Afternoon Tea at Geláre @ Suntec City

3 Temasek Boulevard #B1-175 / 176 Suntec City Mall, Temasek Boulevard, Singapore 038986

Tel: 6341 9132

Website: http://www.gelare.com.sg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GelareSG

Geláre has been a childhood favourite since the school days, us looking forward to every Tuesday when waffles went for 1/2 price.

The good news is that they are still around and going strong after so many years. Better yet, their 1/2 -price waffles promotion has not wavered at all. So, instead of SGD$24.00, each waffle goes for a mere SGD$12.00 with 2 scoops of Gelato and a topping.

The Suntec City Geláre outlet is situated around the fountain, lending a gorgeous view and open-concept. Service was friendly enough, but we felt that the "scan phone to order" then pay at cashier counter scheme was pretty cumbersome. What if I don't own a smartphone?

Anyway we shared a Waffle with rich chocolate sauce on the side. Gelato flavours were White Chocolate Raspberry (lovely, gently tart with chunky chocolate chips) and Blueberry Cheesecake (sweeter, creamier).

Waffle was still crispy on the outside and fluffy within, maintaining its standards all these years. Besides desserts, they also serve savoury mains such as pasta now - so drop by and indulge yourselves today!

Lunch at Swensens Restaurant @ Bugis Junction

200 Victoria Street #01-68 Bugis Junction, Singapore 188021

Tel: 6255 2052

Website: https://www.swensens.com.sg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SwensensSingapore

Swensen's Restaurant chain needs no introductions - it has been around for decades in Singapore, and used to be one of my very American / ice-cream restaurants when I was younger. These days, the niece and nephew love it the way I did.

Decor is typically American - from the colourful lampshades the red booth seats. Service at the Bugis Junction  outlet has gone from bad to non-existent. We had to wait a long time for the service crew to notice us and take our orders (totally non-peak hour with only 3 tables in all), I had to take my own ice-water, and now even payment has to be done at the counter.

Thankfully, menu items did not change drastically, with our favourite items still intact (Fish & Chips, Breaded Chicken, Baked Rice, Teriyaki Chicken Pasta, Crayfish Pasta, Black Pepper Seafood Spaghetti and Sticky Chewy Chocolate sundae, et). Also grateful that the quality of the favourite dishes have remained consistent throughout all these years.

Started with Creamy Mushroom Soup (SGD$9.90) served in a crispy sourdough bread bowl, the latter soaking up the earthly aroma of mushroom beautifully.

Fish Baked Rice (SGD$15.30) - grilled fish fillet in white sauce baked with savoury rice and cheese, making for a flavourful, palatable dish that is well-loved by many.

The Curry Chicken Baked Rice is also an all-time favourite, mildly spicy with tender chicken chunks and topped with butter belinjau chips.

The Fish & Chips (SGD$15.90) is still the best fish & chips I have eaten anywhere - most are either too flakey or crumbly. Swensen's Fish & Chips uses ocean fish fillet, deep fried to a lovely crispy golden-brown hue; the flesh is moist and tender. This dish is served with fries and salad, as well as tartar sauce.

Finally, Cornflake Chicken (SGD$15.90), one if their "back by popular demand" dishes, coated with golden layer of cornflakes crackling deliciously in the mouth. This dish is serve with fries and salad as well.

Finally, my beloved Sticky Chewy Chocolate Sundae (SGD$12.50). Two huge scoops of rich bittersweet chocolate ice-cream complete with dipped cherries and dipped wafers, cream and chocolate chips. It's chewy and crunchy all at the same time.


Overall, I still enjoy food at Swensens Restaurant alot, and will tend to revisit for some old favourites.

Mooncakes Review for Mid-Autumn Festival 2018

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival 2018 to all! 

This festival has many names, such as "Mooncake Festival" and "Lantern Festival", etc, as well. It is a harvest festival celebrated by the Chinese all over the world, falling on the 15th day of the Lunar Eighth month every year (around  mid-September for our calendars). Some fables associated with this beautiful festival include Chang-Er flying to the Moon, Jade Rabbit and Wu Gang chopping tree etc - feel free to read up all about them.

Being an avid mooncake lover, I totally let go of dietary restrictions this month so I could indulge in mooncakes; various types (and each year, more and more unique flavours or types of mooncakes are being created). I am glad to note that many companies have also become more flexible, tweaking their mooncakes and packaging to suit our needs better these days, such as:

1. Gluten-free, egg-less, low sugar or no sugar Mooncakes
2. Allowing us to mix and match different flavoured mooncakes in a box purchase (in the past, flavours were fixed by the hotels or restaurants)
3. More hotels and restaurants allowing the purchase of single pieces of Mooncakes instead of the mandatory "2 pieces per box" minimum order practice.

