Celebrate this Festive Season with luckin coffee [ADVERTORIAL]

Celebrate this festive season with new creations from luckin coffee. Just landed at this little red dot, the Big Cheese Latte is a blockbuster product by luckin coffee, that sold over 6.59 million cups in the first week after its launch in the Chinese market.

The Big Cheese Latte is made using Classic New Zealand Cream Cheese, delivering the lovely flavour of cream cheese, reminiscent of the flavour of cheesecake. Compared to the classic latte, you can expect a more impactful boost in aroma that will elevate your coffee experience. What a way to enjoy this festive period.

Big Cheese Latte Christmas

For cheese lovers, I suggest you take a quick sip of the milky cream cheese before you stir your Big Cheese Latte. I got the solid cheese flavour right from the first sip. Once I stirred it, the creaminess blended with the coffee. While the cheese flavour was hidden after it was stirred, it surprisingly popped up again at the end.

Big Cheese Latte Iced

Completing the line-up for this year's Christmas series are Toffee Hazelnut Latte, Creme Brulee Latte and Merry Cocoa Christmas.

Toffee Hazelnut Latte is inspired by the traditional Christmas flavour. The toffee hazelnut flavour combined with roasted nut aroma blended nicely with coffee and milk fragrances. The flavour and aroma of this creation will wake up the Christmas spirit in you.

Toffee Hazelnut Latte

Creme Brulee Latte is based on the classic Christmas desserts, French Creme Brulee and Caramel Pudding. The silky-smooth latte texture is infused with the sweet aroma of caramelised pudding. It's like having those lovely Christmas desserts in your drink.

Creme Brulee Latte

While the Toffee and Creme Brulee have a similar flavour base, the blend of hazelnut flavour and stronger espresso intensity really stood out in the Toffee Hazelnut Latte. The Creme Brulee is milder and creamier, so it all comes down to individual preference.

Toffee Hazelnut Latte

Creme Brulee Latte

Merry Cocoa Christmas. luckin coffee’s chocolate infused milk guarantees you the creamy cocoa flavour in every sip of this concoction. Nothing represents Christmas more than a chocolate drink.

Merry Cocoa Christmas

The non-coffee drink in the Christmas Series. There is an option with or without whipped cream. I highly recommend the whipped cream for the iced version. The cream helps to enhance the flavour of the chocolate.

Merry Cocoa Christmas

In the spirit of giving, luckin coffee brings you the festive cheer with luck in Christmas promotion. From 15th - 29th December, indulge in luckin coffee’s Coconut Crush Series with your loved ones through “Buy 1 Get 1 Free” for the Coconut Latte, Coconut Velvet Latte and Iced Minty Coconut Latte.

luckin coffee

luckin coffee

luckin coffee

To enhance your luckin coffee experience, don’t forget to join their luckin coffee Membership, launched on 13th November 2023. It is designed to express luckin coffee’s gratitude to their valued customers with a world of countless rewards and surprises, including vouchers, surprise gifts and complimentary coffee bean upgrades.

Not a luckin coffee user yet? Not to worry, just download luckin coffee’s official mobile app and you can enjoy the first drink for just $0.99. This will give you a passport to the rewarding world of luckin coffee.

Well, what are you waiting for? Lets celebrate this festive season with luckin coffee!!

luckin coffee is available at Ngee Ann City, Marina Square, Guoco Tower, Aperia Mall, Tampines 1, CityLink, i12 Katong, Chinatown Point, Jewel Changi Airport, Robinson Road, Collyer Quay, One Raffles Place Tower 2, ESR BizPark @ Changi, Marina One, Wood Square, Westgate Tower, Westgate, New Tech Park, Harbourfront Tower One, Century Square, Galaxis, Royal Group Building, Waterway Point, 313@Somerset. More outlets coming up THIS DECEMBER.

This message is brought to you by luckin coffee.

Halcyon & Crane – Creative Wholesome and Delicious [MEDIA INVITE]

Halcyon & Crane (H&C) is a concept by The Foreign Project Group, which includes Birds of A Feather and Sichuan Alley. Located in Paragon Shopping Centre, right in the centre of Orchard Road shopping district. H&C is not your average café, their concept is focused on creative, cosy, wholesome, plus some spicy twist in the menu.

Halcyon & Crane

We started our brunch with the latest addition to H&C menu. Dearborn Granola and Milk ($9). Inspired by “Eat Well Live Well” theme, H&C served this handcrafted popular boutique granola from Dearborn. The granola is roasted to crisp, delivering a crunchy, light and aromatic texture. The dried fruits and melon seeds deliver added a different texture to the granola. Perfect to go with fresh milk. There is also an option for oat milk or coconut milk.

