I got very annoyed on the first few hours of the New Year because of packed trains - but that would normally still be tolerable - but with extremely uncivilized shoving, staring, unwarranted careless touching, this overcrowding situation is getting on my nerves too much. That is why I love Pasarbella. It has sprawling space, friendly people, clean air to breathe, beautiful trinkets to play with, and most of all: top-notch and an assortment of food choices for your picking. None of that squeezy weekend shopping malls misery. I was back to this piece of heaven along Bukit Timah in Singapore, and I always enjoy my time so much here. With the amount of lazy genes I have running amok in my veins, I'll probably never come to the ulu Pasarbella without its shuttle bus (from Clementi/Toa Payoh/Sixth Avenue). The shuttle bus saves a lot of leg-ache and here are the timings.

I was really glad to try the roasted meats from Keith's Crackling Roast which was the most unassuming and quiet one around. Carnivorous humans would be delighted with the crackling and honey roast ($10 per small portion as pictured). We tried the honey roast first, which was juicy and succulent to every single bite and so good that I was swooning with happiness. The sweetness from the honey sauce melded with the fatty goodness of the pork, and without being cloying, it gave rise to the perfect tray of meat. This is very addictive and we could hardly stop! They also had the crackling roast which we bought home as takeaway. The crisp crackle of the pork roast was clear as day when the knife went through it, and survived well even hours later for dinner. Dinner party idea to impress your guests? Yes, definitely. 

2. Winchester Pies

With fragrant wafts of pies drifting in the atmosphere, we could hardly not visit Winchester Pies and snitching a pie to nom on. You might be thinking... is the name Winchester inspired by the English city? Contrary to first instincts, the dashing fictional character from Supernatural - Dean Winchester - is the motivation behind this name. With four savoury and five sweet pies ($9.90 each) up for your selection, your inner glutton will be badgering you to have all of them. One thing's for sure - their Shepherd's Pie has got us reaching for it repeatedly till we're scraping bottom. Simply delicious.

Who invented cake? Surely someone who knows the deepest secrets to enjoying life. At Laman's Delight, you can get to savour one of the best cakes ever... the sort that you will wake up in the middle of the night, craving for it. Suddenly, $12 a slice isn't that much to pay for these exotically lipsmacking Russian pomegranate cakes with its juicy and generous pomegranate arils. You even get a hint of floral fragrance to its moist and decadent creamy base. Just like what cakes should be like.

The founder of this artisan chocolate shop, Anjali, is a very passionate artisan chocolate chef. She began with creating a range of chocolate confections in her own kitchen and received a lot of positive comments from her friends and family which motivated her to set up a brick-and-mortar shop at Pasarbella. She has gone through multiple trials of all kinds of ingredients (including durian and chili) before arriving at the flavours available in the shop right now. These luxury chocolates are best enjoyed as elegant post-meal desserts.

At Latte E Miele on, it's 45% off every Tuesday for students and children. That makes it$4.90 for a grande cup of 3 flavours. That wouldn't be the only reason I'm stopping by this ice-cream parlour - they have a plethora of interesting flavours. After much deliberation, we settled for Honey & Yogurt, Lavendar Vanilla, Green Tea flavours. Their ice-cream is definitely of high quality with a smooth and rich consistency resting on the sweeter side. The Honey & Yogurt is strikingly similar to llaollao, while the lavender vanilla is very distinctly floral. The green tea is too sweet for my liking, as I wished it could be more muted. A wonderful place for a whole afternoon of gathering and chatting without pressure to leave because of the low customer turnover rate here.

The Garden of Versailles is a train ride or 12 miles away from the city centre. It would take at least half a day for you to mildly experience most of it.. it is arguably the best gardens in the world, and I have seen nothing that is comparable to its immense natural spectacle of manicured sprawling gardens. If you have about three days in Paris, I would say it'll be a good addition to your traveling itinerary to head over and treat yourself some extraordinary sights. For those who are always on a lookout for 'ootd' backgrounds, jump shots, Instagram worthy backgrounds... you will never want to leave the Garden of Versailles. Every corner is your wonderland. With that, let's go: 

We took a RATP train from Gare Saint Lazare (different from Saint Lazare) to Versailles-Rive Droite ("Paris Saint-Lazare" line of Transilien L South). As this is a different train system from the usual metro lines, the RATP ticket is also more expensive at 4.20 Euros per adult. We took this route which ends up at Versailles-Rive Droite because our starting point is nearer to Gare Saint Lazare. 

We managed to find a cheaper alternative on the way back which costs two of the usual metro tickets (bus + metro) which makes it (1.37*2) 2.74 Euros per adult. It worked out well as we got to experience both types of traveling methods. This is elaborated at the end.

We reached Versailles-Rive Droite station after slightly less than an hour. We were the only tourists around that very bright and sunny day. We pushed the turnstiles, and found ourselves flushed into the city of Versailles. We discovered that the city is more than just the gardens and the palace (chateau) itself, and our destination is quite some distance away. We began a 30-minutes walk (of what should have been 15 minutes) from the station towards the gardens. The streets were pretty confusing and the blocks were so far apart. Directions were asked, and we managed to converse with a kind and helpful local road-cleaner who pointed the right way despite language barriers.

Versailles is home to nearly 90,000 residents. The peace Treaty of Versailles, marking the ceasefire between Germany and Allied Powers, was signed and safeguarded in the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles. For my sociology friends, you would be interested to know that this is the birthplace of postmodernist thinker, Jean Francois Lyotard.

It was extremely sunny that day and my eyes could hardly open. Sunglasses, hats, sunscreen, umbrellas - all checked. But for the sake of pictures... I'll brave the sun.

Despite the heat, there were many people at the gardens of Versailles. There was no escape - zero shade cover everywhere and a huge expanse of space before us to cover. The European summer weather is just as merciless as the year-round Equatorial heat! Perhaps we should have ducked into the palace of Versailles for a breather, but the appeal of the gardens drew us towards them more.

Luckily, there are breezes once in a while. But even that was not stopping sweat from flowing down our backs like waterfalls. We needed a food break!

 There were no empty benches because all of them were occupied by someone... so thank goodness for this quiet stretch of lawn for us to rest our feet as we set our picnic mat on the grass. It was lovely to while away some time as the sun gets gentler with her rays on the land.

Roar. There is a sudden deluge of my photos here because the lighting was too good to miss! There are some jump shots.. but they are not very graceful (I might show you if you are my friend). My dance teachers will probably look at me in aghast at this horrible posture but the scenery just makes me feel like dancing so... moral of the story: not all spontaneity looks good. 

We arrived at the Bassin d'Apollo after much walking - we got lost a little while trying to get our bearings. Charles Le Brun designed the centerpiece in the fountain to depict the Greek god Apollo rising from the sea in a four-horse chariot. The sight was so gorgeous. It felt like the gardens stretched all the way into the horizon - and beyond! Just around the corner we also discovered a precious stretch of forests which made for some awesome backdrop for photoshoots.

