Couple Activity: Sushi and Burger Handmade Miniature Food Clay Art

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There are so many unique things that you and your partner can do together as a couple and here’s what misterchewy and I did on our 3rd year dating anniversary! DENG DENG DENG DENG! Handmade miniature food clay art! One word, “FUN!!” best describes this! Even the husband thought so too! 😀

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Before I show you a little bit on the process of making the miniature food clay, these are the final products taken immediately after the workshop because we wanted to use the toothpicks for size comparison purposes 😛 For the lesson, we could also choose to make bread, pastries, tarts or cakes other than sushi or burger. We decided to make our favourite food so it was sushi for me and burger for misterchewy! 🙂

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The afternoon slot was already filled so we went in the morning, before checking into our hotel for our staycation. The workshop was held in a small room inside a camera shop at Chinatown, Pagoda Street, which is about 3 minutes walking distance from the MRT station.

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I did some online research and finally settled on attending Kin’s workshop. Firstly, Kin’s works are amazing and impressive. Secondly, she had a slot for us on our anniversary day even though it was at 10.30 in the morning. Lastly, Chinatown is near Novotel Clarke Quay so we didn’t have to travel all over Singapore.

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I asked Kin and she told us that she has been making miniature food clay for over 8 years! Not only is Kin very knowledgeable about the different types of materials suitable for making various types of miniature food, she is also very generous with her information which is what I like about her. You can ask her many questions and she will tell you as much as she knows.

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To start things off, I was given a small piece of resin clay and even though it was already white, I had to mix in a bit of white to make it even whiter. And from the piece of clay, I had to divide it equally into 4 smaller pieces because I was going to make 4 types of sushi.

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Poking holes to make it look like Japanese rice. Hehe.

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Looks cute right! One of them is without holes because I would be wrapping ‘seaweed’ around it.

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In the meantime, Kin was teaching misterchewy how to make salad for his burger set.

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Made tamago sushi first! Sorry I didn’t take the entire process because it would take up plenty of time. So you just use your imagination ok? 😛

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Tuna sushi! The husband and I were amazed and how realistic the tuna looked! Ok la maybe not mine, but the one Kin did as a sample looked damn real!

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Apple pie done by misterchewy! We were giggling away because his apple pie looked kinda thick and fat, and Kin commented that it seemed as though someone had already taken a bite out of it. LOLOLOL.

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Does my salmon sushi look adorable? Actually I’m not very happy with it because I made the indentation on the salmon a little too deep and when I used a white pen to line it, the whole thing looks ruined. Haiiii. But still quite cute because it’s about the size of my fingertip. Haha.

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The husband showing off his burger! But still got some finishing touches to be made!

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The last sushi that I made was the ebi sushi. It was the only sushi that I had to use a brush to paint the colors on the prawn. Not easy ok! Before I started painting, Kin showed me more than 10 failed samples done by her students. Those really cannot make it one. And I actually laughed at one particular prawn which she said looks like a washing board. I stopped laughing immediately because I realized I have not started painting my own. *Stressed* Thankfully, I think it turned out pretty alright for a first-timer! 😀 From left to right, we have tuna sushi with prawn roe, salmon sushi, tamago sushi and ebi sushi. The ones in the background were done by Kin, which are a bit smaller than mine, and obviously much nicer too!

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Since the husband was still working on his burger set, I took some photos of Kin’s works on display.

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Yipee! 99% completed!

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The husband’s burger set! Got salad, apple pie, milkshake, French fries and burger!

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We spent about 3 hours and after the workshop, I requested to have a photo taken with Laoshi Kin! We were full of respect and admiration for her! Kin was really patient and she constantly gave us feedback and tips while we were working on our food clay. Kin had also been featured in numerous paper publications and she was also asked to make miniature Laksa as a gift for our ex-President MR. S R Nathan!

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Out of the 4 types of sushi, I spent the most time on painting the ebi sushi because I had to make sure it doesn’t look too fake. I was actually very worried and kept wondering, what if I also ended up with a washing board lookalike prawn?! The salmon and tamago sushi seemed easy to make but they are also not that easy. Kin said, practice makes perfect!

