Holiday hosting

I always wanted to be a host of a celebration. I want to be doing the planning, preparation and presentation.

Not being allowed to cook in the house where we are staying at is a big hindrance to do the two last things. Preparation and presentation.

Christmas is fast approaching when me and our friends #tropang #cablecar as we call ourselves (cable car refers to the pub where we always hang out after meeting up for dinner) decided to have a Christmas eve gathering.

I started to cram when I realized I am the one who will decide and cook the food.

I tried my luck and took several days to gather courage to ask permission from our landlady if we can use their kitchen to cook food for the party. I was surprised when she said yes instantaneously given that their religion is strict when it comes to food preparation.

Since the approval, I became more excited on how the planning will turn out.

I started creating the menu and matching the outcome of the taste in my mind.

Two weeks before the date, I started buying ingredients for the menu. It's really a good therapy going to the supermarket.

A day before the date, I started marinating the mains, making the salad, mouding the cake.

On the day of the event, I am cooking in full blast. Forget about the early holiday greetings, missed phone calls and unresponded messages. The goal now us to finish cooking the food.

I finally put on the finishing touches minutes before everybody arrives in the venue. Everyone was overwhelmed with the quantity of the food I prepared and I was so happy when everything were finished the next morning.

Nothing makes a good cook happy but to see the food he prepared satisfied the consumer.

Medzs Simply Mediterranean

It was few days back after I clean up my locker for clearance when I saw this flyer and caught the attention of the high tea offer which is way beyond affordable.

And so I called the number on the flyer to check with them what's inclusive with price.

A lady with a familiar accent answered on the other line.

And I asked what are the inclusions and what should I expect when I get there.

I was transferred to another person and the second person explained to me the details and I made a reservation for the following day.

The next day came and I received a call confirming my reservation.

I was late when I arrived and the first impression I had was, this place looks expensive.

We were greeted by the staff and handed us our cards, the cards will be used to charge us whenever ordering.

The place is so fine. The chairs are made of dark woods and the tables are white. There are plenty of huge capsicums decorating the entire restaurant.

The place is remarkable with its sculptured wood and glass walls and the pillars resembling the super trees of the nearby Gardens by the Bay.

The restaurant is spacious, instrumental music were playing softly in the background which adds to the warm ambiance.

It was not busy when we arrived so we are free to choose our seats so we sat on the long couch adjacent the sculptured wall, facing the Med Garden counter.

We came for the high tea promotion and we were expecting a staff to hand us the menu but since there's none, I dared to ask.

I was instructed to go to the Med Garden to place the order, which I did. I handed the staff my order card to charge the items and we were asked if we want coffee or tea.

"Coffee, for us, please." And I smiled.

I went back to my seat and minutes later welcome drinks which resembles tequila sunrise were served on long stemmed flutes. Mocktails are they according to the server.

Few minutes have passed and our coffee came. The coffee were served on wide-rimmed shallow cups underlined with serviette and comes with foamed milk on the side.

While sipping the welcome drinks, the food came on a two-tiered tray. The base tray consists of several canapes like tuna, smoked salmon and ham and french fries. The upper tray is for the dessert; velvet and cream cake, crispy-layered cake and creme brulee.

It us such an enjoyable dining experience we have in this place. I will certainly return to try their steaks and pastas.

The restaurant also hold functions and have an al fresco dining area if you want to enjoy cocktail drinks.

What I like the most are the tiny frames of mirrors hanging just outside the gents, very classic.

Another place where nothing's free. Pay for drinking tap water. After all you're in Singapore.


Rating: 7 out of 10, 10 being the highest

The Queen & Mangosteen

It has been a very warm Sunday afternoon and I just attended a mass when I decided to stroll in a nearby mall.

What I have in my mind is just having the usual coffee and muffin in a coffee shop but since the mall and the cafeteria I went to are packed with people, this restaurant caught my attention to what was playing in the overhead projector.

It's the F1.

I am not a fan of F1 but out of curiosity, I went in, given that their draft beer offer is irresistable.

There are three sections in he restaurant; indoor dining, bar and al fresco dining.

Situated along the shore of Harbourfront center, it's a good place to unwind and spend the afternoon for a laidback weekend.

Numerous lamps are hanging all over the place, mostly are concentrated at the long bar. There are also plenty of ceiling fans circling above us. The walls are made of red bricks and the furnitures are of dark wood.

The place is packed with people, mostly are British, given that the race has started.

I decided to sit at the bar adjacent to the al fresco dining area. It wasn't bad at all since the cool breeze from the sea blows toward my direction.

This restaurant serves Archipelago crafted beers and are available in three sizes: half pint (330 ml), pint (500 ml), and pitcher (1 L).

Prices are gradual from opening-3pm, 3pm-9pm and 9pm- close. It's their version of happy hour.

I had a pint of Irish ale, a dark lager, which has the highest intensity of alcohol level. It has the hint of chocolate, toffee and caramel.

I started with the corn chips and mango salsa. Its oven-toasted corn chips with chunky mango and tomato salsa dip which has the balance of sour and spicy taste.

That day, they have a special offer called 'Sunday Roast' where you can choose between beef and chicken as main. I took the rib-eye steak, medium rare, as I always wanted, and it came few minutes after ordering that took me by surprise.

It's a pound of rib-eye steak served with steamed brocolli and cauliflower, a mix of roasted yam, potatoes and sweet potatoes and a sweet choux pastry and scooped with brown sauce on top.

I was sated with the meal and though the race was over, I still took time to savor the moment while here.

