Being a dessert (chocolate) fan, no one could stop me from Melvados once I knew they were famous for their brownies. Totally psyched, I travelled all the way to the other end of Singapore for a lazy Sunday afternoon tea with a friend.
Situated in King's Arcade, I couldn't help but notice that the exterior is a little run-down looking. But I guess what was more important to me was the inside since it was a really hot day and I needed a good dose of cool air....
..which I didn't get... for the first time I actually asked my companion if he felt hot. I'm usually the one who doesn't complain about the temperature of the place but this one is an exception. There's a first to everything right? We were sitting pretty far from the window so we weren't subjected to the heat from outside. So it really must be the lack of air-conditioning.
That aside, I found the decor alright. Just a little sparse though. They could have more seats to make the place look more full. But as my companion pointed out, two more tables (like I suggested) could make it look crammed. But I guess they could switch to smaller tables. Nonetheless the tables and chairs didn't quite match though the sofas looked nice. I say look cos there were very few and we didn't get a chance to sit on them.
After much pondering, we ordered:
Mixed Platter Your usual mix of fried calamari, fries, onion rings and seafood cakes. I didn't like any of it. The fries were the thin sort which is pretty much oil and little potato. The onion rings lacked onion flavour. The calamari are the sort straight from the freezer and the seafood cakes were just weird. The batter used wasn't tasty and honestly I was quite sick of it after the first two pieces. And yes they seemed to have used the same batter (or at least similiar) for all 3 items, except the fries.
Black & White Kisses This is the recommended brownie on the menu. It's a brownie topped with dark and white chocolate Hershey's kisses. This brownie was the more moist one of the two we had but it's still not rich enough in my opinion. It was still a little crumbly (like a cake) and I prefer brownies which are more on the sticky side. There is a good bit of flavour though.
Sizzling Brownies Sensation This is the brownie above, served on a hot plate with your choice of ice-cream. We had expected something more and certainly didn't expect to be served the same brownie. Also the hot plate was just heated up in the microwave and cooled down pretty fast after it arrived. I guess that's just as well since the ice cream was melting at super speed, resulting in a brownish puddle around the brownie after a while. Just a novelty but nothing to rave about really.
Chocolate Madness This was your regular brownie, just much drier. My little mistake.
We paid $25 in total I think and although it wasn't very much but I didn't find it worth my while after all. Service was alright and the staff wasn't exceptionally alert despite the fact that there were so few tables occupied.
I think everyone knows this lone building standing in the field next to the huge balloon in Bugis area. It has a pretty famous alfresco steamboat joint too.
I had the chance to go to this budget hotel when my friend from the US stayed there. Despite the exterior looking a little run-down, the inside was fine.
The walls of the small lobby were adorned with old photographs and old newspaper clippings about the hotel. The room my friend is staying in costs SGD60 a night. It is a little small but still comfortable with its double bed. However for that price he had to use the common bath which he found to be rather clean. (He's an expert when it comes to budget accomodation.)
In fact, he had so much confidence in the place, he told us that he wanted to switch to the SGD18 per night room where he would have to share with 3 other people. They had two bunk beds there and it's still very clean.
What he was most impressed with was the good condition of the lockers and the hot and cold showers in all the bathrooms. The service was also friendly and we had a good chat with the staff whilst we were visiting.
With the good location and reasonable prices, I really find this hostel worthwhile. Moreover, it wasn't sleazy and felt very safe to live there.
Chinese Cuisine with a Difference is Taste Paradise's tagline. Curious about how different this might be, 5 of us dropped by for a cosy dinner last Friday.
It was pretty easy to locate the place, however, parking wasn't that easy. In front of the restaurant there're some parallel parking spots but as you would guess too few for every one. Trying to look for parking in the area isn't too easy as they are all one-way streets. So do plan where you want to park before you go. Hong Lim or Chinatown Point would be two good places.
The restaurant is tastefully decorated with a long passage right up front. It's mainly in reds and blacks and the lighting is a little dim but still bright enough for me to see what I'm eating. Good enough for me.
