http://sparklette.net/food/tung-lok-signatures/ http://sparklette.net/food/tung-lok-signatures/#comments Fri, 30 Dec 2011 03:00:01 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=1265 The concept behind the Tung Lok Signatures restaurants is promising; at one place you can enjoy signature dishes from the various Tung Lok restaurants. The appealing prospect of enjoying the “best of” dishes all under one roof has drawn a large clientèle of families and working professionals, as evident by a full-house capacity on a weekday evening.

With most dishes priced above S$30, budget at least S$40-50 a person. And if you pick any of the shark’s fin or abalone dishes, be prepared to reach deeper into your pocket. As part of the American Express SELECTS programme, cardholders get a 10% discount with the minimum spending of S$200. On top of that, if you make payment with your AmEx card before 29 January 2012, you may also qualify for the weekly Volkswagen car giveaway.

And so, on to the food…

Rice

As with all Chinese meals, rice is a staple.

Baked fried rice with seafood served on lotus leaf
S$22++

If you have to pick just one rice dish from the menu, definitely go for the baked fried rice with seafood. Presented on lotus leaf, the rice is chock-full of delicious ingredients like prawns, egg and other assorted seafood. Even when eaten by itself, the rice is robust with flavour and very satisfying.

Poached crispy rice with fresh crab meat in superior broth
S$32++

The poached crispy rice is one that looks really tantalising on paper. In fact, you would find two types of rice in it — crispy rice and regular white rice — soaked in a claypot of broth with crab meat. You get to see the waitress pour the crispy rice into the broth before serving it in individual bowls.

As it turns out, the dish is disappointingly dull and nondescript in comparison to its counterpart.

Seafood

Deep-fried cod fillet coated with salted egg yolk served with organic vegetables
S$32++

From the fish section, the deep-fried cod fillet is a safe bet. The cod is of good quality — tender white flesh sequestered beneath the perfectly browned and crispy salted egg yolk coating. Paired with organic vegetables and tangy fruit cubes, this dish is a delight to savour without the need for any additional dip or sauce.

Sautéed scallops topped with crab meat and roe
S$44++

The sautéed scallops don’t fare as well. Topped with crab meat and roe, the dish is lacklustre and eminently forgettable.

Poultry

Beijing-style crispy duck
S$32++

The Beijing-style crispy duck initially stumps us by arriving in pulled shreds rather than the usual slices with roasted skin a la Peking duck. All is well though, as it is undoubtedly the best dish of the night.

Eating this can be a rather fun activity in its own right. There’s just… something about eating with your fingers that makes the food that much more enjoyable. You wrap in a wafer thin pancake the duck meat, shreds of scallion and cucumber sticks. Don’t forget the superb sweet bean paste — oh I can’t get enough of that; it’s the catalyst that propels this dish out of the realm of the ordinary.

Despite offering the “best of” items from various restaurants, I do notice that some popular items, such as the intriguing coffee pork ribs from Zhou’s Kitchen aren’t on the menu here.

Desserts

The desserts section offers some wondrous possibilities at very reasonable prices. Here are some of our picks.

Chilled durian purée with purple rice purée served with ice cream in young coconut
S$10++

Durian lovers would have the easy choice of the chilled durian purée, paired with purple rice purée and ice cream in a young coconut. You get a sizable amount of durian in this that should be enough to temper any craving.

Chilled mango cream with pomelo, diced mango and sago served with ice cream in young coconut
S$8++

Another dessert that is equally up to the mark is the chilled mango cream with pomelo, diced mango and sago which is similarly served with ice cream in a small coconut.

Chilled taro pumpkin (off the menu)
S$6++

From off the menu, the excellent chilled taro pumpkin is the chef’s special for the day. With ice cream, pumpkin mousse and yam paste in a gorgeous shade, this is one triple-layered treat for both the eye and the palate. The pumpkin mousse in particular beguiles the taste buds with its feathery richness.

Service can be a bit on the tentative side, especially the waitresses who seem particularly befuddled with the available credit card privileges. There are some hits and misses with the meal, but for the most part, the kitchen hits the ground running.

Have Your Say!

What is your favourite restaurant under the Tung Lok Group? Share with us in the comments!

