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In Restaurants 11 Mins Read

LG Home Appliances Media Workshop

Thanks to SPRG and LG, we were invited to the LG Home Appliances Media Workshop that took place at the Asian Food Channel [AFC] Studio a few weeks ago and in case you’re wondering where the AFC Studio is, it is situated at the Orchard Central and is listed as a Tourist Attraction.

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

The AFC Studio offers an eclectic mix of cooking classes that caters to diverse tastes and discerning palates and their repertoire of chefs feature a mix of homegrown talent and occasionally an AFC celebrity chef!

You will see later on in our blog entry that we really had an enjoyable time cooking up a storm but meanwhile, here’s some photographs of the AFC Studio. We must say, we really love the place a lot because of its really organised and neat layout. The environment is definitely conducive for learning and it certainly inspires culinary excellence.

This was our learning space for the evening and here’s Chef Wendy and her assistants preparing the mise-en-place for our lesson.

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

While the preparation was underway, we went to explore the AFC Studio and we found some really cool kitchen equipment and accessories that the AFC Studio was selling. There were frying pans, wine chiller bag, kitchen knifes, and even the Nespresso coffee-making machine!

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013
From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

We also saw these badges that were really cool and because of these badges, I was quite enlightened to the extent that I more or less had a hunch on how I would conduct future culinary lessons for my trainees.

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

Look, there’s even reference books from celebrity chefs that one could draw culinary inspiration from.

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

While the AFC Studio may be a place for cooking classes, it is also a place for food & beverage as well.

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

Here’s AFC Studio’s beverage menu.

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

And here were the pastries and cakes that the AFC Studio was selling.

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

Before the cooking classes began, we were served some light refreshments and they were simply so yummy that we couldn’t resist having additional servings.

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

I had the Earl Grey Tea from TWG Tea and I absolutely love it. I know I’m biased but I personally have a liking for TWG Teas because TWG Teas are really fragrant and they are simply one of the finest teas around. Truly, TWG Teas are perfect gifts for tea-lovers like me.

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

After having our fill, we were all ready and roaring to cook up a storm.

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

The first dish that we were taught to prepare was the Mango Mousse Parfait.

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

Here’s Chef Wendy showing us how she decorated her glass of Mango Mousse Parfait.

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

A closed-up view of Chef Wendy’s Mango Mousse Parfait.

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

Here’s a photo of me bringing our mango puree to the LG Microwave Oven [Model: MJ3281BC] for some heating-up.

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

Here’s our Mango Mousse Parfaits being stored in the LG Door-in-Door Refrigerator [Model: GR-J237AGXV] to set and chill.

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

And there you go, our very own Mango Mousse Parfaits after taking them out from the LG Door-in-Door Refrigerator [Model: GR-J237AGXV]!

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

The second dish that we were taught to prepare was the Bibim Naengmyeon. The Bibim Naengmyeon is essentially Korean Spicy Cold Noodles and here are the ingredients that we used to prepare the dish; some lettuce leaves, cabbage, cucumber, carrot, hard boiled egg, and kimchi.

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

And these were the ingredients for the Korean Spicy Cold Noodles Sauce; gochujang, rice vinegar, soy sauce, honey, brown sugar, Korean sesame oil, and roasted sesame seeds.

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

So here’s Chef Wendy teaching us how to prepare the Bibim Naengmyeon.

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

Apparently, we had to cut the vegetables into thin strips and it was really hard work.

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

So after putting in all the ingredients that were given to us, here’s how the Bibim Naengmyeon looks like. The bowl on the left belongs to Jacqueline while the bowl on the right belongs to me.

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

After putting our bowls of Bibim Naengmyeon in the LG Door-in-Door Refrigerator [Model: GR-J237AGXV] to chill, we took it out and added some finishing touches.

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

This is how a bowl of Bibim Naengmyeon is supposed to be served. Icy-cold.

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

Enjoying the bowl of Bibim Naengmyeon that I prepared.

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

Well, apart from learning how to prepare these two dishes where we had the opportunity to use the LG Door-in-Door Refrigerator [Model: GR-J237AGXV] and the LG Microwave Oven [Model: MJ3281BC], we were also introduced to some other LG Home Appliances like the LG Front-Load Washing Machine [Model: WD-1279RDS7], the LG Top-Load Washing Machine [Model: WFT1261DD], and the LG Clarus 1 Dishwasher [Model: D1454TF].

For the remainder of this blog entry, we will be giving you more details about the LG Home Appliances that we were introduced to and for simplicity sake, we will only be sharing information about the various LG Home Appliances that are specific to the model numbers that we have listed.

LG Front-Load Washing Machine [Model: WD-1279RDS7]

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

We kinda like the LG Front-Load Washing Machine that was on display at the LG Home Appliances Media Workshop. Power packed with a number of features and top of the line technology, this LG Front-Load Washing Machine is equipped with features such as the 6 Motion Inverter Direct Drive which results in one of the best washing performances and high energy efficiency that caters to varying characteristics of various fabrics.

The six motions used in the LG Front-Load Washing Machine are Scrubbing, Filtration, Rolling, Tumbling, Swing, and Stepping.

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

The six motions used in the LG Front-Load Washing Machine have been designed to dissolve detergent faster and to also minimise wrinkles and tangles while ensuring an even wash. This thus translates to an estimated 45% savings in electricity and 18% savings in water per washing cycle.

The best thing that we like about the LG Front Load Washing Machine is the TrueSteam feature which kills residing allergens and mites in the laundry with 100 Degrees Celsius steam. Not only does steam washing eliminates allergens, it also provides better penetration into the fabrics for thorough removal of dirt and stubborn stains.

The steam refresh cycle can also come in particularly handy especially for busy people because it provides wrinkle and odour removal on laundry that needs to be used in a jiffy. What’s really cool is that there’s no need for any ironing especially if you’re really rushing for time.

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

The LG Front Load Washing Machine is retailing for $3,199 and is available at Audio House, Best Denki, Harvey Norman, Courts, and Gain City.

LG Top-Load Washing Machine [Model: WFT1261DD]

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

The LG Top-Load Washing Machine comes with the 6 Motion Inverter Direct Drive but for top loading washing machines, the 6 motions are waveforce, compressing, swing, rotating, rubbing, and agitating. The only major difference between the LG Front-Loading Washing Machine and the LG Top-Loading Washing Machine is that the LG Top-Loading Washing Machine does not come with the TrueSteam feature and is not as water-saving as the LG Front-Load Washing Machine.

With that being said, the LG Top-Loading Washing Machine is tagged with a reasonable price of $1,199 and is available at Audio House, Best Denki, Harvey Norman, Courts, and Gain City. Well, if we compare between the LG Top-Loading Washing Machine and the LG Front-Loading Washing Machine, we personally feel that the LG Front-Loading Washing Machine is way better in value than the LG Top-Loading Washing Machine because it comes packed with a dryer and tons of other features that the LG Top-Loading Washing Machine may not have.

LG Clarus 1 Dishwasher [Model: D1454TF]

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

We’re not sure if having a Dishwasher at home is a good idea because it can take up quite a fair bit of space in the kitchen but if you live in a big house, having a Dishwasher can be really ideal especially if you have a large number of guests coming to dine at your place.

With a water rating of 9 litres, the LG Clarus 1 Dishwasher has one of the lowest water rating among the different Dishwashers that are available in the market and without a surety of doubt, washing dishes with a Dishwasher is definitely way cleaner and more efficient than manual hand-washing. Similarly as the LG Front-Loaded Washing Machine, the LG Calrus 1 Dishwasher comes with the TrueSteam feature that effectively remove tough stains.

In addition, the SmartRack System for the LG Clarus 1 Dishwasher offers users the convenience of stacking plates and pots without much difficulties. Hence, by washing more stuffs with just 1 single washing cycle, you can save electricity and water too!

The retail price for the LG Clarus 1 Diwshwasher is $1,799 and it is available at Harvey Norman.

LG Door-in-Door Refrigerator [Model: GR-J237AGXV]

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

The LG Door-in-Door Refrigerator is probably one of the most stylish refrigerators that we have ever come across and it fits elegantly in designer kitchens. One of the LG Door-in-Door Refrigerator is  the Door-in-Door feature that provides convenient access to the home bar within the refrigerator. So, instead of opening the main refrigerator door that allows cold air to escape, the door-in-door feature minimises the escape of  cold air by up to 50%. This hence reduces energy consumption.

As the Door-in-Door feature is twice the height of a conventional home bar, it offers a much bigger space that allows users to customise and reconfigure the shelves to easily fit large sized pots.

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

Personally, one feature that we love about the LG Door-in-Door Refrigerator is the Hygiene Fresh feature that keeps the refrigerator clean, hygienic and fresh. Its 4-Step filtering system removes dust, fungi spore, bacteria, and it eliminates 99.999% of 4 major types of bacteria in just 15 minutes.

