http://sparklette.net/food/viva-japan-cafe/ http://sparklette.net/food/viva-japan-cafe/#comments Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:45:31 +0000 Melissa Koh http://sparklette.net/?p=1292

Japanese food lovers will rejoice with the launch of Viva Japan Café in Singapore. An initiative to promote Japanese culture and products to the global public brings the 50-seater temporary café to ION Sky, situated on the 56th floor of ION Orchard.

As the café will only be open until the end of March 2012, this is a good opportunity to explore Japanese culture and indulge in delicious Japanese cuisine in an elegant atmosphere while you take in the breathtaking view.

At the launch, Chef Yasuji Morizumi, a world-renowned ramen chef and owner of Michelin-starred restaurant MINT, demonstrated a ramen dish of bamboo charcoal ramen with roast pork that is absolutely divine.

It is a pity that this ramen dish will not be available on the menu, although the available offerings should please refined palates.

Modern Japanese cuisine from the Hor D’oeuvres set costs S$27.50. Options include:

• Pan seared salmon with herb crust
• Rib-eye Angus with compressed watermelon infused with basil
• Crab croquettes with saffron purée and pork scratching with apple purée sauce

You can also graze on bar food such as:

• White bait with garlic mayonnaise (S$6.50)
• Baby potato skin with crème fraiche, ikura & dill (S$9)
• Prawn & scallop mushroom balls (S$12)
• Pop rocks baby potato & lotus chips (S$8)

For desserts, choux puff with green tea mousse & red bean, pumpkin pie with vanilla & pistachio, blueberry pie and strawberry yuzu tart are available at S$18.90 each.

Check out the online store where Japanese goods will be shipped directly from Japan upon purchase.

Have Your Say!

Have you been to ION Sky? Will you pay the entry fee to dine at the restaurants there? Share all your thoughts via Facebook or Twitter or by leaving a comment!

Viva Japan Café
ION Sky (56th floor of ION Orchard)
2 Orchard Turn
Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 6636 5156

Opening hours: 10am to 10pm daily, until 31 March 2012
ION Sky entrance fee: S$16 per adult (S$5 rebate on F&B); S$8 per child aged 4-12

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]]> 0

http://sparklette.net/food/jo-takes-the-cake/ http://sparklette.net/food/jo-takes-the-cake/#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:46:20 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=1291 As Valentine’s Day approaches, we’ll be sharing more food reviews related to the special day.

Whether or not you’re romantically inclined, you will want a piece of these sweet cupcakes by home baker Jo Takes the Cake.

Valentine’s Day vanilla cupcakes
S$30 for a box of 9

Just looking at Jo’s cupcakes alone is such a joy. After all, the first bite is taken with the eye right? And they are available at a great price too.

The set of 9 vanilla cupcakes share a common red and white colour scheme, each decorated with a unique Valentine’s Day icon. They’re so pretty I can stare at them all day! Which is your favourite?

I love the attention to detail too. For instance, even the sugar sprinkles are dyed red for Valentine’s Day! Make no mistake: These cupcakes are baked to impress. If you are racking your brains on what to give that someone special this Valentine’s, these cupcakes will definitely make her day.

Valentine’s Day chocolate cupcakes
S$20 for a box of 6

Since guys are less likely to appreciate the girlish hearts and flowers cupcakes, the set of 6 chocolate cupcakes can make a great gift for him. I personally find that this chocolate collection is quite pretty too. Each one is embellished with a red rose, and sprinkled with red sugar.

As a chocolate fan, I simply adore these. The top layer is a very thick coat of sinful rich chocolate. After that first bite, all doctor’s advice is thrown to the wind. Drink loads of water after this okay?

The packaging kind of hides the actual size of the cupcakes, which are in fact quite tall. I can’t say this enough, but the prices of these Valentine’s Day cupcakes are really reasonable. Even if you aren’t buying these for someone, there’s no reason not to get them for yourself. We all deserve a treat every once in a while.

Plus, they come with sweet red polka-dotted ribbons. Love it!

A week’s advance order is required. Self-collection at the Clementi area. To order, send a Facebook message to Jo Takes the Cake.

What’s a great foodie gift for Valentine’s Day? Share all your thoughts via Facebook or Twitter or by leaving a comment!

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]]> 0 http://sparklette.net/food/zaffron-kitchen/ http://sparklette.net/food/zaffron-kitchen/#comments Wed, 01 Feb 2012 12:40:37 +0000 Jasper Aston Lim http://sparklette.net/?p=1290

Located in the heart of East Coast Road, the eye-catching Zaffron Kitchen is the latest concept from the group behind Prata Wala and Ottoman Kebah & Grill. Just diagonally across from the 112 Katong mall, finding parking space is a straightforward affair.

It’s easy to be hypnotised by the many happenings as the North Indian head chef and his team cook up a storm in the theatre kitchen setup by the entrance. Just looking at all the food through the glass makes me hungry!

Decked out in a myriad of vibrant colours, the 96-seater restaurant with a semi-alfresco area houses an eclectic mix of furniture — there’s even a London-imported wooden kids’ cottage at the play area — showcasing a cosmopolitan and modern ambiance.

Starters

Papadum (plain or black pepper)
S$4++

The cracker-like papadum is a gratifying and crunchy way to start off the meal. I fancy the black pepper version, which has a slight smoky and spiciness to it. Pairing it with the sweet mango chutney dip really piques your appetite!

Papdi chaat
S$6++

The papdi chaat is a popular street food commonly found in North India. This small fried dough wafer treat — topped with potatoes, sev (vermicelli-like crisps), sweet yoghurt, mint and tamarind sauce — is a mix of sweet and tangy. With the cool yoghurt to blend the flavours together, this appetising dish is another great starter.

Garlic naan
S$3.50++

Prepared a la minute, the naans come out hot and smelling oh-so good! The garlic naan is fragrant and not too oily. You may encounter bits of garlic, but the savoury naan will make the garlic breath worthwhile.

Kashmiri naan
S$6.50++

If you prefer something sweeter, go for the kashmiri naan. With a variety of dates, raisins, green apples and cashew nuts baked into this Indian bread, it can almost pass off as a dessert!

Strawberry lassi
S$5++

The house-made strawberry lassi reminds me of a well-blended, thick strawberry yoghurt drink. Without being overly sweet, this creamy drink is much needed to quell some of the Indian spiciness.

Mains

Dum chicken briyani
S$10++

The South Indian dish of dum chicken briyani is definitely not to be missed. The basmati rice — flavoured with a whole range of spices — is cooked separately from the flavourful chicken thigh and hard-boiled egg, before baked with a thin, crusty dough layer that seals in the flavours.

