Had its humble beginnings located at Tampines mall for about 3 years before shifting to the nearby Century Square. Being my first rating on gameshops, allow me to seperate the review into a few categories.
1. Staff and service 2. Timeliness of stock 3. Assortment of Titles 4. Price and competitiveness 5. Perks
1. Staff and service - I've known quite a few people from the shop since a long time ago. Approximately 7 years to be exact. Ever since the Tampines mall stint, one of the guys, Willy has been at the shop for a long long time. Well, what can i say? The guys there are great, always friendly and ready to help. And seeing that they remember me, i'd say they have pretty good service. No black faces or anything bad from this shop, just smiles and generally good service attitude. I guess the one reason they are nice is due to the fact they are gamers themselves and thus, talking is easy.
In a nutshell, service is good.
2. Timeliness of stock - Now this is a little difficult to judge. I'm a gamer so i know what games are great, what games are bad. And generally, if you don't reserve from the shop, the good games disappear real fast. And stock comes really slow when depleted. I mean reeeaalllyyy sllloooowww... I've also had experiences when i was anticipating a release but generally had to wait an additional week or 2 before it gets to the shop. Thus the timeliness is average at best.
3. Assortment of Titles - The shop is quite decent in this department. Stocking upwards of 1000 titles ranging from the DS, gameboy, Xbox360, PS2, PS3 and Nintendo Wii. The titles on sale are a mixed bag of hits and misses which most shops have to endure since to them, its just a guessing game.
4. Price and Competitiveness - Ah....now the most important part. The games, if new, range from $50 - 130. And they are smart to price the better games at high prices. And generally, all their games at priced at higher then average prices. This humble reviewer only bought the best hits and the second hand games so that he can maximize his dollar. And thats what everyone else should do.
5. Perks - Trade ins. I love trading in old stuff. Exchange it for cash or simply get a new game by topping up a minimal amount. This shop does it but definitely ain't giving your dollar any stretch however. There are bonus points for buying their stuff but it doesn't seem to translate into savings. So thats that.
In a pinch, a good shop with good service but definitely overpriced if you knew where else to look. (To the guys from the shop, no offense on your service but its just that i'm struggling financially thats all. lol)
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.
With Seasons Reasons, the reasons is every seasons! With a passion for a different dining experience, Seasons Reasons is designed based on a quest of the 4 seasons - Summer, Fall, Winter & Spring.
Well, I am back at Raffles City again, just after two weeks since last visiting OChaCha, but then i can’t help it, nowadays there are simply too much to eat at Raffles City! So don’t be surprise if there are more new posts coming up.
Seasons Reasons is a small restaurant among the many new restaurants at Raffles City basement, but it stood out for its simple and comfortable setting. The menu is simple, with the usual starters, salad, soup, sandwiches, and main course. No doubt there are not much variety under each category, but i’ll say its more than enough for the average diners.
Appetizers start at $8.50 for their “hot pick” Golden potato prawn, to $13.80 for their seafood combo. Prices for the main course are pretty reasonable too, ranging from $11 to $20. But they are quite short on their spaghetti selections though, only two types are available. And i lamented the fact that they didn’t have much desserts to choose from.
Like mentioned above, the settings for the restaurant is simple and elegant, and there are also the cozy corner seats for diners who will like to enjoy some privacy.
My buddy and I didn’t have much trouble choosing what we want for lunch, after going through the simple menu once, we decided on Fish & chips, and lamb chop. We didn’t have any starters or soup as it was a simple lunch for us.
Fish & Chips ($14.80) Cod fish tempura and wedges served with lemongrass chili. To be honest, my first impression of the dish, it looks like just any other ordinary Fish & chips at other restaurants. But, my buddy commented that the fish was crispy on the outside, and where some other restaurants fish might get too dry, the one here is just nice. The interior of the fish was soft and not too dry.
Another point to note will be most places served their fish & chips with just tartar sauce, but Seasons Reasons had the tartar sauce, and also lemongrass chili which i find rather special.
