Swensens SG50 Moon Gems mooncakes

Mid-Autumn festival is rolling around, and Swensen’s has the perfect seasonal 

offering for annual, warm familial gatherings whilst basking under the pale moonlight. In celebration of Singapore’s 50th birthday, the much-anticipated SG50 Moon Gems mooncakes feature the iconic Merlion emblem to top off the festivities, in reminiscence of how far Singapore has come in the past five decades, and come encased in a beautiful Lantern Box complete with LED lights and batteries.

I have yet to bring the lantern out (cos of the haze arghh), but will be using it to join in the fun with the kids at home!

With the marking of new milestones, comes a brand new pastry skin recipe for the SG50 Moon Gems ice cream mooncakes that promise to deliver happiness with the improved texture. Swensen’s latest ice cream mooncakes feature six delectable options that celebrate some of Singapore’s most popular local flavors. 

In keeping with Swensen’s passion to innovate and surprise with new offerings, the family restaurant introduces three flavors that will be sure to please – Crunchy Milo, Lychee Dreams and Yummy Yam. Fans of their quintessential mooncake range can revel in familiar, all-time-favorites like the Durian Royale and Sticky Chewy Chocolate.

I chose the 2 all-time favourites - Durian and Sticky Chewy Chocolate, a personal favourite - Strawberry Fields Forever and a SG50 new flavour - Crunchy Milo. 

Had wanted Lychee Dreams too, but it was already out of stocks when I visited Swensens. Shows how popular it is!

♥ Crunchy Milo (*NEW*)

As local as Singaporean flavours go, bite into the Crunchy Milo mooncake that features the rich malty taste of Milo filled with plush marshmallows and crunchy almond. Definitely the choice flavor combination in honor of Singapore’s 50th birthday. Needless to say, this is my new favourite after the strawberry flavour as I LOVEEEEE Swensens' milo ice-cream personally! :)

♥ Sticky Chewy Chocolate

This Mid-Autumn, fall in love again with the all-time best-selling Swensen’s signature Sticky Chewy Chocolate ice cream. Wrapped in our soft pastry skin, this rich chocolaty goodness will linger in your mouth with every bite. Makes a great gift choice too as you won't go wrong with chocolate ;)

♥ Durian Royale

Behold the King of Fruits is back! Get ready to savour the rich pungent flavors of D24 durian ice cream. 

But be warned, this aromatic flavor will keep you coming back for more.

♥ Strawberry Fields Forever

Reminscent of Singapore’s eternal summer days, Swensen’s creamy strawberry ice cream mooncake is abound with fresh ripe strawberries from the sweetest harvest.

♥ Lychee Dreams (*NEW*)

I really need to get this nearer to MAF, cos the description sounds too tempting!
Get invigorated with the light refreshing taste of the sweet, fragrant translucent white flesh of lychee blended with Swensen’s Lychee ice cream. The unforgettable taste is the stuff of dreams.

♥ Yummy Yam (*NEW*)

Back by popular demand, Swensen’s signature Yam ice cream returns with its beckoning, all-familiar taste and texture. The aroma and sweet, creamy taste is a definite crowd pleaser and will have you reminiscing of the good old days.

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Price and Availability 

Swensen’s SG50 Moon Gems Mooncake Collection is priced at $35.80 (inclusive of GST) for a box of 4 (with choice of flavours). Available from 14 August 2015 to 27 September 2015 at all Swensen’s and Earle Swensen’s outlets. No pre-orders are required.

Credit Card Promotions

ANZ, BOC, Citibank, Diners, HSBC, Maybank, OCBC, Standard Chartered Bank, and UOB cardholders can enjoy an early bird special of 15% discount before 15 September 2015 and a 10% discount thereafter till 27 September 2015.

Swensen's Cool Rewards & Kids' Club members can enjoy 20% early bird special before 15 September 2015 & 15% discount thereafter till 27 September 2015.

(AD) BATTLE OF THE KFC WINGS!

