Frannywanny

One thing that I love about k-dramas is when I get to have a glimpse of the food trends and scene in Korea. From local coffee shops to famous restaurants in and around Seoul, I can't help but wish that I can visit South Korea soon to fully experience the k-vibe and eat to my heart's delight. * Can I just teleport myself in just a snap of a finger? * Thanks to my cousin-in-law B, who has always been my main source for food stops in Pampanga, as he recommended Premium Cafe Retro 525  which is just located along Friendship Highway. We went there for lunch with my university friends after we took our little ones to Dinosaur Island. Feeling famish and in the mood of anything cold as the weather was so warm, we were greeted by the beautiful and spacious interiors of Retro 525 . I tell you, I don't think we have cafes this big here in Metro Manila. It has a center section with a wide array of breads on display. There's an ample amount of tables available at the ground floor b...

About 5 months ago, my dad had a bad fall. Actually, he missed a stepped and slipped in the bathroom. Perhaps for any ordinary person, one could easily just stand up and recover with probably just some minor bruising that an ice pack could easily fix. Unfortunately, as we age, so does our bones and for my 70-something Papa, this led to him damaging one of his hipbones. It was so bad that he felt so much pain and given his high tolerance for pain, we knew that something was just not right when he began complaining of the pain even with just very short distance walks. Anyway, long story short -- Papa had to undergo a partial hip replacement and that posed so much risk whether he can recover a.k.a. walk again. Thankfully, his surgery was a success thanks to his dream team (a.k.a. his team of doctors headed by my brother in law E). After surgery, he had to stay in the hospital for a few more days despite his wishes to go home right away as they wanted to get him started on his therapy. Fin...

In our many years of eating out, it's quite rare for us to keep visiting a particular restaurant as there's always that constant desire to try something new . After all, there are thousands of new restaurants yearly and the choices are pretty much endless. However, there's one particular restaurant that I've been frequenting on a weekly basis. I guess we got ourselves a winner. :) It was one afternoon in December when my friend M came home for a quick visit and invited me out for a coffee break. Since I had to feed the twins round the clock and I only have a two hour window to be away from them, the challenge is to find a good cafe nearby. It was in the wee hours of the morning when I stumbled upon Flossom Kitchen + Cafe . It was then a newly opened restaurant located right behind Rustan's Supermarket along P. Guevarra, literally a stone's throw away from home. Perfect! Luckily, my friend M was game to try this new cafe out and that marked the start of m...

"People who love to eat are always the best people."  - Julia Child I totally agree with this quote as come on, eating is such a joyous occasion and people who love to gather around for a good meal are naturally joyful and happy, don't you think? Take my food-loving friends for instance, there's never a sad or dull moment with them as we all enjoy discovering a new restaurant or when we do get to discover a winning dish, we all share that same amount of excitement and thrill over it. Our friend D is one of those people whom we just love hanging out with. Often times, I would tell him that he's such as a nice and down-to-earth guy. He's always true to himself even when that means having the appetite to order almost everything on the menu and not being ashamed to do so. Of course, Paul and I will always support this "dreams" and we would be game to pig out with him too! Kidding aside, we're really blessed to have a friend like D and how cool is...

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...

As we were researching for our trip to Bali last year, Paul and I noticed that the cafe scene in this beautiful Indonesian island is totally booming. This really got us so excited as we're both fans of cafes and we definitely love visiting new ones too. We actually have the option to take our breakfast in the hotel but since we were only there for 3 full days, we didn't want to waste spending more than one meal in one place. On our first morning in Bali, after taking a million and one shots of the ocean view, we headed to Seminyak to try Sisterfields . This is one of the top cafes rated in Tripadvisor and it was highly recommended by local bloggers and Instagrammers too so we definitely took their word for it. Seminyak is just the next district to where our hotel was thus, making it a short and stress-free 10 minute ride via Uber. Here's a tip: when in Bali, just use Uber (or Grab) as hailing a cab wasn't very much recommended by our hotel receptionist as there ...

Allow me to let you in on a secret.  It's the kind of the secret that I've carefully kept mum about for the past 13 years. However, I feel it's the right time to make the big reveal. So, here goes.... I found the ONE. That glorious plate of Baked Macaroni and I can dare say that it's the best that I've tasted in my entire 33 years of existence. Too good that I'm allowing myself to be melodramatic about it.  Welcome to Toll House . A home-grown neighborhood coffee shop found along the busy street of Sto. Rosario  in Angeles, Pampanga. Paul first took me here during our early days of dating and if I remember correctly, it was exactly after he officially introduced me as his girlfriend to his gwama and gwakong  which led to a short chit-chat a.k.a. interview. Yes, we had a " Meet the Grandparents " kind of moment and I guess it went pretty well so we headed to Toll House to celebrate. Haha! 

