Author: Ian Lim

Deliveroo Singapore Offers Halal-Only Delivery Bags To Cater To Their Muslim Customers

If you frequently use food delivery services, you’d realise that the same bags are used for all orders, regardless of restaurants, Halal certification, or Vegetarian orders.

Also, what if the food spills out?

So in response to this potential concern and at the request of Muslim restaurants and customers, Deliveroo has decided to just straight up separate halal from non-halal food – by introducing Halal-only delivery bags!

Halal Food Meets Halal Bags

Singapore will be one of the first of the 12 countries that Deliveroo operates in, to receive halal-only delivery bags.

The halal bags are set to be distributed to 3,000 riders in various phases in the month of July.

If the public’s response is favourable, Deliveroo will increase the number of riders carrying halal bags to its remaining 6,000-strong fleet.

In conjunction with this launch, the Deliveroo app will be updated to indicate the Halal certification of a particular restaurant, and riders will be expected to use the Halal-only bags for those orders.

By the end of July, your food order might be delivered in Halal-only bags if you’re ordering from a Halal certified restaurant.

At least now, whenever I order for a party, my Muslim friends can eat in peace.

Also read KFC Brings The Salted Egg Trend Back With Their New Goldspice Chicken

(Header Image Source: Deliveroo Singapore)

KFC Brings The Salted Egg Trend Back With Their New GoldSpice Chicken

This July and August, KFC will be launching new items on its menus.

Inspired by Singaporeans’ love for salted egg, curry, chilli and fried chicken, KFC has come up with a limited time menu item specially to commemorate our national pride.

Starting from 4 July 2018, KFC will be launching their new KFC Goldspice Chicken.

Gold-Standard Salted Egg Fried Chicken

For those of you who haven’t gotten it by now, the KFC Goldspice Chicken is salted egg-flavoured spicy fried chicken.

Fresh chicken meat is marinated in the signature KFC Hot and Crispy marinade before being breaded and fried, and coated with salted egg seasoning, chilli, curry leaves and basil powder.

What you taste in the first bite, is a strong hit of salted egg seasoning. However, as you progress, the spice slowly kicks in. So it’s a slow burn.

But if you’re a fan of salted egg-flavoured anything, then you’ll love this, because it tastes authentic.

A 2-piece Goldspice Meal costs $8.55 while the 5-piece Goldspice Meal is $19.55.

You can also get the Goldspice Box at $10.55, which comes with 2 pieces of Goldspice chicken and Hot & Crispy Tenders, 1 regular whipped potato and fries, and Sjora.

But if you’re feeding a family, then go for the Goldspice Feast ($38.95), which comes with 9 pieces of Goldspice chicken, 12 nuggets, 2 medium whipped potato and coleslaw, and 4 Sjoras.

Egg Tarts Meet Nutella

The Goldspice Chicken isn’t the only thing they’re launching. KFC is also launching a Chocolate Hazelnut Egg Tart.

They probably can’t officially claim that it’s Nutella but I know Nutella when I taste it.

While it seemed like a weird combination, I’m no stranger to egg tarts in various flavours, so this didn’t really come as a surprise.

The flavour combinations actually work quite well. The egg custard in the tart is already sweet, but the addition of the Chocolate Hazelnut filling didn’t make it saccharine. My only gripe with it is that it flakes too easily.

It’s brittle and fragile, which makes it a struggle to eat.

Dessert Fries

The last item they’re launching came as a surprise. It’s so simple, yet so good? I’m genuinely surprised at how good it is.

It’s Chocolate Hazelnut Fries!

Now before you revolt in horror, I do know that there are people who eat their fries with ice cream. So chocolate fries should not come as a surprise. It’s the lesser of two evils.

The Chocolate Hazelnut Fries will be sold at $4.20 ala carte or $2.90 for add-on.

However, the Chocolate Fries will only be available in 10 KFC outlets islandwide – Jurong Point, Lot 1 Shoppers Mall, Causeway Point, Sun Plaza 2, Compass One, Waterway Point, Tampines CPF Building, Kallang Stadium, and Tampines Hub.

Dine And Win An Audi!?

Together with the launch of the new menu items, KFC has also partnered with Sjora and Mediacorp to present the Everyday Wins Contest!

Every purchase of a Goldspice Meal will entitle you to a chance to win the grand prize of an Audi Q2, daily cash prize of $488, as well as KFC Instant Rewards like free Sjora, Milo, Whipped Potato and 1 piece Goldspice Chicken!

