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Breakfast specials with Beanstro by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® at Takashimaya!

My weekends are really precious to me because I'm so tired after work on weekdays! I try to squeeze some family time on Sundays and we'll usually head out to have lunch, maybe a random activity, then dinner thereafter. Since the weekend is only TWO days long, I set an alarm to wake up early (just like weekdays), so that my day seems longer and I have more time to do what I like to do, like blog!

So, one Sunday morning, I brought my family to Beanstro by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® , at their Takashimaya branch for brunch and to try their new breakfast specials!


The taka outlet is located on B1, one floor above the indoor fountain! (That's how I give directions lol)

If you're wondering what Beanstro is, they're a new american-concept dining cafe opened by The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® that offers a wider variety of food, and table service! There are only two Beanstro outlets in Singapore, one in Taka and the other in MBS, and their menu has been designed to suit every culinary and nutritional need. 

They even have yoghurt on the menu!

I really liked how everything was kept neat, clean, and tidy even though my visit was a surprise one!

 This gorgeous 60's print on the tiled floor near the entrance caught my eye. Pretty!!

 
The inside: Comfortable booth seats for privacy as well as open tables and chairs for some family bonding!

Beanstro recently introduced four breakfast specials exclusively at the Taka branch - Egg Beef Patty, Egg Florentine, Egg Salmon & Asparagus and Egg Royale. Each value-for-money dish adds a new depth of flavor and freshness to familiar breakfast classics, and is a great energy pump to your mornings! These specials are only available until 11am, and are all served with freshly baked Vienna bread, with your choice of coffee or tea.

Gotta hurry though, because this breakfast special is only until 31 July 2013!

Note: All prices below are subject to 10% service charge and prevailing government taxes (which is currently 7% lah haha).

Egg Benedict Beef Patty 

Two poached eggs, cut mini beef patties garnished with home-made Piccalilli and hollandaise sauce - $13.00

My dad picked this as his dish, and absolutely loved it. It was a little soggy from the sauces, runny eggs and the strong taste of beef, but they were a great fusion together. Needless to say, it was gulped down before I could try another bite :X Was surprised that the piccalilli and hollandaise sauce didn't feel too guilt-inducing!

Egg Florentine

 Two poached eggs on chicken ham garnished with spinach and hollandaise sauce - $12.50

My brother's dish. Was curious to see how the spinach in this dish would turn out, and it contrasted with the sweetness in the ham, was so good! A tiny bit disappointed because the egg yolk in the poached eggs could have been runnier, but the warm vienna bread made up for it.

Egg Benedict Salmon & Asparagus
Thai asparagus wrapped with smoked salmon on two poached eggs and hollandaise sauce - $14.00

My mum's dish. She was full of praise for the salad dressing, which was slightly sweet and brought out the taste in the vegetables. The strong taste of the smoked salmon went well with the asparagus and helped refresh the palette, and the baby tomatoes were really juicy!

Egg Benedict Royale

Smoked salmon on two poached eggs with homemade dill mornay sauce - $13.50

My dish! This is the only dish with a different sauce from the hollandaise, and was a home made dill mornay sauce which I really liked! Dill kinda reminds me of lemongrass and it was very original and a great change from the usual eggs benedict that I usually have. Plus, the salmon was very fresh too! Among all 4 dishes I liked this the best!

"She's finally done with the pictures, let's dig in!!"

Don't be fooled by thinking it's a small portion, these are really filling and kept us happy the whole day!

Candid shot of my family while I was roaming around exploring the cafe

As Mr Alvin Goo, GM of The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (Singapore) Pte Ltd puts it, "Our customers simply deserve a palatable and healthy breakfast to set them off for a fantastic day!"

 So true ;)
 
With mummy all happy from the meal

Family shot!

 As I have a sweet tooth, I ordered a bread and butter pudding...

and their molten chocolate lava cake!! 

They were really sweet and yummy! Gave us a sugar high too. Haha. The molten chocolate lava cake was thick and is great for chocolate lovers, while the bread and butter pudding is sweet but not over-the-top, comfort food. Simply divine!

Thank you Steven and team for the fantastic service, Herbert and the Coffee Bean for this great experience!

Urgh just typing this is making me hungry and craving their dishes again. Til the next time!
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Nestle Goodness - Eating well and feeling good

You can have all the money in the world but you can't buy health.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not the healthiest person. I don't swear by organic food, eat salads regularly for lunch, abstain from alcohol, whatever.

However, I do try to cut down on sugary treats, I don't snack too often, and try to have a balanced diet. Although I don't play sports regularly, I walk a lot, like I'll walk from Orchard to Dhoby, through shopping malls, until my legs are sore :x

One of the best methods to keep in shape is comedic relief! Laughing til your stomach hurts is healthy in its own way too :)


The secret to staying healthy - eating well!

Being happy also helps you keep healthy, and Nestle has launched the 'Enjoy an Appetite for Life' campaign to promote nutrition, health and wellness through 3 main focal points: 

- Goodness
- Activity
- Togetherness

Since we're talking about food and I'm hungry, let's talk about 'Goodness' in this entry, which is all about eating well to ensure your body gets the nutrients to power your body and help you achieve your best!

If you follow me on instagram, I posted a mission profile for Agent Claire, specially created by Nestle and describes my hair as Barbie doll like and spending quality time with friends and family.  Now that's entirely true! (Except the Barbie bit, can't pull off blonde hair)

Part of the contents was this Nestle cereal in a cute little jar (pictured above) with a friendly reminder to balance meals by adding vegetables or fruits with yogurt. I'm not a huge fan of yogurt but I normally do try to add vegetables and an egg in my Maggi Mee!


Was excited about my cereal so I woke up early one Saturday morning, found a pretty bowl, added fresh milk, and voila! A great start to my morning :) 

Nestle cereal contains whole grains which means you're ingesting vitamins and minerals rich with essential components for a good breakfast! Gotta fill up your stomach and pump your body with energy to last the day.

I also enjoy making a cup of milo, one of my favourite drinks, in the mornings to perk up my day. It contains Protomalt which contains natural carbohydrates and Actigen-E which helps give you the energy you need. It also helps that it tastes sweet, yummy and chocolate-y!

PSST! Did you know that Milo was named after the Greek mythical character Milo, who is well-known for his strength? Well, now you do!


A few days later, Nestle sent me my 'reinforcement' Togetherness package. Here's what's in it!
  • 2x pack of NesCafe Ipoh White Coffee Original premix coffee - 15 sachets each, for a lazier morning ;p
  • Nescafe Gold Pure Soluble Coffee with naturally containing antioxidants, for tastier coffee and less lazy mornings hahah
  • Nestle Coffee mate coffee creamer for richer and creamier coffee - two teaspoons of creamy goodness please!
  • 2x pack of KitKat - 12 pieces each - one of my favourite chocolate wafers I can munch on all day long.
  • Baci Peruginr - dark chocolate hazelnut fondente for those sinful end-of-the-day celebrations yayyyy
Most of Nestle's products are halal, which means our muslim friends can enjoy them too!


Best part about this pack is that I get to share them with my family and friends. My family is crazy over coffee and need to have a cup every morning. They saw the hamper and were so excited they kept bugging me to open it! As for the KitKat, I'll be bringing them to work this week to share with my co-workers :) I like sharing yummy food with the people I care about because that way, they can enjoy them too!


From now til 31 October 2013, LIKE Nestle Singapore's Facebook page to participate in a 'Give-a-basket' contest at the Appetite for Life page! Send virtual baskets of Goodness, Activity or Togetherness to your friends, family, office or even that 'Uncle' or 'Auntie' who is always extra nice to you to get their Appetite for Life going. 

Tell Nestle why these special people in your life need these hampers and the best 18 entries win a real basket weekly! 


