Author: Natasha Azman

Zouk’s Upcoming Flea Market Is A Paradise For Bargains, And You’re On The Guestlist

Zouk is renowned on our shores and across the border for being the place to go for a wild night out. But one thing it’s also known for? Its Flea & Easy pop-up bazaar!

Next month, the Zouk Flea & Easy will be returning once again, and you can be sure Zouk’s signature cool won’t be missing from this daytime event.

Zouk Flea & Easy X Sunset Pasar 

Happening at Zouk’s new home ground, The Cannery will transform into a space that’s not only family friendly, but pet friendly as well.

A collaboration between Zouk Singapore and Sunset Pasar, this alternative flea market will feature stalls hawking a tightly curated selection of emerging brands and designers, alongside tasty local nosh. Enjoy music from a line-up of live open mic performances and DJ sets!

Keen to sell your wares at the Zouk Flea? Submit your vendor application by 9 June! Want to take the stage and showcase your talents? Open mic sessions are open for sign ups, and it’ll be free.

ZouKiDisco

If you think Zouk’s flea will be just like any other flea you’ve dropped in on, think again. This flea market will see the return of ZouKiDisco.

With no age limit at the door and Zouk’s resident DJs on the decks, both the young and young at heart will get to bust a few moves on the dance floor.

Also present are kid-friendly activities like face painting and bouncy castles that will keep the little ones entertained for hours. Do note that only kids between the of ages of 1 – 10 are allowed entry, and each child can be accompanied by one adult.

Entry to ZouKiDisco is tagged at $18 per pax for adults and children, and comes with 1 complimentary non-alcoholic beverage!

Looking to get some shopping done while the kids have fun? Head to Zouk Flea & Easy X Sunset Pasar! Bring your kids, your pooch, and soak up the good vibes at this chill bazaar.

Zouk Flea & Easy X Sunset Pasar 
Address: Zouk Singapore, 3C River Valley Road, The Cannery, #01-05 Singapore 179022
Date: 9 July (Sunday)
Time: 12pm – 7pm

Also read, 10 ‘Die Die Must Try’ Events And Eats To Rev Up Your First Half Of June [1-15 June]

Food At The Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar Isn’t Cheap — Here’s What’s Worth It And What’s Not

In the past couple of days, much has been said about this year’s Geylang Serai Ramadan Bazaar.

Some have pointed out that Artbox 2.0, and others have said the food there is not worth the price or the queue.

The DiscoverSG team headed down to taste-test the food ourselves, to distinguish those that are worth the money (and the queue) from those that are not. Full disclosure: we picked many of these items based on their insta-worthiness and novelty.

Our conclusion? Some of the most photogenic foods actually tasted the worst.

These are some of the things we liked.

Worth It

1. Katoshka (Muslim owned)

One of our favourite stalls at the bazaar–by far– was Katoshka, which serves up russet fries drenched in sauce. Here, you don’t have to worry about running out of sauce for your fries. Not your average cup of cheese fries, this snack packed a punch without being too overwhelming.

We tried the Sambal Cheese ($5.90) and loved how the crispy fries mixed with the spicy cheese. While the serving size is quite small, we think it’s worth every dollar

We also tried the Asam Boi Special ($3.90), a sour plum drink. The drink was on the sweet side, with just the right amount of sourness from the Asam.

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2. Banana Cheese Fritters 

Another sweet treat we tried is the Banana Cheese Fritters ($6)–the humble pisang goreng with a twist. There was barely a queue or a wait when we were there. We went with a classic chocolate flavour from a list of options including chocolate rice and oreos. Served warm, these were the perfect balance of sweet and salty–great for those who want a sweet treat that isn’t too cloying.

The melted cheese brought a very subtle flavour to the fritters. If you’re looking for a stronger cheese flavour, we suggest asking for an extra helping of cheese.

And now, on to the stuff we didn’t like.

Not Worth It

1. Milk Bites (Non-halal)

The Singaporean wisdom of ‘if there’s a queue, join it‘ led us to Fried Milk. An interesting concept, these bite-sized squares of fried milk pudding come in 3 different flavours: Original, Pandan and Thai Milk Tea.

We tried the platter ($9), which came with 4 milk bites of each flavour. Freshly fried, these desserts were crunchy on the outside and oozy on the inside. The consistency of the cream was a bit chunky for our liking and the flavour was quite overwhelming. Suffice to say, we weren’t fans of these.

2. WORD (Muslim owned)

WORD is no stranger when it comes to cooking up a storm. Their outlet at Upper Thomson Road serves up delicious Western fare alongside crafted sodas and mocktails.

