Subic: Xtremely Xpresso Cafe

Subic: Xtremely Xpresso Cafe
Subic Bay Freeport Zone
Restaurant review

As a graduate student under the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology, one of the requirements for the Geological Hazards class that I'm taking is a trip to Mount Pinatubo. Unfortunately, it was raining that day and they won't let us climb because we were all (mostly) first-time climbers and therefore not experienced enough for that kind of weather. 

As a consolation, we ended up beach hopping and even went to Anawangin Cove. 

It was a windy day. And we made a stopover on the way back.

Xtremely Xpresso Cafe is a casual bistro style restaurant that serves European style breakfast, lunch and dinner. The cafe is known to serve Italy's no. 1 coffee, Lavazza, and is famous for its unique collection of Italian menu.

I ordered Stuffed Pork Chops while most of the others ordered Baby Back Ribs. 

Baby Back Ribs | Php 190

Stuffed Pork Chops | Php 220

You can get either rice or a baked potato.

It's a small and quaint place with good coffee and their serving size is big. Subic is so much cooler than Manila so it's always a thrill going there. 

They have three branches.
Address and phone numbers: 
Subic Branch (Main)
#1 Dewey Avenue cor. Sta. Rita Street, Subic Bay Freeport Zone
Open 6 AM to 12 MN
(047) 252-3681

Clark Branch
G/F The Meeting Place, SM City Clark
Open 10 AM to 12 MN
(045) 499-0314

Angeles Branch
G/F Marquee Civic Park, Marquee Mall
Open 10 AM to 12 MN
(045) 304-0972
info@xtremelyxpresso.com

Tokyo Café Revisited

Tokyo Café Revisited
A review by Nicole

Hello everyone! :)

For my first review here in MF, I wanted and was supposed to introduce you guys to my favourite café somewhere in Mother Ignacia avenue but because I'm a nocturnal ergo I sleep during daytime and was such a slowpoke today, I was not able to catch it open (they close at 7:00PM on Sundays). So. . . I ended up in a different place. Here:

@Level 3 SM Megamall

The huge menu outside

I promised my sisters at home that I'd buy them pizza (was thinking of buying them a Margherita at an Italian restaurant). But on my way there, I saw this huge menu of Tokyo Café and saw that they have pizza as well so I decided to order here instead (just to try something new). I really appreciate those huge menu outside restaurants because they give you ideas beforehand. It's so helpful particularly when you can't decide where to eat. 

The moment I sat down at my table, the staff right away served me a glass of water. I was so pleased because in my past dining experiences, most often times it took a while before I got served with a glass of water.

I ordered the Tokyo white pizza for take out and while waiting, I was munching  on their Tokyo Caesar Salad. Tokyo Café boasts of offering western dishes with "distinct Japanese touch" but I got disappointed because I didn't see nor taste any Japanese factor in their Caesar Salad. I expected that it would be a somehow different kind of salad but it was just an okay salad.  When I got home, my sisters and I all shared the Tokyo White Pizza and it was good. The Tabasco sauce goes really well with it.

Tokyo Caesar Salad (Php 151, US$ 3.15)
Their menu says:  Classic light  mayonnaise piquant dressing over romaine with a Tokyo twist, served with crisp bacon bits, croutons, and parmesan


Tokyo White Pizza (Php 208, US$ 4.83)
Creamy white sauce and mozzarella




I can't really comment much on Tokyo Café's food in general because I have only tried two of their dishes. Now one thing that I really like about this restaurant is their service! Their staff is fast, friendly and attentive. I like the ambiance too - it's not loud and the seats are comfortable. I guess I'd be stopping by again when I've got some paper work to do (I'd like to try their cheesecakes!). And oh, they offer free wi-fi too.

P.S. Just in case you're wondering why I entitled this post as such, it's because MF hasposted a review of Tokyo Café last 2008.

Address and Phone Number

SM Megamall
SM Megamall Bldg. A, ESDA cor Julia Vargas Ave
Mandaluyong City, Metro Manila
SM The Block
2nd floor, The Block
SM North Edsa 216A-216B
(02) 441 0346
SM Mall of Asia
Ground Floor, South Wing
Main Mall Bldg.,
(02) 556 0517

Purple Oven | Fudge Brownies

Purple Oven | Fudge Brownies
A review by Tiffy

The semester has now ended and I'm happily back in Japan for a long overdue reunion with a bunch of important people back here.

So yeah. The two weeks before my flight to Japan was fraught with sleepless nights (final exams--eep!) and impulsive eating. And it didn't help that mom's friends tend to give her foodstuff like pastries.

It was then that I discovered Purple Oven:

I didn't know it contained brownies until I opened it up.

Really really yummy. Soft and chewy. 

Hands down one of the best brownies I've ever had. And looking at the other reviews online--they really serve one of the best cakes/cookies/etc etc. 

I heard their revel bars are to die for. What would you recommend? 

Address and Phone Number:
63 St. Peter St., Oranbo
Pasig City, Metro Manila 
Philippines 
(02) 631-4221

Random Announcements: The joys of college life and graduate programs

Random Announcements
Word vomit from Tiffy

As you have noticed, from eight original foodistas, we dwindled down to two. And since Brian Ong has his own blog and cross-posting his food-related posts here is not an option, I am the only one left.

We have four manilafoodistas in med school right now, a manilafoodista working for the Department of Tourism, one who works for the Confucius Institute, and two who just graduated (one being myself). Mark Wu still blogs!

I am currently enrolled at the University of the Philippines taking up my MS Environmental Science under the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (IESM). Earlier this year, I was very fortunate to have been awarded as one of three Panasonic scholars for 2012. As such, I will be studying in Japan for three years: one year as a research student, and two as a graduate student. It's a bit of a complicated process but if you'd like to know more about how graduate programs operate, the website Online Graduate Programs does a pretty decent job of explaining all the challenges involved. For my part, I enrolled in UP as a preparation for my studies in Japan next year. 

This is largely the reason why I've been so busy--I'm taking up 12 units of graduate classes so I haven't really had time to go out much. 

So now my question to you, the readers of this blog, is this: What should I do with this blog?

I will be leaving for Japan next year March. If I continue blogging here, calling myself a manilafoodista will be a misnomer. 

One of my friends suggested that I turn this blog into a travel/food/lifestyle blog for my stay in Japan. Since I'm going to live on my own, I've been playing with the idea of learning how to cook. So that can probably go in the blog too.

I was browsing the intarwebz and I learned that Yummy's September issue is on Filipino food and I've made a mental reminder to buy myself a copy. It will DEFINITELY be useful since I'll be abroad with no instant access to Filipino food. I have known fellow food bloggers who are/were affiliated with the magazine and I've always been a fan of their blogs. 

So yeah. Going back to the question, tell me what you think I should do with the blog! Leave me a comment and I'll get back to it on my next blog post.