Happenings in April - Food Diary + OISHI Green Tea

Wednesday 1/4/15

April was really a month of eating good food for me. March and April was a stressful month for me, so we pampered ourselves with a month of good food while working hard.

My first time trying out Ambush, a fast casual dining restaurant for European cuisine.

I have tomato soup. It was filled with veggie and chunk of tomatoes. Delicious and flavourful.

Chicken schnitzel, fried chicken breast.

I don't fancy this dish because the meat was really hard and dry.

**

OISHI!

 F&N Foods has recently introduced a new product to the Singapore market: OISHI Green Tea.

OISHI Green Tea are made from 100% organic green tea leaves and the freshest top three leaves of each branch with no added preservatives and artificial colourings, offering consumers the authentic taste of Japanese green tea brewed to perfection. This makes it different from what is currently available in the market. The brand is all geared up to set a new benchmark and a powerful new wave, with a whole new range of Ready-to-Drink green tea products.

Japanese green tea has captivated the taste buds of the world with its pleasing taste and soothing aroma.

OISHI Japanese green tea has come up with 2 alluring flavours, OISHI Green Tea Original and OISHI Green Tea with Genmai. 

The benefits of Japanese green tea are helping us stay healthy as the potent antioxidant content helps to detoxify the body from free-radical damages.

The great taste of OISHI Green Tea Original has a tinge of pleasant vegetal and jasmine note. It delivers the authentic and fragrant taste of 100% organic green tea with the convenience of just a twist of the cap.

OISHI Green Tea with Genmai used roasted Japanese brown rice to enhance the flavour and also to increase levels of nutrients such as γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). This rice used in Japanese cuisine, has been gaining popularity as a health food because it is considered more nutritious than white rice. 

Out of the 2 flavours, OISHI Green Tea with Genmai is my favourite because it has a pleasant fragrance and it gives a sweet tasting. OISHI Green Tea with Genmai completes a meal and is the ultimate refreshing beverage, especially on a hot, balmy day.

OISHI Green Tea Original and OISHI Green Tea with Genmai are now available at major supermarkets and hypermarkets.
380ml PET bottles (S$1.00)
1.5L PET bottles (S$2.05)

Thank you F&N Foods for the drinks.

Friday 3/4/15

Hooray, it's Good Friday. I decided to hang out at Bugis, a place where I haven't been there for a long time. Remember when I was younger, Bugis used to be my favourite hangout place where I will be there at least once a month. I love going to Bugis street to stock up my cheap buy. 

Met up with Linda for catching up. Didn't have time for much catch up with her during CNY dinner so we took the opportunity during this holiday.

Linda also introduced me to a new Japanese restaurant, Kotsujiru Nabe @ Bugis Junction.

We have miso dumpling soup for our lunch.

Thursday 9/4/15

Headed down to Great World City for lunch @ Kenny Rogers Roasters. One reason why we love to have our lunch at restaurants during weekdays is because of the attractive lunch promotion set. which is not available at night or weekend.

So one main course is accompanied with 2 side dishes. I have cheesy macaroni and mushroom soup as my side dishes. The cheesy macaroni is too cheesy to my liking. I made the wrong selection, my choices are either cheesy or creamy. It was really a sinful one. I think I will go for salad the next round.

Friday 10/4/15

Went to meet Grace for lunch at HarbourFront Centre. Decided to treat her to lunch for her post birthday celebration. I asked her to choose a place she like and she chosen Han's cafe. Thanks gal for helping me to save money. Both of us have Dory fish set. Despite just meeting last week, we still have so much thing to chat about.

Wednesday 15/4/15

Have our meal at Jack's Place. I have half spring chicken with sambal sauce. Initially I was thinking, Jack's Place is a western dining, matching sambal sauce seems so Chinese style. But when I first dip the chicken into the sauce, I was sold out. It was a perfect matching.

A cup of tea to go after the meal. 

Friday 24/4/15

Found a hidden gem in Everton Park. Just below the blocks of HDB flats, there are quite a number of cafes located at Everton Park.

