A Poke Theory’s Alter Ego Serves Up Irresistibly Sinful Food You Cannot Say No To

It has only been a few months since the official opening of A Poke Theory but they have successfully spinned a Poke Bowl craze. And this ain’t stoping them. Their sister concept, Alter Ego, will be opening its doors to the public on 5th November 2016.

Alter Ego at the Esplanade

Alter Ego is the second food concept launched by the Tandem Collective group.

Wanting to reignite the F&B space amongst locals, they have chosen to venture into the Esplanade as it is a familiar space to our local musicians and creatives.

Food

Just like A Poke Theory, Alter Ego will not compromise on their menu.

Their ever famous healthy and delectable poke and smoothie bowls are still the primary focus during the daytime.

But as night falls, you get to choose from a delightful selection of entry-level craft beers and diet-ruining bar grubs.

Try the Loaded Taters if you are more adventurous.

Crisp tater tots are doused mercilessly in spicy jalapeño cheese sauce, maple-glazed bacon & sour cream.

Different layers of flavours bursting in your mouth all at once is definitely going to give your taste buds a treat. Oh yum.

Their Buffalo Wings look tantalising too.

Twice-baked and tossed in their spicy and tangy buffalo sauce, the wings look oh so good! We can’t wait to get our hands dirty.

Decor

Decked out in raw industrial fittings of oxidised iron, copper, cement and organic teak, Alter Ego is set to be an open and creative space in the daylight.

But as the sun sets, it transforms into a darker, dangerously inviting place with scrawling secret messages unveiling themselves on their dimming wall murals.

Here is a big cheer to a new creative and beautiful space perfect for long awaited catch-up sessions with our mates!

$1 Deals! Emporium Shokuhin Celebrates Its Anniversary With $1 Wagyu, Oysters, & More

As Singapore’s first integrated Japanese food shopping and dining destination, the After all, it is so ginormous that it’ll take you at least 10 minutes to browse through the never-ending variety of Japanese products.

If you haven’t already heard of Emporium Shokuhin, this Japanese market located within Marina Square is a Japanese gourmet grocer that features live seafood in huge ass tanks, a beef dry-aging facility, and eight unique dining concepts.

Talk about having an all-in-one food establishment!

Emporium Shokuhin’s 1st Anniversary $1 Deals

For its first anniversary, Emporium Shokuhin is rolling out a series of $1 deals throughout the month of November.

That’s right, $1.

If you’re still undecided on whether you should dine at Emporium Shokuhin, we present you four awesome $1 deals that’ll help seal the deal.

1. Indulge In Endless Premium Japanese Miyazaki Wagyu At Just $1

Smooth, buttery, and full of flavour – this grilled meat is the dream of all beef lovers.

Served by Gyuu + Yainiku Grill at Emporium Shokuhin, enjoy intensely flavoured dry-aged beef. Image flavourful, tender meat that melts in your mouth.

Originally priced at $98++ per individual, you’ll now get to dine at $1 for every 2^nd Miyazaki Wagyu & Kurobuta Buffet.*

This essentially means you get to dine at $99++ for two – wagyu-bly the best deal in town.

Gyuu + Yainiku Grill
Opening hours: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
*Valid only for adult buffet, 90 mins per dine-in

2. Enjoy Live Oysters At $1 Each

A fan of seafood? The Emporium Shokuhin’s Umi + Vino Seafood Wine Bar is the place to be this November.

With a minimum order of six oysters, you get to enjoy your second live oyster at just $1 each!* Say whaaaat. Looks like Takuni Raw won’t be the only place to get your oyster fix this month.

Umi + Vino Seafood Wine Bar
Opening hours: 11.30am – 10pm
*2^nd live oyster must be of same or lower value as regular priced oyster

3. Tuck Into $1 Hokkaido Wagyu Shabu-Shabu Buffet

The monsoon season is upon us and with all the rainy weather, who can blame us for craving something warm and soupy?

At Tsukeru Shabu-Shabu, you’ll get to savour premium flavoured, marbled wagyu with unlimited servings of seafood and vegetables at $99 for two!*

With its usual price at $98+ for one, this buffet is essentially going at the price of one-for-one.

Tsukeru Shabu-Shabu
Opening hours: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
*Valid only for adult buffet, 90 mins per dine-in

4. Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth with $1 Pastries

Looking for something sweet to end your meal at Emporium Shokuhin with?

Located within Emporium Shokuhin is Kohi-Koji Café & Bakery, a café that offers desserts ranging from fruit tarts to rainbow cakes.