Despite spending a considerable amount of time at the Garden of Versailles, we did not manage to finish uncover all its secrets! I think there is a need to strategize properly and ration energy out if you intend to complete your experience at Versailles. Nonetheless, we enjoyed ourselves very much at this attraction and forged charming memories with the gardens.

For some important information on returning back to the Paris city centre, we took Bus 171 (accepts regular metro tickets) to metro station, Pont de Sevres (line 9) within Paris Zone 1-2. You can then take the metro line to wherever you wish to proceed from there. This method would require 2 regular metro tickets from Versailles to your destination within Paris, which is much cheaper than your return ticket by train. You should take Bus 171 from a bus stop right outside the Palace of Versailles - the bus stop is labelled Chateau de Versailles and has bus route information on this bus.

When it comes to food businesses, they often need a bit of 'warm-up' before they can get their standard on track. I don't like to visit them too soon because 1) Inaccurate assessment of their quality 2) I don't like to spend calories on anything that isn't delicious. But when I heard of three-week old Froth Cafe, I felt a strange affinity with this place and had to check it out asap.

Inconspicuously tucked away in the basement of Big Hotel on Middle Road, the Froth Cafe adopts a minimalist composition with a lot of seating area. Of course, if you are into food photography, there are tables that has natural lighting, white backgrounds, wooden tables... you know that's very important, right?  One of the enthusiastic service staff also shared with us that they are still in the midst of food experimentation and haven't done much marketing yet so they do not have much traffic yet. But you know in this digital epoch, Instagram is truly the best marketing tool. That's where I found out about Froth!

And of course, blogs... but they come later, with more details like this one. ;) This is Froth Cafe's menu, along with their prices. They have a wide range of selections with soups, salads, sides, rice, pasta, burgers, sandwiches, waffles, meats, seafood, sandwiches, milkshakes, cakes... wow! I am amazed by what they can offer even as such a young establishment. Here is a secret tip: go earlier before their menu selections run out of stock! The staff shared with us that they don't prepare a lot in this preliminary stages to prevent wastage, but I can foresee they need to stock up a lot more soon. One more impressive thing about Froth is that they created most ingredients from scratch and take a lot of pride in their food and work. That's a sure sign of a good cafe in the making.

Don't miss out on Froth Cafe's milkshakes when you are here. While we were agonizing over getting the highly raved Nutella milkshake, the service staff recommended getting the Bubblegum milkshake for an unconventional twist from usual orders. Say whaaat? I was worried it'll be too sweet, but then that confident suggestion felt too irresistible to deny. Okay, Bubblegum milkshake it is. 

When they set the glass jar on the table... I was like - isn't this more purple than pink? In my imagination, it would be Barbie doll pink, but no.. it's in this curious shade of lavender to be exact. Guess what, the first relief was that it isn't too sweet. It gets more enjoyable after a while with its thickness and even ice-cream-like consistency. They bring forth froth into their milkshakes and that's probably where the name came from! Go ahead and order it, they have the Nutella one too.. try that for me!

Not taro or sweet potato.

I see this on the menu and my system goes into excitement overdrive: waffles and ice-cream! There are so many choices available, but to cut the agonizing ordering decision making process short: taro waffles was recommended! Froth has apparently changed their presentation since their opening (scrolling through Instagram which marked their stages of evolution) with a sprinkle of Oreo and taro in dollops all around. You can choose a scoop of ice-cream to go along with flavours vanilla bean, chocolate, strawberry, sea salt caramel, and earl grey. For the greedy, you can add $4.50 for another scoop. If you're unsure what goes with what, you can always ask when you order! Not everything goes with anything, just like wine-and-meat pairings. Many thanks to the very helpful service staff who ensured that we ordered everything nicely.

What we ordered was taro waffles with vanilla bean and sea salt caramel ice-cream. What stood out for me was the taro dollops which has this creamy, muted sweetness density which I liked. I wished there was more. The quality of the ice-cream is equally outstanding - though the sea salt caramel was much preferred for its balance across the salty-sweet spectrum. The waffles felt a little different from all the other waffles from many cafes in that it willing relegates itself to be the supporting cast of the dish. It has a decent level of moistness, only slightly fragrant, reminds me a little of bread in a good portion. They are still in the midst of improving, so maybe things will change. I think I wasn't hungry enough - or rather, I was expecting a really huge meal for dinner - so I couldn't try their pastas, waffles and desserts as I would wish in the idealistic parallel universe. It's okay, there is always a second time.

Cafe Gourmand is not a particularly recommendation of a 'must-go' in Paris because I obviously haven't been dwelling in this alluring city long enough to determine what's good. This was the last dinner we had together before leaving for London, so I'm doing this food post just as a wrap-up and a reminiscence of one of the more memorable meals I've had with family (minus the sister who was on honeymoon). 

The disheveled walked-the-whole-day look.. but I remember this moment was when I felt like I could really love Paris despite her flaws, and feeling none of the initial traveling jitters from having to decide where/how to go. You know, taking charge is as empowering as it is nerve-wrecking.. though I have to say a bit more of the former than the latter. Or, I was just really pumped up to finally have a virgin-go at escargots.

This is officially my favourite choice of protein. Did I really discover this only after 21 years of existence? I must have w-o-l-s tattooed on my back without my knowing. It is insanely good and I'm craving for it every single time this image pops into my mind. I find snails cute but I love escargots more... that buttery, chewy squishy texture along with a good dose of truffle oil would go into my top five food I'd bring to a deserted island.

Maybe it's because only selected Singapore's restaurants that can deliver quality pasta... or the Parisian restaurants I've gone to are particularly good. I would think that this portion and that creamy carbonara would send the jelat sirens blaring over the hill, but no... somehow they manage to perfect that art of beautiful cheese sliding all over every groove of that pasta and yes, I think I polished that bowl off.

The pizzas were pretty good too although they are surprisingly relatively less memorable. I remembered lunging for them piece after piece and then they were all gone. I guess that's a good sign. Of course, the escargots have taken up most of my memory space for this meal.

We were even given these colourful sweets (or chocolate?) after the meal, to which we passed it onto our airbnb owner as a parting gift so I never knew what is wrapped in that glossy foil. In the next post, you will find me in London! Check back soon, okay?

