Sawadee Thai Cuisine Singapore Food Review

Posted on June 20, 2014 by missuschewy

– Invited Tasting –

I shall start off this post by saying that Sawadee Thai Cuisine is my favourite Thai restaurant in Singapore. Please don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying this because it’s an invited session. In fact, I had blogged about my experience in 2010 after my mum introduced this gem to us. Don’t play play, my mum is also a foodie. She used to frequent Sawadee Thai Cuisine with my grandma and aunts during lunch (they work together) and one day, she told me that the restaurant at Sembawang had closed down and that she was feeling very sad about it. LOL. I also felt sad la, until not long later, Andrew’s email came to say that they have relocated to a more convenient location at Bugis! Quickly shared the good news with my mum and she went there for lunch with the entire gang that very same week.

Recently, misterchewy and I dropped by Sawadee Thai Cuisine together with fellow blogger Mag from Modgam to try out one of their Father’s Day menu ($168+ for 4 person) which will still be available this weekend. Coming back here felt like being reunited with an old friend, and there was this warm and fuzzy feeling when we were trying to get used to the restaurant’s new look. We had some drinks while waiting for the dishes to be served. The Lemongrass drink was quite sweet and aromatic.

Tea lovers should definitely try their Thai Iced Milk Tea which was very fragrant and not overly thick.

Prior to this visit, I had not tried more than half of the dishes from the Father’s Day menu and the Thai Rice Crackers were one of them. Doesn’t the dip look like chicken mayo? Haha. The rice crackers tasted bland on their own but when topped with the creamy chicken dip, this turned out to be a pretty yummy appetizer.

Generously stuffed with crabmeat, the Thai Crab Cakes was a delight to bite into due to its crunchiness and it was packed full of flavour.

The Tom Yum Soup is one of our must-orders at Sawadee Thai Cuisine. We learned that they actually cater to local tastebuds and the boss claimed that many customers provided feedback that their tom yum soup was too spicy so it has been made slightly less spicy. I was eager to try it and it was quite spicy for someone who eats small chili padi all the time. My dining counterparts did not manage to finish their share but I really loved the spicy fiery kick and it was also deliciously sour. Not forgetting the generous chock full of ingredients we found in the pot. One word – SHIOK!

Just as its name suggests, the Three Flavoured Grouper was a delectable combination of sweet, tangy and spicy. Best to eat this when it’s served piping hot so that the fish doesn’t soak up too much of the gravy and turn soggy. We could still taste the sweetness and freshness of the fish underneath that golden crispy layer.

I was happy to see Pandan Chicken because I remembered having it back then when we went to Bangkok and I loved it so much!

Marinated before being wrapped, the pandan chicken was tender, juicy and very flavorful.

I was quite surprised to see the Fried Fish Maw with Beansprouts because it seemed more like a Chinese dish to me. Or is it? Whatever it is, all of us loved this! It had a very nice eggy taste and was deliciously soft and fluffy! It might look like a simple dish on the menu but everyone should order this.

Sawadee Thai Cuisine’s Olive Rice is one of the best that I have tried. It had just the right amount of greasiness and tasted extra flavorful when mixed with dried shrimps. And of course, the strips of chicken were the icing on the cake.

The first dessert that we tried was Durian Glutinous Rice. I’m a bigggg fan of durian and this was very much to my liking!

For those who don’t eat durian, the Mango Glutinous Rice is a much safer option. The chunks of ripe mango tasted exceptionally sweet and it was an interesting pairing with purple glutinous rice.

Lastly, we had the Thai Red Rubies which all of us felt wasn’t sweet enough. Of course we had to give them the benefit of the doubt after having two extremely sweet desserts. And to be fair, the red rubies were very crunchy.

Here’s a photo of Mag and I, taken by misterchewy. We had a wonderful meal at Sawadee Thai Cuisine and will be back for my old favorites such as stuffed chicken wings, thai style otah and thai green curry! Stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy 🙂

Sawadee Thai Cuisine
9 Tan Quee Lan Street
#01-01
Singapore 188098
Tel: +65 62386833

Opening Hours:
Daily
11am – 2.30pm
6pm – 10.30pm

Kidsme Food Feeder and Baby Products

Posted on May 28, 2014 by missuschewy

– Media Invite –

Really happy to be invited to my first ever mummy blogger event which was held at Roosevelt’s Diner and Bar earlier this month! Great opportunity for me to meet fellow mummies who are so much more experienced than I am! Bumped into Mummy Serene, whom I first met a few years ago when I was doing an independent study module on motherese back in my uni days. The event turned out to be splendid because I got to learn about really cool baby food feeding products which Little misschewy will be exposed to in time to come 🙂

We didn’t bring Chanelle along because at barely 2 months old then, she was too young for her first hand experience of the products. I think all the other mummy bloggers were at the event with their kids and the young ones looked super adorable! *Pinch cheeks* 😛

Here’s Qiqi, the founder of Totsworld Pte Ltd, demonstrating how to use the various Kidsme products. She first launched Kidsme Singapore in Singapore Expo this April.

This is the award-winning Kidsme Food Feeder ($18.90), developed to let little ones safely and independently explore new tastes and textures at an early age without the risk of choking. Its innovative yet simple design gives babies a head start towards a lifetime of healthy eating. It also helps in developing babies’ fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

You can feed your little one pureed or solid food to encourage chewing. Do you know that the act of chewing not only aids in better digestion and nutrients absorption, but is also crucial for speech development?

