Location: Central

Your Room Will Smell Absolutely Scent-sational Once You Light Up These Candles

Candles come in so many shapes, sizes and smells, you can never have one too many!

Let’s face it, candles are pretty versatile and should become a necessity in every house.Not only to they do beautify your room, the scents they give off when lit will soothe your frazzled nerves and can freshen up any room almost immediately.

Plus, candles come in super handy if you are planning a romantic night in (if you know what I mean).

We waded through the tons of options out there and chose some of the more interesting scents that will make your house smell absolutely scent-sational.

1. Bath & Body Works – But First, Coffee! 

Revel in the smells of thatched bungalows and the salty sea breeze with Glasshouse‘s tropical scent.

The flowery yet tangy smells courtesy of cilantro, tangerine and orange blossoms will leave you with the thoughts of clear sandy beaches when you are actually in a hot and stuffy HDB flat.

Where to get it: Naiise outlets or online
Website

3. fresh – Sake

[caption id="attachment_30048" align="alignnone" width="720"] De-stress and de-mozzie (Image Credit: Artisan’s Garden)[/caption]

The Citronella Candle caught my nose with its grassy, floral smell that reminds me of the clean smell of wet grass.

Not only is citronella said to help reduce stress when used in aromatherapy, it also works as a mosquito repellent! Perfect for our tropical weather.

Artisan’s Garden sells the this candle in a small travel tin so that you can easily carry it around if you are thinking of going camping or traveling to tropical countries.

Where to get it: online
Use the holder to store trinkets once it’s finished (Image Credit: 6. NARS – Acapulco

[caption id="attachment_30051" align="alignnone" width="1196"] All candles come with the logo on it! (Image Credit: Beautyfreshfave)[/caption]

Yes, this is the same beauty brand that you find in Sephora. Not many people are aware that NARS carry candles (mainly because they don’t bring it to Singapore), which you have to buy through the NARS US website or Amazon.

And yes, the shipping fee is definitely worth it, because the candles can seriously compete with their make up range. My pick would be Acapulco, a chocolate-based candle that comes layered with traces of whipped cream and coffee beans. It’s delicious, but not overly sweet – kind of like dark chocolate.

Where to get it: NARS US website or Amazon
Such brew-tiful smells (Image Credit: TWG Tea)[/caption]

Another underrated candle from a brand that specialises in selling something else!

If you love the smell of your TWG tea, you can now get their candle version so that you can enjoy the delicious smells without having to brew a pot.

Their White Earl Grey Tea Scented Candle is a fresh, raw fragrance of bergamot and imperial silver needles that smells as good as it tastes.

Where to get it: online
Choose your poison of choice! (Image Credit: Spicy Orange And Hot Peppers Scent and Marijuanna-Weed Scent that you will be hard pressed to find anywhere else.

Where to get it: online or through Etsy
Also read Gifs Are A Legit Art Form, And This Festival Dedicated To Them Proves It

(Header Image Source: Pinterest)

Gifs Are A Legit Art Form, And This Festival Dedicated To Them Proves It

If you’re a millennial, chances are GIFs are a part of your everyday communications.

You pepper your conversations with them, whether on WhatsApp or on Facebook Messenger. Reaction GIFs, cute animal GIFs… Whichever is appropriate for the conversation, you’ll drop a GIF for good measure – sometimes, even in place of actual words.

That’s millennials for you.

Whether you’re someone who drops the occasional GIF, or have been told that you’re your group’s resident GIF king/queen, there’s an art festival you’ll want to attend that features – no prizes for guessing – the GIF.

Noise Singapore will be bringing us a festival entirely dedicated to GIFs.: SPELLBOUND.GIF.

Happening from 4 – 11 October, this GIF-fest will take place at Gillman Barracks.

Put together by Noise Singapore and Kult Studios, you won’t find your typical meme GIFs here, but GIFs created by local artists.

While there is currently limited information on what will be going down at this festival, if GIF fest’s Instagram account is anything to go by, we’ll be seeing plenty of hypnotic, trippy GIFs.

These GIFs will be presented in an immersive multi-media exhibition. If you’re expecting this to take place in a traditional art gallery or space, think again. The experience will be more akin to visiting a “night club or space museum”.

https://giphy.com/gifs/eklYH7DYrVIru

A Call For GIFs

The festival is currently calling for GIF submissions.

If you’re lucky, your masterpiece just may be selected to be showcased at the festival, alongside some of the festival’s best GIFs.

