Author: Ian Lim

Do You Feel It? The Weeknd Is Coming To S’pore For The First Time In December

Do you feel it coming? Do you?

The Weeknd has just announced that he’ll be performing in Singapore on 5 December 2018 for one night only in his first ever Asia tour!

The performance venue and ticket prices have not been revealed at the moment, so here’s a music video to tide you over until the information is released.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4ZoCHID9GI

For those of you who aren’t familiar with The Weeknd, you might’ve heard him in Marvel’s Black Panther soundtrack, where he sang “Pray For Me” with Kendrick Lamar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR7Ev14vUh8

No wonder everyone loves the weekend.

The Weeknd Live In Singapore 2018
Website

Also read From Alt Rock To Hip-Hop: Here Are 5 Local Acts You Should Check Out At Baybeats 2018

(Header Image Source: Pitchfork)

Is Everything Really Better With Chilli? We Tried Krispy Kreme’s New Chilli Donuts And Found Out

Krispy Kreme Singapore has unveiled 2 new flavours in their range of donuts, for National Day.

Introducing the White Chocolate Chilli Donut and the Caramel Chilli Donut.

While it’s new in Singapore, it’s not the first time Krispy Kreme has released chilli-flavoured donuts. Back in April, Krispy Kreme Malaysia released Caramel Chilli Donut as an April Fool’s joke.

However, the question here is, “is EVERYTHING really better with chilli?”

So, we bought and tried it.

Chilli On Donuts

The donuts might seem intimidating for those of you who cannot handle your spice, but they’re actually quite decent.

The White Chocolate Chilli Donut ($2.95) is basically a standard white chocolate donut with dried chilli flakes (like the ones you get at Pizza Hut).

We can barely taste the chilli, though the warmth of the spice does show up in the aftertaste.

The Caramel Chilli Donut ($2.95) was less sweet, compared to the White Chocolate variant, and had a stronger chilli taste.

Of the 2 chilli flavours, White Chocolate Chilli was the crowd favourite.

These 2 chilli donuts are available from now till 31 August 2018 at all Krispy Kreme outlets islandwide.

There’s another SG Donut ($3.30) that’s also a National Day special.

It’s a dense custard donut with frosting on the top. It tastes good and they’re very generous with the custard. However, it is quite saccharine after a few bites.

All in all, these new flavours aren’t as bad as we thought they’d be. But if you’re intent on trying the chilli ones, go for the White Chocolate Chilli.

Turns out, most things are really better with chilli, donuts included. Just maybe not caramel.

Find your nearest Krispy Kreme outlet Aqua S Brings Their Famous Sea Salt Soft Serve To S’pore This Aug, And It Looks Like A Dream!

(Header Image Source: DiscoverSG)

Aqua S Is Bringing Their Famous Sea Salt Soft Serve To S’pore, And It Looks Like A Dream!

For all of you with a sweet tooth, your blood sugar levels are about to go through the roof.

Sydney’s famous turquoise Sea Salt Soft Serve (say it quickly 10 times) brand, Aqua S, will be opening their first outlet in Singapore soon!

While many foods have claimed to be Instagrammable, this is by far the prettiest we’ve seen, judging from their Instagram posts.

But that’s not why we’re excited – they have some really interesting soft serve flavours!

Sydney Sea Salt Soft Serve

While Aqua S is known for their Sea Salt soft serve, they have over 100 flavours back home in Sydney.

Some of the interesting flavours include Egg Pudding, Tofu, Baileys, and Manuka Honey.

As you can see, each flavour comes in their own delightful hue, with their signature Sea Salt flavour in turquoise.

Every ice cream cone is black, which makes the colours of their soft serve look more vibrant by contrast.

You can also choose to mix 2 flavours in a swirl, because let’s be honest, with over 100 flavours, you want to try as many flavours as possible.

After choosing the flavours for your soft serve, next comes the toppings.

Aqua S didn’t neglect this aspect because popcorn and an cotton candy are available as toppings and a freaking TOASTED MARSHMALLOW ON A STICK.

If you want to get your hands on this stunning soft serve, Aqua S will be opening at Orchard Xchange, 11 September 2018!

