The first Old Seng Choong Mid-Autumn range of mooncakes has finally launched! Founder and baker extraordinaire, Daniel Tay, will be presenting a large ensemble of seven classic baked mooncakes, four of which are filled with premium white lotus paste and a variety of nuts and salted egg yolks.

You can also relish the unique Red Bean Orange Peel with Yolk Blend & Pine Nuts Mooncake and Custard Egg Yolk Blend Mooncake.

For the traditionalists, enjoy the perfectly executed Wu Ren Mooncake. If you prefer snowskin, Old Seng Choong also has the Mao Shan Wang Durian version in its line-up.

Beautifully encompassed in boxes with vibrant hues of midnight blue and fuchsia pink, each elegant box evokes a sense of nostalgia and celebration, making it an ideal gift.

Red Bean Orange Peel with Yolk Blend & Pine Nuts Mooncake (松子陈皮红豆沙 $58 nett / box of 4) is influenced by Hong Kong’s red bean soup dessert. Indulge in the thick layer of salted egg yolk at the heart of this mooncake, surrounded by rich red bean paste infused with refreshing hints of orange peel.

Custard mooncake is the new trend. Old Seng Choong’s Custard Egg Yolk Blend Mooncake (金月奶黄馅 $62 nett / box of 4) is luxuriously filled with sweet and smooth egg custard, complemented by a layer of salted egg yolk paste in the centre for a salty-sweet nuance.

Have you ever tried making mooncakes before? The more egg yolks we add to the mooncake, the more treasured it is. White Lotus Paste with Four Yolks Mooncake (四黄白莲蓉 $68 nett / box of 4) is so gratifying it will make the ultimate impression. You didn’t see it wrong, it’s not one, not two but FOUR egg yolks in the smooth lotus paste. Bring it on lah!

If four yolks mooncake is too much for you, not to worry as Old Seng Choong also has White Lotus Paste with Double Yolk & Melon Seeds Mooncake (双黄瓜子白莲蓉 $62 nett / box of 4). The mooncake places emphasis on its decadent white lotus paste, accompanied by crunchy melon seeds and two golden salted egg yolks. Its crunchiness complements the creamy texture of the salted egg yolks.

And for those who prefer simplicity, Old Seng Choong’s White Lotus Paste with Melon Seeds Mooncake (瓜子白莲蓉 $52 nett / box of 4) is the one to savour. Each mouth-watering nugget is filled with premium, smooth white lotus paste and melon seeds.

I thought their Wu Ren Mooncake (五仁金华火腿 $68 nett / box of 4) is one of the most impressive. Made with a thick sugar paste dotted by a myriad of nuts such as melon seeds, walnuts, almonds, sesame seeds and cashew nuts, this mooncake is bound to please. A surprising tinge of saltiness comes from slivers of Chinese ham.

Finally, White Lotus Paste with Yolk Blend Mooncake (蛋黄馅白莲蓉 $58 nett / box of 4) features scrumptious lotus paste and a layer of salted egg yolk filling – cleverly spread across the mooncake so you’re bound to taste it in every slice!

Old Seng Choong’s mooncakes are moderately sweet and they are my grandfather’s favourites so far. If you are buying them as a gift, I suggest you to try their Four Heavenly Yolks (四大天黄 $66 nett / box of 4). The superior selection includes Custard Egg Yolk Blend, White Lotus Paste with Double Yolk & Melon Seeds, Red Bean Orange Peel with Yolk Blend and Pine Nuts, and White Lotus Paste with Four Yolks.

The one and only snowskin mooncake in Old Seng Choong’s line-up is the Mao Shan Wang Durian Snow Skin Mooncake (冰皮猫山王 $88 nett / box of 9). THIS IS MY TOP FAVOURITE! The delicate snow skin is generously filled with fresh Mao Shan Wang durian, such that it is rich and creamy with a balanced bittersweet nuance. The skin is so much softer than other snowskin mooncakes and the durian pulp is evident in each mooncake. SO HEAVENLY!

ON-LINE SALES

Old Seng Choong Mooncakes go on sale online: 16 July – 15 September 2016 Online orders are available at www.oldsengchoong.com

First day of collection: 15 August 2016
Last day of collection: 15 September 2016
First day of delivery: 15 August 2016
Last day of delivery: 15 September 2016


Early Bird Discounts with on-line purchases
16 Jul – 12 Aug:
25% off purchase
13Aug – 26Aug:
 20% off purchase
27 Aug – 2 Sept:
 15% off purchase
3 Sep – 9 Sept:
 10% off purchase

DBS/POSB Card Members enjoy an additional 15% off their purchases on top of the early bird discount offered.

BOOTH SALES

Booth sales starts from 13 August – 15 September 2016:

13 Aug – 15 Sept 2016
B2 Takashimaya Square – 391 Orchard Road, S238873

16 Aug – 14 Sept 2016
Vivocity, Level 1 Atrium – 1 Harbourfront Walk, S098585

22 Aug – 9 Sept 2016
Raffles Xchange – Raffles MRT Station

Early Bird Discounts with booth purchases
13 Aug – 26 Aug:
 15% off purchase
27 Aug – 2 Sept:
 10% off purchase
3 Sep – 9 Sept:
 5% off purchase

DBS/POSB Card Members enjoy an additional 15% off their purchases on top of the early bird discount offered.

Big thank you to Old Seng Choong, we are giving away Four Heavenly Yolks Mooncakes ($66/box) to 5 lucky readers of Miss Tam Chiak.

All you have to do is:
Step 1: LIKE “Old Seng Choong” on Facebook
Step 2: Share this post and tag 3 friends on Facebook
Step 3: Answer a simple question in this post: What are the four heavenly yolks in each box?

Closing date: 15 August 2016, 23:59

The post 8 Mooncakes from Old Seng Choong You Should Try (PLUS GIVEAWAY) appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

I have a thing for anything peranakan. Even when I conduct food tours for our overseas friends, one of the venue I would recommend is to go Katong, the enclave with strong Peranakan culture. So when I was planning for an upcoming food tour around Amoy Street and passed by Chong Wen Ge Cafè which is next to Thian Hock Keng Temple, I knew this is going to be my favourite stop.

The name “Chong Wen Ge cafe” plays tribute to the ‘Institute for the Veneration of Literature’, Singapore’s first Chinese school. Sharing the same building as Singapore’s first music box museum and Peranakan tile gallery, Chong Wen Ge cafe is also part of Thiam Hock Keng temple complex, that was gazetted as a National Monument in 1973s. Upon entering the Chong Boon Gate, I was already mesmerised by the authentic Peranakan tiled flooring.

A cup of Teh C Special is needed for a hot weather like Singapore. The beautiful three layers is made from gula melaka, evaporated milk and brewed black tea. It is really unique and we seldom see this in Singapore. The menu is all about local favourites. We wanted the Nyonya Otah Loti ($4.80) but it was sold out, so we had Nyonta Achar Loti ($3.80) instead which was a little too “gelart” for us, probably because of the tanginess from the achar. But it will probably pairs better with the usual nasi lemak and not bread.

If you prefer your mee siam to be rich and hearty, you’ll like Chong Wen Ge Cafè’s rich and robust Mee Siam ($7.80). The sweet tangy tamarind gravy was unabashedly bold and served with rice vermicelli paired with tiger prawns, beancurd, eggs and fresh beansprouts. The bee hoon was delightfully springy and absorbed the gravy well. The assortment of nonya kuehs is made fresh daily ($1.50/pc or $6 for 4 pcs). I thought the ondeh ondeh was a little too small to get a good bite but the red ang ku kueh and kueh dar dar are quite decent.

The post Chong Wen Ge Cafè – A Simple Peranakan Cafe Beside A Temple! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Advertorial

For many Singaporeans, we often feel nostalgic when we buy an ice pop from mini marts because that is the snack that we always have during school days.

For many Koreans, besides having bibimbap during school outings, that common drink to pair with the lunch is most likely Chilsung Cider – an iconic carbonated soft drink. It’s a luxury drink for many Koreans, especially during sports days.

You must be wondering, “Cider? Isn’t it alcoholic?” Well not in the case of Chilsung. It’s non-alcoholic! Introduced in 1950, Chilsung Cider is the best loved soft drink produced in Korea. Now the good news is, Chilsung Cider is now finally here in Singapore! Look what dishes I paired with it.

It’s ideal to pair Chilsung cider with my favourite bak chor mee. Because the strong flavours of chilli and vinegar from the minced pork noodles is balanced off with the refereshing lemon lime soda!

Good news is, Chilsung cider has less sugar and more highly carbonated, hence it is a great tasting alternative to both contemporary lemon lime sodas and their low-calorie variants. So when you are having BBQ chicken wings, open a can of Chilsung cider to go along with it!

Because Chilsung Cider relies on natural scents extracted from lemons and limes, it is very natural tasting which goes well with our Bak Kut Teh. We like to have it chilled after a filling bak kut teh meal. Don’t worry, there is no artificial colors, flavoring, additives or caffeine added to the drink.

With the emphasis on using pure, filtered water, you can probably taste the mild scent of lime and lemon that spreads a tangy-sweet taste all over the mouth. This works well to cut the oiliness when I eat a plate of gyozas.

Last but not least, that spicy plate of sambal stingray…. I love it absolutely but sometimes it is way too spicy! Hey, Chilsung Cider may help you to get rid of that heat!

Chilsung Cider is now available at Cheers, 7Eleven, Cold Storage and Fairprice stores.

Website: http://cider.lottechilsung.com.sg

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lottechilsung/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LotteChilsungCider

The post 5 Dishes to Pair with Korea’s Chilsung Cider appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

The dining enclave of Holland Village is known for its numerous food options. But amidst the constant upgrading and construction in the area, some new eateries have taken root in this new place. And with all of them located within walking distance from one another, this the perfect place to hop from cafe to cafe and sample what each place has to offer. With that in mind, here’s our ten favourite cafes in Holland Village that’s certainly worth a visit.

1. Mu Parlour

Hidden in the quiet second floor of a shophouse, Mu Parlour is only accessible through an inconspicuous stairwell. We were rewarded with a nice view of the neighbourhood (tip: pick the window seat for optimal people-watching vantage point), and equally nice was their No.11 Signature Cheese Burger with beef patties, bacon, avocado mash and drizzled with a tangy Mu secret sauce ($15). Sandwiched between a black charcoal bun, the burger was sloppily juicy – not so much a sight to feast on but definitely worth the calories.

2. The Monocle Cafe

There’s no better carefree way to pass the time than to have a good read in one hand, and a good cuppa in the other. Hit up Monocle Cafe, which really felt more like your neighbour’s hipster backyard than a cafe. Selling a lean selection of caffeinated drinks and a curated selection of lifestyle items, opt for their bundle deal which gives you a current Monocle issue with a hot drink for $19.90. Otherwise, grab an Iced Long Black ($5.50) like we did and chill in their quaint garden which is perfect for a quiet afternoon.

