Welcome to Chef Tatung's Home

It was a lovely Friday evening where I, together with the entire Yummy team, traveled all the way to the unfamiliar streets of Quezon City to have a special dinner hosted by Chef Myke Tatung Sarthou. Following directions given by tricycle drivers, we finally found his home and was warmly welcomed by Chef Tatung himself.

I love the interiors of his home -- it has a mix of old and new furniture pieces that gives the entire place a unique personality yet giving you that comfort feeling that you can unwind and relax while enjoying the special dinner that Chef Tatung will prepare for that evening.

Chef Tatung opened his home last June and has been serving different 4-course dinners only every Friday. Reservations are required as his place is good only for 20 guests. His 4-course dinner is at Php 500 per head and is inclusive of your drink of choice.

That evening, our dinner began with a basket of homemade bread and butter. I love the milky bread with poppy seed and we even asked Chef for a second refill because everyone just wants to have more! It was so soft and warm that we all enjoyed it even without spreading butter on to the bread.

Next was the light and refreshing French Onion Soup. Let me tell you that due to my crazy hyper-acidity acting up once in a while, I try to avoid taking this soup as I normally just end up wincing in pain the morning after. I took a careful sip and noticed that the acidity of the onion was almost not noticeable. Chef told us that he cooked the stock for 10 hours which is probably why the soup was very flavorful. Also, I didn't feel any pain days after. Chef Tatung's French Onion Soup was truly a winner!

For our salad, we had a mix of Smoked Salmon on Potato Pancakes and Red Beet Salad. I love the fluffiness of the pancakes and it's best eaten with a slice of salmon and dill sauce on top. The Red Beet Salad has the right crunch due to the nuts added on top. If beets are this good, I can have it all day long!

While Chef Tatung's serving may seem small at first, be ready for his main course of Stuffed Pork Loin with Prunes and Potato Wedges. Halfway through our main course, most of us felt stuffed already. However, we all still wanted to finish this delicious dish as we loved the tender pork loin and demiglace sauce that Chef had to cook for 14 hours. I love the crunchy filling which came as a surprised as I do not like eating prunes at all.

For dessert was Chef Tatung's Homemade Apple Pie ala Mode. We enjoyed this with our choice of coffee or tea. The ambiance was very quiet and relaxing which was a perfect way to end our work week. The pie has a very strong cinnamon flavor yet I love the warm apple slices that you get in every bite.

I can't wait to go back to Chef Tatung's home this time with my family. His menu varies every Friday so better subscribe to his Facebook page to get the latest update.

Thank you Chef Tatung for welcoming us into your lovely home. 

Chef Tatung's home is located at 17 Matipid street, Sikatuna Village, Quezon City. Call him at 3526121 / 09158463234.

Smiling at Happy Lemon

For months, word has been going around that one of Hong Kong's popular milk tea brand is coming to Manila. Wild guesses were thrown here and there as to which particular brand this would be. Finally a happy yellow tarpaulin was put up beside Fully Booked Greenhills and I recognized the cute winking girl from our trip to Guangzhou, China last year. Happy Lemon is coming to town!

Finally, the long wait is over and Happy Lemon finally opened to the public a couple of weeks ago. Despite the crazy traffic happening in and around the Greenhills Shopping Center, Paul and I were very determined to finish our Christmas shopping before December begins thus we patiently waited in line to get a parking slot. After almost crossing out our to-do list, we rewarded ourselves with a visit to Happy Lemon.

I love the bright yellow interiors and the winking little girl is just so adorable. The store is still having their soft opening at the moment but I noticed that the service was pretty good. There was a line at the counter giving me around 5 minutes to stare that their long list of drinks and to make my choice.

I went for the Green Tea with Rock Salt and Cheese (Php. 80) as this was highly recommended by my friend L who has tried Happy Lemon a number of times. To be honest, I was a bit hesitant as my taste buds are used to the caramelly sweet milk teas but to have cheese and salt added into my drink, I wasn't really that sure if I'd like it. Then again, Paul told me to just make a go for it and who knows, I might just end up liking it.

He was right. 

I was instructed by the server to just drink it straight from the cup to enjoy the mix of the salt, cheese and the freshly brewed tea. It's like enjoying a slice of Green Tea Cheesecake where I can taste the perfect combination of the sweet, bitter and salty taste. It was truly yummy!

I'm glad that Happy Lemon is finally here in Manila and I now have a place to go to when I find myself craving for a cup of ice cold milk tea while doing my Greenhills bargain shopping.

photo credit: Paul Ang

Happy Lemon is located at the Ground Floor of the Greenhillls Promenade, San Juan City.

