Thinking about mooncake?! The first impression that would be occupying your mind would be the usual impression....brown light fluffy crust with lotus root paste and at times accompanied by the pleasant surprise of salted egg yolk within....packaged in a standard gift box of "you know how" assumption!

In my deepest thoughts and likings....mooncake has never ever been my priority in my "to die to eat" list....however i sincerely believe things will take a significant contra on my perception of mooncake which pretty much caught my amuse attention! Being one of the lucky winners to be given a chance to try out the mooncake by Cova i am preparing myself for the worst that i had encountered on my near to "heaven" mooncake experiences...which were total dryness, a hard nut to crack when in my tunneling machine and almost choking to death when i tried to gush it down! (Heaven!)

Sighting of the mooncakes within its gift box were totally refreshing especially chilling in the cooler for almost an hour. Cova intelligently made use of all its experience that they had accumulated since its establishment in 1817 right from the streets of the fashion famous Milan and came up with this four exquisite flavours that i have ever encounterd which are:

Mocha Snowskin Mooncake - which consists of the perking coffee blends and their silky smooth milk chocolate with a heavy but yet lighthearted touch to create the body that no mooncake lovers would have ever projected.

Sweet Potato and Pumpkin Snowskin Mooncake - induced an attractive golden-yellowish appearance on its fillings and with the light texture on its feel and create a diligently subtle sweetness.

Rose and Vanilla Snowskin Mooncake - consist of sponge cake layered with chocolate and cream with rose flavoring skin that create the unique rose-vanilla taste! Harmony of contrast at its very best.

Peanut and Chocolate Snowskin Mooncake - total chunkiness of the grinded peanuts with the integration of the fine touches of the rich and soothing chocolate creamery that will amplified your desire on the combustion within.

Going @ $38.50 with a plus... Cova's range of mooncakes is a must have for this Mid Autumn Festival...be it for anybody or any age group! Talking about Italian Flair with Chinese Tradition! My total change of perception of mooncake and escalating it to my "to die to eat" list!!! Big thumbs up ! Thank you Cova & Openrice!

Nestled in the greens and lush by the beach stands 1 TwentySix Coast....Fancy a special night with your loved ones,a place where you will always remember for the time to come, be it casual or fine dining in Singapore or just practically a drink to sooth your day off...1 TwentySix Coast is the place to be in....

Was invited to the restaurant for the ORTU session and definitely the name of One Rochester Group do ring a tinkle on my mind and immediately the bar was set high up there in full anticipation of the services and quality of the food that were to be served. Reached the premises and was immediately greeted by the receptionist with a warm smile as initiated. I was shown to their lounge area that are specially closed for the day in order to cater for the tasting session.Thumbs up on the hospitality and arrangements. Prompt and speedy attention was given and nothing was left in despair.

Bon appettie is the word to start off the tasty session. ORTU was first shown to the bar counter and was told that we will start off the session with 7 shots of cocktails that are specially created by their house mixologists - Kiki & Ivan Fernandez in the form of 7 "SINS" and yes they are all playfully sinful. By hearing the numbers of the cocktails that we have to taste...i can feel my blood rushing through my micro mili veins. Kudos on the arrangement by Kiki and ensure that we will get to taste the "SINS" from the lightest to the strongest alcoholic content. Yes....and to the fifth shot of cocktail that i had, i can say that i pretty much feeling the heat within me. All the cocktails are exquisitely presented in order to attain the maximum attractions to its "PARTNERS' which are the ORTU group and from the point of concentration that the "SINS" are garnering...i guess it summarise us all human beings in the world - Pride, Greed, Despair, Wrath, Envy, Sloth and Lust! Do note that this is the 7 sins chosen for us out of their 30 plus sins on hand! Special mention on the Envy which mainly consists of brandy & lychee that is being presented on a 2 in 1 glass separation mode...that you will be drinking from 2 straws in 2 glasses to "connect" as one! Talking about creativity and passion at its best!

