Treats With The Crowd - Bun Master @ Tanjong Pagar Plaza ***Closed at Tg Pagar Plaza. Only open at Toa Payoh. Updated Aug 2017***

Well, I know that there is a bakery here. But never paid much attention, until the discovery of a new favourite affordable lunch haunt, Tanjong Pagar Cooked Food, which just a few steps away. What piqued my interest was the presence of queue poles in front of the shop. That can only mean one thing, that they are popular! Very typical Singaporean, follow the queue haha. Bun Master's the name, and buns (obviously) the game. And yes! They have Golden Sand Bun (baked version), or better known as Liu Sha Pau.

Fresh out of the oven, hot and ooozy! Drooooolz.

Return With A Vengeance - Treat Me Time @ Group Therapy Duxton

Having stuffed myself silly previously at my first visit to Group Therapy (with a Chicken Stew in a Breadbowl), I vowed to return to sample what they are famed for - Waffles. Who cares if it was dinner time? Waffes with Ice Cream is it then.

Gold Rush Waffle - with homemade Chocolate and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, homemade Honeycomb and... wait for it... Salted Egg Sauce! Goodness Gracious!

Dinner With The Lesser Crowd - Tim Ho Wan @ Bedok Mall

Tim Ho Wan, needs no further introduction, after landing at our shores 2 years ago from Hong Kong. They have since enjoyed roaring success and have stayed on as a go-to place for good affordable Dim Sum. Fast forward year 2015, Tim Ho Wan now has 5 outlets - Plaza Singapura, Toa Payoh, Bedok Mall, Jurong East and Kallang Avenue. It has won the coveted culinary award - the Michelin star recognition, despite it not being in the same price league with the usual fancier establishments. Michelin star or not, the food here is GOOD. And location of choice today is Bedok Mall (closer to home lah).

Baked Buns with BBQ Pork. THE best I have ever had. The crusty top is sweat and crispy, the filling is juicy and chock full of perfectly roasted Char Siew morsels.

Project Adhoc - Alor Setar, Kedah

Off to the northern state of Kedah, Negeri Jelapang Padi, as it is known in Bahasa Malaysia, to a little town named Alor Setar. Last I was here was probably 20 years ago. This time round, RaRa and Reddy will make the trip up to this little known town in Malaysia. This is one of those places that make people go "Where?" Well, for the less informed, Alor Setar is located along the main travel route between Malaysia and Thailand. One can drive up to the Thai border (Sadao town) just a mere 48km north, about 40 minutes away from Alor Setar.


Typical view of a small nondescript Malaysian town (or any small town for that matters)

Lunch With The Crowd - YAYOI Japanese Teishoku Restaurant @ 100AM Tras Street

Having passed this place numerous times and given it a miss, finally I decided to give it a go after reading up about it in a local edition of a Japanese lifestyle magazine, WAttention. Yayoi adopts the "Teishoku" or set meals concept. A typical Teishoku consists of a main dish of fish or meat, and it is accompanied by Miso soup, side dish of vegetables and "Tsukemono" pickles. Yayoi price their Teishoku reasonably fair, with the lowest being just $9.90++ ($12.53 after taxes).

Choice for today, Simmered Mackarel in Miso Paste Set @ $9.90

Lunch With The Lesser Crowd - Group Therapy Coffee @ Duxton

This is one of those places where you will need to open your eyes wide to find the stairs that leads up to it's premises. Group Therapy Coffee is located at Duxton Road (there are 2 other outlets, Katong and Hanson Court), up at the second level of a restored old shophouse. The interior is kept simple with basic furnishings and cement screed flooring. They offer an all-day breakfast, brunch and lunch menu, and their dessert menu is notable for their homemade waffles. Well, we'll talk more about the waffles on a another day..


Choice of lunch for today, Truffled Ravioli (background) and Chicken Mushroom Breadbowl (foreground)

RaRa and Reddy's Day At The Museum - National Museum

Ahh, The National Museum. What colourful history this building hold. It used to be known as Raffles Library and Museum (1887-1942) and was used as a space to hold educational resources. Over the years as these resources grew, works were done to the interiors and exteriors, facilities such as fans, telephones and electric lights were installed. 

As described by EResources of our National Library Board archives, "The exterior walls were repainted from a dull yellow to a combination of white and cream, and then a dado of dark brown and with a thick black line for contrast. Concrete and Italian tiles were used to replace its worn floors made of timber." 

Done in typical European influenced colonial architecture, built in fashion of that time such as the Palladian, Renaissance, or Neoclassical styles during the era of the British colony.

Heritage Trail - Clifford Pier to Boay Quay

On a very lazy Sunday afternoon, just after an scrumptious Local Afternoon Tea at Clifford Pier,
RaRa set off on a walk around the Fullerton Heritage area and eventually where those little feet can afford to meander to. It was a beautiful day, very clear blue skies with almost no clouds, there was a draft of sea breeze accompanying each step of the walk. Perfect setting. Almost. Too perfect.

Swissotel The Stamford

Was once dubbed the "Tallest Hotel In The World" (JW Marriott Marquis Dubai is now the world's tallest hotel). Swissotel Stamford is equipped with 1261 guest rooms and suites, 15 restaurants and bars. This is also home to the Equinox dining complex, where you wine and dine with unsurpassed bird's eye view of the city and beyond. Swissotel has one of the best locality, with the City Hall Mrt just underground and with shopping and eateries galore at Raffles City Shopping Center and Suntec City all within reach.

Classic Room with a bird's eye view of the Singapore landscape.