Frannywanny

From the moment that I got engaged, I simply thought that Paul and I will be able to have more time to spend dating, going out on regular movie nights, enjoying a weekly massage and a lot more. In other words, I never thought that after being married for two years, our schedules would turn from hectic to crazy to crazier! Every weekend, we have deliveries to attend to, a growing business to take care of and a number of functions and parties to attend. That's how our two day weekend run and we don't even have a baby to worry about yet! Our weekends are normally filled to the brim that we truly cherish rare lazy weekends with not a single thing to do. This is the reason why both Paul and I love having impromptu dinner dates that allow us to unwind and to just enjoy a really good meal. A few months ago, we got an invite to we spend a quiet night at Dusit Thani Manila 's Italian restaurant -- Tosca . We've dined at Tosca before, first, for an event for work and second, a...

I'd say, our week-long stay in Korea was really a good mix of some retail therapy, food adventure, cultural immersion and just more fun and intense bonding with the entire gang. On our 3rd day, we all headed to Everland Resort ! We took the subway to Gangnam (oppa Gangnam style!) where we rode bus 5002 to Everland Resort . The drive was long and the bus was so crowded that a number of us felt nauseous as we got to the theme park. After all, Everland Resort is located at the outskirt of Seoul already. It's a good thing also that we spotted an online promo that gave ticket discounts to groups of 4. In a snap, just like the game of "the boat is sinking", we quickly grouped ourselves to sign up for the said promotion. Paul and I teamed up with Jane lowering the regular adult ticket worth W40,000 (Php. 1,500)  to just W37,000 (Php. 1,400). Not much really but when traveling, we are definitely not saying no to any form of good bargain. Everland Resort is divide...

Three weeks ago, I happily announced the winners of my month-long 5th Anniversary Giveaway contest . As soon as I sent out the emails to the winners, I immediately got their replies back together with them sending me their mailing addresses and contact details. That same evening, Paul and I turned our dining room into a mini packaging factory. We carefully labeled each envelope, wrote down mini notes for each winner and attached the correct waybill papers to all prizes that will be sent via courier. We're both OC so we had to double triple check every thing before sending it out. There was definitely no room for error. I've been using Xend Business Solutions as my courier for almost a year already. Sending out all sorts of items from gift certificates to Starbucks planners and a lot more. So far, I've never had any problem with them save for one hiccup that involves them overcharging us for a couple of cans of peanuts. This was immediately resolved as the delivery man q...

After coming home really late from Everland the night before, half of our group decided to just sleep a little more and to just wake up in time for lunch at the COEX mall . The other half headed out early to check out the Samsung Kids Museum. Researching on Seoul, Korea; the COEX mall is always included in the list of must-visit shopping malls. What probably makes this mall attractive to its visitors is its size and the fact that it houses two food courts, hundreds (if not thousands) of retails shops, a well-stocked supermarket, a Duty Free outlet, restaurants, a number of movie theaters and an aquarium. Some would say, it would definitely take you an entire day to go around the entire mall. The mall is also adjacent to the Intercontinenal Hotel as well as the Expo and Convention Center making it very accessible to foreign travelers. Arriving at the COEX mall via the subway, our small group headed to the food court to have lunch. The choices were quite limited but each stall h...

Our recent trip to Korea wasn't just devoted to eating. Aside from nourishing our tummies, we also nourished our minds. It's also perfect that we had three young kids with us and I believe taking them to places such as this will allow them to have a better idea of Korea's history and to see what life was back then. After all, traveling should also be educational. True, I'm the type of traveler who wants to have a good mix of cultural immersion while enjoy the fun cosmopolitan life of a particular travel destination however most of my trips just lasts a week and with all the sights and places that we have to visit, I have to be wise and to choice the best spots instead of boring myself out by visiting them all. Don't get me wrong, I do appreciate the history and the culture but at some point, I feel that you see one __________ (fill this in with palace/temple/mountain/ruins) , you've seen them all! There are actually a lot of palaces in Korea but our group de...

