Celebrate This Christmas and The Coming Chinese New Year with a Buffet Spread at Street 50, Bay Hotel

STREET 50 Restaurant & Bar is eager to put an Asian spin on its eclectic slew of Christmas classics and festive signature dishes this holiday season. You can expect things like Turkey Rendang, Masala Slipper Lobster, Balinese Roast Beef Striploin and more. This is a fusion Christmas buffet that you wouldn't wanna miss!

Street 50's Christmas Buffet is also a great venue for those looking to gather with your loved ones to celebrate the end of another year and the beginning of a new one, and because Chinese New Year is happening real soon next year I've got an additional surprise at the end of the post that you should definitely check out! Read on for more info.


***CHRISTMAS BUFFET***
Oyster Shooters
Mango, Scallops and Prawns Cevicche in Thai Palm Sugar Dressing
Winter Vegetables Mini Tarts
Mussels in Garlic Butter
Baked Scallops with Cheese
Cajun Prawns
Ikan Cincaru Sumbat Sambal
Masala Slipper Lobster
Turkey Rendang, Italian Herb Seafood Rice
Christmas Carvings: Tandoori Turkey Breast, Balinese Roast Beef Striploin, Honey Baked Chicken Ham
Chendol Christmas Eggnog
Cranberry Poached Pear with Red Wine
Short review:

Point to note, during the tasting I was served only a minority percentage of the dishes on the Christmas buffet menu, and in this post, I featured only the few dishes that stood out to me during the tasting. With only these few dishes, I am impressed by their creativity for this festive season.

Asian-Western fusion dishes do not always go right and fortunately STREET 50 has nailed this one. My fan-favourites are the Cajun Prawns, Italian Herbs Seafood Rice, Masala Slipper Lobster (note: it may be too spicy for some) and Tandoori Turkey Breast.

I like how STREET 50 has incorporated a mix of fusion and classical dishes to their Christmas menu – it's like a little something special but with the usuals to fall back and feel nostalgic about. They have a particular dessert, the Cranberry Poached Pear with Red Wine that really brought back the memories and has got me pining for it ever since I had that one martini glass. I find it to be the perfect finish to a satisfying Christmas buffet dinner.

ECLECTIC ASIAN Christmas & New Year Buffet Lunch and Dinner
Dates: 23-26 Dec, 30 Dec-2 Jan
Lunch: 12pm to 3pm
Dinner: 6.30pm to 9.30pm
Price: (Adult) $58++, (Children 6-12yrs) $30++

ECLECTIC ASIAN Christmas Eve & New Year Eve Buffet Dinner
Dates: 24 & 31 Dec
Dinner: 6.30pm to 9.30pm
Price: (Adult) $78++, (Children 6-12yrs) $40++


***CNY BUFFET***


Bay Hotel Singapore’s STREET 50 Restaurant & Bar is raising the game in the Year of the Rooster with auspicious home-style festive delicacies symbolizing not just one, but all the 12 Chinese zodiac animal signs in their buffets from 27 to 30 January 2017.

Even the yusheng dish is specially created to have the ‘dragonbird’ significance so you can toss to abundance and fortune with the heavenly combination of the luxurious lobster meat and the nourishing goodness of bird nest. Check out some of the 12 zodiac-inspired dishes down below.


龙虾燕窝鱼生
Lobster Yusheng with Bird Nest
Regular $38++ (up to 4 pax) and Large $68++ (8 to 10 Pax)

老(鼠)粉叻沙
Mee Ta Mak Laksa (Zodiac: Rat)
Part of the noodle station, this mee ta mak laksa should be the first to dash to, just like the rat which comes first ahead of the other 11 Chinese zodiac signs

姜葱(牛)肉芥蓝仔
Stir fried Beef with Ginger and Kai Lan (Zodiac: Ox)
Here’s a main course to a bullish new year, this dish of baby kai lan stir-fried with young ginger slices and spring onion will be a hearty dish for beef and veggie lovers


虎虎生威老(虎)虾
Chilli Tiger Prawns (Zodiac: Tiger)
Coated with Singapore-style chilli crab paste and egg, the tiger prawns’ dish is emblematic of roaring with laughter


扬眉吐气白(兔)年鱼
Teochew-style Steamed Rabbit Fish Fillet with Ham and Mushroom (Zodiac: Rabbit)
This steamed rabbit fish, paired with salted vegetables, tomato slices, sour plum, young ginger and red chilli is another must-have dish during the lunar new year

(龙)虾寿面
Braised Longevity Noodles with Lobster Meat (Zodiac: Dragon)
Chinese New Year is also a time to celebrate long life and braised longevity noodles with lobster meat and sze chuan paste will be the way to add many more years to your new year

(蛇)瓜聚宝
Braised Dried Treasures Pot with Sea Cucumber and Snake Gourd (Zodiac: Snake)
Snake gourd like emerald lending appeal to the dried seafood such as the auspicious fish maw, dried oysters, mushroom, sea cucumber and fa cai in a pot, it is a Chinese New Year dish not to be missed

