There is a new outlet at UE Square consisting of a children’s kitchen for kids to take part in baking lessons - pro-family! Although one might find the place pretty noisy on a Sunday afternoon because of these kids - so couples looking for a quiet weekend - BEWARE!
It is here I discovered my latest favourite dessert after their signatured Warm Chocolate Cake – I hereby present to you – the delicious Baked Apple Tart ($9.50), consisting of Caramelised Apple Slices baked to golden hue on a light Puff Pastry along with a dollop their very own Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream.
A heavenly combination of sweet and sour, light and creamy, & warm and cold that evokes conflicting emotions in a good way. I foresee this will be a hit among the non-chocolate lovers and those who enjoy the apple crumble.
Enjoy your long weekend!
You can view more photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
Located in an obscure corner of the newly restored National Museum of Singapore – with no signboard or whatsoever on its exterior (signboard faces inwards as I discovered), Chef Chan’s Restaurant, honed by Master Chef Chan Chen Hei – a widely known and respected figure in the Chinese culinary circle, dwells completely at ease in the ‘new’ historical setting – as it is complete with Chef Chan’s personal precious collection of Chinese antiques amassed over the years.
The place is exquisite with only four private dining rooms up for reservations – walk-ins are not entertained.
From utensils to cutleries (besides the glass carrying warm water), everything was matched to give one an authentic Cantonese dining experience to that of a Chinese noble.
With much anticipation, first up was the Melon Strips Enlivened with Orange Juice. While some claimed the melon to be crunchy, I find it rather hard to chew on. However, what turns me off from this dish was the sweet orange aftertaste one gets, and we all felt "Melon Strip Dip in Fanta Orange" would be more apt description.
One thing that irks me in Chinese fine dining is that you are unable to have a 2nd helping unlike those traditional Chinese banquet. This is illustrated when the Prawn Balls Stuffed with Pate and Wine was stacked temptingly on the serving plate but only one was distributed to each of us.
The exterior crust was crispy yet gentle for the throat but the interior was a major letdown – it was just overwhelmed with prawn taste that one cannot discern a hint of the pate or wine in it.
Stir Fried Shark's Fin with Eggs, Bean Sprouts and Spring Onion Served in Lettuce Leaves was probably one of the better dishes that night.
A good harmony among the ingredients – chewy shark’s fin and crunchy bean sprouts and lettuce leaves was a pleasure to chomp on. However, reality check beseech me to realise that one doesn’t need extraordinary culinary skill to execute this – this is one reason why my dad doesn’t order bean sprouts whenever we dine out.
The Sautéed Lobster with Garlic was another highly anticipated dish since it was one of the more “luxurious” items on the menu that night. The intense aroma of the garlic wowed us when it was first brought into our room, but we soon live to regret it as the profuse amount of garlic threatens to engulf the whole dish. It was such a shame since the lobster was very fresh and sweet but the tingling feeling from the garlic seeks to mar it.
The meat of the Steamed Sliced Red Garoupa in Village Style was very fresh with a good bite, but the gravy that accompanied it was outrageously starchy.
This is another example of excessive inclusion of element (starch if you are wondering) that threatens to blemish the already pathetic serving of fish that each of us got that night.
The Sautéed Vegetables with Shredded Mushrooms was greeted with disappointment that night. Drenched in gravy, it was just ordinary – any decent cook should be able to pull this off their kitchen – enough said.
The only showpiece for the night rightfully belongs to this seemingly humble chicken. Probably his best known dish, Chef Chan’s Famous Crispy Roast Chicken was the only dish that kept everyone quiet throughout its partake. Everyone was busy devouring the crispy skin that snap with every bite, coupled with the moist and tender chicken meat that was nothing short of flavour. This dish even though tended towards the saltier side near the end, was the only one that blew me away. A simple dish yet delicately and magnificently executed.
Dessert of the night was a choice between Papaya with White Fungus and Herbal Jelly with Glutinous Rice & Mango. And I opted for the latter, which I swiftly regretted. The dessert didn’t quite gel as one and I ended up eating it three ways, first the mango that was unripe therefore sour, then the glutinous rice which was nothing extraordinary, and lastly follow by the Herbal Jelly which some concluded should come with more honey, but I am used to having it bitter.
