Local Hangout: Noveleta Plaza Café Review

Courtesy of: http://www.facebook.com/NoveletaPlazaCafe

FIRST REACTION

Upon seeing the café, I really thought it was something else. I'm not sure what it is but I only knew that it was a café when I have asked my grandfather about it. The café was not catchy as well as their signage, the exterior looked dull. If I didn't know that it was a café, I might have mistaken it for an office as it is situated within the town hall plaza. I have been passing by the café numerous times but it was when I was forced to look for somewhere to eat that I have finally decided to try it out. The 5 peso coffee vendo machine on the entrance of the café made me hesitant to try it out because why would they put up a coffee vendo machine if they can serve coffee.

EXPECTATIONS


I finally got the nerve to try it although I might disappoint myself, I thought. BUT it exceeded my expectation. From a local café, I wasn't even expecting what's on their menu. What's inside the café makes up for what they lack on their exterior, maybe it's because, inside, there are a lot of portraits of the food in their menu. Nothing can be more appetizing than that and yes, it exceeds what I have been expecting but I'm not saying it is on the same level as some popular or high end café.
 

What I like about the plaza café?

♥ From where I'm staying in Noveleta Cavite, it's the nearest, pretty decent place to hang out. It's just a few steps away!
♥ There are variety of food.
♥ It is worth every peso you spend when it comes to the amount of food per serving.
♥ For a local shop, the interior is not bad.






TASTE VERDICT


If you are looking for pasta, sandwiches or mexican food like nacho and taco, it is definitely the perfect place to dine. During my first visit to the café, I have tried their spaghetti, quesadilla and taco salad. It really is mouth-watering! I have told my cousins about the experience dining in at the plaza café and so I visited back with them. We have tried their panini and strawberry- banana smoothie which is ambrosial.

♦ Spaghetti : 

We all have different taste buds but mine says it's just right. It's sweetness, saltiness and the tangy flavor are balanced. The garlic bread is toasted perfectly, it tasted good too.

♦ Quesadilla:

It is one of my favorites. The cheese and beef filling is flavorful.

 
♦Taco Salad: 

Basically, there isn't any difference with their taco salad and a regular taco except for the taco shell. This goes to my next favorite because they are just so generous with the serving!

♦ Panini: 

You've got your choice of chicken panini, tuna panini and bacon panini. However, I believe they could improve it, more especially the chicken panini. It is lacking something. It felt like I was eating a white bread with a lady's choice chicken spread! I'm not a fan of their panini.

♦Strawberry- Banana Smoothie: 

It is the BOMB! I love it! It taste natural, although I'm quite not sure if the ingredients are real fruits or just a concentrated syrup.

☺I have been wanting to taste their roast beef sandwich but it is always unavailable. I just hope, the next time I visited the café again, It would be available.
☺I also want to taste their mexican pizza, the portrait of it is quite intriguing!
They also serve rice meals that are perfect for breakfast. Price ranges roughly from Php 60.00 to Php 200.00

Location:

Restaurant Review: Le Cou de Tou

Hello Foodies!

Looking for a hangout? A personal favorite is from the Arts Capital of the Philippines! Are you guys getting a hint now? It's in Angono! A municipality in Rizal region, located 30 kilometers east of Manila.
Something interesting is the restaurant's name which is Le Cou de Tou. It seemed french during the first encounter then I realized It sounded "LIKO DITO" , a tagalog word for "turn here". It was hilarious.

Upon the entrance, there is a counter where you can order beverages. My favorite part is the dining area. You will chow down in a nipa hut or " kubo"  in Filipino. My acquaintances and I have been hanging out in Le Cou de Tou numerous times, so we already have a favorite hut near the stage. In the evening, there's live band performances.

TASTE VERDICT

The restaurant serves Filipino food. Their house specialty is Budbod. It is a rice dish topped with meat, tomatoes, egg, onion and chives. It is called Budbod because a part of its preparation is to sprinkle the toppings, "to sprinkle" in tagalog means ibudbod. 

In Le Cou de Tou, you can choose the meat that goes with your Budbod. You can either choose beef, pork or tocino (a sweet Filipino breakfast dish made with pork). The best budbod is the mixed one. I liked the taste of their Budbod. It is delicious although it wasn't something extraordinary, maybe because I am so used in eating Filipino food.

They also serve other Filipino food aside from Budbod in which we have also tried but whenever we decided to hit on Le Cou de Tou, our choice will always be Budbod.

☺Dishes are affordable price starts at Php 60.00

RECOMMENDATION 

Le Cou de Tou is something I would recommend, not just because of their Budbod but the place itself. It isn't extravagant or lavish but it is cozy. It really is a great hangout with friends. I wouldn't recommend it for someone who's all in for something fancy. 

Just an advice: You may want to make advance reservations for lunch and dinner because it is jam-packed during those hours, especially in the evening and weekends.

Contact number: (02) 470-0383

How to get there:

It maybe difficult to find for the first time because it is inside a subdivision, however you can always ask as it is known in the area.

Food Review: Marina's Special Bibingka, Rosario Cavite

Holiday season is coming! I bet you guys have been eyeing Bibingka! I'll recommend a place where you can buy the oh-so-yummy delicacy. I'm sure some readers can relate to bibingka but for some who doesn't know, let me spill some information about Bibingka.

What is Bibingka?

Bibingka is a Filipino rice cake made from rice flour and coconut milk, there are also other variations.The bibingka's texture is soft and spongy. It is usually served on a charred banana leaf, as it gives an additional flavor. My favorite part is the toppings, grated coconut (niyog) and the slices of salted egg.

Haven't added the grated coconut yet.

What I liked about Marina's Bibingka?

I have been eating bibingka ever since I was a kid and the bibingka from Marina's is just the best ever bibingka for me, so far. Their bibingka made me set a standard when it comes to bibingka. I loved it because it is soft, moist and buttery. The topping is so delightful, there's a lot of it on top of the bibingka which balances the taste. It is not so sweet, the salted egg and melted cheese compliments the bibingka. It's a great companion to coffee or tea. Another good thing is that Marina's Bibingka is available all-year-round, hooray! I would definitely recommend it. You should add this to your must-try list! 

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For orders, you can call or text them at: 

0908-536-8716 or 0949-667-3047

Location

It is located in Marseilla, Rosario Cavite, few walks away from the church. As long as you see the plaza you'll know you're near. The location is on the innermost area beside the plaza. Marina's Special Bibingka is well-known by locals and other tourists, you can always ask. 

How to get there:

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Note: I thought it was Aling Luding's Bibingka, I have updated this blog and changed it to Marina's Special Bibingka. I do apologize. I ordered boxes of bibingka there yesterday to make it sure. It was still thumbs up for their bibingka, Marina's Special Bibingka. 

Price is Php 240.00 per box