Two weeks ago, I began using the filtered SKIN B5 Serum as a day and night ultimate hydrator for my skin... and I realized that this bottle is probably all that I need for hydrating purposes. filtered SKIN is a boutique skincare brand that brings you handcrafted products made with safe, quality natural ingredients that are toxin and paraben-free. For people who are looking for a high-powered, all-day hydrating product that doesn't have a sticky after-feel, this could be what you are looking for. There are also giveaway details in this post, don't miss it! :)

filtered SKIN 

The team at filtered SKIN are passionate about skincare. They personally attend to each order with care and hold high standards to their products. They believe that everyone's skin deserves the best and they deliver that through their products. filtered SKIN products are made with all natural ingredients sourced from nature. Whenever possible, they would opt for organic ingredients. Their products are handicrafted and shipped from Hong Kong. What I really like about them is their thoughtfulness in ensuring that you benefit from their products as they even provide free samples for a patch test on skin for people with sensitive skin (subjected to shipping rates). filtered SKIN has also detailed instructions on product usage for different skin types.

filtered SKIN: B5 Serum

There are four key benefits of the B5 Serum: extended hydration, replenishes nutrients, repairs tissues, and anti-aging. It is suitable for all skin types. I have combination skin, and it attends to both the drying aspect of my skin but does not create an oily film by being very lightweight. It has an organic gooey texture and absorbs slower into the skin to ensure maximum all-day hydration. I do not feel its presence on my skin despite that. It is also paraben-free - which is something women should look out for when they are purchasing beauty products. Paraben can disrupt estrogen levels and affect reproductive cycles. Packed with Vitamin B5 and Hyaluronic Acid, filteredSKIN's B5 Serum is the ultimate hydrator that will leave your skin feeling supple and dewy.

How it works

Both Vitamin B5 and Hyaluronic acid are natural humectants meaning they are water-binding substances that attracts and retains water. Hyaluronic Acid is a molecule naturally present in our bodies and has the ability to retain 1000x its weight in water. Its molecule is larger so it doesn't absorb into your pores as quickly. Instead, it rests on top of the skin and absorbs slowly keeping your skin hydrated throughout the day.

Suggested usage for skin types

NORMAL	Daily AM and PM
OILY	Daily PM
DRY	Daily AM and PM, but if living in dry climates, consider not applying additional moisturizer on top of serum as low air humidity can cause hyaluronic acid to preferentially pull moisture from the skin rather than from the air.
COMBINATION	Daily AM and/or PM as needed
SENSITIVE	Order our free sample to patch test on skin before applying all over

Storage instructions

Store product in a cool, dark and dry place; preferably the humidity drawers in the fridge. If stored properly, product will last between 3-6 months.

[For Singaporean readers only] To stand a chance to win yourself a filtered SKIN B5 Serum (worth $29.95), head over to my Facebook page giveaway like-and-comment post here.

They do things their way, in a stylized hipster fashion that defies everything that has been tried and tested. They experiment with new elements... like being located in one of the smaller streets in Kampong Glam and having a sprawling fifteen feet long personalized grafitti right outside their wall. You probably wouldn't notice it if you were to enter by their main door. Or so I thought was their main door. Customers are guided to enter through a covert side door at the alley, as if they were accepted into an underground subculture. It's pretty cool and unconventional, and I liked the idea. But before that, to earn a spot in their dinner crowd, you have to bear the queue.. while sitting on overturned revamped beer cartons. The whole experience of being at The Lab begins even before you enter.

Being one of the up-and-rising halal cafes in town, one-month old The Lab cafe oversees a predominantly Muslim crowd in its 30-seater space. Its popularity is evident by the queue at seven in the evening. We waited for nearly half an hour for a table, but luckily there was entertainment like taking photos with their graffiti wall and the occasional check by the service staff. I'm not sure what happens during rainy days given that the queuing area is non-sheltered. Advice: go early!

The Lab sports an evident and dedicated theme throughout their space that are true to their name. Amber glass jars, conical flasks, beakers are strategically positioned all over. It felt like a well-decorated haunted house with the theme of mad scientists with soothing popular beats being played in the background.

Their desserts rest on their cake displays, including paleo lemon pies with honey meringue and sea salt brownies. Gluten-free and grain-free without refined sugar - they don't forget about keeping it real and different in every part of their cafe. German bretzels are high on their list as entrees with the choice of salted caramel or chocolate dip. If you're feeling more than only peckish, The Lab offers many more entrees and salads for your choosing. The best part? The food there is priced very affordably, with the large serving of their signature must-try Heisenburger:

Burgers often won't be on my plate, unless they are as highly raved as these Heisenburger ones ($12.90). With an excellently made beef patty that is knitted tight yet retains moisture and scatters softly in every bite, I have to say it's one of the most value-for-money burgers, ever. Did I mention that there is an additional firmly-textured, cheese-laced bacon slice stuffed between the perfectly toasted buns? What's more, you get a good serving of sweet potato fries on the side which can rival truffle fries any day.

You will be reminded of Science experiments in your schooling days if you were to order the iced drink options with (huge!) beakers and syringes, but the hot matcha lattes and yam lattes were more impressive in their execution. I especially loved my matcha latte which had a smooth finish and an indulging even composition of matcha and coffee. Well, it depends what your priorities are - taste or everlasting Instagram photos? Your pick. 

The Lab SG

Every time I venture into the East side of the island, I feel like a tourist. I found myself at Australian cafe Percolate on a forlorn rainy afternoon. I was really not sure what to expect but you know, just looking around. The cafe spans a very snug, slim space with intricate touches that reminded me of someone's Muji-inspired living room.

A slumber ago, I was holing up in the national library nearby which still had the yesteryear design... I needed a quick pick-me-up! Percolate has coffee - enough to attract me... then I spot this little corner next to the counter. Psyche of a regular 2015-modern Instagrammer: can you imagine just doing a flatlay with one of those magazines?

Coffee was beckoning; I realized soon after that Percolate is really big on their brews  (but not so much for their food). I ordered a hot mocha - my usual comfort cup - made of a batch of Kenyan coffee beans. It is surprising one of the best I've had around the island, with smooth being an understatement and satisfying till the last drop. It's an instant pick-me-up and polished as it does.

Their ham and cheese croissant sandwich was understandably routine and easy to put-together in a regular kitchen; but well Percolate made it obvious that they're all about that coffee. Percolates makes for a much better than a casual stopover for your dose of caffeine, but don't expect too much from the food.. at least for now.

How much of our lives are spent on Youtube? I have no idea, but it's best to spend it on channels that are worth your time. These are my personal top 16 favourite channels:

1. Ryan Sylvia

Is it any surprise that this thigh-slapping-humorous local Youtube production team appears on this list? Obviously not. Led by the iconic purple-haired maiden Sylvia and 'Watermelon King', Ryan Sylvia produces consistently lists that typify the different types of Singaporeans or uniquely Singaporean behaviours. They demonstrate immense understanding of what constitutes to be Singaporean, it evokes more patriotism than most National Day parades.

2. TMD Shanghai

Another persistently good production team on Youtube is China-based TMD Shanghai that has gotten me chasing all their videos back-to-back within a few hours. My attention span is short but yes, they've captured it all. Their videos surround cultural differences between the mainland China people and foreigners in China, or variants. Although TMD Shanghai began with doing pranks, their shift towards more hilarious acting skits is a welcomed change. They are based in Youku, but I guess they managed to leap over the great firewall and are beginning to amass a sizeable Youtube audience.