Just look at the steaming hot, fragrant rice under the brown crust! With such a generous serving of rice, this dish is definitely value for money.

Throw on a little yoghurt and curry, plus the succulent chicken, the different dimensions of flavours will sure get your taste buds dancing.

Tandoori platter (mutton kebab, Murg Pudina, fish tikka, malai tikka and chicken tikka)
S$38++

For those who want to sample a little of everything, the Zaffron tandoori platter is perfect for trying out the different meats and for sharing too!

While the fish tikka does not appeal much to me out of the lot, the malai tikka — chicken cubes marinated with cottage cheese, coriander and yoghurt — immediately leaves me wanting more. It possesses a lighter taste as compared to the other meats and a slightly creamy centre, probably due to the cottage cheese.

Kadhai jhinga
S$14++

The kadhai jhinga, a deeply flavoured dish of sautéed fresh shrimps in an onion tomato masala, reminds me of a chunky sweet curry. Goes extremely well with basmati rice.

Khatti meethi gobi
S$7.50++

To ensure crunch in every bite, the khatti meethi gobi is deep-fried before being stir-fried with other sauces. This light dish of cauliflower, cooked with garam masala, paprika and fenugreek leaves, is good on its own or paired with a naan. I like it best when paired with the sweet kashmiri naan.

Desserts

Moong dal halwa
S$9++

As with the décor of the restaurant, the moong dal halwa is a mix of modern and tradition. The scoop of Ben & Jerry’s vanilla ice cream highlights the subtle bitter-sweet lentils.

Nicely roasted, the soft, buttery lentils — stirred continuously for two to three hours to prevent burning — is rich and has a fine texture. The sprinkles of roasted pistachio also serve to play up the textures.

Besides a selection of lassi, Zaffron Kitchen also offers beers, wines, champagnes, local must-haves such as teh tarik or kopi-o, and even Graffeo gourmet coffee.

Zaffron Kitchen is a cosmopolitan style restaurant featuring a varied mix of North, South and local Indian favourites. With affordable prices and well-executed dishes, it’s no wonder the restaurant is always filled with both locals and expatriates out for a good meal. I will definitely be back for more!

What is your idea of a great Indian meal? Share all your thoughts via Facebook or Twitter or by leaving a comment!

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The 5.28 metre-long Qing Ming Shang He Tu (Along the River During the Qingming Festival) painting from the 12th century has been remade into an animated version 30 times the original size and added with a soundtrack. The Song Dynasty painting was created by Chinese imperial court artist Zhang Ze Duan, depicting the lifestyle and society in the capital of Bianjing (now known as Kaifeng) during the 12th century.

First debuted at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai China, the exhibition has since travelled to Macau, Hong Kong, Taiwan and is now shown at the Singapore Expo.

Your tour of the exhibition includes an accompanying audio device with headphones, through which guides in various languages will furnish useful information about life during the Song Dynasty. You start by entering the pre-show hall, where you get to learn some background information of the typical Song citizen.

iPhone users are encouraged to connect to the free wifi and download the free Living Legend iPhone app. It is a fairly large download at 50mb, so if you are reading this, it’s a good idea to download the app at home before heading down to the exhibition. You can play some mini games on the app as well as scan QR codes around the exhibition hall.

That’s the cuju, the ancient form of Chinese football.

Can you tell what this old sheet of paper is? Make a guess before mousing over the photo to reveal the answer.

Now, are you ready for the animated Qing Ming Shang He Tu?

Animated Qing Ming Shang He Tu

The digital version of the Qing Ming Shang He Tu spans an impressive 128 metres by 6.5 metres panorama. To see what a feat this is, you really have to check out the original painting from the 12th century. The painting begins from the right with the countryside, before connecting to the urban and city areas of Bianjing.

The 1,068 people in the picture include farmers, boatmen, maids, porters, and various characters. There are also boats, camels, mules and sedan chairs. People can be seen walking about in the painting, going about their daily lives. You can even hear their voices at times. Amazing!

Obviously, photos alone will not do a good job of bringing out the experience. Hence I have also included some videos I took at the exhibition (I also need sturdier hands and a HD camera). Be sure to play the videos, or watch all 8 videos at one go (10 minutes long) via my Youtube playlist.

A fortune teller is seen here with a small crowd by his shop.

The Rainbow Bridge, so named because of its arch shape, was home to many vendors that sold various goods, including fabrics, fragrances and wine.

Try spotting the child in red and his pig in the video above! You can also see the transition from day to night, an effect that I especially like.

In this video above, there is quite a commotion from the crowd as the boat is threatening to crash into the bridge.

The bamboo scaffolding is the entrance to a restaurant. You may also notice its striped flag, an indication that this was a licensed wine shop.

The city gate was an elaborate structure.

The camels are led by a Persian seller and cross through the city gate.

The scenes gradually transform from day to night. The transition is not quite seamless, as you will see boats suddenly disappearing from the water, and donkeys turning to nothingness. Still, the night scenes are easily my favourite part of the animation.

The people standing on the bridge are tossing stones into the river, and you will see actual ripples forming in the water at the exhibition hall. The water lanterns are a nice touch, along with people carrying lanterns on the streets at night.

This photo shows a wholesale wine store that was doing a brisk business, evident by the number of wine barrels by its entrance.

Here’s a fun little activity for you. There are a couple of goofs in the animation which a friend of mine (who creates animation professionally) spotted. Can you figure out where the 2 mistakes are in the following video?

Having said that, the digital Qing Ming Shang He Tu is, like the original painting, a masterpiece in its own right. These minor quibbles do not make it any less of an epic work of art.

As the exhibit is so massive and animated throughout, you can almost feel as though you are right there in the painting. What a fantastic experience! If A Moving Masterpiece: Qing Ming Shang He Tu comes by your city, do not miss it for the world.

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Those of you who have been following Sparklette on Facebook and Twitter would have seen me micro-blogging from Hong Kong Disneyland. This isn’t my first Disneyland visit (I went to Tokyo Disneyland before) but it’s my first trip to Hong Kong Disneyland. Amazing experience nonetheless!

I’m excited to be sharing more photos and videos from the happiest place on earth and hope these would make you happy too.

Getting to Hong Kong Disneyland by MTR

If you are going to Hong Kong Disneyland from the Hong Kong International Airport, the easiest (and cheapest) way is by cab. But if you decide to commute by Mass Transit Railway (MTR), you get to hop into this cute Mickey Mouse themed train!

How often does one get to ride in a cute train like this?

Apart from the windows, the handle bars are made in the shape of Mickey’s head too! There are also glass capsules containing bronze sculptures of Disney characters on display within the carriages.

