Char Grill Bar Christmas 'Scratch & Win'

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Hi guys!!!!!

As you all know....

CHRISTMAS IS AROUND THE CORNER!!!!!!!!!

WOOHOOO!!!! *throws confetti and blows party horn*



And the best thing about this Christmas is that Char Grill Bar is giving out presents early!!!

Eat a Christmas meal and you will get to win prizes from their "scratch & win" coupons!

For more information, check out their facebook page!



HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!


360Xperience (Part II): Akai Fune Japanese Restaurant

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Disclaimer: This review is produced in collaboration with Akai Fune Japanese Restaurant FOR Akai Fune Japanese Restaurant and 360Xperience.

Akai Fune Japanese Restaurant
1 Expo Drive, Singapore Expo
#01-31 (Outside Hall 3)
Singapore 486150
Website: http://akaifune.com.sg
Reservation Hotline: (+65)9380 0437

Akai Fune Japanese Restaurant took their first step in the F&B industry earlier this year, with the intention of making their mark through the sales of their signature Japanese Ramen and Shabu Shabu Japanese steamboat (only available via reservation).


I was invited to try their Shabu Shabu Japanese steamboat, which I shall once again re-emphasise, requires RESERVATION!!!

So please do not turn up at their restaurant asking for it and expecting it to materialise before your eyes because that aren't happening yo!

Interior design

A little more about Akai Fune before I dwell into the food bits (and cause you to salivate profusely)...

Akai Fune means "red boat" in Japanese. In ancient Japan, the first thing that is seen coming to the shore each morning with the freshest products from the ocean is this red boat.


Hence with that, it became the reason behind the naming of their restaurant as the owners strive to provide the freshest and highest quality food to their customers. Their products are flown in from Japan twice a week!


Other than being a restaurant, Akai Fune is working towards serving its customers as a cafe and also an Izayaki (ie. a casual japanese drinking place that provides after-work drinking).

Akai Fune aims to provide their diners with an opportunity to relax after a long day of work and to enjoy their meal in peace and comfort, hence they chose the concept of serving their customers in a "fun" and "casual" atmosphere.



Ok enough of background story, time for some food. *rubs hands gleefully*

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But first... let's decide on our drinks. LOL #whoops

Iced Chocolate ($5.90)

I was recommended by the lady boss to try out their Iced Chocolate and Passion Fruit Soda.

The Iced Chocolate is indeed good because it wasn't too milky nor too sweet and the chocolate taste was just right! I really like their Iced Chocolate and I would give it a rating of 6-7/10?

However I would not recommend having this drink with the steamboat because it is too filling and you really would want the extra stomach space for all the hot steaming food!

Passion Fruit Soda ($4.90)

Passion Fruit Soda... I love love love! The weather was so hot that day and I was so glad when this drink was placed before me. It was a life-saver!!!

This is a drink that you could order to go with your steamboat because it is indeed refreshing and the balance between sweet and sour is just fine! But be warned that it is after all a soda, hence it has carbonated water which makes it rather gassy. #FYI

And finally.. Introducing the Shabu Shabu (Lobster Set) Package

Like what I mentioned earlier on, the purpose of my visit to Akai Fune was to write a review and to help promote one of their signature dishes (ie. this Shabu Shabu Japanese steamboat).

A bit more information about their Shabu Shabu steamboat: There are two packages available for your choosing.

1) Lobster Set (indulge in SEAFOOD with no care nor concern for your cholesterol level lol)
2) Wagyu set (indulge in PREMIUM MEAT without any thought about your calorie intake for the day)

*I'm just kidding!! Liven up people! And yes as an Allied Healthcare Professional, it is my duty to constantly remind you of the need to live a healthy lifestyle! (Which includes pigging out on food every once in awhile for the sake of your mental wellbeing!)

Therefore you SHOULD read my blog to find out where are the other cool food places that you can go to for awesome food and an even awesome-r new waistline! *high-five*


Both packages are priced at $79.90 and it is state to be for 1-2 pax.

Do NOT be alarmed at the price yet! Got discount!! Wait for it! I'll talk about it at the end of the entry! For now, just enjoy the food pics and salivate with ease! LOL!!!


Oh and, honestly speaking... that amount of food for ONE package... It is enough to feed like 3-4 PAX?!!?!?!?!?!!

Therefore if you wish to optimise the amount of food consumed and spare a thought for the animals that died to provide you with this sumptuous meal (this is what you get for being an omnivore/carnivore), do huddle up your friends and make a reservation!!!

Dual soup choice - Tonkotsu and Kimchi

You will get to choose two types of soup base from the variety available. There is:
  • Tonkotsu (Pork soup) **RECOMMENDED
  • Sukiyaki (Japanese sweet soup) **RECOMMENDED
  • Kombu (Seaweed soup )
  • Kimchi (Korean spicy soup)
  • Miso (Japanese miso soup)

My soup base combination was chosen for me and I am incredibly satisfied with the recommendations by the lady boss.