We were greeted politely at the door and led to our seats in one of the rooms. After some observation, we noticed that one of the walls was actually made of panels which could be removed to make the room bigger for functions.
I couldn't bear to analyse the menu like my companions did for it didn't have any pictures were just filled with words. There were curly Chinese characters and English descriptions but it was still pretty difficult to read. So the rest of us just let two of them decide.
One little interesting thing was that there were 3 prices for the same bowl of Shark's Fin - $38, $58 and $68. $38 was the regular serving, $58 had more shark's fin in it and $68 was fin of high quality.... the staff patiently explained to us when we asked.
Food ordered:
Carrot Cake which I forgot to take the description of. But this was delicious. I LOVED IT! The serving was enough for 2 and slightly more. It wasn't too oily. the texture was very smooth and very tasty! YUMS!
Pan-seared Foie gras, wasabi mayonnaise prawn and sliced Beijing duck with condiments - $18 per personOur starter for the day was this great combination! The foie gras was crisp on the outside and pretty smooth on the inside. It was quite sizeable, any bigger and I would be worried about my heart. The wasabi prawn was alright. The wasabi taste wasn't too strong which is good and it was quite a big one. It was served on top of a watermelon which was suppose to compliment the taste of the prawn. But I couldn't be bothered to eat it. I liked the Beijing Duck slice. It was pre-prepared with the skin and sauce and wasn't too sweet. Just right.
Double boiled superior shark's fin with dried conpoy in traditional Beijing broth accompanied with bacon onion roll - $38 per personThe presentation of this dish was impressive! It was served in a grey bowl, the sort people used to mash belachan in, with the bacon wrap on top. It was bubbling when it came and bubbled for a long time whilst we drank it. There was plenty of fin and the broth was not too starchy like at some places. But it did smell of vinegar though I didn't find it too sourish. The bacon onion roll was a nice touch though I did find it a little troublesome to eat.
Braised homemade Beancurd with shredded scallop and Japanese Mushroom - $16 This was the one dish which I found a little disappointing. The skin of the beancurd was a little too tough and hard to tear. The taste was ok and the texture of the inside was smooth. The sauce it came with wasn't too salty as I have tasted in other places and the scallop was a nice accompaniment. Just the skin bothered me.
Szechuan Style roasted Chicken with homemade crispy crumbs - Half $16By the time we got to this dish I was pretty full but I still picked up a few pieces to munch. My companions were commenting about it being spicy but I found it barely so. It was quite tasty and the meat didn't taste as dry as it looked. I liked the texture of the meat but I'm the sort who likes chicken breast meat so if you aren't like me... well.
Stirfried Spinach with garlic - price unknownToo full to have any of this. But it looked just like your regular vege to me.
Mashed Taro with almond cream served in fresh coconut - $6.50I wanted to order this but I was in a mood for something cooler but I was happy to get a taste of it. It was served in a tiny REAL coconut! SO COOL! I was more fascinated with the coconut bowl than anything else. I think the Orh Nee tasted very nice. It wasn't too sweet, not overly flavoured. It had a hint of almond (or maybe I didn't scoop so much almond) which gave it a nice twist.
Chilled Mango Puree with Sago and Pomelo served with coconut ice cream - $4.50This was my dessert of the day!! I was worried about the coconut ice cream as I'm not a fan of coconut actually. But everything's worth trying right? So try I did and I enjoyed this dessert very much. Served cold and sweet (just right).
Chilled Pumpkin Puree served with coconut ice cream (Chef's Special) - $4.50Sadly I didn't get a taste of this.... but no complaints. She seemed to enjoy it...
Chilled Aloe Vera in refreshing calamansi juice - $4.50 Neither did I try this...
We got the 3 chilled desserts free, they were on the house which was a nice surprise.
The service was very good throughout the meal. Our tea was constantly topped up and Desmond, the assistant manager was jovial and sincere when serving us. When the 2 servings of the shark's fin were late, he took the initiative to inform us, which I think is a show of good service.
