frannywanny loves YUMMY

Today marks the last day of my one-week vacation. It's actually a good break in between two careers where I was able to meet up with a lot of long time friends, update this blog and prepare for the next chapter in my corporate life.

As a good sign for the fun things up ahead, I have received word from a fellow blogger that my letter was featured in this month's issue of Yummy.

I guess it's no secret that I'm a HUGE fan of the magazine thus prompting me to send the editors a short note to tell them that they are doing a great job! Who would have thought that months after, I will be walking into the lobby of Summit Media as the new Associate Publisher for *make a guess make a guess!* YUMMY and Real Living Magazines.

WOW. Ü

Sharing with you the published version of my letter to Yummy:

click here to enlarge
Boy I can't wait to claim my fist ever kitchen tool!

The Art of Shabu Shabu cooking

Since I've been drinking this nasty Chinese herbal medicine for a week to help cure my stubborn cough and colds, the side effect of this is making my stomach go berserk! Thus, I've been shying away from events that will make me stay out of the house for more than three hours. Hopefully, after drinking the final batch last night, I hope my stomach will finally stabilize the same way that my cough and colds have miraculously disappeared.

I almost turned down an invite yesterday to join yet another food blogger's event but thanks to the persistence of Achi Didi and Sophie
who were so sweet to pass by for me and to my stomach who remained cooperative throughout the night, I had a blast eating, laughing and bonding with fellow bloggers over pots of boiling shabu shabu!

The Magic of Shabu Shabu

For those who might be wondering what on earth is a shabu shabu and before you might further conclude that we underwent some kind of illegal activity last night, shabu shabu is actually a method of cooking using a very hot pot, a delicious broth and loads of fresh meat and seafood depending on your preference. Furthermore, in my opinion, it's a wonderful way to bring out that wannabe-chef in you! Ü

Last night, we found out that there's actually a procedure on how to properly cook your shabu shabu dinner. It's not just throwing everything into the boiling water and waiting for the meat and seafood to cook. More often than not, you'll end up with overcooked shrimps and flavorless meat.

Thanks to Candy Hwang, the owner of Healthy Shabu Shabu, we were thought which items to put in first (like the corn and taro) because it takes longer for them to cook followed by the ones that is needed to add more flavor to the broth like the prawns, meatballs and a few leafy veggies.

I carefully followed her instructions while consciously timing my prawns to make sure that it won't get overcooked as I do not like struggling while taking the shells out.

Finally, I had my first catch for the night. I carefully peeled the shells out of my first prawns, dunked it into the yummy garlic satay soy sauce and slowly savored the freshness of the seafood mixed with the flavor taken from the soup. Mmmm... Ü I am in shabu shabu heaven.

There are two more things that I love about shabu shabu dinners: #1) the garlic satay soy sauce which I dip everything (and I really mean EVERYTHING) in before biting into it and #2) the sweet corn which I always save for my last bite.

A very filling happy meal

Although rice is rarely included in a shabu shabu meal. Believe me, you'd be thankful to skip out on the carbs because eating the meat, seafood and veggies can be very filling already. I'd say, it's a perfect meal for someone who's on a strict no-rice diet! Yeah! Ü

You can also enjoy your own Shabu Shabu dinner at any Healthy Shabu Shabu restaurant with branches located at the Powerplant Mall, Podium, SM Mall of Asia, Alabang Town Center, Robinsons Galleria, The Block (SM North), Robinsons Midtown and Shangri-la Plaza Mall.

let's eat some...DIMSUM!!!!

Lately, snack time has been upgraded from the usual crackers and spreads to steamed Hakaws (shrimp dumplings) and Siomais (pork and veggies wrapped in thin dimsum wrappers). The good part about it is I do not have to leave my home to enjoy these delicious Chinese treats!

I'd like to share with you my latest discovery....

ChiLyn's eat some... DIMSUM!

The newest baby of my neighbors Ritchie and Arlyn. People all over San Juan and nearby cities will rejoice to these homemade steamed wonders.

They have just recently launched and I'm proud to be one of the first to have a bite of their all-meat siomai (health buffs will enjoy the absence of fats and other extenders), mouth-watering hakaw and my newest favorite, steamed pork spareribs.

What I love about it is the fact that these yummy delights are packed in their own individual plastic containers which makes it easy for storage in your freezers. Yes, very OC-friendly I must say. Steaming is also a breeze! Just transfer them into your steaming pan and after 10 minutes you'll be greeted with the wonderful smell of your piping hot dimsums!