The Silicone Sacs (2 for $10.90) are medical-grade and can be sterilized. You are strongly encouraged to replace them once every few months and these silicone sacs come in different sizes.

Obviously, so much thought has been given to come up with Kidsme Food Feeder with all the amazing features listed above. If you notice, Kidsme Food Feeder looks like a pacifier except that it has small little handles which encourage self-feeding with its ergonomic design that makes it easy for little hands to hold on to. The textured sac cleverly doubles up as a teether too.

Hehe.. Mummy Jolin’s small J exploring Kidsme Food Feeder with much interest.

Mummy Maggie’s daughter, Kayliss, looks like a huge fan of Kidsme Food Feeder already! As you can see, it is a useful tool in introducing new types of food to your child 🙂 I’m gonna start thinking about the very first solid food that I would like Chanelle to try!

Kidsme Multi-Function Food Scissors ($16.90) is another wonderful product. As its name suggests, this food scissors has different functions – it can cut, mash and scoop! Whether at home or on the go, Kidsme Multi-Function Food Scissors makes mealtime safe, fun and also convenient. Its biaxial system and stainless steel cutlery-grade blades allow you to safely, easily and efficiently cut your children’s food into small pieces. Even meat or fruit can be mashed into safe bite-sized pieces which helps reduce the risk of choking. With Kidsme Multi-Function Food Scissors, you can even turn food into cool shapes!

I had actually bought a strawberry-shaped teether for Chanelle at the Taka Baby Fair earlier this year because I love strawberries. But now, I think I’m gonna keep that aside and let her use this Kidsme Icy Moo Moo Soother ($14.90) once she begins to show signs of teething! Don’t you think it looks cute?

One thing I like about Kidsme Icy Moo Moo Soother is that the travel-friendly cap can also be used as an ice pop mold. Simply fill the mold with fruit juice or even your breast milk, dip the soother in and pop the whole thing into the freezer. Viola! You have a nice icy treat for your little one in no time 🙂

The textured, silicone teats also provide much comfort to sore gums.

I have seen quite a number of milk bottles on the market but this Kidsme PPSU Diamond Wide Neck Milk Bottle ($42.90) is really one of a kind. It combines elegance, modern design, and premium PPSU material to create the most exquisite bottle for your baby. It takes inspiration from the Sancy Diamond, a magnificent pale yellow, shield-shaped 55 carat diamond. PPSU is one of the safest bottle materials available today, and offers superb clarity and durability. The flexible, removable handles provide ease and comfort to your baby while feeding.

Because of its durability, it can withstand falls from various heights without breaking. This milk bottle certainly looks classy! I’m sure it’s gonna grab a lot of attention when Chanelle uses it 🙂

Here are some of the food items from the kids menu that we tried at Roosevelt’s after the event. Roosevelt’s prides itself as a kids friendly diner so I foresee myself going back for a meal with misterchewy and Chanelle some day! Besides a kids menu, Roosevelt’s provides baby high chairs and kids cutlery. Rest assured that only healthy, non processed food is used for dishes under the kids menu.

The hubs and I totally love the Buttermilk Waffles with Mixed Berries! Definitely one of the better tasting waffles that we have had so far!

Stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy 🙂

GRUB Singapore Food Review

Posted on May 26, 2014 by missuschewy

– Tasting Invite –

Ever since I became a mum, I have learned to treasure pockets of free time for myself. Really grateful that both our parents are more than happy to help us take care of the little one so that we can have a quiet dinner together on weekdays after misterchewy comes back from work or a whole day out on weekends. Sometimes, it’s also very difficult to agree to invites because I need to factor in my pumping schedule and 1001 other things. Mehhhhh. And it’s no joke having to lug so many things around without hubby’s help!

I was invited to try GRUB’s lunch menu on a Saturday and knowing that misterchewy had always wanted to sink his teeth into GRUB’s famous fish burger, I readily accepted and we left Chanelle at home! LOL 😛 We have been putting this aside for the longest time because of its location. However, I have come to realise that it’s actually quite nice to house a bistro at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park as it creates a very fun and family-friendly dining environment.

GRUB is opened by the guys who founded Cookyn Inc and they place a strong emphasis on food that is responsible, inspired and delicious – basically, food that they serve their own families. I would also like to share that the food is reasonably priced and very friendly to the wallet. I didn’t find anything that costs more than $20 on the menu (subject to GST)!

Both the Yuzu Mint Soda ($4.50) and Iced Honey Lime Juice ($3) are perfect thirst quenchers on a hot and sunny day. You can also find pure fruit juices and other canned drinks on the menu.

Step aside, truffle fries! Mentaiko Fries ($9) are here to blow everyone away! Who would have thought that mentaiko aioli and fries could go so well together? The thinly shredded pieces of nori seaweed also made this yummy appetizer a whole lot more palatable and addictive. I just couldn’t stop munching on them!

If you have always enjoyed your toast with half boiled egg, it’s time to give the Truffled Egg Cocotte ($7) at GRUB a try! The taste of truffle is a little overwhelming but hey, I’m certainly not complaining. However, I thought there could be a better option other than toasted focaccia as it kinda failed to soak up the egg cocotte.

