Frannywanny

Bonjour! It's the start of the week and soon we'll be bidding April goodbye and will be say hello to May! 2013 is flying by sooooooo fast! :o Anyway, let me tell you about our delicious French dinner last night. Normally, it takes me days weeks ..okay fine, even months to blog about a restaurant (apologies for that..backlog is Terrible and that's with a capital T) , but this one was just too yummy for me to prolong the wait. Dinner was at Poulet , a casual French restaurant with a couple of branches here in Singapore. I've been hearing about this restaurant and their delicious roast chicken from my equally food-loving flatmates and friends. So there was that excitement and anticipation as we were asked to wait for about 15 minutes for our table to be ready. Paul and I decided to choose two main dishes to share. Poulet (poo-lay) means chicken in French thus it makes perfect sense to go for the Poulet Roti (Half: S$15.80 / Whole: S$28.80) which is their hou

Remember the bit about Paul telling my sister that if there's one meal that he will miss in Manila then it will definitely be the yummy dimsum dishes from Makati Shangri-la Hotel's Shang Palace ? Well, that day, we ate all the dimsum that our tummy could hold knowing that it will be months before we will be able to dine there again... ....or so we thought?  I guess fate really has its way of letting things fall into place. Not long after, here we are having lunch at Shang Palace . Somehow, being inside Shang Palace reminds us of all the good and delicious memories that we've had back home and it indeed felt so good.  In true Shang Palace fashion, our meal began with this bowl of complimentary starters. I don't know what it is with Shang Palace but everything that comes out from their kitchen is really the best. Take this appetizer for instance, truth to be told, it's a simple tofu snack that's mixed with some chopped up chili. However, it was r

I'm a big fan of breakfast. If given a chance, I'd love to have breakfast food all day long! Thus, I'm always excited to check out the breakfast buffets and offerings whenever we're on a vacation/staycation. This recent staycation, was no different. As much as our comfy bed made it feel so good to just sleep up until noon, we resistated the temptation just to be able to check The Line out. This is Shangri-la Hotel 's in-house all-day dining restaurant. It's the counterpart of our local Circles or Heat from Makati Shangri-la and EDSA Shangri-la Hotels respectively. Since it's Shangri-la , we expected just the best spread. We got to the restaurant at 9AM and it was already bustling with families, couples and big groups of guests having their breakfast. Luckily, getting a table for two is normally easy. Even before we settled into our table, we were told to check the buffet area out and to begin helping ourselves with the wide variety of dishes available.

If there's one personal belief that I hold dearest to my heart, this is that vacations and staycations are always good for you . Even the famous chocolate bar Kitkat would agree with me that once in a while, we really have to kick off our shoes and to have a break .  As much as it may be nice to live a fast-paced, highly productive life, we always have to bare in mind that our brains, spirit and body need to slow down every so often and after that break, you'll see how much life and energy you'll have again to get into the daily grind. Well, that's what Paul and I did this weekend. For the past months, we both have been extremely busy adjusting to our new life here. Every weekend is normally spent fixing up our new room, refilling our kitchen pantry cabinet and familiarizing ourselves with our new surroundings. Thus, I was so happy when I received an invite from Shangri-la Hotel,   Singapore inviting me to have a weekend staycation which is the best excuse to le

My good friend Bianca is getting married tomorrow. While I'm extremely happy that Bianx and Pao are finally  tying the knot, I can't help but feel a bit of sadness that I won't be physically there to witness this momentous moment in their lives. Oh to be 1,400++ miles away from home. *sigh* Anyway, allow me to dedicate this entry to Bianca as I tell you about our recent dinner together at Haru Sushi Bar and Restaurant -- our last before she officially becomes Mrs. M. Bianx, Kat and I are a trio. We all used to work for the Green Siren a couple of years back and have moved on to new companies since. Both Kat and Bianx were from the same department and our office cubicles were not exactly close to each other. What made us bond was our shared love for... FOOD. It all began with a series of emails sent back and forth until we agreed to meet up for lunch and that lunch led to another lunch...after which, we also had dinner and more dinners thereafter. It has been 5 years si

