The idea of friendship has been redefined with the rise of social media networks. Gone were the days when we used to categorize people we actually know into lists on autograph book (pardon primary school kids of the past). Today we add random acquaintance onto FaceBook and call them our friends when perhaps and most likely, don't even communicate with us. (No, reading status updates does not constitute communication). Back then we actually have 1 Best friend (Duh, isn't that what Best represents?) These days, we call everyone our BFFs (plural?!!). 

I'm guilty of all of the above. After all, friendship changes as we grow. I would say that at any 1 point in time, we may find 1 person (if you are lucky) who is the perfect friend. The one who has the same interests, likings, taste, thoughts, and understands everything you do. That person would be your best friend at that time (for as long as it is till you grow apart). I'm glad to have met friends like that.

That said, there are those friends who will always remain special in your heart, regardless of the distance and space between you. They are the constant. The special ones whom you have shared memories, secrets and inside jokes even telepathic conversations with. By now you must be wondering how does this relate to the title of the post. Let me explain. 

After i bought my Mulberry Grape Alexa (AW2010) (Read about it here), i brought it on a holiday in Hong Kong (Spring 2011). I also met up with my beloved friend Olivia, whom i have been friends with since we were 9. She is exactly one of those rare special friends that i've described above. Despite studying, working and living in 2 different countries for 9 years, she is still my evil twin (we always accumulate bad karma when we meet up ;)) That was when I introduced her to the world of Mulberry with my Alexa (she is such the classic Chanel girl) and she fell in love (we have such similarly good taste). I believe that was also when i planted bagaholistic thoughts in her head and exposed to her a world of limitless possibilities (of bag choices. haha). So she began the hunt for a perfect Alexa. In the end, i found the perfect option for her which is the Buckle Satchel in Eggplant (AW2011).

I was in love with the colour when i first saw it at the stores. It's a nice deep burgundy/maroon which i would have gotten if 1. I don't already have an Alexa and 2. If the shade isn't too in between my Mulberry Grape and Balenciaga Pourpre. Furthermore, the pebbled lambskin is so buttery soft and squishy and you know how i love my pebbling (a la AW Rocco and YSL Easy). It took her some time to convince herself that this is the bag (she wanted to get the Cabbage Alexa?!!) and now it's her most loved bag. So yup, sister bags for the separated at birth sisters!

Now onto the bags. The 2 look almost alike. Postman's lock, braided handle, 2 buckle straps and a belted shoulder strap that's way too long for petite Asian girls like us. We doubleloop ours for a more ladylike look. It becomes a shorter shoulder bag that makes for easy reach for our phones and stuff in the bag. The subtle differences lie in the detailing and finishing such as the full metal buckles and glossy shine finishing for the embellishments. The side hooks are also a little different, the Buckle's being a little bigger. Alexa uses a soft buffalo skin while the latter is a Nappa leather in lambskin. Overall, Alexa is a little more street style while the Bucket Satchel is more ladylike. Kinda like the 2 of us. :)

Since i'm on the topic of Mulberry satchels, i've noticed that with the birth and success of the Alexa, Mulberry has been rehashing (more than reinventing) the iconic satchel look and i wouldn't say it's particularly exciting me. Here are some of the spin offs.

Bayswater Satchel

Now this is the miniature version of the iconic Bayswater style. Poacher style straps with stud closures and cross body straps. I hardly see any modifications to the original. Plus i'm not liking the stiff handles that stick out from the main body. I foresee they would probably get in the way when i sling the bag over my shoulders. If i want a Bayswater, i'd just get that and not this. Though i must say i love this Nightshade blue shade with rose gold hardware. I would say this is more of a work satchel (that is if a satchel is office wear appropriate).

Tillie Satchel

Now this is one weirdly shaped bag. The D ring in the middle is quite purposeless though the trompe l'oeil buckle detailing is quite cute. Not digging the shape or style but exotic skins? Anytime. This is ostrich btw.