At their pop up stall, we tried the Minah ($8), a bucket of soda dressed to the nines. We were in for a bit of a wait despite the short queue due to a shortage of staff. When we did get our drink creation, we were pretty disappointed. Crafted from Fanta Orange, Ice Cream Soda and two scoops of ice cream, this tasted like diluted Fanta and felt like it could easily have been made at home.

While we appreciate the size of the drink, hauling it around was also a bit of a struggle, especially given the crowd.

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3. Loco Loco

Loco Loco made a splash at last year’s Geylang Bazaar for offering up flavoured churros. This year, they have 3 outlets spread out over the entirety of the bazaar. We picked up the Chilli Crab Churros ($6) and Beef Scotch Eggs ($6).

The Chilli Crab Churros were warm and the chilli sauce topping tasted like the real-deal, minus the spiciness. Sadly, these Churros were unexpectedly dense. Without the sauce, this snack would have ranked low on our score scale.

The Beef Scotch Eggs were served warm and with a serving of keropok. We waited about 10 – 15 minutes for the Scotch Eggs, so pick this up only if you’re willing to wait around for this dish. While the eggs were nicely done, the beef was pretty plain.

At least they’re photogenic?

Image Credit: passerbyshaz[/caption]

SOFNADE is one spot you might want to check out for a sweet treat. Serving up Cendol Soft Serve, Galaxy Milkshakes and Donut Balls, it’s no wonder this dessert stall is a favourite among sweet tooths.

Goodbye Gong Cha, LiHo Is Taking Over – We Tried Their New Cheese Bubble Tea To See If They’re Worth It

Bubble tea lovers, and specifically Gong Cha lovers, we’ve got some very bad news for you.

Gong Cha will be shuttering all its stores, and in its place will be a new home-grown bubble tea brand–LiHo.

Change is already underway, with 30 Gong Cha outlets already converted into LiHo shops. By 5 June 2017, all 80 Gong Cha outlets island-wide will be replaced. #RIPGongCha

Long story short, this drastic change comes because of a change in ownership of Gong Cha’s parent company, leading to new franchising terms that are no longer favourable to its Singapore franchisee, RTG Holdings.

LiHo – Singapore’s Newest Bubble Tea Spot 

Brought to you by the same RTG Holdings, LiHo is Singapore’s answer to Gong Cha with a very cheesy twist!

For those of you who don’t speak Hokkien, LiHo translates into ‘How are you?’.

Not only is the phrase quintessentially Singaporean, it distances the brand from its predecessor. Aside from the name change, here are some things we’ll be saying goodbye to and some new things we can get excited about.

New Flavours 

The biggest pull at LiHo is their new line of Cheese flavoured drinks. Yes, CHEESE flavoured.

While some of you might recoil in disgust at the mere thought of having cheese added to your bubble tea, the cheese flavour will only be in the froth of the tea! From Cheese Black Tea to Cheese ‘n’ Choc Smoothie, you won’t find these unique flavours at any other bubble tea shop.

We managed to try a few of their cheese bubble teas and were honestly quite underwhelmed by the experience.

There was no discernible cheese flavour, and even when we tasted the foam directly, the cheese flavour was very, very subtle. Some of our colleagues did note that the cheese froth tastes similar to the salty froth you find in some of Gong Cha’s teas, so that’s good news!

While there are novel additions to LiHo’s menu, Gong Cha lovers will be pleased to know that there are old favourites that taste exactly the same!

Keen to try something different? The Cheese Guan Yin Ji is a good bet. Traditional Chinese tea with milk, this tea is a refreshing addition to the menu.

Looking  for something that’s both sweet and refreshing? LiHo has a range of Lemon & Vitagen beverages. The crowd-pleaser, Fresh Lemon Juice Honey, is tagged at $2.90 for a medium-sized cup and the array of Vitagen beverages go for $3.60 – $4.50.

New Packaging 

Another change we were pretty psyched about was their new packaging. LiHo has given the old bubble tea cup–complete with its plastic sheet cover–an upgrade. Firm, reusable plastic containers with plastic lids are what your LiHo bubble teas will come in. Not only is it a sleeker option, the lid lets you choose between sipping from the cup or drinking from a straw!

LiHo’s plastic cups are re-usable so we foresee our kitchens filling up with empty LiHo cups!

Price Points 

The classic milk teas at LiHo will set you back between $2.80 – $3.50 for a medium sized cup and $3.80 – $4.50 for a large cup. Cheese smoothie drinks come in a standard large and will set you back a jaw-dropping $6.90!

While the serving is generous, the price tag is pretty steep for bubble tea. That said, most of the large-sized drinks will cost you under $5. (Phew!)

