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In Entertainment 2 Mins Read

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with An Exquisite Japanese-French Fusion Gastronomic Experience

Valentine’s Day is round the corner and if you are thinking about where to bring your partner for a nice dinner, why not consider Japanese-French fusion restaurant, Lewin Terrace?
This Valentine’s Day, Lewin Terrace presents a sumptuous 5-course dinner menu designed to tantalize palates and kindle the flames of romance.

A beautiful black-and-white bungalow surrounded by lush foliage and tucked away in the heart of the historically-iconic Fort Canning Park, Lewin Terrace offers patrons respite from the hustle and bustle of the city, providing the perfect atmosphere for lovers to share an intimate evening together as they delve into a gastronomic experience that features the finest of ingredients from Japan, masterfully prepared by Chef de Cuisine Hiroyuki Shinkai.

With over a decade of professional experience working at Michelin star establishments (L’Osier in Tokyo and Beni in Singapore), Chef Shinkai is devoted to the pursuit of perfection in the culinary arts as he continues to refine his own personal interpretation of French cuisine. Armed with the strong belief that simplicity is key, Chef Shinkai’s philosophy is grounded in the importance of elevating the natural freshness of his ingredients, an ethic that complements Lewin Terrace’s produce-driven approach.

Witness the quaint and picturesque charm of Lewin Terrace this Valentine’s Day while savouring a robust interplay of textures and flavours –all the right components for a wonderful night to remember.

Dinner is priced at SGD$388++ per couple with a half bottle of champagne, with an optional supplement of SGD$120 for a 5-glass wine pairing.

Hurry and reserve a table now!
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Lewin Terrace’s Valentine’s Day Set Dinner Menu

Amuse bouche

Le ENTRÉ Froid
Duck tartare /Salad /pear
鴨と洋梨のタルタル仕立て赤ビーツ、サラダ

Le ENTRÉ Chaud
Scallop saute/sauce aromatic /pomme écrasé
帆立貝のソテー、カレー風味の野菜のソース

Le POISSON
AMADAI/Cepes Mushroom /”KOSHIHIKARI”/Fish sauce
あまだい松笠焼

La VIANDE
“Wagyu Rossini”
“Kagoshima” A4 Wagyu Beef Steak/foie gras /Madeira sauce
鹿児島和牛ステーキロッシーニ

LeDESSERT
“Chitose” Strawberry, Japanese Strawberry by Chitose

Small World

Coffee or Tea

S$388++per couple, with a half bottle of champagne

With wine pairing S$120 (5 glasses)

Evian (still) or Badoit (sparkling)

Unlimited $8 per person

All prices are subject to 10% service charge and 7% GST

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In Food 5 Mins Read

Healthy Eating Tips For 2017

As we step into 2017, I’m sure many of you are busy cracking your heads on some worthy New Year resolutions. Wealth, happiness, travel, and many more along those lines could very well top your list but let’s be real here – we’re not accomplishing anything without health.
2016 was a year plagued by newborn diseases like MERS, Zika and strains of the Avian Influenza so it is no understatement to say our health is constantly threatened. While we put our faith in the hands of scientists and doctors to develop vaccines and cures, there is much we can do to safeguard our health.

If you’ve been exercising regularly, good on you! BUT – healthy living is not just about working out regularly.

It is a lifestyle that’s all about balance. I know it can be a real challenge to switch up your current lifestyle when you are so used to living this way. (We’re all creatures of habit after all.)

No one is expecting you to make a 360degree change overnight but we got to start somewhere and, fortunately, that somewhere starts with these simple steps. Here are some tips endorsed by dietitian Wong Hui Xin from Mount Elizabeth Hospital, to help you fulfil that 2017 resolution of eating healthy!

Spice Up Your Water

Now, we know water is great for us. But it’s tasteless, and it can sometimes be a chore to drink water. (I feel you, mate.) What do you say about spicing up that boring cup of water with a slice of lemon?

Image Credit: Paleo Hacks

Lemon water is definitely more flavourful than regular water. But it’s also beneficial in several other ways, including raising antioxidant levels, which in turns lowers the risk of several diseases, improving digestion leaving you less bloated, and helping with detoxification so you potentially save big bucks you might have spent on a detox programme elsewhere.

Lemon is just one way you can spice up your water. If you find it too much of a hassle to carry a lemon around (because it honestly can be quite the weight), teabags are a much more viable option. Apart from increasing antioxidant levels, teas like green tea also boost metabolism and kill bacteria.