For those who have been following me on Instagram , you might have noticed that I would regularly use a certain hashtag called #frannymeday mostly on Saturdays. You see, Paul has work every Saturday which means I am all alone for most part of the day. Normally, I would just spend a couple of hours in the gym, grab a quick bite and run some errands while waiting for him to get off from work. I have to admit though that doing this for a couple of years now, it can get a bit lonely and the wait till his work ends can sometimes feel like forever. I'm lucky to have a couple of sweet girl friends here in Singapore who willingly offer to be my Saturday date to keep me company. Leading the #squad is my college friend T. She and her husband moved to the Lion City a few years before Paul and I did and we would go out for lunch dates once in a while since our offices are near each other. Lately, she has also been my favorite companion for weekend blog events or just whenever we feel the ...

Happy #SG50! It was indeed a fun and relaxing long weekend that just passed and how I wish we can have more reasons to celebrate like this. So, on Singapore's National Day , all trains and buses gave free rides for the entire day and Paul and I took this opportunity to explore the other side of town -- the East. Our adventure started early in the morning where we took a 45 minute train ride all the way to Dakota MRT Station. This was followed by a quick bus ride to East Coast Road --  our first destination of the day. After attending Sunday mass, we checked out this famous old-school coffee shop which dates back to the 1920s! I first learned about Chin Mee Chin Confectionery when I saw a couple of random Instagram posts from fellow bloggers about it.

I love going to coffee shops and cafes! The strong aroma of freshly brewed coffee, the buttery sweet scent of pancakes and just that over-all laid back feel. What makes it even more fun is when you walk into a coffee shop that screams "take a photo of me" in every nook and cranny! In today's social media speak, I'd say... it's totally Instagram-worthy ! Recently, I've been going crazy over this new foodie app that allows me to buy credits and to bid for a certain dish for as low as $1! I've been so hooked with it for days that one of the things that I bought was a $2.60 voucher for a glass of Iced Coffee from  Doi Chaang Coffee  in Clementi. I'll tell you more about this app in my succeeding entries but for now let's focus on the coffee shop, shall we?

On the last day of my ninja-mode visit to Manila, I was able to find a bit of free time in between running last-minute errands. The first person I thought of calling was obviously my best friend L. Of course, I started by apologizing for the very sudden invite but L quickly told me to stop being silly for apologizing and we agreed to meet up for some catching up over afternoon tea. It's funny how a lot of things have changed over the past two years that I somehow feel like a tourist in my very own country. Gone are the days when I can quickly rattle off all the latest or must-tries food places all over Metro Manila. Today, I would rely on my family or my friends to recommends places for us to try. I'm glad though that they all have very good taste in food so that means we get to have endless yummy meals whenever we're back home. L and I agreed to meet at The Bunny Baker . I saw this days before our meet-up when Mommy and I were on our way to Quezon City. The pink cutesy...

I've always wanted to go to Paris . In my mind, I've envisioned it to be very laid back yet stylish. Where beautiful people would hang out at the outdoor cafes dressed in the latest fashion styles and they would leisurely enjoy their cup of coffee and some pastry. Of course, there's Angelina . One of two food places that has been on my list for years. I've heard about Angelina's famous Hot Chocolate and had a taste of a replica years back. The replica was pretty good so I had extremely high expectations for the real thing. Visiting Paris might come in the next few years but luckily, Angelina came to me earlier than expected. Angelina opened its first Southeast Asian store here in Singapore just a month ago at very posh Capitol Galleria (beside Capitol Piazza). Its opening has been much awaited by all local food-lovers including yours truly and my hubby Paul. So, last Sunday, we met up with our friend D for Afternoon Tea. D got to the restaurant earlier than ...

Paul normally has Saturday work which means, I'm pretty much left on my own to laze around the house or to do some serious running/climbing/kicking/stretching/(fill in with crazy, adrenaline-high action here) at the gym. Not wanting to sound cheezy but I do miss him so much throughout the day. Weekends, after all, are never fun when you're alone right? Once in a while though, I'd go and visit him at work! Not in a creepy, clingy way, of course, but I'd time it when his work is about to end or it's near his lunch break. I'm thankful for the mall that's within walking distance from his clinic and most especially the little foodie spots that I'd discover in the most unexpected places.  Take The Tiny Roasters , for instance. I chanced upon this one morning and was immediately drawn towards this small, cozy-looking coffee shop. Stepping inside, you'd be greeted by the warm delicious scent of coffee. They mean serious coffee business here as the ...

There's really something about cafes that give that nice calming effect. Must be the nice aroma of the coffee or the light chatter of the people around me. During my weekly me-time moments, I always find that sense of peace while enjoying a nice cup of Flat White together with my choice of brunch as I read a new book or simply stare off into space. However, when that cafe would make me want to go back again and again, then I know that it has successful won my heart and it will permanently stay there for years to come. Yes, I'm THAT loyal. After all, I was born on the Year of the Dog.  *arf!* I think I have found my favourite cafe in the Lion City the moment I step inside Symmetry Cafe . How I ended up having brunch there was purely accidental. You see, I was a few hours early for a work-related event and with my growling tummy, I roamed the streets of Kampong Glam  in search of a nice cafe to hang out in. Then I remembered I and C telling me about Symmetry Cafe . A quick ...

