Create Happiness at Sefina's Bakery and Cafe!

Over the past few days I have been stressed out with so many things around me. As the saying goes when it pours it rains, literally and figuratively speaking. When the situation calms down you deserve to reward your self with something sweet for your heart and mind. That is how I deal my after stress days, and since this new place I've discovered brings me happiness this was my stop last night with my daughter M. 

Sefina's Bakery and Cafe is the recent place where I get my sweet indulgence. My son introduces me to this place one night when he was browsing newly opened cafes and restos here in the city. Out of the few pages we checked online Sefina's caught my eye because of the product photos posted on their Facebook page. 

Me being a hobbyist photographer, a cook and a foodie my curiosity sets in when I saw their product photos. Good food photos can really convey and convince audience to try and check-out your products and Sefina's did it! 

Last night was my fifth time to visit the cafe and good thing the place is not that crowded unlike before. My daughter and I sat inside the air-conditioned area which was newly and still under some minor renovations, good job with installing new lighting fixtures. Though I planned to sit in the corner where the "Create Happiness" wall is located but it was occupied. 

"Create Happiness" beside the busy kitchen. :)

The walk- in Al fresco seating area.

The order and cashier counter besides the pastry display cabinet

Freshly baked donuts, rolls, cookies and other pastries. 

The one thing I love about this bakery cafe is how they create good looking pastries plus the quality and taste are bomb digs! The prices ranges from Php15 ($0.35) each cookie, Php20 ($0.40)  for donuts and Php35 ($0.80) for cream cheese cinnamon rolls!

Let's check out the cakes...

You won't believe how affordable their cakes are! 

Most of their cakes are cheesecake based, from blueberry and caramel and yema cakes. 

Can you see how generous and quality their cake toppings are, that ferrero rocher toppings looks heavenly. 

They also have this signature moist chocolate cake called "Better Than S*x", an order of this cost Php65 ($1.45) per slice and the rest of the cakes are sold for Php85 ($1.89) per slice. Compared to some of the commercialized cake and cafe houses inside the mall this one beats them. I have tried four different cakes from Sefina's and our favorite so far was the brownie cheesecake, which they ran out last night. Second would be the BTS comes the rest, though I need to get a hold of the rest of the cake variants next time and might do a comparison blog post for that. :)

Aside from cakes and pastries they also have rice meals, burgers, tacos and pasta dishes, variety of frappes, shakes, juices and coffee too.

Let's go to the food we ordered last night, a couple of it were new to me from the previous visits I made.

My daughter M ordered their signature spaghetti for Php95 ($2.12) comes with two pieces of buttered toasted bread. The pasta was creamy which my daughter resembled it to as a red carbonara pasta. If I were to make this, I were to  make this pasta I will remove the hotdog pieces and replace it with mushroom slices and will make the pasta a little al dente, the pasta was a little soggy when I tasted it.

She paired her pasta with large double chocolate frappe Php95 ($2.12), we gave this frappe a thumbs up for the taste, the quality all in all! 

My second time to dig in to their signature burger, I think they bake their own burger buns and it was different from the last time. This one looks a little yellowish and flat plus it breaks into crumbs. 

I made an advanced order for this bunch of sticky cinnamon rolls to go and this was given to me complimentary to replace my previous ordered pastry that had some issue with taste. 

Ordered a slice of BTS for my son who requested for it. 

I am giving my honest take on the food last night for them to work on and improve more. As for the previous experience I had with one of their pastry I texted the owner to give some feedback about their product and they positively accepted the feed, which I think is necessary in every food establishments budding or well-established ones. 

We paid for the food we got last night expect for the cinnamon rolls. :)

If you are planning to visit Olongapo, include Sefina's on your list and check out their delectable cakes and pastries you will love. 

Check out Sefina's Bakery and Cafe on Facebook. 

Roof Top Pool + Mongolian Dinner Buffet Weekend

A few weeks ago before summer season ended here in the Philippines, we took the chance to spend our weekend with sun, water and food.

We were given a free passes to use the roof top pool at Best Western Plus Hotel Subic. The pool is open to walk-in customers and free of use to hotel guests. 

For Php300 ($6.40) you can avail the use of the pool and half of the amount can be use as food and drink consumable over at their snack bar.

We went there Saturday afternoon, it took us less than  10-minute taxi ride coming from SM City Olongapo to Best Western Hotel, the taxi cost Php80 ($1.75).

We arrived there around 4:30 in the afternoon with a few guests of kids and adults using the pool, kids were enjoying the cool breeze and sun covered by dusky cloud ready to set in the bay. 

You can find one big pool and a kiddie pool plus a jacuzzi for their pool amenities. Customers can find two open shower area with shower curtains and three toilet cubicles. They also have a bar and a bartender to prepare your drinks. The pool has a life guard too. Customers can ask for pool towels which they provide for each swimmers.

Since the hotel restaurant offer everyday buffet merienda for Php149 ($3.17) and Mongolian dinner buffet for Php349 ($7.43) we decided to take the dinner.

It was Mongolian buffet that night and we are somehow pleased. 

Make your own taco corner. Taco shells and beef taco filling. 

Burritos and Quesedillas

Taco sauces and lettuce shreds and diced tomatoes, also some prepared pasta plates which diners can request. A choice of red and white sauce pasta are available.

Choices of pork and chicken kebab

Cooked noodles and white rice

Assorted vegetables to choose for your Mongolian mix

Choices of pork cutlets, tofu, chicken breast slices, beef strips, shrimp and squid.

Variety of sauces to mix in to your Mongolian bowl. I chose the seafood with sweet and spicy combination.

Chef in charge with your Mongolian rice and one who is in charge with the kebabs beside him

Seafood soup and unlimited iced tea and water for drinks 

The dessert was not the appetizing to look at and yep even the taste too. It was dull and everything is cake base dessert. No fruit offered that time which is a little disappointing. The salad corner offered a limited option of shredded iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, bell pepper and a couple of salad dressings. The most unexciting corner of the buffet area.

To start up, I had a bowl of hot seafood soup which was very tasty. And for the main course two bowls of Mongolian mix, one seafood and one beef and chicken.

I love the taste and how it was cooked nicely specially the meat in it. They kept it tender and juicy.

I also had quesadillas and burritos and unlimited of the pork and chicken kebab.

The kids enjoyed their buffet meal excluding some of the food they did not prefer to eat. The boy had three bowls of different meat, sauces and spices. Kebab, tacos and burritos. The girl had a little less than what her Kuya (older brother) had. 

To compare with the Mongolian buffet I had a couple of years ago this one is a little better, the only downside of this was the salad and dessert station. I hope the restaurant can make improvements and adjustments for this station in their buffet. I would visit and dine here again if this happen.

We paid for our meal with additional 5% for service charge. Thank you Best Western Hotel Subic for the free use of the pool! :)

Would also love to make a review of the accommodation and other amenities of the hotel... maybe next time! :)

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