Frannywanny

Time flies super fast! As I was going through my old blog posts where I documented the birthday parties of my twins, I realized that I have yet to share about their 5th birthday celebration and here we are, just half a year away from them celebrating their 6th! Ackkk..teka lang! As you know, we have been resorting to full DIY house celebrations since 2020 since we can't go out and meet our families to physically celebrate with them. We're blessed to have such supportive relatives though who were all game enough to always join us as we do a virtual candle blowing for the past 2 years. Last year, as they celebrated their 5th birthday and as restrictions were starting to ease up, we were lucky to be able to go on a trip to make it extra special for them.  Since I was in between career shifts, we took the opportunity of me being on a one-month work break to fly to our favorite city in the world -- SINGAPORE! Make sense, right? The place where we will always feel right at home, whe...

Last October 2022 was a memorable month. Apart from the fact that it's the birth month of my adorable twins, it was also the month when I bid my close-to-four-year-long stint at theAsianparent goodbye and took a 3 week long break to recharge before I joined my current company -- Profriends. I embraced this break with glee as this doesn't come often. Not wanting to waste time, Paul and I decided to take the twins on their first out of the country trip since 2020. They've travelled to Taiwan and to Singapore before but since the pandemic, they've been stuck at home for 3 whole years. We didn't want to tire ourselves out as well with planning and navigating around an unfamiliar land so Singapore just made perfect sense as it's our second home. We went there with the most flexible itinerary that I've ever created. Basically, our objectives were simple: Meet our friends/family, EAT, check out the theme parks in JB and in Sentosa, EAT, relax and revisit our favor...

Let's take a quick trip down memory lane. Well okay, it wasn't that long ago but it sure feels like it. This photo below was taken almost 2 years ago on-board Singapore Airlines  on our last flight out of Singapore heading to Manila when we decided to relocate back home for good. I was a little more than 3 months pregnant with my twins then but to be honest I just looked really bloated and chubs and my baby bump clearly showed itself about two months after that. View this post on Instagram Birthday surprise up in the air -- this is one of the many reasons why I love flying @singaporeair ✈️ aside from the comfy seats, the amazing entertainment library and good food, they have the best in-flight service too. Yesterday, our flight attendants surprised me with a birthday cake and a specially made card! Thanks to @maddawg_world for tipping them off too. It was one of the best flights of my life as we were moved to the front ro...

It's no secret that I am a big foodie traveler. This is also one of the reasons why Frannywanny.com came about. For the past decade, I've been sharing with you my travel adventures which leans mostly on the restaurants and food hops that Paul and I would come across in whatever destination we'd be in. I also got to admit that I am also a luxury traveler. By that, I mean I tend to be very picky when it comes to my choice of airline, hotel and mode of transportation. Comfort is always my top priority. After all, we travel to recharge and feel rejuvenated right? Singapore Airlines has been my top choice of airlines since I used to shuttle back and forth Singapore and Manila for four years. I realized that the cost of flying via Singapore Airlines is not that far from our local budget airline and if this means getting an extra legroom, bigger seats, a hot delicious meal and a wide selection of in-flight entertainment as I fly to and from Singapore, then I'm totally fo...

Oh wow! It's been close to 3 months since we bid goodbye to the Lion City! Time flies so fast...when you're busy! With that, I think I should write about one of the things that I miss the most about Singapore. Crystal Jade . I know that this is pretty much a household name when it comes to Chinese dining with close to 20 outlets all over Singapore and even more overseas. I've had my first taste of Crystal Jade right here in Manila when my friend T brought me there to have her favorite Dan Dan La Mian . I was never a fan of spicy food but it was only Crystal Jade's version that I find to be really yummy. However, it was when I went to Singapore that I learned more about the brand. Did you know that Crystal Jade has several concepts under its wing? Let's see if I still remember them... there are the fine-dining ones such as Crystal Jade Prestige at MBFC, Crystal Jade Palace Restaurant which is like the flagship outlet in Takashimaya and Crystal Jade Golden Pa...