Postman's Lock Satchel (Edie)

The simpler Postman's lock satchel is the exact shape and design as its predecessor Edie. I don't get why they renamed it. The Postman is a lot slouchier ie. more shapeless as compared to the other satchels. I prefer my bags with a little more structure. This Beige shade will make a nice addition to any Pastel collection and it is so in this season. I sure wouldn't mind this neutral.

Travel Day Bag

The latest variation is the Travel Day Bag which takes the heritage satchel shape but gives it a twist with a metal luggage tag inspired plaque in front and metal tipped embellishments on both sides of the bag. I think all the metal tags around is quite redundant and boy that would add a lot more weight to the already heavy bag. I'm already complaining about the weight of my Alexa as it is, can't imagine how this would feel on my shoulders after a long day.

So yeap, that's my take on most of the Mulberry satchels. Alexa remains my favorite out of the lot and it has become one of Mulberry's icon in such a short span of time. Love the Buckle too but it hasn't been featured after 2011. So Olivia is one lucky girl, that's practically a limited edition. :P

This post is dedicated to my evil twin Dr. Olivia Tan. Welcome to the land of pretty bags and clutches. I'm glad you love your Mulberry as i love mine. To everlasting friendship and bagaholism! :))

*Photo Credits- Mulberry.com

I'm not a Chicken rice fan (like i've mentioned in a previous post here) and i wouldn't make a meal out of Chicken Rice typically. However, i have to say that it is one of the most convenient and tasty takeaway meals. It doesn't matter if you leave it sitting in the packet and soaking up the moisture from its condensation, it'll still taste good, or perhaps even better. You don't quite have to worry about your sides turning soggy because the chicken is steamed or roasted and it even tastes ok when cold! Most importantly, most of the stalls over the island has been able to produce decent chicken rice so the standard is pretty consistent regardless of where you are (of course if you're darn unlucky u'll get the really bad ones).   

 The most memorable chicken rice that i've tasted was dabao-ed (takeaway) by S. It was the most fragrant and fluffy rice cooked in chicken fat that i've tasted. I immediately proclaimed it to be the best chicken rice in Singapore in between gobbles. According to S, it was a random buy but i thought we hit chicken rice jackpot. However, that still didn't make me crave for the dish. Even thought we often drive past the same stretch of road and we'd always chime "Best Chicken Rice in Sg" when we spot but we never ate there.

Fast forward a couple of years to 2012. S met me for lunch in the vicinity and he suggested trying the dish again. I guess it's a good test of whether it was really as fantastic or was it just a figment of my imagination. So here you go- Yeo Keng Nam Chicken Rice.

It was only when i took a closer look at the stall that i realize this is no ordinary chicken rice stall. They have won some award back in 2009 for their traditional Hainanese dishes. S is such a kukubird sometimes. Anyhow, this is also proof that i have the makings of discerning food critic! :P

The location is indeed very nondescript, Yeo Keng Nam has car repairs workshops as their neighbors. S said that there used to be another chicken rice place at the corner but it has been taken over by a mixed veg stall. YKN is more of a restaurant than a coffee shop. Fully air conditioned, clean and uncluttered seating area (though it is really small) and polite servers to take your orders. There's no oily greasy grime and dirt or smokiness to the place. I like. 

At YKN, you can order your chicken rice individually for $4 a plate. It's only $3.50 if you take it away. For sharing, you could go with half a chicken for $15 or $30 for a whole (if i remembered correctly).

The rice was exactly how i remembered it. I like the broken and slightly soft rice grains? Can you see that they are nicely split in the middle? This shows that they have been simmered in a rich stock of fried ginger, garlic, chicken stock (and some fats) and salted for additional flavor. Some people have complained that this is too healthy. Seriously?? I don't care as long as it tastes good. The fragrance of stock has penetrated and locked itself within each grain of rice and you can simply eat this on its own. No need for chili or dark soy sauce (i thought the dark soy overpowers the flavor of the rice). I actually contemplated having a second bowl of rice! Amazeballs!

