Author Archives: Stephanie

Ginza Lion Restaurant Review – Suntec City

A renowned beer hall in Japan, Ginza Lion was Japan’s first ever beer hall, having opened in 1899 in the Ginza district in Tokyo. Singapore’s only branch of Ginza Lion is located in Suntec City and serves not only beers, including their own signature beer, but they have a huge menu of western and Japanese food that are great for sharing over a pint or three 🙂

To celebrate their 120th anniversary this year, they have special anniversary menu items until the end of August, namely their Roast Beef Don ($17.80++ regular size, $19.80++ large size) for lunch (11.30am – 2.30pm) which is rice topped with slices of Ginza Lion’s signature roast beef with wasabi cream sauce and egg and their Roast Beef Set ($58++) for dinner (5.30pm – 11pm) which is suitable for two people and includes their signature roast beef, seafood salad and Neapolitan spaghetti.

I was invited there for lunch earlier this week courtesy of JPassport, to try their Roast Beef Don. I was really looking forward to trying this as I had heard that Ginza Lion’s signature roast beef was really good and uses only high quality Angus beef from the US. The Roast Beef Don definitely didn’t disappoint, the beef which is grilled over an infrared grill was sliced thinly and was perfectly tender sitting on Japanese rice seasoned with teriyaki sauce. The beef was topped with spring onions, a creamy sauce which had just a hint of wasabi and a soft-poached egg in which when the yolk was pierced, it oozed over everything adding a sublime, unctuous texture to complete the balance of the dish. Now I’m not a huge beef lover but I have to say that I really enjoyed Ginza Lion’s Roast Beef Don and it was a decent sized portion which was just right for lunch and came with miso soup too.

The restaurant itself has a casual and relaxed vibe, it’s very spacious, with tables both inside and out, perfect for gatherings with friends or family and there is also a private room which can cater for parties and events. Friendly and polite service at Ginza Lion makes meals there a pleasure too.

For more information on Ginza Lion Singapore as well as the latest promotions, see the JPassport Ginza Lion page. If you’re planning to dine at Ginza Lion to try one of their special anniversary menu items, you can get a complimentary ice cream with your meal by redeeming the e-coupon on the JPassport Ginza Lion coupon page!

Ginza Lion
Address: 3 Temasek Boulevard, #01-649/650 Suntec City Mall Tower 4, Singapore 038983
Tel: 6836 6053
Opening hours: Monday – Thursday: 11:30am – 10pm, Friday: 11.30am – 11pm, Saturday & Sunday: 12pm – 10pm

Hope you’ve enjoyed my review of Ginza Lion, please feel free to leave a comment below with your own review of the restaurant or if you have any questions!

TGM Lounge Review – Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2

Located on the third floor of Changi Airport’s Terminal 2, just next to DFS’s Whiskey House, TGM is definitely the best airport lounge in Changi that you can access with a Priority Pass. More than a restaurant than a lounge, you can enjoy table-served, freshly cooked Japanese and Korean food there. TGM is also accessible to the public and bookable via Chope.

The lunch and dinner menu for Priority Pass holders which is called the “Corporate Set” is more concise than the menu available to the public. You can choose from a selection of different Japanese bento sets as well as a couple of Korean options. The restaurant menu for the public includes these sets as well as salads, sashimi, sushi, grilled dishes, tempura, noodles, rice dishes and desserts.

The breakfast menu for both Priority Pass holders and the public is the same and is served from 6am when TGM opens until 10.30am. You can choose from either a Japanese breakfast set, Korean or Japanese noodles, Korean rice rolls or go for the Daily Breakfast Special and you can have either a coffee, tea or orange juice with your meal.

On all the occasions that I’ve visited TGM, I’ve had lunch there. If you are accessing TGM using Priority Pass, you first have to register at the counter and select your meal and drink before you are seated. TGM is pretty spacious and has never been too busy when I’ve visited but for more privacy you can choose to sit at one of their booth tables.