Each of us paid $93.50 for our share of food. It does seem quite a lot doesn't it? But I guess with foie gras and shark's fin on the list, I find it pretty acceptable. Minus those two, it would be more reasonable.
I chanced upon this place a while ago but visited it on a Monday when it was closed *just my dumb luck* Anyway then I caught it on Sunday Plus and decided that I should definitely try it. So I dragged my friend along that lazy rainy Sunday.
I loved the interior. No doubt it can only seat 15 and it's a little cramped but I love the peranakan style stuff and they actually sell peranakan clothing behind too! There were little knick knacks all over but I didn't take a look at the prices...
Food ordered:
Pan Fried Radish Cake & Yam Cake - $4.80 (4 slices) Let me explain this one. On its menu, Radish cake and Yam cake are listed separately at $3.80 for 3 slices. But as there are only two of us, the lady offered to let us try both, giving us 2 slices of each at $4.80 which I agreed. I liked the radish cake more than the yam cake but both are smooth enough for me. I enjoyed them but I did find the portion too small for the price.
Grandma Rayna’s Roast Chicken - $10.80 YUMMY! I normally will not order roast chicken but this time I didn't have to cut it up myself so I was happily gobbling away at the chicken bits. The meat was well marinated and juicy. The potato that came with it reminded me of my pri sch canteen food though. I loved this dish (the chicken) but it was really expensive as there was little meat.
Gingko Silky Bean - $3 One word - Regret. I was turned off after two scoops but I still finished it... cos it isn't cheap. :P
Waffle with Ice Cream - $6.60 The waffle looked a little burnt at the sides and there was a slight sourish taste but it didn't bother me much. The ice cream is probably the sort you could get at supermarkets at half price.
We spent $25.20 for the two of us. but the food was basically a one-person's share. There wasn't much choice in desserts. The place is a nice place for people to chit chat (like we saw three other groups doing) but not quite a dessert place. But I would go back for the radish cake and chicken, just when my pocket feels heavier. :P
I attended the Party held at the Mint on Friday and I loved it. I love the place, with all the quirky toys. It never fails to amaze me, this place.
Richard, the curator, was also very nice to help us out although it was past the time for him to knock off. He even offered to take us up to the balcony to see another area they have for a gathering. It was open air and I can see the makings of a BBQ there!
Anyways back to the party, lots of people were there, Yebbers and Pingsters and other bloggers... We were suitably entertained, though I have to agree with some that we needed a mic or a gong to get people's attention at least. :) The bingo game sure got lots of people's attention!!!
Also the prizes were great though I din win any. But I'm sure many appreciated the prizes. :)
The food also also pretty good though I'd prefer to have seats when I eat but it was alright too. I was too excited to eat wor. Nonetheless the people made sure we had all we need for the party to go on and I think that's one of the most important things when choosing a venue - having the support from the venue staff. :)
I remember when TV Mobile first started, I was very disturbed. It was not properly set up and the whole system wasn't stable yet. I don't usually sleep on the bus but I find having some quiet time useful so it isn't really a boon.
At some places, TV mobile will tend to lag and freeze at certain scenes. Occasionally it would leave the actors/actresses in an ugly pose which will send me giggling. People probably think I'm weird then.
Now I think they've lowered the volume and ask people to tune in from the radio station if they wish to hear. But It's kinda like bring your own entertainment isn't it? I think it really defeats its purpose at times. Also very few people carry portable radios these days.
Nonetheless I always enjoy it when the Gags show up. That's my favourite. And I think lots of people enjoy watching it as it usually sends many people into peals of laughter.
TV mobile has a long way to go... meanwhile.. it's back to good ol' MP3.
Hua Xia Tai Mao Bi is a little shop in KK hospital which makes chinese brushes from children's hair. Newborns between 3 to 15 mths are brought to the shop to have their hair shaved off and made into chinese brushes for keeps.
I went with my friend's newborn that day and the lady patiently explained the process and let my friend choose the brush she wanted. They had quite a wide range,from fine ones to thicker ones. There were some with more intricate designs and others with simple paintings on them. The cheapest brush was $49 and the most expensive was $500 , I think.
