Frannywanny

I guess it's no secret that I love to snack! With my growing list of must-try snacks...maybe I should start a blog dedicated to just that. Watchatink? :) Anyway, whenever Paul and I go to the mall, what we normally do really is to EAT! Sure, at times I get to buy a pair of shoes or a new outfit, sometimes we catch a movie but more often than not, we're most likely found at the food court area or along the row the restaurants checking every single one out. Take for example our recent trip to Robinsons Galleria . The initial plan was to pay some bills and to do the grocery. However, we both spotted Masatami , a kiosk outside the supermarket that offers shaved ice desserts. Not the Mais con Yelo type but rather one that looks like a giant snow cone. Paul seemed very interested as he lingered quite long enough checking the menu out. I suddenly remembered receiving a couple of coupons from the owners of Masatami and after checking my bag if I have it, I excitedly waved the two...

Here's a case when I chose not to blog on the my first restaurant visit...neither on my second but just decided to wait and go back for a third round before I finally give my full review. I first heard about Hainanese Delights from my colleague ML who is a certified foodie and a budding food blogger. It was during one of our work-related events in Robinsons Galleria when she pointed out this fast food-like restaurant with a bright pink signage to me. I made a mental note to check it out but since I rarely get to visit the mall, it took me more than a month before I finally had the chance to try Hainanese Delights for the first time. My first visit was ok, nothing amazing as I was only able to try one dish and a can of Coke. Nothing more. My second visit came shortly after when Hainanese Delights opened at Robinsons Pioneer , a mall that's just within walking distance from my office. ML and I were invited to a lunch meeting there and we were able to sample more dishes ...

I love having afternoon merienda (snack) with my sister. This is because, being a food lover like myself, a simple pack of saltine crackers is definitely not enough for her to qualify this as an afternoon snack. For us, our merienda may be in the form of a plate of fresh sashimi or sushi, a bowl of Tortilla chips complete with a wide-array of dips and a lot more. This habit we got while growing up with my Kongkong who would go the extra mile to cook a bowl of bihon soup or take us all out for a dimsum feast for merienda . One afternoon, we found ourselves strolling around Robinsons Galleria after one of my cooking demos (note: I organize cooking demos and am not the chef of the demo :P) . Since I was feeling a bit stressed out and tired from standing for hours and managing the crowd, she suggested that we grab something to eat. I just love my sister for giving amazing suggestions! Off we went to the new Veranda section of the mall. We've tried almost all of the restaurants...

Johnny Rockets may have been around since they first opened at the Eastwood Mall two years ago but it was my first time there after checking out Robinsons Galleria 's newest wing called the Veranda , two weeks ago. Why I love the Veranda . It has it's own parking space! Note though that for those who are planning to shop after dining at any of the outlets here, the rate may be a bit higher as compared to parking in their basement parking lot. However, it gives you direct access to the numerous restaurants available and this is perfect especially when you're very hungry just like how I was when my sister and I visited that day.  As we were deciding on where to eat, we noticed that there was loud music coming from one particular restaurants and the servers where all outside dancing. Yes, they were dancing and clapping and cheering. What a happy sight! We scanned the menu and later on decided to give Johnny Rockets a try. We were told that their serving is quite big ...

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

I love pasta and my colleagues can attest to this. I frequently crave for pasta that at times they would raise their eyebrows and divert their attention to my tummy with suspicion. Well, it's not what they think... not yet . It's just that I love pasta, my undying love for al dente noodles cooked with the yummiest sauce and topped with my mushrooms, shrimps and at times drizzled with truffle oil. Ohh, I'm in pasta heaven. My friend Shar is a great cook and her specialty is...PASTA! She loves to experiment with different pasta combination thus Goodles was born almost a year ago. Every time I find myself shopping in Robinsons Galleria, I make it a point to drop by her store for a cup of delicious pasta. My favorites include the Goodles Classic, Grape Carbonara, Chicken Vodka and the Salsa Rossa Shrimp. Oh how I wish Shar would open more branches that's more accessible to me soon ( Greenhills, perhaps? :) ) click to enlarge the menu In the meantime, I found o...