Choose The Healthier Snacks

Less ice-cream and chocolate bars, more fruits.

I’m guessing you’ve heard this one too many times but fruits definitely make a much more healthier choice of sugary snacks. They’re a great source of vitamins and nutrients that help strengthen your immune system to keep viruses at bay. So the old saying that goes “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” is kind of true.

That being said, we all would appreciate some variation too, right?

Bring those nuts and seeds on!

Image Credit: Michelin Guide Singapore

Instead of munching on chips and biscuits (especially during office hours when you’re desk-bound for 8 hours – let’s not even get started on how detrimental that can be for your health!), go for almonds! Almonds are loaded with all the good nutrients you need to keep maintain healthy levels of blood sugar, cholesterol and blood pressure. If nuts aren’t your favourite, go for sunflower seeds! They are as beneficial as almonds.

Not to mention they’re easy to buy from any convenient store!

Have A Salad

You already know you should aim to consume 2 servings of vegetables and fruits a day yet many of us don’t. Salads are the easiest way to work those into your meals.

Image Credit: Resilience Fitness

As a general guide to deciding what goes into your salad, you should always aim for a colourful bowl of vegetables to get a wide range of nutrients. As for proteins, opt for grilled options, or tofu for vegans. Finally, don’t forget some carbohydrates! Foods like corns, beans, and potatoes make for a balanced meal.

Remember that not all salads are created equal – creamy dressings are a major no-no. For healthier dressings, opt for vinaigrettes or olive oil.

The Healthier Choice Label

It’s easy to miss but products endorsed by the Health Promotion Board are lower in fat, sodium, and sugar, and some are also higher in calcium and dietary fibre compared to other options within the same food category.

Image Credit: Khoo Teck Phuat Hospital

If you absolutely have to get your sugared drinks fix, although I’d highly suggest you skip the midday bubble tea, the least you could do is to purchase those with lower sugar content. That way, you can have the cake and eat it too!

Order Only What You Can Eat

We’re all guilty of it – over-ordering. We walk into a fancy café and everything on the menu suddenly looks mouth-watering so we make a pact to order a dish each and share. But we don’t forget to pile on the dessert and appetisers as well. More often than not, we end up with more than enough food.

Over-ordering, and then over-eating, can lead to indigestion and bloat. More importantly, if you do finish all that food, you are bound to exceed your recommended daily calorie intake and all the suggested nutrients levels as well.

The best way to not do so is to opt for smaller servings. It can be as simple as asking for a smaller serving of rice or just holding off orders until you’ve cleared all the food on the table.

Now that wasn’t so difficult, was it? These are some handy tips that will make changing your lifestyle a tad easier.

So before we dive into how we want to embark on a month-long tour around Europe, or scoot on a beach holiday to Boracay, let us go forth and create a healthier us!

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In Food 4 Mins Read

A Winsome Life X FoodSterr Collaboration and Partnership

Being a frequent baker, it is important to me that I use only the finest ingredients that I can find in the market but the truth is, premium baking ingredients are not only expensive; they are hard to find as well.
When Nehal Patel from Foodsterr dropped us an email a few months back, boy were we so glad because in the midst of our busy schedules, we really had no time to go shop around for ingredients and Foodsterr came at the right time to answer to our baking needs.

Not only that, Foodsterr also has a whole range of other products that really intrigued me because recently, I have been trying to lose some weight and I honestly enjoy having my daily cup of coffee with full cream milk but I have since decided to substitute dairy milk with almond milk instead. Now, those of us who frequent the supermarket would know that the almond milk that is being sold in cartons are completely devoid of nutrients and I would very much prefer to make my own almond milk; which is really easy, but the most difficult part about making my own almond milk was to find whole almonds that are wallet-friendly.

So, here comes Foodsterr to the rescue!

For 500 grams of Natural Almonds from the USA, it cost SGD$18.90 and it is really more affordable when compared to buying almonds from a Brick and Mortar shop.

We are really pleased to announce that we have just signed a new partnership with Foodsterr, an online specialty foods marketplace (nuts, dried fruits, seeds, superfoods, flour and etc.) sourced from around the globe for wholesale and retail.

Image Credit: Michelin Guide Singapore

We’re pleased to share that Foodsterr is offering all our readers 10% off the total bill with the coupon code WINSOME. (key in the coupon code in your order)

Photo:

*A minimum order of SGD$30 is required.