(马蹄)白果好芋头
Yam Paste with Water Chestnuts and Gingko Nuts (Zodiac: Horse)
Last but not least, cap off the sumptuous buffet with this divine dessert that will let sweetness and harmony linger on the whole year round

洋洋得意蒙古(羊)扒
Mongolian-Style Grilled Lamb Chop (Zodiac: Goat)
This meaty grilled lamb chop seasoned with Chinese wine, garlic, worcestershire sauce sauce, bay leaves and fennel seeds, will let you eat to your heart’s content

(猴)头三菇菠菜香
Monkey Mushroom with Chinese Spinach (Zodiac: Monkey)
A vegetarian dish with a trio of monkey mushroom, bailing mushroom and chinese mushroom, atop a bed of Chinese spinach, makes it a must-have dish on the first day of lunar new year

盐焗(鸡)
Rock Salt Baked Chicken Thigh (Zodiac: Rooster)
With dang gui and Chinese wine, this rock sea salt-baked chicken thigh is not only rich in oriental touch but 盐 signifies 缘 or affinity of bringing people together

(狗)杞醉鸡
Wolfberry Drunken Herbal Chicken (Zodiac: Dog)
The hero cleverly incorporates chicken since it is the Year of the Rooster but the dish represents the Dog as the chinese word in wolfberry (枸杞) sounds like dog (狗) in Chinese. With Dang Gui or Chinese Angelica Root and Chinese wine, the dish is given a nutritious boost with a generous sprinkling of wolfberries and embellished with ginger and spring onion


(猴)头三菇菠菜香
Monkey Mushroom with Chinese Spinach (Zodiac: Monkey)
A vegetarian dish with a trio of monkey mushroom, bailing mushroom and chinese mushroom, atop a bed of Chinese spinach, makes it a must-have dish on the first day of lunar new year

To enjoy the ‘1 for 1’ buffet promotion inclusive of complimentary free-flow soft drinks and juices, do make and confirm your reservations by 4 January 2017.

For more info about STREET 50, you can easily check out their Facebook or Instagram page.

Chinese Zodiac New Year Dinner Buffet (Eve Menu)
Dates: 27 January 2017
Dinner: 6.30pm to 9.30pm
Price: (Adult) $78++, (Children 6-12yrs) $40++

Chinese Zodiac New Year Lunch & Dinner Buffet (Classic Menu)
Dates: 28-30 January 2017
Lunch: 12pm to 3pm
Dinner: 6.30pm to 9.30pm
Price: (Adult) $58++, (Children 6-12yrs) $30++

Christmas Shopping At Spectacle Hut

We are 5 days away from Christmas and if you have yet to shop for your Christmas gifts... why aren't you panicking?! 😱 Thankfully I'm here to recommend you the places that you'd never think of doing your festive shopping at, for instance... Spectacle Hut!

This is probably the last place that would cross your mind when it comes to Christmas gift shopping, but hey there are benefits to it! Read on to find out why.


Unlike most stores, Spectacle Hut offers a range of eyewear that is suitable for both genders and across all ages, hence making it the perfect place to purchase a gift for your loved ones, friends and family.

You can get your sporty friend a new pair of Ray Bans?

Or a child, his or her first pair of sunglasses?

Have a high maintenance fashion friend who is into looking classy?
Get her a pair of sassy Jimmy Choo sunnies!
Spectacle Hut is the best place to buy branded eyewear due to the wide range of brands available. The renown optical chain also carries exclusive brands such as Victoria Beckham, Loewe, Linda Farrow, Sting, A Bathing Ape and more.


Spectacle Hut also offers a myriad of trendy spectacle frames that you can choose from!
Approach the friendly and excellent service staff for help when getting a new pair of spectacles or simply to have your eye checked.

For spectacle frames, Spectacle Hut provides an express service starting from twenty mins for single vision lenses and four hours for progressive lenses. Do enquire with the friendly staff for assistance and more details.

Anna Sui 1-day disposable colour contact lenses, in rose design!
Spectacle Hut is also a place where you can find a wide range of contact lenses including Anna Sui contact lenses, which is probably THE most gorgeous contact lens that I have ever seen!

The purple, grey, brown and black contact are daily lenses, while the new colours rose-berry brown and rose-berry gray are bi-weekly lenses
Rose-patterned eye contacts!
If you are still unsure of what to get for your loved one, you can always purchase gift vouchers from the online store, and collect the physical copies at any Spectacle Hut outlet in Singapore.

You can locate your nearest Spectacle Hut outlet store here.


For the latest update on their ongoing promotions, check out their Facebook or Instagram.

Note: This post was sponsored by Spectacle Hut.

Shopping at AsiaMalls Gets Better With The AMperkz Mobile App

If you frequently visit any of these malls – Century Square, Hougang Mall, Liang Court, Tampines 1, Tiong Bahru Plaza and White Sands – then this app is a must-have on your phone!