I know Singapore is a small country with a total land area of a little more than 700km 2  which makes it just a bit bigger than Metro Manila's 600km 2 . Add to the fact that commuting around is so easy and convenient yet I haven't really been around that much. Oh, what have I been doing this past year and a half? Take for example Robertson Quay . It's one of those must-visit places as it's filled with 3rd wave coffee shops and it's said to also be a great place to hang out in or to jog around too. I've been meaning to visit this place but laziness normally strikes the moment the weekend rolls in. I'm glad my good friend Gelats was in town and despite our crazy schedules, we agreed to meet up for a quick coffee chat. She asked me to choose the place and I went for Common Man Coffee Roasters  which has been one of the top coffee places to go to this year. Finding it was quite easy with the help of our GPS, I enjoyed walking across the colorful graffi...

♫ Oh, do you know the muffin man, The muffin man, the muffin man, Do you know the muffin man, Who lives in Drury Lane? ♫ I think I have just found my favorite lunch cafe here in the Lion City! It all began when I received a message from fellow blogger Jane telling me that her friend and also a fellow blogger Leng is coming to Singapore and will soon be relocating here after she ties the knot with her beloved Plaid Boy next year. Of course, I excitedly said yes as I just love meeting new friends here. So Leng and I exchanged quick hi's and hellos and we began planning for our lunch meet-up. Since I can't go really far from the office, I'm glad that my work area is brimming with so much food options making it easier (or shall I say harder) for us to choose our lunch date venue. Then I spotted Drury Lane  which was just down the road from the Tanjong Pagar Plaza . I figured that it would a quick walk from the MRT too so it would be too much of a hassle for Leng. Coinciden...

I always believe in one thing: " No Man is an Island. " This quote is pretty much self-explanatory. It tells us that in life, we need people to be there for us. Being an extrovert, I know for a fact that I won't survive without Paul, my parents and sister, my in-laws, my extended family and my friends as well. You don't need an entire community to be there for you but to have that small and big circles of trust is enough to make life worth living. For one thing, a fun lunch is impossible to have without friends there to share it with. Which is why I'm mighty thankful for my favorite lunch crew namely G, D and K (whom I miss so much) . I love how they're always so game to go out and try a new restaurant or cafe with me. So recently, when our friend C was back in Singapore from China, a nice get-together lunch was in order. Her only request was to look for a place with free Wi-Fi. That was easy! I went through my Entertainer app and found Group Therapy , a...

Pardon the cute-sy play of words but I just can't help it!  Ever wonder why coffee is normally linked closely to love and romance? Girl meets boy in a coffee shop. Girl and boy getting to know each other over coffee (and cakes, sandwiches or pastries!) Boy professes his love to girl also in a coffee shop. ... and they live happily ever after with more cups of coffee shared along the way! For Paul and I, Starbucks Coffee surely has played a valuable role in our very own love life. Here's where we've spent a lot of hours after our dinner date be it just the two of us or with our groups of friends. Starbucks Coffee has also been our permanent venue when we were meeting up with our wedding suppliers some time back and up to today, it has been our third place -- t hat one place where we feel most at home from the exact type of drinks that we want ( eg : Signature Hot Chocolate in Kid's Temp for him and a Non-Fat Hazelnut Latte , no whip in Kid's Temp for me...

Despite the extremely short vacation that Paul and I recently had in Manila, we came back to Singapore weighing a bit more but definitely happier, more relaxed and rejuvenated once again. Nothing beats being able to catch up with friends and spending a couple of days with family. Believe it or not, I have to always put together a calendar every time I fly home. This is because my schedule is always packed to the brim with meet ups, errands and shopping. I'm very thankful that no matter what, we have friends who wouldn't mind waking up extra early or staying out a bit later than usual just to be with us. You guys know who you are and for that, we love you with all our hearts. ♥ Take for example my favorite Nuffies M and A, most of the time, we would just communicate via email but every time I'm back in Manila, M would make it a point to meet up with me. We agreed to have brunch at the newly opened coffee shop named CO/OP Manila along A. Mabini street in San Juan. I...

Even if we try to avoid it, Paul and I always end up with really jam-packed schedules whenever we fly home to Manila. *sigh* I guess it's just so hard to packed everything that we want to do which includes shopping, running our errands and meeting people within 3 or 4 or 5 days. Take for example that one day that Paul and I went to SM Megamall with my sister Pan. In between shopping for our Diner en Blanc outfits, we found the need to just sit down, bond and have a nice cup of coffee. I was so happy to be able to finally check out the newest wing called the SM Mega Fashion Hall . While there are still a couple of shops about to open soon (eg: St Marc's Cafe, H&M, etc), the wing is already 80% complete! This was where we also found Lucca Bakery at the top most floor near the Ice Skating Rink and the IMAX theatre. I first read about Lucca Bakery from my friend Leslie's blog . She was raving about the Hazelnut Snail and the Banana Walnut Sticky Bun. However, I wasn...