In case you’re wondering how you too can make almond milk; here’s a recipe that I follow which will yield about 470ml of almond milk

Ingredients
140 grams of raw almonds, preferably organic
470 ml of water, plus some more water set aside for soaking the raw almonds
Sweeteners like honey, sugar, agave syrup, or maple syrup, to taste, (optional)

Equipment
Bowls
Strainer
Electronic Scale
Blender
Fine-Mesh Nut Bag or Coffee Sock

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Instructions

Soak the almonds overnight or up to 2 days.
Place the almonds in a bowl and cover with about an inch of water. They will plump as they absorb water. Let stand on the counter, covered with a cloth, overnight, or refrigerate for up to 2 days. The longer the almonds soak, the creamier the almond milk.

Drain and rinse the almonds.
Drain the almonds from their soaking water and rinse them thoroughly under cool running water. At this point, the almonds should feel a little squishy if you pinch them. It’s best to discard the soaking water because it contains phytic acid, which inhibits the body’s ability to absorb nutrients (you can also use the water to water the plants if you don’t want to discard it).

Combine the almonds and water in a blender.
Place the almonds in the blender and cover with 470ml of water.

Blend at the highest speed for 2 minutes.
Pulse the blender a few times to break up the almonds, then blend continuously for two minutes. The almonds should be broken down into a very fine meal and the water should be white and opaque.

Strain the almonds.
Line the strainer with either the opened nut bag or coffee sock, and place over a measuring cup.

Pour the almond mixture into the strainer.
Press all the almond milk from the almond meal. Gather the nut bag or coffee sock around the almond meal and twist close. Squeeze and press with clean hands to extract as much almond milk as possible. You should get about 470ml of almond milk.

Sweeten to taste.
Taste the almond milk, and if a sweeter drink is desired, add sweetener to taste.

Refrigerate almond milk.
Store the almond milk in sealed containers in the fridge for up to two days.

Additional Information:
The leftover almond meal can be added to oatmeal, smoothies, and muffins as it is. You can also spread it out onto a baking sheet and bake it for 2 to 3 hours in an oven until it is completely dry. Dry almond meal can be kept frozen for several months and used in baked goods such as macarons.

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In Food 3 Mins Read

Wine Tasting Class with The French Cellar

Last week, Jacqueline and I were invited by the kind folks from The French Cellar for a wine tasting session at Vanilla Bar and Cafe and we had an awesome time pairing Thai food with French wine.
For me personally, it was also a good refresher because ever since I earned my Bordeaux Level 1 Wine Certificate from L’Ecole du vin; I have not touched my wine knowledge somewhat and Lucas, (a French Sommelier from The French Cellar) covered a great deal of information about French wine that kept me engaged throughout the session.

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Fun Fact #1

France produces 6 billion bottles of wine every year!

We tasted 1 sparkling, 1 white, 1 rose, and 2 reds; all of which were refreshingly good. I especially enjoyed the reds and they paired really well with spicy food.

Fun Fact #2

French wines are usually not sweet as no sugar is added; unlike some other wines where sugar is added after the fermentation process.

After the wine tasting session, Lucas shared with us more about what his company, The French Cellar, does and we were extremely intrigued by the wine subscription service that his company offers (yes, we signed up for the wine subscription service because Jacqueline and I are wine-lovers).

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The French Cellar imports French wines directly from vineyards and they are carefully selected by their sommelier, Mr. Nicolas Rebut, who was the former Chef Sommelier of 3-star Michelin restaurants, Louis XV (Monaco) and Le Meurice (Paris). Based in France, Nicolas explores vineyards and forges privileged relationships with estates and winemakers in search of exclusive wines at the best value. Tasting thousands of wine samples each year, Nicolas selects only the best wines from renowned estates and undiscovered appellations.

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Fun Fact #3

The northern half of France produces more white wine while the southern half of France produces more red wine.

With The French Cellar’s wine subscription service, wine enthusiasts can discover two beautiful tasting wines every month, exclusively through their platform, thanks to a special and personal relationship they have between Nicholas and winemakers in France.

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If you are new to wine and have absolutely zero knowledge about wine-making, fret not because the wine comes with complementary tasting notes, written by Richard, so that you can enjoy an epicurean wine journey and learn more about the wines, winemakers and vineyards.

For more information about The French Cellar, do check out their official website and if you are intrigued by their wine subscription service just like us, do attend their complimentary wine tasting workshop to understand more.

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If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to us as we will help to direct your queries to The French Cellar.

Also, if you are planning for a Wine Tour in France, keep in mind that booking chauffeured transportation is always the best decision when planning a Wine Tour with the family and friends. No one needs to be the designated driver anymore!