I'm usually not a fan of spicy soups but damn, THE KIMCHI SOUP BASE WAS SUPER AWESOME!!!! It goes really really well with the Shabu Shabu stuff! *spam hearts*

JUST. LOOK. AT. THAT. AMOUNT. OF. FOOOOOOOODDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!

I am dead serious when I say that this is NOT just for 1-2 pax!!!

You gotta be a cow (because a cow has 4 stomachs) in order to finish this!

Hell I don't even think 2 cows can finish this.

Then again, why would cows even eat this?! They are herbivores and they certainly are not cannibals!! LOL!!! #crackinglamejokes

So what's in your Shabu Shabu package?

I had the Lobster Set so... this is what my set comprised of:

20 ingredients in total!!!! (Yes I counted lol)

  • Lobster
  • Hotate scallop
  • Crabstick
  • Fishball
  • Squid
  • Salmon
  • Pork belly
  • Beef striploin
  • Special chicken slice
  • Special tsukune (chicken) meat
  • Xiao Bai Cai
  • Kang Kong
  • Enoki mushrooms
  • Shitake mushrooms
  • Carrot
  • Eggs
  • Hotdog
  • Toufu
  • Noodles
  • White fragrant rice

Lobster!!!

Look at that juicy succulent lobster flesh! *smacks lips*

Hotate scallop

Pork belly

Beef striploin

Special chicken slice (garnished with sesame seed and spring onion)

Special tsukune meat

For you folks out there...

I made an effort to figure what the hell Tsukune means so here is what Wikipedia (the most unreliable albeit easiest source for information in the world) told me:

"Tsukune refers to a type of fish meatball which is added to hot soup. It is also enjoyed as 'Tsukune Nabe', a Japanese steamboat dish with local varieties found in regions of Japan."

So tadah! Now you know what you will be ingesting into your digestive system, and I knew what I ingested into my digestive system! LOL #grammarpun

Salmon

The remaining miscellaneous ingredients...
Which includes your daily dose of fibre (ie. vegetables), other proteins and carbohydrates

And needless to say, every Asian's staple — white fragrant rice

#bloggeratwork

Soup + cooked food

TRY KIMCHI SOUP!!! Kimchi soup is awesome!

Sauces to go with all the meats

Interior of the restaurant

In hindsight, Akai Fune Japanese Restaurant is a brilliant place for a social gathering of two or more and the Shabu Shabu Japanese steamboat would serve as a perfect dish to order and create bonds over.

Akai Fune Japanese Restaurant
1 Expo Drive, Singapore Expo
#01-31 (Outside Hall 3)
Singapore 486150
Website: http://akaifune.com.sg
Reservation Hotline: (+65)9380 0437


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As mentioned previously, this entry has been written for both Akai Fune Japanese Restaurant and 360Xperience (read my previous entry for 360Xperience here!).

Akai Fune Japanese Restaurant is one of the merchants working with 360Xperience!

Therefore cardholders of the 360Xperience Privilege Card would stand to get 20% off their total bill, and for the month of their birthday you can also get 3 complimentary scoops of ice cream (from the 9 flavors available)!!

To the lucky winners of the 360Xperience Privilege Card contest held back in July, this is another gourmet place that you can indulge at!

Application for membership of the 360Xperience Privilege Card is still open and is priced as such:


The card includes welcome gifts such as complimentary Sadhana Sanctuary Yoga Passes, dining vouchers and more... all totalling up to be worth over $300!! *Terms and conditions apply

For more information on 360Xperience Privilege Card, do visit their website (click 'here!)

360Xperience has offered an additional 5% discount for my readers!

So, do key in the promo code '1005' during checkout to redeem the additional discount!

If you key in the promo code, you will also stand to receive these complimentary items in your set:
  • Complimentary pair of GV movie tickets (worth $24) *Applicable for 24mths Privilege Club Membership only
  • Complimentary Sadhana Sanctuary yoga passes, 6 sessions (worth $210)
  • Complimentary Palmer's product samples
  • Complimentary Dining, Shopping, Spa vouchers worth over $200!!!
(Only for my readers!!!!!!)

SteelSeries Siberia Headsets

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In this full lineup, there truly is a Siberia for the gamer in everyone.

For more detailed information about each headset in the Siberia family and the availability of each, please visit SteelSeries Siberia.

To join the conversation and stay up to date about new products, contests and giveaways, find us on our social media channels at Facebook or SG Facebook and Twitter.

Going Personal

To be incredibly honest with myself and with everyone, the only reason why I am before my laptop typing out this entry now, is because I have received numerous nags to update my blog!!! Which I know and I agree that yes, this space and the world needs more of my opinions. LOL

I am having difficulty coming up with the right title for this post because I can't seem to think of a subject title that can adequately represent all that I am about to pour into this post plus have the title to be a fairly interesting one! I will most likely come up with one at the end of my writing, and there is a high possibility that it is a very duh! title. I shall wait to see how my brain decides to amuse me on this matter.

