Frannywanny

 "When are we going to the hotel?" This is a common statement heard from our two little kulits here at home. At such a young age, they sure love going on staycations and well I don't blame them. A quick weekend R&R is one that we all need once in a while, right? A month ago, we celebrated Labor Day at Somerset Millennium Makati . It was perfect that we decided to check in on a Sunday so we were able to check out the Legazpi Sunday Market  and were reunited with some of our favorite market finds.  The hotel is located along Aguirre street which is part of Makati's busy business district during weekdays. Weekends, you get a different way chill vibe that I love. I grew up walking around this area as my parents' office was just around the corner and a lot of things have changed since then. I love that some restaurants allow al fresco dining during the weekends making it the perfect place to hang out, having a drink or two and enjoy a good catch up with friends an...

I still remember how the food scene was just two years ago. As soon as we landed in Manila, the first thing that I asked my sister-in-law Achi J and my brother-in-law Ahia J was... "so what are the must eats here in Manila?" This was when they told us about the rising trend of food parks -- small, hole in the wall, highly instagrammable food concepts normally found in small neighborhood garage and built using old container shells. "Interesting" , I thought to myself. Achi J told me about several must-try concepts such as one with nachos topped with melted cheese, another with Iced Tea served in fish bowls that's good for 3-4 people to share. Somehow, it reminded me of Timbre+ in Singapore which, I'm happy to report, is still doing so well up until today. I wasted no time and brought my preggy self to try one of those much-talked-about food parks. Let's just say that after one short visit, I came to the conclusion that outdoor, al fresco dining in con...

December is finally here!  All throughout this month, I will be sharing with you great finds that you can bring to your upcoming Christmas parties and gifts for your loved ones too. I think the best way to jump start this festive month is to tell you about one of the best lunches that I've had this year. It was an invitation to dine at the lovely home of Ms. Bambi Javelosa  with some of my favorite foodie friends namely  Mr and Mrs. Our Awesome Planet , M of Eatsplorations and G of Dude for Food . I love dining with small groups as we get to catch up and have meaningful conversations while enjoying good food. That and simply because I am (seriously) an introvert too and big groups can really drain the life out of me. Our lunch began with Miso Marinated Salmon with Shiitake and Bokchoy  which was so good! I love salmon and while this may look simple, it's totally bursting with so much flavor. It has a nice savory sweet flavor that goes well with anything..a...

I can't remember the first time I heard about poke (poh-key) bowls. Most likely it was a couple of years back when I saw my friend in the US having it for one of his meals. I've always had this impression that it probably originated in Hawaii and it's probably their take on the Japanese chirashidon. Fast forward to two years ago, I had my very first poke bowl at A Poke Theory in Singapore . I've always love having salads, sandwiches or these poke bowls for lunch back when I was still part of the workforce overseas. Somehow, it keeps me alert and energetic to last for the second half of the work day.  I won't lie, there are days when I badly needed a huge plate of Ayam Penyet or a box of Curry Rice but on days when I want to go light but not end up starving, then Poke Bowls it is. However, my poke bowls addiction was short-lived as I had to stop having anything raw from the moment I found out I was pregnant. In order to keep my twins safe, I obediently followed m...

I'll never forget having one of the best meals in Manila right before relocating to Singapore some four years ago. It was at Mesclun Cafe at Linden Suites where I fell deeply in love with Chef Katrina Kuhn-Alcantara's Ulang Thermidor and Sisig Spaghetti . In fact, I've been a fan of Chef Katrina's cooking from her Cuillere days followed by her amazing sandwiches at Chuck's Deli . Everything that comes out from her kitchen never fails to leave me in such a dreamy, happy state. So, when I got an invite to visit Aruga Cafe by Mesclun at the Rockwell Center, I made sure not to miss it! This time, Chef Katrina and her team leads the full operation of the hotel's in-house F&B establishment and she has prepared a varied menu for breakfast and for lunch and dinner too. Dining here should definitely be part of the to-do list of all hotel guests. It would definitely be a waste to not dine here and enjoy Chef Katrina's mouthwatering dishes. Our lunch be...

