First, there was Ceiling Cat, then came along his archenemy Basement Cat.

Now, behold the Singapore version — Void Deck Cat!

Void Deck Cat

In land-scarce Singapore, even cats have taken to living in “apartments”. Spotted in Tiong Bahru!

Stray cats in Tiong Bahru, Singapore

You can keep a dog; but it is the cat who keeps people, because cats find humans useful domestic animals. – George Mikes

White cat in Sicily, Italy

Of all God’s creatures, there is only one that cannot be made slave of the lash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve the man, but it would deteriorate the cat. – Mark Twain

You can get yourself a kitty keepsake at the Saturday Purrzaar that will offer quirky, unique cat-related merchandise and crafts by local artists. This cat-themed flea market is happening on two Saturdays in June — 4 and 18 June (from 11am to 6pm). All proceeds go to the Cat Welfare Society.

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I first visited Boathouse during the months when it just opened. Then, it struck me with its appealing location while the cooking was good but not exceptional. This time round, with a different chef at helm, I decide to try the restaurant’s new French-style Sunday brunch.

Sunday brunch

The brunch offers traditional country breakfast fares that you can order à la carte. On the other hand if you have time for a long leisurely brunch, then I suggest you go for the S$48++ Sunday brunch set (minimum 2 to order) that includes:

- Bread and pastry basket
- Salad or soup
- Eggs or pancakes
- Dessert or cheese trolley
- Fresh juice, coffee or tea

Bread basket

Usually, I am not one that would pay much attention to the bread served at a restaurant, preferring to dive straight into the starters or mains and save room for desserts. But in this case, it is hard to resist the soft, warm, yielding breads — served in four different kinds, no less.

Soup

Cream of cauliflower
S$19++
Rating:

The velvety cream of cauliflower is a fabulous opener, although the real winner here is the duo of plump grilled scallops at its epicentre, crowned with a tiara of smoked black caviar.

Salad

Grilled asparagus
S$25++
Rating:

The salad of grilled asparagus, cherry tomatoes, bacon, croutons and cheese is an attractive myriad of colours and textures. The greens are pristinely fresh and the tomatoes succulent. Bacon adds a contrast in flavour, and the splash of truffle vinaigrette proves the perfect culinary catalyst.

Eggs

Egg Benedict
S$18++
Rating:

As for the eggs, you can have them in any way you fancy. Poached, scrambled, baked, sunny side up, you name it. For the eggs Benedict, the poached eggs are teamed with cured Petuna ocean trout and dressed with truffle hollandaise sauce on a bed of toasted brioche bread. Accompanied by a salad of greens and tomatoes on the side, I feel like I’ve had enough vitamin C for a week!

Pancakes

Pancakes with spicy sausages
S$19++
Rating:

The savoury pancakes are served with either spicy sausages, bacon or ibérico de bellota, a certain type of cured ham. The spicy sausages are, strangely, not spicy at all, at least in not the way that we Asians know it. For a main course, the portion is also rather small.

If you like your pancakes sweet, those are available as well, paired with blueberries, apple or banana.

Cheese

Selection of cheeses of the day
S$23++
Rating:

The assorted cheeses arrive along with toasted nuts, dried fruits, crackers and a certain type of salad that goes well with cheese.

Dessert

The desserts are made in-house and should be ordered at the start of the meal. Go for the gold by treating yourself to the Grand Marnier soufflé.

Grand Marnier soufflé
S$18++
Rating:

Soufflés often deflate the moment they hit the table and reach flat-as-a-pancake status within the minute. That’s a nightmare for snap-happy bloggers like myself who frequently show off our gastronomic conquests. Thankfully, there are no such worries here. The kitchen turns out an ethereally light soufflé that is benchmark in every respect. The cake is a uniform blonde colour, with a rich eggy flavour that has been invigorated with a generous splash of Grand Marnier. I would happily eat this again any time.

Other dessert possibilities include crème brûlée, pear tarte tatin and dark and white chocolate that is served with toasted bananas and cocoa ice cream.

Cocktails

Cocktails are available at the restaurant as well as the rooftop bar, Prelude, that opens in the evening. Some of these sport interesting Singapore-inspired names such as the Merlion Punch, a refreshing mix of passion fruit, white peach and pineapple jazzed up by vodka. The Orchard is a concoction of apricot, apple, cinnamon, lemon and vodka.

Credit

Tucked away at the picturesque Fullerton Square, Boathouse attracts a clientèle that ranges from locals, expatriates and tourists that have the common passion for lovingly prepared and well presented European cuisine.