Lamb Chop ($19.80) Baby rack of lamb char-grilled to medium well served with a glazed of honey mustard and fork mashed potato. The lamb chop at $19.80, is the most expensive dish served on the menu. And it did not disappoint, with a generous serving of 4 lamb racks, i believe it will fill most people.
The honey mustard sauce adds flavour to the grilled lamb chop, the meat is slightly tough, you’ll need some effort in biting and chewing the meat. But i do find the price of the lamb chop slightly steep, and most probably won’t order it again.
Total Bill was $40.72 for 2 person, not really expensive given we are dining in a restaurant. If you are looking for a simple dining place while you are at Raffles City, look no further than Seasons Reasons. The restaurant do put in effort in the food presentation, no doubt taste is the vital factor, but one tastebud will definitely open up if the food is presented nicely.
With so many restaurants at Raffles City, i don’t think i will be visiting again any sooner, unless they got new menu or promotions. I won’t say the food is excellent, but i’ll say its worth a try if you haven’t been there before.
You are always welcome to visit ladyironchef for a full-up on this trip. Whatever written above are my geniune feelings expressed in words that may be subjected to my personal distortion or bias. Please do not feel emotional or distress should you have any violent objections. Kindly click the little X at the upper, extreme right of your screen if negative adjectives would be derived. Otherwise, feel free to furnish me with comments, may it be positive or negative : )
An entry long overdue. Had lunch at Eighteen Chefs with a few friends one weekday afternoon. What's interesting and noble (to a certain extent) about Eighteen Chefs is that it takes in ex convicts and delinquents and helps them turn over a new leaf by training them in the food business. Its owner and head chef, Benny Se Teo, who was a former drug addict, trained at Jamie Oliver's London restaurant, Fifteen.
Located at a corner of Eastpoint just next to the POSB, Eighteen Chefs has a rather simple interior which can seat up to about 50 pax. This place runs on a self service system hence no service charge is levied. To order your food, simply fill up a form and bring it to the counter to make payment. Your orders will then be served to you shortly.
Baked Rice with Creamy White Sauce & Chicken Slices ($8.90) - You get to choose what kind of sauce you want for your baked rice as well as the ingredients that go into it. Honestly, the baked rice I had (see above) was decent but nothing to shout about. While the cheese was nice and thick, I found the rice a little too bland for my liking and the cream sauce did little to help. But at $8.90, its relatively cheaper and quality is slightly better than the ones they serve at Swensens.
Eighteen Funky Strawberry ($5.80) - $5.80 for 4 scoops of ice cream served with strawberries, hazelnuts and oreo biscuits - now that should be excellent value for money really. It would have been better if the strawberries had been fresher and if the ice cream had been been richer. My guess is that they gave us tub ice cream from the supermarket.
A decent lunch for 3 inclusive of a dessert to share cost just over $35, which is still pretty acceptable for the quality. Service was excellent and even though the food wasn't exactly stellar, I'll be back to try other stuff. After all, life is all about second chances isn't it?
This is sooo bad of me! I've known Beadyplace for so long and only today I went in to seriously take a look at the things she did!
I must admit I'm not a fan of accessories. Those who know me will know that the only thing I wear daily are my rings on my fingers. :) But when I saw the accessories this bimbo created, I'm tempted! One of the necklace and a bracelet are very simple and pretty. *hint hint* HAHA!
Love the simplicity of the designs. Personally I'd tried beading too, but my clumsy and fat fingers do not allow me to do it right. So i gave up.
This bimbo is a very busy woman, so when she finds time to do her accessories, I'm sure she concentrates 100% and gives good quality stuff. Go check out her blogshop if you're shopping for some gifts for your gfs. :)
Ah, now I know why I felt that "asian" flavour in the food at Changing Appetities. Because it's Japanese fusion! Alright, only realized when I saw one of the reviews above.
Honestly, Changing Appetites totally did not strike me as a place with jap-fusion food. It looks like another Cafe Cartel/ Breeks. Even their list of food looks very much like it. Pasta, brownies, mud pies etc. Very western style.
