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Crabbilicious Buffet at PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road

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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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Have You Ever Been To Palais Renaissance in Singapore?

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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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Snap Food Photos & Win SGD$50 Isetan Shopping Voucher & SGD$28 Golden Village Gift Card

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We all know that Singapore is a food haven and there is absolutely no way anyone could go hungry in Singapore as there are so many dining options that are available for people to choose from. However, what really troubles us Singaporeans are often the questions, “What should we eat?” and “Where should we eat?”
We know it is funny but it is also very true that sometimes we even argue with one another over what to eat and where to eat! This is the dilemma that we constantly face every day and making dining decisions can be really tough at times.

What about you? Do you often find yourself asking where to eat in Singapore?

Well, with the OpenSnap App, this problem can now be solved and what is even more intriguing to us about the OpenSnap App is that it gives us pretty good suggestions as to which Restaurants and Dishes in Singapore we should try!

Not only that, the dish rating system in the OpenSnap App is really helpful as it guides us to decide what we ought to order at a restaurant!

One feature that we like about the OpenSnap App is that it allows us to bookmark our favourite topics, offers, restaurants and photos so that we can revisit the bookmarks as and when we wish and find out what are the latest promotions and offers that are available.

What we like the most about the OpenSnap App is that it also features restaurants and dishes from other regional countries like Taiwan, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries! This is truly one app you don’t want to go without if you are a frequent traveller to Asian countries!

Also, just for all you foodies and food photographers, we are organising a special giveaway for all of you and this is a giveaway you don’t want to miss because if you frequently take photos of your food dishes at restaurants and even hawker centres, winning this giveaway is going to be a stroll in the park for you!

All you have to do is just download the OpenSnap App, snap photos of what you’re eating, upload the photo, and hashtag #awinsomelife! It’s really that easy and this time round, we will be giving away two prizes; a SGD$50 Isetan Shopping Voucher and a SGD$28 Golden Village Gift Card!

As long as you download the OpenSnap App, snap photos of what you’re eating, upload the photo, and hashtag #awinsomelife; you will stand a chance to win the SGD$50 Isetan Shopping Voucher through a random lucky draw and if you don’t feel that lucky at all; fret not because if you upload the most photos, you will walk away with the SGD$28 Golden Village Gift Card!

Just make sure you remember to use the hashtag #awinsomelife so that we can keep track and tally the number of photos taken using the OpenSnap App!

All photos uploaded from 24 July 2015 to 24 August 2015 will be considered for the contest and the person who uploads the most food pictures and uses the hashtag #awinsomelife will walk away with the SGD$28 Golden Village Gift Card!

So what are you waiting for?

Download the OpenSnap App and start snapping away!

For Android Users | For iPhone Users

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A Nostalgic Shopping Experience That Only Those Born In The 1980s Can Identify With

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During my army days, I would always drive past Gek Poh Shopping Centre and the modern external façade never fails to capture my attention. However, it wasn’t until last Sunday that I stepped into Gek Poh Shopping Centre with Jacqueline.

Fun Fact: The meaning of Gek Poh in Hokkien is Jade Treasure

Given the modern external façade of Gek Poh Shopping Centre, one would probably expect that the shopping centre will be a highly modern one but this is certainly not the case. When we arrived at Gek Poh Shopping Centre, we saw a number of “vintage”, old-school shops that reminded us of our childhood days and they have pretty interesting names like Channel 8, a shop that sells footwear and Boyz 2 Men, a barber shop.

If you were born in the 1980s, a day at Gek Poh Shopping Centre would definitely be a nostalgic time as the shopping centre’s interior décor and old-school shops will remind you of the shopping centres that existed during the olden days of Singapore.

Though Gek Poh shopping centre was not that crowded when we were there in the evening, the crowd at the food-court is altogether a different story as it was packed with diners. The food court offers many local delights and we were honestly spoilt for choices.

