Exploring Subic

Last April, we celebrated Kyle's birthday at Subic. Since we wanted to maximize our R&R weekend, and out of my curiosity, we booked an overnight stay at the Lighthouse Marina Resort.

We left the Metro around 8 AM and arrived at Subic before 10 AM. Since it was still early for check in, we decided to have brunch at Meat Plus Cafe.

Meat Plus is a famous steak shop in Subic. It's management is responsible for the operations of Tender Bob's (Yes, Tender Bob's is a local company). Other than the items on their menu, you can also purchase frozen meats and have it cooked to your liking, or just have it for take home. I was actually eyeing their burger patties, but we forgot to bring a cooler to keep it from spoiling, so that will be for next time.

From their menu, we selected the Pumpkin Soup, Tenderloin (Php 260), and Combo Meal 7 (Oven Roasted Beef Belly with Soup and Rice - Php 220). Ordering style is pay as you order. Service is a bit slow, so be prepared to wait for your food.

     

The soup was served after about fifteen minutes. It was served piping hot, but the taste was just ok. Well, It's always nice to start a meal with hot soup.

The meals were served about ten minutes after the soup was served.

     

The Beef Belly was a very pleasant and plentiful dish. The meat was very soft, flavorful and had a decent amount of fat on it. The gravy wasn't really necessary and I also found it too peppery. On the contrary, the Tendeloin steak was just sad. It looked like a small medallion of meat, not even enough to satisfy one hungry person. The meat was a bit overdone, but the flavor was ok.

We'll probably go back to buy their frozen meats.

After brunch, we went around the area and bought some chips and chocolates at Duty Free, before finally checking in.

We were welcomed by very accommodating staff, however, the receptionist was a tad slow while processing our check-in. I think she was just new and had to ask everyone around on what she should do. The lobby was quite spacious, but the furnishings looked old and sad. When check-in procedures were finally done, one of the bellboys assisted us to our room. We used their elevator, and it was tiny! The space was just good enough to fit a maximum of three people with few baggage.

Our room: Aqua Terrace Room (Php 7,800) with a king size bed

     

I found the room to be just normal, nothing really fancy about it. The bed and pillows were nice and very comfortable. The bathroom had the basic amenities, and a normal sized tub. After settling in and resting for a while, we went down to their cafe (Sands Resto Grill) to avail of the complimentary afternoon snacks.

We were served with nachos and cheese sticks. It was just so-so, both the cheese sticks and nachos were already soggy. We browsed over their menu and just ordered desserts. We decided to try their Mango Cheesecake and Mango Crème Brûlée.

     

Somebody took a whack at the cheesecake before I could even grab a picture, hehe. The Mango Cheesecake is probably the best mango cheesecake that I have ever tasted!!! The cheesecake itself was really thick and they did not scrimp on the use of cream cheese (instead of just cream or gelatin). The mango flavor was just right, it was really the perfect cheesecake!

The Mango Crème Brûlée was also heavenly! The custard was done right, not too stiff and not too runny / loose. I love the perfectly caramelized cap, which add that extra sweetness and crunch to it.

After our very satisfying afternoon snacks, we went to the pool area and rested on their pool benches. I also took a short dip in the pool.

     

The pool area is very small and the pool has a maximum depth of five feet.

Dinner was a another story since we headed out to Texas Joe's House of Ribs, but I totally forgot to get decent pictures while we were there.

The Lighthouse serves breakfast, buffet style (again, no pictures). The spread consists of both American and Filipino breakfast dishes. Bacon is not displayed as part of the buffet but you can order it from the Omelet station. The food was just ok, nothing to rave about.

Overall, we had a relaxing weekend. I believe that I was able to satisfy my curiosity on what makes this place special, and all I can say is, there's nothing special about the Lighthouse. Rates are even more expensive than my favorite Le Monet in Baguio. For its rate, I would rather book a villa somewhere else.

MEAT PLUS CAFE

Bldg. 65, Sampson Road, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Olongapo, Zambales, Philippines

THE LIGHTHOUSE MARINA

Moonbay Marina Complex, Waterfront Road, CBD , Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Zambales, Philippines

Do-nothing Day

Last Tuesday, we met up with my friend, Stephen. We went to Robinson's Magnolia to spend our do-nothing day there.

