14. Christmas Vibes

December has been a month of amazing things!

I went to Macau,

Turned 21,

^ My celebrations took place before the day itself so on the day it was a relatively ordinary quiet day for me.. I had dinner with my family at home, we were originally supposed to go to Carlton Mosaic Cafe but I called it off cause low and behold ever since I came back from Macau I was sick and down with the flu.

Decorated our first christmas tree together with the boyfriend,

^ Coming from a non-christian family he had never experienced decorating a christmas tree before so I thought it'd be meaningful to get one for him. I decided on a small one (below 1m) as I wasn't sure how his parents would react hahah but it cost me <$4 so no ragrets (i hope you get the pun....)

Tree courtesy of sgshop (S$3.50)

^ I bought a ton of clothes from sgshop through taobao and they did not cost me more than $5 a piece, which is pretty amazing. If you're someone who loves changing their style/clothes and always wears one piece of clothing a couple of times before getting bored, taobao is the way to go. Their quality isn't the best but if you're going to wear it <10 times then definitely a go-to considering how cheap each item is!

Experienced winter wonderland at Gardens by the bay,

^ I'd recommend anyone to go around 6-630pm as the crowds only get crazy at 730pm onwards. The early bird catches the worm! Also do not miss out on the mini dutch pancakes at 10 for $7 and 20 for $12 with $1 for a topping (jam, hersheys chocolate syrup, maple syrup, whipped cream), along the little shopping huts. THEY ARE AMAZING.

Had a manicure since my hiatus almost a year ago,

^ I bought a package at Nails d'Art Gallery (their new outlet at Novena Regency) for $100, a students' package which is a stored value where any service you do is then subtracted from the initial $100. The great thing is, duo/triple toned nails, gradient, glitter and french type of manicures are all free. Otherwise without the package, one would have to top up. Its a really cosy place. Look for Katrina!

Ate too much food,

Bought too many things......

and as the year comes to a close, I find myself swamped with work (it's the peak period for assignments right now) but still very thankful for all that has happened this month and the past year. 2016 is coming in a matter of days and I vow to be a more healthy person physically, spiritually and psychologically. I also want to be more active in blogging and documenting things down more periodically than once in a month or every few months.... *guilty as charged*

I hope everyone's Christmas day is filled with more giving than receiving, laughter and most importantly warmth with the ones you hold close.

x

08. I'd Queue 30 Mins For These

I had wanted to blog for a while now but didn’t have much worthy of a proper post. This contains some snippets of my personal life and #foodporn that deserve a bit of a mention. I’ve recently started my last year in university as a Honours student.. for now, all seems well but a daunting journey it’ll certainly be. 

I’ve a lot more time to myself but I ain’t doing anything about it since term started a couple of weeks ago. I’ve come to learn how incredibly hard habits are to break. I want to bake, to exercise (SIGH), to travel and possibly take up a part time job. Alas I’m still stuck in my routine of an everyday. 

In the very least, I've started reading again. Current read: F Scott Fitzgerald’s This Side of Paradise and it’s an incredible read. I bought a set of all his novels and reading after such a long time makes me so happy. Something about a physical book with a good story that really relaxes me. Here’s my favourite quote thus far (I’m about halfway in, it was not easy to pinpoint ONE):

‘I’m a slave to my emotions, to my likes, to my hatred of boredom, to most of my desires—’

‘You are not! You’re a slave, a bound helpless slave to one thing in the world, your imagination.’

Not the usual cliche quotes that you find on tumblr for this book but this snippet spoke to me.

Anywho, here comes the food: 

AMK S11 Hawker Centre: Rasa Saying
BLK 711 Ang Mo Kio Ave 8 (walkable from AMK Hub) ~$7 and up

This place has been a frequent haunt for my boyfriend for many years but only recently introduced to me in the past 1.5 years we've been together. Once evening falls, this place is hustling and bustling with activity. The queue that extends from this stall cannot be missed. We once waited 30 minutes for our dishes (in a hawker centre, that is considered long), not including time taken to find a table. I personally love their pork chop, and chicken chop. Add 50c for cheese fries and it'll put those from cafes to ultimate shame. Don't expect much for ambience but thumbs up for taste. 4/5 

Stateland Cafe
30 Bali Lane, S) 189866, Walkable from Bugis MRT
Located next to Choo Choo Chicken
$9 and up for dessert

Was terribly missing shibuya toast from Shibuya itself and decided to give Stateland Cafe's concoction since I was in the vicinity. It's a mere 5 minute walk from Bugis MRT and pretty convenient to find as well. This was $12.90 if I remember correctly and was a perfect combination of sweet and sour. They've a bunch of other renditions for shibuya toast but I went for the least sweet option. The yoghurt ice cream was the winning factor. I had never tasted anything like it! Consistency of ice cream but tasted like yoghurt. I wish the scoop was bigger. For the toast, it was alright but nothing to rave about.. I would go back (just because, yoghurt ice cream), only if I was in the vicinity. 3.5/5 

Food for Thought
Botanic Gardens - Tanglin Gate
There's a wide selection of buses that bring you here. (of the top of my mind: 7,77,75)
~$27-30 for 2 pax

We tried the classic cheese burger with beef patty and topped up $3.50 for a soft drink and fries. It wasn't life changing but it wasn't terrible. Their most popular burger is the pulled pork one but since we already ordered pulled pork pasta, we decided to change things up a little. The fries weren't oily, which is a plus point. The pulled pork cocciolette with pulled pork was AMAZING. I can't put it in words!! It had a hint of spiciness, the bacon and pulled pork went so well together.... EVERYONE GO TRY THIS. Their prices are all inclusive of GST and service charge. If you're too full, you could have a romantic or fun walk around the gardens thereafter ;) They have another outlet at National Museum too! 3.5/5

Oma Spoon
Somerset 313
$5.80 for a petit bingsu, $13.80 and up for the bigger ones.

OK this needs no introduction. A couple of friends and the boyfriend decided to try this one weekday night and it was packed to the brim at 930pm!!! We huddled around a tiny table that was meant for 2, but no complaints. This was worth it! This is the banana chocolate version of their bingsu. They have premium ones (with brownie, cheesecake..) and petit ones for smaller eaters. This is supposedly for 2pax but the 5 of us were satisfied. It's hard to describe it but our friend put it quite appropriately, 'Korean ice kachang' HAHA. 5/5!!! I had no qualms. ;) 

Here's an abrupt end to a random post. I hope to be back with more, seeing as I've definitely got more time on my hands now. :) 

Till next time. Thanks for reading.

@gak.kc on Instagram for more timely updates. 

06. Is Tian Kee & Co. Worth It???

 Interior of Tian Kee & Co

 Paddlepop Rainbow-esque Cheesecake $7.50

 Buffalo Drumlets $9.90 for 8 pieces 

Full Breakfast $15.90: Toast, Baked Potatoes, Ham, Sausages & Truffle Egg

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Here's a short little update from me :) 

I headed to Tian Kee & Co. after 6 months (possibly more..) when me and my girlfriends first took notice of their rainbow cheesecake flooding the squares of Instagram. Finally, I was able to savour these off their extensive menu and to decide for myself whether I would return for a second time..

The buffalo drumlets weren't popular or recommended based off the menu but we decided to go for it anyway - and it was a delightful choice. The sauce wasn't incredibly sweet like most buffalo wings I've sampled at eateries such as TCC, Swensens and Big O. It was infused with a tang of spiciness which is always a good thing in my opinion ;) It was surprisingly good and I would definitely recommend this dish. For $9.90 and 8 pieces, it is quite reasonably priced. I'm usually a wings person but this was finger licking good (literally!) 

I had the full breakfast for myself (they serve all day breakfast, woohoo) and it cost $15.90. This was mediocre and a disappointment. The bread and ham was overly done and slightly hard, whereas the sausages were mushy and definitely not firm to the chew. The truffle egg was nicely done but I would have loved more truffle oil. This was something I could have made in the comfort of my own home and spend a fraction of the price I paid. I usually loooove all day breakfast sets at cafes but this one was just a miss for me. 

For dessert, the three of us shared the rainbow cheesecake (for the sake of Instagram too! Haha). The consistency is similar to jelly, or rainbow kueh. The cheese is subtle and not too overpowering. The crust was my favourite part! A slice cost $7.50. I would say..... a hit for the idea that it looks like the old school paddlepop ice cream and it's photogenic, but a miss in the overall taste. It gets gelat (sickly) after a while.. would not order seconds for this. 

Overall, the food is mediocre (expected, as Tian Kee & Co. is more known for their dessert cakes and pies). The menu is quite extensive, with burgers and mains on top of an all day breakfast selection which includes eggs benedict (ham $14.90 or salmon $15.90), salmon and guacamole bruschetta ($13.90) to name a few. It was about 12pm when we arrived and slowly but surely the crowd started trickling in, mostly from the office and those who wanted a cuppa coffee or two. 