Manila's Signature Dishes of 2010

It's no secret how much Paul and I love to eat out and to discover new dining places. In time for the holiday, our schedules are starting to get filled up with get-togethers and intimate dinners with our dearest friends and relatives. I'm sure your December will just be as busy too. In the coming days and weeks, I will be sharing with you my experiences as Paul and I try all 16 restaurants listed as part of Unilever Food Solutions' Manila's Signature Dishes 2010.

That would be 16 restaurants around the metro where you can wine and dine this Christmas season. Their signature set meals are available from November 15 to December 31, 2010 and each will be paired with a glass of Casillero del Diablo wine.

Bon Appetit!

Back to back at Lu

Lu has this certain comfort feel that each diner gets in every visit. My friend T even considers Lu to be her second home. Aside from the fact that she's friends with the owners of Lu, the servers themselves already know her favorite dishes and would immediately know what to serve for dessert.

My first visit was during the WaterPlus launch where we were treated to a healthy four-course dinner that has kept me gushing how delicious everything was even days after.

Dinner began with Courgette Flower Crisp with Roasted Bacon and Basil Birch. While the name may sound a bit intimidating and confusing, simply put, it is deep fried Zucchini Blossoms placed on top of crispy bacon and served with a shot glass of miso soup-like sauce. It gives a very Japanese feel to the meal which Paul and I love.

Up next was some Caramelized Grilled Pork and Rice Noodle Salad. From the Japanese-inspired starter, we had a Vietnamese feel with the refreshing cold noodles topped with sweet grilled pork. At first glance, I initially thought that this salad would be dry however as soon as I took the first bite I enjoyed the mild sweet-sour sauce with the crunchy nuts sprinkled on top of the salad.

Main course was the best : Sweet and Sour Tamarind Prawns with Green Mango Fried Rice. Normally, restaurant would scrimp on prawns given that it's very expensive in the market. Not with Lu, here we enjoyed three huge juicy prawns with a generous serving of green mango fried rice. The rice was not very oily and it has that just right tangy taste in contrast to the soy sauce added into it. It reminded us of our Bangkok trip as we enjoyed a lot of Bagoong Rice and Tamarind-infused dishes then.

For dessert, it was our native ingredients that stood out -- Pandan Bukayo (shredded and sweetened coconut) with Ginger Ice Cream. Upon learning that our vanilla ice cream has ginger in it, I proceeded with caution. Taking a small scoop I allowed the ice cream to melt in my mouth to be able to appreciate the full flavors of vanilla mixed with ginger. I'm glad that the ginger wasn't too overwhelming and you have to eat it with the sweet pandan bukayo as the combination between the ginger ice cream and the sweet bukayo was simply heavenly. Hats off to the Chef who was so creative in preparing our dinner.

Back at Lu
A couple of days after, I was invited by my friend T to have lunch at Lu. After enjoying my first dinner there, I immediately said yes, dropping all of my to-dos for a few hours.

Since T has been to Lu countless times, I left the ordering up to her. T makes the best choices and our lunch that day was truly delicious.

Here's what we had:
Crispy prawn and shiitake spring rolls + Vietnamese rice rolls with Curried Chicken -- this is a duo of all delicious things! I love having spring rolls as starters. They're really fun to eat and I really enjoy the little surprise that I get on my first bite. between the two, I enjoyed the Vietnamese rice rolls more as having the spicy chicken inside gave a nice twist to the usual Vietnamese rice rolls with veggies and meat inside.

Zucchini blossom and goat cheese fritters -- This is very similar to the zucchini starter that we had previously only, this one is stuffed with goat cheese and is topped with delicious marinara sauce. It's only at Lu that I get to appreciate how delicious zucchini blossoms can be. :)

Lu Ultimate Pork Chop with Tangy Orange-Achuete Sauce -- We went there to enjoy meat and for our main course, we ordered all the meaty goodness of Lu. First was T's personal favorite, the pork chop which was very tender and so easy to cut into. I love the mash sweet potatoes also as it gives a sweet touch to the grilled barbecue taste of the pork chop.

Herb-crusted Lamb Spare Ribs -- I love lamb and if you add more flavorful herbs into it, I am in food heaven. I love that it came with couscous giving a good balance to this dish. I just couldn't identify what were the herbs added on top of the lamb but whatever it was, I enjoyed adding it to my every bite.

Mexican Steak Frites -- We had pork, lamb and this time juicy and melt-in-your-mouth steak. It was served on a wooden platter with veggies at the center surrounded by Arrachera Hanger Steak cooked will Caramelized Onions and Melted Cheese. As sidings, we had Onion Rings and Chunky Fries. Every bite was just so delicious and I also enjoyed the crunchy onion rings dipped into their special creamy sauce. It gives a very Southern American feel as I imagine enjoying this in a ranch while overlooking the vast fields.