Only available for brunch, the French Toast ($12) is a delicious winning combination of sweet and savory. The garlic thyme pork sausage was big and juicy, and tasted wonderful with strawberries, sour cream and maple syrup. It is the perfect breakfast that I imagine myself having everyday.

GRUB is famous for its Crispy Fish Burger ($14); everyone is singing praises for it! Only sustainable fish caught in waters free from contamination is used and it tastes fresh and moist under that beautiful golden brown crispy layer. GRUB pays a lot of attention in serving only the best. Even the burger buns are specially brought in from a local bakery which are fluffy and have a soft doughy texture.

The hubs and I don’t eat beef but we do know that GRUB uses beef that is 100% grass fed and free-range so you can feast on your GRUB Double Cheeseburger ($18) in peace!

We also tried two other dishes which are new on the menu. The Sakura Ebi Pasta ($17) is available for lunch and dinner only. Interestingly, it tastes like prawn mee dry with a twist. The tiny bits of fried Sakura ebi and mentaiko sauce gave this dish an extra fragrance and sweetness.

I really love the Slow Cooked Pork Belly ($17)! Sous vide and seared, it’s so tender and succulent and does not have that overwhelming porky smell, probably because the pigs are being fed a local feed of barley, wheat and mountain mineral water. The pork belly is paired sauteed leeks and sweet potato mash which I found unique but proved to be a winner. This dish is only available during dinner.

Finally, for something sweet, we had the Chocolate Kladkakka ($8) which I found impossible to fault. What could possibly go wrong with creamy vanilla gelato, moist and crumbly sticky chocolate cake, and strawberry sauce? It’s the kind of dessert that people of all ages will love!

The Churros ($9) at GRUB are not bad and we all know that it’s so hard to find good ones in Singapore. Glad to know that the churros here are hand made, which explains why they come in various lengths. The churros are quite fluffy on the inside but a little stiff on the outside. On the overall, they still tasted quite good when dipped into the dark chocolate sauce.

GRUB is running an #UltimateGrubber photo contest for the month of May. Diners just have to submit their favourite shot taken at GRUB (any photos taken at 2013 and 2014 are welcome) to take part in this contest. Simply upload your photo here: http://bit.ly/1nOmelS and win attractive prizes!

Weekly prize: $50 GRUB dining voucher with table reservation of up to 4 pax
Grand prize: $200 GRUB dining voucher with table reservation of up to 8 pax PLUS a newly launched Samsung NX mini camera.

How I wish I stayed somewhere in the North, so that I can pop by GRUB on a more frequent basis! With delicious quality food sourced from sustainable sources, and priced so affordably, it’s really hard to say no to GRUB! 😛
Stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy 🙂

GRUB
510 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1
(Car park along Sin Ming Ave, opposite Blk 408)
Ang Mo Kio, Singapore 569983
Tel: 6459 5743

Opening Hours
Tue to Fri
11am – 3pm
5.30pm – 10.30pm
Sat & Sun
9am – 4pm
5.30pm – 10.30pm

Surprise Mummy Dearest With A Sweet Touch From PrimaDeli

Posted on May 7, 2014 by missuschewy

Add a special touch to Mother’s Day this year with exquisite PrimaDéli’s cakes – Abundant Love and Pink of Roses. Both delicate creations will be perfect as a welcome treat on its own or a light refreshing finish to a hearty Mother’s Day celebratory meal.

If you can’t choose between giving mum a bouquet of flowers, fruit basket or a delicious cake, don’t fret about it; give her the best combination with the PrimaDéli’s Abundant Love. This sweet delight is an artfully crafted ensemble of moist vanilla sponge infused with a subtle hint of salted caramel cream within layers, intersperse with almond flakes and chocolate pearls for that extra crunch. This charming creation is topped with an abundant array of fruits – peach, kiwi, strawberry and gooseberry for that fruity touch. What’s more – the sides of the cake are creatively fanned with white chocolate pieces, cleverly resembling a humble “wooden crate” full of white chocolate flowers with juicy redcurrant ‘buds’ within – giving a wonderful burst of flavours with each bite!

If good ol’fashion chocolate is mum’s ultimate favourite, then the Pink of Roses will be an absolute treat! This jewel of a cake is a luscious chocolate sponge slathered with luxurious chocolate truffle ganache, prettily adorned with triple hues of lovely pink fresh cream roses in full bloom.

Both the Abundant Love and Pink of Roses will be available from 17 April to 11 May 2014 at all PrimaDéli outlets. The Abundant Love retails at $48.80 (approx. 1.2 kg) and the Pink of Roses retails at $26.00 (approx. 600 g). Advance order of three days is required for all Mother’s Day cakes.

For general and corporate enquiries, please call PrimaDéli’s hotline at 6276-3333 or visit www.primadeli.com

Emicakes’ Mother’s Day Special Design Cakes

Posted on May 6, 2014 by missuschewy

This Mother’s Day, let’s take time to remember the wonderful impact that our Mothers have instilled in our lives. The unconditional love, unrelenting support, and untiring effort to provide for our needs are the very reasons why we have to celebrate this special day for our Mums. Take a look at the special designs that Emicakes has specifically handcrafted for our Mums this Mother’s Day.

Flowers are one of the gifts that Mums receive every Mother’s Day. Make it different and more exciting by giving this “Flowers for Mum” special cake design! Entirely covered with fondant, this cake is made special by the flowers embossed on top of the cake, which, by the way, are all edible!

