Frannywanny

If there's one person here in the Lion City who has been really supportive of this blog aside from Paul, that would definitely be C. C has been giving brilliant ideas on what topics I can write about, how I can further keep you, my readers, entertained and he would also share news about restaurants that I have to try out. In fact, the Explore Singapore series came about after a quick chat with C one afternoon. I do hope you're all enjoying that new addition in this blog and we all got C to thank for. Anyway, he turned another year older (and wiser) two weeks ago but due to a really unfortunate and sudden incident, we had to somehow postpone his celebration to last weekend. Well, I do believe in week-long even month-long celebrations so it's really not too late. C didn't gave much information on where his birthday lunch will be except an instruction to meet us at the lobby of the hotel where he had a nice weekend staycation with his wife I. As soon as we got to ou...

TWG Tea Company was established here in Singapore and the funny thing is, the first time I finally went to try it was during my sister's recent visit as she agreed to meet up with her college buddy R for an after-dinner night cap. Being the protective sister that I was, I just can't leave her alone so I insisted to tag along whether they like it or not. Well... another reason is because I was dying to finally try TWG too!  *evil laugh* So, we got there an hour and a half before their ION Orchard branch closes. We promised the server that we will be quick and we just want to have some tea and cakes. Look how pretty the store is! The entrance is lined with the wide array of TWG flavors available on one side and a long line of pretty colorful macarons on the other. Oh, this is such a pretty, dainty place for a girly catch-up.  As soon as R arrived, we wasted no time in ordering our desserts and drinks. They had a rather complex menu of tea blends and sensing our conf...

In my opinion, when it comes to Indian food, there are just two types of people -- one who loves it to bits and one who don't. Rarely have I encountered anyone who's in-between. What's being in-between, after all?! I consider myself lucky as the people whom I regularly eat out with all share the same love for Indian food as I do so it's not difficult to convince them where to go whenever the craving for prata, butter chicken masala, paneer or papadum comes about. Back in Manila, Pan has been my constant Indian lunch date as we both love to order the same things -- see here and here . So, whenever I would have some Indian cuisine here, I can't help but reminisce about our fun lunch dates making me miss her even more. Khansama Tandoori Village is a popular Indian restaurant located in Science Park . Surrounded by office buildings, Science Park is a bustling place during the weekdays and a very quiet community at night and during the weekends. Who would have th...

Yes it's true! I'm not a mall shopper. You see, I rarely get to go to the mall and the only time I seriously would make the effort to go is when I needed something. Often times, my sister would say I shop like a man because I can manage to be and in out of a store in 15 minutes flat. I shop with a detailed list in mind as I just dislike wandering aimlessly for hours on end. Guess, it's the OC side of me. Time is Gold, after all. However, if there's something that I do enjoy, this is to online shop. With the fast paced technology that we get wherein everything we need can easily be attained in just a few clicks, I really do appreciate the efficiency of getting something done without even leaving the house. Through the years, I've managed to shop for my best friend C's wedding gift and to send it to her the next day, even bought toys and clothes for her 1 year old baby H, purchase dozens of airline tickets, bough passes to concerts and musicals and even groupon vo...

Lunch Break! Normally, lunch for me would consist of two slices of wholewheat bread and my choice of veggies or meat that I would tabao  from my favorite soup restaurant beside my office. On other days, I would bring some home-cooked packed lunch or if I want to go healthy, it would be a huge container of salad. Given that I tend to work as I eat, lunch has always been something light and quick for me. It has indeed been sometime when I was able to sit down, enjoy a real good meal and to chitchat a little longer. Well, after a series of stressful workdays, the kind genie (a.k.a. my friend WT) must have heard my plea and he granted me one wish -- to join him for lunch at Melt - The World Cafe in Mandarin Oriental . What makes it event better? The fact that Melt recently launched a 10-day long Filipino Buffet promotion highlighting a wide-array of classic dishes that I miss so much. This got me really excited that I've been looking forward to this lunch since Monday. ...

Everything wonderful in life comes in pairs.  Harry + Sally Batman + Robin Tom + Jerry Romeo + Juliet Paul + Fran ♥  It also makes sense for food to team up: Peanut Butter + Jelly Coffee + Milk Burgers + Fries Prata + Curry ...and the list goes on and on!  It then makes perfect sense for two gastronomic cuisines to pair up. Miam Miam  is a casual restaurant that brings out the best from both the French and Japanese culinary worlds. We stumbled upon Miam Miam by accident when we decided to check out Westgate in Jurong East one weekend. I was immediate drawn towards the uber chic interiors and I'm glad that the boys were game to dine in such a dainty-looking restaurant with me.

I grew up in a country that loves basketball. From the major associations down to the university-led ones, people from all walks of life would have his and her favorite team/s. I have to admit, I'm no sports fanatic and the only time in my life wherein I religiously watched the game was during my university years as my family is a fan of the Ateneo Blue Eagles  mainly because my sister goes there (or I think that was the reason haha) . After my sister graduated, we became less and less attuned to the games save for Paul who's a loyal Green Archer  through and through. So, when the World Cup began a few days ago, I somehow couldn't join in the conversation as I know nothing about it. Well, I do know it's being held in Brazil..and that's pretty much it. But hey, I'm no party pooper ! While everyone around me are closely watching the game, I found a way to show my support and to share the World Cup spirit and that's through -- FOOD! During a visit to Bre...