Singaporean youths are a trendy and sophisticated bunch. They love keeping up to date with the latest trends and are always in-the-know about everything and anything new under the sun. In recent years, the influence of Japanese and Korean culture and cuisine is getting increasingly prevalent. Many Singaporeans have fallen in love with the rich Japanese culture and exciting Korean pop and fashion trends. Most importantly, we have all fallen for their delicious food offerings!  

I'm pretty sure everybody is familiar with KFC in Singapore.

Kentucky Fried Chicken Management Pte Ltd is the leading quick-service restaurant chain in the chicken category in Singapore. KFC is renowned for serving its customers delicious, complete family meals at affordable prices. The first KFC restaurant in Singapore was opened in 1977, and there are now 87 restaurants island-wide. KFC a.m. was introduced in November 2007 and is now served at 68 of its restaurants. The company also provides KFC Delivery as part of its commitment to meet the needs of consumers. There are more than 19,400 KFC restaurants in 120 countries and territories around the world. KFC Corporation is a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc., Louisville, Ky. (NYSE: YUM.)  To find out more about KFC in Singapore, please visit www.kfc.com.sg.

Rising to the occasion, KFC introduces the all-new KFC Wings – Freshly breaded in-store with a special batter, these juicy wings are cooked to crispy perfection and coated in two bold flavours. Choose either the Umadare sauce (a tangy yet savoury Japanese sauce) or the Yang Yeum sauce (a Korean-inspired sweet and spicy sauce) - you’ll definitely find a flavour you simply can’t get enough of!  

The KFC Wings is also paired with the new 7Up Lemon Mint, which allows you to enjoy the refreshing flavour of lemon paired with a cool burst of mint. You can now enjoy the KFC Wings in an a la carte set of 4 pcs (choice of 1 flavour) at only $4.90, or go for the Wings Rice Bento Set which comes with 4 pcs Wings (choice of 1 flavour), fragrant chicken rice, a side salad and a regular 7Up Lemon Mint at only $6.90! 

After trying out both wings, I picked the Umadare wings (if you had seen my IG)! Finished off 4 Umadare wings and 2 Yang Yeum wings on my own, cos they're simply so yummy. The 2 flavours so good it’s almost impossible to make a choice! Pick a side and be part of KFC’s greatest wing-off today. To pledge your allegiance to your favourite flavour, upload a post on Instagram and hashtag #kfcoishii to support the Umadare flavour or #kfcmashisoyo to support the Yang Yeum flavour.

Hurry down to the nearest KFC now!

Promotion is not available at KFC Sentosa and Singapore Zoo. Please visit www.kfc.com.sg for full details of the promotion.

Swensen's SG50 dishes (Jul-Sep 2015) and revamped menu

Time again for Swensen's quarterly SG50 menu in celebration of the nation's 50th birthday, with three new dishes that pay homage to the melting pot of Singaporean flavors

The year long SG50 Menu at Swensen’s has excited local diners with its array of inventive, fusion dishes that changes every month. This quarter, Singapore’s representative family restaurant introduces another bold line-up of three dishes that bear testament to the uniquely Singaporean brand of flavor. Diners can look forward to interesting combinations that pack a punch, as Swensen’s adds a personal twist on some of their classic dishes.

The three featured dishes running from July 2015 to September 2015 respectively are the Kicap Manis, Glazed Grey Mullet, You Had Me At Laksa Penne, and popular favorite Banana Chicken Makes a Comeback. Between 1 to 10 August, customers will be available to pick from two dishes instead of one for the first time ever, as both the Kicap Manis Glazed Grey Mullet and You Had Me At Laksa Penne will be made available concurrently in the days leading up to SG50.

These pocket-friendly offerings will be sure to satiate the appetite of any true blue patriot hankering
for a Singaporean dining experience.