We had a very filling delicious lunch but Lu was not yet done. Out came our dessert: Lemon glazed yogurt cheesecake.

The Lemon Glazed Yogurt Cheesecake was my personal favorite. I love citrusy and fruity desserts and the fact that this one was made with yogurt gave me the impression that it's healthier than your average cheesecake. Each slice will give you a smooth yogurt texture and the lemon drizzle on top has the right amount of citrusy flavor that even the little ones will surely enjoy.

I can't believe it took me a while to finally visit Lu. I enjoyed my meal on both visits and my friend T was right, it can really be ones 2nd home as you can unwind while enjoying great food and wonderful company.

Lu is located at the Ground Floor of Joya Building, Joya Drive, Rockwell Center (it's right in front of the Powerplan Mall -- Sango/Starbucks side)

A brighter new year! A fairer new me!

“Ang puti mo!” (You're so fair!)

This is the common reaction that I would hear from relatives and friends of my parents whenever they see me. Growing up, I would always take this comment negatively and would strive my best to get a tan. From the daily swimming lessons to the frequent walks under the sun, I would try in vain to get a darker skin color. Sadly, my skin would just turn pink and in no time, I’d be back to my same light-colored skin.

As compared to my mom and sister, I have the simplest facial routine too. Back in college, it would just be regular washing using a facial wash and warm water. No moisturizers, no toners, no creams. I was just 18 then and my skin was luckily very cooperative given the lack of attention that I give to it.

That has all changed when I turned 20. I began to notice tiny brown freckles forming around my cheeks and my skin began to become oily especially along the T-zone. It was then when I started to take more notice on how to take good care of my skin. With more and more people also aspiring to have fairer skin, I’ve grown to appreciate the skin color that I am blessed to have.

I have my line of favourite skin care brands too. Let me tell you about one that my family and I have stayed loyal to since I was a little girl – introducing Neutrogena.

Mom gives high importance to our skin. For her, she goes for something that perfectly suits our skin and can clean thoroughly, without the frills. When I was a child, she would get Neutrogena bath soap for us to use. I love the light subtle scent and the hypo-allergenic component assuring us that it’s good for any type of skin.

Fast forward two decades and a couple of years after, I am privileged to be invited to a wonderful get-together with Neutrogena and with 7 lovely ladies who are all Neutrogena Fine Fairness Ambassadors. The campaign is truly inspiring : Start the Year Light. As we are a month and a half away from 2011, our main goal is to start the year LIGHT and BRIGHT!

The day began with a casual introduction among us, the eight ambassadors of Neutrogena. With me were celebrities Patty Laurel, Isabel Roces, Georgia Schulze-Rosario, Solenn Heusaff and fellow bloggers Phoebe, Earth and Jane. With overflowing delicious food, we chatted to get to know each other more. While I rarely get to watch TV, I am familiar with the celebrities who were with us that afternoon and I can say that they really do have pretty faces and very nice skin!

After lunch, Dr. Jason Penaranda gave a talk about our personal wellness. From him I learned that it is important to keep your plate colourful. By this, he means having a balanced diet consisting of fruits, vegetables, protein and carbohydrates. After all, the first step to greeting 2011 with a better new you is by having a healthy lifestyle.

The second talk was really engaging. Analei Atienza, the managing director of the Singapore School Manila, taught us about personal visioning. Armed with a huge illustration board and a set of colored pens, we were asked to illustrate/write our goals. I happily picked the right colors for each goal and the moment I got home, I proudly showed it to Paul whom I will be sharing my life goals with.

The Fine Fairness line of Neutrogena has 8 amazing steps to help us achieve a fairer, cleaner skin. They are as follows:

1. Protects your skin from UVB rays
2. Shields you from UVA rays
3. Restores healthy skin by helping block free radicals
4. Prevents skin darkening by helping to normalize melanin production
5. Blocks the appearance of melanin so skin stays clear
6. Enhances surface skin renewal
7. Helps calm and soothe skin to maintain an even tone
8. Lightens skin by providing an immediate whitening effect

This whole day activity allowed us to Block and Prevent negative vibes to overcome us as we start the year right, just as Neutrogena promises to prevent skin darkening and to block the appearance of melanin too.

It was a wonderful day spent with 7 lovely ladies and learning more things about the brand that I love. I am privileged to be able to go through the two workshops and I am now raring to welcome 2011 with a happier, brighter me! :)

Frannywanny's Holiday Gift Idea : Gigi's Custaroons

I am such a fan of macaroons! I can still remember Mommy bringing home packs of mini macaroons from Hizon's bakeshop and my sister and I would happily munch on one macaroon after the other. I love the coconut filling and the fact that it is not too sweet.

