Location: Downtown Core

F1 Drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen Singlish CMI – Try To Guess The Words They’re Describing

The Singapore Formula One Grand Prix 2017 is now less than 2 months away!

Always wanted to meet your favourite drivers in person?

If you’re a Singaporean through and through, this will be a cinch for you!

To win the chance to get up close and personal with these drivers, all you have to do is hop on over to Red Bull’s Official Facebook Page, watch the video, figure out the Singlish words the boys are trying to figure out, and then go on over to  Image Credit: Changi Airport Terminal 4 Automated Not Just The Departure Process, But Also Its Cleaning Aunties

(Header Image Source: Motorsport)

Young, Wild And Free – Live It Up This Youth Month At These Places Because You Are Only Young Once

Young, wild and free – a motto we all wish we could live by, but unfortunately, often find it difficult to because of the many stresses of living in Singapore.

Between struggling to maintain a good grade – or to pass that horror module – and juggling the expectations of all the people around us, it’s easy to forget how young we are and how these should be the best years of our lives.

For the month of July, we celebrate youth. Our youth years should be vibrant, fun and carefree, so let’s bring all that back into our lives! For the entire month, many of the places and experiences we love, or have always wanted to try, will be offering exclusive promos just for youths – thanks to the National Youth Council!

This month, let’s live it up at these 7 places. And don’t worry, each of them comes with a super sweet deal.

1. Bounce

If you haven’t heard of Bounce, where have you been? The largest trampoline park in Singapore, this grown-ups playground lets you jump, somersault, do twists and all kinds of crazy tricks!

With a variety of trampoline zones and a Ninja-Warrior-like obstacle course, X-Park, test your mental and physical limits at Bounce.

Jump and play to your heart’s content at the Free Jumping Area, a large area comprising 28 interconnected trampolines that includes long tumble tracks and banked walls. Here, you can even defy gravity and run up walls!

Looking to try something that pushes your body even further? Attempt the insane X-Park! An obstacle course that combines elements of climbing, jumping and free-running, discover abilities you never knew you had at X-Park.

If reading this has got you raring to go, gather a bunch of your best friends and make plans to head down together! Conveniently located at Cathay Cineleisure, put your youthful energy to good use at Bounce.

Youth Month Promo: Enjoy 10% off on weekdays throughout the month of July. This promo only applies for general admission tickets and student session tickets. Use this to enjoy your promo.

Bounce Singapore
Address: Cathay Cineleisure, #09-01, 8 Grange Road, Singapore 239695
Opening Hours: Mon – Thu: 10am – 10pm; Fri: 10am – 11pm; Sat: 9am – 11pm; Sun: 9am – 10pm
Contact no.: 6816 2879
Price: General Access: $25 first hour, $20 each additional hour | Students: $21 first hour, $16 each additional hour
Website

2. Concrete Everything

Get creative this July with a material you’ve probably never worked with before – concrete.

Started by a fellow youth with a deep passion for design, Concrete Everything doesn’t just sell beautifully crafted homeware in the natural colours and texture of cement; it also conducts workshops teaching you how you can make them!

From luxe marble lamps to concrete versions of Darth Vader and StormTroopers, the items on their slim catalogue is a minimalist’s dream.

Courses they offer include marbled planter casting, concrete mini stool casting, marble square lamp casting and more. You even get to make your own Vader and StormTrooper! Each workshop will last 2 days, and everything you need to create your own concrete masterpiece will be provided.

It’s time to unleash your creativity and get crafty at Concrete Everything!

Youth Month Promo: Enjoy 10% off all products and workshops throughout July. Workshops need not fall in the month of July, and need only be booked and paid for during July. Use this to enjoy your promo.

Concrete Everything
Price: Workshops from $45 – $110
Website

3. Climb Central

Always wanted to try indoor rock climbing, but find it too expensive? This July, you’ll be able to enjoy the sport without burning a hole in your pocket!

Climb Central is the tallest indoor climbing venue in Singapore, boasting about 1,000 square meters of climbing wall space. Fully air-conditioned, it is conveniently located in Singapore Sports Hub.