Finally, we arrive at Hong Kong Disneyland!

Better get your admission passes ready.

Toy Story Land, the newest “land” in Hong Kong Disneyland (as of 2012) opened in November 2011. That is probably why the tickets feature Toy Story characters. I’m especially thrilled because the Toy Story films are my favourite Disney/Pixar movies, and the characters feature quite heavily throughout various attractions in the park. Plus, you can keep these passes as souvenirs afterwards.

Here it is, the Disney Train Station and the iconic Mickey Mouse head made out of colourful flowers and plants!

And we’re in!

Flights of Fantasy Parade

One of the best highlights at Hong Kong Disneyland is the Flights of Fantasy Parade. You should get there about 15 minutes in advance to secure a good viewing spot along Main Street USA.

So it begins!

The Disneyland Band

Dumbo

The parade includes seven elaborate floats and various Disney characters such as:

• Mickey and friends
• Dumbo
• Winnie the Pooh
• Snow White
• Cinderella
• Belle
• Simba
• Tinkerbell
• Stitch
• Woody & Buzz Lightyear

That’s Mickey’s Magical Airship! Can you spot your favourite Disney characters?

The Romance Takes Wing float is such a looker with the gorgeous Disney princesses! Who’s the fairest of them all?

Probably the largest float of all is the Jumpin’ Jungle Jam float. I’m ashamed to admit that I actually don’t know most of the characters on it.

It’s not just about the floats though; there is also music, the Disneyland Band, dancing, acrobatics and various performers coming together to put up a continuously entertaining parade. Don’t just take my word for it though; watch these videos I recorded to get a feel of this one-of-a-kind experience!

My favourite float has got to be To Infinity and Beyond, featuring — who else — the Toy Story characters! It’s so cool to see the female version of the Buzz Lightyear costume, and of course Buzz Lightyear himself, along with Woody, Rex, Hamm and even the army guys (not so plastic in real life)! They are such fun, as you would see in this video:

Main Street USA

One of the attractions that I have very much been looking forward to seeing at Hong Kong Disneyland is Main Street USA, designed to resemble an early 20th-century Midwest town.

Why don’t we have such nice houses here in Singapore?

The beautiful houses and shops lining the street from end to end make you feel as though you’re in a different place and time!

Every tiny detail such as the pastel colours of the façades, the names painted in the windows, and the fonts used on the signs are a work of art.

I can’t get enough of how pretty the sweets shop looks. I love the baby pink and blue shades, the deep red awning and the large sweet displayed at the side of the store entrance.

Even the vehicles at Main Street USA are so unique. You can hop onto turn-of-the-century vehicles like an old-style double-decker bus or an automobile that will take you to other areas of the park.

A Mickey Mouse waffle for you? We get to eat loads of it at the various Disney restaurants afterwards. Topped with chocolate sauce, no less!

Fantasyland

Finally, here is the Sleeping Beauty Castle! You can see its multiple blue-roofed turrets from afar, juxtaposed against the mountains in the background.

The gold swirls that glisten under sunlight are pixie dust, decorated by Tinkerbell.

Here’s a picture of the castle from the other side. Photo bugs tend to get only the frontal shot, whilst the back of the castle is neglected. Even with the medieval look, it still looks so pretty in pink!

Recognise which film this bronze statue of Mickey comes from?

The Cinderella Carousel is just gorgeous.

I took the colourful It’s a Small World ride in Tokyo previously and recorded some videos during the ride. You can check out my Tokyo Disneyland post to see what it’s like. Basically it has a lot of happy music and tiny people throughout.

Apart from rides, there are quite a number of entertainment shows and even a 4D movie that you can sit in to watch with special glasses.

The Golden Mickeys show

The Golden Mickeys is a musical/theatre show played live on the stage. Disney characters and dancers in character costumes perform songs from these films:

• Toy Story
• The Hunchback of Notre Dame
• Tarzan
• Mulan
• Lilo and Stitch
• The Little Mermaid
• Beauty and the Beast

It even thrills you at times with aerial acrobatics, martial arts and good looking cast members.

The whole show has me hooked from the beginning to the end, but my favourite part is again the Toy Story segment. It features the cheery You’ve Got a Friend in Me (a song which I love to bits) from the movie soundtrack. Check it out in the video below. Plus, ever wonder what Mickey will sound like when he speaks in Cantonese? You can hear him at the beginning of the video. I have no idea what he says though!

Love this show!

When it’s time for the Disney in the Stars fireworks at night, that’s when you truly get to see how many visitors there are at Hong Kong Disneyland. It’s like going to Chinatown on Chinese New Year. Everyone in the park is gathered at the front of the castle to catch the colourful fireworks.

Credit

And what a massive show it is. The fireworks last for the whole of 12 minutes! Very impressive. You can hardly ever get tired of fireworks regardless of how many times you’ve seen them. The fact that it all takes place at a fairy tale castle just makes it that much more magical.

If you can’t get enough of the castle, various replicas of it are available at the merchandise shops. One in particular, is made of jewels and diamonds!

Fit for royalty

Stay tuned for Part 2 for more photos and videos of Hong Kong Disneyland! Thrill rides and the new Toy Story Land are coming up next!

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Prices are moderate, and there is also a nice drinks list to kick the evening up a notch.

The menu rounds up all the usual suspects — pastas, pizzas, steaks and burgers — of a western establishment. Hungry and feeling like pasta, that’s exactly what we go for.

Penne pasta with soft shell crab
S$18.90++

When it comes to pastas, if you’re a soft shell crab fan, this is definitely the place to indulge. The crispy crustacean is served whole with penne pasta and dressed in a zesty tomato sauce.

The crab is ample-sized and large enough to satiate any craving. But remember the Law of Diminishing Returns. The more you eat, the more it seems ordinary. By the last mouthfuls, my taste buds have become a little tired of the sauce.

Seafood spaghetti in tomato sauce
S$19.50++

Continuing in the seafood vein, since we’re dining by the sea, or pool, whatever, the seafood spaghetti in tomato sauce is a good choice. It is crowned with a pair of mussels, tucked with a few calamari rings and a prawn, and finished with a tangy tomato sauce. For the price, you will be expecting more ingredients. This we find somewhat lacking, though I do dig the pasta.

As part of the American Express SELECTS programme, cardholders get a 10% discount on the food bill. If you are dining here before 29 January 2012, you can make payment with your American Express card and have a chance of entering the weekly Volkswagen car giveaway! Just remember to remind the staff about your card privileges. I forgot about the 10% discount, and so did they.