Where would you go for Sunday brunch in Singapore? Share with us in the comments!

Boathouse
The Fullerton Waterboat House
3 Fullerton Road #03-01
Singapore 049215
Tel: +65 6538 9038 | Website
Service:

Opening hours:
Lunch – Monday to Friday, 12noon – 2pm
Dinner – Monday to Saturday, 6:30pm – 11pm
Brunch – Sunday, 11am – 3pm

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tcc High Tea

The tcc high tea for March 2011 is a treat for both eyes and palate.

High tea set
S$12.90++

Available from 2-6pm daily until March 31, 2011

The new high tea set includes items that range from the bruschetta with chopped tomatoes, scones accompanied by jam and cream, to the mini oreo cheesecake topped with whipped cream.

Also included in the price is a drink, which you can choose between the tcc premium blend or the tea of the day.

What is your favourite tcc high tea set? Share with us in the comments!

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Shareable for two, the popular tcc high tea made its début this time last year with a galore of sweet treats such as chocolate-dipped strawberries and rose-scented macarons. Since then, the set of snacks and pastries would be changed every few months — and they are always a joy to look at.

tcc High Tea

For the month of February 2011, the high tea set includes a variety of goodies with a running theme to celebrate both Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day.

High tea set
S$18.80++

Available from 2-6pm daily until February 28, 2011 at all outlets except Marina at Keppel Bay

Presented on a long white platter are pink heart-shaped raspberry macaron tarts, tiramisu topped with a heart-shaped chocolate crisp, chopped abalone on toasted bread, heart-shaped chicken sandwich, and a duo of scones with strawberry jam and cream. You may notice that the price is higher than that of tea sets from other months, likely due to the inclusion of abalone that brings a touch of luxury.

To wash down these bite-sized delights, the set also comes with a choice of tcc premium blend or tea of the day.

Drink of the Month

Sweet Sensation
S$7.20++

Available until February 28, 2011 at all outlets

Looking for a little romance? Sweet Sensation may just do the trick. This cold beverage is a lovely blend of rose syrup and chocolate, topped with a crown of milk froth. Do these spell romance? I think they do!

What is your favourite food and drink at Valentine’s Day? Share with us in the comments!

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On special occasions like Valentine’s Day and Halloween, you can enjoy creative drinks concoctions. And at Christmas, these festive-themed drinks become extra pretty.

Nutte Winter
S$7++
Rating:

Try the Nutte Winter, one of the two festive drinks offered for Christmas 2010. This is coffee latte with a tasty tinge of hazelnut. With a dash of red and green, the decorative Christmas colours sure evoke a festive feel! Mostly, I find the chocolate smiling gingerbread man most intriguing; he seemingly dissolves into the coffee within the first minute.

At 7 bucks, this is a rather pricey cup of latte. But if you’re in the mood for a holiday drink that would warm your heart, this drink is perfection.

Have a look at their pretty festive beverages like Berry Oreo and eggnog over the past Christmases.

Have you indulged in any Christmas-themed food and drinks this holiday season? Share with us in the comments!

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]]> http://sparklette.net/food/tcc-christmas-latte/feed/ 6 http://sparklette.net/food/tcc-mooncakes/ http://sparklette.net/food/tcc-mooncakes/#comments Fri, 17 Sep 2010 03:00:43 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=1009 Boutique café chain tcc, which quietly changed its name from “the coffee connoisseur” to “the connoisseur concerto” recently, has launched their first ever mooncakes this Mid-Autumn Festival. The selection includes the classic mooncake, mango mooncake and yes, a coffee-themed treat. Colour me excited!

Unboxing the mooncakes

The mooncakes are encased in a long gift box decorated with colourful blossoms, then packed in a reusable shopping bag with a matching design.

The packaging is frills-free but stylish. The inner cover is printed with some information on the three types of mooncakes.

Swirly patterns adorn each mooncake, surrounding the familiar logo at the centre.

Classic mooncakes

White lotus paste with egg yolk
S$38+ for a box of 4
Rating:

Let’s start with the old favourite. The Mid-Autumn Festival just isn’t the same without the traditional mooncake, which makes an appearance here as the white lotus paste with egg yolk mooncake.

For a maiden attempt, tcc’s classic mooncake is extremely well-executed. I am impressed! The brown outer skin is thin and moist, enveloping a velvety lotus paste filling that is delightfully soft and of just the right level of sweetness. The salted yolk provides a nice contrast in taste and texture, and has been thoughtfully flattened across to ensure that every slice gets an even share. Have you had any other mooncake that has the egg yolk spread out this way too?