First timers, you’re in for a real treat because for the month of July, you get a 20% discount on all off peak First Timer Sets. That’s about $7 off the $32 adult entry fee that includes registration, 1 adult day pass and 1 equipment set!

Climb Central
Address: #B1-01 Kallang Wave Mall, 1 Stadium Place, Singapore 397628
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 11am – 11pm; Sat, Sun & PH: 9am – 9pm
Contact no.: 6702 7972
Price: Click 4. Bossaball

Looking for an experience you’ve NEVER tried before? We bet you’ve never played Bossaball, and boy are you missing out.

Bossaball
Address: 10 Raeburn Park #02-08, Singapore 088702
Contact no.: 6100 6292
Price: Public Session (2 hr): $20 Per Pax | Private Group Session (2 hr): $600 (20 pax)
Website

5. HolyCrab

If gorging on delicious food is your idea of living it up, Holy Crab! We’ve got just the place for you.

HolyCrab is a cosy restaurant located along charming Tan Quee Lan. Big enough to seat only 24 people, this diner is always packed with foodies with an appetite for Holy Crab’s next level Singapore-style crabs.

Made with the freshest crab from the shores of Singapore, Holy Crab is the place to go for an affordable plate of quality crab.

Youth Month Promo: Enjoy 10% off your total bill throughout the month of July. Use this to enjoy your promo.

HolyCrab
Address: 2 Tan Quee Lan Street, #01-03, Singapore 188091
Contact no.: 8444 2722
Opening Hours: Mon – Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.00pm – 10:30pm; Sun: 6.00pm – 10.30pm
Website

6. 8 Korean BBQ

If you love pork belly, you’re in for a feast at 8 Korean BBQ, a Korean BBQ franchise that serves 8 different flavours of decadent pork belly including Original, Wine, Ginseng, Garlic, Herb, Curry, Miso Paste, and Red Pepper Paste.

A tender, juicy meat that’s seasoned with a variety of perfected flavours, treat yo’ self this month with this unique K-BBQ experience!

Youth Month Promo: Enjoy 10% off your total bill throughout the month of July. Use this to enjoy your promo.

8 Korean BBQ
Address: 6 Eu Tong Sen Street, #02-79/90 The Central, Singapore 059817
Contact no.: 8692 1188
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 10.30pm; Sat – Sun: 11.30am – 10.30pm

Address: Shaw Centre #04-20/21, 1 Scotts Rd Singapore 228208
Contact no.: 9018 9212
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 10.30pm; Sat – Sun: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Website

7. Joo Bar

No list on living it up is complete without at least one watering hole for you and your buddies to knock back a few.

Fans of Korean alcohol and Korean fare in general must check out Joo Bar, Singapore’s first Makgeolli Bar & Restaurant. Located within a heritage shophouse, Joo, which means ‘alcohol’ in Korean, offers modern Korean bites and creative drinks in an edgy setting.

Order their multi-coloured Makgeolli sampler if you can’t decide on just one makgeolli! For a sweeter experience, go for their Makgeolli cocktails! The bites here aren’t shabby too, with tasty finger food like Baby Eel Paper, Warm Kimchi with Tofu and Spam, and more!

Drink and eat to your heart’s content at Joo Bar – just make sure you’re 18 and above!

Youth Month Promo: Enjoy 10% off your total bill throughout the month of July. Use this to enjoy your promo.

Joo Bar
Address: 5 Tan Quee Lan Street, Singapore 188094
Contact no.: 8138 1628
Opening Hours: Daily, 5.30pm – 12am
Website

This is just the tip of the iceberg. There is a total of over 40 brands collaborating with the National Youth Council to bring you exclusive perks in celebration of Youth Month.

With brands like Lazada, Crossfire Paintball, GoPro, Klipsch, The Juicy Way, Udders and more participating to give you great deals, there’s no better time than now to live it up!

For all promotions, check out Youth Month Perks 2017.

