http://sparklette.net/food/goodwood-park-durian-fiesta/ http://sparklette.net/food/goodwood-park-durian-fiesta/#comments Tue, 01 Mar 2011 07:52:43 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=1087 Hello March. Durian lovers, you know what that means.

The annual Durian Fiesta at Goodwood Park Hotel is back!

From March 1 to July 17, 2011, you can enjoy a smorgasbord of durian creations at the hotel that recently celebrated its 110th anniversary. We’re talkin’ puffs and crepes and strudels and cakes.

Making its début this year is the durian cappuccino cake, comprising three layers of cappuccino mousse, D24 durian pulp and chocolate sponge coated by yellow vanilla sponge crumbs.

Durian cappuccino cake
S$9 per piece
S$52 for whole cake
Rating:

With both the durian and coffee flavours vying for your attention at the same time, enjoy this cake for the sake of having something rather unusual. Personally, I prefer sinking my teeth into coffee cake or durian cake individually, rather than having two very strong flavours in one bite.

Durian mousse cake
S$9 per slice
S$55 per 1.3kg cake
S$102 per 2.5kg cake
S$135 per 3.5kg cake

For that reason the classic durian mousse cake is still my choice. This long-standing crowd pleaser kicked off the Goodwood Park Durian Fiesta in 1983. Crowned with cubes of sponge cake, every bite of the rich durian mousse tastes as good as the actual fruit and certainly satiates any big durian craving!

Mini durian ice cream cake
S$12.80 per piece
S$22 for 2
Rating:

Another new addition is the mini durian ice cream cake. Each dome-shaped cake is made of luscious durian ice cream, finished with a coating of white chocolate and a ring of crushed almonds at its base. The ice cream is also separately available by the scoop (S$6.50) or tub (S$16.80 for 16oz).

Durian puff
S$5.20 for 2
S$14.80 for 6
S$42.80 for 20
Rating:

The dainty durian puff really hits the spot. Tucked within the fluffy sugar-dusted choux pastry case is creamy durian filling, which boasts an even thicker and richer consistency than the mousse cake.

Durian eclair
S$6 each
S$42.80 for 8
Rating:

And the durian eclair is no slouch either. This has a generous amount of durian pulp sandwiched between choux pastry and drizzled with either chocolate or fondant (sugar icing).

During the Durian Fiesta, these baked goodies are available for take-out at the Deli. Alternatively, you can dine in at L’Espresso, the spacious café located at the hotel lobby that has an alfresco poolside dining area.

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 durian pastries and desserts? Where else can you get a good durian fix? Tell us in the comments!

Goodwood Park Hotel
22 Scotts Road
Singapore 228221
Tel: +65 6730 1786 | Website

Operating hours: 9am – 9pm daily

Durian Fiesta takes place March 1 to July 17, 2011.

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]]> 4

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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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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]]> 3 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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]]> 4 http://sparklette.net/food/pasta-inc/ http://sparklette.net/food/pasta-inc/#comments Tue, 27 Oct 2009 06:33:57 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=891 I’m going to try not to use words like “whoopee!” and “yowza!” to describe how I feel after a sumptuous meal of gourmet food at Pasta Inc. Let’s just say that if you’re ever having a craving for gourmet pasta, this is one Italian restaurant that is definitely worth checking out.

The restaurant takes up a spot along Keong Saik Road. It is run by chef-owner Keith, a boyish-looking entrepreneur who worked at other restaurants for many years before striking out on his own.

The vast experience has certainly provided him with a firm grasp of the cuisine. Our meal here comprises of well-executed Italian gourmet food, including the exquisite squid ink pasta, that do not disappoint.

Portobello mushroom
S$12.90++
Rating:

We start with Portobello Al Forno, a large-sized baked mushroom that is topped with mixed cheese and a dash of tomato sauce. It is very fresh, oozing juices and flavour with every bite. Oh, they also serve bread with olive oil before each meal.