3. Screen Junkies (Honest Trailers)

Screen Junkies, or more specifically, their sub-channel Honest Trailers, will definitely appeal to movie buffs. Their acutely sarcastic reveals of brutal truths when it comes to every movie that you hate or love will ignite a range of reactions you've never experienced on Youtube. From a snigger to an unexpected whoop of laughter to indignant disagreement, Honest Trailers is definitely a steady entertainer. If you aren't particularly interested in American drama series like Breaking Bad and Hollywood movies, you can skip this straightaway.

4. clothesencounters

My favourite fashion Instagrammer-Youtuber has got to be Jenn Im. She's so beautiful and fun-loving that even women can't be jealous of her. In stills or videos, she's such an eyecandy to look at with a natural flair for the camera. What I love most about her is how relatable her street-style is - it's not too flamboyant and very applicable to everyday wear.

5. nigahiga

Ryan's channel is the first Youtube channel I've ever subscribed and possibly because he is one of the pioneers to introduce the idea of acting-videos. He has transcended simple computer program video-editing and acting to amazing, painstaking professional video-making in studios. What I really like about his videos is how they are often circular, nonsensical arguments that draws me in like a vacuum. I know this description doesn't make sense to you, but well, you've really got to see it to understand what I mean. His random parkour stunts and personality also add a lot of vibrancy to the content.

6. Joyce Chu

A Johor-Bahru girl who is also affectionately known as Malaysian chabor or 四叶草 (four-leaf clover), Joyce Chu has a super cute voice and is really funny to watch. Joyce may look nothing more than a 'pretty vase' or a Korean-wannabe, but you'd be surprised how adventurous, easygoing and multi-talented she is. She does makeup tutorials, music covers and Youtube challenges in an assortment of three languages, English, Bahasa Melayu and Mandarin Chinese... accompanied by a characteristic Malaysian accent.

7. Ministry of Funny TV

Coming back to Singapore, we have Ministry of Funny TV with no-holds barred social experiments (albeit rigged with a lot of bias) that would have you riveted to the screen for a good three minutes. The success of the channel hinges on the comedic host, Haresh Tilani, that is not afraid of attracting attention to himself. That's probably an understatement given how he gamely swam in Ngee Ann City's fountain fully clad in swimming gear. 

8. TED-ED

Too much humour might cause the brain to fester involuntarily. TED-ED is my favourite go-to channel for the modern-day encyclopedia through invigorating speeches and/or animated videos. I like how the information condensed under 20 minutes is easy to absorb and makes for a good accompaniment during lonely meal-times.

Favourite video from TED-ED goes to: Inside OKCupid - the math of online dating 

9. Reactions

Reactions is similar to TED-ED, except that it is designed to be even less taxing to watch while you get to learn something from these videos. Dealing with the curious questions that revolves around chemistry and physics, this Youtube channel will appeal to minds that thrive on new information.

Favourite video from Reactions goes to: The Science of Caffeine - The World's Most Popular Drug

10/11. TreePotatoes/ wah!banana

With some overlaps in personalities from Ryan Sylvia, Tree Potatoes and wah! banana feels like the less-elaborate, more homely version of Ryan Sylvia. Tree Potatoes's recent short film, The Chase, is the most impressive of the lot, proving that they have a talent at more sophisticated and emotional productions than funny ones. wah!banana's videos are generally more tightly-themed throughout each production.

Favourite video from TreePotatoes goes to: The Chase
Favourite video from wah!banana goes to: Things Not To Do on First Dates

12/13. BuzzFeedVideo/ BuzzFeedBlue

This is probably my most-viewed Youtube channel because of their frequent uploads and my ferocious clicks on them whenever they do. The comfortable narration and sense of humour is on-point, making it a true enjoyment to watch for all their videos. I haven't seen a single one which I didn't like. They have themes to their videos, which include "Americans try...", "Try Guys..." and the usual lists that are as clickbaits as they are really relatable. 

Favourite video from BuzzFeed goes to: The Try Guys Test The Legal Alcohol Limit

14. Eden Ang

An up-and-coming actor, singer, (break)dancer, Eden is one of my favourite members in the popular local production crews of Ryan Sylvia/ Wahbanana/ Tree Potatoes. He has a natural X factor whenever he appears, especially when imitating accents. While overacting may sometimes be jarring, he somehow balances the fine line between overacting and humour. His own video channel is not updated very frequently, but when it does, it's really entertaining in terms of content.

Favourite video from Eden Ang goes to: #SiaoLiaoSiaoLiao

15. cheokboard productions

Helmed by Jonathan Cheok, one of the guys from the local production teams, cheokboard productions does not mind veering towards more crude topics or exaggerated playful acting with tasteful presentation. His latest short film, Stay, also reveals a more sensitive side that the production team is capable of.

Favourite video from cheokboard productions goes to: Advertisements vs Reality

16. Michelle Phan

Michelle Phan is the name you'd refer to for the goddess of makeup tutorials. I love those because they are so easy to follow and she made so many videos.. you'll bound to find something you need in there. From basics like shaping brows, contouring, eyeshadows to elaborately themed makeup like Angeline Jolie or painting skulls on faces for Halloween, Michelle Phan never fails to impress with her skills.

Favourite video from Michelle Phan: The Beautiful Death

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I share interesting episodes in life revolving around food, lifestyle, travel and inspirational ideas. If you would like to stay in touch, follow me on my Instagram on @spherepiece and Facebook page!

A punny ice-cream parlour with all the variants of ice-cream desserts, IScream is set to bless all the Bedok North community with sugary dreamy treats. At IScream, go alfresco and watch the residents stroll by in very casual wear, or snuggle in the cafe for good chill out time. It reminds me of the ice-cream parlours in Italy and France with its streamlined black-framed glass windows and blinking signboard... you definitely won't miss it if you walked through this neighbourhood.

Anyone entering IScream would certainly notice this amazing TONDA gelato display which employs ergonomics and comfort with optimum inclination and rotation of ice-cream/gelato flavours. You'd get to see your ice-cream flavours in a different fashion as they whirl round like an automatic lazy susan. Perfect.

The Social Media Plate is probably an immensely relevant postmodern dessert featuring different social media platforms' logos all for you to savour. Drench the scoops of ice-cream with pre-loaded droppers of rich Vedrenne liquors, creating a crazily sweet and distinctly alcoholic paradise of experimental flavours. For reference: the blue Facebook-themed (ScreamBook) is Curacao Bleu; the green WeChat-themed (WeScream) is Liqueur de Melon Vert; the maroon Youtube-themed (YouScream) is Supercassis; the brown Instagram-themed (InstaScream) is Mozart Chocolate Cream Gold. Probably not very suitable for kids but oh yes, you definitely can camouflage your little alcoholic escapades in this innocuous looking dessert. 