Touches the heart, friendly on the pocket

Dimsum literally means touches the heart in Cantonese. I must say it's always a wonderful experience eating authentic dimsums that not only touches the heart but is friendly to your budget too! This is also another reason why I love ChiLyn's dimsums. For only Php. 130 I get a dozen siomais ready for my family to enjoy! Their Ha-kaws are only for Php. 150 for 10 pieces while the Chicken Feet is at Php. 110 for every 250 grams. This is perfect for a budget friendly dimsum party!

Click here to see their list of items and delivery details:



ChiLyn's dimsum is located at 125 Col. M. Ver street, Little Baguio, San Juan. Delivery is from 10AM to 5PM and is free around San Juan with a minimum order of 500php.

[Bangkok's Best] The best munchies in town

To conclude my Bangkok's Best series, I would like to share with you a couple of pasalubong (traveler's presents) suggestions that were all a hit with my family and friends.

Bangkok is known for its fresh fruits like lanzones, rambutan, mangosteen and dragonfruit. It is also known for its preserved fruit candies like spicy tamarind, sweetened cherries and a lot more.

Well, I'm letting you all in a secret.

Discovered within the long stretch of Bangkok's Chinatown are displays of yummy munchies packed in big red plastic bags. Sadly, we forgot the exact name of the store but it won' be difficult to look for it as the store is filled up with different varieties of dried pork jerkies, squid flakes and three of our new-found favorite snacks.

First is the Pop Chicken/Pork. This crunchy snack has a perfect sweet-salty blend that makes it very addicting. We were offered a free taste and we instantly bought close to a dozen bags to bring home. A bag would cost you around 100baht (approximately Php. 135 / $3). However, do not be afraid to haggle as the shop owner might just give you a discount.

The next snack pack is what I'd call Bangkok's chicharon (pork cracklings). It has the same sweet-salty flavor as the Pop Pork but comes in big size chips that easily cracks when not handled with care. Sadly, we bought less of this knowing that it might just get squashed in our bags on our way home. Too bad coz our mom really loved it asking us to keep two bags for our own consumption. This snack costs 130 baht (approximately Php. 175 / $3.90) per big bag.

The last snack found in Chinatown is my ultimate favorite. Thanks to Paul who introduced me to this wonderful munchy 5 years ago, I've been an avid fan since then. Though a lot of people, including myself, would shy away from the durian fruit, believe me its chip counterpart is truly sweet smelling and a delight to your taste buds. The Durian Chips comes in bite size yellow thin crisps that is slightly salted and perfect for an afternoon in front of the television. Though this is widely sold all over Bangkok, I was able to get the best deal in Chinatown which only costs me 100 baht (approximately Php. 135 / $3) for a huge bag! This prompted me to hoard on my favorite snack wihout realizing that I actually brought home more than a dozen bags, half of which will be for my personal consumption. Yehey!

[Bangkok's Best] Let's get Cultural at Siam Niramit

When travelling, we always believe that it is important to immerse ourselves into the culture of the country that we're visiting. This way, our minds will be enrich not only on the best retail products available but as well as on the history, traditions and culture of another country other than our own.

Despite the short time available for us to go around Bangkok, we made it a point to partake in a couple of tours that will help us understand the rich culture than serves as a very strong foundation for a country like Thailand. We took the advice of friends and scheduled a night to watch Siam Niramit. A cultural show that is truly breath-taking and definitely world-class.

Arriving at the area a little past 530PM, we were given our stubs for the Thai-Western buffet dinner and our tickets to the show. With the show starting at 8PM, we took the time to go around a mini Thai village showcasing the different culinary treats and art works all over Thailand. It also has a mini replica of a traditional Thai house and a small area for visitors to avail of authentic Thai Massage.

After one round, we went back to the entrance where we came face-to-face with two friendly looking elephants. My sister, who loves elephants, was obviously having the time of her life! For only 15baht (approximately Php. 20.25 / 45cents) we can even feed them with sugar canes!

Finally, the show began at exactly 8PM. We found our seats at the center of a huge auditorium which actually was credited by the Guiness Book of World Records to have biggest stage in the world.

As Siam Niramit stands for the Journey to the Enchanted Kingdom of Siam expect a lot of mythical and fantasy characters in the show. It was really a one-of-a-kind performance keeping us at awe on how they were able to have that on stage or to bring this in the Auditorium.