1 July – 10 August 2015

Kicap Manis Glazed Grey Mullet ($15.90)



In conjunction with Singapore Restaurant Month, Swensen’s is proud to be part of the 50 restaurant
brands presenting a newly created dish using only fresh local produce. The mullet is gently seasoned
and grilled to preserve its freshness, and comes served over a bed of savory buttered rice for the
full works. I love the rice indeed!
Not only that, for chilli lovers, accompany every bite with Swensen’s homemade garlic chili kicap manis for an oriental twist of flavor!

Augusts 2015

You Had Me At Laksa Penne ($14.90)



Happy Birthday Singapore! Celebrate 50 years of independence by digging into a delectable Laksa
with a western twist. Hearty whole meal penne tossed in authentic Singaporean Laksa gravy with
an abundance of fresh ingredients – rich blue mussels, scallops from the North Sea, juicy prawns and dry beancurd.


September 2015

Banana Chicken Makes a Comeback ($14.90)



The dish that swept Singapore in its earlier years makes a glorious comeback. Lightly battered marinated chicken chunks are wrapped around a juicy banana and deep fried golden brown. Dip into the light curry cream sauce for an explosion of flavors. Served with our hot U.S. Fries and Mesclun Salad, this blast from the past is definitely Swensen’s best kept secret! Our favourite out of the Quarter SG50 menu for the tender chicken and popular goreng pisang ;)

***

Not just the SG50 menu, this July, Swensen’s delivers chockfull of flavor and a slew of new additions to their menu for an improved dining experience at Singapore’s favorite family
restaurant.

Heartwarming newcomers like the Farm Roast Chicken with Mustard Onion Sauce and crowd-favorite Slipper Lobster Roll vie for your attention with their classic flavor profiles, while innovative dishes like the Oriental Chili Fish Pasta and Milo Dinosaur Sundae Dirt Pot offer an element of surprise and keep diners on their toes.

Swensen’s fans will also be delighted to know that the Breakfast Menu has expanded to include Salted Egg n Honey Toasties, and other kid-friendly dishes to reward everyone for a well-deserved family treat. Can't wait to try this over the weekend soon! 

Chose to try my favourite scallops in the new menu during the media tasting.

Golden Breaded Scallops ($9.80) 

Whet your appetite with these succulent scallops fresh from the ocean. Lightly battered with bread crumbs and served with creamy tartar sauce for an umami mix of flavors. And the scallops really come golden brown at Swensen's! (unlike some places where the oil used has been recycled too much resulting in dark-coloured fry :/)

Slipper Lobster Roll ($17.90)

Another of my favourite at Swensen's ever since trying their seasonal Boston lobster roll previously! Now it's finally in their regular menu, yay! This dish is a symphony of sweet slipper lobster dressed with special honey lime dressing. Nestled in a pillow soft grilled bun that is buttery and crisp on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside. Topped with a touch of butter oil for an unforgettable taste in every bite.

Another seasonal dish that made a comeback is the Firecracker Soft Shell Shrimps ($8.50)
Had tried it during the previous swensen's media food tasting.



These flavor bombs are coated with a tasty blend of spices and fried for that perfect crunch. Outrageously addictive, these lightly battered morsels are served with Swensen’s very own pineapple BBQ sauce.

Farm Roast Chicken with Mustard Onion Sauce ($15.60)



Go back to the basics with this classic delight! Tender, juicy quarter chicken elegantly seasoned with a heavenly blend of spices, roasted to tender perfection and served with Swensen’s rich savoury
mustard onion sauce.


Oriental Chili Fish Pasta ($16.90)



Satisfy your appetite with this smorgasbord of fulfilling flavors. Tender dory fillet lightly coated with homemade batter, fried to a crisp golden brown and slathered with Swensen’s house signature
spicy oriental sauce. Served on a bed of spaghetti with a hint of fragrant garlic.

