or so which is actually a crazy thing to spend your time on. But I experienced it first hand at how exciting the concept of having your own personalized slippers really is.

Different combinations of colors of soles and straps plus a choice of tops or slim styles, adding to that the different pins available for embellishments, you’re sure to have your own unique pair once you get out of the Rockwell Tent. While people were lining up inside and choosing what they actually want to have made, local celebrities from time to time dropped by and make Havaianas for other customers as well. There was also a booth, with lights resembling that of Christmas lights (just replace the bulbs with see-through miniature slippers) where you can have your pictures taken. It was a tiring but a great experience. I was just really disappointed that they ran out of the star pin as it was the selling point to me (yeah, I’m that much of a sucker for stars). In lieu of that, I placed my nickname to my other slipper (I was just planning to have one star on one slipper, spelling of my nickname on the other).

Lesson learned: Next MYOH, I will go on the very first day! Bwahahaha. Kidding (no, I’m pretty serious, hihi). I had fun, thanks to Nix, Cathy and Charl! :)

P.S. Anyone knows where in the world I can get that star pin, I’d gladly appreciate it if you let me know. Thanks! Xoxo! :)