Dearborn Granola and Milk 

Dearborn Granola and Milk

Crispy Squid ($18) – Green Chilli, Sichuan BBQ spices, Sticky Pepper Fish Sauce. Not your regular crispy squid. It is crispy, evenly coated with pepper and fish sauce. A dash of lime added a tangy spark to this dish.

Crispy Squid

Nutella & Banana French Toast ($23) – Crispy French Toast, Nutella and Banana Filling, Almond Flakes, Mascapone Cream, Ice Cream. Super duper yummy breakfast. The bread is coated with a light crispy batter, like “pisang goreng” (fried banana fritter) batter. The fillings in the middle are the irresistible Nutella and fresh banana. The ice cream and mascarpone cream lighten up the flavours on the plate, while the berries cut through the sweetness in this dish. A must-order dish at H&C. Yummy!!

Nutella & Banana French Toast

Nutella & Banana French Toast

Dan Dan Spaghetti ($26) – Pork Ragout, Peanut Sesame Butter, Onsen Egg, Kale. We choose the non-spicy version of this dish. It is an East Meet West dish. The spaghetti is al-dente, while the pork ragout is full of Sichuan-inspired spices together with peanut sesame butter. The onsen egg binds the dish nicely, while the bitter fresh kale provided the healthy ingredient in the dish.

Dan Dan Spaghetti

Grilled Tiger Prawn “Risotto” ($32) – Grilled Tiger Prawn, Oriental Corn Multi Grains and Pumpkin “Risotto”, Black Fungus, Toasted Sourdough. Not the traditional Arborio rice risotto. Instead, it is the blend of corn multi grain and pumpkin. I like the crunchiness and burst of flavours, while the tiger prawn is spices up with chilli powder. The sourdough is light and crispy, providing the base to accompany the "risotto".

Grilled Tiger Prawn Risotto

Grilled Tiger Prawn Risotto

Orange Yuzu Passionfruit Coffee Cubes Latte ($14) – Coffee Ice Cubes, Fresh Orange Juice, Yuzu, Passion Fruit. My drink to accompany the breakfast. I am getting used to having orange juice mixed with my coffee. Though it looks good and taste good, the coffee cube did not melt fast enough and the orange juice is cold. Once the orange juice is finished, I poured some water to make full use of the coffee cube.

Orange Yuzu Passionfruit Coffee Cubes Latte

The ambiance of the café is very comforting, blending the concept of East and West. The seats are very cosy and comfortable, inviting you to stay longer and chillax. Service here is friendly and efficient.

H&C Coffee & Bar

CBK verdict: A cosy and comfortable, serving creative, wholesome and delicious food with a spicy twist. A great place to meet up and a nice hideaway at Orchard Road. Cheers!!

Food & Drink: 8.25/10

Value: 6.5/10

Service: 7/10

Ambiance: 8.5/10

Budget per Person: $26 - $50

Halcyon & Crane

290 Orchard Road

#03-09 Paragon Shipping Centre

Singapore 238859

T: +65 9727 511

W: https://linktr.ee/halcyonandcrane

F: https://www.facebook.com/halcyoncrane/

IG: @halcyoncrane

OH: Daily 11.00 – 20.30

Five Oars Siglap – Great Café Experience

Five Oars Coffee Roasters (‘FOCR’) is a homegrown café and roasters that first opened its door in Tanjong Pagar area. Following the success of the first café, FOCR expanded their operation to Siglap. A spacious and quaint space, allowing the customers to enjoy themselves in a relaxing café experience.

FICR Signboard

Our friend A&J recommended this place for our brunch gathering previously. We decided to return with a bigger group this time around.

Part of Indoor Dining Area

Part of Outdoor Dining Area

While waiting for the rest to come, I ordered Flight (1+1) 60oz White + Espresso ($7). This allows the customer to experience the coffee with and without milk. For me, I like that extra shot on the side for a “Wake Me Up” boost. The coffee is bold, yet well-balanced and with a touch of chocolate. Meanwhile, LD ordered her usual English Breakfast tea this morning.

Flight

English Breakfast Tea

There were eight of us and we decided to on communal dining. Breakfast started with Eggs Your Way ($12), LD picked brioche, scrambled eggs, served with butter and housemade jam. She then added a Hashbrown (+$3), Sautéed Mushrooms (+$4) and Thick-cut Bacon (+$5). It looks like a full-blown big breakfast when it was served.

Eggs Your Way - Brioche, Scrambled Eggs, served with Butter and Housemade Jam.
Plus a Hashbrown, Sautéed Mushrooms & Thick-cut Bacon.

The eggs are fluffy and nicely complemented the pillowy brioche. The combination of butter and housemade jam are good, though the portion were a bit small, so we asked for more. The hashbrown is crispy externally, yet moist internally. The sauteed mushrooms were done correctly, while the thick-cut bacon is a must-order here. Pan-fried till it has a crispy exterior, followed by melting fats when you bite it. It is lightly salted; therefore, you can enjoy it whole heartily.

