tesss

Think Durian Mooncake and Goodwood Park comes to mind. I am sure this is definitely just clever marketing and associations, but built on years of brilliant promotions and building brand equity through year long promotions. Who'd have thought durian can be available all year round? Durian buffet, mooncakes and logcake - the whole year is covered for all durian fans. D24 Durian Snowskin ( 2 Pcs S$39.23) I hate to admit there were fillers used and this ain't no pure durian pulp so that said, the snowskin itself was crazy mocha soft. Best eaten chilled and quick.

~Invited Session~ Caffe Pralet at Eng Hoon has been in the neighbourhood for a good 11 years and Chef Judy has carved a niche for herself in both the baking and cooking arena. New items on the menu! Turns out Chef is also into poetry as seen from the pieces on the wall. Bread, bread on the shelf, whose the yummiest of them all? We tried the Spinach and Carrot loaf, it was absolutely tasty and very soft! I am getting hooked on these home baked breads, at this rate. Sour Plum Lime ($3.50) Soursop Passionfruit ($3.50) Hot days call for fruity chillers and I highly recommend the sour plum lime, a refreshing thirst quencher. Tom Yum Seafood Linguine ($13) In-House Tom Yam Blend, Prawns, Fish, Squid, Shimeiji Mushrooms, Tomatoes, Sugar Beans One legit bowl of tomyam pasta with justice served to the intended flavours, I particularly liked the punch of the spices and wished there were more! Sesame Chicken Rice Bowl Only available at Lunch, these rice and salad bowls are worth a try. I loved t...

If we trace the origins, it dates back to Nagasaki, Japan and its castella cake. Ah Mah brand, however, takes the castella cake and gives it playful spins to the likes of cheese  and even chocolate. So, brushing the queues in Singapore aside, we headed to Malaysia for a somewhat more brisk queue system and cheaper prices, thanks to the favourable exchange rate. Just what makes these sponge cakes tick? The incredibly soft texture, spongey, bouncy and so airy fairy light all at once, plus the aroma that greets any potential buyer nearing the shop. Guiltless pleasures and best eaten within the day. Well who owns the original recipe seems almost superfluous these days because anything with the label 'egg sponge cake' probably sells faster than Li Ho cups of bubble tea. This food fad probably defines 2017 and does not seem like it is waning any time soon. The only oddity is Ah Mah is sold under Tong Guan Kopitiam. Tong Guan Kopitiam Sdn Bhd City Square, Third Floor

Kenny Rogers holds very fond memories for me throughout my growing up years, maybe the song...maybe just their famous mac and cheese or even their muffins. Instead of their famous corn muffins, they only have vanilla and chocolate. Neither came close to the fragrant fluffeh must eats. Cream of...celery I think? It was all too gooey, clumpy and MSG loaded for me to tell what soup this was. Roast Chicken Salad (RM 18.90) Too much salad sauce made this a chicken salad doused in sauce. Champion Meal (RM 16.90) Coleslaw, Sunny Corn Rice Chicken was too soft, almost soggy and even with a different sauce, it was hardly enjoyable. The House Favourite Meal (RM19.50) was no better infact, Kenny's 1/4 Lite Meal (RM 17.50) Mac and Cheese at Kenny Rogers is usually thick with cheese, drippy and would be such a hearty choice that I would just returns just to have that. Yet it was expectedly none of that, considering how the meal ended up being. Mac and cheese was way to watery, macaroni too so...

~Invited Session~ Bakerzin has christianed their 2017 Mooncake Collections - the crème de la crème featuring traditional classics and snow skin favourites. The former is made with low sugar lotus paste so we can have our mooncake and eat it!  Bold Collection ($60) Ginger, Tom Yum, American Ginseng, Sakura Ebi Limited to just 500 boxes, this collection showcases four audacious flavours. Big, bold and beautiful these golden brown mooncakes are.  Big on flavour, bold on pairing and beautiful in outlook.  Sakura ebi reminded very much of hae bee hiam, missing out on some spiciness. Tom yum was very palatable with hints of lemongrass. Ginger and ginseng were less audacious but actually really pleasing too. Pure Divine Collection ($56) Cempedak, Honeydew with Apricot Snowskin, Taiwan Green Mango, Yuzu Fruity flavours are usually a hit amongst the kids and less adventurous consumers. I was however sold on these tropical fruits. Prestige Collection ($60) Apple Vodka, Butterscotch Bailey...

The recent obsession saw me visiting a number of Blue Lotus outlets, or just heading back repeatedly for lunch just so I can try everything from their value for money $18++ set lunch. Steamed Egg White, Shiitake Mushrooms  Steamed Egg, Chinese Wine, Shitake Mushrooms Wobblier than the usual chawanmushi, this was definitely an appetizing start. Oriental Salad, Crispy Enoki Mushrooms Baby Greens, Cabbage, Cherry Tomatoes, Pickled Pearl Onions, Carrots, Yuzu Kumquat Sauce, Fried Enoki Mushrooms I was reminded of yusheng with this order though the fried enoki mushrooms were delicious and particularly sold on the yuzu kumquat sauce. Trio Mushroom Claypot Fried Rice ($18) Fried Rice, Shiitake, King Oyster, Portobello Mushrooms, Aspragus, Garden Herbs Very subdued as compared to the truffle fried lard rice and mapo tofu rice, this is one for the vegetarians. Claypot Mapo Tofu Rice, Onsen Egg ($18) Mapo Tofu, Fried Rice, Onsen Egg, Minced Pork, Fresh Herbs This would be brunch food gone asia...

Otak Shiduoli has been around for a good two decades and more according to the other online reviewers and for a brand name that sells only otah, it had better be really darn good. Word has it that they sell out before 2pm and serving just the morning crowd, I was thankful to walk in without any hassle.  Rows of banana leaf wrapped goodies were constantly on the grill under the watchful eye of the eldery lady. At 90 sen a piece, I had to order a bag full just to make this trip worth. A third the size of our regular otah sold locally but the chewyness and bite that the otah had was indeed unrivalled. Fragrant and so delicious, it is no wonder they are a household name. Best in JB and some say better than Muar. Try it to know!  Otak Shiduoli (Storey Otah) 16 Jalan Maju, Taman Maju Jaya, Johor Bahru