After checking out all the food stores at the food-court, I decided on having a bowl of Oriental Buddha Jump Over The Wall Soup while Jacqueline decided to have a plate of Western Spaghetti with Meatballs.

If dining at the food-court isn’t your cup of tea, there are also many other Food & Beverage outlets available and if you need a quick lunch/dinner fix, there’s also McDonald’s and Subway available at Gek Poh Shopping Centre.

Although Gek Poh Shopping Centre isn’t that modern per se, it has almost everything; from gift shops and jewellery shop to hardware shop and even a pet shop. However, what can’t be found at Gek Poh Shopping Centre is probably just the bank and entertainment outlets.

I’m not sure how many of my friends staying in the west actually visits Gek Poh Shopping Centre on a regular basis but if you do, feel free to share with us your own experience of Gek Poh Shopping Centre by commenting on this post! We would love to hear your story of Gek Poh Shopping Centre [if any].

If you happen to stay near Gek Poh Shopping Centre, you might be pleased to know that HDB is organising 3 main events and activities to celebrate Singapore’s 50th birthday.

1. Vote for your Top 50 shops

Acknowledging that retailers at the HDB Shopping Centres addresses the needs of the residents while being an important part of the community, HDB will be rewarding these neighbourly retailers this year with a decal and commemorative plaque for display in their shops as testament of their popularity.

Starting from 1 July 2015 till 31 October 2015, you can nominate and vote for your favourite shop via a mobile voting app that you can download and when you have submitted your vote, you stand a chance to win a prize in a lucky draw contest.

2. #myfavHDBmall Photography Competition

HDB Shopping Centres form an integral part of the residents’ daily lives by being a place for leisure, shopping, and community bonding and for this photography competition, all you have to do is shoot a photo that evokes a warm fuzzy feeling, depicting the homely environment that HDB malls are providing and submit your photos at https://myfavhdbmall.com/register. You can stand a chance to win some attractive prizes and the winning entries will also be exhibited at 888 Plaza on 14 November 2015.

3. Enter the Book of Records

To mark the momentous year, an attempt is underway to create the largest SG50 logo made from stamps to set a new record in the Singapore Book of Records. From now till end October, you can play your part by donating used and unused stamps for this record-breaking initiative.

To participate, you are to “post” your stamps at the specially designed post boxes at various HDB Shopping Centres and all submissions will qualify for a Lucky Draw. A total of SGD$2,000 cash vouchers will be up for grabs and the finished masterpiece will be unveiled with great fanfare at 888 Plaza on 14 November 2015.

With so much activities and contests that are now ongoing, what are you waiting for?

For more information about the ongoing events and contests, visit www.where2shop.sg now!

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[Restaurant Review]- Three Bistro Wine Bar @ Marina Square

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About 2 weeks ago, Jacqueline and I had the privilege of dining at Three Bistro Wine Bar with other fellow Bloggers and it was quite a memorable occasion as I also celebrated my 27th birthday there.
Serving Modern European cuisine with an infusion of the local touch, Three Bistro Wine Bar hopes to be THE chill-out place for delectable lunch treats, melodious music, and ice-cold alcohol.

Here’s what we had when we were there and what I am about to write is solely based on my own personal opinions and taste buds.

Soup- Roasted Tomato Delight

The soup was very tangy, sweet, and aromatic. I like the zesty taste of the soup that comes mainly from the tomato and I like the fact that the soup was served piping hot because soups that are served warm is a no-go for me; it MUST BE served PIPING HOT!

Starters- Oven Baked Escargots | Grilled Foie Gras

Between the Escargots and the Foie Gras, I will choose the Foie Gras because it tasted way better than the Escargots. In fact, I must compliment the Chef for pairing the charcoal bun and maple syrup with the Foie Gras because it was such a perfect combination. On the other hand, I honestly feel that the Escargots were somewhat tasteless and lacked the buttery and cheesy flavour that I was expecting.

