Frannywanny

One thing I love about Singapore and more importantly the people in Singapore is their ability to queue up orderly. No kidding. I believe that the secret to a country's success is the people living in there and seeing how disciplined and organized everyone is here, it's no big surprise to see that Singapore is one of the fastest progressing country in Asia. Queues are normal. Wherever you go in the world, you'll see people queueing up to purchase something -- food, tickets, bags, clothes...anything! There's also always a queue inside the loo! However, it's how people react to queue differs greatly. I've witnessed people jumping the line, cutting queues, creating their own imaginary queue in another country and I can't help but notice how this kind of mentality affects the progress of the country. Anyway, enough political talk and let me go back to FOOD. Since late last year, there seems to be a new food trend that's quickly taking Singapore by sto...

My US trip last February was really memorable. For one thing, it was my first long-haul flight and I was so proud that I've survived! You see, I easily get airsick that a short flight to Hong Kong or Singapore would normally make me want to throw up. My Dad found a great solution by giving a pair of ear plugs as the high cabin pressure makes me dizzy. Still, I wasn't so sure if my ear plugs will work wonders all throughout our 12hr+ flight....well, it did and I had a great time enjoying the food and walking around the plane from time to time. Another thing that made my trip memorable was that it started as a business trip and ended as a fun 1.5 week long personal trip for Paul and yours truly. We were able to reunite with our California-based relatives and to bond with them given the short vacation time we have. Nothing beats spending quality time and catching up with family. Lastly, it was also the first time that I've experienced what 9 degrees Celsius feels like. I...

After enjoying our filling dinner at the newest branch of Charlie's here in San Juan, I sweetly asked Paul if we can hop over to the next store for dessert. I have heard quite a buzz about this new yogurt place from blogger friends and fellow club members Rowena , Richard and Carlos and I've been itching to try it since July. I am a big fan of frozen yogurt and I find joy in trying all of the brands that has been sprouting like mushrooms since last 2008. At the moment, I love Red Mango and Yoh-gurt Froz for their yogurt that's not too sweet yet not too tart either. I've tried a number of self-service yogurt places as well but none has made me go back after my first visit. Enter Yoggle , a hip-looking yogurt place along Ortigas Avenue in San Juan. It offers a total of 8 different flavor ranging from the Plain Tart to Sweet Vanilla. The charging is P20 per ounce. While this might be pretty tricky as you get a big cup at one end of the store and you make your wa...

Thank you to all those who have submitted their really creative portmanteaus!!! :) Enjoying cup after cup of the Nestle Fruit Selection Yogurt with Jelly is just as fun as coming up with the wackiest word creation as those submitted by my dear readers in this entry . I am pleased to announce that we have 3 winners for this contest. CONGRATULATIONS to...GLENN ONG, KARNIE and MARITES QUITORIANO!!! Kindly expect an email from me in a short while on instructions on how to claim your 15 cups of Nestle Fruit Selection Yogurt with Jelly each!! Till the next contest!! :)

Have your heard of the term Portmanteau ? It's when you mix two words to form a new, creative-sounding one. Popular portmanteaus include mixing the word spoon + fork to create spork ! A work of genius that has been helping me enjoy my lunch at work. Other forms would be mixing names of popular celebrities such as Brad (Pitt) and Angelina (Jolie) to form Brangelina ! Let's play a little Portmanteau game on the newest product of the Nestle Fruit Selection Yogurt ! This time, this little sweet and healthy treat comes with jiggly jelly that makes your snack time more enjoyable! Three lucky winners will get 15 Nestle Fruit Selection Yogurt with Jelly cups EACH! Here's the mechanics: 1) Leave me a comment by telling me about your Nestle Fruit Selection Yogurt with Jelly snack time experience by describing it using a Portmanteau! Simply complete this sentence: My afternoon is complete with Nestle Fruit Selection Yogurt because it's ______________. That's _...