Flowers for Mum cake design is available in chocolate flavours only. Minimum size is 20cm. At least 4 working days lead-time is required.

Win Mum’s heart with “Especially for Mum” special cake design. Its overall design best describes how beautiful Mums truly are – simple yet elegant.

“Especially for Mum” cake design is available in any flavour. Minimum size is 20cm. At least 2 working days lead-time is required.

Seeing this lovable cake will definitely put a big smile, not just on your Mum’s face, but including the rest of the family.

Fabulous Mum Happy Face design is available in different flavours (Durian, Chocolate, Mango, etc.) for advance orders with at least 2 days lead-time. Minimum size for orders is 15cm.

Indulge in the strong heavenly flavour of the King of Durians! Mao Shan Wang cake is made using fresh durian filling, sandwiched in between soft layers of Vanilla Chiffon.

You won’t miss its signature spiky design that is topped with intricate chocolate swirls.
Get it at 15% OFF till 11 May 2014 (15-20cm sizes only). T&Cs apply.

With its new captivating look, you’ll still get the same mouth-watering aroma and enjoy the same D24 goodness in every bite.

Get it at 15% OFF till 11 May 2014 (15-20cm sizes only). T&Cs apply.

For Mums who do not fancy Durian, we bring you Pure Addiction cake. One of the best-selling premium cakes, it has layers of chocolate mousse with rich chocolate ganache filling, drizzled with almonds, and sandwiched in between layers of fluffy Chocolate Chiffon!

Be addicted at 15% OFF till May 2014 (15-20cm sizes only). T&Cs apply.

10% OFF regular discount from 5-11 May 2014. No discount for deliveries from 9-11 May 2014. Promos applicable to Emicakes Family Card Members and selected credit cardholders only (UOB, Citibank, and Standard Chartered Bank). Not valid in conjunction with other discounts and promotions. Other T&Cs apply.
Orders can be placed via Emicakes’ website www.emicakes.com.sg or through their outlets island wide.

Jara Petit Cheesecups Baby Shower Package

Posted on April 16, 2014 by missuschewy

– Sponsored Post –

Happy hump day, Chewys! We threw a baby shower for Chanelle one week in advance over the weekend 🙂 It was the MIL’s suggestion and she wanted to invite her family members and relatives so we went along with it. I personally was quite afraid that Chanelle would be overstimulated with so many people carrying and cuddling her but she slept so soundly for the first few hours. When she finally woke up, all aunties and grannies were fawning over her and showering her with hugs and kisses. LOL.

I was really lucky to receive Jara Petit’s email two weeks before Little misschewy’s baby shower because my MIL was also planning to order full month packages and that certainly saved us some trouble amidst the busy period. We were blessed with 20 boxes of Cheesecups with gift favours and had them delivered to our place early in the morning on the day of the celebration. I like the simple and clean design of the boxes, and of course, blue is my favourite color! 😉 What are Cheesecups, you ask? Cheesecups are miniature cheesecakes in cups, an interesting hybrid between cheesecakes and cupcakes! What a brilliant idea! More often than not, even a cheesecake lover like myself find it hard to polish off a slice of cheesecake all by myself in a single sitting. These Cheesecups available in muffin cup sizes allow one to indulge without guilt!

Founded in 2009, Jara Petit Cheesecups sparked off as a hobby between best friends Jia Hui and Cara after the duo devoted much time in the kitchen experimenting various ways of baking cheesecakes in their favourite flavours. The girls shared their Cheesecups with family and friends, which were very well received and this spurred the two best friends to turn their hobby into a business setting up a Jara Petit Cheesecups bakery in 2013. They started selling Cheesecups online, gathering feedback and improving on the Cheesecups along the way. In July 2013, Jara Petit set up their first pop-up store at a quaint café along Bussorah Street and managed to build a small but significant following. Jia Hui and Cara were then determined to focus their efforts on opening a permanent shop at Dhoby Ghaut Xchange, which is slated to open on 17 April!

Jara Petit’s Cheesecups are hand-baked daily using premium cream cheese and fresh ingredients. You can rest assured that there are no added preservatives or artificial flavouring. These Cheesecups are also suitable for vegetarians and Muslims as they do not contain gelatine or pork derived ingredients. Made up of three layers – the wheatmeal biscuit crust, cheesecake and toppings, Jara Petit’s Cheesecups are specially catered to suit our local tastebuds and currently come in nine signature flavours – Classic, Blueberry, Lemon, Durian, Matcha, Strawberry, Cookies & Cream, Banoffee and Lavender! On the overall, the Cheesecups are neither cloyingly rich nor sweet, and they taste really refreshing! They are best consumed chilled. Plastic spoons were provided and I was digging into the Cheesecups like a happy little girl. Even my MIL who isn’t much of a desserts person was singing praises for these yummy goodies! 🙂

There are 5 types of baby shower packages that you can choose from. Prices range from $10 to $28 per box with a minimum order of 10 boxes. Our package consists of 3 Cheesecups and 3 gift favours. Some of the other packages come with more Cheesecups, which I highly recommend! 🙂

Personalized baby cards can be included at $1 each, with a minimum order of 20 pieces. Besides baby’s full name, birthday and parents’ names as seen above, the baby cards can also be customized to include baby’s photo and other details such as weight and length 🙂

This is the only package that has all 3 gift favours – red eggs, ang ku kuehs and marshmallows! The bags of marshmallows were such a hit among our younger nieces and nephews and it kept them occupied for a while 😛

As with the gift favours, you can have your choice of Cheesecup flavours but only one combination of flavours and favours is allowed per order.