3. D’Good Cafe

If you need to know what’s good over at D’Good Cafe, go for their cold brew coffee and Deutsch skillet pancake. We liked the mysterious air that came with the Unknown Cold Brew ($7.50), which was sweet (certainly more sweet than bitter) and milky. The Classic Deutsch Skillet Pancake ($8) might take a 20 minute wait, but hang in there and you’ll be treated to a unique pancake that’s crispy and light and fluffy all at once. And weird as it may, go nuts with the accompanying lemon wedge, maple syrup and cream cheese for a jazzed up pancake that’s certainly for the wait.

4. Project Acai

Let’s face it – there’s hardly anything better than guilt-free desserts. Project Acai is dedicated to serving up healthy treats that’s good for you and and that insatiable sweet tooth. Grab the Original Flower Bowl ($6.80 for a handy size) where their signature acai base is topped with a slew of nutrients-packed food like bee pollen, cacao nibs, chia seeds and goji berries. It’s like digging into a power-packed healthy sundae that doesn’t compromise on taste (and appearance).

5. Baker & Cook

Get ready to be spoilt for choice at Baker & Cook’s extensive selection of freshly baked goods – from artisanal rolls to pastries and cakes. But for a balanced meal, we had their Salmon Quiche ($10.50) which came with a side of salad. The Raw Energy we chose was a mix of shredded beetroot and carrots tossed with maple vinaigrette, and it lent a fresh and crunchy tang that balanced out the buttery richness of the quiche slice.

6. PARK

The largely alfresco dining area of PARK might not be the most attractive of places to dine in considering our blazing heat, but we think their Truffled Mac & Cheese ($13.50) might just change your mind. Heavy with truffle aroma, the bechamel sauce coats the pasta with its cheesy string-y goodness, and we loved how the charred layer at the top creates this new chewy texture.

7. Haakon Superfoods & Juice

When you’re feeling down, I’m sure nothing perks you right up like some sweet and indulgent dessert. But you don’t want to feel guilty after that and feel even worse than before. We think we might have found a solution to this: the vibrant Pink Pitaya & Chia Bowl ($12.90 for large). As part of their superfood bowl menu, their pink pitaya blend is layered with a base of chia parfait and topped with their housemade granola and fruits for a jumble of textures, making it perfect for a guilt free indulgence (almost like a healthy bingsu).

8. Hatched

If you think that eggs are the definition of weekend brunches, then you need to head to a place that is serious about their eggs. And we cannot think of a more appropriate place then Hatched, a cafe dedicated to the art of preparing eggs – from poached to boiled, scrambled to fried. Ditching the usual eggs benedict, we had the F.T.P ($12) from their sweet egg dessert selection. Two thick slices of sweet brioche french toasts were layered with grilled peaches and cheese and topped with walnut bits. The grilled peaches were delightfully warm and sweet, and we liked how it balances out the saltiness from the cheese.

9. Patissez

For those who might not know, Patissez (read about it here) was the brains behind the whole pimped-up milkshake movement, and they have brought their crazy creations to Singapore. But they are more than just their dessert shakes – this cafe with Australian roots serves by some pretty good brunch items as well. We loved the Tropical Hotcakes ($15) with pillowy buttermilk hotcakes, caramelised mangoes and orange segments for that bright and strong summer flavour that hits you like a ray of sun.

10. Sunday Folks

Sunday Folks should come as no stranger to most – with their elegant swirls of soft-serve ice cream perched on their crispy yet fluffy waffle squares. You’ll need to consume this dessert quickly to prevent the soft-serve from melting all away, but this shouldn’t pose as too much a problem considering how the Seasalt Gula Melaka ice cream that we chose was a perfect match to the two waffles squares ($11.80) we had. Read about it here.

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There are hundreds of coffeeshops in Singapore so needless to say, there might be thousands of hawkers across our little red dot. Competition is certainly tough and everyone’s fighting for survival so these hawkers have to constantly revamp their menus and come up with creative dishes or give traditional flavours a modern twist. With the recent increase in the number of residents in Seng Kang and Punggol, we thought it’d be a good idea to explore these areas.

Hidden under a block in Seng Kang West Way lies Happy Hawkers Coffeeshop, which “houses” their newest tenant, Legitimeat – a Western food stall. Opened on 18 June this year, co-owner Mr. Julian Peh used to run a hipster Western food stall in a coffeeshop at Bukit Merah that served steak and tacos. However, they had to fold their business in April this year due to the non-ideal location that doesn’t draws any crowd.

Almost every coffeeshop’s Western stall sell common dishes such as chicken chop, bolognese pasta, carbonara pasta and fish and chips but at Legitimeat, some of these Western dishes are fushioned with Thai spices while others are creatively modernized while still catering to our local tastebuds.

Say hello to the ultimate sinful Chicken Mac & Cheese ($5), served piping hot with melted cheese in a claypot. Where can you find such affordably priced Mac & Cheese right? This dish requires a 15 minutes wait as it’s baked individually upon order. We were quite surprised that it was almost filled to the brim because sometimes, hawker portions can be quite pathetic. Cheese lovers would instantly be drawn to the fragrance – imagine macaroni baked in béchamel sauce, nacho cheese sauce made with cheddar and mozzarella. You can forget about dieting! Toss the macaroni, peas and chicken slices together and we promise that one mouthful sends you to foodie heaven.

Pasta flavours offered here are unique as there are Tom Yum Seafood ($6), Thai Basil Seafood ($6.50) and Black Pepper Seafood ($6.50). The only commonly seen flavour is Bacon Alio Olio ($6.50). We tried Tom Yum Seafood pasta and wow! We were really impressed. The sauce has a distinct hot and sour flavour and it goes perfectly well with the spaghetti. Topped with fresh prawns and mussels, this dish is definitely value-for-money!

We also tried their Grilled Pork Chop ($6). Although it’s stated as “grilled”, they actually pan-fry the pork chop to ensure that their marinade, consisting of paprika and chopped herbs, does not turn bitter when over-cooked. The pork chop arrived hot and fragrant but we found it disappointing that the meat was a little too tough. Lastly, we shared Cheese fries ($3) which we found average.

Just a little piece of advice – be there early! We reached the coffeeshop around 7pm and finished our dinner around 7.45pm. When we walked past Legitimeat, most of their dishes are already sold out. You should also sit near the stall as Mr. Peh shouts out the order numbers, which is easy to miss, especially in a noisy coffeeshop.

The post Legitimeat Western Food – Irresistible Claypot Mac & Cheese! appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

[HONG KONG] Shek Tong Tsui is a unique neighbourhood with a mix of old and new. As one of the earliest developed district for Chinese people in Hong Kong, you still get to see a lot of traditional neighbourhood corner shops while new and interesting cafes and restaurants evolved. One of them is COBO HOUSE by 2am:dessertbar, a collaboration with Asia’s Best Pastry Chef Janice Wong.

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I am sure she is not a stranger to many Singaporeans. Janice founded 2am:dessertbar at Holland Village, Singapore in 2007 and shot to fame in 2013 and 2014, when she was named “Asia’s Best Pastry Chef” by Asia’s 50 Best Restaurant sponsored by S.Pellegrino & Acqua Panna for two consecutive years.

I only knew Janice through her outstanding dessert but actually, she is also a seasoned chef in savoury cooking. She has learnt from Grant Achatz’s kitchen at Alinea in Chicago and even cooked dinner for Singapore’s Ambassador to France residency, hosting French residents including Pierre Hermé, Dominique Loiseau and Frédéric Bau.

With a strong knowledge on ingredients and pairings, it seems like a natural progression for her to partake in different culinary concepts. Besides serving a stellar list of desserts, COBO House is the first in the world to serve Janice’s savoury dishes to the public. Housed in a comprehensive set of lunch, dinner and à la carte menu, the dishes always has a balance of flavours and aesthetics.

Big thank you to the invitation from Hong Kong Tourism Board, I was one of the first to enjoy Janice’s dinner menu. Its Mushroom Garden (HK$168) is an earthy representation of everything from beneath the ground, with 99% chocolate shaved on top. Janice has amazingly the nutty flavours of mushroom truffled puree, shimeiji and wood ear mushrooms, roasted parsnip, coffee soil, fried purple and orange sweet potato chips with a hint of bitterness from the chocolate shavings. It is served with an option of Pan fried Foie Gras (additional HK$100).

Korean drama fans can try their Kimchi Fried Chicken (HK$88) with four pieces of deep fried chicken topped with wasabi sauce and kimchi sauce, making for a slightly spicy dish that is perfect to go with cocktails. I like it that the wasabi is not overpowering, so you still get that sweet and spicy kimchi flavours with crispy skin.

Talking about international influence, the delicate Scallop Somen noodles (HK$278) is a Japanese-inspired dish. The Ito no Ibo somen is paired with scallop that’s cured in soy sauce then being dehydrated and lastly, deep fried in lobster oil. As the lightest and most refreshing noodles, it totally absorbs the crustacean flavours and the umami element is further accentuated by the ebi and ikura added on the top. Pair the somen with a glass of Lemelson Vineyards Reserve Chardonnay 2009.

Mantis Prawn (HKT$288) is a local ingredient that Janice has fond memories of. The mantis prawn is butter poached and paired with parmesan risotto with chorizo. The crustacean is tender, and the dish is umami-packed.

The most memorable dish for me is Earth (HK$448). This Australian wagyu is slow cooked and accompanied by carrots sous vide in beet and miso cured and charred potatoes. Garnished with mushroom paper with Janice’s favorite poem by Henry David Thoreau.

Exclusively for Hong Kong, Gai Daan Zai (HK$118) is a dessert Janice designed exclusively available at COBO HOUSE. Fresh hot egg waffle is enlivened with praline popping candy, and served with salted egg yolk and brown butter ice cream. It is a play on hot and cold, sweet and salty. I appreciate that they make their own egg waffle but sadly, I thought the brown butter stout ice cream came a little too strong that it covered the fragrance of egg waffle.

On the other hand, I love Janice’s Shades of Green (HK$135) which is inspired by our local South East Asia Peranakan breakfast delight of Kaya Toast and Kuih Bangkit. I have tried it before in 2am:dessertbar and it feels good to relish the memories in Hong Kong. With a welcoming shades of green, this dessert features a home-made Kaya flavoured ice-cream with lightly flavoured pistachio sponge and coconut chips which truly brings out the essence of our Peranakan flavours.

A signature of 2am:dessertbar, Chocolate H20 (HK$145) is inspired by the beauty of dead corals at the San Sebastian coast. The dessert features an aerated frozen chocolate with water mousse sprayed in grey to give the look of dead corals. It is sat over a heap of chocolate soil and currently served with Kochi Yuzu Sorbet to give it a light and refreshing balance.

Inspired by the Japanese Cherry Blossom, Cassis Plum (HK$158) had the sphere made by aerated Blackcurrant and white chocolate filled with Elderflower Choya Shiso Foam, and sits on a bed of Choya Shiso Granita with Kochi Yuzu Pearls and Blackcurrant Pastel forming a balance of sourness and sweet finish. It’s quite a good match for cassis and plum.