Well the lady was quite gentle with my friend's 3 month old boy while shaving his head. He didn't cry at all and even fell asleep. He had plenty of hair so my friend chose 2 brushes.
The lady kept the enough to make the 2 brushes and returned my friend the rest. They had to go back 1 month later to collect the brushes. I was wondering to myself... how one would know whose hair was on the brush they made. Just purely based on trust I suppose.
Well the brushes DO NOT come in boxes and you have to purchase boxes too... which are slightly over $100...
The total for 2 brushes and a boxes to put both brushes in was $600.. which is a hefty sum I must say... I seriously don't think I would be spending this sort of money.
But I would have to give the lady credit for being so patient and providing such good service. Apparently Zoe Tay had her brushes done there too!
I've been here a few times and never wrote about it!
The 2nd floor is a great place to just chill and enjoy the music but the drawback is that there aren't any seats and it's constantly crowded. Not to mention it's easier to get in if you just buy a bottle. Just to skip the long queue. Being there early means you get seats... and also get eyed by later patrons cos they really want your seat. My friend went in super early just to reserve seats for us. The drinks are ok, not too diluted and I guess reasonably priced for a bar. I enjoy the live music though I'm not really a fan of that genre.
The ground floor is more for the soccer crowd and those who want to eat. Though it's quieter here but not quite the place for conversation either as it's quite cramped with people mostly.
lo and behold! The new kid on the block, Obolo opened along the popular Joo Chiat Road late 2007, serving up desserts and drinks. It has a small seating area with 3 tables for about 10 people.
I liked the interior decor. Very modern and yet cosy like. They had pastry books for browsing on the coffee tables which was a nice touch. The well-taken pictures of their own cakes adorned the walls.
I happily plonked myself down on the seemingly comfortable chair to discover that it was hard as stone. *ouch* The table was the same height as the chairs so you really have to bend over to have your cake.
Noisette $6.90 Dark chocolate mousse, caramelised toasted hazelnuts, crunchy praline feullitine, chocolate genoise enrobed in a shiny chocolate glaem I wanted to order this at first and regretted that I didn't. My companion did though and I had a taste of it. I like it pretty much. It was quite light and easy on the stomach despite looking so chocolatey but it is mousse you know. I could taste the chocolate nicely but it wasn't too rich. But it wasn't fantastic too.
Guanaja Cheesecake $6.90 Dark chocolate cheesecake, topped with a chocolate macaron This cheesecake was very thick. Not the light and fluffy sort I like. Don't be fooled by the colour, the cheesecake doesn't really taste of chocolate. Only the base is made of a tangy dark chocolate. The macaron on top is SUPER sweet, and this comes from someone with a sweet tooth. It was so sweet it made me cringe for a few seconds, having my companion guess what I was trying to say.
I actually find the privilege programme a little tricky as you can only have the 10% discount if you spend more than $10. Doesn't sound so privileged after all isn't it? AND you have to spend $100 within a month to get these privileges..... mmm
I would be back though. I was intrigued by the rest of the cakes. They did look very nice but I do hope they taste as good as they looked. They had tiramisu in glasses which I'm really tempted to try. Anyone?
Perfect Mum is a shop selling Maternity Wear in Suntec. It's located on the 3rd floor in the mum and kids' section between Toys 'r us and the cinema.
I like the clothing in Perfect Mum. They are modern looking and not frumpy like what some of the shops sell. They also have a good range of clothing for the working mum and even evening wear which looks very presentable. All the clothing seemed very well designed to cater to the different stages of pregnancy.
The only gripe I have is that they don't have much choices for the nursing mum. Those are quite limited and it's not as well-designed as some other tops I've seen at other shops.
The staff here are all very polite and friendly. They are very knowledgeable and give very good advice. I do notice that the prices are slightly higher compared to other places but I still find them reasonable due to the quality and design.
1=SGD 0.0587
Being a dessert (chocolate) fan, no one could stop me from Melvados once I knew they were famous for their brownies. Totally psyched, I travelled all the way to the other end of Singapore for a lazy Sunday afternoon tea with a friend.