The show has two parts with a very entertaining intermission with an audience participation. How I wish they called me to participate too. :P

My apologies for not being able to share the story of Siam Niramit with you as I would love for you to experience the show yourself. It was truly a wonderful evening getting to know Thailand and its very rich history. On my next visit, I can't wait to join more tours to visit the different parts of the country as narrated in Siam Niramit.

Siam Niramit is located at 19 Tiamruammit Road, Huaykwang, Bangkok, Thailand. Show starts at exactly 8PM. Tickets are sold at the Official Siam Niramit Website or at your hotel's travel desk.

[Bangkok's Best] Shop till you Drop at the Chatuchak Weekend Market

Months before our Bangkok trip, a friend who knew that we're planning to go gave me a couple of tips and one of those include "Do not miss shopping at Chatuchak."

This began to ignite our interest on the place and after asking more questions, we found out that Chatuchak is a giant outdoor market that only operates during the weekend and is every bargain shopper's dream come true. Also, the market is arranged in what they call an organized-chaos which means, it's highly impossible for one to go back the same route and find the store where you saw the _insert name of item_ worth 100baht vs. the one you just found at 120baht. In other words, the best shopping strategy here is to buy the item as long as the price is fairly reasonable enough already for you.

Thus, we have mapped out our plan early on, we woke up at 6AM to take the BTS down to the Mo Chit station before 8AM. This is to be able to go around Chatuchak before it gets bloodily crowded. From the station, it was a good 5 minutes walk to the entrance of the market. We found out that there's another way which is to cut through the Chatuchak Park.

We arrived a little after 8AM and with our adrenalines way up high ready for shopping battle, we began our way in. There are a lot and I really mean a LOT of stalls! We also noticed that unlike our bargain markets here in Manila, each stall sells really unique items. Rarely do we see stalls located beside each other selling identical goods.

It was definitely a shopper's haven! Shirts selling for only 80baht (approximately Php. 110 / $2.44), sandals for only 120baht (approximately Php. 170 / $3.78) and a lot more! Store vendors are willing to offer their wholesale prices provided you meet their minimum quantities.

Beginning 10AM though, it can get pretty crowded and very warm in Chatuchak. It's a good thing, some very enterprising locals opened a couple of juice stalls and carts to help shoppers cool off. Just a word of caution though, sanitary is not one of their forte here so these food items are not suitable for people with weak stomachs. :-/

We've been forwarned that the market is the largest market in the world covering a total of 35 acres. Therefore, it is really not possible for a shopper to go around the entire market in one day. In fact, we've shopped for just 3 hours and our legs were already crying of too much exhaustion, our shoulders ready to collapse with the weight of our shopping bags and our body all sticky and sweaty. Finally, we agreed to end our Chatuchak adventure at 1PM to head back to the hotel to rest and freshen up.

Chatuchak Weekend Market is located at the Kamphaeng Phet 2 Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok, Thailand. The easiest way to get there is through the BTS (Skytrain), get off at the Mo Chit Station and take a 5 minute easy beezy walk to the entrance of the market. You may also take the MRT and get off at the Kamphaeng Phet Station.

[Bangkok's Best] Posh shopping at Central World Plaza

Welcome to the largest shopping mall in Southeast Asia. Located along the Rachadamri Road in Bangkok, Thailand, Central World Plaza houses more than 500 food and retail establishments such as Starbucks Coffee, Muji, Pepper Lunch, Swensens, MNG, Zara and a lot more!


This is definitely a shopping haven for all fashionistas out there. As each store occupies a big space giving more room for a wide array of choices and attractive displays as well.


The mall is divided into three main areas: the Zen department store, the Isetann department store and the Central World main area. While the Zen department store has a more varied product line-up from the US and countries all over Asia, the Isetann department store focuses more on items made in Japan catering majorly to the Japanese community. Nonetheless, it was a wonderful experience shopping on both department stores especially when availing their price-off promotions.

Foodies will also have a blast here at Central World Plaza. Here you'll be able to indulge in delectable treats from Red Mango, Swensens, Haagen Daz, and Auntie Anne's to name a few. We also had a hard time choosing where to have lunch as the choices are endless! Will it be at Pepper Lunch? How about Mos Burger? Perhaps we should go local and try one of the authentic Thai restaurants? Finally we ended up at Heiroku Sushi located at the 7th floor to satisfy our sushi and sashimi cravings.

