Frannywanny

Let me ask you all a question: "What were you doing when you were 25?"  For me, I was working for the Green Siren, organizing events and thinking of creative local store activities for each occasion and promotion. I was 25 when Frannywanny.com was born. That was probably the best thing that ever happened to me that year. Anyway, here in Singapore, two 25 year old guys have traveled around the world and have just opened their first ever restaurant. Thus, First 25 Cafe  was born. Now, what do you say about that?! :) 

To borrow Andy William's famous line, "It's the most wonderful time of the yearrrrr!" While he's definitely pertaining to Christmas which, which by the way, is 87 days away (yahooo!!) , I'm talking about The Great Meat Feast  at The Carvery  in Park Hotel Alexandra . I still remember when the hotel opened a little more than a year ago, I've been getting positive feedback and raves from fellow food bloggers about their amazing buffet line-up which is said to have one of the best steaks in town. That's really a bold statement given that there are a lot of steak restaurants here in Singapore and some are even owned by Celebrity Chefs and Michelin-star Chefs too. With testimonies like that, I was certain that The Carvery  was definitely worth checking out. So, when I got an invite to be part of an exclusive sneak peek session of The Great Meat Feast  at The Carvery , I made sure that I won't miss it no matter what! Our tasting took place more tha...

It has been raining on and off for the past few days bringing down Singapore's temperature and making it feel cool and breezy for a change. If you ask me, days like these is the perfect time to just snuggle in bed and stay indoors all day long. It's also the time when I would crave mostly for a bowl of congee or soup. Luckily, there are a lot of options when it comes to satisfying our craving for soups and congee. A few months ago, Paul and I visited the first ever outlet of Souper Tang  here in Singapore. Souper Tang (汤师父) originated in Malaysia where it has a total of 18 outlets scattered in Kuala Lumpur, Malacca, Ipoh and Johor Bahru. Apparently, Souper Tang originated as a TCM medical hall where the owners would sell herbal medicines for all types of illnesses. Then the lady owner would cook put together soup packs which she would give out as gifts to friends. Later on, it got so popular and people would request that she would sell her soups. This was when Souper Tang ...

"Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going." My fitness journey is pretty much a long-running one. I began working out at the age of 14 when my parents decided that I can't be that big, chubby kid who lives an incredibly sedentary lifestyle. Back then I was weighing close to 160lbs and that's considered obese for a 14-year-old. With daily swimming classes over the summer break and daily gym workout, I entered my junior year in high school at 145lbs. Not exactly skinny but the shape of my face has transformed from what used to be a perfect circle into one that thankfully has a more defined jaw line. This was also the time that I got into the habit of going to the gym and eventually frequenting the classes, trying out new routines every so often and making new friends too. Would you believe that once upon a time, I used to train for weightlifting and I used to be a regular Body Jam student too? I'd say that from that point on up until ...

Let's face it. Carbs is awesome. Yes, too much carbs can increase your blood sugar level, make you gain weight and a lot more negative health effects but if you look at the positive side, we can't totally do away without carbs because this is where we get our energy to go about our routine and tasks every single day. So, it's not really a matter of saying no to carbs but it's about being wise and choosing the right carbs and taking in just the right amount too. So enough about my health and fitness talk and let me talk about FOOD. When it comes to carbs, it's no secret how much I love rice. It may be a psychological thing but I always have to have rice especially during lunch time. More so when I know that I'll be working out later in the day then I need rice to keep me going. Sometimes I would try to eat healthy and go with a bowl of salad or a thin piece of sandwich but who am I kidding, right? I know that I will end up snacking after 3 hours. So, when Pau...

In a country where restaurants and cafes have been opening left and right, you could say that the competition to survive in this little food mecca is really tough. As fast as they open, we've already bid good bye to quite a lot over the past 3+ years that Paul and I have been here.  It's quite heartbreaking, if you ask me, especially for those that we've grown to love and patronize for the short time that they were around. That said, I really have the highest respect for restaurants that have withstand not only the test of time but in and outgoing trends and people's ever-changing minds as well. Take for example Harry's  which is currently celebrating their 24th anniversary here in Singapore. I guess, one of their secret is their willingness to innovate and to keep up with time. A year ago, they started to renovate their outlets doing away with the dark, very masculine-feel bar to a more trendy, travel-themed resto-bar that caters not only the men but to women an...

