If you haven't seen HeavenScene... You definitely Haven't seen it all.....
I was idling away one weekday afternoon.. I would not say when and guess what I found....... Heaven...... Must be missing an Angel......
Its a humble little shop hidden away from all the buzzle at level 3 of golden landmark mall; like a piece of exquisite jewellery, sitted there quietly, waiting to be found and Awed....
I was just merely looking for a Belly scarf for Belly Dancing when i walked into HeavenScene. Boy.. The clothes were BEAUTIFUL.. EXOTIC need not say... and Interesting.... I was always intrigued by the Middle Eastern Art and Fashion and this place provides it all.... As I walk deeper into the shop, through the glisttering bead veil.. I found my love once again.. COFFEE and CHOCOLATE aroma filled the small space i breath. What sinfully addictive potent combination. I can't help but have to enjoy a coffee break.
Though the cafe is not big, it is so cosy and every piece of furniture is full of the middle eastern culture. Beautifully crafted chandelier to egyptian tiles on the wall... These decorations can make a mini museum by itself. I love the cups and the spoons best. These self picked and imported spoons have careful sculpted and gold plated ends... truly intriguing.
After chatting with the lovely lady boss, we decided to try her bread pudding and boy.. it was Sooooo Goooood....... Soft but not smashy... The milky and buttery taste is simply too good. Even now thinking about it makes my mouth all watery. It simply goes so well with the aromatic coffee. *slurp*
For an Exclusive Night out to a party with no accidental twins in fashion and for an exotic and intriguing coffee break; My $10 ticket to the middle east.... Cheers to the bread pudding....
A newcomer has burst onto the dessert scene at Serangoon Gardens, which already hosts popular dessert outlets like Frolick, a yoghurt specialist and Ice Cube, which sells ice cream and the like. However this new dessert place, aptly named Dessert Bowl or 一碗甜品, caters to people who prefer Chinese desserts.
Opened only about a week ago, Dessert Bowl can be rather difficult to find, given that its on the 2nd floor and plays neighbour to a pub along a quiet row of shophouses that houses OCBC as well. It definitely doesn't help that the signs are not prominently located. However make your way up and be rewarded by the sight of a brightly lighted cosy area which can probably take about 30 people or so. If you are lucky, you might just get one of the 2 sofa seats that overlook the roads below through the huge glass windows.
Rock Melon Sago - A very typical Chinese dessert, the rock melon sago wasn't outstanding and I personally found it a tad too sweet. But having said that, I don't remember the last time I had a rock melon sago that made me go wow. So maybe its just me.
Strawberry Ice - I didn't get to try this but from what I understand, the strawberries were very sour but other then that, no other complaints.
Mango De Creme - My original order of the Durian mousse was sold out so I thought I would try something a little different, namely the Mango De Creme, which was essentially custard with toppings of mango cubes and puree served up in a tin foil container. The custard came across as smooth and firm, very much like the texture of creme brulee. I'm not sure if it was effort on the part of the shop or pure luck that the mango cubes were sweet but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. Overall a rather enjoyable dessert.
I don't really eat alot of Chinese desserts so I'm not sure if $10.50 for 3 desserts is considered expensive. But personally I think its still acceptable especially when this is definitely a cheaper alternative to Ice Cube. The dessert menu is rather extensive and that would probably be a good reason for me to drop by often for an after dinner dessert session.
Tian Wai Tian has been around for as long as i remember, and i believe they need no introduction. Located just besides the PIE expressway at the Upper Serangoon road exit. If you are coming from train, then stop at Potong Pasir MRT on the North-east line.
There isn’t any ambience to talk about, Tian Wai Tian is your typical zi-char in a normal coffee shop kind of place. Tian Wai Tian is so popular that besides the seats in the coffee shop, they also have tables at the back alley.
The most amazing thing is actually Tian Wai Tian only serves a few of their popular dishes, as in they don’t even have a menu to choose from, its always the same old few dishes, yet they pack in the crowd everyday!