This is normally the case when I try something new and it wasn't really love at first taste . I even remember feeling a bit queasy about trying my first cup of Golden Spoon strawberry yogurt and vowed never to go back again... ...Guess I was wrong... Golden Spoon deserves a second try and I'm glad I went back. We wanted to continue our girl bonding session tonight and after a light yet delicious meal at Cibo , we walked over to Golden Spoon which is actually being operated by the same company where we all met and became such great friends. Taking the advice of a friend who loves Golden Spoon, I got the Cake Batter flavor (Php. 115/small cup) and added in two toppings: crushed graham crackers and mochi (Php. 30/topping). First bite, I liked the sweet vanilla flavor that has a buttery addition just like a rich cake batter that kids love to lick off from their mom's spatula. I was happy with my choice of toppings and I felt that getting a small cup was just right for me....

It has been 5 months since I shared with you what my tummy has been craving for lately ... It has been a very warm summer and nothing beats enjoying a huge tub of Red Mango yogurt complete with my favorite toppings: mangoes, strawberries and mochi! Thanks Jon for the cool treat! :)

Just as we thought we've seen them all..now comes a new player in the Yogurt world . Coming all the way from California, USA; Tutti Frutti has finally arrived in Manila! Unlike its friendly competitors, Tutti Frutti will help you exercise your freedom to choose as you go through the entire self-service procedure with the help of their friendly staff. Here's a simple guide on how to enjoy your visit to Tutti Frutti : First, choose the size of your cup . If I'm not mistaken there are four different sizes. I like the huge tub at the far right, this is perfect for a group of four. Second, choose your yogurt flavor . After trying at least six different flavors ranging from chocolate to taro and even fruit strawberry, I ended up getting the Original Tart which is your basic yogurt flavor. Third, take a pick from the wide variety of toppings . I originally wanted to get blueberries and crushed graham but the blueberries looked different that I just ended up creating my own mix...

Just a month ago, I posted an entry announcing that Red Mango has finally landed . Since then, I would make it a point to grab a cup of yogurt everytime I find myself in Eastwood City . My favorite combination consists of regular yogurt with scoops of mangoes, kiwis and strawberries. This has been my default order wherever I go.... ...well, not anymore!! :) Tonight, I wanted to try something new. So I took a couple of minutes staring at Red Mango's selection of toppings and finally gave the server my order: A generous serving of regular yogurt with blueberries, crushed graham and almonds! My colleague Dens took my lead and we were both happy and satisfied with our choice of toppings. This tastes very much like a slice of blueberry cheesecake minus the guilt and with less calories! Woohoo! What a great deal! :)

It was a hot summer day when Paul and I took a short drive to the Mall of Asia after checking out the Martha Stewart Bridal Fair at the World Trade Center . After grabbing a quick lunch, we strolled around the largest mall in the country since we rarely get to visit this mall. While Paul was busy checking out the sporting goods stores, I wandered around in search dessert. I was about to give up after passing by half a dozen more retail stores when I saw this store that sells my favorite dessert as of the moment -- Frozen Yogurt ! What made it extra special was the fact that I've been hearing a lot of raves about this particular store and after multiple attempts to drive all the way to Mall of Asia to try this, finally, this was it! Being a certified Yogurt-fanatic, it took me less than three minutes to place my order. I played safe and got myself a regular yogurt (Php. 85) with slices of kiwi and mango (Php. 35)! For a warm day like this, a cup of yogurt and fresh fruits makes i...

...in Manila! The brand that has converted a lot of frozen yogurt fans in LA, New York, Seoul, Bangkok and Singapore is finally here in Manila to join in the fun! Since I've been going around town in search for the best yogurt in the market, I've narrowed down my list to Yoh-gurt Froz and Cold Spoon . Visiting the new Eastwood Mall for the first time was truly a pleasure. My sister, who acted as my tour guide, led me to its restaurant row on the second floor. Quietly tuck at the corner was a small cozy store with a huge door and a bright round signage at the side. I held my breath as I read the name of the store. Red Mango , it said. Without any hesitation, I pushed the door open and walked in. I can't believe it's finally here and it's open to the public! Surveying its menu, I still ended up with my favorite -- a small cup of original yogurt (Php. 80) with fresh strawberries (Php. 20) and kiwis (Php. 20). I watch as the girl behind the counter prepared my cup of...

