http://sparklette.net/food/marble-slab-creamery/ http://sparklette.net/food/marble-slab-creamery/#comments Wed, 06 Jul 2011 06:57:27 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=1185

Fancy slurping a milkshake named after your favourite celebrity?

American ice cream maker Marble Slab Creamery has rolled out the Star Creation series of 16 milkshakes, inspired by famous female celebrities like Beyonce, Angelina Jolie, Serena Gomez and Mariah Carey. Of course, since Lady Gaga is like the hottest thing now, there’s also the Fun Pack song Gaga shake, a concoction of cheesecake, strawberries, blueberries and granola.

Star Creation milkshake (Kit)
S$4.50 / 6.50 / 8.50

If you prefer to support local artists, then go for the Island Songbird shakes that take on the names of Singapore singers like Stefanie Sun and Kit Chan. The “Kit” shake is a delicious vanilla flavour, speckled with crushed Oreos and cookie dough, like cookies and cream.

Here are the names of all 16 shakes: Angelina, Nicole, Cameron, Anne, Mariah, Gaga, Taylor, Beyonce, Bella, Blair, Serena, Hermione, Stefanie, Tanya, Olivia and Kit. Have fun figuring out who the celebrities are!

Willy Wonka

Other than milkshakes, you can also fall back on the usual Marble Slab ice cream. Chocolate lovers would dig the ever-popular Willy Wonka double dark chocolate with chocolate chips and fudge.

It’s easy to draw comparison between this and fellow American ice cream company Ben & Jerry’s, as the two share the same richness in ice cream with generous chunky bits tucked within. As for who would win the ice cream wars, we’ll leave it up to you to decide.

Have Your Say!

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

Who should win the ice cream war? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Marble Slab Creamery
- Iluma Bugis, 201 Victoria Street #04-01, Tel: +65 6884 5933
- Cluny Court, 501 Bukit Timah Road #01-05B, Tel: +65 6468 6056
- Junction 8 Shopping Centre, 9 Bishan Place #02-52, Tel: +65 6280 6320
- Kallang Leisure Park, 5 Stadium Walk #01-09A, Tel: +65 6280 6320
- Marina Bay Link Mall, 8A Marina Boulevard #B2-40, Tel: +65 6834 3693
- The Central, 6 Eu Tong Sen Street #01-27, Tel: +65 6280 6320
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This is a nice thing that Swensen’s is doing. I visited Siem Reap a few years back and absolutely love the place. Tourists visit the laid-back town mainly to see the beautiful Angkor temples. The locals are friendly and honest, although there is a sad side.

At a tender age, many children have to take to the streets to sell wares to tourists. Amputees are a common sight. Despite not having much money, the Cambodians seem happy and content with life. If buying palm sugar would help these down-to-earth people in any way, I am all for it.

Palm fruit
S$7.90 a pint
Rating:

The imported palm sugar actually costs more than regular sugar. But the products are priced lower to encourage customers to buy them. For instance, the chendol and palm fruit ice cream are available at S$7.90 a pint, far cheaper than the S$10.80 for other flavours at Swensen’s. These iced desserts are healthful, delicious, and now have one heck of a background story.

Palm sugar is extracted from the sap of palm trees. To extract the sap, Cambodian men use long bamboo poles to climb tall trees, slash the flower buds, tie bamboo containers under the buds and leave them to collect the sap. Once collected, the Cambodian women then pour the sap into a huge pan, boil and stir it for several hours until it thickens to solid form.

Chendol
S$7.90 a pint
Rating:

The traditional South East Asian dessert drink chendol has been given an icy twist. The ice cream is made in a shade of light green, packed with green coconut jellies and red beans.

For those of you who need more “oomph”, these socially responsible flavours are also manifested in Swensen’s ice cream sundaes.

The Palm Paradise (S$6.90++) comprises scoops of palm fruit ice cream added with peaches, nata de coco and topped with palm sugar syrup and desiccated coconut.

