The Best Steaks in Town: Subic Meat Plus

Whenever I go to Subic, I always make it a point to dine at the Meat Plus Cafe. They serve the best steaks at the most affordable prices!

Directions:


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1. Head west past Puregold.
2. Turn left at Burgos St. right after the Subic Bay Yacht Club.
3. Turn right at the 2nd corner (Sampson Rd.) and then left again continuing to follow Sampson Rd. You will see the Meat Plus Cafe to your left.

The Meat Plus Cafe as seen from the street

Most probably you'll get to know of Meat Plus by referrals from friends or may be by searching thru the web . This place is not something that tourists are likely to stumble upon since as you can see when you get there it is a little out of the way. Away from the usual tourists spots and the hub of restaurants. I don't know about you but when I read "cafe", I don't usually think of lunch or dinner.

In any case, once you've been here and try out their food, you'll be sure to come back.

Very heavenly

You'll also be surprised at how many folks visit this place for their food. It may look secluded and the parking lot a bit deserted but wait until lunch time and it's full to the brim.

Be sure to arrive early, that waiting list gets quite long

Testimonials from diners

If you're new to the place and you're a meat lover, I would highly recommend their choice of steaks. Most especially the mouth-watering rib eye steak. Although a bit pricey, you're sure to get your money's worth. The layers of fat are just right on the steak so much so that it'll melt like butter in your mouth. I always have this medium-rare so that I get that juicy texture and get to enjoy the flavors of the beef. The slightly charred exterior also help add to the depth of the dish. The sides are also perfect and the gravy very savoury. Just thinking about it makes me want to go there again.

A view of the steak

Another view of the steak with the sinfully juicy layer of fat

How mouth-watering is that?

Seriously?

If you're a bit on the healthier side or may be it's holy week and you want fish. I would urge you to go for their salmon. Those who have tried it say it's really quite good and I've tasted it as well. It is very juicy inside despite how it might look on the outside. The salmon is perfectly cooked. Yum!

The grilled salmon

They also have other dishes like soups and sides. Also very American cakes and pies for desert. Be sure also to try those :-)

Clam Chowder

And here is their menu...

So there ya go, in case you're in Subic, be sure to try out Meat Plus Cafe!

I really love this place!

Authentic Japanese Ramen: Kichitora

If you are an avid anime fan or have had at some point in your life been exposed to anything Japanse, you would have no doubt have heard of the famous Japanese Ramen. I have always had a fascination for the stuff especially when I see the gleaming, abundunt bowls devoured by my favourite anime characters. However, I have always found local versions from Japanese restaurants to be somewhat lacking both in taste and presentation. While I drool at the tv depictions, I don't end up doing so on the actual ones. Well, not until I had some at Kichitora that is ;-)

Directions:
Kichitora is located at the  2nd Floor, Mega Atrium, SM Megamall, Mandaluyong, Philippines


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The good thing about this place is that they focus only on Ramen. Yes, you can order desserts, rice, and may be some dumplings but unlike other Japanese restaurants in the Metro, their focus is Ramen. Which, for me, assures me that this is really their specialty. Now, onto the review.

Outside the SM Megamall store

The walls are decorated with ornate Japanese silks

First, let's start with the environment itself. The first thing you'll notice is that the store pretty much looks like Yabu (right across the store in SM Megamall) but what is different is that Kichitora exudes a much more subdued atmosphere. The interior is colored black which gives you the feeling that you are in some sort of secret society. The walls are covered with ornate Japanese silks which is very pleasing to the eye and the irregularity of the designs break stand in stark contrast to the black interior. The couches although soft provide enough support for you to stay comfy even while eating. It was a bit cramped inside for me though.

The inside of Kichitora

The staff are very courteous, diligently explaining everything that you ask from the sauces to the menu. Service was also quick and snappy, I don't recall having to wait that long to receive my order of Ramen so much so that I felt that nothing good could come of something done so quickly but I wasn't disappointed.

We ordered 3 different types of Ramen, the Special Miso Chashu Ramen with Ma Oil (Ma-Yu), the Shio (Salt) Chicken Ramen, and the Paitan (White Soup) Chicken Ramen. Let's start with the Shio (Salt) Chicken Ramen, it was the most "regular" of the bunch for me. The flavors were ok albeit a bit salty for my companion's taste. It was a bit better than the Ramen I have tasted in other restaurants, nothing remarkable for me.