Inside Heiroku Sushi, we were led to a booth beside a rotating line that showcases the different sushi and sashimis available for us to take. It was so hard to choose as everything looked so good!

Finally I got my first pick -- a Seafood Chawanmushi (savory egg custard), excited to start eating, my sister and I slowly savored the flavor of the Chawanmushi. Mmmm...yummy!

Our next choices came in faster this time. Before we know it, our empty plates were starting to pile up. We got an array of sashimis dipped in our own mixture of wasabi soy sauce. My top favorite was the Sake (salmon) Sushi. I love how fresh the fish was and the rice beneath it has the perfect sticky-ness. I enjoyed it so much that I got two plates for my own personal consumption. :P

My sister, on the other hand, was in pure sushi haven when we got the cold baby octopus. This is her ultimate favorite since she first tried it in Hong Kong and was so happy seeing this again in Bangkok.

Service at Heiroku Sushi was superb too as our server was very attentive to our needs! The price was also something to rave about! Imagine, for a total of 9 plates our total bill was only 580baht (approximately Php. 783 / $17.40) inclusive of VAT.

After our satisfying meal, we met up with Paul and Achie M who have just arrived from Manila.

We love the cute displays scattered all over the mall that we couldn't resist but do some pose with these thanks to the very nice guards who gamely took the photo for us.

I'm missing Bangkok so much and for sure Central World Plaza will still be part of my list on my next visit.

[Bangkok's Best] Search for the best Pad Thai

A trip to Bangkok will never be complete without trying their local dishes. And among the popularized Thai dishes that we've grown familiar with, we noticed that only Pad Thai seems to be widely offered in any food establishment all over Bangkok.

From food courts to sidewalk vendors to posh Thai restaurants, each has its own version of this delicious and fragrant stir-fried dish. Though each Pad Thai differs in terms of presentation, quantity and toppings, it all makes use of a generous amount of flat rice noodles mixed with eggs, fish sauce and served with crushed peanuts and a slice of lime at the side.

With only three days to scour the streets of Bangkok, we didn't waste anytime in trying out what this Asian shopping and culinary mecca has to offer. Every meal always has a plate of Pad Thai for us to try out prompting the start of what I'd call the...

Search for the Best Pad Thai
Pad Thai #1: found at the Big C food court

It was raining so hard during our 2nd night and most of the malls were closing. With our stomach slowly growling louder and louder we asked the taxi driver to bring us to the big supermarket beside our hotel. We literally raced up to the top floor to make it to the food court. After settling on our seats, we ordered a plate of All-Shrimps Pad Thai. The place has a very casual feel with cleanliness not being it's top strength still it is packed with a mix of locals and foreign customers alike.

After 5 minutes, our Pad Thai was served. It's a small serving of rice noodles mixed with minced shrimps, tofu and onion leeks. On the side is handful of bean sprouts and chopped nuts which Paul quickly mixed in with the noodles. This version has a perfect consistency. It's neither too dry nor was it swimming in sauce. We love the creamy texture that perfectly complimented the fiery hot green chicken curry bowl which we also ordered.

We enjoyed it so much that we got another order this time with mixed seafood. The cost is 63baht (approximately Php. 86 / $1.92) which is very reasonable considering that it's really good and that the serving is good for 2.

Pad Thai #2: found at the MBK food court

After spending the entire morning going on a city tour around Bangkok, we proceeded to one of the biggest shopping malls called MBK (formerly known as MahBoonKrong) Center.

On the 5th floor of this 8 stories high complex is their food court called The Fifth food avenue. I love their concept where each customer is given a card for the food tenants to swipe upon receiving the orders and the total bill will be paid upon exit. This food court is bigger and cleaner compared to the one at Big C. It features food stalls specializing in different global cuisines such as Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Greek, Italian and of course Thai.

We wasted no time in deciding and ordered a plate of Pad Thai to share together with a sizzling platter of Japanese Yakiudon, a serving of Chicken Satay and a couple of Vietnamese Spring Rolls. As a perfect accompaniment, we each got a tall glass of Thai Iced Tea to drink.

MBK's Pad Thai is bigger in size making it good for 3-4 pax to share. The bean sprouts have been mixed in with the noodles, minced pork and tofu leaving a small stalk of cilantro and a handful of chopped nuts at the side. Although we enjoyed MBK's Pad Thai, we find it a bit too dry for our liking. It tastes a bit bland as compared our first Pad Thai at Big C.