The Chendol Delight (S$8.50++) comes served with bountiful scoops of chendol ice cream smothered in palm sugar syrup, served with a generous serving of red bean, chendol jelly and palm fruits.

It looks like Snowy the Cat has taken an interest in the ice cream.

As for me, I am content with tucking into the pints of palm sugar-made ice cream. The texture is creamy smooth and the taste is light yet delicious. Plus, there is that feel-good vibe from eating it, knowing that albeit small, it is an indirect way of helping the Khmer people. You can grab a pint or a sundae from any Swensen’s outlet.

Know any companies with socially responsible initiatives? Share with us in the comments!

Swensen’s ( Halal certified)
- Bugis Junction
- Bukit Panjang Plaza
- Causeway Point Shopping Centre
- Changi Airport Terminal 2
- Chinatown Point
- Compass Point Shopping Centre
- Funan DigitaLife Mall
- Holland Village
- IMM BuildingBuilding
- ION Orchard
- Junction 8
- Jurong Point
- Marina Square
- Northpoint Shopping Centre
- Parkway Parade
- Plaza Singapura
- Suntec City Mall
- Tampines Mall
- Thomson Plaza
- Toa Payoh
- United Square Shopping Mall
- West Mall
Tel: +65 6788 8128

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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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Tip: Receive even quicker updates by clicking the “Like” button on the Official Sparklette Facebook Page. Updates and photos are posted there even before they hit this website!

The scrumptious Jolly Season Party Package is a feast for 12.

You get:
- 1 Turkey / Roasted beef / Leg of lamb
- 1 Ice cream log cake
- 2 Salads / Sides / Pastas
- 1 bottle of sparkling fruit juice (750ml)

A slightly cheaper option would be the Make Merry Party Package, also good for 12:
- 1 Honey baked ham / Meatloaf
- 1 Ice cream log cake
- 2 Salads / Sides / Pastas

Swensen’s specialty ice cream log cakes are available in seven tantalising flavours:
- Cookie Carousel
- Chocolate Indulgence
- Cappuccino Raisins Fantasy
- Nutty Noel
- Berry Merry Christmas
- Durian Deluxe
- Chendol Jubilee

Each log cake is 1 kilogram and serves 10 to 12 people. Chocolate Indulgence in particular is made with the popular Sticky Chewy Chocolate ice cream, marshmallows and diced almonds.

Swensen’s party packages look well-together, filled with various goodies that one might expect at Christmas. I hope you find this Christmas Treats series useful!

Like the Sparklette Facebook Page to browse the entire Swensen’s Christmas collection 2010 and view all seven log cakes.

How would you be spending this Christmas? Would it be an intimate meal with your loved ones at home? Or a fancy dinner at the coolest restaurant in town? Share with us in the comments!

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Source

I discovered the Beard Papa’s chocolate fondant some years back, marking my foray into the delicious world of chocolate lava cakes. Yes, it has a molten chocolate centre. Don’t you just love the sensation of warm chocolate filling your mouth? Ever since that first taste years ago, the lava cake has remained my most favourite dessert in the world. I’m not even sure why Beard Papa’s fondant has never been featured here before; somehow this fell through the cracks.

Fondant au Chocolat
S$2.80 for 1, S$5.20 for 2
Rating:

On the outside the fondant is moist and soft, dusted with sugar. The centre oozes out that luxurious gooey chocolate. Rather than being overtly sweet, this is pure intense, dark chocolaty goodness all around. Read about how Beard Papa’s make their Fondant au Chocolat. It is truly a labour of love!

You get it at a real bargain, too. Last I checked they were selling it at S$2.80 for one and S$5.20 for two.

Here’s a tip: Buy this home and pop it in the microwave briefly before serving. Have it a la mode with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a glass of raspberry wine. You’re welcome.

What pastries do you normally buy at Beard Papa’s? Are there other places where we can enjoy chocolate lava cakes at a bargain price? The comments form is below. You know what to do!