Queues are DEFINITELY going to be long so be prepared.

Aqua S
Address: 437 Orchard Road, #B1-01, Orchard Xchange, Singapore 238878
Opening Hours: Daily: 10am – 10pm
Sip But Don’t Spill – Enjoy Blends From Local And International Brands At Singapore Tea Festival 2018

(Header Image Source: @aquas_au)

When You’re Broke But Still Want To Shop – Here Are 6 Of Our Favourite Thrift Shops In S’pore

Thanks to Macklemore, thrift shops got a boost in publicity and popularity.

I used to avoid thrift shop because I never understood why anyone would want to buy pre-owned items. After all, the thrill of shopping comes from obtaining new stuff.

But after I went to my first thrift store, my eyes are now open to the wonders of thrift shopping. It’s the same feeling as opening a blind packaged item. You never know what you’re going to find and it’s thrilling.

So here’re some of my favourite thrift shops around Singapore so you can have your very own thrift shop moment.

One Man’s Trash Is Another Man’s Treasure

1. Shop@REDCROSS

The Red Cross Foundation has their very own thrift shops that you can visit at the Red Cross House or at the Red Cross Campsite.

With a wide range of pre-loved items, you can even find collectibles and electronic devices such as e-scooters, Samsung phones, and iPad Pro amongst other things!

If both of the outlets are out of the way or if your schedule doesn’t coincide with their opening hours, you can also find them on Carousell.

Red Cross Training Campsite
Address: 62 Jalan Khairuddin (Opera Estate), Singapore 457524
Opening Hours: Fri: 10.30am – 3.30pm

Red Cross House
Address: 15 Penang Lane, Singapore 238486
Opening Hours: Wed: 11am – 4pm
Website

2. Song & Song

Song & Song doesn’t exist. On the Internet, that is. They’re completely offline and the truth is, they don’t really need to be on social media.

Song & Song sells clothing for as low as $5.

Most of the clothes here are brandless, though if you spend enough time searching, you might find some gems from certain brands. These are usually rejected pieces due to slight defects that are usually negligible.

They even have baby clothes!

From coats and vests to tops and workout clothing, Song & Song is a fun place to trawl if you’re on a budget.

Song & Song
Address: Find your nearest outlet here

3. MINDS Shop

The Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS) organisation runs 4 thrift shops across the island.

Each thrift shop carries a range of carefully-selected apparel, furniture, house wares, and other collectibles.

The items are affordable and value-for-money. And don’t worry, the inventory is constantly updated.

With a bit of time, who knows what you’ll find?

MINDS Shop
Address: Find your nearest store 4. Praisehaven Mega Family Store

From books and electronics to art pieces, antiques and even wedding dresses, the Praisehaven Mega Family Store is basically a department store for pre-loved items.

Anyone down for some thrift shopping?

Praisehaven Mega Family Store
Address: 500 Upper Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 678106
Opening Hours: Mon – Thu: 10am – 6pm, Fri – Sat: 10am – 9pm, Sun: Closed
Contact no.: 6349 5312
Website

5. New2U Thrift Shop

New2U Thrift Shop opened during the millennium selling pre-loved clothing, accessories, household goods, decorative ornaments, books and more.

You might even find branded goods at New2U! The best part? The prices start from as low as a dollar.

And they even have promotions! Every Tuesday is Student Half Price day and all items (except books, toys and jewellery) will go for half price on the last 2 working days of every month.

Do check their Instagram page for regular updates on upcoming promotions!

New2U Thrift Shop
Address: 96 Waterloo Street, Singapore 187967
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 10.30am – 2.30pm, Sat – Sun: Closed
Contact no.: 6837 0611
Website

6. Something Old, Something New

Something Old, Something New thrift shop started back in 1997, founded by 2 volunteers at the Singapore Anglican Community Services, Ms Anna Tsang and Ms Felicia Teo.

You can find a ton of apparel, from clothes, shoes and bags and many more.

If you’re lucky, you might even find some items from brands like adidas.

They also hold flea markets every now and then so keep checking their Facebook page to stay up-to-date!

