Frannywanny

Save the date guys!! Chef Daniel Green is coming to Manila! He's a popular TV personality, an award-winning author and a chef who has successfully lost 65lbs (amazing!) without having to hit the gym and has managed to keep the weight off simply by....eating right! Now, isn't that what we've all been dreaming off? So be sure to catch him at Dusit Thani Manila on the dates listed above. Calling all food entrepreneurs!! The UP Junior Marketing Association (JMA) is organizing a food bazaar called COCINA tentatively scheduled on August 12, 2011 at the UP Diliman Campus. This event aims to raise funds for the K.I.D.S. (Kids Integrated Development through Schooling) program which provides educational assistance to 25 less fortunate students who are at the top of their class but is in need of financial support. The bazaar is open to up to 50 interested concessionaires. Contact the following to know more on how to be part of this fun event! Jet: 0917-8245077 MJ: ...

Last Friday, despite the strong winds and non-stop rain, The Foodie Club got together to throw a special cheese-themed despedida which we coined as CHEESEPEDIDA for our dear friend Chris who's leaving in a few weeks time. Our plan was to throw a potluck dinner where everyone in the Club will bring a cheese-filled dish . Paul and I brought containers filled with our best-selling Pichi-Pichi with Cheese , Irene made her mouth-watering Quezo de Bola Cheesecake , Doña Joan prepared her signature Baked Macaroni with Cheese , Janey bought two types of pasta from Cibo , Didi (whom we miss dearly) sent over boxes of Pizza (with lots of cheese!), Tita Jane and Cara completed our meal with Cheese Ice Cream and Trixie and EQ brought bags of yummy chips with cheese ! You may have noticed that our line-up was filled with desserts and carbs, thus Irene and Richard offered to order from BBQ Chicken to fulfill our protein needs. I've been hearing about BBQ Chicken even when I...

Times surely flies when you're having loads of fun! I can't believe June is about to end and July is just a few days away! June is always a fun month for me. Of course we open the month with me turning a year older which also prompts the start of more than a week-long celebration with friends, family and basically everyone who matters in my life. This is followed by a couple more birthday celebrations in the family -- 4 cousins and my ever loving Kong Kong who incidentally is celebrating his 83rd birthday today (woohoo!!) . Since I'm definitely in a celebratory mood, I'd like too share the happiness with you guys by running a quick contest that will give 4 lucky readers the chance to receive a special gift from ME! Wanna know what I'll be giving out? Here they are! For the food lovers out there: (2) P1500 City Delivery gift certificates P600 worth of Boulevard Diner GCs Because a girly-girl just needs her Beauty Loot: Pond's White B...

I can still remember the first time I went to watch a circus act, I was very young then ... too young that I remembered buying a coloring book as a souvenir. Together with my parents and my little sister Pan, we trooped all the way to Araneta Coliseum excited to watch our first local circus show. The place was packed and I remember that we were lucky to get good seats. Good enough for us to see the performers up close. I was enthralled by the flexibility of those doing the trapeze and I held my breath and squeezed my Papa's hand as we watch from one heart-stopping act to the other. It had been more than a decade since but that amazing experience stayed with me forever. Fast forward to the present and I found myself on the way to Quirino Grandstand with Paul last Saturday night as we were both excited to watch Cirque du Soleil's Varekai . It has been a long time since we've watched a circus act and we honestly had no idea what to expect. The only thing we both know is th...

After our double date dinner with Richard and Irene which was also our first time to visit Minato Sizzling Steakhouse (now known as Jang Ga Nae ) in Pasig, we have been back a couple more times to celebrate my birthday and just recently for Father's Day. The restaurant now operates under a new name and had undergone major renovation where they did away with the low tables and created 4 function rooms and more regular tables to accommodate their growing number of customers. Through the number of times that we've dined there, we have grown fond of a few dishes that have become a staple on our dining table. Let me share them with you: Pork Ribs (Php. 240) - Delicious and tender pork ribs that you grill right on your table. I love that they use charcoal giving the meat a more robust flavor. Don't know how to cook? Don't worry, their very efficient server will take care of it for you as you will just sit back, watch and relax. This comes with a basket of fresh greens...