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How do you like your coffee — black, with cream and sugar, or decaf? Are you a fan of the trendy cappuccino, or the no-nonsense plain black coffee?

I like my coffee robust and strong, especially with evaporated milk. But in this case, condensed milk would suffice.

Vietnamese drip coffee
S$3.50++
Rating:

The glasses arrive with the obligatory stainless metal drip filter on top. The coffee, a deep black colour, then trickles through the press and into the glass. Wafting in the air is the lovely aroma of fresh coffee.

The condensed milk comes in a separate bottle and you can squeeze as much of it as you prefer.

Apart from satisfying the craving, coffee doesn’t really have the effect of keeping me awake. I can have my usual caffeinated beverage just before bedtime and still fall asleep like a baby. But this drip coffee from Madam Saigon gives such a kick that 6 hours later during my usual bedtime, I still remain wide awake. I don’t remember the full-bodied cup of joe from Trung Nguyen Coffee having the same effect either.

Surely, this is exactly the kind of coffee that we need every morning!

Video on Vietnamese drip coffee

Here’s a video on how Vietnamese drip coffee is prepared.

What is your favourite type of coffee? Share with us in the comments!

Liang Seah Street outlet

30 Liang Seah Street
Singapore 189051
Tel: +65 6333 9798
Service:

Opening hours:
Mon-Fri: 11:30am – 3pm, 6-11pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 12-4pm

Millenia Walk outlet

Millenia Walk
9 Raffles Boulevard #01-26
Singapore 039596
Tel: +65 6338 3831 | Website
Service:

Opening hours: 11:30am – 10pm daily

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On the day when I had planned to head down to Porn’s for dinner, I phoned in several times to reserve a table but no one answered. That very evening I headed down to try my luck anyway. They had just opened for dinner at 6pm, and was already full house! The waitresses apologised for not answering the phone all afternoon because reservations were already full. They penned down my name and promised to call us once a table freed up. Thankfully, it was only a half-hour wait, during which we enjoyed a nice Vietnamese drip coffee next door.

The premises are narrow, with tables spilling out into the corridor along the road. At the indoor seating area, white walls and a glass ceiling lend a clean and airy feel.

Even with a large crowd, all our orders arrive within 20 minutes.

Thai roselle & lime (Nam Ga Jeab)
S$3.90+
Rating:

The roselle & lime is a recommended item on the drinks menu. Served in a tall glass, the sweet and refreshing beverage is a nice reprieve from the succession of spicy dishes we are about to partake. Interestingly, it tastes like Ribena!

The iced water comes in glasses with two round depressions on the sides so that you can have a firm grip without the sweating glass slipping through your fingers.

Thai green curry (Gang Keaw Wan)
S$10.90+
Rating:

The green curry chicken is a staple at any Thai restaurant worth its salt. For someone who’s a huge fan of this ubiquitous Thai dish, it certainly does not disappoint. It boasts a thick curry gravy that is a perfect balance of sweet and salty, and an ample portion of chicken slices. My only gripe is that the curry is almost not spicy at all, but it is flavoursome enough for one to lap it all up. You never waste a good curry.

Thai lemongrass chicken (Gai Takai)
S$7+ for 3 pieces
Rating:

The dish that packs less of a punch is the Thai lemongrass chicken. This comprises of three chicken balls skewered and placed on a bed of lettuce. From the picture above, can you tell what’s so interesting about these?

The skewers aren’t the usual satay sticks, but the fibrous stems of lemongrass! That’s quite creative, don’t you think?

The minced chicken is very mildly flavoured with lemongrass and spices. To make up for the lack in taste, a Thai sweet chilli dip is provided on the side. Overall, this dish is rather forgettable as it lacks the sensory characteristics that make Thai cuisine enjoyable.

Stir-fried minced chicken with basil leaves (Kapow Gai)
S$8.50+
Rating:

The minced chicken with basil leaves provides mouthful after mouthful of intense flavour. While the presentation clearly needs work and the meat is a little over-fried, I like that it retains the explosive quality of this popular Thai dish. Lerk Thai does a wonderful version of this dish, too.