Overall, I’m a big fan of the poolside ambience at Tinge of Blue and love the fact that it is tucked away from the city. Service is as relaxed as the ambience, professional but personable. The next time I’ll be back for the drinks!

Are there any hidden find in Singapore that you would like to share? Share all your thoughts via Facebook or Twitter or by leaving a comment!

Tinge of Blue
SAFRA Mount Faber
2 Telok Blangah Way #01-04
Singapore 098803
Tel: +65 6337 2088 | Website
Service:

Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday: 11am – 10pm
Sunday: 9am – 9pm
Saturday & Sunday brunch till 3pm

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Do you know that Tung Lok Seafood has a wonderful ala carte buffet promotion at Orchard Central? I’m not sure how I ever missed it, but if it wasn’t for the American Express SELECTS programme, I wouldn’t have known.

The daily ala carte dinner buffet at Tung Lok Seafood restaurant offers 40 dishes available for repeat orders, including seafood, meats, Japanese cold cuts and sashimi, rice and noodles, and desserts. Each diner also gets a serving of chilli crab and shark’s fin soup.

The price is pretty decent for the quality of the food served and the unlimited orders allowed. As with most Chinese and seafood restaurants, you are charged for the Chinese tea and pickles. If you make payment with your AmEx card before 29 January 2012, there is the extra perk of entering the weekly Volkswagen car giveaway!

Here, I will highlight my personal picks. The drunken prawns is definitely one of the best dishes of the night. The prawns are large and juicy, but the real star of the show is the herbal soup, which is perfectly clear and light in colour but intensely tasty. You would want a repeat order of this.

Also worth a mention is the crispy fish skin with salted egg yolk. It may sound icky, but it makes a delightful snack — like chips!

Smoked duck breast

For appetisers, the smoked duck breast receives votes of approval from my whole family. Served sans embellishments, the sensuously thin slices of duck are flavourful and make an exceedingly satisfying prelude to the meal. They disappear from the plate within minutes!

Salmon sashimi

The availability of a Japanese selection of salmon, sushi, octopus and baked scallops is surprising but much welcomed. The salmon sashimi is fresh and served in generous ample slices.

Crispy prawns with butter and cereal

Amongst the seafood, apart from the aforementioned drunken prawns, you also can’t go wrong with the cereal prawns, covered in a heap of crispy fragrant cereal.

Chilli crab

The chilli crab seen here is the serving for five. Whilst usually sweet and savoury, the sauce in this case is marred by a rather strange tasting sourness. If you’re wondering why, here’s the official reply from Tung Lok:

Our Chilli Crab contains a unique blend of Orange Juice and Tomato sauce!

How interesting! A side of fried buns — one of the 40 buffet items — proves to be the perfect complement.

Sautéed sliced venison with black pepper sauce

My most favourite item from the Tung Lok Seafood ala carte buffet is the sautéed sliced venison, a superlative effort by the chef. Meat lovers just can’t miss this. The dish features tender chunks of venison. Colourful vegetables and a lovely black pepper sauce complete the delicious scenario.

For dessert, you may partake of five choices:

• Herbal jelly served with honey
• Chilled almond beancurd with longan
• Sweetened sesame cream
• Sesame pancake with lotus seed filling
• Ice cream puff

They live up to expectations too!

Even at a very busy evening, the staff are quick to tend to our orders and serve us with a smile. At the Tung Lok Seafood buffet, you expect to eat to your heart’s content… and you will not be disappointed. If you decide to head down, reservations are a must!

Where can we enjoy a decent ala carte buffet in Singapore? Share all your thoughts via Facebook or Twitter or by leaving a comment!

Tung Lok Seafood
Orchard Central
181 Orchard Road #11-05
Singapore 238896
Tel: +65 6834 4888 | Website
Service:

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]]> 0 http://sparklette.net/lifestyle/event/nemation-6/ http://sparklette.net/lifestyle/event/nemation-6/#comments Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:17:48 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=1285

N.E.mation! is a digital animation competition organised for students in Singapore to express their thoughts on Total Defence. The top team wins the cool grand prize of a fully sponsored trip to visit DreamWorks Animation SKG in the USA worth more than S$15,000. You should really check out the quality that the 10 finalists have produced; it’s impressive!

Vote for your 3 favourite clips and you stand a chance to win attractive prizes such as an iPad 2, an Xbox 360 with Kinect, a Canon camera with a total of 30 prizes up for grabs!

There are 4 methods to vote (which means 4 chances to win!):

1. Visit N.E.mation! from your PC. View all 10 clips and vote for 3 of your favorite clips!
2. Visit the N.E.mation! Facebook page
3. Visit N.E.mation! on your smartphone.
4. Send an SMS. Details are available on the website and Facebook.

Click over to the N.E.mation! site and start watching those clips now!

Voting ends February 7, 2012.

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]]> 0 http://sparklette.net/travel/singapore/sentosa-flowers-2012/ http://sparklette.net/travel/singapore/sentosa-flowers-2012/#comments Sun, 22 Jan 2012 09:27:02 +0000 Melissa Koh http://sparklette.net/?p=1284

Since 2005, the annual Sentosa Flowers festival that takes place on Sentosa island in Singapore has been a flourishing success. Guests are greeted with brilliant colours and delightful scents of spring with inventive themes each year.

Into its seventh year, this highly popular event carries the theme “Enchanted Spring” for 2012, featuring educational trails and 16 colourful and interactive photo points for families to share enjoyable moments together. This being the Year of the Dragon, at least half the exhibits are inspired by the mythical creature.

Stretching across Imbiah Lookout, Merlion Plaza, Beach Plaza and Mount Faber, Sentosa Flowers 2012 showcases a massive 100,000 flowers and plants, including 800 species, varietals and cultivars.

Sentosa Flowers 2012
22 – 29 January 2012
10am to 10pm daily

Free entry (usual island admission charges apply)

Enter Sentosa Flowers through the majestic Dragon Gate; it is just a few steps away from the Imbiah Station. This picture-perfect set-up is bedecked with an abundance of plants!

As you walk along the flower trail towards the Merlion, you will spot the pink Floral Zodiac Dragon.

This dragon figure is embellished with an uncountable number of petals; you would probably not come across such a sweet-scented dragon again ever!

Sea World

Head over to the Sea World, minutes away from the Beach Station, where you will encounter an array of sea animals made of flowers!

Imbiah Lookout Highlights

As you enter a garden filled with brilliant hues of spring, flower fairies are here to look after the plants, keeping them strong and healthy.

Spring Melodies

Perk up your ears and listen to the joyful and soothing melodies of springtime, accompanied by flowers pieced together to form musical notes and instruments!