The Entertainer App

If you’re all about getting good deals and making the biggest bang for your buck, The Entertainer is an app that will make all of that much easier.

An app that gets you amazing deals on food, attractions, spas and even hotels in Singapore, live it up every month of the year with The Entertainer.

As part of Youth Month, you get to purchase The Entertainer app for just $70 (U.P. $125)! All you have to do is use to promo code ‘SHINEWITHUS’ when you download The Entertainer App. You can also purchase the Cheers app (The Entertainer app for alcohol) at a discounted $40 (U.P. $125) when you quote the promo code ‘CHEERSHINE’.

Another app that will come in handy in your hunt for some of the best deals in town is the Lazada app, which gives you access to app only deals (daily!), app only vouchers, and app first updates!

With all these handy tools at your fingertips, enjoying the good things in life will come at a drastically reduced cost, making your experiences all the more sweeter!

They often say youth is wasted on the young, and that’s true for the most part, especially when you live in Singapore.

Let’s not be in such a hurry to grow up. Have fun, live a little, do crazy things you might regret! There will come a time when we must grow up, when we become responsible for other people, other lives, and when the stakes are truly high. But that time is not now.

We are only young once, so let’s enjoy ourselves while we can and live a life with no regrets.

To enjoy all the above promotions, make sure flash the appropriate e-vouchers to participating merchants, or use the promo code(s) stated within the relevant e-voucher. Make sure to read the fine print for all Terms & Conditions.

This article is written in collaboration with National Youth Council.

Also read Here’re 7 Of SG’s Best Prawn Mee – Soupy, Flavourful, Fragrant

(Header Image Source: Chope)

This Cafe Specialises In Dark Chocolate – And The Darker The Chocolate, The Bitter

Craving some chocolate?

A new chocolate joint has just opened up at Millennia Walk, and it’s what all your chocolate-y dreams are made of!

The Dark Gallery specialises in the bittersweet dark chocolate (hence the name), but don’t worry, fans of milk and white chocolate will also be well taken care of here.

Offering a wide selection of goodies from artisanal ice creams to hot chocolate, to pastries, to macarons, The Dark Gallery lets you enjoy chocolate in all its delicious forms.

Only the finest grade of single origin chocolate sourced from Madagascar, Ecuador, Tanzania, Dominican Republic, Cuba and Venezuela, from premium brands such as Valrhona and Cacao Barry are used at this chocolate specialist cafe.

The people at The Dark Gallery take the business of chocolate very seriously, and here, you’ll discover a newfound appreciation for the nuances between different single origin chocolates and chocolate blends!

Taste The Difference

To help choco-holics taste the difference between different kinds of chocolate, The Dark Gallery offers up four curated tasting platters, each of which comes with at least three single origin chocolate items that vary in cacao content.

These are set on a print-out that describes the flavour profile of each chocolate, so you can better pinpoint the finer differences between them!

Dark chocolate lovers, their dark chocolate ice creams are a MUST try. With ice cream of different cacao percentages, differentiated by the region they’re sourced from, every scoop delivers a punch of rich chocolate flavour. These ice creams are smooth, creamy and not overly rich or sweet – a real delight on the tastebuds!

Choose from the Single Origin Dark Chocolate Ice Cream Platter ($12), the Single Origin Hot Chocolate Shots Platter ($8), the Single Origin Chocolate Pastries Platter ($12) which includes 2 macarons, a tartlet, a s’more and a trifle, or get the best of all three worlds with the Single Origin Chocolate Medley ($10), which comes with 1 pastry, 1 scoop of dark chocolate ice cream, and 1 hot chocolate shot.

For The Love Of Chocolate

We managed to try the Chocolate Rhapsody ($18), which comprised 3 scoops of chocolate ice cream – dark, milk, and white – served with chocolate meringue, chocolate mousse, cacao tuille, and chocolate soil.

As expected, the dark chocolate ice cream was a standout among the three ice cream flavours, and the milk and white chocolate weren’t too sweet, which we liked as well! Giving us a little taste of all three ice cream flavours, we also enjoyed the biscuit-y tuille and the silky smooth mousse that added to the texture and flavour of the dish!