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I thought misterchewy’s burger set looks quite impressive! Very surprising because both of us are not exactly the art and craft kinda people. Before the start of the workshop, Kin asked if we had any experience in miniature clay making or any other types of handicraft. We hesitated for quite some time before I said, “Erm… The last time I did real art and craft was in primary school?!” LOL! The husband found that the top bun of the burger was the hardest to make. He had to redo the thing at least 4 times because the shape was not perfect. Kin told him that there is a certain technique to moulding it. Again, practice makes perfect!

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Kin updates her website on a regular basis and features her latest works on http://rainbowclayminiature.blogspot.sg/
For more information on the different types of workshops that she conducts, you may visit her website here http://www.kinsminiatureworkshop.com/
I have also recently found out that Kin has a Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rainbowclayminiature-Kin/225509057484186

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If you enjoyed our sushi and burger handmade miniature food clay art, do ‘Like’ us on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/missuschewy and follow us on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy as there will be more interesting updates to come! 🙂

Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay Staycation Blog Review

Sponsored Staycation

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Happy long weekend chewys! I’m back with a new blog entry! If you have read our previous post, you should have anticipated today’s hotel staycation review ya 🙂 The husband and I enjoyed a one night stay at Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay, a splendid 4 stars hotel situated in the heart of Singapore.

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Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay features over 400 rooms which had been recently upgraded, each with a magnificent and amazing view of the Marina Bay, Singapore River, and also the spectacular city skyline of Singapore. We had the luxury of staying in a Premier room on the 22nd floor which is extremely spacious, complete with a balcony which can be accessed upon request for the sliding doors to be unlocked.

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One substantial enhancement of the hotel was the discontinuation of queen sized beds such that there were only king sized beds even in Novotel’s smallest rooms.

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All rooms have been designed to Novotel’s latest standards offering state of the art amenities. I was busy taking photos while misterchewy entertained himself by browsing channels on the LCD televisions with easy media connectivity panel. Oh did I mention that there is complimentary high-speed WiFi too?

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Nespresso coffee machine

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Some of the snacks available but are chargeable. FYI, 7-Eleven is conveniently located just downstairs.

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iPod docking station. It’s a pity that it’s not compatible with iPhone 5.

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The bathroom is also quite spacious. I wish I had my wide angle lens with me 😛

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I like the colors that Novotel picked for the packaging of the toiletries.

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Photo taken and very heavily edited by misterchewy using his iPhone 5. Hahaha. But the photo sure doesn’t lie that it was a hot and sunny day! Perrrrfect for a swim!

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Totally got this resort or holiday feel right? *Sigh*

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It was nice having a staycation at Clarke Quay for a change! So many pubs and clubs in the area and you don’t have to worry that much about getting drunk because all you need to do is stagger a little to get back to Novotel. Hahaha.

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The night view from our hotel room is also very nice!

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We got to enjoy the MBS laser show as well. We could have watched the NDP preview fireworks display too but the husband had already made reservations for dinner. Boohoo.

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Premier room guests get to enjoy Premier Floor benefits all day, such as having access to the newly-upgraded Premier Lounge, complimentary American breakfast, WiFi, express check-in / check-out and complimentary use of the boardroom for those all- important business meetings and cocktail hours complete with free flow drinks and canapes every evening. Premier guests have the option of having breakfast at this Premier Lounge or The SQUARE on level 7, or maybe both if you have the stomach for it.

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I admit that I was lazy to get out of bed and told misterchewy to eat breakfast on his own 😛 He chose to have breakfast at the Premier Lounge. We had been to The SQUARE for a brunch tasting last year and the husband concluded that the variety was much wider there even though the Premier Lounge was more exclusive.

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My simple breakfast from 7-Eleven and The Sunday Times from the hotel! Breakfast in bed for me 😛

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It was a great way for us to spend our dating anniversary at Novotel. Stay tuned to our next post as we will be showing you how we did our miniature food clay art as a couple! 🙂 Stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy

Click here to check out our list of Singapore staycation reviews!

Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay
177A River Valley Road
Singapore 179031
Tel: +65 63383333
Email: H5993@accor.com

Celebrating My Birthday & Our 3rd Year Dating Anniversary

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YOOHOO CHEWYS! It’s my birthday today! Please don’t ask me how old I am, just wish me happy birthday can liao! Hahaha. This post is a short summary of how we celebrated my birthday and our 3rd year dating anniversary over the weekend. Just nice our dating anniversary is on 26 July and my birthday is on 31 July, so it’s a tradition for us to celebrate these two special occasions together every year. Likewise for misterchewy’s birthday and our wedding anniversary, which both fall on 9 September 🙂

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I wanted the weekend to be a special one, and made sure that we indulged in some activity that we had not done together before. So, watching movie, karaoke, kite flying, etc were all ruled out. The husband wanted to sign us up for a cooking class with AFC Studio but he was informed that the studio was under renovation. To save misterchewy from the planning, I suggested attending a miniature food clay art lesson together! Actually, I was inspired by my good friend misstamchiak. She is able to make so many types of food clay that look so nice and impressive! I’m glad misterchewy enjoyed the lesson as much as I did! I did the sushi while misterchewy did the ‘McDonald’s extra value meal’. LOL! Will blog about this soon! 😉

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After the clay making lesson, we checked into Novotel Clarke Quay Hotel. Breathtaking view from the balcony of our room!

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Our premier room was very comfortable but the air conditioning was too cold despite our countless attempts to bring up the temperature. Our next blog post will most likely be a staycation review!

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Usually, I would have found out about whatever surprise dinner plans that the husband had for me in the past but this time, I decided not to probe him at all. When we finally stood outside OTTO Ristorante, misterchewy seemed very pleased with the shocked/surprised expression on my face. Keep a lookout for the review!

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And lastly, misterchewy spent more than $1.5K on this ultra sexy Fujifilm X100S as a birthday and anniversary present for me. Knowing that I had recently been considering getting a compact camera because lugging a DSLR with macro lens, wide angle lens and external flash (on my own if he cannot accompany me to tastings or events) is no joke, he parted with his money readily and got me the best compact camera (with his budget) after consulting some of his friends. The amount might not be huge to some, but to me, it is a lot of money given that we are a newly married couple and we are trying our best to save as much as we can for our future home. The husband says that it’s ok, money can always be earned back. Yes it’s true but I hope he doesn’t have this mentality all the time! All photos in this post except for the above and the panorama shot of Clarke Quay were taken with the Fujifilm X100S. Will there be a tech review for this baby? Maybe yes, maybe no. We shall see 😉

I really had a marvellous birthday and dating anniversary celebration and all I wanna say is a big thank you to my husband from the bottom of my heart 🙂

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

The Chewys’ Guide to Valentine’s Day

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What comes right after Chinese New Year? Yes, Valentine’s Day! Rejoice because you should have collected enough angbao money just in time to splurge on this fabulous occasion! Yipee! Ummm.. But if you are giving out angbao instead then.. hmm nvm la 😛 While The Chewys are not dating or love gurus, we would still like to share some ideas as to how to spend Valentine’s Day with The One this year! 😀 Please note that the following listed below are based on our personal tastes and preferences 😉

Begin the Special Day with Brunch

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Nothing beats waking past noon together with your loved one and digging into some thick, fluffy blueberry pancakes the laid-back way at the charming and majestic Alkaff Mansion. Go for a stroll at Telok Blangah Hill Park after brunch!

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If you wanna impress your date, take her to Au Chocolat at Marina Bay Sands. The eggs benedict smothered in dark chocolate infused hollandaise sauce are something unique. Remember to thank us if she happens to be a chocolate lover.

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Not a fan or eggs or pancakes? The Lawn at Biopolis serves really great tasting salads with a wide range of delicious grilled meat. The location might be a bit off, but hey, The Star Vista is just opposite!

Daytime Dating Activity

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If you belong to the group who thinks that everyday is Valentine’s Day and prefer to spend it in a relaxing way, grab a kite and head down to Marina Barrage! Remember to slather on some sunblock!

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Your date doesn’t like the sun? Well, there are plenty of indoor activities! The S.E.A. Aquarium at Resorts World Sentosa is certainly not to be missed! Be marvelled as the colorful fishes swim by~

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There’s always a first time for everything. Make your Valentine’s Day a memorable one by doing an indoor skydiving at iFly Singapore together! It might only be a few seconds of excitement in the wind tunnel but the memories are yours to keep for a lifetime.

Unwind with an Afternoon Tea

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Always remember, ladies love to be pampered. After a long day, take her to a cosy and dainty place such as Fullhouse Themed Restaurant. We’re sure that she will be thrilled for being treated like a princess.