Look out for flowers that have yet to bloom; I’m sure when they do, it will be the most amazing sight!

Even dragonflies are not left out in this dragon-themed event!

The yellow chrysanthemum symbolises comfort, joy and rejuvenation; many Chinese people are fans of this flower as it represents lifelong happiness and good luck!

Dinoland

Join in the educational trails and learn fun facts about dinosaurs!

Can you figure out the different dinosaur species?

Trees of Life

Six larger-than-life bird figures surround a bed of blush-pink petals; this spot is picture perfect!

Sand Sculpture

More highlights of Sentosa Flowers 2012 include its first ever Sand Sculpture, specially created for the event at the Imbiah Lookout.

A majestic sand sculpture — spanning six meters in length, three meters in width and three meters in height — is named “Dance of the Dragon”, brought to life by internationally-acclaimed sand sculptor JOOheng Tan.

The intricate detailing of the sand sculpture is evidence of the time and effort spent.

Awakening

The dragon theme continues with the “Awakening”, a concept derived from an olden tale where a famous painter brought a dragon to life by dotting the eyes. Here, you can pick up a giant brush next to this giant floral painting and give the finishing touches.

The majestic dragon comes alive with a glint in its eye!

Sweet Love

Head to Sweet Love, where flowers in full bloom line the Love Tunnel. Take a stroll with your loved ones through the tunnel and soak in the romantic scents from the beautiful blossoms.

As you reach the end of the tunnel, a pair of adorable dragons forms a picturesque background for couples.

Mount Faber

Cable car rides
S$26 for round trip, S$24 for one way

If you’re feeling a little adventurous, hop onto a cable car to Mount Faber where you can enjoy Chinese tea in the Dragon Gate Inn at The Jewel Box.

Sentosa Flowers 2012 is the ideal venue for family bonding and capturing fun memories together. Amongst the colourful flowers, you can learn fun facts about plants with the Chinese character for “dragon” in their names, dinosaurs and even tea processing at the six educational trails available.

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Find out if you are one of the 3 lucky winners who won the cupcakes, with delivery included!

Spring Blossoms cupcakes from MetroCakes

Winners

Prize: A set of 9 Spring Blossoms cupcakes (worth S$49.90 a set)

• June Low
• Rachel L
• Indra Gen

Congratulations to all winners! You will be contacted at your email.

Thanks to everyone that took part in this giveaway. We frequently hold contests to give out wonderful prizes such as these. To ensure that you never miss out on any giveaway, you are advised to subscribe to Sparklette (Email, RSS, Facebook, Twitter or iPhone).

Results of SQL query that selected the comments randomly (duplicate and late submissions have been removed):

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While I have never actually found a liking for pineapple tarts, my mum is a huge fan. And so, we would have little bottles of it from various sources, usually lovingly made by friends and relatives. According to my mum’s standards, the store-bought ones tend to be not up to par, be it due to the lack of pineapple jam or an overly thick cookie crust.

This Chinese New Year, PrimaDéli Singapore has three types of pineapple tarts available, of which we have tried two. And my mum approves! That is why you’re reading about it here.

Divine pineapple tarts
S$14.80 for a tin (16 pieces)

The Divine pineapple tarts are bite-sized tarts that come in a tin of 16. The pastry skin is thin with a wonderful buttery flavour, encasing an ample amount of moist pineapple pulp. It does taste pretty good even to a non-pineapple fan like me.

Fortune pineapple tarts
S$1.60 each

For an extra cute factor, the Fortune pineapple tarts are made in the shape of pineapples, packed in red drawstring organza bags. Even though these taste pretty much the same as the Divine tarts, I find myself enjoying them more because they look so good. Why, haven’t you heard? The first bite is taken with the eye! These pineapple-shaped tarts are obviously dressed to impress, and will make good gifts.

What are your must-have Chinese New Year goodies? Share with us in the comments!

PrimaDéli ( Halal certified)
Tel: +65 6276 3333 | Website

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Find out if you are one of the 3 lucky winners who would get to toss the colourful salad with your family this Chinese New Year!

Winners

Prize: Prosperity salmon yusheng (serves 4), worth S$38 each

• Leonard Low
• Anastasia Sin
• Vivien Lau

Congratulations to all winners! You will be contacted at your email.

Thanks to everyone that took part in this giveaway. We frequently hold contests to give out wonderful prizes such as these. To ensure that you never miss out on any giveaway, you are advised to subscribe to Sparklette (Email, RSS, Facebook, Twitter or iPhone).

Results of SQL query that selected the comments randomly (duplicate and late submissions have been removed):

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]]> 0 http://sparklette.net/lifestyle/gadget/nikon-1-j1-camera/ http://sparklette.net/lifestyle/gadget/nikon-1-j1-camera/#comments Wed, 18 Jan 2012 06:17:26 +0000 Melissa Koh http://sparklette.net/?p=1280

If you’re looking for a way to capture the precious moments spent with loved ones, the Nikon 1 J1 compact camera may just be what you’re looking for. This casual and versatile camera balances portability with splendid image and video quality in a lightweight compact body that fits right in the palm of your hand.

The Nikon 1 J1 kits are available in 5 visually pleasingly shades (lenses of the same colour are only available when you purchase a kit):

• Pink
• Red
• Silver
• Black
• White

The sleek and stylish body boasts minimal buttons, keeping it extremely user-friendly! The clear menus feature large easy-to-understand icons that make it simple to navigate between different functions.

Four simple shooting modes are easily accessed from the mode dial:

• Still Image
• Smart Photo Selector
• Motion Snapshot
• Movie

Still Images

The still photos turn out to be crisp-sharp, with natural hues. You can choose to save the high quality images in JPEG, JPEG-Fine or Raw formats.

The remarkably quick and seamless phase-detection autofocus (AF) embedded in the newly developed sensor will track and capture fast-moving subjects in sharp, crystal-clear focus ensures you will never miss a moment.

Harnessing the camera’s fast processing speed and ability to capture images both before and after you fully press the shutter button, these innovative shooting modes will capture moments you would normally not be able to.

Featuring a continuous shooting mode that captures images at approximately 10 frames per second to 60 frames per second, you can unequivocally capture your once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity of dynamic scenes such as exciting sporting matches or energetic children at play.

Smart Photo Selector

The Smart Photo Selector flies into action as soon as you press the shutter button. Upon a half-press, it begins to capture images before you even take the shot, and continues after you’re done, ultimately shooting 20 high-resolution images in quick succession. The best shot is then displayed on the monitor, along with four more for you to choose from.

The camera recommends shots based on factors such as facial expression, composition and focus so you’ll never miss a smiling face, accidentally cut off someone’s head or end up with half-closed eyes and blurred images.