Soogle is inspired by our life-changing search engine, Google. Together with the word "Scream", the name of this amazingly photogenic dessert is created. Well, macarons are always so pleasing to the cameras, aren't they? It's easier to taste the pureness of IScream's artisan ice-cream through Soogle. I really like Soogle because of the freedom of picking any four flavours from their revolutionary ice-cream machine to pair with macaron shells! Yes, right out of their state-of-the-art display case! The avocado ice-cream was the most outstanding for me - but here's a quick disclaimer: I love avocado; the ice-cream rendition tastes almost like the fruit itself, and it makes me feel like I'm eating the real deal. The banana pecan ice-cream flavour was also pretty good! It can get a little cloying after a while as we tried both - my advice is to pick either the Soogle or Social Media Plate.

You get the best of all worlds in Wafflemania Platter with all the toppings that you know that sweet tooth will adore. Mini marshmallows? Checked. Double ice-cream scoops? Checked. Mangoes? Checked. Caramelized bananas? Checked... and this is the best part about the whole dessert! The waffles were crispy though not particularly outstanding.

Riding on the honeycomb wave that just hit Singapore shores, Honey Scream is the creation of a dessert with honeycomb with vanilla bean artisan gelato! Don't you just love it when you can get all your favourite desserts under one roof? Their honeycomb is a lot less sticky and plastic than the others I've tried, and has a more organic and subdued character. This might look quite small but it can give you a lot of sugar rush.

Flossy could be deserving for a princess with a flamboyant feathery-roseated cotton candy atop wildberries gelato... and probably a princess with a slight rebellious streak who loves a spritz of cassis berry liquor infuse. 

If I have to pick...

My favourite dessert of the night definitely goes to the double chocolate Smores Stout Waffles! Somehow the waffles are made slightly different from the Wafflemania ones, with a much crispier and fragrant consistency and actually has an unmistakable stout flavour in the waffles. Pairing it with a good melange of decadent chocolate scoops, mashed digestive biscuits and mini marshmallows, you get good flavour, texture dimension and that dessert craving satisfied.

How extensive can a dessert menu be? In addition to all the waffles, ice-cream creations and sundaes, they actually have the Korean patbingsu as well. Of course we had to try it.. true to the locals' liking, the patbingsu at IScream is made of shaved ice topped with red beans, but with IScream's range of toppings like mini marshmallows, and a generous serving of their ice-cream. I didn't really enjoy the patbingsu as much because I found that there was too much shaved ice as compared to the toppings, and the red beans were a little harder than I wished it could be. Then again, Korean food and I have a history of disagreement so.. okay, just order that Smores Stout Waffles already. 

For a cozy wrap-up for that dessert night, we had some relaxing chamomile tea... also to ease our throats from talking too much - we didn't even realize that it was already 10pm. IScream has a good ambience to chill out with friends and bond over some sugary treats, tea and waffles. This is especially so if you stay in the East and can hang out all the way till midnight.

Here is the first of the many London's posts! Well, well - sense the excitement. You can probably tell I love London a lot more than Paris, but.. they do have their own unique character that are appealing in different ways. London is definitely much more easy to navigate because everyone speaks English and all the signboards are in English too. That made it so much less taxing on the brains which are already on overdrive trying to get the coordinates right.

Tracing back our steps a little.. we woke up at an ungodly hour of four-thirty in the morning because our Eurostar train was due to reach at seven-thirteen. Do not be late, they leave on-the-dot. The summer mornings of Paris are brringly-cold, dark and a little creepy so I snapped the last bits of this lovely city with my rickety-looking S2. Grafitti can be found everywhere but I haven't had the chance to take proper pictures of them yet so here are some that I saw at Republique station - 'Fuck the system, and live a dream'. We don't see that in Singapore because anyone doing that would be caught in a jiffy, but it makes our city seems so prim and boring (though perceptively safer).

Most of the train ride was just all black and underground, probably because I was staring at the back of my eyelids. We reached London in slightly over an hour - it was amazingly fast even though I wished I could catch a few more winks. Puffy eyes alert!

- Book your Eurostar tickets here. Price varies according to date, seat type and availability.

Upon reaching London, we quickly learnt the city's Underground tube system and worked out the mathematics to get the Day Travelcard at 8.90 pounds for each Adult. You can use them on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and most National Rail services within London - which is perfect as we didn't have much time to lose.

We wouldn't be passing by King's Cross Station anymore so a little small detour to pay pilgrimage to the world-famous Hogwarts portal is a must! No photography is allowed inside the shop and they are really strict about it, so I can't sneak a picture as much as my skills go. The Harry Potter-themed shop has an entire section dedicated to wands, robes and merchandise that I found to be overpriced (expectedly so).

To our horror, you don't get the real deal anymore because the nine-and-three-quarter platform is sealed off after renovations. You have to be a real passenger (ie. with train tickets) to access the original platform. In replacement, they have this extremely touristy wall fixture for all to pretend to be magically-inclined. Check out that queue. Ain't nobody got the time for that so we just made do with this: 

It's a wonder why I didn't fall flat on my face because I didn't expect the handle bar to go down and unlocking the brake mechanism but yes, skills. 

There was all the luggage-settling-down at our hotel before floundering about into the city again around noon! We headed for the Trafalgar Square which was buzzing with so much activity even in the mid-blazing-afternoon. It feels extraordinary to just be part of the crowd! There were plenty of levitating men around as Yodas, but it probably wouldn't as exciting for people who already know how the trick works. Well it's best you don't, so you will enjoy it more!  

The National Gallery is the highlight of Trafalgar Square, and one of the iconic landmarks of London. Founded by parliamentary purchase in 1824, this acclaimed museum's collection includes over 2,300 paintings with a nucleus of 38 pictures assembled by John Julius Angerstein. Most of their paintings are in the style of Impressionism and/or altarpieces depicting verses from the Bible. They do not permit photography of the paintings inside.

The museum is organized into different wings according to the time era of paintings (West: 1500-1600, North: 1600-1700, East: 1700-1900). It was a little overwhelming and tiring due to the sheer size of the museum and my preference to go through them slowly in each room! It was seriously very huge and my legs were protesting after that! There are more than enough to keep you occupied for a few hours. Grab a museum floorplan map and set up a strategic clockwise/anti-clockwise direction of walking to prevent getting lost.

Important notes for the travelers
- Entrance fees to The National Gallery: Free
- Opening hours for The National Gallery: 10am to 6pm (Mon to Thu, Sat & Sun), 10am to 9pm (Fri)
- If you're into museums and paintings, allow yourself at least two hours at The National Gallery.

With our unlimited daypass, we took a bus to check out River Thames (which we later passed by multiple times)! There was much more freedom to navigate around London as we hopped onto and off buses like they were free. London also felt a lot more upbeat, joyous and safe - relative to Paris. 

My favourite building in all of London is The Gherkin (which I didn't go, because it is a commercial building) which was featured prominently in Alexander Koshelkov, god of Photoshop's, work on London Underwater! The feeling of seeing The Gherkin in real metal sent my heart reeling in excitement... even if it is just a fleeting moment through the window of a London bus. At this point, I digress and note that London buses are very similar to Singapore's buses.Well, ending off with my first photo with River Thames... and the camera is obviously more interested in the sights than my face. Till the next time, you'll find me at Borough Market (and fooood!).

