Happy New Year!

It's coming to an end of 2012! Hope the bad one goes and good one comes!

Wishes everyone a Happy New Year!

 

 



Mama helper..

Can't get rid of stubborn dirts and stains? Or feeling lazy to painstakingly scrub your toilet bowl?

Disgusted by all the gunk and horrible things that are accumulated over time, making an unsightly mark that would probably make you throw up when you see it?

No worries! Because .........

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We Have Magic Clean!

 It's way too impressive that I wana share it! I've used quite a number of detergent but this just make my toilet bowl shine without scrubbing!

No more scrubbing! Dissolves stains & kills bacteria in just 2 MINS!

Curved neck to reach under toilet rims!

Check out below!

I poured the detergent starting from the rims, letting it flows down to the sink. Although it says 2 mins but I just let the solution dissolve in the toilet bowl and went off with other chores. I believe all mothers or housekeppers do that rather than putting an alarm for 2 mins just to alert you when its time to flush the solution away. 

 When I'm finished with my other stuff and went back to take a look. I think the stains and dirts are dissolved that's why it's like this? There's a "clean" detergent scent and made the toilet bowl seem squeaking clean.

 Just a flush.

 Tadah!

 No scrubbing! It's so clean! I was totally amazeeeeeeeeeeddd!

Before:                                                                                                                                       After:

See the difference? I believe all mamas will love it! No scrubbing! Saves time and energy for mamas too. :)

*It's not advertorial, it's based on personal experience.

Merry Christmas!

Wishes everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Enjoy this joyful season with your special ones and may santa grant all your wishes!

Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean

 

Bought this watch about 2 weeks ago. It’s an Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean with Omega’s new in-house made 8500 calibre movement. It’s a 42mm watch. It is also available in a bigger case which measures 45.5mm. Initially, I was more attracted to the 45.5mm version, but chose the 42mm over the 45.5mm because I feel it’s more appropriate to have a mid-sized watch. The 42mm looks more “pleasant” on my wrist (I have a 6 ½ inch wrist). It just fits right, as compared to my Bell & Ross BR01 which measures 46mm.

Now I shall talk about details which are more in-depth. The watch is water resistant to 600m/2000ft. It’s a chronometer with Omega’s signature Co-Axial Escapement movement.  I’m not too sure about the Co-Axial Escapement thing, what I do know is that it’s supposed to provide more stability to the timekeeping accuracy, and it lengthens the service intervals significantly. This watch is very accurate so far, daily variation on average of 10 days is about -1sec/day.

 

The watch has a ceramic bezel. That’s why it looks kind of “greyish” rather than black. Some people will prefer a more solid black bezel like its predecessor (Planet Ocean with 2500 calibre). This is because the older model does not have a ceramic bezel but an aluminium one. I guess Omega added ceramic to the watch’s bezel to make it more scratch resistant. If you happen to be in an Omega boutique, you should check out the one with the LiquidMetal bezel. It’s shinier than the ceramic ones. But of course,  the price is also much “shinier”. I remember seeing this particular LiquidMetal model in blue. The watch is made of titanium. I have to say that the weight is like 5x lighter than the stainless steel case Planet Ocean! You should check out on YouTube Omega's LiquidMetal Technology. Amazing.  

 

The older version of the Planet Ocean (2500c) is on the left and the newer version (8500c) is on the right. It looks pretty much the same from far. Omega has made a couple of improvements to it but I shall not describe everything in detail. So let me just talk about the more “obvious” changes as compared to its predecessor. I personally feel the 8500c version has a bolder look to it. In terms of looks, the biggest difference is in its bezel, the minute hand, and the orange “Seamaster” word near its 12 o’clock marker. Another obvious difference is also the case back. Omega is so proud of its in-house made 8500c movement that they wanted to make these new Planet Ocean models with a see through case back. With that, more works has to be done in the production process so as to not affect its 600m water resistance. The 2500c version has a screw-in case back.