I was there with a group of friends for early lunch. I didn't order a main course but I (after several attempts to order a mudpie of any sort) got myself a brownie and stole several mouthful of different dishes from my friends.
Main course - eh, let's see. First thing that struck me was that it seemed rather typical for them to display their meat-stuff in a "kebab" style. If they were really a western restaurant, I'd be pretty amuse with this style of presentation. But when you try their food, it sure does have a tinge of asian flavour, with the funny unidentifiable taste/ spices used. Nonetheless, it (was nothing like japanese-fusion food) tasted rather weird to mix things like pasta with weird sour-sweet spices.
Drinks - nothing special. Feeling super hyped and all, my friends and I ordered 2 giant mugs of their super-sized ice chocolate. Well, all I can say is that it felt like a drink done with little effort put in. Powder, water, ice, ice cream, stick a spoon in, serve. If chocolate powder were coarse grains, I'd feel as though I was drinking sand-water. Yuck.
Dessert - bleh. Though their menu seemed to have such a variety of desserts, with their mudpies looking like their "main attraction", there was virtually NO mudpies available then! Out of the THREE brownies they had, only ONE was available. Were we too early (we were their first customer of the day)? Still, I think that's no excuse to not have all their desserts available! Was quite a let-down.
Price - it's a little like Cafe Cartel I'd say. Though with what I experienced the other day, I'd say it's a place I'd go once and never again. Not with that quality nor price.
Sweet to indulge - the catchy tagline behind Sweet Indulgence, a quaint little cafe that resides along quiet Stanley Street and the venue of choice for our monthly dinner.
Fronted by a pink signboard, Sweet Indulgence's interior is rather small and "cafeish", sitting up to a maximum of 24 pax while the al fresco area can take another 10 or so. The thing that irked me quite a bit was that the air conditioning wasn't cool enough even though it had just rained. Imagine if it was a bright sunny afternoon. On a more positive note, the entire place exuded a nice cosy vibe, setting the tone right for a relaxing after work dinner.
I didn't think too much of the complimentary bread. For starters, it wasn't served warm. Not to mention it was dry and sparse as well. But hey, its free.
I liked the shooter of pear juice - light and sweet. Complimentary as well.
Salad - A simple salad with only freshly cut vegetables. Pity about the overwhelming Italian dressing, which came across as much too strong. A light dressing is always welcomed.
Cream of Broccoli - Salty salty salty. That was the first impression that hit me when I took a sip of the soup. Other then that, nothing else actually registered in my taste buds which was quite sad really.
Garlic Prawns - This dish came as compensation due to the removal of a choice for the main course from our pre agreed list. To be honest, I'm almost glad that happened as the prawns were really quite good. Thought small, they were fresh and crunchy with a hint of pepper. Light yet full of flavour. I would have stuffed myself silly if not for the fact that we had to share a bowl amongst 5 pax.
Poached Salmon with White Sauce & Herbs, served with Pasta and Seasonal Vegetables - I didn't choose this main but had a taste of it. First thoughts, the salmon had none of the overwhelming raw fishy taste that I absolutely abhor. Drizzled with the creamy white sauce, it was actually quite decent. The same can't be said about the pasta though, which was bland and overcooked, as evident by the overly soft texture.
Oven Baked Chicken Thigh Steak with Crisp Skin served with Chef Sauce & Potato Mash infused with Vanilla and Cream - I opted for this as my main and wasn't too bowled over by it. For one, I had expected crackling crispy skin but got none. The meat was tender and tasty though but could have been juicier. As for the mashed potato, I would have preferred it to be smoother. But having said that, I appreciate the creativity behind the infusion of vanilla and cream.
Strawberry Cheesecake - I honestly don't know what to make of this. Sweet Indulgence is known for its desserts but if the cheesecake was anything to go by, I wouldn't buy it whole sale. Aesthetics aside, the cake was moist yet firm but almost tasteless. In fact, it was so forgettable that I didn't remember eating it until I saw my empty plate. And its tiny by the way.