Now, if you have come to Porn’s with the hopes of sighting Pornsak himself, you may be pleased to know that he does pop by. In fact, we spotted him behind the cash register and thanking customers!

Porn’s may be drawing in the crowd with its seductive name and star power, but it has proven that it is more than that. For a newcomer, the cooking is commendable. I will plan another visit when the furor dies down. From the looks of the crowd, that won’t be anytime soon.

Note: The 7% GST is absorbed in the food prices.

Would you pay a visit to Porn’s? What are your favourite places for Thai food? Share with us in the comments!

Porn’s
28 Liang Seah Street
Singapore 189049
Tel: +65 6337 5535 | Menu pages 1 2 3 4
Service:

Opening hours:
Mon-Sat: 12-3pm, 6-10pm
Sun: 6-10pm

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]]> 30 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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Good news! Swensen’s 1-for-1 weekday lunch promotion has been extended to end March 2010!

This wouldn’t be the first time that the casual dining restaurant chain has prolonged the ever-popular deal. Maybe they should make it permanent already!

From now ’til end March, you can enjoy this promotion at all Swensen’s restaurants between the lunch hours of 11am to 2pm.

Click to enlarge

Terms & Conditions:

• Valid on weekdays (11am – 2pm) till 31 March 2010, excluding public holidays.
• Valid for all food items (excluding desserts and drinks) from the ala carte menu.
• Free food item will be of lower or equal value. Valid for dine-in only.
• Not valid with other promotions, discounts, privileges and set meals.

This time round, they have included all their Wagyu beef dishes, too! Check out our review of some other dishes you can enjoy.

1-for-1 Ice Cream & Dessert Buffet

For all the sweet tooths, you may find their 1-for-1 ice cream and dessert buffet at the Ion Orchard outlet interesting. Go easy on the ice cream, mmm-kay?

Swensen’s ( Halal certified)
- Bugis Junction
- Bukit Panjang Plaza
- Causeway Point Shopping Centre
- Changi Airport Terminal 2
- Chinatown Point
- Compass Point Shopping Centre
- Funan DigitaLife Mall
- Holland Village
- IMM BuildingBuilding
- ION Orchard
- Junction 8
- Jurong Point
- Marina Square
- Northpoint Shopping Centre
- Parkway Parade
- Plaza Singapura
- Suntec City Mall
- Tampines Mall
- Thomson Plaza
- Toa Payoh
- United Square Shopping Mall
- West Mall
Tel: +65 6788 8128 | Website | Menu

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The Manhattan Fish Market is running a 1-for-1 deal for its Lob-Xi Fatt Cai seafood meal. Who doesn’t like 1-for-1 dealies right? Each platter includes a half lobster and fried calamari rings amongst other goodies. Don’t they look tantalising?

This promotion runs from now all the way ’til March 7, 2010 at their 8 restaurants. Check it out (click to enlarge):

You can also fish out 4 lucky numbers (Uh, where from?) and claim a sure-win prize! What fun!

Oh yes, they will be open on the first two days of Chinese New Year, too! Here’s our earlier review of The Manhattan Fish Market.

For those of you who might prefer something more traditional, we have just the right place for you to indulge in Chinese New Year food.

The Manhattan Fish Market ( Halal certified)
- Bedok Point
- The Central
- City Square Mall
- Iluma
- Junction 8
- Marina Square
- Northpoint
- Plaza Singapura
- White Sands
Website

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]]> 8 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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Remember this one? Swensen’s 1-for-1 weekday lunch promotion is back!

From now ’til end February, you can enjoy this promotion at all Swensen’s restaurants between the lunch hours of 11am to 2pm.

