Thanks to SeeDifferent.SG, we were invited to a private Halloween Party at MINT Museum of Toys. Our visit to the MINT Museum of Toys was a perfect complement to our earlier visit to the Singapore Toys, Games and Comic Convention (STGCC). From these visits, we were able to see toys of different periods (vintage toys in MINT Museum of Toys versus modern ones in STGCC) from all around the world.
The “MINT” in MINT Museum of Toys stands for Moment of Imagination and Nostalgia with Toys. The museum is the world’s first purpose-built museum for toys. Its unique collection of vintage toys originates from over 25 countries such as Germany, Japan, United States and even Bulgaria.
Over 50,000 pieces of vintage toys and childhood memorabilia dating from the mid-19th century to mid-20th century, is exhibited over 4 levels of the museum e.g. The toys at Level 5: Outerspace, reflect early 20th century society’s perception of technology and space travel in the future – deadly ray guns, flying suits, scary robots and aliens.
For more info, check out: http://www.passportchop.com/asia/singapore/mint-museum-of-toys-halloween-party/
There are many Fish Spas in Singapore but stick to the more reputable brands e.g. Kenko, Qian Hu Fish Spa since there had been a number of reports of shops using cheaper species of fish which could do more harm than good. The Fish Spa service at Qian Hu Fish Farm is one of the cheapest in the market:
Walk-in rates for the Fish Spa – $10 for first half (1/2) hour and subsequent charges are at $0.30 per minute. Slippers and towels are also provided as part of the fee.
If you are planning a company/family bonding trip by having fishes nibbling at their feet, you can also book in advance with Qian Hu Fish Farm -> they have this Spa Executive Tour (weekdays only, exclude Public holidays) that can cost as little as $5/head depending on the group size.
This is the second time I am here for this Fish Spa.. I noticed that the fishes have grown tremendously in size or they had introduced new fish species. Some are as long as my foot and my foot is already quite HUGE!
The sign in Mandarin says ” Over Here -> Bigger Fish Bigger Enjoyment” and indeed it is a very interesting and ticklish experience. Don’t worry, not all fishes are as big; there is just one pool with such big fishes, the rest are smaller ones. You can see the difference between the small and big fish in the top right most picture.
KBox is one of the largest chain of lifestyle karaoke in Singapore. What I like most about KBox Marina Square is the cool entertainment facilities e.g. multiple TV visuals and high-fidelity audio-visual systems with wireless microphones and fully computerized Karaoke on Demand system.
The variety of songs available was also awesome - English, Mandarin and even a good selection of Japanese songs.
We also tried the buffet dinner which came with the Karaoke evening package ($26 ). The variety of food was quite plentiful but quality was just ok. Like the songs, there was a wide variety of food - English (french fries, fried chicken), Chinese (bee hoon, braised chicken) and Japanese (sashimi, sushi)
Having tried Pizza Hut’s Pasta Perfetto – Fish in Tomato Cream Sauce and Prawn Aglio Olio last month, we are convinced that Pizza Hut can cook yummy pastas with very unique flavors. We decided to try out a pasta dish that is more commonly available in the market to ascertain if Pizza Hut’s version is indeed better.
We found a Chicken Bolognese-equivalent being offered in Pizza Hut – the Classic Pasta Perfetto Chicken Pomodoro ($6.50). This dish is essentially Pasta and Chicken cooked in Tasty Tomato Herb Sauce. I have tried many such dishes at different pasta outlets and the tomato base sauce was either too overpowering (masking over the aroma of the pasta and chicken) or too sour and quantity of chicken pieces pathetic.
However, Pizza Hut managed to get the tomato base sauce mix just right and it complements the taste of the chicken and pasta perfectly. The serving is also adequate, with a good quantity of chicken pieces well-mixed in the tomato base sauce.
Besides the Chicken Pomodoro Pasta, we also tried the new Twist ‘N’ Dunk Pizza. This new pizza comes with 18 mini crusts topped with savoury Italian herbs. For the best dining experience, twist these mini crusts off the pizza (see how we did it in the picture below) and dunk them into cheddar cheese and nacho chips for the cheesy crispy taste. One set of cheddar cheese and nacho chips condiments is provided with each order of the pizza. You can choose your preferred toppings (e.g. Hawaiian, Curry Chicken, Veggie Lover).