Tung Lok Signatures
Website

Opening hours:
Lunch 11:30am – 3pm (Mon to Sat), 11am – 3:30pm (Sun & PHs)
Dinner 6pm – 10:30pm daily

Tung Lok Signatures VivoCity

VivoCity
1 HarbourFront Walk #01-57
Singapore 098585
Tel: +65 6376 9555
Service:

Tung Lok Signatures The Central (Clarke Quay)

The Central
6 Eu Tong Sen Street #02-88
Singapore 059817
Tel: +65 6336 6022

Tung Lok Signatures Changi

Changi City Point
5 Changi Business Park Centre 1, #01-26/27
Singapore 486038
Tel: +65 6636 0606

---

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]]> 4

Customisation is the key to the brand’s success. You can order personalised cakes ranging from huge 2.5kg ice cream cakes for birthdays, to novelty mix-and-match flavours for bigger events. Online orders and catering requests are available from the website.

Munchy Moo has tweaked and fine-tuned the current eight cake flavours countless times after hearing feedback from friends and customers, resulting in some best-selling flagship creations.

Each flavour is available in three sizes: a square slice — good for individual enjoyment or sharing with a friend, a small cake — good to feed 4 to 5 persons, and a large cake — shareable among 6 to 7 people.

That Famous Candy Bar
S$4.50 (slice), S$25.90 (S), S$49.90 (L)

If you love the Snickers candy bars, you’ll definitely want to order That Famous Candy Bar, a layered creation of sticky-sweet peanut butter and caramel. It is almost like eating an ice-cold version of the candy, minus the overwhelming sweetness.

Luscious Chocolate
S$4.30 (slice), S$24.90 (S), S$47.90 (L)

Featuring layers of cookies and cream and chocolate ice cream that sandwich a thin layer of rich dark chocolate, and finally topped with a generous dash of crumbled cookies, Luscious Chocolate is a must-try for chocolate lovers.

Matcha Madness
S$3.80 (slice), S$22.90 (S), S$43.50 (L)

Authentically topped with a tiny scoop of red bean topping, Matcha Madness is refreshingly light and leaves no artificially sweet after-taste.

Rum float
S$3.20

Also refreshing is the rum float, which has a sinful scoop of alcoholic rum ice cream, with raisins added for texture.

Head down to Munchy Moo for your fill of unique multi-flavoured ice cream cake creations. If you wish to buy these icy treats home, the special take-home packs can keep your purchase frozen for about half an hour.

Where can you get the best ice cream cakes in Singapore? Share with us in the comments!

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]]> 0 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.

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

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]]> 0 http://sparklette.net/food/ben-jerrys-phish-food/ http://sparklette.net/food/ben-jerrys-phish-food/#comments Thu, 12 May 2011 10:18:02 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=1136 Every month when I top up our supply of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream from the VivoCity Scoop Shop, I find myself inevitably reaching for the chocolate flavours. There’s no denying how rich and addictive Ben & Jerry’s chocolate ice cream is, instantly elevating any flavour that uses it to “best of the month” status.

So, my Ben & Jerry’s Flavour of the Month for May is Phish Food.

Now, you’re probably wondering why anyone would give a dessert such an unsavoury name. Ben & Jerry’s claim that it is named after the American rock band Phish.

Phish Food
S$14.90 a pint
Rating:

Once you get past the fishy name, you may be surprised by how good Phish Food is. The chocolate base is a winner, paired with an added note of sweetness from the gooey marshmallow and caramel swirls.

The only fish you would find in it are the tiny pieces of fish-shaped chocolates preserved in the ice cream. I’m confused as to why Ben & Jerry’s call them fudge. If you have tried Phish Food, Coffee Coffee Buzz Buzz Buzz or New York Super Fudge Chunk, you would know that the chunks aren’t fudge-like, but more like pieces of hard candy.

Regardless, it is a pint of chocolaty deliciousness that would get chocolate fans hooked.

Ingredients: Cream, Water, Skim Milk, Liquid Sugar (Sugar, Water), Corn Syrup, Sugar, Cocoa (Processed With Alkali), Coconut Oil, Butter (Cream, Salt), Egg Whites, Egg Yolks, Vanilla Extract, Corn Syrup Solids, Guar Gum, Cocoa, Milk Fat, Salt, Natural Flavor, Pectin, Carrageenan, Sodium Bicarbonate, Soy Lecithin. ALLERGY INFORMATION: FUDGE FISH PIECES ARE MANUFACTURED ON EQUIPMENT THAT ALSO PROCESSES PEANUTS AND TREE NUTS.