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In Food 3 Mins Read

My Honest Thoughts About Chef In Box

Chef-In-Box is Singapore’s first Vendcafé that serves an assortment of instant meals, beverages, and snacks. Located at a corner of the void deck of Block 320C Anchorvale Drive, the Vendcafé is starting to attract quite a lot of people. In this blog post, I will share with you what I honestly think about Chef In Box.

Novelty Factor

Truthfully speaking, there is no novelty factor because vending machines that serves food, drinks, and snacks are pretty commonplace. Although Chef In Box’s vending machines may be state of the art, the idea of retailing food and the likes through vending machine is not. I really don’t think there is a big difference between buying instant food from convenience stores like 7-Eleven versus buying instant food from the vending machines because either way, the food has already been processed, prepared, frozen and all it needs is a microwave for it to be heated up.

Quality and Taste of Food

When I visited Chef In Box’s Vendcafé with Jacqueline, we had the Chicken Bolognese Spaghetti and the taste is below hawker standard. Seriously, a plate of spaghetti from the Western Stall at a Hawker Centre or even the Kopitiam tastes way better. Just don’t expect too much from processed frozen food. As for me, I would gladly head down to McDonald’s for a Fillet Ol Fish Meal any time. Just so you know, the food that they have in the vending machine are Halal-certified.

Value for Money

The price range for the main courses is between SGD$3.50 to SGD$5.00 and it is pocket-friendly. Although there is an assortment of main courses available, not everything that is displayed on the food menu is actually available. I would say that the price is quite similar to what one could get at the Hawker Centre or Food Court. What’s a plus point for Chef In Box is that they accept both cash and cashless modes of payment.

Environment Sustainability

In one meal, there are lots of non-biodegradable disposables and plastic packaging involved. I really don’t think this is environmentally-friendly as compared to having a meal at the hawker centre where plates and utensils are washed and re-used. Also, I don’t see any recycling bins nearby and I personally think that having a recycling bin nearby would have addressed the issue about being environmentally-friendly because their products are mostly packed in plastics, metal, and paper.

Will this fad die off? Maybe, maybe not. Vending machine is a convenient way of getting a quick meal fix and they are still largely popular here in Singapore. If Chef In Box can improve on their quality of food, be more environmentally-friendly, and perhaps consider more fresh food (healthier-choice food) versus processed food; then probably Chef In Box will be a hit among Singaporeans. 

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In Food 7 Mins Read

Asia’s Most Comprehensive Guide to Batam

Our comprehensive guide to Batam has been a hit with many Singaporeans and we want to thank everyone for all the questions that have been constantly pouring in.
In this blog post, we will be sharing with you some recent key updates and developments in Batam and some of the new and interesting places that we have just visited last weekend.

Apart from that, we will also be addressing some of the most common questions that we get from our readers about Batam.

To begin with, here are some common questions that we have received about Batam:

How much do you need for a 2 Days 1 Night trip to Batam?

For a 2 Days 1 Night trip to Batam, you don’t exactly need to bring a lot of money unless you intend to buy a lot of things back. In fact, changing SGD$250 to spend in Batam is more than sufficient.

Do you have any contacts for Traditional Kueh Lapis (Layered Cakes) in Batam?

Yes, we often buy our Traditional Kueh Lapis (Layered Cakes) from Diana Layer Cakes Batam and you can contact them via the phone at +62 778 466906. In our previous post about Batam, we mentioned that Diana Layer Cakes Batam accept Singapore Dollars but do note that as of last year, they have stopped collecting Singapore Dollars and they only accept Indonesian Rupiah now. The reason why we always buy from Diana Layer Cakes Batam is because they offer free delivery to our hotel and their layer cakes are the best that we have tasted so far. A 1KG original  Kueh Lapis cost 250000 Rupiah (SGD$26) and a 1KG prune Kueh Lapis cost 300000 Rupiah (SGD$31).

Is it easy to get around in Batam?

Yes, it is easy to get around in Batam. Taxis are abundant but like we always say; don’t flag off the taxis that are plying the roads. Always book a taxi or approach a taxi counter to get a taxi. Do note that taxis have a minimum fare of 25000 Rupiah (SGD$2.60) and taxis from Silver Cab or Blue Bird can no longer stop at Nagoya Hill . There are taxi counters available at most hotels or shopping Centres and you can just probably go there to pay for your cab fare in advance. It’s more expensive but better than having to haggle the prices.

