Location: Orchard

If You Like Blackball, This Dessert Shop Will Have You Questioning Your Loyalties

If you’ve been to Taiwan, you’ll know that one of the snacks the country is well-known for is its Jiu Fen Taro Balls.

Sold along the streets of bustling Jiu Fen, these coloured balls are chewy and are served alongside other ingredients such as sweet potato and green tea balls, in red bean, green bean or sweet potato soup.

A party of flavours and textures, if you’re a fan of these dessert bowls and are a strong believer that ‘the more the toppings, the better‘, you’ll love Nine Fresh‘s local spin on the Taiwanese classic.

Nine Fresh

If this is the first time you’re hearing of Nine Fresh, you’re missing out!

Nine Fresh is a dessert stop that has been serving up quality cups of the delicious dessert for almost 5 years now.

That is, cups of grass jelly, beancurd, or ai-yu jelly (or a mixture of the three) heaped with beans (red bean, green bean, pinto bean, eight treasure bean), balls (mini taro ball, taro ball, durian ball), flavoured pearl jelly (aloe vera, mango, lychee, passionfruit), black pearls, and many more toppings.

At Nine Fresh, they’re all about keeping traditions fresh, and recently, they’ve done exactly that by rolling out 2 new series of desserts.

Nine Fresh Goes Local

The first is its Local Flavours series, which consist of dessert creations inspired by some of our favourite local desserts, including Chendol and Cheng Teng.

The Chendol Cup ($3.80) has a grass jelly base and is topped with green chendol jelly, attap seeds, red bean, and taro balls.

With (almost) all the ingredients you’d typically find in a chendol dessert, this is a far less sweet variant of the coconut milk-heavy dessert.

The Cheng Teng Cup ($3.80) also has all the good stuff you’d find in the traditional dessert: pong tai hai, lotus nut, barley, and sago. These are served over a wobbly ai-yu jelly base. And of course, you can’t forget the taro balls!

As durian lovers, our favourite is the Durian Yin-Yang, a half beancurd, half grass jelly base that’s topped with black sugar jelly dice, taro balls, and a generous scoop of rich durian puree – yes, actual durian flesh. The flavourful and creamy durian, combined with the array of chewy and QQ ingredients in the cup make it a winner – and all for just $3.90.

Singapore’s Favourites, According To Data

Another exciting addition to Nine Fresh’s offerings is the Fanspiration Series, a bunch of cups and flavours that are essentially customer-generated.

The best-selling flavour and ingredient combinations based on Nine Fresh’s data, gathered from its create-your-own-cup promo this year, you can’t go wrong with these flavours that are beloved by many, many Singaporeans.

Some of these items in this series include the all-black The Black Cup ($2.90), the all-white The White Cup ($2.60), and The Yin-Yang Cup ($2.90), which is half black and half white – at least when it comes to the base.

If you simply can’t decide between the bases (or love them all equally), the Aww In One Cup cup contains all three of them.

This cup comes piled with black pearls, taro balls, and mini taro balls on top. If you’re a first timer to Nine Fresh, we suggest you go for this so you can sample a little bit of everything and figure out which you prefer!

From there on, you can customise your own cup and create your own perfect combination of ingredients.

With so many decadent desserts out there, from rich chocolate treats to lava toasts, Nine Fresh is – literally – a refreshing change from the lot.

Priced very affordable from $2 to $3.90 for one of their pre-set cups, Nine Fresh’s desserts are a lighter option with so much to offer in the way of taste and flavour!

The next time you’re craving a refreshing dessert, make sure to pop by one of Nine Fresh’s 16 outlets – you won’t be disappointed!

Nine Fresh
Address: Find your nearest Nine Fresh Also read This Thai Bakery Is Baking Up A Storm Of Fluffy Loaves – And You Knead To Try It 

This Thai Bakery Is Baking Up A Storm Of Fluffy Loaves – And You Knead To Try It

Thai Baàng holds a special place in our heart, for we believe that they make one of the best breads in Singapore. This bakery may be small, but the bread they churn out isn’t.

Located in the corner of Kitchener Complex at Lavender, this Thai bakery also recently opened their second outlet at Orchard Xchange.

Tradition Brings Comfort

Following her love for traditional comfort Thai Bread she discovered on a trip to Thailand early 2017, Jovi – owner of Thai Baàng, left her job as a financial advisor to open up this bakery.

After spending a few months in Bangkok to pick up the art of making traditional Thai bread, Jovi opened Thai Baàng in mid-2017.

Particular about the quality of bakes that leaves her bakery, everything is made fresh daily in the kitchen she has in both stores.

With no preservatives or bread softener added, each bread is baked in a tin container to help hold it’s shape and keep it warm, even after sitting out for 30 minutes. This helps to keep the bread soft and fluffy on the inside, creating that soft and chewy texture.