If you have ever browsed the ice cream shelves and shunned this particular flavour due to its fishy name, rest assured that it really will not disappoint.

Have Your Say!

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

What do you think of Phish Food? What are your favourite Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavours? And what flavours would you like to see on Sparklette next month? Tell us in the comments!

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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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]]> 6 http://sparklette.net/food/ben-jerrys-clusterfluff/ http://sparklette.net/food/ben-jerrys-clusterfluff/#comments Tue, 12 Apr 2011 02:00:45 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=1119 I just got the shock of my life. Unless you live on a farm, you would be startled too if you opened your front door and a cow greeted you with a loud “mooooo”. And this was a cow with a mission.

Of course, that’s none other than Woody, the mascot of Ben & Jerry’s. He braved the sweltering heat and came in what I imagine must be a very thick and heavy cow suit to hand me the newest Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavour — Clusterfluff. Ain’t that a cute name? How very un-ice-cream-sounding, yet appropriate once you hear what the ingredients are. Hmm, I think my next cat would be named Clusterfluff.

So is the new Clusterfluff ice cream flavour delicious? Well, it is the Sparklette Ben & Jerry’s Flavour of the Month for April. What d’ya think?

Clusterfluff
S$14.90 a pint
Rating:

For anyone with a weak spot for peanut butter, you would totally find yourself in seventh heaven with Clusterfluff. This is peanut butter ice cream with caramel cluster pieces, peanut buttery swirls and marshmallow swirls. In other words, all the yummy things from your childhood. Can you say goodness overload?

In all honesty, I really can’t tell that there’s marshmallow in it. What exactly do marshmallow swirls taste like? Nonetheless, the peanut butter with caramel chunks is all that is needed to make me a happy girl. This is one pint of ice cream that I’m definitely getting the next time I pop by a Ben & Jerry’s scoop shop.

Ingredients: Cream, Skim Milk, Liquid Sugar (Sugar, Water), Marshmallow Syrup (Corn Syrup, Sugar, Water, Egg Albumen, Pectin, Natural Flavour), Peanut Butter Flavoured Swirl [Peanut Butter (Peanuts), Corn Oil, Sugar, Salt], Water, Caramel Clusters [Caramel Coating (Fair Trade Dried Cane Syrup, Coconut Oil, Nonfat Dry Milk, Tapioca Starch, Fair Trade Cocoa, Salt, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavour, Paprika Extract {Color}, Caramel Colour), Clusters (Rolled Oats {Wheat}, Fair Trade Dried Cane Syrup, Brown Crisp Rice {Brown Rice, Rice Flour, Canola Oil}, Rice Syrup {Rice, Water, Enzymes}, Molasses, Fair Trade Vanilla Extract, Sea Salt, Sodium Bicarbonate, Mixed Tocopherols {Used To Protect Quality})], Peanut Butter Swirl (Peanuts, Peanut Oil, Salt), Egg Yolks, Sugar, Guar Gum, Carrageenan.

Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day 2011

Don’t forget it’s the highly anticipated Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day 2011 on April 12, 2011. Head down to any scoop shop to grab a cone. The five available flavours are A Cookie Affair, Phish Food, Vanilla, Strawberry Cheesecake and, yes, Clusterfluff.

Here are the participating scoop shops:

12noon – 7pm:

• VivoCity
• Raffles City
• Dempsey
• The Heeren
• Great World City
• The Cathay
• United Square

12noon – 5pm:

• Sentosa
• Zoo (entrance)
• Jurong Bird Park (Hawk Café)

Are you eager to try the new Ben & Jerry’s Clusterfluff? What is the best peanut butter ice cream flavour out there? Tell us in the comments!

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]]> 7 http://sparklette.net/food/ben-jerrys-milk-and-cookies/ http://sparklette.net/food/ben-jerrys-milk-and-cookies/#comments Thu, 17 Mar 2011 07:13:21 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=1103 In the mood for ice cream? For March, the Sparklette Ben & Jerry’s Flavour of the Month is the wholesome A Cookie Affair, otherwise known as Milk & Cookies in other parts of the world.