These new items will be available until 9 August 2018.

It’s time to return to KFC for some salted egg action this July and August! And also to potentially win an Audi Q2.

Also read A Throwback To The 90s – What S’porean Kids Used To Play With Before The Smartphone Era

(Header Image Source: DiscoverSG)

A Throwback To The 90s – What S’porean Kids Used To Play With Before The Smartphone Era

Growing up in the 90s, life was great. As a 90s kid, we found many ways to entertain ourselves, and toy manufacturers were also stepping up their game so we had tons of new toys to pester our parents to buy.

But that aside, here are some of the things that we 90s kids remember from our childhood.

Beyblades

Beyblades were the toys of my childhood. They’re basically pimped-out spinning tops.

I had an entire shoebox filled with Beyblades, and customisation was a big thing. I’d sneak my Beyblades to school and trade parts with my friends.

Also, thanks to the Beyblade cartoon that aired on Kids Central on Sunday mornings, screaming at your Beyblade became a thing.

While Beyblades made a comeback a few years ago, there’re too many gimmicks now and it’s no longer the same. R.I.P Childhood.

Block Catching

If you lived near a primary school, chances are you’ve heard kids sprinting and screaming down your corridor, hours after dismissal (This is why my mother chose to live in a corner unit).

You’re basically kicking a weighted feather, trying to keep it in the air for as long as you can. Some of the seasoned pros were able to perform tricks, much to the envy of the unskilled on-lookers.

If you were a seasoned chapteh pro, you had cred. That was an unspoken law in primary school.

Country Erasers

Country Erasers were probably the biggest source of income for school bookshops. While each eraser retailed for a measly $0.10, students would clear the stocks in bulk.

Some of us even demonstrated budding entrepreneurial skills by SELLING the country erasers they bought, to fellow classmates.

Country Eraser-wrestling was a thing too. The goal was to flip your country eraser such that it sits on top of your opponent’s eraser.

In certain death matches, you’d lose your eraser though in most cases, you lost your pride. Which is more important? You decide.

Encyclopedias

Too much money has been lost to encyclopedia salesmen that haunted our neighbourhood shopping malls.

Till today, I have 3 bookshelves of Time Life Junior Encyclopedia in my room.

It’s a waste to throw them away.

However, I have to admit that I spent many afternoons and nights reading said encyclopedias which developed my love for Science.

That being said, if anyone would like the encyclopedias, please contact me.

Hopscotch

This is the reason why my Ocean Pacific wallet has scars.

I loved playing Hopscotch during recess time. We didn’t have the five stones to throw, so we had to use our wallets.

If you excelled in Standing Broad Jump, you’re probably good at Hopscotch. The ability to jump to the last 2 boxes at the end was a skill that few had.

We were Primary school kids with short legs okay? Give us a break.

Jumping Pen

This is why Pilot G2 pens saw a spike in popularity in the 90s.

But still, building blocks were great fun for a kid. To be honest, I still enjoy buying and building LEGO figures today. There’s something so cathartic about building something from scratch, and not knowing what you’ll end up with.

The possibilities are endless. But if you cannot afford genuine LEGO products, knock-offs will do. I still turned out fine. Mostly.

Neopets

Do Neopets die in cyberspace?

How many Kacheeks and Meercas have been left floating in the world of Neopia, following years of neglect? The Money Tree has probably withered by now.

(Header Image Source: Alibaba and Medhatter)

From Teochew To Hakka, How Our Grandparents’ Heritage Shaped S’pore’s Chinese Cuisine

I’m not a foodie. I’m averse to too many types of food, primarily seafood, to be a foodie.

But I enjoy learning about food and different cuisines. I love learning about what goes into a dish, and how it is cooked and prepared.

I’ve spent way too many weekend afternoons watching cooking programs, from Rachael Ray to Jamie Oliver and Curtis Stone.

However, as a Chinese kid, one thing greatly annoys me about western chefs and cooks. Their version of “Asian” cuisine is always wrong. Just because a dish has fish sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, chilli, or sesame seeds, does NOT make it an “Asian” or “Asian-inspired” dish.

It’s a sin that’s committed by almost all western celebrity chefs. So today, with my own knowledge, I’ll educate you guys on the different types of Chinese cuisine, specifically from the different dialect groups.

Cantonese Cuisine

Growing up, I always associated Cantonese cuisine with Dim Sum, mainly because it’s so popular in Hong Kong.