The Planet Ocean 8500c has a silicon hairspring (Si14) which makes the watch anti-magnetic and improves its shock resistance. The watch has a power reserve of 60 hours, up from 48 hours in the previous 2500c version. This watch ticks 7 times per second, which makes the "sweep" of the second hand nice and smooth. The ceramic bezel is uni-directional and only turns in the anti-clockwise direction for safety reasons if you should use this watch for deep sea diving. The high quality bezel, which makes 120 clicks per revolution, is smooth when turning and produces very pleasant clicking sounds. The bracelet on the watch feels sturdy and solid, with a nice mixture of brushed and polished grade 316 stainless steel. This watch is pretty heavy, but has very good wrist presence when wearing. The lume on the watch is blue, except for the minute hand which is green.

There are too many things I like about this new Omega Planet Ocean watch that I bought. A watch with unparalleled beauty. I simply just love it!

 

 

About Red Wine

If you like red wine, DRINK IT! It’s good for you because of its contents. But always remember that moderation is crucial. The guideline is about 2 glasses per day for men and about 1 glass per day for women. For pregnant women, it is not advisable to drink any beverages containing alcohol (please consult your doctor).

Red wine contains resveratrol which is very healthy to your heart. Heard of the “French Paradox”? The French has a culture of eating foods with high levels of fat, and they also have a very strong smoking culture. But they have a relatively low percentage of people developing heart diseases despite these unhealthy eating habits and lifestyle. They also have a lower obesity rate compared to other nations. How did they achieve this “miracle”? All thanks to their high red wine consumption.

Red wine is not only beneficial for your heart but there are also many other health benefits to it. It is also good for your spleen and has anti-cancer properties. People who are allergic to alcohol or have any reasons to not touch alcoholic beverages, you are not at the losing end. Alternatives like Chinese Pu-erh Tea, the South American Yerba Mate, or even black vinegar (similar to apple cider vinegar, popular in China and Japan) can have the health benefits of red wine.

 

Let's talk about how it is heart healthy, which is the main health benefit of drinking red wine.

How is it heart healthy?
Antioxidants in red wine, polyphenols, may help to protect the lining of blood vessels in your heart. Polyphenol called resveratrol is one substance in red wine that got the attention.

Resveratrol
It might be the key ingredient that helps prevent damage to our blood vessels which reduces "bad" cholesterol and prevent blood clots.

It has been tested in mice given reveratrol. It suggests that the antioxidant might also help to protect them from obesity and diabetes, both of which are strong risk factors for heart disease. However, those findings were reported only in mice and not in people.

Some research shows that resveratrol could be linked to a reduces risk of inflammation and blood clotting, which both of which can lead to heart disease. More research is needed before it's known whether resveratrol was the cause for the reduced risk.

Where is resveratrol found?
Resveratrol in red wine comes from the skin of grapes. This is because red wine is fermented with grape skins longer than white wine, thus, red wine contains more resveratrol. If you do not drink alcohol, simply eating grapes or drinking grape juice is another way to get resveratrol. Red and purple grape juices may have the same heart healthy benefits of red wine too!

Drink in moderation or not at all
Everything comes in moderation. Drinking too much instead of giving more benefits, it may cause adverse effect. Drinking too much increases your risk of high blood pressure, high triglycerides, liver damage, obseity, cancer and other problems. Drinking too much alcohol regularly can cause cardiomyopathy (weakened heart muscle) causing symptoms of heart failure in some people. It is recommended that if you have heart failure or a weak heart, you should avoid alcohol completely. Avoid or limit alcohol intake if you take aspirin daily (depending on your doctor advice). Avoid alcohol if you are pregnant too!

What does it mean by moderation? It means an average of two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women. The limit for men is higher because men generally weigh more and have more of an enzyme that metabolizes alcohol than women do.