The chicken is nicely flavored as well. They served us breast meat for the individual plates though. I should have said i want the thigh meat for that additional succulence and tenderness. The breast meat wasn't dry though and was juicy enough.

The chili was a killer. It really stings. There is a nice sourness and spiciness to the blend of ginger, garlic and chili. Go easy on it if you can't take chili. 

I've been warned not to eat chicken rice at night because the chicken has probably sat there on the rack for the entire day. At YKN, batches of steamed chicken and rice are cooked over the course of the day. They are only prepared when the previous batch runs out. This ensures the freshness of the ingredients. Yay! Wouldn't say the same for the other regular coffee shop stalls though.

S ordered the Sambal Kang kong($7) for sharing. I love the chunky dried shrimp bits and how they really pack in a punch. The kang kong wasn't mushy or overcooked and had a nice crunch to it.On hindsight we should have ordered kailan. That would have gone better with our chicken rice but oh wells, the boy is weird in terms of placing food orders.

There's a variety of dishes to pick from if you are not particularly interested in the chicken. Hot favorites include the Nonya Curry Fish Head ($23). The snapper head was simmered in a red gravy of eggplant, lady's fingers and tomatoes to give it that tangy and lightly spiced flavor. Coconut milk is used sparingly but it doesn't weaken the robustness of the hearty curry. Based on a 18 year old secret recipe by Mdm Yeo (the founding chef).

Hainanese Pork Chop is a popular choice as well. Think tangy sweet and sour sauce on top of crunchy cream cracker battered pork chop.

Had their home made barley ($1.50) to extinguish the fire from the spice. This barley is super gao3 (thick). Just look at the dense and viscous stream that's flowing from the straw. No i wasn't playing with my food again.

So here you go, still the best Chicken Rice in Singapore. It gets packed during lunch and dinner so go early. If not, they also have a delivery service! Yay!

Verdict- Recommended!
Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Ambience: 3/5 Comfortable

Yeo Keng Nam (Tradition) Hainanese Chicken Rice
8 Braddell Road (Main Restaurant)
Tel: +65 6285 4153/ 6285 4261

Tue to Sun: 10.30am to 10pm
(Closed on Monday except on PH)

562 Serangoon Road (Branch)
Tel: +65 6299 1128/ 6299 0218
Daily: 11.30am - 11.00pm

Some time back in Feb when Z and i celebrated her birthday with our sassy weekend in KL, we stayed at the wonderful Fraser Place Serviced Apartments. We were choosing between several chain hotels but decided on a serviced apartment instead for a more cosy stay and we were spot on with our choice. Fraser Place Kuala Lumpur has recently been crowned the Tripadvisor's Travelers' Choice® 2012 for being the most trendy and luxurious in its category.

View from the 18th floor Pool at day break

Situated right in the heart of the capital, Fraser Place is conveniently located within the KL's Golden Triangle, which has the highest concentration of renowned shopping, entertainment and commercial facilities. We were situated a mere 5-10minutes walk away from the Suria KLCC mall, Pavilion mall and foodie heaven Bukit Bintang Street.

What really impressed us was the hospitality that greeted us upon arrival. The staff were extremely helpful and made us feel right at home immediately even though we arrived way before our check in time. We were given access to the 18th floor pools and entertainment facilities where we freshened ourselves with a dip in the outdoor infinity pool before heading out for brunch. The gym is also very well equipped with new machines and also a yoga room! There are also 2 game rooms- Xbox Kinnect and Nintendo Wii available for play if one decides to stay in.

Absolutely great way to start our awesome girly weekend! 