Perhaps, given the posh atmosphere, this Pad Thai is worth 110Baht (approximately Php. 150 / $3.28) which is a bit expensive compared to the other Pad Thai's being sold elsewhere.

Pad Thai #3: found at the Suvarnabhumi Airport

Before we finally bid good bye to Bangkok, we just had to have one last taste of our favorite noodle dish and so at Dragon Jade near Gate D, we enjoyed our last plate of Authentic Pad Thai.

Although its texture is better than the one at MBK, it still didn't match up to our first Pad Thai at Big C. However, it's more flavorful perhaps due to the presence of a few chili peppers which successfully perked up the taste. This Pad Thai is also the most expensive one that we've had most probably because the restaurant is located inside the airport. At 190baht (approximately Php. 256.5/ $5.7) Dragon Jade's Pad Thai is only good for 2 pax.

The Verdict

I guess our favorite Pad Thai is pretty obvious. We love the creamy, just right texture of Big C. It's surprising that we found the best Pad Thai in a very unassuming place. One that lives in simplicity yet produces a very delicious stir-fried noodle dish to the delight of its customers.

It was so good that it made our happy tummies say Khap Koon Kap!!

on budget travelling

I've always been a big fan of discounts and price-off promotions. I guess this is one reason why I regularly update myself on the upcoming mall-wide sales and as much as possible I make it a point to go and check it sale out. However, I admit that not all sale promos were good enough. In fact, some were disappointing that I just leave the mall without making any purchase.

This fondness also applies on how I travel. As much as possible, I try to scrimp on my air/bus/boatfare to be able to save a bigger chunk of my budget on eating and shopping. Thus, I find joy when receiving alerts from local airline companies regarding their upcoming seat sales.

Two months ago, my sister and I availed the zero seat sale by Cebu Pacific for our Bangkok trip. We were excited that we got a great deal which inevitably earned us bragging rights since the regular rate is more than double the amount that we paid for.

We were both so excited about the trip that we didn't really mind that we'll be travelling at midnight and that there won't be any meals on board. We figured out that we'll most probably just sleep through the three-hour flight.

On the day of our departure, we entered the aircraft and immediately noticed that it's a lot smaller compared to the other commercial planes that we've been on. There are three seats on each side and no middle aisle. We found our seats and quickly settled in. The flight in itself was ok though it was a bit difficult to take a nap, this is because the leg room was really small that it was barely possible to find a comfortable position. At some point, I kinda felt like riding in a flying bus complete with the low whirring sound, the small seats and the tight leg room.

However, we loved the flight attendants who were all so friendly and accomodating to our needs. They gently reminded us when it's time to buckle our seatbelts and they won't bother you when your catching some Zs.

I realized that although budget planes will still get you to your destination, it, however, takes away the comfort, convenience and premium experience that other airlines would offer.

While I'm already looking forward to the next seat sale, I think now know better to take budget planes only for domestic or short distance travels and to save up for a more premium flight for longer trips.

Turning ONE in 50 days!

Times flies really FAST! Who would have thought that we're down to 50 days before this blog turns a YEAR old!

Any idea on how we should celebrate? Ü

loving what's familiar at Zong

If there's one cuisine that I can confidently say that I am most familiar with, it would definitely be the Chinese cuisine. Growing up with a family who loves to cook just as much as we love to eat, my taste buds have grown accustomed to the popular and quite exotic Chinese dishes known to man. There's the crunchy, tasty jellyfish, the salty and expensive bird's nest soup and of course, the fried and sarap-to-the-bones frog legs.

Don't get me wrong though, we also have a lot (and I really mean A LOT) of wonderful dishes that we are proud of. Among my favorites are the kiampung(salty glutinous rice with pork and peanuts), the hakao (crystal shrimp wrapped in rice wrapper) and the kapsong (minced pigeon wrapped in lettuce and topped with fried bihon noodles with a bit of hoisin sauce drizzled on top).

Too familiar with the Chinese cuisine that I tend to be very picky when dining in a Chinese restaurant. Therefore, I guess it's just normal to have my own doubts when my colleagues and I first tried Zong at the Fort Strip, this restaurant has a very modern feel which is very much different from a typical chinese restaurant in town. Long tables and bench-like chairs fill up the restaurant as opposed to the traditional big round tables with red table clothes. The menu is a big laminated board with food items in English. No need for a translator here!

Erasing all my doubts

Ok, the interior's different, now what about the food?