We chalked a total of $860.15 for 9 people (after 10% credit card discount), which roughly makes out to $96 per pax. For such a price and Straits Time claiming that it deserved at least one Michelin Star, expectations were high and I expected more. However, only the roast chicken make it for me that night that one is definitely better off having the rest of the dishes at some Tze Char stall elsewhere.
You can view more photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
Having searched for other makeover studios for some time, this was a studio that we wanted to try as the shots shown in the website were rather impressive and glamorous.
We tried to negotiate for some changes to the prints but ultimately, it was fixed at the package. The package does not included the selected photos to be burnt into CD.
As it was a group shot, it took us 2 hrs 15 min to finally get ready to pose for the photos. We had some fun taking it as the photographer was calling us by the clothes colour. Soft toys were also added to add some soft theme to it.
The output could be immediately seen as it was taken with a digital camera. Took us some time to go through all the shots as we were given more than the stated 20 shots.
There are only 2 makeup artistes, so the time taken to complete the makeup was longer. The place isn't that big and the dressing room is virtually non-existing and we had to change in the room where they kept the clothes.
The package could have been more valuable if a CD was given with the selected photos instead of buying it just for the photos.
I credit this place for their cheap Western cuisine and relatively decent quality. I was expecting a lot from this place when I first heard about it on Yebber, and have been bugging friends to accompany me there. But when I was finally there, my expectation dropped a level as I seldom thought highly of food at neighbourhood coffee shops.
I'm rather impressed by the variety of food provided, and the relatively low prices they're able to charge despite the soaring price levels. As I was there rather late (8.30pm), the crowd probably had dispersed already and I didn't have to wait long for my food.
Fish and Chips was not bad. The fish was rather thin however, thus making the chewing sensation a little less satisfying. But I really liked how it was fried till it was crispy. I personally felt that the coleslaw had a slightly bitter after-taste and did not like the taste of onions in it. As for their soup, it's actually Campbell soup, which I feel isn't any original at all.
I left the place feeling satisfied with the price I paid and the food I had, but with all the hooha, I must say the place is a tad over-rated. Not when soups are instant canned-soup ): Nonetheless, I'd say it's a good place for budget western food, minus the ambience.
Looking for chocolates as a gift on Valentine's, birthdays, anniversaries etc? Or just looking for great chocolates to satisfy your own craving? Try Jaime's!
Despite being a rather small shop unit and relatively unnoticed at the 2nd level of TPY Entertainment Centre, it has a great variety of chocolates! It sounds like the lower end of Godiva but I'd give Jaime's credit for its creativity and wonderful imagination.
To begin with, you will get the usual flavoured chocolates suc as nut pralines and almond at Jaime's, but there's also certain rather exciting fruit flavours like passionfruit, pear, orange, lemon, banana and lime. My personal favourites are the milk chocolates and pralines (hazelnut praline and triple praline) which leaves a velvet texture in your mouth, and is slightly creamier and more buttery than usual chocolates.
Of course it's not just about tasting good there, it's also about the visual appeal. One look and you just feel like buying everything there even if you don't like certain flavours. Their chocolates come in different shapes and sizes, with some in dog moulds, ducks, rabbits and teddies. Or you get a heart-shaped box made of milk chocolate, with another chocolate in it! On the surface of the chocolate, some of them even give the effect of sprayed paint or blowed glass - really pretty!
So if you're looking for chocolates as gifts, do try Jaime's! I'm sure they're not just visually appealing but would also taste great (: If you're not sure what to order, try those they recommend! The sales person would be more than happy to help.
Singapore largest retail and lifestyle destination, this is definitely my fav shopping centre to date. Away from the city and away from the hustling and bustling crowd in Orchard Road, over here I can find almost all my fav retail stores - Aldo, Esprit, Zara, Pedro, GAP and River Island to name a few. For the ladies, you have a choice of Diva, Bebe, Chomel, Forever 21, M)phosis, Mango and Topshop to name a few.
What's more they have my fav F&B outlets like Fre(n)sh and Ben and Jerry's as well as my fav Sushi Tei outlet all housed within - oh and also my fav Food Court in Singapore - Check out Food Republic at Level 3, with Singapore in the 60s - 70s as a themed.