Us @ Arteastiq

Located at Mandarin Gallery, Arteastiq gives a unique high tea experience in Orchard like no other! The famous apple cake and orange cake are some of their must-try items besides their dessert teas.

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Duxton Hill area at Tanjong Pagar has a number of eateries and cafes. If your lady has a sweet tooth, she is likely to say yes to the drunken Spanish sponge cake and churros at Sabio Tapas Bar & Restaurant. Oh, there are many bridal studios around the area. If you are ready to take your relationship to another level, you know what to do 😉

Romantic Dinner for Two

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Try not to max out your stomach space during afternoon tea because this is where the important part comes. I’m sure you wanna make this really memorable for your special one right? One of our top picks for a romantic dinner for two is Backyard@Dempsey. You can totally be in a world of your own, surrounded by lush greenery around you. The atmosphere is casual and unpretentious so you and your date can really be yourselves and enjoy the moment! Toast to the occasion with a glass of Kronenbourg or two.

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Oh yeah, it’s the Kronenbourg again. Haha. In our opinion, the more inaccessible the dinner place is for special occasions like this, the more brownie points you score. The Coastal Settlement is kinda secluded but the truffle mushroom fettuccine makes the trip worthwhile.

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For exquisite Italian fare, Senso Ristorante & Bar is the place to go to. Don’t forget to open a bottle of wine and clink glasses! Psst.. Senso serves really awesome chocolate molten lava cake!

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Stellar at 1-Altitude is bound to burn a hole in your pocket but it’s only a small price to pay to make your date feel on top of the world. Don’t forget to dress to impress.

Ku De Ta Valentine's Day Tasting

Another very romantic dinner location is none other than KU DÉ TA at Marina Bay Sands. From the 57th floor, the beautiful view of the city will take anyone’s breath away. After dinner, adjourn to the KU DÉ TA club lounge and party the night away!

Staycation in Singapore

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This is not a must but a staycation in Singapore is one of the most romantic thing that a guy can plan for a girl and vice versa. Grand Park Orchard is very ideal considering that it is located along Orchard Road. You have the option of catching a midnight movie at Cineleisure or borrowing a DVD from the hotel which means you can snuggle up to your partner under the sheets 😉

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For a romantic staycation experience like no other, Wanderlust Hotel is our favorite pick. There are various themed rooms but we reckon that the Space room is the best.

Just relax, be yourselves and have fun. Hope this gives everyone an idea or two about how to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year! Connect with us at our Facebook page and feel free to ask us any questions! 😀

Wedding Anniversary Photoshoot with Firefly Photography

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Whoohoo! TGIF chewy chewy friends! The week passed by like a flash. I know our first year wedding anniversary was on 9 September and it took me so long to post this 😛 A couple of weeks before our anniversary, I chanced upon a Groupon deal for this 90 minute photoshoot with Firefly Photography at just $12. You must be thinking, “Yeah $12.. You gotta be kidding me right?” So smart, $12 includes only 5 edited photos. We had to top up $68 to get 50 edited photos and the remaining 100++ raw ones, which is still quite a good deal! 😀

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Here are some of the shots that I personally prefer. We were trying to think of a theme for our casual photoshoot and it was PICNIC! We bought some jumbo sized snacks from the supermarket and also a pink ukulele just for this shoot! 😛 Location was at Hort Park and homaigawd it was really hot even at 10am.

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Hehe so what do you guys think of the photos? Still pretty ok for the price we paid right? 😛 Enjoy the weekend and stay tuned for more updates next week! 🙂

Morganfield’s @ The Star Vista: Must Try Spare Ribs!

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Have you guys been to The Star Vista? It’s situated just next to Buona Vista MRT Station (and hence the name) so whoever’s working around the area will have another lunch place to go to now! Since its opening on 17 September, misterchewy and I had been there twice in a span of two weeks. We wanted to try Morganfield’s the first weekend we were there but were told that we had to wait for at least an hour because we didn’t make reservations.

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I guess we got lucky the second time when we swung by after work. We wanted to have a simple and casual celebration for our 26th dating monthsary so Morganfield’s it was! Yup we still celebrate monthsaries other than ‘bigger’ occasions like our wedding anniversary. Something to look forward to every month! 🙂 Anyway, here’s another shot of The Star Vista. It is Singapore’s first naturally cooled mall but we were kinda thankful that the shops are air-conditioned. LOL.