Something Old, Something New
Address: Find your nearest outlet Also read Carouselland Is Back With Over 400 Popular Sellers, Entrepreneurship Talks, And An IG Photography Trail

(Header Image Source: Something Old, Something New and Red Shield Industries)

Takagi Ramen Now Offers Delivery For Under $10 A Bowl: But Is Dabao-ed Ramen Any Good?

When you’ve worked for more than a year in Tai Seng, lunch options quickly run out and nothing seems more appealing for lunch than a nap.

But today, the office decided to order in. We were sick of fast food options so we decided to get ourselves some ramen.

Enter Takagi Ramen.

https://www.facebook.com/TakagiRamenShop/videos/10160524102020317/

They’ve recently started offering islandwide delivery for their ramen, which is great news because Tai Seng is a ghost town and the queues at Takagi Ramen outlets are always long.

I managed to find 6 other like-minded colleagues who thought ramen makes for great comfort food on a rainy day.

Send Nood(le)s

Unlike food delivery services, what you find on the menu at Takagi Ramen outlets, is what you’ll find on their delivery menu as well.

And the thing about Takagi Ramen is that it’s really affordable, with their base ramen all below $10. You can check out their full delivery menu here.

We ordered a Miso Ramen, a Mazemen, a Takagi Ramen, 2 Karaka Ramen, and 2 Black Tonkotsu Ramen. The total came up to $63.60 with a delivery fee of $20.

The delivery fee wasn’t explicitly stated on their delivery site, so it was a bit of a shock. They do have free delivery for orders above $100 though.

Good luck trying to scrounge up enough orders to hit $100 with such affordable prices.

Ramen Reviews

Our ramen arrived in neat little tubs that resembled upsized ice cream tubs. Also, Takagi Ramen switched to this current all-paper, 100% biodegradable packaging since last year so, kudos to them.

They may seem small but they’re really not. Here’s a hand for comparison.

If you’re wondering why some orders have a ramen egg, it’s an add-on for $1.50 per egg.

Here’s a closer look at the different ramen.

What you’re looking at is the signature Takagi Ramen ($7.90), which is their most basic and standard ramen.

The tonkotsu broth here is surprisingly light, and not too rich, making it easier to finish. We’ve had broth that’s too rich and by the time we finish the noodles, more than half the soup remains. The noodles were clumped together even when it was placed into the broth.

We had to microwave the tub so the noodles would split. Thankfully, the taste remained the same.

This was by far the crowd favourite out of all the orders.

Verdict: 4/5

Up next is the Miso Ramen ($8.50).

The Miso Ramen didn’t fare as well as the Takagi Ramen. It’s pretty normal, with a light broth. If you prefer lighter broths for your ramen, then you might like this.

But the miso flavour wasn’t very prominent and we would prefer it to be a little stronger.

Verdict: 2.5/5

For the spice lovers, there’s the Karaka Ramen ($8.50).

The Karaka Ramen is great because the spice doesn’t overpower the tonkotsu broth, so you can still the underlying broth.

And it’s not too spicy either, so it’s great for those of you who like to add shichimi (chilli powder) to your ramen.

Verdict: 3/5

Next is the only dry ramen order we had – the Mazemen ($7.90).

The dry ramen is served with sweet corn, roasted nori strips, scallions, and sweet ginger-braised pulled pork.

While it sounds good, the flavours did not really translate properly, and the rest of ramen came across as a little bland. The only real flavour came from the ginger-braised pulled pork, and even that was relatively mild.

If you’re looking for something extremely light on the palate, get this.

Verdict: 2.5/5

Now, for my order, the Black Tonkotsu Ramen ($8.90).

The Black Tonkotsu Ramen comes with slow-roasted black garlic-infused tonkotsu broth and comes with menma (bamboo shoots) and black fungus strips for added crunch.

I like ramen with black garlic oil and it’s my usual order at my go-to ramen restaurants. So I decided to give this one a try.

Right off the bat, the noodles were surprisingly springy even after I microwaved it. The black garlic-infused broth wasn’t too salty, which is good for me I guess, though I personally prefer stronger flavour.