For those who enjoy chilling out, you have a wide choice of Bakerzin, Starbucks, Coffeebean and Tea Leaf along with Gloria Jeans.
It is also here that you also get to experience the latest and largest cineplex in Singapore under the same roof - GV Vivocity.
On a side note, a straight bus from Seah Im Bus interchange is also a plus for me!
This is my fav cineplex among the many out there. To start off with, I will always buy my tickets online and the ease of use for the online booking systems is simply wonderful!
The seats are new, big and comfortable and the leg space is fabulous for a tall guy like me. A cinema like Lido will not do for me as my knees will be touching the seats in front of me, but not The Cathay!
And who can forget the wonderful art house, indie movies that Picturehouse host periodically.
Steaming hot mini soon kuehs make the perfect finger food for me in between my workout sessions. Yes, because it is both tasty and healthy yet not extremely filling.
Before you even have a bite on the mini soon kueh, you can see how generous and rich the filling is through the translucent pastry skin. Lots of shredded turnip and dried shrimps in it. You got to eat it with sweet sauce and chilli sauce while it's hot to truly enjoy their soon kuehs!
Not only do they sell soon kuehs, gu-cai kuehs, mushroom soon kuehs (vegetarian) and rice kuehs are in their menu as well. All come in miniature size, packed in a box of 5 at $3 per packet. If you can't decide which type of kueh to go for, you can even get their mixed pack.
Besides the kuehs, other items on their menu include chui kueh and yam cake. However, having tried those, my advise is to stick to their speciality kuehs which I've mentioned earlier.
Heard lots about Melvados cafe and its famous brownies but due to the fact that its location is on the other side of Singapore, i've never coerced myself to make the trip down to visit it. In fact, i still have not visited it due to mixed reviews on the service and the food from the place. However, i did manage to get lucky one day and got my hands on a box of Melvados brownies for a tea time treat for free.
Macadamia Nut Brownie ($28 for 10 pieces) & Mango Mousse ($26 for 10 pieces) - Fortunate me got this box of brownies and cakes for free due to over ordering and i can say that i found the brownies and cakes above average. The Macadamia brownie obviously had a crunchy layer of macadamia nuts strewn all over the top of a chocolaty and bitter brownie. Its also soft and crumbles easily with each bite, doesn't crumble in your hand though, which to me, is a mark of an above average brownie. On the downside, the only thing to pick on is that the bitterness gets to you pretty quick. The Mango mousse cake is smooth, creamy and soft. Its lightly sweet with a thin layer of cream for that feeling of indulgence and balance all in one. It also helps to note that it was fresh. Another yummy treat.
I liked the brownies quite a bit. Its fresh, pack with taste and pretty much comfort food for me. The fact that i didn't have to pay for them helped quite a bit as well. All in all, i'd recommend ordering out to try for yourself. It ain't cheap though so please take note.
What is the typical munchie you will bring into a cinema??
Yes. It's popcorn!
So before the start of our show, my partner & I decided to buy some popcorn. Many times, we walked past this little shop, which purely sells popcorn, located in a conspicuous corner at the basement level of The Cathay. This time round, we finally bought a small packet of caramelised popcorn which costs $5.50 (if I remember correctly). Actually, there are other flavours of popcorn as well. I remember seeing an interesting flavour, sour cream. So far, I have only eaten potato chips with sour cream but not popcorn with sour cream. So I was pretty keen to try it. Will probably do it next time then. Haha... Oh yah, the popcorns come in 2 package size. The popcorns have already been pre-packed in clear plastic bag and sealed up. Upon purchase, the staff will put the packet of popcorn into a cute pink box (picture). Nice packaging!
It looked good on the outside but how about its taste? In the first place, I am not a person with sweet cravings but I find the sweetness of their popcorn acceptable. It was impressive that the coat of caramel was quite even on every pieces of popcorn. Unlike some popcorns where there's bits of sugar unevenly coated on the popcorn. What's more, this popcorn has a strong buttery taste and it kind of balance up with the sweetness from the caramel.
So next time when you are catching a movie at The Cathay, you can consider getting your popcorn from here. It's definitely worth a try!