24 Weeks. That's how long our little bundles of joy have been living inside my tummy and it also means we're pretty much thisclose to the finish line. I got to admit that it took me a while to really decide to share my story most especially about my pregnancy journey. As chatty I may be when it comes to food, I try to keep my personal life away from the limelight but I realized that I'm not alone in this world and there may be women...or couples out there who are going through what we went through so here I am extending my hand to tell you this early on that you will never be alone. As soon as we got married, Paul and I were told to wait for 2 years before having a baby due to feng shui reasons. We were perfectly fine with this despite the increasing number of questions being thrown our way by relatives and friends on why should we even wait. I was 27 then.. Paul was 28. That seemed like the right age to have a baby, right? Wrong. Looking back, I must say that yes, ...

One thing that I'm quite amazed about Singapore is the presence of microbreweries all around the city. It's quite interesting to walk into a restaurant-bar and see huge bronze colored boilers which houses the different types of beers being brewed in-house. You can never get anything more authentic than that. Paulaner Brauhaus is one of the oldest microbreweries in Singapore as it's actually on its 18th year today. That said, I was so excited to walk into Paulaner Brauhaus ' newly renovated outlet at Millenia Walk for a nice long lunch one afternoon in the Lion City. While beer is totally a big no-no for preggy ladies, I was so happy to see that they have a very extensive food menus that I could enjoy.

Fire up the grill! For the past weekends since April, buffet diners of The Carvery have been enjoying a very indulgent meat buffet where the meat are carefully roasted over the restaurant's brand new Argentinian Grill. What makes this different from all other barbecue pits or grills is that it has an adjustable platform allowing the chef to control the heat depending on the type of meat being grilled. He can raise the platform higher for those that shouldn't be in close contact with the fire and lower for those that should have a smokier flavor. It also evenly cooks the meat as all are laid down on the platform and are cooked in one go. As you all know, the secret to getting that perfect barbecued meat lies on the wood being used to cook. Chef Robert Chan specifically made sure that he uses a mix of firewood -- Hickory and Mesquite to bring out a distinct flavor that we later got to enjoy in our cuts of meat. For our preview dinner, we got to try a good selection of ro...

Throughout our years of non-stop eating, it’s no secret how much Paul and I love Japanese cuisine. This is actually one reason why we decided to visit Japan last year as we just wanted more, more and more! One thing that I love about the Japanese way of cooking and preparation is how they make every single thing look so pretty. Regardless if it’s just a piece of rice cracker or it’s something more elaborate like a sashimi platter, there’s a lot of thought and creativity poured into each item making your dining experience truly memorable. A few months ago, Paul and I were invited to try Kaiseki Yoshiyuki , which is located adjacent to Horse’s Mouth at The Forum Mall. Heading there gave us this sense of mystery, as there wasn’t any big, flashy signage directing you to the restaurant. Instead, you’ll just see a modest sign beside a big black door. Open the door and you’ll be led inside the restaurant. The interiors of  Kaiseki Yoshiyuki is so beautiful that I can't help but admir...

It's no secret how much I love buffets! I guess every foodie does. It's the perfect way to dine with a big group of friends and everyone will somehow be able to find the dishes that they love. Also, it's the perfect opportunity to fill your tummy with the best and yummiest things in life. So, when Paul and I were invited to try J65 's themed buffet nights, I quickly gave a resounding YES! From now until the 25th of May 2017 , diners of J65 will be able to try a wide-variety of specialty dishes based on different themes assigned to a specific day: Sundays/Mondays: International Buffet Tuesdays: Colours of Asia (local specialties) Wednesdays: Lobster Rock n Roll Thursdays: Live Barbecue Fridays/Saturdays: Seafood Mania  We love seafood so we went on a Saturday to indulge. In true Hotel Jen 's fashion, one thing that I love about the buffet spread is how interactive most stations are. There are several local dishes where you can unleash your inner chef an...