However, Cantonese cuisine is so much more than Dim Sum.

Cantonese cuisine also has very bold and strong flavours and it can be seen in the types of sauces that the dishes are usually paired and served with. Examples include Black bean sauce, Oyster sauce, Sweet and Sour sauce, and even our favourite Shrimp (Prawn) paste.

There’s also a lot of preserved and dried ingredients used to improve or layer flavours in a dish. Ingredients such as Century egg, Salted egg, Preserved radish (better known as Cai Po that we eat with Chwee Kueh), and Salted fish.

Hakka Cuisine

My encounters with Hakka cuisine are mostly thanks to my maternal grandfather. He’s proudly Hakka and we used to visit his hometown back in the Hakka province in China.

While Cantonese cuisine relies a lot on the condiments for flavour, Hakka cuisine has flavourful ingredients. The main ingredients is usually already preserved or braised, which already imparts a lot of flavour into the ingredient itself.

The garnish and condiments are usually to complement the main ingredient. One example of this is Braised Pork Belly with Preserved mustard greens.

One of my personal favourites is Hakka Yong Tau Foo. Unlike the one we commonly find in Singapore, the ingredients in Hakka Yong Tau Foo are stuffed with minced pork or a meat paste and served with a yellow bean stew.

A variant I’ve tried is a dry stir-fried version of minced pork-stuffed beancurd in a peppery, starchy sauce and garnished very generously with spring onions.

Other Hakka dishes you might be familiar with include Thunder Tea Rice (Lei Cha Fan), Salt-Baked Chicken, and the famous Abacus Beads.

Hokkien Bak Kut Teh is the dark, herbal version that’s usually found in Malaysia. I personally prefer the Teochew version.

Another famous Teochew dish is Teochew porridge. In contrast with the thicker Cantonese congee, Teochew porridge has a thinner consistency with loose grains. The porridge is usually served with salted vegetables, boiled salted egg, fried peanuts and salted fish.

Singapore’s cuisine has its roots primarily in Hokkien and Teochew cuisine, with a few influences from Cantonese cuisine. Chinese cuisine is as diverse as the provinces in China, each with its own influences, ingredients, cooking style, and flavour.

So before you go throwing sesame seeds into a dish and calling it Asian food, you might want to have PROPER Chinese cuisine first.

Also read McDonald’s Brings The Popular D24 Durian McFlurry To S’pore – Available From July 5

(Header Image Source: Burppler Denise Ong, Saltalk, Asian Inspirations)

McDonald’s Brings The Popular D24 Durian McFlurry To S’pore – Available From July 5

McDonald’s Singapore has constantly churned out hyperlocal food. From the Nasi Lemak burger, to the Chendol McFlurry, we’ve had it all.

However, McDonald’s Singapore isn’t the greatest purveyor of hyperlocal fast food. After all, McDonald’s is global.

2017 saw the sale of D24 Durian McFlurry in McDonald’s outlets in Malaysia, to the envy of Singaporeans.

Come 5 July 2018, Singaporeans can channel all this green energy elsewhere because we’re FINALLY getting the D24 Durian McFlurry too!

Durian King Meets Fast Food King

While I’m not a big fan of durian, D24 or not, I am the exception rather than the norm.

So manage your expectations for this upcoming one.

And for those of you thinking of trying durian, this is a good place to start.

The D24 Durian McFlurry will be available from 5 July 2018 at all McDonald’s outlets islandwide.

Hopefully it won’t vanish as quickly as the McGriddles did.

Also read Chendol Mr Softee Makes A Sneaky Comeback In Selected 7-11 Stores

(Header Image Source: takecare880)

Chendol Mr Softee Makes A Sneaky Comeback In Selected 7-11 Stores

7-11 used to be a snack wonderland, with microwaveable sandwiches and pastas, instant noodle prep stations, Craze Hottis, Maggi mashed potatoes, and the OG soft serve of Singapore, Mr Softee.

Mr Softee was THE DESSERT of my childhood. But like the Avatar, it disappeared when I (and the rest of Singapore) needed it most.

However, it wouldn’t be gone for too long, because now it’s BACK!

Ice Cream, You Scream For Mr Softee

Mr Softee made a quiet return to Singapore, with a nifty soft serve machine sitting in a 7-11 outlet at Bencoolen, near Ibis Hotel, churning cups of Chendol-flavoured Mr Softee soft serves.

However this isn’t the first sighting we’ve had of Mr Softee since its sudden disappearance in the late 2000s.