Talk about creating innovative ways to enjoy our childhood favorites, Gigi Gaerlan came up with this amazing product where she has successfully combined the creamy texture of the sweet custard and the delicious components of macaroons, thus Gigi's Custaroons were born.

Thanks to fellow blogger Abet who shared samples of Gigi's delicious creations with us, we enjoyed the entire box of Original flavored Custaroons one afternoon.

In addition to this, she also has the Custaroon Poppers -- bite sized round custaroons coated with premium chocolate powder. At first glance, Paul and I thought that it was like that delicious Sticky Chocolate Donut that we've tried during our recent visit to Hong Kong. Unfortunately, there was no melted chocolate oozing out and the texture was still very much like the custaroons. This is perfect for chocolate lovers as the flavor of the premium chocolate powder was very strong. Not for the chocolate faint-hearted!

Here's another great Holiday gift idea that you might want to consider for your macaroon-loving friends. :)

For orders/inquiries, please call Gigi Gaerlan at (+63)918-8282929.

photo credit: Paul Ang

Frannywanny's Holiday Gift Idea : Mrs. Chen's Homemade Specials

A and I have been best friends since 5th grade and our friendship continues to grow all throughout these years. I still remember the time when we would have swimming classes together and those moments when we would reassure one another that we'll be ok come report card day. Back in grade school, we'd be like two peas in a pod. Forever inseparable that at some point people would say we look, act and think alike. After high school though, A left for Europe and took her university degree there while I fell in love with Marketing and eventually joined the crazy corporate world immediately after my graduation. Still, A and I would manage to catch up every time she would come home to visit.

Talk about destiny, A sent me an SMS a month before my BIG day telling me that the love of her life D has proposed to her. I've always like D for A from the moment I saw him and I knew they were perfect for each other. I was just as thrilled as everyone is about the news. Despite receiving the SMS while inside the movie house, I told A to tell me how the proposal went in full details.

A month after my wedding, A and I met up this time to plan for her BIG day. She surprised me with a pretty golden box filled with cookies and proudly told me that her soon-to-be mother in law made those. I've been hearing lots of wonderful stories of A's mother in law being a wonderful baker and I was very excited to try her cookies.


On my way home, I opened the box of Gourmet Oatmeal Cookies and I loved the sweet aroma of butter and oatmeal. Taking a small bite, I immediately sent A a text message telling her that her mother-in-law is a baker star! I love the chewy oatmeal and how it melts in my mouth.

In addition to her deliciouis oatmeal cookies, Mrs Chen (A's soon-to-be MIL) also makes really delicious Food for the Gods and Apple Crumble. These are perfect Christmas gift and potluck ideas.

Here are the other products available:
- Unique Walnut Cake
- Almond Cookies
- Gourmet Oatmeal Cookies (my favorite!!!)
- Food for the Gods
- Very Special Apple Crumble
- Truly Blueberry Cheesecake

Place your orders with Mrs. Chen by calling her at (+632) 716-0907 or (+63) 917-8324172.

Frannywanny.com's mini FB contest! : ..and we have a winner!

Just two months ago, I finally got around to creating Frannywanny.com's Official Facebook Page. Fast forward 60+ days after, I'm blessed to have a total of 325 likers and 205 friends who are now part of this little page of mine. Hooray!

Before heading out for that much-awaited vacation with Paul, I ran a mini contest over at my Facebook account called "Where in the world is Frannywanny?" The mechanics is simple, all my Facebook friends have to do is to make a wild guess where we're headed and I promised to raffle off a special yummy gift bought from that country to the lucky guesser!


I'm finally BACK and six girls guessed it right! We just got back from the happy, modern city of HONG KONG!

Paul and I spent three glorious days feasting on the best tasting congee, lots of noodles and roast meats and lastly, I was able to give Mickey and Minnie tight hugs over and over again! I'll save my Hong Kong stories for my upcoming entries.

Meanwhile, I'm proud to announce the winner of my first-ever Facebook contest! *drum roll please!*

CONGRATULATIONS TO ROSE TIU!!!

I will be contacting you soon on how you may claim your yummy prize! :)

Gimme 100 for Goodles on 11-24-10!!!

I can't believe it has been a year since my friend Shar opened her very own pasta store in Robinsons Galleria! It has been a year since she asked me to invite a couple of blogger friends to try out her yummy dishes.

A year has past and Goodles continues to make every pasta lover happy with new and delicious creations! Join them as they celebrate their 1st Anniversary on November 24, 2010 by offering three of their well-loved pasta choices for only P100 EACH!!!


What a great deal! It's time to have Goodles for lunch, afternoon snack and dinner! Mark your calendars! :) It's a date on November 24!