(Information from: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/red-wine/HB00089)

Lawry's Prime Rib

We like beef a lot, so if there is a place where they offer good quality steaks, we will make it a point to give it a try. There is this restaurant called the “Lawry’s Prime Rib”, and after doing some research and finding that their prices are not too crazy, we decided to give it a shot!

(source: http://www.hungrygowhere.com/singapore/lawry_s_the_prime_rib_singapore_mandarin_gallery/review-photos/#d4c40000)

This place was initially recommended by a colleague. He said he went there once and thought that they offer very nice beef cuts. Looking at its name which says “Prime Rib”, we thought that the experience there will at least be a rather pleasant one since we love prime rib cuts. Well, who doesn’t?

The restaurant has a very classy look. Walking into it makes you feel like Bruce Wayne heading back to his huge mansion. The restaurant is impressively decorated but kinda intimidating. The waitresses wore “classic maid’s dress”, quite an eyesore, hmmm.. doesn’t really matter.

We both ordered The Lawry's Cut which include:

• The Famous Original Spinning Bowl Salad
• Yorkshire Pudding
• Idaho Mashed Potatoes
• Whipped Cream Horseradish

This is what we had for appetizer. Basically its some salad, but you get to see a waitress wearing an awful outfit to perform some spinning maneuver to the salad. Basically they are just mixing it by spinning it. The salad was good! When it was just being served in front of you, you’ll get the adrenaline, that “feeling” that “hmmm.. this must be quite a thing”. Presentation is good, taste is distributed nicely and evenly, vegetables were fresh and crunchy. Simply refreshing, it kinda tickles your palates making you think that the main course must be good.

Tada~

The salad: crisp romaine and iceberg lettuce, watercress, shredded beets, chopped eggs and croutons, tomato, tossed with their exclusive Lawry's vintage dressing. 

That's the guy cutting our prime rib. A waiter will ask you about the doneness of your steak. We personally think prime rib is best eaten rare! :)

Whipped Cream Horseradish! One is spicy and the other non-spicy. It taste like wasabi to me though. :o

Here comes the show! Just look at it, stare it for 5 seconds, and you’ll begin to wonder if this was a dream. Look at that steak! It’s just simply GORGEOUS. (Some people may find this disgusting because of the doneness but we prefer it rare) So how did it tasted like? How should it be described? Very very very good! It was just awesome. We liked it so much that even when we were writing about this made us salivate over it. You know? You get that hearty nice warm feeling of a good prime rib cut. The steak was beautifully prepared. Upon serving they will “bathe” the steak with their tasty soupy steak sauce. When you marry these 2 elements together, you’ll understand why it is called a “prime cut”. Because it is simply the best! A prime time from eating a prime cut!

Of course they will offer some side dishes. As you can see, we ordered creamed corn. Nothing much to say about it because we were all too distracted by how good the beef was. The rest just doesn't matter. Haha. NICE! WILL DEFINITELY RECOMMEND IT! Suddenly..... some James Bond walked out of the blue with this. A complimentary Birthday Cake! (It was the month of my birthdate and we get to enjoy discount... and this! haha).

That "James Bond" that I mentioned was the restaurant's manager. His name was William.

 

Overall it was very pleasurable experience. The bill was about $200++ for two mains of The Lawry's Cut and a add on of creamed corn. But there was an in-house promotion for birthday, Order 1 main course and 50% off on 2nd main course OR 25% off on main course with minimum 2 main course ordered if you pay by DBS / POSB Credit / Debit Cards. 
The staff was nice enough to calaulate which is the best deal (birthday promo or DBS promo), ended up payment by Debit card is cheaper which cost about $150 plus.

Well done, Lawry’s!