In Manila, when you ask people where you can find the best baked salmon, chances are they'll point you to just one place -- Conti's . There's really something about Conti's Baked Salmon that has made us fall so deeply in love with it. This was also my Ama's favorite and we made it a point to order this whenever she would come over for lunch or dinner. So, what happens when I suddenly have the craving for Conti's Baked Salmon and I won't be home in the next 3-4 months to enjoy it? I learned how to recreate it! Thanks to my friends N and T for sharing this recipe with me. I first prepared this for my friends who came over to celebrate my birthday last June and once again for my uncles when Aku was in town in July. It has been a hit every single time that it has become one of my favorite dishes to prepare. Add to the fact that it's really easy to do! Here's what you'll need:  3 salmon fillet (de-boned) 1 lemon 1 cup cream cheese 8 tbsp may...

Oh wow! 9 years. That's equivalent to 3,285 days or 78,840 hours. Looking forward, I'm actually a year away from celebrating a decade of non-stop food blogging, eating and cooking. To be honest, it really doesn't feel like it has been 9 years. I guess, time flies when you're doing what you love. So what's in store for Frannywanny.com for the next 365 days? Definitely more eating, cooking and food blogging. I'll be having a big giveaway soon so please stay tuned for that. Also, I have a ton of food and travel stories to tell and my only blogniversary wish is to finally start "unclogging" my years worth of blog backlogs. As with any blog anniversary, I dedicate this day to you. Yes, YOU. The one reading this entry right now. I once told my friend that to be honest, I can't believe that someone is reading my blog. I started blogging back in 2007 thinking that I'm just talking to myself or at the very least to Paul and to my sister who have ...

"I lost my iPhone."  I never thought the day would come that I had to say those 4 words and boy, does it suck to say it repeatedly to almost everyone I came across with. From Paul and my family, to my colleagues, to my clients, to the EZ Link Customer Service Guy, to the Uber driver and even to my telco service provider. Every single time I have to recount what happened and it was indeed heartbreaking. So my Tuesday began quite well. I woke up at the usual time to prepare Paul's packed lunch and to get ready for work. Not wanting to be late, I remembered that Uber Singapore was running at 50% off promotion all week so I thought to myself, "Why not?!" The driver, Mr Tai Kwang Yap  was a very nice, pleasant man who drove a pretty Honda Vezel which was a two-door sports car-like vehicle. Normally, I would sit at the back but since I was the only passenger and it was such a hassle to ask the driver to pull the front seat down just so I can sit behind, I just...

The Hungry Ghost Month is finally over! *phew* As much as I try to avoid being overly superstitious, it's hard not to feel a bit fearful towards this dreaded month every year where we're warned to avoid making big decisions, signing contracts, moving to a new home and of course, getting married or doing anything wedding related. It's also this month when Chinese all over the world would take extra pre-caution against accidents and sickness. Finally, it's over and it's time to celebrate! In a week's time, we will be having the Mid-Autumn Festival and it's so interesting to see how one holiday is being celebrated so differently across the region. Here in the Lion City, it's customary for families to light up pretty lanterns and to eat as much mooncakes to their heart's delight. Meanwhile, in Manila, most of us love this time of the year as it's when we play the Mooncake Dice Game (pwa tiong chiu) . I'm so happy that my Fil-Chi friends w...

Fitness talk on a Friday? I know it's not the most normal thing to do but change is always good and so today, we push aside our usual "Fried Food, Friday" to talk about something else. Aside from pushing myself to cook more at home, one of my resolutions when I first moved to the Lion City was to get into a fitness routine. It wasn't easy, I have to say. I started really slow and it was only when my sister got engaged and we were months away from her wedding that I found the real motivation to go to the gym regularly and to aim for my weight loss goals. After her wedding, the holiday feasting began and I tell you, the struggle to get back to my 3x a week gym routine was hard and real. Luckily, I will always have Paul and my friend D who will always motivate me to go and work out. Add to the fact that I discovered indoor cycling and I've been so in love with it for more than a year now. That's true love and commitment, you guys. :) Then early this year, I...