Milo Dinosaur Sundae Dirt Pot ($10.50)



Been wanting to try a potted dessert since last year but somehow the idea had been abandoned several times for many, many reasons. So YAY, certainly pleased that we could finally try one yesterday! Swensen’s Milo Dinosaur Sundae Dirt Pot uses well, milo powder instead of the usual oreo specks and the main bulk of it is Swensen’s milo ice cream of cos! 🍦The ice cream is presented with a cute gummy worm (*this is a worm that never dies..*), passion fruit and parsley. Also, not forgetting the miniature shovel which you can use to unearth the “soil” to reveal many treasures underneath! I shall not spoil the surprise, try it yourself to know what lies beneath ;)


Below are addresses of the Swensen's outlets :)

Ang Mo Kio Hub
53 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3
#B1-25/26

Bedok Mall
311 New Upper Changi Road
#01-77

Bukit Panjang Plaza
1 Jelebu Road
#03-04

Causeway Point
1 Woodlands Square
#02-08/09

Centrepoint
176 Orchard Road
#02-52/53/54

Compass Point
1 Sengkang Square
#B1-28/29

City Square Mall
180 Kitchener Road
#03-37/38

Clementi Mall
3155 Commonwealth Ave
West #05-31/32/33

E! Hub @ Downtown East
1 Pasir Ris Close #02-121/122

IMM
2 Jurong East Street 21
#01-111

ION Orchard
2 Orchard Turn
#B1-31

Junction 8
9 Bishan Place
#01-39

Jurong Point
63 Jurong West Central 3
#B1-64

Marina Square
6 Raffles Boulevard
#01-206/207

Nex Mall
23 Serangoon Central
#02-07/08

North Point
930 Yishun Avenue 2
#01-16/17

Parkway Parade
80 Marine Parade Road
#B1-33/34

Plaza Singapura
68 Orchard Road
#03-23

Tampines Mall
4 Tampines Central 5
#03-30

The Seletar Mall *NEW*
33 Sengkang Avenue
#02-11/12

Thomson Plaza
301 Upper Thompson Road
#03-23

West Mall
1 Bukit Batok Central Link
#02-05

24 hours Swensen's Outlet

Changi Airport Terminal 2
Mezzanine Level, Arrival Meeting Hall North

Swensen’s Mothers' Day Heart of Youth Cake - With Giveaway!

Ladies no longer need much persuasion to eat cakes with this unique creation by Swensen's!

The Heart of Youth cake is a symbol of love that not only tastes decadent with its winning flavor blend of Vanilla with Chocolate Fudge chunks, for it comes infused with a healthy dose of Marine Collagen as well. But, don't worry! It didn't taste anything "fishy" at all :)
This natural supplement is renowned worldwide for its myriad of anti-aging benefits. Collagen makes up one-third of proteins in the body, and functions to upkeep healthy skin and strong bones through active regeneration.

 

Thus, this Mother’s Day, send love and a cherished ode to your mother’s health with Swensen’s Heart of Youth cake infused with Marine Collagen.

Beautifully encased in pink piping jelly with a pearl cream outline, the heart-shaped cake comes complete with a delicate adornment of intricate sugar flowers and a white chocolate crown as a perfect symbolic creation of affection for your beloved mother. As collagen production decreases with age, the Heart of Youth cake keeps your mom’s woes at bay as she tucks into the saccharine invention that boasts innate anti-ageing goodness.



Heart of Youth is priced at $51 (excluding GST) and no advanced ordering is required. Available at all Swensen’s and Earle Swensen’s outlets from 23rd April to 10th May 2015 (while stocks last).


GIVEAWAY! :)

Win a Heart of Youth cake (worth $51) simply by doing the following:

1. Follow @SwensensSingapore on Instagram.

2. Follow @OYHZ on Instagram and tag 2 friends with your email address in a comment on any of the Heart of Youth cake photo.

Giveaway is open to all Singapore residents, until 3 May, 23:59 (Singapore time). Winner will be contacted via email soon after.

