Velvet Confectionery - Cake Tasting / Review

Had chance to meet up with the ladies (Mia, Janel, and Andrea) for cakes few weekends back! We were hosted by Velvet Confectionery, located Robertson Quay, Watermark Condominium. The previous time I visited, it was Bridger’s Cafe.

Now that Velvet Confectionery has took over the shop front, this space remains unpretentious with both indoor, and alfresco seating by the river.

credits: molly-mia 

Let’s start with our favourite of the lot!

Nutella Cheesecake

credits: molly-mia 

Not sure if it’s psychological, but I find the cake tasting more like Ferrero rocher than Nutella, haha! The cheesecake is perfectly soft and creamy, complemented well by a crusty cookie base that hints of caramel. This was the favourite of ALL of us!

Carrot Cake

I don’t usually crave for carrot cakes for desserts because just like Mia, I tend to imagine them as savoury treats too. Lol. But the carrot cake at Velvet Confectionery is definitely far from being savoury! Being one of their best sellers, the carrot cake is pretty moist and loaded with crunchy goodies such as raisins, walnuts, and of cos, carrot bits. The cinnamon flavour is minimal, which is a good thing for me personally. 

Red Velvet Swirl Brownie

credits: molly-mia 

Fudge brownie, topped with an equally thick layer of cream cheese. Certainly for the sweet tooth.


Lemon Olive Oil Yoghurt Loaf

This cake is made without butter, but with olive oil instead. Hence the texture tends to be more crumbly. The taste is pretty light overall, with just a slight hint of lemon.

Devilish Chocolate Cupcake

credits: molly-mia 

The cake itself is quite soft and fluffy, with just the right amount of chocolate flavour. With the creamy chocolate icing on it, it is the perfect one to with your afternoon tea.

Blue Velvet Cupcake

credits: molly-mia 

If you have tried various red velvet cakes already, why not order a blue velvet for a change? :) 

***

For the month of July, Velvet Confectionery is having a promotion. All you have to do is to follow them on Instagram (@velvetconfectionery) and quote "MollyMia" to enjoy your choice of cake with a cup of hot coffee (latte or cappuccino) or hot tea for just $10 on weekdays.

credits: molly-mia 

Velvet Confectionery

Watermark @ Robertson Quay

7 Rodyk Street #01-30

Operating Hours 

10.30am til 6.30pm Daily

Closed on Tuesdays

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/velvetconfectionery

Instagram

@velvetconfectionery

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

Luxola - Clinique's 3-Step Skin Care Review

Was happy to receive Clinique's 3-Step Skin Care Regime Set from Luxola recently! Had just been pondering whether to try Clinique products when I was in the US few months ago, cos the prices are slightly cheaper over there. So imagine my excitement in receiving the Clinique skincare set! :)

Clinique partnered with practicing physicians—clinicians—to pioneer the first-ever dermatologist-developed skin care system, Clinique's 3-Step Skin Care Regime: Cleanse with Facial Soap, exfoliate with Clarifying Lotion, moisturize with Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion or Gel. All skins enjoy new transparency, clarity, life from just 3 products, 3 minutes, twice a day.

At Clinique a product is allergy tested 12 times on 600 people; if even one of those 7,200 applications incites an allergic reaction, Clinique will reformulate. All eye products are also ophthalmologist tested.

Read Luxola's e-magazine for more details on Clinique's 3-Step Skin Care Regime Set!

***

Clinique's 3-Step Skin Care Regime Set consist of Facial Soap, Clarifying Lotion, and Moistuizing Lotion.

I have the set for Type 2 skin which is suitable for normal / combination skin types.

Liquid Facial Soap

Use twice a day, morning and night.

The facial soap is light and lathers easily with water. It doesn't feel drying on any part of my skin at all - which is especially important for non-oily areas like below the cheeks, the jaw, neck, area near the lips, and such. My skin doesn't feel tight after cleansing, but still effectively clean and soft to touch as I swipe my finger across. The facial soap has just a very, very, very faint scent, which is acceptable to someone like me who doesn't like scented products.

Clarifying Lotion

Use twice a day, morning and night.

This works like an exfoliating toner lotion, that should be used with a cotton ball / cotton pad and sweeped over face and neck. It has an exfoliating effect per claim, clearing away deep-trapped dirt or dead cell flakes, which makes my skin appear smooth and slightly glowing right after use. This lotion contains alcohol, just to highlight, but it doesn't dry out my skin or irritates it like some products containing alcohol. Skin is still dewy after the Step 1 Cleanser and Step 2 Lotion :) Just take note to avoid the eye area when using the lotion as the eye area is more sensitive. 

Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+

The final step in Clinique's 3-Step Skin Care Regime is this moisture "drink" developed by Clinique's dermatologists to maintain optimal moisture balance for very dry skins, or skins dry in the cheeks, comfortable to oily in the T-zone. With a new complex, this formula aims to strengthen the skin's own moisture barrier by 54%. As more moisture stays in., the skin will feel soft and springy.

I love this lotion the most out of the collection because it makes my skin feels really good. This moisturizing lotion is absorbed rather easily into my skin and smells nice. And, most importantly, I can see how it plumps up my skin (not obvious in photos though no photo comparisons) by keeping it hydrated!

Thanks so much to Luxola again for letting me have the chance to try out Clinique's 3-Step Skin Care Set!

If you're interested to get anything on Luxola, check out using this discount code BLX-OYHZ!
From now till 15 August 2015, enjoy 15% off all first time orders with the code.

(This offer is not valid on non-discountable brands as found in the FAQ page.)

LIN's - Reed Diffuser and Soy Candle Review

Trying out home spa recently to relax and keep calm amidst the busy schedule. Was introduced to LIN's by Chris, an Australian brand looking to bringing nature into urbane settings.

"LIN's seeks to exude the wonders of mother earth with our natural and organic concept into your lifestyle. 

Envisioning the needs of modern living, LIN's embraces a natural and an organic concept that holistically intertwines all your senses, proffering the ultimate sensory adventure and capturing the good from the earth, transforming its beauty into a conglomerate of touches, scents and visuals.

In LIN's, you can assimilate a range of quality skin, body, hair and scented natural products with an organic interpretation of beauty into an everyday routine. Extracted from plants with selective bottling of nature, we deliver gentle, wholesome and delicate products that are the best off our soil."

I was thrilled to try the reed diffuser from LIN's home spa series.

Tilley Lily of the Valley Diffuser

$69.00

http://www.lins.com.sg/product_info.php?products_id=175

The deliciously fresh, green, deep waft of Lily of the Valley makes every bathroom complete.

You would be welcomed with the scent immediately after opening the packaging. It's strong in my opinion, so would suggest using less reeds to begin with and slowly adding on according to your personal preference. But that may be because I'm pretty sensitive to scents in general. If u wan a quick diffuse of the scent, use all the given reeds, and turn them around every 3hours or so :)

Not just that, I had the soy candle as well!

Tilley Lily of the Valley Candle

$55

http://www.lins.com.sg/product_info.php?cPath=26_42&products_id=163

Delicate, fresh and hypnotic, this beautiful lily of the valley candle instantly delights. Made from the finest ingredients with a slow burning lead-free cotton wick, the glowing white frosted glass container adds an elegant ambience to any décor.

This is a lighter version compared to its sister reed diffuser. The glass container looks elegant and would make a nice decor for my new house!

They have bundles promotion which you may want to check it out here!

http://www.lins.com.sg/index.php?cPath=27_57

Tilley Bath Salt + Reed Diffuser is only at $62.16 (UP $88.80)

You may mix and match any scent you want, there are more than 10 scent options available for the diffuser! :)

Besides the website, LIN's has a retail outlet located at United Square.

101 Thomson Rd #B1-70 United Square Singapore 307591

Tel
6254 6009

Operating hours
10.30am to 9.30pm

How do you like these home spa products?
Let me know if you have tried LIN's before, or any diffusers you would like to recommend :)

Coast to Coast Australia Skincare Review

I'm heading to Perth soon! Any recommendations or meetups? :)
So many things had been happening recently that I really need a good break from everything! :(

In the mean time, here's an Australian brand to introduce to you, Coast to Coast!
A brand born during a holiday in Australia when Nicole Chadwick – with husband Nick Chadwick founder of Red Earth – marvelled at our country’s raw, natural beauty. She just wanted to capture the essence of the landscape and its purity … and bottle it!

A passionate believer in the power of native extracts and botanicals, Nicole collaborated with one of Australia’s leading formulators to begin years of trials and research into native Australian ingredients to create a collection of skincare, body and hair care products rich in natural potency and quality that actually work. Today that dream is Coast to Coast.

Drawing on the wisdom of indigenous plant knowledge and combining it with the very best in modern science, Coast to Coast is a range of pure and authentic skin, bath, body and hair care products.

Coast to Coast products deliver optimum results for your skin, body and hair using powerful natural ingredients from our beautiful homeland. It is a product range that embodies the beauty and purity of the Australian landscape.

From Coast to Coast, experience natural solutions to enhance the integrity of your body, mind and spirit.

I received products from the Coastal range which are intended for normal-dry skin, to enable a smoother and more supple complexion.

It was after reading through the description and ingredients contained, I find the functions quite suitable for my skin even though I may not exactly have dry skin per say. Also, the products are of 'ultra gentle' range, gentle enough for sensitive skin and to be used daily. So I was quite inclined to give them a try!

