Elgenahearts~❤

I had wanted to try the cake in the jar but did not really have a chance to. While waiting for my vendor,I decided to roam around The Central. Spotted this cafe, Stay Home Mum Cafe (SHMC).

I decided to try out out their cake in the jar. The lady boss recommended one of their best sellers, Jelly Jar. According to the lady boss, their cakes were all freshly baked daily in their shop.

I love the different layer of colors.

Huge heart-shaped strawberry

The heart-shaped strawberry remind me of the heart-shaped strawberry sushi that someone did for me before in the past. I simply adore heart-shaped strawberry. It really take a lot of effort to cut the strawberry into heart shape.

The jelly jar was made up three different layer. The base of the jelly jar was made up biscuit. I think they used digestive biscuit. It have the very slight touch of saltiness which made the whole jelly jar to another level. The second layers was surprising made by marshmallow instead of the normal cheese cake or sponge cake. It simply does not taste like marshmallow. It was creamy and rich. It just melt in mouth. In our perception, marshmallows are very sweet. Fear not, this marshmallow was simply perfect. It not very sweet and you will not get sick of it. It definitely will make you ask for more. The top layer was strawberry jelly.

The strawberry jelly was done up perfectly too. It is not too soft.

I simply love Stay Home Mum Cafe's Jelly Jar ! I really wish to try out their other favors.

Come and experience the unforgettable combination of the Jelly Jar and other creation by SHMCafe.

SHM Cafe

6 Eu Tong Sen Street

The Central #B1-27C

S(059817)

Contact No: 9696 6215

Website : http://www.shmcafe.com/

Food : ❤❤❤❤❤

Service :❤❤❤❤❤❤

Overall Rating : ❤❤❤❤❤

Straits Cafe at Hotel Rendezvous is having $48 nett dinner buffet National Day promotion. It only valid from 7 Aug to 11 Aug 2013.

Me and my boyfriend decided to try out the buffet as Straits Cafe. It had always been very crowded whenever we passed by. Straits Cafe is famous for the Award-winning Nonya Laska as while as their durian desserts.

Let's bring you through the buffet spread..

Salad counter

I felt that the choice of the salad toppings were quite limited.They only offer shredded carrots, corn kernels and alfalfa. However, they had quite a good range of salad sauces.

Appetizers

Prawns

Crabs

The choice of the seafood counter also have limited choices. You will be able to have a choice of prawns,crabs, gong gong, mussels.

Oyster lovers !! Please take note of this. The oysters that are provided in Straits Cafe are only open upon request of order. You will be able to have the freshest oysters. I am not a fan of oyster therefore did not try out. If you have tried their oysters, please share with me the taste and freshness of it.

DIY : Gado - Gado

DIY counter for Popiah and Kueh Pie Tie

Award winning Nonya laska counter with all the ingredients

Some of their cooked food

The spread of the cooked food was not bad. It had quite a good spread of the different type of meat and seafood.

Cute decoration to celebrate National Day and Hari Raya

This is the most important section of the every buffet. I just simply love desserts. They have quite a fair bit of different variety of the desserts. They served up new type of desserts when one had been finished.

Most importantly, their durian desserts. Even thought, the spread was limited but it was just nice to accommodate the others.

My first plate

The prawns were super fresh. The sweetness and juiciness of the prawn just burst in your mouth. The flesh of the prawns were springy in texture with a slightly hint of crunch. It definite will leave you wanting for more.

The mango salad were too sour and were not to my liking.The other appetizers does not really tasted very fantastic.

I tried to other dishes in small bites. However, I felt that it were normal.

As for the award winning Nonya Laska, it really did not disappoint me. The soup base was thick and fragrance. The amount of coconut milk and chill was just right to bring out the flavor. It is not too spicy. The noodle was springy and it adsorb the essence of the soup. Every bites was flavorful.

The barbecue big head prawn was one of the hot item in the buffet spread. The plate of freshly barbecue prawn can be gone with seconds when it were being served out. I managed to get one before it were gone again. Sadly to say, I was disappointed with the barbecue prawn. The flesh were soft and breaking into small pieces. I still prefer the cold prawns.

Durian Pengat, Durian Cake, Durian Puff, Durian Crepes

Out of all the durian desserts, I love their durian pengat. It simply amazing. Every mothful was fill with the durian and you can taste the slight fiber of the durian flesh. It were not very sweet too. Durian lover will definitely love their durian pengat.