We also got to try the Signature Frozen S’mores ($7.50), a toasted marshmallow cube with a surprise chocolate ice cream (80% cacao) centre. Torched just before serving, the s’more is nicely charred on the outside. The bitterness of the chocolate ice cream contrasted nicely with the sweetness of the toasted s’more, making for a delightful adult version of everyone’s favourite camping treat!

A cafe that truly celebrates chocolate, The Dark Gallery puts out amazing chocolate treats for a reasonable price. With desserts you can’t go wrong with, make a trip down to The Dark Gallery the next time you’re craving something (bitter)sweet!

The Dark Gallery
Address: 9 Raffles Boulevard, #01-K5 Millenia Walk, Singapore 039596
Opening Hours: Daily, 11.00am – 9.30pm
Contact no.: 6255 0368
6 Irresistible Molten Lava Desserts That Will Melt Your Heart

Tear Apart These Buns To Find A Colourful Centre – And Some Pretty Creative Fillings

Multi-coloured foods are all the rage these days.

From cakes containing all the colours of the rainbow to modernised, multi-hued kuehs, it was only a matter of time before multi-coloured buns became a thing.

Just Dough is a bakery at Suntec City that sells colourful steamed buns. Beyond their pretty exterior, these buns come in interesting flavours such as Durian and Pumpkin Salted Egg!

Dough Not Just Stop At One

Freshly made daily, the colours of the dough are derived from natural sources including green tea powder, charcoal, black sesame, carrot, cocoa powder, whole meal and red yeast rice.

The more health-conscious ones of you will be happy to know that the fillings of these buns contain low levels of sugar and oil, with no preservatives added. Both the dough and the fillings are made in-house, and Just Dough definitely doesn’t stinge on their fillings!

One of the signature buns at Just Dough is the Purple Sweet Potato Bun ($1.90), a light green coloured bun with a purple sweet potato mash within, topped off with a walnut. Tear the bun into half and you’ll find beautiful hues of light green, dark green, and purple within! With the subtle, natural sweetness of the sweet potato, this bun is a sure-win for those who love the taste of the understated root.

Another one of Just Dough’s signatures is their Yam Bun ($1.90). Inside the bright yellow bun, you’ll find hues of yellow, brown, and purple! Like the Purple Sweet Potato Bun, Just Dough lets the natural sweetness of the yam do all the talking – a choice that definitely pays off!

While the signature buns were fragrant and light, our favourite ones had to be the more flavoursome Durian Bun ($1.90) and Pumpkin Salted Egg Bun ($1.50).

The Durian Bun is black on the outside, and black, speckled and yellow on the inside. The durian cream within tastes AMAZING. Thick, creamy, and full of durian flavour, you almost feel like you’re eating durian flesh straight off the seed, durian fibres and all! The durian cream oozes out of the bun when you bite into it, and with just the right filling-to-dough ratio, you won’t be left in want of either durian or the bun.

Now that we’re in the thick of durian season, this is definitely a must-eat for fans of the king of fruit.

The Pumpkin Salted Egg Bun is another one of our favourites.

Half yellow and half speckled, break apart the bun to find a rich, decadent pumpkin salted egg filling within. The flavour of the filling is reminiscent of the salted egg centre of a mooncake, which we absolutely loved. Together with the chewy, fluffy bun, it was like having a delicious sweet-salty dipping sauce built into your bun!

Aside from these winning flavours, other flavours you’ll find here are Curry Potato Chicken ($2.50), Red Bean ($1.90), Banana Choc ($1.50), Peanut ($1.50), Coconut ($1.50) and Wolfberry Mantou ($1.90). With such a tantalising variety to choose from, you won’t have an easy time picking just one to eat!

Have Your Bun With Soup

Buns and soups are a match made in culinary heaven. Thankfully, Just Dough (ironically) doesn’t sell just dough; it also sells soups that perfectly complement their dense, delicious mantous.