Mini snowskin mooncakes

Royal Mango mini snowskin mooncake
S$36+ for a box of 8
Rating:

Mango is a popular flavour this mooncake season, with Crystal Jade, Emicakes, Goodwood Park and Mandarin Orchard offering their own renditions of the zesty delicacy.

For tcc’s Royal Mango mini mooncake, the smell and taste of the fruit is very faint until you get to the truffle core, which oozes out mango puree in a burst of flavour. It would certainly be a more complete experience if the snowskin had a refreshing mango scent to hint at what is on the inside.

Cappuccino Concerto mini snowskin mooncake
S$36+ for a box of 8
Rating:

To please coffee fans, the Cappuccino Concerto would do the trick. Bite into a slice of this caffeinated treat and you would taste the coffee-flavoured lotus paste and a coffee cream truffle. While the coffee taste is quite robust, it would fare even better if it was slightly less sweet, with a hint of bitterness even.

What better to wash down these mooncakes than with a piping hot drink? When dining in at any of the cafés, you can pair a snowskin mooncake with a coffee or tea at S$8.50++. Speaking of which, what is your favourite drink at tcc?

For a first attempt at mooncake making, tcc has done a marvellous job especially with the traditional mooncake. The snowskin ones are commendable, and would do even better with refinement. This underdog sure has turned out to be the biggest surprise this season!

What do you think of pairing mooncakes with coffee? Have you had any other coffee mooncakes this year? Share with us in the comments!

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Snowy our resident cat makes a cameo appearance.

Cats can’t resist playing with the nifty jade pieces!

The oriental design of the chest reminds me of one of those wooden chests you would find at traditional Chinese medicinal halls, where every drawer is filled with a different type of herb and medicine. Only in this case, the drawers open up to the beautiful mooncakes!

Credit: The Fullerton Hotel

Rose Red Bean in snowskin
Rating:

Rose-scented confectionery sure is tempting, isn’t it? In the book The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S Lewis, the White Witch tempted a character, Edmund, with the rose-flavoured Turkish Delight candy. And now, roses have made their way into mooncakes, too!

The pretty in pink Rose Red Bean mooncake bears a very prominent scent of roses. It reminds me of bandung! The filling is that of a chunky red bean paste.

Credit: The Fullerton Hotel

Lavender Macadamia Green Bean in snowskin
Rating:

No prizes for guessing what flower goes into the purple mooncake. This is of course the Lavender Macadamia Green Bean in snowskin. Upon the first bite, you get a soothing whiff of lavender. How elegant! The green bean filling is a pale yellow, subtly flavoured with the flower and mixed with bits of macadamia nuts for an extra crunch.

Credit: The Fullerton Hotel

Osmanthus White Lotus in snowskin
Rating:

Of the lot, we find the Osmanthus White Lotus more forgettable. Unlike the more novel creations in the floral series, this one is more like your typical snowskin mooncake.

Credit: The Fullerton Hotel

Hibiscus Strawberry in snowskin
Rating:

My personal favourite is the Hibiscus Strawberry, featuring the national flower of Malaysia. The soft strawberry filling is simply delightful — it’s the taste of summer! At times I forget that I’m eating mooncakes because the flavours are just so unique and atypical of mooncakes.

Apart from being infused with floral essence, it is worth noting that these mooncakes are not too sweet. Pairing them with floral tea would be just perfect.

What type of mooncakes do you like the most? Is it the traditional baked skin mooncake, or mooncakes wrapped in supple snowskin? Share with us in the comments!

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Credit

It is hard to miss this iconic building due to its eye-catching shape. Built in 1919, the Waterboat House was once occupied by the Port of Singapore Authorities to supply fresh water to ships anchored offshore. Today it is home to a few restaurants, including Boathouse, which serves modern European cuisine.

On invitation, we come by for a food-tasting session at this promising new restaurant. The dining area is small and cosy, perfect for an intimate meal. Being the history aficionados that we are, we find the old photographs of Singapore hanging on the walls, some which are browned with age, particularly intriguing.

Amuse-bouche
Rating:

We start with the amuse-bouche — a shot of sweet fruity blend with a dash of mint. It is the first time we have something this refreshing to start a meal. While it tastes very good in the thirst-quenching sort of way, it does not do much in prepping the taste buds. I personally feel that this works better as a dessert to end the meal on a sweet note.

Fish chowder
S$15++
Rating:

A striking white bowl arrives with a morsel of sea bass carpaccio at the centrum; the hot chowder is then administered by the server, cooking the fish right before our eyes.