The 4th of July marked the Independence Day of the United States of America and while they may be 8,222 miles away from the Philippines, I got to tell you that our American influence and heritage stays strong through all these years. For one thing, we have adapted the US English system, basketball is clearly our national sport and every Filipino just loves his or her burger, fries and hotdogs. So, it's no big surprise that we also do celebrate this fun occasion here in our island too. Personally, I love the 4th of July. This day just means allowing ourselves to enjoy all things American! I'll never forget the time when I was invited to visit the US Embassy here in Manila where we were treated to an amazing barbecue spread and we got to watch a beautiful fireworks display too. That was probably one of the best 4th of July celebrations I've had so far. Over at Flavors in Holiday Inn Makati , they are currently running a gastronomic all-American feast every weekend of ...

For the past 4 years, I’ve kept this growing list of restaurants that I’d love to try whenever I get to fly home to Manila. Of course, given that I am only home for a very short period of time and our schedules are normally filled to the brim with errands, family meals and reunions, more often than not, I only get to cross out an average of 5 restaurants during every visit and this is definitely not enough to keep up with the never-ending growth of new restaurants opening in the metro alone. CDP Global Table at the Powerplant Mall has been part of my list since my first year here in the Lion City. Thankfully, I finally got to cross it out from my list last December when I met up with my best friends T and E for our annual Christmas gathering. With everyone’s tight schedules, we agreed to meet up exactly a day before Christmas Eve. Talk about cutting it real close! T was able to make reservations, which I think was a good move given how packed the restaurant was that night. This ...

Despite my short visit home, I made it a point to visit some of my favorite restaurants. True, I have a growing list of new restaurants to try but there are just some times that I would prefer something that's familiar, something that brings comfort, something safe. So, when I was setting a dinner catch-up with my cousins-in-law, I suggested that we go to Hole in the Wall in Century City Mall. If you recall, I've dined there with my family last December but after months of being away, I just have to satisfy my craving for that yummy Buttermilk Fried Chicken from Bad Bird and that to-die-for freshly baked cookies from Scout's Honor . In addition to that, I heard that there were more stalls that opened after my visit so I am definitely heading straight to those. We were a huge group of 9 so you can just imagine the amount of food that went around as we shared all our orders that evening. Let me share with you my top picks :

After eating our way around Hole in the Wall , we were just about ready to wave the white flag. Before that though, we just have to visit one last store. I have been hearing raves about this yummy dessert store and I made it a point not to miss this. Not even when our tummies are about to burst from so much food, my visit will never be complete without checking out Scout's Honor ! Luckily, Chef Miko Aspiras was there for me to say hi! I saw him back when we went to dine at Fairmont Makati and I'm happy to see that he has finally opened his very own dessert brand. Scout's Honor's menu is divided into three parts -- there's the Classic Scout Cookies , Craft Cookies  and they got flavored Milk  to go with your cookies too! First, Paul and I checked out the Classic Scout Cookies which are ready-made cookie creations which are not the ordinary.

Here's our 3rd stop during our visit at Hole in the Wall -- meet Liberation Shawarma by Chef JP Anglo. This stall takes inspiration from a food truck so you can see how it has a very simple, industrial look. Somehow though, it still blends in perfectly with its neighboring stalls which have a mix of colors here and there.