A Cookie Affair (Milk & Cookies)
S$14.90 a pint
Rating:

The base flavour is vanilla with a chocolate cookie swirl, or simply cookies and cream. I just love the packaging of this one. Notice that the o’s in “cookie” are spelled with a chocolate chip cookie and a chocolate chocolate chip cookie. Did you get that? That’s right; embedded within the icy bliss are chunks of chewy chocolate chip cookies and chocolate chocolate chip cookies.

If you love the chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream, or cookies in general, you would no doubt be a fan of this one, too. Moreover, a bunch of meaningful ingredients goes into making the flavour, such as Fair Trade certified sugar, cocoa and vanilla that are bought at fair prices from farmers.

Ingredients: Cream, Skim Milk, Liquid Sugar (Sugar, Water), Water, Fair Trade Sugar, Wheat Flour, Canola Oil, Egg Yolks, Brown Sugar, Sugar, Butter (Cream, Salt), Cocoa (Processed With Alkali), Fair Trade Cocoa, Chocolate Liquor, Butteroil, Soybean Oil, Eggs, Salt, Tapioca Starch, Honey, Natural Flavour, Fair Trade Vanilla Extract, Guar Gum, Sodium Bicarbonate, Soy Lecithin, Cocoa Butter, Vanilla Bean Seeds, Fair Trade Chocolate Liquor, Carrageenan

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 Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavours? Are there any flavours that you would like to see in your local Ben & Jerry’s? Tell us in the comments!

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In this Ben & Jerry’s Flavour of the Month series, a different ice cream flavour would be featured on Sparklette every month through 2011. My pick for January was Half Baked, which I enjoyed so much that I went out to get another pint! In addition, I also picked up a couple more flavours that are named after famous cities.

My Ben & Jerry’s flavour of the month for February is Dublin Mudslide. Can you guess what the other city-inspired flavour is? (Answer: In the photo below)

Fun activity: Count the number of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream tubs in this picture!

Dublin Mudslide
S$14.90 a pint
Rating:

Dublin Mudslide is named after the drink, and has chocolate and cream as well as trace amounts of Irish cream liqueur and coffee. The ice cream is coloured in inviting shades of brown swirled with yummy coffee fudge. You can definitely taste the coffee, although fans of liquor ice cream may be disappointed to know that the liqueur is hardly detectable. There is just a smidgen of it — 0.2 grams of alcohol per 1/2 cup serving (or 0.19% per 102 gram serving).

In my opinion, what makes Ben & Jerry’s ice cream especially special and decadent are the chunky bits. And this pint is no let-down. The generously proportioned globs of chocolate chocolate chip cookies are what escalate Dublin Mudslide from a 3 to a 4 rating.

Ingredients: Cream, Skim Milk, Liquid Sugar, Water, Sugar, Unbleached Wheat Flour, Egg Yolks, Expeller Pressed Soybean Oil, Irish Cream Liqueur, Brown Sugar, Cocoa (Processed With Alkali), Chocolate Liquor, Butter, Corn Syrup, Coffee, Guar Gum, Cocoa Butter, Anhydrous Dextrose, Salt, Vanilla Extract, Cocoa Extract, Natural Flavour, Baking Soda, Carob Bean Gum, Xanthan Gum, Carrageenan, Soya Lecithin

How many more food and drinks can you think of that have cities in their names? Tell us now!

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For you, one of the perks of reading Sparklette is that you can win Ben & Jerry’s goodies such as the limited edition bicycle that I just gave away at Christmas! As for me, I get to enjoy three free pints of ice cream each month.

To make things fun, I’ve decided to do a Ben & Jerry’s Flavour of the Month series, where I would highlight a different ice cream flavour every month through 2011!

Kicking off this series, here’s my pick for January:

Half Baked
S$14.90 a pint
Rating:

Half Baked is a delicious combination of chocolate and vanilla ice cream swirled together, with generous bits of fudge brownies and gobs of chocolate chip cookie dough nestled within the creamy goodness. If your favourite ice cream flavours happen to be chocolate and vanilla as mine are, you would find this concoction unbeatable.

As with most flavours from the same brand, the chunky bits are the best parts. Half Baked has quickly replaced Chocolate Fudge Brownie as my favourite flavour, to the extent where I’m eating it every night whilst watching an old Tom Cruise movie. What can I say, the man’s fine. And so is this ice cream.