After 30 minutes of hoos and haas for the cocktail tasting @ the bar helmed by Kiki by assistant...we were then seated down on the comfy seats with a generous amount of sea breeze brushing pass us. Total relaxation in alfresco setting sets in and with the "float" effect that filled us all up with the 7 shots of cocktail that we had, we were all looking forward on the starter & entrees that best bestow the standards of food quality associated with One Rochester Group!

From the first all the way till to the very last course of the dishes that are being presented and served, i can say that the whole crew from the serving staff all the way to the kitchen sync up into one which pretty much translate and form the One Rochester family. No stones were left unturned to envision every single dish on its prospective perfection. Food freshness are at its best with the minimal usage of additional condiments or spices to create the additional "TOUCHES" which their Executive Chef of the group Christopher Millar strongly uphold.

Strong recommendations and the "MUST TRY 3M Adhesive" tag are on their Seafood platter and Baby Roasted Chicken. I guess the slogan which is the "freshest catch of the day" best depicts the involvement of all ingredients of the seafood platter, with the oysters on the bay taking the lead to be the most sought after "NEEDS"! The roasted chicken was totally crisp on the outside with tenderness all submerged within the inner self of the heavenly structure. Culinary finest on hand!

With the session coming to an end...we were all hyped up on the arrival of our "sweetest enemies" and once again the benchmark are there and they did not disappoint! My eyes are "drooling" with the selection of desserts that are served in the Grande Assiette which consists of petite portion of their house desserts that include the lemon soufflé. Totally refreshing and light with the pitch perfect sweetness that contrast on the mild sourness which practically "melts" before tunneling it down into my mouth!

Its a "BIG" thumbs up from me and this is the place to be "SOAKED" in after a day of work...to unwind yourself from the urban world and giving yourself the pampering that you may long well deserved! Last but not the least, a date with your loved ones is a must at One TwentySix as it is the finest by the beach!

Sincere gratitudes to the invitation extended by OpenRice team & great appreciation on the hospitality by One TwentySix Coast Management & Staff ( Juwanda & Chiew Yan)!

TGIS....aka Thank God Its Saturday!!! Well....my weekend starts on a Saturday and its always blissful to spend my time with my gF and to source for our next destination of attaining satisfaction with our ever demanding stomachs!

Came up with this idea of visiting this steamboat restaurant when me and her pals are stuck after the initial place that we wanted to visit are fully booked! On reaching a consensus to source for another steamboat restaurant, San Katong just struck a cord on my mind and with no further hesitation i called in and make a reservation for 4 pax and viola....we got our table booked!

Upon reaching...the restaurant is about 50 % packed and we were seated nicely @ one corner of the premises in less than 1 min. Service are prompt with no delay and was shown with their ala carte order chit immediately. With my "adrenalin" pumping within me, we ordered the yuan yang steamboat that consist their house special which is the laksa stock by clear stock and packed our list of order with prawns, mushroom, veggies and the usual suspects to build up on the ultimate soup stock ! However, i must raise the awareness of their fish paste as its a big thumbs up from me. The paste is fishy but the taste and texture with the correct touch of freshnes blending it into the stock equates to the relaxation by the sea so the fish paste is a must have for all!

The laksa stock to my surprise is clean and light, less the rough touch of the "hAir bee hiang" and its not spicy in any bits but not forsaking on the basic instinct of the usual laksa stock that are readily available in Katong which is the sacred ground of laksa. For spicy lovers, do not that there are 3 kind of chillis that are specially prepared by the owners so for anybody that are keen to play with "FIRE" you will not be disappointed.

The clear stock is nicely blend with a strong touch of the "wang dou" and all the food ingredients are all freshly prepared and the prawns just stand out from the list! The only complain that i have are the meat which are too thinly sliced and lacked the robust feel that the meat should have.

Overall, the steamboat experience is all well in place and highly recommended for group gatherings for any occasions. Ups for it!

Being a Friday evening, a queue lining up in front of the shop front would best translate the standard of the food that are being served. Me & my beloved gF are once again on our way to Marutama Ramen (Liang Court) for our dinner!!! The consistency of the ramen with its ever tasteful chicken broth that are being served are the pulling magnets that bring us back!