All baby shower packages come with a set of three toppers. If you wish to customize the toppers, it can be done at 80cents to $2 depending on the design.

This is by far the cutest topper I have ever seen! You can actually save some of these toppers for scrapbooking purposes 🙂 If you are looking for unique baby shower packages that will delight your guests, Jara Petit is certainly worth considering! They also cater to other occasions and corporate events.

Here comes the exciting news! Jara Petit’s very first shop will be opening tomorrow, 17 April 2014, at Dhoby Ghaut Xchange! And they are running the following promotions:

1. Like and Share: People who like Jara Petit’s facebook page and share the above poster publicly on their facebook page by 17th April will stand to win a box of 9 assorted Cheesecups.

2. Opening Special: All Cheesecups will be sold at $3 each for the first week of Jara Petit’s opening. (17th April – 23rd April) Usual price is $3.30 per Cheesecup.

Hope this piece of sweet news brightens up your Wednesday! Stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy 🙂

Jara Petit Cheesecups
#B1-35 Dhoby Xchange
Tel: +65 6338 9335

Opening Hours:
Daily
10am – 9pm

AMOY Hotel Singapore Staycation Review

Posted on March 12, 2014 by missuschewy

– Sponsored Staycation –

I’m sure our recent staycation at AMOY Hotel would be our last before I pop! Very soon, we will be welcoming Little misschewy into our family of two and I know that life will never be the same again! Three’s a party YO! Lol. Even though we spent very little time in this lovely hotel because we each had a wedding dinner to attend, we enjoyed every moment because AMOY exudes a very homely atmosphere. I can’t quite put my finger on it but it could be due to the personalized service that we received throughout our stay.

AMOY is Far East Hospitality’s newest boutique hotel and the first in Singapore to incorporate a museum that traces the footsteps of early immigrants from China. How cool is that? I reckon it’s a gem for locals and foreign travellers who are history buffs!

The first thing our forefathers did upon arriving in Singapore was to build a temple to honour the gods for their safe voyage. As part of AMOY’s authentic experience, guests will enter the contemporary hotel via Fuk Tak Chi museum, formerly a temple and the headquarters for the Hakka and Cantonese communities in the 1800s.

This photo was taken at night but the lobby looked even more stunning in the day with natural sunlight streaming in through the glass ceiling and windows. The husband and I were each presented with a welcome mocktail drink while waiting for our check-in to be done.

Another part of the lobby.

One of the hotel staff, Lina, personally showed us to our Deluxe Double room on the third floor and along the way, she explained that each room is emblazoned with a Chinese family name on the door, an ode to the contribution of Singapore’s early migrants who lived around the area. I think you can try to request for a room that has your surname but it’s subject to availability.

We also learned that AMOY Hotel was converted from a series of historic shophouses dating back more than 170 years and much of what is seen within the hotel, such as the steps along the corridors, is painstakingly conserved.

Revolving around the theme of “Old Meets New, East Meets West”, our reasonably spacious room had interiors that evoke the charm of traditional Chinese design and architecture as well as the comfort and convenience of contemporary facilities. The rooms are thoughtfully designed to include heritage accents with carefully selected furniture like traditional Chinese stools and porcelain basin. The idea is to recreate the living experience of the early Chinese settlers with a modern and contemporary twist. No two rooms are alike, in terms of layout and furnishings.

Definitely not your typical ‘garden view’!

The mini bar is entirely complimentary!

Besides coffee and tea, you can enjoy fruit juices and also have a bag of chips and peanuts to go with your can of beer! Heh that was what misterchewy did when he was hungry in the middle of the night.

I find the layout of the bathroom very interesting. It’s elongated probably to maximise whatever space there is. There are doors to separate the wash up area, toilet bowl and shower stall.

We didn’t have time to tour the hotel immediately after checking in as we had an appointment at Artica Hair Studio at Far East Plaza and had to rush down. 1st March 2014 (1314) is a very popular date for weddings! I was invited to Nadnut’s wedding at Orchard Hotel and misterchewy was asked to emcee at his buddy’s wedding at Hotel Royal @ Queens. The banquet at his side ended about two courses earlier than my side, so he managed to pop by and take photos with us at the instant photobooth! Hurray! 😛

So happy that we managed to get a nice shot together! 😀

We still had energy when we reached the hotel so we decided to do a quick night tour even though it was really late! Haha. Kinda fun actually because we were whispering to each other, not wanting to disturb other guests 😛

Earlier on, we managed to find out from April, another hotel staff, the location of the 周 (Chew) room which is actually a Cosy Single room.

Found my surname too! Think it was occupied by other guests.

AMOY provides turndown service! Some people might not think much of it, but a simple gesture like this really goes a long way.

We also found a cute handwritten goodnight note left on our bed.

I stuck this on my magnetic board at work as a little momento from AMOY 🙂

Very thoughtful to have reading lights fitted on each side of the bed frame.

I tried my best to get the widest possible shot of the bed and bathroom by plastering my back against the cupboard. Anyway, we had to check out really early the next day so we woke up at around 6am. Took a hot shower which instantly made me feel refreshed even though I only had 4 hours of sleep!