Situated in King's Arcade, I couldn't help but notice that the exterior is a little run-down looking. But I guess what was more important to me was the inside since it was a really hot day and I needed a good dose of cool air....
..which I didn't get... for the first time I actually asked my companion if he felt hot. I'm usually the one who doesn't complain about the temperature of the place but this one is an exception. There's a first to everything right? We were sitting pretty far from the window so we weren't subjected to the heat from outside. So it really must be the lack of air-conditioning.
That aside, I found the decor alright. Just a little sparse though. They could have more seats to make the place look more full. But as my companion pointed out, two more tables (like I suggested) could make it look crammed. But I guess they could switch to smaller tables. Nonetheless the tables and chairs didn't quite match though the sofas looked nice. I say look cos there were very few and we didn't get a chance to sit on them.
After much pondering, we ordered:
Mixed Platter
Your usual mix of fried calamari, fries, onion rings and seafood cakes. I didn't like any of it. The fries were the thin sort which is pretty much oil and little potato. The onion rings lacked onion flavour. The calamari are the sort straight from the freezer and the seafood cakes were just weird. The batter used wasn't tasty and honestly I was quite sick of it after the first two pieces. And yes they seemed to have used the same batter (or at least similiar) for all 3 items, except the fries.
Black & White Kisses
This is the recommended brownie on the menu. It's a brownie topped with dark and white chocolate Hershey's kisses. This brownie was the more moist one of the two we had but it's still not rich enough in my opinion. It was still a little crumbly (like a cake) and I prefer brownies which are more on the sticky side. There is a good bit of flavour though.
Sizzling Brownies Sensation
This is the brownie above, served on a hot plate with your choice of ice-cream. We had expected something more and certainly didn't expect to be served the same brownie. Also the hot plate was just heated up in the microwave and cooled down pretty fast after it arrived. I guess that's just as well since the ice cream was melting at super speed, resulting in a brownish puddle around the brownie after a while. Just a novelty but nothing to rave about really.
Chocolate Madness
This was your regular brownie, just much drier. My little mistake.
We paid $25 in total I think and although it wasn't very much but I didn't find it worth my while after all. Service was alright and the staff wasn't exceptionally alert despite the fact that there were so few tables occupied.
I don't think I would be back.
Rating given:
I think everyone knows this lone building standing in the field next to the huge balloon in Bugis area. It has a pretty famous alfresco steamboat joint too.
I had the chance to go to this budget hotel when my friend from the US stayed there. Despite the exterior looking a little run-down, the inside was fine.
The walls of the small lobby were adorned with old photographs and old newspaper clippings about the hotel. The room my friend is staying in costs SGD60 a night. It is a little small but still comfortable with its double bed. However for that price he had to use the common bath which he found to be rather clean. (He's an expert when it comes to budget accomodation.)
In fact, he had so much confidence in the place, he told us that he wanted to switch to the SGD18 per night room where he would have to share with 3 other people. They had two bunk beds there and it's still very clean.
What he was most impressed with was the good condition of the lockers and the hot and cold showers in all the bathrooms. The service was also friendly and we had a good chat with the staff whilst we were visiting.
With the good location and reasonable prices, I really find this hostel worthwhile. Moreover, it wasn't sleazy and felt very safe to live there.
Rating given:
Chinese Cuisine with a Difference is Taste Paradise's tagline. Curious about how different this might be, 5 of us dropped by for a cosy dinner last Friday.
It was pretty easy to locate the place, however, parking wasn't that easy. In front of the restaurant there're some parallel parking spots but as you would guess too few for every one. Trying to look for parking in the area isn't too easy as they are all one-way streets. So do plan where you want to park before you go. Hong Lim or Chinatown Point would be two good places.
The restaurant is tastefully decorated with a long passage right up front. It's mainly in reds and blacks and the lighting is a little dim but still bright enough for me to see what I'm eating. Good enough for me.
We were greeted politely at the door and led to our seats in one of the rooms. After some observation, we noticed that one of the walls was actually made of panels which could be removed to make the room bigger for functions.
