Happenings from January to March - Food and Gathering

Sunday 6/2/22

Chinese New Year (CNY) is the time where family and friends will gather together and have a sumptuous reunion meal, typically in the form of steamboat. Covid has made an impact to our life, CNY used to be a large group affair but now we are limit to a maximum of 5 pax household visiting. Smaller group has its own advantage too as it makes the vibe more cosy and intimate. 

Thanks GF for inviting Tracy, Meryl and I to your cosy home for a CNY steamboat lunch. It has been more than a year since our last meetup in 4 pax, so nice to see each other again.

The ingredients prepared were our favourite steamboat ingredients - tofu, crabmeat, mushroom, dumpling, sausage, luncheon meat, meatball and more.

The natural flavour of the ingredients have enhanced the taste of the soup, making it palatable, we even scoop the soup into our bowl.

After the steamboat, we headed to the balcony to have a pot of tea and pair together with some CNY cookies. We had a wonderful time chilling and enjoying each other companionship. See you girls soon again.

Saturday 5/3/22

Delicious yet affordable pricing food will appear attractive to many of us. It is hard to find valuable set lunch on weekend (most restaurants will cater set lunch on weekdays), so glad that I found Jack's Place  which offers set lunch mostly below $20++.

The set lunch comes with choice of drink and I opt for Mango Juice, soup of the day (Mushroom Soup) with garlic bread and dessert of the day. It has been a few years since I last ate at Jack's Place, really miss their value for money set meal.

I had Grilled Fillet Fish with potato and leek for my main course. I like that the main course comes with healthy mix of ingredients to ensure we get sufficient nutrients and the generous portion.

Not satisfied with the dessert, I ordered Cookie & Cream Sundae drenched in chocolate sauce. The double scoop gelato was speckled with almond flakes which gave crunchiness to contrast the soft gelato texture.

That's all for the quarterly update. Good night!

Happenings in September - Kafe UTU + Family Time

Friday 3/9/21

I always look forward to Friday because it is the start of weekend, time to relax from work and discover new gems for a good meal. Instead of having the usual Western food, I suggested to try out something unique, African food, at Kafe UTU.

Kafe UTU is an African café and lounge, one of the shophouses located at Jiak Chuan Road that offers diverse flavors and dishes. 

All the furnishings were imported from Africa to retain the authentic African feel. 

Since we can't visit Africa right now, coming to Kafe Utu will be the nearest option we can have to experience Africa taste in Singapore.

I decided to go for the safest choice which is the breakfast set consisting of chapati, poached egg, avocodo, sliced chicken and tomato. It came with a spice dipping sauce that made the food tasted aromatic when coated with the spice. Just one downside, the chicken was very salty.

We tried Pastry Nakupenda for dessert, where Kenyan Donut was topped with Soft Serve. The soft serve of the day was Mocha flavour. The swirls of mocha ice cream brought out a light coffee scent and bitter notes from the mocha. Remember to consume quick because the ice cream melted fast.

Saturday 11/9/21

Weekend is always the time for a great meal, especially when it was Grandma's birthday. With only 5 visitors allowed, we had a mini celebration at home just like last year.

Uncle brought us Fuzhou Oyster Cake, it was stuffed a generous chunks of minced meat, prawn, vegetables and deep fried to perfection. It was very oily, by the time I finished the whole cake, the whole paper bag was soaked with oil. Definitely not something to take regularly.

Though sis Vivien couldn't join us for the celebration (quota hit), she has ordered a Mao Shan Wang Durian Cake delivered by Golden Moments. Thanks sis for the cake.

Happy birthday, grandma. May you continue to stay healthy and strong.

We had a 4 generation gathering with Mia being the only representative of the 4th generation while I'm the only representative of the 3rd generation.

Sunday 12/9/21

My Sunday afternoon was spent playing with the kids, we have so much fun playing with just a balloon.

That's all for update.

Happenings in August - Zou Homemade + Atopalm Soothing Gel Lotion

Sunday 2/8/20

Add on the hei zou from Zou Homemade to our dinner spread. 

I had the original hei zou which comes in a box of 5 pieces at $15. Each piece of the prawn roll is fried till golden brown. 

Zou Homemade’s hei zou comes from grandmother’s recipe with fresh ingredients used and no msg is added. 

Just a small bite, the thin crispy skin breaks open to reveal the meaty filling that makes up of prawn, pork, Japanese Shitake mushroom, chestnut, carrot and other ingredients. The chestnut added a crunchy texture while the meat was juicy and moist. 