Growing up, pizza has been one of my favorite comfort food. I guess I've told you about this before  and I hope I haven't bored you out. It's about my regular afternoon snack routine with Pan where we would order a box of our favorite local pizza together with a bucket of mojo potatoes and we have been having this for close to 30 years. This has been our signature sisterly bonding activity and just recently, Pan and I did this again when I was back home for a wedding last January. Yes, not even a fully made up face and my long gown can stop me from enjoying our favorite snack. I have a strong feeling this practice is meant to last a lifetime and we'll continue to have our pizza afternoon sessions for decades to come. I can't wait for Pan and I to also share this tradition with our little ones for them to hopefully love pizza that way we both do. Anyway, since I've moved to the Lion City, I got to admit that I've always been on a hunt for the best pizza...

It has been raining on-off for the past weeks here in the Lion City and seriously, it has been a challenge to pull myself up from bed as this is just the perfect time to curl in bed and sleep all day long. I really can’t wait for the weekend to come as I have big plans of hibernating for as long as I can. When it comes to rainy, cold weather, it’s also the perfect time to enjoy a bowl of delicious noodle soup. This then made me think about that dinner that Paul and I recently had at Yentafo Kruengsonge . It wasn’t my first time there as I’ve been to their Cathay Cineleisure outlet but this time, we went to check out their Kallang Wave Mall outlet, which I feel is much bigger and has better seating capacity as compared to the former one.

“Change is good” , they always say. While my OC-self tends to squirm at the thought of dealing with any change in my routine more so a change in my comfort zone, I can’t help but agree. With change, come new discoveries and opportunities, after all. I also believe that change helps us grow in life. We deal with new challenges; we conquer bigger obstacles which leads to a more fulfilling reward at the end of it all. We come out a winner after every change. So one big change happened to one of my favourite Italian restaurant here in the Lion City. Dolce Vita Restaurant 's head chef,  Chef Marco Manocchio , who has been with the restaurant since 2015 recently launched a new menu featuring some of his personal specialties. How's that for a good change? I was one of the lucky ones (thank you my lucky stars!) to be invited to try a simple repertoire of Chef Marco’s new dishes. Let me share them with you!

Lately I've been craving for fried chicken. Deep-fried, crispy chicken with rice! It doesn't matter if it's the kind that comes in a bucket or the one that's served on a plate, de-boned and ready to eat. The worst thing about it is my cravings come at the middle of the night keeping me wide awake as I nurse my growling tummy. Gah! Then, I suddenly I remembered that dinner that we had at Wisma Atria's Food Republic where Paul and I got to try RedRing Treasures . It was upon an invitation from Roy and his father David to try their specialty -- deep-fried chicken cutlet served with your choice of noodles or rice. If there's one thing that everyone should know about food courts, be prepared to stumble upon great and yummy things in there. Roy is based in the US as he's finishing his studies there, so we got to sit down and chat with Mr. David who told us the story of how RedRing Treasures  came to be. Apparently, they started in Holland Drive where Mr Davi...

There's a new kid in town today! After treating our taste buds to all sorts of delicious ramen creations and some to-die-for gyozas too, Chef Keisuke Takeda  is back with a brand new concept and this time burger or beef lovers will surely rejoice! Teppanyaki Hamburg Nihonbashi Keisuke Bettei  offers two set meals only and even with just these two, it will really be hard to choose which one to go for. The restaurant will specialize on freshly ground and formed a la minute US Prime Beef Patties served with a piece of deliciously deep-fried ebi fry, grilled tofu, miso soup, rice and the best part -- an unlimited trip to the salad bar plus the egg station!

