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:

My Kind of Sisig: Tofu Sisig Recipe

Hey Reader!

I have learned a new tofu dish and i want to share it with you because it is so easy to make and it is so scrumptious. But first let me give you details about the dish.

What is Sisig?

Sisig is a Kapampangan (a Filipino dialect) term for "to snack on something sour". It is a Filipino dish made from parts of a pig and liver, usually seasoned with calamansi and chilies. It originated in Pampanga, Philippines.  There are different variations of sisig some are made with chicken, squid, tuna and if you are vegan your pick might be tofu.

The authentic ones are made with pork, it is so delicious but it is full of fats, it's a 100 times no for health, so I searched for its variation and I decided to try TOFU, since my mom have already bought some.  To tell you honestly eating tofu has its health cons too, I might blog it soon, and compared to super greasy pork variation of this dish I would recommend other variations. I have tried other variations such as chicken and squid sisig, it's delicious too.

Ingredients:

500 g tofu, cubed
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 bell pepper, chopped
2 finger chilies, sliced 
dried chili flakes (optional)
3 tbs. oyster sauce
2 tbs. soy sauce
1 tsp. sugar
2 tbs. water
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 red onion, chopped

Procedure:

1. Heat oil in a wok or pan. Fry the tofu until it becomes golden brown.  Don't fry it excessively. Drain the tofu in paper towels to get rid of the excess oil then set aside.

2. On a bowl, combine oyster sauce, soy sauce, sugar, water, mayonnaise and black pepper. Mix well then set aside. ( you can always adjust the consistency and the taste of the mixture based on your preference)

3. Saute garlic and bell pepper then add the tofu and chilies. Stir-in the mayonnaise mixture. 

4. Before serving, mix-in the chopped onions, the raw onions enhances the flavor of the tofu sisig. Add more thin slices of red chilies for garnish. You can also serve it with slices of lemon or calamansi.

Note: 

If you want to add more spiciness, you can add dried chili flakes on the mayonnaise mixture. It is usually served with few squeezes of lemon or calamansi but as for me I personally do not like any variation of sisig with lemon or calamansi except for the one made with squid.

ENJOY! :)

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! 

Add caption

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:

View Larger Map

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

Pan-fried Spicy Turmeric Chicken Recipe

Hey readers!

I've been cooking lately and from time to time I'm going to share some of my recipes. Today I'm going to share one of my favorites. I'd learn this recipe from a previous culinary class. This dish may look fancy but it's easy as 1-2-3! Hoping you guys would like it!

What you'll need?

1. Spicy Turmeric Marinade:

3 Tbs.            Apple Cider Vinegar            

5 Tbs.            Coconut Oil or Palm Oil      

3-4 Tbs.        Turmeric Powder                 

1 Tbs.            Brown Sugar                         

2 pcs.             Red Chilies ( sliced)                           

2 Tbs.            Fish Sauce                          

5 cloves         Garlic (chopped)
                      
(Note: you can add more garlic if you please, I love garlic so I usually add more.)

2. Your choice of either meat or poultry, I used CHICKEN. The marinade is also great with tenderloin. 

                    

Procedure:

1. In a bowl mix the apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, turmeric powder, brown sugar, chilies, fish sauce and garlic.

2. Prick the fillet with fork, so that it can absorb the marinade.

3. Combine the marinade and chicken in a ziplock bag, release the air out. After zipping the bag, make sure that the chicken fillet is coated by the marinade. Set a side for at least 30 minutes.
4. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat, pan-fry the chicken fillet until it is caramelized don't over do it and you're done! 

Note: The marinade has oil in it,  it's alright if you don't add oil in the skillet when pan-frying. I love eating it with rice and Romanian lettuce. Eating it together with lettuce neutralizes the taste. 

So there you go! Enjoy! :) Let me know if you have tried this recipe comment below and don't forget to recommend! 

Travelling to Cebu City

Trip Highlights

Travelling in Cebu City is perfect for travelers who's into History. Cebu is one of the oldest settlement site established by the Spaniards, in line with this, Cebu offers some historical sites that depicts some of Philippines' cultural heritage.

Magellan's Cross

It is a giant cross planted by the spanish and portuguese conquerors; It was ordered by Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese explorer who arranged the Spanish expedition to East Indies (South East Asia), including The Philippines.