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We didn’t manage to get an indoor seating 🙁 The tables were small and chairs were quite high. Didn’t really feel comfortable. Remember to make reservations if you wanna try Morganfield’s! Anyway we weren’t quite happy with Morganfield’s service standards. Most of the wait staff are foreigners and although they could speak English, they had trouble understanding us and we too had trouble communicating with them.

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We wanted to order the pork ribs, seafood platter, German sausages, chilli cheese fries, Tequila spiked chicken etc! Of course we would end up suffering from food coma but the ribs sealed the deal for us when we were told that we could enjoy half-slab for free if we order a full one, as part of their opening special 😀

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I chose the Smoked Peppercorn Spare Ribs because I have always been a fan of anything and everything black pepper! The ribs were slowly cooked till soft and fork tender. Served with red skin mashed potatoes and garden veggies, this is one very hearty dinner!

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On the other hand, the Hickory Wood-Smoked Ribs ($36.90) had a more intense smoked flavor and was also slightly sweeter but we also got tired of it much sooner thtan the smoked peppercorn one!

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They have some other promotions going on right now, so be sure to check Morganfield’s out soon! 🙂

Morganfield’s SingaporeThe Star Vista
1 Vista Exchange Green
#02-23
Singapore 138617
Tel: 6694 3635

Opening Hours:
Mon to Thu
12 – 3pm
6 – 10.30pm
Fri
12 – 3pm
6 – 12 midnight
Sat
12pm – 12 midnight
Sun
12 – 10.30pm

Takumi Tokyo: Romantic First Year Wedding Anniversary Dinner

9th September
Photo credit: Jenny Sun Photography
(Words by misterchewy, photos by missuschewy)

Hello all! This is misterchewy blogging about his birthday and first year wedding anniversary celebration with missuschewy on 9th September. The above was shot on an iPhone by Jenny Sun, the same photographer who took engagement and wedding shots for Jayesslee’s Sonia and her husband Andy. It’s such a coincidence the Jayesslee twins and I were born on 9 September, in the same year! 0909 is a nice date because it means 长长久久 which is why we tied the knot on my birthday last year 🙂

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Rewind a few weeks earlier, we met up with the other foodies and caught Jiro Dreams of Sushi at VivoCity. The fantastic cinematograph totally whetted my appetite for some sushi and sashimi! Had been searching high and low for quality Japanese food for weeks. As a surprise, the wifey promptly made reservations at Takumi Tokyo Restaurant, located at the laid-back Keppel Bay. Come to think of it, she brought me here for an advanced mini birthday celebration at Prive two years ago!

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Walking is our favorite mode of transportation when missuschewy isn’t wearing heels 😛 We were around town area and chose to take a leisurely stroll in after alighting at Harbourfront MRT Station. A stroll soon turned into brisk walking as we were famished!

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I might not express it but I was excited and looking forward to the dinner. My wife certainly knows how to make me happy and excited. -gasps- Stop letting your mind wonder. A woman who knows the way to her man’s stomach will tie him down automatically. HAHA.

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I think it was missuschewy’s first time wearing such a long dress to go paktor with me. So pretty lor 😛

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Our stomachs could not take it anymore and we finally continued making our way to the restaurant which is located on level 2. Turn left upon exiting the lift and you will find Takumi Tokyo after passing by TCC.

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Takumi Restaurant is said to be a fine-dining restaurant with interiors that create an ambience that complements the food and service for an authentic and unpretentious Japanese dining experience. It has a number of awards under its belt, such as Best Restaurant 2010, Singapore Tatler and Top 3 Japanese Restaurants, Singapore Press Holdings.

us @ takumi

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Gosh! We were so hungry when we reached the restaurant. Didn’t know whether to go for the set menu or select ala carte dishes. In the end, we decided to go for a bit of everything from the ala carte menu. Apparently, Takumi Tokyo specializes in robatayaki and teppanyaki.

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Shortly after placing our order, We were served Otoshi ($6), which we mistook as a complimentary appetizer.

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We were pleasantly surprised when we ate the Pan Seared Foie Gras with Plum Wine Jelly ($35). The radish was sweet while the foie gras was nicely crisp on the outside and melt-in-the-mouth.

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Like what missuschewy said on Instagram when she posted the picture: “Foie Gras so good I could have died and gone to heaven”. Yeah it was THAT good.