Terms and Conditions:
- Promo is available only on November 24, 2010 from 11AM to 9PM (mall hours)
- Dine-in and Takeaway is allowed
- Flavors on promotion will be sold for P100 during the given time afterwhich they'll go back to their regular price
- Bulk orders is allowed (call now!!)
- For inquiries you may call Goodles at 0922-8737758

Crunching our way through Big Daddy's Chicken

This 2010, we have witnessed the entrance of a number of food carts, restaurants and products that continues to take our taste buds and dining experiences to new heights. Gone are days when frozen yogurts would take the forefront of the trend race. Now, Asian snacks have invaded the dining scene -- here we see delicious milk teas, peppered corns and crunchy chicken pieces called Chicken Chops.

Then we have Big Daddy's Chicken. A local brand conceptualized by partners Kimberly and Jerry, who after graduating from college, were inspired to bring the authentic Taiwanese Chicken Chops to our market. Importing the exact machine that will enable them to create the right crunchy chicken and pork chops that have took Taiwan's food scene by storm, they have experimented with various flavors to make each diner's experience truly memorable.

I'm lucky to have one of the branches of Big Daddy's Chicken within the neighborhood. I've been noticing that a number of people would crowd around their stall in Greenhills Theater Mall at no designated time of the day. Be it during lunch hour or even during what is normally a dead hour for other restaurants in the afternoon, I see people carrying white paper bags while munching on bite-sized pieces of crunchy chicken strips.

One afternoon, before heading to Paul's favorite camera shop, we stopped by Big Daddy's Chicken for our afternoon snack. There I met Kim who treated us to all five (5) flavors of their Big Daddy's Chicken Chop (Php. 80). As we patiently waited for each chicken chop to be ready, we enjoyed their drinks too. I had the Royal Milk Tea (Php. 60) while Paul, the non-tea drinker, actually enjoyed the Iced Green Tea (Php. 30). I guess it's because their tea drinks are pretty mild. No bitter aftertaste, no herbal scent. It's very smooth and sweet that is sure to be a hit even with the little ones. Take the Royal Milk Tea for example. I've tried a number of versions from various stores and Big Daddy's Milk Tea is the mildest of them all. I don't even have to worry about my hyperacidity as I feel that the tea content is quite low. I enjoyed the milky sweet tea which was a good break from the hard core milk teas that I've been indulging myself with the past months.

Our bags of Chicken Chops are here! I was a bit overwhelmed with five huge white bags on the table. I'm sure glad that my two friends N and H passed by to say hi and I later convinced them to sit with us and try the chops as well.

I started with the Original. I tasted a slight hint of my favorite five-spice powder. I love the crunchy yet tender chicken strips. We were surprised to find tiny bones in some bites though. Kim later explained that if they use fillet then it won't be as tender as it is. Ok, let's stick to the bones then! :)

Next was my personal favorite, Plum. I love the sweet-salty mix covering my chicken chop. The flavor gives me wonderful images of Taiwan and boy am I excited to visit this country next year! My friend N who has been to Taiwan began telling me about the delicious street snacks that I have to watch out for. I excitedly listened to her while enjoying the Chicken Chops.

For the brave ones, the Chili flavor is for you. To be honest, it's not that spicy and it's something even I could take. You'll just feel the sudden zing probably on your second or third bite.

The Nori and Lemon were pretty mild. Paul liked the Nori as he loves the Japanese taste in his chicken pieces. While the lemon we all agreed was very light that you could hardly taste the tangy lemon there.

For those wanting to enjoy a meal at Big Daddy's Chicken, you can actually have your Chicken Chop with pasta or rice! I will definitely go back to have my own Chicken Chop in Plum flavor with pasta!

What caught the attention of my friends N and H, and was actually the reason why they ended up also at Big Daddy's Chicken was the Spiral Potato which is a really creative way of enjoying the ordinary potato chips. It's fried and placed on a stick where you can just dip and munch away. Unfortunately, this was not available during the time of our visit and I told Kim that I promise to go back to try this.

As we headed to Paul's favorite camera shop to get his new *ahem* baby, I couldn't stop raving about the delicious afternoon snack that we've just had. Will definitely be back, Big Daddy! :)

Big Daddy's Chicken is located at the Ground Floor of Greenhills Theater Mall, Greenhills Shopping Center, San Juan City. They also have a branch at the SM Mall of Asia. For bulk orders, call them at 345-8232.

Warming our tummies at Ramen Bar

As soon as we enter the -ber months, we have noticed a slight change in our weather. The daylight gets shorter, the wind gets colder... December is just around the corner.

Since we got back from our honeymoon, Paul and I have been craving for ramen noodles. Sadly, our hectic schedules have hindered us to quickly drive to the nearest Japanese restaurant to get our ramen fix.