Heated Indoor pool with Sauna facilities

The apartments were newly furnished contemporary design elements that made for a cosy and chic stay. Firm and springy King size beds that made us feel like princesses with plush pillows and silky bed sheets. The spacious lounge area could be converted into a private dance floor, with the comprehensive home entertainment system to provide music to groove to ( Yea that's what we do in hotel rooms). The floor to ceiling windows let in natural light that brightens up the place, creating the illusion of space (not that it wasn't spacious enough). 

Our studio apartment also came with a fully equipped kitchenette, induction cooker, utensils, crockery and cutleries, microwave oven, coffee maker and all! I wanted to cook lunch for Z but obviously she didn't trust me with my cooking skills. :(

Instead, we settled for takeaway tea from Ben's General Store (Read about my review here) and chilled out in the comfort of our lovely room. 

Breakfast is served at the ground floor cafe and there's a decent spread of western and local cuisine.
For about 330RM a night, you could enjoy a pleasant stay when you next head over to the cosmopolitan city for a weekend getaway or for business. Bigger apartments and long term stay options are also available.

Will definitely be back the next time i head over. :)

Fraser Place Kuala Lumpur
Lot 163 No 10 Jalan Perak, Kuala Lumpur 50450, Malaysia

Tel: +603 2118 6288

Fax: +603 2118 6388

Email: reservations.kualalumpur@frasershospitality.com

Malaysia on Dwellable

I love the Tiong Bahru area for its bevy of indie cafes and restaurants. One of my all time favorite is Drips Bakery Cafe. Z was the one who first spotted this cool café when they first opened in the Tiong Bahru enclave and couldn’t stop raving about the tarts. Z and I practically have twin tummies and our delicate and exquisite taste buds are so in sync that I trust her with any recommendations. She was so right and I was completely sold.

Drips makes a good cuppa with their intricate siphon technique. I’m still sticking to my espresso blends though. Not quite the coffee connoisseur yet. Hopefully the coffee workshop that i'm attending next week will increase my understanding of Mr. Joe! Aromatic latte ($4.80) that is not too acidic and lightly sweetened by the milk. Pretty smooth on the palate. I didn't need sugar with this one. 

So desserts before the mains! Had the Mixed berries tart ($7) which was amazing. I love the crunchy shortbread crust, which has the right amount of butter and salt. I tasted a hint of a nutty almond paste in base. Perhaps that's their secret. The cream custard was smooth and slightly eggy, goes perfectly with the plump sweet strawberries and blackberries. Perfect summer dessert alert!

The chocolate tart is made from a high percentage of cocoa. Same pastry base as the Mixed Berries tart but this time with a rich dark solid filling. I like my chocolate dark and slightly bitter and this has the right balance of sweetness.

For our mains, I shared the Blackforest Ham with scrambled eggs and Toast ($15.80). Drips is very generous with their huge slabs of savory and juicy ham. I found the eggs lacking in flavor though. It needs a little more butter and crème fraiche (absolutely missing). Crème fraiche is the key to a good and runny scrambled eggs but most cafes skip on that because it’s not cheap. BOO. A sprinkle of salt of cheese would vastly improve the taste but even the pepper was nowhere to be found.

What I love is the Cranberry toast which came buttered and toasted. Perfect marriage of sweet and savory with the multi-grains and moist cranberries. Would love for the butter to be salted though :P

What made me fall in love with Drips was the Avocado Cheesecake. The naturally creamy yet light wobbly texture of the cake had me swoon over it for weeks after i tasted it. So I went back a couple of times after and each time it eluded me! The silly me kept thinking that my determination and perseverance will pay off in the form of a light green slice if I just show up a little earlier on the weekends. Weeks passed and still no cheesecake! I finally uncovered the mystery of the missing cheesecake when I asked the lady boss about it. Turn out that they have stopped selling the cheesecake by slices! It is now only baked to order for $68 for 1.5kg. You will only get to taste this on your lucky day if 1.There are extra ingredients 2. There's enough space in the oven for another cake. :( Now who wants to share 1.5kg of green egg heaven with me? 

