Lychee Soft Serve Cone from McDonald's Singapore

Last weekend, I was in Singapore for work. It was such a tiring trip since I was already under the weather, so I spent most of this weekend sleeping just to recuperate. I doesn't help that I need to get back to my usual energizer bunny self because on Thursday, I fly to Singapore again, but for a much more enjoyable no-work long weekend with Fi to spend some quality time together at the start of her school's summer vacation.

While last week was a flurry of work and figuring out what to eat, I loved the lychee soft serve cone from the McDonald's dessert kiosk that Anson introduced me too.

It's the perfect mix of light, cold, and refreshing. Simply perfect for a hot day in Singapore.

It doesn't just match my mani, it comes in a waffle cone or twist
cone option too! That's busy Orchard Road in the background.

Thanks Anson for introducing me to this, and thank you for the treat.

See you soon Lychee cone!!! And at SG$1.30/1.70 (regular cone/ waffle cone) I think it's a steal. just saying.


McDonald's Dessert Kiosk
Orchard Road in front of Lucky Plaza

Yuki Onna for the best Truffle Beef Yakiniku and Foie Gras Quinoa (or Rice) Bowl

I haven't blogged "real time" in ages. Normally, I live in the moment, and if the experience is blog-worthy, I take enough photos, and as I do, I already know the story in my head of how my blog post will go. Then real life takes over, and I end with all my photos in an unsorted folder, which finally makes it to a blog post on a rare weekend that I am free (and not lazy) many months or many weekends after. The typical story of a multi-tasking mom, and I may be worse than most, since not only am I a single mom, I have too many passion projects, and that's all on top of my day job.

However, being in Singapore over half of the weekend, because I had to be here for work, staying in my old neighborhood no less, has brought back so many memories. I used to work from home, then go out for food when I was hungry, then went back home to work, then I at night I would blog. My blog was born when we lived in Singapore. So I guess, that's what compelled me to blog tonight (and eat Chicken Rice from the hotel - the famous boneless version from Chatterbox!) instead of looking up friends to hang out with. I missed my quiet time amidst the hustle and bustle of the Orchard Road - River Valley Area, where just outside your window so much is happening.

Anyway, I digress. My post today is about the most awesome lunch you can score for SG$24!!! Whenever I travel, I normally browse to find new places I can try, with location as my deciding factor. I'm willing to try places with good reviews within a reasonable distance, but I normally don't go far, unless it's my friends who rave about a place that we are going to.

This time around, I was conscious about cost as well. What used to be a reasonable (most of the time) food allowance provided by the company I work for when you're travelling, has drastically been cut to an amount that requires you to be creative with where you eat, unless you want to pay for it personally, because the allowance can no longer afford to pay for room service (which I don't think is fair if you're on a business trip. I am actually here again next week for holiday - so in that trip I will eat where I want and gladly pay for it!).

I saw a really interesting feature about Yuki Onna (translated from Japanese, it means Snow Queen). Yuki Onna was recommended for their affordable rice toppings - and they had one that really caught my attention. Truffle Beef Yakiniku Don. They even have option to serve it with Foie Gras... (Brings back Fat Cow memories... You can read about it here.) on top of that, you can upgrade your rice for quinoa with just SG$1 extra. I was totally sold. I was quite excited too to read that they were located quite close by at Far East Square.

I just didn't realize that Far East Plaza (off Orchard Road) is different from Far East Square (near Telok Ayer). It was a bit stressful since it was only when I was on my way did I realize that they closed at 2:30pm and I left quite late because I was finishing something urgent for my boss but I'm glad I made it because it was worth the detour.

Far East Square is under going renovation, and while the restaurant has a street adress (Amoy St) it's actually within the covered building and not the Amoy St. where cars pass.

Far East Plaza is a modern shell for the
renovated shop houses beside the CBD.

They say it gets really crowded at lunch.

I quickly placed my order since I arrived
20 minutes to closing. The good news is
the last order is 2:30PM.

I took a photo of the shop houses as they
were cooking my food.

All the good stuff for the win.
Did I forget to mention it comes with an
Onsen Egg too?

Hello Egg Porn. I have read reviews that complained that the bowl was
not seasoned enough. I almost brought my own salt, but I found it to be perfect.

Deadly (good) Foie Gras meet Healthy Quinoa. Everything went really
well together.  Though the serving was on the small/ just right side but the
proportion of beef, foie gras and egg to quinoa was just right.