So last weekend, we went on a short 2 Days 1 Night trip to Batam and we visited some new dining places (at our own expense) and tried doing some new stuffs like watching a movie at their local cinema.

We arrived in Batam at about 0915, cleared the immigrations that took about 45 minutes (weekends are always the peak season), and the very first thing we did was to make sure that we got a prepaid mobile line at the counter.

With a prepaid mobile line, getting around Batam is a breeze because the taxi is just a phone call away.

We walked to our hotel (Harris Hotel Batam Centre) which was nearby the ferry terminal to pick up the Kueh Lapis that we have ordered just 2 days before and since there weren’t any rooms available just yet, we headed to the nearby Mega Mall Batam Centre to walk about. By the way, if you plan to book a room at Harris Hotel Batam Centre, it will be cheaper to book through Agoda than via the Hotel Website direct and opt for just the room only because the hotel’s buffet breakfast isn’t that fantastic as compared to the food you could get at the nearby shopping malls.

For lunch, we went to Barletta Dining and Lounge at Da Vienna Boutique Hotel and from the table setting to the personalised service, we could tell that it was somewhat a place for fine dining. The food however, was a real disappointment. An online search revealed some positive reviews about the restaurant but seriously, we won’t want to dine there again because the quality of the food is so-so and isn’t value for money.

After lunch, we booked a taxi to Nagoya Hill where we spent the entire day there. Contrary to what most people would plan to do in Batam (go-karting, sea sports, and the likes), our plan was to simply eat, shop, and relax.

At Nagoya Hill, we went to catch the movie, “Independence Day: Resurgence” at Cinema 21 and the price for a movie ticket is just 35,000 Rupiah (SGD$3.50) per ticket! The fabric seats are comfortable and the theatre is not as run down as we thought it to be.

The cinema is located at the top floor of Nagoya Hill Mall and here’s a picture of the entrance leading to the cinema.

There is a small arcade corner located near the tickets counter but I wouldn’t suggest having a go at it because the (shooting games especially) controls are faulty.

Since we had a lot of time to kill, I decided to be more adventurous and went for a haircut at Willy Salon in Nagoya Mall. The haircut which includes washing cost me 120000 Rupiah (SGD$13) and I must say, it was overall a pleasant experience!

Bule, my hairstylist; is pretty good and if you happen to go to Willy Salon, look for him!

That radiant and fresh look after a refreshing haircut.

For dinner, we went to Taste The Crab @ Hill Cafe Batam which is within walking distance from Nagoya Hill. The food there is pretty awesome and we had the medium seafood combo which consist of prawns, clams, squid rings, and crab. In case you’re wondering, the medium seafood combo cost 190000 Rupiah (SGD$20) and the portion was actually rather small for us. The next time we visit, we will definitely get the large seafood combo which cost only 220000 Rupiah (SGD$23).

Oh, and having a pint of beer is a must because it really goes well with the seafood and it cost only 40000 Rupiah (SGD$4.20)!

The dinner pretty much concluded our first day in Batam.

For our second day in Batam, we booked for a half-day spa package with Spa Central Batam which cost SGD$88 per person for 3 hours. It was our 2nd time visiting Spa Central Batam and there are quite a number of changes since the last time we were there. Even the spa package and service menu has been updated and we were quite surprised to learn that the ownership of the boutique spa has been taken over by a Singaporean (yes you read that right).

The half-day spa package included a foot bath, our choice of 3 different categories of treatments (1 x 90 minute massage and 2 other treatments (one at 30 minutes and the other at 60 minutes excluding Galvanic Facial) from their spa menu. The half-day spa package also include free transfers to and fro the spa by taxi (only if you have a minimum of 2 people taking up a 2-hour treatment session).

The treatment room is very comfortable and clean. For couples, couple room is available as well.

If you plan to visit Batam on a free-and-easy basis and have the intention to include a spa treatment package on your itinerary; I would suggest that you book your ferry tickets directly with Spa Central Batam because it cost SGD$38 nett 2-way instead of the usual SGD$48. That is SGD$10 off in savings which you can use to spend on sumptuous food in Batam!

Needless to say, we ended our trip to Batam with our usual ritual of having an A&W meal!

For more information about Spa Central Batam, do visit their website where you can find more details about the various kind of spa package they have and the costs for the different treatments as well.

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In Food 4 Mins Read

An Exciting & Exhilarating Week!

