Frannywanny

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...

There's really something about staycations that I love so much. Some would tell me that they don't see the point of staying that night at a hotel especially when you have a home in the same metro. Yes, that's true but sometimes it's just good and healthy to take a break from your regular routine to unwind and simply do..nothing. So, a week after our return to Manila, Paul and I joined our blogger friends for a fun weekend staycation at F1 Hotel Manila . We're no strangers to this hotel as we had the privilege to stay here 2 years ago . This time, we're back with our friends from the KTG and after our LuzViMinda lunch, we all headed up to our respective rooms to rest up until dinner time. Checking in was a breeze as we were directed to the Premier Lounge . It's located also at the same level as the hotel's check-in lobby only you get a dedicated staff to assist you and while waiting you can even help yourself to some of the snacks and drinks availab...

"Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinangalingan ay hindi makakarating sa paroroonan." (He who does not know how to look back at where he came from will never get to his destination) - Dr. Jose P. Rizal, Filipino National Hero Today is the birthday of our country's national hero and if I must say, one of my personal favorite heroes in history too. I still remember reading the entire book on his life when I was in university much too quickly that I finished the entire book even before the semester began. It was such a joy learning about Rizal's life and his works. His death was pretty dramatic too. He was shot by firing squad at Bagumbayan (now known as Rizal Park / Luneta) at the young age of 35. That's exactly how old I am this year and for him, he has traveled the world, wrote a lot of captivating novels (I love Noli Me Tangere) and has tried his best to fight the government for the freedom of the Filipinos. Not a lot of 35 year old individuals can say that they...

I'm aliveeeeeeeee!!! This is probably the fist time in 10 years that my blog has been this quiet but I got a couple of good excuses reasons why. First of all, Paul and I have been busy the past few months as we have decided to finally relocate back to Manila. Yes, you read that right. We're finally back home and we haven't been happier. Don't get me wrong, our life in Singapore was nothing but a dream come true but every good chapter should have an equally good ending and so we have decided to close that chapter just at the perfect time as we await to start a new one. Secondly, speaking of opening a new chapter. I'm so excited to share with you all that another dream of ours is about to unfold in the next few months, Paul and I will be welcoming our bundles of joy. That wasn't a grammatical error. We prayed so hard for almost a year and God answered our prayers by not only blessing us with one but with two beautiful babies whom we're both so excited to me...

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...