The seemingly endless ice-cream flavors should be able to keep you occupied for most of your time there. If not, there are many cakes – oreo cheese cake, apple tart, chocolate pecan pie etc. There are also waffles and different types of toppings to match your tastes for ice-cream.
You can also indulge yourself in the chocolate fondue with marshmallows and brownies.
There is also a special feature in this Swensen Ice-Cream Buffet – the Chop Shop. You let the staff know what are your preferred flavors and they will chop and mix all the flavors with your favorite toppings to create your own unique ice-cream flavor! We mixed Milo flavor ice-cream with chocolate chips and honey – Yummy!
For more info, check out: http://www.passportchop.com/asia/singapore/review-of-swensen-ice-cream-buffet-ion-orchard/
Had dinner with a couple of my relatives at Tai Seng Restaurant, one of the long standing traditional Teochew restaurants still around in this era of fast food and modern Chinese cuisine. Established in 1933, it used to be located at Outram (if my memory serves me correctly) and was apparently very popular back then.
Currently located not too far from its original location, on the top floor of People's Park Centre, Tai Seng looks just like your typical nostalgic restaurant from yesteryear. Think Red Star or Yan Palace.
Prawn Roll - Our dinner trotted off to a good start with the prawn roll or Har Zhor, which was crisp without involving too much oil or fatty meat in the equation. Dipped into the plum sauce, it was a nice blend of sweet and salty.
Cabbage Braised with Mushroom - A traditional Teochew dish, the braised cabbage isn't exactly my cup of tea because of the way it is prepared - very soft from being soaked in the gravy. But that's just a personal preference. My parents liked it though.
Deep Fried Crayfish - I loved this dish for its flavour - salty carrying a hint of spiciness and its crisp and dry texture. The presence of fried garlic provided a whiff of fragrance as well as the nice garlicky after taste. Very good!
Braised Sea Cucumber with Fish Maw - The sea cucumber didn't come across as too gelatin or slimy, which upped the appetising factor (for me at least). Coupled with mushrooms and fish maw that didn't gross me out by being too slimy, it was simple yet good.
Goose Meat - One of the few yardsticks I use to measure Teochew cuisine and also one of my personal favourites, the goose failed to make the cut, to say the very least. It had a rather gamy taste and did seem a little dry. What piqued my interest was the inclusion of the neck, something which I rarely see nowadays. But its just a mere novelty.
Steamed Pomfret - Teochew cuisine is famed for its steamed pomfret, which is steamed with mushrooms, tomatos, sour plums and the likes. Tai Seng's rendition was excellent if I may say. The rather sizeable fish was very fresh, sweet and steamed to perfection. The gravy was nice and light and complemented the fish very well.
Yam & Pumpkin - My other yardstick for guaging Teochew food - the humble yet labouriously intensive to prepare, yam paste aka Orh Nee. Besides being a little too sweet for my liking, the yam paste lacked fragrance probably due to the reduced usage of lard. At least it was smooth and definitely palatable.
$216 for a dinner for 7 is relatively value for money considering the food that we got. Quality of food is a case of hits and misses and service is patchy but decent. Overall a decent place to try if you want Teochew food and are looking to avoid the crowds in the other more popular Teochew restaurants like Huat Kee and the likes.
Have you ever felt like leaving a “I was here” mark on tables/chairs of eateries/restaurants/cafes you visited in Singapore without being caught and caned for vandalism? Now you can! Simply visit the Graffiti Cafe located in Far East Plaza (one of Singapore teenagers’ favorite shopping haunts) Annex Level 1.
There is an awkward mismatch between what this cafe sold – Pontian Wanton Noodles (traditional looking) and cafe design – graffiti wall murals (modern hip-hop looking). Perhaps more to cater to the young crowd shopping in Far East Plaza.