This is my favorite spot in the cafe. This is the nave of the cafe. I like how the natural light breathes life into the place and fills the space with positive energy. OOHM. This is a lot less claustrophobic than FortyHands. 

Lace Top by Kwan, Bangkok. Pebbled YSL Easy. 

Verdict- Recommended!

Food: 4/5 for the desserts and coffee. Not a fan of the food.

Service: 4/5 They were so nice when S the klutz splashed my latte onto the floor. I felt so bad.

Ambience: 4/5 Nice place to chill on the weekends. Love the positive space.

Drips Bakery Cafe
82 Tiong Poh Road, #01-05

Tel: +65 6222 0400

Sun–Thu: 10.30am – 9.30pm
Fri–Sat: 10.30am – 11pm
(Closed on Tue)

The kinda traveling that i used to do was really tiring. To make the best of our trip, we often rush from sight to sight, try to squeeze in as many places of attraction and even set time limit for each spot. As time passed (and as we age), there is really no such need. Traveling is an experience that is meant to be enjoyed at a relaxing pace (that's why it's a holiday!). By slowing down your itinerary or cutting down useless touristy stuff, you get more breathing space and the flexibility in schedule allows for some spontaneity as well.

Here are some tips for a great holiday from this control freak who have since learnt to relax a lot.

1. Plan for free time and then be spontaneous. 

When S & i were in Seoul last year, we decided to skip the palaces and some sights (they look the same after the 2nd one anyway) and gave ourselves time off one morning. A random idea of picking up a cooking class struck us when we woke and with the help of the Internet and our concierge, we booked a cultural experience class and set off immediately. 

It turned out to be a fun way to kill time (We had no idea Seoul was that boring. Not into their fashion so i didn't shop much either). So began our Seoul Korean experience. We learned about the art of tea making and had fun donning the Korean Hanbok and camwhoring in the traditional Hanok. Next, we were taught how to prepare and cook some delicious kimchi pancakes, which of course led me to believe i'm a qualified Korean bride after the 'course'.

Don't i look like the perfect Korean wife? Or maybe Jap? Hurhur.

Bottom line is, chill. Take time off. Do nothing but sit at a cafe and read a book or magazine for at least 2 hours. While your time away. Learn to stop and smell the roses. You will feel much more refreshed after. 

2. When in Rome, do as Romans do.
Locals know where the best food are and they will let you in on their favorite hideouts because you aren't gonna be around for long to fight with them for space. All you need to do is ask. Sticking to what is recommended in the guidebooks will give you a very blah trip. Most of the time it's a tourist trap or over hyped. Disappointment has slapped me in the face one too many times. The road commonly travelled also guarantees replicable experiences. Identical photo albums with similar poses CHECK. You might as well Google map Street view it. Or just watch TLC from the comforts of your home.

So yea. Be adventurous. Live a little. Explore the back alleys. I once hit street food jackpot while checking out the old Shanghai residential area. Little eateries that operate out of backyards and occupying entire alleyways. There we sat, huddled on little plastic stools, among construction worker types, and had the most authentic Chinese home cooked meal in China. Just er.. don't question the origin of the food you eat. It also helps if you have a strong stomach for adventure. :)

Fresh spring rolls on the Saigon streets w my other skinnyfat half Z.

3. Luxe it folks.
What's traveling without some glam factor right? I'm not one to rough it out on holidays. That's for university kids my friend. If i can afford that little more comfort, why not? Backpacking is not my cuppa. Unless it's a mountaineering/trekking trip or else the only bag i'm carrying is one of my chic designer bags. I'm ok with either type of traveling as long as it's planned beforehand and expectations are set right from the start.

So S & i have agreed on at least 1 good meal in every city we visit. Michelin stars, noteworthy restaurants with great views and interesting gastronomic experiences are among those meals we search for.

