http://sparklette.net/lifestyle/holiday/suntec-city-christmas-tree-2011/ http://sparklette.net/lifestyle/holiday/suntec-city-christmas-tree-2011/#comments Thu, 15 Dec 2011 12:04:31 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=1249
Credit

The sweetest Christmas tree for 2011 has to be the candylicious tree at Suntec City Mall. Topped with a snowflake, this three-tiered tree is all covered in colourful baubles, sweets and lollipops. Look closer and you would see that even its trunk is made up of candy canes!

Credit

Apart from the big candy tree at the mall’s entrance near the underpass, smaller trees can be seen adding a dash of colour to various parts of the mall.

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The pink and white colour scheme and bright candy colours sure add to the cheery spirit of Christmas.

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That’s Old Town White Coffee, a café chain from Malaysia that sells traditional coffee, toast and local dishes.

Credit

At night, the tree is lit in unconventional colours of magenta and blue, which aren’t normally found on the traditional Christmas palette.

All photos here are taken by Mr. Choo Yut Shing and used with permission on Sparklette.

Have Your Say!

Have you seen any gorgeous Christmas trees this festive season? Share pictures with us in the comments!

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

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http://sparklette.net/food/gurney-drive/ http://sparklette.net/food/gurney-drive/#comments Mon, 12 Sep 2011 03:00:06 +0000 Jasper Aston Lim http://sparklette.net/?p=1219

Gurney Drive, inspired by the famous food heaven of the same name in George Town, Penang, has brought a range of Penang hawker cuisine to our shores. Prepared by a chef who has lived in Penang half his life, you can be sure to expect delectable and authentic Penang fare.

Penang lor bak
S$3.90++

The Penang lor bak, a dish of succulent pork wrapped in fried homemade beancurd skin, is a must-order. It had us fighting over the last piece!

Penang rojak
S$3.90++

Though I enjoy the overall dish and usage of fresh fruits to lighten up the mixture of the Penang rojak, the experience could have been improved had the youtiao (dough fritters) been fresher and crispier.

Seafood fried kuey teow
S$9.90++

The seafood fried kuey teow, featuring a specially created sauce added with prawns, squids and cockles, is much more flavourful and delicious than the usual local versions I have tried.

Penang Assam laksa
S$5.50++

Cooked in an appetising traditional gravy, the authentic Penang Assam laksa would have you lapping up every last drop.

Penang Hokkien prawn noodle
S$5.90++

Simmered till perfection in the chef’s special prawn-based soup, it’s no surprise that the ultra flavourful Penang Hokkien prawn noodle is a best-seller. It sure is the highlight of our meal.

Ampla juice
S$2.50++

Ampla juice is a drink commonly found in Penang. The ampla fruit — commonly referred to as the Indian gooseberry — is surprisingly refreshing once you get used to its sweet and sour flavour. It is also one of the richest known sources of vitamin C and is rich in anti-oxidants!

Bandung with chin chow (grass jelly)
S$2.50++

With grass jelly for added texture, the fragrant bandung (sweet rose syrup and evaporated milk) serves as a great end to the meal.

Besides serving food, Gurney Drive also carries a variety of Penang goodies like Ghee Hiang tau sar pneah and almond cookies. These products are baked in Penang and delivered to the Singapore store within the same day.

With satisfying Penang dishes sold at affordable prices, it is no wonder that the Gurney Drive restaurants are very popular with working professionals in the area during the lunch hours. I’m definitely coming back the next time a Penang food craving arises!

Have Your Say!

Where can you enjoy the best Penang food in Singapore? Share with us in the comments!

Gurney Drive Suntec City

Gurney Drive Ang Mo Kio

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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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Photo by Choo Yut Shing

Look around the mall and you would find various ornaments bearing the same design scheme.

Photo by Choo Yut Shing

An even bigger Christmas tree stands at the mall’s entrance, greeting shoppers and visitors streaming in from the City Hall and Esplanade underpass.

Have you seen any gorgeous Christmas trees this festive season? Share with us in the comments!

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

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]]> 0 http://sparklette.net/food/bakerzin-meal-box/ http://sparklette.net/food/bakerzin-meal-box/#comments Sat, 27 Nov 2010 03:00:40 +0000 Jasper Aston Lim http://sparklette.net/?p=1028 With nine branches spread across the island, Bakerzin has long been a crowd favourite for its desserts, cakes and artful dishes. Pitted against the surge of café-restaurants marketing the same fancy bites, how will Bakerzin’s newly revamped menu for 2010 fare?

A new addition to the menu is the interesting meal-boxes category. Each meal-box includes a main course or pasta, soup of the day, bread, side salad, slice of cake and a choice of Italian soda or iced tea.

We opt for three of the meal-boxes, namely the carbonara, Japanese chicken curry and Barramundi fish meal-boxes.