Here are some GIFs that caught our eye.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BY0YG55n-VR/?tagged=giffestsg

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYqeNKll58w/?tagged=giffestsg

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYf7LAbggss/?tagged=giffestsg

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYkAyIJFxiF/?tagged=giffestsg

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYahkgYBONX/?tagged=giffestsg

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYp2kJ-DAcy/?tagged=giffestsg

There’s even one inspired by Monty Python (watch it with the sound on)!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYpF95Jjhjf/?taken-by=giffestsg

The founder of Kult, who is part of the organising team, shared a little peek on what to expect, and it looks set to be pretty mind-blowing.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BYgjHf9jvgR/?tagged=giffestsg

Whether you’re a casual GIF user, or have the tendency to overuse GIFs on the daily, mark these dates down in your calendar. A totally different kind of art exhibition, we have a feeling plenty of awesome ‘gram shots (or boomerangs) will come out of this!

Noise x GIF Fest 2017 – SPELLBOUND.GIF
Address: Gillman Barracks, 9 Lock Road, Singapore 108937
Dates: 4 – 11 Oct
Website

Also read ZoukOut 2017’s Phase One Lineup Is Out – Here Are All The Acts So Far

(Header Image Source: Noise X Gif Festival)

The Incredible Spread At This Seafood Buffet Will Make You Say “Shell We?”

If you’re a fan of seafood, you’ll know that seafood – and especially fresh seafood – is typically quite expensive. Order just a few dishes and you’ll find that you’ll already have racked up quite the bill.

For that reason, we love getting our seafood fix from a buffet. Plus, who doesn’t love a spread of food you can have seconds, thirds, and even fourths of if you like?

Previously, PARKROYAL on Pickering’s Lime Restaurant gave us Lobsterfest, a decadent lobster affair that saw the star shellfish dished up in a spectacular variety of ways, such as in risotto, mac and cheese, laksa, cooked with a truffled hollandaise, and more.

This time, the restaurant is back with a new themed buffet, and it’ll be featuring the best of what lies under the sea.

It’s latest offering, “What the Shell” is a seafood buffet where you’ll find a wide array of fresh shellfish and crustaceans – cold, cooked, or dished up with an inventive spin. Think succulent scallops, juicy prawns, sweet crabs…

The best part? Some of the dishes you loved (or missed out on!) during Lobsterfest will be making a re-appearance!

What The Shell!?

Happening from 22 September, some of the highlights at this buffet line are Lobster on Ice, Sauteed Vongole with Chardonnay Scallion, Gratinated Escargots with Pesto Sauce and of course, everyone’s favourite Singapore Chilli Crab.

Other must-tries are Lime’s signature Maine Lobster Laksa, Flower Crab and Shellfish Claypot Congee, and Steamed Ireland Razor Clam with Garlic.

Straight From The Grill

If you love the smoky, charred flavour of food (particularly seafood) over a barbecue, you’ll want to head on outside to the outdoor barbecue.

Savour the flavours and aromas of flame-grilled fresh ocean bounty. Feast on Half-Shelled Scallops and Oysters with Bonito Soy Butter and enjoy Drunken Whole Tiger Prawns with Salt served straight from the grill!

Keep your eyes open for the Hourly Chef’s Surprise at 7.30pm and 8.30pm.  Deep-fried Soft Shell Crab with Salted Egg Yolk or Maine Lobster with Jalepeno, Garlic and Butter will make quick appearances at the live station, so grab your portion before they disappear off the shelves. After all, a little bit of kiasu-ness never hurt anyone!

Shots, Shots, Shots

And by shots, we mean those of the Oyster variety.

Only three lucky diners will get to attempt the Oyster Shooter Challenge each day. Down 12 alcohol-infused oyster shooters within three minutes, and you get to enjoy dinner on the house! That, and you’ll also win a spot on Lime Restaurant’s “Shell of Fame” (Hall of fame, get it?).

This challenge will go on for 10 weeks, and the diner who manages to down the highest number of shooters will get to take home a $100 dining voucher.

The buffet will set you back $99++ per adult and $59++ per child. Children below 5 years of age get to dine for free. To make a reservation at this buffet, drop them a call at  6809 8899.

If you’ve got a special occasion coming up – a birthday, an anniversary – or you just want to pamper someone you love, spoil them with this gourmet spread! Featuring a stunning variety of the freshest catch prepared in a host of different ways, eat to your heart’s content at Lime Restaurant!

Lime Restaurant 
Address: PARKROYAL on Pickering, 3 Upper Pickering Street, Singapore 058289 
Availability: Tue – Sun, 22 Sep – 15 Oct; Tue – Thu, 17 Oct – 16 Nov
Time: 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Contact no.: 6809 889
Website

(Header Image Source: PARKROYAL on Pickering)

Also read This Social Media-Centric Cruise Lets You Hang With Influencers At Sea – And Learn Some Of Their Tricks

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?