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

Natural ingredients such as ginseng extract are used to coat the LG Hygiene Fresh and with the automated air purification system, it sucks and purifies the soiled air effectively, hence keeping the refrigerator pleasant smelling. Therefore, storing durians or strong-smelling items like medicinal herbs isn’t going to be an issue with the LG Door-in-Door Refrigerator.

The LG Door-in-Door Refrigerator is retailing for $4,999 and it is available at Audio House, Best Denki, Harvey Norman, Courts, and Gain City.

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

LG Microwave Oven [Model: MJ3281BC]

From LG Home Appliances Workshop 2013

The LG Microwave Oven comes with the latest lightwave technology and its Charcoal Lighting Heater allows cooked food to retain its natural flavours and goodness. With its fuss-free and multi-level cooking capabilities, the LG Microwave Oven is definitely handy for cooking and heating up convenience food!

The LG Microwave Oven is retailing for $599 and it is available at Audio House, Best Denki, Harvey Norman, Courts, and Gain City.

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Having introduced you to the various LG Home Appliances, we hope that this blog entry would offer you more alternatives when you shop for your home appliances. In fact, we really like some of the LG Home Appliances and we are actually considering to purchase them when our flat is ready. Having said this, we hope that this blog entry has been informative for you and should you need further information about LG‘s Products, do check out their website here: http://www.lg.com/sg

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In Food 8 Mins Read

Post-Event Blog Entry About Savour 2013 [Part 2 of 2]

After days of being so busy, we’re finally sharing with you Part 2 of Savour 2013.
For Part 1 of our Savour 2013 blog entry, you can read it here: https://awinsomelife.org/2013/04/15/post-event-blog-entry-about-savour-2013-part-1-of-2/

——————–

Having checked out what Savour Baking has to offer, we went to check out Savour Lifestyle. Now, this is the place where we were so tempted to get this soda-making machine that Sodastream was selling.

From Savour 2013

This soda-making machine works the same way as those used in the food and beverage restaurants and the soda that it produces is as good as the carbonated soft drinks that you buy from the provision stores. One really good thing about this soda-making machine is that it allows you to make your own flavoured soft-drinks. What’s more, it is really cheap and serving your own flavoured soft-drinks to guests visiting your house on a hot sunny afternoon would definitely leave an extremely positive impression!

From Savour 2013

To make your own flavoured soft drink, all you have to do is to manually pump carbon dioxide gas into the plain water and thereafter, add any concentrated syrup of your preference. After adding the concentrated syrup, mix the mixture well and there you go, you have created your very own carbonated soft drink that is ready to be consumed. It’s really easy!

From Savour 2013

There were two kinds of soda-making machines that Sodastream was selling and the only difference between the two is this; one does the carbonation of the drink automatically while the other requires manual handwork to carbonate the drink. So which is better? Obviously the one that requires manual handwork is better because you can control how fizzy you want your drink to be.

At Savour Lifestyle, we got to know about this local company, L’Earth Private Limited, that manufactures cutlery, plates, and storage containers that would come in handy for occasions such as house-warming party, BBQ party, and picnics. Now what’s really so special about their plastic wares are that they are totally environmentally-friendly. Their plastic wares are bio-degradable and are microwavable as well. The best part is, they can be washed again and reused all over again, thus saving money and saving the environment.

From Savour 2013

Usually, people would associate biodegradable plastic wares as being dull in colour and having a weird smell but check this out, it can be rather trendy as well.

From Savour 2013

The last booth that we checked out before heading for our respective workshops was Nespresso.

From Savour 2013

Nespresso needs no further introduction because previously, we have blogged about it here: https://awinsomelife.org/2013/03/28/nespresso-atelier-class-savour-2013-preview/

Again, we were tempted to get the Nespresso Pixie Coffee Machine because there was a $50 voucher that we could have utilised but we decided that we should ONLY get all these lifestyle gadgets once our new house is ready.

From Savour 2013

And off we went for our respective workshops.

Jacqueline went for the Garden Themed Cupcakes Workshop that was conducted by Cake Over Heels while I went for the Sparkling Wine of Italy Wine-Tasting Session that was conducted by the Italian Wine Club.

At Savour Wine, it was truly a haven for wine enthusiasts. There were all sorts of wines from many wine-producing countries and for just $12, you can savour 43 different types of wines from different winemakers! Now that’s really something to scream about.

From Savour 2013

Here I was at the Wine Theatre listening in to the the different kinds of Italian sparkling wines and we had the opportunity to taste a Prosecco, a Lambrusco, and an Asti Spumante.

From Savour 2013
From Savour 2013

Since the Wine Tasting Session ended rather early, I sneaked over to Savour Baking and spied on what Jacqueline was up to and here she was designing her very own Ladybird Cupcake after learning from the Chef at Cake Over Heels.

From Savour 2013

The Chef from Cake Over Heels taught the class how to design their own Garden Themed Cupcakes using fondant sugar and it is really amazing what you can do using fondant sugar. Usually, customised design cakes are either designed using fondant sugar or sugar icing.

From Savour 2013

Some of the tools that Jacqueline used to do her Ladybird Cupcake.

From Savour 2013

And ta-dah, this is Jacqueline’s Ladybird Cupcake which was really so pretty.

From Savour 2013

Since we had a considerable amount of time before the evening classes, we went to the Gourmet Village to see what we could have for dinner.

Here are the pop-up restaurants by some of the famous Chefs:

Chef Sam Leong from Forest Restaurant in Resorts World Sentosa

From Savour 2013

Chef Lorenz Hoja from L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon Restaurant in Resorts World Sentosa

From Savour 2013

We saw this really exquisite Ferrari Sports Car and we couldn’t resist taking pictures of it and with it.

From Savour 2013
From Savour 2013

Alas, this was what we decided to have at the Gourmet Village:

Abalone served with Glutinous Rice from Chef Sam Leong’s Pop-up Restaurant……

From Savour 2013

……and a Chocolate Mousse Dessert from Chef Lorenz Hoja’s Pop-up Restaurant.

From Savour 2013
From Savour 2013

Since the serving portion of food at the Gourmet Village was pricey and small, we decided to head back to Jason’s to have our fill.

And so for dinner we had……

……Japanese Sushi……

From Savour 2013

……Japanese Salmon Sashimi……

From Savour 2013

……and Fine de Claire Oysters from France!

From Savour 2013

The dinner we had was oh-so-satisfying because the food were ultra-fresh! Even as I am typing this blog entry, I am reminded of the yummy Fine de Claire Oysters that I had and I just can’t wait to indulge in them the next time I go to France.

After our really awesome dinner, we went for our second last workshop and it was conducted by the same Chef from Cake Over Heels that conducted the Garden Themed Cupcakes Workshop.

From Savour 2013

This time round, we learnt how to make a “Chanel Handbag” Cupcake and it was really a tedious affair. There were many steps involved and you got to be really patient and meticulous to every intricate details.

From covering the base of the cupcake with black fondant……

From Savour 2013

……to adding a second layer of pink fondant that has been decorated……

From Savour 2013

……to creating the Chanel Handbag……

From Savour 2013

……to painstakingly adding some colour to it……

From Savour 2013

……and finally this!

From Savour 2013

Though it seems quite simple to do, it really wasn’t that easy because you will need to practise this craft over and over again in order to master it. Guess I will have to find a day to just stay at home and work on mastering my culinary and baking skills.

The last highlight for the evening was the Masterchef Class that we attended at the Gourmet Auditorium.

From Savour 2013

Chef Margot Janse collaborated with Chef Claude Bosi to conduct the cooking demonstration and it was really inspiring.

From Savour 2013

Chef Margot Janse and Chef Claude Bosi really worked well together and you could tell from the light-hearted moments that they shared.

From Savour 2013

Chef Claude Bosi adding the finishing touches to the dish.

From Savour 2013

I was quite eager to sample their creation.

From Savour 2013

A Photo with Chef Margot Janse

From Savour 2013

By the way, Chef Margot Janse is an incredibly talented woman and she is the Executive Chef of the award winning, Relais and Châteaux Le Quartier Français Hotel in Franschhoek, South Africa. In case you don’t know, the hotel restaurant is considered one of South Africa’s best and is ranked #57 of the World’s 100 Best Restaurants!

A Photo with Chef Claudi Bosi

From Savour 2013

Chef Claudi Bosi is a French Chef and he has years of culinary experience in Michelin-starred Restaurants in France. He later opened his own restaurant known as Hibiscus in London which currently holds two Michelin Stars! Chef Claudi Bosi’s Hibiscus Restaurant is ranked #94 of the World’s 100 Best Restaurants!

Honestly, we had a really fabulous time at Savour 2013. Considering the number of classes and workshops that we attended, Savour 2013 was really worth the money because we have learnt quite a number of skills that would take our culinary and baking skills to the next level. Truly, we love Savour 2013 and we can’t wait for Savour 2014. Till then, here’s us signing off~!