We couldn't decide where to have lunch, we just ended up walking towards French Baker.

We got the Steak Sandwich (Php 180), Beef Burgundy in Casserole (Php 265) and the Grilled Chicken and Mango Salsa (Php 215).

      

The Steak Sandwich was just ordinary. The meat was a bit firm and the flavor was just ok. The salad was a nice addition.

The Beef Burgundy in Casserole had a very peculiar flavor, maybe because of the red wine. We didn't like it that much since it was too strong and too tangy for us. Indeed it was a very robust dish.

The Grilled Chicken and Mango Salsa was Stephen's choice, and was the nicest dish among the three. I sliced a small piece, just enough to taste. It was moist, tender and flavorful. I actually wished that we ordered this instead of the Beef Burgundy.

After having lunch, we strolled around the mall and looked for a cafe where we could just hang out. Unfortunately, we were not able to find a place that still had vacant seats. Funny enough, we ended up going back to French Baker for drinks and snack/dessert.

This time, we ordered the Hot Chocolate, Ham and Cheese Croissant, Almond Croissant, Blueberry Danish, and Eclair. I wasn't able to take a close-up picture of the eclair and almond croissant though...

   

The hot chocolate was very nice. It had a smooth and mild cocoa flavor. The croissants were delightful with the perfect flaky pastry. The blueberry danish is and will always be my personal heaven :) . Stephen also enjoyed his eclair.



It was really nice to get away from all the stress, even if it was just for a day.

FRENCH BAKER

Robinsons Malls

SM Malls

A Touch of TORCH

Torch was introduced to us during a car-club meet. Ever since that event, we've been coming back here when we're within the Greenhills area.

It's located along Connecticut Street and can be a bit tricky to see because it's signage is covered by a tree branch.

The interior has a casual and comfortable feel.



Their menu is also quite interesting, it's like East meets West.

We were in the mood for a heavy lunch so we got quite a lot from their menu.

For starters, Volcano Roll (Php 369.95) and Buffalo Asian Wings (Php 324.95).

    

The Volcano Roll is a baked sushi with tempura, tamago, topped with spice-baked scallops and smothered with cheese and Japanese mayo. I love their presentation! Overflowing, lava-like cheese that makes this dish just delish!

For the Buffalo Asian Wings, we requested it to have less heat, they happily accommodated our request. :) The crispy wings were coated with a sweet glaze, followed by a subtle kick of spice that balances out the flavor. Perfect.

Next dish we tried was the Philly Cheesesteak Pizza (Php 369.95).



Simply put, it's your favorite philly cheesesteak sandwich turned into a pizza. You can never go wrong with this one.

For our main dishes, we got the Beef Short Plate (Php 249.95) and Salpicao Medallion (Php 449.95).



The Beef Short Plate (left) had hefty servings of tender beef belly with a generous amount of fat in it, served with garlic parsley rice with a side of beans and carrots. This was probably the best dish I had during our meal. The beef was just bursting with flavor and the fat, oh the fat, the words escape me.



The Salpicao Medallion is certified Angus Beef wrapped in bacon also served with garlic parsley rice with a side of sauteed French beans and carrots. We preferred it well-done. They serve this dish on a sizzling hot stone to prevent it from getting cold and greasy easily. The plating gives this dish a good first impression, but there was really nothing special with the steak.

Torch is a good place for simple, casual dates and budget friendly, feel-good food trips. We really enjoyed and were greatly satisfied with our lunch.

TORCH

Home Studio Building, 63 Connecticut Street, Greenhills, San Juan City (02-4773771, 02-5020000)

Eat like a Mafia

I'm a huge fan of deal sites. I really do a lot of shopping here, specially for restaurant discounts.

I was lucky enough to find one for Goodfellas. :D

We frequent this place because of their excellent and budget friendly menu. The menu is quite interesting since it is named after famous Italian mafia bosses. Goodfellas is basically a house that was converted into a resto-bar. The interior design took its inspiration from the 50's, and depicted a somewhat manly atmosphere.

Now, on to the food. Since we were a group of four, we ordered the following: Grilled Bacon, Chicken Finger Mafia, Pat & Geno's Sandwich, Gambino, Jimmy Two Times and House Steak (Don). (Whew! That was a mouthful!)