1=SGD 0.0587
There is a new outlet at UE Square consisting of a children’s kitchen for kids to take part in baking lessons - pro-family! Although one might find the place pretty noisy on a Sunday afternoon because of these kids - so couples looking for a quiet weekend - BEWARE!
It is here I discovered my latest favourite dessert after their signatured Warm Chocolate Cake – I hereby present to you – the delicious Baked Apple Tart ($9.50), consisting of Caramelised Apple Slices baked to golden hue on a light Puff Pastry along with a dollop their very own Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream.
A heavenly combination of sweet and sour, light and creamy, & warm and cold that evokes conflicting emotions in a good way. I foresee this will be a hit among the non-chocolate lovers and those who enjoy the apple crumble.
Enjoy your long weekend!
You can view more photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
Rating given:
Located in an obscure corner of the newly restored National Museum of Singapore – with no signboard or whatsoever on its exterior (signboard faces inwards as I discovered), Chef Chan’s Restaurant, honed by Master Chef Chan Chen Hei – a widely known and respected figure in the Chinese culinary circle, dwells completely at ease in the ‘new’ historical setting – as it is complete with Chef Chan’s personal precious collection of Chinese antiques amassed over the years.
The place is exquisite with only four private dining rooms up for reservations – walk-ins are not entertained.
From utensils to cutleries (besides the glass carrying warm water), everything was matched to give one an authentic Cantonese dining experience to that of a Chinese noble.
With much anticipation, first up was the Melon Strips Enlivened with Orange Juice. While some claimed the melon to be crunchy, I find it rather hard to chew on. However, what turns me off from this dish was the sweet orange aftertaste one gets, and we all felt "Melon Strip Dip in Fanta Orange" would be more apt description.
One thing that irks me in Chinese fine dining is that you are unable to have a 2nd helping unlike those traditional Chinese banquet. This is illustrated when the Prawn Balls Stuffed with Pate and Wine was stacked temptingly on the serving plate but only one was distributed to each of us.
The exterior crust was crispy yet gentle for the throat but the interior was a major letdown – it was just overwhelmed with prawn taste that one cannot discern a hint of the pate or wine in it.
Stir Fried Shark's Fin with Eggs, Bean Sprouts and Spring Onion Served in Lettuce Leaves was probably one of the better dishes that night.
A good harmony among the ingredients – chewy shark’s fin and crunchy bean sprouts and lettuce leaves was a pleasure to chomp on. However, reality check beseech me to realise that one doesn’t need extraordinary culinary skill to execute this – this is one reason why my dad doesn’t order bean sprouts whenever we dine out.
The Sautéed Lobster with Garlic was another highly anticipated dish since it was one of the more “luxurious” items on the menu that night. The intense aroma of the garlic wowed us when it was first brought into our room, but we soon live to regret it as the profuse amount of garlic threatens to engulf the whole dish. It was such a shame since the lobster was very fresh and sweet but the tingling feeling from the garlic seeks to mar it.
The meat of the Steamed Sliced Red Garoupa in Village Style was very fresh with a good bite, but the gravy that accompanied it was outrageously starchy.
This is another example of excessive inclusion of element (starch if you are wondering) that threatens to blemish the already pathetic serving of fish that each of us got that night.
The Sautéed Vegetables with Shredded Mushrooms was greeted with disappointment that night. Drenched in gravy, it was just ordinary – any decent cook should be able to pull this off their kitchen – enough said.
The only showpiece for the night rightfully belongs to this seemingly humble chicken. Probably his best known dish, Chef Chan’s Famous Crispy Roast Chicken was the only dish that kept everyone quiet throughout its partake. Everyone was busy devouring the crispy skin that snap with every bite, coupled with the moist and tender chicken meat that was nothing short of flavour. This dish even though tended towards the saltier side near the end, was the only one that blew me away. A simple dish yet delicately and magnificently executed.
Dessert of the night was a choice between Papaya with White Fungus and Herbal Jelly with Glutinous Rice & Mango. And I opted for the latter, which I swiftly regretted. The dessert didn’t quite gel as one and I ended up eating it three ways, first the mango that was unripe therefore sour, then the glutinous rice which was nothing extraordinary, and lastly follow by the Herbal Jelly which some concluded should come with more honey, but I am used to having it bitter.