I love these changes as it allows us to be able to buy more flavours to share with family and friends, rather than ending up with 5 different boxes of mooncakes just so we could try 5 different types of mooncakes. My must-visit place is usually Takashimaya's Mooncake Fair, where one gets to see, and sample many kinds of mooncakes from all participating hotels, restaurants and confectioneries. What assortment did I buy / receive this year?

For Snowskin Liqueur series this year, I love the Lychee Martini Truffle and Champagne Truffle (SGD$78.00 for a box of 8) mini snowskin mooncakes  by Grand Hyatt the best. After tasting several liqueur mooncakes, I found theirs to contain the stronger whiff of alcohol, contrasting beautifully with the light sweetness of the snowskin mooncakes.

That, followed by Ritz Carlton's Lycheetini and Irish Martini mini snowskin mooncakes, exuding pretty robust flavours of Martini in its chocolate centre as well. These retail for SGD$76.00 for a box of 8 mini snowskin cakes.

For a good mixture of alcoholic and non-alcoholic snowskin mooncakes, I enjoyed JW Marriott Singapore South Beach's assorted mooncakes, containing flavours such as Cempedek, Champagne, Chocolate and Green Tea; makes for a perfect gift suiting everyone's unique preference. They retail for SGD$73.90 for a box of 8 assorted mini snowskin mooncakes.

Finally, the other snowskin mooncake that piqued my interest this year was by Bakerhaus, a Malaysian bakery selling their mooncakes in Singapore. Their Lava Mooncake series was pretty unique, and the lava centre really flowed - one could choose from blueberry cheese, strawberry cheese, mango cheese or custard. These cost SGD$66.00 for a box of full-sized snowskin mooncakes.

Ice-cream Mooncakes (SGD$39.80 for 4) by Swensens is an annual favourite as well, especially the Sticky Chewy Chocolate and Cempedek ones. Another ideal gift for people who don't like the conventional baked or SnowSkin Mooncakes.

Moving on to baked goods, I enjoyed the assorted mooncakes from Mandarin Orchard Hotel, "The Mandarin Collection" (SGD$73.00) featuring Mixed Nuts with Jamon Iberico, Double Yolk White Lotus Paste, Macadamia Nuts with Low Sugar White Lotus Paste, and Azuki Red Bean Paste with Pine Nuts. This treasure box gave us the best of all worlds.

There was also the White Lotus Seeds with Pine Nuts baked mooncakes (SGD$66.00) by Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel, which I gifted my clients, and they loved the presentation as well as taste of these elegant, traditional mooncakes.

Tried some of the low-sugar Pandan mooncake and low-sugar Lotus Seed Paste mooncake (SGD$58.00) from Holiday Inn as well. Nice!

I couldn't resist getting one of these mini Custard Mooncakes (SGD$4.50) from Starbucks the other day while drinking my morning coffee. Hmmmm not bad as a tea-time pastry, but I still find Maxim's Custard mooncake tastier.

Last but not least, these pretty little delights from Peach Garden Restaurant, with many flavours. I always like their Premium Sun-dried Longan infused with Red Tea Paste mooncakes (SGD$68.00 per box of 4). Other interesting flavours from them include Pandan, Red Bean Paste with Orange Peel, Black Date with Melon Seed, etc - perfect for the traditionalists looking for favorite flavours of yesteryear.

Finally, one can't do without Teochew-style, flakey mooncakes, I feel. I used to buy from East Ocean Restaurant, but theirs expire pretty soon, even if stored in fridge. I also enjoy buying from Gin Thye, especially together with their ultra-delectable Walnut-Skin Mooncakes, but too bad they don't carry them this year. So I went back to Zhen Wei - their specialty being that they are able to sell in boxes of 2 (pretty marble-like boxes too!), and they have both the yam-paste and pumpkin-paste flavours. Retailing at SGD$27.00 for a box of 2, we usually gift these to the grannies, who loved them superbly.

Another pretty palatable Teochew-style mooncake is the Yam mooncake with single yolk from Swatow Restaurant (SGD$48.00 for 4 pieces). It's low in sugar and where better to have Teochew-style mooncake than from a Teochew restaurant, right?

That's my Mooncake review for this year. Now it'st time to diet and exercise off those sugars and drink plenty of tea. Once again, may you have a blessed Mid-Autumn Festival (also known to me as "Autumn Equinox")!  Harvest more in your businesses!