It has been an exciting and exhilarating week so far and I am really glad that in 5 days’ time, I will be taking a long break away from work because I have been away from home almost every week.
Just yesterday, Jacqueline and I were at The Music Run by AIA and this year’s edition saw a vast improvement as compared to last year’s! The fringe activities along the running route were very engaging and while I’m not the sort of runner who will stop to take pictures, I was really glad that there was sufficient space that catered to both the walkers and the runners.

The entertainment likewise was superb and we had lots of fun swaying to the beats and tunes of The Sam Willows and DJ Sam Withers. Despite it being my first 5k run for the year, I was really pleased with the fact that I completed the whole run in 34 minutes without any formal training. The Music Run is definitely a good start to my two other upcoming runs that I will be participating in.

As mentioned, I will be flying off in 5 days’ time and for my coming trip, I will be heading to Taiwan with Jacqueline. We will be taking a direct flight to Kaoshiung via Scoot and then we will be returning to Singapore from Taipei via Jet Star. It has been quite a long while since our last visit to Taiwan and this time round, we will be heading to Kenting, Kaoshiung, and then northwards to Taipei.

As usual, we will often compare prices for our accommodation and boy were we glad that we chanced upon HotelsCombined because it has helped us to find the best accommodation deals in seconds! In case you’re mistaken, HotelsCombined is not a booking site but a research tool that helps travellers make the right accommodation decisions.

Their leading price comparison technology allows travellers to easily find the best price online from all the top travel sites (like Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com, etc) plus many other credible sites you’ve probably never hear of too (like Amoma, Hotelopia, Skoosh, etc).

With HotelsCombined app, travellers can now have the convenience of being able to always find the best deal in seconds without having to install so many apps to compare deals one-by-one.

Since Mothers’ Day is also round the corner in about two weeks time, I’m pretty sure many people are making plans to spend quality time with their family and if you’re thinking of bringing the whole family for a classic dim sum dining experience that won’t burn a big hole in your pocket, you might want to consider making a reservation at Yum Cha Restaurant.

My family always frequent the outlet at Serangoon Gardens Country Club but unfortunately, the Yum Cha Restaurant there is no longer in operation and the only available outlets are the ones located at Chinatown and Changi Business Park. For Mothers’ Day this year, Yum Cha Restaurant is launching 3 special items that seeks to re-create the long-lost taste of traditional Chinese dishes that mothers and grandmothers would remember with nostalgia of their hometowns.

The three special items are the Braised Pork with Preserved Vegetables, the Pan-fried Salted Fish Bun, and the Almond Tarts.

Braised Pork with Preserved Vegetables

A notable classic Chinese dish, this delicious bun which was easily carried around in the past, was eaten for days while our ancestors were fleeing the war in China before settling down in different parts of Asia. Quality tender pork belly is braised in a secret recipe sauce for hours to create a sweet and succulent taste that is balanced by a soft steamed bun.

Pan-fried Salted Fish Bun

A traditional Chinese dish originating from the Guangdong province, this salted fish bun used to be a favourite of Emperor Kang Xi of the Qing Dynasty. The bottom of the bun is seared to golden brown, with a flavourful filling made from salted fish paste and minced meat. To enhance its flavour, a secret seasoning is added for a more savory experience.

Almond Tart

The classic Almond Tart has a soft and flaky texture. Served warm, its sweet taste will definitely bring back fond memories of the old days in Hong Kong.

How will you celebrate Mothers’ Day?

That’s all from us for now and it sure looks like the coming month of May is going to be quite an exciting one too!

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In Food 4 Mins Read

Food Review- Andong Zzimdak at Raffles City Shopping Centre

I have not been to Korea but thanks to Singapore’s melting pot of cultures, I have tasted Korean food and I am a pretty big fan of it. Recently, we had the opportunity to dine at Andong Zzimdak, a Korean restaurant that serves a specialty dish known as Andong Jjimdak and if you have ever been to the City of Andong in South Korea to try this dish, I’m very sure you are probably craving for some of it right now.

Allow me to give you a brief introduction of the dish, Andong Jjimdak.

Andong Jjimdak (when literally translated into English) means Braised Chicken of Andong and it is a dish that originated in (you know it) the City of Andong in the Gyeongsangbukdo Province of South Korea. In 1980 at Andong Market’s Chicken Town, chefs began adding a variety of ingredients into their roasted chicken, and that is how the first Andong Jjimdak came about.

At Andong Zzimdak (the name of the Korean restaurant) that serves Andong Jjimdak (the specialty dish), they also serve other main dishes like the Boneless Jjimdak, Seafood Jjimdak, and Mayak Jjimdak.