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17th World Gourmet Summit 2013 Opening Reception at S.E.A. Aquarium @ Resorts World Sentosa Singapore

Here’s My Video Introduction to this Blog Entry on the 17th World Gourmet Summit 2013 Opening Reception that was held at the S.E.A Aquarium at the Resorts World Sentosa Singapore.

First and foremost, I would like to thank Rebecca for this really wonderful opportunity to cover the 17th World Gourmet Summit as her Co-Writer.

From World Gourmet Summit 2013

Although I have heard of the World Gourmet Summit before, I have never in my life attended the event and this opportunity to cover the event has given me tons of insights about what the World Gourmet Summit is really about.

This year, the opening reception for the 17th World Gourmet Summit was held at the S.E.A Aquarium at Resorts World Sentosa Singapore and it was truly a remarkable experience as all the guests were treated to an array of delightful treats and beverages that were prepared by the various chefs and food & beverage partners.

From World Gourmet Summit 2013

The event started with a cocktail reception where guests enjoyed the tantalising canapés that were prepared.

As the canapés that were served didn’t have any labels or tags attached, I don’t really have the proper names, so kindly pardon me for that.

The canapés served during the cocktail reception are as follows:

Cheese served with Watermelon

From World Gourmet Summit 2013

Mini Pie with Ham and Tomato

From World Gourmet Summit 2013

Scallop served with Dragonfruit [my personal favourite]

From World Gourmet Summit 2013

The range of alcoholic beverages that were served during the cocktail reception.

From World Gourmet Summit 2013

Guests were free to mingle around with the Chefs during the cocktail reception and the atmosphere was one that was full of prestige.

From World Gourmet Summit 2013

After the cocktail reception, guests were ushered to the seating gallery and the emcee for the evening was the Flying Dutchman [a.k.a Mark Van Cuylenberg]. Mr Peter Knipp, a well-known figure in the Asian food & beverage and hospitality industry kicked off the event with his opening address. In commenting about the changing food & beverage industry, Mr Peter Knipp said that it is imperative that both the operators and consumers are careful about preserving their culinary culture and he added that he wants to share with them how to keep those traditions alive and relevant in this fast food society that we live in.

From World Gourmet Summit 2013

Julia Bertram whom is the 64th German Wine Queen also addressed the guests with a short speech. What was really interesting to note about Julia Bertram is her extensive knowledge of wine-making despite her young age! Many people would probably not be able to guess her age but she was only 22 years old when she was crowned the 64th German Wine Queen last year in September!

From World Gourmet Summit 2013

As I was part of the media, I had the rarest of opportunities to attend an exclusive press preview with the Michelin-Starred Masterchefs & Artisans. Was I nervous? Yes! In fact, before the press preview commenced, I could feel the immense pressure building up as I didn’t quite know what I should ask these top-notch chefs & artisans!

Time was extremely limited during the press preview. All the chefs and artisans were seated at different tables and the media had only 3 minutes maximum to interview all of them. Time was certainly insufficient because alas, I only managed to sit in for three interviews.

From World Gourmet Summit 2013

The first interview that I sat in was with Chef Matt Moran and Chef Dallas Cuddy.

From World Gourmet Summit 2013

About Chef Matt Moran:

From World Gourmet Summit 2013

Chef Matt Moran is a celebrated Australian chef, restaurateur, and co-owner of a number of successful restaurants in Australia. Chef Matt Moran is also a member of the International Culinary Panel for Singapore Airlines and has also appeared on a number of TV shows such as Masterchef, Junior Masterchef, and My Restaurant Rules, all of which has elevated his culinary skills to a global stage.

About Chef Dallas Cuddy:

From World Gourmet Summit 2013

Chef Dallas Cuddy is currently the Head Chef of The Prime Society in Singapore. Prior to his current position, Chef Dallas Cuddy had an extensive culinary experience in both Australia and also London. While he was the Head Chef at Verge [a restaurant that he owned in Melbourne that served Japanese, Modern Australian food], Chef Dallas Cuddy won the Two Chefs Hats awarded by The Age Good Food Guide and the Top 100 Best Restaurants in Australia from 2007-2012 awarded by the Gourmet Traveller Australia.

At the time of writing this blog entry, Chef Matt Moran and Chef Dallas Cuddy are up and about creating a special degustation menu which will be paired with the exquisite wines from Beringer at The Prime Society.

The second interview that I sat in was with Chef William Ledeuil, Chef Susur Lee, Chef Ken Ling, and Chef Martin Foo.

From World Gourmet Summit 2013

About Chef William Ledeuil:
Chef William Ledeuil won the Le Fooding Prize of Honor in 2009 and was pronounced Chef of the Year by the Gault Millau Guide in 2010. He is greatly influenced by Asian flavours and he personally believes that a cook should let imagination and sensitivity run free while respecting the classic base of a recipe.

About Chef Susur Lee:
Chef Susur Lee is an internationally-acclaimed Chef from Canada and is regarded by food critics and gourmands around the world as a culinary genius. In January 2010, Chef Susur Lee teamed up with the Tung Lok Group to open Chinosis by Susur Lee in Resorts World’s Hotel Michael.

About Chef Ken Ling:
Chef Ken Ling oversees the kitchens of the swanky Chinosis by Susur Lee at Resorts World’s Hotel Michael and the artistic My Humble House at The Esplanade. With an impressive 29 years of culinary experience, Chef Ken Ling has had the honour of cooking for some of the greatest world leaders such as Singapore Prime Minister, Mr Lee Hsien Loong, Former US President, George W. Bush, and celebrities such as Jackie Chan, Stephen Chow, and Gong Li.

About Chef Martin Foo:
Chef Martin Foo has more than 21 years of culinary experience and he is the Executive Chef of Tóng Lé Private Dining. Prior to joining the TungLok Group, Chef Martin Foo was the Assistant Head Chef at Lei Garden.

During the interview, I could tell that Chef Susur Lee is really into social media. In fact, he shared with us why he felt that Bloggers play an important role in the food & beverage industry and even extended invitations to Bloggers Melissa and Esther, for the Citibank Gastronomic Jam Sessions where he will be showcasing his culinary expertise together with Chef William Ledeuil.

What I Found Out During the Interview:

1. Chef Susur Lee and Chef William Ledeuil will be showcasing their culinary skills and expertise at the Citibank Gastronomic Jam Sessions on 20th April 2013 at the Alkaff Mansion from 4:45pm to 5:30pm. The price for the Citibank Gastronomic Jam Sessions is $70+ for a 1 day session and it is inclusive of a lunch degustation that is provided by Alkaff Mansion. If you’re a Citibank cardholder, you can get a 10% discount off.

2. Chef Martin Foo and his talented culinary team from Tóng Lé Private Dining will be preparing a dinner menu to match the well-loved Louis Roederer Champagne tomorrow, 18 April 2013, from 8pm to 11pm at Tóng Lé Private Dining, TungLok Group. The price is $388+ for one person.

The last interview that I managed to sit in was with Brian Lynn [a wine maker from Majella Wines] and Robert Rees [consultant from Wine Exchange Asia].

From World Gourmet Summit 2013

What I Found Out During the Interview:

1. Brian Lynn and Robert Rees will be guiding wine enthusiasts through the various distinct qualities which Merlot, Shiraz, and Cabernet bring to the blended Bordeaux-style of wines. In addition, they will be sharing various tips on managing the individual wine proportions in order to bring out the best aspects of a customised bottle of Bordeaux. Apart from this illuminating wine experience, guests will also be treated to a special tapas-styled communal dining prepared by the master of Gastrobotany, Spanish Masterchef Rodrigo de la Calle, along with Celebrity Chefs Scott Webster and Douglas Tay of Osia. This event will be happening tomorrow from 8pm to 11pm at Osia, Resorts World Sentosa Singapore and will cost $188+ per person. If you’re a Citibank cardholder, you are entitled to a 10% discount.

Unfortunately, due to limited time, the press preview ended rather early and the media were ushered to the seating gallery. After the various tokens of appreciation and awards were given out, all the guests were invited to the S.E.A Aquarium where the real excitement begins.

From World Gourmet Summit 2013

I was so mesmerised by the tranquil beauty of the fishes and again, it was my first time at the S.E.A Aquarium.

From World Gourmet Summit 2013

There was this small corner where guests could feel and touch the starfish. If you’re wondering how starfish feels like, it is quite rough-feeling on the surface.

From World Gourmet Summit 2013

This should be a squid though I can’t confirm as I was too busy snapping photographs without looking at the explanations.

From World Gourmet Summit 2013

The jellyfishes are really beautiful but they can be rather deadly as well. I once had the experience of being stung by a jellyfish in Bintan and it was certainly an unpleasant experience.

From World Gourmet Summit 2013
From World Gourmet Summit 2013

Huge giant crab.

From World Gourmet Summit 2013

The fishes are really so colourful! It is like a myriad of colours just drifting around in the water.

From World Gourmet Summit 2013
From World Gourmet Summit 2013

Yes, this is what I am talking about. An exclusive dining ambient setting of the S.E.A Aquarium.