I couldn't bear to analyse the menu like my companions did for it didn't have any pictures were just filled with words. There were curly Chinese characters and English descriptions but it was still pretty difficult to read. So the rest of us just let two of them decide.
One little interesting thing was that there were 3 prices for the same bowl of Shark's Fin - $38, $58 and $68. $38 was the regular serving, $58 had more shark's fin in it and $68 was fin of high quality.... the staff patiently explained to us when we asked.
Food ordered:
Carrot Cake
which I forgot to take the description of. But this was delicious. I LOVED IT! The serving was enough for 2 and slightly more. It wasn't too oily. the texture was very smooth and very tasty! YUMS!
Pan-seared Foie gras, wasabi mayonnaise prawn and sliced Beijing duck with condiments - $18 per personOur starter for the day was this great combination! The foie gras was crisp on the outside and pretty smooth on the inside. It was quite sizeable, any bigger and I would be worried about my heart. The wasabi prawn was alright. The wasabi taste wasn't too strong which is good and it was quite a big one. It was served on top of a watermelon which was suppose to compliment the taste of the prawn. But I couldn't be bothered to eat it. I liked the Beijing Duck slice. It was pre-prepared with the skin and sauce and wasn't too sweet. Just right.
Double boiled superior shark's fin with dried conpoy in traditional Beijing broth accompanied with bacon onion roll - $38 per personThe presentation of this dish was impressive! It was served in a grey bowl, the sort people used to mash belachan in, with the bacon wrap on top. It was bubbling when it came and bubbled for a long time whilst we drank it. There was plenty of fin and the broth was not too starchy like at some places. But it did smell of vinegar though I didn't find it too sourish. The bacon onion roll was a nice touch though I did find it a little troublesome to eat.
Braised homemade Beancurd with shredded scallop and Japanese Mushroom - $16
This was the one dish which I found a little disappointing. The skin of the beancurd was a little too tough and hard to tear. The taste was ok and the texture of the inside was smooth. The sauce it came with wasn't too salty as I have tasted in other places and the scallop was a nice accompaniment. Just the skin bothered me.
Szechuan Style roasted Chicken with homemade crispy crumbs - Half $16By the time we got to this dish I was pretty full but I still picked up a few pieces to munch. My companions were commenting about it being spicy but I found it barely so. It was quite tasty and the meat didn't taste as dry as it looked. I liked the texture of the meat but I'm the sort who likes chicken breast meat so if you aren't like me... well.
Stirfried Spinach with garlic - price unknownToo full to have any of this. But it looked just like your regular vege to me.
Mashed Taro with almond cream served in fresh coconut - $6.50I wanted to order this but I was in a mood for something cooler but I was happy to get a taste of it. It was served in a tiny REAL coconut! SO COOL! I was more fascinated with the coconut bowl than anything else. I think the Orh Nee tasted very nice. It wasn't too sweet, not overly flavoured. It had a hint of almond (or maybe I didn't scoop so much almond) which gave it a nice twist.
Chilled Mango Puree with Sago and Pomelo served with coconut ice cream - $4.50This was my dessert of the day!! I was worried about the coconut ice cream as I'm not a fan of coconut actually. But everything's worth trying right? So try I did and I enjoyed this dessert very much. Served cold and sweet (just right).
Chilled Pumpkin Puree served with coconut ice cream (Chef's Special) - $4.50Sadly I didn't get a taste of this.... but no complaints. She seemed to enjoy it...
Chilled Aloe Vera in refreshing calamansi juice - $4.50
Neither did I try this...
We got the 3 chilled desserts free, they were on the house which was a nice surprise.
The service was very good throughout the meal. Our tea was constantly topped up and Desmond, the assistant manager was jovial and sincere when serving us. When the 2 servings of the shark's fin were late, he took the initiative to inform us, which I think is a show of good service.
Each of us paid $93.50 for our share of food. It does seem quite a lot doesn't it? But I guess with foie gras and shark's fin on the list, I find it pretty acceptable. Minus those two, it would be more reasonable.