With over 30 flavours of bread in their shop, here are some of their most popular flavours:

Banana Chocolate Bread ($2.70)

They have a variety of sweet breads but this is perhaps our favourite of them all! The dark chocolate and mashed banana complemented each other well without being overly sweet.

Thai Milk Tea Butter Sugar ($3.00)

What’s Thailand without their Thai Milk Tea? If you love Thai Milk tea then this bread is right up your alley. Honestly, we can eat this bread in one sitting.

Thai Milk Tea With Chocolate ($3.00)

If the plain one doesn’t cut it for you, then we highly recommend the Thai Milk Tea with Chocolate bread. This is perfect for all chocolate lovers. Just like the Banana Chocolate bread, this option comes with chunks of chocolate in every bite.

What draws us to their bread is that they do not skimp on the ingredients used in their bakes.

Curry Chicken ($2.70)

This is the perfect alternative to curb your cravings for curry chicken. This bread comes with generous portions of chicken, egg, sausage which blends well with the soft and chewy texture of the bread.

Tom Yam Chicken ($2.70)

Fresh out of the oven, this bread smelled heavenly and we just couldn’t wait to dig in.

This bread tastes exactly like sipping on a hot, spicy bowl of tom yam soup in BKK.

Mushroom Vege ($2.70)

Remember those old school bakery that sells mushroom mayo buns?

This option brings back those memories – except that this bread got a whole new upgrade. Put together the savoury mushrooms and crunchy radish along with the soft, fluffy bread, this is the perfect comfort food for kids and adults alike.

Asides from the bread, Thai Baàng also sells other delicacies such as the Chili Shrimp Glutinous Rice ($1.50). Just like how their breads are generously filled, this was no exception as well!

Don’t be fooled by it’s colour as the chilli shrimp is honestly not that spicy! This delicacy has just the right amount of spice and balanced proportion between the chilli shrimp and glutinous rice.

You can also look forward to their selection of cakes.

We love the Banana Chocolate Cake ($7.00) which consists of of a layer of chocolate sponge cake atop a layer of banana cake. Both flavours blended well with each other in this moist cake.

Last but not least, they also have a selection of Swiss Rolls starting from $5. From Traditional Butter Kaya ($5) to Coffee Rum And Raisin ($5.50), their swiss rolls makes the perfect afternoon tea snack!

Thai Baàng’s fresh bakes will have you hooked at first bite and are totally worth a trip down! So if you’re looking for an alternative from BreadTalk or Four Leaves, we highly recommend getting the breads from this Thai bakery instead.

Come early and you might just catch a fresh batch out of the oven! You can also give Jovi a call to reserve your breads as they run out fast.

Thai Baàng Bakery (Lavender)
Address: 809 French Road #01-41, Kitchener Complex, Singapore 200809
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 8.30am – 8.30pm, Sat: 8:30am – 8pm, Sun: 9am – 7:30pm
Contact no.: 9722 1213
Website

Thai Baàng Bakery (Orchard Xchange)
Address: 437 orchard road, B1-37 Orchard MRT Station, Singapore 238878
Directions: Orchard MRT Exit A, head up the escalator on your left and turn right
Opening Hours: 8.30am – 8.30pm, daily
Contact no.: 9722 1213
Website

Also read An Oldie But A Goodie: Canteen 398 At Seletar Is Possibly The Longest Surviving Canteen In S’pore

(Header Image Source: Discover SG)

10 Halloween Events And Eats That Are Creeping Into Your Calendar This October

If you’ve been counting down the days to Halloween like we have, the wait will soon be over!

It’s that time of the year where we dress up in costume, scare ourselves silly, and hopefully score ourselves some candy. What’s not to love?

This month, we’ve rounded up a list of Halloween parties you can attend, and some Halloween-themed food you can look forward to chowing down on!

Brace yourselves, you won’t see these scares coming.

Play & Discover

1. Halloween Horror Nights 7

First on the list is a Halloween house that requires no introduction.

Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights is back for its seventh edition, and this year’s scare-fest is themed after the seven dead-lier sins: cruelty, deception, malice, manipulation, narcissism, perversion and obsession.

Come face to face with your worst nightmares when you enter the 5 haunted houses, which include a mall filled with ghosts (‘Death Mall’), an eerie hut haunted by the Midnight Man (‘Hex’), and see what evils lurk within the minds of the malevolent (‘Inside The Mind’).

Wander through 2 scare zones, one of which is a sanctuary for the 7 sins (‘Pilgrimage of Sin’), and another of which is a macabre twist on your favourite holidays (‘Happy Horror Days‘).

Another highlight at Halloween Horror Nights this year is also a HHN first – Zombie laser tag. For the first time in Halloween Horror Nights history, you get the chance to defend yourself against the horrors you will meet. So grab your weapon; you’ll need it to fend off the rabid flesh-eating zombies.

Tickets are available for purchase here.