Price-wise, add-ons like custard pudding and Nata de Coco are comparable to other bubble tea spots, with only the cheese froth setting you back $2.

Out With Old And In With The New 

In all, the new LiHo has a more ‘atas’ vibe, with its sleeker, higher quality cups and lids. They definitely have the novelty factor with their cheese flavoured drinks. Their drink selection is also significantly smaller, at 2/3 the size of Gong Cha’s. The price point is also higher, which is a big deterrent for us long-time lovers of Gong Cha.

With Gong Cha stores still open from now till 5 June, you’ll want to make sure you get as much Gong Cha in before they disappear across the country!

Want to try LiHo for yourself? Head to their outlets at Bedok Mall, Bugis+, Bukit Merah Central and Tiong Bahru. While we were lucky enough to avoid long queues when we headed down, we can’t guarantee the wait time will stay short once word gets out!

Also read, 8 Instagram-Worthy Drinks That Will Have Your Followers Spamming The Like Button

Downtown Gallery Is Giving Other Malls A Run For Their Money With Fresh Store Concepts

One thing Singaporeans never get sick of is shopping, and I attest to this 100%.

Singapore is a shopaholics dream destination, with over 200 shopping malls spread over our tiny island. Downtown Gallery is the latest addition to the list. Located in the heart of the Cental Business District, walking distance away from Tanjong Pagar MRT, Downtown Gallery is no ordinary shopping mall.

A Tech Geek’s Dream

The jewel of Downtown Gallery has to be the Wayfinder. Consisting of 12 55-inch monitors, it is Singapore’s largest interactive mall directory. Wayfinder even has a weather feature that accurately depicts lightning and storms on the screen in real time!

Socialise While Cooking Up A Storm

One feature that hopes to bring Singaporeans together is the “social kitchen”. Fitted with 10 cooking stations, complete with kitchen equipment, crockery and condiments, Singaporeans can book a station online or via an app. You can then bring your own raw ingredients and cook up a storm with friends and family.

Measuring 4,000sq ft, this “social kitchen” includes a dining space so you can set up an intimate birthday celebration or family get-together with your loved ones!

Food, Glorious Food!

What’s a mall without food? Downtown Gallery offers up a wide array of eats for every occasion.

Looking for a spot to indulge? Head to Venue by Sebastian. Serving up contemporary European fare, with both communal tables and bar counter seats available, Venue by Sebastian is perfect for a lunch meeting.

Have a casual and filling lunch at Sama Curry & Cafe, a Hokkaido soup curry shop that offers a unique twist on the classic Asian dish, served with pork belly, hamburg patty, eggs, chicken or seafood. There’s nothing like tucking into a bowl of curry on a rainy afternoon.

And Everything Else In Between!

These Epic Concerts Are The Ultimate Gift For Your Gamer Boyfriend

Dating a gamer or are one yourself? If so, you’d know that the soundtrack of a game plays an important role in creating the atmosphere and building the world of the game. Think Super Mario Bros., Diablo and Final Fantasy. Play just snippets of their music and you are instantly transported to a time you played the game.

This year, 2 popular video games we played through our childhood–and even our youth–will see their musical scores being played live in concert!

1.  The Legend of Zelda – Symphony of the Goddesses

The Legend of Zelda – Symphony of the Goddesses
Venue: Grand Theatre, Mastercard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands
Date: 26 August 2017
Time: 7.30pm
Price: $65, $95, $115, $135, $155, $215
VIP Box (For 4 seats): S$860
A Reserve Box (For 4 seats): S$620
Box Seats (For 4 seats): S$460

3. Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy

[caption id="attachment_26514" align="alignnone" width="850"] Image Credit: Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy
Venue: The Star Theatre
Date: 21 Oct
Time: 7.30pm
Price: $58, $68, $78, $98, $118, $138, $158, $238

Also read, The Magical World Of Harry Potter Comes Alive At This Screening With Music By A Live Symphony Orchestra

(Top Image Credit:

8 Instagram-Worthy Drinks That Will Have Your Followers Spamming The Like Button

Hands up if you can’t resist snapping a photo of your avocado toast or your latte during brunch.

Most of us are guilty of snapping a pic or two of our food, especially if they’re pretty because #foodgoals. And why shouldn’t you? After all, someone put hard work into plating up or creating these dishes–appreciating it is the least we can do.

If you’re a foodie who loves digging into nosh that not just tastes but looks amazing, we’ve shortlisted 10 beverages from all over Singapore that are not just a treat for the taste buds, but for the eyes as well.