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The Australian Kurobuta Pork Yuzu Pepper Sauce 120g ($30) came thinly sliced and was quite flavorful but we would prefer it to be more tender.

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We wanted to order sashimi and Chirashi Sushi $38 but the restaurant manager advised us to go for either since both are highly similar, except that the latter comes with rice. There was quite a variety of raw fish and everything came in two slices, except for the prawn. Very value-for-money!

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We love sea urchin but the Hokkaido Scallops topped with Sea Urchin, Paprika Sauce ($28) didn’t wow us. The slightly sourish taste did not seem to fit in this dish.

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Although the Grilled Lamb Rack Marinated with Apple Miso Sauce $25 was a bit salty, it was very tasty and was more tender than the Australian kurobuta pork.

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We felt so shiok from eating the chirashi sushi that we decided to order the Assorted Sushi ($35) halfway through eating! The menu states that this features 7 pieces and 1 roll but it seems like we got an extra piece. Shiok! 😀

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The chef deep-fried the prawn head from our chirashi sushi for us. Very crispy!

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To my dear wife, thanks for putting in lots of effort to plan for my birthday and our anniversary. Can’t wait for part two updates! 😛 I really love the watch that you shipped over for me as birthday present and I will treasure it for a long long time. 🙂 在爱的幸福国度,你就是我唯一。我唯一爱的就是你。

Takumi Tokyo Restaurant
2 Keppel Bay Vista,
#02-01
Marina at Keppel Bay
Singapore 098382
Tel: 6271 7414

Opening Hours:
Daily
12pm – 2.30pm (Lunch)
6pm – 10.30pm (Dinner)

Happy Birthday and Happy Wedding Anniversary, misterchewy!

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The rain ruined our plans but that didn’t rain on our parade. Dinner at Takumi Tokyo was a pretty impressive one! And before the clock strikes 12, I’d like to once again wish misterchewy Happy Birthday and Happy Wedding Anniversary! 今天是九月九日,我们会长长久久! ♥

The Chewys’ Traditional Chinese Wedding Preparations

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Yay! Hubby Chewy and I will be celebrating our First Year Wedding Anniversary come this Sunday, on 9th September! Our ROM was held at Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel last year. We didn’t want to throw our customary wedding banquet on the same day, hence we chose another date, which we think has a pretty nice number combination! 😛 Anyway, I reckon we are the world’s #1 procrastinating couple so I’ve decided to ‘chart our progress’ in terms of our customary wedding preparations here. 😛

Our Progress

– Booked pre-wedding photography package inclusive of makeup artist
– Decided on date of photoshoot
– Finalized our customary wedding banquet venue
– Confirmed AD photographer, additional photographer and videographer
– Selected our bridal gowns, evening gowns and groom suits (Round One fitting passed!)

Things to be done!

– Badly in need of new hair color before photoshoot in October (misterchewy too!)
– Bridal nails (probably can wait a couple of days before our shoot)
– Decide on photoshoot wedding venues
– Photoshoot theme
– Props for outdoor photoshoot
– Wedding dinner theme
– Considering instant prints photographer or mobile booth with props for wedding dinner
– What else?! What else did I forget?! I’m sure I must have left out many things! :O

Haha ok I think that’s about it for now! To all the other wedding couples, please feel free to give advice or recommendations! Thank you 🙂

Gardens by the Bay: Dining at Pollen & Strolling at Flower Dome

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Ever since Pollen at Gardens by the Bay was first featured on the Sunday edition of The Straits Times, I had been hinting widely to misterchewy that yours truly was dying to go there. The boy got my ‘hint’ and arranged to treat me to a pre-birthday lunch! Well, if he didn’t get my big hint, he’s gonna get a hard knock on his head. LOL just kidding~ 😛

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The hubby had everything well-planned and we took a cab to Gardens by the Bay after checking out of Wanderlust Hotel. He made reservations for lunch a few days in advance and we had a buggy to pick us up at the entrance. It sure was a long way in! Super excited while we were on the buggy! 😀

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I think with all the hype going on, Pollen probably doesn’t need any more introduction from this humble blog. Ok but anyways, for the benefit of those who don’t already know, Pollen is the sister restaurant to Michelin-starred British chef Jason Atherton’s Pollen Street Social in London. Pollen sets itself to be a fine dining concept in Singapore which serves mainly Mediterranean-inspired modern European cuisine in casual ambience surrounded by temperate olive trees, herbs and vegetation. Do you know that every morning, the chefs at Pollen pick fresh herbs and vegetables from their own herb garden as ingredients for the dishes? 😀