Click to enlarge

Terms & Conditions:

• Valid on weekdays (11am – 2pm) till 28 February 2010, excluding public holidays.
• Valid for all food items (excluding desserts and drinks) from the ala carte menu.
• Free food item will be of lower or equal value. Valid for dine-in only.
• Not valid with other promotions, discounts, privileges and set meals.

I think it’s terrific that Swensen’s has brought back this promotion and made the food more affordable for everyone. During the last run, I had made full use of the promo to try out various dishes. If you’re already planning your next meal at Swensen’s, here are some of my recommendations as well as their menu.

1-for-1 Ice Cream & Dessert Buffet

Oh, by the way, they also have a 1-for-1 ice cream and dessert buffet at the Ion Orchard outlet. Wowza!

Swensen’s ( Halal certified)
- Bugis Junction
- Bukit Panjang Plaza
- Causeway Point Shopping Centre
- Changi Airport Terminal 2
- Chinatown Point
- Compass Point Shopping Centre
- Funan DigitaLife Mall
- Holland Village
- IMM BuildingBuilding
- ION Orchard
- Junction 8
- Jurong Point
- Marina Square
- Northpoint Shopping Centre
- Parkway Parade
- Plaza Singapura
- Suntec City Mall
- Tampines Mall
- Thomson Plaza
- Toa Payoh
- United Square Shopping Mall
- West Mall
Tel: +65 6788 8128 | Website | Menu

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We have seen trees with Swarovski crystals, white gold, and — the most precious stone by any standard — real diamonds in a year when the economy was still doing swimmingly.

The jeweled tree for 2009 is this, a tree made of tightly strung crystals. This glittering tree is located at the glass-covered mall, Bugis Junction.

Photo by amos1766

While this tree may not be as posh as the ones with actual Swarovski crystals and shimmering diamonds, it is by far one of the prettiest trees around. Unlike the conventional Christmas trees that are topped with stars or angels, this one wears a silver crown!

Notice the anchors and life buoys hanging in the background? They are part of the running nautical theme of the mall. Here’s their one-of-a-kind nautical Christmas tree.

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

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Yes, it’s maritime, complete with sailboats and life buoys and all. Is that unique or what? Not only is this one of the rare white trees around, it also daringly sports a novel theme that no one else has done before. So what it does not exactly spell Christmas? It looks awesome!

Here’s a closer look at this one-of-a-kind Christmas tree from another angle.

The glass-covered shopping mall has a knack for having truly exceptional displays at Christmas. Last year, they had a curvy swurvy tree with a revolving carousel, and a remarkable tree with life-sized angels in 2006.

SEAson’s greetings!

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

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]]> 4 http://sparklette.net/food/qi-ji/ http://sparklette.net/food/qi-ji/#comments Sat, 19 Sep 2009 14:51:31 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=881 When you get a craving for nasi lemak, where do you normally go? I usually head to Qi Ji, which has ten locations scattered across Singapore.

The no-frills eatery first became popular for its popiah (spring rolls). Nowadays, it has diversified with a much larger offering of local dishes that include laksa, mee Siam, and of course, nasi lemak.

The halal eatery is operated like a fast food restaurant. Queue up, order, pay, and collect your food immediately. The process is pretty much quick and fuss-free. In true fast food style, the nasi lemak even comes in eight “sets” comprising different selections of ingredients!

Nasi Lemak (rice cooked in coconut milk)
S$4 / 4.90
Rating:

All sets come with the staple accompaniments of ikan bilis (dried anchovies), fried peanuts, cucumber slices, egg and sweet sambal chilli. The coconut rice bears a slight greenish tinge, and has a nice fragrance. For more oomph, always ask for extra sambal! In my opinion, the chilli is at the perfect spice level — mouth-tingling hot but not to the nostril-flaring extent.

My favourite nasi lemak set is the one that comes with otah (spicy fish paste), an omelette slice and a fried chicken wing that I love. On the occasions when my tummy calls for a fuller meal, the chicken cutlet set does the trick.

For a nasi lemak with even more pizazz, go for grandma’s!