1. Unicorn Tears @ Dapper Coffee 

While unicorns sadly do not exist, here’s something we’d happily make do with: Unicorn Tears. Created by the good people at Dapper Coffee, a small cafe along Amoy Street, Unicorn Tears is the cafe’s best known product.

A shimmery swirl of aqua blue with flecks of sparkle, this beverage is not just to be consumed–it’s to be admired as well. The one thing you MUST do when you get your hands on a bottle of Unicorn Tears is give it a good shake! This will bring out all the sparkle and the mesmerising shades of blue.

At $10 a bottle, Unicorn Tears does not come cheap, but it is free of alcohol, caffeine, nuts, soy, eggs and it’s gluten-free.

So what is it made of? We can’t quite pinpoint the ingredients that go into this magical potion but according to the people at Dapper Coffee, Unicorn Tears “is some pure-ass stuff”.

For the animal lovers out there, don’t worry! No unicorns were harmed in the making of Unicorn Tears.

Dapper Coffee
Address: 73A Amoy Street, Second Floor, Singapore 069892.
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 8am – 5pm; Weekends & PH: Closed
Website

2. Ombre Drinks @ The Juicy Way & The Talad Drink 

If you were at Artbox this year, you would have noticed some epic-ly long queues at stalls serving up ombre drinks. The Juicy Way and The Talad Drink were two stalls that saw excited Singaporeans queueing up for hours to get their hands on these colourful bottles of fruit juices and smoothies.

Crafted from an assortment of fruits, The Juicy Way serves up bottles of juice that come in alluring ombre shades. The Big Bang, crafted from dragonfruit, guava, honeydew and blue pea flower is one of the more eye-catching ones with its galaxy-like hues of purple, grey and blue.

Unfortunately, The Juicy Way is primarily a pop up store, so you’ll have to follow them on Instagram and Facebook to get updates on where they’ll be popping up next!

The Juicy Way 
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Instagram

Serving up authentic Thai nosh, alongside an assortment of juices and traditional Thai drinks, the Talad Drink & Thai Kitchen was a crowd favourite at this year’s Artbox. If you missed the chance to try The Talad Drink at Artbox, fret not! They have a kiosk at Toa Payoh just a stone’s throw away from the Toa Payoh Bus Interchange.

While you can expect your favourite Thai drinks here like Thai Ice Milk Tea and Thai Iced Lemon Grass, don’t expect them to come in their usual dull colours–The Talad Drink serves up all their beverages in giant bottles of ombre tones.

Want a refreshing tea? Opt for the An Chan Orange or An Chan Kiwi. The colours are gorgeous and are bound to up your ‘Gram game!

Talad Drink & Thai Kitchen
Address: 190 Toa Payoh Lorong 6, #01-520, S10190
Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm
Facebook

3. Rainbow Lattes @ I AM & Dazzling Cafe 

At one point, edible rainbows were the only food trend worth chasing (get it?). Food items served in all the colours of the rainbow may seem ridiculous to some, but to Instagram foodies, they spell an Instagram moment.

There are not one but two well known joints in Singapore serving up the photogenic Rainbow Lattes: I AM cafe, a popular halal eatery that serves up Western fare, and Dazzling Cafe, a Taiwanese franchise known for its thick toasts.

For those unacquainted with the concept of Rainbow Lattes, it typically involves dripping food colouring into a pitcher of steamed milk. A skilled barista then pours the milk into the coffee, as with any other cup of latte.

Rainbow Lattes, like most rainbow-coloured food, do not taste any different from their less colourful counterparts, so they really are your average cup of coffee with a colourful twist!

I AM 
Address: 674 North Bridge Road, S199486
Opening Hours: Mon – Thu: 11am – 11pm; Fri & Sat: 11am – 1am; Sun: 11am – 10pm

Address: #03-04, Tampines Hub, 51 Tampines Ave 4, S520940
Opening Hours: Daily, 11 am – 11 pm
Website

Dazzling Cafe
Address: #01-85, Capitol Piazza, 15 Stamford Rd, S178906Website

4. OTT Milkshakes @ Cake Spade, Robert Timms, Patissez  

Known for their deliciously dense cakes and OTT milkshakes, Cake Spade is a cafe that’s truly knows its desserts. From the Matcha Adzuki Cakeshake to their Unicorn Cakeshake, Cake Spade doesn’t fool around when it comes to their monster desserts. The perfect spot to satisfy your sugar cravings, we highly recommend sharing the Freakshakes at Cake Spade.

Another place you can go for your Freakshake fix is Robert Timms. With flavours like Banana Popcorn and Rocky Timms, these OTT milkshakes will have you getting busy slurping everything up!