I felt that there wasn’t enough black garlic oil, so an option to ask for more black garlic oil would be good.

The lean chashu was a little tough, which is to be expected since it’s been left out of the broth for quite a while.

It wasn’t as shiok as other Black Tonkotsu ramen I’ve had, but it still does the job. Plus it’s affordable, so that’s a plus point.

Verdict: 3/5

Overall Verdict

Takagi Ramen markets themselves as “Ramen For The Average Singaporean”, and they stay true to that motto.

Their ramen, while it’s nothing to shout about, does its job and is incredibly affordable. Plus, now that they deliver islandwide, getting your hands on a comforting bowl of ramen is much easier than before.

But if you’re going for quality, you might fare better if you visit any of their outlets. After all, ramen was never meant to be a takeaway dish.

Also 8 Hawker Food Haunts That Are Tried, Tasted, And Recommended By True Blue S’poreans

(Header Image Source: DiscoverSG)

Sip But Don’t Spill – Enjoy Blends From Local And International Brands At Singapore Tea Festival 2018

For all you tea lovers out there, I suggest you take a sip of that chamomile for your nerves and grab on to something because we’ve got news.

Following its popularity when it debuted last year, the Singapore Tea Festival is back for its 2nd edition this coming 21 to 23 September 2018!

Tea Bazaar By teapasar

Organised by teapasar, the Singapore Tea Festival 2018 will be held at the ION Orchard’s Basement 4.

For those of you wondering, teapasar is the first global marketplace that features both local and international tea brands, and even rare teas direct from tea farms. Talk about exclusivity.

This year’s Singapore Tea Festival will be bigger than before, with 28 tea and tea-related brands all under one roof!

A Fes-Tea-val For Everyone

You can find single-origin tea merchants in the Timeless Classics section.

With vendors such as Tea Chapter, experts of the art of Chinese Tea and Chinese Tea appreciation, and Parchmen Academy, a school dedicated to the art of tea appreciation.

The Modern Blends section will feature Singapore’s own local tea brands. You can expect to find unique tea blends inspired by local flavours, such as Durian Tea from SUCRE, and Nyonya Kaya tea from The 1872 Clipper Tea Co.

You can also get your hands on Botanically Cold Brewed Sparkling Teas from Gryphon Tea and even 100% compostable tea pods from A.muse Projects, that are compatible with Nespresso machines!

For those of you with more sophisticated tastebuds, the International Flavours section has got you covered with selections from Matchaya, Ito En, and Bali Organic Tea.

To go along with your tea purchases, you can also get tea-related items at the Lifestyle section, such as tea illustrations from Troops On Print and handcrafted ceramics from &Natural and Euphoramics!

If you love your tea as much as we do here at DiscoverSG, then you should head down to the Singapore Tea Festival 2018, happening from 21 to 23 September 2018!

Singapore Tea Festival 2018
Venue: ION Orchard Basement 4 Atrium, 2 Orchard Turn, Singapore 238801
Date: 21 – 23 Sep 2018
Website

Also read Carouselland Is Back With Over 500 Popular Sellers, Entrepreneurship Talks, And An IG Photography Trail

(Header Image Source: Singapore Tea Festival)

Don’t Worry, ‘Beer’ Happy – 6 Cheapest Beer Towers In S’pore For $50 And Under

Singapore has no shortage of pubs and bars, thanks to a nation of drinkers.

However, not all places have cheap beer and if you’re out drinking with your mates, it might be a bit of a shock when the bill arrives.

Don’t worry though, we’ve got you covered with a short list of places with the cheapest beer towers in Singapore, because honestly, with beer towers this cheap, there’s no reason to get your own bottle.

Let’s go!

Inspirit House

Inspirit House kicks off the list, offering beer towers at $50 during their Happy Hours.

Now, before you get bummed, you should know that their Happy Hour lasts from the time they’re open till 8pm daily.

Yes, DAILY. What’s more, you get to choose from a Hoegaarden White tower or a Rosée tower.

If you like any of those 2 beers, then you should hit up Inspirit House.