We waited for about less than 10 min before we were being shown to our seats not before seeing the serving staff in the mode of hustle and bustle busy clearing up th dishes that were left behind by the previous gluttons! Service are prompt and is a par and parcel within a Japanese restaurant and both of pretty much decided what we are targeting at which include their house special - Maru Tama Ramen ($12) by gF and me Tan Ramen ($13) with toppings of their half boiled eggs ($1) each! Lastly with a Gyoza ($5) to complete our objectives of the evening!

The servings came in within less than 10 mins and upon seeing our ramen and gyoza....the only thing on our mind is "ITadkimasu". The ramen are cooked with almost pin point perfection on the texture with the chicken broth well immersed in each and every individual of them. My Tan Ramen came with a great amount of crunchy vegetables servings that pretty much tone down on my carvings for the usual Char Siu as i am a meat lover!!! It is my first time trying out on their Tan Ramen and all i can say is that i am totally satisfied with all veggies "swimming" in my bowl. The gyozas are light and are brilliantly paired with Japanese vinegar to create "Lust" for more! All i can say is that gyozas are great supplement on top of your main and the ideal side dish to go with ramen.

A must go ramen joint for all ramen lovers!!! Ups! Will be back again as always!

Anticipation boomed to the fullest when me and my gF realised that we will be making a second visit back to Hiediard....not before recalling the very "FIRST" on the mind bustling experience by the Cream of Mushroom soup served by them...with compliments of a teaspoon of truffle oil to finish on top. This just simply complete the equation of the formula to the "best soup" that i had after landing myself on Earth....27 years back and counting!

Nestled in a row of cottage like old school shopping unit....Hiedard tucks itself nicely within one end of the building with the touch of lush decor that greets everyone that came into its path. First impression was the overall European theme and the antique door bell that rang in sync, orchestrated faithfully with the faint but soothing, jazzy music tone within bringing your mind to full relaxation upon entry.

We were then being ushered to the corner seat that came with a nice bay window that overlook the main road and with curious on-lookers looking at us within. At that point of time,the only scene that was missing are the snowflakes flowing down from the sky. I believe there's nothing closer with us being @ Paris. Feeling famished and totally relaxed, I decided to go for their The "Savoury" set going @ $25 per set that includes the following as of my choice :
Hot soup of the day or chilled soup gazpacho + Salad of the day or Tartine of the day or Croque-Ferdinand + Glass of wine (Bordeaux red or white) or Madeleine blend coffee or Hediard blend tea or soft drink
and with gF ordering Moelleux chocolate cake with vanilla crème Anglaise ($8).

Staff were all attentive and after our orders being taken into account, we were promptly served with our dining utensils and ice water. There's no doubt on the efficiency of the serving staff with good knowledge of their in house menu and their values of work ethics! Within 15 minutes, my first course came in with the soup of the day and it did not disappoint me in any bits. The mushroom soup again came in with the great texture of minced mushroom and with the heavenly touch of the truffle oil...disappointment was never in my dictionary that day. The tartine of the day was a house special highly recommended by the serving staff which is roasted lamb. The roasted lamb came in light with no source of the "unpleasant taste" that the lamb would usually involved. It was nicely sliced in thin pieces and totally tantalising once its was channeled into my mouth. Tenderness is the word that fully describe on the texture of the lamb.

Immediately, gF's serving of her dessert came in. The chocolate cake was fluffy and with its central part totally spongy and moist. With a mouthful within, the chocolate cake just practically "melts" and engulfed us within. Cloud nine is the emotion that best translate our feelings at that point. Last but not the least, the meal was completed with the Madeleine blend coffee. The aroma set itself distinctively from the usual coffee that i am so used to and the body of it commands so strongly on my taste bud that i can feel the influx of caffeine trespassing me!

In conclusion, Hiedard is the place to be should you wish to spend your time....be it a lazy day or a special night with your loved ones as your imagination will surprise you as you will be walking on the streets of Paris!