Frannywanny

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

I must admit that although I do have very strong Chinese lineage, I grew up at the other side of town thereby depriving me from living the Oriental life where horse-drawn carriages would go around and around town, where majority would speak the Chinese language (or at least, the more popular dialect called Hokkien ), where I can stuff myself with the best tasting dimsums, noodles and a lot more. Needless to say, I'm trying to make up for the loss as I would frequently visit Manila's very own Chinatown otherwise known as Binondo . Thanks to the talent and expertise of Ivan ManDy who conducts fun walking tour around Binondo as he shares his knowledge about his side of town as well as the secret food stops that makes Binondo a must-go place for not only the tourists but for locals as well. Notice we're all in Red ? :) Like Ivan, I take pride in showing a bit of my Oriental lineage to my friends. Such was the case when I accompanied three of my dear colleagues to Ivan's B