Janice’s huge and chunky Churros (HK$92/8 pcs) are crispy on the outside but soft in the inside. To elevate the experience, dip the churros into Janice’s signature Hot Chocolate (HK$98) – made with 75% Tanzanie chocolate, it carries a sophisticated floral and cocoa note.

Also new to the house is Janice Wong’s Chocolate Bonbons (Dine In: $20/piece, Gift Box: $118/5 pieces) – all hand painted, artfully made and vividly coloured, her expertise means every piece is a masterclass in indulgence. Eight flavours include Yuzu, Salted Caramel, White Truffle, Whisky Orange, Pistachio Cardamom, Praline Poprocks and Lemon Thyme, with Salted Egg being the Hong Kong special that’s exclusively available at COBO HOUSE.

The 3,000 sq ft restaurant comes with a rooftop herb garden with herbs and greens air-flown from a farm in Okinawa, Japan. The bed of sand is amassed from a pollution-free deep sea in Okinawa, mixed only with natural fertilizers and irrigates solely with chemical-free water. The neighbouring Artisan Room is a hip cafe serving artisan coffee.

How to go? Take to HKU Station and Exit B2.

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In view of SG51, let’s take a walk down memory lane with a bowl of Cheng Tng, which literally means clear soup. It is a dessert that is light and refreshing, sold in the olden days to the coolies who worked at the quay. Nonetheless, most stalls that serve Cheng Tng these days cut corners in their ingredients. With that, we came up with a list of 6 places that you could visit to get a good bowl of Cheng Tng.

Four Seasons Ching Teng

Most hawker stalls tend to sell a variety of food to attract customers. Yet, Four Seasons Ching Teng only sells hot or cold Cheng Tng, priced at $2 per bowl. The Cheng Tng has a hint of longan flavor and was not too sweet. There were gingko nuts, white fungus, served along with the other usual ingredients. The candied wintermelon did turn me off as it was too hard.

Xi Le Ting

With a history of 60 over years, Xi Le Ting still sticks with only 4 traditional dessert soup: green bean, red bean, white oats and cheng tng. Light and sweet, the Cheng Tng reminds me of my childhood days where it quenches my thirst during a hot day. Even after many years have passed, I am still pleased that the Cheng Tng remains flavorful with the taste of the dried longans.

Teck Kee Hot & Cold Dessert

Located at Adam Road Food Centre, Teck Kee Hot & Cold Dessert is just a distance away from the famous nasi lemak. The least traditional amongst the rest listed, the cold Cheng Tng ($1.80) is served with shaved ice. Surprisingly, there were not only dried longans, but they’ve also added the canned longans. The light sweetness would be a great choice for people who are worried about desserts being too sweet.

Ye Lai Xiang Hot & Cold Dessert

One of those pioneer Cheng Tng stalls that lasted over the years. Ye Lai Xiang started off with a stall by the seaside. As time passes, it can now be found at Bedok Corner Food Centre. The Cheng Tng ($3) was not as sweet as No Name Cheng Tng. It has sweetness from the dried longans, dried persimmons and candied wintermelon. The sweet potatoes were cut to small cubes and were soft to eat. Personally, it was slightly overpriced for this bowl of dessert and it was also quite inaccessible.

No Name Cheng Tng

We’ve heard of No Signboard Seafood. But what about No Name Cheng Tng? As suspicious as it may sound, the Cheng Tng ($1.60) here really is a thirst-quencher. Just like others, it has the usual ingredient. The only difference is that it was the sweetest amongst the rest listed. The sweetness was just nice for me, as I have always felt that the moment I take a bite of longan or persimmon from other places, the soup just became bland.

88 San Ren Hot & Cold dessert

Brightly lit with colorful LED, 88 San Ren Hot & Cold dessert is located at Newton Food Centre. The Cheng Tng ($2.50) was full of ingredients, and there were even barley! As I have tried most cheng tng cold, I have decided to try the hot one here. Flavored with sweetness from red dates and dried longans, the soup was also well balanced with the other ingredients. You could also try out their other desserts such as Strawberry Snow Ice, Red Ruby and Mango Ice Kachang

The post 6 Places for Awesome Cheng Tng to Beat the Heat in Singapore appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

In the gently refurbished space in ICON Village lies a new Matchaya opened by Kaelyn Ong and Kevin Chee. This amazing couple gave up their full time job to be matcha specialist, that’s really something! I knew them through food tasting sessions and they have definitely put in so much time and effort to build this brand of theirs.

Seriously, we can’t really find good matcha drinks in Singapore prior to the opening of Matchaya. That’s the reason why they decided to hunt down the best ingredients from Japan just to make a matcha latte that they are proud of. Each flavour went through at least 100 taste-tests before launching to the public. From weekly pop-ups to now a permanent space, there has seen steadily growing interest in the health-conscious, preservatives-free and organic matcha desserts.

Certified organic premium ingredients from different prefectures in Japan have been combed to produce a variety of Japanese milk tea. Keeping the sugar level to a minimal, there are four milk teas for your to choose from – Matcha Milk Tea, Houjicha, Royal and Kuromitsu. The Matcha Milk Tea ($4.90) is pleasant and juggles the sweet and bitter notes well. I would prefer to add another shot of matcha (additional $1).

There are also desserts like macarons, brulee toast and ganache tarts. My dining partner likes the Black Sesame Tart ($6.20) with a thick and fragrant black sesame ganache. For me, I am super in love with their houjicha soft serve ($5.90)! I drink houjicha daily but it has always been very mild but for this soft serve, the nutty flavours hits on the right spot. It is smooth and creamy with a lovely roasted flavour unique to houjicha. With a crisp buttery cookie on the side and pure houjicha powder sprinkled on top, I am so coming back for this.

Perhaps, it’s time for me to ditch my coffee mug for a matcha whisk.

The post Matchaya – A New Spot in Singapore for Matcha Lovers appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

You’ll be glad to know that the quality and authentic Italian flavours that you love from the famed Osteria Mozza restaurant is now made more accessible thanks to their new weekend lunch service. While this seemingly nocturnal restaurant ran on a dinner-only service previously, diners now need not have to wait till the sun sets to enjoy the brilliant food that Osteria Mozza has to offer. For two hours every weekend afternoon, you can busk in the company of their bright and hearty contemporary Italian menu.

We started our cucina adventure with the Butter Lettuce ($21), which tasted far from how simple it looked or sounded. Interserpsed between layers of butterhead lettuce was strips of bacon, sliced eggs, chopped hazelnuts and dollops of gorgonzola dolce cheese – the result was a refreshingly savoury pile made by a build-up of textures and flavours.

Believe us when we say that the Housemade Gravlax ($22) tasted as vibrant as it looks. Like a kaleidoscope of colors, splotches of yellow lemon zest, green chives and avocado slices, auburn croutons and shaved eggs laid on a canvas of salmon. We liked how the bright citrus note helped awaken the dish (and our appetite) and cut through the saltiness of the fish, and that every bite tasted slightly different depending on the ingredients you managed to fit in your folk.

And no Osteria experience is complete without sampling some of the finest cheeses from their famed Mozzarella Bar. Our favourite was the quintessentially Italian Caprese Of Bufala Mozzarella ($28), which came with vine ripened tomatoes topped with basil pesto and a drizzle of olive oil. The sweetness of the tomatoes and fresh herbaceous note was the perfect complement to the smooth and light cheese.

The Bufala Mozzarella ($30) was a meat bouquet with slivers of Prosciutto di Parma surrounding some mozzarella cheese – great for meat lovers. But we found this combination a little too salty for our liking.

With pasta made entirely from scratch, you’ll definitely want to sample some of Osteria’s diverse pasta offerings which brings you past the usual spaghetti and penne pasta. The Garganelli ($24) pasta is a chewy tubular pasta, which we thought was a good contrast to the minced meat in the hearty ragu bolognese.

Think of the Rotolo ($24) like an open-faced lasagna, where the pasta shell envelops a luxurious stuffing of cream cheese and spinach. Undoubtedly intense and decadent, we would have preferred a little more of the tangy tomato sauce at the side to cut through the richness of dish.

We really enjoyed the Farfalle ($23) which might sound like it was made with humble ingredients such as wild mushrooms, asparagus and walnut, but the flavours were intricately bold. The smooth mushrooms and tender-crisp asparagus paired nicely with the al dente pasta, and the crushed walnut topping added a nutty finish to the dish.

Those looking for something less carb-intensive can turn to their selection of mains. The Tuscan Roast Pork ($30) took an intensive two-day preparation process to get to our table, but was wiped out from our plates in mere minutes. The crackling was a deceptively light and additive crunch, while the pork was tender with hints of garlic aroma from the garlic cloves studded within the meat. The salsa verde and sharp arugula were also nice additions to help to cut through the richness and mild gaminess from the meat.

If you like your weekend brunches to come with runny eggs, order the Eggs And Polpette ($32) where two soft-boiled eggs come resting on chunky meatballs and served with fresh ricotta. The runny yolk was the perfect hue of amber, while the meatballs and cheese made for a winning and comforting combination.

You’ll find it hard to say no to the Soft Scrambled Eggs ($48) once you see the generous shavings of winter truffles over it. What used to be a comfort breakfast food is now embellished with potent truffle fragrance that will make you go ‘delizioso’ in delight. This smooth, creamy and outrageously decadent dish is good on its own and even better with slices of toasted sourdough bread. Certainly a breakfast (or an anytime meal) for champions.

And with so much bold flavours going on from the start, it makes sense to reel it in and enjoy a slice of Torta Della Nonna ($17), or Grandmother’s tart in English, which is as homely and classic as it sounds. The warm and cheesy custard middle melts in your mouth and comes encrusted with a crumbly shortbread exterior, making this a light and delicate finish to a rich and hearty meal.

The post An Italian Weekend Lunch Affair With Osteria Mozza appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

With the strong currency exchange of S$1 to RM3.00, café hopping in Johor Bahru has been a trend. There are many new and existing cafés are always on the ball to come up with new and interesting flavours to attract customers. We have discovered 6 newly launched food & desserts in JB cafes this edition.

Coffee In a Cone – Fall in Love by Coffee Signature

Coffee Signature located at Jalan Serampang has recently launched coffee in a cone. Inspired by the man behind the concept, Dayne Levinrad (barista from South Africa), they named it as Fall in Love with is priced at RM12.90+. This coffee in a cone is the latest food trend that has people traveling from all over the place and it became an Instagrammable product with the tag #coffeeinacone. The cone is coated with chocolate and filled with coffee and marshmallows served in the bottom of the display bottle. There is perfect balance between the sweetness from the chocolate and a tint of bitterness from the coffee. If you are not a fan of cone, there has the cookies cup version as well. Gimmicky I would say but this definitely an eye-catching product to add into your instagram list.

On top of the Coffee in Cone, keep a lookout on their dessert menu. The cafe has also launched the brownie with a scoop of ice-cream in cone at RM15.00+. The moment it was served, everyone took out their camera and mobile phones to snap away. Although it was instagram-worthy, the brownie texture was a bit tad dry for our liking.

