Frannywanny

Have you catch the latest video that has been getting a lot of appearance and exposure 'round the social media channels? It's a funny skit created by Jimmy Fellon (such a talented guy) and Justin Timberlake entitled "Hashtag." This is what is called a hastag -- &gt ; # Show this sign to most of our parents and they'll say it's a number sign. For phone users, they'll say it's the pound sign. For Instagram and Twitter fans, it's definitely called a Hashtag . I'm pretty guilty of using hashtags in most of my Twitter and Instagram captions. An #example would be something as #classic as this in hopes that using #hashtags would make the word #trend . #yeahimcoollikethat #wishing The video made me think of cookies and speaking of #cookies ( hehe okay I'll stop ), let me share with you one discovery that I had during my short visit home. Meet Happy Cookie !

Today is #ThrowbackThursday and I'd like to share this photo with all of you: It was actually our first photo together taken during Paul's 22nd birthday exactly 10 years ago. We were not a couple then. "Just friends", as what we would tell suspecting friends and family members. Very showbiz, no? Anyway, it's Paul's special day today and I realized that I haven't actually dedicated a full blog post on him. I know he'd probably strangle me if he knows that I did anyway. He's a low profile kind of guy, shying away from the limelight yet he has always been there cheering me on. In keeping with the showbiz-ness of this blog entry, allow me to end this with my personal dedication for Paul: Dear Paul, Happy Birthday! May our future sons (yes plural) someday not only have your cute looks but may they also grow up to be the nicest, most selfless, ever supportive, loving and caring men too.  Looking forward to a lifetime of adventure with ...

I can't believe I haven't gotten around to dining at Kirin till late last year! As frequent visitors of Bonifacio High Street ever since it opened to the public, it's pretty much inevitable that Paul and I have dined at almost all food establishment in the area..all but one and that's Kirin Chinese Dining . I guess we were so busy trying all sorts of cuisines from Italian to American, from New Orleans to Filipino that we have overlooked the one that's closest to home -- Chinese.  Add to the fact that I've heard not-so-good reviews about Kirin back then that I decided to just put it at the bottom part of my priority list. It was until last New Year's Eve when my in laws invited the entire family out for lunch. I've mentioned a number of times that my MIL has really good taste in food right? Well, as it turns out, she has been a loyal patron of Kirin after discovering that the food was indeed yummy.  Lunch began with these huge steam baskets of ...

As much as I love to try new restaurants, there are just some that I do not mind going back to again and again. These restaurants are part of my list of favorites and they're the same ones I'll always trust when it comes to having consistently the yummiest dishes and the best service to boot. I've mentioned a few when Cathie interviewed me for her blog and I realized that I missed out on the one that I love the most -- Lolo Dad's Cafe . My love affair with Lolo Dad's began in 2011 when Paul and I went on a double date with friends R and I. We went back the year after and months after that . To date, I've been to Lolo Dad's for a total of 5 times and perhaps if only I don't live a thousand miles away from Manila, I would have probably been able to visit the restaurant more frequently. Recently, I went home to celebrate the birthday of my first love -- my Papa . As early as April, I booked my flight home as I wanted to make sure that I'll be t...

Last Thursday (September 19, 2013) was the Mid-Autumn Festival and this was widely celebrated across Asia. What makes it interesting is how exactly each country celebrates this special day. Back in the Philippines, the Filipino-Chinese community would have rounds of Dice Games . This is one of my favorite activities as it's a fun game of luck and whatever happens, you get to go home with lots of goodies, items or if you're really lucky...more cash. Here in Singapore, I don't think Dice Games are played but instead they tie this day in with the Lantern Festival . As early as a month ago, we have seen a lot of colorful lanterns being sold in mall atriums. I'm not quite sure yet what the lantern stands for but it sure looks really good to see the entire Chinatown district decorated with these colorful lanterns especially at night. However, the main focus of this season are on these hand-crafted baked treats that we would give to friends, families and business partners...

A fun contest is crackling soon and this time it's for my Singapore readers! Yeahhhhh Meanwhile, here's one thing that I'll surely be snacking on this weekend. Snax! by CP is having a special promotion for their new Chinky Chix in both branches namely Takashimaya Food Hall and in Jurong East' newest mall JEM . Enjoy crunchy deep-fried chicken chunks hand-brushed with your choice of sauce -- Spicy, Honey Lemon or Soy Garlic and seasoned with sesame seeds. Just for this weekend, these yummy snack be priced for only S$1! Watch out for a yummy giveaway happening SOON!