Crayfish pasta in tomato based sauce (Cartoccio style)
S$21.90++
Rating:

As a huge fan of crayfish, or seafood in general, I must give a thumbs-up to the crayfish pasta. It is done al cartoccio, a technique of cooking gourmet pasta that involves wrapping it in paper and baking it. Not only does the end product look mighty impressive, there is also that sense of anticipation as you watch the waiter carefully unwrap it before your eyes.

The tomato based sauce is dreamy, with none of the tartness you get from inferior sauces that come in a jar. The baking also helps lock in the moisture and flavours, resulting in a pasta that is succulent and delicious. I am most delighted at the generous serving of crayfish. There is not one, not even two, but altogether three crayfish halves! Magnifico!

Fresh assorted seafood pasta in squid ink based sauce
S$18.90++
Rating:

Your experience here is not complete until you have tasted the house speciality — squid ink pasta. This dark and mysterious dish is served chock-full with clams and prawns, and topped with a mussel, all of which help lend extra seafood flavour. That said, the most appealing (or perhaps unappealing to some) quality of this pasta has to be its dramatic appearance.

Black as sin itself, the squid ink sauce is surprisingly pleasant and mild, with none of the pungency that I had prepared myself for. It is cooked al dente with a hint of tomato flavouring. A must-try for squid ink fans, as well as the people who are curious about squid ink but have yet to muster enough courage to taste it.

Tiramisù
S$8.90++

I always feel that the mark of a good Italian restaurant can be measured not only by the pastas, but the tiramisù as well. Perhaps the most famous Italian cake, a trip to an Italian restaurant or café should always end with this dessert. Here, new batches of tiramisù are freshly made in-house everyday.

My verdict? It is one of the lightest versions I have ever had. The intersecting layers of creamy mascarpone cheese and airy sponge cake are so light and smooth, the cake seemingly melts in the mouth. This is a stellar example of the Italian dessert.

Creme brulee
S$9.90++

There is also the creme brulee that is off the menu for now, but I reckon it wouldn’t stay that way for long. The crack of the hard, burnt caramel top layer releases the wonderful aromas of the rich custard base. It is silky and creamy without being too heavy and sweet. I love it!

Aside from the food, one thing that I must commend about Pasta Inc is the excellent service. Our waiter is dedicated and furnishes useful information about the dishes. He also offers to split our pastas into smaller portions for sharing. I find such attentiveness and product knowledge a rarity in Singapore restaurants.

A promotion for Sparklette readers!

I have worked out an agreement with Pasta Inc for all Sparklette readers. If you are visiting the restaurant, look for Keith and let him know that Veron recommended you. This way, you get your second pasta at half the price! I am not benefiting from this, but I know a promotion like this definitely sweetens the deal for many of us that would like to try out good gourmet pasta at friendly prices.

Pasta Inc
35 Keong Saik Road
Singapore 089142
Tel: +65 6297 7515 | Website
Service:

Opening hours: 12-2pm, 6-10pm

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Recently I purchased the Harry’s card happily. It is perfect for the regulars (and for people that don’t really care which bar they go as long as it is a bar). The moment I handed over a crisp 50 dollar note, I got these:

1. A stylish card with $60 stored value. that means you get an instant extra 20 percent cash value to spend! It is a great deal for people that already patronise the bar.

Hot wings (8-piece)
S$15++
Rating:

2. A free side dish. we can choose from fries, wedges, hot wings, satay or nachos.

I recommend the 8-piece hot wings. They are lightly spiced and come with a super shiok sambal chilli. I’m impressed that a Western bar can whip up such a delicious sambal, a feat more commonly achieved by hawker stalls and nasi lemak eateries!

3. A free bottle of Harry’s premium lager — made in New Zealand. By default I’m a fan of Stella Artois or Hoegaarden. This is my first experience with Harry’s house brand and I’m surprised to find that I actually like it! The taste is a little sweet and sour, and not bitter. Apparently it is also low in calories and carbohydrates.