Motion Snapshot Function

The Nikon 1′s innovative shooting functions allow greater creative freedom. The Motion Snapshot function, for instance, is an engrossing way of preserving your memories and a great feature to expand your creative capabilities. This has to be my favourite feature and the most utilised one.

Motion Snapshot brings a photo to life in just one click — it simultaneously records a one-second movie vignette and a still image which will play back in a dramatic 2.5x slow motion, in addition to a selection of music to match your shooting environment. The playback is dramatic and fun to watch.

The still images are captured in high resolution, so you can print them out n beautiful picture quality.

Movies

The movie mode opens up a host of advanced movie functions, including the chance to take a high-resolution photo while filming a movie.

---

The Nikon 1 J1 makes an appropriate choice for budding photo enthusiasts who are keen on experiencing the vast potential of shooting with interchangeable lenses without investing in a hefty DSLR.

Let the fun begin!

The images in this post are taken with the Nikon 1 J1 with a 10-30mm kit lens.

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]]> 0 http://sparklette.net/food/goodwood-park-chinese-new-year/ http://sparklette.net/food/goodwood-park-chinese-new-year/#comments Mon, 16 Jan 2012 03:00:27 +0000 Melissa Koh http://sparklette.net/?p=1279

This Chinese New Year, the culinary team at Goodwood Park Hotel has put together a whole range of festive delights. For reunion meals, dine-in ala carte and set menus are available at the two Min Jiang restaurants located at the hotel and Rochester Park.

Meticulously crafted cakes and goodies are available at the Deli. If you are looking for a western experience, the festive afternoon tea at L’Espresso is one buffet you must not miss.

Min Jiang

Hamachi yusheng (available for dine-in only)
S$118++ (large)

The signature hamachi (yellowtail) yusheng (raw fish salad) possesses traditional flavours with a touch of unconventional ingredients. To name some, they include flying fish roe, wasabi ebiko (prawn roe), seaweed and French chives, amidst mesclun greens, shredded red and white carrots, Buddha’s hand citron, jellyfish, onions and pomelo.

The pine nuts and sesame seeds provide delightful coarse textures while the house-made taro and sweet potato crisps add an enjoyable crunch.

For additional flavour, drizzle on the chef’s secret sweet sauce with a squeeze of lime. Now you’re all set to toss to a prosperous new year!

Golden Fortune chicken (available for dine-in and takeaway)
S$198 for 6 persons

The visually appealing Golden Fortune chicken makes a memorable show-stopper of a dish. It symbolises an abundance of wealth, and is accompanied by 8 gold-wrapped hard-boiled eggs. Get into some hammering action and watch the chicken-shaped salt crust slowly crack to reveal the lotus leaves-wrapped filling.

The delectable ingredients include chicken, whole Australian abalone, dried scallops, black moss, flower mushrooms and dang gui. These are oven-baked for 4 hours, sealing in the rich flavours. The result is chicken meat that is flavoursome and moist throughout; even the leanest parts are melt-in-your-mouth tender!

Stewed pork belly roll with Sichuan pickle sauce (available for dine-in and takeaway)
S$218 for 6 persons

With a minimum of 6 hours’ cooking required, the stewed pork belly roll is clearly a labour of love. An ample slice of pork belly is hand-rolled and braised with garlic and chilli for 5 hours. The ensuing rich stock and pork belly roll are then removed and stewed with Sichuan pickled vegetables and chillies for an additional hour, forming a remarkably robust and intensely flavourful pickle sauce base.

Notable co-stars in this pot of deliciousness are premium Australian abalones, dried oysters, black moss and Tientsin cabbage.

If you prefer to dine in the comfort of your own home, a 6-course Festive Treasures takeaway set menu that includes ikan parang yusheng, Prosperity Sea Treasures in Wooden Pot (poon choy) and dessert is available for take-out at both Min Jiang restaurants. (S$468 for 6 persons)

English Afternoon Tea Buffet

For rebels seeking an alternative to the traditional Chinese fares, try the English afternoon tea buffet at L’Espresso.

English afternoon tea buffet
S$58++ per adult / S$29++ per child

Available from 21-24 January 2012
12noon – 2:30pm, 3pm – 5:30pm

The usual Chinese New Year treats are done up with surprising western twists. We’re talking yusheng with smoked salmon, quail eggs coated with pork floss, nian gao beignet and bak kwa finger sandwiches.

Nian gao beignet
S$8.90++

The nian gao beignet in particular will leave you wanting more; these bite-sized pieces of the sticky cake are wrapped in savoury crispy spring roll skin and deep fried whilst maintaining a soft, sweet interior.

Chinese New Year Goodies at The Deli

Traditional New Year cookies and chips are available at The Deli, with all-time favourite snacks such as cashew nut cookies, almond cookies, chiku chips and yam chips. (S$18.80 to S$20.80 for a jar)

A Chinese New Year must-have, bak kwa is sold in small neat slices. (S$48 for 600g, S$72 for 1kg)

Macadamia and kumquat tart (available for takeaway at the Deli)
S$$48 for 1kg

The macadamia and kumquat tart is one unique creation you will remember. It is filled with crunchy nuts and refreshing kumquat, and adorned with almond flakes, whole macadamia nuts and marzipan firecrackers. The centrepiece is the auspicious Chinese character for prosperity that will add much colour to your festive celebration.

Fortune mandarin orange pound cake
S$72 for 1kg

Just as eye-catching is the Fortune mandarin orange pound cake, shaped like a giant mahjong tile with the Chinese word for fortune. Lightly perfumed with citrus scents and encased in icing that isn’t cloyingly sweet, this eye-catching dessert will make a perfect gift for mahjong players!

Duo of Prosperity Fish (available for takeaway at the Deli)
S$98 for 10 persons

Another highlight would be the Duo of Prosperity Fish, consisting of a mango with pomelo and sago pudding and durian pudding. Durian fans can opt for both fish-shaped puddings to be of durian flavour for the price of S$108.

Available from 9 January to 6 February 2012. All takeaway items require an advance order of one working day.

Where would you be dining this festive season? Share with us in the comments!

Goodwood Park Hotel

Min Jiang at One-North

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© 2011 Sparklette.net

Find out if you are one of the 6 lucky winners!

Winners

Prize: Gift set (worth approximately S$27 each) – Includes a teabag holder and a box of tea

• Ruixing
• Jenny Chiun
• YingVannie
• Febrin
• Adam

Grand prize: Teapot set (worth S$69.90) – Includes a cherry teabag teapot set and a box of Mango Meets Coconut tea

• Eunice Kong

Congratulations to all winners! You will be contacted at your email.