From World Gourmet Summit 2013

Here are some of the delightful treats that I had for the evening. Again, I didn’t manage to check out the food tags but they were absolutely delicious.

From World Gourmet Summit 2013
From World Gourmet Summit 2013
From World Gourmet Summit 2013
From World Gourmet Summit 2013

Crispy Duck Skin with Glutinous Rice

From World Gourmet Summit 2013

Beef Slice

From World Gourmet Summit 2013

Codfish

From World Gourmet Summit 2013

Some Japanese Fish

From World Gourmet Summit 2013

This has got to be the most interesting dish that I had for the night, mini soft shell crabs.

From World Gourmet Summit 2013
From World Gourmet Summit 2013
From World Gourmet Summit 2013

And yes, the alcoholic beverages were free-flow. Champagne, white wine, red wine, whiskey, vodka, you name it, they have it, they serve it! Since I drove to the event, I decided that Movenpick’s Ice-Cream was going to be the best way to end my evening on a rather sweet note.

From World Gourmet Summit 2013

Well this very much concluded the 17th World Gourmet Summit Opening Reception. However, if you’re interested in attending any of the World Gourmet Summit Culinary Events, do check out the World Gourmet Summit’s Website for more details here: http://www.worldgourmetsummit.com/wgs2013/files/general/20130328_eventbooklet.pdf

Apart from the main World Gourmet Summit Culinary Events, Partner Restaurants of the World Gourmet Summit are also featuring activities that will elevate your dining experience into an unforgettable and enriching affair. Check out the range of activities that Partner Restaurants of the World Gourmet Summit are having here: http://www.worldgourmetsummit.com/wgs2013/main.php/event/featureactivity

If you’re an ultimate foodie, don’t miss this chance to catch your favourite chefs at the World Gourmet Summit 2013. Seats for most events are either Sold-Out or are Selling-Fast, so whip out that Citibank Credit Card of yours and start pampering yourself with nothing but the finest food cooked by the world’s finest chefs!

The World Gourmet Summit will be taking place in Singapore from 16 April 2013 to 26 April 2013. Once again, I want to thank Rebecca whom Blogs at www.rebeccasaw.com for this really wonderful opportunity to co-write with her about the 17th World Gourmet Summit 2013.

Bon Appétit!

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Post-Event Blog Entry About Savour 2013 [Part 1 of 2]

WARNING:This blog entry is going to be a rather lengthy one and because we took over 400+ photos, you can expect to see tons and tons of photographs in just this blog entry alone. Anyhows, the way this blog entry is going to be written will be according to the chronological sequence of events that took place.

———-

It was our first time attending Savour 2013 and we absolutely loved the experience!

From Savour 2013

Despite the extremely hot weather and the minor hiccups, Savour 2013 was truly an event that should be on every foodie’s MUST-GO list.

From Savour 2013

We arrived at around 2pm in the afternoon and because we decided that we were going to be there the whole day, parking was an issue because we all know how expensive the carpark rates in town can be. Thanks to sgcarmart, we managed to find the carpark with the lowest rates and parked our car at the Ritz Carlton Hotel Singapore. We certainly hope that Ritz Carlton Hotel will not increase their carpark rates if they come across this blog entry but we shall just cross our fingers anyway.

As we bought the Savour Premier Pass for the Evening Session, we could only access the Gourmet Village in the evening; but though that was the case, we had full access to the Gourmet Market where there were tons of classes and workshops that were taking place.

From Savour 2013

Anyway, our Savour Premier Pass came with 30 Savour Dollars which we could use to purchase anything that we fancy at the Gourmet Market or Gourmet Village and because we used our Standard Chartered Bank Credit Card, we were entitled to 10% more Savour Dollars which makes it all the more worthwhile.

From Savour 2013

The Gourmet Market is sub-divided into different sections; namely, Jason’s [the supermarket], Savour Gourmet, Savour Lifestyle, Savour Wine, and Savour Baking.

To start off our Savour 2013 experience, we headed straight for Jason’s because we found the heat too unbearable that all we really wanted to do at that point of time was to just find a nice and cool place to chill-out. With that being said, Jason’s is indeed an extremely cool place because this is where we found the freshest produce of meats, vegetables, fruits, cheese, and many other assorted food products!

Just how fresh were the food products sold at Jason’s? Take a look at the pictures and you might just find yourself drooling over them!

Fresh Oysters from France

From Savour 2013

Fresh Seafood [Lobsters, Prawns, and Crabs]

From Savour 2013

Hams

From Savour 2013

Sausages

From Savour 2013

Lamb Meat

From Savour 2013

If you like a lamb meat to be cooked on the spot for you, yes, that sort of service was available at Jason’s!

From Savour 2013

You can also make your own salad……

From Savour 2013

……or have a freshly made sandwich.

From Savour 2013

Colourful fruits of all kinds were available as well.

From Savour 2013

We got the opportunity to sample some really fresh tomatoes.

From Savour 2013

For something even more premium, Jason’s also has caviar too……

From Savour 2013

…… and they don’t come cheap.

From Savour 2013

Cheese-lovers weren’t disappointed when they saw the variety of cheese that were sold at Jason’s.

From Savour 2013

Besides fresh produce, we spotted some really exotic dry goods like Jamie Oliver‘s Sauces and other food products like……

From Savour 2013

Condiments……

From Savour 2013

……Yummy Oat Slices……

From Savour 2013

……Nougats from France……

From Savour 2013

……and Japanese snacks.

From Savour 2013

For a little bit of booze, Jason’s had a large collection of wine selections and one can really be spoilt for choices.

From Savour 2013

Besides buying and eating, Jason’s also had a Gourmet Kitchen where classes and workshops were being held. It was a pity we arrived a little too late because when we were there, there was actually a class that was conducted by Bake King and it was about baking the Roti Boy Bun.

From Savour 2013

Having explored the entire Jason’s, we went to check out the Savour Baking section of the Gourmet Market and there, we found lots of yummy sweets and snacks that we really want to share with all of you.

The yummy pies from Windowsill Pies!

From Savour 2013

A closer look at one of the yummy pies that Windowsill Pies was selling at Savour 2013. By the way, the pies cost $8 for 1 slice and though it wasn’t really that cheap, it was worth trying because they were fantastic. If you’re a pie-lover and you missed out on Savour 2013, you can still head down to Windowsill Pie‘s Retail Store that is located at 78 Horne Road, Singapore 209078. They are closed on Mondays but are open from Tuesdays to Saturdays. For more information about Windowsill Pies, do check out their website: http://www.windowsillpies.sg/

From Savour 2013

Next up, we want to bring your attention to Hana Indulgence because we absolutely love their sweet treats that are specially imported from the Middle East!

From Savour 2013

There are really tons of specially imported sweet treats such as chocolates and Hana Indulgence makes their own chocolates which we found to be rather delightful.

From Savour 2013

Some of their other products include nougats……

From Savour 2013

……and sweets like these.

From Savour 2013

In fact, we bought a couple of sweets from them at Savour 2013 and at the time of blogging this entry, we have already finished all of them. If you want to try some authentic middle-eastern desserts and sweets, Hana Indulgence is really the place to go. They have a retail shop at Tanjong Katong Complex, #03-10 and we will definitely head back there to get some more yummy treats!

From Savour 2013

As we also missed the pie-making class, we waited for the chocolate appreciation workshop that was conducted by Hana Indulgence.

From Savour 2013

These were the various chocolates from Hana Indulgence that we sampled and tasted. To start with, Rohana taught us that good quality chocolates don’t melt when it is held between the index finger and the thumb. Rohana also highlighted that chocolate appreciation is similar to that of coffee appreciation because it involves the 5 senses of touch, taste, smell, sight, and hearing.

From Savour 2013

This is Rohana, Managing Director of Hana Indulgence, whom conducted the chocolate appreciation workshop.

From Savour 2013

Of all the chocolates that we have sampled, we would like to make one special mention of this particular chocolate that is wrapped with a red wrapper.

From Savour 2013

This chocolate that is wrapped with a red wrapper is a white chocolate that contains rose buds and some flower petals. It is really unique and when we took a bite of it, it really soothes the mind and calms the soul. It is really hard to believe that such an ordinary-looking chocolate could give such an effect so you got to really try one for yourself to understand what we’re talking about.

From Savour 2013

After the chocolate appreciation workshop, we went to check out the stuffs that the stores were selling and to be honest, we were so tempted to buy some new baking equipment.

From Savour 2013

Another store that we found pretty interesting is Cake Over Heels.

From Savour 2013

Cake Over Heels is a boutique cake shop that sells customised designer cakes and they do offer classes for cake decoration as well.

From Savour 2013

You might be surprised to know that both the heel and the bag can be eaten.

From Savour 2013

We were also taught how to make cupcakes like these but we will be providing more details in the sequel to this blog entry.