Normally I shun all kinds of clubs and membership cards that try to lock you in to their business. But in this case I am already a regular patron of Harry’s Bar. With or without the card I am still a paying customer. Now, each time I top up the card I get an extra 20 percent cash value. Ie. Pay $10 and get $12 to spend. Not bad a deal eh?

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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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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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Credit

Personally, I do prefer traditional kopi to Western coffee. So I’m sharing with you the coupon that we’ve been using to get discounts off their drinks and food. Take advantage of it this national day weekend! The coupon is valid ’til end September 2009.

Click to enlarge and print

Simply print this out and present it at any outlet (except Takashimaya and Far East Square) to enjoy the deal! The promotion ties in with their 65th anniversary. Yes, they have been making their coffee since 1944.

Ya kun isn’t just popular with the greying uncles and aunties, but the young and hip, too! Even at the outlet I frequent, I see an ang moh every single time. He likes our kopi!

About the funny slogan in the opening paragraph, if you didn’t catch it, it comes from these vintage posters plastered at the Ya Kun outlets.

Happy National Day, Singapore!

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throughout the month of July, they are selling their macarons at just $0.90 each! If you’ve yet to try out this cute French pastry, this is the perfect opportunity! With over a dozen flavours, there’s something for everybody.

Wait, that’s not all. They have also slashed the prices for some of their cakes by more than half!

1. Chocolate Amer (flourless chocolate sponge layered with bitter chocolate mousse, serves 6-10)
2. Cookies & cream cheesecake (studded with cookie crumble and sprinkled with crushed cookie bits, serves 8-10)
3. New York cheesecake (cream cheese coated with a tangy strawberry glaze, serves 8-10)

Imagine getting a whole cookies and cream cheesecake for less than $20! That’s a massive discount!

If you’re celebrating a loved one’s birthday this month, why not get him or her an affordable Bakerzin cake?

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During this month of may, aroma at hotel intercontinental Singapore is giving away freshly baked croissants and regular coffee all day long. All you have to do is print out this mailer and present it at the counter. Each person is limited to one croissant and one coffee, of course.

Click to enlarge

I have never been to aroma before, but any place that offers free meals scores brownie points in my books. If you have taken advantage of this promo, let us know if the coffee’s any good.

Just don’t forget to print out and bring along this mailer!

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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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Click to enlarge

Terms & Conditions:

• Valid on weekdays (11am – 2pm), 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, set meals and Executive Lunch.

I may not be a huge Swensen’s fan, but when I do dine there, I tend to have the rodeo wings as starters, and either the chicken baked rice or crayfish pasta as my main course. Is there any other dish that I should be trying out?

Dish recommendations

I followed some of your recommendations! Here are the reviews of the dishes I have tried.

BBQ chicken
S$14.50++
Rating:

Ever a fan of both chicken and barbecue sauce, it seems only natural to go for the BBQ chicken. By default this comes with potatoes and greens. Some people, myself included, would prefer it with just fries. So when you place your order, don’t be shy to indicate your preference.

The serving is ample, and the sauce is yummy too. I only wish they would be more generous with the sauce, because I would quickly run out of it a quarter way through the chicken. The chicken flesh itself is rather mildly-flavoured, so having more sauce would have been nice.

Tomato mussel stew
S$13.90++
Rating:

The tomato mussel stew is one dish that has replaced the crayfish pasta as my default Swensen’s order. Out of my 3 to 4 visits to Swensen’s over the past month, I ordered this every single time!

The shellfish are stewed in a succulent tomato sauce that is also packed with onions, peppers and mushrooms. Healthy stuff! True enough, this particular dish is part of the Singapore Health Promotion Board’s Healthier Dining Program! I always finish off by slurping up all the sauce. Yum!

Now, if you’re thinking, “no way is that going to fill my tummy”, the stew also comes with slices of toasted sourdough bread on the side. Great for dipping!