Mains- Sirloin Steak | Swiss Rosti with Trio Sausages | Spicy Chicken Casserole

I’m not a consumer of beef and mutton and so I can’t really comment much about the black pepper Sirloin Steak except that it looked delicious. Of the three mains offered, I personally feel that the Swiss Rosti with Trio Sausages was the best though I have to admit that the Spicy Chicken Casserole wasn’t that bad either.

The portion size of all three mains were also quite sizeable and definitely satisfying.

Dessert- Classic Italian Panna Cotta | Chocolate Lava Cake

Being a desserts-person, I feel that the desserts served were substandard and could have been better. In my opinion, the Chocolate Lava Cake would have been more delicious if it packs a more dark-chocolatey punch and as for the Classic Italian Panna Cotta, it could have been more delicately smooth.

Overall

While there were some plus and minus in the food that we had, the overall dining experience at Three Bistro Wine Bar has certainly met our expectations and with their comprehensive collection of bistro specialities, I’m pretty sure they certainly have got much to offer.

Also, if you are looking for a venue to host a corporate event or even a private party for up to 150 guests, Three Bistro Wine Bar is conveniently located between City Hall and Esplanade MRT Stations.

Just to let you know, Three Bistro Wine Bar is also having a Family Menu Promotion from now till 30 June 2015 and if you are planning for a family get-together session; you might want to consider the offer.

In a special collaboration with Three Bistro Wine Bar, all of you [yes, our avid readers] are entitled to a 10% discount when you order any food items from the A-la-Carte menu.

To be entitled for the discount, just flash this Blog Post that you’re currently reading, snap some photos of the food that you’re ordering, and then post it on Three Bistro Wine Bar Facebook Page!

It’s as simple as that!

However, do note that the 10% discount entitlement is not valid with any other promotions, discounts or vouchers.

For any reservation, you can call Three Bistro Wine Bar at +65 63388644 or drop them an email at enquiry@threebistro.com.sg

Three Bistro Wine Bar
6 Raffles Boulevard, Marina Square
#01-07/08
Singapore 039594

Operation Hours: Mon – Thurs: 11am to 11pm | Fri & Sat: 11am to 12am | Sun: 1230pm to 930pm

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[Wedding Venue Review]- One Degree 15 Marina Club @ Sentosa Cove

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Nestled within the exclusive Sentosa Cove enclave, One Degree 15 Marina Club is part of the emerging hip, upscale luxury neighbourhood that is positioned to become one of the world’s most well-integrated waterfront lifestyle communities. Evoking the glamour and elegance of Monte Carlo, One Degree 15 Marina Club offers world-class marina facilities and is replete with a comprehensive range of luxurious private club amenities catering to both boaters and non-boaters alike.

[Image Credits to One Degree 15 Marina Club]

There were a lot of reasons why we decided to have our wedding dinner banquet at One Degree 15 Marina Club and the reasons are:

• One Degree 15 Marina Club is a very unique, beautiful, and scenic place for weddings
• The wedding banquet is priced competitively when compared to other wedding venues
• The wedding banquet package is very attractive with quite a fair bit of goodies
• There are a lot of positive reviews on the Internet
• The kitchen and banquet operations is helmed by experienced chefs and service staffs
• They have a Halal-certified kitchen that can cater to Muslim guests
• The food served is of the right temperature and are of excellent quality

For an 8-course Chinese wedding set menu during the weekends, the price of SGD$1574.83 [after including the 7% goods and services tax and 10% service charge] is priced rather competitively when compared to upscale hotels like Fullerton Hotel Singapore, Pan Pacific Singapore, Mandarin Oriental Singapore and etc.

[Image Credits to One Degree 15 Marina Club]

With a premium address, One Degree 15 Marina Club offers an exclusive and intimate wedding setting.

