Love at First Bite: The Coffee Shop

It has been a while since my last road trip with R. We’ve been busy with work and other activities that we were not able to keep up with our monthly short getaways. But since our Deal Grocer voucher for The Plaza Hotel will expire soon, we decided to head up North and spend the weekend there. But before heading to Bataan, we decided to spend one day in Subic to enjoy the beach. But Mother Nature refused to cooperate and we ended up pigging out instead. And there is no better place to feast but the famous taco shop, The Coffee Shop, Home of Jumbo Tacos. 

Hello, The Coffee Shop!

This restaurant doubles as a hotel with its rooftop room accommodations at friendly prices. But let me focus on the food, especially its jumbo tacos. 

Since this place has been raved by so many foodies and some even claim that this place offers the best tacos in the country, I just have to try it! I went with Taco with Sour Cream (PHP130) while R went with Hard Shell Taco (PHP95). We also got Double Cheeseburger with Fries (PHP185) simply because R wanted fries. For drinks, we ordered Frozen Iced Tea (PHP85) and Chocolate Shake (PHP130).

While waiting, I took a few snapshots and noticed that they charge PHP30 for using their electrical outlets and that they also do not provide straws for non-frozen beverages. 

Service was quick and our drinks were served in less than 5 minutes. 

My frozen iced tea was refreshing. It had the right amount of sweetness and had a delightful lemon flavor. (It was so good that we ordered another glass right after finishing one.) R’s drink tasted like chocolate ice candy. It wasn’t bad but it wasn’t that good as well. And for PHP130, I don’t think it was value for money. 

Our tacos were served next and we were overwhelmed by the size. They were not kidding when they said jumbo. It was really huge! It would be at least 9 inches long. 

Kiddie Adventure: Zoobic Safari

There’s something about tigers that make them look so majestic. I have always wanted to have one as a pet, which we all know is not possible unless you’re from an extremely affluent family who has a private zoo. And since I’m far from being part of the top 100 richest of the rich, I’m fine with just watching these beauties from afar. But a fun trip to Subic made my dream of close encounter with my favorite furry friends a reality. Well, sort of. 

Hello, Zoobic Safari!

R and I decided to pass by Zoobic Safari on our way to Bataan and use the vouchers we got from Metro Deal slashing the entrance fee from PHP545 down to PHP298 each. 

At first, we were worried that the place was closed due to the heavy rain but were relieved upon seeing the almost packed parking lot. I went down first to check if the zoo was indeed open and if they accept our vouchers that day. And when everything was set, I signalled R to go down and bring another umbrella with him as we would be soaking wet if we were to share one umbrella. 

After securing our tickets and applying mosquito repellant lotion, we went straight towards the entrance of the zoo which greeted us with a gift shop and several photo op areas with a huge snake, an orangutan and a tiger. 

Chasing Summer: iCove Beach Hotel

Days sure pass by fast and with a blink of an eye and summer was already over when we finally decided to go to the beach. It was already the end of July when R and I finally  pushed through with our plans to head North and chase summer.  We chose our accommodation a week before heading out and after browsing through Agoda for half an hour, we settled with iCove Beach Hotel. 

Hello, iCove Beach Hotel. 

This hotel is one of the newest beach front hotels in Zambales. Quite small compared to the ones you’d find in bigger and busier cities but this is considered as one of the nicest accommodations within the area. It was drizzling when we visited and we were so glad that we got to the hotel early and were able to score parking in front of the hotel. 

We arrived half an hour earlier than our check-in time and unfortunately, our room wasn’t ready then so we had to wait till the original check-in time which is 2 p.m.. We were also bummed to see the published room rates of the hotel. It was cheaper compared to the one we got through Agoda! The place though was fully booked when we went so it was also a gamble if we tried book on the same day. At exactly 2 p.m., we were assisted to our room. 

We got a deluxe 19 square meter room with a queen sized bed, cable television, small fridge and private bathroom.  We do not have a view as our balcony was facing the pathway to the pool. Wi-fi connection was decent and fast enough for us to browse the internet or play games.

Love at First Bite: Xtremely Xpresso

A few weeks ago, I went to Anvaya Cove with some college friends and R. The place would have been extra nice if the weather cooperated. Nonetheless, it was a fun trip! And since we're already in Subic, I made sure that we stop by Xtremely Xpresso.

Hello, Xtremely Xpresso!

The place was packed when we arrived but we were lucky to get a table for six right away.

While the staff was clearing our table, we roamed around and the first thing we noticed was that there are different concepts in play. The main dining area of Xtremely Xpresso has an old  American diner feel with its vintage light boxes. 

The other dining area had an English tea salon feel.

Once our table was set up, we ordered Big Ben Xtreme (PHP729) for sharing. R and I also ordered Bacon Cheeseburger (PHP180), Meat Lasagna (PHP200), and Pumpkin Soup (PHP120). For drinks, we opted for Raspberry Avalanche (PHP100) and Caramel Daze (PHP100).

R's drink sure was berrylicious. It was really sweet! Mine had a nice hint of coffee with the sweet taste of caramel. R and I both liked the Caramel Daze more than the Raspberry Avalanche.

The pumpkin soup was creamy and had that sweet taste that I love. The crispy bacon bits added a nice contrast in flavor and texture.

Next served was our lasagna. It was cheesy and meaty! I loved it! It may not be sophisticated or the classy type of lasagna but this comfort dish is a winner! I packed the leftover lasagna for lunch the following day and it was still as good as when it was served at the restaurant.