The conclusion we had after having it - Jin Ho Jiak! Thanks Zou Homemade for sending this to us.

Limited quantities are produced for each week, so secure your box of hei zou before they run out of stock.

Sunday 16/8/20

Sis V got us durian cream puff from Four Seasons. The light airy puff was filled with delicious yummy durian cream filling. They made a great afternoon snacks for our family. Thanks sis for always pampering us with delicious food.

Saturday 22/8/20

It's Saturday, the only day I don't need to switch on my laptop to work and have time for myself, be it a lazy day catching up on drama marathons or a day out to meet up with friends or out to run some errands.

Heading out to collect my card before meeting up with friend for lunch at Raffles City.

Mask on, ready to go.

One thing learnt about dining out on weekend was that one will need to book a reservation because waiting time for walk in customers can be like half an hour to one hour at certain restaurants or cafes. We decided to settle for Fish & Co. where there were still seats available.

I had Grilled Peri-Peri White Fish with Paella Rice and Classic Chips ($20.95++). The white fish was toppled with sambal sauce which added spice to the overall dish. After finishing the food, I was feeling really full. 

Went back home and continue to burn my weekend for work as there are some urgent materials to prepare for Monday's discussion.

Hydration and moisturisation play an important factor in my daily beauty routine. I have started using Atopalm Soothing Gel Lotion after finishing my current tube of moisturiser. I was attracted to this product because of its duo functions, the soothing gel lotion can be applied to face and body, acting as a moisturiser and body lotion at the same time. 

The blue packaging is the upgraded version of the soothing gel lotion, it contains over 75% bamboo water instead of water, it helps to cool down skin temperature which is perfect to use after being exposed to sunburn. 

With upgraded MLE formula, it increased moisture content and hyaluronic acid. My skin immediately felt soothed and refreshing upon application with a cooling sensation, it comes with a light scent that help to ease my mind. 

The gel lotion may seem thick at one glance, but it absorbed into skin fast, leaving our skin feeling lightweight and no sticky feel. Atopalm Soothing Gel Lotion provides moisture and hydration, delivering a supple and radiant skin throughout the day. I applied it in the night too and my skin still feel soft the next morning. It also prevents our skin from being dry if we stay in air-conditioned room for long hours. 

Atopalm Soothing Gel Lotion is suitable for all skin types, even babies and children can use it too. A great product when your skin needs an extra boost of hydration. 

The product is available at https://toppingskids.com/collections/atopalm

Monday 31/8/20

Aunt and KP came over to my house during lunch time and bought us lunch.

KP got me a cup of Taiwan Milk Tea with Chrysanthemum Pearls from Playmade. It was my first time trying Playmade, thanks sis for satisfying my bubble tea cravings.

That's all for August.

Birthday Celebration 2020: Omoomodon + The Coffee Academics + Cake Spade

Wednesday 22/7/20

Finally met up with Linda, we have been wanting to schedule a meet up since the start of July but I was just too busy with a major event. Hence, the meetup was delayed till now. As Linda was working from her workplace that day, I decided to choose a venue that is convenient for her and I fixed the venue at The Star Vista.

Since The Star Vista is the mall she is familiar with, I let her make the call for choosing the dining place. The first stop we went was Omoomodon and we settled for this.

Omoomodon is a halal eatery that serves Korean Japanese cuisine. One of the draw factors of the eatery is the affordable pricing of their food. Ordering of food was contactless as the order was placed on machine. We opt for alfresco dining.

Linda had Spicy Chicken Teppan ($6.50).

So happy to see her again, this was our first meetup of the year. I always enjoyed our talk, ranting about our work, stress and issues that we are facing everyday because we shared similar encounters. It made us feel lighter and relieving some stress just by saying it out. Though we are overwhelmed with piles of work, we are still hanging on because we know that what we do will contribute to a greater cause.

I had Teriyaki Chicken & Karaage Teppan ($6.90). The Teriyaki Chicken & Karaage were drizzled with sauce with sweet corns added as side. It was simple but delicious. Food always taste better when eating with friends.

After the dinner, we went to look for drinks and settled for Liho Tea. I had Jasmine Tea with pearl ($2.80) on the right. 

Due to the social distancing rule, we were unable to find any seat at outdoor so we just stand and chill while sipping our drinks. Thanks Linda for the dinner and drink treats. Though we don't meet up that often, I know you will always be there for me.