As we love to travel around Asia, Paul and I have grown to appreciate the different cuisines that each Asian country offers. From the flavorful dishes of China to the cold fresh sushi of Japan and lastly to the herb-infused meals found in any Southeast Asian country, we enjoy trying and tasting each local cuisine as we believe that it is the best way to understand and educate ourselves about the country's culture. Here at home, we find comfort in a bowl of Tinolang Manok or a plate of Kare-kare with Bagoong. Nothing makes our day brighter by enjoying a meal consisting of any of our Filipino favorites plus a cup of fragrant white rice. Aside from the Philippines, Singapore is one country that's very close to our hearts . This was one reason why we both agreed to fly off to Singapore for our honeymoon and to spend a week exploring the different sights and meeting up with old friends. We loved the peaceful and orderly system of this small country. Nothing also beats the exp...

It was our monthly shopping/bonding session and before hitting the shops, my sister and I decided to fill our body with that much-needed energy by having a hearty lunch! It was a good thing we were both craving for Chinese food that we both agreed to try Mr. Choi Kitchen . I've been a regular patron of Mr. Choi Kitchen as there's a branch that's just within walking distance from my office. My sister, on the other hand, has only visited this restaurant once. Service here was quick and despite arriving at the restaurant during the rush hour, we were able to get a table right away. My sister allowed me to plan our lunch since I'm familiar with their menu already. After placing our order, we were given a bowl of their complimentary appetizer -- Crispy Fish Skins . I love this munchie as it has just the right amount of saltiness and it's not too oily too! Best to dip this into a bowl of spicy vinegar. Yum! Our Hakao (Php. 110) was the first to arrived. Piping ...

For the past two weeks, Paul and I have been getting gastronomic hints from The Lion City . First was the surprise package that I got from a college friend who asked us to try out her family's delicious Hainanese Chicken Rice recipe. Then there was that pasalubong from Mom who dropped by Ya Kun Kaya in Ortigas for some delicious Kaya Toast. Lastly, an invite from fellow blogger Spanky to try out Nasi Lemak . Well this was not actually our first time at Nasi Lemak if you remember my first blog post about our 58th monthsary celebration with our new found Singaporean favorites which was followed by a number of family dinners thereafter. It has been a while though since we went back...quite some time that we were surprised to see that they closed down their Tomas Morato branch and later found out that they opened a new branch at Robinsons Galleria! Yay! Much closer to home! Our afternoon began with a brief demonstration by Mr. Tan himself. Using just the essential (yet very...

I am a pasta fan and I guess thousands of you out there echoes this sentiment too. Pasta has always been equated to being a comfort dish that is enjoyed by anyone -- old and young alike. While there is that neighborhood Italian eateries s that boasts of their al dente pasta dishes, more and more fast food chains are also joining the pasta craze by coming out with their signature noodle dishes as well. Enter Goodles . Shar Tan, Goodles' hardworking and super talented owner A new player in the pasta industry that aims to be the first to sell gourmet pasta dishes in a more casual environment. For instance, an order of pasta is served in a cup which is perfect when you're on the go or you would like to bring this inside the movie house. Despite having its pasta dishes prepared fast, one can still enjoy the same al dente noodles combined with its flavorful sauce or top quality ingredients for nothing more than P180! Goodles is barely a month old and I have been visiting this kiosk...

It's no secret how much I love to travel...and to eat. This actually goes hand in hand as my travel itinerary is normally filled up with new places to try and local delicacies that I make sure I bring home for my family to enjoy as well. In fact, one of the best birthday gifts that I've ever received was a handy travel journal given to me by my best friend. At present, I have already filled up around 10 journal pages documenting my adventures in China , Hong Kong , Iloilo, Bacolod and more! Soon, I will be adding a new entry as I embark on another fun trip this time to my favorite Asian destination -- Singapor e . There are times when I would find myself craving for a local food item that can not be found here in Metro Manila. Despite my efforts in searching high and low, the only answer to my craving is a plane ticket back to the province where the object of my gastronomic affection can be found. Thankfully, most of the key cities here in the Philippines have a couple of entre...

The weather has been unpredictable lately that a short drizzle can turn everyone paranoid thinking it might cause another catastrophe similar to what we have witnessed last Saturday. Everyone is still in a sad mood due to the news that we get every morning about the rising death toll, the number of families that are homeless and the constant plea for more donations from kind individuals . During this bad weather, everything and anything that can uplift one's spirit is highly appreciated. For me, I turn to a plate of steaming hot pasta as my ultimate comfort food. My first encounter with a dish called ravioli was during my first year in college. I would take a short walk to CPK in Shangri-la Plaza, together with a good friend, we would share on a plate of creamy Portobello mushroom ravioli to which I would sprinkle a lot of Parmesan cheese before taking a bite. Oh how happy I was when I found out that a kiosk specializing in ravioli dishes opened right at the middle of the Robinsons...