It was just a couple of weeks ago, when we had to bring our poor sick laptop to the shop for repair. The technician told us to come back for two hours and since it was also time for lunch, we went around Eastwood Mall looking for a place that will catch our fancy. We've both tried a number of outlets in the mall and even those along City Walk, then I remembered that I wanted to try Ramen Bar, quickly we looked around and finally found it just at the back of the laptop shop.

I've heard about Ramen Bar from fellow bloggers and it has been on my list for a couple of months now. I'm so glad to be able to find it and finally we'll be able to satisfy our ramen noodle craving.

While browsing through the menu, we surveyed the neighboring tables and noted that the bowls were huge! We then agreed to just get one ramen and an appetizer to share.

One thing that I makes me wary about eating soup-based noodle dishes is that it might be too salty for my taste. I grew up with my mom's healthy, rather bland cooking that just an extra pinch of salt is too much for my taste buds to take.

I zeroed in on the Sapporo Miso Ramen (Php. 320) which has corn kernels, butter, tamago (soft boiled egg marinated for 48 hours), naruto (fish sticks), negi (sping onions), and chasyu (sliced pork). All these mixed with the freshly made al dente ramen noodles on its miso soup stock. It was my first time to try ramen with butter but I realized that it has made the soup richer and tastier. I love munching on the naruto and chasyu while slurping spoons after spoons of the miso-infused soup. We love the noodles which has just the right bite. Paul commented that not a lot of Japanese ramen bars can achieve this here in Manila. Hats off to Ramen Bar then!

Aside from our noodles, we also got the Kakuni Buns (Php. 180). At first glance, it reminded me of the Chinese Cua Pao where it also has a slice of pork asado, hoisin sauce and spring onions. Peering at it closely, you'll see that they've added a piece of lettuce and drizzled Japanese mayo on top of it. Paul was the first to take a bite and he nodded as if to give his approval saying that it's good. I followed suit and I couldn't agree with him more. The pork was very soft that as the menu says it literally melts-in-your-mouth. The sauce was very tasty and we slowly enjoyed our Kakuni Buns with our ramen.

Service was superb too! Inside are long tables where you'll have to share with other customers. Our dining experience was fantastic that it somehow took away our worry over our laptop at least for an hour or so.

Don't you love this shirt? Thanks Zeny for gamely posing for me!

I'm still nursing a recovering tummy but as soon as I get better, I will definitely head back to Ramen Bar for my ramen fix! :)

Ramen Bar is located at Unit 1800-4A, Ground Floor, Eastwood City, Libis, Quezon City. Call them at 570-9457.

Frannywanny's Holiday Gift Idea : Dragonfly Desserts

We have 41 days left before Christmas Day. To follow my annual tradition, I would like to share with you various Holiday gift ideas that you might want to give to your friends and loved ones this year.

First off is Dragonfly Desserts. A dessert-company owned by my friend Cheryl who, after taking her culinary lessons in New York City, came back to Manila to spread more sweetness to everyone's daily lives.

My sister totally loves her Wicked Bites which are mini cupcakes filled with chocolate and chili. The sweet-spicy mix makes every bite truly exciting!

This year, she sent me a couple of new additions to her growing list of best-sellers such as the:

Almond Cappuccino Bars: My dad, without even opening the box, said that whatever was inside must tastes good as it smells good. He's a coffee-lover and obviously was drawn towards this caffeine-loaded sweet treat. I love the moist, melt-in-your-mouth cappuccino bar that's topped with thin slices of almonds and chocolate chips.

Lemon Ginger Pound Cake: This one was my favorite, I love pound cake and anything citrus-y. I was initially afraid that the ginger taste might be very overwhelming but after enjoying two slices of the cake, I almost forgot there was ginger there. It's a very light afternoon cake perfect with a cup of tea.

Chocodamia Cookies: This is a perfect choice for all chocolate lovers. We enjoyed the moist and chewy cookies loaded with Macadamia nuts and gooey chocolate. I love the single cookie packaging so the other cookies stayed well-preserved even after a few more days.

Tomato Kesong Puti Tart: Best enjoyed when warm. I am a huge fan of quiche and this reminds me so much of my favorite Quiche Lorraine minus the ham. This is in true Pinoy gourmet style where Cheryl has put together the best things about Christmas-- Kesong Puti, Tomatoes, Eggs and Basil. I love the flaky crust in contrast to the smooth Kesong Puti mixture.

As I'm typing this, I am also slowly building my Christmas list where I will definitely give some of my Dragonfly Dessert favorites out for friends and loved ones to enjoy.

Merry Christmas!!!

To Order from Dragonfly Desserts:
Contact Cheryl Ann Lim at 0909-8888802 / 0917-8780001 / 5069922 / 4128003.