My colleagues and I got my favorite dimsum as starters. The hakao (P108 est), though looks very easy to make, entails a special skill to perfect. The shrimp should remain to be crispy and fresh while the wrapper should not tear when being picked by the chopsticks nor should it be too hard to bite on. Believe it or not, only a handful of Chinese restaurants here in the Philippines can be proud of their hakao. Zong's version is pleasant, nothing spectacular and not a disappointed either. I love the perfect texture of the wrapper but still find the shrimp to be lacking in crunch.

When the menus were handed out to us, colleague#1 left the ordering to me and to colleague #2 but with one request which is to order the salt and pepper squid. Sharing the excitement and curiosity, we immediately placed his order in. I wonder how good Zong's version is that it was obviously my friend's favorite dish here? Good thing, service was really fast that I didn't have to wonder for long. One bite of the squid and I immediately understand why this was my colleague's favorite. Bite after bite, I savored the salty, sweet and spicy flavor of the batter that coats the squid. The squid has just the right amount of softness. No rubbery texture present. If only I wasn't nursing a bad cough, that day, I would have probably dipped my squid in vinegar to get that perfect sourness that would complement the yummy deep-fried flavor.

Just when I can proudly say that I have succesfully went rice-less for a month, then we ordered Zong's Yang Chow Fried Rice (P198 est). One thing I love about the rice is that it actually tastes like rice. Believe it or not, we've been to a number of Chinese restaurants where we highly doubt that the rice used in their fried rice is indeed (at most!) a day old but instead it feels or rather tastes like a week old! *ugh*

The second thing I love about Zong's fried rice is the non-existence of green peas! Hooray!Ok, here's a confession. I do not like green peas *gag* In fact, I've acquired a skill to successfully remove every single green pea, even the tiniest one, from a huge bowl of fried rice and carefully line them all up side by side on my plate. How's that for show and tell? :)

Lastly, I love it because its simple and uncomplicated. Their fried rice took a back seat in the flavor section to be the perfect partner for their dishes. This made taking a break from my no-rice diet definitely worth it!

Needless to say, Zong has successfully erased all my doubts and has won me over being a trendy restaurant that serves really good traditional Chinese dishes. I can't wait to go back and try their other best-selling dishes but definitely, the squid will be part of the list!

Zong is located at the Fort Strip, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig and at the TriNoMa Mall, Quezon City.

[Cooking with Fran] Italian Eggplant Lasagna

Thanks to Achi Jen for sharing with me this easy-to-do recipe, I'm passing on the not-yet-christmas cheer by sharing it also with all of you!

Here's one yummy dish that will definitely make the kids eat their veggies!

Italian Eggplant Lasagna

What you'll need:
-- Italian Eggplants (these are the longer ones as opposed to the short and stout Pinoy Eggplants which are good for grilling or frying)
-- Ground meat
-- Italian Spaghetti Sauce
-- Chopped basil leaves
-- Mozzarella Cheese, grated
-- Parsesan Cheese, grated
-- Ground Black pepper
-- Japanese breadcrumbs
-- Garlic and Onion, chopped
-- Egg
-- Oil
-- Bechamel Sauce (optional)

Step by step:
1) Saute garlic in oil until golden brown, add Onions and Ground meat until the meat turns pink, add the Italian Spaghetti Sauce and let it simmer before adding basil leaves, pepper and other desired flavorings
2) Slice eggplants into thick strips, dunk it into the egg batter and roll into the breadcrumbs, fry the eggplants until the breadcrumbs turn golden brown
3) Drain the eggplants to remove the excess oil
4) Spread a thin layer of meat sauce at the based of your baking dish, line with eggplants and put another spread of meat sauce before topping it with grated mozzarella and parmesan cheeses. Do this until you reach the top of the dish
5) Cover with grated mozzarella and parmesan. you may also put a little garlic bits to perk up the flavor
6) Bake at 400 degrees until the cheese melts and turns into golden brown
7) ENJOY!!! :)

These cakes made my sweet tooth happy

I've recently mentioned in my previous entry that I prefer cupcakes over a slice of cake to cover up the guilt but what I love about eating a slice of cake is the fact that I can fully appreciate the creativity of the baker in putting together a masterpiece that can only be seen through the layers of cake, cream, fruits, nuts or chocolate.