From Savour 2013

If you are looking for a custom-designed cake and/or if you would like to attend cake decorating classes, you might want to give Cake Over Heels a try. For more information about Cake Over Heels, do check out their website: http://www.cakeoverheels.com/

We hope that this blog entry hasn’t been too overwhelming for all of you because there are just so much things to blog about Savour 2013 that it is practically impossible to put everything into one blog entry. Hence, we shall stop here as it is and do look out for the sequel to this blog entry!

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Akai’s Art Launch at SPRMRKT

Last Saturday, we attended an art launch by Akai at SPRMRKT and we were so glad to have met up with some of our old friends whom we haven’t caught up with for a long time. Frankly speaking, it was attending events like these that opened up our eyes to what’s happening in the local arts scene. To begin with, this is Mr. Akai Chew.

From SPR MRKT 2013

Mr. Akai Chew is not just an architect by training but he is also an award-winning photographer. He graduated from Singapore Polytechnic with a Diploma in Architecture and hence, you would notice in the following photographs that most of his personal works largely revolves around the themes of fashion, architecture, and landscape.

From SPR MRKT 2013
From SPR MRKT 2013

During the exhibition, Mr. Akai shared with us that he tries to weave stories into his photographs and that through his photographs, he hopes to spread the message that Man and Nature are deeply and beautifully intertwined.

From SPR MRKT 2013

Some of the event participants checking out Mr. Akai‘s works and interacting with him.

From SPR MRKT 2013
From SPR MRKT 2013
From SPR MRKT 2013

As mentioned, we happened to catch up with some old friends and apparently, this lady by the name of Irene, is Baby’s college friend.

From SPR MRKT 2013

Little did we know that Irene was the photographer behind all these really meaningful photographs because previously, we saw these little cards that were retailing at Shinnpark [a retail store at The Central Mall] and we were just commenting about how great these photographs were taken and a few weeks after; voila, we got to meet the photographer who took those shots and it so happened that she was someone that Baby know!

From SPR MRKT 2013

Here are some of the products that Irene is selling at SPRMRKT.

From SPR MRKT 2013

Well, apart from meeting various artists and catching up with old friends, we had an extremely delightful time dining at SPRMRKT and we’re pretty sure you must be wondering what exactly is SPRMRKT because we had the same question before.

From SPR MRKT 2013

In a nutshell, SPRMRKT is a boutique bistro, retail shop, and an art space, all combined into one. It is a haven for the busy soul yearning for a mixture of bistro eatery and artistic exposure.

From SPR MRKT 2013
From SPR MRKT 2013
From SPR MRKT 2013

Here were some of the finger-foods that were served during the event.

From SPR MRKT 2013

Photographs of yummy desserts that SPRMRKT is selling!

From SPR MRKT 2013
From SPR MRKT 2013

Since we were craving for something sweet, we decided to try their Salted Caramel Brownie and it was damn good!

From SPR MRKT 2013

Please allows us to tempt you with the Salted Caramel Brownie that we had at SPRMRKT!

Salted Caramel Brownie From SPRMRKT

Yummy Salted Caramel Brownie! *Highly Recommended

From SPR MRKT 2013

If you’re an artsy person and you’re looking for a good place to just chill and enjoy artworks while having a fabulous meal, we highly recommend SPRMRKT.

As for us, we will definitely be back to try some of their other food because they serve different kinds of food on different days.

From SPR MRKT 2013

For more information about SPRMRKT, do check out their website here: http://www.sprmrkt.com.sg/

That’s all folks about the Art Launch and next up, we will be revealing the winners of our Ben & Jerry’s Ice-Cream Vouchers Blog Giveaway, so stay tuned!

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Food Tasting at Xiao La Jiao [Sichuan Cuisine] @ 112 Katong Mall

Last Friday, we attended a food tasting session at Xiao La Jiao, a Chinese restaurant that serves Sichuan cuisine @ 112 Katong Mall and because it was our first time trying Sichuan cuisine and knowing how Sichuan dishes can be rather spicy, we were rather apprehensive about it. However, we were so wrong and frankly speaking, we had an enjoyable time dining with the rest of the Bloggers whom were there!

From Xiao La Jiao 2013

Magdalene really entertained us and made us laugh so hard over dinner. Enjoyment level = All Time High.

From Xiao La Jiao 2013

Funny Antics #1

From Xiao La Jiao 2013

Funny Antics #2

From Xiao La Jiao 2013

Funny Antics #3

From Xiao La Jiao 2013

So what is Sichuan cuisine or Sichuan food and what is so special about it?

Sichuan cuisine is a style of Chinese cuisine originating from the Sichuan province in southwestern China and Sichuan dishes are usually bold in flavours due to the pungency and spiciness resulting from the liberal use of garlic, chili peppers, and as well as the unique flavour of the Sichuan pepper.

Is it true that most Sichuan dishes are spicy?

Yes, Sichuan dishes are mostly spicy but a typical meal also includes non-spicy dishes to cool the palate.

Then what’s the big deal about dining at Xiao La Jiao and how is it different from other Chinese restaurants offering Sichuan food?

From Xiao La Jiao 2013

Xiao La Jiao is currently CreativEATeries‘ one and only Chinese restaurant that serves Sichuan cuisine and we personally like it because of its extremely inviting ambience. Not only that, the Sichuan dishes at Xiao La Jiao are extremely authentic. To top it off, the chefs and the waiters are from Sichuan and you can be rest assured that you’re getting the finest Sichuan food that you can ever find in Singapore.

External Facade of Xiao La Jiao

From Xiao La Jiao 2013

Here were the dishes that we had at Xiao La Jiao [arranged in the order of courses]

Appetisers:

Pig’s Ear Slices with Spicy Sauce

From Xiao La Jiao 2013

One word to describe this dish, Chewy! We kinda freaked out when we found out that we were going to eat pig’s ear slices and Magdalene was joking about how our food tasting session had turned into a X-Factor reality show. But jokes aside, if you’re the sort that often eats Kway Chap with pig organs, then eating pig’s ears shouldn’t be that of a problem.

Husband & Wife Beef Offal with Spicy Sauce

From Xiao La Jiao 2013

A rather unique beefy dish for the beef lovers.

Mains:

Camphor & Tea Smoked Duck

From Xiao La Jiao 2013

This is one of our favourite dishes. The smoked duck was really tender, flavourful, and has no weird “ducky” smell. There is a sweet sauce that goes along with the dish but we highly recommend that you eat without it so that you can really taste the authentic flavour of the dish. Also, if you’re an OCBC Cardmember, you get to enjoy 50% off the Camphor & Tea Smoked Duck [whether it is half duck or whole duck] with a minimum spend of $50. This exclusive promotion will only be valid till 30 April 2013.

Pork Strips in Sweet Bean Sauce

From Xiao La Jiao 2013

The pork strips were nicely cut and were well-garnished with strips of onions. Eating the pork strips on its own can be rather sweet and hence, we recommend that you wrap the pork strips with the bean skin and eat it together.

Ge Le Shan ‘La Zi’ Chicken

From Xiao La Jiao 2013

This dish got us perspired rather badly and though we have a high tolerance for spiciness, we totally surrendered to it because we could literally feel our tongues numbed by the spiciness of the Sichuan pepper. In Sichuan, this dish is usually served as a snack that is eaten with beer; just like how in Singapore, we eat peanuts with beer.

Sichuan Fish Slices with Pickled Greens

From Xiao La Jiao 2013

Personally, we felt that this dish has a rather local teochew taste to it and it is a dish that would probably be well-received by the locals. The fish slices tasted fresh and sweet and not only that, it is boneless; thus making the fish a rather pleasant experience to eat.

Sichuan Ma Po Tofu

From Xiao La Jiao 2013
From Xiao La Jiao 2013

This has got to be our most favourite dish of the night. The Ma Po Tofu was authentically done and we really like how it complements the rice. If we were served Sichuan Ma Po Tofu and Rice everyday, we probably won’t be sick of it and would enjoy eating it! We highly recommend you to try this dish if you’re Tofu lover.

Cabbage with Rich Broth

From Xiao La Jiao 2013

The extraordinary thing about this dish is the rich broth that complements the cabbage. It is a rather healthy dish and is suitable for those whom prefers to have something light and refreshing but yet rich and flavourful at the same time.

Xiao Chi [Side Dishes]:

Sichuan Guo Tie

From Xiao La Jiao 2013

This dish would also be one our favourites for the evening because it is firm to the bite and the texture was just right. Eating this dish really reminded us of the Guo Tie that we had in Taipei, Taiwan and having tasted so many Guo Ties in Singapore, this has got to be the best that we have tried so far. We highly recommend you to try this dish if you like pan-fried dumplings.

Sichuan Wontons with Spicy Sauce

From Xiao La Jiao 2013
From Xiao La Jiao 2013

The wontons contain some minced pork and the spicy sauce goes pretty well with the wontons. Though the sauce might be a little spicy, you an drink it on its own and it tasted slightly similar as Sichuan’s Sour and Spicy Soup.