Shio (Salt) Chicken Ramen [Php 320]

Next comes the Special Miso Chashu Ramen with Ma Oil (Ma-Yu), this is the one that I ordered and has the biggest serving of the 3. The star of the dish was this beautifully cooked slab of pork which had a distinctive smoky taste that has intrigued me. How can a flavor like that stand on it's own amid a sea of soup? Impressively, it was able to wow my taste buds. The pork was very tender and will leave you wanting more. The outside was a bit charred which complemented the softness of the inside. The next distinctive thing for me were the bamboo shoots, in fact all 3 bowls had them and these were quickly devoured due to their "snappy" texture. I simply loved these bamboo shoots. The noodles were also very good mind you. They are not the regular noodles that suck up the soup and become soggy. We managed to take some ramen home and after 4 hours in the soup the noodles stayed "al dente", as if they were freshly cooked. The broth was wonderful, very savoury and filling. The flavors melded very well and I can't describe the taste except that it was yummy! The only downside of the dish is that it was very heavy, you will surely feel full after eating it.

Special Miso Chashu Ramen with Ma Oil (Ma-Yu) [Php 395]

Last but not the least is the Paitan (White Soup) Chicken Ramen which for me is the best of the three. It was relatively the same with the other 2 in terms of the noodles and the chicken was ok. Where this dish shines is in the soup. The taste was very complex, making me feel that a lot of chickens or at least chicken bones were used to make the soup and this was made for a very long time. The white soup was simply phenomenal. It gives you that depth of flavor you'll never think you'll taste out of chicken. I'm the guy who prefers pork so you'll know this is quite unusual for me. Despite being incredibly delicious this dish will surely not leave you feeling that full when you finish eating it and will leave you wanting more.

Paitan (White Soup) Chicken Ramen [Php 360]

You can also order Gyoza with your Ramen. What sets these gyoza apart from others is that they are made to complement the Ramen. They do not seek to overwhelm your taste buds with the taste of beef or pork but rather they provide a welcome interlude when you wish to refresh your palate and go at that Ramen bowl again. They were so light that the main taste you'll have on your tongue is the taste of spring onions. The charred outside is also fantastic. 

Gyoza [Php 150]

Lastly for dessert we had Coconut Tofu with Matcha and Azuki. Again, as with the Gyoza, this dish shines because it does not seek to overwhelm. Like a beautifully orchestrated symphony, this dish blends in effortlessly, it is like whoever made the menu considered what you had before in making the dessert. The Ramen lacked the sweetness and this dish provides it. The subtle sweetness and the flavor of the coconut is very welcome together with the red beans. The green seaweed powder also provides a weird but welcome taste and balances out the rest of the dish. The portion is just right and surely this dish will leave you feeling refreshed.

Coconut Tofu with Matcha and Azuki [Php 150]

The last thing that I liked about this restaurant is they have a beautiful and clean rest room. This, I feel is something that every restaurant should have but sadly most don't care to provide. The interior was well designed and it was very clean with a pleasant odor. They provide the basic tissue and soap which most restaurants don't care to place.

Oh, and btw, here is a copy of their menu, enjoy!

So the next time you want to experience authentic Japanese Ramen, head on over to Kichitora! :)

Putting it all together: The Puzzle Mansion Bed and Breakfast Tagaytay

Cruising around in Tagaytay one lazy Saturday morning with nothing in planned except to buy those tasty baby tawilis before going home, we spotted these Guiness World Records signs placed regularly along the road side. Curious enough, we slowed down the car and lo and behold here comes the next itenerary.

Directions:

Note: The Puzzle Mansion is located at Baranggay Asisan, Tagaytay city. It is near The Flower Farm . Trust me when I tell you that the road to The Puzzle Mansion is well "signed".

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1. When coming from Mendez Crossing, going towards the direction of Nasugbu, it is located on your right just after Soto Grande.

2. When you see Soto Grande to your right, look for the next side street marking Maglabe Drive.

3. When you see this sign post, turn right. (see the bottom most sign ready Brgy. Asisan)

Sign post at where you turn right (Brgy. Asisan)

Here is their website The Puzzle Mansion Bed and Breakfast.

Warning: The drive to The Puzzle Mansion takes you along country roads. Once you turn right at the sign towards Baranggay Asisan, the roads get narrower until you reach a single lane street. Don't go here when you suspect it's about to go dark, there are little to no street lights!

The first thing that you notice when you arrive is the picturesque landscape surrounding this charming B&B. Right across the parking lot itself is a pineapple plantation.

Parking lot of The Puzzle Mansion B&B

The pineapple plantation is something that you'll see a lot of in Tagaytay
(Pineapples in Tagaytay are sold in groups of 3, 5, & even 10!)