Tagliatelle wild mushroom
S$19++
Rating:

While the tagliatelle wild mushroom is also a signature dish, we’re not too wild about this pasta. The portion is ample, with assorted wild mushrooms tossed in truffle cream sauce. It will probably appeal to mushroom fans. But for us, the salty flavour is a tad monotonous and gets tiresome after a while. Give us a plate of Aglio Olio over this anytime!

Braised Wagyu beef ribs
S$33++
Rating:

What impresses is the braised beef ribs, soaked in a flavoursome aged red wine jus that complements the meat very well. The ribs are juicy, meaty and saucy, while the slices of poached pear on the side provide a nice reprieve.

White chocolate semifreddo
S$15++
Rating:

Our dessert arrives as a duo of white chocolate semifreddo and fruit compote. We are fans of white chocolate AND gelato, so it is easy to like this semi-frozen dessert. The fruit, not so much though.

While there are some hits and misses with this meal, the unique location of Boathouse is a clear winner.

Rooftop bar

The Boathouse operates a rooftop bar that goes by the name Prelude.

The bar opens only at night. At this prime location, you get a magnificent view of the river and the surrounding landmarks. Another place that offers an equally spectacular view is Forlino, the Italian restaurant across the road.

Where is the most unique place you have ever dined at? Share with us in the comments!

Boathouse
The Fullerton Waterboat House
3 Fullerton Road #03-01
Singapore 049215
Tel: +65 6538 9038 | Website
Service:

Opening hours:
Lunch – Monday to Friday, 12noon – 2pm
Dinner – Monday to Saturday, 6:30pm – 11pm
Brunch – Sunday, 11am – 3pm

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]]> http://sparklette.net/food/boathouse/feed/ 12 http://sparklette.net/food/tcc-high-tea/ http://sparklette.net/food/tcc-high-tea/#comments Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:18:24 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=928 Local café chain, tcc the connoisseur concerto, has rolled out a special Perfect Ten high tea set to celebrate Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day. This comes with 10 bite-sized desserts and treats that are guaranteed to please, plus a tea or coffee to warm the heart.

Perfect Ten high tea set
S$13.80++
Rating:

What really impresses is how beautifully everything is presented. From the sandwich with bak kwa (chicken instead of pork jerky) to the chocolate-dipped strawberries (sprinkled with chocolate rice), every morsel simply looks so dainty! As a chocolate fan, my favourite is easily the little chocolate mousse cake. Rich and velvety smooth chocolate. Yum!

Have you seen the flyer for this promotion? What you see is really what you’ll get. Heck, even the placement of the individual items is accurate to the T!

The canapé comprises a plump juicy prawn, a slice of sweet mango, tomato and lettuce. Very colourful and totally yummy!

The prettiest of them all has to be pink rose-scented macaron, with strawberry slices doused in whipped cream. Ooh la la!

If you love desserts, you definitely want to check this out. Better still, bring along a friend or a partner. Everything in the set, except for the drink, comes in twos. Perfect for sharing!

Valid from 2-6pm daily. Promotion ends February 28, 2010.

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It was at Tony Roma’s where I had my first rack of perfectly barbecued baby back ribs. Eventually Jerry’s, with their tender and meaty ribs that ooze flavour with every bite, became the first place I recommend for ribs.

Lately I have been hearing rave reviews about the ribs at Dallas and they got me curious enough to check it out. The name also reminds me fondly of my trip to the actual Dallas!

So, is the food as good as what people say?

Baby back pork ribs (full rack)
S$28++
Rating:

Ahh… The baby back pork ribs that everyone is raving about. We have ordered here a full rack of the fiery flavour. These ribs come in three flavours — fiery, berry and the new caribbean dry rub.

It is a little baffling that the ribs don’t seem spicy or even peppery, as the name “fiery” suggests. But that’s okay. No biggie. What’s more important is that they are sweet and flavourful, braised to melt-in-the-mouth tenderness.

Now tell me: are you the type that throw caution to the wind and eat the fatty bits in your meats because they taste so good? If you are, then you would so enjoy Dallas’ ribs. The fatty layer is thick and prominent beneath the charred skin!

I know many people actually love these fatty pieces. In fact, one Japanese restaurant deliberately serves a version of their pork katsu with the thick fatty layer intact. That dish has remained one of their bestsellers.

For me, I would go for Jerry’s seemingly fat-free ribs any day! At Jerry’s, they use a special preparation method to ensure the fats are all melted away in the grilling process. Plus, the ribs are meatier and saucier.