Warm Choco Lava Indulgence - We got this complimentary dessert to share between 4 pax as Sweet Indulgence swapped our agreed upon Tiramisu to the lacklustre Strawberry Cheesecake due to some logistics problem. Billed as a best selling hot favourite, the choco lava cake oozed decadent thick chocolate through a break in the outer crust. Now here's the part that really bugs me. The crust was very kueh like - soft and limp, which meant that the whole thing came crumbling down after we made a hole in the crust. But for something that retails at $8.90, I guess its quite worth it.
The 20 of us chalked up a bill of $671 inclusive of the $11 for corkage. That works out to be $33 per pax which I find pretty reasonable for the amount and quality of food we got (we got a glass of coke each as well). Just for the record, food quality hovers just around the average mark but service and service recovery is quite good. Okay to give it a try if you are in the area. Just don't get your expectations too high.
It Shows happen once every 3 months nowadays and somehow, its no longer a surprise to anybody when a new IT gadget is announced. In fact, nothing much surprises anymore. Its just more of the same i guess.
Anyhow, if you got the money, this is the place to get your honey (if you are an IT enthusiast of course). As per Polarbear and Claudia's review. Yes, do not go with the intention of looking or else, you'll just be wasting time getting stuck in the human jam.
I do mean human jam you realise. The number of people gracing the event with their presence is insane. That is to say, its alot alot alot alot of people. Drive a car and prepare to park at bugis or further. Take an MRT and prepare to face the long queue the moment you get off. Its that insane.
For my part, i went on the first night and on the noon of the last day. The first night was alright, the crowd was still manageable but that already means jamming for 30 mins to see something of interest for 5 minutes. On the last day, i went slightly early at 12pm to 1pm and it was awful.
I bought a Kohjinsha SH811 tablet pc for a friend in Australia, the item cost me $1355 with an upgrade to a 2gb ram. Its quite amazing really. The 935gram machine has everything an ordinary pc has and then has touch screen functions as well. Nifty little gadget for people on the go. However, it uses windows vista which really isn't my idea of good.
Anyway, the road to buying the darn thing was horrible and the service was all the way to the dogs. Sim Lim PA mart sold it and i can tell you, the incharge of the event didn't leave a good impression on me at all. He promptly did not fix up the items for me, did not give me a bag, did not give me my payment slip which made me queue 45 mins for a redemption from UOB counter and worse of all, his attitude is obvious that he can't be bothered. When i asked for advice on what to do for future help and asked for his namecard, he promptly refused and turned away. Talk about bad service.
The UOB counter is another huge problem. Lines were so long, its unbelieveable. Take into account the bad service and horrible prizes. (i didn't win the psp nor any gadget, all i got was a letter opener from Beijing). The crowd management really needed to improve.
The worst thing is how the elevators, entrances and the lower levels served as bottlenecks. Its practically packed with people to the brim. I was so worried the elevators would collapse and honestly, given the security guards there, if a terrorist wanted to take out a whole bunch of people, coming to an IT fair would have easily accomplished that and with the bottlenecks, no one could escape. This is not even funny because i can tell you, if it happens, tragedy won't be the word to describe it.
Oh! Before i forget, i highly advice girls to avoid such events. There are whole groups of overactive nerds and Indian bangladeshi people in the show that are obviously not there for the purchase. I caught a few of them simply looking for where the crowd was thickest and closest to the booth girls so they can rub against the ladies 'accidentally'. And also, ladies, try not to wear high heels to such events because poor people like me wear slippers and i was 'stabbed' a few times by people walking past. Do have mercy on nice people like me.
That said, there were some truly good deals, like Sony Bravia 32 inch tvs for $799. Games at below $20 and outside storage of 500gb for a mere $199. Its real cost savings if you are into these things. Otherwise, stay far far away.
1=SGD 0.0587
Mega multimedia.