Fish Head Steamboat ($20) Tian Wai Tian’s famous fish head steamboat! There are two types of fish to choose for your steamboat, the white promfet and the red groupa, which we got. The soup base is always a very important item for any steamboat as all the essence of the ingredients are cook together in it.
The soup here is pretty good, and you can have it topped up too. But i find it to be slightly on the salty side. More vegetables are needed to have a better balance.
Well a must-try dish if you come to Tian Wai Tian, since this is their signature dish.
Prawn Roll ($7) I believe the prawn roll is a very common dish and most people should be familiar with it, my family usually have it during the Chinese new year! The prawn roll here is good, dipped in the sweet sauce, awesome!
Tofu Prawn ($12) The tofu prawn in spicy sauce taste refreshing initially. Seldom do we see a combination of prawn and tofu cooked in spicy sauce. However, the taste is a tad too much and we can’t finish the dish.
Fried prawn sauce chicken ($8)
The fried prawn sauce chicken is mainstay dish on most of the zi-char stores, my favourite so far is the one in Holland Village XO Fishhead store. But the ones here are pretty decent i guess.
Sambal Kangkong ($6) Kangkong are best done in hot spicy sambal, and the one at Tian Wai Tian doesn’t disappoint. Hot and spicy!
Total Bill is $55.50 for 4 person. Tian Wai Tian serves their famous fish head steamboat, with the few of their popular dishes. Variety isn’t what you can have at this zi-char store, but if its some familiar dish that you need, find them here!
Service-wise, practically none, this is a zi-char, not some fanciful restaurant. The auntie working there can be quite rude and snobbish, so don’t say you are not warn.
You are always welcome to visit ladyironchef for a full-up on this trip. Whatever written herein are my genuine feelings expressed in words. Food, my dear, is what they call an adventure!
Went through IMM today on my way home from work and saw this small ice cream store facing away from the crowds. Decided to get some ice cream as I was having sugar rush.
Interesting flavors like milk tea flavor, green tea and red bean flavor, pumpkin, Orange and the more common ones like berry, rum and raisin.
I chose the rum and raisin flavor. Cost me around $3.80 for 1 scoop in a cup. Quite ex I can say, lucky the scoop wasn't too small.
Taste is just average or a bit above average comparing to ice cream like cold rock. However, I don't quite like the texture of the ice cream. Its too "loose" or should I say too watery. None of the chewiness I would like my ice cream to have.
Further, as I eat more of the ice-cream, the taste "disappeared" as my mouth becomes cold from the ice cream. Didn't finish my scoop as in the end it just tasted like a cold lumpy "thing".
I would like to try other flavors though. There may still be some potential of good taste. Just trying one may not be a good gauge of this brand of ice cream
After conquering the hearts of many with their Holland Village outlet, Frolick has moved on to the North - Serangoon Gardens!!!
Just few units away from Ice3, it holds on to the same theme of white background and bright colourful slogans on one side of their wall and the other decked out with multiple of button pins (Note: 317 to be exact – the same number as the bus that brings one to Gardens – and in case you are wondering, I didn’t count – the girls at the counter did).
With that, Frolick retains the branding of being loud and edgy rolled into one. To recap, an Original Frozen Yogurt cost $3.50 for Cup A, $4.80 for Cup B ( 1 topping) & $6.30 for Cup C ( 2 toppings) and a Flavoured Frozen Yogurt cost $3.90, $5.30 & $6.90 respectively. Additional assorted toppings go for $1 each.
I ordered the Cup C of the Original Flavoured Yogurt with Granola and Vanilla Clodhoppers, or Crunchy Vanilla Fudge-covered Graham Clusters and it was lovely. The standard of the yogurt is consistent with their flagship outlet and the vanilla clodhoppers were a delightful topping to munch.
Seating is limited but the crowd was thin on a Friday night. And if guys out there haven’t yet noticed, Frolick employs the same policy as Ben & Jerry’s by hiring eye-candy as counter staff – girlfriends beware!