I have a new discovery and it's located along a not-so-busy road in the town of Angeles, Pampanga. It took us a while to locate it but imagine my excitement the moment I spotted the white brick wall that looks like an Eskimo's square igloo. We entered the store and a cheerful lady greeted us hello. We gave her our order and immediately she pulled down the knob to produce a soft, white cream into a medium sized cup. Swiftly, she opened a small container which she pulled out from the chiller and piled my cup high with a generous serving of blueberries with syrup. Ohh my mouth waters at the sight that I can't wait to take my first bite! I've finally found Cold Spoon Frozen Yogurt and I love it! I like the smooth texture of the yogurt as it melts in my mouth. It's sour taste was just right, enough to remind me that I'm eating a healthier alternative to ice cream. If only they have fresh fruits available then it would have been perfect. The following day, I just had...

After indulging in all those to-die-for sweet desserts and heart-stopping, cholesterol-loaded dishes during the holiday season, Starbucks Coffee has launched their new line of healthy drinks and food items for us to enjoy (minus the guilt!). I was so excited to check them out that I dropped by my office Starbucks store one day early. The barista, trying her best to suppress her laughter and amusement, just told me to come back the following day. Of course, I did as told and found myself leaving the store with a short warm Green Tea Soy Latte on my hand. mmmmmm...! Tonight, Paul and I tried the Granola Yogurt Cheesecake (Php. 120/slice). This cake reminded me of one dinner that I had with my friends a couple of months ago. After dinner, I treated them to dessert which includes a Granola Cheesecake that some of my colleagues truly love. Knowing that my friends love anything healthy, I figured that they will enjoy this cake as well. Thankfully, I was right! Paul and I took one look at t...

After a hearty lunch yesterday, my friends and I decided to get something sweet as a perfect way to end a wonderful meal. While not forgetting to take the healthier alternative, we made a unanimous decision to head to Lulu belle for some yogurt treat. I had a hard time deciding whether I should go for the same cup of strawberry yogurt that I had before or perhaps try the green tea which they're quickly gaining popularity for. Then my eyes shifted further down in their menu and finally, I know what I'm getting. A tall cup of Strawberry Smoothie (Php. 120) that consists of a natural yogurt base mixed with a scoop of FIC Strawberry Ice Cream. It's healthy and yummy at the same time. It somehow reminds of the mouthwatering milkshake that I've tasted last year with a hint of sourness from the yogurt. I think I found my Lulu Belle favorite! I'll definitely be back for more s moooo thie! Lulu Belle is located at the 3rd floor of the Power Plant Mall (Playground Section...

I love yogurt! Way before the popularity of the frozen yogurts a.k.a. fro-yos and those with fruit toppings came about, my family has been a big fan of Nestle's fruit yogurts and BTIC for as long as I can remember. Imagine our joy when the sudden craze over this healthier dessert option came into the local scene. So far, I've tried the best Frozen Yogurt found in the Salcedo Market as well as the creamy Strawberry yogurt of Lulu Belle . After a brief chat with my colleague Becky last Friday, who is also a yogurt fan herself. She suggested that I should check out Yoh-Gurt Froz . What's different about this yogurt is the ice cream-like texture that makes it really smooth and creamy. I've been thinking about it the entire day after our chat and so after a delicious birthday dinner with Paul's family, I sweetly convinced Paul to drive by the Yoh-Gurt Froz store along Tomas Morato. At half past 9, the store was filled with 3 families enjoying their dessert! While waitin...

"Hi Fran! You should try Lulu Belle here in Rockwell, it's so pink! You'll love it." This was the message sent to me by a friend who knows just how much I love the color pink. I quickly replied back asking her what is Lulu Belle and where exactly it's located. Thanks to my friend and fellow bloggers Anton and Lori , I found out that Lulu Belle is the newest venture of the FIC group. "It's FIC's newest dessert place that specializes in yogurt. It's located at the top floor where the billiard and bowling center used to be" My jaw dropped as I read my friend's reply. What?! Has it been that long since I've been to the Powerplant Mall? I'm really intrigued and excited to check both the mall and Lulu Belle out. This afternoon, Paul and I found ourselves strolling around the mall. We made our way from the ground floor up to the newest area that houses a number of stores for kids and (perhaps even for) the kids at heart. I love...