It's currently the Great Singapore Sale and I'm pretty sure a number of you are flying in or have already flown in to shop, shop and shop some more! I got to admit, regular price shopping is not cheap here in the Lion City so even we, residents, do welcome these mall-wide sales with glee! When it comes to shopping in Singapore, definitely Orchard Road would immediately come to mind. A whole stretch of malls located right beside each other housing a number of brands to suit our taste and needs. However, if you're here for bargain shopping, then head over to the Bugis district . Back in the 50s up until the early 80s, Bugis Street was known as Singapore's red-light district. This all changed when a major urban redevelopment project happened turning what used to be a street filled with bars and pubs into one lined with shops and bazaar stalls ready to cater to the shopping crowd. How to get there: With the addition of the newest MRT Downtown Line (Blue), you can no...

Pizza is one of those dishes that never fails to bring friends or family to bond. Sure, the mere fact that we would come together for a meal is a good opportunity to connect already but being able to enjoy something delicious from the same box or pan is something else. Growing up, Pan and I would have pizza for our afternoon merienda especially while studying for our final exams. Through the years, pizza has been our comfort food and something we would crave for every now and then. So, when my dear friend I came to Singapore for a short visit and she decided to round up the gang (which means inviting other Singapore-based school mates of ours) for dinner, the unanimous choice was Skinny Pizza . I have to be honest though, after trying about 4 pizza delivery companies here in the Lion City, nothing still beats the ones that I truly love back home . Somehow, the ones here are not as flavorful, the toppings are plenty but still ho-hum and the dough is normally thick and very chewy. ...

After a mind-enriching afternoon spent at River Safari , my family decided to head over to Raffles Shopping Centre for dinner. Not quite sure where to eat, I suggested that we try one of my favorite lunch places -- Osaka Ohsho . I know there's a branch in the Philippines already but since none of them have tried it yet, I might as well let them try the one here in Singapore, right? Luckily, we got there after dinner rush so we didn't have to line up anymore. We were immediately brought to our table where a bright red iPad menu was waiting for us. How cool huh?! No need to ask for the menu, no need to wait for the server to come to the table to get our orders. All we had to do was to flip through the options and to tap on the ones that we'd like to get. The program works just like an online shopping website where all orders goes to a "shopping cart" and when we've completed our order, all that needs to be done is to send it to the kitchen . Within minut...

While Singapore is popularly known as Asia's Little Red Dot  mainly due to its small land area, this has never hindered the nation in becoming one of the fastest growing country in the region (if not the world). Take their wildlife reserves for example, the country is home to hundreds of land, sea and air creatures and mind you, they all live freely in their own natural habitat instead of being thrown in a cage. This was one of the things that has impressed me when I first visited the Singapore Zoo more than two decades ago. Growing up, my parents would make it a point to take Pan and I to various educational sites be it in Manila or outside of the country. They both believe that learning is an ongoing process and this should not be limited to what was taught within the four corners of the classroom. I really love going on trips with them as we always come back learning something new. So, when my family came to visit me a few weeks ago, I think it's about time to return the...

I know the week has just begun but my mind is already all geared up for the weekend! It will be a very busy weekend for us as we're celebrating C's birthday, will be meeting up with an old friend, will be heading out for some last minute errands, will be visiting IKEA for their weekend sale and lastly, we will be at The Big Ohm Theory ! When I first heard about this, I instantly knew that this is one event that I would love to check out. No, I'm not an expert in yoga nor am I really the healthiest person in the land but I promise to make 2014 the year where I'll seriously try to live a healthier, happier and a more holistic life. We're half-way through the year so I really have to start somewhere and The Big Ohm Theory might just be my first step in reaching my goal. The Big Ohm Theory is happening this coming weekend ( June 14-15, 2014 ) from 9AM to 6PM at the National Design Centre  (MRT: Bugis) here in Singapore.

Yes, you read that right. Cebuano Lechon  here in the Lion City! This just got to be every Singapore-based Filipino's dream come true! It's true, Lucky Plaza has been there for ages and it has been our go-to place whenever we're craving for some home-cooked favorites but even after all those plates of adobo, laing, sisig or bopis, somehow the flavors still have not hit a perfect bull's eye. I often would think it's probably because I have a really picky sense of taste and the fact that my taste buds have been quite spoiled after all these years of being exposed to really good food back home. It sure reminds me of home, that's true, but there's just that lack of authenticity still, I guess. Then, a few weeks ago, I heard the news about a stall selling Cebuano lechon in Paya Lebar . A couple of bloggers began raving about it and even my friend D told me that she's excited to give it a try. Sounds promising! Finally, the chance to visit this side of ...

99 bottles of beer on the wall...99 bottles of beer... A couple of weeks ago, Paul and I were inspired to sing this song during our bus ride home. It was after a visit to the  Beer is Food  stall at the Golden Mile Food Centre where we had not one, not two, not even five but twelve bottles of beer and ciders! Okay, before you all wonder why we suddenly went on a drinking spree, we were actually invited for an exclusive beer tasting session which was so fun! Beer is Food is a new hawker stall found at the basement of the busy Golden Mile Food Centre. This is very near the Bugis district and is actually where you can find tour buses that heads to Johor Malaysia (a.k.a. Legoland).  I have to admit I'm no hardcore beer drinker and I really do not enjoy the chico -smelling after taste and smell I'd get after downing a bottle of beer. Anyway, Beer is Food carries top quality imported beer varieties and I was ensured that my perception of beer will change after this fa...

Thirty-Two.  Five years ago, I blogged about turning twenty-seven . I talked about the three things that I've learned and what I was most thankful of. I was still back in Manila then and was preoccupied about building my career and the fact that I'm a few months away from marrying the man of my dreams.  Then there was my 28th birthday , my last birthday as a single lady. A month after that, I became Mrs. Paul Ang . A couple more years and birthdays flew by after that, more learnings and more things to be thankful for. Fast forward to last Sunday. I celebrated another milestone -- my 32nd birthday .