1 Star Hibiscus in London

2 Star Ledbury in London

Great opportunity to dress up and go out on a date with the boy! I gotta wear all the clothes i buy somewhere right? I have far too many pretty dresses for all the occasions and events that i thought i would soon be attending (so i thought!) Occasion shopping is such a bad idea but we all fall into this trap over and over again. So this is what shopaholics do- you organize and you plan for events/meetings/parties so that you can parade your buys! :) 

Top of the world- Sirocco & Sky Bar, Bangkok. Ms. Selfridge, Miu Miu Matelasse Clutch

High Tea at the Peninsula Hong Kong. Casual H&M, Vintage Casio.

4. Work it off!

We usually let ourselves loose when it comes to calorie intake on trips. I don't face such a problem but the boy does. Most of the time he'd be lamenting the weight gain and then pushing the blame on me for his own greediness. Our strategy now is to work out on trips. Bring along a set of gym gear. If shoes are too bulky for you, skip them. Barefoot running is great work out. :) Or throw in an itsy bitsy bikini, they don't take up much space! Tanning is a form of exercise, just like sauna (if it makes you feel better. Haha. :P) 20 rounds of Sun Salutation under the hot sun is extremely awesome cardio too. 

For the more active, squeeze in some real sports. Snowboarding is almost a must during winter time. If water sports are more your thing, check out the waves if you are near the beach. Or dive under to spend an afternoon with the sharkies. Whatever you do, use some energy. If none of the above suits you, simply WALK IT OFF. Move that lazy bum. 

Looking pro on the board- Niseko, Hokkaido.

My 4 cents worth of fun traveling. Hope it helps. More on my travels soon. :)

I always thought that Jones the Grocer cafe is darn overpriced in Singapore. My first memory of it was the brunch that i had some weekends eons ago at Dempsey Hill. The food was unmemorable but the hefty bill at the end made me swear not to return again (I obviously did not stick to that resolution). 

I gave it a second shot at Mandarin Gallery. It is my less crowded alternative when WH is packed to the brim. Given a choice i would stick with WH but when one is hungry, one loses all capacity for logical reasoning. Being the usual greedy self, i ordered the English breakfast ($22) and i could barely finish half of it. The big brekkie consists of two large pieces of sourdough bread (bigger than my face), a large sausage, scrambled eggs, bacon and sauteed mushrooms. Do not attempt to go at this one alone. Really. It may be worth it if you share though. Anyway I have since found a better alternative with better tasting food at Lots (though it's really kinda out of the way).

So what really changed my opinion of Jones was their cakes. Was looking for a tea place at MG but A was packed and so we decided to give Jones a shot and i was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the cakes. If there's something they do well at a reasonable price, it's their cakes.

Not a usual fan of the Red Velvet because it's usually too dry but this baby is moist and juicy! From the picture alone, you could see the deep red beetroot awesomeness. If the sponge is dry, the colour would be a powdery/whitish red. The frosting was a bit too much for me and felt kinda like fake cream. Surprisingly bearable though i would prefer a cream cheese frosting. This doesn't taste like there's cheese in it at all.

Gotta say i love the brownie cheesecake. If it were cheesecake alone, i would be bored of the creaminess after a bit but the chunky chocolate goodness was spread out to ensure that there is a bit of cocoa in each bite. It is faultless. Dense and smooth cheese batter with bits of chewy brownie on a graham base, topped with a layer of chocolate fudge. What more could you ask for? Sighs.

I was a fan of their Mudslides or Iced Mocha. Can't go wrong with espresso, milk, chocolate and ice cream! Again. Lots does it better at a cheaper price. But one can't complain when one is in need of some dessert coffee fix in town and Jones does it the best.

So yea, give Jones a shot for tea sometime. You may be surprised at their offerings. Their baked goods smell really awesome.

Food: 3.5/5 Overpriced. Slightly above average.
Service: 4/5 Attentive and friendly. Quite humorous too.
Ambience: 4/5 Not a bad place to chill out with gfs.