The Magellan's Cross is located in Sto. Niño Church in downtown Cebu City. It was planted on April 21, 1521. 

Mactan Shrine

Mactan Shrine is located in Punta Engaño, Mactan Island Cebu. It is the location where the historical Battle of Mactan took place in year 1521.  A 100 year-old  monument of Lapu-lapu is located in the shrine. Lapu- lapu is a legendary Cebuano hero who fought for freedom against the Spanish and Portuguese conquerors. 

I personally liked the Shrine, though I think it is better to stroll the shrine in the morning or late afternoon because it was too hot.  For someone who likes to shop for some random items, there are souvenir shops within the premises.

Aside from the historical sites, as part of our tour, we went to the Taoist Temple. One thing that I admire was the architecture of the place. Have you guys seen the Disney movie, Mulan?, the temple premises was a lot like the structures in that movie. It was so amazing. 

Taoist Temple, Beverly Hills, Cebu City

There's an area inside the temple where you can wish your heart's desire, as they say. However I'm not into Taoist beliefs but to give you a picture, it is like praying to their gods, they will instruct you to go to their altar, get some incense sticks and bow down, they said that gesture is to ask permission to their gods. After asking permission you will be instructed to take two kidney bean shaped wood and wish, after wishing you have to throw the wood, in order for you to know if the answer is yes or no. 

Restaurants

During the tour we ate breakfasts at Sugbahan restaurant, it is near our hotel, it is located in Mandaue Cebu. Because it's breakfast they have breakfast buffet which has sinangag (fried rice), danggit (dried fish), eggs , tocino, pretty much the typical filipino breakfast. For more details about their menu CLICK HERE. 

We also dined in to an eat-all-you-can restaurant named Royal Concourse, the food was so delicious. I loved it because they've got everything from asian dishes to mexican dishes and a whole lot more.  Just having a thought of it right now makes me crave for their delish food. It's a total thumbs up for me. Check out their Facebook page CLICK HERE

Where to buy delicacies in Cebu City?

There is a market called Tabo-an Market, where you can find various delicacies. Delicacies that you can find from the market are: 

Ocean Jet Ferry

Chorizo de Cebu, It's a longganisa (Filipino sausage), Cebu's version of longganisa was sweet unlike the one from Lucban, Quezon and the one from Vigan City. 

dried fishes like danggit and fish tocino, otap ( it is an oval shaped pastry, it's good accompaniment to coffee) , their famous dried mango and chicharon.

If given a chance to return to Cebu, I want to try the sky walk at Crown Regency Hotel and I want to taste a legit spicy lechon!

Cebu is near Bohol Province, I would recommend extending your adventures to Bohol. From Cebu, the fastest way to get to Bohol is by riding a ferry it's either Super Cat, Ocean Jet, Kinswell or Starcraft ferries. 

Superferry Ride

Superferry 5

Hey Readers! 

I want to share my Superferry experience. It was my first ship ride. We joined a tour and it includes the Superferry's On Board Learning Program via Superferry 5 , travelling from Manila to Cebu. I thought it will be boring because it will be hours of travelling by water and I might catch motion sickness but I WAS WRONG!

Superferry provides different accommodations that can suit your preferences. The type of accommodation that we have tried was their tourist accommodation. 

What I liked about Tourist Accommodation?

♥ It was comfortable enough, I felt a sense of privacy compared to their super value and mega value accommodations. 
♥ The common toilet and bathroom is clean, it has hot & cold showers, wash area was nice too.
♥ Housekeeping is always on the go.
♥ We are bound to Cebu which takes only a day, so it's just right for a short stay.






Here's what to expect:

Types of Accommodation

• Super Value Accommodation

* Non air-conditioned section

* Bunk beds

* Common toilet & bath

* Pillows and complete set of linens are available for rent.

• Mega Value Accommodation

* Air-conditioned section

* Bunk beds

* Common toilet and bath

Tourist Accomodation

* Pillows and complete set of linens are available for rent

• Tourist Accomodation

* Air-conditioned section

* Bunk beds with partition

* Common toilet and bath

* Pillows are provided

* Complete set of linens are available for rent

• Cabins

* Air-conditioned quarters

* Bunk beds

* Cable television

* Private toilet and bath

* Pillows and complete set of linens are provided

•State Rooms

* Air-conditioned room

* Either 1 matrimonial bed or 2 single beds

* Receiving area

* Cable television

* Private toilet & bath

* Towels, pillows and complete set of linens are provided

FOOD

Island Fiesta

You can choose eating out to either Island Fiesta or Horizon Cafe. It is thumbs-up for their food handling. I saw it myself that they strictly follow sanitary guidelines in preparing and serving the food. 