Inspirit House
Address: 3 Punggol Point Road, The Punggol Settlement #01-05, Singapore 828694
Opening Hours: Tue – Thu: 3pm – 12am, Fri: 3pm – 1am, Sat: 9am – 1am, Sun: 9am – 12am, Mon: Closed
Contact no.: 6920 6388
Image Credit: Image Credit: @deyeballz[/caption]

Happy Hour begins at 11.30am and ends at 9pm daily. What’s more, you can get finger food such as Crispy Chicken Skin ($6) and Mozzarella Cheese Sticks ($10) to go with your beer.

You can view their full menu Two Fat Men Food Bar

Two Fat Men Food Bar is a neighbourhood bar that offers Singha Draught Beer Towers at just $48 during their Happy Hour!

[caption id="attachment_36315" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Image Credit: two fat men[/caption]

Happy Hours are from 5 to 9pm on weekdays, and 2 to 9pm on weekends.

[caption id="attachment_36318" align="aligncenter" width="690"] Image Credit: two fat men[/caption]

What’s more, they’re also known for their fragrant Basil Chicken Fried Rice ($9), packed with wok hei.

[caption id="attachment_36314" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] Image Credit: @sir.fried.chicken[/caption]

If you love Thai food and Thai beers, then Two Fat Men Food Bar is THE place for you.

Two Fat Men Food Bar
Address: 376 East Coast Road, Singapore 428984
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 5pm – 12am, Sat – Sun: 2pm – 12am
Contact no.: 6348 0241
Website

Al Capone’s Kallang

You would think that a mall by the sports hub of Singapore would be filled with GNCs and other fitness or wellness shops, but NO.

[caption id="attachment_36322" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Image Credit: Al Capone’s Kallang[/caption]

Here we have Al Capone’s at Kallang Wave Mall. They’re known for their all-day $39 Heineken Beer Towers.

[caption id="attachment_36319" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Image Credit: Al Capone’s Kallang[/caption]

Yes, ALL DAY. If that’s not good enough for you, check out their Mabuk Monday promotions on their Facebook page.

Anybody up to get mabuk?

Al Capone’s Kallang
Address: 1 Stadium Place Kallang Wave Mall #01-15, Singapore 397628
Opening Hours: Daily: 11am – 2am
Contact no.: 6282 5926
Website

Stickies Bar

Stickies Bar is a crowd favourite. If you ask any person who knows their beer, they’ll tell you that Stickies Bar is one of the best places to drink.

[caption id="attachment_36324" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Image Credit: Eatigo[/caption]

You can get a beer tower for just $35! That’s insanely cheap and one of the best prices you’re going to find in Singapore.

[caption id="attachment_36323" align="aligncenter" width="1080"] Image Credit: @garethnp[/caption]

Also, the service is great and the staff are friendly. If you’re not already drinking at Stickies Bar, then what are you doing?

Stickies Bar
Address: Riverside Piazza #01-10, 11 Keng Cheow Street, Singapore 059608
Opening Hours: Daily: 12pm – 12am
Contact no.: 6443 7564
Website

Sleeping Giants Bar

We thought Stickies Bar had the cheapest beer tower in Singapore. We were so wrong.

Enter Sleeping Giants Bar. They have the cheapest beer towers in Singapore, at just $29.90 for their Housepour Tower! And the 2nd tower onwards goes for just $19.90!

[caption id="attachment_36325" align="aligncenter" width="476"] Image Credit: Sleeping Giants[/caption]

You can choose from Asahi, Heineken, Cresten and more for your Beer Tower.

[caption id="attachment_36326" align="aligncenter" width="2048"] Image Credit: Sleeping Giants[/caption]

So what’re you waiting for?

Sleeping Giants Bar
Address: 217 East Coast Road, #01-01, Singapore 428915
Opening Hours: Mon – Thu: 4pm – 1am, Fri – Sun: 3pm – 1am
Contact no.: 8383 5602
Website

Also read 8 Hawker Food Haunts That Are Tried, Tasted, And Recommended By True Blue S’poreans

(Header Image Source: Sleeping Giants)