Monday, September 22, 2014

Arteastiq x Dancing Crab at the Grandstand

Happy Birthday Karin! What I love about second half of the year is i'm celebrating something almost every month! haha isn't that something to look forward to?
 
Anyway this month, is Karin's celebration!
Our friendship isn't very long, I knew her through Ed cause Ed and I were close colleagues in Abbott.
And as more outings came along, I knew her more and she's not that sort of bitchy girlfriends if u know what I mean.
Easy to get along and not fake!
 
This year, we decided to do something different! which is....
 
Painting & drinking tea. hahaha...
 
Arteastiq is a place for tea lounge and art jam.
It's main boutique is at Mandarin Gallery, but we went to the one at Turf City Grandstand because of our dinner reason. hehe.
 
You can check out the website below.
 
 
 
So before we began, we shall start with a tea break cake!
 
 
We abruptly started singing her birthday song publicly. hahaha..
Glad that arteastiq people were nice enough to even lend us empty tables for this. :)
 


 
Love this group shot. Dunno is Karin's new camera or the lighting.. we all look good! hehe..
 

Arteastiq at grandstand is slightly smaller and not as private as Mandarin Gallery. It's an open concept where people can walk around and look at what you are doing.
So we sit like a zig-zag which makes is more spacious cause you can put your drinks on the seat beside you.
There are templates of drawing that you can choose to draw, or you can always bring your own picture and draw it there.

 

 
 
The social painting is 3 hrs, and ggh was so eager (more eager than the birthday girl) then he began first to draw. #likeaboy
 
Below is the "true" picture of what we should be drawing. 
 





 

First time we looked all so serious...
 
 
3.5 hrs later.... we extended a 30min cause we couldn't finish! Never underestimate painting itself man. I thought drawing was the toughest part. But I was wrong! Painting itself look close to 2hours! Need to remember those small little details must use the fine tip paint brushes...
 
Ed finishing touches - his name. lol...
 
 
and our wonderful painting! Isn't it pretty?!
I think all of us did a great job!
As the outlet at grandstand closes at 6pm actually, they were so nice to wait for us till 6.30pm and packed our painting for us!
Wonderful service and super friendly people! Thumbs up!
P/s: You are allowed to bring home the brushes when done, if you want.





 
After such a peaceful (I hope!) session, time for dinner!!!
Much awaited for (at least for me!)...
 

Dancing Crabs!!!

 
We booked for 7pm and had to get out by 8.30pm. Therefore, without hesitation, we quickly ordered our food.
Having done my research, I knew sort of what to order.
 
 
While waiting for our food, photobomb, with our disposal aprons. hahhaa..  


 
THE FOOD!!!!!
 
Cornbread $5.00
It was so-so by itself, but good for dipping sauce and eat.
 
Spicy Cajun Fries $7.00
This was good and crispy!  
 
The main!!! We ordered the Combo Bag #1 $80.00 which consist of Sri Lankan Crab, 300g prawns, 250g mussels, potatoes, corn and sausages. For the sauce, we tried their Spicy Dancing Crab Signature sauce. They have mild, spicy or extra spicy.
 
The spicy kicks in after awhile when you keep eating the sauce. So if you cannot take spicy, choose the mild one.
But the sauce was awesome! We used the cornbread and fries to dip the sauce!
It has that spicy tanginess in it. Shiok.

 
We also ordered the Crab Cakes $13.00
The best under their snack list!!!! Chunky juicy meat!! I could have re-ordered this!

 
Also, the lobster roll $23.00
the lobster meat is cold, while the bread is hot.
I felt the meat was so-so only. But the bread was tasty by itself!
I could skip this next time given the price and the so-so taste.
 
 
Having not enough of seafood, we ordered somemore! But this time we ordered 1kg of Sri Lankan Crab with Herb and Butter sauce $58.00
 
The sauce was alright I felt. Abit too oily in my opinion.
I preferred their Signature sauce.

 
Nonetheless, we felt satisfied with the meal and it was great!
Would definitely go back again to try their other food!
Best for big groups where you can order more and share!
 
Our total bill for 4 pax came up to about $240 and there was a 15% discount for DBS/OCBC thereafter which gave us a bit of savings!
Promotion for DBS is valid till 31st Oct 2014 (Not valid for eve of PH, PH and special occasion) 
 
Below is the menu.
 
 
Go on their website to make reservations!
 

 
 
 

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Pulau Ubin + Chock Full of Beans

Quick update before my dinner. Today was an exercise day! Went to Pulau Ubin for cycling early in the morning!
Woke up earlier than my usual work days ... hahaha...
But was glad that the rest are also onz to have breakfast together!
 
Met at 8.15am for breakfast at change village before taking the boat to Pulau Ubin.
The boat ride cost $2.50 (single trip) and additional $2.00 for bicycle.
 
Think we too long didn't ride slopes.. this time round it felt tougher than my usual ECP cycling... haha... I came down and walked with my bike for those steep slopes. hehe...
However, we all felt that we rode faster to Chek Java cause it took less than 30min.
 
Took a shot along the way back after Chek Java; peaceful mangrove.
 
 
 
Selfie with a good camera by Sylvia!
So tempted to get such camera!!! But I'm sure it cost quite a bomb. bleh... :(
Shall save up for next year purchase (hopefully!)
 
After burning fats, we went to Chock Full of Beans which is nearby for brunch! It's famous for its 3D art lattes! :)
 
 
 
 
We ordered a few to share since we weren't really hungry..
 
Buttermilk waffle with caramelized banana. It's okay, not too sweet, but I think Udders waffles are still the best. haha.. But this was good enough for me cause I didn't expect it would pass.
 
 
Nachos cheese. No need to order this. I think GV nachos are better.
 
 
Chock Full of Big Breakfast.
This was big. Good for sharing. The bread actually taste good on its own! The sausage weren't salty too. But the eggs were..... soso only. Had better ones elsewhere. 
 
 
Portobello Mushroom!
It looks black and burnt, but it was surprisingly good and juicy!
 
 
We actually order a salad but I think we were busy taking pictures of the coffee that we neglected the best food!
The chicken mesquite salad was the best! The sauce with a little spice marinated was so good!
Must try!!!
 
And here comes the 3D art we requested!
Note that 3D art is subject to availability of the barista, and it takes about 30minutes for them to come. Also, a table cannot have all 3D art, you will need to ask the waiter to check with the barista.
We had 7 people, and 4 had 3D art. Fair enough I felt.
Oh, and the 3D art is only for Ice coffees (excl. black coffee and rose flavoured).
 

 


 
 I think the bear is the cutest!!!! :)
 



 
I think the food and the coffee is not bad to come another time. And no need to queue too!
p/s: they sell ciders and beers too! ;p
 
Chock Full of Beans
Blk 4 Changi Village Road #01-2090
Singapore 500004
 

Thursday, September 04, 2014

Night Fest x Ippudo Tao

Yes, i'm missing for a while. But forgive this girl who fell sick for almost a week can?
Was down with rashes, then after that came fever flu sore throat. All in one.
Super sian. Took medicine and stay all day long at home.
Hardly you will catch me sleeping in the noon, but this time, I eat and sleep non-stop.
 
Thankfully, I recovered most of it by weekend, although I felt tired earlier than before.
Didn't wanna spoil my weekends with the boy, hence just tahan.
 
Of course, we went night festival and this year, we even went for the 2 weekends!
I would say we covered most of it cause both weekends we stay there till 2am!!!
 
I think my favourite was the show Fat kids are harder to kidnap. It was hilarious!
Anyway, guess pictures are better than descriptions cause it's arts!
 
 
 
 


 
The Philatelic Museum. So cool, my first time there!!!
Btw, it's free for Singapore Citizen and PR, so do go there and visit if you have time cause we did spend quite some time there actually and it's superheroes theme now!!!
 
 

 

 


 

 

On the 2nd floor, you actually get to see a few little corners of the history of Singapore. And you will be amazed by what you didn't learn in history! At least for those in my generation... haha...
 


 
 
 
 
Toured around Clarke Quay since we have spare time, and took a tourist pic!!! :)
 

 

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Yesterday, I went out with my 2 colleagues to Ippudo Tao at MS road!!!
My first time, and the ramen was fantastic! I really drank up the room and ate the noodles all of it!
Love it!!! Will definitely come back again!
 
Note to self: There's Ippudo at Mandarin Gallery, but without the "Tao" word. :)


Guess which is mine? ;)
 
The pork bun that super craved by chloe.
Not a fan of this though.
 
 

 
We then headed to Laurent Bernard for desserts, and it was heavenly!!!
The dark chocolate was perfect!
Missed my dark chocolate for soooo long...
 
The praline that came with my cup of mocha even had coconut taste in it!  
I think it's special lah. Never taste before mah.
 


 
Been eating a lot this week ... shall control!!!!