In this entry, I will share with you two of my favorite cakes which are not hard to find, are pretty affordable and are truly a delight to have after a good meal. Ü

Mariell Torte by Nothing Like Home-made...
Small : Php. 485 / Big : Php. 695

I had my first encounter with this cake more than a month ago. When two of my closest colleagues got this for my birthday. They ordered the biggest size and believe me when I say it was BIG! It think the box can easily fit a wedding gown. Yes, it was THAT big! Everyone in the office were awed and excited to try a piece that I actually managed to share the cake with everyone and still have a small portion for my family.

Beneath the colorful slices of apples, peaches and kiwis (my favorite!) are several layers of nut and custard filling alternating with crunchy merengue. It's very light yet truly satisfying!

Everyone really enjoyed their slice of the Mariell Torte that some even went back for seconds!

I really like biting into the nutty sweet custard accompanied with a piece of lightly frozen fruit. I also realized that it's best to thaw the cake a bit before indulging as it makes the experience more enjoyable instead of biting into hard frozen merengue, cream and fruit.

Truly, I'm thankful for my two colleagues who have shared this sweet discovery with everyone :) Now, Mariell Torte has gained at least a dozen more fans who'll constantly crave for this when their sweet tooth calls for it.

White Strawberry Tiramisu by Angel's Kitchen
Php. 159/slice

Growing up, I've never been a fan of Tiramisu. Although I do not entirely dislike it, I just do not find myself craving for it. I guess it's because I do not like having too much cream on my cake which I always end up leaving on my plate. I guess this is why I prefer chiffon cakes, fruit based desserts or ice cream.

Having dinner at Angel's Kitchen last night with long time friends, we have decided to get dessert as there are just too much stories to be shared and we are not ready to bid goodbye and head home yet. Going through the menu, my friend and I chose the White Strawberry Tiramisu. I'm happy that we chose this because of two things: #1) I love White chocolates and #2) I'm a huge fan of anything with strawberries!

Whereas a Tiramisu is known to have coffee or chocolate as the based flavor of the cake, this one is a different version specially made for the ladies. It's very light and fluffy which a generous layer of white chocolate icing on top following by a spread of strawberry jam and thin slice of chiffon cake. How I wish I ordered myself a cup of tea to go with my slice of cake.

Now, my every meal at Angel's Kitchen will never be complete without ordering a slice of their White Strawberry Tiramisu.

Here's where you can personally enjoy my favorite cakes:
Mariell Torte by Nothing Like Home-made: 896-0396/09174600052
White Strawberry Tiramisu by Angel's Kitchen: 721-8822

korean pears for this sick blogger

I've been down with tonsilitis, fever and clogged nasal passages since Monday and sadly recovery is taking its sweet time making my ordeal a bit harder and longer than I was hoping it would.

Just like everyone else, I hate being sick.

I do not like being stuck at home and I dislike the itchy, stingy pain that I feel whenever I cough, swallow or even laugh.

I guess I'm just lucky that my family and Paul have been taking good care of me. In some ways, I have to admit, spoiling me a bit during times like these.

For instance, ever since Tuesday, my grandparents have been calling me at least one every 2 hours to check on my condition. Even if I have no voice and it was really a struggle to talk, I'm really touched that they took the time out to do this for me.


Today is Day 5. With minor improvements on my voice and less itch on my throat, I was surprise to come home and see a plastic filled with pears from my grandpa. Knowing him, I'm sure he personally went all the way to the market/fruit store to buy these for me.

I immediately called him to say thank you and promised to slice up one pear right away.

THANK YOU KONGKONG AND AMAH

Spending my Saturday mornings at Salcedo

Here's where I've been spending most of my Saturday mornings:


Located at the heart of Salcedo Village, the Saturday Salcedo Market is a mecca for foodies and Makati residents in search for organic goods, yummy cooked dishes and unique finds. The market opens at 7AM and ends at around 2PM.

Over the years, it has grown in terms of the number of stalls available as well as in size (they have extended towards the playground area where more tables and chairs were set up for diners). However, it continues to attract more and more market goers who would travel all the way to Salcedo every Saturday morning to visit their favorite food stalls or to discover something new.

I'd like to share with you some of my Salcedo market favorites:

1) Thai Iced Tea
Together with the tag line "It really brings you back to Bangkok!"
This I'll have to see after my trip. I love the blend of tea and milk over crushed ice. It has been my perfect companion while enduring the heat as I go around the market.

2) Authentic Paella Valenciana by Sabor/Tierra
Thanks to good friends Gomz and Kat who became instant endorsers of the Paella after trying it for the first time and going back right after to buy another order, I was convinced that I should try it out on my next visit. Which, I'm glad I did! I love how flavorful the Paella was and the girl was also so kind to add in more tutong (burnt rice) after I've told her I love my Paella with lots of tutong!