Mee Rebus
S$3.30
Rating:

Also worth a mention is the mee rebus. The garnishes include a hard boiled egg, fried tofu, fried shallots, green chilli and beansprouts. It may not be the best, but the tasty sweet potato gravy is good enough for me.

To neutralise the spiciness of the food, Qi Ji offers a range of homemade drinks with cooling effects. There’s barley, chrysanthemum, grass jelly, and many more. Speaking of which, does anyone know how frequently these “homemade” beverages are replenished? I tend to stay away from them because, frankly, they don’t look very fresh!

Having visited the branches at Marina Square, Tiong Bahru Plaza and Century Square, I find that the outlet that serves consistently yummy food is the last one.

Where do you go for your favourite nasi lemak? Share with us in the comments!

Qi Ji ( Halal certified)
- Bugis Village
- Century Square
- Changi General Hospital #01-09/10/11 (24 hours)
- Funan DigitaLife Mall #01-17
- Heartland Mall #01-133/135
- Hougang Mall #01-41
- ICA Building #01-B-3
- Marina Square #01-06
- NEX Mall #03-10 Nex
- Shaw Towers #01-01
- Suntec City Mall #01-181/183
- Tiong Bahru Plaza #02-11
Website

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I remember there was once when a dozen of us crowded into the restaurant at Plaza Singapura. Shortly after sitting down to look at the menu, we had to make a rather embarrassing escape when we realised that we couldn’t afford the food! Yes, back then a Fish & Co meal seemed unattainable for us.

So, I think it’s great news that they are making their food extremely affordable now! From Sundays to Thursdays between now and October 31, they are reeling in customers with the fabulous Autumn Seafood Sensation promotion. Four seafood dishes are now priced at just $9 each!

Their fish and chips is rumoured to be the best in town. With this attractive promotion, it’s a great opportunity for everyone to put it to the test!

I did. So have they passed with flying colours?

Swiss fish & chips
S$9++
Rating:

The restaurant chain is famous for their seafood-in-a pan concept, where the dishes are served in little pans (though I’m pretty sure they don’t cook the food in them). Deep-fried to a lovely golden brown and topped with the signature garlic lemon butter sauce, the Swiss fish and chips certainly pass the initial looks test. The ample slab of dory fish helps a lot, too.

Still, none of that can prepare me for how awesome the batter is. It is one of the lightest, crispiest batter I have tasted, comparable to Japanese tempura! As for the flesh, it is tender, lightly salted and savoury throughout.

Look, it is even stuffed with Gruyere cheese!

This is, without a doubt, one of the best fish and chips I’ve ever had. (Hmm… I find that I have been using that phrase a lot lately.)

Another place that claims to have the best fish and chips is The Manhattan Fish Market. I haven’t had theirs before, but if it’s similar to the deep-fried fish fillet that they serve in their Flaming seafood platter, then it pales in comparison to Fish & Co’s.

Well, what do you think? Does Fish & Co have the best fish & chips?

Thai’s Deluxe Catch
S$9++
Rating:

One very flavourful dish included in the promotion is the Thai’s Deluxe Catch. It comprises of grilled dory fish, served with paella rice and a pile of fresh clams cooked in succulent tomato sauce.

The thing that “Thais” it together is the red curry ladled over the fish. The curry sauce is thick and sour, a very different rendition from your typical sweet Thai curry. I guess this is the tom yam edition. It goes well with the rice, and every bite is bursting with flavour!

With the promotion, both dishes cost just $9++!

Click to enlarge

Terms & Conditions:
- Promotion is not valid at the Paragon and Ion Orchard outlets.
- Seafood baked rice is not available at the Jurong Point outlet.
- Promotion is valid from Sundays to Thursdays excluding eve and day of public holidays.
- Promotion is valid for all day dine-in only.
- Promotion is not valid in conjunction with any other promotions, discounts, privileges, vouchers, and/or offers.