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

Chicken rice might seem like a simple dish – easy to cook, but hard to perfect.

In Singapore, you’ll find that most stalls offer up Hainanese chicken rice, served up with sides like braised eggs, vegetables and tau kwa (braised tofu).

Makcik Chicken is here to change the chicken rice game, putting a modern twist on the classic Singaporean dish!

Legend has it that there is a makcik with chicken rice skills second to none

Mackcik Chicken is run by a couple who used to work at a media advertising agency, which would explain why their branding game is so on point.

Makcik Chicken maintains that a very camera-shy makcik wants everyone to try her secret recipe. We’re going to assume that makcik exists, so here goes nothing!

Our boxes of chicken rice arrived in simple brown cardboard boxes, no frills attached. But as soon as you open the box, you’ll be greeted by the comforting fragrance of chicken rice. Smells good? Check.

In case you were wondering what’s so special about Makcik’s chicken; the chicken is cooked sous-vide style. For those who didn’t learn to cook from a French chef, that means your chicken was cooked in a vacuum bag to keep it from becoming overcooked. As promised, the chicken was juicy, tender and bursting with flavor with every mouthful.

If you don’t like spice, you probably won’t be impressed by the rice (although it does come in a huge portion). Once you add a lil red or green chili, it’s like the rice suddenly came alive in your mouth. The red chili is potent, with loads of garlic, whilst the green chili is slightly sourer because of the vinegar.

Tastes good? Check.

Makcik be working her magic with lava eggs and glittery drinks

The Hanjuku eggs (soft boiled eggs) was the ultimate deciding factor that made me decide that I liked Makcik’s chicken rice. Seriously, their Hanjuku eggs can even compete with the ones that are sold at 7-Eleven.

Grab a drink to accompany your meal while you’re at it. Makcik has stirred up three concoctions to choose from; a crazy good Bandung that even comes with rose petals, a Calamansi Fantasti that comes with a refreshing tinge of mint, and Cik Rose Syrup Limau, a combination of rose syrup, lime and pomegranate drink to satisfy your sweet tooth.

If you have $10 to spare, you might want to consider trying Makcik’s Jambu Jampi Juice, a rose apple drink that swirls with shiny, sparkly edible glitter. Plus points for presentation!

The only downside that we could really foresee is that there isn’t space for you to dine in when you visit their outlet; there’s only a bench outside right now.

Your best bet is to order Makcik Chicken through Deliveroo, Ubereats, or Honestbee so that you don’t need to hunt for a place to enjoy your meal before it becomes cold.

The only thing really stopping me from ordering from my dear Makcik everyday is the $9.50 price tag. While you might not be able to afford to have it everyday, it’s definitely worth trying. Or maybe every once in a while as a treat.

Makcik Chicken
Address: 77 Aliwal Street
Opening Hours: Wed – Sat, 11am – 8pm
Also read Prodigal Roasters Has The Most Bizarre Cheese Tart Flavors To Complement Their Seasonal Coffee Menu

ZoukOut 2017’s Phase One Lineup Is Out – Here Are All The Acts So Far

After announcing Flume and Marshmello as the first two headliners for ZoukOut 2017 in Singapore, the festival has added another 3 heavy hitters to its lineup: German EDM sensation Robin Schulz, techno and house artist Claptone, and electronic legend Gui Boratto.

[caption id="attachment_29847" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Image Credit: Image Credit: ZoukOut’s website. Phase 3 tickets are still available, and are going at $228 for a 2-day pass, and $138 and $148 for a 1-day pass for day one and day two respectively. VIP tickets for both days are still available, with day one and day two tickets going at $228 and $238 respectively.

Purchase your tickets here, and check back for more updates!

ZoukOut 2017
Venue: Siloso Beach
Date: 8 – 9 Dec
Admission: Ticketing details The F1 Side Events This Year Are As Lit As The Main Event – Here Are 5 Free Ones To Check Out

(Header Image Source:

At Just $10 A Bowl, This Wagyu Beef Donburi Will Have You Dashing For It Like A Mad Cow

If you’re a meat lover and your ideal meal is one that’s piled high with meat – and specifically beef – Gyu Nami is a lunch spot we think will quickly become one of your favourites.

Newly opened in Amoy Street Food Centre, Gyu Nami is easy to spot with its minimalist white, black and red signboard, and logo resembling Japan’s famous wave print, “The Great Wave off Kanagawa“.

Priced at an affordable $10, the young foodies behind Gyu Nami wanted to make high quality gourmet-fare available for the masses – and they do not stinge on their ingredients.