Had its humble beginnings located at Tampines mall for about 3 years before shifting to the nearby Century Square. Being my first rating on gameshops, allow me to seperate the review into a few categories.
1. Staff and service 2. Timeliness of stock 3. Assortment of Titles 4. Price and competitiveness 5. Perks
1. Staff and service - I've known quite a few people from the shop since a long time ago. Approximately 7 years to be exact. Ever since the Tampines mall stint, one of the guys, Willy has been at the shop for a long long time. Well, what can i say? The guys there are great, always friendly and ready to help. And seeing that they remember me, i'd say they have pretty good service. No black faces or anything bad from this shop, just smiles and generally good service attitude. I guess the one reason they are nice is due to the fact they are gamers themselves and thus, talking is easy.
In a nutshell, service is good.
2. Timeliness of stock - Now this is a little difficult to judge. I'm a gamer so i know what games are great, what games are bad. And generally, if you don't reserve from the shop, the good games disappear real fast. And stock comes really slow when depleted. I mean reeeaalllyyy sllloooowww... I've also had experiences when i was anticipating a release but generally had to wait an additional week or 2 before it gets to the shop. Thus the timeliness is average at best.
3. Assortment of Titles - The shop is quite decent in this department. Stocking upwards of 1000 titles ranging from the DS, gameboy, Xbox360, PS2, PS3 and Nintendo Wii. The titles on sale are a mixed bag of hits and misses which most shops have to endure since to them, its just a guessing game.
4. Price and Competitiveness - Ah....now the most important part. The games, if new, range from $50 - 130. And they are smart to price the better games at high prices. And generally, all their games at priced at higher then average prices. This humble reviewer only bought the best hits and the second hand games so that he can maximize his dollar. And thats what everyone else should do.
5. Perks - Trade ins. I love trading in old stuff. Exchange it for cash or simply get a new game by topping up a minimal amount. This shop does it but definitely ain't giving your dollar any stretch however. There are bonus points for buying their stuff but it doesn't seem to translate into savings. So thats that.
In a pinch, a good shop with good service but definitely overpriced if you knew where else to look. (To the guys from the shop, no offense on your service but its just that i'm struggling financially thats all. lol)
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!
Rating given:
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.
Rating given:
With Seasons Reasons, the reasons is every seasons! With a passion for a different dining experience, Seasons Reasons is designed based on a quest of the 4 seasons - Summer, Fall, Winter & Spring.
Well, I am back at Raffles City again, just after two weeks since last visiting OChaCha, but then i can’t help it, nowadays there are simply too much to eat at Raffles City! So don’t be surprise if there are more new posts coming up.
Seasons Reasons is a small restaurant among the many new restaurants at Raffles City basement, but it stood out for its simple and comfortable setting. The menu is simple, with the usual starters, salad, soup, sandwiches, and main course. No doubt there are not much variety under each category, but i’ll say its more than enough for the average diners.
Appetizers start at $8.50 for their “hot pick” Golden potato prawn, to $13.80 for their seafood combo. Prices for the main course are pretty reasonable too, ranging from $11 to $20. But they are quite short on their spaghetti selections though, only two types are available. And i lamented the fact that they didn’t have much desserts to choose from.
Like mentioned above, the settings for the restaurant is simple and elegant, and there are also the cozy corner seats for diners who will like to enjoy some privacy.
My buddy and I didn’t have much trouble choosing what we want for lunch, after going through the simple menu once, we decided on Fish & chips, and lamb chop. We didn’t have any starters or soup as it was a simple lunch for us.
Fish & Chips ($14.80)
Cod fish tempura and wedges served with lemongrass chili. To be honest, my first impression of the dish, it looks like just any other ordinary Fish & chips at other restaurants. But, my buddy commented that the fish was crispy on the outside, and where some other restaurants fish might get too dry, the one here is just nice. The interior of the fish was soft and not too dry.
Another point to note will be most places served their fish & chips with just tartar sauce, but Seasons Reasons had the tartar sauce, and also lemongrass chili which i find rather special.
