First Sip: Bang! Bang! Bar

Poblacion has transformed from a quiet neighborhood into a bustling community these past years. With innovative restaurants and some of the hippest bars found here, it's not surprising for this part of Makati to be very busy at night. And we discovered a new bar you definitely have to add to your next bar crawl to end your night with a bang!

Hello, Bang! Bang! Bar.

Bang! Bang! is the slightly hidden bar of VBQ Vietnamese Barbeque & Hotpot. 

Is FRNK Milk Bar More Than Just A Pretty Shop?

Instagrammable. That word has been the focus of most food and drink establishments and sadly, fail to deliver what's really important... taste. This is the reason why I often avoid pretty food and colorful drinks. I'm always scared of getting duped by its beautiful appearance and leave my taste buds miserable. But when most of my friends say that this new hipster drink brand offers nothing but goodness, I just have to give in to try FRNK Milk Bar. 

Hello, FRNK Milk Bar. 

FRNK Milk Bar is one of celebrity Isabelle Daza's business ventures. And just like all the other brands she's involved with, FRNK is a beauty in all aspects of marketing. All of FRNK's drinks are worthy to be part of anyone's Instagram with its sleek presentation. 

Nono's Launches New Favorites

July was a stressful month for me. I had to learn new things for work and keep up with having new content for my blog. I'd often find myself sleeping so late just so I could have everything done. Now that I'm starting to get the hang of it, there's no better way to reward myself than with good food at Nono's. 

Hello, Nono's.

I used to think that Nono's is just a place for desserts knowing that the person behind this dainty shop is the wonderful Baba Ibazeta-Benedicto of Classic Confections. But I was totally wrong when I got a bite of Nono's Fried Truffle Cheese Wontons. Crunchy and packed with umami, this amazing starter made me smile from ear to ear! And I couldn't help myself from wanting more. My sister also had a Cooking Master Boy moment with Nono's when she had its cheesy Mac N Cheese.

EDSA Beverage Design Group (EDSA BDG) in Makati

EDSA Beverage Design Group has made a name in the local community as one of the prominent players in the third wave coffee industry. With its first branch aptly located along EDSA, it has received a lot of love from caffeine aficionados. Focusing more on quality and its coffee studio, it took this cafe 4 years before it decided to open another branch. And this time, it was at the posh The Grid food hall in Powerplant Mall. 

Hello, EDSA Beverage Design Group (EDSA BDG). 

EDSA BDG is the first stall you'll see when you enter The Grid. Serving as the beverage counter for the food hall's concessionaires, this cafe offers more than a good cup of joe. 

Tsuke-Men: Dipping Ramen at The Grid

The Grid is one of the best food markets in Manila right now with its lovely selection of concessionaires. We have the likes of Bun Appetit, Risa's Chocolates and La Chinesca to satisfy our growling tummies. But there are also stalls that may have been unheard of before and made its debut at The Grid and one of which is Tsuke-Men.

Hello, Tsuke-Men.

Tsuke-Men is managed by the people behind The Grid and I managed to get first dibs (or should I say dips?) on its tsukemen or dipping ramen concept when The Grid opened last year.

Love at First Bite: Lampara Neo-Filipino Bistro

Poblacion has been one of the hottest areas for restaurants these past months. Home of some of the establishments raved by taste makers, taking a stroll in this neighborhood would lead to a gastronomic experience. Such was the case for us last week. And our first stop: Lampara.

Hello, Lampara Neo-Filipino Bistro. 

Hailed as one of the best restaurants in the area by respected food connoisseurs, it is not surprising to find Lampara packed as soon as Poblacion comes alive. 