Choose from Chilli Crab Soup ($7.90) and Pumpkin Soup ($5.90), each of which is served with one of their colourful variety of mantous!

The selection of buns sold at Just Dough is constantly changing, so don’t be surprised to find your favourites gone and new flavours being added to the menu!

If you’re passing by, or if you work in the area, make sure to pay Just Dough a visit! With chewy, flavourful buns that cater to both your sweet and savoury cravings, you’re sure to find something that suits your fancy, no matter the time of the day!

Just Dough
Address: 3 Temasek Boulevard, #B1-169/170 Suntec City Mall, Singapore 038983
Opening Hours: Mon – Thu: 7.30am – 9.00pm; Fri: 7.30am – 10.00pm; Sat – Sun & PH: 8.30am – 10.00pm
Contact no.: 6341 9619
Facebook 

Also read At The Affogato Bar, It’s Never Too Early To Get Drunk On Coffee And Ice Cream

There’s A Durian Buffet In Town And Free Flow Mao Shan Wang Isn’t The Only Thing To Look Forward To

Durian – a fruit that inspires either fanatical love or intense loathing; there’s no in between.

If you belong to the camp that LOVES durian, there’s a durian buffet in town we want to put on your radar. At this durian buffet, expect a host of inventive spins on your favourite fruit, as well as – wait for it – FREE FLOW DURIAN!

The stars of this buffet dinner are a medley of signature dishes infused with the pungent, creamy fruit. On the savoury end of the spectrum are Durian Ravioli with Sage and Garlic Butter, Butter Durian Prawn with Curry Leaves and Chilli Padi, Wok-Fried Prawn and Petai with Sambal Durian, and Foie Gras Torchon with Torched Meringue.

Other die-die must tries that lie on the sweet side are durian pastries including Pandan Crepes with Durian Mousse, Deep-Fried Durian Ice Cream, Mini Durian Crumble and the timeless favourite, Durian Pengat.

Our favourite part? At the outdoor terrace, there will be chefs wielding their knives, serving up all-you-can-eat ”D24” and ”Mao Shan Wang”!

Happening at Lime Restaurant at PARKROYAL on Pickering, this mouthwatering buffet is tagged at $88 per adult (includes free flow coffee and tea) and $58 per child (ages 6 – 12). Available everyday except Monday, this buffet will run from 7 July – 2 September 2017 from 6.30pm to 10.30pm.

So, make a date with all your durian-loving kakees and make sure to come to this buffet with an empty stomach! The last thing you want is to have all the durian you can dream of right before you, only to be too full to eat it!

Thorny Temptations at Lime
Address: 3 Upper Pickering Street, PARKROYAL on Pickering, Singapore (058289)
Date: 7 Jul – 2 Sep
Contact no.: 6809 8899
Price: Adult: $88 | Child (ages 6 – 12): $58
Website

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(Header Image Source: Parkroyal Hotels)

These Yayoi Kusama Inspired Cakes Let You Eat Some Of Her Most Famous Pieces Of Art

Dots, pumpkins and light installations have been dominating our Instagram feeds recently. That’s right, Singaporeans are going crazy for Yayoi Kusama and for good reason – the Japanese artist is one of the most influential in the world, with works that are immediately recognisable.

Can’t get enough of Kusama and her dotty, mind-bending works? The Fullerton Hotel has come up with a Yayoi Kusama-inspired afternoon tea set that will take your love for Kusama to tasty new levels.

Five special creations inspired by Yayoi Kusama’s works

The man behind the delectable three-tier afternoon tea set is Enrico Pezzelato, the hotel’s Executive Pastry Chef.

As a fan of Kusama’s works, Chef Pezzelto wanted to stay true to her works while continuing to push boundaries through his creations as well.

If you have been to the exhibition, you will have noticed that Kusama’s work is vibrant and eye-catching. The desserts created by Chef Pezzelto are no different. Among the five creations, the most colourful (and Insta-worthy!) one is the hazelnut cream on a Breton sable with bright dots. This dessert is a tribute to Kusama’s All My Love for the Tulips, I Pray Forever which sold for a staggering US$5.1 million.