Halloween Horror Nights 7
Where: Universal Studios Singapore
When: 29 Sep – 29 Oct
Admission: $61
Image Credit: *SCAPE[/caption]

Abused and murdered by her mother, her restless spirit has returned to haunt her mother’s new family. Possessing her mother, she kills off every single member of the family before forcing her mother to hang herself.

Pay a visit to the grave-filled backyard, step into the master bedroom, and brace yourself for what you may find in the attic and the children’s room! A house full of horrors, you’ll want to take a deep breath when you arrive at the front porch.

Watch your back – you can never be too careful.

Tickets are available for purchase here.

Museum Of Horrors VII: Vengeance
Where: *SCAPE
When: 18 – 22 Oct, 26 – 31 Oct
Admission: $15 for General Admission
Website

3. Carnival of the Absurd at Lulu’s Lounge

If horror houses and being scared isn’t what you had in mind for Halloween, maybe this is.

Called ‘Carnival of the Absurd‘, this party is themed around a Coney Island freak show, which is famed for its performers who bear bodily abnormalities (e.g dwarves, four legged humans) or who can perform amazing inhuman feats like swallowing swords and contorting their own bodies.

While we don’t know yet what characters we’ll find at this carnival, you can be sure you’ll be thoroughly entertained by their roving characters and wacky stage performers.

Get your freak on and don’t be a bystander! Here, no one will be judging.

Carnival of the Absurd
Where: Lulu’s Lounge, Pan Pacific Hotel, 7 Raffles Boulevard
When: 28 Oct, 9pm – 6am
Admission: $30 cover charge

4. Cleopetra’s Revenge at Bang Bang

If you’re looking for a change of pace, pop over to Bang Bang.

Themed ‘Cleopetra’s Revenge‘, dance with menacing mummies and evil queens decked in gold into the wee hours of the morning.

Transporting you to Cleopetra’s creepy land, the night will whisper tales of the undead queen’s revenge.

Cleopetra’s Revenge
When: Oct 27 – 28, 10.30pm – 6am
Where: Bang Bang, Pan Pacific Hotel, 7 Raffles Boulevard
Admission: $35 (includes one drink)

5. Zouk’s Laboratorium Of Horror 

This Halloween, Zouk will transform into a Laboratorium of Horror with jars containing brains, icky intestines, old examination tables, and syringes. The laboratory of one mad Dr Gore, watch out for the diabolical doctor – you don’t want to be the next subject in his line of sinister experiments.

You’ll want to bring your A game – costume-wise – to this party because those in the most terrifying costumes stand a chance to win a pair of flight tickets to Athens via Scoot (worth $1680), Jimmy Choo and Kenzo fragrance hampers, a staycay at Lloyd’s Inn, and more.

The party goes on through the night till 4am, with Zouk’s resident DJs Hong, Lincey, and Jeremy Boon helming the decks.

The first 100 party-goers that arrive decked out in full costume get to enter for free!

Zouk’s Laboratorium Of Horror
When: 28 Oct, 9pm – 4am
Where: Blk 3C River Valley Road
Admission: $55 (non-member price; includes one drink)

6. Noise Invasion Festival at Haw Par Villa

There are few places in Singapore that are quite as creepy as Haw Par Villa after dark.

On 28 October, the spooky Haw Par Villa grounds will be taken over by Noise Invasion Festival, a celebration of individuality and creativity. The event’s hashtag is #GetWeird, so you know what to do! Embrace the theme and dress your weirdest.

Expect killer music at this festival, with a line-up including Sam Rui, Wicked Aura, M1LDL1FE, Axel Brizzy, Amateur Takes Control, and more. The festival’s got art, dance, and food, and teases that it’ll deviate from the usual arts festival format.

Not sure what to expect? Think unconventional and strange.

Admission to this festival is completely free, so if you’re too broke to party this Halloween, this is a great alternative for the Halloween weekend!

Noise Invasion Festival
When: 28 Oct, 6pm – 10.30pm
Where: Haw Par Villa, 262 Pasir Panjang Road, Singapore 118628
Admission: Free

7. Singapore Halloween Festival

The Singapore Halloween Festival is back, and this year, it will take place in a water park!

An annual event that combines fun, horror, dressing up and all things Halloween, this year’s haunting will happen slightly past Halloween on 4 – 5 November. And the site they’ve chosen this year is none other than Wild Wild Wet.

There will be a Zombie Maze, a Monster Ball, a Giant Picnic Lawn with delicious gourmet F&B options, carnival games and pop-up stalls for everyone in the family! Dress your best because the person wearing the best costume will win a special prize!

Adult tickets are tagged at $45 for a regular 1-day pass, $70 for a regular 2-day pass and $388 for VIP Tier tickets (2-day pass) for 3 adults. Child tickets are $30 for a 1-day pass and $50 for a 2-day pass.

Tickets are available for purchase here.

Singapore Halloween Festival
Where: Wild Wild Wet
When: 4 – 5 Nov
Admission: $30 – $388 
Website

8. Halloween Family Night Out

Another Halloween party for the whole family is Halloween Family Night Out.