Shibuya Honey Toast by J.C Café

Located few shop houses away from Coffee Signature, J.C Café has launched their Shibuya toast this August. Although the stated waiting time on their menu was said to be approximately 15 minutes, be prepared to wait for at least 30 minutes upon ordering. Thankfully, the café is equipped with wifi and a pokestop that give us a reason to wait. We tried the Matcha Shibuya Honey Toast. The outer layer of the charcoal toast was crunchy and as you cut into the thick layers, dip the cubes with a scoop of matcha ice-cream, matcha chocolate cubes and strawberries. Don’t forget to upload the photo of the shibuya toast on Facebook or Instagram and you can enjoy 10% off from the shibuya toast.

Durian Waffles by The Dose Coffee House

The Dose Coffee House is a few months old café that opened at the second level of the shophouse at Taman Ungku Tun Aminah. The café serves coffee,fruity waffles and savoury delicacies. They are known with their mango waffles in social media and recently launched Durian Waffles at RM24.90 in limited quantity daily. Rejoice to those who love durians, you can patron the café and get a taste of durian waffles here. As we stepped into the café, the fragrance smell of the durian was so tempting. It was indeed a sinful dessert to check it out. Note that their seating area is limited and the waiting time is approximately 30 minutes for the waffles desserts.

Raclette Cheese by A. Felix Café

A.Felix Café located at Masai is has recently launched Raclette cheese dish this month as well. As seen in social media, this dish is inspired from Raclette New York City is available in Johor Bahru now at RM23.00. Raclette is a traditional dish of melted cheese. The cheese wheels are heated until piping hot, and then scraped onto platters of roasted sausages and bread in A.Felix Café. Cheese refill is available at RM10.00 and it is advisable to enjoy the raclette immediately when it is served. A.Felix Café also looked into the possibility to launch the all-in-platter in future. Also, do note that due to shortage of manpower, the cut LINE characters coffee art is not available at this moment though. Perhaps this is another reason for you to go back for it soon.

Hotcake by Vanilla Bean-Coffee X Patisserie

As seen in our previous article, Vanilla Bean is probably the first cafe in Johor Bahru to serve hotcake. Blueberries Ricotta Hotcake (RM25 / S$8.50) features toasted pistachios, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds and colourful fruits such as blueberries, strawberries, kiwi and the uniquely tropical dragonfruit. It is served with a scoop of ice cream that’s the perfect remedy for the scorching hot weather, as well as, maple syrup, for that sweet finish.

Watermelon Soft Serve by KOONE

Situated along the hipster Jalan Dhoby, KOONE has recently launched a new flavour soft serve – Watermelon Soft Serve. I trust that some of you has probably tried the Watermelon soft serve by Brother Bird in Singapore but the version in Malaysia is slightly different. The taste was milky and the watermelon taste was milder as compared with Singapore version. The watermelon soft serve comes with basic serving at RM11.00 and fancy serving at RM15.00. We tried the fancy serving that comes with caramel popcorns and potato chips topping drizzled with honey.

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Famous Long House Ah Hui Big Prawn Noodle has opened a new stall in Kovan Market & Food Centre! The Balestier market one is currently managed by his son James, while the Kovan outlet is managed by the founder Mr Tan Ah Hui.

The broth here is made the traditional way, with pork ribs, prawn heads, shells, garlic and fried shallots. Here, Uncle Hui uses tiger prawns. The shells are peeled and used for the broth, hence giving it a more distinct prawn flavour than the outlet in Balestier. My dining partner said it was a little more “herbal”. Indeed, lovage root was added to give the soup more depth. The warm rich colour is hearty and comforting, sweetly aromatic with the umami from prawns. No, I am not going to compare father and son because both has slightly different cooking style. But if you wanted a more distinct pork ribs flavours, then head to the Balestier outlet.

We went for the Big Prawn Noodles ($5) which is a simple bowl of five halved prawns and topped generously with fried shallots. If you want pork ribs, add another $1.

Thick vermicelli is used here instead of thin bee hoon which gives another dimention to the crunchy bean sprouts. The noodles is tossed with aromatic chilli sauce. The shiok factor is the generous sprinkling of crispy lard cubes and fried shallots. Chilli powder is also provided, but we think the broth is flavourful enough.

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With the ongoing K-pop wave, as well as, the recent craze over “Descendants of the Sun”, “Doctors”, “Uncontrollably Fond” and Korean variety programs such as “Running Man”, there’s no doubt that the popularity of Korean food will increase. Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel’s Marriott Café will tantalize the tastebuds of foodies with a preference for Korean food between 16 August and 31 August 2016.

Specially curated by guests chefs Choi Dae-hwan and Lee Jae-Bin from JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square Seoul, you’ll get spoilt for choice with a delectable spread of hearty Korean delicacies. Korean Chef Choi Dae-hwan began his career in Yongsusan, one of the best Korean cuisine restaurants, and he worked his way up the ranks to become the Assistant Chef at just 24 years old. Shortly after joining JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square, Chef Choi brought Seoul’s dining scene to greater heights and received raved reviews when he crafted the Korean menu at the “2015 Cruise Collection” after-party by Chanel at the Seoul Dongdaemun Design Plaza. His passion for cooking stems from the desire to be creative in presenting unique local dishes to the discerning palates of both Korean and international diners.

Soup lovers can find comfort in the beef turnip soup, kimchi stew, dry Pollack soup, as well as, the soup of the day. Looking for something healthier to balance out the filling meal? Go for Korean salads such as bok choy namul, shitake mushroom and bean sprout namul.

Our favourite and the highlight of the buffet has got to be the Beef Bulgogi that is marinated overnight to give the beef its flavourful taste. The beef tasted sweet, juicy and tender. We couldn’t resist going back for second and third helpings.

There are also other meats such as An Dong Style Chicken Stew with Soy Sauce and Roast Chilli Halibut Fillet. The former was fork-tender and we felt that the chicken has soaked up the flavours of the broth just right. The latter, however, tasted a little average and we felt there’s nothing much to shout-out about.

The other Korean meat that’s well-liked by Koreans back in Seoul is Pork Belly Bossam. This thinly sliced pork belly is boiled in spices and the method of eating it is somewhat similar to BBQ pork belly in Korean BBQ restaurants where diners wrap the pork, together with rice, kimchi and some sauces, within a large lettuce leaf.

The ultimate crowd-pleaser is the Kimchi Pancake, primarily made with sliced kimchi, flour and other vegetables. This is normally served as a banchan (side dish) in Korea. We found this savoury and enjoyable. The pancake was fluffy and light yet crisp on the outside. Furthermore, we really loved the glass noodles with sautéed vegetables (japchae).

Your meal isn’t complete without a sweet ending and there is Korean sweet treats such as Sweet Red Bean Soup, Black Raspberry Tea Punch, Yakgwa (Korean pastry), as well as, an array of homemade cake, puddings, crèmes, curds and mousse.

There are also other international cuisines in the buffet that you can try, including sushi, sashimi, pasta, bread, cheese, seafood on ice etc.

The Taste of Korea Buffet lasts from 16 August to 31 August 2016. Korean Lunch Buffet from Monday to Saturday is priced at $59++ (adult) and $35++ (child) while on Sundays, it is priced at at $75++ (adult) and $46++ (child) inclusive of free flow juices and soft drinks and $98++ (adult) inclusive of free flow sparkling wine, beer and soft drinks. Korean Dinner Buffet from Sunday to Thursday is priced at $70++ (adult) and $38++ (child) while on Fridays and Saturdays, it is priced at $80++ (adult) and $40++ (child).

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Mid-Autumn Festival is always the most anticipated festival for Chinese. Year after year, Hong Kong MX shares with you the most authentic tastes of Mid-Autumn Festival. Their mooncakes are made with a passion for time-honoured recipes and custom, lovingly prepared for your annual get-together of friends and family. Innovative new flavours may please the palate, but nothing comforts the heart as much as a slice of tradition. That’s why Hong Kong MX traditional mooncakes remain the festive goodies of choice for everyone.

Last year, everyone in Singapore went crazy on “Lava Custard Mooncake”. Good news is, Hong Kong MX is introducing a new addition to this series – the “Lava Chocolate Mooncake”. Using French Cacao Barry, each piece of dark chocolate mooncake is filled with a rich chocolate lava, making it an indulgent and decadent mooncake. Housed in an exquisite box, the 4-piece package has a sophisticated gold foil embossed design on an elegant dark box, making it a choice gift for all. For optimal enjoyment: Heat with microwave oven (1000 W) for 3- 5 seconds.

Of course, the “Lava Custard Mooncake” is back this year! Filled with a lava-custard filling which is made from crushed golden salted egg yolk, the creamy and aromatic mooncake brings you to a new level of sensation. The mooncake is made with premium butter and light cream from France, making it fragrant and creamy. It can be instantly enjoyed even without re-heating.

The “Lava Custard Mooncake” comes in a premium jade green box with gold foil embossing. The mooncakes come in a 8-piece package and are ideal for your own enjoyment and as gifts to your loved ones. *For optimal enjoyment: Heat with microwave oven (1000 W) for 3- 5 seconds.

White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake美心纯正白莲蓉月饼 ($55/4pcs)

The traditional collection is one that all families cannot do without. The joy of sharing mooncakes and the serene moonlight during Mid-Autumn Festival is irreplaceable. For years, Hong Kong MX has been cultivating such joyous moments with mooncakes made in Hong Kong, and baked only with top quality ingredients. The Traditional Collection includes the much coveted “White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake with 2 Egg Yolks” and “Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake with 2 Egg Yolks”, both made from the best selected lotus seeds and quality salted egg yolks for a silky and aromatic taste.

While the traditional white lotus paste mooncakes are their best-selling items, low sugar options are gaining popularity too. These low sugar mooncakes has a low glycaemic index as it is sweetened mainly with malitol – a sugar alcohol. It is the most natural low sugar option in town, hence it is a good option for elderly parents. The Low Sugar Mooncake Series include both “Low (Reduced) Sugar Mooncake with Pine Nut” and “Low (Reduced) Sugar Mooncake with Egg Yolk”, suitable for those who are health-conscious.

Mei-Xin Mooncake Exclusive Selection美心精裝八寶禮盒月餅 ($88/8pcs): White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake with 2 Egg Yolks, Low (Reduced) Sugar White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake with Pine Nut, Oolong Tea Paste Mooncake, Red Bean Paste Mooncake with Chestnut, White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake with Pecan, Red Bean Paste Mooncake, Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake with Egg Yolk, Mixed Nut Mooncakes

The newly launched “Mooncake Exclusive Selection” is in a packaging bearing a gold embossed design with various festive elements of Mid-Autumn Festival. My favourite flavour is Mei Xin’s “Mixed Nuts Mooncake” which uses quality almonds, walnuts, olive seeds, sesame, and melon seeds in the mixed nuts mooncake. The nuts were chopped coarsely allowing a crunchy texture and satisfied one’s nuts cravings. On the other hand, “Red Bean Paste Mooncake with Chestnut” is made with creamy and tasty red bean paste and top-graded chestnuts to give it a crunch. Both mooncakes will truly bring you the most traditional tastes of Mid-Autumn Festival.

