Preventive Care: Nude Handmade Essentials' CleanPro Antibacterial Products

It has been months since the global pandemic Covid-19 hit us, and we still know so little about it. One thing is for sure, observance of good hygiene helps lessen the chance of getting it. And one new brand I adore now is Nude Handmade Essentials' CleanPro line. 

Hello, Nude Handmade Essentials.

Nude Handmade Essentials has an ample selection of disinfectants and antibacterial solutions to help shield us from the deadly coronavirus. Its CleanPro line has affordable but quality products that are great for indoor and outdoor use.

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. 

Adventure Chronicles: Flying with AirSWIFT

El Nido is one of the most beautiful spots in the Philippines. With majestic limestone formations surrounding it, El Nido continuously has been one of the top destinations by tourists and locals alike. But heading here used to be a big pain. Without any direct flight to this side of Palawan, one must be prepared for a five to six hour van or bus ride from Puerto Princesa. Thankfully, Lio Airport opened a few years back which serves as the hub of boutique airline AirSWIFT. But just when we thought our vacation would be a blast, things went sour at the end of our trip.

AirSWIFT's hub in Manila is at NAIA Terminal 4. Given its tiny space, expect long queues everywhere.

First Sip: Joe's Brew

A Poblacion food crawl is never complete without dropping by a bar or pub. As one of the hottest spots for a night cap, you'd be surrounded by several establishments that offer superb food, beer, cocktails and everything you need to paint the town red. And we made sure to include the popular Joe's Brew in our Poblacion food crawl last month.

Hello, Joe's Brew.

Joe's Brew is tucked inside the quiet side of Poblacion. It may be a bit hard to find this place with its modest signage but Google Map or Waze's pin are pretty accurate and will lead you to this quirky pub. 

First Sip: Bitters Bar

Who says it's too early for cocktails? It is always five thirsty in my clock! 

Hello, Bitters Bar.

Quite hidden on top of 2nd's new home is Bitters Bar, one of the newest bars in BGC with an interesting apothecary theme. 

First Bite: Raging Bull

I was so curious about Raging Bull ever since A mentioned it during our lunch at Canton Road. As a steak lover, I just have to pay the restaurant a visit. And two weeks later, I finally did. Thanks to Zomato!

Hello, Raging Bull. 

Just like its Chinese restaurant neighbour, the facade of this restaurant is fancy with its touches of dark browns and gold. 

The interiors of the dining area is equally elegant with its dark finishes. I could imagine the cast of The Godfather dining here. 

First Bite: Farmacy Ice Cream and Soda Fountain

I have been planning to visit Farmacy Ice Cream and Soda Fountain for almost a year now! But for some reason, I always end up going somewhere else till one Monday night.

My long wait is finally over! Hello, Farmacy Ice Cream and Soda Fountain!

The store is quite charming with its slightly retro signage.

I also loved the “prescriptions” sign which is a play with the name of the store (Farmacy—Pharmacy).

But what I loved most about this place is the oh-so-patient staff who let us try as many flavors as we want till we decide which one to order. I think I sampled over 8 flavors.

After my sampling spree, I decided to get Pick Me Up sundae (PHP280) which comes with Hazelnut, Vanilla and Coffee Verve ice cream, toffee nuts, whipped cream and an espresso shot topped with thin chocolate waffle. Since I wasn’t too crazy with vanilla, I went with Milk, one of the flavors R sampled. Milk was just like vanilla, only creamier. I also swapped whipped cream with sliced almonds for more texture.

And after a bit, my sundae arrived.

First Bite: Unit 27 Apartment Bar + Cafe

It is very interesting how Manila has turned from an Aristocrat-Jollibee-Max’s-McDonald’s foodie scene into one where every corner has a yummy find. At Fort alone, there are a lot of places worth visiting and every month a new one opens. I get so overwhelmed (though mostly, it’s my wallet that gets overwhelmed) just thinking of all the places I could visit. And just yesterday, I visited…

Unit 27 Apartment Bar + Café.

The place is screaming cute and it reminded me of Hole in the Wall with its charming décor.

Since I made my research before going, I found out that Unit 27 Apartment’s bestseller is its Jack Daniel’s Aussie Bacon & Egg (PHP495). It is one of the restaurant’s expensive dishes but since it made me curious, I ordered one and decided to split it into two (one as early dinner and the other half as my lunch the following day). 

The other dishes ordered were the Peanut Butter & Banana Pancake (PHP280), Truffled Fries and Popcorn (PHP350) and House Party Nachos (PHP495).

Restaurant Discovery: Frankie’s New York Buffalo Wings

As a hardcore The Walking Dead fan, my Mondays are blocked for my 1 hour bonding with Rick, Glenn, Terry, Carol, Maggie, Michonne, and of course, Daryl. However, I can get lured by restaurants I have never tried before in an instant. I blame my tummy. >.<

K suddenly wanted to eat out and since he lives a few minutes from my office, we decided to have dinner somewhere in Ortigas. He recommended wings and honestly, I’m not fond of wings. I always think that you end up paying for the bones and not the meat. Anyway, I gave in as I’m not really craving for anything in particular and I had to be home by 9 p.m. so we had to decide fast.

Soon, we’re at Frankie’s New York Buffalo Wings, a wings place at City Golf.

Frankie’s has an industrial/basement chill vibe and I noticed that the diners are students and yuppies. Well, with the affordable prices, it’s not hard to attract the young market.

We decided to order the following: a basket of fries, three types of wings—Cheesy Bacon (PHP173), Nagoya Tebasaki (PHP173) and Caribbean Jerk (PHP173). We also ordered a slice of New York Cheesecake (PHP120) and a few bottles of Tanduay Ice to start the week right. :)

First served was the basket of fries and just like what they said, they use real potatoes. Yey! Nothing fancy about it though.