The biggest family-friendly Halloween event, this Halloween extravaganza will take over the sprawling KidZania arena.

For 2 weekends from 27 October – 5 November, the KidZania compound will take on a brand new look. The airport, restaurants, petrol kiosk and more will transform into a landscape including a candy forest, volcanoes, and the depths of the sea!

Immerse yourself in the beautifully designed rooms that will transport you and your family to a whole other dimension. Watch the professional actors as they take you through an immersive storytelling experience!

What’s Halloween without a bit of candy? Collect trick or treat goodie bags on the trees of Vampi’s candy forest and be sure to steer clear of Vampi the vampire if you plan on holding on to your loot!

For more candy, enter the neon forest and find 4 doors. Knock on the doors and if you and your family come in costume, you’ll receive a treat. Otherwise, you just may get tricked.

With carnival games, spooky snack-bites, magic shows and mysterious bubble shows taking place through the night, the kids are in for a night of fun at this Halloween fiesta!

Entry is $45 each for adult and child, and is inclusive of a limited edition Trick or Treat popcorn candy bucket, a Halloween Family Night Out Cape and The Secret Treasure Map of Magic Mummy (worth $45)!

Halloween Family Night Out
Where: KidZania @ Sentosa
When: 27 – 28 Oct, 3 – 5 Nov
Time: 7pm – 11pm
Admission: $45 (adult/child)
Website

9. Halloween At Sephora

This Halloween, why stop at putting on a Halloween costume?

Go all out and dress your face up as well with a little help from the helpful Beauty Advisors at Sephora.

For the entire month of October, spend $100 or more and get a custom Halloween makeover at any Sephora store!

Halloween at Sephora
Where: All Sephora outlets
When: 1 – 31 Oct
Website

Eats

10. Cold Stone Creamery 

This Halloween, Cold Stone Creamery is serving a spooky spin on Cookies ‘n’ Cream ice cream.

Their Halloween exclusive, Cookies ‘n’ Screammm, consists of a scoop of pumpkin ice cream mixed with a gummy worms, bloody berries, and of course, Oreo cookies. Priced at $6 – $10.50, have your dessert in a plain waffle bowl (+$1.20) or in a dipped waffle bowl (+$1.90).

Cold Stone Creamery
Locations: Also read There’s A Superhero Themed Cyclothon Happening In Singapore And All Are Welcome

(Header Image Source:

Teppei Syokudo Is Releasing Self-Heating Bento Boxes And It’s Like We’re Living in The Future

In July this year, there was a Chinese brand, Ba Shu Lan Ren, which was selling self-heating “Lazy” Ma La Hotpot.

This innovative meal comes with its own heating pack which reacts with water to generate enough heat to cook a small container of food.

Teppei Syokudo’s Hot New Creation

Teppei Syokudo is a casual dining concept brought to you by the same people who founded Teppei Restaurant. They are popular for their fuss-free, customisable Kaisen Dons which are a hit with Chirashi Don and Sashimi lovers.

Fast forward to 27 September, Teppei Syokudo is releasing their own series of self-heating bentos which utilise the same heating pack concept.

Out Of The Kitchen And Into Your Belly

There are 4 types of bentos: the Gyu Don ($15.80), Oyako Don ($12.80), Minced Meat Mapo Tofu Don ($12.80) and the Napolitan Pasta With Hamburg ($15.80).

Instead of the usual vacuum-packed ingredients, these bentos come ready to eat. All you have to do is prepare the heating pack and water.

The heating pack will take only 5 minutes to heat up the bento, so you don’t have to wait long to dig in!

For those of you who are fans of their Kaisen Don, do give these self-heating bentos a try. They can be ordered at any Teppei Syokudo outlet in Singapore. They definitely look more appetising than a microwaveable meal from a convenience store.

Also read Because Teh Is Better Than Kopi, Here Are All The Ways To Show Your Loyal-teh

(Header Image Source: Burpple User Joe Yang)

BAKE Is Warming Up The Oven Again, And They’re Serving A Zesty Twist On Their Classic Cheese Tarts

If you’re reading this, you probably love cheese tarts as much as we do.

Well, rejoice because the good folks at BAKE are launching a new flavour on 29 September.

When Life Gives You Lemons…

Introducing the new Lemon Cheese Tart With Honey ($3.90/pc or $22/6pcs).

With the tanginess of the lemon cutting through and balancing the richness of the cheese mousse, each carefully-prepared tart is then coated with honey as a finishing touch. This creates a triple layer of flavour that melds together beautifully with each bite.

Singapore will be the only country outside of Japan to sell these limited edition cheese tarts.

The new flavour will be available at all BAKE outlets for a limited time from 29 September to 13 October so hurry down and grab a box to share with your friends and family!