Carbonara meal-box
S$18.90++
Rating:

The creamy smell from the carbonara meal-box wafts into our nostrils long before it even arrives at the table. I’ve always been a fan of creamy pasta, so this is a natural choice for me. The presentation is elegant, the white of the plate contrasting well with the yellow in the pasta, speckled with pink and green.

However, the pasta turns out to be a little starchy and dry, as though it has been overcooked. Having had the same dish on a previous visit, this experience left me disappointed.

Japanese chicken curry meal-box
S$21.90++
Rating:

I like the way they make the Japanese chicken curry stand out with a pile of seaweed stacked atop the rice and the asymmetrical curry arrangement. This is the standard sweet and mildly spicy Japanese curry, although its pairing with the clearly western mashed potato seems mismatched.

Barramundi fish meal-box
S$26.90++
Rating:

The Barramundi fish meal-box is the one that captures our attention. The cooking is well executed, the fish perfectly paired with a savoury sauce. The salmon salad on the side is refreshing, while the mashed potato on which the fish sits is far more flavourful than the side dishes in the other two meal-boxes. This is one item that Bakerzin should definitely retain on their next menu update. (Editor: While we’re at it, please bring back the assam (tamarind) prawn linguini and the old seafood pasta, too!)

Soup of the day is the Spicy Bloody Mary soup, which is spicy and tomato-based. One minor gripe we have is that the angular shape of the deep soup bowls makes scooping difficult.

For the cake option, you have a choice between mango and tiramisu. The latter has just the right mix of cream, sponge and cocoa powder, with a soft texture that allows the fork to slide through easily. It suffices to say that the tiramisu does not disappoint.

While we’re on the subject of the new Bakerzin menu, I have always been impressed with the menu design and layout. The previous design had a style like a glossy magazine with oh-so drool-worthy pictures. The new menu sports a simpler old-school feel with the design and paper texture, while retaining the same gorgeous studio-quality images.

Peach Italian soda
Rating:

On the whole, the new meal-box concept serves as a more affordable option for enjoying a multi-course meal. That being said, it has its drawbacks. The small plates set on a tray reminds one of airline food. For that same reason I can’t help but eye my carbonara suspiciously, wondering if it was indeed prepared way beforehand and heated up on order. The next time I visit Bakerzin, I’d stick to the ala carte orders, thank you very much!

What are your thoughts on Bakerzin’s new meal-box concept? Tell us in the comments!

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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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The spectrum of Japanese fares you would find at Kuishin Bo includes sushi, sashimi, cold seafood, tempura, grilled meats and seafood, a dessert line that can match any hotel buffet, and a host of other enticing possibilities.

With three restaurants island-wide — Suntec City Mall, Jurong Point and Great World City, we check out the quietest of the three so as to beat the crowd. The first thing that greets you when you enter the Great World City branch is the 5-tiered chocolate fountain at the dessert station. A long continuous buffet line stretches across one side of the restaurant while the dining area occupies the other.

Kuishin Bo buffet
Price chart
Lunch: 11:30am – 3pm daily
Dinner: 5:30-10pm daily
Rating:

Seafood fans can wolf down the cold items that include the King Alaskan crab legs, prawns, mussels and scallops. The mussels are the freshest!

To get a little cooking action, you can cook various ingredients steamboat-style in the Kaminabe. This is the amazing Japanese paper hot pot that doesn’t burn. (Check out a similar dish with snow crab at Tetsu.)

While the prices here are pricier than that of its competitors, every diner at the dinner buffet gets a complimentary serving of half a lobster to sweeten the deal. (Can anyone confirm if this is a permanent promotion?)

The lobster flesh is moist, juicy and firm, coming off the shell easily at the tug of the fork.

One of the Japanese delights that I always enjoy is the Unagi Kabayaki (grilled eel), doused in a sweet soy sauce and grilled to perfection.

The salmon sausages, a healthier and yummier alternative to the usual meat sausages, are fun to eat, with a nice taste and texture.

If you want more Omega-3 fatty acids in your diet, there is salmon sashimi. Also available are tuna, bream and even swordfish sashimi! These are fresh and replenished frequently.

The Ebi Furai (deep fried prawn) is a joy to eat with its light and crispy breaded coat.

The Takoyaki (Japanese octopus balls) are presented in pairs, held in cute little boats.

These eggs seem rather interesting, served with a dollop of wasabi.

A small selection of sushi is available, including Inari and hand rolls.

To prevent the seaweed from getting soggy, the Temaki sushi (Japanese hand roll sushi) are wrapped in clear plastic sheets.

Before you head to the desserts, don’t forget to make a stop at the grill station. If you have been too focused on the galore of good food, you may miss the little staircase at the side leading to the outdoor barbecue area. This is where you would find grilled meat skewers and foot-long King prawns!