It's a FACT! I'm a certified foodie and the world knows it! Barely a month ago, I received at least three text messages from random friends and relatives telling me the exact same thing : "hey, there's a new restaurant called Greeka Kouzina . It's along P. Guevarra. What's good there?" The first message made me sat up from my lazy-Sunday-in-bed-while-watching-The-Buzz-position. Just like a news reporter who had just received a juicy scoop, I made a mental note and later on (realizing that my memory is terrible) jotted down the name of the new restaurant in my planner. I got two more messages right after that and I knew I have to give this interesting restaurant a try ASAP! Finally, the day came for me to try Greeka Kouzina . It was perfect timing that my sister set a dinner date with two of our high school friends / neighbors and I'm glad that they were just as eager to try this new restaurant with us. The door opened and a familiar face greet...

I guess, one reason why I really enjoyed our trip to Seoul, South Korea was because it was a never-ending food trip! Our meals were not limited to just breakfast, lunch and dinner. Somehow, we would end up snacking even at odd hours. All throughout our trip, Paul and I hanged out with Richard, Irene and Lauren. It's a good thing that the 5 of us share almost the same taste in food and have the same shopping habits making it easier for us to maximize our schedule without wasting precious time. One evening, Richard and Irene were craving for something to eat at the hotel and that's were we spotted Two Two Fried Chicken , it is very similar to the Bonchon Chicken that's very popular here in Manila. However, its fried chicken comes in more flavors other than the usual soy garlic and spicy. Richard carefully brought his box of chicken back to the hotel and were even insisting that we join them as they feel that they can't consume the entire box of chicken. Paul and I dec...

When I got married two years ago, I thought I'd be able to hone my cooking skills further as I'll start cooking for my husband. While other may take this with fright, I welcomed this thought with open arms as I love to cook. I love experimenting and I look forward to making Paul happy with my cooking. It has been two years since and sadly I hardly get to cook. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining it's simply because we were blessed to have manang from his side and my mom and talented Maricel who would prepare our meals everyday from my side. Simply put, the need to roll up my sleeves and get busy in the kitchen wasn't there...yet. Still, I try to grab any opportunity to cook. Be it a simple breakfast plate or snacks for us to enjoy during mid-day, I really do not mind getting my hands dirty, oily and smelly..that's how much I love to cook. When I was sent a huge package of King Sue (pronounced as: king-sway) products I saw this as my opportunity ...

One of the attractions that I made sure we didn’t miss was a visit up to the N Seoul Tower . Researching about it, I found out that this 236.7m communication tower also goes by several other names such as the Seoul Tower, Namsam Tower or the CJ Tower . For starters, the tower sits on top of the Namsam mountain located right at the heart of Seoul in South Korea . Going there was pretty easy as there are buses that will take you straight to the base of the mountain. Look for bus numbers 2, 3 or 5 as you get off either the Chungmuro or Itaewon Station. As for our group, we took the train to the Chungmuro statio n and seeing that the tower doesn't seem to look so far away, we decided to walk. Yep! The Food Club decided to burn off all those calories gained from eating and so we walked. Luckily, we had Peter, Paul and Richard with us who were amazing navigators as they led us through an underground shopping center and up towards the base of the funicular . glass elevator. There’s...

Paul and I had so much fun during our trip to Seoul, South Korea ! We enjoyed our trip so much that we are actually planning for a return visit next year. This time, hopefully to see the pretty autumn leaves in Nami. I'm really crossing my fingers and toes for this. Our trip was just perfect. The cool weather, our very accessible hotel, the places that we were able to visit and a lot more. Our home away from home -- Hotel Skypark 1 was located at the heart of Myeongdong . It was a good choice given that we just relied on reviews posted in Agoda.com and luckily, what we saw up close was exactly what was mentioned in the said reviews. Our hotel was located right in front of a famous fast food chain called Lotteria making it so easy to locate and so convenient should hunger strikes. Initially, I thought Lotteria originated in South Korea but researching about it told me that this brand actually opened first in Japan by a South Korean and later on found its way back to its mo...