I would have to say that the Japanese food there is not bad but not the greatest (I haven’t tried their Korean food yet so I can’t comment on that). The first bento set that I ever had there which was the Tempura Bento Set, didn’t leave me with a particularly good impression of the place though. The tempura was not very good, the batter was thick and the prawn and vegetables were undercooked. The set also came with some pickles, fruit, salad and fried gyoza which were a bit hard due to the dumpling skins being a little too thick. The chicken karaage in the set however was pretty much the star of the set with their light crunchy coating that was seasoned well. The set also came with miso soup and rice on the side and was more than enough to fill me up before my flight.

For a lighter meal, you could opt for the Sashimi Bento Set in which you get an assortment of fresh sashimi, pickles, fruit, salad, seaweed salad, gyoza as well as miso soup and rice.

The Salmon Butteryaki Bento Set is probably my favourite out of the bento sets that I’ve tried so far though. The salmon was surprisingly really tasty, pan fried nicely in a butter sauce. I was given a very generous portion of salmon along with pickles, fruit, seaweed salad, kakiage (vegetables deep fried in tempura batter), gyoza, rice and miso soup. The gyoza on this occasion was a lot better and not hard and the kakiage was light and crisp. Perhaps it was a different chef that day. Also I think that the items that you get in each bento set to accompany the main dish is selected by the chef and can vary.

You can choose one drink with your meal if you’re visiting TGM with Priority Pass. The latte and cappuccino is not fantastic there but it’s a lot better than what you would get in other Priority Pass lounges in Changi.

TGM also have a takeaway counter if you want to grab some sushi rolls or sandwiches for your flight but this is not included in the lounge access and has to be paid for separately.

If you wish to get some work done or just chill out at TGM before your flight, high-speed Wi-Fi is available and there are universal power outlets and USB charging ports.

Service at TGM is efficient and can be friendly depending on who you encounter on the day. It’s definitely my favourite Priority Pass lounge in Changi Airport’s Terminal 2 as besides going to a restaurant or airline lounge, you won’t get such a decent meal in any of the other lounges. However if you don’t have a Priority Pass that gives you free access, it might work out to be cheaper to book your table on Chope and order from the public menu.

TGM
Address: Level 3, Departure Lounge, Changi Airport Terminal 2, Airport boulevard, Singapore 918146
Tel: 65461928
Opening Hours: Daily 6am – 1am

Hope you’ve enjoyed my review of TGM, please feel free to leave a comment below with your own review or if you have any questions!

Tempura Tenten Japanese Restaurant Review – Raffles City

Tempura restaurants have been popping up everywhere over the past few years ever since the popularity of Ginza Tendon Itsuki and Tempura Kohaku, but few have come close to being as good as those two. Out of all the tempura restaurants I’ve tried so far in Singapore, Tempura Tenten probably falls somewhere in the middle for me.

They have a huge menu for what is supposed to be primarily a tempura restaurant, not like the usual two choices available in the more specialised restaurants. They have a few different varieties of tendon as well as several types of ramen, curry and side dishes. If it’s tempura you’re after though, you won’t be disappointed with the Special Tendon ($13.80++) or the Una Tendon ($19.80++). The Premium King Prawn Tendon ($24++) also looks very good if you just want tempura prawns.

The Special Tendon comes with two prawns, shiitake, green beans, nori, pumpkin, bacon and a chicken ball with mozzarella cheese inside. You can choose to have original or spicy sauce and white rice or upgrade to truffle rice for $1 more. The spicy sauce which is a nice balance of spicy and sweet actually goes pretty well with the light and crispy assortment of tempura on top of the fluffy white Japanese rice. What I liked in particular was the very unusual tempura bacon which was delightfully crunchy – who would have thought that bacon deep fried in tempura batter would be so good! But then again anything with bacon in it is good. The tempura chicken ball with melted mozzarella oozing out was also a pleasant surprise.

The Una Tendon is pretty worth what you pay for it as you get a prawn, some vegetables and a huge piece of sweet and smoky unagi. All tendon come with some pickles and miso soup on the side.