Another highlight is the pretty strawberry shortcake resembling the painting Life is the Heart of a Rainbow. This dessert is topped with whipping cream and sandwiched between cocoa butter, printed with striations.

Served together with these inspired sweets is an array of finger sandwiches, bite-sized pastries, assorted cakes, and freshly baked scones that The Courtyard is known for. Additionally, you will also get to enjoy free-flow TWG tea or a coffee of your choice. To further sweeten the deal, there will be a live harpist on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays so you can have your tea in style!

This afternoon tea set ($43++) is available at The Courtyard from now till 31 July. So, quickly grab the chance to try it out!

The Courtyard
Address: Level 1, The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, 1 Fullerton Square
Contact no.: 6877 8911 / 8912
Website

(Header Image Source: Epicure)

These Exotic Ang Ku Kuehs Are On A Kueh-st To Conquer Your ‘grams And Tastebuds

Before all the fad foods that exist today, there were good old traditional pastries like Ang Ku Kueh.

A traditionally red pastry consisting of a sticky, chewy skin, wrapped over a sweet filling, this kueh was a regular feature on the dining table when many of us were children.

Kueh Ho Jiak, which literally translates to ‘kueh nice to eat‘, hopes to bring the humble kueh to the ‘gram-loving, health-conscious generation by changing up its flavours and appearance.

Located in the CBD, at Tanjong Pagar Plaza Food Centre, every one of the kuehs here is handmade with love.

Think multi-toned kuehs in purple, brown, yellow, and black hues. These kuehs come in a variety of shapes: bear, Hello Kitty, flower, heart, and circle. This facelift feels fresh, while still pointing to the kueh’s traditional roots with the banana leaf at the base of each one!

A Fresh Spin On Kueh

While Ang Ku Kueh skins are traditionally made of glutinous rice flour, the skins of Kueh Ho Jiak’s Ang Ku Kuehs are made of 5 different varieties of sweet potatoes: Japanese sweet potatoes, Purple sweet potatoes, Jewel sweet potatoes, Hannah sweet potatoes, and Garnet sweet potatoes.

The different coloured sweet potatoes are also what give these kuehs their unique hues. No artificial colourings are used in the making of these little snacks!

Appearance aside, what lies within the skin is even more intriguing. Some of the more unusual flavours include durian ($1.60) and hae bee hiam (spicy dried shrimp) ($1.60). Other flavours you’ll find are mung bean ($1.20), red bean ($1.20), peanut ($1.20), coconut ($1.20), and yam ($1.60).

While hae bee hiam Ang Ku Kueh may sound odd, don’t write it off without giving it a try! Spicy without being overly salty, this is likely to be a winner among those of you who love your savoury foods.

Generally, the kuehs here are less sweet than those you may be used to eating. While this threw us off at first, the more we had of it, the more we grew to like it! The skin of these kuehs is also softer than others we’ve tried – another thing we really like.

The crowd favourite here is the durian Ang Ku Kueh, so make sure to give that a try if they’re available when you stop by!

Made With Love

Everything at Kueh Ho Jiak is handmade with love.

In the evening, the people at Kueh Ho Jiak start making the kuehs. At around 1am, they start to steam them, and at 6am, the kuehs are delivered to the coffee shop to be sold. Some of the kuehs are brought to the store uncooked and are steamed fresh at the store once the previous batch is sold out.

Aside from Ang Ku Kuehs, some of the other things you must try while you’re here are the Bomb Puffs ($1.50) and the Ubi Kayu (cassava) ($2.20).

The Bomb Puff is the bomb. A curry puff with a crispy, fluffy pastry, its filling is chunky and very flavourful. Eating it, you can tell that the people at Kueh Ho Jiak have put a lot of effort into perfecting every element of the puff.

The Ubi Kayu here is delicious as well. Served with a fancy pair of toothpicks, these cassava balls are fragrant and so soft, they melt in your mouth!