Frolick also has another outlet opening soon in Millienia Walk but I reckon it is not before long that you will find another one in Siglap – just to complete the trio (this is entirely my own conjecture and it does not represent the official statement and position of Frolick).
You can view the all photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
Have you ever wished you could have a nice and relaxing weekend brunch/lunch in a lush greenery setting without the midday heat or the pesky mosquitoes? Well that was certainly on my mind as I headed to Canopy for a lazy weekend lunch with my gf.
Located smack in the middle of Bishan Park, Canopy is managed by Asmara spa and the cosiness is apparent from the minute you step in. Comfortable padded chairs coupled with huge wooden trim glass doors that allow sunlight to peer in make for a nice resort feel. The arched ceilings add a touch of colonial class and best of all, the interior is airconditioned. Canopy offers al fresco seating as well but unless you don't mind sweating it out on a hot day then by all means go ahead.
Eggs Benedict - One of the items on the breakfast/lunch menu, the eggs benedict was a rip off in my humble opinion. $12 for 2 slices of bread, 2 slices of ham and 2 poached eggs drizzled with Hollandaise sauce just screams expensive. And to top it off, it wasn't exactly outstanding. The egg yolk wasn't the least bit runny and the bread was a tad too dry.
Wagyu Steak with Skinny Fries & Herb Butter - A daily special that was scribbled on an overhanging chalkboard, the wagyu beef weighed in at about 300g(according to the waitress) and came as per requested - medium rare. However that's where the complimentaries end. The wagyu didn't taste like wagyu at all. The meat wasn't as tender or succulent as I had expected it to be and it was pretty much tasteless. I know of places which can put this dish to shame with their normal beef. And in case you are wondering, the herb butter was pretty bland as well.
Linguine Tossed with Lobster - As tantalizing as this dish may sound, it was a disappointment really. For starters, the linguine wasn't al dente and came across as very bland. The small lobster cubes (yes cubes), though crunchy and fresh, were bland as well and overall the whole dish was rather dry.
ps: I could count the number of lobster cubes with 2 hands. I suspect all the cubes combined can barely form one whole medium sized prawn.
Disappointment would be an understatement, not when I had to fork out over $75 for a less than satisfying lunch. Service was a tad slow and the food was so average that I didn't have the heart nor the wallet to stay on for dessert. The good thing about this place is its setting, but unless the management decides to lower the prices or buck up on the quality, the neighbouring joint shows more promise.
I've purchased several accessories from GetPlush! and i find that their designs are simple yet very pleasant.
Some time last year, they participated in the lime flea market at *scape (behind cineleisure) and i practically sprinted down there to get my hands on their accessories.
Sad to say, they did not look as pretty as they did on my computer screen. The images you see in the online store are (i'm giving a rough estimate) about 30% better than what it is in real life! It was a rather disappointing discovery since i had high expectations from the start when i saw the pictures of their accessories online.
The size of their accessories are also quite small. While there may be certain intricate details being weaved into the whole design, in real life, it might be too small to be even noticed and i feel its quite a waste. Perhaps they should try to make bigger accessories?
The quality of their accessories are only average. I have purchase accessories from other blogshops which have lasted for 1 year or more, which is quite a remarkable lifespan considering that they're only costume jewellery. However, i can't say the same about accessories from GetPlush!.
After merely 5 or 6 times of wearing it, the chain simply snapped! I was not even tugging at it. Very disappointing.
I have tried to contact the blogshop owner but after 3 weeks, i've yet to receive a response. I must say i'm quite disappointed with their after-sales service. Many other online sites provide way better service. Their prices are therefore also more justifiable in that way.
Heard many good things about Bistro 103's food and service so made the trip west one evening to try it out for myself. Opened in April 2007, Bistro 103 is a small family run restaurant with the husband as the chef and his wife and brother in law manning the store.
Located at the unlikelinesses of places, in a small shop unit along Pasir Panjang Road just next to a motorcycle repair shop and Manhill Restaurant, Bistro 103 offers a simple and unpretentious dining area filled with wooden furniture and daily specials scribbled on a chalkboard. From what I understand, the menu is rotated monthly and corkage stands at $5 .