3) Fro-yo's
Look for the man with the ice cream cart and discover for yourself the goodness of Frozen Yogurt! For P65 a cup, these froyo's are made of fresh yogurt and are genuinely organic! There are a lot of flavors to choose from too! There's Strawberry, Vanilla, Chocolate, Mango and Coconut! My personal favorite is the strawberry *yum yum!*

4) Gallete Complete (P100)
Take it from the French man. We found out that Galletes are your savory crepes! Made on the spot, we love the Gallete Complete which is a mixture of ham, egg and cheese served on a bed of lettuce.

5) Tabbouleh by La Cuisine
Don't know where to find this? Just look for the stall with the most number of customers and I'm sure you've found La Cuisine. Being one of the more popular stalls in the Salcedo Market, I'll never get tired of trying their delicious dishes while paring it with my all-time favorite Greek salad called Tabbouleh (parsley mixed with tomatoes and onions).

Oh dear, now I hear my stomach growling...

See you on Saturday!

The Salcedo Weekend Market is located that the Salcedo Park between LP Leviste and Tordesillas Streets in Salcedo Village.

Dreaming of Cocktails in my Cupcakes

I'm in love with cupcakes.

I always find it more fun to munch on these tiny sweet treats as opposed to indulging in a huge slice of cake which my mom will never approve of. ("too much sweets! loaded with calories!", she would always say)

Back when I was still in school, my dad would always buy a bag of cheese or chocolate cupcakes as our afternoon snack. I would take one tiny bite at a time to savor the moist, soft filling complimented by the sweet, decadent icing.

Growing up, I was exposed to more cupcakes varieties such as the ones popularized by the girls of Sex and the City. Cupcakes topped with colorful flavored icings and sprinkled with shiny edible beads. I would call these fashion cupcakes. Sadly, most of these fashion cupcakes are just nice to look at but terribly fails taste. Some are too crumbly while some are as hard as a rock. The last thing I want when biting into my cupcake is a tall glass of water to help push the dry cupcake down. Ugh.

Thanks to a friend and neighbor who sent over a box of adorable looking cupcakes in pink and blue icing which were part of the cupcake tower during their wedding, I happily brought the entire box to the office to share with my colleagues.

We all enjoyed the soft, moist cupcakes that a lot wanted to immediately order more for then own consumption.

Cuptails and Dreams

I've first gotten to know about them during the Baker's Fair at the Powerplant Mall last year. Amidst the long line of stalls selling cupcakes in all flavors and sizes, Cuptails and Dreams stood out because of their cocktail-inspired cupcakes. Why not put two wonderful things together,right? And so they did and out came a masterpiece!


My first cuptails were the Screaming O (chocolate cupcake with Kahlua and Vodka Topped with Bailey's buttercream frosting) and the Margarita (lime cupcake with tequila, triple sec, topped with lime buttercream frosting). My sister loved it so much that it has prompted her to go to Powerplant Mall the following weekend only to find out that they weren't there anymore.

Fast forward, more than six months after, I brought home a new box filled with Cuptail and Dreams yummy masterpieces!

Take a peek inside my box:


It was indeed a fun weeked as my family, Paul and I enjoyed every single cupcake in the box. We loved it so much that we actually found a perfect way to enjoy this which is by leaving it out at room temp for 10 minutes before indulging. By doing this, you'll notice how moist the cupcake is. Not flaky, dry or soggy.

So what were our top picks?

Being strawberry lovers, Paul and I chose the Vanilla Strawberry Soiree as our numero uno paborito. Imagine vanilla cupcake topped with strawberry buttercream frosting and strawberry puree. It's sweet, innocent and perfectly just the way we like it.

My sister, the chocoholic, on the other hand, enjoyed the Original Sin, which is your good ol' chocolate cupcake with dark chocolate frosting. This she adds to her list of favorites which includes the Screaming O and Margarita.

Seeing how much we love cupcakes and how fun it is to eat this, I'm seriously considering having my own tower filled with Vanilla Stawberry Soiree cupcakes on my BIG day.

For now, I'm glad that Cuptails and Dreams is just a phone call away to satify our cupcake cravings. Ü

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You may order your own box of Cuptails and Dreams by calling them at 0927-5653261 or emailing them at cuptailsanddreams@hotmail.com / order@cuptailsanddreams.com.