Many of us know Christian Mark Jacobs as the other (equally goodlooking) half of Francis Libiran, the fashion designer to the stars. But what some don’t know is that Jacobs is the man behind The Naked Foodie, the new blog and vlog that features restaurant reviews, food and travel vlogs, recipes, and an e-commerce site that offers luxury cakes and pastries, as well as wines.

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When it comes to coffee, most people think that it’s just a drink that can perk up the senses on an early morning. But people are becoming more creative, infusing it in food and other drinks to create new and unexpected flavors. Last October, Holiday Inn & Suites Makati celebrated Philippine Coffee Month with a selection of coffee-infused dishes and drinks!

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Whenever I think of Ramen Nagi, the one word that comes to mind is decadence. Whenever I eat there, the restaurant goes all out in terms of flavors and ingredients. One look at any of the legendary Kings (Black, Red, and Green) and you know you’re getting a mind-blowing culinary experience. Now, the ramen place has outdone itself with the ultimate in decadence: the launch of the Truffle King.

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One of my favorite parts of Christmas is the announcement and race for the Starbucks planner. I’ve been using planners since 2005 and have relied on it to keep track of dates, events, deadlines, and appointments, and the years have become more special because I use my handy dandy planner!

This year, Starbucks has outdone itself yet again by releasing four versions of two variants: two planners and two travel organizers. I have all the details for you and I’m doing another giveaway so check out what the coffee chain has in store for you:

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I wasn’t able to join any Halloween parties or wear any costumes, but I enjoyed seeing photos online. Some of my favorite costumes were inspired by memes, and there was even one party where guests came as characters from the Crazy Rich Asians film adaptation! What did I do (and will continue to do) this Halloween season? Veg out in bed and watch American Horror Story and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Yes, I’m still too scared to watch The Haunting of Hill House!

I did get to participate in the season but I got to try Krispy Kreme’s new line of Halloween doughnuts. Hey, at least it’s something, right?

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One of the festive parts of Christmas in the Philippines is the Starbucks holiday offerings. People get into a frenzy collecting stars for the planners (more on that in a separate post, but I have some photos on my Instagram Stories), trying the new seasonal drinks and food, and buying the colorful Starbucks merch. This year’s collection is wonderful and I have everything you need to know about it here:

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I’ve always had a sweet tooth, even now that I’m working out to get fit. Try as I might, I can’t get rid of my cravings for sweets so I just accepted my fate by controlling my portions and seeing it as a reward after completing a task.

For me, the best pair to a sweet treat is a cup of coffee or tea. It’s the perfect beverage to cut through the confection and frankly, it’s delicious! Last month, I was introduced to a few coffee hacks by Tim Hortons, where you can combine their coffees with any of their sandwiches or baked treats!

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Paradise Dynasty is one of my favorite Chinese restaurants in Manila. I love their xiao long bao (especially the eight-flavored ones), the gooey Charcoal Custard Lava Bun that tastes like salted egg yolk, and the many flavorful dishes that will make you want to order everything.

Recently, Paradise Dynasty expanded their menu and decided to add four new dishes, and I got to try them before it was launched late last month. They’re the Fried Duck, the Grouper with Pine Nuts and Fruits, the Grilled Grouper with Tofu in Mapo Tofu Style, and the Shanghai Style Braised Pork Belly.

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