When we were there for dinner, we had the Mayak Jjimdak and some other side dishes like the Chicken Karaage and Mini Seafood Pancake. Kimchi and Radishes were also served alongside the dishes and that made the whole dining experience authentically Korean.

The Mayak Jjimdak is lauded to be the spiciest dish served at Andong Zzimdak and it is a combination of the signature Jjimdak sauce with chicken pieces, carrot, potatoes, spicy rice cake, and sweet potato noodles.

The signature Jjimdak sauce is sweet and spicy and it goes well with a bowl of rice. The texture of the sweet potato noodles somewhat reminded me of the chewy pearls from the bubble tea shop but I suppose this shouldn’t come as a surprise since both are starchy food items. Personally, I don’t find the Mayak Jjimdak to be that spicy but if you have a low tolerance for spice, you probably might want to go for the Andong Jjimdak instead. For all you lovers of spice and chilli, you can request for some additional chilli paste which you can add into the Mayak Jimdak.

Fun Fact #1:
The sweet potato noodles and the signature Jjimdak sauce are all imported directly from Korea.

Fun Fact #2:
The Chefs at Andong Zzimdak (Singapore) have undergone culinary training that was conducted by Korean Chefs to replicate an authentic Andong Jjimdak dining experience.

Well… if you’re the sort of person who dislike having bones and meat in your food, the Boneless Jimdak would be a better choice but I personally would prefer a Boneless Mayak Seafood Jjimdak (eh no, Andong Zzimdak do not serve this dish, I actually self-created it). If only that option was available, I would have ordered it.

As for the Chicken Karaage and Mini Seafood Pancake that we had, they were fried items; so naturally, they were crisp and good, and best eaten while they were still hot.

Craving for some Andong Jjimdak already?

If you are planning a trip to Andong Zzimdak, be prepared to queue (Singapore do have a lot of Korean food fanatics here in Singapore) and do bring along your best friends or family members because the portion for the main dishes are bigger than you would have expected.

Cost per person? Approximately SGD$20.

For more information about Andong Zzimdak, do check out their Facebook Page!

Andong Zzimdak
Raffles City Shopping Centre B1-44F, 252 North Bridge Road Singapore 179103
Tel: +65 6533 3951
Opening Hours: 11.30 am – 10.00 pm Daily

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In Food 3 Mins Read

Crabbilicious Buffet at PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road

I have never been to a buffet line where an uncountable amount of crabs was prepared in 12 different flavours and you can perhaps imagine my excitement when I saw them laying in the food warmer waiting for me to savour them all. Coupled with the fact that it has been awhile since I last had a hotel buffet dinner, I just couldn’t wait to start the crab feast, get my hands dirty and worry about the calories later.

The brainchild of Executive Chef Low Hoe Kiat, the Battle of the Crabs Buffet is PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road’s Annual Crustacean Affair and it is set to dazzle taste buds and satisfy the cravings of every crab lover.

Whether it is classic favourites like the Authentic Singapore Chilli Crab and the Salted Egg Yolk and Butter Crab, you can also get to savour Chef Low’s other new creations like the Steamed Marinated Spicy Crab with Light Sauce, Stir-fried Crab with Jalapeño and Fermented Black Beans, and Stewed Kimchi Crab.

My personal favourite is the mouth-watering Baby Crab Salad with Green Mango and it really makes a great appetizer with its citrus scent and tangy taste. I have to confess that one serving wasn’t enough for me and I actually helped myself to even more servings. Oh heck, I wouldn’t even mind having this for lunch every day.

If there is one crab that you must try at the buffet dinner, it has to be Chef Low’s signature Slow-braised Pumpkin Crab in Claypot! A delectable mix of lightly spiced creamy golden-yellow gravy and sweet crab meat, I reckon that the recipe for this dish is probably a tightly guarded secret. While I’m not entirely sure how this variation compared to its predecessor, I enjoyed having this dish alongside with some bread.

However, I have to admit that the crab buffet dinner isn’t all that perfect and there are certainly rooms for improvement.

What is probably most disappointing about the crab dinner buffet is the fact that some of the crabs weren’t that tasty at all. Sure, there are 12 different flavours of crabs that are available but only a few could hit the right note. Even classic favourites like the Authentic Singapore Chilli Crab and the Salted Egg Yolk and Butter Crab didn’t quite meet my expectations and I found some of the crab meat a little dry and flaky for my liking.