BAKE Cheese Tart
Address: NEX, 23 Serangoon Central, #B2-34, Singapore 556083
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 8.30am – 10pm; Sat, Sun & PH: 10am – 10pm
Contact no.: 6920 3960
Website

Address: WESTGATE, 3 Gateway Drive, #B2-04, Singapore 608532
Opening Hours: Daily, 10am – 10pm
Contact no.: 6265 1228

Address: ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, #B4-33, Singapore 238801 
Opening Hours: Daily, 10am – 10pm

Address: Tampines Mall: 4 Tampines Central 5, #B1-K7A, Singapore 529510
Opening Hours: Daily, 10am – 10pm

Also read Prodigal Roasters Has The Most Bizarre Cheese Tart Flavors To Complement Their Seasonal Coffee Menu

(Header Image Source: BAKE Cheese Tart)

You Can Eat Off The Table At Cajun On Wheels And No One Will Judge You

Eating off the table at Cajun On Wheels is not frowned upon. In fact, it’s even encouraged!

Cajun On Wheels, a Louisiana-style seafood restaurant, has just opened its second branch in the heart of town – Plaza Singapura. The seafood joint took on an American spirit by setting up a permanent food truck at Pasarbella in Suntec City, but the Plaza Singapura branch is a diner-style restaurant, complete with exclusive menu choices.

A quick lowdown on how Louisiana does Cajun-style seafood: the seafood is usually boiled in a huge pot filled with potatoes, onions, corn and loads of spices. Crawfish (or crayfish) is usually the seafood of choice, but shrimps and crabs are also popular alternatives.

Customize your own personal Ocean Box 

The trouble with going alone to a seafood restaurant is that sometimes the dishes are too big for one person to finish.

Sometimes you might just need some alone time, and Cajun On Wheels has just the perfect personal portion for you.

Their Ocean Box, a popular take-away choice, is a totally customizable personal meal from your sides to the sauce. For your seafood, you have a wide range to choose from – fish, mussels, prawns, soft shell crab, fish and torpedo prawns, and mixed seafood for a little bit of everything.

After picking your sides, you can then pick your preferred sauce. Sauces available include Herb & Butter, Cajun Cheese, Sambal Chilli Egg, Salted Egg Yolk, Thai Red Curry, Spicy Cheesy Soil, Singapore Chilli Crab. Your sauce will come as a dip on the side so that your meal won’t be soggy if you chose the takeaway option.

A little bit of everything

Sharing is caring, which is why it’s also an option on the menu.

The sharing platters can feed two to three people, while the seafood buckets can easily feed three to five people. The fun part about getting the sharing platters is that you your food arrives in a bucket, and you’ll get to experience eating off the table. Don’t be afraid to dig in, because a bib will be provided to catch any strays drops of sauce!

The Poseidon Bucket, featuring Scottish Dungeon Crab, Sri Lankan Crab, Sweet Corn, Chicken Spam and Potatoes is the best value-for-money choice if you love crabs. The Just Be Shellfish Bucket proffers a range of shellfish, and comes with prawns, mussels and white clams which are definitely worth getting messy for. 

Chicken spam, which are only available in the share buckets, and potatoes are good choices for sides as they soak up the sauces well. Corn also makes for a good side, as they add a sweet crunch to your meal. 

The Salted Egg Yolk is spiced up with curry leaves and chilli padi for a flavorful kick. The Herb and Butter sauce is for those who want to enjoy the fresh taste of the seafood, while the Spicy Cheese Soil is equal parts spicy and cheesy.

If you decide to pick the pilaf rice, the Thai Red Curry sauce goes really with the rice. The Thai Red Curry Sauce also matches well with the fish, and it totally kills any remaining fishy aftertaste.

Craving for a burger?

If eating off the table doesn’t appeal to you, you can get one of their rolls or burgers.

The Crusty C.O.W. Lobster & Beef Burger is a combo that lets you have the best of both worlds. The burger comes with a succulent premium beef patty, and is served alongside half a lobster drenched in herb & butter sauce. Definitely worth the $39.90 price tag if you have the appetite to match!

Our only gripe was that the burger could have done with a dash of sauce. After all, that’s what Cajun On Wheels is famous for right?

Cajun On Wheels has got our stamp of approval if you intend on feasting on seafood. You won’t be disappointed, especially if you love spicy food.

Cajun On Wheels

Address: PASARBELLA @ SUNTEC, #01-455 North Wing, Suntec City
Opening Hours: Daily; 10am – 10pm

Address: Plaza Singapura, #03-92 (new wing), 68 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238839
Opening Hours: Daily; 11am – 10pm

Website

Also read A Makcik Revamped Nasi Ayam With Lava Eggs And Sous-Vide Chicken – But Is It Worth $9.50?

After You’s Thai Thai Must Try Shibuya Toasts Are Coming To S’pore For One Weekend

As part of The Finest Thai Festival organized by the Royal Thai Embassy, After You will be bringing their sweet desserts to Singapore so that you don’t have to step one foot off the island to feast on their legnedary Shibuya Toasts.