Having been to Malaysia only once wherein we decided to spend a week in Kuala Lumpur for the second leg of our Honeymoon, I have to admit that I know very little of the other states around the country and this includes Penang . If there's one thing that I know about this northern state though is that the food here is the best in entire for Malaysia and for that I still regret not taking the chance to visit Penang then. I'm not worried though as Penang is a short one hour flight from Singapore which means Paul and I can fly there for a quick weekend food trip anytime we want. Right? It also helps that my colleague K is from Penang and by just listening to her stories, I am convinced that Penang is such a lovely place worth visiting. After all, who wouldn't want to visit Georgetown which has been proclaimed at a UNESCO World Heritage Site? Well, I surely do! Call it fate that Paul and I were invited by our friends over at Traders Hotel for a preview of the ongoing Penan...

I've always been a loyal Starbucks fan ever since they opened their flagship store in 6750 in the Philippines back in December 4, 1997. A good amount of time of my college years were, in fact, spent hanging out at Starbucks Pearl Drive where I'd cram for the next exam, work on my papers or bond with new found fellow Starbucks loving friends. It's funny though that despite spending so much time in the store, I've never drank a single cup of coffee. I've tried all the other products though -- Frappuccino, Iced Tea, Hot Tea, Hot Chocolate, food items.. you name it, I've most probably tried it. I really don't know why but I never really found the "calling" to try a cup of java...till that fateful day in May 2006 when I officially became a Starbucks partner and THAT changed my love affair with the Green Siren forever. I began drinking coffee (in moderation of course) and eventually got my Coffee Master certification too! It has been almost half a d...

A new foodie trend is just around the corner! Want to guess what it is? :) Within days after the first batch of orders have arrived in Manila and bottles have reached its rightful owners it was then that the craze for the Ovomaltine Crunchy Cream  (Php. 490) has officially began in Manila! I'm so happy that I am sharing this yummy spread with my fellow food bloggers and readers! I hope you're happily enjoying your Ovomaltine Crunchy Cream sandwich/spoon/cupcake/crackers/banana/etc while reading this. If not, you can head to the pantry now to get your share as the next few photos will definitely make you crave for some... Don't say I didn't warn ya ! Look at this collage that I've created showing the Instagram posts of fellow food bloggers and friends! It's amazing how there seems to be a million ways on how one can enjoy the Ovomaltine Crunchy Cream : ...and if my blog post and the photo above is not enough to convince you. Allow me to share the floor...

Don't you just love pizza ? For me, it's such a comforting thing to have at whatever given time of the day. I just love having pizza when hanging out with friends or whenever I'm home and I'm just too lazy to whip something up from the kitchen. Pizza makes a great house party choice and I love having this with lots and lots of sprinkled cheese on top. We're lucky as Manila has a lot of good pizza options and sadly, this is not the case here in the Lion City. I've tried about 4 pizza brands here that offers home delivery service and somehow I haven't really found THE ONE then. Either the crust was just too hard, the flavor was really bland or the entire pizza has become quite stale and cold due to the long time it took them to deliver to our house. Oh how I miss my all-time favourites Roasted Garlic & Shrimp Pizza , Friday's Special or the ever-famous Stuffed Crust Hawaiian Pizza back home. *sigh* Anyway, we're not the kind who gives up so on...

11 July 2013 -- Exactly two months ago today, Paul and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary. We both can't believe how time has flew by so fast! It really just felt like yesterday when we were still busy planning for our BIG day. We can still remember every single detail and moment of that wonderful day. For the past two years, Paul and I would go on a weekend staycation to celebrate our anniversary. This year, we decided to do it differently. Since we're in a new place and there are hundreds (maybe even thousands) of restaurants out there, we agreed to meet up for dinner in one of the highly recommended restaurants along the famous Yong Siak street in Tiong Bahru . Our choice for that evening was Open Door Policy (ODP). Days leading up to our anniversary, we were told by our friend I to make a reservation because the place easily gets filled up. I wasted no time in doing so as ODP luckily has an online reservation system which I find so efficient! How I wish res...