Ingredients: Cream, Liquid Sugar (Sugar, Water), Skim Milk, Water, Sugar, Wheat Flour, Cocoa (Processed With Alkali), Brown Sugar, Butter (Cream, Salt), Egg Yolks, Eggs, Cocoa, Expeller Pressed Soybean Oil, Chocolate Liquor, Vanilla Extract, Salt, Egg Whites, Guar Gum, Molasses, Natural Flavour, Cocoa Butter, Carrageenan, Sodium Bicarbonate, Soy Lecithin

What do you think of Half Baked? What are your favourite Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavours? And what flavours would you like to see on Sparklette next month? Tell 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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It is late one evening when Sparklette guest blogger Joyce (who reviewed Relish and Restaurant Ember) and I check out the outlet at Maxwell Chambers. Even in the cold rainy weather and the obscure location at the back of the building, the tiny café is filled with customers.

Source: Once Upon a Milkshake

The shop is decked out in clean white against a vibrant purple backdrop with specks of faux greenery. Small white tables and short wooden stools provide a somewhat child-like seating arrangement that one may draw comparison to another ice cream parlour, Icekimo.

With the youthful vibe here, you may imagine that the crowd that comes in would be students and young couples. Surprisingly, we spot yuppie types and all-male groups seated on the little stools sipping on their cold shakes. Looks like the milkshake here brings all the boys to the yard!

Click to enlarge menu

Ordering your shakes or scoops is simple:

1. First decide on whether you want a milkshake (mini or regular) or an ice cream (scoops or pint).
2. Choose from ten flavours, each one represented by a cute character such as Agent Strawberry and Grumbling Raisins.
3. Optional: You can add toppings of chocolate pearls, peanuts, crushed chocolate chip cookies and more.

Spooky Mocha ice cream and Grumbling Raisins milkshake
Price list
Rating:

Coffee aficionados would approve of the Spooky Mocha. While this is a marriage between coffee and chocolate, the coffee aroma is so rich that it overpowers the taste of chocolate; it may as well be called Captain Coffee. That’s right; I just named a new ice cream flavour. As a coffee fan I totally dig this.

Apart from the strong coffee flavour, what strikes me is how smooth the ice cream is. It is made with New Zealand low fat milk and hand-blended to a perfect smooth texture.

For a dash of liquor, the Grumbling Raisins hits the spot with its highly evident taste of rum.

Other popular flavours here are the Agent Strawberry (you can taste actual strawberries) and the Chocolate Truffle Castle.

Source: Once Upon a Milkshake

In sunny Singapore, ice cream dessert parlours rarely go out of trend. There is already a second OUAM outlet at *SCAPE in Orchard Road, and a third parlour opening at One Raffles Place in December 2010. For those seeking luscious ice cream flavours at reasonable prices, Once Upon a Milkshake is not to be missed.

What is your favourite ice cream flavour? What other ice cream parlours do you frequent and recommend? Share with us in the comments!

Maxwell Chambers outlet

*SCAPE outlet

One Raffles Place outlet

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]]> 2 http://sparklette.net/food/magnum-gold/ http://sparklette.net/food/magnum-gold/#comments Fri, 07 May 2010 04:12:59 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=964 By now, many of you would have heard of, seen or even licked the new Magnum Gold ice cream. But in case you haven’t, the Gold edition is the latest flavour in the Wall’s premium Magnum ice cream range, newly launched today.

Notice the “?!” Now that sure brings emphasis to the fact that it’s gold, both figuratively and literally. Everyone wants a piece of gold right?

Clearly, Snowy our family cat wants one!

Look, even the packaging is golden (on the inside)!

Magnum Gold Ice Cream
S$3.90 a stick / S$10.90 for a box of 3
Rating:

This latest indulgence features the churned centre of smooth Madagascan vanilla ice cream with undertones of sea‐salt caramel. As far as I can tell, it is definitely less sweet than its counterparts in the Magnum series, which is great!

The brilliant gold coating is a thick layer of the ever popular milk chocolate dipped in edible gold. By the end of my ice cream escapade, I had gold-dusted fingers! I can’t tell if the gold actually tastes of anything, but hey, it’s pretty!

So far, the Magnum Gold has been launched in 29 countries, and Singapore is the only Asian country that it is available. In the beastly hot climate here, we all have a good excuse to enjoy this luxurious ice cream, don’t we?

