Frannywanny

Yummy Magazine has took one HUGE step UP! Presenting our newest creation!   Yummy Popcorn by Chef Tony in Southern French Herb with Cream Cheese flavor! This will be available in select Chef Tony stores starting June for only P200 a tub!! :) Watch out for more Yummy surprises coming soon! Better yet, grab your monthly copy to be updated ;)

Unlike the past months wherein I have successfully managed to write at least 5 entries a week, this month tells a different story. My entries are coming in slower than usual, I hardly have the time to blog much less explore the city for the newest food destinations... this doesn't mean though that Frannywanny is losing her passion for blogging..it's just that at this point in my life...my work and hobby must take a back seat and it's time to focus on that one thing that means the most to me right now... my personal life . Just two weeks ago, Paul and I formally took that big step closer to being a married couple. Nope, we have not tied the knot yet but we're definitely half-way there and literally 74 days away from our BIG day. Following our Fil-Chi traditions, we finally had our Ting Hun . This is the official ceremony wherein our parents formally welcomes us into each other's family. In other words... we're officially and truly ENGAGED ! Check out h...

I've always been a fan of Delifrance's sandwiches! I love mixing and matching different meats and spreads to their soft breads. My favorites include the Norwegian Smoked Salmon on Ciabatta Bread (Php. 179) and the good ol' Crabstick Celery on French Baguette (Php. 139). Lately, we're loving their newest sandwich offering, the French Dip Roast Beef (Php. 149) that's oh-so-sinful but very delicious that you couldn't resist but order this in every visit. I love it that their beef is quite lean and it's very flavorful. It's served with gravy but it's actually good even without it. I love dining at Delifrance not just for breakfast but for any time of the day. Delifrance has more than 20 branches in Luzon.

Call it mutual attraction, I discovered Serenitea and immediately fell in love with the whole concept that kind of took the place of the Green Siren in my heart. A year later, I'm more addicted to it than ever that I even had to impose a two-week hiatus in order to normalize the tea and sugar level in my body. Yesterday, I went back and enjoyed the familiar smell of brewed tea as I entered the store. Getting closer to the counter, I noticed that the server now has a new addition to their regular uniform. They now have cute button pins with words I couldn't not make out from where I stood. Finally it was my turn to place my order and Janet beamed at me as I ordered my usual large cup of Hokkaido Milk Tea (Php. 95). Looking closely I read her pink button pin and it says.... It sure was a great surprise and I love Serenitea more than ever!

Since Paul and I are starting to plan for our new room, we are now getting into the habit of checking out various home stores to get more ideas on how to decorate our room. First step was to determine our color theme. Taking the advise of my colleague and Real Living Magazine's Editor-in-Chief Rach, we browsed through a handful of home books starting off with our very own Color Book that we launched last year. Finally, Paul and I found THE ONE. We both agreed that our room will make use of neutral colors (beige, brown and white) with a hint of old rose here and there. From there, we began to scour around for decors and items that we will be needing to complete our room. One afternoon, I decided to drop by the Regalong Pambahay Outlet Store which was located just two blocks away from my office. It was also timely that I had to buy a gift for a dear friend's wedding and so I thought visiting this store would be a great idea. Inside, the feel was very Filipiniana/Asi...

I must admit my stress level has been at an all time high since the start of the year. It must be because of the new load at work or it could also be our fast approaching BIG day.. or perhaps its just because 2010 is simply a very busy, crazy year. Nothing beats taking a bite of my favorite chocolate bar once in a while... I love Snickers with Almonds . While the original flavor is satisfying enough, this one just gives you that extra happiness that you very much deserve. Speaking of snickers, I stumble upon an online game that can help take your mind off from work and allow you to relax for a while. Check out the Snickers game. It's a perfect way to test your hand and eye coordination. I'm sure long-time bloggers and chatters won't have a hard time typing all those letters without peeling your eyes off the screen. The mechanics is simple -- just type the flashing letters to increase your energy level. There's a time limit though so it's time to test your sp...

I'm stuck at home today. Had to take a leave from work due to a nasty stomachache that kept me up all night. Was it something I ate or is it because of stress? Whichever it was, I'm just upset that I'm wasting a beautiful day doing NOTHING. Going through the folder filled with my favorite photos I came across a couple that made me smile... these things truly make me happy and so I'd like to share them with you. my favorite drink my comfort food a sweet surprise wish I can be a kid again :) a delicious discovery the best set of friends LOVE :) Tell me, what makes you HAPPY?

To be honest, I don't think I have ever tasted Portuguese food , except for those yummy Egg Tarts in Hong Kong that I just had to get before flying back to Manla .Thus, an invitation to try O'Sonho 's newest branch in Eastwood was definitely something I was looking forward to. O'sonho , which actually means The Dream in Portuguese, has a very beautiful story behind it. Owned by sweet couple Cris and Nik Barancik, we were told that it has been their long time dream to open a restaurant. Thus, after coming home from their honeymoon and searching for a Portuguese restaurant here in Manila and realizing that there was none, this couple decided to open one themselves and the rest was history. We were treated to an array of O'sonho's best-seller. Starting off with a soup called Caldo Verde I enjoyed the thick and creamy vegetable soup that tastes very much like spinach but as Cris explained, it's actually made of kale leaves which can only be sourced abro...