The Premium Series makes the perfect corporate gift and is also the finest choice for your family and friends.

Oriental Pearl Mooncake美心東方之珠月餅 ($63/6 pcs): Red Bean Paste Mooncake with Chestnut, Low (Reduced) Sugar White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake with Pine Nut, White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake with Egg Yolk, Lotus Seed Paste

The classic “Oriental Pearl” collection shows 6 different designs of Hong Kong’s unique architecture. It is packed in a beautiful purple packaging and will definitely be a perfect gift option for friends and family.

A new mooncake collection this year is “Star Wars Themed Mooncake Collection”. This exclusive Star Wars Set is a collaboration with Disney. The rich and aromatic Egg Custard (Storm Trooper) is made with premium butter from France and light cream and comes off as a great combination of a well-balanced recipe and quality ingredients. The Lava Chocolate Mooncake (Darth Vader) is baked using the premium French Cacao Barry. The combination of a dark chocolate mooncake crust and a rich chocolate lava, makes this a divine and exquisite mooncake. You can purchase it from Groupon.

The deal on Groupon
• 1 set (8 pieces per set) for $58 instead of $104
• 3 sets (8 pieces per set) for $165 instead of $312

Each set includes (8 pieces per set)
• Stormtrooper-themed tin: 4x egg custard mooncakes
• Darth Vader-themed tin: 4x chocolate lava mooncakes

Being the pioneer in the market, Hong Kong MX Snowy Mooncakes continue to make breakthroughs and innovations this year. New flavours have been added to the already varied line up of “Snowy Twin Cakes” and a brand new series is added to the popular “Snowy Mini 4”.

A completely new series, Fresh Fruits Series, is launched this year with a refreshing flavor mix, which includes Blueberry Duo, Strawberry Crunch, Pink Guava & Apricot and Hyuga Citrus. Together with our core five items, namely “Mango Series”, “Angel & Devil Series”, “Dessert Series”, “Bird’s Nest Series” and the ever popular “Durian Series”, the 6 members of the Mini 4 family would be able to cater to most palates.

The popular “Snowy Polar Lights” carries 16 bite-size flavours making it a complete indulgence and fun sharing. The rich flavor mix includes Mango, Mango Crunch, Mango with Pomelo Dessert, Mango Chestnut, Strawberry Crunch, Blueberry Duo, Pink Guava & Apricot, Angel Chocolate Crunch, Devil Dark Chocolate Crunch, Premium Green Bean Paste, Green Tea & Red Bean, Chocolate with Hazelnut, Double Chocolate, Cookies & Cream, Sesame with Macadamia Nuts and Peanut Butter & Sesame flavours.

Where to buy?

Hong Kong MX mooncakes are manufactured and packed in self-owned facilities, guaranteeing only the best quality. Mei-Xin will be having their mooncake retail at the following locations in Singapore. Hurry go grab your mooncakes before they sell out!

Takashimaya 13 Aug to 15 Sep
Vivo City 16 Aug to 14 Sep
Change Alley 15 Aug to 15 Sep (not open on weekends)
Serangoon Nex 29 Aug to 15 Sep
Novena Square 29 Aug to 14 Sep
Causeway Point 29 Aug to 15 Sep
Tampines Mall 31 Aug to 14 Sep
West Gate 1 Sep to 14 Sep
Waterway Point 5 Sep to 15 Sep

Big thank you to FROSTS, I am giving away Star Wars Themed Mooncakes to 20 LUCKY READERS! Each set includes (8 pieces per set) includes 4 pcs of egg custard mooncakes (Stormtrooper-themed tin) and 4 pcs of chocolate lava mooncakes ( Darth Vader-themed tin).

How to win?
1. Like Mei-Xin Singapore on Facebook
2. Tag 3 family/friends on the Facebook post
3. Answer a simple question here: Name 5 Mei-Xin Mooncake Retail Outlets this year.

Twenty lucky readers will be picked by Mei-xin. Only for readers living in Singapore. Closing date: 24th August (Wednesday), 23:59. Good luck

The post Hong Kong Mei-Xin Mooncakes 2016 – Lava Chocolate Mooncake is the new trend! (PLUS GIVEAWAY) appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Myanmar is a country full of mystery and excitement. From the temple-strewn plains of Bagan to the glassy waters of Inle Lake, Myanmar’s beauty is unmatched. Adventure-seekers have the choice of floating away in a hot air balloon, hiking up mountains for panoramic views or scuba-diving to explore the underwater world. For those who wish to seek refuge from the hustle and bustle of city life, Myanmar has numerous pristine beaches for you to relax on. Party-goers who like soaking in the atmosphere of festivities, it’s good news to know that Myanmar celebrates many festivals throughout the year, ranging from pagoda festivals to spirit ceremonies that boast plenty of music, dancing and eating. Here’s a list of 10 things to do in Myanmar.

#1 – Explore temples and understand Buddhism

Over 80% of Myanmar’s population practices Buddhism, making this country one of the most devout Buddhist nations in the world. Hence, visiting temples and satisfying curiosity of Buddhism is a central part of any traveler’s visit to Myanmar. Pagodas and temples dot Myanmar’s landscapes, whether in city centres or remote islands and even mountain tops. Tourists can either join a guided tour or do some self-discoveries. The top two most-visited temples in Myanmar are Yangon’s 2,500 years old Shwedegon Pagoda and Bagan’s Thousand Temples with ancient structures. Our favourite is the impressive and sacred Shwedegon Pagoda that began at 8.2metres but stands close to 110metres today. Hundreds of glittering gold plates surround the pagoda, with 4,531 diamonds encrusted at the top, of which the largest is a 72 carat diamond!

#2 – Soar above the skies with Hot Air Balloons

Whenever someone mentions “hot air balloon”, one might immediately think of Cappadocia in Turkey where you get a view of rocky landscapes or Australia where you get to admire their blue oceans and gorgeous shorelines. It’s time to add Myanmar’s hot air balloon onto your bucket list! This is a signature activity in Myanmar and the city of Bagan is the ultimate destination to experience it. You’ll get a picturesque view of thousands of pagodas with unique and beautiful architecture, as well as, take in the lush greenery of vegetation across acres of Myanmar land. Rides typically take place at sunrise or sunset to offer you the best breathtaking views of Myanmar’s landscape washed in a golden hue. This will be an unforgettable ride over such an alluring city. Remember a champagne toast at the top!

#3 – Watersports, not for the faint-hearted

With a plethora of spectacular beaches across Myanmar, one can be adventurous and do some water rafting, snorkeling, scuba diving and kayaking. Water rafting is perfect for thrill-seekers and the best spots lie in the Northern part of Myanmar. Malihka River has rapids with ratings of 4 and 5 on a scale of 6, which gives rafters a blood-pumping opportunity to enjoy their river experience to the fullest.

Scuba divers, listen up! With more than 800 islands in the Andaman Sea, diving in this mostly undiscovered area should be on the top of your wish list. Myanmar scuba diving operators offer packages to the most beautiful dive sites in the Southern Mergui Archipelago, as well as, to the Bay of Bengal in the west of Myanmar.

Those who just want to get a glimpse of colourful and harmless fishes and marine inhabitants, you can opt for snorkeling at Ngapali beach or Ngwe Saung beach. These two beach destinations offer kayaking as well.

#4 – Have a cocktail on Myanmar’s exotic beaches

This activity suits everyone, from families to friends, as well as, couples. Parents can unwind with a drink while their children build sandcastles or go swimming in the beaches. Friends can celebrate, with or without any reason and soak up the sun, sand and sea. Couples who are looking for a romantic end to the day can catch the sunsets while indulging in fanciful cocktails. You can also purchase snacks from locals. Myanmar has plenty of beaches to offer. Head to Ngapali Beach for an upscale beach vibe with white-sand beaches, lined up with luxury hotels and seafood restaurants. Budget traveler? Fret not as you can head to Chaung Tha Beach which offers affordable activities that won’t burn a hole in your wallets. Looking for crystal clear waters to swim in? Ngwe Saung Beach is perfect for you! If you’re interested in island-hopping, travel to Northern Myeik or Southern Myeik. Not only will you get an insider’s perspective on rural lifestyle of local fisherman, you’ll be enchanted by what the different islands offer you. Whatever kind of beach you seek, Myanmar has what you need.

#5 – Trekking and Hiking Myanmar’s Diverse Landscapes

We always believe that getting up to the peak allows us to get a vantage point so blood-pumping adventure in Myanmar comes in the form of trekking and hiking. You can see this as an excuse for exercising so that you can feast on more local delicacies later on. We recommend some of the best places for trekking – from Kalaw to the vast Inle Lake, Myanmar’s beautiful Shan state and up North by Putao. People who love to ski, hike and mountain bike can head to Putao too. Besides being rewarded by breathtaking scenery, you can hike the Northeast of Mandalay through Hsipaw and be wow-ed by their majestic waterfalls and soak in their soothing natural hot springs. Daredevils who want to step foot atop a volcano, go for Mount Popa where you’ll hike up hundreds of stairs to the ancient volcano’s summit.

#6 – Enter the Unknown Mystical Caves

Myanmar has numerous caves for an out-of-the-world experience in Pindaya, Kalaw, Hpa-An and Monywa. The Pindaya cave is the most popular as it serves as an important pilgrimage site for Burmese Buddhists. We recommend taking a leisure horse-cart up to the foot of the hill as you need to reserve your energy for the 200 steps up a covered stairway leading to the entrance of the cave. Don’t be taken aback by the sculpture of a giant spider at the entrance of the cave! Shall keep you in suspense so ask the locals or your guide for the interesting legend!

Upon entering the cave, you will be greeted by the unusual sights as every nook and cranny within the cave is cramped with Buddha images up to the ceiling. Between the images stand small pagodas, stalagmites and stalactites. These images are from different eras from the early Konbaung dynasty to present day and the number of images is still growing. As of now, there are about 9,000 images that are gold-plated, made from teak wood, marble, bronze and other materials. These images vary in size as well, from being really tiny to life-size.

Here’s the fun yet challenging part – some smaller sections of the cave can only be entered by crawling through them so be careful when finding your way around the dimly-lit meandering maze as the floor can get slippery.

#7 – Travel along Myanmar’s scenic routes via their Old-School Railways

Myanmar has a convenient network of railways all around the country. Be prepared to be transported to the trains that existed in the olden days as Myanmar’s trains often don’t have air conditioning and are not always fixed with modern conveniences. Besides the only downside of having to sweat it out during your journey, Myanmar’s train travel between most major towns and cities, which make traveling and exploring the country so much more convenient. Tickets start from as low as $5 so there’s nothing to complain about. This is perhaps, a fantastic way to enjoy a scenic trip through Myanmar.