The breakfast buffet spread was very simple yet homely, featuring items such as cereal, bread with an assortment of spreads, pastries, beehoon, yogurt, etc.

We were probably the first guests to arrive at 7am but I’m kinda puzzled by the rather empty juice dispenser.

Although the breakfast selection was nothing to shout about, I thought that the plain white toasts with kaya were good enough to keep us satisfied.

AMOY is really such a cool hotel that we certainly don’t mind going back to for another staycation! Click here to check out our list of Singapore staycation reviews! Stay connected with us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy 🙂

AMOY
76 Telok Ayer Street
Singapore 048464
Tel: +65 6580 2888
Email: reseasy@fareast.com.sg

Maternity Exchange Singapore: Buy or Rent Trendy Maternity Clothes

Posted on March 6, 2014 by missuschewy

– Advertorial –

Photo credit: dphotofolio

Do you know that one of the greatest woes of a pregnant woman is not being able to fit into any of her clothes? Initially, I found it quite amusing when my clothes started to feel tight around my baby bump, then it became frustrating when I could no longer zip up my dresses. It was not long later that I went into panic mode when I was left with only a handful of dresses that I could still force myself into. I was living in self-denial and refused to shop for maternity dresses, or what I call “XXXXL dresses”. LOL. Even my colleagues started to ask if I was planning to buy myself some decent maternity wear and advised me to get a few pieces as soon as I can as maternity wear can be quite costly. The earlier I buy, the more times I get to wear them before I deliver! Okay okay, I get the hint. I need clothes that fit a growing me!

I did get myself quite a number of dresses, some online and some from retail stores. Ok I should also credit my mum for doing most of the shopping for me. I’m also glad to be introduced to Maternity Exchange, a long-standing innovative retail concept which offers mums-to-be the option of buying or renting outfits to create their own extensive maternity wardrobe without having to pay exorbitant prices. Plus, it’s also not practical because you won’t be wearing these clothes after you deliver (assuming you would have slimmed down) unless you intend to keep them for your second or third pregnancy.

Maternity Exchange, located at Marina Square, carry the largest collection of imported and local designer maternity and nursing labels in Singapore, featuring international brands like Japanese Weekend, Maternal America and Jules & Jim Maternity, as well as popular local brands Mothers En Vogue and Dote Nursing.

Also available at Maternity Exchange are maternity and nursing lingerie, swimwear, diaper bags, belly bands, maternity support belts, postpartum shapewear, and an assortment of gifts and accessories for mummmies and babies. We even spotted Sophie the Giraffe. It’s like a one-stop shopping haven for expectant mothers and new parents! If you prefer to do your shopping online, you will be pleased to know that Maternity Exchange stocks online exclusive maternity and nursing wear which is not available at the physical store.

I was offered a 8-credit Basic Instincts rental package priced at $329. Two other packages with more credits – All Essentials and Indulge Your Bulge are also available. The renting system is very simple! You first pay the upfront fee for your desired package and you have one year to fully utilise each package. Each piece can be rented for a maximum of 4 weeks. Any item that features a rental price on its price tag can be rented. You can also rent by individual piece, where you will pay the full purchase price first and be refunded the difference between that and the prevailing rental price when you return the outfit. Regular casual pieces are usually worth one credit each, like this flattering black dress from Maternal America which I wore for one of our staycations.

I also found a nice baby blue chiffon dress for my company’s dinner and dance late last year! Because some pieces are more expensive, they are worth two more more rental credits and may require a deposit which will be fully refunded when you return the rented piece in its original condition. Always remember to take good care of the dresses and check the washing labels to determine if the dress requires dry cleaning. If you really like what you are wearing and wish to keep it, you can simply purchase it!

Photo credit: Studio Memories

Besides maternity wear, there are also nursing clothes available at Maternity Exchange. The collection is updated every 3 to 4 weeks so there’s bound to be something that catches your eye each time you visit the store! This lavender floral dress is only worth one credit and looks simple but turned out to be great in achieving a soft look for my maternity photoshoot.

Photo credit: LiveStudios Photography

This has gotta be my favorite rented piece from Maternity Exchange which I wore to my cousin’s wedding at Shangri-La Hotel. It is an absolutely stunning V-neck beaded gown in an elegant shade of periwinkle blue by the brand Decode 1.8. I love how it fits me perfectly, even at 9 months, because I was close to believing that I wouldn’t be able to find a dress that could show off my ‘womanly curves’. Not only is the chiffon fabric very light and comfortable to wear, the fabulous cut helps slim the silhouette and the gorgeous pleated detailing at the bust and empire line adds a touch of glam. This piece retails at $499.25 but you can rent it for as low as 3 rental credits. I forked out $20 to have my gown altered by Maternity Exchange’s approved tailor because it was too long for me. Minor alterations can be done for a fee as long as it does not permanently alter the outfit.

I have used up all the credits of my rental package and wish to conclude by saying that my 5-month long journey with Maternity Exchange had been a pretty pleasant one. You can read up on the FAQ section online if you have any queries or better still, head down to the physical store and browse through the amazing range of maternity clothes. Feel free to approach Maternity Exchange’s friendly retail assistants for advice. Nana had been a terrific help and was always so patient with me when I was at the store. Her cheerful disposition really puts me at ease and I didn’t feel bad about trying 6 outfits at one go 😛 Do check out Maternity Exchange’s website and Facebook page to be updated on their promotions and clearance sales!

Stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy 🙂

Maternity Exchange
6 Raffles Boulevard
Marina Square
#03-108
Singapore 039594
Tel: +65 6100 3924

Naumi Liora Hotel Singapore Staycation Review

Posted on March 3, 2014 by missuschewy

– Sponsored Staycation –

How’s it going chewys! I have not been updating my blog as regularly as I would like to because I’m either feeling lazy or too exhausted after a long day at work 🙁 Yes! I’m still working even though I’m about to pop anytime now! I don’t intend to take maternity leave early. Say hello to my 9-month old baby bump! Hehe ok I think it’s not very obvious in this photo. Getting really nervous because I don’t know how it’s gonna turn out on the day I go into labor! :S Yeah I’m more nervous than excited actually. Glad that misterchewy and I managed to squeeze in a weekend staycation at Naumi Liora Hotel recently to take my mind off things! 🙂

Located in the heart of Chinatown, Naumi Liora is The Hind Group’s second boutique hotel that opened in November 2012. Naumi Liora boasts a design concept of an old yet modern charm that is strongly reflected throughout the hotel. To remain true to the inherent spirit of the 1920s Peranakan-styled building’s heritage that Naumi Liora is housed in, the original timber flooring, French-styled windows and ‘five-foot way’ have all been traditionally preserved.

Through the use of its signature light motif alongside a harmonious balance of warm and vibrant colours such as hues of Chalk and Pumpkin, the craftsmanship of Naumi Liora creates an intimate environment that invigorates and soothes at the same time. Abstracted from the lattice design of traditional Peranakan tiles as well as the original metal railing pattern from the exterior of the hotel, these light motifs are also translated into timber screens and used strategically from the lobby to the rooms.

Guests are more than welcome to help themselves to the complimentary 24-hour self-serve Nibbles snack bar at the reception lobby. There is a whole range of treats such as Nespresso coffee, Dilmah tea, and ice cream!

Biscuits, cookies, chips and chocolates are also available at the snack bar.

We had to rush off to the Babycare Festival at Singapore Expo, so earlier in the day, I contacted the hotel shortly after we finished lunch at Ion to see if they could accede to my request for an early check-in at around 1pm. Was told that the only room available is located on the ground floor and it is also smaller than our designated one 🙁 Didnt have a choice but to accept it. This is the Liora Heritage Double, which is approximately sized up to a comfortable 28 square meters. Single bedding option is also available.

Liked the personal touch that made us feel at home in an instance. The welcome note highlighted Naumi’s signature service philosophy. During the later part of our stay, I phoned one of the Naumi Aides upon finding out that there wasn’t any toothbrush and toothpaste in the bathroom. Wanted to confirm if these were being provided for by the hotel and was told that they will be issued only upon request. I had two sets promptly sent to our room in a couple of minutes! Was super impressed by the Naumi Aide’s efficiency!

Open wardrobe concept.

The size of our room was modest yet it feels adequately spacious for two at the same time. The layout of the room is also perfect for families with babies or toddlers in tow as there is definitely enough space for a stroller and a travel cot.

My favorite Malin + Goetz peppermint shampoo and rum body wash are provided!

The mini bar is complimentary and is well-stocked with coffee, tea and soft drinks.

A selfie in our room before heading out! Haha now you can see my huge baby bump 😛

We were supposed to meet my in-laws at the fair but they couldn’t make it at the last minute. Buying stuff to prepare for the arrival of Little misschewy was a pretty mind-boggling affair because there were so many things that we weren’t sure if we needed to buy.

We snagged a limited edition Maclaren stroller, which is pretty chio (in our opinion lol). Good thing there was free delivery! Also bought other stuff like organic baby bath, milk bottle sterilizer and loads of pampers (some with free delivery). In the evening, we went our separate ways to meet our friends for dinner. Guys’ night out and girls’ night out 😛

Complimentary breakfast is provided just next door, at Keong Saik Snacks. Was looking forward to it since it’s by Michelin Star Chef Jason Atherton. Breakfast starts from about 7am and ends at 10am. We intended to wake up earlier but the bed was seriously so comfortable that we kept hitting the snooze button and woke up with only 20 minutes to get showered and changed!

We went there expecting that the breakfast would be somewhat similar to what was being served at Cocoette during our stay at Wanderlust Hotel. To our dismay, the spread at the buffet counter was quite limited. A small selection of bread, cheese, ham, cereal, yogurt, etc, nothing to get excited over.

The ambience at Keong Saik Snacks was nice though. If only we had more time to enjoy our breakfast, I seriously wouldn’t mind paying extra for the weekend brunch which is available from 11am to 3pm but that would mean we had to wait an hour for it.

Taking a quick look at the gym before checking out. It’s open 24 hours. It’s a pity that there’s no swimming pool in the hotel.

As part of its celebration of Holi, an ancient Hindu festival, also known as the “Festival of Colours” as all ages go into the streets for fun, throwing of powder paint and coloured water to celebrate the victory of ‘good’ over ‘bad’ and also the triumph of devotion to god, Naumi Hotels celebrate the colour ‘Pink’ which symbolises the significant support of Breast Cancer Foundation and its cause. During this playful ‘Festival of Colours’, Naumi Hotels will proudly donate up to SGD$15 for every eligible room stay on 17 March 2014.