The Catering Sales Manager who saw to our every need was Mr Kurt Tan and he was very helpful in coordinating and advising us on the wedding banquet programme. Joyston and Ling Zhen, the Banquet Captains for our wedding banquet were also very professional and they took care of our every need; even till the next day when we were due to check out. We must say, the banquet operations team did a very fantastic job in managing our programme for the evening.

The chefs also prepared a very delightful dinner for all our guests and everyone gave very positive feedback and comments about the excellent quality of the food; including the Halal food.

Well, every wedding venue has its cons too and for One Degree 15 Marina Club, the cons are:

• One Degree 15 Marina Club is rather inconvenient and inaccessible for guests
• The ballroom can only accommodate up to 360 guests
• Full payment is required before the wedding event

To counteract the cons, we had shuttle buses to transport our guests to and fro Harbourfront MRT Station and One Degree 15 Marina Club; and just so you know, all of our guests had their admission fees to Sentosa waived off when they presented our wedding invitation card at the booth gantry. What makes it even a sweeter deal is that there are ample parking spaces for all our guests and parking is complimentary. As the number of guests whom were expected to attend our wedding amounted to less than 360, the maximum capacity of the ballroom definitely wasn’t an issue for us but if you have more than 360 guests, you may have to consider choosing another venue.

[Image Credits to One Degree 15 Marina Club]

We’re not sure if the full payment policy applies to other venues but for One Degree 15 Marina Club, it definitely is and you need to be prepared to start saving up early. We highly suggest you use your credit card for the payment so that you can earn rebates and points at the same time but of course, don’t forget to pay your dues on time.

In case you are wondering, One Degree 15 Marina Club do have accommodations available and that makes it really convenient especially if you are arranging the accommodation for your guests who are coming from overseas. It is a pity that we didn’t have much time to spend in the room because the room is really so nice, cosy and had a fantastic view of the yachts that were docked at the club! We will definitely be back and book a staycation there for our 1st anniversary.

[Image Credits to One Degree 15 Marina Club]

Overall, if you were to ask for our opinion, we would highly recommend One Degree 15 Marina Club as a choiced wedding venue in Singapore and really, we have no regrets having our wedding banquet there.

For more information, do check out One Degree 15 Marina Club Official Website and like One Degree 15 Official Facebook Page!

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[2015 Mother’s Day Special]- 3 Atas Ways To Pampering Your Mothers At Sofitel So Singapore

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Mother’s Day is just round the corner and although I have to admit that this occasion by itself is quite commercialised, our mums definitely ought to have a well-deserved break on their special day.
If you have ultra-deep pockets, you may want to consider 3 atas [luxurious] ways to pampering your mum at Sofitel So Singapore.

The First Atas Way, A Luxury Hotel Staycation at Sofitel So Singapore

Book your mum a luxury hotel staycation at Sofitel So Singapore, Singapore’s newest luxury designer hotel that is housed within an iconic heritage building built in 1927 on Robinson Road. Every room at Sofitel So Singapore invites guests to dream with high ceilings and bespoke light boxes featuring images of palatial glass domes inspired by the traditional architecture of Europe and modern constructions in Singapore.

For a special rate of SGD$427++, your mum can indulge in a sumptuous breakfast served in the luxurious room, a bottle of Champagne on ice to be savoured any time during the stay, and a thoughtful gift of chocolate or flowers offered upon arrival. What’s more; your mum can also enjoy a late check-out at 4:00pm and the facilities that Sofitel So Singapore has to offer.

The Second Atas Way, A 5-Course Spa & Massage Indulgence at So SPA

Located at So SPA at The Singapore Resort & Spa Sentosa, treat your mum to a soothing day of pampering with the Oh-So Spoiled 5-course Spa indulgence which includes a 15-minute foot ritual, a 45-minute revitalising Neem Body Polish, a 60-minute So Relaxing Massage or a luxurious Neem Healing Facial, a healthy juice, and a full day of relaxation with access to the spa gardens, float pool, galaxy steam baths and mud pools!