AMperkz is the new cardless rewards programme from AsiaMalls. It's absolutely free to become a member and the membership has NO expiry date, it lasts forever! Simply spend $20 to start earning points as you shop at any of the participating malls listed above.

For every 1,000 points earned, you can redeem it for a $5 AsiaMalls voucher and I have already redeemed my first voucher from AsiaMalls! Because December is my birthday month, I now get to reap double the amount of points.


Earning the points only takes 3 easy steps:

1. Shop at any of the participating retailers at malls managed by AsiaMalls
2. Take a photo of the receipt. Your receipt must reflect store name, mall name, unit number, date, purchase amount and receipt number
3. Upload the photo through the AMperkz Mobile App, no later than the following day of the issued receipt

With the help of the app and their latest "Reservation & E-Queue" tab, you can now make dining reservations or e-queue at a restaurant before arriving at the mall, brilliant for hungry souls with a growling tummy!

AMperkz users can not only get the latest update of ongoing store promotions, you can also check on the number of carpark lots available in the mall – great for car drivers!


For more information about how to redeem your AMperkz points, click here.

The AMperkz app is free for download on The App Store for iOS users, or Google Play Store for Android users.

Cha Thai: For Affordable And Delicious Thai Food Located Conveniently At Telok Ayer MRT

Cha Thai
80 Telok Ayer Street #01-01, Singapore 048466
Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer
Contact: (+65)6636 3696
Website: Cha Thai

Cha Thai is one of the many Thai restaurants located in Singapore, but the ONLY ONE that serves authentic Phad Thai from the original recipe creator. The owner of the restaurant shared with us that her family is the original creator of the dish "Phad Thai" and this internationally-famous dish made its debut from Hua Hin Market.

Her family still owns a Phad Thai stall in Hua Hin Market, so do go check it out if you are going to Bangkok anytime soon. However if you are lazy to travel all the way there for authentic Phad Thai, just drop by Cha Thai then for a plate of original recipe Phad Thai and more!


Crispy Prawn Cake ($15)
Deep fried thick juicy prawn meat served with sweet plum sauce
Grilled Fish Cake ($15)
Whole fish meat seasoned with red curry paste and herbs
Papaya Salad ($16)
Shredded papaya mixed with carrots, long beans, tomato and side with salted egg
Sauté Kai Lan with Roasted Pork ($16)
Stir fried baby kai lan with roasted pork, garlic and oyster sauce
Thick Base Tom Yum Soup ($28)
Thick soup base created with variety of herbs with tiger prawns, mussels, fish balls and mushrooms. Soup refill available!
Phad Thai ($22)
Stir fried noodle with original prawn phad thai sauce served with side with green mango
CHA THAI Charcoal Toast ($8)
Charcoal toasted cubes with choice of pandan or thai milk tea flavoured kaya

Rating: 4/5

My two cents:

I know I said that I am no longer doing food blogging, but hey good food deserves to be shared! Cha Thai served one of the best Phad Thai and Tom Yum soup that I have ever had in Singapore, and the taste is comparable to the kind that you find in Thailand.

Let's start off first by talking about the appetisers that I liked. The Crispy Prawn Cake is a must-try, I loved the crunch and the sweet plum sauce was a great way to elevate the flavours of the simple prawn cake! The Grilled Fish Cake tasted more like a giant piece of otak, and Papaya Salad was refreshing with a tinge of savoury fragrance from the added dried shrimps.

As for side dishes, both the Sauté Kai Lan with Roasted Pork and Thick Base Tom Yum Soup are definite must order! No extra description for the veg dish is needed, it is everything that you can imagine, stir-fried veg paired with crispy roasted pork. The thick-base tom yum soup was addictively SPICY and sour and the soup was so good that it is bound to get a nod of agreement from any tom yum soup lover – the kick of spice is no joke at all, do not take this heed of warning lightly!

We only got to try one main, which was the Phad Thai and that was enough! The owner explained the origin of Phad Thai to us and also took the effort to tell us more about the dish. Phad Thai is not suppose to have a 'wok hei' like our local fav char kway teow. The original rendition was created to be slightly sour from the addition of lime juice, lightly sweet and savoury, and it ends off with a umami kick!

As for dessert, we had their signature CHA THAI Charcoal Toast and boy, it was good!!! The toast was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, the addition of charcoal gave it just a wee bit tinge of smoky flavour. I had a tough time deciding which of the flavoured kaya that I like better, hence I will recommend both.

On the note of servings, I would recommend 2-3 pax to order a Phad Thai, Thick Base Tom Yum Soup and a Cha Thai Charcoal toast. If you are exceptionally hungry, get a bowl of rice to be shared amongst your friends. The portion for each dish should be enough to fill all your tummies!

For more information on Cha Thai, you can check out their Facebook page or Instagram.