With the temperature fast rising, it's time to bring out all your tank tops and light-colored shirts! One drawback in wearing tank tops is having your bra straps show and that is not fashionable AT ALL. Introducing, Inti-Mate Bra Converter ! This plastic wonder hides your straps giving you a clean no-peeking-bra-straps look! Check it out! :)

Imagine a perfect win-win situation... you get to help BOTH Mother Earth and your dear pocket.  click to enlarge See you all on April 22 and 23 as we join the Green Siren in celebrating Earth Day .

The email came as a surprise. I received a message from the PR firm handling Banana Leaf Asian Cafe that after reading my entry on my latest visit to their Robinsons Midtown branch , that they would like to invite me for lunch as their way of saying thank you for writing about my experience. It was a holiday when I scheduled that lunch to meet with them. I went with my mom and sister as we had plans of going shopping right after. Arriving at their Podium branch a little after 12, we arrived at the restaurant and were warmly welcomed by three of their PR representatives. We were then presented with their drinks menu. I followed my mom who got the Pandan Iced Tea . I liked how refreshing this drink was which was perfect since it was a very warm day. It was not too sweet which was one of the things that I do not like when drinking Iced Tea as some are just loaded with thick syrup. We took turns in choosing our lunch menu and finally came up with these: Pomelo Salad Thai Style (P...

Dear Scottie (the Hottie), You have no idea how much joy you bring to the family. I can't believe the effect that you have... with your joyful bark as I walk in the room makes my day's stress and worries go away in an instant. Who would believe that I was never a dog-lover before..make than an animal-lover at that. I was dead scared of puppies like you most especially those that would chase me around the room to lick my feet. Not wanting to sound dramatic but..you changed me. You love music and everytime Mommy would play the piano you would quietly listen and walk around in tip-toes as not to disturb her. You may still have to be potty-trained and can be a bit gross with your poo-eating habit but we still love you dearly. Continue to brighten our day, dear Scottie as we will take care of you forever and ever. Love lots, Fran :) *photo credit: Paul Ang

It was an exciting lunch as I was back at my favorite American diner ... Mr. Jones ! Just a month ago, I first tried Mr. Jones with the Yummy team and now I'm back for a food tasting in preparation for an exciting event for work! Thanks to Raintree Restaurant's super accommodating and friendly Marketing Manager, Belle ; I found myself enjoying a wide array of Mr Jones' specialties earlier was these will be served to our special guests in a couple of weeks. Here's what we had for lunch... We've tried The Threeesome during our first visit to Mr. Jones, I love the Egg Salad with Truffle Oil and Black Caviar! Each bite is h-e-a-v-e-n-l-y. The other two are the Prawn Coleslaw and the Macaroni Salad. Must enjoy these yummy salad together with their delicious butter toast. Make a wild guess how many milkshake we all had this afternoon. :) One? nah.. Two? Nope! Threeee? Maybe... Four? CORRECT!! Yep! We all had a taste of four of their best-selling milkshakes a...

While searching for recipes to try in the web, I happen to stumble upon the Del Monte Kitchenomics website and I had a great time browsing through its interesting and helpful features. I really was looking for something new to try but what really sets me back from cooking lately is the time needed to prepare, cook and to serve. I have a very hectic schedule that I even have to make time to relax and unwind. However, I miss our kitchen and being able to cook up a storm for my family to enjoy. While browsing through the website, I found a couple of recipes that are time-friendly. Cool! They also have a section featuring recipes that won't go beyond P80! This, my mom would surely love as she will be able to whip up a dish that's very affordable and seems to be very delicious too! Among all the web features, I love the Budget Tools tab that has a Price Watch and a Seasonal Produce list! No more second guessing when my favorite fruits will be in season. Want to be update...

After spending the entire evening bonding with Paul's high school friends, we dropped by Ristras for some late night snacks! We decided to share a Burrito (Php. 340) with our own customized fillings! Paul's side has chorizo red rice with refried beans, pork carnitas, and lots of veggies! My side, on the other hand, has cilantro rice, black beans with lengua and lots of veggies too! Ristras' burrito is HUGE! Thus sharing makes each serving just right. We love our burritos with lots of salsa and garlic cream sauce! Yum! Calling all burrito fans, why not take the challenge as Ristras has an ongoing Man vs. Burrito Challenge . The mechanics is simple, order a Godzilla Burrito (which is 2.5 kg heavy or equivalent to 3 regular-sized burritos) and try to finish it in less than an hour and a half (90 minutes). Successful challengers will get a cool T-shirt, lots of bragging rights and their name on the board! Plus, they do not have to pay for their Godzilla Burrito t...