Lamb Chop ($19.80)
Baby rack of lamb char-grilled to medium well served with a glazed of honey mustard and fork mashed potato. The lamb chop at $19.80, is the most expensive dish served on the menu. And it did not disappoint, with a generous serving of 4 lamb racks, i believe it will fill most people.
The honey mustard sauce adds flavour to the grilled lamb chop, the meat is slightly tough, you’ll need some effort in biting and chewing the meat. But i do find the price of the lamb chop slightly steep, and most probably won’t order it again.
Total Bill was $40.72 for 2 person, not really expensive given we are dining in a restaurant. If you are looking for a simple dining place while you are at Raffles City, look no further than Seasons Reasons. The restaurant do put in effort in the food presentation, no doubt taste is the vital factor, but one tastebud will definitely open up if the food is presented nicely.
With so many restaurants at Raffles City, i don’t think i will be visiting again any sooner, unless they got new menu or promotions. I won’t say the food is excellent, but i’ll say its worth a try if you haven’t been there before.
You are always welcome to visit ladyironchef for a full-up on this trip. Whatever written above are my geniune feelings expressed in words that may be subjected to my personal distortion or bias. Please do not feel emotional or distress should you have any violent objections. Kindly click the little X at the upper, extreme right of your screen if negative adjectives would be derived. Otherwise, feel free to furnish me with comments, may it be positive or negative : )
” For everything, there is a Reason “
Rating given:
An entry long overdue. Had lunch at Eighteen Chefs with a few friends one weekday afternoon. What's interesting and noble (to a certain extent) about Eighteen Chefs is that it takes in ex convicts and delinquents and helps them turn over a new leaf by training them in the food business. Its owner and head chef, Benny Se Teo, who was a former drug addict, trained at Jamie Oliver's London restaurant, Fifteen.
Located at a corner of Eastpoint just next to the POSB, Eighteen Chefs has a rather simple interior which can seat up to about 50 pax. This place runs on a self service system hence no service charge is levied. To order your food, simply fill up a form and bring it to the counter to make payment. Your orders will then be served to you shortly.
Baked Rice with Creamy White Sauce & Chicken Slices ($8.90) - You get to choose what kind of sauce you want for your baked rice as well as the ingredients that go into it. Honestly, the baked rice I had (see above) was decent but nothing to shout about. While the cheese was nice and thick, I found the rice a little too bland for my liking and the cream sauce did little to help. But at $8.90, its relatively cheaper and quality is slightly better than the ones they serve at Swensens.
Eighteen Funky Strawberry ($5.80) - $5.80 for 4 scoops of ice cream served with strawberries, hazelnuts and oreo biscuits - now that should be excellent value for money really. It would have been better if the strawberries had been fresher and if the ice cream had been been richer. My guess is that they gave us tub ice cream from the supermarket.
A decent lunch for 3 inclusive of a dessert to share cost just over $35, which is still pretty acceptable for the quality. Service was excellent and even though the food wasn't exactly stellar, I'll be back to try other stuff. After all, life is all about second chances isn't it?
See all my pictures here
Rating given:
This is sooo bad of me! I've known Beadyplace for so long and only today I went in to seriously take a look at the things she did!
I must admit I'm not a fan of accessories. Those who know me will know that the only thing I wear daily are my rings on my fingers. :) But when I saw the accessories this bimbo created, I'm tempted! One of the necklace and a bracelet are very simple and pretty. *hint hint* HAHA!
Love the simplicity of the designs. Personally I'd tried beading too, but my clumsy and fat fingers do not allow me to do it right. So i gave up.
This bimbo is a very busy woman, so when she finds time to do her accessories, I'm sure she concentrates 100% and gives good quality stuff. Go check out her blogshop if you're shopping for some gifts for your gfs. :)
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Ah, now I know why I felt that "asian" flavour in the food at Changing Appetities. Because it's Japanese fusion! Alright, only realized when I saw one of the reviews above.