Rainbow Dumplings

From Xiao La Jiao 2013

The Rainbow Dumplings are perhaps the stars of the evening. Each colour of the Rainbow Dumplings are different in taste and flavour, and they are made from pure and natural ingredients. So in other words, no artificial food colourings are used. You can either order an assortment of Rainbow Dumplings or request for a single-colour Rainbow Dumplings.

Soup:

Sichuan Waxed Pork Soup

From Xiao La Jiao 2013

The soup was peppery in taste and it contains some cured pork strips. This dish is suitable for someone whom prefers to have something light and refreshing.

Desserts:

Sichuan Pumpkin Pancake

From Xiao La Jiao 2013

The pancake was chewy, delightful, and authentic. We haven’t try anything like it before and we found it to be rather unique.

Mixed Sugar Guo Kui

From Xiao La Jiao 2013

This was perhaps our favourite dessert for the night. It is sweet, chewy, and has some sort of a local taste to it.

Food

Generally, the quality of the food were superb and the portions were just right. Because there are a variety of spicy and non-spicy dishes that are available, you need not worry about bringing your family and friends whom don’t take spicy food. If you’re the sort of person whom constantly seeks out new flavours, you got to try Xiao La Jiao because their Sichuan food are truly one of the finest and one of the more authentic ones.

Beverage

From Xiao La Jiao 2013

We tried 3 of the beverages and they are honey lemon, barley, and sour plum. All 3 of the beverages are homemade and personally, we liked all 3 and it is really up to your own individual preferences as to what you would like to have.

Price

Considering the average portions of the various Sichuan dishes that we had, we felt that the prices were reasonable and quite value for money. Also, it would be best if you dine in large groups and order their set meals because there would then be more dishes which you could try but yet pay a similar price per person.

Service

Service was average and it might be slightly difficult to get the attention of service staffs especially during peak hours.

Ambience

From Xiao La Jiao 2013
From Xiao La Jiao 2013

The dining ambience is cosy, clean, and welcoming. The interior decoration has an oriental feel and the distance between each tables were adequately spaced. Dining in small groups or large groups isn’t an issue as the tables can be separated or combined. There’s also a see-through glass panel which you can see the chefs at work in the kitchen.

Promotions

From Xiao La Jiao 2013

Currently, the only promotion that Xiao La Jiao has is the one where OCBC Cardmembers can get 50% off the Camphor and Tea Smoked Duck [half duck or whole duck] with a minimum spend of $50. The promotion is valid till 30 April 2013. If you would like to be kept updated of any new promotions from Xiao La Jiao, do click the following link and like their Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/XiaoLaJiao.sg

We will definitely recommend Xiao La Jiao and we will be back to try their other dishes!

From Xiao La Jiao 2013

Last but not the least, we really want to thank CreativEATeries for having us over at Xiao La Jiao for the food tasting session and also to Isaac for taking the time to explain the various Sichuan dishes and hosting us for the evening.

From Xiao La Jiao 2013
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Exciting Ben & Jerry’s News for All You Ben & Jerry’s Fans~!

Last Thursday, we were invited to an exclusive Ice-Cream Party at the Ben & Jerry’s Dempsey Scoop Shop and we totally enjoyed ourselves. The awesome people from Ben & Jerry’s hosted us with so much fuzzy warmth and love that it was a night down memory lane for both Baby and I.

From Ben n Jerry’s 2013

Here are photos of the exclusive Ice-Cream Party that we attended at the Ben & Jerry’s Dempsey Scoop Shop.

From Ben n Jerry’s 2013

If I had to choose between my car and Ben & Jerry’s Vintage Van…

From Ben n Jerry’s 2013

I would probably have went for Ben & Jerry’s Vintage Van.

From Ben n Jerry’s 2013

Check out the Ben & Jerry’s Merchandise that the Ben & Jerry’s Dempsey Scoop Shop is selling.

From Ben n Jerry’s 2013

They even have tee-shirts with fabulous designs too!

From Ben n Jerry’s 2013

Look at those temptinglicious Ben & Jerry’s Ice-Cream Cakes, perfect for birthdays!

From Ben n Jerry’s 2013
From Ben n Jerry’s 2013

The rather extensive menu at Ben & Jerry’s Dempsey Scoop Shop.

From Ben n Jerry’s 2013

Seriously, Ben & Jerry’s Ice-Creams does go well with Waffles~!

From Ben n Jerry’s 2013

During the Ice-Cream Party, there were games being played and in one of the games, participants were blind-folded and they have to guess the flavour of the Ben & Jerry’s Ice-Cream. Definitely not easy but certainly a doable task for a fan of Ben & Jerry’s!

From Ben n Jerry’s 2013

Special appearance by the DJs from Power 98 FM.

From Ben n Jerry’s 2013

Jeronimo performed a few numbers for all of us at Ben & Jerry’s Dempsey Scoop Shop.

From Ben n Jerry’s 2013

A photo with Jeronimo.

From Ben n Jerry’s 2013

I really love this song, “Firefly”, that Jeronimo performed at the Ice-Cream Party.

Say “Hello” to Woody, Ben & Jerry’s Mascot.

From Ben n Jerry’s 2013

When Baby and I started dating more than 2 years ago, our favourite hangout spot was the Ben & Jerry’s Heeren Scoop Shop. Indulging in Ben & Jerry’s Ice-Cream then was a weekly affair. When Heeren underwent a major renovation, our love for Ben & Jerry’s Ice-Cream never once dwindled. In fact, all thanks to the generous promotions that NTUC Fairprice occasionally has, we often buy two pints of Ben & Jerry’s Ice-Cream to indulge at home while watching our favourite dramas or movies.

From Ben n Jerry’s 2013

Our two favourite Ben & Jerry’s Ice-Cream flavours are Chunky Monkey and Triple Caramel Chunk. Of course, there are also other flavours such as the Maple Tree Hugger and the Peanut Butter Cup that we fancy a lot.

Chunky Monkey [Image Courtesy of Cake Group]

Maple Tree Hugger [Image Courtesy of Campus]

Well, we hope we ain’t making you salivate at this point in time but we are really happy to announce that we’re one of Ben & Jerry’s Moolets! Hence, if you’re a Ben & Jerry’s Fan like us, you will definitely be able to find out the latest news and insights that are happening at Ben & Jerry’s on our Blog!

From Ben n Jerry’s 2013

So first up, we will like to announce to all of you that Ben & Jerry’s annual FREE CONE DAY will be taking place in 5 days time on 9 April 2013, Tuesday, from 12pm to 8pm at seven Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shops! The location of the seven Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop are as follows:

1. VivoCity, 1 Harbourfront Walk, #02-135/136, 12pm to 8pm
2. Dempsey Hill, Block 8 Dempsey Road, #01-14, 12pm to 8pm
3. The Cathay, Level 1 Atrium, 2 Handy Road, 12pm to 8pm
4. Rochester Mall, 31 Rochester Drive, #01-01, 12pm to 8pm
5. Ben & Jerry’s @ Zoo Entrance, 80 Mandai Lake Road, 12pm to 6pm
6. Fairprice Finest @ TripleOne Somerset, 111 Somerset Road #01-04, 12pm to 8pm
7. Great World City, 1 Kim Seng Promenade, #02-40A, 12pm to 8pm

From Ben n Jerry’s 2013

This year’s line-up of funky flavours for Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day are Chocolate Therapy, English Toffee Crunch, Maple Tree Hugger, Strawberry Cheesecake and Lemonade Sorbet! If you’re wondering what’s the best flavour to have on Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day, we definitely would recommend Chocolate Therapy and if you just can’t get enough of it, all the major supermarkets in Singapore are currently having a promotion where you can stand a chance to win weekly lucky draw prizes by purchasing 2 pints of Ben & Jerry’s Ice-Cream [at least 1 have to be Chocolate Therapy flavour]. This promotion is ongoing from now till the end of April!

Chocolate Therapy [Image Courtesy of On Second Scoop]

Apart from making your mouths and bellies happy on Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day, we also hope that you will join Ben & Jerry’s in doing some good for the community by raising funds for Project Happy Feet [Ben & Jerry’s fairness partner for Free Cone Day 2013]. Project Happy Feet is a Singapore-based not-for-profit organisation set up to empower the lives of underprivileged youths and children in Singapore and developing countries. It supports education-related initiatives and programmes through fund-raising that can positively impact them or their families.

To further aide Ben & Jerry’s in this cause, the CLEO editorial team will be adopting a Ben & Jerry’s scoop shop at VivoCity. The first 400 Ben & Jerry’s fans in line at the CLEO adopted scoop shop need not worry about the long queues as they will each receive a copy of CLEO’s April issue! To add fudge to your ice cream, CLEO will be throwing in a complimentary three-month digital subscription of CLEO magazine for the first 200 kind fans who donates more than $30 to Project Happy Feet. Now, that’s something to look forward to if you’re heading to Ben & Jerry’s VivoCity Scoop Shop on Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day!