Breaded Seafood Tofu with Wasabi Mayo - This was something unique which I have never tried anywhere else before. The tofu was coated with bread crumbs and deep fried till a crisp. There was a slight hint of tofu taste but the texture seemed a little too firm for my liking. Also, the bread crumbs came across as a little too thick as well.
Bacon, Ham and Mushrooms - We chose to have this dish done with a tomato base for a change and I must say it was quite well executed. The tomato sauce was lightly sweet with a mild tomato undertone, which is vastly different from the usual zesty type of tomato sauce that I'm used to. The pasta was a little too overcooked though, as evident by its limpness. The quantity of mushrooms was also found lacking but the generous servings of ham and bacon made up for it somewhat. Maybe they should just omit the mushrooms in the title altogether.
Oven Baked Barbeque Pork Ribs - This came as a recommendation and though huge in serving size, I found the execution a little wanting. The marination was not thorough enough and some parts tasted bland. On the upside, the meat fell off the bone with minimal resistance yet retained a certain degree of firmness. Nice but could have been better.
Chocolate Panna Cotta - Usually chocolate and panna cotta in the same dish would do the trick for me but not in this case. The panna cotta wasn't firm enough and I couldn't quite make out the taste of it as the layer of chocolate syrup and cocoa powder above proved a tad too overwhelming. So much for a $5 dessert.
Brownie with Ice Cream - A staple personal favourite, the brownie was served steaming hot (literally!) as evident by the steam it emitted when I cut through it. Moist(a little too moist actually) and not too sweet. Coupled with the normal tasting ice cream, it made for a sweet and not too expensive ($5) ending.
Dinner for 2 cost about $62 which does stretch the value for money notion a little thin. But hey, its $62 for an appetiser, 2 mains and 2 desserts - a value proposition that can hardly be found elsewhere, not for the quality of food nor the service. And if you need that extra nudge, try patriotism. Its after all, local.
I like this place as it's the place to settle my cravings for baked rice, soup bun and spaghetti. The place is usually crowded from Fridays to Sundays.
It's also a good place to talk with your friends as the place is not too noisy. Although, you will attract attention if your laughter is loud.
The place is rather small, thus, the cozy ambiance. There was once when the four of us went there for dinner at around 7pm. There were some tables being reserved while the rest were still occupied. It would have been polite of the group that had reserved to call by 7pm to confirm their reservations. The table was left empty for an hour.
I felt the supervisor could have just called or apply the waiting rule of 15 minutes for each reservation so as to reduce the irk of customers who truly want to dine at the place.
Despite this incident, I still like this place as the food is good. I love the soup bun, it's a must try. Other food to try will be the pizzas, baked rice and spaghetti.
Basically, I have no complaints about Starbucks. Their staffs are always friendly, compared to the lousy services I got elsewhere. To them, they treat their customers like proper customers and also good friends. So, going to Starbucks is always a definite pleasure from me as I always get a smile from them, regardless of gender, race, religion. My only grouse? If you check out the link of Starucks I've posted above, the site says that the Starbucks store (on the 2nd level) is supposed to be opened for business at 0730hrs every day, no matter rain or shine, normal days or pulic holidays. But lately, for the past few weeks (close to a month), their store is only opened for business after 0830hrs. Either the manager/store-in-charge cannot wake up on time or that their pay does not enable them to buy watches for themselves. Sometimes when I work in the morning shift and I crave for a cuppa, only to realise that their shop is still not opened despite reaching there at 0845hrs....
So, if you plan to grab a cuppa in the morning, please think twice. It is best to go to Starbucks Vivo (2nd level) only after 0930hrs when they are really "opened" for business. Alternatively, you might be better off if you go to Pacific Coffee instead as they are always opened at 0730 or 0800 sharp.
P/S: This photo was snapped at 0855 when they are "opened" for business. I was already hanging around there from 0830 onwards and they weren't opened yet...
1=SGD 0.0587
If you haven't seen HeavenScene... You definitely Haven't seen it all.....