Just for the month of November, enjoy the pastry of the day at just $1!* Simply purchase any beverage in order to enjoy the deal.

Kohi-Koji Café & Bakery
Opening hours: 8.30am – 8.30pm
*Purchase excludes bottled rinks
*Pastry of the day cannot be exchanged for other items

There you have it, four awesome $1 deals to take advantage of till the end of this November. So if you’re looking for a place for your Japanese cuisine fix, you’d definitely know where to go.

Emporium Shokuhin
Address: 6 Raffles Boulevard #01-18 Marina Square, Singapore 039594
Call: 6224 3433
Facebook here
Website Header image: Nuyou

Also read, Feeling Experimental? Try Alchemist Beer Lab’s Super Funky Infused Beers!

A Day In The Life Of An Uber Driver – All You Need To Know And Tips Included!

Move over, taxis! Uber is one the newest and best way to get around Singapore. There is no denying that Uber advertisements are literally everywhere – on Instagram, Facebook, and even the little advert banners on the websites we visit.

Uber “supposedly” offers lucrative incentives for their drivers – such as X3 rates when driving during peak hours or additional SGD500 when you refer a friend to drive.

Sounds like a fast road to easy money! But what are the realities behind the wheel of an Uber driver?

Here is my personal account of being an Uber driver for a day:

An Early Start To The Day

My day started in the wee hours of the morning, with the sky slightly filled with faint blue hues.

I had to be at a multi-storey carpark in Serangoon to pick the Uber car,a Toyota Prius C, that was assigned to me.

With just a single tap of my EZ-link card on the card-reader next to the IU, the car was unlocked. Fascinating!

Fumbling Over The Uber App

Getting clients, GPS directions to locations, tracking incoming bookings and earnings etc., were all done via the Uber App – which I struggled to figure out while driving.

I was so fixated on exploring the Uber App and ensuring that I get my first passenger when I heard a loud horn. Apparently, I had not noticed that a huge lorry was going straight.

With my heart beating wildly in my chest, it finally dawned on me why Singapore imposes such heavy fines for using mobile phones while driving. Thankfully, I had the Uber App all figured out by then.

Tip! If you are a first time Uber driver, do play around with the Uber app to familiarise yourself with it first. Figure out how to accept bookings BEFORE hitting the roads. The Uber driver interface is different from the usual Uber passenger interface that we are familiar with.

Tip! Do use the mobile phone holder that comes with a suction cup. This will ensure that your phone is in an ideal position at a corner. It will not block your view of the road and it allows you to reach over easily to accept incoming bookings on your phone!

Picking Up My First Customer

My first booking came with a loud and repetitive “ping” sound just 10 minutes after I had hit the road.

A young couple from Serangoon needed a lift to Bras Basah to attend a friend’s church wedding.

I tried to be the friendly Uber driver –  making small talk and asking where they were heading to.

I was just secretly hoping that they would give me a five star rating as that would boost my credentials as a well-rated Uber driver.

Credit: Verine Ling[/caption]

As this was during one of Uber’s regular promotions to entice people to try being an Uber driver, referral incentives and guaranteed top-up on hourly rates were dangled as carrots.

Watch Out! Certain promotional campaigns require an Uber driver to meet a minimum of 80% acceptance rate for bookings before qualifying for the incentives.

However, this might not always be explicitly stated on the website. Do make it a point to check with the Uber operators if there is such criteria before driving!

[caption id="attachment_17480" align="aligncenter" width="572"] Credit: Verine Ling[/caption]

Is It Really Easy Money?

I was perhaps a lazy Uber driver.

Despite the constant pinging of the Uber app throughout my entire shift, I only accepted a booking when I felt “ready” to hit the road again after a quick rest.

[caption id="attachment_17372" align="aligncenter" width="1536"] Credit: Credit: )

Also, read We Hopped On The Makan Bus And Didn’t Wanna Get Off – Here’s Why!

Feeling Experimental? Try Alchemist Beer Lab’s Super Funky Infused Beers!

Still recovering from last month’s Oktoberfest? Well, the Alchemist Beer Lab might just be the cure for this hangover – more beer for you!

Alchemist Beer Lab

Located at the snazzily glamorous Beach Road, this first and only beer lab in Asia may look very experimental. However, they’re actually the brainchild of the team behind Little Island Brewing Co. at Changi.

Rest assured that they know what they’re doing!

What is Infused Beer?

The idea of infused beer may sound new, but it has been around for a while in Europe.

Basically, ingredients are first placed into the fusion chamber. Compressed gas is then released before the beer is injected into a tower.

Flavours from ingredients are extracted as pressure is being released from the process. This produces a surprising and delightful twist to the beer.

