Mandarin Orchard Singapore Staycation – Deluxe Room

Mandarin Orchard Singapore by Meritus is the flagship five star hotel managed by Meritus Hotel and Resorts, owned by Overseas Union Enterprise (Lippo Group). Located in the middle of Shopping Paradise Orchard Road, this hotel has easy access to other facilities such as Hospital, Medical Facilities, Culinaries Escapade and Entertainment.

We were tempted by 12 days Pre-Christmas Promotion, where the rooms are going at $199 per night without breakfast. So we decided on a quick break and booked a room. For breakfast, you can add S$23.54++ per person, which we did. Three days before our check in, we received a reminder email with our booking details and welcoming us and promise to serve us with their Signature Hospitality of Asian Grace, Warmth and Care.

Photo Credit: Mandarin Orchard Email

Happy New Year

Chubbybotakkoala.com

would like to wish everyone

Happy Chinese New Year 2015!!

May the year of the Goat, blessed you with 

Good Health, Happiness & Prosperity!

Huat Ah!!!

[CLOSED] Chinatown Food Street [MEDIA INVITE]

Chinatown Food Street is a conceptual dining project undertaken by Select Group to revive the heritage food street in Singapore's Chinatown. Located at the end of Smith Street Chinatown (towards South Bridge Road), it's rejuvenation and facelift was completed in 2014. While maintaining the traditional look, it also create a comfortable environment to enjoy Singapore Street Food.

Animal Lanterns at North Bridge Road

As part of Singapore tradition, it is common for us to visit Chinatown in preparation to celebrate Chinese New Year festival. Street vendors will set up their stalls in Temple street, selling Chinese New Year items from snacks, biscuits, peanuts, flowers, decorations and etc. Along North Bridge road, you can see decorative Chinese Zodiac, and this year the Goat take the centre stage. Most of the stalls open until very late, so everyone can take their time to shop or just to experience the atmosphere.

Bedrock Bar & Grill – Slightly Above Average at Best

Bedrock Bar & Grill

A quick google search for a top 10 steakhouse in Singapore, 99% chance Bedrock Bar & Grill ('Bedrock') will be listed as one of them. Bedrock pride itself to serve the finest cuts of steak and whisky, so you are not wrong to expect impeccable service here.

During the weekend dinner service, they have two seat-timing; 6 pm and 8.45 pm. Due to last minute reservation, we only manage to get 8.45pm seating. Knowing our friends' (HK&SH) rubber timing, I told them the reservation at 8.30 pm. Alas, the hunger pangs got to them first and they arrived on the dot and our seat was not ready.

Wine Chiller & Wine Collections

[CLOSED] Fu Lin Men - Four Heavenly Kings [MEDIA INVITE]

Fu Lin Men ('FLM') is a fine dining Chinese restaurant concept by Passion Group located in Jurong Country Club. With award winning Chef Roy Tan as Executive Chef, FLM presents Chef Roy interpretation of “Four Heavenly Kings of Chinese Cooking” (Abalone, Shark's-fin, Sea Cucumber and Fish Maw).

The View from the Restaurant

Due to its location in a country club, the restaurant can be quite secluded from the public. Club members made up bulk of its regular customers, however the restaurant is open to public. From the restaurant, you see the beautiful greenery of the golf course, which was more mesmerising during sunset. The dining hall is elegantly decorated with beautiful chandeliers that fit for Grand Wedding Banquet.

[CLOSED] Squash – Healthy Cleansing Dinner [MEDIA INVITE]

Squash - Juice Salad Wrap

Squash, a healthy joint located in the basement of The Central Clarke Quay. To be exact, beside Watson. If you might think Squash is a juice bar, you are not wrong. Squash offered a complete healthy lifestyle which include cold press juice, salads and wraps.

Squash juice are fresh Cold Press juice and crafted by the mixologist to create a functional and nutritional juice. Cold press is a way to extract the best liquid, pulp and nutrient from fruits and vegetables without exposing it with heat from the blender. With the rave of liquid detox recently, you can do the same with the juice here and create you personalise detox program. Price started from $6.90 to $9.90, they are reflective base on the fresh ingredients use.

Squash - Juice

I tried Hydrate (Coconut water, Cucumber, Watermelon and Kalamansi), Berrylicious Antioxidant (Apple, Pear, Mix Berries and Promegranate) and Tropical Sunrise (Banana, Orange and Strawberry). Hydrate is refreshing and packed with liquid. It is not sweet and easy on the palate. Berrylicious and Tropical Sunrise are thicker in texture, and you can feel the fibre from the banana, orange and berries. Delicious and it does feel healthy.

Poulet Raffles City – Yummilicious Parisian Roast Chicken

Poulet, a French word for Chicken. It is a French theme bistro offering French classic dishes, especially their signature dish of Poulet Roti (Roast Chicken), Poulet also served array of classical French cuisine from Appetizers to desserts.

Apparently, Poulet is operated by Minor Food Group Singapore (MFGS), global operator of other popular brands such as ThaiExpress, Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe and Kiseki.