In the meantime, do visit ZALORA SG, Asia’s leading online fashion destination! Zalora carries a huge range of apparel, footwear, accessories and beauty products from various brands, you will definitely be spoilt for choice!

Click here to check out our list of Singapore staycation reviews! Stay connected with us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy 🙂

Rendezvous Hotel Singapore Staycation Review

Posted on January 30, 2014 by missuschewy

– Sponsored Staycation –

Happy Chinese New Year, chewys! May all of us HUAT in the Year of the Horse! Anyone looking forward to Valentine’s Day already? Do consider a staycation in Singapore if you don’t have any solid plans yet! I’m sure we are all familiar with Rendezvous Hotel Singapore, one of the many hotel establishments by Far East Hospitality. But do you know that the 16-year-old hotel recently unveiled a brand new look after undergoing a transformation in November 2013, guided by three core values A.R.T. – Attitude, Retro elements and Technology?

Located in the Museum Planning Area of Singapore, Rendezvous Hotel Singapore draws inspiration from its surrounding arts and cultural district along Bras Basah, while at the same time offering its guests convenient access to several popular art galleries and museums such as Singapore Art Museum, SAM at 8Q and National Museum of Singapore. To top it off, guests will enjoy free or special entry rates to museums in the vicinity simply by presenting their key cards at the respective ticketing counters.

Upon entering the hotel, guests will be greeted by a magnificent floor-to-ceiling sculpture along with wall panels behind the reception counters that changes colors every four hours throughout the day, taking guests through a cycle of warm orange, purple and magenta to reflect a sense of vibrant excitement during the day, to a soothing, classy warm yellow, cyan and deep blue during the evening.

The hotel’s bar lounge, renamed The Library, is fitted with plush seats and has a wall of shelves lined with books. This totally takes chilling out to a whole new level.

The artistic revamp is also extended to Club Rooms which occupy the three highest levels of the hotel. These rooms may either be adorned with breathtaking photographs or may bear quotes by famous authors such as the Club Room which we put up at.

The Club Room isn’t one of the largest around but there is a choice of a large king bed or two single beds. The height of the large king bed was around my waist level (maybe I have really short legs) and had difficulty hoisting myself up given my huge baby bump in the way. The husband clearly had a lot of fun jumping from the side and doing some kinda side roll onto the bed. LOL.

Our room comes complete with a large screen television, writing desk and complimentary WiFi.

Bathroom amenities from French Connection.

If you are hankering after a cup of tea, The Courtyard basks in natural sunlight, making it a lovely place for you to indulge in freshly baked scones and other dainty pastries.

Club guests will have access to the Plaza Club Lounge on the 11th floor offering all day complimentary coffee and tea, and also light bites and cocktails from 6pm to 8pm. We popped in after an early dinner tasting around the area to check out what the lounge has to offer.

Interestingly, within the lounge, the different views that guests observe through each particular window are imprinted on the curtains in grayscale. In time to come, the hotel façade facing the junction of Orchard, Stamford and Bras Basah roads will also be transformed into a piece of interactive anamorphic art where pedestrians will be able to see the intended composition at a specific spot diagonally across the street.

Still quite full from dinner earlier on but we happily helped ourselves to piping hot dimsum and some other desserts. We saw that a young couple sitting two tables away from us order practically every single drink from the alcohol menu. Poor server was kept really busy marching in and out of the kitchen the whole time.

Went back to our room to chill for awhile. Our initial plan was to either make a trip down to Switch for some live band music or catch a late night movie. At around 9pm, we looked at each other and decided that we just wanted a good rest after a long day. We were feeling a teeny bit hungry and misterchewy wanted to try Maki-San at The Cathay.

This time, I was captivated by the sculpture’s beautiful shade of blue when we arrived at the lobby because it’s my favorite color!

Love Rendezvous Hotel’s superb location! So many food choices around the area. It took us only a 5-minute walk to get to The Cathay.

Took a long hot shower before hitting the sack! Bed was so comfy that we slept for an additional hour before dragging ourselves down for breakfast 😛

Club guests can choose to have American breakfast served at the club lounge from 7am to 10am. The selection is limited but I suppose there has to be some sort of trade-off for exclusivity.

For a much wider variety, I suggest heading down to Straits Cafe on the ground floor. The buffet line closes at 10.30am and we were there at around 10am.

We were gently reminded that the buffet line closes in 30 minutes so we grabbed whatever looked yummy to us. Should have gotten more of those hot fluffy waffles with maple syrup!

We were entitled to a late checkout at 3pm so we took a little tour around the hotel.

As part of the new Rendezvous Hotel Singapore’s opening promotion, guests who make bookings now to 16 March 2014 for a minimum two-night Club Room stay now to 30 April 2014 will enjoy 30 per cent off the hotel’s best flexible rate. To sweeten the deal, guests will be eligible to enjoy the Far More Perks programme, such as guaranteed early check-in from 10am or late check-out till 4pm, as well as complimentary FunVee City Tour. So many perks! How to resist! 😀

Click here to check out our list of Singapore staycation reviews! Stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy 🙂

Rendezvous Hotel Singapore
9 Bras Basah Road
Singapore 189559
Tel: +65 6336 0220
Email: info.rhs@fareast.com.sg
Reservations:
Tel: +65 6496 7699
Email: reseasy@fareast.com.sg

missuschewy

Singapore Lifestyle and Travel Blog

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