Jones the Grocer
#04-21/23 Mandarin Gallery
#01-12 Dempsey Hill
Daily: 9am - 11pm

I love Cuppage Plaza despite it's shadiness, seediness and sleaziness. It rates pretty high up there on my dubious index, the one topping the chart being Orchard Plaza with all the nightclubs and Thai disco bars (i was recently dragged there by my wonderful friends). Anyway back to Cuppage Plaza. The reason why i would overlook all that under-table/behind-closed-doors activities in the background is that they have really good Japanese food! Nijumaru, Ohsumi, Nagomi and the list goes on. I have been to Nijimaru a couple of times and they serve decent and reasonably priced bentos (shall review it sometime). My goal is to try every notable Jap restaurant there. Should be too hard since i love the cuisine.

S suggested we try Kaiho Sushi when our previous craving kicked it. This is really a hole-in-the-wall kinda restaurant. The shopfront doesn't look appetizing at all- plain boring green banner with a simple font stating the name of the place. No pictures on the menu :( Absolutely no atmosphere of any sorts. A simple bar counter that seats 9-10 patrons and another 4-5 dining tables. This is not a place that you would come to for a chillaxing meal. BUT. The chunky fresh slices of sashimi and bottles of Ume wine sitting on display are enough to guarantee fresh and hearty Japanese food and Kaiho didn't disappoint in that aspect. 

All sushi/sashimi dishes are lovingly prepared by Chef Bernard Tang. It takes a while for food to be served when the place is packed but it's certainly worth the wait. A must try is the Salmon Aburi Sushi ($3 each). This is where i fell in love with the Aburi style.  I usually have a problem with the searing. When it's overcooked, it feels like i'm eating a half cooked/half raw piece of meat. I never knew what perfect Aburi is until Chef Tang and his perfect torching technique came along. The fish seamlessly transits from the cooked to raw texture which simply melts in your mouth. The Japanese Mayonnaise and sweet sauce gave it an additional buttery smoothness that simply glides down the throat. The Hotategai Aburi Sushi ($9) was great even without the heat. Couldn't really tell the difference though and I love it raw anyhow.

 

Being the greedy me as usual, i went ahead with the Kaiho Bento ($28) (Gotta love bento sets for their variety!) Stewed veg- love the pumpkin which was braised in sweet and light stock. I usually don't take the whole shrimp with shell and all but these were so nicely fried and crispy that i simply munched on them one after another. If you follow my blog closely you'll realize that i'm not a fish fan other than salmon and cod but this grilled fresh saba was so simple and yet yummy. It tastes of home- that sort of simple home made dishes cooked with love, seasoned with sea salt and splashed with lemon for that final touch. Love it.

A silky smooth chawanmushi came along with our sets and this i swear is like beancurd but the savory version. Nicely flavored with stock for that savory flavor. Each spoonful revealed chunks of surprises within- crab meat (the stick sort though :/), Unagi, mushrooms etc. I would say the texture is better than Lao Ban!

My set also came with the sushi/sashimi platter! I thought the cut of salmon was pretty weird. Seems like it's from some leftover piece of fish. Boo. Love the rest of the dish though. The rice was nicely flavored with vinegar and the fish to rice ratio was just right. The rice is better than Meii though it was a little more on the sticky side as well. Hotate was slightly on the sticky side. I noticed this problem with most hotate that i eat in Sg. Perhaps i compare it too much to that freshly shucked live scallops that i had in Sapporo. Nothing compares to that boing boing texture of fresh meat. Sighs.

S chose the Chirashi Set ($28). Just look at all those chunky pieces of seafood that covered the top of all that rice! I love the mixture of colours though i must say i'm not really a Chirashi fan. I like my sashimi/sushi but i love them better when there is a mix of hot dishes to go along with it. I'm a traditional Chinese girl that way. Anyhow, you get thick and juicy pieces of tuna, sweet shrimp, hamachi, mackerel, scallops, unagi and the tender snow crab leg. All for $28? Worth-it chop stamped!