If this sounds too rocket science for you, just think of it as cold pressed juice, but the beer version.

For Those Who Love Classics

At Alchemist Beer Lab, a whopping 16 infused beer towers are available for brewers to experiment.

Out of the 16 glass towers, eight taps consist of familiar creations by Little Island Brewing Co., such as Sister Golden Ale, Singapore Pale Ale and the award wining That Old Black Magic, that clinched a Gold Medal at the 2016 Asia Beer Awards.

Other popular flavours such as sweet and semi-dry cider, red and white wines are also available for drinkers who prefer classics.

If you’re up for some funk, any choice of the remaining eight towers would make for a great pint of beer.

New & Best Flavours to Try 

It’s all about experimenting!

The infused beer for the eight towers are refreshed every week. This means you get to try new flavours all the time.

What caught our attention is ‘Obama‘, a dry Irish stout infused with marshmallow, vanilla pod and mint leaves!

On top of that, we heard a crowd favourite is the Ugly Sister Golden, a combination of ale infused with grilled pineapple and anise, a type of eastern Mediterranean spice.

If those sounds too avant-garde for you, go for the 50 Shades of Pink, a pretty safe yet fun mix of cider and pink guava.

One word of advice – we know it’s super satisfying to gulp your drink down but when it comes to these test tubes of alcohol, its best to take it slow and savour every single sip.

For The Peckish Drinker

It’s normal to get the hunger pangs when drinking and fortunately Alchemist Beer Lab has got some grub to fill your tummy up.

From Sticky Thai Chicken Wings, Duck Fat Chips to even Smoked Wagyu Brisket Tortilla, you can count on these tapas to complement your drink.

If you’re feeling really hungry, or so happen to drop by the place around lunch time, you would not want to miss their set lunch menu priced from $15.90++.

Why Visit?

The beer (duh), the food, and of course the ambience! The place is really intimate and cosy, perfect for a date or a catch up sesh with your friends.

It’s quiet enough for conversations and the decor is modern and edgy.

All beers are priced at $12 before 7pm and $15 after 7pm.

If you’re there with a couple of friends, go for the party pack. You’ll get to pick 3 beers and enjoy them at a price of $30 (before 7pm) and $38 (after 7pm). Red and white wine are priced at $12 all day, everyday.

Overall, Alchemist Beer Lab is the new hangout spot for all beer and tapas lovers. With such interesting and experimental infused beers, you’d surely want to grab your buddies for a night out!

Alchemist Beer Lab
Address: 26 Beach Road, #B1-16 Singapore
Contact number: +65 6386 4365
Operating Hours:
12pm -12am (Mon- Thurs)
12pm- 2am (Fri)
4pm -12am (Sat)
Closed on Sunday
Facebook: Alchemist Beer Lab

Also, read New Hangout Spot, Chip Bee Gardens, Is Where All The Cool Things Are 

These Super Worth It Student Meals Make Us All Wish We Were Students Again!

Being a student does not mean that we can only eat at cheap, fast food places or coffee shops. Lucky for us, there is a plethora of eateries that offer students an exclusive student meal or dining deal.

Time to indulge in a great student meal with friends, at discounted prices! All you need is your student pass.

Student Meal – Japanese Cuisine

1. Suki-Ya

Gather your friends after class for a delectable and affordable hot pot experience at Suki-Ya!

[caption id="attachment_17349" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Credit: 3. RamenPlay

Students get to enjoy heartwarming and high-quality ramen with RamenPlay‘s fantastic student specials!

[caption id="attachment_17350" align="aligncenter" width="1001"] Credit:

[caption id="attachment_17346" align="aligncenter" width="1006"] Credit: whole day.
Address: Several branches island-wide, do check out their website for the addresses and opening hours
Website  Credit: O’ Coffee Club Facebook[/caption]

From just $6.90++, choose from dishes including Single Waffle with Egg & Bacon or Garlic Prawn Pasta. You can even bring your bestie here for their BFF Bundle – select 2 set meals at just $14.90++! To end off with a sweet treat, simply top up an additional $2.90 for a cake of the day.

O’Coffee Club Student Meal
When: Weekdays, from 2pm
Address: 33 Sengkang West Avenue, The Seletar Mall, #02-K7, Singapore 797653
Promotion is only available at The Seletar Mall
Operating hours: Mon – Thu 10am – 10pm; Fri & Eve of PH 10am – 10.30pm; Sat & PH 8.30am – 10.30pm; Sun 8.30am – 10pm
Website Credit: Hang Out Cafe Facebook[/caption]

Their student deals change on a regular basis so there is always something new every week! Simply check out their Facebook page for the latest student meal. Free wifi is also offered here, making it the perfect mugging spot for you and your friends!