In conjunction with their campaign, from now til July 2013, Nestle is giving exclusive gifts with the purchase of $25 worth of Nestle products at participating retail chains like FairPrice, Cold Storage, Giant and Sheng Siong.

You might even be lucky enough to walk off with an Appetite for Life hamper if you're spotted shopping at Giant or Sheng Siong in June!

Start your healthy living today with Nestle and grow your Appetite for Life!

Thank you so much Nestle and Melvin! :)
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Top 5 places in Hong Kong to eat delicious food - on a budget

I made another recent trip to Hong Kong ( who can resist cheap flights? ) and this time my tummy is demanding MORE.

The only trouble is, that there's too much good food to try, and too little time. So I had to sieve through the list, picked those I wanted to try, queued up, and... well. I think you know the rest.

And so, I have compiled my 5 favourite places for you and your taste buds to enjoy!

1. Tim Ho Wan - Char Siew Bao and Chicken Feet

I know I've mentioned them in my previous post here, but that was at the Mongkok branch which has since closed down, this was taken in their Central branch. I just had to include them in this post because they're so yummy!! For SGD$20 you can feast like a king and that's after you've shared food with your friends.


Check out those bunz

Tim Ho Wan has an outlet conveniently located at Hong Kong station, so immediately after we touched down, my mother and I went straight there, luggages in tow, and waited 20 minutes before we were seated.

Most cafes in Hong Kong are really efficient in seating their customers, so don't be surprised if you're at a table for 3 and they slot someone who's alone by your table!

The moment I've been waiting for... my char siew bao! How do they make the top layer slightly crispy, but the inside so flavourful, juicy and delicious? Plus, the pork inside the buns were in bite sized pieces! A definite must-have whenever you're in Hong Kong, especially since it's the cheapest 1 star michelin restaurant in the world.

PSST! I heard that the Singapore branch of Tim Ho Wan doesn't allow takeaways, and the queue is still hours long. My advice is to wait for their new outlets (rumour has it, Toa Payoh!) to open and then head there instead ;)


If you're a fan of chicken feet, these are irresistible. Soft, chewy and soya sauce. If you've never tried them because it "looks disgusting", you've never had the accomplishment of trying to polish them off! It isn't as easy as it looks :P Finger licking good.

PSST: I like to leave the middle finger for last. Haha!


Tim Ho Wan
Shop 12A, Hong Kong Station (Podium Level 1, IFC Mall) 
Phone: 
2332 3078
Opening hours
Mon to Sun: 09:00 - 21:00

2. Wing Wah Noodle - Bamboo Noodles PLUS Pigs trotters PLUS Tendon

Pounding dough with bamboo poles is a dying art because of how tedious and time-consuming it is. Many restaurants/cafe chefs lack the dedication and passion and prefer to use machines.

 In fact, in 8-10 years all noodles cooked this way would effectively be extinct with no one to take over the business. Seize the opportunity when you're next in Hong Kong because they're unlike any noodles we've had in Singapore. You don't know what you're missing til you've tried them!
If you see from the picture below, he's kinda sitting on the bamboo pole and bouncing on it. Imagine having to do this every day for work. No wonder it's a dying art. 

We arrived just before lunch to beat the crowd woohoo! We ordered their signature noodles and was pleased that we barely had to wait :)

Bamboo noodles
About $5 SGD

 Notice the colour of the noodles? They are not as yellow or filled with MSG like some places. Before I took my first bite I remembered I had to take a picture to share it with you guys :p
The Noodles were crunchy and you can just imagine the dough being compressed and kneaded with bamboo poles to give that springy, chewy texture! The soup was simple and the wanton's were generous, but the noodles itself really gave the dish its star status.

 Pigs Trotters, Tendon and beef brisket for about $10 sgd. Really value for money!

 We also ordered side dishes because I am a hungry, greedy woman. Couldn't decide between pigs trotters, or the tendon so we just ordered a set. Really loved this dish because the meat was soft and tender, the skin had absorbed just the right amount of sauce (some sauces are overpowering). 
Was craving this a few days later already. Am still thinking about it now.




One of the highlights is their homemade red bean soup. It's simple to make but hard to master. It's easy to become diluted, or too thick, but this was just nice and helped wash the meal down. Sweet, healthy and tasty. What's not to love?

We ordered two desserts but this disappointed me a little. The soup was milky, smooth and too thin for my liking. If that's the sort of barley ginko nut type you like (like my mother), then you'll enjoy this!


Wing Wah Noodle
89 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai
How to get there: Exit A2 from Wan Chai MTR
Opening hours: 
Monday-Sunday 11am to 1am

 3. Ho Hung Kee - Smoothest porridge in town

One star michelin restaurant, Ho Hung Kee, has the smoothest porridge I have ever tasted. It's packed on weekdays and weekends but lucky for us, people in Hong Kong like to eat efficiently and head off! Some claim that Ho Hung Kee's wanton noodles are spectacular, but I prefer the wanton noodles at Wing Wah. Order one at each and decide for yourself!





We picked century egg porridge and they were better than I expected. I've been eating chinese food, after all, my mother is cantonese, and this was the best porridge I've ever had. It was not overly thick, the century egg didn't have a strange smell (believe me, I know) and was just a delight to finish!



To pile on to the unhealthy choice, we added a plate of fried hor fun, which was really oily but was addictive. 

Alas, this branch has closed down and moved to Hysan Place. You can still get the porridge there though!

Ho Hung Kee(1946) Congee and Noodle Wanton Shop

Hysan Place 1204-1205
Phone2577 6028
Opening Hours11:00 - 00:00

 4. Hoi Tin Tong - Guilinggao


When you've been eating too much fried/heaty food, it's easier for you to fall sick, so the best way to balance your diet is to have guilinggao! Depending on your condition (how much sinful food have you been eating?) you'll be recommended with a different concoction.

I picked the original Gui ling gao to improve my blood circulation, kidney function, improve sore throats, and boost strength by removing toxins! It also helps to cool the body down, especially during summer when it's hot and the erratic temperature. I spammed honey (provided) with this because it's quite bitter to me!

I can't really remember what we drank but I think we ordered the Fish and Wild Herb Tea and Gui Ling Tea. They were much easier to drink than the jelly Gui Ling Gao as they weren't as bitter, but their effects weren't as strong. I'd recommend this to people who have never had gui ling gao before in their lives, because knowing that you're drinking turtle soup might put some people off.

You can choose if you'd rather have it served hot or cold. I prefer hot because the herbal smell is stronger, it's better for digestion, and when I had a sore throat,  having cold drinks would irritate my throat further.


It's a chain, I went to the outlet at Causeway Bay opposite Sogo, refer to their website for all the addresses so you can find one near you, with their opening hours and numbers :)

Hoi Tin Tong
http://www.hoitintong.com.hk/branch.php

5. Dimdim Sum - Custard buns


Many people have been asking me about these piggy buns that I posted on my Instagram/Facebook page while I was in Hong Kong. I thought that the other dim sum we ordered were so-so, but these custard buns are worth highlighting! 

Not only are they cute, but when you break them apart (sorry piggies!) the salted egg custard flows out and was soooo delicious. 

 PSST: They also had pineapple buns but I didn't try them as we were too full! Let me know if you tried it ;)


Dimdim Sum
G/F, 7 Tin Lok Lane
Phone:
2891 7677
Opening hours:
Mon.-Sun. 11:00-23:00

Remember to drink lots of tea when you're in Hong Kong to hydrate! :)

Thanks for reading!
If you have any other restaurants you'd like me to check out for my next trip to Hong Kong, or if you've been to these places, leave me a comment below!

Please vote for me (daily if you can!) 
for Best Interpretation Blog at
please! I'd very much appreciate it :D
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