Restaurant Favorite: Barcino

Zomato Gold has been the talk of town ever since it was launched last year. And when it was finally available, it limited its subscription to a small number making it feel exclusive and in high demand. As the weeks pass by, Zomato opens up its subscription on certain days with a perk of hanging out with select local celebrities. And with its enticing give back program to users, each Zomato Gold user serves as the app's ambassador. But even without it, the app's 1+1 deal on food and 2+2 on drinks is enough to encourage anyone to spread the word. And if you're still thinking if it is worth your PHP700, one visit at Barcino will have you subscribing in a second. 

Hello, Barcino.

R's friends decided to have a get together a few weeks back and opted to go with Barcino, a group favorite. This time, they chose to dine at its Greenbelt 2 branch. And I was giddy with their choice as it is part of Zomato Gold.

First Bite: Slabbers

I am a big fan of Hole in the Wall and most of the concepts in the first ever upscale food hall in Manila. However, I hardly visit Century City Mall as its location's a bit off from where I live. I make sure though that I pass by this picturesque dining hall every time I find myself in the area. And for my latest visit, I tried one of its newest stalls, Slabbers. 

Hello, Slabbers. 

This new concept in Hole in the Wall opened last July and has been firing up some mean ribs and wings since then. With its prime location near the entrance, it would be hard to miss Slabbers. 

Night Life: Unlimited Tacos with Unlimited Sangria or Margarita at Encima

Restaurants that offer Do-It-Yourself dishes are brilliant. Guests find it attractive, interactive and never blame the restaurant if it tasted bad as they made it themselves. But there are some places where no matter how bad you messed up, your creation will still be delicious! And such is the case with Encima's DIY Taco Bar. 

Hello again, Encima Roofdeck Restaurant.

To celebrate the Encima's anniversary, they threw a simple and intimate thanksgiving party which also served as the launch of their DIY Taco Bar, Unlimited Margarita or Sangria promo for just PHP499.

Makati Chronicles: Epicurean Party at I'M Hotel

I have been stuck to my couch for days. With crackers and smoked salmon spread within reach to keep me alive, I had no intentions of going out at all. I was motivated to trim my backlog to at least half before 2018. Though an impossible task given my three digit pending articles, I had to start somewhere. And when the day of the Epicurean Party came, I was not in the mood to socialize until when I realized that I missed hanging out with everyone.

Thanks to the foodies behind What To Eat PH and The Foodie Station, we got to celebrate the most anticipated holiday together at I'M Hotel's Antidote Bar. 

Located at the roof deck of the hotel, Antidote boasts to be the first jellyfish bar in the country featuring a massive 8-meter long jellyfish aquarium in colorful luminescent lights. 

I was at first iffy with the idea of having live jellyfish as interior accent. But after finding out that I'M Hotel is actually affiliated with Manila Ocean Park and that the jellyfish are in good hands, I let out a sigh of relief and took hundreds of snapshots afterwards. 

Though known for its cocktails, Antidote also offers dishes such as this succulent braised pork belly. I also heard that its Mozzarella Jalapeno Cigars are great! 

One of the superstars of the party was ElarZ Lechon. Its crispy skin paired with its juicy and flavorful meat was a feast on its own. Each bite was like a party in my mouth. And yes, it made me crave for rice. It definitely deserves the Pambansang Lechon title. 

Another favorite of mine was Empanada Mas' empanaditas. These bite-size empanadas are perfect for those light afternoon snacks. My favorite is cheese and chive which I first had at The Gourmand Market. 

As I stuff myself with more of my favorites, I grabbed a glass full of ice and a bottle of Lick Raspberry. 

I heard that this flavor is one of its bestsellers, aside from Lemon and Huckle Berry, and it was good. Its light flavor was great in quenching my thirst. Though a bit pricey at PHP150, it's a nice and healthy alternative to your usual iced tea as Lick uses Stevia. 

I was so busy catching up with friends that I totally missed the scrumptious pizzas prepared by Amici and Angel's Pizza, lasagna by Mama Lou's, European platter by Vanderlust, signature dishes by Tien Ma's and Crystal Jade, decadent brownies by Kenny Rogers, party platters by Party Toques and the heavenly sisig kanin balls by The Broken Oven.