I don't know about you but there's something truly comforting about eating Mexican food. I just love having a bowl of fully loaded nachos, burritos and tacos and most especially adding guacamole anywhere possible. Do you agree with me? Mexican has been our go-to whenever we want something more laid back. Back in Manila, we'd even pair our Mexican feast with a glass of beer with lime but since alcohol is quite pricey here in the Lion City..then a glass of soda would do. Haha! Kidding aside, we're just so lucky to have discovered quite a number of good Mexican spots that never fails to satisfy our cravings whenever it happens. Recently, we got to try Barrio by Mex Out  at 313 Somerset . It has actually been there since middle of 2016 but since we rarely get to frequent Orchard Road during the weekend, it was when we agreed to meet up with cousin J for an impromptu dinner out that we decided to check the restaurant out. We started our meal with Loaded Nachos  (S$...

They say, once you have reached the age of 30 you're officially a "tita" or auntie in English. Well, I am legit a tita with the birth of my niece J 9 years ago and this was followed by my nephews J1 and J2 and of course, with the recent arrival of Baby A too. I'm tita x 4 and what does most titas do? They go for tea time, of course! Kidding aside, it seems like I have discovered a new weekend hobby and this is to go for a nice afternoon tea bonding sessions with my girl friends here in the Lion City. Thank god for sweet loyal girl friends like S, T and D. Recently, my friend Didi came to visit and since we both had really jam-packed weekend schedules, I suggested we go for tea time instead to which Di was super game for. We tried Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre 's High Tea Set as it's really accessible to where Di was staying and I also got dinner plans in the same area that evening. I love how spacious the lobby was and they were so nice to gi...

When it comes to answering the question " where is the best chili crab in Singapore? " Rest assured that you'll only be able to get the answer after surviving a long debate. With hundreds of zi char outlets all over the island and long time restaurants with histories spanning for decades, this question will never ever have a singular answer. Taste is subjective, after all so while some might like their chili crab burning hot with spice, I like mine with a hint of tangy notes and a bit of creamy texture coating the meaty crab. Whenever we have guests over, Paul and I would make it a point to take them to either a new, unique restaurant, or perhaps to one of our favorite foodie places or to Mellben Signature  to feast on some local favorites. There are actually two zi char places that we frequent but since Mellben Signature  is located just in Tanjong Pagar, this is the best choice in terms of accessibility. Recently, we had my first ever friend (I kid you not) A, as we...

It has been a very happening and truly exciting two months for both Paul and I. Starting with our trip back to Manila to celebrate the holidays with our families then flying back to Singapore 11 days after to go back to work and once again, back to Manila to witness the beautiful wedding of my Achi Marie. Paul and I knew that all these back and forths will take a toll on our body so we made sure to make our flights home as stress-free as possible. I believe that the airline plays a HUGE role on your over-all well-being when travelling. Don't get me wrong, I still fly budget especially for short trips home but I got to admit that I get really excited every single time I fly via Singapore Airlines . Apart from having more luggage allowance, a hot and delicious meal on board, I look forward to the wide entertainment library consisting of the latest movies, TV shows, music and even several radio channels. Time literally flies when you're on Singapore Airlines as you'll fin...

Oh how I miss Hong Kong so so so much! It's always so exciting to go to Hong Kong as there's just an endless supply of good food. It's pretty much Singapore's version in the Northern part of Asia. One thing though that I never really got around to doing when in Hong Kong is to have breakfast at a cha chaan teng . This is because of two things: Paul and I rarely get to wake up really early to make it to breakfast or if ever we're up and ready for breakfast, we would always go for congee instead -- one thing that the both of us grew up having during our respective trips to Hong Kong when we were kids. So, when I heard the great news that Tai Cheong Bakery  finally opened a full-serviced cha chaan teng  restaurant in Holland Village, I didn't missed the opportunity to check it out. By the way, cha chaan teng   means Hong Kong-style teahouse and it's known to served buttered toasts and the very traditional macaroni with luncheon meat soup. Remember how mu...