The appetizers along with the sandwich were served first.

     

Grilled Bacon (Php 245). My only complaint about this is that there's too many burnt edges that affected the taste of the bacon.

Chicken Finger Mafia (Php 385). Five (5) huge chicken tenders served with fries. The chicken tenders were crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside, however, the meat itself lacked seasoning. It came with gravy and hot sauce, which could compensate the underseasoned meat.

      

Pat & Geno's (Php 295 - Solo) is their version of a philly cheesesteak sandwich. This is by far my favorite! Liberal servings of angus beef strips and caramelized onions, drowned in their cheese sauce. (drooling right now...)

The Gambino (Php 425) was delightful ! Loaded with shrimps, mushrooms and garlic, soaked in olive oil with a hint of spice.

While we were munching on our starters, the main dishes were served.



Jimmy Two Times (Php 465) is their 2-way pork chop served with pilaf rice. I was taken aback when I saw how thin the cuts were. I remembered it being a lot thicker and meatier before. :( The grilled pork chop became just an ordinary dish, nothing special, unlike how I remembered it. The deep fried chop was a bit too oily and was also horribly underseasoned! I could only taste the breading and it was also tough and hard to chew. I also remembered that the fried chop should have a layer of melted cheese on top. A lot of things went wrong with this dish.



The House Steak (Php 495 - Don size) was Kyle's order. It was served with mashed potatoes and buttered corn and carrots. The steak was cooked well-done. It had just the right amount of seasoning with the meat still being tender.

Overall, my pre-birthday celebration was satisfactory. I just hope that they bring back how Jimmy Two Times should be served. For that price, customers should enjoy a more appealing dish.

GOODFELLAS

56 T Gener Corner, Kamuning, Quezon City

Going Mexican!

Work was "knocked-off" early yesterday because of the intermittent power interruptions brought about by the recent typhoon Glenda. Hence, I decided to travel to Mckinley Hill instead of waiting for Kyle to fetch me from my office.

After his shift, we decided to eat out, since we were already starving. Being an unfamiliar territory, we drove around the area to scout for something promising. We decided to explore the restaurant strip at Tuscany. The choices were overwhelming, and most of the establishments were packed with diners. Our attention was caught particularly, by the small Mexican restaurant, B&T (Burritos and Tacos) Mexican Kitchen.

Luckily, they still had one table for indoor dining. Their interiors had a homey and rustic feel. The place is well lit with cute, decorative bulb shades and they also have a second floor dining area.



B&T's kitchen set up is like a typical canteen, wherein you can see the ingredients they use through a glass display counter. You could also watch how your food is prepared since this display counter is the only thing separating the kitchen from the dining area.



Their menu was a bit confusing since there was so many items to choose from. We decided to try the Carne Asada (steak) Quesadilla and the Fajitas. For the Fajitas, we opted for the three (3) meats. Our meat choices were Carne Asada, Carnitas (shredded pork) and Barbacoa (shredded beef). While waiting for our meal to arrive... :D



The Steak Quesadilla (Php 380) was served first.



We were really hungry, hence, the missing two slices (Ooops!). The tortilla was nicely toasted on the edges but still soft on the middle. The steak filling was well seasoned, but there were bits that were a little dry. The quesadilla also had pico de gallo, corn, and a generous serving of cheese. Overall, the steak quesadilla was really good and really delivered the Mexican flavor.

We were pleasantly surprised when our Triple Meat Fajita (Php 550) was served.



We weren't really expecting such a big serving size. Abundant portion steak chunks, shredded pork and shredded beef were the three kings of the dish. The steak tasted like the one's used for the quesadilla, but a lot juicier, the shredded pork was tender, spicy and had a smoky flavor, while the shredded beef had a hint of barbecue flavor. When combined into the tortilla, the flavors did not get lost, but was instead very well complimented by the veggie condiments.

The three tortilla pieces were not enough for the massive amount of meat. So we ended up finishing off the meat independently (yum!). B&T offers three kinds of sauces, roasted tomato salsa, sour cream and hot sauce. Of the three, we loved the sour cream and salsa.