Many people might already know about REGEN Cosmetics from Qiuqiu's plastic surgery journey with them. REGEN is highly proficient when it comes to defining beauty's solutions as their 30 inter-disciplinary specialists adopt scientific methodologies to develop their cosmetic products. Their products are especially made to suit the facial lines of Asian women. I am looking to create the perfect V-shaped face and that cannot come simply from slimming down or massaging your face. Loose facial lines need to be dealt with systematic management know-how of facial lines - this is applicable for women in their early 20s all the way to 40s and beyond. This is where their plastic skin solution masks come in. They have five different masks, each to tackle a specific issue that you may have:

Facial fit

REGEN's microfibre facial masks sheets are designed much better than felt masks that I've tried in facials and definitely My Beauty Diary masks, fitting the contours of my face like a glove, especially the nose, forehead and cheeks area. I don't even feel its existence after a while with its hundred percent on-skin coverage.

Out of all the different coffee roasters in Singapore, my ultimate allegiance lies in those from Toby Estate's... but you really don't have to travel to Robertson Quay to have a cuppa from the original cafe when Providore has it, right here in Tangs Orchard. It's such a marvelous feeling to recollect that beautiful taste, especially right in town and if it's next to your office or shopping hunts, too.

My hot mocha comes along with some pretty neat latte art and soothing comforting tastes of coffee and chocolate that I would swear by. It's slightly less acidic or bitter than the brand of Toby's Estate ones, but still has the characteristic touch that I can't describe too well. It's a unique blend that struck a chord with me like no other. I don't spend my money on too much things but one of them is $6/a cuppa. It is too irresistible so yes, that's probably an addiction... one that I don't mind. Providore's iced mocha is also said to be one of the best in town too. Definitely a good stopover if you're tired from all that shopping.

Their Double Chocolate Valrhona Tart is extremely rich and tantalizing, paved with intensely luxurious gourmet chocolate in a dark chocolate crust. Every bite felt like a pilgrimage made to Charlie and his chocolate factory, without compromise on quality at all. The raspberries are also mildly sweet and juicy, surprisingly as I thought they'd only serve as garnishing. It might look small, but it's more than enough even for two people because it's very filling.

The Entertainer is absolutely the number one app that I use on my phone (excluding social media apps) and I overwork it more than I thought I would. After all, one-for-one deals are too attractive to resist - it only means that I can go to upscale restaurants and dining enclaves (ie. $25-30++/main course) at the price of normal restaurants (ie. $13-15++/main course). The good life is possible without burning my wallet. Perfect isn't it?

You can have The Entertainer app in your phone too for awesome 1-for-1 deals and a curated list of dining deals. Most of the restaurants (about 80-90%) I see on the app have been on my wishlist for the longest time or I've heard raving reviews of, or I've been there myself and enjoyed the experience there. So I would say that you'd be pretty much ready for a good time just relying on them for group outings or date suggestions.

Attended the launch party with Monice (: More pictures on her blog!

The Entertainer 2015 is now in full swing with a more extensive list of dining, travel, spa, beauty deals that will prep you for an exciting year ahead. What's better: the price of The Entertainer 2015 has gone even lower with a further 10% discount (promo code: 2015ALVIN) to the early bird price - making it $54 (instead of the retail price of $98 for the 2014 product). It might seem quite expensive but if you dine out a lot, then you'll enjoy even more savings on an overall. It has helped me a lot and so I'm introducing this to you, hopefully it'll bring a lot of upgrades to your life ;)

One of the more prominent merchants tied to The Entertainer 2015 is Pink Parlour, a nail salon which is a prominent brand in the local beauty scene with collaborations with clicknetwork.tv and even has seven outlets (Marina Square, Far East Plaza, Orchard Central, Tampines One, East Coast, NEX, NUH) all over the island. They had a nails booth at the party where the lovely ladies handled our nails in the most professional manner. They also offer a lot of different services including waxing, spray tans, whitening, and alpha face lifting. Pink Parlour has also won a whole list of accolades for their treatments so you can trust to be in safe hands.

The venue sponsor for the party is Lime House, a Caribbean-inspired bar. It looks super chic and quaint from the outside and the atmosphere was very laidback. It was very squeezy because everyone was so excited to celebrate the launch of The Entertainer 2015! Nevertheless, the service staff at Lime House was very efficient in ensuring everyone's comfort by serving party canapes including the Curry Goat with rice which is very well-spiced for a cacophony of flavours. Lime House also specializes in rum pairings and we had the Rum Ki Ki (Rum, lime, lychee liqueur, ginger beer), Bajan Passion (Rum, lime, apricot liqueur, passionfruit) and Black Maple (Rum, pineapple juice, lime, maple syrup). If you're looking for an event space for your birthday celebrations, corporate events... you can consider Lime House for a relaxing and fun venue.

Most of us are probably no stranger to Marble Slab Creamery which served us awesome servings of thick double chocolate ice-cream to end the night on a sweet note! Marble Slab Creamery is also on The Entertainer, so say yes to one-for-one ice-cream. ;)

Fatcat Ice-Cream Bar's drink menu, if you'd like to have something to pair your desserts with... I spy dessert wines, but of course - at an ice-cream bar. If you're looking for something that can spark your usual cafehopping experience, you cannot miss Fatcat. You just can't.

And there we are: the Louvre, after trudging slightly more than a mile from Notre Dame Cathedral. A lot of people who has been to the Louvre warned that the museum is overrated and much smaller than expected. I didn't pin much hopes of seeing a Giant Pyramid of a museum there. When my eyes met the glass architecture, it's more or less love at first sight. It is so pretty I just want to pinch it between my fingers and keep it in my pocket! It's not as small as you think, but not Egyptian giant pyramid-sized either.

Contrary to conventional beliefs, the Louvre Museum is more than the pyramidal shaped architecture (I.M Pei's glass pyramid). The entire museum space spans across this stretch of building too, selected as a place to display the royal collection of ancient Greek and Roman sculpture of Louis XIV. During the French Revolution, the National Assembly decreed that the Louvre should be used as a museum to display the nation's masterpieces. Later, the collection was increased under Napoleon and the museum renamed the Musée Napoléon, but after Napoleon's abdication many works seized by his armies were returned to their original owners. The collection was further increased during the reigns of Louis XVIII and Charles X, and during the Second French Empire the museum gained 20,000 pieces.

Information credit: Wikipedia

When the glass pyramid was first introduced, many Parisians opposed it. However, it was soon realized that going underground helped to ease the human congestion that would otherwise occur in the old hallways of the existing buildings. The Louvre is one of the largest museums in the world, with more than 35,000 works of art displayed over 60,000 square metres. It is impossible to finish browsing through everything within a day. the building is divided into three wings, Sully, Denon, and Richelieu, each one with its own clearly marked entrance, found under the glass pyramid.