I like the fact that instead of the usual French fries, the ribs come with a big heap of thick fluffy potato wedges by default. Still, if you prefer, you can request for the Dallas fries instead.

Not every dish turns out to be a success, however.

Dallas Platter
S$14++
Rating:

To get a taste of their various appetisers, we order the Dallas platter that comprises of:

• chicken wings
• chicken and cheese quesadillas
• salt and pepper calamari
• guacamole, sour cream and chilli dips

Just the thing for people that like variety! However, our first sentiment on seeing the platter is dismay. What small portions!

Perhaps we have been too accustomed to the generous portions of appetisers offered at similar restaurants. After eating Jerry’s huge buffalo wings and Tony Roma’s huge calamari rings, the Dallas platter seems miserably small! I’m talking 4 skimpy winglets, a handful of rather tough chopped calamari and 2 skinny slices of quesadillas. They barely warm the stomach! Frankly, the two other restaurants offer much more, and at lower prices, too.

One consolation is that the winglets taste pretty good with the chilli sauce. Are they worth the price? You decide.

When you’re tucking into fiery ribs, you probably wanna do it in an air-conditioned setting. There’s the second-floor dining area for you, fully air-conditioned with tables set like a fine-dining restaurant. But if you don’t mind being seen tearing chicken wings apart with your bare hands, alfresco dining by the river is also available.

For now, we’re still sticking with jerry’s and Tony Roma’s for the tastier food, bigger portions, quicker service and lower prices. They have won our hearts long ago :)

But hey, it’s always good to have another alternative for ribs, right?

Dallas Restaurant & Bar
31 Boat Quay
Singapore 049820
Tel: +65 6532 2131
Service:
dallas.sg

Bus services: 1N, 2N, 3N, 4N, 51, 5N, 61, 63, 6N, 80, 124, 145, 166, 174, 197, 851, 961, NR1, NR2, NR3, NR5, NR6, NR7, NR8, 174E, 961C
Nearest MRT: Raffles Place

Opening hours: 11:30am – 2.30pm, 6 – 10:30pm (Closed on Sundays

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]]> http://sparklette.net/food/dallas/feed/ 6 http://sparklette.net/food/ricciotti/ http://sparklette.net/food/ricciotti/#comments Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:57:08 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=853 Here’s one dessert that I love most in the world — chocolate lava cake. Not even a bellyful of pork ribs and buffalo wings can keep me from wanting it once the craving kicks in!

It just so happens that we were in the vicinity of Ricciotti Italian Deli & Pastry, a deli that serves home style Italian food and, more importantly, a superb selection of desserts. It’s the perfect place for some sweet delights, with a view of the Singapore river to boot!

Soffiato
S$8.90++
Rating:

Everyday the pastries are freshly baked by the in-house chef. Soffiato is the name of their chocolate lava cake. Sprinkled with icing sugar and decorated with chocolate syrup, the warm cake is served with a scoop of vanilla gelato.

Update: On another trip to Ricciotti, we ordered the Soffiato again. This time round, they served cookies and cream gelato. It seems that the gelato flavour isn’t fixed.

With a long spoon, I push through the thick wall of cake into the moist centre, expecting to unleash a flood of molten dark chocolate. While most of it has been absorbed by the cake, you can still taste most of the warm, rich chocolate. Simply satisfying! We recommend popping by the deli early in the day when the confectionery is fresh out of the oven.

Morbida
S$7.80++
Rating:

Chocolate mousse takes the #2 spot on my dessert chart. It seems that not many places have it, so I’m delighted to see it on Ricciotti’s dessert menu in the form of the Morbida!

This is a chocoholic’s dream come true. Scraping the mound from top to bottom in layers reveals the rich and silky smooth mousse. Yum!

And that’s not even the best part.

Nearing the centre of the sponge cake, that’s when luscious liquid chocolate starts oozing out! Now THAT is a surprise!

There are even little pieces of hard chocolate scattered within the sticky chocolate goo. So you get chocolate in various textures and forms all in one pastry! Wow!

Latte
S$5.80++
Rating:

Of course, we have to wash down all that sinful but oh-so-good chocolate with water and coffee. Mmm… I like the latte. Creamy, velvety and not too milky. Throw in some coffee art and it’d be perfect!

Alternatively, you can have your pick from the well-stocked timber shelves of wines. Doesn’t the colour scheme of dark brown and white enhance the mood of enjoying the chocolate bliss?

Don’t forget you can also buy the desserts as take-outs. Share them with your family! (there’s an outlet at China square, too.)