At the desserts station, these impossible-to-resist sweet treats are a feast for the eyes. The spread includes about 20 items, as well as a chocolate fountain with fruit, marshmallow and breadstick dippers!

You would find miniature cakes (cheese cake, green tea, mousse, chocolate and more), tartlets, mochi balls, pralines, dango and jellies in tiny glasses.

A coffee-making machine (similar to the one at Sakura Buffet Restaurant that dispenses mocha, cappuccino, etc) and a selection of tea bags are available for you to make your favourite hot beverage to wash down these sweet snacks.

If you are looking for a buffet that offers a diverse range of Japanese food, Kuishin Bo would not disappoint. The prices are quite steep, but the good-quality cooking, prompt service and gratifying spread may just make up for it.

Do you think the prices are worthwhile for the type of food offered? Where can you find the best Japanese buffet in town? Share with us in the comments!

Great World City outlet

Jurong Point outlet

Suntec City outlet

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]]> 19 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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]]> 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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Aside from their innovative sushi that have won me over from rival conveyor belt sushi chains, the main courses also keep me going back for more.

In particular, one ala carte dish that I love enough to make my staple order during each visit is the chicken cutlet with scrambled egg. It looks nondescript, it sounds nondescript, but the taste is really out of the ordinary.

Chicken Katsu Tamago Toji (chicken cutlet with scrambled egg)
S$10.80++
Rating:

The chicken katsu is served on a sizzling hot plate with the egg on top. It sits in a delicious soup gravy, which is the part that makes it extraordinary. This gravy is mostly sweet with onion slices tossed in, and has a nice flavour that is highly addictive. Ichiban!

The chicken itself is a huge portion occupying the whole of the shallow round pan. Sure, you can add a side order of steamed rice. But normally I can’t even finish all that chicken by myself! There’s really a lot of it, and that’s great. Good things are meant to be shared :)

Sizzling black pepper beef
S$11.90++
Rating:

In recent months I discovered another dish on the menu that may well surpass the chicken dish. It’s the sizzling black pepper beef.

The beef is similarly served on a hot plate, an elevated one with a flame underneath in this case. The black pepper sauce is really quite something. Normally I’m not a fan of this sauce, but this isn’t your regular black pepper sauce. For one, it’s way sweeter, and, uh, actually less peppery so the other flavours aren’t masked. The beef slices are tender, too. Ichiban!

I actually like these dishes more than their sushi. Let me know your favourite dishes at Ichiban, too!

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]]> 20 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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Credit

My first experience with Royce’ was in ’06, when a friend specially couriered a small unassuming “care package” to me. It unraveled to reveal a slim box of Nama chocolates!

I was hooked from the very first bite, and went on to label them as little pieces of heaven. They truly are! Although some people prefer calling them the Rolls-Royce of chocolate.

Royce’ hails from Hokkaido. As a testimony to the Japanese people’s emphasis on excellence, the packaging of Royce’ products is impressive.

When you purchase the candy from their stores, it is accompanied by a cooling dry ice pack and sealed in thick silver packaging. This way, shoppers can continue their spree for hours without worrying about the chocolate melting into a gooey mess!

Each box contains twenty pieces of chocolate blocks covered in fine powdery cacao. It comes with a small plastic spoon.

The 5 main flavours of Nama chocolate are (from left):

• Au Lait
• White
• Champagne
• Mild Cacao
• Bitter

Sometimes, the company also releases seasonal flavours like banana or strawberry.

Royce’ Nama chocolate (Champagne)
S$15
Rating:

Having sampled all 5 flavours at the store (yeah, they let you do that), my personal favourite is the scrumptious champagne. Bitter trails by a close second, and would be favoured by chocolate fanatics that crave the really strong and mildly bitter flavour.

The feel of the chocolate on the tongue is creamy and velvety smooth. First you taste the slight bitterness of the cacao powder, then the sweet and rich chocolaty flavour as it quickly melts in the mouth.

There is the tinge of Champagne Pierre Mignon, although it isn’t like those liquor filled chocolate where you get a burst of liquor flavour. That works for me, because I prefer the liquor to not overpower the chocolate flavour.

Credit

Apart from the Nama chocolates, I heard that the potato chip chocolate is one fast seller too. Yes, that’s right. Chocolate-coated potato chips — two sins in one! As far as snacks go, this may well be the most sinful one! I hesitate to try it as it seems pretty lethal on the throat.

Credit

To get a taste of Royce’ magnificent candy, pop by one of their concept stores, where Japanese sales attendants would be more than happy to let you sample all five flavours. This store at Ion Orchard boasts a clean, white, almost clinical look, with refrigerators built into the wall.

Credit

May I also add that Royce’ chocolates is one of the best gifts from the “simple and affordable” category you can get for a friend (without appearing cheap), be it at Christmas, someone’s birthday or just to show that you care.

Enjoy!

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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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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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