Bad Bird is the perfect example of East meets West. We went on a relatively quiet and slow lunch day at Hole in the Wall yet this store was so busy taking orders, cooking and serving platters after platters to its eager and hungry customers. Of course, we just had to join in the fun (a.k.a. nakiki-uso ) too! This stall specializes in umami fried chicken which are perfectly deep-fried and coated in their special flavors. What makes this food concept so interesting is how fried chicken, which is very western, pairs so well with a wide-array of Asian-inspired side dishes -- Kimchi coleslaw, corn covered with Japanese Kewpie mayo and bonito flakes, Waffle with Miso Butter and more! It's definitely the place where Uncle Sam and Mr. Miyagi can happily dine in together. Each fried chicken plate comes with 2 substantial cuts of chicken. Do take that phrase seriously as those cuts are HUGE! While others would just hide the tiny meat within a thick breading, this one seriously was al...

Have you ever watched the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"? Remember scenes when Gus, the dad of lead actress, Toula, would refer everything back to its Greek word origin? While we all know that this was included as a comic relief, it also showed how proud Gus is to be Greek. His character reminded me so much of my own dad. No, Papa do not go around spraying everything and everyone with Windex but he also loves sharing stories about China and what it has created in this world. My dad is mighty proud of our origin and do value the importance of understanding our roots. As for me, I show my appreciation through my stomach. :) It's no secret that I love Chinese food. I love the wide-variety of dishes that you can create with one main ingredient. As Papa would say, the best Chinese chef should know how to cook an egg in 100 different ways. I haven't went past 15 so I guess I have a lonnng way to go. :) Kwong's Provisions was the first stall that my family checke...

It's a great great week, dear readers! No particular reason why but I just made the decision to start the week in a positive note. Given that, I thought of sharing with you one of my happiest discoveries during my recent visit back to Manila. Welcome to Hole in the Wall . Located at the top level of Century City Mall in Makati. I never imagined for such a cool mall to open in this spot as it used to be a mainly residential/office area. At some point, we felt like tourists in our own country as we ooh'ed and ahh'ed as we walked our way to the top of the mall. It's so pretty and I love love love it! For this particular visit, my family went there to have lunch. I've been hearing a great deal about Hole in the Wall from my foodie circle and I knew that I just have to check it out while I'm there. The top level has an al-fresco set-up where you can also find CaliBurger, 12 Monkeys and Andale by Agave. My dad, in particular, was amazed as he slowly checke...

Let's take a walk down memory lane, shall we? Remember the 1st ever entry that I wrote here in Frannywanny.com ? It's about Angel's Kitchen, one of my favorite restaurants in Manila. Look how different my blog entry was then. Pure text and no photos. It even has a link to my now defunct Multiply account, the place where I really began food writing. No matter how "old school" this entry may feel, I really like it! Every time we get to visit Manila, sure we would try to visit as much new restaurants as we could. However, we also make it a point to re-visit some of our favorites. So, during this recent visit, Paul and I brought the entire family to AK Bistro in One Rockwell. It's the hipper, younger version of our favorite Angel's Kitchen as this caters to a younger market while the former is the go-to place for families. The menu is pretty much the same though which I find to be quite odd. Dining in a familiar place means ordering the same familiar ...

I sure hope that you all had a good start to your week! Coming from such an action-packed weekend, I'm glad that I had a relatively calm and steady Monday to match my sleepy state. Had it been one that's crazy and stressful, I would have probably went nuts! Then, I remembered this mouthwatering Japanese Cheesecake that I recently had back in Manila. The thought of it was enough to put a smile on my face. Not the cutesy, Mona Lisa-like smile but the kind that is so infectious that will surely spread around in minutes. Something like this... Isn't this the cutest thing? Opening soon in Manila, Green Cheese will soon allow the public to have a bite (or more) of its fluffy and soft Japanese Cheesecake that literally melts-in-your-mouth. I just love the custard-like texture that's so milky you just want to laze in bed in your PJs while indulging on this delectable creation all day long. We tried it warm and right after placing it in the fridge and I personally prefer ...