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Fine dining is just not my cup of tea. I prefer a casual and relaxed dining atmosphere. Being tensed doesn’t allow me to enjoy my food, and the hefty price tag that comes with it would not be justifiable, no matter how mind-blowing the food is. This is my personal opinion of course. What about Pollen then? I would say that dining in a picturesque setting is a totally different experience all together! It’s kinda like alfresco dining in a majestic glass dome surrounded by beautiful flowers and greenery in this case! Like Alice in Wonderland at a Mad Hatter Tea Party! I don’t think it’s something you can easily get elsewhere 😉

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Thanks to the hubby for doting on me! Hehehe! 😛

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Typical things that ‘tourists’ do. Just felt that I had to pose for a photo with Pollen’s menu. LOL.

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Interestingly, the couple next to us was also celebrating the girl’s birthday! I’m not a stalker la but here’s her blog post! I was quite sure that she had to be at least a blogger, if not food blogger because her bf/husband remarked that he would have whatever she wasn’t planning to have. Hahaha! Guess what happened? All four of us had the Set Lunch ($55++). Both guys ordered exactly the same dishes and us ladies ate exactly the same too! Yup the starter, mains and desserts. Homaigawd.

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I picked the Petunia Ocean Trout as my starter, which instantly reminded us of the citrus marinated salmon that we had at Pamplemousse. Served with oyster mayonnaise and pickled onion, this dish was faultless. I loved the presentation! Such a pretty flower 🙂

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For someone who generally prefers strong flavors, misterchewy seemed quite happy with his Slow Cooked Eggs with Patata Bravas. The fried potato cubes and crispy slices of chorizo went quite well with the spicy tomato sauce. Plus biting into the egg was sheer delight, as can be seen from the hubby’s facial expressions.

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You should be able to estimate the size of the Roasted Pork Belly if you compare it against the size of the beans. Heh. Yeah set lunch mah, whaddaya expect? 😛 The pork belly was really good, very tender with a slightly chewy bite. And if I didn’t remember wrongly, the cut was actually quite lean.

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My John Dory was unexceptional, nothing to shout about. The seafood bisque veloute was way too salty but I finished it up nevertheless.

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Isn’t misterchewy’s dessert choice of Coconut Mousse, Rhubarb Broth, Goat Cheese Ice Cream prettaaaay? The sweet coconut mousse complemented the sourish rhubarb perfectly and the goat cheese ice cream though subtle, could be an acquired taste. We liked it very much! 🙂

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My Beetroot Sorbet with Chocolate Mousse was served on a rock. Yes a ROCK! Haha. The waiter told us that a few customers actually asked if the rock is also part of the dessert and whether it can be eaten. Lololol. A rather refreshing mix of tart and sweet flavors in this one. The eating experience was a fun one though, trying to lick the rock clean. Heh.

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A birthday gift from Pollen! Very exquisite chocolate! I have never tasted anything like this before 😀

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Since misterchewy made reservations at Pollen, the entrance fee to Flower Dome was waived. This made our lunch at Pollen a rather good deal considering that we saved $12 per person on the admission fee 😛

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There is a lift within Pollen and we were shown up to the Flower Dome. Good thing we were there on a Monday because there wasn’t much of a crowd. But I made a wrong decision of not bringing my camera charger to charge my DSLR during the staycation 🙁 Camera was running on low battery thus some of the shots that you see later on were taken with the hubby’s Canon IXUS.

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Taking a stroll at Flower Dome is a very cool affair! Hahaha no pun intended. It is a very nice feeling to have the sun shining down on you but in a cool and moist climate. Almost feels like experiencing winter in a foreign country! 😀

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Our Chewy tofu oyako – John and Sally! Long time no see right? 😛 Ok shall let the photos do the talking!

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And finally, this post concludes the fantabulous birthday weekend that misterchewy had planned for me! If you have missed out on the earlier posts and haven’t got a clue as to what’s going on, click on the following links to read about our Wanderlust Hotel staycation, terrariums workshop and romantic dinner at Senso.
TGIF my dear friends and play hard over the weekend! 😉