For more pictures go to my blog .
Rating given:
I chanced upon this place a while ago but visited it on a Monday when it was closed *just my dumb luck* Anyway then I caught it on Sunday Plus and decided that I should definitely try it. So I dragged my friend along that lazy rainy Sunday.
I loved the interior. No doubt it can only seat 15 and it's a little cramped but I love the peranakan style stuff and they actually sell peranakan clothing behind too! There were little knick knacks all over but I didn't take a look at the prices...
Food ordered:
Pan Fried Radish Cake & Yam Cake - $4.80 (4 slices)
Let me explain this one. On its menu, Radish cake and Yam cake are listed separately at $3.80 for 3 slices. But as there are only two of us, the lady offered to let us try both, giving us 2 slices of each at $4.80 which I agreed. I liked the radish cake more than the yam cake but both are smooth enough for me. I enjoyed them but I did find the portion too small for the price.
Grandma Rayna’s Roast Chicken - $10.80
YUMMY! I normally will not order roast chicken but this time I didn't have to cut it up myself so I was happily gobbling away at the chicken bits. The meat was well marinated and juicy. The potato that came with it reminded me of my pri sch canteen food though. I loved this dish (the chicken) but it was really expensive as there was little meat.
Gingko Silky Bean - $3
One word - Regret. I was turned off after two scoops but I still finished it... cos it isn't cheap. :P
Waffle with Ice Cream - $6.60
The waffle looked a little burnt at the sides and there was a slight sourish taste but it didn't bother me much. The ice cream is probably the sort you could get at supermarkets at half price.
We spent $25.20 for the two of us. but the food was basically a one-person's share. There wasn't much choice in desserts. The place is a nice place for people to chit chat (like we saw three other groups doing) but not quite a dessert place. But I would go back for the radish cake and chicken, just when my pocket feels heavier. :P
Rating given:
I LOVE YEBBER! heh heh
Happy Birthday to Yebber! Whoohoo!
I attended the Party held at the Mint on Friday and I loved it. I love the place, with all the quirky toys. It never fails to amaze me, this place.
Richard, the curator, was also very nice to help us out although it was past the time for him to knock off. He even offered to take us up to the balcony to see another area they have for a gathering. It was open air and I can see the makings of a BBQ there!
Anyways back to the party, lots of people were there, Yebbers and Pingsters and other bloggers... We were suitably entertained, though I have to agree with some that we needed a mic or a gong to get people's attention at least. :) The bingo game sure got lots of people's attention!!!
Also the prizes were great though I din win any. But I'm sure many appreciated the prizes. :)
The food also also pretty good though I'd prefer to have seats when I eat but it was alright too. I was too excited to eat wor. Nonetheless the people made sure we had all we need for the party to go on and I think that's one of the most important things when choosing a venue - having the support from the venue staff. :)
Looking forward to the next one!!!
Rating given:
I remember when TV Mobile first started, I was very disturbed. It was not properly set up and the whole system wasn't stable yet. I don't usually sleep on the bus but I find having some quiet time useful so it isn't really a boon.
At some places, TV mobile will tend to lag and freeze at certain scenes. Occasionally it would leave the actors/actresses in an ugly pose which will send me giggling. People probably think I'm weird then.
Now I think they've lowered the volume and ask people to tune in from the radio station if they wish to hear. But It's kinda like bring your own entertainment isn't it? I think it really defeats its purpose at times. Also very few people carry portable radios these days.
Nonetheless I always enjoy it when the Gags show up. That's my favourite. And I think lots of people enjoy watching it as it usually sends many people into peals of laughter.
TV mobile has a long way to go... meanwhile.. it's back to good ol' MP3.
Rating given:
Hua Xia Tai Mao Bi is a little shop in KK hospital which makes chinese brushes from children's hair. Newborns between 3 to 15 mths are brought to the shop to have their hair shaved off and made into chinese brushes for keeps.
I went with my friend's newborn that day and the lady patiently explained the process and let my friend choose the brush she wanted. They had quite a wide range,from fine ones to thicker ones. There were some with more intricate designs and others with simple paintings on them. The cheapest brush was $49 and the most expensive was $500 , I think.