Information credit: Frommers

We did not enter because of time and energy constraints. Nevertheless, the Louvre Museum is said to be the pilgrimage stop for many who visits Paris. It is likely that I will return to browse this museum. Be sure to look out for famous masterpieces including Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, Eugène Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People, and Théodore Géricault's Raft of the Medusa.

Do you spot the Eiffel Tower in the distance? The weather was really good that day and there are a lot of locals and tourists alike lounging in that wide expanse of space. There are also a lot of peddlers selling Eiffel Tower keychains at six for one Euro. They do not hardsell and are generally quite harmless. Guess where we'll be heading next? Stay with me on my Paris adventures!

Itinerary for Day One in Paris
1. Pantheon
2. Luxembourg Palace & Gardens
3. Restaurant La Bucherie + Shakespeare & Company
4. Notre Dame Cathedral
5. The Louvre Museum

6. Champ Elysees & Arc de Triomphe OR Jardin des Tuileries

Want an alternative one day itinerary in Paris?
>>> Itinerary for Day Two in Paris

Borough Market was our next stop after The National Gallery because we were really hungry for some very late lunch at almost three in the afternoon. We spent too much time at the gallery because we were too captivated by the paintings in there... and battling public transport in London is pretty insane too because of the crowds, but also because everything was so foreign to us. Borough Market, among the many other markets, is definitely one of the must-go attractions to experience in London with so much to immerse yourself in.

1. Be dazzled by the variety provided by this massive food market.

The first few minutes of being in Borough Market was slightly intimidating and astounding... Thought number one: it was very crowded. Thought number two: I was quite short so I couldn't really see an overview of the place but just stalls after stalls. Thought number three: There is a lot of things to see. Although it was quite squeezy, everyone was still polite and orderly as they mill about the whole area to browse the stalls. There are a lot of very fresh produce, breads, honey in one area of the market, as well as ready-to-eat food on the other side. This is perfect for locals who are living nearby and want to buy some ingredients for a cookout at home, as well as tourists who want to settle their lunch here like what we did.

2. Stuff yourself silly.

We grabbed the super famous Roast-To-Go's pork belly sandwich. There is no dilemma to say this: this pork belly (sandwich) is definitely the best I've eaten, It's unlike no other and it's really excellently marinated and the texture is wonderfully managed. I couldn't get enough of this. Go for this or you will regret!

La Tua Pasta has an amazing spread of tortellini of many different flavours that you can choose from. We tried the white truffle tortellini and it was a little overwhelming after a while. If you don't like the wafts of truffle oil in great intensity, this won't appeal too much to you but I love this because I become indiscriminately easy to satisfy with truffle oil. There are other flavours that are awesome too, I promise! They let you try before you buy the whole box, which is fantastic because you won't be stuck with something you hate. They are really persuasive though, so be prepared!

One of the other things that you won't miss seeing or smelling (!) is the seafood paella, which we didn't really try because we're quite stuffed by then.

3. Sip on the white sangria

Try as I might, I couldn't resist the white sangria that was on sale like that. I see someone carrying this bubbly every few steps and I had to have it as well! It's a very welcomed change given that it was quite warm squeezing around the market and well... I love how fruity and carbonated it tastes. It has a little alcohol rush but not too much, which gave me an instant mood boost too.

4. Shopping for vegetables/ fishes/ fruits

If you'd fancy. My parents were in wonderland as they gushed about how fresh the fruits were, and they are the experts at wet-marketing so yes, if they say it's good I'd believe so.

5. Getting a coffee at Monmouth which was next to Borough Market

I have to say this is one of my regrets, but the whole coffeehouse was stuffed to the brim with people, it was not wise to queue at least a good hour or two for that... maybe next time. I'm coming back for you!

6. Buying truffle oils and spices.

They have so many available that you can even try on the spot before buying! Those who love cooking will find this extremely relevant - time to stock up on your kitchen supplies with Borough Market's finest ingredients. 

I haven't met a single person who dislikes pizzas. Have you? Pizzas never go wrong... I love eating them, almost regardless of what's on it! But as I get a bit older, my expectations of pizzas inch upwards a little beyond takeaway pizzas. I still like them, but you know they don't cut it for more important occasions! I chanced upon Da Paolo Pizza Bar when I browsed The Entertainer app. Upon further research, I realized that this pizza bar residing in Chip Bee Gardens is often regarded as one of the best pizza places in Singapore. A positively-reviewed restaurant + 1 for 1 deal + pizzas = super craving to visit it!

The restaurant's interior adopts a brown and white theme, tending towards more classy vibes. One of the more eyecatching details include an entire wall of real wine bottles and a false ceiling made of cow hide. Upbeat melodies are played gently in the background that will have you bobbing to the beat after a few wines.

Americana (with tomato & mozzarella base) | With cooked ham and pineapple, this combination is more known as the Hawaiian. This is my favourite pizza flavour, and will always be. There's something highly comforting about this pizza due to its familiarity. This is so satisfying, especially when my teeth sinks into the mozzarella cheese. Recommended!

Pollo e Avocado (with tomato & mozzarella base) | This pizza is sprinkled with marinated rosemarychicken and avocado... I would normally only like my avocado in juice but this is surprisingly very good too. The avocado is not imposing, very soft and complemented the rest of the ingredients really well. This would give Americana a good competition. I liked this for its uniqueness. Recommended!

Prosciutto e Funghi (with tomato & mozzarella base) | This was pretty similar to the Americana except that instead of pineapples, there are fun-sized porcini mushrooms instead. It contributes to pizza variety and I would say it is relatively less exciting, but nevertheless still good.

Meat Lover (with tomato & mozzarella base) | Can I miss out on this? The answer is obviously no. Feast happily on this pizza like I did with generous servings of meat on the pizza including bacon, ham, bolognese, salami and more. This one feeds (figuratively and literally) my inner carnivore and I enjoyed this one very much indeed.

Bufala e Crudo (with mozzarella base) | Party on this pizza with buffalo mozzarella, parma ham, sliced tomatoes and basil splayed happily around! The parma ham was characteristically salty, with a little juicy respite from the tomatoes. This is a classic Italian performance that you can't miss! It made me miss pairing parma ham with rock melons.

 

Rucola e Crudo (with tomato & mozzarella base) | For those who can't decide between salads or pizzas... this is probably the one that you will choose. I don't really like this one because vegetables aren't really my thing and I like my pizza experience kept away from them. It's a bit of an overkill especially that wild rocket was quite bitter!

If you are interested, this is the menu for Da Paolo Pizza Bar! Each pizza is cut into 8 slices so six pizzas like this is best shared among seven very-hungry people or eight averagely-hungry people. The bill came up to about $150 for six pizzas and two wines after using The Entertainer app.