Yesterday felt like Christmas morning.  You know, just when you wake up with excitement in your heart knowing that something good will happen that day and you patiently wait for the day or the hours to roll by until the right  time comes. As soon as it does, you hold on to it so dearly as you wish that the feeling and happiness it gives you can just go on forever.  Yesterday, Paul and I went to visit the first ever Southeast Asian store of the famous Laduree from Paris . I've been hearing about this from friends who has been to Japan and Hong Kong and would talk non-stop about this mouth-watering macaron shop. During my recent trip to Hong Kong though, I had this in my list but was unsuccesful in finding it. As I flew back home, I told myself that the right time will come when I will finally be able to visit Laduree. Well, I never thought that  time would come so soon. Imagine how happy I was when I read a news article announcing that Laduree is opening in Singapore soon

Summer is here and you know what I'm wishing I can do at the moment? To wake up to the sound of the waves crashing against the shore, to be able to comb my feet over meters after meters of powdery white sand and to indulge and have all the seafood that my tummy can take. That would be one great vacation and while I'm miles away from home at the moment, all I can do now is to daydream about it. Nuninuninu.... We all know that an oyster is a famous aphrodisiac. It has been linked with l-o-v-e from way back that's why most Valentine's Day dinners would normallly have oysters as part of their menu line-up. However, did you know that oysters are also considered brain food as they can boost your mental ability and it can balance your mood too. Personally, it was only lately when I found the guts to eat oysters. Having a very sensitive tummy, I take extra caution when having shellfish and I only eat them in places that I trust. Thus, when I received an invite from Circl

WOAHHHH!!! That was my first reaction upon receiving an email notification that this blog, yes Frannywanny.com , has been nominated as part of the Best Food Blog  category for this year's Singapore Blog Awards . Having been here for just 3 months, it truly is an honor to be part of the nominee list. Thank you Doc Gelo for the nomination! *hugs* I honestly feel though that Singapore, despite being a small country, is brimming with so much talented people. There are a lot of really good bloggers here and I'm not really sure if I stand a chance in winning against them. Nonetheless, it does feel good to see my blog profile up there! :) Well, the prize does looks very interesting too (except that the thought of getting up close with the crocs frightens me)! Trip to Australia? YES please! So there you go, dear readers. Let us all cross our fingers and toes for good luck!

I think the title should actually be, "New Ramen on the (East) Wing!" I'm talking about the newly opened East Wing of the Shangri-la Plaza Mall which Paul and I were lucky enough to visit during our quick return home last month. I can't believe how fast things can change in the span of a month. We were just away for a month and when we got back to Manila there was the new Shangri-la Plaza wing as well as the New Glorietta Mall in Makati. I can't wait to go home and see what's new in the coming months. Given that we only have a few weeks in Manila, of course, majority of our time was dedicated to our families and about 30% of our time were spent bonding with our closest friends. As much as we wanted to meet with everyone, there were basically just 3 meals in a day and 7 days in a week. Nonetheless, we were so happy to see the friends who have been checking up on us eversince we got here. This act may be nothing for them but it means the world to us. A sing

April is National Stress Awareness Month and while I know this is not widely practiced in this part of the world, I am making a conscious effort to do away with all things that will cause stress to myself and to achieve a more zen-like mode at all times. *ohhhmmmm*  Of course, our environment plays a big factor in our daily outlook in life. I always like keeping things tidy and clean as I really can't stand the sight of a messy or dusty room. I am also very sensitive to smell thus I always make sure that I have room and linen sprays on hand. In celebration of National Stress Awareness Month, let me talk about our new home. Having moved in just a few months ago, Paul and I are still taking baby steps in making our room feel more homey week after week. They say, first impressions last and luckily, we both had very good impressions of our new home from the photos sent to us up until the day we finally walked in and saw our new place ourselves. We love how we get sufficient amoun

Growing up, my parents thought me the two magic words -- Please and Thank You. Among the two, I think I have been over-using the phrase Thank You a little bit more than usual lately. Take tonight for example, I came home from the office to see that my dear husband Paul has prepared a yummy and very healthy salad dinner for the two of us. He prepared and cooked everything! I was beyond impressed and thankful to have such a sweet and talented husband who spoils me crazy. A week ago, my friend Che of Dragonfly Desserts , delivered a box of her latest creations right before she flew out of the country for her vacation. No special occassions, no big reasons but my loving friend just wanted me to try her new masterpiece. Once again, I thank my lucky stars to be blessed with good and more importantly, true friends like her.  I was so excited to see this box sitting on top of our dining table that morning. It looked so mouthwatering that I couldn't resist but grabbed a piece desp