Through the years as Paul and I have visited thousands of restaurants here and abroad, we have opened our eyes to the different themes and styles imaginable. Normally, restaurants would just have the fun, casual vibe that matches their food. It's either that or a more refined, formal setting for fine dining restaurants. Aside from coffee shops that continue to grow in every corner of the metro, I secretly wish that there would be a little restaurant that would be inviting enough for you to stay and daydream the afternoon away. I'm talking about a restaurant with pretty interiors matched with classy trinkets decorated here and there. Perhaps they can throw in a nice reading nook where I can keep myself engrossed in my favorite chic lit novel while enjoying a piping hot plate of pasta. This is probably the kind of restaurant I'd have someday...the kind that girls like me can stay for hours on end as they catch up with their friends or spend that much-needed me-time. It s...

A much-awaited meet-up with my dear friend Sab brought us to Papa John's Pizza one late afternoon. Papa John's Pizza has been around since last year and I actually saw a couple of branches in California during my visit last February. In fact, one of my cousins once worked for Papa John's when he was still residing in the US. Paul and I arrived a few minutes before Sab did and I ordered the Waffle Fries (Php. 90) to ensure that we have something to munch on as there's lots to catch up on the moment Sab arrives. It came piping hot and crunchy. I enjoyed dipping it into their special marinara sauce which gave the fries a totally different taste versus the usual shoestring kind with tomato catsup. Sab, the ever demure friend of mine, carefully pick one piece up after the other as she updated us about her busy life as a hands-on Mommy to our cute flower girl Sophie and our handsome godson Brandon on top of running a growing business with her husband Brian. Amazing huh...

So we continued with our Sooo Pinoy Food Tour where we left Quiapo with a mind filled with new found knowledge and a satisfied stomach after tasting samples from Excellente Ham and Master Hopia Factory. We boarded our Wi-Fi bus that took us to our final stop of the day -- Cafe Adriatico in Malate. Paul , upon learning that Cafe Adriatico was part of the itinerary, became so excited as he reminisced about the fun times he had dining there with his family when he was a little boy. He told me how rich and delicious the Chocolate Eh was and he remembered having the Beef Fondue on every visit. Sadly, the restaurant had to do slight changes through time and I can't seem to find his Beef Fondue in the menu anymore. However, the Chocolate Eh was still being served together with their sandwiches or pastries which makes a delicious Afternoon snack. Our dinner began with a bowl of Sinigang na Bangus Belly sa Bayabas (Php. 220). Sure, we have been eating all day but I love Sinig...

Yesterday was the birthday of our National Hero, Dr. Jose P. Rizal . Unlike others (namely my sister and husband) who's forte lies in math and science, I'm pretty proud to say that I excelled in history. Probably because I love reading stories and reading a history book is just like peeking into the past and the lives of the people who played a big role in our country's history. I remembered perfecting my Rizal class in college as I totally enjoyed learning about the life of Dr. Jose Rizal and I would even read up in advance to know what happened next. As we commemorate his birthday, we are reminded of the sacrifices that he has made for our country. How he fought for our freedom and equality that we are all enjoying at present. For that I give him the highest respect and I salute him for his courage. Dr. Jose Rizal was also an awesome writer . Actually, he fought not with a sword but with his pen. Through his works he revealed the abuse and pains of the Filipinos and ...

Hong Kong remains to be one of my favorite destinations in Asia. Aside from the fact that it's just an hour and 50 minutes away from Manila, entering Hong Kong does not require a visa and while I've been there so many times since I was 7 that I know the country by heart, each visit still surprises me with new discoveries and finds that I get to take home and remember forever. For those who are planning a trip to Hong Kong , here's my easy travel guide to help you make the most of your stay in this amazing Asian food and shopping destination: First and foremost, a little 101 on Hong Kong -- how to get there and how to navigate your way around. When looking for a place to stay, I highly recommend Cosmo Kowloon Hotel for its reasonable rates and strategic location. I also love Butterfly on Prat which is located right at the heart of Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon as well. However, if you're traveling with kids, why not spend the night at the enchanting Hong Kong Disn...

If Jollibee is to Manila and In-n-Out is to California, all around Hong Kong you'll see Cafe de Coral or what the locals refer to as CDC . Cafe de Coral is our go to place when we want to enjoy affordable rice toppings. We love it that they change their menu from month to month adding new dishes while retaining the best-selling ones. After killing our legs from all the walking that we did that day and nursing our tired back with the heavy shopping bags that we were lugging around, we decided to have our dinner at Cafe de Coral . This is one of Hong Kong 's popular fast food where you have to choose your order from the menu board, head over to the cashier to order and pay, look for a table and wait for your food to be served at the counter where you have to carry the tray back to the table yourself. Despite being a self-service restaurant, I'm amazed at how organized the process was and people still manage to keep the tables clean and the utensils dispenser sti...