From Ben n Jerry’s 2013

With that being said, we have yet another piece of exciting news for all of you. For our Blog Giveaway this April, we are giving away 5X Ben & Jerry’s Ice-Cream Voucher which you can use to redeem a free scoop of Ben & Jerry’s Ice-Cream ONLY at Ben & Jerry’s VivoCity Scoop Shop. The voucher is valid till 15 October 2013; so you have about 6 months to utilise it if you win! So, to participate in our Blog Giveaway for the month of April, check out the following link: https://awinsomelife.org/current-blog-giveaway/

See you all at the Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day that will be taking place on 9 April, Tuesday!

From Ben n Jerry’s 2013
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Saizeriya @ Hougang 1

A few months ago, Baby and I went to try the Italian Cuisine at Saizeriya @ Hougang 1 and the dining experience was superb. It was our first time dining there and we will definitely be back to try their other dishes. Although you might find our review of their food slightly on the negative side, we really would dine there again to try their other dishes because they might have other dishes that are probably better than what we had. Also, what we really like about Saizeriya is that all their food prices are in nett pricing.

From Saizeriya 2013

Here are the food dishes that we had when we dined there [pictures are all taken with the iPhone4GS Camera]:

Special Mushroom Soup [SGD$2.90]

From Saizeriya 2013

Our Review of the Dish:
To be really honest, we’re not exactly sure why they named the dish as “Special Mushroom Soup” but personally, we didn’t find the soup any special at all. It tasted rather ordinary and the only extraordinary thing about the Special Mushroom Soup was probably the rather generous portion of garnishes.

Spicy Chicken Wings [SGD$3.95]

From Saizeriya 2013

Our Review of the Dish:
The Spicy Chicken Wings were of the right texture but they were also rather oily. Since 4 pieces of chicken wings cost SGD$3.95, each piece would cost approximately SGD$0.98 and it sure is value for money.

Cheese Chicken Sausage [SGD$3.90]

From Saizeriya 2013

Our Review of the Dish:
The portion of the dish is huge and the sausages were quite cheesy. However, the presentation of the dish was barely presentable and looks rather plain. It would be good if they added some pieces of broccoli as garnishes.

Pineapple and Bacon Pizza [SGD$6.40]

From Saizeriya 2013

Our Review of the Dish:
Out of all the dishes that we had for the night, this has got to be our least favourite. Although it looks more appetising than the Cheese Chicken Sausages or the Spicy Chicken Wings, the Pineapple and Bacon Pizza was way too oily [because of the oil from the bacon] for our liking. Even the taste of the Pineapple and Bacon Pizza reeks of bacon oil.

Seafood Spaghetti [SGD$7.90]

From Saizeriya 2013

Our Review of the Dish:
Given the generous portion of seafood, the price for this dish is rather reasonable. With that being said, the sauce for the spaghetti was flavourful but could be better. The texture of the spaghetti was firm to the bite and we like it very much.

Chocolate Lava [SGD$5.90]

From Saizeriya 2013

Our Review of the Dish:
This has got to be our most favourite dish for the night. Because the Chocolate Lava cake was served with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream, we felt that the price was rather reasonable. The Chocolate Lava cake was served at the right temperature and we like seeing how the chocolate oozed out when we sliced the cake.

Dining Ambience:
The dining ambience at Saizeriya was cosy but we felt that the temperature could be a little more cooler. The restaurant is usually packed with people during dinner time and we highly recommend that you make a trip down early.

One other thing that we like about Saizeriya is the free flow of soft drinks that cost only SGD$2.80

In total, we spent SGD$33.75 and it works out to be about SGD$16.88 per person. Saizeriya is definitely value for money and we will definitely head back to try their other food dishes.

From Saizeriya 2013

Service Level:
The service staffs were generally polite and courteous; though getting their attention might require some effort. Other than that, we pretty much enjoyed the dining experience.

If you’re interested in dining at Saizeriya but you don’t reside in Hougang, fret not because they have other outlets at City Square Mall, Toa Payoh Central, Liang Court, and Bukit Timah Plaza. Their daily operating hours are from 11am to 11pm daily and they offer takeaways too.

In our next blog entry, we will be announcing the winners for the most recent Blog Giveaway that we organised.

Stay tuned! 🙂

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In Restaurants 6 Mins Read

Come & Get Your Free Breakfast On McDonald’s National Breakfast Day 2013, 18 March 2013

Trust me, McDonald’s Breakfast is absolutely the best thing that I always look forward to on a Saturday morning! Usually, both Baby and I will order McDonald’s juicy and tender Sausage McMuffin with Egg Burger or their sweet-smelling Hotcakes drizzled with some yummy Maple Syrup. Coupled with the appetising golden brown Hashbrown and a cup of energising Iced-Milo, a McDonald’s Breakfast is definitely the perfect way to kick-start the morning!
Well, so much for making you salivate and making you go hungry but if you haven’t heard, 121 McDonald’s Restaurants in Singapore will be participating in the McDonald’s National Breakfast Day by giving away over 100,000 Egg McMuffins as part of Singapore’s [and also the World’s largest] ever breakfast giveaway on the 18th of March 2013.

[Credits to McDonald’s Singapore for the Image]

From National Breakfast Day 2013

The McDonald’s National Breakfast Day is a regional McDonald’s initiative that will see 5,000 McDonald’s Restaurants in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, giveaway some 5,000,000 Egg McMuffins in all! Each participating McDonald’s Restaurant in Singapore will be giving away 1,000 free Egg McMuffins to customers on a first-come, first-served basis and it will be given out from as early as 5am in the morning till 10am!

[Credits to McDonald’s Singapore for the Image]

From National Breakfast Day 2013

Now, having said so much, here’s what we proposed in order  for you to grab that free Egg McMuffin from McDonald’s [no guarantees though :P].

1. Sleep Early on Sunday Night

Having enough rest is essential for whatever you are going to do the next day. As a rough approximation, an individual should have at least 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep. While you’re sleeping, your body is essentially repairing and healing itself so that you wake up the next day feeling refreshed and recharged.

[Credits to Science Daily for the Image]

2. Wake Up Early on Monday Morning

Make sure you set your alarm clock the night before you sleep so that you can wake up on time, brush your teeth, have an invigorating shower, and head off to the nearest McDonald’s Restaurant near you. Be sure that you buffer some time for travelling as well.

[Credits to Frederic Patenaude for the Image]

3. Be there at McDonald’s as Early as You Can.

Since there’s only 1,000 free Egg McMuffins to be given away on a first-come-first-serve basis, we’re expecting a long queue in the morning so try to be there at McDonald’s as early as you can so that you do not miss out on the free Egg McMuffin Giveaway. Don’t forget to also buffer some time for yourself to travel to school or work as well.

[Credits to Wikimedia for the Image]

4. Complete Your Free Egg McMuffin with a Cup of Ice-Milo and a Piece of Hashbrown

Once you have redeemed your free Egg McMuffin, you might want to purchase a cup of Iced-Milo or Hot Coffee and a piece of savory golden brown Hashbrown to complete your breakfast meal.

[Credits to McDonald’s for the Image]

5. Be On Your Way to School or Work Happy, and Free From the Monday Blues!

Having gotten your McDonald’s Breakfast, it is time to head down to school or work. Now, don’t be late and enjoy your Monday free from the Monday Blues! Smile~!

From Day 2 Taiwan Holiday 2012 [Melvin’s Perspective]

*To explore interesting breakfast facts and also join in the countdown to McDonald’s National Breakfast Day, do check out the official microsite at www.notamorningperson.org

**Good things are meant to be shared, so spread the word and tell your friends and family! For details on the non-participating McDonald’s Restaurants and the Terms & Conditions, continue to read the following details! 🙂

All Participating Outlets will Start from 5am – 10am, Except:

  • McDonald’s Singapore Polytechnic 2 – 6am – 10am
  • 500 Dover Road Teaching Block 16 #01-13 Singapore Polytechnic S (139651)
  • McDonald’s Temasek Polytechnic – 6am – 10am
  • 21 Tampines Avenue 1 30B-01-02 Temasek Polytechnic S(529757)
  • McDonald’s Nanyang Polytechnic – 6am – 10am
  • 180 Ang Mo Kio Ave 8 Blk A (Campus Ctr) level 2 North Wing Nanyang Polytechnic Central North Centre, S(569830)
  • McDonald’s Compass Point – 7am – 10am
  • 1 SengKang Square #B1-17 Compass Point S(545078)
  • McDonald’s City Square Mall – 6am -10am
  • 180 Kitchener Rd #B1-03/05 City Square S (208539)

The Non-Participating McDonald’s Restaurants are:

  • McDonald’s KK Hospital
  • 100 Bukit Timah Road #01-33 KK Women’s & Children’s Hospital S(229899)
  • McDonald’s Changi Airport T2 Transit Lounge
  • 60 Airport Boulevard #036-070 Changi Airport Terminal 2 Departure/Transit Lounge Central S(819643)
  • McDonald’s Lucky Chinatown
  • 211 New Bridge Road #01-10 to #01-14 Lucky Chinatown S(059432)
  • McDonald’s Clementi Ave 3
  • BLK 451 Clementi Ave 3 # 01-309, S(120451)
  • McDonald’s Tampines Interchange Kiosk
  • Blk 512 #01-K1 Tampines Central 1 S(520512)
  • McDonald’s Yew Tee Kiosk (Ground Level)
  • Blk 623, Choa Chu Kang St 62, #01-262 Singapore (680623)