We decided to check out Cozy Corner Coffee, a small coffee house situated at Blk 4 of Everton Park. It was a quiet place, being the only big group in the cafes, we were the nosiest. You could practically hear our voices and laughter.

They served all day breakfast. 

I ordered this breakfast at $11.80 with scrambled egg, mushroom, veggie, 2 sliced of bread and black pepper chicken.

Compared to the cafes, I find that the pricing was affordable and cheaper. It was delicious and filling.

Monday 27/4/15

My team lead treated us to a hearty lunch at Swensen's to reward us for a year of hard work. They are so nice right.

I decided to go for Teriyaki Chicken Pasta because it has a healthier choice symbol on the menu.

It was served with grilled chicken thigh smothered in teriyaki sauce served with spaghetti and vegetable-of-the-day.

Rodeo wings. Golden Fried chicken wings tossed with BBQ sauce and topped with crushed black pepper.

The Rock ice-cream to end off our lunch. 

The Rock has 3 signature ice cream flavors - Hazelnut, Cookies 'N' Cream and Rocky Road garnished with marshmallow sauce, hot caramel, cocoa pops and wafers. Wow, it was really delicious. I love the hazelnut and cookies 'N' cream ice-cream.

Thanks Helen, Gina and Ivy for the treat.

Well, this pretty much sum up my food diary for the month of April. 

P.S. Sorry, I haven't been updating my blog regularly. I have been busy with preparation for my exam, I have rejected quite a few events as well. Pls bear with me during these period, I will be back to blogging after my exam.

In Memoriam: Lee Kuan Yew at National Museum of Singapore

I'm back to National Museum of Singapore again, I think my last visit to the museum was about a year ago. National Museum is the oldest museum in Singapore. It has an architectural landmark, prominently located at Stamford Road. 

Actually I wanted to come here to take a look at the exhibitions of Lee Kuan Yew. This exhibition has been extended to 24 May 2015 and admission is free for all visitors. We decided to come on a weekday to avoid any crowd.

This exhibition chronicles that journey and pays tribute to his contributions. It allows us to remember and reflect on the solid foundation that he built for Singapore.

Following the signage.

This exhibition is a memorial to Lee Kuan Yew’s contributions to Singapore where we learnt about his  ideals and convictions that shaped him and his generation of leaders.

A picture of Mr Lee when he was younger.

A mother was reading out the contributions of Mr Lee to her 2 children. They were listening attentively. So heart warming to see such a scene, parents play a big role in nurturing their children the right values.

Here with Kai Pin, who is interested in coming to see the exhibitions too.

There was only one place that we needed to queue, which was to view the glass exhibition. The queue was not too long, within 5 minutes and it was already our turn. 

Barrister wig and container from 1949.

On admission to the Bar, Mr and Mrs Lee bought barrister wigs.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual watch from 1953.

This watch was presented to Mr Lee Kuan Yew by the Singapore Union of Postal and Telecommunications Workers. He had successfully represented the presented the union in an arbitration over a wage dispute.

The famous telegram from 1958.

The telegram was sent to Mrs Lee with the message: "ARRIVING TODAY BATTLESHIP = LEEKUANYEW”

Initially they thought that Mr Lee Kuan Yew will arrived in a battleship so they checked with the British Naval Base if there is any battleship arriving from Sarawak.

Actually what Mr Lee Kuan Yew meant was he will arrived that day and wanted to have steam boat for dinner. Because telegrams were charged by the word, he wrote “battleship” instead, to save words and money!

I learnt something from the telegram. Steam boat = Battleship.

So next time if I say battleship, you will know what I mean right?

Poster of Singapore’s First Legislative Assembly in 1955.

The poster includes 25 members elected in Singapore’s first General Election under the Rendel Constitution. Mr Lee Kuan Yew, the Member for Tanjong Pagar, won his seat by the widest margin among all the candidates. He had represented Tanjong Pagar since then.

Leaflet for Legislative Assembly By-election at Tanjong Pagar in 1957.

This leaflet contains an open letter to the voters of Tanjong Pagar, explaining the PAP’s aim to end colonialism and establish an independent, non-communist Malaya. 

Leaflet for Legislative Assembly General Election in 1959.