Well the lady was quite gentle with my friend's 3 month old boy while shaving his head. He didn't cry at all and even fell asleep. He had plenty of hair so my friend chose 2 brushes.
The lady kept the enough to make the 2 brushes and returned my friend the rest. They had to go back 1 month later to collect the brushes. I was wondering to myself... how one would know whose hair was on the brush they made. Just purely based on trust I suppose.
Well the brushes DO NOT come in boxes and you have to purchase boxes too... which are slightly over $100...
The total for 2 brushes and a boxes to put both brushes in was $600.. which is a hefty sum I must say... I seriously don't think I would be spending this sort of money.
But I would have to give the lady credit for being so patient and providing such good service. Apparently Zoe Tay had her brushes done there too!
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I've been here a few times and never wrote about it!
The 2nd floor is a great place to just chill and enjoy the music but the drawback is that there aren't any seats and it's constantly crowded. Not to mention it's easier to get in if you just buy a bottle. Just to skip the long queue. Being there early means you get seats... and also get eyed by later patrons cos they really want your seat. My friend went in super early just to reserve seats for us. The drinks are ok, not too diluted and I guess reasonably priced for a bar. I enjoy the live music though I'm not really a fan of that genre.
The ground floor is more for the soccer crowd and those who want to eat. Though it's quieter here but not quite the place for conversation either as it's quite cramped with people mostly.
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lo and behold! The new kid on the block, Obolo opened along the popular Joo Chiat Road late 2007, serving up desserts and drinks. It has a small seating area with 3 tables for about 10 people.
I liked the interior decor. Very modern and yet cosy like. They had pastry books for browsing on the coffee tables which was a nice touch. The well-taken pictures of their own cakes adorned the walls.
I happily plonked myself down on the seemingly comfortable chair to discover that it was hard as stone. *ouch* The table was the same height as the chairs so you really have to bend over to have your cake.
Noisette $6.90
Dark chocolate mousse, caramelised toasted hazelnuts, crunchy praline feullitine, chocolate genoise enrobed in a shiny chocolate glaem
I wanted to order this at first and regretted that I didn't. My companion did though and I had a taste of it. I like it pretty much. It was quite light and easy on the stomach despite looking so chocolatey but it is mousse you know. I could taste the chocolate nicely but it wasn't too rich. But it wasn't fantastic too.
Guanaja Cheesecake $6.90
Dark chocolate cheesecake, topped with a chocolate macaron
This cheesecake was very thick. Not the light and fluffy sort I like. Don't be fooled by the colour, the cheesecake doesn't really taste of chocolate. Only the base is made of a tangy dark chocolate. The macaron on top is SUPER sweet, and this comes from someone with a sweet tooth. It was so sweet it made me cringe for a few seconds, having my companion guess what I was trying to say.
I actually find the privilege programme a little tricky as you can only have the 10% discount if you spend more than $10. Doesn't sound so privileged after all isn't it? AND you have to spend $100 within a month to get these privileges..... mmm
I would be back though. I was intrigued by the rest of the cakes. They did look very nice but I do hope they taste as good as they looked. They had tiramisu in glasses which I'm really tempted to try. Anyone?
**photos up later**
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Perfect Mum is a shop selling Maternity Wear in Suntec. It's located on the 3rd floor in the mum and kids' section between Toys 'r us and the cinema.
I like the clothing in Perfect Mum. They are modern looking and not frumpy like what some of the shops sell. They also have a good range of clothing for the working mum and even evening wear which looks very presentable. All the clothing seemed very well designed to cater to the different stages of pregnancy.
The only gripe I have is that they don't have much choices for the nursing mum. Those are quite limited and it's not as well-designed as some other tops I've seen at other shops.
The staff here are all very polite and friendly. They are very knowledgeable and give very good advice. I do notice that the prices are slightly higher compared to other places but I still find them reasonable due to the quality and design.
**I'm not a mum-to-be. Just a tag-along...**
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