B&T Mexican Kitchen

Mckinley Hill Branch - Tuscany, Upper Mckinley Road, Mckinley Hill, Taguig City (02-2163453)

Greenhills Branch - 368 Sekai Center, Ortigas Corner Madison Street, Greenhills, San Juan City

 

Now, that's a RAP!

Early this year, we discovered a hidden gem within the compounds of Ortigas Home Depot. It's a small, and rather unnoticeable establishment, located a a few steps away from Jay-J’s Inasal.

A very unassuming restaurant named, RAP Steaks and Cakes.

As the name implies, RAP serves steaks and desserts. Not a steak lover? Don't worry because they have a lot of other offerings in their menu.

RAP is well-known for their big and affordable steaks. A 330g Porterhouse Steak will cost you only Php 225. While a 330g T-bone is priced at Php 215. For those who can't handle big portions, fret not, because they also have the 240g size which costs less than Php 200. All dishes are served with rice and unlimited gravy.

Since my office is just a stone's throw away from their Pasig branch, we decided to have our late dinner here last night.  RAP has a rather limited indoor seating capacity of about 6 tables, but they also offer a more spacious outdoor dining.

For our orders, we got one 330g Porterhouse and a 330g T-bone, both to be cooked well-done. We also ordered their signature Bordelaise (Marrow) Sauce.

Our dishes arrived after a 10-minute wait.

 

Ladies and gentlemen, on your left is the 330g T-bone Steak. I specifically requested the cut to be fatty, and yes, they delivered a beautiful cut with a huge chunk of fat right on the middle of it!

On the right is the 330g Porterhouse Steak. I actually found it to be smaller compared to the T-bone. Seen below is the Bordelaise Sauce, which is basically bone marrow bits that has been reduced to make a very flavorful sauce.



As I mentioned earlier, each dish comes with a serving of rice and UNLIMITED GRAVY. I loved the fact that the gravy is unlimited because it's just sooooo good! It actually tasted like a very buttery mushroom soup. With their gravy alone, I could finish my rice and not even touch the meat (I already did this during an earlier visit)!

Going back to the steaks, I really applaud them for always being able to cook the meat in the manner we requested it to be. Lovely, defined grill marks, with a bit of char on the surface of the steak, but still retaining its juices and natural flavor. The steak alone is already good, but paired with the Bordelaise, the flavors just marry together, to give you that perfect bite!

For dessert, we opted to try their Carrot Cake (Php109).



The cake was moist and had a generous amount of cream cheese. Although, there was nothing really special about the cake.

Plus factor for RAP is that they now serve bottomless iced tea. On another note, they also serve beer below zero.

For their detailed menu, please check below:

 

 

RAP Steaks and Cakes

Pasig Branch - Ortigas Home Depot, Dona Julia Vargas Avenue, Ortigas, Pasig City (+63-9175782320)

Quezon City Branch - 143 Mother Igancia Street, South Triangle, Quezon City

Malate Branch - 879 Dagonoy Street, Malate, Manila (02-5255589)

 

Right on CUE!

I've been wanting to try this particular restaurant in Bonifacio High Street (BHS), mainly because of all the good things I have read about it.

We were finally able to dine at CUE Modern Barbecue last May.

For starters, we ordered their Good 'Ol Chicken Skins and Bone Marrow & Steak Tacos. For our main dish, we decided to try the Angus Beef Belly.

The Good 'Ol Chicken Skins (Php 145) is served with 2 types of dip, Red and Green Chili Sauce and Sweet Honey. I tasted it first without dip, and loved how crunchy and tasty their version is. I found it a bit peculiar for chicken skin to be served with honey, since the main purpose of the dip is to lessen the oil. Lo' and behold, it worked perfectly with the chicken skin! The sweet honey gave it a caramelized taste which I loved. Kyle liked it better without any dip. I guess this is more of an acquired tastes, specially for those who like to dip their chicken skin in vinegar.



One of the best ideas to serve as an appetizer the Bone Marrow & Steak Tacos (Php 485). This way, it can be eaten in moderation. Given Kyle's love for bone marrow and steak, this is the perfect dish for him.



A spoonful of soft, sinful bone marrow combined with steak chunks, carefully placed on a flour tortilla, rolled into the perfect bite! This is just pure bliss! Unfortunately, I only had one serving since I didn't want to fill myself before the main entree arrives.