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How do you find the new Magnum Gold? What is your most favourite flavour in the Magnum ice cream range? Is it the long-time favourite Classic, or the silky white chocolate? Share with us in the comments!

Disclaimer: No cats were harmed in the writing of this delicious review.

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Now, with the opening of their new outlet at Ion Orchard, they have rolled out another fabulous 1-for-1 deal: all-you-can-eat ice cream and dessert buffet at S$18.90++! That comes up to around S$11 for each person!

Have your fill from over 50 ice cream flavours, 40 toppings, cakes (oreo cheesecakes, anyone?), waffles and even the ever-popular chocolate fondue! Bring a friend along to Swensen’s Ion Orchard to enjoy all the desserts you both can stomach! Indulge with care!

Swensen’s ( Halal certified)
Ion Orchard
2 Orchard Turn #B1-31
Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 6884 5967 | Website

Bus services: 36, 77, 124, 128, 143, 14E, 162, 167, 171, 174, 190, 502, 518, 700, NR1, NR2, NR3, NR5, NR6, NR7, NR8, 162M, 174E, 518A, 518B, 700A
Nearest MRT: Orchard

Opening hours:
10:30am – 10:30pm (Mon – Thur)
10:30am – 12midnight (Fri)
8am – 12midnight (Sat & PH)
8am – 10:30pm (Sun)

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Whoops! I almost forgot about this one. Our favourite ice cream maker Ben & Jerry’s is having its ever-popular free cone day today!

It sure is nice to know that during such tough times, someone is still generously giving away freebies :)

In case you’re wondering, Ben & Jerry’s does this every year, not just in Singapore, but in all its scoop shops worldwide.

Wanna get hold of a yummy scoop or two? Head down to any of the following Ben & Jerry’s outlets later today.

Oh, don’t forget to give generously too because charitable organisations would probably be around to seek donations. Enjoy!

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Great news: they have created four new flavours just for Christmas! Doesn’t Christmas seem much more fun with ice cream and alcohol?

The four flavours are:

• cranberry (with vodka)
• whiter shade of pale (with malt and white chocolate)
• Christmas (with sherry and cointreau)
• eggnog (with rum and brandy)

They’ve even sent me a couple of pints to share with my family. We love it!

The Christmas flavour has little bits of fruit in it. It’s like fruit cake, with the mild taste of alcohol to add some buzz. Just lovely — perfect for sharing with a loved one!

You can bring home these delicious Christmasy flavours at $10.40 a pint. Order fast because the last day for pick up is December 23.

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Unlike your average casual ice cream parlour, seventh heaven differentiates itself by targeting the more mature market. After all, as adults we never really outgrow ice cream, do we?

Alcohol = good. Ice cream = good. What happens when you couple the two? That’s exactly what seventh heaven offers. Alcoholic ice cream! There’s something about it that sounds really seductive and makes me all tingly and excited to have it. But I think that’s just me :)

From left: Lychee Martini, Chocolate & Whiskey, Chocolate & Coffee Crunch
S$5.80 per scoop++
Rating:

Liquor ice cream is one tricky business; it melts so quickly! By the time I finished taking my shots (photographs, not the drinks), some of the ice cream has slightly melted, as you can see from the first two on the platter above. Those are the ones containing liquor.

The lychee martini is my favourite of the lot. It’s got that slight alcoholic taste and of course the refreshing lychee flavour. Likewise for the chocolate and whiskey ice cream, you can definitely taste the whiskey. The chocolate by the way is rich and satisfying. Chocolate and liquor just taste lovely together. It’s been tried and tested and is exactly why Royce’ chocolate is so heavenly!

The other chocolate ice cream above is chocolate and coffee crunch, also an excellent combination. Chocolate and coffee lovers are so gonna love this. The Arabica coffee beans are crushed so you can actually taste the crunchy bits! Nice!!

Warm and Soft Chocolate Cake
S$7.80++
Rating:

For something warm, go for the soft chocolate cake. Unlike my favourite lava cake that has luscious molten chocolate oozing out from the centre, this one is slightly different. It doesn’t have the molten chocolate, although the cake is still warm and moist at the centre. Most importantly, it is very chocolatey and delicious, and is served with French vanilla ice cream.

I couldn’t exactly appreciate the French vanilla flavour here. I guess I was looking for the good ol’ vanilla ice cream, whereas French vanilla has a very different fragrance.