Thanks to everyone that took part in this giveaway. We frequently hold contests to give out wonderful prizes such as these. To ensure that you never miss out on any giveaway, you are advised to subscribe to Sparklette (Email, RSS, Facebook, Twitter or iPhone).

Results of SQL query that selected the comments randomly (duplicate and late submissions have been removed):

Grand prize:

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MetroCakes has such a knack for making cupcakes filled with cuteness and deliciousness for any occasion. Their Chinese New Year cupcakes for 2012 feature the most adorable little red dragon, spring blossoms and mandarin oranges, guaranteed to elicit plenty of oohs and ahhs from your family.

And the great news is that we have a few sets to give away to 3 lucky Sparklette readers, delivery included!

Chinese New Year Cupcakes Giveaway!

Spring Blossoms cupcakes from MetroCakes

There are 3x sets of 9 Spring Blossoms cupcakes (worth S$49.90 a set) up for grabs. MetroCakes would deliver these seasonal delights right to your doorstep!

1. This contest is only open to members of the Sparklette and MetroCakes Facebook pages. So if you haven’t, “Like” both pages now. (Bonus points if you decide to also “Like” Sparklette Studio our web design company.)

   
   

2. To participate, simply do both the following things:
   • “Like” the MetroCakes Lunar New Year Collection 2012 album on Facebook.
   • Leave a comment here using your Facebook name.

Giveaway Details

• This giveaway ends on January 18, 2012 (2359 hours Singapore time).
• This giveaway is open only to people who are based in Singapore.
• The winners will be randomly selected by an SQL query.
• Please leave a valid email address when filling out the comment form so that we can contact you if you’ve won.
• Please only comment once.
• Please note that all comments are moderated. Hence your comment may not show up right away.
• Please note that participants must follow the instructions on how to participate (mentioned above) to be eligible for the prize.
• The winners will be announced in a separate post and you are advised to subscribe to Sparklette (Email, RSS, Facebook, Twitter or iPhone) so that you can be quickly notified when the announcement post has been published.
• Terms and conditions apply.
  1. This giveaway is organised by Sparklette and MetroCakes (hereinafter known as “The Organisers”).
  2. The Organisers reserve all rights to substitute the publicised prizes with other prizes of similar commercial value at their sole discretions.
  3. The Organisers’ decision on all matters relating to this giveaway is final. No correspondence will be entertained.
  4. The Organisers reserve the right to amend the giveaway mechanics and terms and conditions without prior notification.
  5. Any incomplete, inaccurate and/or false particulars submitted will void the entry and hence be ineligible for any prizes.

View the original article and join the discussion at:
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© 2011 Sparklette.net

]]> 89 http://sparklette.net/food/ya-kun-kaya-cookies/ http://sparklette.net/food/ya-kun-kaya-cookies/#comments Thu, 12 Jan 2012 07:29:54 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=1276 Singapore coffee chain Ya Kun has a long history — since 1944 — of serving up delicious kaya toast. But did you know they also sell cookies made with their famed coconut jam?

The cookies are available all year round. And just for Chinese New Year, they have been specially packaged in tins. So if you know anyone who’s a big fan of the Ya Kun kaya, these kaya cookies would make great gifts.

Kaya cookies
S$16.80 for a tin / S$30.20 for 2

The kaya cookies are available in two flavours:

• Kaya butter
• Kaya pistachio

Personally I prefer the butter cookies to the pistachio version, as the butter cookies are lighter and crumble easily in the mouth while the pistachio cookies are quite hard to bite on. Just don’t expect a full-on kaya flavour, as I find the taste of kaya rather subtle.

Butter cookies this good will disappear quickly! Be sure to get a tin for yourself before they fly off the shelves completely.

With a minimum S$8 purchase in a single receipt, you would receive a set of Ya Kun edition red packets. Great for red packet collectors!

Have Your Say!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

What are your favourite types of cookies? Share with us in the comments!

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]]> 2 http://sparklette.net/food/hilton-chinese-new-year/ http://sparklette.net/food/hilton-chinese-new-year/#comments Wed, 11 Jan 2012 03:00:24 +0000 Melissa Koh http://sparklette.net/?p=1274 Feeling prosperous? Today, we will show you the priciest yusheng we have found in Singapore this Chinese New Year, as well as check out the luxurious multi-course reunion menus at Hilton Singapore.

Yusheng

To celebrate the start of a lunar new year and the Year of the Dragon, Chinese families get together and feast. Many restaurants have pulled out all the stops to lure diners with attractive festive menus. Just for yusheng (raw fish salad) alone, the list of ingredients has grown longer and the prices have gone higher.

Hilton Fortune Treasure Yusheng
S$688++

Usher in the return of spring with the auspicious Hilton Fortune Treasure Yusheng. At the centrepiece is the eye-catching Chinese character for “win” (赢), created with a colourful arrangement of shredded cucumber, radish and carrot.

Crunchy golden pillow crackers frame the border, followed by a lavish spread of ingredients.

The premium ingredients include top-grade bird’s nest, ocean scallops, abalone, fresh lobster, tuna and salmon topped with luxurious gold leaves, black truffle and the highest grade of Korean ginseng.

However unconventional it is, the novel incorporation of black truffle deserves thumbs up, while the addition of bird’s nest will get the ladies digging for treasure after the lo hei.

Tender pieces of scallops and fresh lobster will be very much sought after too amongst the yummy mess.

What an incredible way to toss to a prosperous new year! And with a price tag of S$688, you would want to toss this yusheng carefully.

Reunion lunch and dinner

Reunion menus are available from 16 January to 6 February 2012, with two lunch and two dinner menus ranging from $498++ to $818++ for a table of 10 persons. These 7 to 8-course menus — Fortune Lunch, Prosperity Lunch, Auspicious Dinner and Harmony Dinner — will typically consist of:

• Yusheng
• Shark’s fin soup
• Prawns or lobster
• Fish
• Chicken (for the 8-course meal)
• Braising stew
• Fried rice or noodles
• Dessert

Braised shark’s fin soup with scallop, crab meat and bamboo pith

Each bowl of braised shark’s fin soup is generously piled with eminent pieces of shark’s fin, scallop, crab meat and bamboo pith.

Fried prawns coated with creamy sweet corn

The large fried prawns are presented with their shells still intact, coated with a creamy sweet corn sauce.

Although the flesh does not fall off the shell easily, the shells are fried to a nice consumable crisp that you cannot resist gnawing on.

This dish is available on the 8-course Auspicious Dinner Menu (S$688++ for a table of 10).