Addiction cures, however, are not included.

Ricciotti Italian Deli & Pastry
The Riverwalk
20 Upper Circular Road #B1-49/50
Singapore 058416
Tel: +65 6533 9060
Service:
www.ricciotti.com.sg

Bus services: 51, 61, 63, 80, 124, 145, 166, 174, 197, 851, 961, 961C
Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay

Opening hours: 10am – 11pm daily

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For me, any food that doesn’t taste good just isn’t worth having. satay, grilled stingray, or a good curry. These are the kind of food that would keep me happy for a long time, but they are also undeniably sinful. Are scrumptious food always this unhealthful?

That brings me to the point of this post. Although it may be rare (to me anyway), healthful food CAN taste wonderful, too. And I’ve decided that each time I come across something that fits the bill I would highlight it here, along with its health benefits!

Here are a couple of picks from the pasta menu at tcc, starting with my personal favourite, the mentaiko (spicy cod roe) pasta. Salmon lovers, this one’s for you.

Mentaiko (spicy cod roe) spaghetti with salmon tataki
S$19++
Rating:

When it comes to salmon the tcc chefs never go wrong. Just look at those huge slices! I love how the pinks, the yellows and the greens work together to form one colourful and appealing dish.

The fish has been quickly seared on the sides so the centre is still quite raw and pinkish. It’s melt-in-your-mouth tender and velvety smooth! Served with a sunny side up.

The spaghetti is coated with mentaiko. Yummy yummy. According to the food trivia printed on the menu, cod roe is rich in zinc, which is essential to our sense of taste, smell and sight. It aids in wound-healing, too!

Health benefits aside, this pasta is super savoury as well. You know when you eat something so delicious, you just don’t wanna stop? That’s exactly how I felt as I gobbled down the pasta, pausing only a couple of times to catch my breath. Yes, it’s that good. I’m not ashamed to admit that I also lapped up all the remaining sauce. *slurp* wouldn’t want any of it to go to waste!

Seafood Aglio Olio
S$18.80++
Rating:

Being one of the three key pasta sauces along with cream sauce and tomato sauce, aglio olio is a popular choice amongst pasta fans. aglio is garlic and olio is olive.

As such, eating seafood aglio olio also means you are reaping the health benefits from the two spices. Olive oil, in particular, is rich in potent antioxidants that promote heart health and reduce cancer risks.

Cooked al dente, the spaghetti is well-tossed with minced garlic and red hot chilli pepper flakes. It’s too bad they don’t put in enough ingredients. The lone 3 prawns and 1 scallop, while nice and plump, aren’t exactly what you’d call an ample serving.

As you can see, healthy eating can be enjoyable! Here’s another place where you can feast on delectable, guilt-free food!

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This Christmas, they have rolled out yet another two beverage specials — snowy choco and eggnog desire. I have to admit, I ordered the latter mainly due to its pretty presentation.

Look, how cute! I heart the chocolate tree, the gold star, the red and green sprinkles, and the little snowflakes! Picture perfect!

Eggnog Desire
S$13.80++

Available only in the month of December 2008

This frothy eggnog comes with a twist — it has liquor in it! (I should probably add an alcoholic icon above.) what’s an even bigger twist is that it tastes more like liqueur coffee than eggnog! Anyone knows where I can find a decent eggnog to drink at Christmas (short of making it myself)?

On paper, the chocolatey-and-almond snowy choco would appeal to me more. But the alcoholic eggnog works wonders in warming me up during the cold December weather. Plus, the snowy choco looks quite similar to last Christmas’ berry oreo and I really wanted something different!

So what are you waiting for? Have a Christmas eggnog at your nearest tcc now!

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Each month, they concoct new items that are not found in their regular food and drinks menus. This being the month of Christmas, they have rolled out a series of Christmas specials!

I’m gonna skip right to the Christmas beverages since I fell in love with these at first sight — they totally had me at those colourful stars!

Whether it’s chocolate or coffee, I tend to like it hot. This time round I decided to bend the rule a little and try out the icy berry oreo. (if you like it irish, you can go for the frosty bailey — a chocolate frappé with a touch of bailey’s and rum.)

Berry Oreo
S$7.50++

Available only in the month of December 2007

The berry oreo is quite literally a combination of raspberry and oreo. On paper it sure looks like a rather odd match. But the fruitiness is very refreshing, and at the same time you get the deliciously sweet taste of oreo. It doesn’t taste vile or funny like I thought it might. Phew!

