Mooncake Frenzy

The Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival has come and gone, and it was that time of the year again where hoteliers and pastry chefs and old school mooncake shops try to outdo one another with all time favourites and yearly new (sometimes audacious) flavours. While the traditional baked mooncakes remain generally the same combination year after year (lotus paste, red bean paste, five kernel - consists of 5 types of nuts and seeds with the occasional Jin Hua ham). Over time, creativity and the quest for new ways to excite the palate diversified the once humble delicacy. Modern interpretations have run the gamut with flavours such as green bean paste, custard filling, durian paste, chocolate ganache, champagne ganache, bird's nest and even truffle! Here's a recap of what went down this year's season.....

Ritz Carlton's snowskin range has been a personal favourite for many years, with the Green Tea with Salted Egg Yolk being the Numero Uno. Unfortunately, in the heat of the rush and the throngs of crowd, I blindly ordered without realising that I have successfully ordered all plain ones! Sigh. 

Box of 8 minis (this combination) @ $65.30

Pink = Lychee Martine, White = Lotus Paste, Green = Green Tea

RaRa and Reddy's Movie Time - Ultimate Treat @ Platinum Suites Cathay

When RaRa's been a good lion, he gets a treat. What better than to the movie, to be pampered on plush leather RECLINING and extending leg rest seats (aka First Class airline seats), with fluffy duvet to cover those legs from the cold, with food and drinks just a press of a button away, to dine on fine bone china (or ceramic, most probably ceramic, haha) with ACTUAL cutleries (instead of disposable plastic ones). At $28.00 per pop, it better be THAT good.

Looks more like a club than an actual cinema

Lazy Day Meal - Spizza

When RaRa and Reddy feel lazy, they pick up the phone and order a delivery. For us, we have designated Saturday as our Dial-A-Pizza-Lazy-Day. It used to be just Pizza Hut and Canadian Pizza who were the the more popular ones, but nowadays, we have become such a pampered society with more choices of food at just the touch of a few buttons. Spizza we have recently discovered (but they have been around for more than 10 years now), haha. Very slow aren't we. Spizza, as the name implies, does pizza, not just an ordinary pizza, but hand stretched ones and baked in wood-fired oven. For an average of $25 per pizza, it is pretty costly as compared to the rest of the big players. But, the taste of that earthy char and the chewy thin dough sets them a notch higher than the rest.

Tara this is called, RaRa's favourite ($24.00), must be the bacon, RaRa loves bacon! The Tara is a tomato based pizza, with Mozarella, Egg (done runny, yummy!), Bacon, and Button Mushrooms.

Two Blur Guys

Walked past them for a year on the way to lunch 5 days a week . And I keep telling myself, "Gotta try 'em burgers, Gota try 'em burgers". And, like, finally, Reddy has RaRa along on our maiden visit to this 3 year old hole-in-the-wall burger joint. The place is simple, unpretentious. The kind where you almost know that the food speaks for itself. Especially when all they do are burgers. And a small selection of cakes. RaRa was sceptical (can read from his weary hungry face) but Reddy was confident Two Blur Guys can deliver to their reputation of having one of the best burger in town.
The verdict? Not disappointed. At All.

The picture lie do not. They are as good as they look.

RaRa and Reddy's Day At The Museum - Dreamworks Exhibition @ ArtScience Museum MBS

The clock is fast ticking towards the end of this exhibition. Currently ongoing till 27th September 2015 at the ArtScience Museum of our iconic Marina Bay Sands. Let's just be honest, who has not seen any of Dreamworks' work? I am sure there will be at least ONE movie from Dreamworks you can relate to, say Kung Fu Panda? Or Madagascar? Or Shrek? These stories all have sequels to the name, which goes on to prove how wildly popular they can make animation to be. On exhibit, those who has an inclination to art and the intricates of drawing, will be pleased to find many raw sketches of famous characters, stills, interactive stations (which the kiddos will love! Anything "touchscreen" will attract the attention of the younger ones). Lug the kids, hurry on down, pack a jacket or two for the kiddos (it gets a bit chilly) there is about a few more days left to enjoy this exhibit!

Photobombed!

When Reddy Goes For A Treat - Violet Herbs @ Tras Street ***Closed. Updated Aug 2017***

Tras Street is one of the few last surviving enclave of conservation buildings. This area was once known to be dingy and notorious, no points for guessing of what sort. Today the quiet stretch of street is home to some of the finest new food and beverage establishments, serving an exciting array of cuisines ranging from Italian, Japanese, French and the works. Violet Herbs is located right at the start of the street, and is possibly quite difficult to miss! According to their website, they describe themselves as a "new age semi-formal fine dining restaurant", serving authentic modern European cuisine (of Italian and French influence). And what sets them apart from the rest? The use of herbs in all their food and signature cocktails.

Foie Gras for lunch. Why not?

Back With A Vengeance - Ding Dong! ***Moved to Amoy Street***

Ding Dong has found a place in my heart (and wallet too!). The food is fantastically good and whimsically creative, and the prices do not burn a big black hole in your wallet. Their set lunch menu is such value for money and for a small eater like me self, the portions are just nice, I get to enjoy a wonderful 3 course meal without feeling like a stuffed potato. Second visit had me trying the Burnt Nasu for starter, Tom Kha Crispy Quail for main and Gula Melaka Sago for dessert. Again, I have to say, the choice was spot on, just as the first was!

This is so Masterchef, if not a Michelin restaurant worthy dish. Light, delicious, creative and chock full of flavour. 

Back With A Vengeance - Tendon Ginza Itsuki @ Tanjong Pagar

After Reddy's maiden visit to this unpretentious joint, Reddy's been dying to return to sample the "Special". A quick recap to those who might have missed the first post on Tendon Ginza Itsuki, they are a small nondescript (well not quite, considering the masses of people queuing up every day) Japanese joint that serves Tendon (tempura on rice), and they have only TWO items on their menu - either you go with the Special or the Vegetarian. That simple. Since the first visit, Reddy's been stalking the place on a daily (weekday) basis. And there is always a looooonnggg snaking queue. But no, not this one day. Upon seeing only 2 very lonely people in the queue, Reddy quickly chanced on this!

Finally. After over a month of stalking. The Special One has reached my tummy!

Special Tendon $13.90 (after taxes $16.35) consists of 2 pieces each of juicy chicken breast and (very fresh) prawns, 1 egg and 4 pieces of vegetables.

Ah Seng (Hai Nam) Coffee

Reddy loves a good traditional breakfast. Especially those runny soft boiled eggs with drizzles of thick dark soya sauce and a dash of pepper... droooolz. And French Toast! Reddy seems to have it anywhere that serves it. Having read about Ah Seng Hai Nam Coffee in numerous online reviews, I paid them a visit on one hot and humid typical Singaporean morning, just before heading up to Where-I-Earn-A-Living.

What a typical local breakfast would look like - 2 soft boiled eggs with soya sauce and pepper, French Toast with Kaya and a piping hot cup of Ginger Tea with Milk (without the frothy "tarik" of a usual Teh Halia).