Hang Out Cafe Student Meal
When: Daily, 11am – 8pm
Address: 80 Bencoolen Street, #01-15 NAFA Campus 1, Singapore 189655
Operating hours: Mon – Fri 11am – 9pm; Sat – Sun 9am – 9pm
Website here

Student Meal – Italian Cuisine

7. Saizeriya

Saizeriya might not explictly offer student deals, but the prices of the meals here are considerably “student-friendly” enough!

[caption id="attachment_17353" align="aligncenter" width="854"] Credit: 9. The Bomb Bistro

The Bomb Bistro has a student discount that truly shows why it is really good to be a student.

[caption id="attachment_17343" align="aligncenter" width="679"] Credit: The Bomb Bistro Facebook[/caption]

With an unbelieveable 50% off Pastas, Mains and Pots, this student deal is definitely highly sought after. The Bomb Bistro also has affordable all-day student set meals such as Carbonara Chicken Ham or Salted Egg Chicken Pasta that starts from just $7.90++. Deciding where to go for lunch after classes might not be that difficult after all.

The Bomb Bistro Student Deal
When: Weekdays, 2pm – 6pm
Address: JCube, 2 Jurong East Central 1, #04-12, Singapore 609731
Website here

Student Deals – Desserts

10. Yoguru

Opt for a healthier alternative to ice cream with Yoguru!

[caption id="attachment_17339" align="aligncenter" width="1200"] Credit: Smoothie House Facebook[/caption]

All you have to do is present your student pass, and you can choose your favourite flavours – there are no restrictions! There is no better way to unwind after a long day of classes than indulging in some sweet yet healthy treats!

Smoothie House
When: Weekdays, 12pm – 5pm
Address: Westgate, 3 Gateway Dr, #01-08, Singapore 608532
Promotion is only available here
Operating hours: Daily, 12nn – 1pm
Website  Credit: 100 Beach Road, #01-25, Shaw Tower, Singapore 189702
Operating hours: Mon – Thu 12nn – 9.30pm; Fri – Sat 12nn – 10pm; Sun 1pm – 7pm (Closed on the last Sunday of the month)
Website The Comprehensive 2016 Guide To Student Discounts In Singapore!

SNSD’s Yoona Gets Decked Out By H:CONNECT, Now You Can Too At Its First Singapore Outlet!

From ombre lips and dewy skin to layering and sneakers, Korean fashion and beauty trends have a huge following here in Singapore! And let’s be honest if K pop stars and celebrities look amazing showing off these trends why cant we?!

H:CONNECT

Good news for those of you who love Korean fashion, leading Korean fashion label H:CONNECT has just opened its doors in Singapore! Located at Bugis Junction, H:CONNECT is known for setting trends in Korea’s pop movement. Known for dressing some of the hottest names in the K-pop industry (BoA, f(x) and SHINee, just to name a few), H:CONNECT supplies its outlets with only the hottest apparel pieces on a weekly basis so you’re bound to find something you love!

While Bugis Junction is H:CONNECT’s first Southeast Asian outlet, it is joining the ranks of more than 300 outlets across Korea, Taiwan and China!

H: CONNECT Fall/Winter 2016 Collection

To mark its debut in Southeast Asia, H: CONNECT is bringing in 500 designs from its Fall/Winter 2016 Collection! Inspired by three themes; City Dweller, Nostalgic Insta and Athleisure, H:CONNECT offers up apparel for the constantly evolving lifestyle of the fashion conscious!

City Dweller 

One of Korea’s hottest trend, City Dweller is all about classic understated pieces in chic cuts and colour. Sleek and minimalist, this is the epitome of Korean style!

Nostalgic Insta

Effortlessly stylish and chic, Nostalgic Insta features a combination of vintage pieces and different textures.  The layering of different pieces like bomber jackets, floral prints and embellishments all add a romantic twist to classic street casual pieces!

Athleisure

H: CONNECT’s signature street fashion collection, Athleisure brings together two very different concepts, ‘athletic’ and ‘leisure’! Featuring statement sweaters, pullovers and denim this Athleisure puts a unique spin on Korea’s popular street style!

So if you’re keen on emulating the style that your favourite Korean celebrity is carrying off right now or if you’re on the look out for a brand that offers up a variety of different styles and personas, head on down to H:CONNECT!

Find out more about Korean’s hottest apparel brand at H: CONNECT Official Facebook Page!