We chalked a total of $860.15 for 9 people (after 10% credit card discount), which roughly makes out to $96 per pax. For such a price and Straits Time claiming that it deserved at least one Michelin Star, expectations were high and I expected more. However, only the roast chicken make it for me that night that one is definitely better off having the rest of the dishes at some Tze Char stall elsewhere.
You can view more photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
Rating given:
Having searched for other makeover studios for some time, this was a studio that we wanted to try as the shots shown in the website were rather impressive and glamorous.
We tried to negotiate for some changes to the prints but ultimately, it was fixed at the package. The package does not included the selected photos to be burnt into CD.
As it was a group shot, it took us 2 hrs 15 min to finally get ready to pose for the photos. We had some fun taking it as the photographer was calling us by the clothes colour. Soft toys were also added to add some soft theme to it.
The output could be immediately seen as it was taken with a digital camera. Took us some time to go through all the shots as we were given more than the stated 20 shots.
There are only 2 makeup artistes, so the time taken to complete the makeup was longer. The place isn't that big and the dressing room is virtually non-existing and we had to change in the room where they kept the clothes.
The package could have been more valuable if a CD was given with the selected photos instead of buying it just for the photos.
Rating given:
I credit this place for their cheap Western cuisine and relatively decent quality. I was expecting a lot from this place when I first heard about it on Yebber, and have been bugging friends to accompany me there. But when I was finally there, my expectation dropped a level as I seldom thought highly of food at neighbourhood coffee shops.
I'm rather impressed by the variety of food provided, and the relatively low prices they're able to charge despite the soaring price levels. As I was there rather late (8.30pm), the crowd probably had dispersed already and I didn't have to wait long for my food.
Fish and Chips was not bad. The fish was rather thin however, thus making the chewing sensation a little less satisfying. But I really liked how it was fried till it was crispy. I personally felt that the coleslaw had a slightly bitter after-taste and did not like the taste of onions in it. As for their soup, it's actually Campbell soup, which I feel isn't any original at all.
I left the place feeling satisfied with the price I paid and the food I had, but with all the hooha, I must say the place is a tad over-rated. Not when soups are instant canned-soup ): Nonetheless, I'd say it's a good place for budget western food, minus the ambience.
Rating given:
Looking for chocolates as a gift on Valentine's, birthdays, anniversaries etc? Or just looking for great chocolates to satisfy your own craving? Try Jaime's!
Despite being a rather small shop unit and relatively unnoticed at the 2nd level of TPY Entertainment Centre, it has a great variety of chocolates! It sounds like the lower end of Godiva but I'd give Jaime's credit for its creativity and wonderful imagination.
To begin with, you will get the usual flavoured chocolates suc as nut pralines and almond at Jaime's, but there's also certain rather exciting fruit flavours like passionfruit, pear, orange, lemon, banana and lime. My personal favourites are the milk chocolates and pralines (hazelnut praline and triple praline) which leaves a velvet texture in your mouth, and is slightly creamier and more buttery than usual chocolates.
Of course it's not just about tasting good there, it's also about the visual appeal. One look and you just feel like buying everything there even if you don't like certain flavours. Their chocolates come in different shapes and sizes, with some in dog moulds, ducks, rabbits and teddies. Or you get a heart-shaped box made of milk chocolate, with another chocolate in it! On the surface of the chocolate, some of them even give the effect of sprayed paint or blowed glass - really pretty!
So if you're looking for chocolates as gifts, do try Jaime's! I'm sure they're not just visually appealing but would also taste great (: If you're not sure what to order, try those they recommend! The sales person would be more than happy to help.
Rating given:
Singapore largest retail and lifestyle destination, this is definitely my fav shopping centre to date. Away from the city and away from the hustling and bustling crowd in Orchard Road, over here I can find almost all my fav retail stores - Aldo, Esprit, Zara, Pedro, GAP and River Island to name a few. For the ladies, you have a choice of Diva, Bebe, Chomel, Forever 21, M)phosis, Mango and Topshop to name a few.
What's more they have my fav F&B outlets like Fre(n)sh and Ben and Jerry's as well as my fav Sushi Tei outlet all housed within - oh and also my fav Food Court in Singapore - Check out Food Republic at Level 3, with Singapore in the 60s - 70s as a themed.