Once again, if you have more recommendations, I am all ears!

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

Ice Cream & Dessert Buffet

Like Swensen’s more for the desserts? Go for the ice cream and dessert buffet :)

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If macaron is the first thing that pops in your mind, my, you must have a sweet tooth!

When I first laid my eyes on the macarons at Bakerzin, I fell in love with these sweet pastries. Just toss in a cup of joe and you’re all set for a delightful teatime snack!

Macarons (not to be confused with macaroon or macaroni) are made with egg white, almond powder and icing sugar, with creamy butter cream and ganache.

Macarons (assorted flavours)
$1.60 $1 each for February ’09
Rating:

On first impression, I would have thought that the green one is matcha (green tea), but it’s actually pistachio with white chocolate! The pretty one with speckles of pink is “scarlet”, a mixture of vanilla and strawberry. It’s heavenly! But my favourites are, hands down, the chocolate ones.

The bakers here really know their chocolate. You get your chocolate macarons with a touch of lemon, brandied cherry, whiskey, coffee butter cream and even banana! The chocolate ones are really the best of the lot.

After whetting your appetite, I feel it’s only right to share with you this: Bakerzin has slashed the price of these babies from $1.60 to a dollar each. The promotion is valid only in the month of February. So hurry!

(last month, they slashed the price of their phenomenal warm chocolate cake to $4.80. I’m looking forward to another great promotion next month!)

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Download and print the Sparklette Set Menu

Print out the menu. Stick it to your fridge. Bring your date there!

For now, here’s my review of the goodies you would get to feast on!

The first course of any meal should be something that titillates your tastebuds and really opens up your appetite for the rest of the meal. I have picked the flavoursome bouillabaisse to start off the Sparklette dinner.

Bouillabaisse
Part of $35 Sparklette Set Menu
Usual price: $22
Rating:

As a fan of seafood, I like this one very much. The bouillabaisse is a robust tomato and saffron broth infused with the seafood tastes of prawn and clam. The result is a delightful mix of sweet and sour flavours. When I had this for the first time I felt like I had been transported to the French seaside!

Our second course is a specially-created platter that consists of two of Persimmon’s signature dishes in smaller servings. I really want you to be able to try these out without having to fork out too much $$$ to order the regular portions.

Chicken Salad
Part of $35 Sparklette Set Menu
Usual price: $12.50
Rating:

A favourite local dish of mine is Hainanese chicken rice which, as we all know, is extremely calorific, no thanks to the chicken oil that is used to cook the rice. Persimmon has created a healthier version with all the original flavours, minus the oil and the fat. Sounds too good to be true? I assure you it’s not :)

The twist is that this is now a chicken salad. The shreds of tender chicken flesh still retain the fragrance of Hainanese chicken rice with flavours of chilli, garlic, soy sauce, lime, sesame and olive oils. Notice the little rice crisps? They are baked rice! This salad has all the yumminess factors of the Hainanese chicken rice, and still manages to keep itself original.

Crabcake
Part of $35 Sparklette Set Menu
Usual price: $16
Rating:

Part two of the platter is the restaurant’s popular crabcake. The plating is pretty, with diced mango salsa served alongside the crabcake, topped with a lotus crisp. Normally I am quite wary when such fruit forms part of the dish. In this case, I was surprised to find myself liking the combination; the tang from the mango and different shades of sweetness from both fruit and crabmeat complement each other very well.

For the main course, you have 7 to pick from, including fish, steak and pasta. So there’s something for everybody!

Linguine Laksa-leaf Pesto (sampling size above)
Part of $35 Sparklette Set Menu
Usual price: $28
Rating:

A big hit here is the linguine laksa-leaf pesto. Shown above is a small tasting portion but rest assured the main course would come with a generous serving of pasta, plus prawn and clam.

The linguine is cooked al dente in cream and white wine, with laksa leaves tossed in. I find the dish to be more pesto than laksa, with a rich creamy quality. So don’t expect to find the oily laksa gravy in it.