A New Lease Of Life

Kueh Ho Jiak is all about inventing new recipes and giving traditional kuehs a new lease of life. A novel idea, these photogenic kuehs are sure to capture your heart and tastebuds!

Made with no preservatives, no pork, and no lard, you can even request for vegan versions to be made! Every kueh is made using healthy, fresh ingredients, so you can be sure you’re putting only good things into your body.

Looking to get your hands on these goodies? Place an order with Elizabeth at 9028 4359 because the kuehs here tend to sell out quite fast. While officially, Kueh Ho Jiak opens until 2pm, most days, it is closed by noon because it has run out of kuehs to sell!

Affordable, delicious, and so photogenic, you won’t regret trying these little treats!

Kueh Ho Jiak
Address: 6 Tanjong Pagar Road, #02-20 Tanjong Pagar Plaza Food Centre, Singapore 081006
Opening Hours: Mon – Sat: 7am – 2pm; Closed on Sun
Contact no.: 9028 4359
Facebook

Also read We Tried Glamping For The First Time And It Was As Awesome As It Looks

Melissa’s Latest Collection Celebrates The Power Of Girls With Edgy Shapes And A Sprinkling Of Glitter

Melissa shoes – they’re fun, they’re comfortable, and they’re super cute to boot (pun intended)!

Melissa has just launched its MDREAMS flagship store in Singapore, and at 1,700 square feet, it is currently the largest MDREAMS retail outlet in the world!

Situated in the heart of Singapore’s CBD at Raffles City Shopping Centre, you’ll immediately notice strong curved lines in the stark white space. From the display shelves to seats, to the fixtures on the ceiling, curves feature prominently in this store, taking inspiration from dance and movement which characterize the Melissa shoe.

We popped in for a preview of their latest FlyGrl FW 2017 collection, which celebrates girl power. With bold, edgy shapes in muted fall/winter tones, as well as some glitter and metallics, these shoes are for the girl who’s not afraid to own her power.

Even the boys can join in on the fun at Melissa! Some of the styles, such as the Melissa Free ($125), are actually unisex, and it’s not altogether unusual for men to buy these fun kicks to wear on their feet. We’re not kidding – there were guys sporting their Melissas at the MDREAMS launch, some even pulling them off better than we did!

Some of the new styles we fell head over heels for were the edgy Panapana Mule ($170)…

the square-toed, lace-up Wonder ($190) boot that makes you feel all-powerful…

and Melissa’s plastic spin on the hot sneaker trend, the Be ($135).

Other styles to keep your eye out for are the statement Cosmic Sandal ($135), the barbie-esque Mule ($140), the understated Panapana ($160), and the Melissa Rain Drop Boot ($180) that’s perfect for looking fab this rainy July.

Also, expect new colours and details on your favourite styles like the Ultragirl!

Make sure to check out all of the styles in-store. While these shoes look great in photos, they look and feel even better in person!

*Take note that the Panapana Mule, the Wonder and the Rain Drop Boot are only available at the MDREAMS flagship store at Raffles City Shopping Centre.

MDREAMS (Raffles City Shopping Centre)
Address: 252 North Bridge Road, #B1 – 28, Singapore 179103
Opening Hours: Mon – Sun: 10am – 9pm

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Live It Up Like You’re In Hao Lai Wu – Enjoy Steamboat And BBQ In Lit Crystal Pots Till 3AM

There’s something to be said about Singaporeans’ devotion to a good, hearty steamboat or BBQ.

Clearly, this is something Hao Lai Wu recognises because they offer both steamboat and BBQ simultaneously, along with one of the widest arrays of ingredients we’ve seen in a single space.

Located at 8 Sago St, this shopfront is conveniently located next to the famous landmark, the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple. A spot that’s hard to miss, you and your friends won’t have any trouble finding each other at this place.

To cater to all of us Singaporeans whenever hunger strikes, the owners of Hao Lai Wu insist on keeping their store open from 11am – 3am daily! Up and hungry at ungodly hours? Hao Lai Wu’s got you covered!