Terms and Conditions of McDonald’s Egg McMuffin Giveaway:

  • Free Egg McMuffin™ Giveaway is available from 5am to 10am on March 18th, 2013 for a limited quantity only, while stock lasts.
  • Only one redemption per coupon per customer is allowed.
  • Redemption is valid at participating McDonald’s® Restaurants in Singapore. Free Egg McMuffin™ Giveaway is not available at the following McDonald’s® Restaurants: KK Hospital, Yew Tee Kiosk, Tampines Interchange Kiosk, Lucky Chinatown, Clementi Avenue 3, and Changi Airport Terminal 2 Transit.
  • This redemption does not apply to the McDelivery® Service and all McDonald’s Drive-Throughs (Drive-Thru) i.e. no redemption at the drive-through, only inside the participating McDonald’s restaurant.
  • Redemption is based on presentation of valid original Free Egg McMuffin™ Giveaway coupon.
  • Coupon will only be handed out at participating McDonald’s® Restaurants on March 18th, 2013 and must be redeemed on the same day.
  • No purchase required.
  • Coupon not exchangeable for cash and/or other McDonald’s® products and not transferable, permitted to be sold or resold.
  • McDonald’s® Restaurants Pte Ltd’s decision on any matter whatsoever in relation to this Free Egg McMuffin™ Giveaway redemption exercise shall be final and binding.
  • McDonald’s® Restaurants Pte Ltd reserves the right and at any time at its sole discretion and without giving any reason or notice, to terminate in whole or in part, or to vary modify or amend the terms and conditions of, this Free Egg McMuffin™ Giveaway redemption exercise in such manner as it thinks fit. Check for details of any changes on McDonald’s® Restaurants Pte. Ltd’s website at www.mcdonalds.com.sg.
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In Food 6 Mins Read

The Ultimate Bugis+ Food Trail With Lots of Sumptuous Food [Part 1 of 2]- Blogbuster Series

Last Saturday, Yours Truly and some other Bloggers from omy Blog Club participated in the Bugis+ Food Trail that was organised by omy Blog Club and we were hosted by 12 different Food & Beverage [F&B] Outlets/Restaurants! We spent 6 hours eating non-stop from point to point and at the end of the day, I was so full that I almost swore that I’m never ever gonna touch any sort of food ever again. In fact, I pretty much stoned for 2 days not eating much but recovered from the “ordeal” on the 3rd day.
Anyways, the 12 F&B Restaurants/Outlets that hosted us are:
1. Taipei Station
2. Laksania
3. Crystal Jade C-Jade HK Café In
4. Rocku Yakiniku Japanese Charcoal Grill
5. Su-ki ya
6. Manhattan Fish Market
7. Seoul Yummy
8. Ramen Champion
9. Ireland’s Potato
10. Marble Slab Creamery
11. Berrylite
12. Aloha Ma Maison

As I took more than 400 photographs during the event itself, I had quite a hard time doing tons of photo editing and because there were so much food that we had, I decided to make photo collages of the different individual restaurant/outlet that we visited.

In this blog entry, I will be sharing about the first 6 restaurants/outlets that we visited and the rest of the other 6 restaurants/outlets will be covered in the next part of our Bugis+ Food Trail Blogbuster Series.

1. Taipei Station

From Bugis+ Food Trail 2013

Honestly, I really miss Taiwan so much that I can’t wait to go back there again in 3 months time. When we were sampling the food from Taipei Station, it really reminded me of the awesome time I had in Taiwan and yes, the quality and authenticity of the food at Taipei Station are rather similar as that which are sold in Taiwan. If you’re a Taiwan foodie like me, be sure to try their Sweet Potato Fries, Oyster Vermicelli, Crispy Chicken, and Honey Oolong Milk Tea with Pearl! Their prices are quite reasonable although in Taiwan, it’s much cheaper. I can’t wait to dine at Taipei Station again for my favourite Taiwanese snacks!

Also, do check out Taipei Station’s Facebook Page and follow them on Twitter!

From Bugis+ Food Trail 2013

2. Laksania

From Bugis+ Food Trail 2013

If you’re a fan of Laksa, Laksania is the place for you because they’re the specialist when it comes to Laksa. They even have Laksa Pasta and Laksa Burgers on their menu too! When we were there, we had 3 different types of Laksa Noodles; the Kelantan Laksa, the Singapore Laksa, and the Sarawak Laksa. Personally, I like their Kelantan Laksa the best because of its distinct flavour. The soup base of the Kelantan Laksa is mainly fish and as a result, many hours are painstakingly spent to debone the fishes by hand to create this dish. And oh, we tried their Chicken Satay as well and I must say, they’re really awesome!

From Bugis+ Food Trail 2013

By the way, Laksania is also a social enterprise that helps people who have been marginalised by their mental or physical disability to gain employment. They employ the marginalised and enable them so that they can earn a living using their own efforts. Hence, Laksania set up a central kitchen in IMH to hire and train IMH clients.

From Bugis+ Food Trail 2013

To find out more about the latest promotion that Laksania is offering, do check out their Facebook Page!

3. Crystal Jade C-Jade HK Café In

From Bugis+ Food Trail 2013

When people hear of Crystal Jade, the first thing that comes to their mind is Dim Sum and it is no surprise because Crystal Jade has always been rather well known for their finest Chinese cuisine and its Dim Sum.

Well, C-Jade HK Café In is unlike the typical Crystal Jade fine-dining Restaurant. The dining atmosphere at C-Jade HK Café In is rather causal and they serve a wide selection of Hong Kong local delicacies, some of which with innovative crossover of East and West flavours.

Check out Yong Wei [one of the fellow Blogger] enjoying the Crispy Macau Pork Chop Bun!

From Bugis+ Food Trail 2013

During the food tasting session, we had the Chilled Hong Kong Milk Tea, Crispy Macau Pork Chop Bun, Deep-Fried Chicken with Fries and Lemongrass, Hong Kong Cart Noodle, Corned Beef and Cheese Toast, and Old Time Hong Kong Biscuit.

4. Rocku Yakiniku Japanese Charcoal Grill

From Bugis+ Food Trail 2013

Rocku Yakiniku Japanese Charcoal Grill is another dining concept by Creative Eateries and it is quite similar as Tajiyama, a Japanese Grill Restaurant also under Creative Eateries.

From Bugis+ Food Trail 2013

Seriously, Rocku Yakiniku Japanese Charcoal Grill is an awesome place for Japanese Grill Meat because the dining atmosphere is very relaxed and casual.

From Bugis+ Food Trail 2013

The meat is flavourful and well-marinated, and it goes pretty well with the Japanese Asahi Beer. With contemporary pop music playing in the background, Rocku Yakiniku Japanese Charcoal Grill is definitely the place to let down your hair and hangout with your friends!

From Bugis+ Food Trail 2013

If you’re looking for the most happening place to dine at, we highly recommend Rocku Yakiniku Japanese Charcoal Grill.

From Bugis+ Food Trail 2013

By the way, if you have already received the NS45 Vouchers, you can use it here. And if you’re an OCBC Cardholder, you can get a 10% off the total bill with a minimum spend.

From Bugis+ Food Trail 2013

For the latest promotion at Rocku, do check out their Facebook Page!

5. Suki-Ya

From Bugis+ Food Trail 2013

If you’re into Shabu Shabu and Sukiyaki, you might want to check out Suki-Ya, a Japanese Hotpot dining concept also by Creative Eateries. While we were there, we sampled 4 different soup bases and out of the 4, I prefer the Kimchi soup base because of its spiciness and flavour. In case you’re wondering, Suki-Ya also has a la carte food items besides their usual buffet. For the price of SGD$27 for Suki-Ya‘s dinner buffet on a weekend, the price is rather reasonable for the high quality of food items that are available.

6. Manhattan Fish Market

From Bugis+ Food Trail 2013

Manhattan Fish Market is no stranger to us as we have been dining there rather frequently. Honestly, we love Manhattan Fish Market very much because the service standard is always consistent and their food quality and portions are pretty satisfying.

From Bugis+ Food Trail 2013

During the food tasting session, we sampled their Fried Country Mushroom, Garlic Herb Mussels, Caesar Salad with Crispy Whitebait, Manhattan Fish ‘N Chips, Manhattan Flaming Seafood Platter, Sizzling Brownie with Ice-Cream, and Citrus Mint Beverage.

From Bugis+ Food Trail 2013

For more information about Manhattan Fish Market and the promotions that they are having, do check out their Facebook Page!

Stay tuned to part 2 of our Bugis+ Food Trail Blogbuster Series!

God Bless!

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