Overall, I felt that buffet spread were quite limited. I does not really know what to eat after my second round of food. However, the service level was great. The staff were very alert on the dirty plates on the tables and clear it very frequently. They also top up the ice water frequently too. Thumbs up for their service level.

Straits Cafe

9 Bras Basah Road

1F Rendezvous Grand Hotel

Contact No: 6336 0220

Opening Hrs :

Daily : 7am-1030am,12pm-230pm,630pm-10pm

Sat - Sun & PH: 3pm - 530pm (High Tea)

Website : http://www.rendezvoushotels.com/singapore/dining/default-en.html

Food : ❤❤❤

Service :❤❤❤❤

Overall Rating : ❤❤❤

Hereby, We wishes everyone a Happy National Day and Hari Raya Aidifitri to all my Muslim friends.

Enjoy the long weekend (:

This is the first time that I know about Moxibustion from Da Tong Chinese Physician Acupuncture and Tunia.

Moxibustion therapy is a Traditional Chinese Medical treatment that assists in dispelling cold and damp from the body. It is useful in helping with a wide range of conditions including aches and pains even poor digestion.

Moxibustion is the burning of an herb called Mugwort. The herbs or moxa come in different forms like cigar-like rolls, raw rice grain size pieces etc. In TCM, Mugwort is considered to be warm, acrid and bitter when used in herbal prescription. When burnt, it has the similar properties and thus it is warming the body channels. The bitter and acrid aspects of Mugworth can helps to break stagnation, clear phlegm and rectify the qi and blood. Moxibustion can consider to be a parallel therapy to acupuncture, being used to stimulate qi flow at points on the body that are selected for their specific function. There two form of moxibustion either direct or indirect.

Moxibustion therapy is useful for many disorders including digestive orders such as diarrhea, food stagnation, painful periods, painful periods (menstruation cramps), sexual dyfunction, poor concentration or memory, sports injuries, frozen shoulders, colds and flu.

Simple yet cosy room

Products used during treatment

Moxibustion therapy can help to improve insomnia, kidney problem, stiff neck and shoulder, ovarian and spine problem. I having insomnia and bad menstruation cramps. The lady boss recommended me to do the Moxibustion for my insomnia as the effect will be more observe. For my menstruation cramps problems, She advised that it will be best to do the Moxibustion therapy before my menstruation.

The whole Moxibustion Therapy consist of 4 parts. The total treatment lasted for 1.5 hours.

Part 1 : Massage using the medicated essential oil

To start off the whole Moxibustion therapy, the ladyboss massaged the medical essential oil into my tummy. It will also help to loosen up the jing mai to help the absorption of the essential oil. The ladyboss is very professional and massage from the within. When she massage, I can feel that it not as smooth. According to the ladyboss that alot of jams in my jing mai.

After the jing mai is loosen up. We proceeded with the second stage of the whole therapy.

Part 2 : Gui Sha

Gui Sha will help to scrap off the "coldness" in the body. It also help to detox. The lady boss is very detail and careful. She will keep asking me whether is it painful.

Part 3 : Application of mineral mud

The lady boss applied the mineral mud at the various acupuncture points on my tummy and leg.

Part 4 : Moxibustion

In Da Tong TCM, the moxa that they used come in cigar-like form. They will light up the cigar-like moxa using heat from it to allow the herbs to penetrate into the body. I was kind of worry about the heat at first. Starting it abit warm as it was placed above the acupuncture points, slowly it started to get the burning sensation. It still bearable. However, the burning level that you will experience depending on individual body. According to the lady boss, cause my body is weak and there alot of toxic that jams in the body. Therefore, I will experience a sharp burning sensation as the moxa is trying to penetrated through. I could literally feel the moxa entering by body.

After the moxibustion therapy, I had a better sleep and took me lesser time to fall asleep for the next few nights.

Last but not least.. PROMOTION !!!

If you are facing health problems and wish to try out the Moxibustion Therapy.

Mention " ELGENAHEARTS"

to get a 10% off from the package.

Book your appointment now !!!

Da Tong TCM

40A Lorong Mambong

S(277695)

Tel : 6468 0877

Website : http://www.datongtcm.com/

Credits for Information on Moxibustion : http://www.rayfordacupuncture.com.au/

Photo Credits : http://www.datongtcm.com/

I am not sure have anyone heard of Annalaskshmi. Thanks Annalakshmi for the food tasting event.

This is not the first time i dine in Annalaskshmi. This is the third time I dine there. I been to Annalakshmi when it is located at Chinatown point. They had relocated to Havelock Rd. I was introduce to Annalakshmi by a Indian ex-colleague.