The Coastal Collection has been specially formulated with ultra soothing ingredients collected from the Coastal regions around Australia. Botanicals such as Tasmanian Sea Kelp, Sea Parsley Eucalyptus and Wild Rosella contain anti-oxidant vitamins and skin soothing nutrients to protect against dehydration, UV stress and skin inflammation, making it ideal for after sun care or for those who suffer from skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. Fresh tropical notes of Jasmine, Grapefruit, Geranium, Rosewood and Eucalyptus essential oils uplift and refresh to lightly scent the skin.

Ultra Gentle Foaming Cleanser
$32.00
Wild Rosella & Sea Parsley
http://coasttocoastaustralia.com.sg/product/ultra-gentle-foaming-cleanser/

This delicately fragranced frothy face cleanser caringly removes surface debris & environmental impurities. Botanical extracts of Organic Aloe, Wild Rosella & Native Sea Parsley help to soothe sensitive skin throughout the cleansing process, while Salicylic Acid helps to clear the skin of pore-clogging oils & breakout-causing bacteria. Skin emerges youthfully soft, fresh & clear.

I like how this facial cleanser contains Salicylic Acid which will help with my oily and clogged pores.



Ultra Gentle Facial Polish
$37.00
Wild Rosella & Oatmeal
http://coasttocoastaustralia.com.sg/product/ultra-gentle-facial-polish/



Scrub away dryness & impurities with this foaming face polish containing Australian Oatmeal to gently exfoliate plus Organic Aloe, Wild Rosella & soothing marine extracts to calm sensitive skin throughout the cleansing process. There’s no ouch, just a clearer, smoother & fresher complexion.

I was initially apprehensive about the scrub because it contains oatmeal. My last experience with organic oatmeal scrub didn't turn out well. But this Australian Oatmeal facial scrub has really micro beads, and very fine oatmeal-like granules that aren't harsh on my skin. The overall texture is really gentle and seems great for daily use! Only con is that I find the scent pretty strong.

Here are some awards Coast to Coast Australia had obtained over the years :)



Have you tried Coast to Coast before? Do share with me your experience!

Tips for Singapore Internship

I'm pretty sure most of the local tertiary students have gone through some form of internships in Singapore, at least once in a lifetime, right? I had been through Singapore internship once personally, during my uni days. 

Though mine was a modest, short 2.5-month stint, I thought I should still share some tips on acing in internships :) Ok, I wouldn't say I had excelled in my internship exactly la (though I remember I did score an A for it), but it got me a permanent position one year before my graduation at least! Besides, these tips are adequately simple and may be helpful in other areas in life too!

Set goals

Even if it may be a short internship like mine, set some goals you want to achieve in these few months. You may wanna do it with your supervisor so that he/she can guide you along to set practical and measurable goals. Otherwise, doing it on your own is fine too, especially if it’s a self-sourced internship that doesn’t require you to report back to school, or you’re paiseh or afraid that you may not achieve the goals and don’t want a third-party to know.

Stay open and adaptable 

We would all have our own reasons for doing a certain internship with a certain scope at a certain company or location – our ideals. However, we all learnt that ideals may not be realizable more often than not. It is not uncommon for interns to perform work that are out of your expected scope or even get shared by a different department sometimes. Stay open and adapt fast. Unless those additional tasks are overwhelming that it affects your fundamental reason for doing that internship, raise the issue and discuss it with the supervisor.

Set right remuneration expectation

With so many employment portals available online, it’s easy to do a benchmarking of what you’re getting against market rates. However though, keep in mind that the work experience and exposure matters more in an internship than the money. I would stay in an industry or company or position for internship even if I get paid peanuts or only transport allowance because it is an industry/company/position I like or would benefit me in the long run. That is what I believe in personally, otherwise, find a permanent job instead!

Be helpful

After experiencing real work after I’d graduated, I came to realize helpful people are very much appreciated. You may not be the smartest of the lot, but if you could take initiative / some extra effort to help someone out, it will benefit both parties greatly! You learn something new, the other party gets task done more quickly (because 2 brains are better than 1). I guess this applies everywhere in life!

Stay in contact

Well, ideally stay in contact with colleagues and superiors so that they can keep you in the loop when there is an open position after your internship. I got an offer before my internship ended, and got transferred to my requested department. Nonetheless, I still made an effort to stay in contact with my peers and seniors because we have so much shared memories in that few months of joy/struggles. Also, in future, those faces will be the ones you will see daily at work and some may even become your closer friends because they totally understand you in terms of work/career! 

Now, that’s all I have for internship Singapore. What’s yours? :)