Afternoon Tea at Dome Cafe @ Raffles Place

80 Raffles Place #01-02, UOB Plaza 1, Singapore 048624

Tel: 6533 3266

Website: http://www.dome.sg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DomeCafeSingapore

Dome Cafe at UOB Plaza 1 has been around since forever, back during my intern days (or even beyond?) - one of those comfortable and familiar cafes that used to offer relief for many stressful workdays and later, despite from the sun.

Located at level 1 of the bank building with a view of the Singapore River, Dome Cafe serves as a great place for lunch, afternoon tea or business discussions. Their offerings are mainly Western with a fusion touch; but I usually love their Cappuccino and desserts.

There's something gorgeous and aromatic about their Cappuccino (SGD$6.00) that makes it my absolute favourite in this world. I cannot say why  because it's a feeling, and perhaps because the foam layer with cinnamon powder have just the right proportion.

Key Lime Tart (SGD$8.00) is a pretty big slice, adorned with light fluffy cream. The crust is a little hard on the exterior, but bite into it and it becomes crumbly and nice. Paired with that refreshing tarty lemon curd, this made for a lovely dessert.

Top up SGD$4.00 for a scoop of Gelato (chocolate or vanilla) and you also get the crispy ice-cream come with berries (and beautiful plating).

Was glad I got to spend some time in this case that has left me so much beautiful memories. I guess I could get a nice window seat and just sit the afternoons away, over a book or even laptop for work.

Dessert at The Daily Scoop Cafe @ Sembawang

369 Sembawang Road #01-05 Sembawang Cottage, Singapore 758382

Tel: 6754 1233

Website: http://thedailyscoop.com.sg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedailyscoopsg

The Daily Scoop started in 2004 at Sunset Way, and now has 4 outlets across Singapore. Their ice-cream flavours are freshly-created and there are more than 45 fun flavours to choose from.

The cafe has a cheery ambience illustrated by adorable drawings on the walls. Service is polite and the staff are ready to let patrons try any flavours they desire.

Besides ice-cream and freshly-baked ice-cream cones, The Daily Scoop also has other items such as waffles, brownies, crepes and floats.

We shared 2 scoops of Ice-cream (SGD$6.60), namely Yuzu Cheesecake, and Lychee Martini. The former was zesty and creamy; whereas the latter was sweetly tinged with martini's distinctive flavour, very delightful.

Overall, we enjoyed our desserts at this happy cafe and look forward to being back for more ice-cream and or their accompanying pastries.

Tea Break at Fatcat Ice Cream Bar @ Bedok

Blk 416 Bedok North Avenue 2, #01-25 Singapore 460416

Tel: 6241 0830

Website: http://fatcat.sg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fatcatsg

Nestled within Bedok area, just a few blocks away from Heartbeat @ Bedok, is a hidden ice-cream bar serving up innovative ice-cream items - that's FatCat Ice-cream Bar, recommended to me by a colleague after we finished conducting a Saturday seminar.

The interior of the HDB-cafe is small but cosy, handled by very friendly crew who were patient in dishing out ice-cream samples and explaining what each unique item was. The interesting name of the cafe derives from the fact that everything is made from scratch, which adds to the appeal of this ice-cream cafe.

There were many ice-cream flavours to choose from, which resulted in a dilemma because everything sounded good, if not better than the last one. Some of the flavours that caught our attention were Olive Oil Truffle, Grapefruit Campari, Blackforest, Pandan, Butter Beer and Smoked Oolong Tea etc.

Some innovative items included Buah Long Long, "Egg", Pandora Stones and "Chocolate Cigar".

We started with Lime Mojito Spheres (SGD$4.50 each), recommended by the crew. Looking suspiciously innocent, these jelly-lookalike spheres are meant to be popped into the mouth in one shot, not chewed or bitten. The delicious spheres popped in the mouth, citrusy cocktail flowed beautifully, making us yearn for more.

Next, we also tried their signature Charcoal Waffle with house-made salted egg yolk sauce (SGD$6.00), with Grapefruit Campari Ice-cream and Blackforest Ice-cream. The ice-creams were SGD$4.50 per scoop.

The Grapefruit Campari ice-cream had a lovely tangy note to it; whereas Blackforest ice-cream was rich, velvety with chocolate goodness, but no hint of cherries in sight or flavor. The charcoal waffle was fluffy with crisp edges, made tastier with creamy salted egg sauce.

We enjoyed our dessert session here very much, and look forward to trying more items here soon again.