H: CONNECT
Bugis Junction #01-101
200 Victoria Street, S188021
Opening Hours: Sun – Thu 11am – 10.30pm; Fri, Sat, PH 11am – 11pm;
Contact: 6264 9872/ 6264 9882

Also Read Melissa’s 2017 Spring/Summer Collection Is All You’ll Want For Christmas

New Hangout Spot, Chip Bee Gardens, Is Where All The Cool Things Are

Situated opposite Holland Village, Chip Bee Gardens is home to a few of our favourite hangouts. Located in a quieter, more peaceful, and relaxing district, Chip Bee Gardens is that perfect hideout for a little bit of me-time as well as a great choice for a laid back catch up session with friends.

You can be sure that the little cafes and ice cream parlours here serve up some really decent fare that will not disappoint.

1. Baker & Cook 

At the very top of this list is Baker & Cook. Conceptualised by New Zealander Dean Brettschneider – one of the best bakers on the globe, this spacious and cosy cafe serves up a good selection of bread, pastries, salads and mains.

A bonus for coffee addicts – their lattes are to-die for.

Be sure to try their chocolate Lamingtons. It’s two layers of light and airy sponge cake filled with chocolate cream and covered with a thin layer of desiccated coconut.

Not overbearingly sweet and empowering, the flavours are also simple. Less is more, and we can’t help but reach out for seconds.

Baker & Cook Chip Bee Gardens
Address: 
44 Jalan Merah Saga, #01-56 Chip Bee Gardens, Singapore 278116
Opening Hours:
Sun to Thurs, 7:30am to 8pm
Friday, 7:30am to 10pm
Credit: Traveling Tomatoes[/caption]

The wide selection of professionally curated Italian fare they serve will leave you spoilt for choice.

Pasta? Checked. Pizza? Checked.

Did we mention that most food are homemade as well? That’s surely a bonus.

[caption id="attachment_17267" align="alignnone" width="1070"] Credit: jacqsowhat[/caption]

Well, an Italian meal should always end with this one dessert, Tiramisu.

This dangerously addictive espresso-infused dessert consists of Italian Savoiardi biscuits soaked in Italian coffee and Marsala, layered with creamy Mascaarpone, and finally topped with shaved Valrhona chocolate. What goodness!

Da Paolo Gastronomia
Address: 
43 Jalan Merah Saga, #01-74, Singapore 278115
Opening Hours:
8:30am to 9:30pm
Credit: Entree Kibbles[/caption]

Besides their freshly churned ice-cream and oh-so-yummy looking waffles, Sunday Folks has their own array of freshly baked cakes as well!

[caption id="attachment_17269" align="alignnone" width="960"] Credit: Sunday Folks[/caption]

The latest addition to their cake collection is the Bailey’s Cheesecake with Speculoos.

Slow-baked and made with both Philadelphia light cream cheese and rich Bailey’s Irish cream, the cake is then topped with a splash of chocolate sauce and Speculoos. These different layers of flavours are undoubtedly a surprise to your palette.

Sunday Folks
Address: 
44 Jalan Merah Saga, Chip Bee Gardens #01-52, Singapore 278116
Opening Hours: 
Closed on Monday
Tues-Thurs, 1pm-10pm
Friday, 1pm-11pm
Saturday, 12pm-11pm
Sunday, 12pm-10pm
Website

4. The Daily Scoop

Ice cream in a cone or a cup is forever a classic, and this humble ice-cream parlour does its ice-cream the right way.

[caption id="attachment_17270" align="alignnone" width="3648"] Credit: Dedicated To Durians[/caption]

Ice-cream at The Daily Scoop is made fresh, on a daily basis. Imagine that!

Also, extra brownie points to them for creating their goodness with locally-sourced and fresh ingredients. Artificial flavourings are a big no-no to them.

[caption id="attachment_17271" align="alignnone" width="640"] Credit: OpenRice[/caption]

We love their Cha Earl Grey. It is basically an Earl Grey sherbet.

Imagine having your Earl Grey tea ice cold. That’s totally a big yay for us because that will be extra refreshing on the hot, sunny days.

The Daily Scoop
Address: 
43 Jalan Merah Saga, #01-78, Chip Bee Gardens, Singapore 278115
Opening Hours: 
Sun to Thurs, 11am-10pm
Fri to Sat, 11am-10:30pm
Website

We all need a break sometimes from the hustle and bustle of the city. Why not give yourself a break and enjoy a little tea-time over at Chip Bee Gardens?

Header Image Source: Urbandesis Singapore

Also, read The Game Plan – Explore The Best Of Bedok Cafes With This Trail!