Girl About Town

How I spent Valentine's Day

2012-02-25T07:11:00.000-08:00

My Valentine's Day wasn't spent on 14 Feb because celebrating it on that day was too mainstream.

We celebrated a few days later. After all, I think Valentine's Day is just a good opportunity for couples to find something special to do and remind each other that you're in love.

We made use of my Palate card and went to the The Moluccas Room, located at MBS for our dinner.

An old couple volunteered to take pictures for us because "the bouquet is beautiful".

I was absolutely charmed by the jovial waiter who greeted us and ushered us in.

We ordered a glass of malbac each, under the recommendation of the waiter, and it was pretty good.

The waiter also volunteered to help us take pictures and took several for us until he was pleased with it. Oh, and note that very thoughtful hook by the chair that allowed me to hang my bag.

Food came rather quickly. The waiter had asked for all of them to be served at the same time because we were going for a show. I thought it was really thoughtful (you'd keep seeing this word) of him to check with us after we made our orders whether we had a show to catch.

Besides the great service, food was really good too. I never knew Indonesian cuisine be better by notches when it reaches fine-dining level (I think the regular ones are already fantastic).

After dinner, we went up to the theatre to catch Wicked, the musical. It's the Boyfriend's first musical and he enjoyed it. Now that I've cultivated the appreciation of musicals in him, I shall introduce him to the less mainstream ones, heh heh.

After dinner was a walk by the river.

The Boyfriend requested for this picture because he was inspired by one of the songs in Wicked. I'm glad that I can show off those prints I have on my wedges too.

Here's a close-up shot of my bouquet, which I absolutely love.

Red roses are still the most timeless choice when it comes to bouquet.

The Tastings Room: Review

2012-02-23T06:45:00.000-08:00

I visited The Tastings Room recently with The Boyfriend. We decided on the venue mainly because we want to try to visit as many restaurants from Palate's list of merchants as possible. Located at Level 1 of Marina Square, the restaurant is relatively quiet and has an extensive selection of wines.

We ordered a moscato each.

Our appetiser was the Pan Seared Foie Gras ($19.90). It was quite delicious, though I wish that the outermost part of it were crispier.

We also ordered Poutine with Sauteed Mushroom ($12.90). It's garnished with cheddar cheese, which adds a fantastic texture and taste to this simple dish.

The Boyfriend ordered the Steak Frite ($28.90), which was probably the most awesome dish we ordered that day (I'm saying this when I don't even really like beef). The ribeye was absolutely tender and goes very well with the sauce. I also love that the steak was paired with truffle fries (and I LOVE truffle fries).

This was mine - the Riesling Coq au Vin ($26.90). It wasn't one that left a huge impression on me.

Overall the experience was good, not just because of the more-than-decent meal, but more so because of the fantastic level of service the staff provided. They were all courteous, helpful, and give very good recommendations (what to order, what alcohol to get...) More importantly, they were very attentive without being intrusive - this is something that I really value when dining.

The Tastings Room is located at #01-08 Marina Square. Visit their website for more information.

Celebrities at Michael Kors Fall 2012 runway show at Lincoln Center, NYC

2012-02-20T01:06:00.000-08:00

Michael Kors is fast becoming my favourite designer's brand. Check out my Michael Kors bag and clutch (which I took to the Dr. Georgia Lee's Gorgeous Decadence party)

The designer recently held his Fall 2012 runway show at NYC, and several celebrities were there to lend support, and were of course, decked out in Michael Kors outfits. Here are those that I absolutely love:

This is Amber Heard, looking absolutely gorgeous in an ivory stretch boucle crepe sheath from the Michael Kors Pre-Fall 2012 collection.I love how the lace details that hugged her waist draws attention to her perfect silhouette.

Jessica Alba plays peekaboo in a turquoise double face stretch wool crepe key hole sheath with leather detail, and carried a black and white haircalf clutch from the Michael Kors Pre-Fall 2012 collection. This ensemble looks little "safe" but at least the leather detail gives her getup a bit of a rebellious edge.

I would do anything for Paula Patton's getup. She's wearing a black double face stretch wool crepe lace illusion sheath, black leather cross front sandals, and silver tone bracelets from the Michael Kors Pre-Fall 2012 collection. I'm crazy about lace, especially on the sleeves.

Stacy Keibler wore an olive stretch boucle sheath with leather lacing from the Michael Kors Spring 2012
collection. This is something I'd love to acquire for my work wear wardrobe.

Photo credits: Getty Images for Michael Kors

Gorgeous Decadence 2012

2012-02-19T05:07:00.002-08:00

It's the time of the year again! That is, the annual Gorgeous Decadence party hosted by Dr. Georgia Lee. This year it's slightly different for me because Leslie Thaddeus was invited too. It's held at Zouk this year.

This is me (with Leslie). I'm decked out in a reversible top by Bysi, DKNY jeans and Michael Kors clutch. In case you're wondering, yes, the matching leopard prints was intentional. My heels (you can't see it here) are also of the prints, and Leslie's pants have leopard prints cuffs and pockets too.

Here's the party crowd:

We got cozy at a corner where we can do some good people-watching.

The most exciting part of the entire programme was probably when Dr. Georgia came out and showed off her moves at the dance floor.

As the music played on, the booze flowed too.

Managed to say hi to the gorgeous doctor (who looked fantastic that night!) but didn't manage to get a picture because she was fluttering around like a butterfly.

Nonetheless, had lots of fun :)

My "date" with Charlene

2012-02-19T02:07:00.000-08:00

"Do you like chicken or duck?" was what Charlene asked me when we were deciding where to go for lunch.
"I prefer duck," I said. And she told me she's got the perfect place to taste some. We then headed over to The Asian Kitchen at RafflesCity.
I've blogged about Lu Gang Xiao Zhen by The Asian Kitchen some time ago, and you should know that I love the food there.

Here are what we had that Saturday afternoon:

Sour Plum Roasted Duck

The duck was YUM-MEH. Only complaint - too much bones! The two of us were practically struggling with it (compromising on quality conversation), that we almost gave up on it.

Stir-fried fish with spring onion and ginger

The fish was awesome too (no bones, yay!) but I wish the taste of ginger were more apparent.

Bubble tea

The pearls were chewy - love it!

Vegetables with salted eggs, century eggs and chicken eggs

I didn't like this. It's bland. It's supposed to have three different types of eggs but all of them lost their distinctive taste. They're just kinda all mashed together. It's edible, but I've tasted better ones!

After shopping (Whee! Albeit ended up not buying anything), we headed to Mandarin Gallery (my favourite place in town) for some drinks - at Arteatiq.

Here's the drink I had - Choya with lemongrass:

I wrapped up the day by leaving home with a box of macaroons from Antoinette (you know I can't get enough of them!)

Check out Charlene's post about this here. And check out my look of the day here.

My style: Favourite cardigan!

2012-02-06T06:47:00.000-08:00

This cardigan is officially my favourite outerwear. It carries leopard prints (my favourite print since one million years ago) and has furry cuffs that are super nice to touch.

Best way to spend a lazy weekend

2012-02-06T06:40:00.000-08:00

My favourite way to spend my weekends after a long week of work is to kick back with a pot of tea, macaroons, and a book at a cafe.

These macaroons from Antoinette are one of the best I've tried, by the way! :)

All I want for Christmas: Candlelit dinner at Dolce Vita

2012-01-30T06:09:00.000-08:00

Mandarin Oriental Hotel is located at a prime spot. That's why when you dine at Dolce Vita, you can get a fabulous view of Marina Bay.

For Valentine's Day, the Mediterranean restaurant is offering a five-course set dinner menu, which begins with with variations of Perigord Foie Gras which includes custard, marinated, parfait or pan-fried served with caramelised granny smith apple and aged balsamico glaze; “Veloute of Topinambour with quail timbale, chestnut crumbles and red pepper dust”; followed by premium “Alaska King Crab with tempura zucchini flowers and Champagne emulsion”; and “Tournedos Rossini with Perigord Foie Gras”, a grain-fed beef tenderloin fillet on homemade brioche, pan-fried Perigord foie gras and truffle sauce; then enjoy a dessert of “Strawberry and Bergamote Tea Mousse”.

I'm totally lusting after this menu because I am a foie gras lover, and I absolutely love Mediterranean-style cooking!

The romantic five-course candle-light dinner is priced at SGD388 for two and every two dining guests receives a bottle of champagne (375ml). For reservations at Dolce Vita, call 6885 3551 or e-mail mosin-dolcevita@mohg.com.

All I want for Valentine's Day: Lee Hwa Rueda necklace

2012-01-30T05:52:00.000-08:00

Rueda - that's "wheel' in Spanish! - symbolises a quintessential relationship that goes on and on. You should probably already know I have a penchant for simple, elegant jewellery pieces, and this fits the bill. This rimmed with diamonds too and you know they are a girl's best friend.

Jimmy Choo Justine bag

2012-01-18T18:30:00.000-08:00

I'm not a slouchy bag person. For my clothes, accessories and bags, I always go for structured shapes. That's just how I love my things.

However the cheery colours of the Justine bag, from Jimmy Choo's Spring/Summer 2012 Collection, may have won me over a little. I love the contrasting textures and colours it presents. And I love that slip-lock in the front that's inspired by a gold lipstick case.

The design is inspired by seventies cinematic icons and sporty without losing its style.

And as with all Jimmy Choo's pieces, the craftsmanship is superior. It features artisanal stitching and piece
work with each bag requiring more than two weeks to finish.

Justine Collections starts from £1195/ €1495/ $1995/ ¥199000

Pictures here:

All I want for Valentine's Day: Goldheart Celestial Embracia

2012-01-18T06:40:00.000-08:00

When it comes to jewellery, I'm a bit of an extreme. I like elegance OR quirk. Nothing in between.

When I was sent a release of the Celestial Embracia by Goldheart, I swooned. Because it was THE type of jewellery I was into - elegant, sleek and pretty.

From its name - Embracia - you might have guessed, this gem captures spirit of intimacy and closeness of a lovers' hug, by featuring a loop of white gold band intertwined across itself. This collection is available in the form of a ring, pendant and bangle - and of them, I love the bangle the most (which starts from $16,162, let's just say I have super exquisite taste).

Prices of the pieces in the collection starts from $4,138 (for a pendant).

Here are pictures for you to ogle at:

Let's go, Chicago

2012-01-16T06:38:00.000-08:00

I was at Chicago for a work trip and everyone's been tweeting me about the shopping that I did at the outlets. Not surprising right - since it's indeed super awesome. I'm going to share some pictures I took there, and then we'll get to what I've bought :)

Here's the room where I stayed at - at Mariott Schaumburg. I've got a room all to myself, and that's super awesome.

Where I laze and watch Family Guy at.

This is Woodfield Mall - second largest mall in USA.

The outlet!

Finally caught sight of snow :)

Cheesecakes from Cheesecake Factory was AWESOME.

Gotta go to Walmart, right?

The total number of shopping bags all of us acquired. Hotel staff was shocked.

Taken while on my way to downtown Chicago.

Chicago Sun-Times building

The buildings are beautiful.

More awesome buildings

An artistic shot my colleague took

I like how the sunshine comes in and the shadow casts itself on the buildings

Italian cuisine at Frankie's

Yum-meh salad

Pizza - pretty good

Chicken, Italian style

Italian ban mian - or hor fun, if you wish

A huge Hershey's store

I'm wondering if Jordan really owns this

Iconic beauty sighted!

Another news building

Beautiful buildings

Had really good eggs ben for brekkie alone on the last day

Bye, Chicago!

Okay, now I'll get to what you've been holding out for - the shopping!

At Woodfield, I popped into Victoria's Secret and bought this Sexy Little Things Noir gift set. I fell in love first with the vintage-style perfume. You know - that pump spray thingy? And then I fell in love with the scent. Then I thought - what the heck - I should just get the full set. And it only set me back by friggin' USD30!

I'm glad I didn't lose my mind when I was at the outlet. I have more self control than I thought. My purchases include...

This hot red (fave colour of the moment) envelope clutch from Michael Kors. I figured I could bring it to dinner parties and use it as an iPad cover too (it fits an iPad2 perfectly)

I also bought this nautical bag from Michael Kors. I was absolutely attracted.

And if you know me, you wouldn't believe that I would leave without snagging a Kate Spade bag. I had to! The discounts are just too good to pass!

Another of my fave brands, Juicy Couture, was also available at the outlet, and I got this blazer at a steal.

DKNY jeans too... And this fits so perfectly and is super comfy. It's already got itself a special place in my wardrobe. I foresee I'll wear it, A LOT.

And a new charm from Juicy Couture, which actually is a bit expensive, but I couldn't resist.

Which is your favourite out of all my buys? :)

Review: 7Adam - Hidden gem for food and art lovers

2012-01-15T05:26:00.000-08:00

I love quiet, stylish places where I can spend quiet meals at. At the newly-opened 7Adam seems to tick all the right boxes.

Housed at a charmingly rustic colonial house, it is one of the National University of Singapore Society's Guild Houses. 7Adam also has a bistro-meets-gallery concept where diners can also purchase contemporary paintings and sculptures from. The art works are by a mix of local and regional artists, and will change every eight to 10 weeks.

I visited the 110-seater restaurant and sampled some of their creative dishes.

You should begin your order with one of the cocktails. One of the most indulgent ones I saw on the menu is the Creamilicious Kit Kat, a concoction of Bailey's, Creme de Cacao and milk with Kit Kat flavoured ice-cream. I know, you're drooling already. It's featured in the picture below, second from left.

I ordered a Ladies' Desire for myself, which is a mix of vodka, elderflower syrup and lychee liqueur. If you're the kind who goes for Cosmopolitan or Lychee Martini at the bar, this is probably something you'd love too.

I must say that I'm particularly impressed with their appetisers. These two - Seared Tuna Loin ($16.50) and Crab Cakes ($15) - were pretty awesome.

The tuna is prepared with avocado and salsa, and you could taste a hint of wasabi too. The natural sweetness from the fresh tuna is enhanced with the caviar and avocado, and it goes especially well with a glass of sweet cocktail.

Even better is the Crab Cakes, which is lighter than it looks. Served with tomato chilli jam, I thought it'll go perfectly with a light beer.

My favourite from my tasting menu has to be the Duck Confit ($24). It features a duck leg served with Sze Chuan peppers and laced with mashed potato. I love its crispy exterior and the rich flavours that are enhanced with the peppers. The mashed potato doesn't do much for the dish, but I guess it's always good to have something to munch on while you wait for the desserts to come.

As for desserts, go for the Affogato ($10), and skip coffee after since the Espresso should probably get you going for the rest of the day.

7Adam is located at 7 Adam Park. It's opened from 11am-11pm daily. Call 6467-0777 for the restaurant and 6463-0777 for the gallery. Visit www.7adam.com for more information.

Palate membership for foodies

2012-01-15T04:24:00.000-08:00

What if there's a card that's specially created for those who love food, where you get awesome discounts of your bill?

How much? You ask.

Say, you bring your Valentine out for dinner and it's practically 50% off?

I'm talking about Palate. Palate brings together more than 40 restaurants including Chinois at RWS, Moluccas Room at MBS, Tung Lok Classics, and also many bars such as Post BAr at Fullerton Hotel. This programme will continue to expand and plan to double the number of participating dining establishments in the coming months.

Basic and premier membership are available at $428 (plus $1000 worth of vouchers) and $598 (plus $1500 worth of vouchers) respectively.

Palate Premier

Palate Basic

The structure is such that one person always dines for free:
If you dine alone, you enjoy 15% off
50% off for two persons dining
35% off for three persons dining
25% off for four persons dining
20% off for five persons and above

Well, you get the gist.

Now good news for American Express Cardmembers. If you have The Centurion or Platinum cards, you'd receive complimentary Palate Premier Membership. Those with the Platinum Reserve Credit Card and Platinum Credit Card, will receive complimentary Basic Membership. AMEX cardholders can also look forward to cardmembers-only events, including exclusiving tasting menus and wine-pairing dinners.

Check out www.palate.sg for more information.

And check out these pictures from the Palate launch event and of the yummy food I got to sample.

Foie Gras Magnum

The above definitely require special mention because it's foie gras that taste like ice-cream and I loved it so much I had two. Pure indulgence.

We should feast every weekend: A&F hunks and Cova Pasticceria

2011-12-12T05:41:00.000-08:00

I'm sure many of you have already seen pictures of hot guys with hot bods all over social media platforms. I had to jump on the bandwagon because... I mean, hot guys!

These guys are representing Abercrombie & Fitch (or A&F!) and are selected from A&F stores from all over the world.

So when Sam suggested that we go to Knightsbridge (270 Orchard Road), where the soon-to-open A&F store is, to ermm... welcome the guys to Singapore, I said "Sure!"

Here are the prized photos. Ah, don't be jealous...

The guys are super friendly so although I felt awkward at first, going up to them for pictures, I soon warmed up to them.

A&F will be officially opened on 15 Dec, 10am, by the way! I've been invited to the media preview on 14th... but... I'll be in Japan then, so I had to give it a miss. BOOHOO.

Anyway, after the ehem, feast... we met up with Char for another feast - at Cova Pasticceria. Not my first time there, but it still is one of the high tea places that I really like.

Ordered Christmas tea because it's Christmas soon and I'm a sucker for trying new things.

Finally, a picture of three of us!

Club Med Night 2011 at Avalon

2011-12-04T06:31:00.000-08:00

So much hype surrounding Avalon and so when I receive an invite from Club Med for the opportunity to party with them at Avalon at MBS.

It was a night of appreciation to the media and travel partners for Club Med. And for us guests, we got to watch fabulous performances, dine, booze, and for some of us, walk away with something from the lucky draw :)

Okay, pictures time! I was there with Leslie, as well as Ah Han and her brother.

Avalon is super beautiful. You could probably tell from the pictures. It offers the perfect view of some key landmarks of Singapore - me likey!

And... Ah Han and I both won something from the lucky draw. Hey, we were really lucky okay? There were something like six prizes in all, and at least a hundred guests there. And guess who walked away with the grand prize of the day. EHEM!

Club Med Sahoro - here I come! The resort has a unique all-inclusive concept where staff and guests are like friends in a village. I can't wait to feast on fantastic food, go for the entertainment sessions put together by the talented Club Med staff, and of course - attend ski lessons :D

P/S: I've been extremely excited about the prize for a few days. It's the first time I won something from a lucky draw! And OMG, I mean, first time I won something and I won big!

Heartland finds: nEbO the games cafe at AMK Hub!

2011-11-27T07:04:00.000-08:00

AMK Hub may be a mall in the heartland but hey... it's very happening, okay?

I used to have to travel a long, long way to get to a games' cafe. But thanks to nEbO at AMK Hub, I don't have to commute so much anymore!

Recently they ran a promotion, where you spend $10 (can combine receipts) for one table, and you'd get to enjoy two hours of free gaming.

The Boyfriend and I got a waffle + drink + two scoop ice-cream set ($7.50 nett) and a glass of orange juice ($2.50 nett)

It was a good way to kill time before we catch our movie :)

If you don't mind it's small selection of games (but they do have the common ones like Balderdash) and don't mind that the food isn't exactly fantastic, seriously, this is a good, quiet hangout that's relatively cheap.

Haagen-Dazs "Journey of Indulgence": Hop on the bus!

2011-11-27T06:51:00.000-08:00

I hopped on the Haagen-Dazs bus the other day! It's a glamorously-decorated open-top one that took the media party on a 45-minute ride from Esplanade, going around CBD area, down Orchard Road.

We sang carols on the bus like travelling musicians, well, except that there were more than just singing.

It's a Haagen-Dazs bus, so obviously, there were ice-cream for everyone!

And champagne to celebrate the festive joy.

Chocolates too! :)

The ride very much reminded me of the one that I took when I was in Hong Kong, where I also hopped on an open-top bus to go around the Central area. This ride around Orchard Road helped me take a closer look at the Christmas decoration this year.

You can hop onto the Haagen-Dazs bus too! All you have to do is to spend at minimum of $50 (dine-in only, before service charge and GST) at any Haagen-Dazs cafe to receive two complimentary tickets to the bus. There will be three rides a day, at 7pm, 8-m and 9pm, from now to 4 December 2011. The journey will start at Haagen Dazs Esplanade cafe just like our ride did!

While you're dining in to get your tickets, check out the new creations that Haagen-Dazs have for Christmas. I tried two of them:

This is the Christmas Cassata ($16++). It's made of Creme Brulee ice-cream - newly created flavour! - that's served on a brownie slice, topped with cocoa powder and luscious raspberries, served with scoops of Cappuccino Truffle and Belgian Chocolate ice-cream. The Belgian Chocolate is my fave flavour in Haagen-Dazs' offering, so this is an enjoyable one for me.

I also tried the Love in Paradise ($16++), which looks like an artwork. This is served with scoops of Belgian Chocolate and Creme Brulee ice-cream, with chocolate seashells and strawberries on the side. The Creme Brulee ice-cream here is softer than the previous dessert and the taste of the creme brulee more evident.

Finally, there's also the Royal Fondue ($48++), which comes with four popular flavours (Belgian Chocolate, Caramel Biscuit & Cream, Chocolate and Vanilla coated in almond nibs), accompanied with freshly baked waffles, marshmallows, brownies, bananas, kiwis and strawberries.

If you're looking for log cakes, check out the Chocolate Colysee ($80++), which is available in Belgian Chocolate ice-cream or Macadamia Nut ice-cream, topped with chocolate curls and marshmallow stars.

The most beautiful of the creations has to be the Rainbow Log ($80+), which consists of many all-time favourite ice-cream and sorbet flavours, including Chocolate, Vanilla, Green Tea, Macadamia Nut, Mango Sorbet and Raspberry Sorbet.

Tamara Mellon leaves Jimmy Choo wtih Labelux' acquisition of the brand

2011-11-23T20:21:00.000-08:00

Tamara Mellon, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Jimmy Choo, has been seen as the face of the brand, and the genius behind it. But they just announced that she, together with Joshua Schulman, the CEO, will leave Jimmy Choo. Tamara Mellon will leave at the end of this month, and Joshua Schulman until the New Year.

The departures follow the successful transition of Jimmy Choo to Labelux ownership and management control.

Tamara Mellon is glamorous, loved by fashion editors, is synonymous with the brand, and even had a Jimmy Choo perfume ad that is fronted by her (now, now... which other founder can boast of this?)

How will this affect the brand and where will Tamara Mellon transit to after this? Tamara Mellon has been very quiet about it, but it's definitely something fashionistas are super curious about.

Paradise Dynasty: Be there for colourful xiao long bao!

2011-11-18T05:25:00.000-08:00

I've been to Taste Paradise, Paradise Pavilion and Seafood Paradise, this time I'm at Paradise Dynasty to try out the super-famous xiao long bao. I've heard so much about the creative xiao long bao and had been bugging The Boyfriend to go with me. We finally made it!

We reached the restaurant that's located at ION Orchard at about 6.30pm on a weekday, and there was already a short queue forming outside. We waited for about 15 minutes before getting a seat at the al fresco area (Because they don't have seats in the indoor area... no wait, actually they do, but they decided not to give it to us because another group of diners was kicking up a mini fuss about not wanting to sit outdoors. And being the easy-going diner that I am, I pretended that I didn't know the swapped the seats that I "deserve" with someone else's.)

We both ordered a bowl of la mian each. He had a beef la mian:

And I had a pork belly la mian. This is probably the best Chinese la mian I've ever tried before. The pork belly is so well-prepared that it really MELTS in your mouth. Yummilicious. The soup was good too.

To have a sample of all the flavours, we ordered this:

The alternative is to order one set of one particular flavour. After sampling all of them, my favourites are cheese and ginseng. The Boyfriend likes the garlic one. Least favourite? Probably truffle and foie gras - because I can't even tell the difference.

We finished the meal with desserts - red bean pancakes!

And they taste really good too!

Gosh, what's not to like about Paradise Dynasty? I don't know man! I can't nit-pick! And I'm sure I'll be back again :)

Japanese pasta at Yomenya Goemon at City Link Mall

2011-10-18T08:15:00.000-07:00

I hope you like pasta because you're going to see a lot of different pasta in this entry!

Leslie and I walked past Yomenya Goemon after the Swissotel & Fairmont's Christmas party and told ourselves we're visiting it.

So we were back with The Boyfriend in tow :)

Each of us ordered a half-pasta set - that's two half-bowl of pastas plus miso soup and drink in each set.

The servings are so generous, doesn't feel like "half" bowl.

My seafood aglio olio

Leslie's seafood cream pasta

The Boyfriend and Leslie also each had one tomato pasta

My carbonara

The Boyfriend's seafood pasta

Soup pasta

The boys didn't have enough and decided to get another bowl. So I get to try some of it too.

Overall it was a very fulfilling meal, the pasta were all very nicely done. The only complaint I would have is the of the seafood aglio olio. I found it a little too bland. Leslie's seafood cream pasta is the most gratifying, and the tomato pasta is pretty good too :)

Christmas comes early - party at Equinox and Ink Bar

2011-10-16T08:03:00.000-07:00

The parties that Swissotel & Fairmont throw are always super fun. Remember the Mooncake party that I blogged about the last time? This time, Christmas comes early and we had a "Christmas party" where the media gets to preview the plans that Swissotel & Fairmont have for Christmas, in a few months' time.

That day, one of the private dining rooms at Equinox is transformed into a Christmas ballroom. The huge venue is decorated with Christmas trees, lights, and frosty "Christmas motifs" on the windows. Carols were playing in the background and turkey was served. Looking out of the window, we get the enjoy the wonderful view that Equinox boasts of.

Within about an hour after arrival, Leslie (my guest) and I quickly got into Christmas mood.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas :)

The food was, not surprisingly, fantastic. And when there was so much good food to go around, it's difficult to pick and choose - we simply went for whichever caught our eyes, so we try the more visually-appealing ones first.

Delectable food to go around.

A real salmon.

Some of the fare that we tasted at the buffet.

Meats were good, according to Leslie (I'm not a meat person).

Suckling pig with lotus rice was a highlight that day.

Much effort has been put into the decor. I heard that the marketing team worked overnight to get these things up. Hey, your efforts paid off because they look fab!

An exquisite ice sculpture.

Breath-taking view from above!

If only it snowed in Singapore...

After some mingling, making new friends and sampling the wonderful food, Leslie and I got more drinks and simply bask in the beautiful view that was all around us.

We attempted a red-meets-white ad poster look.

White wine + great view = perfect evening

See the Christmas decor?

And just as we thought the evening was over, the Swissotel & Fairmont marketing team gave us a surprise - a part two to this already-fabulous party. We headed down to Ink Bar at Fairmont, where there were more drinks and... okay, read on to find out what :)

We got ourselves a seat and cosy up with the couches. Party hats were given to us and cheers of "Happy new year!" were heard, so you really would imagine that Christmas/New Year were here already.

All ready to party!

Ta-da! Here was the biggest surprise I had! Beautiful, beautiful, BEAUTIFUL buffet table of candies, sweets and desserts - all Christmas-themed!

I really felt like a child in a candy store. Super excited!

Winter wonderland!

Yummy log cake

Candies that look like Christmas bells

I bet elves live with these candies.

Excited by the colourful goodies

And I took whatever caught my eyes without really thinking if I could finish them because I just wanted to sample all of them! It wasn't too hard for me to fill up my plate.

We filled our plates

Cheers!

More drinks, of course.

Super adorable (and yummy) cookie

Beautiful performance put up and got everyone dancing and clapping.

A band came to entertain us

And then Leslie and I indulged in more drinks.

Another drink to keep the night going

Humongous bottles!

More drinks!

The party rounded up with lucky draw with wonderful prizes (such as hotel stays in Swissotel overseas!) and I didn't win anything (as with any lucky draws I've ever participated in) :(

Lucky draw prizes

Here's a final picture of us. We had a good time, a big thank you to the team at Swissotel & Fairmont!

Final shot :)

As I've mentioned the hotels have wonderful plans coming up for Christmas and New Year, which I will definitely share closer to the date. Watch this space!

Buffet Town opens at Raffles City

2011-10-09T08:50:00.000-07:00

I went to Raffles City a few months ago, wanting to go to Shokudo. Then I found out that it has closed! In its place is Buffet Town. Taking over Shokudo's premises, the place is huge!

I decided to visit it another day and here's my report from the restaurant.

Pictures from the visit - just take note that when I go to buffets, I don't follow any kind of sequence in taking the food. So you'd see salads and fried food on the same plate, sashimi and fried rice placed together - you get the drift!

My very first helping is some friend food, japanese curry, sausages and potato. The curry is pretty good. The rest is just meh.

More fried food, sashimi salad and pizza. Sashimi and pizza are decent. By this plate, I also know that the fried food there can be missed.

The seafood isn't fantastic but is "edible". Go for the sushi instead, they taste pretty okay.

These two are the must-try at Buffet Town: laksa and pasta. Pasta is served at a live station where you can choose the toppings you want to go with the pasta and the type of pasta you want.

On this plate: satays, mee tai mak and sausages. The mee tai mak is okay, the rest are very average.

These are my favourites - the salmon sushi with dark sauce and waffles! The waffles are done on the spot too, and is super crispy. I love my waffles with maple syrup and butter, but you can choose to eat it with chocolate syrup, honey or ice-cream - or all of the above! These toppings and sauces are available at the counter.

Here are a few selection from the dessert counter. The ice-cream completes the meal quite well - it's just really fun to be able to scoop your own ice-cream and decorate it with whatever you like. It made me happy!

Here's me outside the buffet. Check out the pants - new from Malacca. The hip area is slightly puffed, and it has turned up cuffs that show a pretty pattern. I should have worn heels, but it was the weekends and I had enough of heels! My feet need a break :(

Overall, I think it has a few hits and misses. Also, I haven't had time (and stomach space) to check out every single station. There may be more interesting features that I didn't manage to try.

Lunch is from 11.30am to 3pm ($23.80 on weekdays, and $28.80 on weekends and PH eve and PH); dinner is from 6pm to 10.30pm ($33.80 on weekdays, and $38.80 on Friday, weekends, PH eve and PH). It's located at B1-44E, Raffles City.

Do you follow a specific sequence when you pick up items from the buffet line? (e.g. by type of cuisine, or start with salads, end with desserts)

New Harbour Cafe + drinking session

2011-09-30T20:03:00.000-07:00

Oktoberfest comes early. At least for my colleagues and me. A farewell party for another colleague transformed into a beer-chugging session for a few of us.

New Harbour Cafe, located at Tanjong Pagar, is actually quite a nice, cosy spot for chilling out. The food is decent too. Here are a few snapshots of what we had that day.

This was what I had - Bacon Aglio Olio complete with a good Erdinger. I know it looks unimpressive here, but it tastes pretty alright. But I suppose bacon can make anything taste good.

One of my colleagues had good ol' Fish & Chips.

Sandwich, which looks quite wholesome.

This is a sotong snack, and I know you can't see the sotong (they're buried under those crisps).

Next to New Harbour Cafe is New Harbour Bar. And yes, they're affiliated to each other. So, we're allowed to bring our beer mugs from the cafe to the bar.

And that's where the partying started.

This is Suka suka add on, aka the tallest man in my office's island*.

The Second Mr Han. Avid tweeter. Loves the company of women. And great men (I suppose?)

The baby of our island.

Love Jia, Our loud friend.

And here's me!!!

We played some drinking games. No, actually just one drinking game, that allows us to dig all the deepest, darkest secrets of one another, so we could hold one another hostage if anything goes wrong.

*An "island" refers to a cluster of work desks that are joined together in the office.

Do you have a go-to drinking place?

Shopping in Malacca - my achievements

2011-09-30T19:49:00.000-07:00

I was in Malacca last week. And never expected myself to shop. But I did!

Who would have thought there's shopping to be done in Malacca besides local delicacies?

There were several of such rings on sale.

Each one costs RM5, I believe.

These were sold at 3 for RM10. My friend got two.

RM5 for seven bangles.

And these are just the accessories. I haven't even started talking about the clothes! I managed to pick up a top (that comes with an awesome belt) and a pair of high-waisted pants (also comes with an awesome belt). Both costs me less than RM100 altogether. I'll show them to you another day.

Have you ever had any pleasantly surprising shopping experience?

The view from above: From 1-Altitude

2011-09-26T02:12:00.000-07:00

Has anyone visited 1-Altitude yet?

This rooftop bar stands at 282 metres and is located at One Raffles Place, making it a prime spot to have a bird's eye view to the skyline of Singapore.

I enjoy drinks over great view - the only thing is that Singapore doesn't usually provide the latter all so well. One of my favourite rooftop bars is actually in Bangkok - Sirocco, at The Dome.

Me and Ah Han at Sirocco.

I finally visited 1-Altitude. Not exactly for drinking, and not exactly in the evening, but was invited there for a beauty event. I nonetheless jumped at the chance to check out the place.

I liked the ambience and can imagine that the evening skyline will be even more spectacular.

Can you imagine how it might look at night?

The beautiful city skyline.

In a private room, with a great view.

A candid shot of me, er... laughing at something.

The food is pretty decent too.

Tiger prawn salad.

Corn soup.

Yummy black cod with spinach & almond puree.

New friends I met at the event.

Will I visit it again? Surely.

Anyone has any reviews to share?

Sushi Tei - For affordable and yummy Japanese food

2011-09-17T21:41:00.000-07:00

When it comes to family-styled Japanese restaurants, Sushi Tei is my all-time fave.

And my fave sushi from them?

THIS:

I'd always eye it the moment I sit next to the conveyer belt.

Taste heavenly.

Another must-order is this: Salmon, salmon belly and roe.

This is a new creation that came about during Sushi Tei's chef's competition - avocado and spring roll skin. Actually, it isn't fantastic.

Me and bro fulfilling our "blogging duties".

Dai dai roll - die die must order.

This is quite an indulgence too.

Beef lovers will be pleased with this.

Soft shell crab maki. Love the crunch from the crab and texture of the roe.

Salt ice-cream and mango ice-cream.

Singapore Women's Fashion Week 2011 presents Haute Couture Week in October

2011-09-11T04:50:00.000-07:00

You must have heard: Singapore's among the top 10 global fashion capitals, according to a survey result that was released in August. We scored #8 in the ranking, above Tokyo.

I know, most people are skeptical. Many wonder what we have done to deserve the honour.

Let me tell you what we have done. We are so excited about fashion that we have been blogging about it , tweeting about it, writing about it - that's what we have done.

Apparently, the survey that's conducted by the Global Language Monitor produces the top 10 list by tracking the frequency and context of buzzwords across the internet, blogosphere and 75,000 print and electronic media sources.

So here I am, blogging about another of our biggest fashion event, and playing my part to make sure Singapore makes it to the list again next year. Do you part too, share this on your Facebook! Reblog this! Tweet it!

Those who are a little more conscious about fashion would probably have heard about, or maybe even attended some of the shows at the Men's Fashion Week 2011, held in March/April this year. Following the success of that event, the same organisers bring you Women's Fashion Week 2011 (WFW 2011) - the first ever in Singapore.

Gustavo with models wearing apparel from his collection.

What's even more exciting is that WFW 2011 will be presenting Haute Couture Week, making Singapore the second city in the world to stage this high fashion showcase. (The first city is Paris, of course.) At least nine haute couturiers, including Gustavo Lins and Stephane Rolland, will be presenting their Spring/Summer 2012 collections. The full list of participants has not been revealed. The week-long event will be held, once again, at Marina Bay Sands, from 26 to 30 October 2011.

Stephane Rolland with models wearing apparel from his collection.

What Frank Cintamani, chairman of WFW 2011 said about the event resonates deeply within me, "In achieving this unique event (WFW 2011) in bringing Paris to Singapore, it is our aspiration to likewise bring Singapore and Asia to Paris.".

Yes, perhaps we have yet to come to terms with the idea of being a "fashion capital", but don't ever think it's not ever possible for Singaporeans to ditch our denim shorts and slippers, and be trendsetters with a distinctively Singaporean style.

Besides the runway shows, other programmes for WFW 2011 include:

Prêt-a-Porter
21-23 October
This is a showcase of the latest collection of selected fashion brands that can all be found at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands.

Asian Couture Showcase
26 October
This is a showcase of couture collections of Asian designers, including Singaporeans.

Haute Couture Exhibition
6-31 October
Held at The Shoppes at MBS' Jewellery Lane, this exhibtion will feature past and present haute couture creations from different fashion houses.

Kim Kardashian's wedding: Details of her look!

2011-09-06T07:36:00.000-07:00

Pictures of Kim Kardashian's wedding can finally be found online. Here are a few of them:

Makeup

The details: The makeup artist for Kim Kardashian's wedding is Mario Dedivanovic. On Mario's blog, he spills the beans on what he used on Kim.

Skin - The Moisturizing Lotion by La Mer, Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Hydrating Makeup by Dior, By Terry’s Touche Veloutee concealer, Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre Natural Finish Loose Powder.

Eyes - L’Oreal Paris Brow Stylist Custom Brow Shaping Pencil in Light Brown, Lancôme 5 Pan Eyeshadow Palette, Cover Girl Line Exact Liquid Liner in Very Black, Lancôme Hypnôse Doll Lashes mascara in So Black

Cheeks - Lancôme Blush Subtil in Rose Romantique, Guerlain Teracotta bronzing powder, Giella’s Eye M Glam highlighter

Lips - YSL Dessin Des Levres lipliner, Lancôme’s L’Absolu Nu lipstick in Coral Sand. (A sheer peachy lipstick, Lancôme La Laque Fever lipgloss in Ravishing Coral. (Very pretty color for any skin tone)

Hair

The details: The hairstylist is Peter Savuc and the inspiration comes from glamorous old Hollywood movie stars.

The dress

The details: I think most of you should already know that all three dresses that she wore were from Vera Wang. One of the dresses has a heart-shaped fabric that comes from Kim's late father, Robert's shirt to ensure there's "something old" on the bride.

How do you like the look?

Night Lights 2011: 7 light installations at SAM for Night Festival 2011

2011-09-01T07:17:00.000-07:00

If you follow my blog, you might have already seen my last post about Night Festival 2011 and also previewed some of the installations found in Singapore Art Museum (SAM).

The beauty of the museums in Singapore at night can be accentuated with the creative play of lights. I guess that's one of the most attractive part of Night Lights 2011 - the showcase by the Singapore Art Museum (SAM) as part of Night Festival 2011

Night Lights 2011 feature seven light installations and they will all be available this coming weekend (2 and 3 Sep). I was invited by SAM to preview all seven of them and here are my thoughts:

Lyrical Perspective (Perspective Lyrique) by 1024 architecture
7.30pm – 2am
Singapore Art Museum Front Lawn

A visual and sound-based interactive mapping projection that invites you to make the SAM façade come alive with the sound of your voice. This show has been done for other buildings in France and Switzerland - in other words, SAM is the first Asian building to be "transformed" into a stage for this performance. Using light and sound, the building looks like it's evolving all the time and has a life of its own. When interviewed, the artist said that said that you'd be able to see tribal and mythology influences in the images that are presented. Spectators at the Night Festival can also participate in singing into the microphone to influence the look of the building.

Girl About Town says: This was my favourite installation at Night Lights 2011 because it's just fascinating to see the illusion of the building growing, "melting" and dancing to the music. It kinds of reminds us how imagination can be fascinating and that there's really more to meets the eye to everything - it's all about perspectives!

Lampounettes by TILT
7.30pm – 2am
Singapore Management University Walkway along Bras Basah Road (School of Economics and School of Information Systems)

See a row of gigantic table lamps that will greet and light your way as you make your way along SMU to or from SOTA. These lamps changed colours too!

Girl About Town says: The artist said that he might be inspired by the lamp on his table to come up with this design. I like how the idea is simple - an enlarged table lamp that works as a street lamp. Now, if only all our daily public items have cool designs and thoughts put into them!

Green Invaders by Yves Caizergues
7.30pm – 2am
Singapore Management University Campus Green

This is bound to get some of you ~~old~~ veteran video gamers out there really excited. An army of eco-invaders will be marching down the SMU Campus Green, covering the area in green light. The show lasts for 2.5 minutes and require just 12 ampere to run.

Girl About Town says: This may be another simple installation, but take some time to watch it and see how many interesting things you can pick out. Hint: The faces aren't all the same!

Parking Mad (Le Parking en folie) by Benedetto Buffalino
9.30pm – 2am
National Museum of Singapore Front Lawn

Cars lovers alert. These Volvo cars look inconspicuous in the day, but when night falls, these parked cars go wild, flashing lights from their windows, as if they were in conversation. The artist, Benedetto Buffalino, likes to give inanimate street objects a life of their own with lights, turning familiar neighbourhood sights into a surreal environment. I suspect he takes joy in surprising people. For those of you who have seen the installation at SAM last week, this week the cars are moved to the National Museum of Singapore and have more colours than before.

The artist, Benedetto Buffalino.

The Fish Tree by BIBI
7.30pm – 2am
School of the Arts Facade

Made from everyday plastic objects, a school of magical fish come alive at night and light up SOTA’s façade. The artist, Bibi, gamely turned up at the media event with a giant plastic fish costume. "Just for you!" he said.

Girl About Town says: Bibi told us that the fish that are in a row (those that are seen behind him) are the suited men that we can see at Marina Bay. He shared that he spent a lot of time in water, thus his design is the fish. He's been making them since the 1990s and the first fish he had is also showcased in this installation. I thought it's most interesting that he said different audience around the world brought home different emotions when they looked at the installation - although he never tailored it to convey specific messages. I guess that's what art is all about - an expression that means different things to different people. That's what makes art so beautiful.

Curiosités by Alain Benini
7.30pm – 2am
Singapore Art Museum Courtyard

Don't be surprised to see the SAM courtyard converted into a beautiful underwater sight. These luminous jellyfishes don't just look like the real deal, they also somewhat behave like real jellyfishes. As the wind blows towards them, watch them do a funny ballet with their tentacles - this can keep the young and old occupied and amused for quite some time.

Girl About Town says: I've shown a few pictures from the last media event. Here are a few more taken from different angles. I think there is something "magical" about these jellyfish - don't you think?

The Cloud (Le Nuage) by SUPERBIEN
7.30pm – 2am
Singapore Art Museum Queen Street Wing

You might just miss this work if you weren't told about it. A projection of colourful electrical cloud, this grows bigger and bigger and the huge umbrellas that the projected cloud is hovering over lend a lot of context to the simple story it's trying to tell.

Girl About Town says: I think the idea of putting a rain cloud above the umbrellas is kind of cheeky. It must have been thought up by someone who has a sense of humour.

Besides installation, other highlights include:

Art Party
9pm - 2am
Glass Hall, SAMThe event hall of the museum will be transformed into a chic Parisian club featuring DJs from the Pain O Chokolat collective and beatboxer Tez from the famed Le Pompon club in Paris, as well as DJ Has.

Reactive Wall
7.30pm - 2am
Level 2, SAM
Artist Mojoko and computer programmer Shang Liang worked together to present the Reactive Wall, which showcases over 200 images of popular graphic icons (eg. Doraemon!). By making sounds through loudspeakers, you can make the icons pop up and cover the wall. This is so interactive and fun, I'm sure that adults will love it and children can't get enough of it.

Girl About Town says: It's quite fascinating, really! Watching icons get "lured" out from within the "crowds" of icons and get larger and larger. It's also interesting to see which icon gets "attracted" to you voice :)

Night Lights 2011 is part of the Night Festival 2011 programme. Find out more at http://www.singaporeartmuseum.sg

Eco Fashion Label Etrican launches Madison Blvd

2011-08-29T09:26:00.000-07:00

Eco fashion labels use materials that are sustainable and also ensure that their manufacture process is kept to minimum damage to the environment.

I came in touch with eco fashion when I was helming a lifestyle magazine. And one of the labels that stood out among them is Etrican because its offerings aren't just green, they're also chic and very wearable.

The two-year old eco fashion label has recently launched a new collection - Madison Blvd - and it's the first woven organic cotton clothing line ever available in Singapore.

Woven organic cotton? I'm sure most of you would be scratching your head wondering what is is (I did). According to Etrican's designer, Yumiko Uno, the fabric is denser than organic cotton, more crisp and more durable. Because of these qualities, the pieces tend to look more elegant.

In line with the more polished fabric, it's no surprise that Madison Blvd features a more contemporary and elegant silhouette. The collection draws inspiration from classic and clean looks of early 60's New York. Each piece in the collection is also named after an iconic personality of the 1960s.

Here are my favourite looks:

I can definitely wear this to work.

Perfect for an afternoon tea on Sunday.

Shopping with the girls.

Madison Blvd pieces range in price between $41 and $69 and can be purchased through Etrican's online store at www.etrican.com and at selected retailers such as CHOOSE by Olive Ventures at 26A Sago Street, S059021.

ChocoMarvel Review

2011-08-28T10:03:00.000-07:00

Ladies who suffer from menstrual cramp should know. One of the most comforting things that you can do is to be in bed (or somewhere comfy) with a cup of hot drink.

Choose the drink wisely and go for something that can help you manage the discomfort and to provide you with other benefits that are essential during "that time of the month".

ChocoMarvel is a 100% natural product that delivers something different from the usual solutions. It's a yummy chocolate drink (that's low fat!) but can help you manage the various symptoms and discomforts during menstruation.

What it can do:
Promotes blood circulation and aid in relief of menstrual pain.
Helps relieve bloating, tension and discomfort
Helps replenish iron loss during menstruation
Helps improve facial complexion
Helps maintain hormone levels, and reduce irritability and moodiness

I was sent a box of ChocoMarvel and here's sharing with you my thoughts:

It comes in a super lovely package.

Every box contains 8 sachets, which means you can have 1 per day before, during and after your period.

The box and the sachet.

Every sachet has a generous amount of choco powder and smells really good!

Add warm water of about 80 deg C to it and stir and you'll get yummy choco beverage!

Apparently, besides tasting great, cocoa also has health benefits such as improving blood vessels health and cholesterol level.

The drink is indeed soothing and leaves a fuzzy feeling in the body. A plus point is that it taste really good, and is more like a treat, compared to other menstrual relief formula!

Find out more at ChocoMarvel's Facebook page and website!

Mooncakes from Capella Singapore

2011-08-25T07:06:00.000-07:00

Here are 5 reasons why the girl about town should go for mooncakes from Capella Singapore:

#1 The box that it comes in can be used as a jewellery box after you've finished the mooncakes.

#2 Inside each box is a gold coin for you to exchange for a night's stay in Capella's Premier Seaview Room. On top of this, you'd also be pampered with a sumptuous breakfast for two.

#3 If you're one of the buyers of the first ten boxes of mooncakes, you'd have them hand-delivered to you by Rolls Royce!

#4 One of those who bought the set will walk away with an exclusive Boucheron Ava Deco White Gold Diamond necklace worth $40,000. The necklace consists of more than 2.5 carats of premium diamonds. The draw will take place on 12 Sep, on Mid-Autumn Festival (Zhong Qiu Jie).

#5 The flavours available aren't too exotic - classic white lotus paste with double yolks that uses organic ingredients and single yolk lotus paste mooncake that’s delicately infused with osmanthus tea and tangerine peel. These are crowd-pleasers you know you'd enjoy and will also do well as gifts for others.

Capella’s mooncake set is priced at $688++, call Vanessa Wong at 6591-5036 or email Vanessa.wong@capellahotels.com to check availability. Reservations for next year’s mooncake special can also be made.

Voyage Night Festival - A night of fun at the museums

2011-08-24T18:54:00.000-07:00

I love the museum. It's one of those places I love spending lazy Sunday afternoons at, going through the exhibitions and taking pictures along the way.

And if you talk about the museum scene in Singapore, you'd definitely think about the Night Festival, one of the largest event that stretches over a few days and is held mainly outdoors around a few museums.

The Night Festival is back again and this year, it'll be held on 26-27 August and 2-3 September. I was invited to the media preview and bring you news on what you can look forward to and the must-visit highlights.

The theme of this year's Night Festival is "Voyage", as a homage to our forefathers who arrived in Singapore through the sea ports, and then shaping Singapore into what we are today.

Look forward to traditional and contemporary music, song and dance, light performances, film, visual arts, all curated by Goh Ching Lee, Festival Director of Singapore Arts Festival (2000-2009) and Executive and Artistic Director of Culturelink.

Some of the performances that I got to preview yesterday:

Soundwalk by Simone Merli, Kamran Sadeghi, Dug Winningham
26 & 27 August only
7pm, 9pm and 12.15am
Exhibition Gallery 1, Basement, National Museum of Singapore
28 Aug - 1 Sep
10am-6pm
Exhibition Gallery 1, Basement, National Museum of Singapore
2 Sep - 3 Sep
10am-2am
Exhibition Gallery 1, Basement, National Museum of Singapore

These three are New-York based international sound collectors. They collect the whir and murmur of port and human activity that can represent different cultures, languages and stories they encountered in their own journeys and present three different musical pieces - Ulysses Syndrome (hertzian frequencies along the shores of the Mediterranean basin), Rub' al Khali - "The Empty Quarter" (through the deserts of Yemen and Oman, and up the Red Sea, Persian Coasts and North East Africa) and The Passenger (the sounds in the Straits of Gibraltar, between Tarifa and Tangier).

My comments: It's interesting to know that the natural sounds of different places around the world can sound so different from each other. Whenever we talk about "sights and sounds', seriously, most of us focus on only the "sight'. This brings our attention to the "sounds" we sometimes neglect.

Black Sea Fire by The Shin
26 & 27 August
9.45pm
Singapore Management University Campus Green

The Shin comprises of a blend of talented musicians, singers and dancers to bring about a collage of traditions from Georgia, Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece and Ukraine. The type of music that you can expect is a mix of jazz scat, funk and fusion, meets flamenco, Ravel and Shakti

My comments: These musicians created the atmosphere of "carnival". The passion that they exude as they present their craft is so infectious, I can't help but swayed to their music, all the while smiling and hoping I had a mug of beer in my hand.

The Shape of a Dream by Cake Theatrical Productions
26 & 27 Aug only
8pm, 8.30pm and 9.45pm
Singapore Management University Campus Green
Roving performance on SMU grounds

See the stories of Marco Polo, Cheng Ho, Vasco da Gama and their stories of adventure presented in the form of a lively song, dance and drama.

My comments: Comprising of imaginary elements, bright colours and visually engaging props, this might be something both the young and old can appreciate.

Corazon de Angeles in Paradise by Theater Tol
26 & 27 August only
10.30pm
National Museum if Singapore

Music, dance, film, acrobatics... rose petals and bubbles... this outdoor aerial performance is dreamy and very, very spectacular.

My comments: This is definitely the highlight of the festival, if you ask me. The costumes, performance, and the sheer massiveness of the set-up take your breath away. As we stood at the field and look up at the performers, none of us can stop saying wow.

Other interesting installations at Singapore Art Museum:

Projection of a growing rain cloud

Light performance in Volvo style

Jellyfishes in the court

The Night Festival will take place on 26 & 27 August, and 2 & 3 September, from 7pm to 2am, at National Museum of Singapore, Singapore Art Museum and SMU Campus Green. On 26 & 27 August, you can also visit The Peranakan Museum and The Substation for more programmes.

Click here for more information.

Kim Kardashian wore three Vera Wang dresses at her wedding to Kris Humphries

2011-08-22T08:29:00.000-07:00

Words associated with the perfect wedding.

Tiffany diamond ring.
Garden wedding.
Jimmy Choo heels.

Vera Wang gown.

And Kim Kardashian wore three dresses by Vera Wang at her wedding to Kris Humphries today. The briude is close friends with Vera Wang.

Now pictures of the actual dresses aren't exactly available online yet. It's said that People magazine has bought exclusive rights to featuring the wedding in a two-part special and I can't wait to see it.

Oh, and in case you're wondering what Vera Wang said to Kim. I overheard: Wow, Kim, what a joyous, beautiful, magical night! Wishing you and Kris all the blessings in the world xxVera

Ok, I didn't receive the invite to the wedding - she somehow left me out, and anyway I was busy - but I read that note from Vera on Vera's twitter ;)

What's your dream wedding made up of?

Ice-cream mooncakes from Haagen-Dazs

2011-08-17T08:21:00.000-07:00

I've tried creative mooncakes (those yummy champagne or bailey's flavoured ones, for instance), and what sounds even more fascinating would probably be these ice-cream mooncakes from Haagen-Dazs.

Forget lotus paste and yolk, these pretty mooncakes are created with luscious Haagen-Dazs ice-cream, in four different flavours - Chocolate & Vanilla, Cookies & Cream, Strawberry and Coffee & Macadamia Nut (this sounds especially yummy).

"How about the yolk?" you may ask. Surely, a mooncake simply feels incomplete without a yolk or two! Well, cut the ice-cream mooncake in half and you'd see a beautiful Mango Sorbet "yolk centre".

These ice-cream mooncakes from Haagen-Dazs is available from now till 12 September at $18 per piece. I haven't tried any of them but they sure sound delicious.

Akari Japanese Dining & Bar launches new Sunday a la carte buffet

2011-08-09T07:07:00.000-07:00

Editor's note (updated 7 Sep): Do take note that this promotion is now only available on Saturday and the restaurant will be closed on Sundays. The promotion remains the same though!

I was supposed to go for Japanese food today, but ended up with German food. This leaves me with a strong sashimi and sushi craving!

So pardon me while I type and drool while typing this, because the images below will make you crave for nihon ryori as well.

Akari Sunday ala carte buffet.

Fit for a king... or queen! :)

Charles LaFitte champagne

Akari Japanese Dining & Bar, located at Marina Bay Financial Centre, is offering Sunday à la carte buffet with an option for free flow of Charles LaFitte champagne (this is an award winner champagne with a high wine critic scores of 85/ 100), wine, beer and sake.

Sashimi.

The buffet is available every Sunday for both lunch (12pm-3:00pm) and dinner (5pm-9pm), and offers a selection of over 50 Japanese dishes such as all-you-can-eat premium sushi and sashimi, and Akari’s authentic Japanese favourites including Soki Tatsuta Age (deep fried, soft tender pork rib), Unagi Tofu, Gindara Saikyou Yaki (black cod with miso) and Saikoro Steak.

Desserts galore.

Lunch Buffet (12nn-3pm)
$68++ per person
$98++ per person (with free flow Charles LaFitte champagne, wine, beer and sake)
Dinner Buffet (5pm-9pm)
$78++ per person
$128++ per person (with free flow Charles LaFitte champagne, wine, beer and sake)

Bring your children along because one child under 12 eats for free for every two paying adults (additional children will be charged at $15++ each).

Akari Japanese Dining & Bar is located at #01-02 Marina Bay Link Mall. Call 6634-0100 for reservations.

Editor's note (updated 7 Sep): Do take note that this promotion is now only available on Saturday and the restaurant will be closed on Sundays. The promotion remains the same though!

Michael Kors is finally in Singapore!

2011-08-06T06:58:00.000-07:00

There's one huge and awesome fashion brand that isn't in Singapore yet. I'm talking about Michael Kors!

Many of us are already very in love with the timepiece designs available here, but we're still unable get the brand's fashion and bags here. The nearest location we can get Michael Kors fare is probably South Korea and Japan.

The wonderful Michael Kors collection.

Now, all fashionistas can look forward to Michael Kors, which will be opening the first freestanding location in Scotts Square this October. For those who frequent Kuala Lumpur, you can also get Michael Kores ready-to-wear, accessories, and fragrance from Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.

To celebrate the launch of the brand in Singapore, Valiram Group, distributor of Michael Kors in Singapore, held an elegant event at the Boulevard Vue Residential Showroom. I brought Jamie along and bumped into Han there :)

Yay! Han and me.

The clutch in the foreground caught my eye.

Love the bling on those heels.

The MK chocs that everyone wants a picture with :)

Michael Kors, as in THE Michael Kors, will be coming to Singapore this October. Can't wait to see him in person!

Mooncakes to get: From Paradise Group

2011-08-03T08:09:00.000-07:00

Remember Seafood Paradise, where I had the most awesome crab ever? The parent company, Paradise Group, is celebrating mid-Autumn Festival with an array of mini snow skin mooncakes with interesting fillings and traditional classics.

The mooncakes are created and handmade by Executive Pastry Chef Fung Wing Sang and the dedicated team of chefs at Paradise Group. From 15 August to 12 September 2011, these Paradise mooncakes will be available at all Paradise Group outlets islandwide.

So what are some cool mooncakes you can look forward to?

Chocolate-lovers, check out the Dark Chocolate with Black Truffle, and White Chocolate with White Truffle Petite Snow Skin Mooncakes (8 pc per box, S$43). These are super decadent, comes with an alluring scent and has a melt-in-your-mouth texture. A sprinkle of gold dust is sprinkled on top of the mooncakes for extra indulgence.

Truffles goodness!

Fruit-lovers, you'd love the Apple White Chocolate, and Mango White Chocolate Petite Snow Skin Mooncakes (8 pc per box, S$39). If you find mooncakes too "filling", these can make digestion seem easier with the refreshing taste and sweet fragrance. They also come with molten centres, making it great to bite into.

Alcoholics, check out Macadamia Kahlua Dark Chocolate Petite Snow Skin Mooncakes (8 pc per box, S$39). This, I suspect, might be my favourite because I LOVE alcoholic anything! Kahlua, macadamia and chocolate are great complements!

Champagne will go well with this :)

Besides these novel creations, remember to get the traditional mooncakes (4 pc per box, S$45 to S$52) for your parents, parents-in-law, senior colleagues! The baked selection includes White Lotus Paste Mooncake, White Lotus Paste Mooncake with Egg Yolk/s, White Lotus Paste with Assorted Nut and White Lotus Paste with Single Yolk Baked Skin Mooncake.

Timeless selections!

PROMOTIONS

15 August to 21 August 2011
- 25% early bird discount for credit cardholders (from UOB, Citibank, HSBC and OCBC) and Paradise Gourmet card members

22 August to 12 September 2011
- 15% discount for credit cardholders from UOB, Citibank, HSBC and OCBC
- 20% for Paradise Gourmet card members

15 August to 12 September 2011
- 25% discount for bulk purchase of minimum 30 boxes and above

If you can't get enough of mooncake-related news, check out the ones from Szechuan Court too!

Club Monaco launches Fall 2011 Collection

2011-08-01T07:31:00.000-07:00

The media launch of the Club Monaco Fall 2011 Collection was held at the very beautiful Graze, at 38 Martin Road. The restaurant-bar was converted into a spacious and elegant "boutique" that day, housing the latest offering of the international brand.

Images from the lookbook placed on the counter like criminal evidence, left behind by guilty fashionistas.

This season, look forward to styles that are inspired by the diversity in the fashion of the 60s, and the sophistication that the 70s fashion presents. Colours in the collection are warm - cinnamon, berry and gem tones.

The model is sporting one of my favourite looks - perfect for work and look put together effortlessly.

You can also look forward to bohemian-styled dresses that are super lightweight, as well as heavier pencil skirts with leather pockets.

Bumped into Jamie there!

The accessories are vintage-inspired. Very timeless.

See picture below, rack on the left. Those are Club Monaco bed wear that look super comfy and some are pretty enough to wear out, I think!

Love how the natural light shines through the ceiling-to-floor windows, onto the racks of clothes.

One of my favourite pieces.

Love the prints and how it's longer at the back.

Club Monaco Fall 2011 Collection is available at B1-12, Takashimaya Shopping Centre.

Latest fashion obsessions

2011-07-31T08:22:00.000-07:00

This is a gift from my brother. I've been wearing it quite a lot, especially if I'm wearing very simple outfits. It's the easiest way to spruce it up.

Paez (pronounced "Pice", rhymes with "nice) shoes, gift from HM. They're the MOST comfy shoes I've ever worn in my life!

It's an Argentina brand that has just came to Singapore. The Argentine people are the first to create "alpargatas", a type of casual shoe that's first introduced to the country by Basque immigrants in the 19th century. The sole, in particular, is super soft - it makes me feel like I'm stepping on carpet/carpet grass all the time.

By the way, when you try on the shoes, make sure they feel very, very snug. That's because the shoes will eventually stretch and go with the shape of your feet after you walk in them for around 6-8 hours. Find out more about Paez here.

Another pair of shoes that I acquired recently was from this brand called Carattere.

Peekaboo!

Mismatched shoes! Aren't they the cutest thing!

Guess who I saw at MBS?

2011-07-23T22:28:00.000-07:00

Guess who I bumped into when I was at Marina Bay Sands around a week ago?

Yes, you're not seeing things... It's Raul Meireles and Jonjo Shelvey from Liverpool FC, who were in town for their 2011 Asia Tour. I went up to them, asked them for pictures, they obliged, and even bought me a drink later. They are cool like that.

Raul and Jonjo playing at the MBS infinity pool

Another shot of them playing ball.

The Liverpool hunks posing in a shot for me.

A sneaky shot of them at an interview.

Okay I lied. These pictures were sent to me by a PR from MBS. But hey, a girl can dream, can't she? Plus, I know you guys will be interested in them, no? :)

Tianpo's Borealis Collection at the Singapore International Jewellery Show

2011-07-23T22:01:00.000-07:00

I have to commend Tianpo for their ultra stylish designs. Last year, at the Jewelfest, their bejewelled hair accessory took my breath away.

This year, at the Singapore International Jewellery Show (SIJS), held from 27-31 July at the Marina Bay Sands, they're unveiling the Borealis™ collection.

The collection is named after the Roman goddess of the dawn, Aurora. The aurora borealis (or Northern lights) is one of the most magnificent naturally occurring phenomenon.

Inspired by the aurora borealis, the highlight of the collection is the beautiful yellow gold Borealis necklace. Embellished with Citrine, Champagne Quartz Green Amethyst, Peridot and Topaz, I think the necklace doesn't overwhelm but is chic and statement-making. And I think that's what all precious jewellery should be like - it shouldn't look like it's wearing you, instead of the other way round.

The Borealis™ necklace will be available exclusively at Booth H02 during SIJS 2011at a special price of $16,500 (U.P. $23,580). It will be showcased alongside other wearable TianPo jewellery inspired by nature’s abundance of exquisite gems and precious metals.

Get an anniversary ring from Goldheart Pure Blue Collection

2011-07-23T21:44:00.000-07:00

I remember writing A LOT about engagement rings and wedding bands when I was writing for Female Brides and Her World Brides. Yet, little has been heard about anniversary rings - well, at least for me. So it's interesting to know that Goldheart's latest Pure Blue Collection features anniversary rings.

Anniversary rings are given to each other to commemorate the years you have shared, the commitment and fidelity you've given each other, and a pledge to continue to stay in love for the days to come. I think this is kinda cool and a girl wouldn't probably mind having another stone in her jewel collection :p

From left: Engagement ring, a pair of wedding bands and an anniversary ring from Goldheart's Pure Blue Collection

The key stone in this collection is blue sapphire, which is symbolic of fidelity and purity. The colour blue also represents the grandeur of two souls that come together as one. In terms of design, lots of thought has also been put inside. Every ring in the Pure Blue Collection features an embedded sapphire in the inner shank (yes, inner, not outside that's shown to the rest of the world). This represents a promise that needs no words, and as a personal and intimate testimony to a couple's love.

At a Catholic wedding, the wedding rings are an important part of the ceremony. The priest will bless the rings, and the rings are a sign of love and fidelity that the couple promise each other. And a promise that goes something like, "With this ring, I wed thee" is given. As a true blue Catholic girl, picking a pair of rings that has deep significance is extremely important. It will, after all, serve as a reminder to you, everyday after you wed, of the vows that were exchanged at the altar.

The Pure Blue Collection also features engagement rings and wedding bands and is available from now at all Goldheart Boutiques islandwide.

Mooncakes to get: From Fairmont's Sze Chuan Court

2011-07-20T08:56:00.000-07:00

I know it's not quite mooncake festival yet. But actually I'm kind of used to "celebrating" Mooncake Festival at this time. You see, magazines writers typically work on the publication two months before the month it's for. In other words, while it's July now, mag writers are working on the September issue (which hits the news-stand in around mid to end-August).

Anyway, now that I'm doing digital publication, it's kinda different. I aim to get the news across to you in the fastest way possible. And I think it kinda makes sense, because if you do purchase mooncakes for your own consumption or as gifts, you SHOULD do a good consideration before purchasing the mooncakes that you want.

I was invited by Fairmont Singapore to the "To The Moon And Back" media party. Held at Ink Bar, the party is really kinda fun. I brought Lingx along with me.

My guest, Lingx, and me!

The star of the night is definitely the creative mooncakes that the chefs at Sze Chuan Court has prepared for us. Created by Chef Mandy Yeo, these mooncakes will be available from 3 August to 12 September.

The mooncake "buffet" spread.

The traditional baked mooncake flavours include:
Olive Kernel in White Lotus Paste ($50 per box, four per box) - A "healthier" choice that feels less oily and has an interesting texture.
Double Yolk in White Lotus Paste ($55 per box, four per box) - Everyone's favourite traditional mooncake. It's not too sweet so you can have more of it.
Single Yolk and Macademia Nuts in White Lotus Paste ($53 per box, four per box) - Besides trying it for the interesting addition of macademia nuts in the mooncake, also check out the unique peach shape that it's made in.
Roasted Pine Nuts in White Lotus Paste ($50 per box, four per box) - This has a nice fragrance to it.
Mini Baked with Yolk in White Lotus Paste ($50 per box, eight per box) - Traditional mooncake in fun size!

You can also pick four flavours from the above list you like, pack them in one box and enjoy it at $55 per box.

Double Yolk in White Lotus Paste.

The Snow Skin Moon Cake flavours are also amazing. They all come in mini size by the way, so you can easily try a few flavours at the same time. The flavours include:

Durian ($53 per box, eight per box) - This is a new creation to the ensemble this year.
Dark Rocher Chocolate ($50 per box, eight per box) This is also a new creation. Those who enjoy Ferrero Rocher shouldn't miss this.
Rum & Raisin Chocolate Truffle ($52 per box, eight per box) - Like the ice-cream that you love, but a little more subtle and fills you up a bit more.
Champagne Truffle & Chocolate Ganache ($53 per box, eight per box) - My favourite mooncake flavour in the ensemble. Bite into the ultra-soft skin and experience the champagne "bursting" in your palate.
Baileys Chocolate ($52 per box, eight per box) - Probably my second favourite one. Well, I think you could tell that I'm a bit of an alcoholic :p

Or choose any four flavours that you like (except durian) and get eight pieces of them in one box for $53.

Snow skin mooncakes spread.

There were also fringe activities at the party, including the very artistic and talented Mr. Yip who helps you write (or should I say, draw?) your name and tell you what elements can be found in your name.

The amazing Mr. Yip.

Artistic writing.

Chef Mandy also did a demonstration. Someone at the party was impressed, and turned around to tell me, "She completed one mooncake in just 30 seconds!"

Demonstrating the making of a snow skin mooncake.

The chef giving an impressive demonstration.

"It's so easy, everyone can do it!" says the chef.

There was also hand massage available, administered by the therapists from Willow Stream.

Us waiting for our hand massage.

Can you read what the calligraphy says? Our names!

The party, as you can see, was a lot of fun :) Oh, the photographers at the party also took a lot of pictures of us, and get them printed immediately for us to bring home as souvenirs.

I'd also like to highlight the creativity and beauty of the boxes that the mooncakes come with.

Beautiful boxes.

A very thoughtful touch.

Look at the details!

Love the intricate details!

For enquiries, you could call the Mooncake Hotline (Yes, you didn't misread this. They have a special hotline because they're that popular) at 6338-8785 or email fairmontsingapore.mooncakes@fairmont.com or fax your orders to 6338-8529. You can also get more information at http://www.fsfestiveorders.com from 3 August.

###

I will be sharing about other mooncakes over the next few days. Watch this space!

Fisherman's Market comes to Singapore, at The Central

2011-07-18T07:26:00.000-07:00

Fisherman's Market, a premium Japanese-Western seafood buffet restaurant is finally in Singapore, at The Central. The Japanese company that runs this brand has more than 110 food concepts all over the world.

I was invited for its media tasting last week and the first thing that struck me is the massive size of the restaurant. The two-storey restaurant takes up 10,000 sqft in total, and can seat a total of about 360 people.

Another impressive feature of the restaurant is that it boasts of a river view. Most "window seats" that restaurants offer don't really have a very good view, but what Fisherman's Market has is pretty good.

I invited Thaddeus to be my guest at the tasting. He has a blog too, do visit him and show him some love.

And here's me, looking slightly fatigued after a hard day's work.

Let me bring you around the restaurant and have a look at the spread it offers:

The above is the cheese fondue, an a la carte item at the restaurant. Simply make an order by placing pegs that are found on your table at the ordering counter, and the dish will be served hot to your table. The cheese fondue is also one of my favourites at the restaurant. The warm cheese seems to go really well with any food (yes, it's not just limited to the bread, broccoli and potato that it's served with!) so go on and try dipping other foods into it.

No self-respecting seafood restaurant is complete without a good spread of sushi and sashimi. These are made on-the-spot by native Itamae (or sushi chefs). If you're looking for fanciful or "creative" sushi, Fisherman's Market may not be the place to go to, but you'll definitely be satisfied by the all-time-favourites.

Another not-to-miss item at the spread is the DIY ice-cream. I know it sounds really ridiculous to some since ice-cream is not something that most people will look out for at a seafood buffet restaurant. The ice-cream is super creamy and soft and there are many different types of toppings available

By the way, if you're thinking of going for its buffet, remember it's only available for dinner, and it's priced at $39.90++ (Mon-Thu) and $49.90++ (Fri-Sat). At lunch, it offers an a la carte menu consisting of sandwiches and appetizers.

Fisherman's Market is located at #01-15 and #02-17 The Central.

Ramadan Iftar Delights at Asian Market Café

2011-07-15T21:38:00.000-07:00

This year's Ramadan is from 1 August to 30 August. And as our Muslim friends break fast in the evening, why not join them at Fairmont's Asian Market Café where the usual buffet spread is made more interesting with Middle Eastern and Malay fare.

Buffet spread at Asian Market Café

Dessert spread at Asian Market Café.

Look forward to authentic and traditional Middle Eastern specialities such as Harira (Moroccan Soup with Tomato, Lentil and Chickpea); Fattosh Salad (Mixed Vegetables with Pita Bread); “Ouzi-style” Lamb Leg from the live carving station; and Samak Sayyadiyah (Pan-roasted Gulf-style Fish Fillet with Spiced Arabic Cumin Rice).

Ramadan dishes

Besides the more exotic cuisine, you can also feast on delectable Asian highlights comprising Ayam Berempah (Malaysian Roasted Spiced Chicken); Sayor Lemak (Malaysian Mixed Vegetables); and Tiram Daging Lembu (Malaysian Black Pepper Beef). End your sumptuous dining experience with a variety of sweet indulgence such as Umm Ali (Egyptian Bread Pudding); Muhallabi (Turkish Milk Pudding); and Kadayif (Turkish Baked Pastry with Sugar Syrup and Fresh Cream).

Ayam Berempah

Sayor Lemak

Tiram Daging Lembu

The sumptuous buffet is complemented by live action stations and salad, appetiser and dessert stalls - usual highlights at Asian Market Café. To further enhance the traditional breaking fast experience at Asian Market Café, television monitors will be placed around the restaurant indicating Salat al Isha (the time to break fast) and each table will receive a complimentary plate of dates, dried fruits and a serving of Ayran (Yogurt Drink) for diners. To provide additional convenience for diners and guests, Fairmont Singapore offers separate male and female prayer areas adjacent to Asian Market Café. If you ask me, I think that's very thoughtful of the hotel.

Live Carving Station

The Ramadan Buffet is only available for dinner and is available at $55++ per adult / $30++ per child (6 – 12 yrs)

Asian Market Café is located at Level 2, Fairmont Singapore.
Lunch: Daily – 12:00pm to 2:30pm
Dinner: Sun to Thu – 6:00pm to 10:00pm / Fri, Sat & PH – 6:30pm to 10:30pm
High Tea: Sat, Sun & PH – 12:30pm to 4:30pm

Call +65 6431 6156 or email dining.singapore@fairmont.com for reservations.

Duchess Catherine and her recent fashion choices

2011-07-15T21:06:00.000-07:00

Bet nobody has gotten enough of K Middy, the latest member of the royal family.

The duchess has been really busy, appearing at several events with Prince William. And the media has their eyes on her and her fashion choices.

Jimmy Choo appears to be one of her favourite brands, as she picked the understated, classic and elegant brand's dresses for several of the events she attended last week.

On her recent trip with the prince to Los Angeles and Prince Edward Island, she was in a timeless powder pink Jimmy Choo shift dress. I'm loving the asymmetrical neckline and the interesting draping that spruced up the understated dress. The cut also shows off her athletic arms very well.

Credit: Getty Images.

While at LA, Prince William and Duchess Kate also attended the 2011 BAFTA Brits to Watch gala. She appeared in an ethereal lilac dress by Alexander McQueen, with VAMP in Champagne Glitter, a pair of strappy heels from the CHOO 24:7 series. She complemented her shoes with the Jimmy Choo UBAI clutch in a similar colour.

Credit: Getty Images

Fashion tips to pick up:
#1 If you're going for understated elegance, choose dresses that have an interesting detail so the getup won't look boring.
#2 You can never go wrong with matching your shoes with your bag.

What do you like Duchess Kate's fashion picks?

Juicy Couture Fall 2011 Collection: Picks of the pack

2011-07-13T07:01:00.000-07:00

Think Juicy Couture and you'd probably think of sweet, feminine apparel and accessories. Its Fall 2011 collection, however, carries a bit of rebellion and rock and roll.

This collection features bold colours - a perennial favourite of Juicy fans, plus cropped cardigans, silk blouses with dramatic blouses and pretty jackets.

If I get to pick anything from the collection to wear for an entire work week, here are what I'll choose:

Mix-it-up Monday:

Floral dress meets tailored jacket - shows who's boss while still looking like a lady.

Tough-and-rough Tuesday:

I think the scarf adds an interesting touch to the entire outfit.

Well-heeled Wednesday:

Bags in bold colours help spruce up a dull-looking outfit.

Totally-hot Thursday:

It appears like the nautical look is still in style. And this is so casual-chic.

Fair-and-fine Friday:

This can take you from the boardroom to the ballroom.

The collection is available at Juicy Couture from July 2011.

Which is your favourite look?

10 at Claymore presents Plates of Pleasure - Thrill of the Grill

2011-07-12T07:52:00.000-07:00

10 at Claymore is Pan Pacific Orchard's signature restaurant and it's famous for its Blackmore Full Blood Wagyu Beef, which has a marbling score of 9+. Fyi, the highest rating for wagyu is 11, so 9+ is a very rare and impressive score.

I was there to sample its latest Plates of Pleasure menu. This is an a la minute menu that the bistro provides on top of its regular spread. It changes once every two months and is served straight from the kitchen when you order it. The July-August menu is called "Thrill of the Grill" and consists of five items: US Petite Black Angus with Malbec Reduction, Blackmore Wagyu Patty with peppered gravy and St. Louis “Fingering” Pork Rib glazed with Vintage BBQ sauce served with Cajun-Fat Chip, Prawn “Fleur de Sel” with Mango Ensenada and Chilli Lemongrass Drizzle and Aussie Farm-Raised Lamb with Sweet Plum Jus.

Plates of Pleasure - Thrill of the Grill

Of them, my favourite was the US Petite Black Angus. The slightly charred angus steak is juicy, tender and very flavourful. The Boyfriend (who was my guest at the tasting) also liked the Wagyu Patty, however, I found it a little tough and "synthetic" for my liking.

Besides the seasonal Plates of Pleasure menu, you should also check out the restaurant's live oysters and lobsters. These are fresh and naturally sweet. I particularly enjoy the lobsters when seasoned with wasabi mayonnaise.

The dessert spread, while not exactly extensive, is of superb quality. Remember to check out the cakes, macaroons and chocolate fondue!

Taken with my phone :)

10 at Claymore is located in Pan Pacific Orchard. For reservations, call 6831-6686 or email eat.sgo@panpacific.com. Dinner is available at $48++ per person, and brunch at $52++ per person.

Which item on the buffet spread do you look forward to most?

Singapore Food Festival 2011 starts its run on 15 July

2011-07-10T09:08:00.000-07:00

Singapore Food Festival 2011 is coming! It returns for the 18th year and will run from 15 July to 24 July. This year's theme is "Curry and Spices" and you can look forward to tasting flavourful Singaporean dishes, attending masterclasses by famous chefs and more!

Foodies will be happy to know that there will be more than 60 food stalls and over 100 participating F&B outlets from the surrounding malls.

The core events are really interesting, featuring gastronomic adventures that will take place in the water, on land and in the sky!

Tiffin Cruise - Cruise along Singapore River and feast on curries and dishes infused with spices, as well as the Singapore skyline. The food, such as the Naan (Indian flat bread) will be served on board in a tiffin carrier - nostalgic, huh? After the cruise, you'd get to keep the tiffin carrier as a momento too.

Heritage Trail @ Little India - Since the theme of this year's SFF is Curry and Spices, I guess it makes absolute sense to do a Little India food trail. Sign up for this if you're interested in learning how to make your own spice blend, and to find out more about the unique ingredients and kitchenware found in Little India. Finally, participants can observe a cooking demonstration by a Masterchef, and then enjoy lunch at an Indian restaurant.

Spice and Canapes in the Sky - Time to fly. Register for this culinary experience at the Singapore FLyer and learn from celebrity chefs about the tricks to enhancing flavours, colours and the nutritional value of canapes by using spices cleverly. As a finale, tuck into the canapes paired with fine wines, and enjoy the panoramic sunset view of the city.

To mark the end of the SFF, a "Longest Table" event will be held at Little India, along Race Course Road on 23 July. Diners will be treated to a sumptuous buffet spread inclusive of a free flow of chilled beer, wine and refreshment, and be part of breaking the Guinness World Records by constructing the world's longest table at 120 metres long. President Nathan will also be making a special appearance to launch and sign 30 copies of cookbook that features favourite dishes of Singapore's past and present ministers, professionals and celebrities. This may be one of President Nathan's last appearance as Singapore's president, so it's a good chance to meet him in person!

For more information, visit http://www.singaporefoodfestival.com.sg and register early!

Will you be going for SFF2011?

Seafood Paradise opens at Changi Airport Terminal 2

2011-07-10T08:54:00.000-07:00

My last trip to Hong Kong was a business trip, so everything was really rushed. In the end I didn't manage to eat dim sum while I was there, and so I decided to visit a dim sum restaurant at the airport right after I've checked in my luggage. I was alone and I know how tough it'll be to order dim sum without having anyone to share with. But I didn't care. I even took pictures of myself eating dim sum.

(I almost missed my flight because I was indulging too much in the meal, but that's another story for another day.)

So I know how it must be like for business tourists, or even regular tourists, who want more Singaporean fare before they leave. And they can now enjoy "tz char" dishes at Seafood Paradise, which has opened another branch at Changi Airport Terminal 2.

At the media tasting session, we got to sample some of the new creations that were whipped up by the chef to celebrate the opening of the Changi Airport (and Senja-Cashew Community Club) outlet.

The first dish we tried was the Homemade Teochew Prawn Roll ($8.80 per serving):

Homemade Teochew Prawn Roll

It's super crispy on the outside and what's interesting is that its contents (which include prawns) is so juicy and succulent that it reminds me of really good dim sum.

Curry Red Snapper Fish Head ($28 per portion) was next:

Curry Red Snapper Fish Head

This has got to be my favourite dish at the tasting. I'm not exaggerating when I say that this must be the best curry fish head I've tried. It's an original creation by Seafood Paradise and I really love the fragrance of the curry and the sweetness of the fish. It's also commendable that the vegetables that accompanied the fish retained their crunch and freshness.

Venus Clams in Sweet & Sour Sauce (S - $18, M- $27, L- $36):

Venus Clams in Sweet & Spicy Sauce

If you love Singaporean Chilli Crabs, you'll probably like this dish, which is essentially venus clams doused in the sauce that you'll usually find with chilli crab. I wouldn't say that the combination is perfect, so it isn't my favourite dish, but the clams are fresh, which really helped to ensure that the dish wouldn't go too wrong.

This is the Crispy Kang Kong with Cuttlefish in Homemade Sauce (S- $14, M - $21, L -$28):

Crispy Kang Kong with Cuttlefish in Homemade Seafood Sauce

This is a very unique dish - seriously nothing like I've ever tried before. The crispy kang kong reminds me of the Towkay Neo seaweed snack, except that it's a lot less salty and even more addictive. This is a dish that I will definitely recommend when you visit Seafood Paradise.

Finally, the Signature Creamy Butter Crab served with buns (seasonal price):

Signature Creamy Butter Crab

Huge, succulent Sri Lanka Crabs doused in thick, rich, creamy sauce that's concocted with evaporated milk, curry leaves and white pepper. This spells "sin, sin, sin" over and over but the pleasure is worth all the pain, people! This best-selling dish is one of the greatest reasons why Seafood Paradise was able to rise of fame and expanded from one restaurant in Defu Lane to four branches island-wide.

Chilled Lemongrass Jelly in Lemonade ($4.50):

Chilled Lemongrass Jelly in Lemonade

Complete the meal with a dessert like this to add some lightness to the culinary experience. The smooth, refreshing dessert is topped with biji Selasih (basil seeds) for added texture and a squeeze of lime for a touch of zest.

Seafood Paradise is available at the following outlets:
91 Defu Lane 10, #01-01 Swee Hin Building, Tel: 6487 2829
#01-01, Singapore Flyer, Tel: 6336 5101
#02-01 Senja-Cashew Community Club, (located opposite Bukit Panjang Plaza), Tel: 6766 9813
#036-059 Level 3 Terminal 2, Singapore Changi Airport, Tel: 6214 9655

Visit www.seafoodparadise.com.sg for more information.

Flowers, flowers everywhere

2011-07-06T07:45:00.000-07:00

It looks like the jewellery world is inspired by flowers and other pretty things found in the garden this season.

If you want to splurge, check out Dior's collection:

If you want a steal, see what Lee Hwa Jewellery has to offer:

What flower do you want to wear as a jewellery?

Seeing double! Two Campo Marzio pens!

2011-07-06T06:57:00.000-07:00

For my birthday, friends from two different social groups bought me the same present.

Campo Marzio pens!

I made an "announcement" on Facebook, reminding my friends not to get me any beauty products (because I really have too many of them). So I guess, my writer background gives them the idea of buying me a really good pen :)

Both have different styles - which style would you prefer?

Boathouse at Fullerton

2011-07-06T06:49:00.000-07:00

French cuisine by Singaporean chef.
No. GOOD authentic French cuisine by Singaporean chef.
The reason why Chef Jonathan of Boathouse can pull that off is because he was trained in classical French cooking in France.

Some interesting dishes:

Looks like soil? It's edible!

The "soil" came in a pot like this. It's sweet, by the way.

Truffles, anyone?

While this is a fig crepe, those who like figs will probably be disappointed because the taste of fig isn't very apparent.

Fig pie

Grilled Norwegian Scallop

My favourite dish from the media tasting session has to be the Grilled Norwegian Scallop. They're huge, thick, juicy and very succulent. The tomato bits that come together with it also adds a lot of zest to the taste.

Boathouse is located at #03-01, The Waterboat House, 3 Fullerton Road.
Call 6538-9038, or email enquiries@boathouse.com.sg for reservations and enquiries. Visit www.boathouse.com.sg for more information.

Opening hours:
Lunch – Monday to Friday, 12.00pm to 2.00pm
Dinner – Monday to Saturday, 6.30pm to 11.00pm
Brunch – Sunday, 11.00am to 3.00pm

Do you like French cuisine?

Paradise Pavilion at Marina Bay Financial Centre

2011-07-06T06:34:00.000-07:00

Any dim sum lovers here?

My hand goes right up. Out of all types of Chinese cuisine, my favourite has to be dim sum. They're great for sharing and are so yummy.

I attended the media tasting for Paradise Pavilion some time ago and here are some of the fare that I tried:

The words "Bo Luo" actually means "pineapple", but most bo luo bao doesn't come with pineapples. These ones do though! Pineapples, bacon and peking duck fills the fluffy and lightly-salted buns.

Bo Luo Bao

What the restaurant is really known for is its super authentic Peking Duck. This is also one of the best that I've tried since the last time I ate the dish in Beijing. Eat it while it's hot individually or by wrapping it and feel the duck skin literally melt in your mouth while the fragrance fill the palate.

Peking Duck

The siew mai skewers are also something that I found interesting at the restaurant. Cantonese food with Japanese styled cooking.

Siew Mai skewers

Desserts wise, the crispy man tou goes very well with the vanilla ice-cream. Think of it as a "Chinese" version of the brownie with ice-cream - the brownie is replaced with the man tou.

Crispy Custard Man Tou with Vanilla ice-cream

Paradise Pavilion is located at #02-01 Marina Bay Financial Centre. Call 6509-9308 or visit www.paradisegroup.com.sg for more information.

Opening Hours:
Lunch: 11.30am – 3pm (Monday to Friday) / 11.00am – 3.30pm (Weekends and Public Holidays)
Dinner: 6pm – 11pm daily

What's your favourite dim sum?

Melting Pot buffet at Holiday Inn (Outram): review

2011-07-03T04:10:00.000-07:00

It's the first time I've been to Holiday Inn and I was at Melting Pot for its buffet lunch.

My first impression is that the hotel looks extremely 90s. Imagine a Channel 8 drama that's filmed shortly after Zoe Tay won Star Search. The plot is a virtuous wife goes for high tea with her spendthrift friend for the first time and unfortunately witnessed her husband going up the glass lift with a super pretty woman. Yes, this will be the exact place they'd have sourced and filmed at.

But I don't actually mind it. In fact, I found the ambience rather cosy. The Melting Pot is more a family hang out than say, where yuppies go to after work. Or at least that's the vibe I got when I visited it today (a lazy Sunday afternoon).

The spread is mainly Mediterranean, although they do offer some Asian fare.

These are a few picks from the salad and starters bar:

Tomato with cheese, mushrooms with olive oil, grilled veg and jellyfish.

They offer around five types of sauces for you to pick from.

My fave from the spread is the pasta, which is cooked instantly. The other cheesy selections (e.g. veg lasagne) also make for great comfort food.

Ultra cheesy comfort food!

Meat-lovers won't be deprived.

Satay, sirloin, oxtail, mashed potato.

Here's a peek at the (round) table I'm at, the (free flow) Sprite with grapefruit and the rest of the restaurant.

I know of people who go straight for the seafood counter at buffets, because they know that's where they can get a bang for their buck. But at Melting Pot, don't bother. The seafood really isn't their best offering. In fact, they're just bland and obviously not too fresh. Go for two more servings of the wonderful pasta instead.

Masala prawn, and (not so fresh) prawns and shellfish.

Chinese food.

They don't have a huge dessert offering, but it's decent. There were at least eight different types of cakes, two types of ice-creams with several toppings, and waffles.

If you only have stomach for one, go for the waffles. You might have to join a short queue (because they only have one waffle maker, 48 squares (as in the small square) each time only, but waffles are just yummy with maple syrup and butter.

Cakes and waffles.

Zoe Tay will see her onscreen husband going up that glass lift. Can you see it?

And this is her spendthrift friend.

The Melting Pot is located at Level 4, Holiday Inn (Outram Road). And its lunch buffet would make you poorer by less than $30.

Do you know of any good and affordable buffet venues?

TCC - what to order

2011-07-03T03:44:00.000-07:00

TCC is definitely one of my fave cafes to hang out at, if I also want to have a meal. It offers the perfect ambience to chill out with friends, and serve good food to boot.

When it comes to pasta, my fave has to be the Mentaiko Pasta with Salmon Tataki.

The base is rather creamy, but the pasta isn't doused in the sauce - if you know what I mean. The salmon is prepared in tataki style (a Japanese way of preparing fish, where they grill it for a short while and marinate it) - not my favourite way of savouring salmon (I prefer smoked or sashimi) but it does add interesting texture to the dish. The sunny side up doesn't taste impressive, but you got to admit that it makes the dish look more joyous to look at. I have a soft spot for sunny side up (and scrambled eggs), so whenever I see a dish topped with one, I'll have a tendency to order it.

The new Splash & Shrooms Gratin doesn't disappoint too. While the super cheesy dish may make you tired after a while, the sauce is indeed delightful when you first taste it. The vegetables also break the montonous taste of cheese, offering a more refreshing "break" in between bites.

But main courses aren't what I'm usually after when I'm at TCC. I seriously can't get enough of their sandwiches. And the #1 on my list is the Smoked Salmon Avo-bayon. As you may have read on this blog, I LOVE smoked salmon. And I LOVE avocado. So this combination is perfect for me. The sabayon sauce that it's topped with is delightful. I love the sour and zesty taste from the lemon rind in the sauce. The wheat bread that sandwiched the contents also adds a lot of character to the dish.

A dish that feels "less healthy" but also very enjoyable is The Beef D'luxe. The star of this dish is obviously the beef patty, and it's really yummy.

Meat-lovers could also check out The Veal Thing, which is made up of not just one, but two mega sausages. The meat is really tender, compared to most sausages, so it's more succulent than chewy.

If you're with a huge group and their up for more food, try the Prawn Cheese-A-Toast. While the base is actually bread, it taste more like... pastry. Another snack that I'd recommend for sharing is the Shrooms Bite (I haven't got a picture, though).

I can't really drink coffee (which is really a pity) but this is one of the fave options of most of my friends - the Hazelnut Latte. I've taken a sip of it, and like how the fragrance of hazelnut lingers subtly in your palate after each sip.

So you've heard I don't really drink coffee, which is why I only have four pages of the drink menu to to look at and select from. One of the drinks that I often order is the Peach Me Up, a super refreshing drink that also looks super pretty.

TCC is running a 1-for-1 promotion recently. I'm not too sure when it's ending but do check it out while it's still available!

What do you usually order at TCC?

Global Kitchen at Pan Pacific Hotel

2011-07-01T21:16:00.000-07:00

If you can't make up your mind on what cuisine to go for, check out Global Kitchen. It is so called because it offers cuisine from all over the world (except Russian, complained one of my colleagues).

It's interesting because, instead of having different "sections" for different types of food, foods of varied origins are placed next to each other. So, rosti is placed next to chicken rice and tom yam soup near mushroom soup.

We were there for the interns' farewell and I liked the cosy and quiet setting. We managed to get a round table that's slightly "cordoned" from the rest of the restaurant by curtains.

My second helping:

Indian, Cantonese, Singaporean, Mediterranean, Italian foods. Could you tell which is which?

This is what another colleague had on her plate. I'm not a fan of seafood so gave the following a miss.

Seafood!

They had a decent selection of desserts there. Yes, and a chocolate fondue.

There's nothing like desserts to make the meal complete.

All of us!

I'd say that the overall experience was pretty good. The food is tasty. I just wish that had more variety, because compared to the buffet places that I really like, such as Melt the World, Carousel and Todai, going around to sample everything they offer is really too effortless - and that's not a good sign for a buffet restaurant. However, they're running a UOB promotion at the moment, offering 20% off the bill, so it's quite a steal.

Global Kitchen is located at Pan Pacific Hotel, Level 3.

Which is your favourite buffet restaurant?

Tonkichi Japanese Restaurant at Orchard Central

2011-06-25T22:47:00.000-07:00

The Boyfriend planned to take me to another Japanese restaurant for my birthday treat, but I decided against it because the food that was shown on the menu doesn't look really good. We went around Orchard Central and I decided to walk into Tonkichi Japanese Restaurant because it looked so pretty and the menu looked good.

I felt like I was really in Japan (and I should be tomorrow if not because my trip was cancelled :( )

I told The Boyfriend to take the background but he included me in the pic as well.

We started the meal with chawanmushi, which I love (compared to other sides). I suspect this actually belonged to the set meal that The Boyfriend ordered, but I get to have it anyway! HAHA. Because I'm the birthday girl, yeah?

The food doesn't come with most of the sauces. They're available at the side so you can choose the amount you want to put.

Different sauces.

The ramen set comes with a ramen of your choice, a katsu of your choice and a side of your choice.

This the ramen set that I ordered.

The Boyfriend likes my ramen, but I prefer Marutama (click to see my post on it).

The tonkatsu ramen I ordered.

I chose hire katsu and agedashi tofu.

It came with a huge ladle that is freaking fun to use.

The Boyfriend's set looked even more sumptuous.

This is the set that The Boyfriend ordered.

This is my fave from his set. Grilled to perfection!

Grilled cod.

The sashimi served there is super fresh and creamy. I would recommend getting a plate of sashimi to savour.

Sashimi don.

A sumptuous spread.

We are gluttons so we ordered another salmon roll. And we didn't regret it because it was sooooo good.

Grilled salmon sushi.

The bills came up to about $90+

Then we walked over to KPO just opposite Orchard Central. Love the music there.

KPO

Drinks to end the day off.

Chardonnay for me and Heineiken for him.

How do you usually celebrate your birthday?