This cafe sells only Pontian Wanton Noodles ($3.50 per bowl) and different flavored drinks (fruit juice, milo, coke etc.). The wanton noodles was quite good with a good mix of ingredients – fried wanton, normal wanton in soup, char siew and vegetables. When you order, they will ask for your preference of the noodle sauce: A) Tomato sauce without chili; or B) Only chili sauce; or C) Black sauce with chili (Try this one if you are ok with chili)
For more info, check out: http://www.passportchop.com/asia/singapore/graffiti-cafe-pontian-wanton-noodles/
This hawker centre food stall, Ho’s Kitchen, comes highly recommended by a friend for its yummy sambal fried mee (also known as mee goreng) and its cheap price ($2.50) yet huge servings.
There is actually a reason why this stall serves cheap food with huge portions. Taman Jurong Food Centre is located around industrial estates and this centre is a frequent lunch venues for many blue-collar factory workers in the area. Thus the stall owners decided to provide them with a lunch that is affordable and at the same time filling enough.
Besides sambal fried mee (mee goreng), the stall also serves other dishes e.g. hor fun and rice with meat cooked in different styles.
We tried the sambal fried mee and hor fun as well as the chicken cooked in different styles. Very yummy! The meals are totally worth it for just $2.50 and we are so full after this meal. I think it is hard to find any other places in Singapore that serves such yummy and filling meals for only $2.50.
For more info, check out: http://www.passportchop.com/asia/singapore/taman-jurong-food-centre-ho-kitchen-review/
Besides sushi, Sakae Sushi also offers many variety of Japanese food – one of which is Sumiyaki (a form of Japanese BBQ). There are different sets of Sumiyaki offered at Sakae Sushi Wheelock Place (near Orchard MRT) – different pricing for various quantities and flavours.
We ordered the Sumiyaki Onigiri set at $12.90 which comprised the following items:
* Tebasaki (BBQ Chicken Wings) * Yakitori (Grilled Chicken on Sticks) * Salmon Bara (BBQ Salmon) * Gyu Bara with Asparagus (BBQ Beef Bacon wrapped around Asparagus) * Onigiri Lime (Japanese White Rice Balls) * Onigiri Katsuobushi * Yaki Pineapple * Miso Cabbage * Miso Soup
If you like BBQ food, you will like the Sumiyaki set and you can choose a variety of Sumiyaki sets ranging from $8 to $20 , depending on your preference of ingredients and quantity. For a limited period only, Sakae Sushi Wheelock Place is also offering a 30% discount on single sticks of Sumiyaki (not valid for set meals and platters). Perfect if you just want to sample and try these Japanese BBQ food.
For more info on our dining experience at Sakae Sushi Wheelock, check out: http://www.passportchop.com/asia/singapore/sumiyaki-onigiri-bbq-sakae-sushi-wheelock/
I had the opportunity to ask 9 of my colleagues along for a treat at Hachi Restaurant as part of a Class 95 Office Lunch Treat programme. Class 95 DJs Glenn Ong, Flying Dutchman and Vernetta Lopez were also present to have lunch with us. We were treated to Hachi’s Omakase Dinner which typically comprises 9-10 specially crafted dishes and takes over 2 hours. It starts at $108 per pax. There is also a lunch Omakase available at Hachi with 5 to 7 dishes.
Our Omakase experience consists of 12 dishes – each of them small in quantity but huge in freshness and taste. You won’t feel overwhelmed because the serving is well-paced and planned such that your appetite will first be whetted via light dishes such as asparagus and fresh egg yolk before graduating to oysters and sashimi. You are given a breather at the 7th dish with a soup with mushrooms and clams before the heavy-duty food comes in – Alaskan King Crab and Roasted Wagyu Beef (so tender yet crispy) and fried croquette. It then ends off with soba in light sauce and dessert – black sesame ice-cream. See attached picture for all 12 dishes we conquered.