Bacon & Hash ($21). Perfectly poached eggs topped with creamy and tangy hollandaise sauce accompanying the housemade rosti. Made of thinly shredded potatoes, it has a crispy exterior and moist interior. I would prefer the rosti interior to be less moist, so it will have a crunchy texture. The rosti is lightly salted; therefore, the mushroom cream just adds to the flavour to the rosti, together with the balance of the hollandaise sauce. Not forgetting the supper delicious thick-cut bacon to complete the plate. Yummy!!

Bacon & Hash

Five Oars Waffle ($18). Who says you can’t have dessert for breakfast. The housemade sourdough waffle offers a crisp exterior, followed by a slightly chewy interior. The strawberries, pecan, mascarpone, oats, coffee powder, ground almond, topped with solid vanilla ice-cream and thick espresso sauce making it a party on the plate. If you need something to make you smile in the morning, this is a breakfast that you will order.

Five Oars Waffle

Five Oars Waffle

Crab Scramble ($24). It is a fusion between East and West. Housemade sourdough, scrambled eggs, crab meat, avocado, ebiko, feta, togarashi. LD and I did not manage to try it, but our friend who ordered this gave her two thumbs up.

Crab Scramble

Crab Scramble

Mentaiko Fries ($14). Standard cut fries with skin on, topped with mentaiko sauce. The folks at FOCR sure know how to fry their fries. It was crispy externally, while the interior remains soft. The mentaiko sauce is solid and they are generous with the extra roe topping. Although the fries had been sitting there for 20 minutes, the fries did not become stale and soggy.

Mentaiko Fries

For desserts, we went with one sweet selection and one salty selection. Citrus Ricotta Pancakes ($16) is our pick for sweet. Two stacks of ricotta pancakes, topped with berries, nuts, vanilla ice cream, citrus compote, yuzu curd. Since LD and I just recently returned from Melbourne, I was able to compare the ricotta pancakes at FOCR with the famous version served in Top Paddock, one of the best café in Melbourne.

Top Paddock - Ricotta Pancake

Without a doubt the texture of the pancake in Top Paddock is better, the version at FOCR can do more time on the pan, as it was slightly undercooked. When it comes to the toppings, I like the version at FOCR. The berries, citrus compote, yuzu curd and vanilla ice-cream deliver a refreshing combination and made the dish more all-rounded and not too heavy. Hopefully, FOCR can improve on the pancakes.

FOCR Ricotta Pancake

Truffle Fries ($12) were our pick for a salty dessert. While the texture of the fries is the same as the mentaiko fries, I feel it was not as good as the mentaiko fries. The truffle oil is light and the finely shaved cheese did clump together on top and did not reach the fries in the middle and bottom.

Truffle Fries

The place is spacious with indoor and outdoor seating. The décor played with the combination of bricks and wood in the open dining room. The coffee bar and dessert display will be the first thing that catch your attention when you walk into the indoor dining area. The service is friendly, attentive and efficient. The best part is that although you have finished your meal and you still hanging around the service staff did not chase you out. For ordering, you scan the QR code for the menu and place your order with the service staff afterwards.

The Coffee Bar & Dessert Display

Overall, we like this place considerably. The food is good, the coffee is great and the ambience just makes you park your bum there comfortably. A great café experience. The thick-cut bacon is a must-order here. Check them out if you are in the East, we’ll definitely come back to try the rest of their menu. Cheers!!

Food & Drink: 8/10

Value: 7/10

Service: 7/10

Ambiance: 8.5/10

Budget per Person: $26 - $50

Five Oars Coffee Roasters

6 Upper East Coast Road

Singapore 455200

T: +65 8784 2686

W: https://www.focr.sg/

F: https://www.facebook.com/focr.sg

IG: @focr.sg

OH: Daily 08.00 – 22.00 (Kitchen LO 21.00)

Menu available online & Other locations details

Conrad Singapore – Fashionista Afternoon Tea [Media Invite]

From Catwalk to Cakewalk, head pastry Chef Richard Chew and his team, taking inspirations from the runaway shows and recreating them in sweet form. It is the second year running, the pastry team at Conrad Centennial Singapore creating show-stopping patterns as well as signature items are merged with innovative textures and flavours.

From Catwalk to Cakewalk

From Catwalk to Cakewalk

This year Conrad Centennial Singapore collaborate with The Fashion Pulpit, a social enterprise that encourages the swapping of clothes. In this collaboration, there will be a showcasing 6 dresses from The Fashion Pulpit exclusive collection at The Lobby Lounge to promote environmental education and awareness in the field of fashion. Through this exhibition, they aspire to drive conversations about upcycling clothing that may no longer fit, worn out or damaged and transforming them into something new.