They serve Filipino food, don't expect much as the taste is quite the usuals, nothing abberant. 

Amenities and Facilities

Horizon Cafe, Island Fiesta, Convenience Stores , Parlor, Clinic, Sun Deck, Lobby, Multi-Purpose Room, Common Restrooms, Common Wash Area, Karaoke, Front Desk, Charging Area

What to bring for a no hassle experience?

☼ Medicine for motion sickness, it would be so bummer if you'll get sea-sick during the whole ship experience. You need to be dizzy-free because honestly there are times that you will literally feel the ship is swaying. I recommend Bonamine (Meclizone). It must be the reason why I didn't catch motion sickness, so Hooray for Bonamine! 

☼ Extra munchies, in our tour, breakfast, lunch and dinner was inclusive BUT I would recommend bringing some snacks. There are stores in the ship, however, the prices of goods are insanely high. 

☼Jacket, during night time it gets too cold, and I would also suggest bringing your own blanket, although complete set of linens can be rented, it is too thin.

Pros and Cons of Travelling by Water

Pros

☺ It is fun. Seeing sunrise and sunset is perfect. Dolphins are seen early in the morning. You can enjoy some scenery from the nearby islands.

☺ There are amenities and facilities that can make your trip less hassle.

Cons

☻ It takes time to reach your destination. 

☻ Prices of goods are higher than the usual.

☻ It's not the best option if you've got motion sickness.

Over-all experience

It was great and I would love to experience Superferry again. I haven't took enough snapshots the last time, so maybe next time I will. I also received some freebies from Superferry, it was a shirt and a jacket. It's definitely a must-try! 

FYI: Superferry is under 2Go Travel and there has been changes regarding the name of some of the vessels. For other details about Superferry Click Here

Rates depends on the vessel or if they've got promos, it would be better to check out their website. If you want to book tickets, rates, promotions, check accommodations, the schedules and destinations Click Here

First Ever Restaurant Review: Tiolo BBQ • STEAKS • PASTA

Tiolo BBQ • Steaks • Pasta

This is my very first published review and I'm planning to post my other restaurant reviews as well, I decided to do this restaurant review first because we've been eating out to Tiolo for quite some time now and I want to share my Tiolo experience. ☺

by the way, that good-looking guy in the photo is my boyfriend : )

How did I know about Tiolo?

Their sign board was eye-catching and it looks inviting, by the time I went home I browsed some blogs about the restaurant, the reviews was quite good so I included it on my list of restaurants I want to experience. :)

What I liked about Tiolo?

♥ They offer variety of dishes. Pork, Beef, Chicken, Seafood, Veggies, you name it!

♥The atmosphere of Tiolo was good; not great but not bad as well. It is just simple, nothing fancy. 
♥ It is affordable for a whole dose of Western Cuisine. The price for main dish ranges from Php70.00 to Php400.00 ($1.57 to $9.00)
♥ The serving was just right to satisfy your tummy.

Taste Verdict

Among their main dishes, I have tried their Baby Back Ribs, Hamburger Steak (which is pretty much Salisbury Steak) and Beef Steak; I've also tried their soups which are cream of mushroom, cream of asparagus and their famous pumpkin soup.

♦  For the Beef Steak it is thumbs up because it is so flavorful and succulent. 

♦ The Baby Back Ribs was too sweet for me and the fat was just so thick, the serving was plentiful though. 

♦ The Hamburger Steak was sweet too, I have to put a lot of Worcestershire sauce because the sweetness was overpowering, it also comes with a mashed potato, however, I didn't like it because it was also sweet and the texture is different, it's not 100% mashed potato I guess.

♦ Among the soups that I have tried I liked the cream of asparagus the most. The cream of mushroom and pumpkin soup are , again, too sweet for me. (BTW prices of soups ranges Php41.00 to Php47.00)

What I did not like about Tiolo?