For more info on the Omakase dining experience at Hachi restaurant, see: http://www.passportchop.com/asia/singapore/omaksae-dining-hachi-restaurant/
1=SGD 0.0587
Thanks to SeeDifferent.SG, we were invited to a private Halloween Party at MINT Museum of Toys. Our visit to the MINT Museum of Toys was a perfect complement to our earlier visit to the Singapore Toys, Games and Comic Convention (STGCC). From these visits, we were able to see toys of different periods (vintage toys in MINT Museum of Toys versus modern ones in STGCC) from all around the world.
The “MINT” in MINT Museum of Toys stands for Moment of Imagination and Nostalgia with Toys. The museum is the world’s first purpose-built museum for toys. Its unique collection of vintage toys originates from over 25 countries such as Germany, Japan, United States and even Bulgaria.
Over 50,000 pieces of vintage toys and childhood memorabilia dating from the mid-19th century to mid-20th century, is exhibited over 4 levels of the museum e.g. The toys at Level 5: Outerspace, reflect early 20th century society’s perception of technology and space travel in the future – deadly ray guns, flying suits, scary robots and aliens.
For more info, check out: http://www.passportchop.com/asia/singapore/mint-museum-of-toys-halloween-party/
Rating given:
There are many Fish Spas in Singapore but stick to the more reputable brands e.g. Kenko, Qian Hu Fish Spa since there had been a number of reports of shops using cheaper species of fish which could do more harm than good. The Fish Spa service at Qian Hu Fish Farm is one of the cheapest in the market:
Walk-in rates for the Fish Spa – $10 for first half (1/2) hour and subsequent charges are at $0.30 per minute. Slippers and towels are also provided as part of the fee.
If you are planning a company/family bonding trip by having fishes nibbling at their feet, you can also book in advance with Qian Hu Fish Farm -> they have this Spa Executive Tour (weekdays only, exclude Public holidays) that can cost as little as $5/head depending on the group size.
This is the second time I am here for this Fish Spa.. I noticed that the fishes have grown tremendously in size or they had introduced new fish species. Some are as long as my foot and my foot is already quite HUGE!
The sign in Mandarin says ” Over Here -> Bigger Fish Bigger Enjoyment” and indeed it is a very interesting and ticklish experience. Don’t worry, not all fishes are as big; there is just one pool with such big fishes, the rest are smaller ones. You can see the difference between the small and big fish in the top right most picture.
Rating given:
KBox is one of the largest chain of lifestyle karaoke in Singapore. What I like most about KBox Marina Square is the cool entertainment facilities e.g.
multiple TV visuals and high-fidelity audio-visual systems with wireless microphones and fully computerized Karaoke on Demand system.
The variety of songs available was also awesome - English, Mandarin and even a good selection of Japanese songs.
We also tried the buffet dinner which came with the Karaoke evening package ($26 ). The variety of food was quite plentiful but quality was just ok. Like the songs, there was a wide variety of food - English (french fries, fried chicken), Chinese (bee hoon, braised chicken) and Japanese (sashimi, sushi)
Rating given:
Having tried Pizza Hut’s Pasta Perfetto – Fish in Tomato Cream Sauce and Prawn Aglio Olio last month, we are convinced that Pizza Hut can cook yummy pastas with very unique flavors. We decided to try out a pasta dish that is more commonly available in the market to ascertain if Pizza Hut’s version is indeed better.
We found a Chicken Bolognese-equivalent being offered in Pizza Hut – the Classic Pasta Perfetto Chicken Pomodoro ($6.50). This dish is essentially Pasta and Chicken cooked in Tasty Tomato Herb Sauce. I have tried many such dishes at different pasta outlets and the tomato base sauce was either too overpowering (masking over the aroma of the pasta and chicken) or too sour and quantity of chicken pieces pathetic.
However, Pizza Hut managed to get the tomato base sauce mix just right and it complements the taste of the chicken and pasta perfectly. The serving is also adequate, with a good quantity of chicken pieces well-mixed in the tomato base sauce.
Besides the Chicken Pomodoro Pasta, we also tried the new Twist ‘N’ Dunk Pizza. This new pizza comes with 18 mini crusts topped with savoury Italian herbs. For the best dining experience, twist these mini crusts off the pizza (see how we did it in the picture below) and dunk them into cheddar cheese and nacho chips for the cheesy crispy taste. One set of cheddar cheese and nacho chips condiments is provided with each order of the pizza. You can choose your preferred toppings (e.g. Hawaiian, Curry Chicken, Veggie Lover).