One of the dress from The Fashion Pulpit

The afternoon tea with a welcome drink, mango juice with coconut cream, topped with diced mangoes. It is sweet and refreshing, yet it was not as rich as I expected. Feels like you are having dessert to start with, a mango sago without the sago.

Welcome Drink

When it comes to Afternoon Tea, I will usually start with savoury. The list of the savouries is Tru­e Brie, Piquillo Marmalade, Hazelnut Oat Cracker; Sourdough, Kaya, Foie Gras Pâté, Caviar; Lemon Sablé, Smoked Fish, Yuzu Lemon Cream, Dill and Pickled Cucumber; and Premium Balik Salmon, Dill Sour Cream and Salmon Roe with Buckwheat Blinis.

The Savouries

Lemon Sablé, Smoked Fish, Yuzu Lemon Cream,
Dill and Pickled Cucumber

Tru­e Brie, Piquillo Marmalade, Hazelnut Oat Cracker

My picks for the savouries are Sourdough, Kaya, Foie Gras Pâté, Caviar, which deliver bold creamy flavour, especially the foie gras pate and the popping caviar. The blinis (mini pancakes) with salmon and dill cream. A more classical flavour profile, yet it just never fails. Each of the savouries is topped with edible flowers, which are delicate and complement the taste of different ingredients.

Sourdough, Kaya, Foie Gras Pâté, Caviar

Premium Balik Salmon, Dill Sour Cream
and Salmon Roe with Buckwheat Blinis

The sweets are presented like a model strutting through the catwalk. STRUT YOUR STYLE Pistachio Praline. This edible shoe is made from white chocolate and topped with pistachio praline. It is almost too pretty to eat, as the sweetness of the white chocolate is balanced with the pistachio slight bitterness and nuttiness. However, I would prefer if they use matcha, as it delivers a more contrasting bitter taste compared to the pistachio.

The Sweets

Strut Your Style

DRESSED TO THE NINES Wild Blueberry Mousse, Almond Sponge and Crunch Base. A complete set of the dress, designed for a beautiful day in Spring, including the hat as well. The blueberry mousse combines well with the almond sponge and the crunchy base.

Dressed To The Nines

Dressed To The Nines

HASH BAG 64% Chocolate Anglaise Mousse, Exotic Jelly and Crunch. A chocolate handbag that is rich and filled with dark chocolate truffle. Plus, the fireworks (pop rock candies) effects in your mouth at the end are just awesome.

Hash Bag

Hash Bag

SEALED WITH A KISS Limited edition - Raspberry Sensation. An edible lipstick. It has a nice balance between sweet and savoury. Though it is made from raspberry, the flavour profile reminds me of the childhood snack hawthorn flakes.

Sealed With A Kiss

Sealed With A Kiss

When you almost finish your sweets and savoury, the service staff will deliver the scones, complete with homemade cream and strawberry jam.

Scones Original & Raisins

Scones Original & Raisins

To accompany your afternoon tea, you can have up to two choices of Ronnefeldt tea and coffee, hot or iced. This time around, I choose Orange Pekoe, Ceylon tea and finish off with Mocha. Meanwhile, LD chose the fruit infusion Sweet Kiss tea.

The Tea Set

Mocha

Overall, the sweets selections of the Fashionista Fashion Tea really impressed us. It truly took the inspirations from the catwalk and translates to the lovely desserts. The savoury bites and scones are good; however, they were just blown away by the sweets. A must-try afternoon tea. Cheers!!

Fashionista Afternoon Tea

Where: Lobby Lounge

When: 16th September 2022 to 22nd November 2022

Monday - Sunday (2 seating)

First seating: 1pm-3pm; Second seating: 3:30pm - 5:30pm

Prices start from:

S$49++ per person - Inclusive of unlimited Ronnefeldt Tea or Brazilian Coffee

*Add on S$20++ per person for unlimited Prosecco - 2 hours only

Takeaway or Delivery:

From S$96.30 nett per set (for 2 persons)

To order, visit > HERE <

For more information, kindly visit www.connoisseur.sg/fashionista-afternoon-tea/, call 6432 7483 / 6432 7357, or email sinci.lobbylounge@conradhotels.com

Thank you very much Team Lobby Lounge for hosting us.

Food: 9/10

Value: 8/10

Service: 8/10

Ambiance: 8.5/10

Budget per Person: $51 - $80

Lobby Lounge @Conrad

2 Temasek Boulevard

Lobby Level, Conrad Centennial Singapore

Singapore 038982

T: +65 6432 7483

W: https://eatdrinkhilton.com/lobby-lounge-conrad-sg/

F: https://www.facebook.com/conradcentennialsingapore

IG: @Conradsingapore

OH:

Sun - Thu: 07:00 - 00:00

Fri - Sat: 07:00 - 01:00

Daily Afternoon Tea: 13.00 – 17.30

Menu Available Online