What a great start of the week! Today, we hit another milestone as Frannywanny.com turns SIX ! Yes, dear readers, it has been 6 fun years of food and travel blogging and I guarantee you that there's no stopping! We all know what this also means. It's time to have some contest fun! Before I get to that though, allow me to put on my geeky glasses and to share some amazing numbers with you! Presenting Frannywanny.com in Numbers : Looking at these numbers still leaves me speechless. Six year ago, I began this blog simply because I love to write and I wanted to document my food adventures with Paul. Who would have thought that this blog has allowed me to try new things, visit a couple of awesome places and best of all, it has allowed me to meet new friends. I really am so thankful that despite being miles away from Manila, I can still strongly feel the love and support that you all have been sending my way. *big HUG everyone!* As my way of saying THANK YOU, here'...

*SPONSORED POST* Here are just some of the perks of being the first born: 1) Having the entire family (and this includes the extended members too) in the hospital hours before you came into this world and the same set of people rejoicing the moment the doctor has announced that you have...arrived! 2) Getting everyone’s undivided attention to your every move and to every word you say. 3) Being able to build a relationship with everyone in the family for a longer period of time. Needless to say, from the moment I was born, I’m lucky to be loved not only by my parents but even by my aunts, uncles and most especially my grandparents. For my maternal grandparents whom I lovingly call my Kongkong (Grandfather) and Amah (Grandmother), I was their first grandchild and I would remember spending every summer breaks with them. Unlike other kids, both Pan and I loved every moment with our grandparents. Who wouldn't? As Kongkong would spoil us by cooking all the yummy dishes that ...

Months ago, photos of this donut-like pastry has been popping up on my Facebook wall and Instagram feed . One post after the other from various friends would show their latest discovery and I have been dying to give this a try. CRONUTS . That's what they're called. A perfect play between the mouthwatering words "croissant" + "donuts" I later found out. Did a little research about it and learned that these sweet creations originated in New York, USA. Trust my fellow Filipinos to catch this food craze right away and so within weeks more and more bakeries and retail shops began offering their own versions of Cronuts. Before heading home last weekend, I messaged a couple of foodie friends to point me to where I should try my first cronut. They were very helpful in giving me tips and so I went home ready for my Cronut initiation. First stop was at Chatime in Pioneer, Mandaluyong City. When a friend told me about this, I immediately asked if she's su...

Singapore is literally brimming with lots of good food! From the nearby hawker stalls to the classy fine-dining restaurants. In the 7 months that I've been here, I have to admit that I'm going on extremely slow pace in checking the food scene out. I'd say it's because both Paul and I have done some drastic lifestyle change which includes less eating out, more time at home, eating home-cooked meals, staying healthy and starting a fitness routine. As much as we love food, we have come to admit that our lives were pretty much sedentary in Manila thus leading to a big waistline, double..even triple chins, high marks in our blood tests and all the unwanted sickness in the world. Moving here pushed us to make the decision to start a new life. New home, new life. Makes sense right? So anyway, we do still eat out but we limit it to the weekends. This is the only time we allow ourselves to indulge on that medium-sized cup of ice cream from Cold Stone Creamery or my favourit...

After having dinner one Saturday night, Paul, our friend O and I decided to have some ice cream before heading home. I don't know what it is with having ice cream but I guess, with the forever warm temperature we have here in Singapore , enjoying a cone, bowl or even an entire tub of ice cream always seems to be a good idea. The same is true in Manila only I'd always go for a tall glass of halo-halo (with a scoop of ice cream) whenever I get the chance to. So, there we were walking along Orchard Road when we were greeted by a long queue in front of Cold Stone Creamery outside Orchard Central . I personally do not like queuing up and having to wait forever till I can finally eat. However, the boys were pretty keen on having their ice cream that evening and assured me that the wait won't be long. Okay, I give in! What makes Cold Stone Creamery different from the other ice cream parlor is that they mix in various dry ingredients into your choice of ice cream. I really l...

Dear readers, I apologize for not being able to update this blog as much the past month. August was an extremely crazy month where I found myself juggling work, family, business, yoga ( yes..bagong buhay na! ) and back again. However, I'm back and I promise to share with you more of my recent food finds both here in Singapore and back home in Manila. Speaking of home, I flew back to sunny Manila over the weekend and boy was it a lot of fun! Home will always be home and though my visit was extremely short, I was so happy to spend all my time with the people who means the world the me ... my family and my closest friends. Within the span of 4 days, I was able to satisfy all my cravings and was also able to try a new restaurant too! Here's to summarize how my weekend went in 16 mouthwatering frames: Another happy thing that greeted us as we reached home was this box filled with the 1st batch of Ovomaltine Crunchy Cream !!! Weeeehhh! Thank you to all those who placed thei...