Service at the restaurant is friendly and efficient. The restaurant is never that busy whenever I pass by but if you would like a quieter table then they have some tables on the side just next to the kitchen. Although the tendon in Tempura Tenten may not quite meet the standards of Tendon Itsuki and Tempura Kohaku or have the enticing aroma of sesame oil that attracts people to those places, it’s the unusual bacon tempura that will probably bring me back for more at Tempura Tenten. The restaurant takes reservations on Chope in case you want to guarantee a table during peak times. They also sometimes have offers on Fave and discounts on JPassport so it’s worth checking out those websites before you go.

Tempura Tenten
Address: 252 North Bridge Road, #B1-13 Raffles City Shopping Centre, Singapore 179103
Tel: 6336 7457
Opening hours: Daily 11am – 10pm

Hope you’ve enjoyed my review of Tempura Tenten, please feel free to leave a comment below with your own review of the restaurant or if you have any questions!

Maison De PB Cafe Review – Jewel Changi Airport

From the company that brought Korean bakery chain Paris Baguette to Singapore, Maison De PB is a more upmarket version of Paris Baguette that just opened last month in the new Jewel shopping mall in Changi Airport.

With beautiful individual and whole cakes on display to tempt the tastebuds, you won’t be able to resist stopping by for an afternoon treat or maybe one of the salads, sandwiches or focaccia pizzas for a more substantial meal.

Beautiful loaves of artisan bread and pastries are available for purchase and you can even pick up a bottle or two of wine, some tea or gourmet sauces whilst you’re there.

They have a range of coffees, teas, soft drinks and juices which you can have there or if you’re in a hurry you can just grab one to go.

On a visit there last week, I had their Classic Cheesecake ($11+) and a Latte ($6.30+). The cafe is self service so you just order at the till in which you’re given a buzzer to collect your order and then you can make yourself comfy at one of the tables. There’s only a small seating area in the cafe section of Maison PB (there’s also a restaurant on the level above) so you’ll find that you’ll probably learn more than intended about the person sitting only centimetres away from you – not the most relaxing of places when you’re paying a little more than what you would pay for the same thing elsewhere. Also don’t expect service with a smile.

With that being said, the cheesecake was actually very good, although quite small but it was rich and creamy with a nice crunchy shortbread base and plump fresh raspberries sitting on top. The latte too was nice.

Maison De PB
Address: 78 Airport Boulevard, #02-200 Jewel Changi Airport, Singapore 819666
Tel: 6743 7900
Opening Hours: Daily 10am – 10pm

Hope you’ve enjoyed my review of Maison de PB, please feel free to leave a comment below with your own review of the cafe or if you have any questions!

CLOSED: Wah Kee Big Prawn Noodle and Bistro Restaurant Review – Esplanade

I’ve been a big fan of Singaporean prawn noodles ever since I had the amazing one in The Lobby Lounge in the Shangri-La Hotel here and I have to say that the prawn noodle in Wah Kee Big Prawn Noodle is even better! Situated in the Annexe of Esplanade Theatres on the Bay, they have a menu that consists of their signature prawn noodles with fresh wild caught prawns in three different sizes, as well as seafood hot pots, rice dishes, soups and side dishes. They even have a kids size portion of prawn noodles on their menu.

On a recent visit there, I had the Prawn Noodle Soup with Medium Sized Fresh Wild Caught Sea Prawns ($12++) as unfortunately their weekday set lunch menu is not available on Fridays although it is advertised as being available on the Esplanade Theatres on the Bay website. The set lunch is actually pretty good value as you get a small prawn noodle, choice of either kailan or a chicken cutlet as well as a homemade drink all for only $15++.