A Mountain Of Beef

Order a bowl of their Beef Donburi and you’ll find your bowl piled high with slices of beef so that you can barely see the rice beneath!

Slow roasted to a nice medium rare, the beef is tender and juicy.

A creamy yoghurt sauce is poured over the mountain of beef, with a sous-vide egg to go along. If the thought of eating so much meat puts you off, don’t worry, the bright, tangy yoghurt sauce offsets the meatiness of the dish, while also giving it that extra dimension of flavour.

The next time you’re in Amoy Street Food Centre for lunch, stray from your typical order and try one of Gyu Nami’s beef Donburi bowls! Delicious and great value for money, your first time at Gyu Nami will likely not be your last.

Gyu Nami
Address: Amoy Street Food Centre, 7 Maxwell Road, Singapore 069111 
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 11am – 3pm 
Contact no.: 9066 3566
Facebook

Also read This Local Instagram Account Is Turning Dabao-ed Hawker Food Into Works Of Art

(Header Image Source: @gyunamisg)

The F1 Side Events This Year Are As Lit As The Main Event – Here Are 5 Free Ones To Check Out

We are less than two weeks away from the 2017 Singapore Grand Prix, and the entire city is already gearing up for the weekend with an influx of off-track activities. Hello, exclusive F1 party that I cannot afford.

Maybe you didn’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a grandstand to watch your money flash by in barely a second, or maybe you just aren’t that into racing.

Here are 5 things that your broke ass butt can do to make fully make use of all the exciting events and promotions happening during the Singapore Grand Prix weekend. You deserve to enjoy the weekends!

1. Dance the night away in Haji Lane

Here’s one for those who cannot afford the ridiculous prices at all those F1 parties (nobody has $900 to spare for Amber Lounge). Blu Jaz Cafe will be hosting a street party in Haji Lane, and hip-hop, reggaeton, and 90s R&B will be your soundtrack for the night.

Not only is there be free admission and lucky draw prizes to be won, there will also be FREE SHOTS for the first 200 people! You don’t need to say no more, I’m so there.

Haji Lane F1 Street Party (Open Air Hip Hop X Rnb X Reggaeton)
Address: 241 Beach Road & Haji Lane, Singapore 189753
Date: 9 September 2017
FREE ADMISSION
More info

2. Watch Lau Pa Sat transform into a fashion runway

Lau Pa Sat, our favourite CBD makan spot, will turn the heat up during the F1 weekend (and not because of excessive orders for satay and chicken wings).

Heineken will be presenting their own fashion collection on a catwalk for the first time in Asia! Expect to see models like Sheila Sim, Angie Watkins and Jason Godrey. Former F1 racer David Coulthard will also be making an appearance at the show which features the latest pieces from the collections of local designers Sabrina Goh and Amos Ananda.

Even if you don’t have front row tickets, you’ll be able to catch a bit of the action from the sidewalk. There will be a live mannequin performance and roving iPad magic show nearby, which you might bump into if you’re lucky.

Heineken F1 Fashion Party
Address: Lao Pa Sat, along Satay Street
Date: 13 September, 9pm – 10.15pm
Website

3. Get free supper delivery from foodpanda

Okay, it’s actually $5 credit off your order. But its pretty much the same as free delivery, plus a couple more dollars off your meal.

foodpanda wants to extend thanks to all those workers and volunteers who worked hard in order to ensure the smooth success of the Singapore Grand Prix, but no one is stopping you from using the code.

The code ‘VOLUNTEER’ will get you $5 credit, and is only redeemable from 16 to 18 September, between 1-3am.

4. Try out the race car simulator onboard the Grand Prix’s roving truck

Maybe it’s too late for you to realize your full potential as a F1 race car driver. But you can always indulge a little by hopping aboard the GP roving truck for a chance at taking on the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

If you didn’t catch the race car simulator at its various pop-ups, your last chance to try it out will be this weekend at Ang Mo Kio Hub. Time to get your a

GP Roving Truck 
Address: Ang Mo Kio Hub
Date: 9 – 10 September
Website

5. Make use of the extended MRT times to have a couple more drinks

If you are one of those who don’t really care for racing or partying, this one’s for you. All weekend from 15 to 17 September, bus and train services will be extended by about half an hour.

Four bus services – 222, 222G, 181 and 243G – will also be extended. You can finally say yes to one more round!

There you have it. Just because you are too poor to afford concert tickets to go watch OneRepublic or Calvin Harris, there are still plenty of ways for you to enjoy the F1 weekend. You don’t have to empty your wallet to have a good time!

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