#8 – Exploring Myanmar on a Bicycle

Besides getting around on foot to touristy spots or local haunts, you can rent bicycles on your own or join a cycling tour for a fuss-free and multifaceted way to sightsee. Cycling is a popular activity in Myanmar and provides a close-up and scenic tour of the country. Whether you’re a hardcore active cyclist who’s interested in tackling mountain biking or just someone looking for city cycling at a leisurely pace, bike rentals are everywhere. Sick of the city? There are cycling tours that include countryside biking as well. The best months to cycle are December and January as the weather is not too hot and there is little rainfall during this period.

#9 – Celebrate Festivals with the Locals

Myanmar celebrates many festivals all year round so we will just recommend a few festivals that have graced the presence of huge numbers of tourists and locals alike. In January, look forward to the Ananda Pagoda Festival, offering traditional entertainment, food, games and pop-up markets selling artisan crafts. There will also be sermons given by monks and this is the most authentic way to understand the culture and lifestyle of locals in Myanmar. In February, the Salone Festival celebrates the seafaring Salone people who live in the Myeik Archipelago. You’ll be invited to observe spiritual dances, folk singing and treated to traditional Salone feasts.

In March, there’s the Kakku Pagoda Festival, a three-day yearly harvest celebration paying homage to thousands of pagodas nestled on a hill overlooking the Hopon Valley. Travelers will get a peek into Myanmar’s centuries-old traditions. In April, Myanmar holds the Thingyan Festival, which is similar to Thailand’s water festival, to mark the Burmese New Year. In July, the Waso Moon Festival takes place to signify the path of Siddhartha on his journey to become Buddha and honour present monks observing lent. Nearing the end of the year, in the month of November, the Tazaungdaing Festival, also known as the Hot Air Balloon Festival, takes place over a period of three days. This festival marks the end of the rainy season and is arguably the most mesmerizing event of the year. Imagine gazing at countless illuminating paper balloons floating up into the night sky.

#10 – Eat to your stomach’s fill

In the 21st century, you can only leave a country after you’ve tried scrumptious local delicacies which have a plus point if it’s instagram-worthy. Every country’s food has a special identity that is beloved by locals. A typical Myanmar meal consists of rice and accompanying dishes of fish or meat, cooked in onion and garlic-based gravy. Soup can be clear, creamy of tart and is sipped during the meal to cleanse the palate. Salads are a popular side dish and Mohinga, a thick fish broth with thin rice noodles, is Myanmar’s national dish, typically eaten for breakfast. Locals also favour Ohno Kaukswe, a coconut-based chicken soup with noodles. Tea is a staple drink in Myanmar, commonly served hot and with sweet condensed milk added to cut its strong natural earthiness. As for desserts, Myanmar locals love including ingredients such as coconut, tapioca, rice flour and fruits. Mont Lone Ye Baw – rice dumplings stuffed with sugar and topped with shredded coconut – is one of the top favourites among locals.

With its stunning landscapes, spectacular rock and limestone formations, as well as, the array of activities to do in Myanmar, isn’t it time to book your adventure here? To make things easier for tourism in Myanmar, Flymya has launched an online portal which allows small-scale tourism operators to upload itineraries and tour packages to Flymya’s website. Tourist agencies can then, save on costs that goes into handling their own websites, payment gateways, online banking, marketing operations and sales operations. These hassles will be handled by Flymya and connect the businesses with global travelers. Wondering what Flymya does? Well, it’s Myanmar’s largest one-stop shop for domestic air tickets, tour packages, car rentals and supplying travelers with customized itinerary plans.

Whatever you have in mind, you can contact Flymya via email at booking@flymya.com or on their hotline at +95 9797 978888 (24 hours). You can also visit www.flymya.com for more information.

The post 10 Fun Ways to Experience the Wonders of Myanmar appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

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Every Friday is Chope Visa Friday! You already know you can enjoy 10% off Chope vouchers to top restaurants, but did you know Chope has sweetened that deal further by giving you an additional $10 off the voucher when you pay with your Visa card?

That’s right – you could get $10 off when you purchase from The Chope Shop with Visa! Chope is the #1 Online Restaurant Reservations merchant in Singapore with over 600 restaurants. By using your Visa cards to purchase Chope Vouchers at The Chope Shop before visiting your favourite restaurants, you can enjoy an additional $10 off your voucher order. While The Chope Shop offers a bevy of well-known restaurants like Jamie’s Italian, Red House, Dancing Crab, Restaurant Ember and more, here are my 8 favourite restaurants from the list.

A cafe that smacks of nostalgia on Bukit Ho Swee, Sin Lee Foods has preserved both the name and original signboard of its vintage space, while updating the menu with delectable cafe confections that up the brunch game in the already-trendy Tiong Bahru neighbourhood.

My favourite creation is the Beef & Grain. Seared, marbled striploin is served with wet orzo “rice”, runny free-range hen’s eggs, ginger, furikake and scallions. Orzo “rice” is actually a type of pasta shaped like large rice grains. The striploin is tender and the orzo rice has bold flavours.

The Fried Chicken & Waffles, touted as “the one and only” by Sin Lee, is topped with a seasoned, juicy leg piece, accompanied by a creamy homemade slaw. The caramelized syrup tries to unite the flavours together.

Inspired by New Orleans, Louisiana, you can expect only the freshest shellfish, specialty lobsters, Dungeness crab, and various other seafood critters at Dancing Crab. Packed with tons of flavour, these babies are perfect for pairing with just about anything. So go ahead and order the Spicy Cajun Fries, the Seafood Gumbo, and the Beer Batter Cajun Calamari!

The highlight of a meal at Dancing Crab is the Dancing Crab Seafood Combos. There are three combo bags to choose from. I would always go for Combo Bag #1 which comes with a Sri Lankan crab, prawns, mussels, potatoes, corn and sausages. Decide on the sauce you want to go with your fresh seafood. I like the signature chilli sauce.

Not forgetting the lobster roll served with a side of cajun fries. The lobster meat is sandwiched between a fragrantly-toasted brioche bun. Just in case these bold flavours take a liking to your clothes, don’t forget to come prepared by leaving the white shirt behind. This is one place you want to get down and dirty!

It’s not every day that you get to meet a bona fide celebrity chef. Dine at Violet Oon’s Kitchen though, and you stand a very good chance of meeting the woman once described as “Singapore’s Julia Child”. Given that Ms. Oon is an expert on all things Nyonya, you can’t go wrong by exploring the “Nyonya Favourites” on the menu.

Ngo Hiang is accompanied by potent sambal belachan (even if you’re not a fan of spicy food, give it a go). Deep fried fresh prawns, crab meat, pork and water chestnut rolls seasoned with five spice powder are wrapped in bean curd skin. Moist inside, crispy on the outside. The ingredients are well balanced, not salty, and boast crunchy water chestnuts inside.

Beef Rendang has big chunks of beef braised in a melange of spices, and flavoured with kaffir and bay leaves in a creamy coconut milk. The tender beef cubes are moist and bursting with flavour. It is served with nasi kuning (Indonesian yellow rice) and archara. Violet’s rendition of Babi Pong Teh didn’t disappoint either. Fatty and decadent pork belly was stewed with dried mushrooms and bamboo shoots flavoured with yellow bean paste, cinnamon and cloves, till it was melt-worthy.

Nan Hwa Fishboat, one of the oldest fish head steamboat restaurants in Singapore, has unveiled its second outlet along Owen Road. This eatery, which has gained an ever-growing fan base since its inception in 1927, gives you a choice of fish – from fresh Dragon and Potato Cod Grouper to Chinese Pomfret and Snapper – and, while you can have it steamed in Teo Chew style, we recommend going the traditional route by having it bubble away in an aluminium hotpot that’s been placed atop burning coals.

The broth itself is impeccable; stemming from a secret recipe that’s been passed down through generations, Nan Hwa’s soup is made of 12 ingredients and slips down your throat like silk, but there’s something about cooking it over coals that gives an added depth to the flavours.

In the steamboat spirit of sharing and group gatherings, the succulent fish and lovely soup are best had with several others so make sure to beef up the meal with Nan Hwa’s extensive zi char offerings. Have a go at signatures like Claypot Drunken Rice Wine Clam, Champagne Pork Ribs, and Crisp-Fried Prawn in Golden Pumpkin Sauce as you round off the feast with laughter and drinks.

A decade-old operation originally from the East Coast, Red House upholds the tradition of classic seafood dishes with a focus on freshness. Now with various outlets across the island, it is a testament to its tasty fare.

Using the fresh ingredients sourced globally, Red House Seafood’s signature dishes have endured over the years. Prepared using a mix of Chinese and local Singaporean cooking methods, menu items include savoury dishes like Prawns with signature creamy custard sauce. Featuring fresh prawns covered in a velvety custard sauce, the sweetness from the sauce enhances the sweetness of the prawns.

No trip to Red House Seafood is complete without sampling its rendition of iconic Singaporean dishes like Crab in Red House Chilli Stew, a tangier and slightly sweeter version. This is good for non-chilli lovers because their sauce is sweeter and not over spicy. So the fresh and fatty crabs are drenched with thick yummy gravy. For a seafood restaurant, there are definitely no complaints over their crabs because they are always juicy and succulent. There may be disputes over the taste of the chilli crab gravy but I like this rendition, and best paired with pillow soft buns. Another option is the black pepper crabs. This one has sauce specially created by their chef to be hot and smooth. This is all that makes the difference.

Located in Gardens by the Bay, Majestic Bay Seafood Restaurant seeks to make the most of the impressive waterfront view of the Marina Bay, taking on nautical references in its design.

Evident from the “live” water tanks that flank the entrance, Majestic Bay is all about fresh seafood. You should really be there for Chef Yong Bing Ngen’s award-winning, signature creation: the Kopi Crab. This dish is a reflection of Chef Yong’s culinary philosophy that Chinese cooking is a great canvas for bold, artistic flourishes. Tossed with a sauce made from fruit jams and juices, and three varieties of coffee beans, the crab’s flavours blend harmoniously, leaving you savouring every last morsel! When it was lighted up, the rice wine, coffee liqueur and coffee beans gave a sexy caramel robust colour. Using Sri Lankan crabs, each big piece of crab meat is well coated with a coffee fragrance.

If you’re fishing around Gardens by the Bay for a light bite, Majestic Bay Seafood also fits the bill. Its tantalising dim sum, only available for lunch, is worth a visit on its own. Pick from local favourites like Steamed Custard Buns with Salted Egg Yolk, oozing with creamy goodness, or signatures like their Seared Chilli Crab Meat Buns.

True to form, Jamie’s Italian Forum, Orchard Road, offers a taste of Italy with dishes that reflect traditional Italian home-style cooking, imbued with Jamie Oliver’s modern flair for presentation and unique recipe twists. The restaurant’s pizza oven, signature antipasti and open kitchens take centre-stage, allowing guests a glimpse of the chefs at work.