Good luck and have a happy Mothers' Day! :)

Alfero Artisan Gelato – Singapore

Alfero Artisan Gelato – Singapore

6 Raffles Boulevard 02-226A/B 

Marina Square Singapore 039594. 

Tel: 

+65 6338 5828

Opening Hours: 

Monday to Sunday 12:00 to 22:00

Cafes have been popping up all over Singapore in recent years; but we all have heard a number of cafes closing down at the same time – due to lack of flavor (both the food and concept). Setting up a F&B business is never easy, what’s more with required constant efforts in maintaining the fundamental gist of the business – the food. Nonetheless, as much as competitive is still tough, Alfero Artisan Gelato proved itself with quality gelato and steadfastly expanding over these years. Other than that, gelato is also much less sinful than their ice-cream counterpart!

Alfero Artisan Gelato believes that everyone deserves to enjoy a great Italian gelato made as it should be. 

“This is not just a business, but also a lifestyle philosophy - offering and rediscovering the taste of authentic Italian products such as gelato, without sacrificing quality. Alfero Artisan Gelato conforms to a philosophy based on taste and an unforgettable customer experience. We consider that "what we put inside our body" is far more important of what some people think, and that taste and quality matters!”

Ex-colleagues and I used to pop by their gelato outlet at Marina Square for a convenient lunchtime perk-me-up ;) However, we usually have the common safe choices such as mango or lime flavours. The recent tasting session (with Mia, Finaldust, Hazel and Janel) allowed us to indulge in more flavours and also got to know Marco Alfero, the originator of the gelato from Italy. We hear stories of how he became “localized”, coming in touch with ingredients in one of their rawest forms (read, Gula Melaka cubes?) to formulate new gelato flavours and met him personally relishing his own creation in the cafe with his family and friends on that weekend. When a chef appreciates his own food so much, you can be sure he had placed his 100% in cooking it – and this applies the same to a gelato artiste.

“Alfero Artisan Gelato aims to bring to Singapore the real experience of homemade Italian gelato produced with the best quality of imported ingredients and freshness and taste guaranteed. It is designed and catered to the market with a whole unique taste of authentic Italian products with quality assured.”

*credits Molly-Mia

The 11 flavours from top right, in clockwise direction:

(Cup-left) Bacio, (Cup-right) Dark Chocolate, (Cup-back) Yuzu, (Cup-front) Strawberry Milk, (Cup-left) Walnut, (Cup-right) Pistachio, Mango, Durian, Avocado, Passionfruit, Lemon.

My personal favourite out of the lot is still mango ;) There is not even a microscopic hint of any artificial mango flavourings unlike most other mango ice-creams or gelato. I also enjoyed other fruit flavours for alike reasons i.e. the durian, avocado, and yuzu. The tangy zest of the yuzu refreshes your mood instantly.

If you’re looking for something more “filling”, try the durian or avocado which is denser, smoother and more velvety in texture. The durian one actually contains real fruit flesh! Again, no trace of artificial flavourings at all. 

If you would prefer something over the sorbets, try the Bianco! It is chocolate with hazelnuts – similar to other gelato brands’ “Tartufo” or “Ferrero Rocher” flavour. That should be an easy choice to make for the kids especially. For adults, you will not go wrong with pistachio is you would like a more unique flavour. The pistachio gelato is so surprisingly fragrant that the few of us finished that flavour very soon!

Chendol Gelato Waffles

This innovative flavour is specially created by Marco Alfero to cater to the locals. The gelato only has a slight hint of Chendol, which personally I would have prefer it to be stronger. The waffle is pretty soft and fluffy.

Brownie with Snow White Gelato

One of the perfect food combination in the world - brownie with ice-cream.

Snow White is Alfero's milk flavoured gelato and its smooth, velvety texture complements the dry, crumbly brownie flawlessly.

For those looking for afternoon tea, Alfero Artisan Gelato also offers a small selection of coffees and teas. Do check out the menu or enquire with the staff when you’re there :)

❤ ❤ ❤