It features a write-up of Lee Kuan Yew as the party’s secretary-general and candidate for Tanjong Pagar. 

The Battle for Merger – Malay, English and Chinese editions in 1961. 

We then went on to view the photographic images and audiovisual recordings. Every image has a story behind it.

The exhibition begins with Mr Lee’s life as a law student at Cambridge to his political career from the formation of the People’s Action Party, through his Prime Ministership, to his final years of service as Senior Minister and Minister Mentor.

Lee Kuan Yew has devoted all his life to Singapore. 

His legacy

He believed in a fair and just society, one in which every citizen had a stake. 

He believed we could be “one united people, regardless of race, language or religion”. 

He believed government had to be honest and strong if it was to be a force for good. 

He insisted on the rule of law, meritocracy and zero tolerance of corruption. 

It is upon these solid foundations laid by Mr Lee Kuan Yew and his generation of leaders that Singapore will continue to thrive in the decades to come.

We must continue to live his legacy to keep all these going.

Tributes to Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

Red ministerial box, mid-20th century.

This red box was used by Mr Lee Kuan Yew while he was in political office. It contained his work – papers, speech drafts, letters, readings, notes and cassette tapes with his recorded instructions. 

This is the red box mention by Minister for Education Heng Swee Keat. Mr Lee used this red box all the way until 4 February 2015, the day before he was hospitalised. Today, it has become a symbol of Mr Lee’s unwavering commitment to Singapore.

Rosewood rostrum from 1970s.

This was the rostrum used when Mr Lee Kuan Yew delivered his annual National Day Rally when he was Prime Minister.

It was a fruitful trip to learn about Mr Lee Kuan Yew's contributions. He inspired me to become a better person and to give in my best in whatever I do. Your legacy will continue to live in us.

Thank you.

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Japanese pop group, Attack All Around (AAA) Media Conference

Japan’s No. 1 entertainment company, Avex Trax presents AAA Asia Tour 2015, in celebration of the group's 10th anniversary. 

AAA (Attack All Around), pronounced as Triple A, is also the singers behind the hit animation “ONE PIECE”. The group is in Singapore to kick start their first ever Asia Tour in Singapore on 4th April 2015. Singapore is the first stop of the concert and the tickets are fully sold out in Singapore.

The award-winning AAA consists of 7 members - 2 girls and 5 guys. 

Besides receiving the "Best New Artist" award at the 47th Japan Record Awards in their debut year, they also performed at the legendary BUDOUKAN in 2006, and appeared in the prestigious Kouhaku Utagassen in 2011.

Presented by WAKUWAKU JAPAN, AAA held an open media conference at Bugis+ Level 2 Atrium when fans got their opportunity to see their idols up close.

Members of AAA from left to right: Takahiro Nishijima, Chiaki Itou, Naoya Urata, Misako Uno, Shuta Sueyoshi, Shinjiro Atae and Mitsuhiro Hidaka.   

Each member took turn to greet the fans.

One of the fans revealed that she was here at 8.30am to grab a good spot.

Time for some Q&A session with AAA.

Being their first Asia tour, they are feeling excited and happy because they never thought that they have so many fans outside Japan.

The concert held at SCAPE, The Ground Theatre is so much smaller than the one they had in Japan so fans can expect a more intimate session with them.

Singapore is chosen as their first stop of the Asia tour because they love Singapore.

When asked about the possibility of coming back to Singapore again for concert, Shinjiro replied that they are 99% sure that they will come to Singapore again, the remaining 1% will depend on the fans support.

During this visit to Singapore, AAA hope to visit Night Safari, Garden by the Bay and G-Max.

AAA also shared that before their debut, they were performing on the streets as a group with only 2 - 3 audiences. They gave out group stickers to the audience after their performance and some just threw it away in front of them.

I love all their outfit, all of them looked so fashionable.

This marked the end of the media conference. 

A special segment for the fans following the end of the conference was the high-five session with AAA. For fans who purchased AAA’s GOLD SYMPHONY album, they got the opportunity to go up to the stage for high-five session with each of the members.

Hope to see AAA in Singapore soon again.