Where to Eat?: Frannywanny's list of restaurant in and around the Metro

Don't know where to eat on your next dinner date?

Check out Frannywanny's updated Restaurant List!!

I've added a section on Hotel Buffets and Eat-all-you-can food spots that you might also want to try!

Enjoy! :)

photo credit: http://www.significantelements.org/

Mexican Pit Stop : Hermanos Taco Shop

To welcome Jane back from her Hong Kong trip and also as a send-off for Richard, Irene, Grace and Lauren who flew to Cebu the next day, we agreed to have dinner at Hermanos Taco Shop along Granada street one busy Friday evening.

This was from a recommendation given by my sister's friend who told me that their burrito and tacos are better than Ristras. Since I'm a fan of Ristras, this I have to see for myself.

The shop is located within a gasoline station so parking is pretty ample. There are two doors leading to the shop, one leads to the dining area and another to the counter. Quite funny, don't you think?

We were one of the last to arrive as traffic was horrible that Friday night. Still the Club warmly welcomed us and advised us to go and order as they were already happily enjoying their Mexican dinner. I was craving for meat, meat and more meat so we got the Carne Asada Chips (Php. 320) and shared on a BBQ Beef Burrito (Php. 285) with extra Sour Cream.

The burrito came first and I found it a bit spicy but it was pretty bearable that I finished my share with lots of sour cream. I love the warm tortilla and how soft it was, still there's that pull that I get in every bite. I love my tortilla that way. The beef was very generous and the sauce was pretty flavorful.

On the sour cream, Jane and I agreed that it tasted different. It somehow tastes like yogurt that we initially were worried that there must be something wrong with their sour cream but after a couple of re-assurances  from the mommies in the group namely Rowena and Irene, we continued to enjoy our own cups of sour cream.

The burrito was indeed filling and my jaw dropped at the sight of the Carne Asada Chips. It was like a mountain full of chips, Carne Asada, jalapeño, tomatoes and a lot more. I even told Abet, who was sitting beside me, that this is too much and it looks like Paul and I will have to take half of the chips home.

Well, that was before I bit into the chips and as we continued to chat and joke around, our Carne Asada Chips platter was almost empty... not by Paul but by yours truly who enjoyed munching on what seemed like homemade chips and fresh salsa. Needless to say, there was no need to take any Carne Asada Chips home. :)

Sensing our enthusiasm in trying out their food, the kind owner sent us plates of Cinnamon Crisp (Php. 95) for dessert. I wasn't able to try this anymore because around this time,  I was so full from the burrito and the Carne Asada Chips that it was Paul who enjoyed our share. It's like deep fried tortilla covered with cinnamon and sugar and drizzled with condensed milk. This is definitely something kids will love and adults will continue to crave for.

Well, I still love Ristras for its delicious nachos filled with salsa, guacamole and sour cream. The location is also more accessible to my home but Hermanos is the place when you're craving for authentic tacos. On my next visit, I will definitely try the Rolled Tacos that looks so good as my fellow bloggers were enjoying it. How I wish Hermanos would open till the wee hours in the morning as this would be a perfect go-to place after a night out with friends.

Hermanos Taco Shop is located at 27 Granada Avenue, corner Jose O Vera street, Brgy. Valencia, Gilmore, Quezon City. Call them at 570-84-25.

*p.s. while in the area, why not drop by JEH Car Wash to treat your car to some scrub and wash. It's just along Castillas street, a stone throw away from Hermanos. It's on the same street as Elorde Gym.

Heart of the Matter

It's almost noon yet the entire house is still fast asleep..this is except for myself, my cute little dog Scottie and our busy househelps.

Spent a marvelous time with the girls last night. I'm truly blessed to have three amazing girl friends whom I truly get along with and who are real, not pretentious and are super fun to be with. :) No issues over non-issues, no bloated egos, just plain old fun over stories and laughter shared all around. It's just like going back to basic. This is what friendship is all about.

It's funny that I woke up to this SMS sent by Mr Ube (of Eng Bee Tin Hopia).

"Don't stress yourself with useless people who don't even deserve to be an issue in your life."

I then realized I tend to be a worrier and with all the blessings that I've been getting in my life, I guess I should learn to just shrug off those that are really unimportant to me, Paul and our families.

I have to focus on the heart of the matter, continue to keep a more positive outlook in life. Despite how sour some points in life can be, there's always a little touch of sweetness that will make the over-all taste truly satisfying. :)

Have a Blessed Sunday, dear readers! :)

Bubbling bubbles at Bubble Tea!