As the sun start to set, the beauty of the jellyfish aquarium put us under its spell with its colorful lights. 

But the powerful voice of our host, H of RX 93.1, released us from our trance and we gathered at the al fresco area of Antidote for some games. 

We had two fun activities before ending the program and these were hosted by Lick Iced Tea and Stips Salted Egg Chips. 

Our first challenge was to come up with a fun mannequin video featuring Lick while we had to come up with a creative group shot with Stips. 

Well, we thought ours were brilliant. But the other groups had better ideas. 

The tita in me kicked in after the games and got sleepy. It was timely though that West Town's Coffee did a coffee brewing demo. 

Aside from learning how to properly brew a cup of joe, we got to enjoy some of West Town's fragrant brews. 

I then capped my long dinner with some smooth and creamy gelato from Gelatofix. (I love it so much that I had another scoop the following day.)

For some of us who stayed behind after all the festivities, we got a tour of I'M Hotel's rooms and facilities. 

I must say, I was very impressed with the two-bedroom suite. With a built-in kitchen, spacious living room, and well equip bathrooms, it felt more like home than a cold hotel room. Though its published price is PHP20,000 + per night, you can score this luxurious room for half the price on lean months.

We also passed by the Mermaid Bar which has some striking elevated day beds that give its occupants a lovely view of the city. 

And a quick look of Bloom, I'M Hotel's buffet restaurant. They also have a hot pot section which is open on hours when Bloom is closed.

Weary from the event and the tour, I decided to head back home with my yummy loot from Pan de Manila, Figaro, Stips, Gastronomy by Joy and Golden Fiesta.

I was so happy to get my favorite Pan de Manila goodies and smiled from ear to ear when I saw my favorite coconut jam in the bag! 

Stips salted egg chips were so addicting that I finished my bags in less than 10 minutes. And that was with an effort to only finish half a bag. I loved that there was a rich taste of salted egg without it being cloying. 

And thanks to the vicious cycle of craving for something salty then sweet, I indulged in some of Gastronomy by Joy's white chocolate treat.  

Giddy with my Figaro Card, I'm already planning when to get my favorite Five Cheese and Garlic Pizza. But for now, I paired my pastries with Figaro's coffee. 

Again, thank you What To Eat PH and The Foodie Station for the fun event. It was nice to meet everyone before 2017 ends. 

First Sip: Vengo

I try to avoid hipster restaurants and cafes as much as I could as I've been to so many that just focused on aesthetics and not on what we're really paying for... food and drinks. But I'd get dragged to one from time to time. There would be instances when I would find some gems but more often than not, I wouldn't dare go back for more. One recent hipster place I've visited is Vengo, the coffee shop counterpart of the famous Taco Vengo. 

Hello, Vengo. 

A client suggested that we meet here one Tuesday morning and I had no clue where it is. It turns out to be in the same building as the one I frequent along Dela Rosa, only it is on the other side. 

I got there around 9:30 a.m. and it seemed that the staff was surprised to see someone come in so early. Or maybe it was because I came in the wrong door. Apparently, there's a door specifically for the cafe and another for the dining area that they open up for lunch and dinner. 

First Bite: Crosta Pizzeria

Aged pizza dough? It's something I've heard in the US but I haven't really tried anything like it here in Manila... till a few weeks ago. A pizza stall at Social on Ebro offers scrumptious premium pizzas at reasonable prices. And what sets it apart from fancier savory pies is its 48-hour aged dough. 

Hello, Crosta Pizzeria. 

First Bite: Kenshin Japanese Restaurant

I love pretending to be a master chef like Gordon Ramsey. Though I may lack the skills to do all those French culinary terms, I appreciate that there are several restaurants now that let us experience cooking our own meals. We have grill your own Korean barbecue, create your own pancake, mix your own hotpot and make your own takoyaki. Yes, I'm talking about those famous Japanese street food treats. 