We loved the charming, lived-in atmosphere permeating the entire shop.

From the moment the DiscoverSG team stepped in, we were taken with the lively, boisterous crowd, the communal cooking over steamboat bowls and BBQ grills, and the cheerful eating of family and friends.

Here, you can choose from 6 different soup bases: Mala, Tom Yum, Tomato, Chicken, Salted Veggie and Pork Bone.

We went with the house special, Mala soup, as well as Chicken soup. The main reason why we ordered the chicken soup was so we had a simple soup base that would allow us to properly appreciate the freshness of the ingredients served here.

Hao Lai Wu provides its customers with a wide range of fresh ingredients, sides, and sauces. It prides itself in its authentic Chinese cuisine, from the spices they put into their Mala soups to the drinks they import directly from China.

We settled down on the re-purposed oil drums and found that they came with detachable seat covers you could lift, to reveal a storage space for your bags or any knick-knacks you were carrying! With your belongings safely stowed away, the only thing you need to focus on is the mouthwatering food before you!

We were given an incredibly warm welcome with a crazy influx of dishes.

We had cute fishcakes…

marinated meats…

an understated but heavenly dish of fried mantous…

and a TON of seafood.

And I mean a TON, because when all the food was brought out, this was what our table looked like:

Someone even cooked an omelette for us on the spot as the food was on its way out! Filled with delicious, juicy sprigs of green onion, red chillis, and tiny morsels of mock crab meat, we loved every last bite of it.

Being able to eat with a whole group of people, cooking and serving one another for 2-3 hours straight, and being given 3 different ways to cook your food (Mala steamboat, Chicken steamboat and BBQ), this is definitely a great place to gather with family, loved ones and friends.

As we said our goodbyes with expanded tummies and hearts, we left with 3 takeaways:

1. Come to Hao Lai Wu HUNGRY. You won’t survive if you’re simply peckish.

2. The Mala is truly delicious, and will leave you sweating as you reach for more.

3. The Mala soup should only be attempted by spicy food lovers. If you’re afraid of McDonald’s chilli sauce, you may want to pass on the Mala.

If you’re looking for a new supper, dinner or lunch spot to have your next family or friend gathering, why not try Hao Lai Wu? We guarantee it’ll be worth your while, leaving you happy and satisfied both in the tummy and the heart.

Hao Lai Wu
Address: 8 Sago St, Singapore 059012
Operating Hours: 11am – 3am daily
Contact no.: 6221 0065
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Live Out Your Wizard Fantasies At Platform 1094 – Dine On Magical Food And Bewitching Drinks

Fancy yourself a bit of a wizard? At this cafe, you can pretend to be it for a day–or at least a couple of hours.

There’s a wizard themed cafe in town and here, you can leave the muggle life behind by donning the elaborate cloaks, witches’ hats, and accessories like wands and broomsticks that are provided free of charge.

At this cafe reminiscent of The Three Broomsticks (the wizarding pub you may recognise from the Harry Potter books), a brick wall with a mystical-looking crest forms the perfect backdrop for all your photo-taking needs.

No mere muggle or wizard will be able to resist grabbing some nosh at this pretty place, and we quickly succumbed to their quirky menu that was filled with magical-sounding drinks, finger foods and desserts.

Where else can you find food that sounds like it came straight out of a spell book?

Drink, drank but not drunk: Mrs Lich’s Butterscotch Ale ($10)

Intense black sesame panna cotta, crispy charcoal cake, squid ink profiterole filled with mango creme and crackly lace tulle… Eat this, and embrace your dark side.

Here at Platform 1094, wizards and muggles alike are bonded by food, laughter and cosy camaraderie. Whiz by on your broomstick (or drop by on your two feet) whenever you’re craving a little magic in your cafe-hopping spree!

Platform 1094
Address: 1094 Serangoon Rd, Singapore 328192
Opening Hours: Tues – Fri: 11am – 10pm; Sat – Sun: 10am – 10pm
Contact no.: 6204 6003
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