Friday 24/7/20

Yes, it's Friday. Today was the first time out of the 3 months that I ended work at 6 plus, that's not because I finished my work but because I was heading out to meet the girls for dinner. Time to catch a relief before clearing the work on weekend. We met up for dinner at The Coffee Academics @ Raffles City, a cosy cafe tucked in the basement level recommended by Tracy.

We ordered small bites to share before the main course arrived, Curly Fries with Dip Trio ($16++). The curly fries were served with 3 dip sauces - honey mustard, house-smoked ketchup and curry mayonnaise. Needless to say, curry sauce is always our favourite.

All-day Breakfast

We were drawn to their all-day breakfast selection and we chose 2 dishes. The first was Smoked Salmon & Hash ($24.50++). The homemade potato hash patty was served alongside with smoked salmon, baby spinach leaves, poached egg and other greens.

The Academics Breakfast ($28++) was the all-time favourite for breakfast selection. The presentation looked sumptuous from the maple bacon to homemade baked beans, sauteed mushroom, halloumi cheese, scrambled egg, brioche toast and seasonal green.

This was really delicious, my dream breakfast. However, the price is a little on the steep side.

For pasta selection, we tried Salted Egg Bacon Carbonara ($23.50++). The linguine pasta was tossed with bacon and doused in creamy salted egg sauce which enhanced the taste of the overall dish.

The last main course was Truffle Portobello Mushroom Pizza ($26++). The thin crust pizza was toppled with portobello mushroom, onion, mozzarella cheese and drizzled with truffle oil. This was another well loved dish by us because we loved the thin crust pizza which was crunchy like biscuit.

The gathering turned out to be a birthday celebration for me, so sweet of them to plan this celebration for me as I hit a new birthday milestone and join the club. Gonna start clocking a new milestone ahead.

Thanks GF for the photo, with the lovely girls - Meryl, Tracy, GF and Jas.

As the years passed by, one will find that the circle of friends are getting smaller and smaller. I so happy that I have the girls with me throughout these 6 to 9 years, we gave each other support physically and mentally, witnessed each other growing up journey and entering different phases of life. My heart feel so full with this celebrated where we spent time catching up and enjoyed the hearty full in a relaxing atmosphere.

Thanks girls for the dinner treat and the birthday gifts, you girls made my day.

Tuesday 28/7/20

I received a sweet surprise treat from G.

She got the 3 of us Strawberry and Peach Tofu Cheesecake from Cake Spade. I ate the strawberry cheesecake, it was super delicious especially the biscuit crust which was crunchy while the tofu was soft and literally melt in the mouth. I'm gonna save the peach tofu cheesecake for my birthday.

Wednesday 29/7/20

Met up with MI for lunch today.

Since it was raining and we don't want to go somewhere fast, we settled for Pizza Hut. We had BBQ Chicken Pizza and Cheese Fries. Thanks MI for the lunch treat and had a great afternoon chatting.

Before I end the post, happy birthday to myself. 

This year has been a of roller roaster ride, may peaceful and good days come to me soon.

Happenings in May and Jun - Circuit Breaker Continued + Food Deliveries

Sunday 3/5/20

Time to give mummy a little break from preparing the meal, hence I ordered Burger King bundle meal for dinner. My parents have not tried before Burger King, so I take opportunity of the bundle meal offer and let them have a try.

I ordered 2 sets of Bundle Meal B. Each set consists of 3 long chicken burger, 6 pieces nuggets and 2 packets of medium fries. I paid a total of $32.20 inclusive of delivery charge. It took 35 minutes for the food to arrive from the time I placed my order.

It has been nearly 5 months since I last had Burger King thought I've been having lots of other fast food during this Circuit Breaker period. I just had KFC last week and Mos Burger on Thursday.

The nuggets made a perfect snack to enjoy along with our burger and fries, exceptionally tasty when dipped into the curry sauce.

The time passed really fast, we are nearly the first month mark of Circuit Breaker. Literally my routine was the same every day: wake up, using laptop (for work on weekdays/for leisure on weekend), using mobile during lunch break and at night, sleep. Part of me are getting very used to this routine life of locking at home. Another part of me want to be free so that I can start travel again, I really miss traveling, a quick day trip or weekend getaway is as good too. 

Wednesday 6/5/20

Staying home has given people the time to be creative at home. Many started trying new recipe or picking new skill. 