At a special price of SGD$255++, So SPA will tempt your mum to come back for more with a complimentary SGD$50 return voucher for her next retreat.

For bookings and enquiries, you can drop an email to H9474-TH4@accor.com or call +65 6371 1288 for more information.

The Third Atas Way, A 4-Course French Epicurean Dining Experience at Xperience Restaurant & Bar

Crafted by the young but talented Resident Culinary Designer Chef Anne-Cécile Degenne, the 4-course Mother’s Day Menu at Xperience Restaurant & Bar at Sofitel So Singapore is a thoughtful French epicurean dining experience that mothers will surely love.

The tantalising starter made from Sri Lankan crabs, fresh pomelo pulp, and garnished with luxurious French caviar is served with coriander salad that gives it an earthy but refreshing twist.

The second starter, Seared Foie Gras and Truffle Emulsion with Mushroom Ravioli, is inspired by Chef AnneCécile’s beloved home town, the port city of Bordeaux in South-Western France. The buttery foie gras, combined with freshly imported white mushrooms and porcini wrapped in parcels of homemade dough will warm both palates and hearts.

Following the starters is the menu’s piece de resistance; the main course of Grilled Scallop and Lobster, Fennel, Orange and Basil. Meaty Hokkaido scallops grilled to light-brown perfection are paired with fresh, springy Boston lobster and cooked with fennel, rosemary, orange juice, and olive oil. This ensemble creates a juxtaposition of earthy, natural, yet delicate flavours that are soothing and gentle.

A satisfying meal can only conclude with an equally satisfying dessert. Here, Chef Anne-Cécile gives the diners a pleasant surprise; a deconstructed Black Forest. This re-imagining of a well-loved classic dessert offers a different experience with each bite. The taste of rich, dark orbs of Varlhona chocolate mousse is balanced with either sour cherry jelly or the Griotte cherries nestled in the mousse.

Each dish from the menu is carefully paired with a selection of wines to enhance the dining experience. Your mum will also receive a rose and one Shiseido beauty kit worth SGD$47, featuring choice picks from their Vital-Perfection White range, Makeup Lacquer Rouge and the highly-raved Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate. Complimentary valet parking is also available should you decide to drive her there.

The Delicate Mother’s Day Quartet Dinner Menu from Xperience Restaurant & Bar is priced at SGD$128++ per person, or SGD$168++ per person with wine pairing.

Below are the available dates and timings for the Delicate Mother’s Day Quartet Dinner Menu:
9 May 2015: 6.30pm – 10.00pm | 10 May 2015: 12.00pm – 3.00pm

With 3 atas ways to pamper your mum on Mother’s Day, you can even consider having a fourth atas way to pamper your mum by combining all the 3; but of course, this won’t come cheap and will probably cost you at least a thousand dollars for all 3.

If you are on a budget but would love to pamper your mum luxuriously, I would personally suggest treating your mum to a meal or a spa and massage package as the prices are pretty reasonable.

Anyhow, I hope this article has given you some Mother’s Day ideas to think about and if you have any ideas to share with me, do feel free to share with me by commenting below. 🙂

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[Happening Today]- Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day

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Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day is happening today and since 1979, it has been Ben & Jerry’s way of celebrating and thanking their fan for all their love and support.

On top of that, if you frequent Orchard for all your shopping needs, you will be pleased to know that Ben & Jerry’s has recently opened their first Flagship Scoop Shop in Southeast Asia at 313 Somerset Discovery Walk.

Ben & Jerry’s Flagship Scoop Shop will serve an exciting menu of 18 chunky, swirly, and euphoric ice cream flavours, alongside new shakes, sundaes, ice cream cakes, and a wider range of merchandise.

Staying true to providing fans the best possible ice cream made in the nicest possible way, Ben & Jerry’s is taking values-led sourcing local. Baked items like brownies and cookies and herbs like mint will be supplied by SCORE Bakery, which works to rehabilitate inmates through skills training, and social enterprise Edible Garden City, who are a group of urban farmers championing the Grow Your Own Food movement in land-scarce and import-dependent Singapore.