This weekend, from 8 to 10 September, stop by the Thai Embassy in Orchard to explore the best of Thailand.

There’s always room for dessert

This is the first time ever that After You will be coming to Singapore, even if its just for one weekend. This is your chance to eat all the Shibuya toasts!

Their most popular item is the Shibuya Honey Toast, that comes in all sorts of flavors like sticky toffee, cheese, strawberry cream and nutella. There’s even a durian sticky rice shibuya toast!

The Shibuya Special Black Toast is for those wondering how charcoal toast would taste like.

If that’s too much bread for you, After You also has other desserts like buttermilk pancakes, brownies, and an absolutely delicious chocolate lava cake.

Eat, shop, try the lucky draw. Repeat!

Besides After You, there are plenty of other Thai food stalls, local brands and fashion designers that will be at the festival.

Aromatherapy label HARNN is one to look out for if you love natural, soothing skin care. They carry everything from essential oils to body scrubs, so that you can recreate the spa experience in the privacy of your own home. April’s Bakery will also be bringing their trademark pork pies that currently aren’t available at the Singapore outlets – be sure to grab one while they’re hot!

Another reason to stop by the festival is the Thai traditional lucky draw at the Soi-Dao Tree by the Sansiri Family, where you stand a chance daily to win a round-trip to Bangkok from Singapore.

If you are planning on stopping by The Finest Thai Festival, remember to bring loads of cash as NETS or credit cards are not accepted.

It’s going to be an exciting weekend, so be sure to go early so that you won’t miss out anything.

The Finest Thai
Address: Royal Thai Embassy, 370 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238870
Date: 8-10 September, 12pm – 9pm
Website

Also read Prodigal Roasters Has The Most Bizarre Cheese Tart Flavors To Complement Their Seasonal Coffee Menu

(Header Image Source: beterinaryo/ After You)

This Cafe’s Unique Éclairs Will Have You Choux-ing Them Over And Over Again

When you think of éclairs, a cream-filled pastry with chocolate icing probably comes to mind.

Made the same way in pretty much every bakery that sells its, there’s a cafe in Singapore that’s re-energising the pastry, one unexpected flavour at a time.

L’éclair is Singapore’s first éclair specialty store and cafe. Set up by a duo that was trained at Le Cordon Bleu Paris, the two are all about discovering and expanding the possibilities of the éclair.

Their inventive handcrafted éclairs are not only an exquisite treat for the tastebuds, they’re also extremely easy on the eyes and look great on the ‘gram.

Located at Dhoby Gaut, this cafe is a short 5 minute walk from Dhoby Gaut MRT Station.

A Taste Of Paris

While L’éclair has created quite a variety of éclairs to date, you’ll find that they only serve 10 flavours each day – a blessing, considering that you’ll have enough trouble picking just one to eat.

One day, you’ll find a Kaya Pandan Éclair, a fancy twist on Singaporeans’ favourite breakfast toast; and another, you’ll find a Baileys Cheesecake Éclair that’s filled with baileys pastry cream, topped with baileys cheesecake cream, and drizzled with baileys ganache for good measure – a triple hit of the delicious Irish cream liqueur.

Some of the customers’ favourites here include the Ispahan, a pretty pink éclair filled with a light rose cream, cut lychees and fresh raspberries. Another beaut is the Matcha flavour, which comprises a smooth, premium matcha cream and white chocolate – a match made in dessert heaven.

Made using only the finest and freshest ingredients, you get all your money’s worth off these éclairs that are priced between $8 – $9 each.

A Mid-Autumn Special

Limited edition flavours are not unusual for the creative team at L’éclair.

To celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival, they’ve created 3 brand new flavours: Salted egg yolk lotus, black sesame red bean, and taro macadamia.

Available from 9 September onwards, you can pre-order these éclairs for first dibs on these mooncake-inspired éclairs!

In the past, they’ve also created a bunch of Chinese New Year-themed mooncakes, with CNY staples like pineapple tart, bak kwa, and pork floss making an appearance in these typically sweet pastries.

High Tea Degustation

Can’t quite decide on just one? Treat yourself to a whole meal of éclairs with L’éclair’s High Tea Degustation!

Savour an assortment of 5 assorted mini éclairs, alongside savoury bites including a Truffle Egg Mayo Choux Puff, Foie Gras Pate & Tomato Relish Crostini, Roasted Mushrooms Vol au Vent, Tomato & Basil Bruschetta, Signature Chicken & Bacon Pie, and Smoked Salmon & Dill Mousse Tartlet. You’ll also get one beverage per person to go with your elegant bites.

Super Insta-worthy individually and as a whole set, you’ll want to keep your phones on standby because you won’t be able to get through this tea without snapping at least a couple of pics.