Rating given:
The seemingly endless ice-cream flavors should be able to keep you occupied for most of your time there. If not, there are many cakes – oreo cheese cake, apple tart, chocolate pecan pie etc. There are also waffles and different types of toppings to match your tastes for ice-cream.
You can also indulge yourself in the chocolate fondue with marshmallows and brownies.
There is also a special feature in this Swensen Ice-Cream Buffet – the Chop Shop. You let the staff know what are your preferred flavors and they will chop and mix all the flavors with your favorite toppings to create your own unique ice-cream flavor! We mixed Milo flavor ice-cream with chocolate chips and honey – Yummy!
For more info, check out: http://www.passportchop.com/asia/singapore/review-of-swensen-ice-cream-buffet-ion-orchard/
Rating given:
Had dinner with a couple of my relatives at Tai Seng Restaurant, one of the long standing traditional Teochew restaurants still around in this era of fast food and modern Chinese cuisine. Established in 1933, it used to be located at Outram (if my memory serves me correctly) and was apparently very popular back then.
Currently located not too far from its original location, on the top floor of People's Park Centre, Tai Seng looks just like your typical nostalgic restaurant from yesteryear. Think Red Star or Yan Palace.
Prawn Roll - Our dinner trotted off to a good start with the prawn roll or Har Zhor, which was crisp without involving too much oil or fatty meat in the equation. Dipped into the plum sauce, it was a nice blend of sweet and salty.
Cabbage Braised with Mushroom - A traditional Teochew dish, the braised cabbage isn't exactly my cup of tea because of the way it is prepared - very soft from being soaked in the gravy. But that's just a personal preference. My parents liked it though.
Deep Fried Crayfish - I loved this dish for its flavour - salty carrying a hint of spiciness and its crisp and dry texture. The presence of fried garlic provided a whiff of fragrance as well as the nice garlicky after taste. Very good!
Braised Sea Cucumber with Fish Maw - The sea cucumber didn't come across as too gelatin or slimy, which upped the appetising factor (for me at least). Coupled with mushrooms and fish maw that didn't gross me out by being too slimy, it was simple yet good.
Goose Meat - One of the few yardsticks I use to measure Teochew cuisine and also one of my personal favourites, the goose failed to make the cut, to say the very least. It had a rather gamy taste and did seem a little dry. What piqued my interest was the inclusion of the neck, something which I rarely see nowadays. But its just a mere novelty.
Steamed Pomfret - Teochew cuisine is famed for its steamed pomfret, which is steamed with mushrooms, tomatos, sour plums and the likes. Tai Seng's rendition was excellent if I may say. The rather sizeable fish was very fresh, sweet and steamed to perfection. The gravy was nice and light and complemented the fish very well.
Yam & Pumpkin - My other yardstick for guaging Teochew food - the humble yet labouriously intensive to prepare, yam paste aka Orh Nee. Besides being a little too sweet for my liking, the yam paste lacked fragrance probably due to the reduced usage of lard. At least it was smooth and definitely palatable.
$216 for a dinner for 7 is relatively value for money considering the food that we got. Quality of food is a case of hits and misses and service is patchy but decent. Overall a decent place to try if you want Teochew food and are looking to avoid the crowds in the other more popular Teochew restaurants like Huat Kee and the likes.
See all my pictures here.
Rating given:
Have you ever felt like leaving a “I was here” mark on tables/chairs of eateries/restaurants/cafes you visited in Singapore without being caught and caned for vandalism? Now you can! Simply visit the Graffiti Cafe located in Far East Plaza (one of Singapore teenagers’ favorite shopping haunts) Annex Level 1.
There is an awkward mismatch between what this cafe sold – Pontian Wanton Noodles (traditional looking) and cafe design – graffiti wall murals (modern hip-hop looking). Perhaps more to cater to the young crowd shopping in Far East Plaza.
