Frannywanny

It's been four years since my last dinner at Blackbird yet it was one of the most memorable too. I remembered flying home to celebrate Papa's birthday and who would have thought that a year after that, my dear Ama (grandmother) would be leaving us . *sniffle* Needless to say, I'm glad that I was able to spend time and have several meals with her while she was still with us. Even then, Ama was already weak. Having difficulty in walking, I remember how we have to slow down our pace and take smaller steps so as not to tire her out despite how short the walk may be. One thing that I will remember the most about my Ama is how appreciative she has always been. She always have something nice to say about everyone and it's not surprise then why we all love her to bits...making her passing so hard on us too. I remember how she would always be so excited whenever we take her out for a meal saying that I always take her out to nice, delicious restaurants. Often times I would w...

Let me ask you all a question: "What were you doing when you were 25?"  For me, I was working for the Green Siren, organizing events and thinking of creative local store activities for each occasion and promotion. I was 25 when Frannywanny.com was born. That was probably the best thing that ever happened to me that year. Anyway, here in Singapore, two 25 year old guys have traveled around the world and have just opened their first ever restaurant. Thus, First 25 Cafe  was born. Now, what do you say about that?! :) 

For the many years that Paul and I have been living here in the Lion City, friends and family would sometimes ask us if we feel that "Singapore is boring." Every single time, we would tell them that we have never felt that way about this beautiful Little Red Dot  and in fact, we always end up having an action-packed weekend filled with all sorts of activities. I always believe that one's perception of one's home is fully dependent on the person. Sure, we have friends who would rather travel to another country every other weekend while others would fall into a home-gym-grocery-mall-home routine week after week thus it's easy for them to say that there's nothing much to do here. I always believe that all it takes is a bit of creativity and an open mind and heart to what could be endless possibilities. Take one of our Sundays for example. It was supposed to be a lazy, event-less Sunday but Paul and I decided to explore our new neighborhood most particularly W...

For a food blogger, I have to admit that I can get quite picky too. Carrots, peas, corn, mussels, oysters and whipped cream are just some of the big no-nos on my dinner plate. Admittedly, I like leafy veggies more than the slimy ones. I know, I know... it can be quite challenging to get me to really eat all my greens. (sorry Mommy!) So, when I got an invite to check out the new menu of Do.Si.Rak. I initially had my fears. "Will I like the food?" "Will they be serving veggies that I don't like?" "Will it be tasteless and bland?" These are just some of the things that have crossed my mind and I'm pretty sure the minds of countless others who are not big veggie eaters. However, Do.Si.Rak. is a step above the usual salad bar as it offers something more than just x number of toppings on top of your mixed greens. Here, you choose your base (noodles, rice, tofu, cauliflower rice, etc) followed by your veggies and lastly some protein .

We all love to brunch. Who doesn't, right? However, when you're too tired to wake up a little before lunch then you can now have Tunch ! I tell you, it just gets brilliant each time. Tunch is the perfect combination of lunch and tea time allowing yourselves to enjoy a wide-array of dishes with the addition of your favorite tea time selections. Last weekend, I was invited to try the Long Weekend Tunch at Grand Park City Hall . The buffet line-up closely focuses on a number of Asian favorites such as the local Rojak, Kueh Pai Ti, two types of congee and what I loved most was the dimsum station. I have to admit that there weren't a lot of items to choose from but the best buffets are really about quality over quantity right? Let me take you on a tour around Indulge at Park  and tell you more about the dishes that won my heart (and tummy) that afternoon. I always like to start my meal with a plate of sushi and sashimi. Look at this "bento box" of colorfu...

My dear readers probably know by now how big a fan I am of discounts and 1-for-1s. Of course, this is truly the best way to dine out as we get to try more dishes for a fraction of the price. After all, I've come to accept the hard truth that money doesn't grow on trees so being hardworking, frugal and smart about saving and spending money is truly the way to go. Don't get me wrong, I would still indulge and splurge once in a while but nonetheless, I think real hard before going for it. So, I just heard about the latest lunch promotion that Hotel Jen Tanglin  recently launched. It's called 12 at 12 at Ah Hoi's Kitchen and this just got to be the best promotion that I've ever heard of! Imagine being able to have 12 different viands plus complimentary drink, soup and rice for only $12 nett! The promotion runs during lunch hour which is at 12 noon sharp. The best part is, for groups of 12, the 12th person gets a free meal!