Despite living miles away from home, I'm lucky that I have the Internet and really good friends who keep me updated on the latest happening back home. No, I'm not talking about shameless gossips about poor innocent people but being a true blue foodie, my friends would update me on the latest restaurant that just opened or is currently on everyone's must-eat list. Then, I also have my sister who keeps tab on the newly opened restaurants as well. See, with my friends, my sister and the Internet combined, I got all my foodie news bases covered. So, months before I flew home for my ninja-like visit to celebrate Papa's birthday, Pan and I were already discussing on where to have dinner this time. You see, my dear Papa is such a creature of habit. Once he loves a certain restaurant, trust that he would want to dine there as often as possible. Lucky for those restaurants as once they win his heart, they automatically get his undying loyalty too. Sadly though, one of his fa...

I know that the tonkatsu craze has been present in Manila for a good 2 years already yet it seems like this is one craze that will stay on for a little while longer. Why do I say so? Well, it takes no genius to see the long lines that happens on a daily basis and the continuous entrance of foreign tonkatsu players ready to give the local market more options and perhaps to go up against the tonkatsu giant in the Philippines. Saboten is one of those that recently expanded to the Philippines not so long ago. The first time I tried Saboten was in Seoul, Korea but sadly my experience there was quite blah so I didn't even bother blogging about it. Then, I've been seeing Saboten in Hong Kong and here in Singapore but it has never been a priority for me to try it thinking that I might get the same ho-hum dining experience. However, during one recent trip back to Manila, Paul and I found ourselves in Saboten in the (relatively) new Glorietta 5 with my bestest friends T1, T2...

Want to hear a secret?  Recently, Paul and I stumbled upon a pretty and very dainty-looking restaurant hidden in one of Makati's residential areas called Maria Luisa's Garden Room . It's located inside the Makati Garden Club, which I have to admit I never knew existed. Well, I was never a resident of Makati so hope you'll forgive my ignorance. Anyway, it was Christmas Eve and we went out for lunch with my in laws to have a triple birthday celebration for Ahia Jordan, Achi Marie and our cute nephew Jairus. The restaurant was listed as one of OAP's 10 Most Awesome Restaurants in Manila and after getting raves from a cousin-in-law, we agreed to give it a try.  We were given a long table inside the second dining area of the restaurant overlooking the garden. I love the pretty decors, the very feminine interiors and the well-manicured garden. I wouldn't be surprise if Martha Stewart would just show up at the door....or I'd just be too shock if she r...

Back when I was still in Manila, I got to admit that the local Filipino cuisine was never one that I'd really crave for. As the saying goes: "You'll never know the value of what you have until you lose it..." perhaps a more apt saying would be "Absence makes the heart grow fonder..." Being miles away from home and not having the luxury of eating our local cuisine whenever I want to, I've grown to love it more and more. You have no idea how our eyes would sparkle at the scent of garlicky adobo or how our heart would do leaps and cartwheels at the mere sight of a shiny, crunchy roasted lechon. Thus, whenever we're home, we make sure to make up for lost times with our favorite dishes. One of the highlight of my recent visit was during a private dinner hosted by my favorite "lechon diva" D of Pepita's Kitchen . Note that I was burning with fever that evening but I made sure that I didn't miss this gastronomical experience. Of course...

I'll be honest in saying that it took me almost half a year to write about Villa Cafe . More than 5 months of trying to find the right words to say. This is just one of those rare cases wherein I went there full of hopes..too much of high hopes to be exact. I kept my eyes, ears and basically all senses open. Ready to soak in everything to enjoy it to the fullness. Then reality hits telling me that it was terrible. So terrible that I doubt if it's even worth a second chance. This is definitely a rare case because I'm the forgiving type...I really didn't want to relive those painful moments but okay, let me tell you all about it. It was a well-planned Sunday lunch with the family. Reservations were even made to ensure that we got a table ready for our party of 9. As we got to the restaurant at 12PM, it was empty. Too empty that we wonder if they were open as not a single wait staff was in sight. It was a good thing we heard laughter coming from the second floor and ...