The degustation will set you back $50 on weekdays (Tue – Fri) and $60 on weekends and public holidays, and are 9101 1971

Also read Lady M Created A Light-Up Lantern For Its Mooncakes, Because Boxes Are So Mainstream

(Header Image Source: @leclairpatisserie)

Japan’s Famous Blinged Out Soft Serves Are Here, And They’re Sure To Give You A Gold Rush

If pretty food excites you, there’s a new Insta-worthy dessert in town you’ll want to hear all about – gold leaf ice cream cones.

While we’ve seen various coloured foods – from black foods to pink foods – go in and out of trend, gold never goes out of style.

Small Potatoes Ice Creamery has recently launched Japan’s famous Kinkaku Soft Serve Ice Cream in Singapore, and in two delectable flavours: Sea Salt Caramel With Gold Leaf ($12), and Purple Potato With Silver Leaf ($10).

Available at both Small Potatoes Ice Creamery branches at Somerset 313 and Novena Square 2, you’ll feel all kinds of fancy when you down these icy cold cones.

Go For Gold

Not only do these ice cream cones look luxurious; with a soft serve that’s made with Hokkaido Milk, they taste luxurious as well!

The soft serve is coated with gold or silver leaves that are imported from Japan, and that are made from edible 24k gold.

Shimmery and shiny in the light, be sure to capture these photogenic treats from every angle – you’ll be kicking yourself for it if you don’t!

A word of warning for those of you who are keen to try these metallic cones – these are available in limited supply and will only be available in stores until they sell out.

To avoid disappointment, we suggest you make your way down to either branch ASAP!

Small Potatoes Ice Creamery
Address: 313@Somerset, #B3-48, Singapore 238895
Opening Hours: Daily, 11am – 10pm
Contact no.: 6634 3168

Address: Novena Square 2, #B1-131 Square 2, 10 Sinaran Drive, Singapore 307506
Opening Hours: Daily, 11am – 10pm
Contact no.: 6352 2661

Also read 10 Quirky Mooncakes That Break Tradition With Flavours Like Bubble Tea, Chilli And Salted Egg Yolk

(Header Image Source: @gcdwilson,

10 High-Octane Events To Kick Off The First Half Of September [1-15 September]

It’s finally here – September!

September is always a busy month because of the Singapore F1 Grand Prix stop. As the drivers descend upon our shores, we are armed with loads of parties and festivities to welcome them to our sunny island.

If you aren’t into the racing and/or partying scene, here are some ideas on what else you can get up to the first half of this month.

Play & Discover

1. Star Wars: Experience The Force

On the stroke of midnight of 1 September, you’ll be able to get first dibs on exclusive merch from the upcoming movie, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, at Ion Orchard.

The celebrations will continue with pop-ups and installations like the Millennium Falcon and a super adorable BB-8 virtual reality experience.

It’s never too early to start, so bring your young ones to their very first Padawan training class to kick start their journey to being a Jedi Master.

The festival will culminate in an entire zone dedicated to fans of the galaxy at the annual Singapore Toy, Game & Comic Convention (STGCC). Go crazy taking photos with replicas of Kylo Ren’s TIE Silencer, J.J. Abrams’ autographed Rey’s Speeder, and a film replica of the interior of the Millennium Falcon.

Star Wars: Experience The Force Festival
Address: Ion Orchard and Sands Expo & Convention Centre Hall D, E & F, Level B2, Marina Bay Sands 
When: 1 – 10 Sep
The Imaginarium Of David

The greatest suspense is the feeling of mystery!

Andsoforth, who is well known for bringing whimsical fantasies to life in a theatrical dinner setting, are back again with another hit production.

This time round, the tale of David and Goliath is re-imagined in a modern disco setting, with b-boys, swan ballerinas, Shaolin Ballerinas, and a cabaret that will ensure you won’t have a peaceful dinner.

Here’s what went down at their previous show:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wam9Iq6eSvM

The food will also be extraordinary, with a four course meal to tease your tastebuds and a sneaky cocktail thrown in at the end to finish off the night.

The Imaginarium Of David
Address: Secret location – only revealed on the day of the event itself
When: Every Fri & Sat till 30 Sep
Website

3. Dashboard Confessional Live In Singapore

Relive your childhood with one of the icons of the 2000s emo era – Dashboard Confessional!

Even though they’ve been to Singapore twice previously, they were both stripped down, acoustic shows. This time round, they will come at us full force, with the entire band in attendance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j82FBbgpUy4

You can expect old favorites like ‘Belle Of The Boulevard’, ‘Stolen’, and also newer material off their latest album, such as ‘Hopes Up’. Their sound has changed slightly over the years, but still retains the same poignancy and rawness that we loved in our teen years.

Dashboard Confessional Live In Singapore
Address: D’Marquee@Downtown East
When: 9 Sep
Tickets

4. Singapore Toy, Game & Comic Convention 2017 (STGCC)

Our local version of Comic Con is celebrating its tenth year this year!

Anything from manga, anime, comics to cosplay and collectibles goes at STGCC. Attendees can score limited edition drops, meet artists and famous cosplayers, and take part in the festivities by dressing up as their favorite characters.

C.B. Cebulksi, editor of Marvel Comics and talent scout, will be here doing his portfolio review rounds for aspiring cartoonists and illustrators. Also visiting are Japanese toy designers Hinatique and Yasu, who will be visiting Singapore for the first time.

This year, there will be a dedicated zone for Star Wars fans, with a live replica of the Millenium Falcon.

An entire hall dedicated to competitive and casual gamers will also see three gaming tournaments – ROG Masters 2017 – DOTA 2 – Singapore Qualifier and ROG Masters 2017 – CS:GO – Singapore Qualifier finals, and semi-final to finals Tickets

5. West Side Story

Pretty much the underworld version of the Shakespearean romance tragedy Romeo And Juliet.

One of Broadway’s biggest spectacles will be making its way to Singapore after selling out shows in Sydney, Tokyo and London.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evqC4HTIOjY

West Side Story is a tale of two star-crossed lovers from rival teenage gangs, set in the slums of 1950s New York. The musical will take to the stage in a flurry of explosive choreography and jazzy tunes.

We’re sure you won’t be able to resist singing along to this ill-fated violent romance that painfully reveals the injustice of the social system in America back in the 1950s.

West Side Story
Address: Grand Theatre, Mastercard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands
When: 13 – 30 Sep
Tickets

6. Music Matters Live 2017

Held in conjunction with the All That Matters Live Conference and Apple Music, Music Matters Live is back again this year, happening from 9 – 13 Sep! Artists from all over the world will gather to showcase the best of their country’s burgeoning music scene.

[caption id="attachment_29427" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Image Credit: DANakaDAN[/caption]

This event will see rapper DANakaDAN from USA, indie outfit Fairchild from Australia and Taiwanese rock heavyweights Elephant Gym 大象體操 making up some of the international acts.

Repping Singapore, we have Falling Feathers, M1ldl1fe and Tabitha Nauser.

[caption id="attachment_29429" align="aligncenter" width="240"] Image Credit: Falling Feathers[/caption]

Head over to the Various locations, including CHIJMES and Timbre outlets
When: 9 – 13 Sep
Singapore Grand Prix: Singapore F1 2017

The highlight of the racing world is finally here!

[caption id="attachment_29433" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Image Credit: Image Credit: Singapore Grand Prix: Singapore F1 2017
When: 15 – 17 Sep
CHIKIN

Spice up your yakitori with CHIKIN’s Szechuan-style yakitori.

[caption id="attachment_29347" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Chikin skewers[/caption]

Instead of using the usual tare sauce, CHIKIN uses mala to season their yakitori. Expect to find over 11 parts of the chicken available on the menu, as well as various other kushiyaki like veggies and other meats.

[caption id="attachment_29349" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Cocktail[/caption]

The pop-art inspired bar also has an extensive range of Japanese whiskies and sakes to choose from, as well as an entire menu of cocktails that reinterpret old favorites with a twist.

CHIKIN
Address: 6 Bukit Pasoh Rd, Singapore 089820
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 5pm – 12am; Sat: 6pm – 12am
Contact no.: 6634 2916
Website

9. Ben and Jerry’s new flavors: Frozen Flakes and Cocoa Loco

We just cannot get enough of Ben & Jerry’s new ice cream flavors!

This time, their two new flavors remind us of breakfast. Cocoa Loco is a chocolate cereal milk ice cream with crisp chocolate cereal swirls. Frozen Flakes is the normal milk ice cream version of Cocoa Loco, just without chocolate.

[caption id="attachment_29430" align="aligncenter" width="240"] Image Credit: @nylonsg[/caption]

Who says we can’t have ice cream for breakfast?

Ben & Jerry’s 
Address: Various outlets
Website

Shop 

10. Superga X Disney collection

No matter how old we are, Disney characters will always have a place in our hearts.

[caption id="attachment_29431" align="alignnone" width="300"] Image Credit: Superga[/caption]

The classic 2750 cut gets an adorable update with a baby pink Minnie mouse print and a fire-truck red shade covered in Mickey’s handprints.

These shoes also comes in kid sizes, so that you can be all matchy-matchy with your younger siblings.

These shoes can be found in-store at Wheelock and Vivocity, and you can also purchase them online.

Superga
Address: 501 Orchard Road, Wheelock Place #B2-04, Singapore 238880
Opening Hours: Mon – Sun: 10am – 10pm
Contact no.: 6634 2916
Website

With such an exciting and star-studded month ahead, we can’t wait for it to come! You definitely won’t want to stay in and miss out on all the fun.

Also read Make Your Heart Go “Dookki Dookki” At Singapore’s First Ever Tteokbokki Buffet

(Header Image Source: Expat Living)