Hello, Kenshin Japanese Restaurant.

This Japanese restaurant along Yakal Street is a gem in the city. 

Love at First Sip: Fundamental Coffee

My eyes turn to hearts every time I get word that there's a new coffee shop in town. But those hearts get broken into pieces when I find out that these cafes are not exactly near or impossible to get to with the current traffic situation. Luckily, being a full time blogger now allows me to be visit areas during less busy hours and I finally got to visit Fundamental Coffee.
 
Hello, Fundamental Coffee.

First Sip: Selu's Bar

What's a better way to cap the work week than to enjoy a cocktail or two? Though I usually head straight home after work on Fridays to avoid the nasty Manila traffic, spending Friday nights over some drinks ain't a bad idea. And a few Fridays ago, I capped the week at Selu's Bar. 
 
Hello, Selu's Bar.

This is the second stop of the Summer Soiree organized by Discover MNL and Valerie Montenegro which is located a floor below Unna's Corner.

Night Cap: The Penthouse 8747

People close to me know that I'm far from being tagged as a party person. Born as a certified tita (aunt), I have now graduated as a full-fledged Lola(grandmother) of Manila. But such did not discourage me from visiting a Great Gatsby themed bar that offers a magnificent view of the city. Okay, it was also because I was intrigued with its bar chows. The foodie remains more influential than the lola in me. 

Hello, The Penthouse 8747! 

The place, as it is aptly named, is located on the topmost floor of Lepanto building. Though the lift would not bring you all the way to the bar's main entrance, you just need to take one flight up to reach the reception adorned with gold accents and chandelier. 

Work Perk: Manila Polo Club

Most of us hate Mondays as it means that we had to bid farewell to weekends again and face the real world. But there are times when work has its perks and one of which is having offsite meetings. You might think that I’m crazy because it still means work. But hear me out. Offsite meetings also mean possible good food! And for my company planning session, the team was thinking of holding it somewhere far like Anvaya. However, the ones with kiddos around were not too warm with the idea  hence we ended up in… Manila Polo Club. Though it’s not exactly far, the traffic separates us from the office. 

Hello, Manila Polo Club!

We booked one of the meeting rooms for our whole day planning and the rental of the room is consumable for the whole day. We had to bring some of our equipment though like projector to avoid incurring additional charges. 

To start the day, we each ordered something for breakfast and I went with Granola and Yogurt Trifle (PHP335).

Foodie Alert: Noche Dine in the Dark Manila

It is absolutely fascinating how social media changed our dining habits. Back when phones are bigger than the remote control, we start the meal with a prayer. These days, we start with a flatlay. Just 5 years ago, we choose our meals based on taste; now, we choose base on appearance. We have been so concerned with how dishes look and if it'll generate a lot of likes or regrams. We take so many shots that we get used to cold food and lukewarm drinks. And in the age of digitalization, most of us simply have lost the ability to enjoy food the right way. And this is one of the issues Dine in the Dark aims to address. 

Hello, Dine in the Dark! 

I was so thrilled when P messaged one weekend informing C and I that we will be the looloo representatives for Noche Dine in the Dark's VIP Preview. I have been eying to try it out with R ever since I saw its teaser. Though I've tried dining in the dark before, I know that it'll be a totally different experience when you're with different company. 

Days before the preview, C and I had to choose among fish, meat, vegetarian and chef's surprise for our 3-course meal. We both chose chef's surprise because it sounds exciting!

And finally, it was 10.05.16!

Noche is located at the 4th floor of A.Venue Suites Hotel and before entering the dark realm, one had to proceed to the holding area where diners will be briefed. 

While waiting for everyone, several braille cards were given and we tried to learn how to read using it. I actually enjoyed memorizing each letter and I plan to master it soon. It was also a very engaging way to introduce us to the world of the visually impaired.