At the distance you will hear the horns of sea vessels passing by, complemented by the sound of the waves. This time they're playing alternative rock and pop songs randomly which makes me feel more at ease.

I haven't left the place when I wrote this, yet, I'm already thinking of when to come back.

Perhaps a good company of friends will make the visit worthwhile.

Sun-Thurs: 12 noon-midnight
Fri-Sat and Eve of Public Holiday: 12 noon - 1am

Rating: 7 out of 10, 10 being the highest.

Batam's Prestigious Landmark

It has been a long day for us since we reached Batam and toured the city and since we all came from a very relaxing massage, all we want is to lay down in bed and have a good rest.

After the first couple who were with us in the tour was dropped off into their hotel, we're next. I have no idea where our hotel is located.

This is our first time in Batam, Indonesia. We woke up so early this morning for this trip, a breather from the hustle and bustle of the city and our way of celebrating our 29th month together as couple.

A 40-minute travel by ferry from Singapore's Harbourfront Ferry Terminal, this place is a quick getaway for those who wants to escape the fast-paced environment in the city.

Few minutes away from the hotel where we dropped the other couple, the coach bus driver pulled in this gated property and stopped infront of the huge glass door of the lobby of this four-star hotel.

Our tour guide lead us to the front office for check-in. The place is so breathtaking. The lobby is warmly lit by the lights illuminating from the huge copper chandelier in the middle of the high ceiling and from the four smaller chandeliers in the corners of the mezzanine floor.

On the right is a Cafe de Venus, and on the left is a small cafe where musicians are playing songs that adds to the classical feel of the place.

After getting the keycard to our room, we took the lift with glass walls and after the 5th level, you will see the Batam city skyline as you ascend to the floor where your room is.

The room is spacious, from the door, on the left is the bathroom with bathtub, on the right is the closet and safe box followed by the mini bar, stocked with complimentary and chargeable stuff, then a bench with shoe cabinet underneath, then the 32-inch LCD television and then the dresser table where the menu for the room service is.

On the left side of the room opposite the TV is a queen-sized bed stuffed with plush pillows and comforter in crisp white cotton sheets, then a coffee table for a couple. Then there's a balcony overlooking the sea and the city skyline. On the horizon is hues of orange, red and yellow of the setting sun.

As soon as we finished unpacking our things, we went down to the 5th level of the hotel where the Blue Horizon Fitness Center is. After logging in to the guest book, we took a shower and had a dip to the pool. The water is cold but there's also two jaccuzis beside it where you can warm yourself up.

Facing the hotel, on the right is a studio for those who are taking taebo and aerobics classes. On the left is the fitness gym, sauna and steam room.

After the quick dip in the pool, we returned to our room to take a bath and have our dinner.

We went to a fastfood just a block away from our hotel for our dinner. Then had a drink at the Top 21 bar which is at the penthouse level of the hotel. There is an on-going private function when we arrived so we are seated at the rooftop bar which has the breathtaking-360-degree view of the city at night.

We had Singapore sling and fruit platter while enjoying the spectacular view in the place. The sling is notable for the Bombay Sapphire gin they have used, though not much ice in it, the cocktail was served cold enough to be savored, in poco grande glass.

After that, we called it a day.

The next morning, as soon as I wake up, I took a dip in the pool and went to the sauna.

When I finished, I showered in the room and went down to have our breakfast.

Cafe de Venus is crowded with other hotel guests having their breakfast. The long buffet table in the middle of the restaurant is generously served with selections of local favorites, variety of breads, a salad bar, and coffee counter.

We had eaten our breakfast like there's no tomorrow. The stay in this place is memorable and real value for the money we spent for. The only thing lacking in the place is a wi-fi connection, though there's internet service in the room only meant for those who have laptops.


Rating for this place: 7 out of 10, 10 being the highest.

Coffee @ the Speed of Life

It has been a very busy day for us at the fine dining restaurant where I work and trying to get a breather from exhaustion, my colleagues in this new working environment invited me for a coffee in this little shop few minutes away from our restaurant.

True to its marketing slogan 'Coffee @ the speed of light' the shop is packed with patrons, mostly are tourists and employees of the nearby hotel.

The shop is very bright, furnished with brown and white leather couch and upholstered chairs that matched with the laminated dark wood cabinets and walls, the shop's color combination reflects of what they sell; dark brown and white, for coffee and latte respectively.

And so we queue up and wait for our turn. When we reached the counter and was asked what I want, I can't decide since they offer a variety of flavors which are new to me.


Then this caught my attention: Black and white mocha.

I have tried mocha before but not the black and white. Out of my curiosity, I ordered it, blended, as I always  wanted my drink to be.

It never failed my taste buds. The combination of the dark and white chocolate perfectly blend with the single shot espresso and plenty of whipped cream topping it, in addition to the cheerful service from their staff.

I paired my drink with a slice of Oreo cheesecake which I eventually shared among my colleagues who I have coffee with.

The place is so relaxing that at least, in less than an hour we have stayed, chatting and sharing work-related experiences, the work pressure was eased and my home sickness ceased.

Truly this shop has given justice to its slogan 'coffee @ the speed of life' , who knew that a cup of coffee can do much? Not only has it awaken my senses but also brighten the rest of the day in the hustle and bustle of Marina Bay Sands.

And I'm here back to this place, welcomed with a warm smile from the staff who seems to know me long ago although she's a new, asking for my order.

"Americano this time" I replied.

And I keep on coming back at Java Detour.

Rating for this place: 6 out of 10, 10 being the highest