I really admire the way they have creatively made this drink both look and taste Christmasy. Tucked into the whipped cream is a slim piece of chocolate. It has been stenciled into the shape of a Christmas tree and even has an edible shiny gold star on top! Detail, people, detail. (for the frosty bailey, it is a chocolate snowman instead.)

Little colourful stars have either been sprinkled onto the whipped cream or mixed within the drink. These are just plain cute and make drinking a fun affair! Oh, they are mint-flavoured too.

Deep down within, I’m still a traditional coffee kind of girl, preferring the likes of Ya Kun and toast box. The aroma from a cup of freshly made traditional coffee just perks me up immediately. But every now and then I do enjoy a refreshing change, especially if it’s one of the creative coffee concoctions at tcc.

Have a berry merry Christmas everyone!

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They stand in a big circle with only one sole purpose — to protect their Christmas tree! How adorable! And that, my dear readers, is today’s Christmas Tree of the Day.

Unlike the previous trees, this particular tree isn’t from a mall. Guess where in the world I found it! (judging from the background, I think you already know.) The answer is in the next paragraph!

You would see this tree just along the Singapore river at UOB Plaza! Don’t you just love the bright pointy star on top? It adds that extra glitz to this whole tree!

On its own, this tree probably wouldn’t have garnered much attention. The rows of bright red ribbons and silver baubles that speckle it aren’t all that eye-catching.

It’s the six toy soldiers standing around it that turn heads. They look so innocently cute!

I wonder what they do with the cute toy soldiers when Christmas is over — those things are huge! It would be pretty sad if they just get dumped away. If I had a backyard I could probably adopt one and have him stand at my door.

For more Christmas trees, check out the Sparklette Christmas Tree of the Day series.

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Teriyaki Sabayon Salmon
S$15.80++
Rating:

The coffee chain has a few decent items on their main course menu. There’s the usual oven-baked marinated chicken as well as the more unique kahlúa salmon which, as its name suggests, is served with coffee sauce! Now that’s a novelty!

But being slightly less adventurous than usual, I decided to try out the relatively tame teriyaki sabayon salmon. The salmon is served with mashed potato and garden vegetables arranged neatly by its sides. Topped with asparagus and drizzled in a minute amount of teriyaki sauce, the salmon was firm and delicious. One thing to note is that unlike those instant mixes served in many places, the creamy mashed potato is actually made from scratch.

Cappuccino Italiano
S$5.60++
Rating:

Of course, no trip to tcc is complete without a nice cup of coffee. I had a warm cup of cappuccino to end my meal.

Each time I visit tcc I would wonder how the management train their staff. Every waiter and waitress is so attentive, polite and helpful. They seem to really take pride in what they do and enjoy their work very much. I find that highly commendable — a rarity in most dining establishments here.

February 3, 2007: My list of Best (& Worst) Restaurants in Singapore for 2006
- Winner of “Best Café”

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Dark Devotion
S$9.90++
Rating:

First off, the dark devotion was heavenly. Topped with chocolate ice cream, it was served warm on the outside and cold on the inside. When I pierced the chocolate cake with a fork, warm chocolate lava came oozing out! It was everything a good chocolate dessert should be — rich, heavy, and absolutely satisfying.

The tiny dollops of berry compote at the side helped ensure that the richness of the chocolate didn’t get too cloying after a while. I left the sesame tuille alone though; it was too hard for my liking.

Chocolaty Meteor Delight
S$9.50++
Rating:

I have to admit I ordered the chocolatey meteor delight mostly due to its dreamy sounding name. Ever since I was a little girl, I have had this thing for stars and astronomy. Here, the strawberries and syrup streaks had been arranged prettily to resemble meteors. It was practically art on a plate!

Not only was the dessert pleasing to the eye, the milk chocolate mousse was smooth and creamy too. Thankfully it wasn’t too sweet at the same time.

Overall we were charmed by both desserts. They gave new meaning to the phrase “delicious sin”! I shudder to think of the calorie count though. Oh they also have this bunch of little booklets on every table. I took one home with me, thought it would make a nice mini coffee table book.

It is a tiny square booklet that looks rather fancy, with full colour pages along with photographs, coffee facts and personality profiles. There is even a coffee astrology section! Here’s the profile of a leo coffee drinker:

Trendy Leo is the first to try and learn everything about popular espresso based drinks. Lions have espresso machines at home and are ferocious about perfecting their crema and frothing techniques. Tcc’s gourmet espresso selection like the Azuki Coffee and the Citrus Avalon are a definite hit with the Leos.

Interesting eh?