Anyway I was very happy with my bowl of noodles, the broth was very complex, full of prawn flavour and extremely moreish, the prawns although supposed to be medium sized were bigger than I expected and the Wah Kee Signature Thin Egg Noodle that I chose (you could either select Kway Teow, Yellow Noodles, Thick Bee Hoon or the Signature Thin Egg Noodles) were nice and chewy and was a good choice with the soup. Crunchy pieces of fried lard generously topped the noodles and helped enhance the flavour of the soup. All-in-all a very delicious bowl of soup noodles!

I have to say that service at Wah Kee Big Prawn Noodle was outstanding, the lady who served us was extremely warm, friendly and courteous, she made lunch there a very pleasant experience!

Wah Kee Big Prawn Noodle
Address: Esplanade Theatres On The Bay, 1 Esplanade Drive, Singapore 038981
Tel: 6327 9187
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 11am – 2pm, 5pm – 10pm, Saturday: 11am – 11pm, Sunday: 11am – 10pm

Hope you’ve enjoyed my review of Wah Kee Big Prawn Noodle, please feel free to leave a comment below with your own review of the restaurant or if you have any questions!

Bellamy’s Organic Free Samples For Babies

Bellamy’s Organic, a producer of natural infant formula and baby food have free samples of selected baby products available to parents of babies over the age of 6 months. To request your free samples, fill in the form on the Bellamy’s Organic website and they will be sent to the postal address you provide.

The Body Shop Expert Facial Mask Free Sample Sachets

Get two free sample sachets of The Body Shop Expert Facial Masks by registering your details on The Body Shop website. You will then be sent an email which you can show at your nearest branch of The Body Shop to claim your free mask samples. Offer ends on the 15th May 2019.

Violet Oon Restaurant Review – Bukit Timah Singapore

Violet Oon’s restaurant in Bukit Timah serves authentic traditional and modern Nyonya cuisine. From a slightly shabby looking entrance, you’ll step into a cosy restaurant with interiors that exude Peranakan heritage charm.

What I tasted during my meal there last week was almost exceptional. We were the first to arrive at the restaurant when it opened at midday and by 12.30pm the restaurant was full, mostly with locals and expats living in the vicinity. We ordered the Meatless Meatballs Rendang ($15), Buah Keluak Noodle ($24) and the Dry Laksa ($24) to share between three of us.

The Meatless Meatballs Rendang and Buah Keluak Noodle came out first. The rendang sauce of the Meatless Meatballs Rendang was amazingly tasty and full of complexity. My mouth is watering at the thought of it! It was very moreish and the “meatballs” were actually made out of walnut and cheese braised in spices which practically melted in the mouth.

The Buah Keluak Noodle is a very unique dish, one that I haven’t had the pleasure of eating before. I’m a big fan of Buah Keluak which for those who don’t know, is the poisonous seed of the kepayang tree made edible by fermentation. It is a Peranakan specialty usually served with chicken but in this case the Buah Keluak is used to make a sauce infused with spices, minced prawns, chilli padi and coconut milk and it’s served with spaghetti. Although the spaghetti was slightly overcooked, the sauce itself was delicious.

Shortly after we had polished off both dishes, the Dry Laksa arrived. Delicious and flavourful, it’s a must for laksa lovers! For added spice and flavour, the sambal (chilli sauce) given to you at your table is great mixed into it with a squeeze of fresh calamansi.

To finish, we each had a Singaporean coffee and shared a slice of Kueh Beng Kah ($10). I had a Kopi VO C ($5) which is made from Violet Oon’s own signature blend of premium Arabica and Robusta beans which are roasted with margarine and caramelised to produce its unique flavour. It is brewed and percolated using traditional methods and then evaporated milk is added to it. Served with a cashew nut cookie, it was strong and full of flavour and had a mild sweetness but not too sweet for those who usually prefer their coffee without sugar.

The Kueh Beng Kah was absolutely delectable, probably the best tapioca cake I’ve ever had. It was topped with gula melaka (palm sugar) syrup and served with coconut milk on the side to balance out the sweetness. Yum!

Service at Violet Oon Bukit Timah is warm and friendly, they made us feel very welcome and we spent a relaxing two and a half hours there. Definitely a place I’ll be visiting again.