Because I am not in the right mindset to write a review for all the eateries that I have visited over the past few weeks, and I am also too tired to churn out quality work for my advertorials, I shall briefly write an update about my life! Will section the post so that it will be less confusing and more digestable!

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I'm back in school again. It is the final semester.

Graduation Day feels more real than it has ever been.



It feels weird being back in school, simply because Homie isn't there with me in school.


I miss her. I realised how much I depended on her (be it to help get my breakfast in the morning, fuel my need for snacks during boring lectures and tutorial sessions or to simply curse along with me when I rant about all the bitches who annoy us) and how I used to take her presence for granted. I wish she was back in school again, by my side. (I really miss you Addy!!! Don't you dare shed a single tear! We talked about this before!!)

I am really living out the final school semester. I even swam in the school pool the other day!


Of the two and a half years of my diploma course at NYP, this is the first freaking time that I took a dip in the school pool. When Homie was still around, she kept nagging me to go swimming with her. I always could find a million and one (which was "I'M LAZY" HAHA!) to turn down her offer. After having swam in the pool once, I totally understand why she kept going to swim in between classes. Being alone in the whole freaking pool... is so bloody awesome!! #serenity

This is my last 9 weeks with these girls.


Three months ago, I thought the notion of parting with these girls was a scary one. With the impending graduation, it feels even scarier than it was. I should really invest in a good waterproof brown eyeliner for Grad Day. Hmmmmmm. Any recommendations? :D

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I'm undergoing a chocolate macaroons phase.



I have yet to try Ladurée's because each of their macaroons costs $5 per piece and the minimum order is 6 pieces each time! It is daylight robbery for a student who is still dependable on her parents' for her allowance. Ladurée can wait a couple months more for when I begin work and take home a decent pay.

Someone suggested to me that since I am so crazy about chocolate macaroons now, I should write a review about it and I totally agree on that! Hence when I have gathered enough reviews from all the chocolate macaroons that I can possibly try in Singapore, I will consolidate my findings in a proper post! Everyone needs to know where to get good chocolate macaroons (when they need a boost of endorphins!) and where they can avoid getting chocolate macaroons that don't quite fit their tastebuds...

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I recently went for Halloween Horror Nights 4 (HHN4) held by USS.

Jello shots!!!!!!

This is the second time that I have attended their Halloween event - my first time there was their first ever HHN. Comparing between my two experiences, the first one was so much better! I'm guessing that they went all out for the first HHN in terms of the decor and planning, which I found to be really impressive!

After having held so many HHN, they probably realised what they could scrimp on (which they did) and it's quite sad to see that less effort was placed into the decor and scare zones. I'm not saying that the decor was terrible because it isn't! It is still pretty good but it was so much better before!


I could see that they turn their focus on the haunted houses and it is sooooo much scarier now!!! I hate Jack's 3-Dementia (ie. the 3D clown one).. I had difficulty differentiating between what was real and what was not, what was stationary and what was moving. It was an experience that was too mind-blowing and nerve-wrecking for this bimbo here! I walked through most of it with my eyes shut really (note: emphasis on the word 'really') tightly!!

Also, this is random but I am never watching Annabelle unless I am at home and I have no plans for the next day because I know that I am going to get really freaked out by it and will most likely get nightmares when I go to bed. It will be an amazement if I do not mute the sound while watching Annabelle, or if I do not end up watching it in fast-forward mode (it was how I survived watching Insidious and Insidious 2).

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Le Puffball is as cute as ever!!!!! She makes a lot of sounds now and she knows how to whine... which is cute but also bad because she whines a lot and wouldn't stop whining when she wants attention/hugs/to be carried. After having read this line, you would most probably go "Awwww.. But that's so adorable!"

Yes it is adorable, but it only is when you are fully dressed and not only in your lingerie, rushing around your bedroom, trying to prepare to go out... and there is a baby in her pram in your room, whining in a super high pitchy voice and being really loud with her whining, insisting that you carry her NOW!

I love her. I do still love her. A lot, in fact. But this only goes to prove that I am totally not ready yet to have a baby of my own! Am still a narcissist to a certain extent!! LOL

Did I ever mention that changing her diapers is akin to going into a battlefield? If I haven't, now you know. *moans*

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I went for a picnic at Botanics Garden last Sunday!


I was a total Derpina because I prepared all the food for the picnic! #mecanmakeasandwich #fuckyeah #lol

Tomato-flavoured popcorn chicken, Beddar with Cheddar Smoked Sausage Links (from Johnsonville), cheesy garlic baked button mushrooms, fucking cheesy omelette ('fucking' because I dumped the remaining 3/4 pack of mozzarella cheese into it) and sardine sandwich.


Oh, and I baked oatmeal cookies with raisins and cranberries. #icanbake #achievementunlocked

Took a quick walk around the National Orchid Garden and snapped a few pretty flower pics!

Some momentos. Contemplating starting a souvenir coins collection!

So yes, a super brief update on my life!

Now what I need is sleep, and then also more time so that I can properly work on my advertorial posts. (Stay tuned for them ok!!!)


XO,
Soph