My entree choice was the Angus Beef Belly (Php 695), 200 grams of beef braised in dark ale and mustard crusted. You get one free side dish for every from The Chopping Board. We chose the mashed potato for our side dish and salsa verde for the sauce.



The meat was really fork tender and had a strong mustard flavor. I really didn't like how the mustard overpowered the flavor of the beef. I actually scraped of the mustard crust for me to be able to fully enjoy this dish.

All the dishes that we ordered did not fall short from our expectations. The only down side that I could find from Cue is their price. Admittedly, they are on the high-end side of the market and is not for those who are budget-conscious.

A major plus factor for this place is their very cozy interiors. It has a very homey and relaxing feel when you dine in here. Definitely coming back!

For the detailed menu, please click on the following links:

Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7, Page 8, Page 9, Page 10, Page 11, Page 12

 

CUE Modern Barbecue

Space NELG 105, Lower Ground Floor, Bonifacio High Street Central, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City  (02-6214052, 02-2121212)

Barley Gastropub, best bar-chows!

 

Last July 7, me and the bf had a late dinner at Barley Gastropub. We browsed through their menu and boy was it sinful!

We had our eyes fixed on their "Roasted Bone Marrow", so we got this along with their "Beef Salpicao", "Steak and Mash" and who could ever resist ordering "Chicharon Bulaklak".

Lucky me that Barley had a Buy1Take1 promo on their Signature Cocktails. I availed of this and ordered their "Lychee Mojito".

Our orders:

My Lychee Mojito (Php195) was served first, and it tasted divine. You could hardly taste the alcohol in it which made it a wonderful drink.



Next to be served was the Chicharon Bulaklak (Php 225) with a side of sweet-spicy vinegar. I loved the flavor and the texture of the Chicharon Bulaklak! It had both the crunch and the chewiness which means that it was cooked to perfection. Kyle was more into the crunchy bits, while I loved both the crunchy and chewy bites.



While we were enjoying our chicharon, we were served the Roasted Bone Marrow (Php 240). This was really the highlight of our night! The dish had  a full bone, cut in half and roasted just right to enhance its flavor. It was served with a whole roasted garlic, pink salt, a slice of lemon and a separate plate of crostini where you can smother the glorious bone marrow. This dish is both pure bliss and sin! I loved how the salt and the acidity of the lemon tamed the flavor of the marrow, while the garlic (which I sliced into bits) perfectly complemented every bite!



This dish is definitely for sharing! I was only able to finish half of one side of the bone since I couldn't handle the richness of its flavor. Kyle happily finished this dish since he just loves bone marrow!

Next stop: Kyle's "Rib Eye Steak and Mash (Php 450)"! (Sorry, I forgot to take a picture of it :( )

We asked it to be cooked medium well so it would still be soft but without bloody juices gushing out. However, when it was served, it was a bit on the medium rare to medium side. Kyle still enjoyed the dish as he is just a carnivore, but there was no "wow" factor for this dish, just your usual steak. The mashed potato served with it had a nice texture since it was not pureed which makes you realized that it was made from scratch. On that note, I would have preferred it to be a bit more buttery and it also felt a bit under-seasoned.

Last but not the least is the Beef Salpicao (Php 395). Served on a small iron skillet, it had hefty servings of chunky beef swimming in olive oil and garlic, seasoned with just the right amount of salt and pepper. When I took a bite from a chunk of its beef, a symphony of flavors exploded in my mouth! The beef was so tender and the flavorful juices gushed out with every bite that I took. In my book, this is one of the best beef salpicaos that I have ever had!



Just a head's up: they impose a 10% service charge on your final bill :)

Overall, I loved their food offerings and it's really affordable. They also have a wide selection of imported beers displayed on their refrigerator. As for the ambiance, it has a really cozy and somewhat homey feel. It's a great place for get togethers or if you just want to satisfy sinful cravings.



(Photo grabbed from owner's website)

For more details on their menu, please see the following:  Barley_Gastropub, Barley_Gastropub2

Barley Gastropub

Address: Sgt. Esguerra corner Scout Bayoran (Just in front of Livestock)

Contact Nos: 376-0957 or 0947-9919110

https://www.facebook.com/BarleyGastropub