Other than the great coffee and awesome desserts, the service at tcc is also consistently excellent, a rarity in Singapore. When I visit a café I want to be able to sit down and relax over a cuppa joe. Helpful and well-mannered waitstaff certainly help. Over here, they treat every guest with courtesy and respect whether you’re spending 10 bucks or 100 bucks.

Every tcc café is also artfully designed and unique from one another, with nice ambience and soothing music. Personally I would prefer some place quiet like the branch at Great World City, where the crowd is smaller and makes for a more relaxed experience.

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]]> http://sparklette.net/food/farewell-dinner-with-my-boss/feed/ 8 http://sparklette.net/lifestyle/event/mobile-homes-asian-civilisations-museum/ http://sparklette.net/lifestyle/event/mobile-homes-asian-civilisations-museum/#comments Sat, 10 Jun 2006 15:46:55 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=397

We were at the Asian Civilisations Museum yesterday, marking my second visit to the museum at Empress Place. Currently they have an exhibition that showcases the mobile tents and shelters of Asian nomads.

From my first visit to the museum, I remember it as being both visually and structurally appealing. The exhibits and artefacts sprawl three levels, with many stations that play videos pertaining to the exhibits. There was even a video projection on the floor that I thought was rather creative!

Moving on to the artefacts, I used to think that ancient Chinese emperors wore only yellow garments. But there was a particular cloak, adorned with clouds and dragons, in snow white colour! It looked huge too.

This monumental Buddha was missing its torso. It came from the 1368-1644 time period.

The porcelain ewer, or pitcher, came from the yuan period (1279-1368). It was beautifully crafted and incised with Chinese characters, 天下太平 (world peace). I like it a lot! Despite being so old, it was in pristine condition. With the four decorative holes, how it held any tea or wine is beyond my grasp.

Due to its multiple arms, we thought this guanyin (goddess of mercy) statue from North vietnam looked more like a fusion of Buddhism and Hinduism.

This book that originates from North sumatra in Indonesia contains text that is every bit as potent as it looks. It has magical spells, oracles, medicinal recipes, and instructions for performing rituals and various magic cures. Sounds like pretty lethal stuff!

Moving on, the museum has a huge section dedicated to qur’ans. They come in all forms and sizes and a wide range of colours.

My favourite is this 12th century qur’an from North Africa. The calligraphy is written in gold, and has somehow survived over the centuries. The gold still looks shiny and new! The letters have been accented in dark brown ink to make them more legible.

The script on this qur’an section is also written in gold, and enclosed within cloud designs.

Even more impressive is this particular qur’an manuscript. Instead of being written, the calligraphy has been painstakingly cut out! The aim is to make the cut-off resemble the calligrapher’s handwriting exactly, and requires great skill and precision.

The asma’ al-husna (ninety-nine names of Allah) is considered a source of blessing. Each one has been written onto the centre of a page, and adorned with colourful geometric designs.

This marble tombstone comes from the 9th century. It has been elaborately engraved with Islamic wordings, although elaborate tombstones are traditionally frowned upon.

Mobile Homes Exhibition

“All that is gold does not glitter; not all those that wander are lost.”
- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring

The exhibition showcases the dwellings of nomads from central and West Asia.

Mongol people were expert horsemen trained to ride from young age. Perhaps the most famous of them all would be Genghis Khan. The mongol yurt is called a ger (pronounced “gair”). At its centre is where the stove would be typically located. The back of the yurt is reserved for the most respected or eldest person.

Funnily enough, the Turkish tent does not appear to have any sort of covering over the front, like anyone is free to waltz into the tent any time! It looks as though it can be set up within five minutes.

The turkmen yurt, called the oy, looks the best out of the group. The new ones are called aq oy (white tent) when the felt mats are still clean and white. Eventually they turn black from the smoke of the fire burning within the yurt, and these old tents are then called qara oy (black tent). How cute!

The walls of the yurt are covered with panels of bamboo screens. The entrance is beautifully decorated with multi-coloured woven bands embroidered in different patterns. Within the yurt, there are three sections — one for the women (with the baby cradle, cooking utensils and such), one for the men(with ropes and weapons), and a place of honour that faces the entrance.

Overall, I was largely disappointed by the scale of this exhibition. I had fully expected a huge array of tents that come in various sizes, materials and colours, with different functionalities and perhaps the ways they have changed over the centuries. But there were perhaps just three or four noteworthy tents. The modern tent on loan from NUS’ sports society doesn’t count! For an exhibition spanning three months, it was one of extremely small scale.

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