This cafe sells only Pontian Wanton Noodles ($3.50 per bowl) and different flavored drinks (fruit juice, milo, coke etc.). The wanton noodles was quite good with a good mix of ingredients – fried wanton, normal wanton in soup, char siew and vegetables. When you order, they will ask for your preference of the noodle sauce:
A) Tomato sauce without chili; or
B) Only chili sauce; or
C) Black sauce with chili (Try this one if you are ok with chili)
For more info, check out: http://www.passportchop.com/asia/singapore/graffiti-cafe-pontian-wanton-noodles/
Rating given:
This hawker centre food stall, Ho’s Kitchen, comes highly recommended by a friend for its yummy sambal fried mee (also known as mee goreng) and its cheap price ($2.50) yet huge servings.
There is actually a reason why this stall serves cheap food with huge portions. Taman Jurong Food Centre is located around industrial estates and this centre is a frequent lunch venues for many blue-collar factory workers in the area. Thus the stall owners decided to provide them with a lunch that is affordable and at the same time filling enough.
Besides sambal fried mee (mee goreng), the stall also serves other dishes e.g. hor fun and rice with meat cooked in different styles.
We tried the sambal fried mee and hor fun as well as the chicken cooked in different styles. Very yummy! The meals are totally worth it for just $2.50 and we are so full after this meal. I think it is hard to find any other places in Singapore that serves such yummy and filling meals for only $2.50.
For more info, check out: http://www.passportchop.com/asia/singapore/taman-jurong-food-centre-ho-kitchen-review/
Rating given:
Besides sushi, Sakae Sushi also offers many variety of Japanese food – one of which is Sumiyaki (a form of Japanese BBQ). There are different sets of Sumiyaki offered at Sakae Sushi Wheelock Place (near Orchard MRT) – different pricing for various quantities and flavours.
We ordered the Sumiyaki Onigiri set at $12.90 which comprised the following items:
* Tebasaki (BBQ Chicken Wings)
* Yakitori (Grilled Chicken on Sticks)
* Salmon Bara (BBQ Salmon)
* Gyu Bara with Asparagus (BBQ Beef Bacon wrapped around Asparagus)
* Onigiri Lime (Japanese White Rice Balls)
* Onigiri Katsuobushi
* Yaki Pineapple
* Miso Cabbage
* Miso Soup
If you like BBQ food, you will like the Sumiyaki set and you can choose a variety of Sumiyaki sets ranging from $8 to $20 , depending on your preference of ingredients and quantity. For a limited period only, Sakae Sushi Wheelock Place is also offering a 30% discount on single sticks of Sumiyaki (not valid for set meals and platters). Perfect if you just want to sample and try these Japanese BBQ food.
For more info on our dining experience at Sakae Sushi Wheelock, check out: http://www.passportchop.com/asia/singapore/sumiyaki-onigiri-bbq-sakae-sushi-wheelock/
Rating given:
I had the opportunity to ask 9 of my colleagues along for a treat at Hachi Restaurant as part of a Class 95 Office Lunch Treat programme. Class 95 DJs Glenn Ong, Flying Dutchman and Vernetta Lopez were also present to have lunch with us. We were treated to Hachi’s Omakase Dinner which typically comprises 9-10 specially crafted dishes and takes over 2 hours. It starts at $108 per pax. There is also a lunch Omakase available at Hachi with 5 to 7 dishes.
Our Omakase experience consists of 12 dishes – each of them small in quantity but huge in freshness and taste. You won’t feel overwhelmed because the serving is well-paced and planned such that your appetite will first be whetted via light dishes such as asparagus and fresh egg yolk before graduating to oysters and sashimi. You are given a breather at the 7th dish with a soup with mushrooms and clams before the heavy-duty food comes in – Alaskan King Crab and Roasted Wagyu Beef (so tender yet crispy) and fried croquette. It then ends off with soba in light sauce and dessert – black sesame ice-cream. See attached picture for all 12 dishes we conquered.
For more info on the Omakase dining experience at Hachi restaurant, see: http://www.passportchop.com/asia/singapore/omaksae-dining-hachi-restaurant/
Rating given: