Monthly Archives: August 2012

Dole’s Yonanas –healthy dessert maker

Posted on by Melissa Koh
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I recently came across a dessert maker that I just had to share with you. It is an exciting new product that’s hugely popular in America that has finally made its debut in Singapore.

Do you love ice cream but loathe the adverse effect it has on your waistline? Are you vegan or lactose intolerant, and deprived of the creamy icy goodness that ice cream has to offer? Dole’s Yonanas churns out non-dairy ‘ice cream’ that will satiate your cravings healthily.

The revolutionary dessert maker turns frozen fruits into a creamy, delicious cold dessert –you’re in for a stunning new taste experience.
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C-Jade HK Café IN

Posted on by Melissa Koh
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New to the scene is C-Jade HK Café IN, a new dining concept hatched up by the Crystal Jade group, a big player in the Chinese F&B sphere in Singapore.

More than a decade ago (I typed decades at first, but that would only make me seem old. I am not.), Crystal Jade has won my heart with… porridge –something that’s so simple, and yet so sublime. That’s the reason for my unfaltering patronage over the years. Falling out of love with it is a task too onerous for me. After more than 15 years, I am still a fan.

C-Jade HK Café IN focuses on youth and young adults with its modernistic approach, combining contemporary and fun dishes with familiar Hong Kong Cha Chan Teng favourites.

Sitting on the fourth floor of the newly revamped Bugis+ – which brought in attractive youth-orientated tenants that have set the mall abuzz with large crowds streaming in – the café is naturally packed, with the young and hip.

While they do not have the range of porridge that I am smitten with, let’s take a look at what surprises they have in store.


Crispy Snack Basket 香脆小食蓝 ($6.80)


D.I.Y Braised Rice 自己煮饭仔 ($9.50 – $9.80)

Crystal Jade HK Café IN introduces a fun way of cooking your meal without the hassle. The level of difficulty is paltry, even for those who rarely step into the kitchen.

All you need to do is make an order, and presented in front of you are all the ingredients and apparatus you need to put together a complete dish –and of course a step-by-step guide that is so easy to follow.
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Cuscaden Patio Café & Pub

Posted on by Melissa Koh
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Cuscaden Patio Café & Pub is the brainchild of a husband-and-wife duo, founded more than 10 years ago.

A little habit of mine when I visit a place is ‘checking-in’ on FourSquare. The café-pub’s FourSquare page is buoyantly inviting for a low-key establishment; ‘tips’ (comments) were overwhelmingly positive and enthusiastic, emphasising on cheap beer and awesome wings. It seems the perfect spot to wind down after a long day at work.

“Chill, booze, eat, music, pool table, relax while your pockets don’t get burn. Check out the wings they will freak ‘U’.” –Jeffrie, owner of Cuscaden.

I heard so much about their chicken wings through word of mouth, of raves and more raves.

What’s most attractive about their café-pub is that their finger-licking grubs will not put a major dent in your wallet.
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#SFP2012 Potluck Party

Posted on by Melissa Koh
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Definition of potluck: a gathering of people where each guest contributes food to be shared among the group.


Frittatas cooked by CY

I received two Tefal pans recently and my friend, CY, who is greatly passionate about cooking, wanted to give them a try –thus he suggested a cook-off at my humble home. (Click here to read about my cooking experience with the Tefal pan)

We also took the opportunity to have a ‘farewell party’ for our friend, Saunders, who is leaving for Paris for an exchange program. Our hashtag on twitter and instagram was #SFP2012.


Top left to right: Yakitori, Pork Chop. Bottom left to right: Smoked Duck, Ngoh Hiang

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ShareTea 歇脚亭

Posted on by Melissa Koh
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Native to Taiwan, Bubble Tea first made its debut in the 1980s. Since its launch in Singapore slightly more than ten years ago, a flurry of Bubble Tea joints have sprouted island wide, where you can spot a store in every nook of the heartlands and in the city.


Classic Milk Tea ($2.40 for Medium, $3.50 for Large)

Sharetea is a premium Bubble Tea brand that was first established in Taiwan in 1992. After gaining immense popularity with the Taiwanese locals, the highly favoured brand is now breaking into the international scene with over 100 outlets across China, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, New York, Australia, Indonesia, and Brunei.

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Obolo: Cheesecakes & Macarons

Posted on by Melissa Koh
10

I’ve heard sooooo much about Obolo prior to my virgin visit. The whole saga regarding Obolo’s lawsuit (which eventually didn’t happen) against a blogger has garnered lots of attention, and somehow stands as a reminder for bloggers to blog responsibly.

Frankly speaking, that blogger’s not-too-favourable blog post didn’t have any influence on how I would perceive Obolo. Taste is highly subjective. My decision to patronise a place is not easily swayed by a couple of negative reviews. I think she did nothing wrong by voicing her personal views.

Let’s check out their new creations.
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Haagen-Dazs presents Ice Cream Mooncakes this Mid-Autumn Festival

Posted on by Melissa Koh
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Fancy an icy, creamy Mid-Autumn Festival? It is time to ditch the traditions for a short moment and indulge in creative, contemporary mooncakes at Haagen-Dazs.

I am a huge fan of Haagen-Dazs ice cream for its premium quality –my favourite flavour being the Caramel Biscuit & Cream. Nope, they do not have mooncakes made using that flavour, but four flavours of mooncakes consist of a crispy praline ‘biscuit’ base for that nutty crunch.


Dark Chocolate ($24)

All four flavours also come with a Mango Sorbet ‘yolk’ in the centre to symbolise the full moon –an icy, refreshing and tangy contrast to the rich, creamy ice cream!
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TOAST BOX collaborates with ABLE for “LIM KOPI for a Cause”

Posted on by Melissa Koh
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Toast Box unveils a new promotional menu in conjunction with a charity drive to raise funds for ABLE (Abilities Beyond Limitations and Expectations Ltd).

ABLE is a charity organisation that strives to enable and empower the physically challenged community to be reintegrated into the mainstream society in Singapore to live a productive, meaningful and independent life.

We are often overwhelmed by materialistic desires or little hurdles in life – such as scrimping and saving just to buy the latest gadget, splurging on the newly launched limited edition Chanel handbag, or struggling to meet demanding bosses’ expectation, worrying about not paying the bills on time, et cetera – that we have forgotten that there are many others out there who need our love and care.

With the “LIM KOPI for a Cause” campaign, you can delight in Toast Box’s new Thick Toast offerings – that are available at all Toast Box outlets island wide – while at the same time do your part for charity, without having to carve time out of your hectic schedules and commitments.


French Toast Butter Kaya

Toast Box gives back 30 cents towards raising funds for ABLE with the sale of every set in the following selection, all of which customers would enjoy promotional prices:

- French Toast Butter Kaya / New Hebi Hiam Thick Toast + Kopi @ $3 (U.P. $3.50)
- French Toast Butter Kaya / New Hebi Hiam Thick Toast + Kumquat Jelly @ $4 (U.P. $4.50)
- Curry Chicken + Kumquat Jelly @ $6.30 (U.P. $7.30)
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Over the Moon with Mandarin Court’s Mooncakes

Posted on by Melissa Koh
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From 10 August to 30 September 2012, mooncakes will take centre stage at Mandarin Court Chinese Restaurant.

An indispensable pastry during the Mid-Autumn festival, it is a tradition to graze on mooncakes while admiring the bright full moon.

But with Mandarin Court’s meticulously and tastefully handcrafted mooncakes, a bright full moon is non-requisite to take pleasure in this festive treat.


Mini Snow Skin Raspberry Mooncake (8 pieces for $56) –new!

My favourite kinds of mooncakes are those with a ‘snow skin’ (冰皮). Making the perfect snow skin mooncake is not an easy feat. Novices who attempt making them would encounter umpteen flops, such as failing to attain the right texture, or even yielding dough that is hard as rock.

Innumerable hotels and restaurants are offering mooncakes of various forms and flavours that will leave you spoilt for choice. Mandarin Court is one that I highly recommend.
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Cooking: Brown Rice Risotto using Tefal Intensium non-stick cookware

Posted on by Melissa Koh
7

Do you remember your first-ever cooking experience?

Memories of cooking are not all pleasant and encouraging. If not triumphant, did it turn out to be an utter disaster because food got burnt and stuck to the surface of your cooking pans?

Quality pans are especially crucial for novice cooks; you don’t want to be scarred (mentally and literally) so bad that you will shun the kitchen and shirk the duty of cooking completely.

I speak with experience, because I was once scalded badly due to a pot handle that broke while I was carrying the pot of boiling water across the kitchen. Lesson learnt: always check if the handles are wearing out, once they do, it’s time to get new pots. Get good quality utensils with higher durability.

Tefal is one of the quality brands that I trust.

Also, health concerns are reassured with Tefal’s safe non-stick coating, recognised by public health agencies in Europe and the United States. The non-stick coating is made from an inert material that does not chemically react with food, water or household cleaning product.

With the top quality Tefal Intensium non-stick Resistal Sauté Pan with Lid, I attempted my version of Brown Rice Mushroom Risotto, inspired from several risotto recipes that I gathered online.

Using fresh ingredients is key to healthy cooking.
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Albert Court Village Hotel

Posted on by Melissa Koh
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Albert Court Village Hotel is my favourite amongst the Village Hotels.

Set in the epicentre of a heritage scene, the location is prime for cultural enthusiasts and art lovers –the Singapore art museum, National Library and art schools are within walking distance.

Quaint conservation shophouses are reinvented as a holiday retreat.

While many historical buildings have undergone drastic cosmetic alteration to keep up with our progressing nation, a valuable aspect of Albert Court Village Hotel is its well-conserved structure.


I posted this picture on my for a short quiz, asking if anyone knows where the picture was taken. Many guesses were of five-star hotels!
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Good Ol’ Days Buffet at Silver Shell Cafe, Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort

Posted on by Melissa Koh
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Hope you enjoyed yourselves on 9 August 2012, the celebration of Singapore’s 47th birthday –whether you were waving a flag amongst the audiences at the National Day Parade with pride, or watching the live telecast in the comforts of your own couch, singing along to the national day songs that are entrenched in our hearts, or watching the spectacular fireworks from a hotel room perched at the high floors of the Marina Bay Sands –this patriotic holiday is an opportunity to bond with friends and family.

Melicacy was having a feast at Silver Shell Café, Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort.

Every Thursday in August and September, Silver Shell Café transforms into a nostalgic event, presenting “Good Ol’ Days” –a showcase of old-time favourite hawker fare, childhood games of yesteryear and cultural performances.

Children and youths of today can get a glimpse into the culture of the olden days of Singapore, leaving with a deeper understanding of what their parents and grandparents lived with, and the toys they played with when they were young.

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