Ever since we moved office, I've always been excited to go in work and also to have lunch. This is probably because I'm really enjoying exploring our new neighborhood and so far every discovery I make have been a good one. A couple of weeks ago, D and I chanced upon a newly opened stall in 100AM, our very cool mall that's located across our new office. Named after Japan's high speed train, Shinkansen serves salad and a couple of hand-rolled sushi and sashimi too. The drill is to choose what "size" would you like to get:  Transit  (S$7.50) comes with 1 Base + 5 Toppings + Sauce Station  (S$10) comes with 1 Base + 5 Toppings + Sauce + 2 Add-Ons Terminal  (S$12) comes with 1 Base + 5 Toppings + Sauce + 2 Add-Ones + 1 Meat Quite simple isn't it? After you choose how you want your Shinkansen bowl to be, you move on to choosing your base -- do you want to have Sushi Rice, Brown Rice, Soba Noodles or Mixed Greens...

Meet the newest kid in our office block! I've mentioned a number of times how I just love working in the CBD mainly because of the endless choices of food options that we get on a daily basis. Just recently, I visited a new cafe that opened a few months ago with fellow blogger A. If you know A, you'll know that he's the person to go to when you want to talk about coffee and to get tips on where to get the best cup in the country. It was just perfect that A also works in the area so we agreed to meet up for lunch one day. Gaest is one of the newest cafes which specializes in Nordic cuisine. I was initially confused what Nordic food is and a couple of research showed me how healthy it is. Using organic ingredients, Gaest serves four types of sandwiches -- Pork, Chicken, Potato and Salmon. What makes it so interesting is that they bake their own bread daily and almost all things that go into your sandwich is fresh. Just recently, they also started offering salads and...

I ♥ Salad! On days when I'm feeling really guilty for eating a lot of unhealthy and sinful food I'd then make up for it by having salad on my next meal. However, I'm quite picky on where to get fresh greens as I don't want to run the risk of ending up with a bad stomach or worst amoebiasis . I'm glad though that our local hawker stalls are taking the precautionary steps to practice proper food handling and hygiene all the time. Oh, one of the many things I love about the Lion City. Working in the CBD has its perks. One is definitely the endless food choices available. Since Amoy Food Centre is just a few steps away from my office, this has been my go-to place on days when I'm just too lazy to bring a packed lunch. Let me share with you one of my favorite stalls. Introducing The Salad Corner .

One reason why I just love working in the Central Business District (CBD) is that the choices for places to have lunch is ENDLESS. Seriously, on my first week with the company a little more than a year ago, it would take me half an hour to choose where to get lunch as I would walk around the block and still end up undecided where to either dine in or to tabao (take away) my food. From Japanese to Mediterranean , not to mention we got the Amoy Food Centre just a few steps away, our office area is every working foodie's dream come true! I love going out for lunch with my colleagues at least once a week as it gives me a good breather even just for an hour. Lunch meetings are fun too as you get to do something productive while enjoying a good meal. That's what I'd call hitting two birds with one stone . So, during one of our lunch meetings a few months back, my colleagues and I decided to have it at Moo Bar & Grill which is just a few steps from our office. Its locat...

With the numerous soup stores that can be found in the CBD, one would actually wonder if there's still room for more. True, take my office street for example, you don't have to walk far to come across 3 soup restaurants with a never-ending queue in front during lunch hour. The funny thing is, these 3 shops sell the same herbal, Chinese-y soup that my Kongkong would make for us as these are packed with all the nutrients to keep us healthy forever and ever. So, when my friend T invited me to have lunch at the newly opened Soup Stock Tokyo at our favorite lunch place destination -- Asia Square Tower 2 , I really didn't thought much about it at first as I had a feeling it was just one of those many soup places in the area with a fancier name that is. Little did I know that Soup Stock Tokyo originated from Japan since 1999. In fact, this branch in Singapore is their first overseas. WOW!

I had a good day yesterday.  Wanna know why?  It's because I finally was able to talk to my sister who was away most of the time these past months working on a really hectic project. She has been almost incommunicado since she began with the project and boy were we all counting down the days till it finally ends. Anyway, it's over and I can get to talk to my sister anytime I want again! Hooray! I really missed her, you know. *sniffle* Speaking of my sister Pan, did you know that whenever we travel together, we have this little tradition of dining at a Japanese restaurant with rotating sushi? It began when we were kids in Hong Kong and it somehow carried on when we went to Bangkok together and when she was here in Singapore a few months ago. Thus, a trip is not complete without having this little tradition. I actually attempted to dine at a rotating sushi restaurant on my own when I went to Beijing and the experience was just not as fun. Sakae Sushi is one of the r...

On my last day at work, I decided that I will do away with the tearful goodbyes and heartbreaking hugs by leaving...as subtly as possible. Don't get me wrong, I love Summit Media and most especially the talented people that's part of it but I really do not want and can't stand sad goodbyes. Thus, after a two-hour morning meeting with the bosses, I excitedly invited my team for what could possibly be our last lunch out together...at the moment. We initially couldn't decide where to go so I took matters into my own hands (literally!) and drove the team to Rockwell Center . Once there, we played a little eenie-mini-miney-moe and chose the restaurant that could offer us a good parking space (hehe!) . Finally, we went for Apartment 1B ! Hooray! I've dined at the Salcedo Village branch before and loved it! It has been years since and I thought it would be nice to go back and to visit their One Rockwell branch this time. We got there during lunch time and were prett...

Spontaneity . That's one thing that I've been trying my darnest to practice year after year. For someone who's incredibly OC, I tend to stick to routines and follow schedules to a T. Thus, when I texted a couple of friends to ask them out for lunch one weekday, they were pretty much surprised to receive such an impromptu invite from yours truly. Well, I was equally just as surprised myself that they were all game to meet up in less than two hours. We agreed to check out MadeCa as majority of us haven't tried it yet. I really haven't heard about this restaurant as I rarely get to visit the Podium Mall . Located at the 5th floor, this is a new Mexican - Filipino restaurant. A fusion restaurant. count with me!!! - Count Dracula (Count von Count, Sesame Street) To be honest, I'm not a big fan of fusion cuisines as normally it just doesn't work out that well. I still love restaurants that offer authentic cuisines be it Chinese, Filipino, Japanese or Ital...

It's Lent and the Philippines is now having a 5-day long break allowing us to reflect, repent and to remember what He has done for us. For me, I'm spending this 5 days to do all those and to relax, tp catch up with friends and to prepare for my upcoming trip as well. Today, I had lunch with a couple of good friends from high school. Since my good friends Angie and Dave are expecting their little bundle joy soon and Ge was advised by the doctor to just stay indoors; thus, we decided to have a simple potluck lunch at their lovely home instead of eating outside. I observe Lent as I stay away from meat until Easter. Luckily, all the dishes that we had today were meat-free allowing me to enjoy every single one! Let me share with you what me and my friends brought to lunch today: Even if she said she won't be cooking anything; Ge, who can double as Martha Stewart, couldn't help but prepare this yummy Spinach Dip with Crostinis. She also had a plate of Asparagu...

After enjoying a fun evening at our company's GLEE teriffic Christmas Party, this was followed by a relaxing lunch at Cafe 1771 the next day. I've been wanting to try Cafe 1771 and I was very excited after learning that we will be having our annual Christmas lunch there. I found out that Cafe 1771 in El Pueblo is divided into three sections. First is Whimsy , entering the main door you'll be greeted by bright pink and blue chairs. I love the happy and light ambiance and immediately chose a tall chair to sit on. However, this section was too small for our group of 16 so we were given a choice to either dine at The Lounge which is a private dining section that looks like a library with big heavy books as decor or the Wine Bar located at the second floor which was, in contrast to Whimsy, dark and interiors are majority made of wood and big black couches -- we settled to stay at The Wine Bar. Personally, I love the Whimsy section the most and will make sure we get a ...

What I love most about the weekend is that I get to dine out with both families. Saturdays are normally devoted to my side while Sunday lunch is spent with my in-laws. It is the time when we catch up on each other’s lives while not thinking about our weekday activities a.k.a. work. Last Sunday, the choice was up to me. Wanting to try Chef Jaume Vinallonga’s Paella Valenciana Set at Barcino , I invited my in-laws for lunch and I’m glad that they were all very excited to give it a try as well. We arrived at the restaurant a little past 12 and we were assisted by restaurant manager JM who took care of our orders that day. The Paella Valenciana set consists of a llanera of Seafood Paella, a bowl of Ensalada Catalana and the yummy Crema Catalana. Of course, we were also served with a glass of Castillero del Diablo red wine. For starters, Barcino served us with their complimentary bread basket with tomato spread . My mom-in-law commented how fresh and sweet the minced tomatoes w...

My friend B is celebrating her birthday tomorrow! As a pre-celebration, she invited us, her former colleagues, to lunch at the Marriott Cafe . From the moment I received her text invite, I was very excited and told her I will not miss her lunch party no matter what happens. It was an intimate gathering among us, B's friends with Marriott Manila's Sous Chef Raffy . Chef invited us to try their buffet and of course we gladly accepted his invitation. My friend K, who was the first to arrive, was even able to do a short round and has her buffet strategy down pat. Marriott Cafe's buffet spread has a wide mix of dishes from the East and the West. As always, I began with the cold cuts and salad station . The selections for the cold cuts where a bit limited as compared to other hotel buffets -- they had the smoked salmon, salami and two more cold cuts. Salad afficionados will be happy though as you can choose from three different lettuce types and a lot of toppings and dr...

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...