Honestly, Changing Appetites totally did not strike me as a place with jap-fusion food. It looks like another Cafe Cartel/ Breeks. Even their list of food looks very much like it. Pasta, brownies, mud pies etc. Very western style.
I was there with a group of friends for early lunch. I didn't order a main course but I (after several attempts to order a mudpie of any sort) got myself a brownie and stole several mouthful of different dishes from my friends.
Main course - eh, let's see. First thing that struck me was that it seemed rather typical for them to display their meat-stuff in a "kebab" style. If they were really a western restaurant, I'd be pretty amuse with this style of presentation. But when you try their food, it sure does have a tinge of asian flavour, with the funny unidentifiable taste/ spices used. Nonetheless, it (was nothing like japanese-fusion food) tasted rather weird to mix things like pasta with weird sour-sweet spices.
Drinks - nothing special. Feeling super hyped and all, my friends and I ordered 2 giant mugs of their super-sized ice chocolate. Well, all I can say is that it felt like a drink done with little effort put in. Powder, water, ice, ice cream, stick a spoon in, serve. If chocolate powder were coarse grains, I'd feel as though I was drinking sand-water. Yuck.
Dessert - bleh. Though their menu seemed to have such a variety of desserts, with their mudpies looking like their "main attraction", there was virtually NO mudpies available then! Out of the THREE brownies they had, only ONE was available. Were we too early (we were their first customer of the day)? Still, I think that's no excuse to not have all their desserts available! Was quite a let-down.
Price - it's a little like Cafe Cartel I'd say. Though with what I experienced the other day, I'd say it's a place I'd go once and never again. Not with that quality nor price.
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Sweet to indulge - the catchy tagline behind Sweet Indulgence, a quaint little cafe that resides along quiet Stanley Street and the venue of choice for our monthly dinner.
Fronted by a pink signboard, Sweet Indulgence's interior is rather small and "cafeish", sitting up to a maximum of 24 pax while the al fresco area can take another 10 or so. The thing that irked me quite a bit was that the air conditioning wasn't cool enough even though it had just rained. Imagine if it was a bright sunny afternoon. On a more positive note, the entire place exuded a nice cosy vibe, setting the tone right for a relaxing after work dinner.
I didn't think too much of the complimentary bread. For starters, it wasn't served warm. Not to mention it was dry and sparse as well. But hey, its free.
I liked the shooter of pear juice - light and sweet. Complimentary as well.
Salad - A simple salad with only freshly cut vegetables. Pity about the overwhelming Italian dressing, which came across as much too strong. A light dressing is always welcomed.
Cream of Broccoli - Salty salty salty. That was the first impression that hit me when I took a sip of the soup. Other then that, nothing else actually registered in my taste buds which was quite sad really.
Garlic Prawns - This dish came as compensation due to the removal of a choice for the main course from our pre agreed list. To be honest, I'm almost glad that happened as the prawns were really quite good. Thought small, they were fresh and crunchy with a hint of pepper. Light yet full of flavour. I would have stuffed myself silly if not for the fact that we had to share a bowl amongst 5 pax.
Poached Salmon with White Sauce & Herbs, served with Pasta and Seasonal Vegetables - I didn't choose this main but had a taste of it. First thoughts, the salmon had none of the overwhelming raw fishy taste that I absolutely abhor. Drizzled with the creamy white sauce, it was actually quite decent. The same can't be said about the pasta though, which was bland and overcooked, as evident by the overly soft texture.
Oven Baked Chicken Thigh Steak with Crisp Skin served with Chef Sauce & Potato Mash infused with Vanilla and Cream - I opted for this as my main and wasn't too bowled over by it. For one, I had expected crackling crispy skin but got none. The meat was tender and tasty though but could have been juicier. As for the mashed potato, I would have preferred it to be smoother. But having said that, I appreciate the creativity behind the infusion of vanilla and cream.
Strawberry Cheesecake - I honestly don't know what to make of this. Sweet Indulgence is known for its desserts but if the cheesecake was anything to go by, I wouldn't buy it whole sale. Aesthetics aside, the cake was moist yet firm but almost tasteless. In fact, it was so forgettable that I didn't remember eating it until I saw my empty plate. And its tiny by the way.