My cousin had this homemade mango agar agar delivered to us. 2020 is definitely not a great year for all of us, we need a 'huat' to help us tide through this difficult period. 

I am getting a little worried that after every hair wash, the number of hair drop was quite significant. Hence, I want to try out new hair products to resolve my hair loss issue. I discovered this Ryo Hair Care Kit which I have gotten from an event and give it a try. 

I have started using Ryo Hair Loss Care Shampoo (oily scalp). This shampoo has a strong scent of ginseng due to extracts from ginseng plant. After using a few times, I got used to the scent. I did not noticed a significant improvement so far (used 4 times), shall monitor the progress.

Sunday 10/5/20

Today is Mother's Day. We do not have group celebration this year unlike the past years. Dad went to take away dinner from our favourite zi char stall. We ordered the Mother's Day set which has something different from what we usually had.

Our yummy dinner spreads that satisfy our appetite, a delicious meal to end off the week. We had Vegetarian Pot, Curry Fish Head, Fried Rice, Pork Rib, Thai Prawn Cake, Fried Mantou, Braised Pork Leg and Satay. 

This box of fried goodness was definitely my favourite. I loved the Thai Prawn Cake which was fried till golden crispy while the meat still refrain the juiciness in it.

The purchase comes with a free bread cake wishing all mothers a Happy Mother's Day. It's always joyful to receive free gift though the bread may taste just normal.

Wednesday 13/5/20

Time flies, it has been 2.5 months since I started working from home. I experienced pros and cons while working from home. The pros will be the comfort level, I can get up at a slight later timing (half an hour more), wear home clothes (t-shirt and shorts), eat and snack anytime I want. The cons will be no aircon, working longer hours (and even on weekend too) and communication barrier. It was so hard to communicate initially because some explanation are so hard to explain using messenger, but the problem was resolved when we started using Skype call.

We ordered 4Fingers Crispy Chicken via Grab Food for dinner. The delivery arrived at 6.30pm, hence I called it a day for work and dig in the dinner. The seaweed fries were nice but portion was too little.

We had BFF Burger which consists of crispy chicken chop topped with house roasted garlic sauce and sandwiched with the sesame bun. The chicken patty was really huge and I was really full after eating it. I have enough fast food for the month.

Saturday 23/5/20

My neighbour got us a box of Ondeh Ondeh Roll Cake that was so delicious.

The fluffy roll cake held a light pandan fragrance while the cream was drizzled with gula melaka sauce that added extra sweetness to the cake. 

Saturday 30/5/20

Feeling relief that weekend is here so I can take a little break, though today was also extra busy for me with many work emails to clear. I don't usually work during the weekend but now I foresee I will since I have new projects to do. Spent 4 hours at work and stopped at 6pm today. I took charge of dinner ordering since mummy did not cook today.

Our delivery via Grab Delivery from Hao Wei Lai 好味来 arrived in 40 minutes time.

Our dinner consists of 8 pieces Spicy Wanton, 2 packets of Braised Pork Rice with Mushroom and 10 pieces Pan Fried Dumpling at $29.94.

Among the dishes, I like the Pan Fried Dumpling the best. They were big,  juicy and filing. I was really full and couldn't finish my rice.

Sunday 31/5/20

Today was also a partial working day for me but slightly shorter hours than yesterday (about 2 to 2.5 hours).

We had another sumptuous dinner tonight via Grab delivery. This time round, we ordered from Din Tai Fung as mummy was craving for their Pork Chop Fried Rice.

We ordered the signature Pork Chop Fried Rice. The fried rice was infused with the fragrance of egg awhile the pork chop was tender and carried a smoky taste.

Saturday 6/6/20

As we entered the first week of Phase 1, we still continue to stay home and only leave home for essential activities. Dine in is strictly not allowed yet so we can only take away food or call for delivery.

It is nice to have relatives staying near us, Sis V got us a box of pastries. Just perfect to have for our lunch cum tea break.

Saturday 13/6/20

Sis V got us pastries again, thanks for always spoiling us with delicious food which never fail to brighten up our day. 

I had 2 egg tarts for my tea break. The crust was buttery and flaky, while the egg custard was soft and tender.

Because it was dad's birthday yesterday, we had a belated celebration for him where I ordered dim sum from Zi Yean Restaurant. I love the pan fried dumpling and xiao long bao, which was filled with pork meat and soup.

With that, I will end my update here.