I was idling away one weekday afternoon.. I would not say when and guess what I found....... Heaven...... Must be missing an Angel......
Its a humble little shop hidden away from all the buzzle at level 3 of golden landmark mall; like a piece of exquisite jewellery, sitted there quietly, waiting to be found and Awed....
I was just merely looking for a Belly scarf for Belly Dancing when i walked into HeavenScene. Boy.. The clothes were BEAUTIFUL.. EXOTIC need not say... and Interesting.... I was always intrigued by the Middle Eastern Art and Fashion and this place provides it all.... As I walk deeper into the shop, through the glisttering bead veil.. I found my love once again.. COFFEE and CHOCOLATE aroma filled the small space i breath. What sinfully addictive potent combination. I can't help but have to enjoy a coffee break.
Though the cafe is not big, it is so cosy and every piece of furniture is full of the middle eastern culture. Beautifully crafted chandelier to egyptian tiles on the wall... These decorations can make a mini museum by itself. I love the cups and the spoons best. These self picked and imported spoons have careful sculpted and gold plated ends... truly intriguing.
After chatting with the lovely lady boss, we decided to try her bread pudding and boy.. it was Sooooo Goooood....... Soft but not smashy... The milky and buttery taste is simply too good. Even now thinking about it makes my mouth all watery. It simply goes so well with the aromatic coffee. *slurp*
For an Exclusive Night out to a party with no accidental twins in fashion and for an exotic and intriguing coffee break; My $10 ticket to the middle east.... Cheers to the bread pudding....
Rating given:
A newcomer has burst onto the dessert scene at Serangoon Gardens, which already hosts popular dessert outlets like Frolick, a yoghurt specialist and Ice Cube, which sells ice cream and the like. However this new dessert place, aptly named Dessert Bowl or 一碗甜品, caters to people who prefer Chinese desserts.
Opened only about a week ago, Dessert Bowl can be rather difficult to find, given that its on the 2nd floor and plays neighbour to a pub along a quiet row of shophouses that houses OCBC as well. It definitely doesn't help that the signs are not prominently located. However make your way up and be rewarded by the sight of a brightly lighted cosy area which can probably take about 30 people or so. If you are lucky, you might just get one of the 2 sofa seats that overlook the roads below through the huge glass windows.
Rock Melon Sago - A very typical Chinese dessert, the rock melon sago wasn't outstanding and I personally found it a tad too sweet. But having said that, I don't remember the last time I had a rock melon sago that made me go wow. So maybe its just me.
Strawberry Ice - I didn't get to try this but from what I understand, the strawberries were very sour but other then that, no other complaints.
Mango De Creme - My original order of the Durian mousse was sold out so I thought I would try something a little different, namely the Mango De Creme, which was essentially custard with toppings of mango cubes and puree served up in a tin foil container. The custard came across as smooth and firm, very much like the texture of creme brulee. I'm not sure if it was effort on the part of the shop or pure luck that the mango cubes were sweet but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. Overall a rather enjoyable dessert.
I don't really eat alot of Chinese desserts so I'm not sure if $10.50 for 3 desserts is considered expensive. But personally I think its still acceptable especially when this is definitely a cheaper alternative to Ice Cube. The dessert menu is rather extensive and that would probably be a good reason for me to drop by often for an after dinner dessert session.
See all my pictures here.
Rating given:
Tian Wai Tian has been around for as long as i remember, and i believe they need no introduction. Located just besides the PIE expressway at the Upper Serangoon road exit. If you are coming from train, then stop at Potong Pasir MRT on the North-east line.
There isn’t any ambience to talk about, Tian Wai Tian is your typical zi-char in a normal coffee shop kind of place. Tian Wai Tian is so popular that besides the seats in the coffee shop, they also have tables at the back alley.
The most amazing thing is actually Tian Wai Tian only serves a few of their popular dishes, as in they don’t even have a menu to choose from, its always the same old few dishes, yet they pack in the crowd everyday!