The new Flagship Scoop Shop will also be Ben & Jerry’s Community Action Hub where the company hopes to use fun and ice cream to inspire social involvement and progress locally.

A new Benefit Tuesday Night Programme, exclusive to the flagship, will run on a Tuesday every month, allowing various local welfare organisations to engage the public on their causes and during the 7-9pm event, Ben & Jerry’s will donate 20% of sales to feature social mission partners.

In addition, Ben & Jerry’s has partnered international food artist, Samantha Lee, to create a delicious Sundae that will celebrate Peace, Love & Ice Cream. Available only at the Flagship Scoop Shop until 31 August 2015, all proceeds will be donated to Ben & Jerry’s Benefit Tuesday Night partners!

“The Super Creative Sundae Conceptualised and Created by International Food Artist Samantha Lee in Collaboration with Ben & Jerry’s”

So what are you waiting for?

If you are craving for some ice cream and would like to do some good for the community, head down to Ben & Jerry’s Flagship Scoop Shop for Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day!

Also, to make the wait in line even more enjoyable, you can send some song requests via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #FCDSG, and Ben & Jerry’s own radio station will play your favourite tunes while you wait in line. There will also be loads of games, goodies, and activities organised specially for you so be there and join in the fun!

Ben & Jerry’s Flagship Scoop Shop
313 @ Somerset
Level 1 Discovery Walk
Opening Hours: 11 am to 10pm

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[Café Review]- Coffee:Nowhere, The Place for Specialty Coffee

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Coffee Nowhere [can also pronounce as Coffee Now Here] first started its operations in Malaysia and it is so popular that they expanded overseas and started its first flagship store in idyllic Rochester Park, Singapore. To accommodate more café goers, Coffee:Nowhere at Rochester Park shifted its entire Food & Beverage [F&B] operations to West Coast Plaza.

I had the privilege of dining there a few days ago and I had the honour of meeting Mr Welson Ang, the Chief Executive Officer [CEO] of Coffee:Nowhere. Just so you know, Mr Welson Ang is also the owner of multiple businesses such as ExpressPrint in Singapore and he is a very successful entrepreneur.

Our Personal Opinion/Review of Coffee:Nowhere

Coffee:Nowhere occupies a rather big space at West Coast Plaza and the ambience is very cosy and comfortable. Employing the self-service style like Starbucks and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, a major plus point of dining at Coffee:Nowhere is that all of its F&B prices indicated on the menu are nett-pricing.

Whether you are dining individually or with a big group of friends, Coffee:Nowhere can cater to everyone because like I mentioned, the dining area is huge.

Personally, I really like the cosy corner that Coffee:Nowhere has specially created for individuals to do some quiet reading. If Coffee:Nowhere has another outlet in the North-Eastern part of Singapore [hopefully in Punggol] and it offers such a cosy corner as well, you will definitely find me there every single day!

In terms of the F&B offered at Coffee:Nowhere, the menu is pretty extensive and it has a lot of variety to suit the most pickiest diners. I personally feel that the appetisers and main courses are palatable and pretty tasty. The portions were also reasonable and I really enjoyed the desserts that Coffee:Nowhere has to offer.

Apart from the rather delightful F&B offerings, what I am most impressed with, was the retail space that sells specialty coffee beans and coffee brewing devices!

As a former Barista, I really like the idea of grinding my own coffee beans and brewing my own coffee because only then will I really appreciate every single cup of coffee that I drink.

Occasionally, Coffee:Nowhere conducts coffee appreciation workshops at their Brew Bar and Mr Ian Consulta [as seen in the following photo] is Q Grader certified and is Coffee:Nowhere’s Executive Consultant.

When I was at Coffee:Nowhere, Mr Ian Consulta showed us three different methods of brewing coffee; in particular, Syphon, Aeropress, and Pour Over. Just so you know, all three different methods of brewing coffee produces a different taste even though all of them uses the same coffee bean. 