Desserts were a delight as well! Japanese ice cream that is really from Japan! I had the Chestnut flavored one which was very light and nutty. Could taste a hint of caramel with little bits of Japanese chestnuts. S thought this was a little bland only because he ate his sesame one first. His sesame one was extremely fragrant with coarse bits of sesame as though it's freshly grounded. Really satisfied with the desserts! This is unlike the cheapo sorta ice cream that's typically served at the regular restaurants.

If you would like something more, you could also go for the Lunch/Dinner 8 Course Set for $60++ or the 7 course Omakase for $100++. The Omakase set includes Salmon head soft bone, toro, salmon and scallop sashimi, Nameko soup, Grilled fish dish, Kisu tempura, 5 pcs of Nigiri sushi and ice cream!

Kaiho Sushi is indeed a hidden gem. I wouldn't have gone in if i didn't know about the food. So here it is, don't say i never share! :))

Kaiho Sushi Restaurant
#03-01/02 Cuppage Plaza
Tel: +65 6738 1315

Tue–Sun: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 11pm
(Closed on Mon)

I guess i was an honorary Thomsonite (if there's such a term). Spent many of my younger days hanging out in the Thomson area. Thursday and Saturday nights were spent at the Community Centre honing my Taekwondo skills and burning calories in preparation for our after class supper escapades. I grew up eating the prata from Prata House and whenever prata craving kicks in, i'd still head to Thomson without a second thought. Anyway, i'm liking how the stretch is turning into a food and chill out enclave. As compared to the past when there was only Prata House, Macs and a couple of coffeeshops, there are a gazillion restaurants, cafes and desserts places now! YAY! 

Of course i was one of the first few to notice and try the ice cream at Salted Caramel when it opened. How can i not? It is just next to Prata House. Prata and ice cream is the best combination for supper. Or lunch... Or dinner.. Or maybe bunch even! (Read about my sweet and savory quirk here).

I love the ice cream at Salted Caramel. My favorite flavors? Salted caramel for sure! And Chocolate stout. And Earl Grey. And Horlicks. And.... (you get my drift). The flavors are intense and the ice cream is creamy enough (no icy centers). The chocolate stout has a strong alcoholic flavor and somehow the bitterness of the stout goes very well with the milk chocolate. I also have a soft spot for tea infused ice cream so earl grey is a must have when the caffeine addict in me acts up. What i love best about SC is that the ice cream is very reasonably priced! $3 a scoop, $5 for double and a mere $7 for triple and that's for ALL flavors. Take that Udders and your ridiculous pricing and weighing of your scoops! BOO. 

To improve your ice cream experience, go for the waffles with ice cream. It only costs an additional $3.50 for a light crispy batter with a slight tinge of saltiness. Each waffle is made to order and served piping hot with ice cold cream on top and your choice of maple/chocolate syrup. I like that the centre is not too floury and spongy (if not i'd OD on flour). 2 scoops of ice cream is perfect to cover every waffle cube- that's how i eat my waffles. I'll cut the ice cream into little cubes and fill up the holes before eat each square individually. It's just more fun this way. :) Oh and the good thing about getting the waffles is that you can skip the queue and order at the cashier right away. Another incentive!

The ice cream parlor is not very big and it gets really packed at night when all the Thomsonites finish their dinner and head out for some sweets. Not a place for chilling out especially when it's packed. I would not hesitate to give you the evil eye if you hog the seats during peak hours. As for me, i do my part and try not to hang around for too long after i'm done with my desserts. :)

Food: 4/5 Love the ice cream. They have interesting flavors like Avocado as well. :))
Service: 3.5/5 Average. Could be a little faster when it comes to clearing the tables
Atmosphere: 3/5. Could get pretty noisy. Not a place for hanging out.

246F Upper Thomson Road
Sun-Thu: 12pm - 11pm
Fri, Sat, Eve of PH: 12pm - 2am