Oven baked halibut in honey barbecue sauce

The oven baked halibut in honey barbecue sauce is available on the Fortune Lunch Menu and Harmony Dinner Menu. Despite being slightly charred and tough on the outside, it is more than meets the eye.

Doused in a delicious sauce, the fish is skilfully cooked to a crisp exterior while retaining its inner moisture and tenderness.

Braised sliced abalone with dried oyster, black moss and garden greens

With sliced abalone swimming in a flavoursome broth, complete with dried oyster, black moss and garden greens, you have no reason not to go for seconds. The sizeable plump oysters are simmered to a perfect tender texture.

Fried rice with Chinese sausage, fish roe and diced mushrooms in lotus leaf

Nestled in a lotus leaf, the fragrant fried rice is well infused with a gamut of flavours, with Chinese sausage, diced mushroom and fish roe interspersed throughout the rice.

This dish is available in both lunch menus.

Golden pumpkin mousse cake
S$88 for 1kg

Shaped like the fruit itself, the innovative golden pumpkin mousse cake will be the talk of any gathering with its captivating design. Hidden within the dessert are layers of raspberry jelly and healthy pumpkin mousse sitting on a brownie base. You will find crunchy bits of praline in each mouthful of fragrant pumpkin mousse.

Prosperity pineapple tart
S$58 for 1kg

The Prosperity pineapple tart from Checkers Deli is a modern twist of the conventional Chinese New Year treat. It comes in a form of a traditional tart base filled with generous spread of house-made pineapple filling and lime jelly, topped with crisply baked meringue. It is finally capped with a disc of white chocolate that is shaped to resemble a gold coin, adorned with a white chocolate fortune carp and sugary mandarin oranges.

This sweet and sour combination will make a great gift to spread the fortune. A mini version is available as well. Just adorable!

Available from 9 January to 6 February at the Checkers Deli, lobby level of the Hilton Singapore.

Have Your Say!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Where would you be dining this festive season? Share with us in the comments!

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]]> 5 http://sparklette.net/food/metrocakes-chinese-new-year-cupcakes/ http://sparklette.net/food/metrocakes-chinese-new-year-cupcakes/#comments Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:30:35 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=1275 I have a confession to make: I’m addicted to MetroCakes cupcakes. Each time the bakery launches a new festive collection, I will be bouncing in my seat with excitement as I eagerly click over to their website. Just check out what they have done this Chinese New Year. Can you resist such cuteness?

Spring Blossoms
S$49.90 for 9 / S$68.90 for 16
Rating:

This being the Year of the Dragon, the centrepiece of these beautiful cupcakes is a red fiery dragon.

Red the Dragon comes complete with black beady eyes and fearsome white scales down his back. Doesn’t he look like he’s filled with awesomeness? Well, just wait ’til he meets… The Cat!

Not so tough now, are we? Snowy the Cat eyes Red the Dragon suspiciously. ‘Sup?

Last Lunar New Year, MetroCakes had cupcakes with mandarin oranges, fire crackers, red packets, gold coins and rabbits. I’m thrilled that the mini mandarin oranges have made a return. They’re adorable and such a staple at this time of the year.

Because these cute decorations look too good to eat, I painted clear nail varnish over the oranges and placed them on my car dashboard for the whole of last Chinese New Year. This time round, I am planning to do the same with Red the Dragon.

The cupcakes featuring pink spring blossoms are linked together at the branches, which I find an interesting touch.

Apart from looking lovely, the cupcakes taste delicious too. They are in green tea flavour. Upon opening the cake box, the sweetest scent wafts into your nose. The fondant layer in such 3D cakes tends to be very sweet, but in this case, the green tea cake actually tastes divine with the fondant.

If you like, you can try pairing the cupcakes with scented tea. Allerines Tea would be just perfect for a quaint afternoon tea and cupcake session. The good news is that MetroCakes has a number of Allerines teas available as add-ons. That means that you can place your order online, and have all the cupcakes and tea delivered right to your doorstep conveniently.

Enjoy!

What are the most amazing cakes you have ever eaten? Share with us in the comments!

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© 2011 Sparklette.net

To usher in the lunar Year of the Dragon, we have more goodies to give away! Since yusheng is such an auspicious dish at Chinese New Year, we’re giving away salmon yusheng from the Paradise Group of Chinese restaurants for your family’s lo hei pleasure.

Personally, I am a huge fan of the restaurants under Paradise Group, especially Seafood Paradise, Paradise Dynasty and Kungfu Paradise. In addition to yusheng, the group is also offering a wide selection of festive specialties and reunion set menus at its various restaurants. So do check them out if you’re looking for a place to dine this Chinese New Year.

For now, let’s get on with the giveaway!

Yusheng Giveaway!

There are 3 sets of Prosperity salmon yusheng, worth S$38 each, from Paradise Group up for grabs. Each set is good for four, and includes colourful shredded vegetables and salmon sashimi.

1. This contest is only open to members of the Sparklette and Paradise Group Facebook pages. So if you haven’t, “Like” both pages now. (Bonus points if you decide to also “Like” Sparklette Studio our web design company.)

   
   

2. Leave a comment here using your Facebook name and a valid email address, along with the answer to this question:
   

   Apart from yusheng, what other food do you enjoy most at Chinese New Year? Is it abalone, steamboat, the “love letter” egg rolls or other?

Giveaway Details

• This giveaway ends on January 15, 2012 (2359 hours Singapore time).
• This giveaway is open only to people who are based in Singapore.
• The winners will be randomly selected by an SQL query.
• Please leave a valid email address when filling out the comment form so that we can contact you if you’ve won.
• Please only comment once.
• Please note that all comments are moderated. Hence your comment may not show up right away.
• Please note that participants must follow the instructions on how to participate (mentioned above) to be eligible for the prize.
• The winners will be announced in a separate post and you are advised to subscribe to Sparklette (Email, RSS, Facebook, Twitter or iPhone) so that you can be quickly notified when the announcement post has been published.
• Terms and conditions apply.
  1. This giveaway is organised by Sparklette and Paradise Group (hereinafter known as “The Organisers”).
  2. The Organisers reserve all rights to substitute the publicised prizes with other prizes of similar commercial value at their sole discretions.
  3. The Organisers’ decision on all matters relating to this giveaway is final. No correspondence will be entertained.
  4. The Organisers reserve the right to amend the giveaway mechanics and terms and conditions without prior notification.
  5. Any incomplete, inaccurate and/or false particulars submitted will void the entry and hence be ineligible for any prizes.

View the original article and join the discussion at:
http://sparklette.net/contest/paradise-group-yusheng-giveaway/ | 106 comments

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© 2011 Sparklette.net