I grew up learning how to appreciate tea and loving the different tea variants that has entered the market. This goes way back when my family would spend our Sunday afternoon tea bonding with each other at a hotel lobby. While the parents chit-chat, we kids munched on scones, canapes and mini tea sandwiches as we drank cups and cups of tea. At times, we would have dimsum for lunch and together with all of our steamed favorites, we would fill up our teacups with hot tea, be it chrysanthemum, jasmine or oolong.

Just lately, you've witnessed how fond I was over a neighborhood milk tea shop where I would make it a point to buy myself a large cup of Hokkaido Milk Tea on my way home from work. This went on for quite some time and I've influenced a number of friends in the process. My tea addiction can be pretty infectious.

Before this neighborhood milk tea though, I came across a cute Japanese-looking store at the basement of SM Megamall. It was my sister who first discovered this and she really liked their Coffee Milk Tea. So, on one shopping trip a couple of years back, we visited Bubble Tea in SM Megamall and ordered their Coffee Milk Tea to drink while going around the mall. They also serve food but I remember that their menu was pretty limited then.

Fast forward to the present, I was privilege to be invited to visit Bubble Tea's newest branch in Tomas Morato. It was a Monday night and straight from work, I headed to Quezon City to join my fellow bloggers in meeting the owners of Bubble Tea and to try their wide-array of food items.

Unlike how they were 3 years ago, Bubble Tea now has a huge menu filled with a number of mouth-watering drinks and food items. We began with a number of sushi rolls for appetizer. The Vancouver (Php. 285) sushi is perfect for the seafood lover. It has a piece of shrimp tempura wrapped in Japanese rice and nori and topped with Spicy Tuna sashimi. This was the first served to our table and I enjoyed this a lot. I love dunking my sushi into my wasabi-soy sauce mix before popping the entire thing into my mouth.

Another sushi favorite was the Dragon Maki (Php. 365) imagine prawns rolled with Japanese rice, topped with sweet unagi and drizzled with Teriyaki soy and mayonnaise sauce. Oishi-desu! Paul loves unagi and this was his favorite among all of the sushi platters served that evening.

My sister, who frequents Bubble Tea in SM Megamall more than I do, told me that she enjoys having lunch there as she loves their baked rice. Luckily, we were also given the chance to try the Chicken Teriyaki Doria (Php. 245) which has a generous serving of grilled boneless chicken on top of baked rice with lots of melted cheese. For the cheese lovers out there, then you'll love this dish! I got to agree with my sister, their baked rice is yummy! However, I'd love for the rice to be creamier though.

For the pesto pasta lovers like myself, they have the Tori Pesto Spaghetti (Php. 255) with pan-fried boneless chicken on top of creamy pesto spaghetti. I never seem to get tired of pesto and I love the nutty texture of the sauce.

My friend Joan requested if we can try the Beef Stew Curry (Php. 265). After ordering it, she was telling me how tender the beef was and the sauce was authentic Japanese curry which we all know how delicious this can be. Finally, the dish has arrived and the smell of curry immediately filled our part of the restaurant. Everyone on the table was excited to dig in. I took a small slice of beef and a spoonful of curry-covered rice. Oh I love how fragrant the curry sauce was and it wasn't too spicy at all. The beef, as Joan said, melts in your mouth. This is one of the things I'll definitely remember to order on my next visit.

As we have been having quite a number of carb-loaded dishes that evening, there were two meat dishes that really stood out that evening. First was the Japanese Fried Chicken in a Basket (Php. 385). This dish is perfect for kids as the little ones will surely enjoy the crunchy chicken skin and the tender, juicy meat underneath. I has quite a sophisticated taste different from the ones from the popular fast food chains. The breading was just right, not overly coating the chicken and giving you nothing by flour and breadcrumbs. This is served with Nori Ginger Sauce and Japanese Potato Salad as a side dish.

Another crowd favorite was the Salmon Foil Yaki (Php. 345). This is one thing I'm pretty sure my mom would love. A healthy choice of steamed salmon fillet wrapped in foil to keep the flavor, nutrients and juices intact. The fish was very tender and delicious. They also have the Gindara Foil Yaki and I can just imagine how yummy that would be.

Of course, a trip to Bubble Tea is not complete without enjoying their drinks. For years, staying loyal to their Coffee Milk Tea, I realized that it's time to give others a try. That evening, I had the Almond Milk Tea which has a light sweet taste that I love. It went perfectly well with all of the dishes that I've enjoyed that evening.

I love Bubble Tea's hip and chic interiors and I'm so happy that after opening their Tomas Morato branch, they are finally opening another branch along Wilson Street here in San Juan soon! I am excited to welcome Bubble Tea Wilson with open arms and I'm sure the entire neighborhood will agree with me too.

Bubble Tea has three branches in SM Megamall, The Block in SM North Edsa and along Tomas Morato in Quezon City. Watch out for their new branch at Madison Square Wilson, San Juan City this November!