Today I started my 14-day Nestle Fitnesse Challenge and so far I think I'm doing quite well considering the fact that I had to battle with temptation brought about by our homemade fried rice, Frito-Lay chips and soda being offered to me earlier today. I was surprised that the Nestle Fitnesse cereal actually tastes good! I'll be having this for 13 more days! Meanwhile, allow me to share with you what my family and I had for dinner a few weeks ago. On nights when our cook runs out of dishes to prepare and Mommy just wants to relax and enjoy the meal, we rely on take outs and food deliveries. One Friday evening, Angel's Pizza, Pasta and Combo sent us one of their newest Holiday Bundle Packages . We got Bundle 3 (Php. 750) which is good for 8 pax. Bundle 3 comes with (1) Big Family Meaty BBQ Pizza which had generous cuts making it quite filling  after enjoying just one slice. The crust was chewy and quite good. Sadly though, I'm not a a big fan of pepperoni so I ha...

A few months ago, I was asked to be part of a photo shoot for a popular ice cream brand. I immediately said yes and was really psyched about it as this was to be shot by a really famous photographer. I've seen his works and I have to say, he is pretty awesome! So the day came when it was finally my turn to be in front of his camera. I went early to the studio, got myself made up, dressed as required and there I was, happily posing as he quickly snap away. I was out of the country when it was time to unveil the photos so I was really excited to see the final work the moment I got back from my trip. Luckily, my friend Richard got my photo for me so I was able to receive the hard copy a few days after that. As I opened the envelope, my jaw dropped. The photo was excellent but the subject (me) wasn't. Far from perfection, in fact. Back when I can still wear a tube gown and look vavavoom. Note the visible collar bone. Circa 2003. Let's just say it felt like I was given...

Let's admit it. Upon hearing the word vegetarian what comes to mind are veggies...lots of it. More often than not, the thought of eating veggies doesn't really equate to the same feeling as indulging on a plate of juicy perfectly grilled steak or even a basket of fried chicken. Yes, that's my carnivorous self talking. While I grew up learning how to eat my veggies, I still consider myself a very picky veggie eater. For one thing, it was only recently that I learned to appreciate eating bitter gourd (ampalaya). Sadly though, I still can't get myself to like the taste of eggplant (not unless it's cooked as an omelet or is part of a moussaka) , okra, peas, carrots and sayote and I honestly think it will take a lifetime to do so. That said, I can't imagine living life with no meat. This is also the reason why I have such high regards and respect for all the vegetarians out there. I admire their dedication and self-control.  Paul and I tried abstaining from beef ...

A month ago, I launched my 5th Blog Anniversary Giveaway with a Photo Contest . This was followed by three raffle contests that happened one week after the other. The response has been overwhelming. Day by day, I would receive not less than 20 entries in my inbox. The 3rd raffle promo had the most number of entries with a total of 95 uniques! All I can say is... THANK YOU ! However, I realized that judging the Photo Contest wasn't easy. There were just so many good entries that have made me exclaimed WOW every single time the page loads! Thankfully, I have 3 other judges with me. We went through every single photo entry for no less than 5 times until we reach our final decision. It was tough, I got to admit. At some point, I wish I just have more prizes that I can give away. I'll keep the suspense a little more by announcing the winners of my Raffle Contests first: *drumroll please* (3) winners will receive a pint of Merry Moo Ice Cream of their choice: Steve del ...

Here's a new snack discovery! It's amazing how KFC continues to innovate to tickle the taste buds of its wide range of clientele. Who would have thought that you can have more than chicken in KFC ! Recently, they introduced the Mac and Cheese Bites (Php. 49) and luckily, I was given an early sneak peek as I was able to try it before it was officially launched to the public! Thank you Col. Sanders! At first glance, it looked like a risotto ball but as I bit into the crunchy deep-fried covering I enjoyed the creamy and cheesy filling made of macaroni bits, bacon and cheese sauce. Don't expect though that you'll be able to feel and bite into the macaroni as it's pretty mashed up already. It's not so bad only I find the cheese sauce to be a tad too salty for my taste.