The V-Day is almost upon us and isn't it just a beautiful excuse to dress up in your best clothes and spend a memorable time out with your other half? Or... just to ask your eyecandy out for a dinner and confess your feelings. Certain dates make cringe-worthy times like this less awkward and you know, justifiable. Then comes the next question: where to go? In this post, I'll be introducing to you Arteastiq Valentine's Day menu that will only be exclusively available on 14 February onwards.

The floral accents and garden-theme adopted by Arteastiq creates a splendidly romantic decor very well suited for a occasion like Valentine's Day.  I know that feeling, the struggle between being polite on dinner tables and taking photos... even though I don't encourage phone usage during dates, some of you might be tempted to post photos later on Instagram! The backdrop provides a very girly, whimsical feel and the lighting is not too dim to interfere with your food photography or selfies (some restaurants are so dark...!). Arteastiq has rosy, flattering warm hues which means you can be done quickly with the photo-taking process and start enjoying the date.

You know how sometimes you get exactly the same courses for both your partner and yourself for menus on special occasions? So boring, right? Everyone loves variety, and the ladies and gentlemen have very different likings. Arteastiq knows that and they have created a menu that has 5 different courses for each of you. If you're practically best friends with your other half, you can indiscriminately share and enjoy all the different creations. This menu is priced at $188/couple.

Note: Serving sizes as shown in picture is for two to five persons. Actual serving would be smaller than pictured. But trust that you'll be stuffed at the end.

Ladies Affair; Roasted sweet potato and rosemary salad

This salad is drenched in mustard dressing, with soft roasted sweet potato with crispy edges, thinly sliced radish, and mesclun green. I'm not the sort of girl who likes salads, but this was dressed up a little with more interesting textures from the potatoes and capers. I would imagine a lot of girls who love their greens would enjoy this a lot.

Gentlemen's Dinner; Cyperian affair

I liked this much better than the ladies' salads because of the pan-fried halloumi chunks! I had it once before over a dinner party and was completely charmed by its salty cheesy squeaky bite... and this salad is loaded with those goodness alongside walnuts, croutons, grapes, greek honey and arrugala. Above all, these are drizzled with a good dosage of balsamic sauce for an acidic and tantalizing touch.

Ladies Affair; Crabmeat benedict

For the girls who love their brunch items, this is an upgrade from the usual eggs benedict on this special day. There is your perfect poached egg, topped onto brioche, a thick maryland crabcake with tangy paprika hollandaise sauce. It is also very fragrant with a lot of herbs used including parsley, thyme and chives.

Gentlemen's Dinner; Frikadel et rosti

The men's menu is designed in a more masculine way through the main course: indulge in a chunk of juicy German chicken frikadel patty resting on a bed of sweet potato rosti made in-house. You get both horse radish sauce and brown sauce for dipping. I really like the horse radish sauce which tastes almost like wasabi. 

Intermezzo ; Pear tea granita

This is a simple yet lovely and refreshing intermediary break before the mains, which is essentially exotic shaved pear-flavoured ice.

Ladies Affair; Barley risotto

For the mains, ladies get a special vegetarian risotto made entirely of barley with a light buttery base, with an assembly of saffron fennel, vegetable glazes, and slivers of pecorino romano Italian cheese. I like how it is quite filling without making me feel too full for desserts. The last thing I want is to have a growling stomach two hours later, or a bulging food baby in my dress after my meal.

Gentlemen's Dinner; Duck pancake

This is the most memorable dish of the night because of its ingenuity. Ladies, please pinch a little of this from your man's platter! ;) Inspired from the Peking duck dish, the spiced duck confit is stuffed alongside cucumber in a thin French crepe. This gives rise to an aromatic mix with oregano and other Asian herbs. The orange caramel sauce provides an invigorating zest to the dish.

Ladies Affair; Osmanthus creme brulee

The generous party of grapes and strawberry sits right atop the caramelized surface that cracks upon scooping up the creamy smooth custard below it. A floral tint of osmanthus tingles as an aftertaste if you look out for it.

Gentlemen's Dinner; French toast with brie

A more savoury dessert for the guys with Do.Main's bread stuffed with brie cheese and a scoop of vanilla ice-cream. Take the chance to share the desserts (if you haven't for the mains, already) to round up the night with a sweet and intimate note.

Each of you gets to take home this heart-shaped dark chocolate or peach cake too to remember the night by. 

Arteastiq Boutique Tea Lounge
Mandarin Gallery
333 Orchard Road #04-14/15
Singapore 238867

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I share interesting episodes in life revolving around food, lifestyle, travel and inspirational ideas. If you would like to stay in touch, follow me on my Instagram on @spherepiece and Facebook page!

Have you ever stared at a menu and go all squinty at certain dish names... what the hell is that? You have two options: pretend that you know what it is (with far-fetched inferences) and order it anyway, or have whatever your friend is having. Both are deeply uncomfortable options. Well, here are some of names that you might commonly encounter. Ten for starters!

Photo credits: marthastewart

"Made of granules of durum wheat and semolina, it turns into fluffy grains after adding boiling water. It does not have much flavour on its own and is similar to rice."

"Cooked land snails that are usually purged from their shells and cooked with garlic parsley butter, chicken stock or wine, and later placed back into their shells."

Photo credits: idenchang417

"Dumplings made from potatoes, semolina, cheese, breadcrumbs, egg and/or flour. They can be considered as an alternative to pasta. They are not to be confused with another type of pasta named gnocchi as well."

Photo credits: puttogetherlife

"Dry-cured ham made from hind leg of a pig. It is usually thinly sliced and eaten as it is... uncooked. Pair prosciutto with melons for a summer appetizer!" 

Photo credits: cookingwithchrissy

"Corn or flour tortilla stuffed pancake, usually with cheese. Go crazy with quesadilla flavours here - there are lots of fun you can do with it!"

Photo credits: bakingmad

Origin: France
Pronunciation: kish

"Savoury, open-faced pastry crust with cheese, meat, vegetables and/or seafood and a rich egg custard milky base."

Photo credits: adutchoven

7. Quinoa
Origin: South America
Pronunciation: keen-wah

"Protein-rich grain seeds considered as a superior carbohydrate as compared to couscous - with higher calories, iron, protein and carbohydrate per servings." 

Photo credits: tastykitchen

8. Ravioli
Origin: Italy
Pronunciation: reh-veoh-li

"Sealed and filled pasta that creates a dumpling effect. They can be in square or circular shapes. They can be stuffed with cheese, meat and/or vegetables that can be boiled or baked. Served with tomato sauce or other sauces, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkle with parmesan cheese, parsley and fresh herbs."

Photo credits: gopixpic

9. Risotto
Origin: Italy
Pronunciation: Ree-soh-to

"Rice cooked in flavoured broth to give rise to a creamy consistency." 

Photo credits: spicedpeachblog

10. Tteokbokki
Origin: South Korea
Pronunciation: toh-boh-kee

"Also known as toppoki. Stir-fried hot and spicy rice cakes that are quite sticky drenched in sauce."