Back in January this year, people found that the Vanilla Mr Softee was available in selected 7-11 outlets across the island.

Now this one only sells the local favourite, Chendol-flavoured soft serve at just $1.50 a cup. Though to be honest, it looks like it shrunk in the wash.

Like excuse me? Your price didn’t increase, good for you. But the serving size really dipped.

But I guess, no price increase is better than nothing. So I shall refrain from complaining too much.

7-Eleven has made a very special announcement regarding their fan-favourite ice-cream.

From 3 – 16 October, Mr Softee’s cendol ice-cream will be going at 2 for $2 only! So grab a dessert buddy and eat to your heart’s content, or eat both if that’s how you roll.

While the weather these days is more suited to hot pot dinners and warm comforting soups, I will brave the rain and the subsequent shivers for Mr Softee.

I will not forsake him like he did to all Singaporeans.

Cravings aside, if like me, you’re seeking for a cup of Mr Softee, here’s are the selected outlets to get your cravings fixed:

EAST

• 1A Eunos Crescent #01-2469/2471 Singapore 401001
• 446 Pasir Ris Drive 6 #01-112 Singapore 510446
• 5 Tampines Street 32 #01-19/20 Tampines Mart Singapore 529284
• 89 Bedok North Street 4 #01-83 Singapore 460089
• 201B Tampines Street 21 #01-1063 Singapore 522201
• 185 Pasir Ris Street 11 #01-60 Singapore 510185
• 491D Tampines St.45 #01-224 Singapore 523491
• 122 Geylang East Central #01-88 Singapore 380122

NORTH

• 807 Yishun Ring Road #01-4217 Singapore 760807
• 291 Yishun Street 22 #01-337 Singapore 760291
• 413 Yishun Ring Road #01-1873 Singapore 760413
• 768 Woodlands Avenue 6 #01-06 Singapore 730768
• 548 Woodlands Drive 44 #01-09 Vista Point Singapore 730548
• 335 Sembawang Close #01-473 Singapore 750335

WEST

• 259 Bukit Panjang Ring Road #01-20 Singapore 671259
• 423 Choa Chu Kang Avenue 4 #01-260 Singapore 680423
• 445 Fajar Road #01-556 Singapore 670445
• 524A Jelepang Road #02-16/17 Greenridge Shopping Centre Singapore 671524
• 689B Choa Chu Kang Drive #01-306 Singapore 682689
• 152A Gangsa Road Singapore 671152
• 160A Jalan Teck Whye Lane #01-02 Singapore 681160
• 668A Jurong West Street 64 #01-120 Singapore 641668
• 213 Bukit Batok Street 21, #01-215 Singapore 650213

CENTRAL

• 163 Toa Payoh Lorong 1 #01-1016 Singapore 310163
• 1 Selegie Road #01-06 PoMo Singapore 188306
• 51 Bras Basah Road #01-04 Manulife Centre Singapore 189554
• 144 Arab Street #01-01Singapore 199829
• 170 Bencoolen Street #01-03 Ibis Hotel Singapore 189657
• 35 Robinsons Road #01-02 Singapore 068876
• 766 North Bridge Road Singapore 198734

NORTHEAST

• 318B Anchorvale Link #01-255 Singapore 542318

Good things must share. And share we did. Don’t say we neh say.

Also read Popular Filipino Fries Chain Potato Corner Opens A S’pore Outlet At Orchard

(Header Image Source: Twitter User Xavier Lur)

The Singapore Zoo Lights Up At Night This July With A New Luminous Rainforest Trail

Have you been to the Singapore Zoo at night?

I’m not talking about the Night Safari. I mean, the Singapore Zoo. Usually, you won’t. Or rather, you can’t because the Zoo closes at 6pm daily.

From 1 July 2018, you can!

The Singapore Zoo has come up with a new attraction in celebration of its 45th birthday!

Introducing Rainforest Lumina.

A Rainforest Light Show In The Dark

Held in collaboration with Moment Factory, Rainforest Lumina is apparently the first multi-sensory night walk experience in Asia, with more than 10 interactive zones along the 1km light trail that takes you through the Singapore Zoo.

However, don’t expect to see any live animals (they’re off-duty). The only animals you’ll see are on the various light installations or projections.

With zones that look like they’re lifted straight out of James Cameron’s 2009 film, Avatar, this is guaranteed to be a luminescent spectacle.

Stroll on the Luminous Pathway, step through the Shimmering Islands, and marvel at the glowing Lantern Passage.