There is seating on the inside and the outside (no air conditioning), but when I went, it was relatively breezy and the sun was not out on full force as it usually is. It's a quaint and homely cafe, and importantly not too claustrophobic like others can get especially when working with a smaller than usual space. I really liked the old school artefacts and ways they incorporated it into the dining experience. Tables were numbered with old school calendar motifs and a humongous kettle was used to hold drinking water! The prices on the menu was also inclusive of GST and service taxes making almost everything quite friendly on the wallet. 

Overall, I would not see myself going back to Tian Kee & Co. The drumlets were good but not life-changing enough. It's nice to try for first timers or just for drinks/coffee and a dessert indulgence but probably not for a full meal in my opinion.

Thank you for reading this short lil update of mine! Till next time,

X.

Tian Kee & Co.

6.5/10

12 Dakota Crescent, Singapore 390012

Closed on Mondays 

Open Tue-Fri from 9am

Nearest MRT: Mountbatten (Circle Line)

04. Tokyo Eats

I've returned from the land of the rising sun! I went to Tokyo & Yokohama over the past week and I'll be documenting my trip in several posts. The first post I'll be doing will be on Tokyo's food, what's good and where to get them. These stood out for me (if I were to document every food for each meal this post could go on forever..) and are highly recommended for anyone who will be visiting Tokyo in the future.

1. Ichiran Ramen

Ichiran ramen only serves one type of ramen - tonkatsu. It has over 10 outlets in Tokyo itself and the website, thankfully, is in English complete with addresses and a map depending on which outlet you'd like to visit. I visited the Shibuya outlet! 

Ordering is done through a machine, so if your Japanese is as pathetic as mine, pictures are your best friend. Choice of toppings and payment are made through the machine. Along with a tiny chit that comes out of the machine, the waiter will pass you a sheet for to fill up your preference of noodles (firm, slightly firm, etc), spicy level and garlic level. You're then ushered to a booth and your order chit and form is passed through a little hole, and the bowl of ramen is brought to you through the same hole. 

There is a third form that stays with you for additional ingredients if you wish to order at your booth; maybe in the middle of your ramen you decide it needs more meat/spring onions/mushrooms/egg or even noodles. All of this is done without either customer or server seeing each other. Pretty genius I must say! 

The ramen's broth was perfection in a bowl. I selected firm for the noodles and the first level of spiciness. I would have liked for it to be a tad more spicy but it was a good balance for me. The pork was oozing with flavour; so good that my mom had an add on of meat. No Tokyo trip is complete without life-changing ramen!  

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Ichiran ramen and its outlets (English website) click HERE. 

2. Maison Tonkatsu

Korabuta, loin

Maison Tonkatsu is the holy grail when it comes to tonkatsu. The menu can be a little overwhelming and confusing when everything looks more or less the same. Always ask for the english versions of menus, and do note that in Tokyo dinner time is always more expensive than lunch time. The same meal that costs 3000 yen ($32 sgd) could cost 990 yen ($11 sgd) during lunch. Lunch would be the time to go all out at fancy restaurants and hold back this urge during nightfall. 

The menu has different types of pork but the korabuta and loin are the ones you should be going for. The meat is far from tough and the batter is thin, unlike some where majority of what you're eating is batter. The meal comes with rice, miso soup and salad. Wholesome, complete. Your tummy will definitely be happy with this meal.

The main outlet for Maison Tonkatsu is at Omotesando but there's outlets at Shibuya and Shinjuku too. I had my meal at Hikarie in Shibuya, opposite BIC Camera. 

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Maison Tonkatsu's website in English

Address for outlet at Hikarie:

〒150-0002 Tokyo, Shibuya Shibuya Hikarie 渋谷2-21-1 渋谷ヒカリエ6F

3. Tsukiji Fish Market

Upon entering, small souvenir shops line the outer market. This stall sold re-usable tote bags, chopsticks and quaint lil umbrellas for a fraction of the price in departmental stores! 

The restaurant we had our sashimi meal, 8 pieces for about 3000 yen ($32 sgd). 

Tamago on a stick, 120 yen (approx $1.40 sgd)

The Tsukiji Fish Market is not to be missed. Open as early as 5am for those who wish to partake in the tuna auctions and wholesale, all the way till 2:30pm. The restaurant I went to did not allow phototaking but I managed to sneak a snapshot of the wondrous thick slides of sashimi.

Restaurants at the market are tiny, one with a maximum occupancy of 12-15 pax. This makes the experience with the chef, a very intimate one. The sushi is done in front of you and it is amazing to observe the art of what goes into that one sushi.

The Japanese way of enjoying sushi would be to eat it in an entire mouthful. The portions are huge compared to what we get in Singapore, less rice, more sashimi. Wasabi is placed on top of the rice to give a little kick to our taste buds.

I did not know half of the sashimi that was going into my mouth but it was so, SO good.
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Tsukiju Fish Market
5 Chome-2-1 Tsukiji, Chuo, Tokyo 104-0045
Nearest station: Tsukijishijo (Oedo Line direct from Shinjuku)
Follow the sign boards that lead you right straight to the market. Upon exiting the train station, a guard will be there giving out maps of the market in English.

4. Breizh Cafe

Brown sugar and butter | Salted caramel with vanilla ice cream

What is Tokyo without crepe?

A tea time set at Breizh Cafe consists of a savoury or sweet crepe and a drink off the menu. If we had not already eaten lunch we would probably be diving into more than just two. These crepes are made to perfection, they're thin, moist, soft and albeit huge, do not leave you feeling sick.

These crepes are perfect for a mid-day snack among hectic shopping, or to refuel from walking through Tokyo's bustling and busy train stations. Perfect as brunch, dessert or even as a meal with the wide array of savoury options.
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Breizh Cafe
5-24-2 Sendagaya | Shinjuku Takashimaya 13 F, Shibuya 151-0051

Takashimaya Times Square (New South Exit from Shinjuku Station)
Level 13


5. Hantejiya (Korean Pork BBQ)

Hantejiya was located just opposite my hotel and this was one of the last meals we had in Tokyo. Irony, as it was Korean BBQ in Japan. Nonetheless, no regrets. I've been to Seoul and this, was as authentic as it gets.

If I could just let you smell the aroma of the BBQ-ed pork (more known as samgyeopsal).....
The prices are very affordable, an entire meal of BBQ pork (1 portion), kim chi soup and korean pancake came up to about $30 sgd. The restaurant was packed and full of life. You'll definitely be leaving smelling like BBQ pork yourself but trust me, it is worth it. I dare say this was one of the best meals!
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Hantejiya(韓豚屋 新宿サザンテラス店)
Shinjuku Southern Terrace Odakyu Southern Tower 3F, 2-2-1, 
Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, 151-8583

Nearest Station: Shinjuku (South Exit), connected via a bridge.

6. Krispy Kreme

The same bridge that connects you to Hantejiya/Odakyu Southern Tower on the right of this picture. If you're coming from the station, it would be on your left. 

This seems like a mundane choice of food, especially since Krispy Kreme has hit our shores. Personally, Krispy Kreme donuts in Singapore do not give the brand justice. From Seoul to Malaysia and to Tokyo, what is being churned out at Tangs Basement for a exorbitant price of $4.90 is not what I would pay for and is incomparable to the latter.

200 yen works up to about $2.20 sgd and we would not want to compare Singapore dollars with the Ringgit. Why is there such a discrepancy in quality? Is it the dough? The baker? Why?? Anywho, Tokyo is the only place in the world (that I know of) to get cream cheese donuts and they taste heavenly... Why not grab one, two or maybe a dozen while you're at it!

7. The basements of Takashimaya, Isetan, any departmental store

10 pieces for 1080 yen, a complete steal.
A wide array of meat, quail eggs, pickles, mushroom and prawn to name a few. These cost about $3-4sg a piece when Isetan Shaw has a fair... 

Seafood tempura, consisting of scallops, onions, prawns, veg and sotong. 

The basements of department stores in Tokyo is quite literally, food heaven. It is filled with stalls selling anything and everything that encompass the Japanese cuisine. It is usually divided into two distinct sections. 

The first would be takeaway - breaded meats, tempura, yakitori (think Tori-Q), unagi, sushi, salad, chicken wings, cold pasta, croquette, bento sets... you name it they have it. The second section comprises of sweets and treats that serve as the best kind of souvenirs for those back home. Chocolates, biscuits, waffle crisps, nuts, crackers and the list goes on. Packed ever so nicely and individually wrapped, they do make the best gifts. 

The basement is as chaotic as you think, but it is a great place to get lost in. Sample all kinds of food! Takeaway a whole bunch and bring it back to the hotel for dinner and/or supper. I find this a great way for dinner eats since restaurants charge thrice when its that time of the day. Its a great way to savour small portions of different types of Japanese food and decide which deserve seconds. 

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And with that, the first post of my Tokyo trip is done :) 

I would like to think this has made you very very hungry (sorry!) and more knowledgable on where to eat in Tokyo; do look forward to my other posts regarding Tokyo's shopping and my overall experience during my stay. 

Till then!