For those who enjoy chilling out, you have a wide choice of Bakerzin, Starbucks, Coffeebean and Tea Leaf along with Gloria Jeans.
It is also here that you also get to experience the latest and largest cineplex in Singapore under the same roof - GV Vivocity.
On a side note, a straight bus from Seah Im Bus interchange is also a plus for me!
Rating given:
This is my fav cineplex among the many out there. To start off with, I will always buy my tickets online and the ease of use for the online booking systems is simply wonderful!
The seats are new, big and comfortable and the leg space is fabulous for a tall guy like me. A cinema like Lido will not do for me as my knees will be touching the seats in front of me, but not The Cathay!
And who can forget the wonderful art house, indie movies that Picturehouse host periodically.
Oh and my fav Ben and Jerry's is there!
Rating given:
Steaming hot mini soon kuehs make the perfect finger food for me in between my workout sessions. Yes, because it is both tasty and healthy yet not extremely filling.
Before you even have a bite on the mini soon kueh, you can see how generous and rich the filling is through the translucent pastry skin. Lots of shredded turnip and dried shrimps in it. You got to eat it with sweet sauce and chilli sauce while it's hot to truly enjoy their soon kuehs!
Not only do they sell soon kuehs, gu-cai kuehs, mushroom soon kuehs (vegetarian) and rice kuehs are in their menu as well. All come in miniature size, packed in a box of 5 at $3 per packet. If you can't decide which type of kueh to go for, you can even get their mixed pack.
Besides the kuehs, other items on their menu include chui kueh and yam cake. However, having tried those, my advise is to stick to their speciality kuehs which I've mentioned earlier.
Rating given:
Heard lots about Melvados cafe and its famous brownies but due to the fact that its location is on the other side of Singapore, i've never coerced myself to make the trip down to visit it. In fact, i still have not visited it due to mixed reviews on the service and the food from the place. However, i did manage to get lucky one day and got my hands on a box of Melvados brownies for a tea time treat for free.
Macadamia Nut Brownie ($28 for 10 pieces) & Mango Mousse ($26 for 10 pieces) - Fortunate me got this box of brownies and cakes for free due to over ordering and i can say that i found the brownies and cakes above average. The Macadamia brownie obviously had a crunchy layer of macadamia nuts strewn all over the top of a chocolaty and bitter brownie. Its also soft and crumbles easily with each bite, doesn't crumble in your hand though, which to me, is a mark of an above average brownie. On the downside, the only thing to pick on is that the bitterness gets to you pretty quick.
The Mango mousse cake is smooth, creamy and soft. Its lightly sweet with a thin layer of cream for that feeling of indulgence and balance all in one. It also helps to note that it was fresh. Another yummy treat.
I liked the brownies quite a bit. Its fresh, pack with taste and pretty much comfort food for me. The fact that i didn't have to pay for them helped quite a bit as well. All in all, i'd recommend ordering out to try for yourself. It ain't cheap though so please take note.
Rating given:
What is the typical munchie you will bring into a cinema??
Yes. It's popcorn!
So before the start of our show, my partner & I decided to buy some popcorn. Many times, we walked past this little shop, which purely sells popcorn, located in a conspicuous corner at the basement level of The Cathay. This time round, we finally bought a small packet of caramelised popcorn which costs $5.50 (if I remember correctly). Actually, there are other flavours of popcorn as well. I remember seeing an interesting flavour, sour cream. So far, I have only eaten potato chips with sour cream but not popcorn with sour cream. So I was pretty keen to try it. Will probably do it next time then. Haha... Oh yah, the popcorns come in 2 package size. The popcorns have already been pre-packed in clear plastic bag and sealed up. Upon purchase, the staff will put the packet of popcorn into a cute pink box (picture). Nice packaging!
It looked good on the outside but how about its taste? In the first place, I am not a person with sweet cravings but I find the sweetness of their popcorn acceptable. It was impressive that the coat of caramel was quite even on every pieces of popcorn. Unlike some popcorns where there's bits of sugar unevenly coated on the popcorn. What's more, this popcorn has a strong buttery taste and it kind of balance up with the sweetness from the caramel.
So next time when you are catching a movie at The Cathay, you can consider getting your popcorn from here. It's definitely worth a try!
Rating given: