Oasia Hotel Singapore: 1st Year Anniversary Party & Staycation!
Hot on the heels of our blog post on The Chewys’ very first Singapore staycation, we have lined up another mega blog post filled with many photos taken during the 1st Year Anniversary Party and staycation at Oasia Hotel! The party was very fun and lively; with lots of cocktails and chocolates to go around. As for the staycation, we are summing up our experience in three words: awesome, impressive and exclusive! :D
Oasia Hotel is situated in the heart of the charming Novena enclave, just a stone’s throw away from shopping malls, Novena Square Velocity and Square 2, as well as the Novena MRT Station. Talk about extreme convenience and accessibility! Since it was a little early for us to check-in, we settled our lunch at Square 2′s Sakae Sushi before crossing the link bridge over to Oasia. At about 2pm, we proceeded straight to Level 22 because that’s where the check-in/check-out is done for Oasia Club rooms or suites guests.
The club room that we stayed in for the night is on the 24th floor, highest being the 25th. The room features understated modern decor, subtle hues of nature-inspired elements and ambient lighting that will soothe one’s senses.
All Oasia Club Room guests will also enjoy very exclusive privileged access to The Living Room and its pool facilities on the 22nd floor, as well as complimentary breakfast, cocktail and all-day coffee, tea, juices, soft drinks and alcoholic drinks at The Living Room, complimentary one piece of suit pressing per stay (non accumulative) and daily newspapers.
Fresh fruits in our room. How nice! :)
There’s even stationery! It’s all the little things and personal touches like these that are both welcoming and intuitive, which left us impressed.
We love listening to music and we were grinning from ear to ear upon seeing the iPod/iPhone docking machine! :D
Most hotel rooms only have like two or three pin power point sockets so it was pleasant to have this USB power socket. One USB cable does the trick of charging all your electronic devices like your camera, mobile phone and MP3 player. At least it works for me! Imagine the hassle of having to bring ten different chargers for all your devices. :P
All Oasia Club rooms are equipped with unlimited broadband access. Here’s misterchewy calling the reception to find out what’s the correct ‘last name’ to key in together with our room number, in order to log onto the WIFI network.
46 inch LED television!
Woots! Complimentary mini bar is rather well-stocked. :D :D :D
If you want a hot drink, there’s also Nespresso coffee-making facilities! :D
Not a fan of coffee? There’s Naturalis tea!
We went, “Whoaaaaa!” In this wardrobe, there are bath robes, bedroom slippers, iron with ironing board, and even a large umbrella! Very thoughtful indeed!
And here comes the part many would be concerned about, other than the bed. Bath tub on the left, rain shower on the right!
I first had the chance to use these bath amenities from Thann when I stayed in one of the hotels in Taiwan. Madly in love with the aromatic wood scent!
Everything that you need, it’s in there! Toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, shaver, showering cap, cotton buds, loofah, etc!
Heh heh heh. You can derive a little bit of fun and excitement from watching your partner shower! :P The blinds can be operated with a simple click in the bathroom.
Same goes for the blinds and shades in the room! We were greeted by a very breathtaking view of the city! Basically, the husband and I just sat on the ledge and admired the sight for a good 10 minutes :) Haha but of course, we had to pull down the blinds after a few minutes because it was getting kinda hot! :P
As we had a couple of hours to kill before the event, Hubby Chewy and I went for a little tour around the hotel! Went to level 8 first.
The swimming pool looks very nice right! I like the ‘feel’!
There’s a jacuzzi too!
The gymnasium is located on level 8 too. Not very big but it has a handful of cardio machine like the treadmill and stationary bike. Those who are on an endurance or strength training regime can make use of the free weights and the all-in-one machine!
And now, level 22! Over here, Oasia Club room guests get to enjoy very exclusive benefits and be pampered like kings and queens!
Tadah! This is The Living Room! Very nice place to chill out!
Here’s a sneak peek of the setup for the event at night! ;)
We pushed past the glass door and stood in awe in front of this very beautiful infinity pool which boasts a magnificent view of the city! Oh man, I wish I could jump right in! Anyway, this is only open to club room guests!
This jacuzzi looks way bigger than the one we saw at level 8!
How relaxing it is to just lie here and enjoy a glass of orange juice as you get your dose of Vitamin D! Just remember to apply sunblock! :P
Hey hey hey! That’s not all to it. Light bites by the pool are available for club guests between 6-8pm at the Club Lounge. If you are like me who gets hungry after a swim, you should rejoice to this! :P
Since the event was scheduled to start at 7pm and we didn’t have time for dinner, we ate a bit from the spread.
We are now ready to party! I love how these glasses are being made use of here. Brilliant!
Some of the early birds that night :P
Very addictive Monbana chocolates from France! I loveeee dark chocolates :D
Pretty Monbana girls who flew over to Singapore as a team!
I met winner of Project Superstar Season 2, Daren Tan Sze Wei!
Turns out that he’s the Sales and Marketing Director of Naturalis! Their products include teas, jams, spreads, honeys and sauces.
The bartender was preparing the welcome drink for everyone, which made use of products from Naturalis.
Summer’s Bouquet is a lovely concoction of vodka, elderflower syrup, Singapore Sling tea, lemon and ice cubes!
I’m sure everybody present that night enjoyed the exclusive Chocholatier Masterclass conducted by Mr Geoffroy Maubon, who’s the first barista of Monbana!
I can’t recall the name of this drink but I loveeee its color very much! My favorite color :P
Next up was the highlight for the night, the unveiling of Oasia’s signature cocktail drink! It has also been very aptly named, “L22“.
Since we were there to celebrate Oasia’s 1st year anniversary, we couldn’t go without a massive birthday cake topped with macarons that brought about surprised gasps from the awe-stricken audience!
We called it a night after singing the birthday song and grabbing a piece of macaron! What a night! :D
Hahaha I kinda sabo-ed misterchewy to be interviewed instead of me doing the job because I’m camera shy! Oops! :P
Back in our room. LOL! I told misterchewy I’m gonna do a test shot and he did this pose. Super cheeky la!
Oh yes, after the event ended, I was feeling kinda hungry and we hopped over to Novena Square. It’s that convenient! Had a craving for sashimi, as usual, and we grabbed some from Cold Storage. Half price somemore. Hahaha!
Feeling very refreshed after a long hot shower! :D
Face masking time for us! I swear we friggin look like Alien Workshop! LOLOLOL.
The bed was way too comfy and we decided to just lie there watching Titantic on our iPad! :D :D :D
I can’t believe I got hungry again towards the end of the movie! Hubby Chewy then suggested that we order something from the supper menu that’s available from 11pm to 5am by calling room service! He had the fries while I was contented with my mushroom soup with truffle oil.
Time for bed! A couple who brushes their teeth together, stays together. Hahaha! :P
We had a very good sleep and woke up to the rhythmic pitter patter of raindrops against the window pane early next morning. :)
Nothing beats lazing in bed with your loved one while listening to music from the iPod docking machine! It was fabulous! We played songs from Rita Ora, Katy Perry, The Wanted, Jayesslee, Jay Chou and many more. :D :D :D
The husband and I have a thing for having breakfast in the hotel. Good thing we remembered to tick the items that we wanted and hung our order on the door knob before we slept the night before.
I don’t have much of an appetite in the morning and settled for the mini pancakes and some cornflakes while misterchewy had a hearty American breakfast with bacon and poached eggs!
Woots! Breakfast is served! No words can explain how blissful we felt :D
That’s all folks! Have a fantabulous weekend and a lovely holiday on Chewsday! :P
Thank you Far East Hospitality and Dice Studio for the kind invitation.
If you have been wondering about Oasia, wonder no more! Click here to enjoy 10% off Oasia Hotel Singapore Weekend Package! :)
Oasia Hotel Singapore
8 Sinaran Drive
Singapore 307470
Tel: +65 6664 0333
Fax: +65 6664 0300
Email: info@oasiahotel.com
Marmalade Pantry at the Stables: A Dose of Countryside Romance
As a newly married young couple, my husband and I are constantly looking out for restaurants that offer romantic atmosphere. Sometimes, especially on special occasions, it’s gonna be more than just cheap and good food. The perfect ambience matters a lot to us and I must say that Marmalade Pantry at the Stables fits the bill. It’s tucked away in the lush greenery of Bukit Timah Saddle Club and you might even catch a glimpse of the horses if you swing by for brunch! As for the food, there were some hits and misses but the overall dining experience was a great one.
We had a few starters for sharing. Just by taking a whiff of the Sweet Red Pepper and Tomato Soup ($10) is enough to whet one’s appetite. I quite liked the strong, tangy flavors.
Mildly salty cheese cubes in this Pan Seared Haloumi ($21) dish went well with the tomato slices. This is not your everyday starter! Highly recommended for cheese lovers.
This doesn’t look like salad, does it? With crispy tortilla and chicken bits drizzled in salsa sauce, I’m sure most of us would love this Mexican Chicken Salad ($22)!
This plate of Crab Caesar ($22) turned out to be my favorite starter of the night! Chunks of crab meat sweetened the deal for this dish.
The Basque Chicken ($30) proved to be well marinated given its tender, juicy texture accompanied by somewhat strong flavours coming through.
I personally found the Pan Roasted Red Snapper ($28) to be mediocre. Something that will fill your stomach but will not leave you impressed.
Same goes for the Fish and Chips. In fact, the breading was a little thick for my liking.
Definitely the star of the night, the Spaghetti Cabonara ($24) was like a godsend just before desserts were served. Coming from a cream-based pasta fan, I might sound biased but I reckon everyone enjoyed this as much as I did! Al dente spaghetti and savoury bacon strips tossed in thick creamy sauce, this is one hell of a dish that everyone must go for.
What I liked most about the Granny Smith and Stem Ginger Pudding ($13) was the salted caramel ice cream!
I didn’t really fancy the Sea Salt Caramel Cheese Cake ($8). Probably would have appreciated it if it was more moist.
I have always had a thing for sticky date pudding! The Sticky Date and Toffee Pudding ($12) gets my vote. It was light, slightly spongy with a chewy kueh-like texture and not exceedingly sweet!
If you don’t already know, Marmalade Pantry’s cupcakes sell like hot (cup)cakes in Singapore!
Psst.. Give the legendary Red Velvet ($4.50) a try, will you? Can’t stomach all that after dinner? You can choose to takeaway these cupcakes! Makes a good breakfast or afternoon snack with tea!
Thank you FoodNews and Marmalade Pantry for the invite.
Pantry at the Stables
55 Fairways Drive
Singapore 286848
Tel: 6467 7748
Opening Hours
Daily
10am – 10pm
New Crocs New You! Hubby Chewy Gets a Transformation!
Hello friends and readers, what is your impression of Crocs footwear? Honestly speaking, I can’t seem to shake the image of the original, classic pair of Crocs off my mind! But that is before I witness before my very eyes, how Hubby Chewy gets a makeover with his new pair of Crocs! :D In recent years, Crocs has transformed from a one shoe company into a brand that carries over 300 shoe styles each season.
Photo credit: Crocs Singapore
Last Saturday, bloggers from the OMY Blog Club were treated to the spectacular Crocs Vivocity Fashion Show which showcased a wide range of both men and women Crocs footwear.
I’m sure our perception of Crocs has changed 180 degrees, in a good way of course! As more and more varieties of Crocs footwear are being paraded out in the market, it’s getting harder to pinpoint which exactly are Crocs!
Crocs are so stylish, you can easily find a perfect pair to go with any outfit!
Here’s your chance at winning a total makeover package valued at USD8,000! Go to the New Crocs New You website, ncny.crocsasia.com, and in 500 words or less, tell the world why you deserve the ultimate makeover. One finalist will be chosen from each participating country. If you are chosen as a finalist, you will be awarded with S$6,000 shopping spree vouchers with a professional stylist. Once you are chosen, share your story with your friends and ask them to vote for you! If you have the most votes, you and a guest will receive round trip tickets and accommodation in a city of your choice*. You will also be sent on a shopping spree with a recognized beauty and style expert. They will then whisk you away to a salon where the New You transformation will begin.
*Terms and Conditions apply. Please visit ncny.crocsasia.com/tnc.php for more information.
For New Crocs New You on the go, you can download the Crocs mobile application, Crocs Mix&Match. This app lets you snap a picture of your outfit, allows you to choose the focus colors, and then matches the best pair of Crocs shoes to coordinate with what you are wearing. Want to try them on? No problem! You can try them on virtually by pointing your phone at your feet. If you love them, then you can purchase them through the application on the Crocs webstore:
iPhone App:
http://itunes.apple.com/sg/app/id496469208?ls=1&mt=8
Andriod App:
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.razorfish.crocs.sg&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5yYXpvcmZpc2guY3JvY3Muc2ciXQ
Amongst the other bloggers, Melissa was one whom I was totally thrilled to meet at the fasion walk! :D
Just by looking at these colorful Crocs on display are enough to brighten up one’s day! :)
I seem to be more attracted to the men’s Crocs collection and thought that misterchewy would look good in this pair of Harborline Men’s Boat Shoe ($149.90)! :)
The Crocs Harborline is a mixture of classic Crocs comfort, style and sophistication. Featuring a leather upper and a croslite material sole this shoe will work for any occasion. The ventilation ports will help keep your feet cool and comfortable and a stylish upper make this the perfect summer time shoe. If you are looking for a comfortable, stylish shoe, the Crocs Harborline is the way to go!
Here’s taking a closer look at The Harborline Crocs™ Shoe Details!
1) Premium full-grain leather upper.
2) Croslite material midsole for lightweight cushioning.
3) Non-marking gum rubber outsole for traction and durability.
4) Medial arch vents for enhanced breathability.
5) Herringbone traction for extra grip on slick surfaces.
Thanks to OMY and Crocs for sponsoring misterchewy’s pair of Harborline! :D
Photo credit: Crocs Singapore
Once again, I would like to thank OMY for this wonderful opportunity to attend the Crocs Fashion Walk which was truly an eye opener.
The Chewys’ First Staycation @ The Porcelain Hotel’s Theme Suite!
Whoohoo! I’m finally blogging about the AWESOME STAYCATION that misterchewy and I had over the long Easter holiday! So what is a ‘Staycation’? Credits to Google: A vacation spent in one’s home country rather than abroad, or one spent at home and involving day trips to local attractions. It was definitely a first for us, and we are not counting our previous stay at Grand Copthorne Waterfront as a staycation because we merely checked in for the night right after our ROM and checked out the very next morning. I somehow realized that there is this ‘staycation trend’ lately, and have always thought that it’s ridiculous to spend money staying in a hotel when you have your own comfortable bed to sleep in. One fine day, I came across The Porcelain Hotel which is a boutique hotel and decided to test out the experience there! Yours truly booked the Queen Executive room for a night and it was also meant to be a surprise for the hubby. I was so excited that I started planning our activities two weeks before! :D :D :D
Hehehe our OOTD was matching leopard prints top and jeans! I don’t really like to wear jeans but this time I made an exception. The name necklace was a gift from the hubby during Valentine’s Day! :D
We woke up really early for this. Brunch at Alkaff Mansion! The place is gorgeous! More photos later :P
Our new iPad! Haha the funny thing is, misterchewy had been pestering me endlessly about it. I didn’t see the point in getting one but gave in anyway. Guess what? He paid for it but it’s mine now because Hubby Chewy said that my BB’s keypad is not functioning properly. :D *Soooo touched* And I love what’s engraved on it! ;)
A glass of freshly squeezed orange juice to kickstart the beautiful Saturday morning! :)
Hubby Chewy knew that he wanted the Alkaff Breakfast Set ($14.80) the moment he had his hands on the menu. He’s decisive like that sometimes! :P
Hungry boy all ready to tuck in! ^_^
I can’t remember when was the last time I had pancakes!
It was an instant pancakes-craving-finally-satisfied moment when I ate the first half of my Banana Hot Cakes ($12.80). Thick, fluffy pancakes drizzled in blueberry sauce with sweet banana slices sandwiched in between, I knew that I did not wake up early that morning in vain. However, my appetite seemed to have shrunk recently and I was struggling to finish the pancakes.
I had planned another outfit but a couple of days before the staycation, I saw this top on display and stood gaping at it. LOL! I grabbed misterchewy’s arms and went, “OMG! Can totally match your t-shirt!”
This is really beautiful! I bet it would be nice to sit here and read a book while enjoying the cool breeze.
The fountain attracted many little kids who happily splashed water with their hands!
This huge rocking chair is way too cute! If only we could have this in our home! :P
Apparently, we couldn’t find anyone to help us take photos and decided to put our camera on self-timer mode.
It started to drizzle right after this shot! Talk about perfect timing.. ;)
We went a little downslope and found ourselves at Telok Blangah Hill Park!
A final self-shot before making our way to the next destination – The Porcelain Hotel at Chinatown! :D :D :D
Photo credits: The Porcelain Hotel
Whoa. Look at this. Stunning isn’t it? I love most of the photos posted on the hotel’s website and facebook page, which led me to the decision in booking a night’s stay here! :)
Check in time is anything after 2pm. We arrived at 12plus and decided to try our luck! And yes, our room was ready! :D
Our Queen Executive room was located on the fifth floor which also happens to be the highest floor. The corridor was really dark and kinda creepy. :S
The reviewers sure weren’t kidding when they commented that the rooms are insanely small. Can you believe that this is an Executive room? This was what greeted us when we opened the door. Like, so in-your-face. Not for the claustrophobic puh-leeze. I was really upset and misterchewy phoned the reception. It turns out that the pictures I saw on their facebook page are taken at the new wing, which is not available yet. Plus there’s no bath tub! *Cheat my feelings* Hubby Chewy checked that we could upgrade to either a room with jacuzzi or the theme suite at an additional $50++ or $80++ per night respectively.
As I was still reeling from shock, Hubby Chewy said, “Ok la let’s go for the best. Theme Suite ok? I treat you to the upgrade.” :D :D :D
The first thing that we saw upon entering was not a bed, but a couch.
Although it’s not written all over my face, I was really stunned to see a staircase in our room! Haha!
Woots! That’s our bed! :D
Our Theme Suite is about 43 square meters. If I didn’t remember wrongly, the Queen Exec is about 13 to 14 square meters. Tremendous difference yo!
There’s free WIFI! Hmm I think this would benefit tourists more.
Photo credits: The Porcelain Hotel
THIS. Yes this made my jaw drop and I actually squealed out loud in excitement. LOL.
The bath tub is situated behind the bed, partitioned by the mirror and basins. So it’s like u can soak yourselves in the tub while enjoying the air-con yo! Machiam hot spring during winter! :D
Haha aiya misterchewy also excited lor. :P
Time to check out the fridge! Heh :P Well, there’s nothing except for two bottles of water. Good thing they chilled it for us!
Coffee, tea or me? Lol.
These hotel bedroom slippers are a must for me!
Another must-have in the hotel – hair dryer!
Like I said earlier, I had our activities all planned out! Decided to go to My Waterway @ Punggol (also known as Punngol Waterway) because it was along the NEL. Seemed like it rained before we arrived!
Haha seriously, we were laughing at this staircase. No idea where or what does it exactly lead to..
“Ahhh! My bus come already!” LOL just for fun.
LOL misterchewy told me to run towards him for this shot! Can you see how happy I am running towards my love? :P
This pose was not exactly a deliberate attempt on my part. I was feeling tired and wanted to sit down.. and hence this! ;) Hehehe misterchewy was teaching me some ‘leading lines’ photography composition and he took this photo to show me an example. Ok la I think got a bit :P
*Cues “Wa meng ti! Wa meng ti!” song* HAHAHA! I should photoshop some dark clouds and a storm but I don’t know how! :P
I think we are starting to look more and more alike. >;_<; LOL!
It was our first time here and we were kinda surprised that there weren’t many people even though it was a weekend. Everyone’s busy shopping, perhaps? We saw a Malay couple having their wedding shots taken there and a couple of joggers. Plus a few lone rangers. That’s about it I think.
I can’t believe I actually shouted, “Look! Got coconut tree!” Damn fail. But it does look like one, no? :P
This was where we deviated from the original plan! We had wanted to go to Chomp Chomp for early dinner like at around 4plus but the place opens only at 6pm! Hungry us found ourselves at Ramen Champion at Iluma :D
Went back to the hotel after dinner. We found another ‘secret’ entrance to the hotel! Nobody mans the counter over here. Haha! It’s me again, holding up the new room card this time :P
The weather was really quite humid and the first thing we did was to take a nice long shower! We used the hotel’s shampoo and bath gel. Bought the facial wash and hair conditioner at Bugis after dinner! Ok the thing that I like is that there is a wide enough ledge where I can place all our toiletries on!
We had been eagerly looking forward to this! A week before, I pulled misterchewy along to choose the scents he like or didn’t like because he’s quite fussy. We went to Marks & Spencer but nothing appealed us. Found this Bodycology Vanilla Cupcake Shower Gel & Foaming Bath in a small shop and the moment we took a whiff, we knew this was the one! Very very candy-sweeeeet-smelling! Vanilla cupcake mah! :P We poured the entire bottle under running water! The water was only slightly hotter than lukewarm. But we enjoyed it a great deal nonetheless! :D
Everyone should indulge in some bubble bath fun with your partner! :P Our tub was able to fit two, even though misterchewy’s legs are quite long and he had to bend his knees a bit. Haha. We talked, laughed, splashed water at each other and sipped beer till our fingers turned into prunes! :D
Ok this photo should come last but nevermind. Just wanted to let everyone know that I really liked how the sunlight shone into our room through the roof! No need for alarm clock! Hahaha.
Hope everyone enjoyed reading about The Chewys’ first staycation! Definitely not going to be our last! Soooo fun! Lalalalala~ We are looking forward to our next staycation! ;)
Seah Soon Teck Teochew Porridge: Warm Comfort Food
Some people associate eating porridge with being ill, but I beg to differ. I grew up eating Teochew muay. No prizes for guessing! My parents used to take my brother and I to various porridge places for dinner and sometimes, supper. We always have a standard variety of dishes that we must order. Psst.. My favorite is braised pig ears! A bowl of piping hot teochew muay is purely my kind of comfort food.
We popped by Seah Soon Teck Teochew Porridge at Changi for dinner. The place was not exactly very easy to locate and parking proved to be a slight challenge. But if you look out for its well-lit signboards, you wouldn’t miss the place!
Media coverage!
Seah Soon Teck serves a wide variety of hot dishes that are replenished throughout their operating hours.
I’m reviewing the Pork Trotter Jelly ($5+) first even though it was served last. This dish is usually eaten right at the beginning of the meal as it’s a cold dish and in fact, an appetiser to some. It was sold out when we arrived and they very kindly prepared it on the spot for us. Because of that, the jelly was not sufficiently solidified. This dish was clean tasting and was not overwhelming with too much pork flavour. Best eaten by dipping the slices into their tangy sauce!
The Stewed Vegetables ($1+) was soft with a little bit of crunch.
I really enjoyed eating the Cai Buey ($1+) which was not too salty and complements the porridge really well!
All of us were full of praises for the Handmade Meatballs ($1 each) which were made with a combination of fish and pork. Taste of pork was more distinguished and I found this to be unique.
These Baby Sotong ($3+) were delightfully chewy and crunchy.
Also a winner, this plate of Braised Pork Intestines ($4+) was full of flavor and I found comfort in sinking my teeth into its rubbery, stretchy texture. Definitely no odour from these! Thumbs up.
I found the Braised Duck Meat ($3+) to be slightly disappointing as the braising wasn’t thick enough for my liking. It could also be that the braising had not been infused well enough into the duck slices. A little tasteless especially when you eat it with a mouthful of muay.
As a Teochew, I love eating steamed pomfret. This was my first time having a Steamed Black Fish ($15 to $18) to go along with muay. It is very limited in stock, and you can choose to have it steamed on the spot upon ordering for an additional $3. Fish was remarkably fresh, with that little bit of oiliness within that was appreciated.
Another awesome Teochew porridge place in our revisit list! Coincidentally, Seah Soon Teck was previously located at Toh Guan, and my parents used to frequent this stall. Note that they are opened till the wee hours in the morning so it’s a perfect place to go to if you want to suppress your hunger pangs after midnight.
Thank you Seah Soon Teck Teochew Porridge for the invitation.
Seah Soon Teck Teochew Porridge (谢顺德潮洲粥)
283 Changi Road
Singapore 419762
Tel: 67490668
Opening Hours:
Daily
11am – 5am
Indulge in “Flavors of the World” at Novotel’s The SQUARE
It was a perfect day to chill and relax when misterchewy and I were out of office on a particular weekday. We took this opportunity to sleep in and later headed off to Hotel Novotel at Clarke Quay for lunch!
Located atop the 7th storey of a prominent business hotel Novotel Singapore Clarke, The SQUARE is a hip and modern restaurant that boosts of an interactive ‘live’ cooking experience where guests can interact directly with the chefs and have their desired dish prepared in the open kitchen, as they move through the different stations.
Recently launched at The SQUARE is a new concept that promises to satiate the taste buds of its customers and patrons. Strategically termed as “Flavours of the World with a Local Twist”, the concept gives foodies a chance to embark on the most delicious journey of their life, tasting food specialties from east to west, without actually leaving Singapore.
The cold selection is dismally limited and there weren’t any oysters to being with. However, fret not as a larger selection will be made available on weekends.
Now, this looks interesting and I was naturally drawn to this section. I think this Claypot idea is a brillant one as it keeps the food hot. Another plus point is that the food gets more flavorful with time!
We sampled the Chicken Fried Rice, claypot style, which was simple and satisfying.
We thought it was odd that we found pieces of mock char siew in the Fried Kway Teow but later found out that this is a vegetarian dish. But honestly, what’s char kway teow without all that lard and cockles?
I figure that the Risotto and Pasta corner would be a big hit. It’s not very often that buffets serve risotto cooked a la minute. Don’t ever leave without trying this! I loved the risotto’s smooth and creamy consistency without being thick and clumpy. If you want some meat to go along with your risotto, parma ham would be a good choice!
And it’s impossible to miss out on everybody’s favorite Laksa! What stood out was not the laksa gravy, which in my opinion was slightly oily, but the smooth and bouncy thick beehoon.
The SQUARE has quite a delightful variety of desserts! Just look at these dainty Muffins in different flavors :)
Raspberry Mousse in a sweet pink shade, anyone?
I would personally recommend the Tiramisu and Durian Pengat. Go for seconds if you can!
Thank you Novotel for the invitation.
The Square Restaurant
Novotel Clarke Quay Singapore (Level 7)
177A River Valley Road
Singapore 179031
Tel: 6338 3333
Lunch:
Adult – $38++
Child – $20++
Senior Citizen – $25 nett
Dinner (Sun to Thu)
Adult – $48++
Child – $30++
Senior Citizen – $30 nett
Dinner (Fri & Sat BBQ Night)
Inclusive of 1 complimentary glass of wine or beer
Adult – $58++
Child – $38++
Senior Citizen – $38 nett
Mambo the Roborovski Hamster :D :D :D
Hello humans! *Waves with my tiny little paw* My human has decided that she needs a little break so I’m here to blog for her! I’m Mambo, the Roborovski hamster. I’ll be celebrating my one year old birthday this May. Don’t forget to buy me loads of sunflower seeds ok? :D
I simply loveeeee sunflower seeds! My human thinks that I suck them all up like a vacuum cleaner. And she gives me more seeds when I look at her with my big round eyes! :P
This is how my home looks like. I used to live here with my brother, Jumbo. We were born at the same time but he passed away when he was only 5 months old :’( We run the wheel together, eat together, play together and we always sleep next to each other. Can you spot me in this picture? :)
This is one of my favorite places at home. My human calls it a ‘playground’. But sometimes, I take a nice afternoon nap here too!
I don’t really know why, but I like to sit around this area as well! It’s kinda funny to see my humans waiting for me patiently to get out of this tunnel.
If I’m in a good mood, I will come out and entertain them. :)
My humans love me and they buy me lots of treats! I like these puddings once in a while.
But I’m not a big eater and can’t finish this in one go. I take a nibble here and there.
Unlike my humans, I’m not exactly a foodie. They buy me dried apples, papaya and mixed vegetables from the pet store but I still prefer the good ol’ sunflower seeds.
I’m shy to admit that I don’t really like spending time in the sand bath! In this photo, I’m being forced to take a bath! :(
Hey! What are you looking at? You can’t expect me to bathe myself with you staring at me like that!
I don’t really like it when my humans carry me! Especially the human boy who’s currently away for his overseas training. He likes to disturb me!
Gaaaaah! There he goes again! Till then, humans! I’m gonna take a nap now. Happy weekend to all! :D
Our 20th Monthsary at Smok’inn Frogz Kitchen
“It feels so great to have you in my life. Looking forward to spending our lives together, forever! <3″
Hello! It’s been a long time since I have written a post on missuschewy.com. Today, on our 20th monthsary, I have decided to hit the keyboard again for this very special day of the month. Since 26th July 2010, 26 has been a number that is close to my heart and it will always be.
As usual, I went to pick up the missus from work and dinner was amongst our plans. The golden question was unanimously: “where?” I was feeling adventurous and suggested to go to 6th Avenue without even checking what food was available there. Thankfully, HGW is a reliable food-searching network which we could leverage on to find our dinner place. Eventually we settled on Smok’inn Frogz Kitchen.
Initially, we could not find the place until we realised that it is sharing the same address as Bar Bar Black Sheep. There were lots of reviews online, raving about its beef burgers and beer-battered fish and chips. We both knew that we could not leave the place without trying the latter.
Love is self-sacrificing. Because of my religion practice, the wifey was “forced” to give up eating beef and I am really thankful to her. <3
Always the beautiful goddess of my heart! :3
Actually the wifey ordered Root Beer ($2) because she saw the table next to us drinking it. Haha!
And so, our routine ritual before the meal starts before we tuck in: to take photos of our food. We both had the fish and chips as the menu was rather limited after filtering the beef dishes. Btw, all photos in this post were taken using my Canon Digital IXUS.
The Beer Battered Fish N Chips ($13) was served pipping hot with a crispy flour batter. There was no hint of beer taste but it was fragrant and the fish was melt-in-your-mouth. We did not have any complaints with the dish.
The Choco Lava Cake looks very tempting on the menu but our stomach is not big enough to accommodate it so we had to give the dessert a miss.
This is one of our spontaneous dinner dates and I must say we both enjoyed it. Looking forward to more Monthsaries and spending more time lovin you! Happy 20th Monthsary again my dear, and I will always love you and you and youuuuu! <3
Smok’inn Frogz Kitchen
879 Cherry Avenue (off Bukit Timah Road)
Opening Hours
Mon to Fri
4pm – 11pm
Sat
1pm – 11pm
Sun
9am – 11pm
Darren’s & Sophia’s Purple Wedding at Shangri La Ballroom
You know, I have been skipping tennis for three weeks in a row now! Too many happy occasions which I’m actually very glad to be part of. First was my secondary school friend’s wedding, followed by my colleague’s newborn’s full month celebration. This time, I attended my cousin’s customary wedding. We were at Darren’s place early in the morning to witness the tea ceremony.
I was thrilled to see these colorful macarons! :D :D :D
This pair of boy boy and girl girl are my two youngest cousins! Cousin #20 Aloysius and #21 Anthea. Just in case you are wondering, I’m cousin #10. Hurhur :P
Here’s Yang, cousin #9 who just flew back from Japan. He has completed his post graduate studies but will be going back to work there.
Cousin #2, Elaine with her ‘little cupcake’ Marion. Little cupcake waves hello! :)
Cousin-in-law Valerie with Lavelle! I like her frilly pink dress!
Here comes cousin #6 and his lovely bride!
Do you know what’s in store for Darren and Sophia? Lots of phototaking ahead! :P
A group photo with the cousins, nieces and nephew. Not all of them were present in the day, but you will get to see some of the rest in the photos later! Haha it’s also fun to compare the day shots with the night ones. Transformation siol! Lol.
9 brothers and 6 sisters. I think the other 3 sisters went missing!
One of my cousins joked that by the time it reaches her turn, at least 40 people would have drank from the same cup. Haha kinda grossed out to hear that!
After the tea ceremony, we went home and took a short nap!
On the way to Shangri La Hotel! OOTD: The same short gown which I wore for our ROM party and Kate Spade inspired clutch. Decided to rewear the gown because I’m a huge procrastinator and went to search for something suitable only one week before the wedding. In the end, nothing caught my fancy! I kept my fingernails long but I’m also lazy to go for a manicure. Hehehe :P Helena Rubinstein once remarked, “There are no ugly women, only lazy ones”. I beg to differ. I’m simply low maintenance YO! :D
Decided to match match our color. Different shades of blue though!
Spotted the bridal car parked outside!
I really couldn’t contain my excitement when I saw this purple and silver carousel. It’s like the prettiest thing ever! If only I could have something like this in our future house. *Melts*
Writing our well wishes for Darren and Sophia!
Meet my hip granny YO! Standing behind us is Maeda Uncle (I’ve been calling him that since young) and Aunt Carol on my left. Nope they are not husband and wife la. Just happened to take photo together.
Granny, Aunt Colleen with cousins #18 and #19.
Maeda Uncle is my parents’ colleagues (ex for my dad) for the longest time! We even went out with his wife and three kids when they came over to Singapore many years ago. His eldest daughter is of my age and we used to be penpals. Ahhh memories..
My mum and Aunt Lucy. I like her nyonya kebaya!
Cousin #4, Stanley who’s taller than misterchewy! Haha ok random :P
Managed to pull Darren over for a shot! No pictures with the pretty bride though :(
Nephew Julian looked charming in his getup, complete with a fedora!
Cousin #1, Sharon and cousin-in-law, James!
With Aunt Catherine, cousins #11 and #13 and their partners.
Marion seemed to be playing peek-a-poo! So cute huh! :D
Nice family photo of cousin #8, Andy, Valerie and Lavelle!
Cousin #3, Melissa, James and Naomi! They were the ones who introduced me to scuba diving! Anyway, we were seated at the same table and Naomi was so smiley throughout the entire night! She’s such a happy baby! :)
Whoa! My face looks so sharp in this photo! Major love! :P
The one and only family photo that we took that night! My brother is still away for his overseas training.
In between courses, I went over to look for Mei Yi :)
Kenny is Sharon’s, Elaine’s and Darren’s cousin. His singing is not bad.
Congratulations Darren and Sophia! Stay loving and sweet always! :D
Spice Sutra Restaurant & Cafe: A Gastronomical Experience
I love Indian cuisine for its complex and extensive use of spices and herbs, making every dish so flavorful and aromatic. Where’s your favorite place to have Indian food? I would love to recommend Spice Sutra Restaurant & Cafe at Upper Thomson Road to all my readers out there. The vast and exotic array of North Indian cuisine priced affordably gives you the wonderful opportunity to be spoilt for choice. Also, do note that all ingredients used are halal certified.
I love Papadum! Some say that it’s the Indian equivalent of keropok. What do you think?
The Samosa Chaat ($5.90) was an interesting mix of crisp and soggy. Comprising of chick peas, boiled potatoes, yogurt, ketchup, chopped onions, lime squeeze and spicy garnish, this dish was excellent.
We took quite a while to decide on the grilled meats before getting the staff on hand for recommendations. Of course, the best way to sample a bit of everything is to try the Mix Grill Hotplate ($31.90) which is an assortment of the chef’s selection of meats, marinated with oriental spices and grilled. My favorite was the tandoori chicken which was remarkably tender and juicy. I have tried tandoori chicken from various places and they were all too tough.
The Prawn Biryani ($15.90) was very aromatic, and eating it was oh-so-gratifying. I personally would prefer more spices in the rice for a slightly more fiery taste.
Essentially boneless pieces of tandoor chicken cooked with puree of tomatoes, cream and mild spices, I was expecting a more flavorful dish of Butter Chicken ($15.90). The gravy was sweet and creamy, which was interesting for my taste buds but a little mild and did not quite pack a punch.
The Mutton Masala ($15.90) on the other hand, was extremely well executed and was deliciously fork tender. I enjoyed this dish the most.
So as not to let the gravy from the butter chicken and mutton masala go to waste, we ordered the Butter Naan ($3.50) and Garlic Naan ($3.90). These freshly made Indian bread roasted in traditional charcoal tandoor are fluffy and chewy, soaking up every bit of the mouthwatering gravy.
Lastly, we tried Gajjar Haluwa ($4.90), a traditional Punjabi dish made with carrots and milk. This dessert smelled great and its taste wasn’t cloyingly sweet. A must try!
Our overall experience at Spice Sutra was definitely a gastronomical one. Will be taking my parents there! Thank you Spice Sutra for the invitation.
Spice Sutra Restaurant & Cafe
200 Upper Thomson Road
#01-03
Thomson Imperial Court
Singapore 574424
Tel: 6255 4730
Opening Hours
11am – 2.30pm (Wed – Sun)
6pm – 10.30pm (Daily)
(Closed on Monday & Tuesday Lunch)