Fish Head Steamboat ($20)
Tian Wai Tian’s famous fish head steamboat! There are two types of fish to choose for your steamboat, the white promfet and the red groupa, which we got. The soup base is always a very important item for any steamboat as all the essence of the ingredients are cook together in it.
The soup here is pretty good, and you can have it topped up too. But i find it to be slightly on the salty side. More vegetables are needed to have a better balance.
Well a must-try dish if you come to Tian Wai Tian, since this is their signature dish.
Prawn Roll ($7)
I believe the prawn roll is a very common dish and most people should be familiar with it, my family usually have it during the Chinese new year! The prawn roll here is good, dipped in the sweet sauce, awesome!
Tofu Prawn ($12)
The tofu prawn in spicy sauce taste refreshing initially. Seldom do we see a combination of prawn and tofu cooked in spicy sauce. However, the taste is a tad too much and we can’t finish the dish.
Fried prawn sauce chicken ($8)
The fried prawn sauce chicken is mainstay dish on most of the zi-char stores, my favourite so far is the one in Holland Village XO Fishhead store. But the ones here are pretty decent i guess.
Sambal Kangkong ($6)
Kangkong are best done in hot spicy sambal, and the one at Tian Wai Tian doesn’t disappoint. Hot and spicy!
Total Bill is $55.50 for 4 person. Tian Wai Tian serves their famous fish head steamboat, with the few of their popular dishes. Variety isn’t what you can have at this zi-char store, but if its some familiar dish that you need, find them here!
Service-wise, practically none, this is a zi-char, not some fanciful restaurant. The auntie working there can be quite rude and snobbish, so don’t say you are not warn.
You are always welcome to visit ladyironchef for a full-up on this trip. Whatever written herein are my genuine feelings expressed in words. Food, my dear, is what they call an adventure!
Rating given:
Went through IMM today on my way home from work and saw this small ice cream store facing away from the crowds. Decided to get some ice cream as I was having sugar rush.
Interesting flavors like milk tea flavor, green tea and red bean flavor, pumpkin, Orange and the more common ones like berry, rum and raisin.
I chose the rum and raisin flavor. Cost me around $3.80 for 1 scoop in a cup. Quite ex I can say, lucky the scoop wasn't too small.
Taste is just average or a bit above average comparing to ice cream like cold rock. However, I don't quite like the texture of the ice cream. Its too "loose" or should I say too watery. None of the chewiness I would like my ice cream to have.
Further, as I eat more of the ice-cream, the taste "disappeared" as my mouth becomes cold from the ice cream. Didn't finish my scoop as in the end it just tasted like a cold lumpy "thing".
I would like to try other flavors though. There may still be some potential of good taste. Just trying one may not be a good gauge of this brand of ice cream
Rating given:
After conquering the hearts of many with their Holland Village outlet, Frolick has moved on to the North - Serangoon Gardens!!!
Just few units away from Ice3, it holds on to the same theme of white background and bright colourful slogans on one side of their wall and the other decked out with multiple of button pins (Note: 317 to be exact – the same number as the bus that brings one to Gardens – and in case you are wondering, I didn’t count – the girls at the counter did).
With that, Frolick retains the branding of being loud and edgy rolled into one. To recap, an Original Frozen Yogurt cost $3.50 for Cup A, $4.80 for Cup B ( 1 topping) & $6.30 for Cup C ( 2 toppings) and a Flavoured Frozen Yogurt cost $3.90, $5.30 & $6.90 respectively. Additional assorted toppings go for $1 each.
I ordered the Cup C of the Original Flavoured Yogurt with Granola and Vanilla Clodhoppers, or Crunchy Vanilla Fudge-covered Graham Clusters and it was lovely. The standard of the yogurt is consistent with their flagship outlet and the vanilla clodhoppers were a delightful topping to munch.
Seating is limited but the crowd was thin on a Friday night. And if guys out there haven’t yet noticed, Frolick employs the same policy as Ben & Jerry’s by hiring eye-candy as counter staff – girlfriends beware!