Affogato
S$7.20++
Rating:

The affogato is an instant pick-me-up, with a strong shot of espresso and the same French vanilla ice cream. The plate they use here is really cute by the way. It features a cup holder too.

I highly recommend the hot chocolate as well, which is by far the richest and thickest chocolate drink I’ve ever had. And that’s saying a lot as it includes max brenner’s glorious hot chocolate. It’s almost like drinking molten chocolate!

Ready to go to seventh heaven? It’s not just an expression anymore. The location is somewhat remote at the marketing institute of Singapore. But for people that don’t drive, there is a shuttle service from outram park.

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]]> 17 http://sparklette.net/food/ben-jerry-free-cone-day-2008/ http://sparklette.net/food/ben-jerry-free-cone-day-2008/#comments Sun, 27 Apr 2008 16:03:46 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/archives/ben-jerry-free-cone-day-2008/

Hooray! Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day is back for its 30th year!

Intrigued? Free Cone Day is an annual tradition of this beloved ice cream maker. Around this time of the year, Ben & Jerry’s scoop shops around the world would give away free ice cream scoops all day.

In 2008, Free Cone Day falls on April 29. Mark down your calendars with smiley faces! The day also coincides with the 30th birthday of this American brand of ice cream.

Here are the details on where you can get your free yummy scoops!

Oh, what would I give for a scoop of their sticky, chocolaty chocolate chip cookie dough goodness? Be prepared to queue for your free ice cream though. One tip: go there while the kids are still in school!

Every free cone day, the socially-minded ice cream maker gives away more than one million ice cream scoops worldwide. That’s more than one million happy people! Charitable organisations would probably be around to raise funds. So while enjoying your free treats, do also give generously!

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In fact, the homely feel and wooden furniture reminds me very much of Ma Maison, a cottage-themed restaurant I had visited a few months ago.

I love this street sign!

Food orders are placed fast-food style. You simply queue up at the counter and pick your choice of ice cream flavour, cone and yummy toppings!

I went for the chocolate chip cookie dough flavour with lots and lots of colourful mini m&m’s and rainbow sprinkles! What a load of sugar and calories! But it was a delightful treat alright.

This Ben & Jerry’s outlet also houses CA California, a deli that sells salads, sandwiches, soups and pastas, under the same roof. So whether you’re looking for something to fill your stomach, or a nice dessert after a hearty meal at one of the nearby restaurants, this is the place for you.

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Decked out entirely in hues of girlish pink and white, this cute little place provides a bright and cheery spark to the otherwise lackluster Sin Ming Centre.

Cute cartoon characters of Eskimos, penguins and seals adorn the walls and glass windows. One cannot help but feel young in this cheery café!

Indulge in the dessert while sitting in these sweet little white armchairs!

All ice cream here is freshly made in-house with lots of love, reduced fats and sugar. Actual fruits are used to make the fruity flavours, including mango, durian, chempedak and strawberry.

Besides eating out of cups, you have the choice of crunchy waffle cones or waffle bowls. Of course, there is also a range of toppings to choose from. My favourite is the colourful rainbow sprinkles!

You can discover some unconventional ice cream flavours here. There’s the Blueberry Cheesecake! Yum!

Ever licked bandung (milk flavoured with rosewater) or teh tarik (“pulled” tea) before? Yes, I said “licked”! Well, you can now! These, plus Nutella with Hazelnut, Horlicks with Malteses and Dino Milo are some of their most unusual flavours. Ever a fan of the popular Milo Dinosaur drink, I fell in love with Dino Milo the instant I had it on my tongue!

They even have meatball pasta! Or is it really? Look again!

Rocher spaghetti
S$6.50++
Rating:

Well, this is yet another thoughtful creation! Chocolate Rocher meatballs! The tomato sauce is strawberry syrup! And get this — the spaghetti is made entirely out of vanilla ice cream! Didn’t see that coming did ya? It is the single most sinful pasta I’ve ever had! But with the Rocher chocolate, I have no complaints!

Obviously I’m not the only one who’s a fan. Check out all these colourful notes left behind by customers! A couple of these have really cute messages.

The next time you’re in the area, be sure to drop by for some dessert! I’m sure you would leave it feeling cheery for the rest of the day.

The Rocher spaghetti is a definite must-try!

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http://sparklette.net/food/icekimo/ | 27 comments

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