The original creators of the Freakshake, Patissez is all about keeping it simple. Patissez has an array of more “traditional” tasting OTT Milkshakes, with flavours like mint chocolate and salted pretzel. Ironically, the creations at Patissez are quite tame compared those from other dessert spots, but we kind of like the fact that these look far less intimidating than the others.

Cake Spade
Address: 83 Tg Pagar Rd, S088504
Opening Hours: Mon – Thu: 12pm – 9.30pm; Fri & Sat: 12pm – 10.30pm; Sun: Closed
Patissez
Address: 118 Holland Avenue, #01-06, S278997
Opening Hours: Weekdays: 10am – 10pm; Weekends: 9am – 10pm
Image Credit: Burpple User Kris Lim[/caption]

If you’re all about the ‘gram, Enchanted Cafe is a quaint spot you need to check out. Far from the typical brunch fare we’ve become accustomed to, this cafe offers up food with an enchanting Singaporean twist!

The star of the show at this cafe is the Sorcerer’s Elixir.

Served atop a stone dish filled with dry ice, this enticing beverage starts off slightly purple with whispers of shimmer. The staff will come around and pour a slightly orange-y substance into your drink, turning it from a dark red to a deep purple. The whole spectacle of the Sorcerer’s Elixir is mesmerising, so we advise getting your phones ready to capture the magic!

Sip slowly though, because this particular drink will set you back almost $10!

Enchanted Cafe
Address: 88 Rangoon Road #01-04, S218374
Opening Hours: Wed & Thu: 12pm – 10pm; Fri: 11am – 11pm; Sat: 10am – 11pm; Sun: 10am – 8pm; Tue: 11am – 10pm; Mon: Closed

6. Heisenberg @ The Lab 

The Lab is one of those cafes that will keep you coming back for more. Located a stone’s throw away from Sultan Mosque, The Lab is known for serving up your usual Western fare, alongside a slew of desserts and drinks. If you’re the kind who can never decide what to eat, this place will make that decision even harder for you.

Like any dining establishment worth its salt, The Lab serves a good range of coffees, juices and mocktails. However, what sets The Lab apart is the presentation of its drinks. The Heinsenberg, which is served with a syringe in it, is a particularly interesting one. Hot beverages also come with droppers filled with sugar syrup!

Not only are these drinks tasty, they’re a fun experience, and they’re 100% insta-worthy.

The Lab
Address: 1 Jalan Pisang, #01-01, S199069
Opening Hours: Mon – Sat: 12pm – 10pm; Sun: 1pm – 10pm
Image Credit: Bubbs Facebook Page[/caption]

While some food fads are able to stand the test of time (hello salted egg-everything), some quickly fade into obscurity. One that will certainly be a cute addition to your Instagram feed is the Light Bulb Drink. Call it gimmicky if you want, but you can’t deny that these drinks make you want to whip out your phone and snap a picture of it.

Bubbs serves your favourite Bubble Tea flavours in plastic light bulbs, from the classic Milk Tea to an assortment of Fruit Teas. But here’s the bad news–Bubbs only has one outlet and it certainly is out of the way for many Singaporeans.

Located in Tai Seng, it’s great for those working in the area, and not so great for, well, the rest of us.

[caption id="attachment_26569" align="alignnone" width="960"] Image Credit: Oh My Cafe Facebook Page[/caption]

What’s a light bulb that doesn’t light up, am I right? Oh My Cafe at Westgate takes the Light Bulb drink to the next level but serving it with a glowing straw. Serving drinks in all sorts of eye-catching colours, we have to say, the drinks here have won our hearts.

Bubbs
Address: 1 Irving Place #01-06, S369546

Oh My Cafe
Address: #B1-01, Westgate Mall, 3 Gateway Drive , S608532

8. Coffee In A Cone @ Coffee Academics

[caption id="attachment_26574" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Image Credit: Image Credit: Burpple User Dex Neo[/caption]

One caffeinated treat that will have your followers double tapping away is the Coffee In A Cone. No, it’s not as simple as pouring a cuppa into an ice cream cone. Instead, the process involves coating the ice cream cones with different chocolate compounds, giving them that hardened exterior and extra integrity. Warm, slightly sweet and with a crunch, this is a whole new way to enjoy your cuppa.

Coffee Academics
Address: Scotts Square, #02-01/02, 6 Scotts Road, S228209
Opening Hours: Daily: 9am – 9pm
Forget Sugar Glazed, This Cafe Serves Up Savoury Donuts Like ‘Cheeseburger’ And ‘Bacon’ At Only $2.90 A Pop