Frolick also has another outlet opening soon in Millienia Walk but I reckon it is not before long that you will find another one in Siglap – just to complete the trio (this is entirely my own conjecture and it does not represent the official statement and position of Frolick).
You can view the all photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
Rating given:
Have you ever wished you could have a nice and relaxing weekend brunch/lunch in a lush greenery setting without the midday heat or the pesky mosquitoes? Well that was certainly on my mind as I headed to Canopy for a lazy weekend lunch with my gf.
Located smack in the middle of Bishan Park, Canopy is managed by Asmara spa and the cosiness is apparent from the minute you step in. Comfortable padded chairs coupled with huge wooden trim glass doors that allow sunlight to peer in make for a nice resort feel. The arched ceilings add a touch of colonial class and best of all, the interior is airconditioned. Canopy offers al fresco seating as well but unless you don't mind sweating it out on a hot day then by all means go ahead.
Eggs Benedict - One of the items on the breakfast/lunch menu, the eggs benedict was a rip off in my humble opinion. $12 for 2 slices of bread, 2 slices of ham and 2 poached eggs drizzled with Hollandaise sauce just screams expensive. And to top it off, it wasn't exactly outstanding. The egg yolk wasn't the least bit runny and the bread was a tad too dry.
Wagyu Steak with Skinny Fries & Herb Butter - A daily special that was scribbled on an overhanging chalkboard, the wagyu beef weighed in at about 300g(according to the waitress) and came as per requested - medium rare. However that's where the complimentaries end. The wagyu didn't taste like wagyu at all. The meat wasn't as tender or succulent as I had expected it to be and it was pretty much tasteless. I know of places which can put this dish to shame with their normal beef. And in case you are wondering, the herb butter was pretty bland as well.
Linguine Tossed with Lobster - As tantalizing as this dish may sound, it was a disappointment really. For starters, the linguine wasn't al dente and came across as very bland. The small lobster cubes (yes cubes), though crunchy and fresh, were bland as well and overall the whole dish was rather dry.
ps: I could count the number of lobster cubes with 2 hands. I suspect all the cubes combined can barely form one whole medium sized prawn.
Disappointment would be an understatement, not when I had to fork out over $75 for a less than satisfying lunch. Service was a tad slow and the food was so average that I didn't have the heart nor the wallet to stay on for dessert. The good thing about this place is its setting, but unless the management decides to lower the prices or buck up on the quality, the neighbouring joint shows more promise.
See all my pictures here.
Rating given:
I've purchased several accessories from GetPlush! and i find that their designs are simple yet very pleasant.
Some time last year, they participated in the lime flea market at *scape (behind cineleisure) and i practically sprinted down there to get my hands on their accessories.
Sad to say, they did not look as pretty as they did on my computer screen. The images you see in the online store are (i'm giving a rough estimate) about 30% better than what it is in real life! It was a rather disappointing discovery since i had high expectations from the start when i saw the pictures of their accessories online.
The size of their accessories are also quite small. While there may be certain intricate details being weaved into the whole design, in real life, it might be too small to be even noticed and i feel its quite a waste. Perhaps they should try to make bigger accessories?
The quality of their accessories are only average. I have purchase accessories from other blogshops which have lasted for 1 year or more, which is quite a remarkable lifespan considering that they're only costume jewellery. However, i can't say the same about accessories from GetPlush!.
After merely 5 or 6 times of wearing it, the chain simply snapped! I was not even tugging at it. Very disappointing.
I have tried to contact the blogshop owner but after 3 weeks, i've yet to receive a response. I must say i'm quite disappointed with their after-sales service. Many other online sites provide way better service. Their prices are therefore also more justifiable in that way.
Rating given:
Heard many good things about Bistro 103's food and service so made the trip west one evening to try it out for myself. Opened in April 2007, Bistro 103 is a small family run restaurant with the husband as the chef and his wife and brother in law manning the store.
Located at the unlikelinesses of places, in a small shop unit along Pasir Panjang Road just next to a motorcycle repair shop and Manhill Restaurant, Bistro 103 offers a simple and unpretentious dining area filled with wooden furniture and daily specials scribbled on a chalkboard. From what I understand, the menu is rotated monthly and corkage stands at $5 .