Other than that, I honestly feel that it was overall an enjoyable buffet dinner and I would consider going back again. Even if crabs isn’t your thing, the buffet line also has fresh sashimi, sushi, and other main courses and desserts that will not let your stomach go empty.

Are you in need of a crustacean fix?

Well, if you value quantity of crabs more than the quality of crabs or if you are looking for a place to eat unlimited crabs prepared in 12 different flavours, Spice Brasserie at PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road would be it.

Available from now till 13 December 2015 on every Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays; the Battle of the Crabs Buffet will cost SGD$88.28 nett per adult and if you hold a UOB, DBS, or Maybank credit card, it will cost just SGD$70.62 nett per adult.

Want To Win A Crab Feast For 2 At Spice Brasserie? See below for more details!

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In Beauty and Fashion 4 Mins Read

Have You Ever Been To Palais Renaissance in Singapore?

I am probably ignorant about my surroundings whenever I head down to Orchard because yes, I have heard of the sleazy Orchard Towers, the shabby Far East Shopping Centre, and the big Toys “R” Us outlet at Forum The Shopping Mall; but I have never heard of Palais Renaissance.

If not for a media event that was held last week at Palais Renaissance, I will probably still be a suaku [mountain tortoise] and not know that such a place exists in Singapore. Well, getting to Palais Renaissance is not that difficult but finding the way that leads to the carpark is. With just 32 tenants that caters mainly to an upscale clientele, Palais Renaissance is a small cosy shopping mall that has escalators that are wide enough for only 1 person.

Negative much?

Not really.

In fact, there are a couple of things that we uncovered about Palais Renaissance that truly makes it a well-hidden gem.

First and foremost, Palais Renaissance does not cater only to an affluent clientele. What we found quite affordable at Palais Renaissance are the dining options that are available even for the casual passers-by. Whether it is Jing Hua Xiao Chi, Ishinomaki Grill & Sake Bar, P. Bistro, or PS.Cafe; you will not burn a big hole in your pocket for dining at Palais Renaissance.

When we were there at Palais Renaissance, we had the privilege of dining at Jing Hua Xiao Chi and it was a dining experience that I will never forget because the taste and the flavours of the food evoked so much personal memories of my childhood days.

Founded in 1989, Jing Hua Xiao Chi was started by native Singaporeans, Mr. and Mrs. Han, and was located at the place first known as the “Qun Zhong Eating House”. The family started Jing Hua as a means to make ends meet, and took their recipes from Mr. Han’s mother, who lived in Shanghai, and from Mrs. Han, who made good dumplings at home. That is how it all began, and over the years, the family slowly adapted their recipes to suit Singaporean tastes.

It is interesting to note that Jing Hua’s menu has remained unchanged at Neil Road since its beginning and this is a true testament of how consistent quality can withstand the test of time. Prepared with ingredients sourced from Chinatown’s wet markets, Jing Hua has built a strong reputation for serving up delicious homemade dumplings over the years.

Needless to say, we will definitely be patronising Jing Hua Xiao Chi again and if you are searching high and low for an affordable homely fare that has a traditional taste [古早味] to it, Jing Hua Xiao Chi is the place.

Apart from dining at Jing Hua Xiao Chi at Palais Renaissance, we also visited DeFRED Jewellers and TOUCHE Elite to find out more about the products and services they have to offer.

DeFRED Jewellers was established since 1984 and it is a brand name that is synonymous with precious pieces of fine jewellery. They are a specialised quality jewellery boutique so prices for their intricate jewellery are expectedly exorbitant. If splurging is your cup of tea, get SGD$200 off when you “like” DeFRED’s Facebook Page, follow them on Instagram, and quote DeFRED’s slogan, “Ultimate Gift of Love by DeFRED”.

As for TOUCHE Elite, they offer aesthetic treatments that are mainly for the ladies and they recently launched a new and advanced C Plus Anti-aging Treatment with RF Tech; a remarkable advanced scientific breakthrough medical-aesthetic technologies that defy skin’s aging and helps combat pigmentation.

Well, we haven’t had any treatments done at TOUCHE Elite and so we can’t really share much but if you would like to find out more about the aesthetic treatments that are available, you can visit their website at http://www.cls-touche.com/.

Having been to Palais Renaissance, we must say that the experience has been overall a pleasant one. If we ever visit again, it would most probably be to dine at the rest of the other food and beverage restaurants or to probably get an exclusive gift that can’t be found elsewhere.

So… have you been to Palais Renaissance? Yes, you have just been there after reading this blog post!

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