Check out the trailer for Rainforest Lumina below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_M8WmEeh7Xk

There are 7 timeslots available per night, and ticket prices are $22 for adults and $16 for children between ages 3 and 12.

You may purchase your tickets here.

This is a rare opportunity to experience the Singapore Zoo in the dark so gather the family and take the kids to Rainforest Lumina this July!

Rainforest Lumina
Venue: Singapore Zoo, 80 Mandai Lake Road
Date: From 1 July 2018
Price: Adult: $22, Child (3 – 12 years old): $16
Website

Also read The Longest Lunar Eclipse Of The Century Is Almost 2 Hours – Witness It In S’pore On July 28

(Header Image Source: Jの背包旅行)

Catch Troye Sivan At This Exclusive Fan-Signing Session In S’pore This July

You’ve seen him on Youtube, on The Ellen Show, on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and even at the Youtube Fanfest in Singapore back in 2014!

In order to participate, you have to do the following:

1. Pre-order Troye Sivan’s upcoming album “Bloom” on iTunes.
2. Submit a screengrab/screenshot of the album pre-order.

Upload your screengrab/screenshot in this Also read The Longest Lunar Eclipse Of The Century Is Almost 2 Hours – Witness It In S’pore On July 28

(Header Image Source:

The Longest Lunar Eclipse Of The Century Is Almost 2 Hours – Witness It In S’pore On July 28

28 July 2018.

Mark your calendars because there’s going to be another LUNAR ECLIPSE happening!

And not just any typical lunar eclipse. Set to last 1 hour and 43 minutes, this will be the longest lunar eclipse of the century and will be visible from Asia, Australia, Africa and Europe.

Which also means, we’ll be able to see it from Singapore!

Once In A Blood Moon

If you’re planning to witness this lunar event, be prepared to stay up late.

The eclipse will begin at 1.14am on 28 July 2018, with the total eclipse set to happen from 3.30am to 5.13am.

The last lunar eclipse we had was back in 31 January 2018, which saw a lunar eclipse, blue moon, and Supermoon happen all at the same time.

The next lunar eclipse we’ll be seeing after the one in July, will be on 21 January 2019.

So clear your schedules and get your phones, cameras and telescopes out for this once-in-a-lifetime astronomical event.

Also read King Of Broadway Jungle ‘The Lion King’ Returns To S’pore From June To August

(Header Image Source: Earth Sky)

Creamery Boutique Is Gearing Up For National Day With Chilli Crab And Ondeh Ondeh Flavoured Desserts

If you’ve been to Creamery Boutique, then you’d know that they’re famous for their homemade ice cream paired with lava cookies.

With National Day 2018 coming up, they’ve unveiled 2 Singaporean flavours to commemorate Singapore’s 53rd birthday.

Ondeh Ondeh Cookie With Milo Dinosaur Ice Cream ($8.90)

Creamery Boutique pays homage to the traditional Ondeh Ondeh kuih with a crumbly Ondeh Ondeh pandan lava cookie, filled with gula melaka.

That’s not all, it’s paired with their homemade Milo Dinosaur ice cream and garnished with freshly grated coconut.

If you love your traditional kuih, you ought to give this a try.

Chilli Crab Cookie With Bread Toast Ice Cream ($10.90)

This odd combination is Creamery Boutique’s first savoury lava cookie. The chewy brownie lava cookie is filled with a robust chilli gravy that’s made in-house from scratch.

While this brownie lava cookie already sounds odd, Bread Toast ice cream takes the cake. However, this is an interesting take on the usual Chilli Crab and Fried Mantou pairing that we’re all familiar with.

If you’re interested in trying these unique National Day flavours, do note that the Ondeh Ondeh Cookie With Milo Dinosaur ice cream is available from 14 July to 9 August 2018, while the Chilli Crab Cookie With Bread Toast Ice Cream will be available from 9 August to 31 August 2018.

Whacky or wonderful? We’ll let you be the judge of that.

Creamery Boutique
Address: 139 Tyrwhitt Road #01-03, Singapore 207557
Opening Hours: Mon – Wed: 12.30pm – 10pm, Fri: 12.30pm – 10.30pm, Sat: 12pm – 10.30pm, Sun: 12pm – 10pm, Thu: Closed
Contact no.: 8133 1250
Website

Also read Play And Stand A Chance To Win NDP 2018 Tickets In This New AR Game

(Header Image Source: Creamery Boutique)