Warm Choco Lava Indulgence - We got this complimentary dessert to share between 4 pax as Sweet Indulgence swapped our agreed upon Tiramisu to the lacklustre Strawberry Cheesecake due to some logistics problem. Billed as a best selling hot favourite, the choco lava cake oozed decadent thick chocolate through a break in the outer crust. Now here's the part that really bugs me. The crust was very kueh like - soft and limp, which meant that the whole thing came crumbling down after we made a hole in the crust. But for something that retails at $8.90, I guess its quite worth it.
The 20 of us chalked up a bill of $671 inclusive of the $11 for corkage. That works out to be $33 per pax which I find pretty reasonable for the amount and quality of food we got (we got a glass of coke each as well). Just for the record, food quality hovers just around the average mark but service and service recovery is quite good. Okay to give it a try if you are in the area. Just don't get your expectations too high.
See all my pictures here
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It Shows happen once every 3 months nowadays and somehow, its no longer a surprise to anybody when a new IT gadget is announced. In fact, nothing much surprises anymore. Its just more of the same i guess.
Anyhow, if you got the money, this is the place to get your honey (if you are an IT enthusiast of course). As per Polarbear and Claudia's review. Yes, do not go with the intention of looking or else, you'll just be wasting time getting stuck in the human jam.
I do mean human jam you realise. The number of people gracing the event with their presence is insane. That is to say, its alot alot alot alot of people. Drive a car and prepare to park at bugis or further. Take an MRT and prepare to face the long queue the moment you get off. Its that insane.
For my part, i went on the first night and on the noon of the last day. The first night was alright, the crowd was still manageable but that already means jamming for 30 mins to see something of interest for 5 minutes. On the last day, i went slightly early at 12pm to 1pm and it was awful.
I bought a Kohjinsha SH811 tablet pc for a friend in Australia, the item cost me $1355 with an upgrade to a 2gb ram. Its quite amazing really. The 935gram machine has everything an ordinary pc has and then has touch screen functions as well. Nifty little gadget for people on the go. However, it uses windows vista which really isn't my idea of good.
Anyway, the road to buying the darn thing was horrible and the service was all the way to the dogs. Sim Lim PA mart sold it and i can tell you, the incharge of the event didn't leave a good impression on me at all. He promptly did not fix up the items for me, did not give me a bag, did not give me my payment slip which made me queue 45 mins for a redemption from UOB counter and worse of all, his attitude is obvious that he can't be bothered. When i asked for advice on what to do for future help and asked for his namecard, he promptly refused and turned away. Talk about bad service.
The UOB counter is another huge problem. Lines were so long, its unbelieveable. Take into account the bad service and horrible prizes. (i didn't win the psp nor any gadget, all i got was a letter opener from Beijing). The crowd management really needed to improve.
The worst thing is how the elevators, entrances and the lower levels served as bottlenecks. Its practically packed with people to the brim. I was so worried the elevators would collapse and honestly, given the security guards there, if a terrorist wanted to take out a whole bunch of people, coming to an IT fair would have easily accomplished that and with the bottlenecks, no one could escape. This is not even funny because i can tell you, if it happens, tragedy won't be the word to describe it.
Oh! Before i forget, i highly advice girls to avoid such events. There are whole groups of overactive nerds and Indian bangladeshi people in the show that are obviously not there for the purchase. I caught a few of them simply looking for where the crowd was thickest and closest to the booth girls so they can rub against the ladies 'accidentally'. And also, ladies, try not to wear high heels to such events because poor people like me wear slippers and i was 'stabbed' a few times by people walking past. Do have mercy on nice people like me.
That said, there were some truly good deals, like Sony Bravia 32 inch tvs for $799. Games at below $20 and outside storage of 500gb for a mere $199. Its real cost savings if you are into these things. Otherwise, stay far far away.
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