Jamie’s Italian Forum is the first outlet in Singapore to be serving hand-made artisan pizza, baked to order. Pizza dough is lovingly made by hand and proved for hours before being gently hand stretched – the key to an irresistibly crisp base. Their handmade pastas are other sure-fire winners, packed full with flavour and boasting the right amount of chewiness whilst abiding by the unrelenting freshness of country ingredients. Some of our favourites include Prawn Linguine and Penne Carbonara.

For the mains, the tender and juicy Lamb Chop Lollipops ($38) on the bone was grilled ‘al mattone’ until pink dressed in olive oil and lemon. ‘Al Mattone’ is a Tuscan method of cooking meat under a brick which pushes the meat further against the grates of the grill, allowing it to develop a smoky, juicy and flavourful result. So whether you’re a big fan or a newfound follower of Jamie Oliver and the VivoCity outlet, head over to the Forum for the same quality with a new and refreshing setup.

After 12 years of topping the charts among upscale bistros in Singapore, Restaurant Ember makes an encore performance with a refreshed look, intrepid chef and uplifted fare. Focusing on creating refined comfort cuisine uncomplicated, honest food with quality and freshness, Restaurant Ember is leaning towards a lighter, more ingredient-focused dishes. The Carpaccio of Tasmanian Petuna Ocean Trout features fresh and creamy meat with staccato notes of pickled shallot and a pleasant undertone of orange.

The highlights from the menu also showcases modern European dishes cleverly with hint of Asian touches. My favourite is Bouillabaisse with NZ Langoustine, Hokkaido Scallops, Barramundi, Garlic Aioli. It is a simple yet flavourful dish. The juicy, sweet flesh of scallops enhanced by a hearty bouillabaisse, when paired intelligently, only allows the sweetness of the seafood to emerge and dance with the delicately flavoured stew, highlighted by garlic aioli that smoothly harmonises the symphony of this dish.

By the end of the meal, you will find that the restaurant offers a brilliant orchestra of tastes that is consistent with the melodies we’ve come to love from the fan-favourite dining establishment.

Chope enhances the online reservation experience as it removes the process of looking up the contact details of restaurants and calling in to make a reservation. In addition, consumers can book a table outside of operating hours without the need to leave voice messages on answering machines that could be misinterpreted. The Chope Shop allows diners to enjoy discounts at over 50 top restaurants across Singapore. Offering cash vouchers to dining establishments where promotions are rarely available, diners can simply visit http://shop.chope.co to purchase e-vouchers, book to dine, and show the e-vouchers when paying to get up to 15% off the bill!

Visa, being the leader in the payments industry strives to enhance the payment experience at every stage of a customer’s journey. With a deep understanding towards their customers’ needs, Visa provides a convenient and secure eCommerce experience for cardholders when dining out at restaurants.

No matter where you are, don’t forget Chope Visa Friday promotion. You can enjoy $10 off Chope restaurant vouchers when you use Visa to make payment at The Chope Shop. Valid for ALL Visa cards!

Get an additional $5 off when you check out with the code [first6digitsofVisaCard]VFMTC
T&Cs will be as follow:

• Discount must be redeemed by 9th September 2016
• Discount only applicable to products listed on shop.chope.co/collections/visa-friday
• Valid for one-time use by new customers only
• Not to be used in conjunction with other discount codes
• Chope reserves the right to cancel suspicious orders without prior notice
• Discount code entitles users to a $15 off discount on products listed on Chope Visa Friday only
• Payment must be made via Visa cards only
• Promotion is valid on Fridays only

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Thanks to Tiger Beer’s Street Food Movement, I got to know about 65 year old Mdm Wong Li Er of Cambridge Rd. Hong Kong Roast Pork and the kind deed that she has been doing for years. Her thoughtful act was told in a video released earlier this week as part of Tiger Beer Street Food Movement, which is in its second phase and aims to rally Singaporeans to show their appreciation and gratitude to the people behind our local street food.

It was the fifteenth day of the lunar seventh month when I visited Pek Kio Food Centre where Mdm Wong’s stall is located. I felt really ashamed that this stall was under my radar even though I have worked near the hawker centre for a year.

This was the day where her hawker stall would be busy as many people ordered roast duck for prayers. But she was not flustered at all, one by one, she received their orders with the help of a 70-year-old lady. Even when she is operating a one-man show at her stall, she would get her helper to carry the roast duck or suckling pig for customers.

I sat through lunch, right in front of her stall and watched the scene of a day in the life of Mdm Wong unfold before me. There was already a queue when I reached at 11am and it was amazing how Mdm Wong seemed to know everyone in the queue and she chatted with them like all of them were friends. “I have been doing this for the past 50 over years. Many of them are long-time customers,” she replied.

Over 50 years? That’s half a century of selling roast meat! Her father used to sell roast duck and char siew in the old market where Mdm Wong and her sister would help out. Guess what’s more impressive? She gives out food coupons to the elderly twice a month for them to redeem meals at her stall.

“I don’t have many skills, so I use food to give back to society and the needy. It’s the best I can do. When I see the smiles on their faces, it brings me so much happiness. It’s a feeling money can’t buy.”

This regular unassuming roast duck stall has been feeding the needy in Pek Kio for more than 40 years, distributing coupons to needy households. On special occasions like Chinese New Year, she would also cook and pack food for them.

“It’s just a small thought on my part to give back to the community,” said Mdm Wong.

I had my plate of roast duck with char siew. It didn’t have the prettiest presentation but it’s the hard work and dedication that was put into the food that counts. Her husband does the roasting of the duck in their factory while Mdm Wong takes care of serving the food. The skin of the roast duck… it was thin and mildly crispy with layers of fats underneath. The char siew was beautifully caramelized.

She chops up the duck and drizzles two types of sauces onto the plate of white rice – dark soy sauce with pork lard and duck sauce. Because of the soy sauce, the dish was extremely fragrant and complemented well with the juices from the roast duck. Paired with her special chilli sauce with dried shrimps, it was simple but tempting. Her roast meats are accompanied with vegetables and soup – offering a medley of textures and flavours when paired with the white rice she serves.

“A plate of roast duck rice costs $3. If you add char siew, it will be $4. But for the elderly, I just charge them $2. Chin Chai lah, they need to eat also.”

Being a hawker is usually a physically tiring and thankless job. But look what we found – a gem in our little red dot! Not only did Mdm Wong work hard to sustain this integral part of our culture, she took a step further by giving back to society in the best way she can. It is such a wonderful feeling. ☺

As we understand the importance of preserving our nation’s unique street food culture, I think it’s also time to show our appreciation to our hawkers – who have labour-intensive jobs with exceptionally long hours. Share your photos of your favourite street food or hawker, caption a thank you note and post it on social media with hashtag #uncagestreetfood. For all that our hawkers do, it’s time to say thank you.

For more information on Tiger Beer’s Street Food Movement, please visit Tiger Beer Singapore’s website at http://www.tigerbeer.com.sg/uncage/streetfood and Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TigerBeer.SG

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‘Omakase’ – a Japanese phrase that translates to “I’ll leave it up to you”. Nowadays, it’s a trend at Japanese restaurants to offer Omakase sets, whereby customers will leave the selection of the day’s dishes up to the chef’s creativity and innovations, as opposed to ordering ala carte. The chef will generally prepare a series of palatable plates, beginning with the lightest fare and proceeding to the heaviest dishes, giving your dining experience a hearty finish. The phrase is not exclusive to service of raw fish with rice and can incorporate grilling, simmering or other cooking techniques of other meat selection as well. Customers typically received the highest quality fish available at a lower cost than if it had been ordered ala carte.

Bistro Du Le Pin is a hidden gem along Orchard Road, tucked cozily in a corner on the second floor of Orchard Plaza. Helming the kitchen is Chef Shigeru Shiraishi and he is offering Omakase at $60 per set. This is relatively affordable as compared to others, yet the ingredients and quality of food are not compromised here. Bistro Du Le Pin’s previous owner was a friend of Chef Shigeru. He wanted to close the restaurant down so Chef Shigeru decided to take over, retaining the same name. Chef Shigeru has been living in Singapore since 2010 and re-curated a brand new menu after taking over the restaurant in May 2015.

Chef Shigeru has been cooking since a tender age of 17 years old in Japan. He chose to hone his culinary skills after an exhausting life of moving around countless times with his parents due to his father’s work commitments. He was certain that he didn’t want to move around anymore so he decided to start his career as a chef, staying put in Japan. Over the years, he has travelled a lot between United States of America, Japan and Singapore, just to refine his culinary skills and finally, decided to make Singapore his home. His dishes are influenced by the experiences he gained all through his life while travelling around.

The restaurant sits about 14 people so do expect some waiting time. There are 8 counter seats where you can feast your eyes up close on the delicious dishes that Chef Shigeru whips up. I found the way he handles different groups of customers who order different dishes concurrently very impressive as he never mixes up any orders. The $60 Omakase set comes with 8 dishes, with complimentary potato salad to start off and yuzu sorbet, a delightful end to your meal.

The Potato Salad contains eggs and crunchy onion bits. It’s so creamy, with good savoury flavours from the mentaiko.

Burrata Cheese features a chewy outer layer, with its inner core so velvety smooth and silky. Its fluffiness makes the melt-in-your-mouth cheese superb and not too overwhelming.

The highlight of my meal was Hiroshima Oysters. The oysters were surprisingly deep-freezed and microwaved but it tasted nothing like microwaved food. I found it extremely fresh and very well-marinated. This is what I will return to Bistro Du Le Pin for! Simply the best!

Crabcake was chockfull of ingredients like crab meat, bread crumbs, milk, mayonnaise, eggs and seasonings. You can taste fresh crab meat in each bite as Chef Shigeru is very generous with portioning his quality ingredients.

Asparagus with Salmon and Ikura was topped with shredded truffle. I love the burst of flavoursome juices from the salmon roe as soon as they enter my mouth. The asparagus added a crunch to the overall dish.

Spicy Tuna was so fresh and I really enjoyed the fragrant fried garlic, which gave this dish its character.

Next up, Black Cod Fish with Truffles and Spinach Miso sauce. The cod fish tasted very succulent and fresh. It is done just right, not too tough nor too mushy and perfectly marinated such that there isn’t any fishy taste. Chef Shigeru does the sauce himself, in-house.

I was feeling quite full from the previous dishes but the scent of this wonderful creation of Iberico Pork whets my appetite for more! The pork was really tender and had a good balance of lean mean and fats, making it not as sinful as you thought it would be.

Uni Pasta, showcasing spaghetti done al dente, with plenty of ikura, seaweed and most importantly, delicious uni. This amazing pasta dish was drenched in a savoury rich sauce that was simply gratifying.

Your meal will end with yuzu sorbet, which is perfect as it cleanses your palate after devouring so many flavoursome dishes. Dining in this unpretentious setting puts your mind at ease and you have the luxury of catching up with friends and family over heartfelt conversations. Besides, let me remind you that their Omakase set is one of the more affordable one in Singapore! I’m planning to return to try the ala carte menu soon.