I believe that shopping and eating goes hand and hand. Like peanut butter and jelly. Like salt and pepper. Perhaps, even like strawberries and cream. Both fills a need, are pretty much therapeutic and at the end of doing either of the two, one always ends up feeling extra happy. No need to pop in the happy pill as this is a natural way of achieving that ultimate satisfaction and happiness. Agree? Rustan's Department Store has been around for years. This has been almost every grandmother's favorite shopping place and to this day, Rustan's has been my go to place when buying a wedding gift. In fact, it was also here where Paul and I did our gift registry for our very own BIG day. I love Rustan's for its quality choice of brands be it for the home, for your personal use or even for men. I really love it when department stores also think of their client's well-being in the middle of having their retail therapy. Shopping can be tiring and what better way to take a ...

Finally the wait is over! Since last year, we have been awaiting for the opening of the newest commercial building in the Greenhills Shopping Center . This is the one right beside Krispy Kreme and Promenade. As regular visitors of Greenhills, we would closely monitor the progress of the building and were lucky to quickly receive the news that the first two (I hope they’re not the only two) restaurants are now open – Gloria Maris and Wafu . Gloria Maris is no stranger to the Greenhills/San Juan community as most of our birthdays, engagements, weddings were celebrated there. I have yet to visit this new branch as I miss their shabu-shabu very much. Meanwhile, our attention gravitated towards the newbie – Wafu . It’s a Japanese restaurant and while others may quickly deduce that it’s there to rival the decades-old Sugi or Kimpura, peering into Wafu’s interior will tell you that this one gives a more modern Japanese vibe whereas the other two will always offer you the traditional fa...

It has been 5 years since my first visit to Bangkok, Thailand . In fact, that trip in particular allowed us to experience a number of firsts. It was the first time I traveled with my sister without having our parents with us. It was also the first out of the country trip that I took with Paul as well.  That said, it was a first for me to do the full itinerary as I was used to having my parents planning our trips for us. We spent a very short time in Bangkok but despite that, we all had a marvelous time and I was glad that we were able to have a good mix of cultural immersion with major retail therapy and of course, we were able to treat out taste buds to authentic Thai food too . All throughout our 3-day stay, Pan and I ate Pad Thai and drank Thai Iced Tea in almost every single meal. Comparing which outlet was better than the other one, we then concluded that we loved the Pad Thai at Big C which was actually a big supermarket similar to our very own Puregold or Shopwise. Th...

Just the perfect news to start my week and month! A few minutes ago, I got this email from the cool folks from Avis UK :  Yep! You read that right, Frannywanny.com was chosen as the Best Culinary Travel Blog for 2012 and it's also the Most Voted blog as well! The prize includes iTunes vouchers that Paul and I can happily use to download to our heart's delight and this cool badge that I'm will definitely be displaying for as long as I can in my sidebar.  While we wish it also includes a roundtrip ticket to the UK, we're nonetheless very much overjoyed by this new achievement for this blog. Of course, we all know that this would not be possible without YOUR help and with that I would like to THANK ALL OF YOU ! If only I can hug every single reader who showed their support and love, I definitely would. Meanwhile, allow me to continue to entertain and to inform you with my food and travel adventures here and abroad! Click here to see the full list of the ...

*SPONSORED POST* I scream for ICE CREAM! :) A grew up thinking that eating ice cream is only suitable during the summer months. When the temperature is at its all time high and nothing sounds better than indulging in a cold cup of creamy goodness to beat the heat. It was until I learned that ice cream can also be taken in the cold winter nights to help your body release more heat to combat the..cold! It may take a while for this fact to make sense but I tried it when it was shivering cold in Seoul, Korea last April and true enough, it made my heart tremble less and my body somehow was able to produce more heat. This now gives all ice cream lovers out there the reason to enjoy their favourite cold scoop at any given time of the day, month or year! Over the weekend, Paul and I visited SM North EDSA to check out a cute sky blue ice cream cart called Picket Fence ! Being big ice cream fans, we got word that this is really good stuff thus we know we can’t pass up on the opportunity...