Check out the other full courses on the Sparklette set menu.

Because all of us have different preferences when it comes to desserts, I have made the entire desserts menu available for your selection. Listed below are those that I have tried and loved.

8-Treasure Ice Kacang Sundae
Part of $35 Sparklette Set Menu
Usual price: $10
Rating:

Top on my list is the 8-treasure ice kacang sundae. I highly recommend you have this as your dessert. Not only is it yummy yummy, it’s extremely value-for-money!

The “8 treasures” are red bean, attap chee, sweet corn, white cloud’s ear, wolfberry, gula melaka jelly, dried persimmon strips and gingko nut, although I swear there are more than 8 in there. The ice cream is chock-full of ingredients. It’s like going on a treasure hunt and finding something different in every spoonful! Boy did I enjoy this one!

For me, the best part is that instead of a heap of shaved ice, you get a heap of creamalicious young coconut ice cream instead. Don’t worry, the colourful syrup is still there.

Teh Tarik Fredo Ice Cream
Part of $35 Sparklette Set Menu
Usual price: $5
Rating:

I love, love, love teh tarik and was ecstatic to find it here in the form of ice cream! Wow! It tastes exactly like the drink itself. Teh tarik drinkers would absolutely love this. Non teh tarik drinkers can choose from an assortment of ice cream flavours that include banana, sour sop sherbet and vanilla bean.

Panna Cotta
Part of $35 Sparklette Set Menu
Usual price: $8
Rating:

With its smooth texture, the panna cotta certainly matches that of many high-class Italian restaurants. As you should know by now, things are always extra special at persimmon. The restaurant puts an interesting spin to its panna cotta with ingredients like coconut cream, gula melaka and sago pearls.

End your meal with a coffee or tea, while you and your dinner partner(s) enjoy it over a light conversation. Doesn’t that sound marvellous?

And that’s that! This 4-course dinner should leave you feeling placated but not stuffed, and still with plenty of cash in the wallet. Of course, you can opt not to have this set meal and go ala carte instead. Just remember to mention “Sparklette” to enjoy a 15% discount! One ala carte dish to look out for is the prawn thermidor.

Prawn Chinchalok Thermidor
S$28
Rating:

This is a monster-sized prawn you’re getting. Helena explained that for the purpose of nicer plating, only the shell of one prawn is displayed on the plate. But in actual fact you are really getting much more flesh than just one single prawn!

The pairing of chinchalok and parmesan cream sauce is an unusual one but a winning combination. The robust taste really stimulates the tastebuds and awakens the senses. For me, the only fault I could find was that it was a trifle salty.

I have been raving so much about the food that I neglected to highlight the restaurant’s unique location in Tiong Bahru. As mentioned earlier, Persimmon is housed in Link Hotel, a quaint boutique hotel that occupies a refurbished pre-war era flat. So if you are looking for a one-of-a-kind dining ambience with modern cuisine, amidst old world charm, this is one place you should definitely check out.

* Terms and conditions:
- Standard 10% service charge and 7% GST apply.
- Mention “Sparklette” to enjoy the promotions.

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]]> 18 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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We were there last night and the all-you-can-eat buffet was only S$16++ per person. And it was inclusive of one red plate too!

I love the salmon, love the unagi, love the fried scallop!

I love the fried gyoza, love the fried tofu, love the fried crabsticks!

Most of all, I love the chuka hotate (scallop wings)! Yummy yum yum. Everyone should go for the supper buffet. It’s value-for-money and at that hour, the restaurant isn’t very crowded. The offer is valid only at Marina Square though, and on Fridays and Saturdays from 10pm til midnight. When we were there last night, there was this overly smiley bespectacled waiter. It got a little uncomfortable when he just wouldn’t stop smiling! I think he was just enthusiastic though.

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

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http://sparklette.net/food/sakae-sushi-buffet/ | 6 comments

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