PC Picks: Sprout Around The Corner

I've been hearing about this new healthy convenience store slash restaurant that opened in Makati a few months back. In the times that I've driven along the streets of Salcedo Village, I've never seen where this restaurant was located at. Last Sunday, I went out for a run in the Makati CBD, since weekends are the best days to be in Makati (no traffic, and not much sun, since all those buildings provide great shade). Rain clouds were looming, but I decided to continue on with my run. It was only when the raindrops were getting fatter and already penetrating my light rain jacket that I decided to take refuge indoors and wait it out. I was right on Rufino Street when I remembered that Sprout was just around the area. A quick search in the online foodie directory, OpenSnap... 

And there you go, it was literally just around the corner!

Shots, Shots, Shots!

The first thing that I grabbed was this tart and tangy bottled sunshine. Sprout's all-natural energy shot, Spice Market, is a great post-run treat. Its ingredients include turmeric (with anti-inflammatory properties for faster muscle recovery), honey, calamansi, apple cider vinegar, and water. 

Sprout: Freshness On The Go

Aside from the takeaway meals, Sprout also serves freshly prepared food: savory dishes, soups, and its house specialty, arroz caldo, made with oatmeal instead of the typical rice. I got the pumpkin-ginger soup (sorry, no photo) which went perfectly with the evening's rainy weather. Maybe I'll try the oats arroz caldo the next time I go back.

A Place To Chill

With its high ceiling and exposed beams, Sprout has the industrial look down pat. Their moss accent wall and wooden furniture keeps the place down-to-earth and cozy. The place is so inviting that you'd actually think that you're just going to grab and go (as one normally would in a convenience store), but end up browsing through all the racks, picking out what you'll be eating for the next "course". Everything there is healthy, so there's not much guilt factor. Mapapa take home ka pa! The chiller is filled with salads, juices, puddings, and even fresh ginger ale. Cocolatto vegan ice cream and Picole Healthy Pops, an all-time favorite of mine, are also available.

Rows of Healthy Goodness

Their shelves are lined with more shots, homemade energy bars, natural kale chips, and mushroom chips in flavors too many to take note of. So, I guess you'll just have to check Sprout out for yourself! ;) 

Sprout Review on OpenSnap: http://www.opensnap.com/en/manila/r-sprout-makati-medical-healthy-food-r472232

Sprout
G/F Signa Designer Residences, 
Valero corner Rufino St., 
Salcedo Village, Makati City

For more restaurants and food finds, download OpenSnap app from App Store or Google Play.

PC Picks: Power Chow at Salcedo Community Market

Summer weekends are meant to be sweaty. And as long as you're not clad in office attire, welcome, even. Nope, wasn't out for a run (I ran yesterday), but for a few errands, which included a lot of eating and shopping under the sun. ;) 

Here are some of my favorite finds from Salcedo Market. All healthy, of course! 

Nat Soda Live Juice

I ventured off to the honeybee stall, Milea Bee Farm, which sells honey products. I was hoping to get a cold honey drink because it was a really hot day. They didn't have any, so I got the Yacon flavored juice (to go with my not-so-saintly burger) instead. Heehee. 

Nat Soda Live Juice are fresh fruits fermented in honey with kefir water. It's called "live" juice because of the probiotics found in the kefir, a combination of good bacteria and yeast. Yacon, a root crop that is similar to singkamas, is naturally sweet, so that means this drink is sugar-free! This also comes in other flavors: Pineapple, Butterfly Pea (floral), Pomelo, and Lipote (Philippine berry), which I'll try the next time I go back.

Kale from Down to Earth

The "It" superfood of the hour... Kale! Got this bunch from organic store, Down to Earth, which I had planned to chop up to pieces and freeze, so I'll have a steady stash ready for fruit-veggie smoothies (a la Jamba Juice).  And then I saw THIS...

Just Blend Frozen Bars from Picole Ice Pops

Aaaahhh!!! What is this bar of ingenuity that I have in my hand? ;) Oh, Picole, you homegrown brand of healthy popsicles, just when I thought that you couldn't get any better than you already are, you actually one-up yourself! Just Blend is, well, a blend of different fruits and vegetables all conveniently condensed in a frozen bar that you can easily pop in the blender for an instant smoothie fix. No ice needed!

I got a box of Just Blend's Green Glow (malunggay, kale, wheatgrass, cucumber, green apple, kiwi, lime) and Red Radiance (pomegranate, red beets, tomatoes, cranberries, washington apples, red bell peppers, red cabbage). One bar costs P43. You'll need at least two bars per serving. For less than a hundred bucks, it's way cheaper than store-bought ones or than buying all the ingredients individually. 

The Salcedo Community Market happens every Saturday from 7:00 am - 2:00 pm at  Jaime Velasquez Park along Salcedo Street, Makati City.