I really like the fact that the promotion is valid on Sundays, too. For your next meal, take advantage of these $9 Autumn Seafood Sensations! You can pick from:

• Swiss fish & chips
• Seafood baked rice
• Captain’s Catch (barbecue sauce)
• Thai’s Deluxe Catch (red curry sauce)

Aside from the food, I also notice that a copy of the restaurant’s newsletter is placed on every table. The quarterly publication contains the latest happenings and promotions at all the restaurants operated by the same company (that includes Giraffe Bar, too). This way, customers have something to read whilst waiting for their food. That’s a very cheap and clever marketing method! Another place that provides such light reads is tcc.

The newspaper-style design and the cute name really appeal to me. Can you catch what the name is?

Fish & Co ( Halal certified)
- AMK Hub
- Bugis Junction
- Changi Airport Terminal 2
- The Glass House, Park Mall
- Great World City
- The Heeren
- IMM
- ION Orchard
- Jurong Point
- NEX Mall
- Novena Square
- Paragon
- Sembawang Shopping Centre
- Suntec City Mall
- Tampines Mall
- The Waterfall at Parkway Parade
- West Coast Plaza
Website

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]]> 19 http://sparklette.net/food/aj-piri-piri-chicken/ http://sparklette.net/food/aj-piri-piri-chicken/#comments Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:46:23 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=851 How does this sound to you: a well marinaded and perfectly grilled chicken, drenched in a fiery hot African sauce? I don’t know about you, but that sure made me salivate!

As soon as I hear that the UK fast food chain, AJ’s Piri Piri Chicken, has set up its first franchise outlet in Singapore that promises to bring us the aforementioned chicken, I make a mad rush down to grab a piece. It’s on the 5th level of Iluma, the new shopping mall at Bugis.

So what is piri piri? It’s a tiny red chilli pepper that is found in Africa. The Portuguese blend it with various herbs and spices and voila! There’s your hot hot piri piri sauce!

The restaurant serves the Afro-Portuguese chicken in different tantalising styles like hot plate, burgers, wraps, pastas and more.

¼ Piri Piri Chicken
S$7.20+
Rating:

Of course, a virgin taste test should start off with the piri piri chicken in all its naked glory. So I order the quarter-chicken with fries on the side, but you can opt for sweet corn if you wish. With 3 different sauces to choose from — mild, very spicy and lemon herb — I go for the first. When unsure, always err on the safer side.

For S$7.20, the lone piece of chicken thigh sure looks puny! I tell myself that quality is more important than quantity. But disappointingly the sauce is nothing to shout about. It is more salty than anything else, without any hint of other herbs. This can’t be what the real piri piri sauce tastes like, can it?

On top of it all there is way too little sauce. It would help a lot if the dish comes with a small tub of the sauce on the side.

Super Slimmer chicken wrap
S$6.80+
Rating:

Thankfully, the Super Slimmer chicken wrap fares much better. Again, the chunk of chicken in the wrap is pretty small. But it also tastes very good, with the seasoned flavours penetrating all the way to the centre of the flesh.

This also happens to be a healthier dish, where the less fattening chicken breast meat is used and layered with vegetables.

Earlier on, I’ve asked for warm water as I’m nursing a nasty cough. Unfortunately they are unwilling to do that. (The staff asked the manager, who said no right in front of me.)

The soreness soon dissipates when I make my payment and notice a 25% discount on my bill. Suddenly the meal seems a whole lot more reasonably priced! They are “not sure” when this promotion would end, so do take advantage of the discount while you can!

Click to enlarge

Clearly, the restaurant’s isolated position in an already uncrowded mall does not work to its advantage. It is overshadowed by the Filmgarde cinema on the same level and an entire level of eateries just one floor down. Most people would simply head straight to the more accessible restaurants and miss it altogether.

I hear that Nando’s is the “original” fast food chain that specialises in piri piri chicken. Here’s my review of Nando’s in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Gotta check out the one in Singapore soon!

Is there any other eatery in Singapore that sells piri piri chicken?

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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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