The welcome mat of The Puzzle Mansion B&B

The entrance fee of the place is set at P100 per person. For me, this is a little bit steep, I cannot say this of everyone though since I'm not much of a puzzle enthusiast.

Ticket to The Puzzle Mansion

The Puzzle Mansion sign and the Guinness World Records sign

Once you reach the sign, you can head left and you'll see the building the houses all of the puzzles. The souvenir shop is on the 2nd floor (as well as the mini cafe) while the main exhibition hall is on the ground floor.

The Exhibition Hall

A mini fountain to greet you

Some cacti and the steps going to the 2nd floor

Once you enter the exhibition hall, you are introduced to the worlds largest puzzle collection (well at least as of this writing. Warning, the next pages contain a load of image :-)

One of the things that struck me when I first got in aside from the huge collection of puzzles is the variety. Before going here (well actually before watching it in Korina's show), my idea was that puzzles are only 2D but here there are 3D puzzles covering everything from Marvel Superheroes to Google Maps 3D like landscapes. Information can also be found on each puzzle citing useful tidbits like the completion time amongst others.

The Google Maps 3D-like landscapes covering everything
from maps of Hong Kong to the US

The Sydney Opera house

More landscapes

Some spherical puzzles. Oh and a globe!
How did they stick that?!

Some crystal puzzles

There are so many puzzles that even the ceiling space is getting used!

A different angle on the Opera House

There's alo a puzzle of the Eiffel Tower, Big Ben, and a few others

More landmarks

Here is an initial look at the place

Rows and rows upon rows of puzzle displays. Be careful you don't knock 'em over!

The Taj Mahal, the Burj al Arab, etc.

The owner Ms. Georgina Gil Lacuna is a big supporter of PNoy

I don't know what this building is but it's beautiful

More landmarks, I don't know if the trees and landscape come with the puzzle though

The Taj Mahal

A side view of the Notre Dame

Oh hey, it's the Taipei 101 along with the leaning tower of Pisa

The Church of Our Saviour on Spilled Blood 

Top view of the landmarks

Hey a Coke can, NOT!

The Coloseum

A 3D puzzle of spiderman and a wolf

The wolf up close

Some cartoon puzzles

Marilyn Monroe

More spherical puzzles 

The enigmatic smile of the Mona Lisa

Some quick info on this puzzle

Pope John Paul II

More puzzles

Starry Night by Van Gogh

The Last Supper

Bigger puzzles

You can also have your customized puzzles done here

Samples of customized puzzles

Some pyramid puzzles

Educational puzzles

Puzzles of some famous movie posters

Can puzzles anyone?

Oh and there's Free Willy too!

Some hot air balloons

More of the Eiffel Tower

Fishing puzzles

Something for the pet lovers

Some Disney puzzles

Huge Puzzles

Here is one she recently finished (10000 pcs)

The box of the 10000 pcs puzzle

3D puzzles of popular disney character

More Marvel Heroes

A certificate from the city of Tagaytay

You can also view a short clip from her feature in Korina's show

The certificate from the Guinness World Records

A guide holding up one of the bags (out of several) for the puzzle you see in the back

The latest one she is trying to build, a Ravensburger 32000 pc puzzle

Just to give you an idea just how hard it is to assemble one of these things

The entrance to the souvenir shop

The Ravensburger 32000 pc puzzle is being assembled atop 6 plywood boards 

Underneath the boards 

The picture she needs to follow displayed on the wall

Here is her progress so far, don't touch anything! 

Just four of several bags

Another view

The stage where she received her Guinness World Record

Puzzles sold in the souvenir shop. You can find almost all the built ones downstairs including
the 32000 Ravensburger one. The big ones fetch anywhere from Php 10000 - 25000

Some towels for sale

Shirts anyone?

What a bathroom!

More puzzles

And even more!

And MORRRREEEE!

Some are already assembled but where's the fun in that?

Assembled puzzles

More being sold here!

A wishing well on the 2nd floor

 Some fun facts.
1. Ms Georgina Gil Lacuna started building her first puzzle in 1986 (a mickey mouse puzzle which is also her oldest one)
2. She would sometimes assemble her puzzles into the wee hours of the morning. Some of them took a year of work (non-continous)
3. Due to the detail and scale of some puzzles, she lines the pieces up and painstakingly does trial and error.

Ms Georgina Gil Lacuna

Well, that is it folks! So the next time you head to Tagaytay, visit the Puzzle Mansion B&B!