When they say that Hong Kong is the mecca for food lovers in Asia, they surely were not kidding as every corner and alley is filled with eateries and restaurants serving their respective delicious specialties. After having a hearty congee breakfast at Da Shi Fu near our hotel, Paul and I headed to my favorite place in Hong Kong -- Tsim Sha Tsui . This is where I enjoy scouring the streets for more delicious finds and at the same time the place where we would always shop at our favorite outlet stores along Granville and more retail stores at Harbor City (hello Uniqlo!) . I also enjoy staring at the beautiful Superstar cruise ship that docks at the Ocean Terminal and it's also here at TST where we would go to the Avenue of Stars at night to watch the display of lights and to visit the Jackie Chan souvenir store nearby. Since our schedule was quite packed that day, we only felt hungry a little past 2PM and thus decided to look for a place to have lunch. I flew to Hong Kong ...

A trip to Hong Kong is not complete without having congee for breakfast. Just to show you how good congee in Hong Kong is, it is powerful enough to pull my husband out of bed and to have breakfast with me as Paul is the type of guy who would choose to sleep and stay in bed more than to have breakfast any day. Of course, given that we normally just have three to four days to spend in Hong Kong , we make it a point to dedicate at least one morning for congee. We also do not frequent just one congee house, instead, we take on the challenge to search for more hidden gems especially those located along residential alleys. We feel, the less commercialized the congee place is, the better congee they make. During our recent visit to Hong Kong we chanced upon Da Shi Fu which located along Ivy Street, a restaurant-filled area across our hotel . Outside the store is a dispenser machine for Soy Milk, Paul's favorite drink and aluminum racks with Chinese crullers otherwise known as...

Today we celebrate our 113th Independence Day . It all began on June 12, 1898 at Kawit, Cavite where Former President Emilio Aguinaldo declared the independence of the Philippines from the Spanish rule. Year on year, we celebrate this special day wherein majority would proudly wave our flag, go on a local Pinoy-inspired tour, sing our national anthem and a lot more. Here are Frannywanny.com , we turn the spotlight on to *what else?!* the food . Given that our country has been colonized by both the Spanish and the Americans, I'd say both influences have really played a big role in making our dishes pretty unique. Growing up, I've have the privilege to orient my taste buds to the varied flavors of our local cuisine. There's the coconut-loaded dishes that I truly love like the Gising Gising and Laing. Then we also have the deadly cholesterol-filled ones that are really sinful but are equally delicious such as the ever-famous Lechon, Crispy Pata and Sisig. Of course we hav...

...and the fun never stops!! After celebrating my birthday with The Club, my high school best friend and my family, I went back to work the day after my birthday leave and scheduled to have lunch with my closest colleagues. They let me decide where lunch will be held and after finally choosing between 2 to 3 restaurants, I finally went for Cantinetta which was located outside the Powerplant Mall. The reason for choosing this restaurant? 1) I am craving for pasta and truffles 2) I love Italian food 3) I haven't had a full meal at Cantinetta ever (the last time was when I just had a bowl of Gelato). Thus, Cantinetta was our lunch destination that day. My colleague I was the first to arrived and she was given a basket of warm bread and two types of spreads. At the same time, she went ahead and got a plate of Spinaci e Funghi (Php. 300) for us to share. I love the bread and the delicious Chicken Liver Pate . I enjoy having this topped with some sweet salsa on top. D...

I am so excited for this weekend, wanna know why? :) First of all, my college friend L and her fiance T are finally getting engaged! By this I mean, they will be having their Ting Hun and we were lucky to be invited to be there on their special day. I can't believe my dear friends are finally tying the knot in less than 5 months!! What a happy happy thing to look forward to! :) Secondly, Paul and I are going on a trip... not on a plane...not even on a boat but on a van filled with 14 other bloggers and four lucky people who will be joining us on a fun food trip around town !! I saw the itinerary and I've been so excited for the trip ever since! I've never been to most places on the list thus this will be a new experience for me. Of course, since we're also celebrating our country's Independence day this weekend, the food trip is Pinoy-themed. That's the final clue I'm giving out...it will be a Pinoy Food Trip and right now I'm having visions of Cr...