It's summer in Manila and if I can make one wish that the travel genie can grant then it would be to transport me back to the Philippines where I can have a week-long vacation at the beach where I can swim to my heart's content and to eat all the seafood that I want. Anyway, during our brief visit back home, Paul and I were not able to visit the beach as we barely had enough weekends available.Still we made sure to fill our tummies with the best catch of the sea as we had a fun dinner with friends at the Diamond Hotel . It was perfect timing that they recently launched their Friday Lobster Buffet and upon receiving an invite to check it out, I immediately said yes! After all, as my friend Leslie would put it, how can you say NO to lobster?  Dinner was at Corniche and I always look forward to dining here. I love the spread and my favorite sections are the cheese and cold cuts, the salad, the Japanese station and lastly, the dessert. Thus, we always make it a point to

If there's one health advice that I take to heart, it's the one that tells us to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. I love drinking water, especially on such warm days, if only I can carry a 1.5L bottle around, I would. I'm glad though that water here in Singapore is very potable as some would even drink straight from the faucet. Well, growing up in a country where we're used to boiled, filtered or distilled water, it might take a while for me and my body to work up the courage to drink from the tap. Especially when the thought of having recurring amoebiasis continues to haunt me every now and then. Healthy Body, Happy Life Eversince the BIG move, Paul and I have been consciously staying away from sodas. As inviting as a cold can of soda may look after walking outdoors all afternoon, we would resort to grabbing a cold glass of ice water instead. It has zero calories and no sugar yet it cools us just perfectly fine the same way a soda would. A win-win choice

One reason why I love being part of the corporate world is being able to build relationships with the people that I work with. To those who are just about to join the workforce, here's one advice that I can give you -- value your colleagues and never (ever ever ever 1000x) burn bridges. People may think that your relationship with your colleagues ends as soon as you clock out everyday. However, what we all have to consider is that being able to have a good working relationship can make your work feel like a walk in the park as they're there to give moral support rather than to feel alone and isolated in such a big, busy and crazy world. Anyway, during one of our lunch outs, my colleagues and I tried this Japanese restaurant called Hachi Tei which is located right behind our office. Have I told you all how much I love my new office? Aside from the fact that the people I work with are really cool and talented, our office alone is located at the heart of a foodie land! There&

This is a continuation of my sister Pan's 10 must-visit places in Tokyo, Japan. In case you missed the first part, please click here . “Sugoi Japan!” Exploring the Rising Sun’s Capital: Tokyo Prefecture #6 Meiji Shrine Stepping out of busy Harajuku station , it surprised me to find the tranquil Meiji Shrine a stone’s throw away from a highly populated shopping district. The shrine is nestled in a forested area in this bustling location and can be accessed through a massive Torii Gate , a usual symbol of a traditional Japanese gate for Shinto shrines. Beyond these gates is like entering straight into nature and away from the city. The shrine itself is found after several minutes a leisure stroll along a graveled path surrounded by trees. During my visit, I chanced upon a Shinto wedding ceremony taking place in the Meiji shrine with the couple and their entourage in elaborate wedding garments, it was like something out of a Discovery Channel episode. Tokyo has two well-

For the past 5 and a half years, you have been reading my stories predominantly from just one voice -- MINE. Once in a while, Paul would pop in with his own stories but that's about it. I've never had any other guest blogger simply because I keep this blog close to my heart the same way I probably would with a hard-bound diary. It would definitely take a special person to be able to drop in here and to share his/her thoughts as well. Aside from Paul, there's one person who means the world to me. She has been my food/shopping/pamper-me/movie buddy for the past 28 years (and still counting). People may come and go, friends may drop in and out of our lives but one thing is for sure, I know this person will stick to me like glue simply because we love each other unconditionally despite all the imperfections we both may have.  Dear readers, I'd like to introduce you to my little sister Pan . A big travel bug and an adventurous foodie too! She has been traveling to Japan at

Allow me to make another bold foodie prediction for the year . The last time I did this was a few months ago when I predicted that ramen will be the next BIG thing here in Manila. After I said this, then came in more ramen franchises from all over the world. So far I've tried 3 of them and loved them all equally. You can read about it here and here . I heard from foodie friends that there will be about 2 to 3 more ramen shops that will open their doors here in Manila this 2013. What a fun year for ramen lovers out there! Aside from ramen, there's one brand that has been spreading around the foodie world like wildfire. From the moment I arrived in Manila, friends have been messaging and texting me about it. The name is BONO . Initially, I thought it has something to do with the Irish singer of the band U2. Probing further, I was told that it's a local gelato brand that's located in SM Makati . The way friends talk about Bono was enough to convince me that I sho