Syphon

Pour Over

Aeropress

If you would like to brew your own coffee, Coffee:Nowhere has this Aerobie® AeroPress® Coffee & Espresso Maker and I highly recommend it because it is highly portable, durable, and brews a richer and smoother cup of coffee.

In case you are wondering, Coffee:Nowhere is selling the Aerobie® AeroPress® Coffee & Espresso Maker for only SGD$65 and that is way cheaper than getting an Espresso Coffee Machine that cost hundreds of dollars.

Should you be staying in the far west and you wish to check out Coffee:Nowhere, they are open from 10am to 10pm daily at West Coast Plaza.

Will Coffee:Nowhere be Singapore’s best café?

Let us know what you think!

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Have a Taste of Singapore at Chinatown Food Street

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Apart from being well known as a clean and green city, Singapore is also very famous for its local food. Last week, both Jacqueline and I were at Singapore’s Chinatown Food Street for a “makan” [eating] session with other bloggers and we had a very delightful time.
Located on Smith Street in the heart of Chinatown, the revitalised Chinatown Food Street seeks to create the most authentic Singapore dining experience for locals and tourists alike. From a tantalising plate of Char Kway Teow, to sticks of mouthwatering Satay, Chinatown Food Street offers a diverse spread of local delights, with iconic food from local cultures all represented on one street.

Ngoh Hiang from Chong Chong Ngoh Hiang Prawn Fritter

A unique Hokkien and Teochew dish that is served in many of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore’s hawker centres and in Cebú in the Philippines. It place of origin is in eastern China. It is essentially a dish that is made up of various meats, vegetables and other ingredient such as cucumber, century egg, ginger, deep-fried beancurd, fishball and many others. It is usually served with chili sauce and sweet sauce. Many stalls in Singaporean food courts and hawker centres sell fried bee hoon [vermicelli] with Ngoh Hiang.

If you happen to be in Chinatown doing some late-night shopping for New Year goodies and you are feeling famished, Chinatown Food Street is certainly the perfect place for supper because from 30 January 2015 till 18 February 2015, the operating hours of Chinatown Food Street will be extended to 2am.

Kueh Pie Tee from Maxwell Road Soon Soon Popiah . Laksa

Kueh Pie Tee is a thin and crispy pastry tart shell that is filled with a spicy and sweet mixture of thinly sliced vegetables and prawns. It is a popular Peranakan dish. The shells are made of flour and though some stores will make them from scratch, they can usually be found ready-made in most supermarkets. Similar to popiah, the main filling is shredded Chinese turnips and carrots, and usually these two dishes are sold by the same stall in hawker centers.

However, do also note that Chinatown Food Street will be closed on 19 February 2015 [first day of the Lunar New Year] and will resume operations on 20 February 2015 with its original operating hours of 11am to 11pm.

In case you are wondering, the prices of the dishes from the 24 different street hawker stalls varies from SGD$2.50 to SGD$10, with the exception of Yu Sheng which cost SGD$28 for a small platter and SGD$38 for a large platter. Check out our guide to organising a Lo-Hei/Yu Sheng session at home or the office!

Furthermore, if you spend SGD$10 in a single receipt at Chinatown Food Street, you will get a 20% discount voucher off Trick Eye Museum admission tickets.

Roti Prata from Serangoon Raju Indian Cuisine

Roti Prata is a fried flour-based pancake that is cooked over a flat grill. It is usually served with a vegetable or meat based curry and is also commonly cooked with cheese, onion, banana, red bean, chocolate, mushroom or egg.

Chinatown Food Street is certainly the perfect place for night owls to tuck into a lip-smacking spread of local delights. From traditional dishes reminiscent of yesteryear to modern cuisines of present times, there is definitely something for everyone!

In need of a quick fix? Chinatown Food Street is definitely the place to go!

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