I love buffalo wings! It's funny that while I do not like spicy food, this is one dish that I can't pass up on when given the opportunity. I also love coating my spicy chicken wings with bleu cheese and munching on it until the bones are sparkling clean! Through the years, I've had the privilege to try a number of buffalo wings and while some have failed to meet our expectations , others were quite fantastic that it gets me craving for more every so often . I was able to first taste and experience Sunrise Buckets at my nephew's birthday party two years ago. I loved it that they gave us plastic gloves to use so as not to get our hands all dirty and oily while enjoying their chicken wings. Even my dear Kongkong (grandfather) enjoyed his own bucket of wings that he wouldn't even want to share with my auntie (teehee) ! It was pretty good, not too spicy and the wings had just the right amount of meat too. Fast forward to last Saturday, I woke up right before ...

One reason why I always look forward to celebrating my birthday is because I get to try a number of new restaurants on my list and I have the perfect excuse to eat out and splurge! With that, I really give a lot of effort on thinking of places to treat my families and dear friends in. My birthday celebration began two Sundays ago when Irene and I treated the club to an afternoon merienda at Bag of Beans in Tagaytay . I love their Shepherd's Pie, Hot Chocolate and Bread! I'm glad that the rest of The Foodie Club enjoyed our simple merienda treat too. This was followed with an intimate Chinese dinner with my best friend T, my sister Pan and of course, my husband Paul at the newly-opened Choi Palace at the Eastwood Mall . What made this dinner interesting was the fact that my friend T, who just had her teeth whitened, is not allowed to eat anything colored. Thus, I spent the entire morning racking my brain on where we should have our dinner. While others may find this qu...

I love to travel and when I travel, the one thing that I look forward to is to eat the local dishes found in the country where I'm visiting. Nothing beats enjoying something authentic. While I've never been to Vietnam, this has been part of my list since last year after seeing photos taken by my friend L. She spent three fun days in Vietnam and enjoyed authentic Vietnamese coffee and fresh spring rolls with plump shrimps inside. Oh my mouth waters as I view her photos. An invitation to Aquaknox brought The Foodie Club together one Sunday lunch. Since we were a big group, we didn't arrive at the restaurant at the same time. Therefore, to while away time for the early birds, we were given a basket of Prawn Crackers to munch on. Delicious prawn crackers very similar to those that you can buy from the grocery and fry at home. I love dipping this in vinegar. When more than half of The Foodie Club have arrived, the kitchen began to serve our meal. First came the Goi Cuon...

Who doesn't love canned goods? With the wide-variety available in the market, the choices are pretty much endless! Growing up, my sister and I have had a number of  Vienna Sausages and Spam in the morning, Sardines Pasta once in a while and our ever favorite Corned Beef Macaroni every single time the craving arises. In fact, one Christmas Day when we all had to skip our annual family dinner because my sister was sick and all four of us have to stay home, Mommy prepared a plate of Corned Beef Macaroni to cheer us up. This is a pretty special recipe because my Mom learned this from her best friend's Mom who according to Mommy was an awesome cook! I love all types of Corned Beef from Palm to the local Purefoods. I love mixing this not only with macaroni but of course with rice! For me, it's one very versatile food item that goes well with rice, bread, pasta, crackers, egg and a lot more! Of course, it's also yummy when eaten alone. While talking about Corned Beef ...

.... I would like to say THANK YOU ! Through the years, this blog has been a witness at how I was able to celebrate each birthday. At 27, I listed down the three big things that I was thankful for. At 28, I made a longer wish list and I'm glad I've accomplished most of them. This year, I wanted to make another list but after thinking hard about it, I realized there's really nothing BIG that I would like to wish for...expect perhaps for a baby but that will probably come on my 30th birthday. I guess, I am a pretty contented girl. I am blessed to have the best husband in the world , a wonderful family who loves me dearly, my new family a.k.a. my in-laws who opened their arms to welcome me, friends who accepted me for who I am and who have always been there for Paul and I any time we need the support and assistance. Of course, there's Scottie who never fails to brighten up my day . ♥ My friend Sophie's right when she greeted me today and said that I am a ...