☻There is an area in there that is quite irksome because of the water droplets from the air-con and mind you it just spills continually. It lessens the coziness of the place. 

☻I was disappointed with their comfort room because it was so disgusting the last time I went there. It was so unsanitary. Though I wasn't sure if it's always like that. 

Recommendations

For someone who loves dishes that are sweet maybe you'll enjoy eating out at Tiolo, but for someone like me, I'm into something savory, the best picks are beef dishes. However, I haven't tried their seafood and pasta yet. Maybe next time it's going to be the next dishes I'm going to try as I want to update this review when I finally get to try the other dishes I haven't tried. 
Here's their menu:

Location:

Tiolo is located in Antipolo City,Rizal few walks away from Unciano Hospital and Mc Donald's. I love the location because it is very accessible and you can see it right away. It is situated on the main road if you are coming from Ynares Center to Shopwise Antipolo or vice versa. 

How to get to there:

View Larger Map

Check out their FB page: Click here
They are open 10am to 10pm

Philippines Travel Guide ; Types of Traveler

 

   There are varieties of traveler who travels for different reasons. Travelers ought to travel for fun, some for relaxation, some for business, some to experience different cuisines and culture and some travels to shop for rare finds. Different travelling personalities are always an issue when it comes in travel planning, the travel experience must sync in with the traveler’s preferences. Knowing your preferences can provide you quality travel experience, it’ll make your experiences unforgettable. It’ll give you satisfaction and you’ll know what to expect for your next journey.

The Usual Types of Traveler

 1.       Adventurous --The Intense Explorer ☺☻☺

The adventurous type of traveler are travelers who love more of the outdoors, they’ll tend to get bored with activities without much of a thrill. 

Activity Suggestions: 

Ø  Water Activities:  o   Flying fish / Banana Boat o   Parasailing o   Helmet Diving o   Island Hopping o   Sailing/ White-water rafting/ Kayaking o   Snorkeling

Remarks: Boracay Island, Bohol and Palawan are well- known for amazing water activities, nevertheless, there’s also a water sports complex in Camarines Sur and Bataan Phillipines. 

Ø  Land- based Activities: o   Mountain Trekking o   Jungle Survival Tours o   Rapelling o Ziplines/ Cable Cars/ Canopy Rides o   Bungee Jumping o   Theme park rides 

Remarks: If you’re more on the nature side, Subic Tree Top Adventure and Danao Adventure Park in Bohol are the best picks in Philippines when it comes to thrill seeking adventures. Theme parks like Enchanted Kingdom, Tagaytay Sky Ranch and Star City offers variety of fun and thrilling rides too, but I do recommend nature trips, you’ll discover a whole lot more.

Additional Suggestion: Some travel agencies also offer paranormal tours in Corregidor Island, Ilocos, Bohol and Baguio City. These paranormal tours will surely give you goose bumps.

2.     Relaxed – The Chill Traveler

The term “Unwind” is what they yearn. This travel personality is the conventional type of traveler; they just go with the typical itineraries.

They’re neither into intense water nor land-based activities; they’d rather book a spa reservation or watch the sunset and stroll by the shore. 

3.     The Food Buff

 During Tours, what excites them are the local delicacies, they’re always on the go when it comes to food, even the most exotic ones. 

Suggestions: Bohol-Virgin Island’s sea urchins, Royal Concourse Restaurant, Cebu; Sugbahan Restaurant, Mandaue Cebu; Ilocano delicacies like: Empanada, Bagnet and Poqui-poqui

Check out PHILIPPINE TOURISM's KULINARYA TOURS website for  food tour packages.

CLICK HERE for Philippine food tour packages

4.       Culture- The Urbane Traveler

The cultural type of traveler craves for art and  history, what interests them are visits to ancestral houses and museums. They are mostly conversant with the natives of certain places.

Suggestions: Vigan Heritage City, Ancestral Houses in Negros, Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite, Pinto Art Gallery in Antipolo City, Mactan Shrine in Cebu, Luneta Shrine and  Intramuros, Manila. 

5.    The Shopaholic Traveler

The type of travelers who are delighted with souvenir shops. Either they buy and sell or collect rare finds. This is typical for retail shop owners and entrepreneurs who are looking for business opportunities. However, some just love to shop.