Breaded Seafood Tofu with Wasabi Mayo - This was something unique which I have never tried anywhere else before. The tofu was coated with bread crumbs and deep fried till a crisp. There was a slight hint of tofu taste but the texture seemed a little too firm for my liking. Also, the bread crumbs came across as a little too thick as well.
Bacon, Ham and Mushrooms - We chose to have this dish done with a tomato base for a change and I must say it was quite well executed. The tomato sauce was lightly sweet with a mild tomato undertone, which is vastly different from the usual zesty type of tomato sauce that I'm used to. The pasta was a little too overcooked though, as evident by its limpness. The quantity of mushrooms was also found lacking but the generous servings of ham and bacon made up for it somewhat. Maybe they should just omit the mushrooms in the title altogether.
Oven Baked Barbeque Pork Ribs - This came as a recommendation and though huge in serving size, I found the execution a little wanting. The marination was not thorough enough and some parts tasted bland. On the upside, the meat fell off the bone with minimal resistance yet retained a certain degree of firmness. Nice but could have been better.
Chocolate Panna Cotta - Usually chocolate and panna cotta in the same dish would do the trick for me but not in this case. The panna cotta wasn't firm enough and I couldn't quite make out the taste of it as the layer of chocolate syrup and cocoa powder above proved a tad too overwhelming. So much for a $5 dessert.
Brownie with Ice Cream - A staple personal favourite, the brownie was served steaming hot (literally!) as evident by the steam it emitted when I cut through it. Moist(a little too moist actually) and not too sweet. Coupled with the normal tasting ice cream, it made for a sweet and not too expensive ($5) ending.
Dinner for 2 cost about $62 which does stretch the value for money notion a little thin. But hey, its $62 for an appetiser, 2 mains and 2 desserts - a value proposition that can hardly be found elsewhere, not for the quality of food nor the service. And if you need that extra nudge, try patriotism. Its after all, local.
See all my pictures here.
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I like this place as it's the place to settle my cravings for baked rice, soup bun and spaghetti. The place is usually crowded from Fridays to Sundays.
It's also a good place to talk with your friends as the place is not too noisy. Although, you will attract attention if your laughter is loud.
The place is rather small, thus, the cozy ambiance. There was once when the four of us went there for dinner at around 7pm. There were some tables being reserved while the rest were still occupied. It would have been polite of the group that had reserved to call by 7pm to confirm their reservations. The table was left empty for an hour.
I felt the supervisor could have just called or apply the waiting rule of 15 minutes for each reservation so as to reduce the irk of customers who truly want to dine at the place.
Despite this incident, I still like this place as the food is good. I love the soup bun, it's a must try. Other food to try will be the pizzas, baked rice and spaghetti.
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Basically, I have no complaints about Starbucks. Their staffs are always friendly, compared to the lousy services I got elsewhere. To them, they treat their customers like proper customers and also good friends. So, going to Starbucks is always a definite pleasure from me as I always get a smile from them, regardless of gender, race, religion. My only grouse? If you check out the link of Starucks I've posted above, the site says that the Starbucks store (on the 2nd level) is supposed to be opened for business at 0730hrs every day, no matter rain or shine, normal days or pulic holidays. But lately, for the past few weeks (close to a month), their store is only opened for business after 0830hrs. Either the manager/store-in-charge cannot wake up on time or that their pay does not enable them to buy watches for themselves. Sometimes when I work in the morning shift and I crave for a cuppa, only to realise that their shop is still not opened despite reaching there at 0845hrs....
So, if you plan to grab a cuppa in the morning, please think twice. It is best to go to Starbucks Vivo (2nd level) only after 0930hrs when they are really "opened" for business. Alternatively, you might be better off if you go to Pacific Coffee instead as they are always opened at 0730 or 0800 sharp.
P/S: This photo was snapped at 0855 when they are "opened" for business. I was already hanging around there from 0830 onwards and they weren't opened yet...
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