Reservations for Violet Oon Bukit Timah can be made using Chope and they also accept Chope vouchers where you can save 10% on food and drinks there!

Violet Oon Singapore (Bukit Timah branch)
Address: 881 Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 279893
Tel: 9834 9935
Opening Hours: Tuesday – Sunday: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm, Monday: Closed

Hope you’ve enjoyed my review of Violet Oon Bukit Timah, please feel free to leave a comment below with your own review of the restaurant or if you have any questions!

Sunshine Childhood Playland Review – Northpoint City Yishun

Probably my favourite children’s indoor playground in Singapore out of the one’s that I’ve visited so far, it may be a little out of the way but it’s very worthwhile going to. Located in Yishun’s Northpoint City shopping centre, slightly hidden away on the 2nd floor of the South Wing, Sunshine Childhood Playland has several different play areas to keep your child occupied for hours on end.

Quite commonly found in most indoor playgrounds, there is the usual ball pit with slides as well as a huge screen where you can throw the balls at to hit the targets, in this case the fish! xD

There are pretend shops including a supermarket, bakery and doctor’s surgery as well as a merry-go-round!

They have a variety of different ride ons (a lot more than what’s in the photo below) so your child can explore the extensive area within Sunshine Childhood Playland on one of them.

There is an artificial snow area in which the “snow” is actually very tiny plastic balls that is apparently safe to play with (I’m not sure how safe it is for babies and toddlers that put everything in their mouth though). In this area you can find a range of toys as well as a mini slide ideal for smaller kids.

There’s a separate toy room with an assortment of educational toys as well as lego and even a mini grand piano. The large tv playing nursery rhymes and songs may be distracting for the younger ones though as they usually end up mesmerised by the screen instead of playing with the toys!

There’s also a small foam block building area, a swing and a trampoline.

Just outside Sunshine Childhood Playland, there are several UFO catchers and motorised vehicles but you have to pay a separate fee for these machines.

For those who have older kids that don’t need adult supervision inside the play area, there is a counter with chairs available so you can sit and relax with a coffee or even bring a packed lunch or your laptop to work on whilst keeping an eye on your child at the same time. Only one adult is allowed with each kid inside the play area complimentary (additional adults have to pay $5), but they allow any number of people to wait in the seating area.

There are cubby-holes for you to put belongings and shoes in as no shoes are allowed in the play area (socks must be worn) or you can use one of the lockers to lock up your possessions.

Admission prices start at just $10 for unlimited playtime for toddlers on weekdays which is excellent value and babies 12 months and under can go in free! They also offer memberships and value passes. For the full price list, click on the photo below.

Sunshine Childhood Playland is pretty quiet on weekdays compared to the weekends where it can get quite busy as well as on school holidays. The staff are generally friendly and helpful and they also tidy and sanitise the place frequently. Just as a word of caution, if your child is quite young, be careful of the foam wall next to the mini grand piano as when my toddler was playing with the piano, another child managed to push the entire wall down but fortunately I managed to prevent it from hurting my kid as I was standing over him, it is actually quite painful though if it falls on you! Besides that though, children will really love playing in Sunshine Childhood Playland, there’s so much to do that they won’t want to leave!

Sunshine Childhood Playland
Address: 930 Yishun Ave 2, Northpoint City #2-181/182, Singapore 769098
Tel: 64550566
Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 10.30am – 9pm, Saturday & Sunday: 10.30am – 9.30pm

Hope you’ve enjoyed my review of Sunshine Childhood Playland, please feel free to leave a comment below with your own review or if you have any questions!

Free ClassPass 2 Week Trial: Free Yoga Classes, Cycling Classes & Much More!

ClassPass is a new app that recently launched where you can access thousands of different fitness classes from yoga to crossfit to boxing in some of the top studios in Singapore as well as globally. They are currently giving a free 2 week trial for new users where you can take up to 9 different classes worth $99! To claim your free trial simply sign up here.