Please do not get scared away from this big heavy door which is always close. They are actually open if you come during opening hours.

Annalaskshmi observes a Swayamvara concept, where guest of the restaurant pay as you wish for the food consumed. It is the philosophies of Swami Shantananda Saraswati. The food that is serve in the restaurant is prepared by volunteers.

Mango Lassi

Lassi is a popular, traditional, yougurt-based drink, it originated in India's Punjab region. Lassi is a blend of yogurt,water and spices or fruits.

I like the Mango Lassi as it very rich.

Masala Dosai

The Masala Dosai was thin and crispy fully packed with the potatoes filling. They were very generous with their serving, it was huge for me. The potato dosai is accompanied by 3 different dipped sauce. The orange color dip was Spicy tomato chutney. You able to see small chucks of tomatoes inside. The green color dip was coconut chutney. Personally, I prefer to have the dosai with the curry sauce. The Spicy tomato chutney goes well with the dosai too.

Khum Masala (Mushroom), Paneer Palak and Garlic Nann

This three dishes were recommended by the boss of the restaurant. Do take know that, the serving you see in the pictures were reduced. I am not sure how generous are they with the normal serving.

The Khum Masala was fried mushroom served in a onion based gravy. I does not really like the taste of the onion. Even thought the gravy is onion based but it does not have the very strong onion taste which i dont like. I am not very sure do the added tomato into the gravy but it had the very nice touch of sweetness.

The Paneer Palak was cottage cheese with mildly spiced spinach. I love the Panner palak. It tasted like spinach soup but a much thicker version. I did not expect that the cottage cheese will be served in little cubes. It simply just melt in you mouth.

The Garlic Nann goes perfectly well with both dishes.

Coming to the buffet line ..

Previously when I dined in Annalakshmi, the buffet spread was good. It ranged from birynai, curries, dhal and sweets.

According to the boss, coming up next on my blog, it their Wednesday Special.

Soup

The soup had a hinge of spicyness. I am not used to the taste of it.

Fried Bee hoon and Fried vegetable with flour

I does not know what is the actual name of this dish. It is like a very thin crepes made by rice flour I think.

The staff cooking in on the stop

The rice crepes can be eaten with four different sauces.

Sugar and coconut milk

If you are having a sweet tooth, you can have the crepes in sugar and coconut. To me, the sweetness make it like dessert.

If you like more savoy sides, you can have the rice crepes in vegetables cooked in yogurt or curry.

Sweets

My plate with a little of everything

Annalakshmi

20 Havelock Road
Village Residence
Clarke Quay
#01-04
S(059765)

Tel : 6339 9993

Website : http://www.annalakshmi.info/

Food : ❤❤❤

Service :❤❤❤

Overall Rating :❤❤❤

Every time someone goes to Taiwan, people will definitely be asked to bring back their 太阳饼,凰梨酥, etc.

Personally, I love the 太阳饼 from Taiwan a lot. I love the sweet filling of the biscuit.

However, I do not need to travel to Taiwan to satisfy my crave for it now!

Just almost a month ago, Sweet Musings have opened in The Star Vista. It is an one-stop shop for you to satisfy your cravings. Other than Taiwan's confectionery, they sell puddings and yam cakes too. According to the lady boss, Sweet musings originated from Taiwan and they have a shop called "Symbols" in Taiwan too.

The logo is so adorable !!

Pineapple cake

3Q cake

"Bull tongue"

Sun cake

The sun cakes in Sweet Musing have been "tuned" towards the Singaporean taste. It does not have the heavy milk powder taste, neither is it very sweet too. Therefore, you cannot stop yourself from having a second piece. However, I still prefer the original Taiwan's sun cake due to the milky taste.

Earl Grey Egg Roll

If you looking for something special, the Earl Grey egg roll is a MUST try. It has a very distinctive taste and the nice aroma from the Earl Grey.

It's Pudding time !

I am a great fan of milk pudding !! ❤❤❤

Panna Cotta in bottles

Mango and Black Sesame Panna Cotta

I love the Black sesame pudding to the max. I love the very rich sesame taste. The pudding just melts in your mouth. It is simply heavenly.

Blueberry Panna Cotta

Coffee Panna Cotta

This is my another favorite pudding flavor. It tastes like the coffee sweet. The coffee is very rich and it has coffee jelly at the bottom of the pudding too.

Egg pudding

I love how they recycle the egg shell into the container for the egg pudding. The vanilla pod that they have used in the making really makes the pudding tastes a lot nicer.

Finally, coming to my favorite. YAM CAKE !!