 

Located at:

333A Orchard Road #04-01/31 Mandarin Gallery,
Mandarin Orchard Singapore 238897
Tel: 6836 3333 Fax: 6235 0300
Websit: http://www.lawrys.com.sg/ 

Operating Hours
Sundays - Thursdays: 11.30am - 10.00pm
Fridays / Saturdays / Eve & Public Holidays: 11.30am - 10.30pm
(Last Order at 10.30pm)

Dim Sum: Royal China at Raffles

Well, we heard that there is this very good Dim Sum restaurant at Raffles Hotel. We decided to give it a try. We had good feelings about it because of the positive reviews and how people say that this restaurant made Dim Sum for the Chinese gods. And because it is always fully booked, we were sure that this place will certainly not let us down. We had our reservations made one week in advance. You can see how popular it is and its name, which says “ROYAL CHINA” made us awe even more. Ooooo, must be good!

 

Walking into the restaurant is like walking into a palace. Peaceful environment, soft spoken approachable staff, nice and neat table clothes and napkins, well printed HEAVY menu. In our minds, we were anticipating ultimate food pleasure that would mark our minds and souls forever!

However, it pretty much “stained” us with disappointment. Hey! What’s the big deal with this restaurant? Read on, Let me sayyyy…

To be honest, I am not satisfied with the food. There is literally nothing special about it. If you have tasted let’s say “char siew pau”, spend a moment to imagine how it tasted like… (5 sec). Yes that’s how their char siew pau tasted like. Nothing special at all! Nothing is unique about it, nothing is exciting about it. Everything tasted SO NORMAL. To be honest, quite a number of dishes are still below the “normal expected standards”.  After a few dishes, I changed this restaurant’s name in my heart to “NORMAL CHINA” instead of  “ROYAL CHINA”. You get “normal” food but paying for it at a “royal” price.

Now lets see what we’ve ordered. There’s really nothing special about anything. Looking at it is much better than tasting it.

Crab Roe Xiao Long Bao

This is not in the menu. So if you want to order it you'll have to order it from the staff. It came in just one Bao per basket, and the basket is smaller than an amoebae! It's not the usual sized basket we know that is used to contain char siew buns, so don't expect it to be big. It's just the usual xiao long bao size and it's not worth it at all! I think it's $7 or $8 for a xiao long bao, not worth it. Most of the time, when restaurants serve these small portion dishes, they will most likely be either very special or at least TASTY! (Well, they may have bought it from the food court nearby because all their cooks were on sick leave).

 Custard bun

These buns are one of those dishes that are below standard. The flour is stiff and scattered. The custard doesn't "flow" like what we've expected. When you eat it, it tasted like it has been in the refridgerator for a month and were not heated up enough. Absolute absolute disappointment.

Fried scallop with yam

The yam is at the bottom of the scallop. Taste normal to us. Nothing much to review about it. I guess many Tze Char stalls do it better.

Chee cheong fan in seseme sauce

Thick chalks that were soften by soy sauce and water.

Chicken feet

Taste a little normal.

Steam pork rib

This is bad. The best thing about this dish is the chilli toppings.

Cha siew bun

Just look at it.

Har gao

Steamed prawn dumpling. Taste: normal.

Siew mai

Doesn't taste anything special. Simply said: normal.

Apple Jelly

Taste too sweet! It taste like jam. Jelly is soft and there were some nuts and dried fruit in it. Wouldn't recommend it.

Gui Ling Gao

We were very disappointed. Initially, we thought that at least the restaurant provides good service. But in the end, when its near 3pm, the whole ambience changed. Its almost like their staff are hinting the customers that there is a fire burning down the restaurant and we had to quickly leave. After paying the "royal" bill, we quickly left this "normal" restaurant.

Address:

1 Beach Road

Raffles Hotel Arcade

Introduction

Hi, we are a young couple who loves to eat. Quite often during our meals, we like to discuss a lot about how good or bad it is. So one day, we decided to set up a blog to share our experiences we had on food. After a few initial posts, we decided to not just focus on food, but also our thoughts and reviews on a lot of other things that are worth commenting.

Before you begin reading our posts, we would like to say that all our posts are based on our personal opinions. You may feel some of our comments to be wrong or offensive.  

Happy Reading!