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By Mu Qin & Maureen

Seafood white bee hoon shot to fame after a coffee shop in Sembawang a couple years ago. Enhanced with shellfish such as “la la” (clams) and crayfish, as well as, prawns, it sounds like a simple dish, but the stock makes or breaks this dish. Riding on this trend, hawkers have set up stalls, specifically specializing in seafood white bee hoon. We bring you 8 seafood white bee hoon places from all parts of Singapore that foodies flock to.

Woon Woon Pek Beehoon

At the east of Singapore, Woon Woon Pek Beehoon offers only White Bee Hoon, accompanied with various seafood. There are standard offerings and you have the option of adding on la la, crayfish, sliced fish, flower crab or prawn at an additional cost. White Bee Hoon here comes in three sizes – small, medium and large. We had the small portion of La La Prawn White Bee Hoon ($6) which came with very generous toppings of fried pork lard. The broth is light, yet very flavourful, with a hint of sweetness from the vegetables and the seafood was fresh.

Jin Hock Seafood

Jin Hock Seafood is popular zi char stall among East-siders. Although White Bee Hoon is supposedly their signature dish, you won’t notice it on their signboards or any related food pictures. There are four different sizes and we went for the $9 portion (medium, perhaps). Out of all the seafood white bee hoon we’ve tried, this is the only one that came with plenty of sliced cuttlefish, adding a layer of texture to the super moist white bee hoon here. There are truckloads of eggs, and a few prawns and we enjoyed the white bee hoon that was well-infused with flavours from the broth.

XIAN Seafood White Bee Hoon

Owner of Cafe De Hong Kong, Mr Francis Mak, opens XIAN Seafood White Bee Hoon in a Ubi coffeeshop together with two other partners. They first quick fry the bee hoon to give it a little smokiness and set aside. Made using old mother hen and pork ribs, the light milky broth is cooked with fresh seafood and bee hoon. Crayfish is sliced into half to absorb the essence from the broth as well as to release the crustacean flavour. We had the crayfish white bee hoon which ones in three different sizes – $15, $20, or $25. They also have la la white bee hoon or flower crab bee hoon. Oh ya, those pork lard… so generous!

East Seafood White Meehoon

Most stalls at the hawker centre were closed in the evening but it’s hard to miss East Seafood as the queue only stops when they’re sold out. The bee hoon are first wok-charred before being braised in the seafood stock. We had La La and Prawn White Meehoon ($8) and felt that the stock lacked flavours as they cut down on salt and soya sauce. The noodles were soft while the lala and prawns were fresh but it would’ve fared better if the stock was thicker and richer. Good news for fans of East Seafood as they have just opened a branch in Ang Mo Kio in July, as well as, another in Hougang in August.

72 小厨之家 White Bee Hoon

Hidden in yet another centralized estate in Ang Mo Kio lies this moist and palatable white bee hoon. The $5 portion comes with generous servings of sliced pork, sliced fish, prawns and la la. The fresh seafood enhanced the sweetness of the broth, which already tasted a little eggy. This is no doubt a comforting plate of noodles, especially on rainy days. We were also ecstatic to find chunky cubes of pork lard which made the entire package more aromatic.

Sunny Seafood

Sunny Seafood is a hawker stall that specializes only in serving up good-tasting white bee hoon. We had the medium size portion ($4.50), served with fried fish fillet, prawns, squid, eggs and vegetables. On the whole, this white bee hoon was light, not greasy and well-balanced in flavour. The ingredients were fresh and we enjoyed the savoury and tender fried fish fillet. However, we felt it could’ve been better if the noodles were softer and soaked up more of the tasty stock.

吃家 Kitchen

This is another hawker stall selling “Zi Char” in a coffee shop that West-siders frequent. We believe that their white bee hoon is a dish that is added onto their menu at a later time after they started business. The La La White Beehoon ($6) only has one standard size. Served with plenty of fresh la la, the dish had sufficient moist and flavours. The soft noodles were simmered to a perfect timing as it arrived well-soaked with the richness of the broth. One portion is only enough to fill the stomach of one man. 吃家 Kitchen should consider serving their delectable white bee hoon in different sizes to cater to different groups of diners.

You Huak aka White Restaurant

Up North, lies the originator of all white bee hoon(s) in Singapore, which has now expanded their business from their humble start-up in Sembawang. They have outlets in Punggol, Sun Plaza and Toa Payoh. So, what’s the secret to their superb white bee hoon? Firstly, the noodles are full of flavour! Squeeze some lime onto it, mix well and you get mouthfuls of really tasty white bee hoon! Secondly, the broth is very rich and thick which whets your appetite for more. Thirdly, their generosity with their ingredients gives a really good impression and stirs up your appetite upon being served on your table. There are prawns, squid, egg and vegetables all soaked up nicely in the stock. There are three sizes, small ($4.50), medium ($8) and large ($12).

The post 8 Seafood White Bee Hoon in Singapore That Foodies Love appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Silver Shell Cafe of Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa is offering multi theme dinners for foodies to enjoy new cuisines every night throughout the year.

• On Sundays and Mondays, Feast at Rasa presents world cuisines with buffet stations featuring Oriental, Western, Indian and local flavours.
• Oh! Singapura on Tuesdays tempts guests with satay, fish otah, char kway teow, mini steamboat and other local delights.
• On Wednesdays, Mediterranean signatures such as Tuscan roast pork belly, Moroccan whole roast lamb with spiced rice and chorizo paella take centre stage.
• Thursdays’ All Around Asia is a melting pot of piquant flavours and aromas, from Malaysian ayam masak merah to Vietnamese grilled sausages, Thai red duck curry, Filipino crispy pata deep-fried pork leg and Peranakan assam prawns.
• Seafood fans will adore A Taste of the Ocean on Fridays, which introduces them to fresh marine harvests ranging from oysters to lobsters, king crabs and scallops – best savoured au naturel or grilled to perfection.
• On Saturdays, Barbecue and Roast showcases the crispy, flavourful crackling of roast pork belly and suckling pig, complete with barbecued squids, prawns, lamb and beef.

We visited on Monday and the six interactive open kitchen theatres whip out a plethora of a la minute local and international specialities that are delicately presented in small portions to ensure quality and retain freshness through constant replenishments.

At the western corner, chef prepared a range of great tasting dishes like the squid wrapped with risotto and tender roast chicken.

For the Chinese station, the roasted chicken is tender and succulent with crispy skin. Also enjoy a bowl of clams soup with mild crustacean flavour. There is also a noodle station, surprisingly, they have Vietnamese beef noodles and herbal soup noodles which is comforting on a rainy night.

Indian cuisine is a popular buffet station in Silver Shell Cafe because the restaurant has its own tandoori oven to prepare all the dishes freshly. Something that cannot be missed is the tandoori chicken with garlic naan.

Junior diners are spoilt for choice with favourites brimming from a dedicated kids buffet corner with scaled-down-to-height counters. This area serves a comprehensive array of starters, appetisers, salads, hot selections a well as fruits and desserts.

A rare find amongst other buffet establishments, the BabyZone at Silver Shell Cafe provides complimentary baby food, in addition to value-added amenities such as milk bottle sterilisers, a microwave, baby dining utensils, baby wipes and diapers – all of which are essentials for a hassle-free family meal. This feature is available during buffet lunch and dinner.

Of course, there is a considerably wide range of desserts. The cheesecake is smooth and creamy. Something unique is the souffle that is made upon order, but needs to wait at least 20 mins.

The theme dinners including the week-long Penang fare are available from 6 to 10 p.m. at $52++ from Saturday to Thursday, $88++ on Friday and $68++ on Saturday. One child aged five years and below dines free with a paying adult. An additional child enjoys 50 per cent off the full buffet price.

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Guilt-free desserts might have been a myth, but we’ve uncovered a new wave of healthy desserts that breathes new life to the phrases ‘guilt-free indulgence’. Made with a whole lot of healthy ingredients and embellished with even more of these nourishing toppings, you can now enjoy a sweet treat without putting a dent in your fitness plan. And the best part of all, these smoothie bowls make for a wholesome dessert that’s as easy on the eyes as they are on your waist. So go forth and indulge (in moderation of course).

1. Project Acai

Grab the Original Flower Bowl ($6.80 for a handy size), where their signature acai base is topped with a slew of nutrients-packed ingredients like bee pollen, cacao nibs, chia seeds and goji berries. Refreshingly light and cooling, it’s like digging into a power-packed healthy sundae that doesn’t compromise on taste (and appearance).

2. Absolute Acai

If you’re as obsessed as this health superfood like us, then you’ll like the Signature Bowl ($9.50 for medium) from Absolute Acai. Their acai base comes a little runnier, which was understandable when we found out that they blend their acai with guarana base with fresh apples, bananas and coconut water to lend a subtle natural sweetness. We also like that their toppings don’t require a jaw-workout – the bee pollen, cacao nibs, various seeds, granola and coconut flakes weren’t overly crunchy and made for a healthy and easy-to-eat dessert.

3. Sarnies

Okay we lied. The Cocowhip from Sarnies isn’t exactly a smoothie bowl per se, but this guilt-free, organic and vegan-friendly soft serve made from pure coconut that’s apparently 97% fat free deserves a mention. Not just because they taste good, but they look pretty drool-worthy as well. We had the Cocowhip Breakfast Bowl ($10) (c’mon ice cream as breakfast food how could we say no???), which was served in a rustic bowl piled with fruit salad, nuts and a wolfberry medley. The soft serve was mild with notes of coconut running through, perfect for an unconventional hearty and healthy breakfast/ dessert.

4. A Poke Theory

A Poke Theory might be making noise in the food scene for their delicious poke creations, but their smoothie bowls are creating a quiet stir as well. To put it plainly, they look good and taste even better – at least for the Blackberry Binge ($6) that we had. You would have never guessed that the smooth creamy base was made with frozen bananas, with tart raspberries and blackberries thrown in to lend it a deep red hue. Studded with blueberries, pomegranate, cashews and quinoa puffs, you’ll want to grab of these the next time your sweet craving kicks in.

5. Seed And Soil

Taking root in the heart of Tanjong Pagar Plaza is Seed And Soil, a new-age stall dedicated to serving the healthiest and most nourishing of food. Their clean and modern interior stands out from the slew of traditional eateries in the area, while appropriately reflecting their wholesome offerings. We had the recommended Cacao Warrior smoothie bowl ($12 for large) which claimed to boost energy levels and enhance mood. Frozen bananas were blended into a creamy base with raw cacao, peanut butter and almond milk, making for a naturally smooth and chocolatey treat that paired nicely with the wide variety of toppings – from coconut flakes to melon balls.

6. Haakon Superfoods & Juice

Sure, bingsus are good. But they can get overly sweet and rich really quickly. So if you’re looking for a light alternative, try the vibrant Pink Pitaya & Chia Bowl ($12.90 for large). As part of their superfood smoothie bowl menu, their pink pitaya blend is layered with a base of chia parfait and topped with their housemade granola and fruits for a jumble of textures, making it perfect for a guilt free indulgence.

The post 6 Stunning Smoothie Bowls That Taste As Good As They Look appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.