Good Job Yuki Onna!!! Not exactly
Fat Cow Quality, but at less than half the
price of Fat Cow, this is clearly a steal!

Special mention to the owner uncle who extended really good service. He repeatedly approached me to ask if I wanted cold water, then he came back to ask if I wanted hot water. He was also very happy when I approached him to thank him as I told him that I really enjoyed my meal. Hooray for eating well and within the budget too.

 I couldn't resist taking photos of Ya Kun at Far East Square. Sure felt like I stepped into the past.

I loved Yuki Onna. I will be back for sure, whether I'm here for work or for holiday. just saying.

Yuki Onna

Far East Square (NOT Far East Plaza)

3/4 Amoy Street 

049947 

Singapore 049947

Open Daily 11:30-2:30 and 5:30-10PM

Mr Avocado Singapore

I love avocados. I love it when it's in shake form (which we grew up drinking) but now that I'm older, I find it too heavy. I also love them on salads, one of my staple orders when I lived in Paris, and recently, I love them in sandwiches as well because avo toast goes so well with homemade chicken salad spread.

The only problem I have is I never know when avocados are in season in the Philippines, and where to get them. The supermarket isn't really a good indicator, because they also have avocados in stock when they are expensive and the quality isn't really good. Hahaha, though don't ask me what is expensive and what is cheap because I honestly have no idea.

Anyway, if you love Avocado drinks. There's this place in Singapore that a friend told me about that is popular for serving Avocado juices and shakes. They have other fruits too, but people line up for the avo. They are open the whole year round so I guess they don't have a problem sourcing it.

Mr Avocado is found in the hawker center near the hotel we stay in when we travel for work, and very near our favorite place for Salted Egg Prawn, KEK which you can read about here, and IKEA Alexandra. Despite being very full from lunch the last time we were there, my curiosity won so we checked it out. 

The place is quite popular, so be ready to wait in line with other avo aficionados to get your fix.

What I like about it is that you can order Avo juice. It's much lighter than the shake I grew up drinking, but you can expect it to still be quite substatial. I think another plus is that you can get it for a steal at this foodcourt, vs what they'd charge you if you order it from a smoothie place at the mall.

It's definitely good enough to make me want to come back for my avo fix whenever I'm in Singapore - which is twice this month. Hello Mr Avocado, here I come!  just saying.


Mr Avocado Exotic Juice
120 Bukit Merah Lane 1, 
#01-19, Singapore 150120

Caffe Piansa... for when you need to Go To Jail without collecting 200... Ikain mo nalang

I love Monopoly, ever since I was a kid, it has always been one of my favorite board games... I love it less now, because Sofia loves it too and sometimes she wants to play and it just takes forever.

At the start of the game, I hate it when you get the Go To Jail card... but when you're short on cash and your opponents already own buildings, Jail is a good reprieve so you can earn from rent without paying any.

Anyway, I digress, but when I was researching where to eat in Marikina, one of the places I found, was the jail themed restaurant. I thought it was similar to Industriya Markina, which was an old shoe factory converted in a shoe themed restaurant, so I was quite surprised to see it located in a residential area. I think the server was more surprised at how gullible I was when I asked if it used to be a jail and she had to explain to me it was only a theme. Hahaha. No worries, I came for the food. 

I visited over the holidays, so I could see what people in big groups were ordering, but I couldn't do the same.

I opted to start with cappuccino which was a steal at Php75 because it came with yummy cookies too.

My one phone call was to fat brother, which he ignored.

Good thing, I totally loved prison food...

I ordered the Gas Chamber Meal which is very reasonable
for Php260 since it has a slice of Chicken Schnitzel with
Cheese and a side of Squid Ink Pasta.

A for Effort. The waiter even in wearing his Judge robes.

Hilarious though how I seemingly captured them in each other's arms.
Totally circumstantial evidence if I may add. No Photoshop skills involved.
Just excellent timing.

That was a thoroughly entertaining meal for Php335.
Or what I'd automatically calculate as SG$10!

The judge and alleged his mistress even willingly played
photographer for me.

I agree.

The the jury is in. The verdict is, this place is definitely
worth another visit. just saying.

Caffe Piansa

2F DEMREY Bldg, Street, 

Midtown Subdivision, Brgy., 

57 Dragon, Marikina, 1801 Metro Manila

Phone: 0916 577 6546

Hours: 11AM–10PM

Where locals eat in Hydra, Greece

You can say that I have saved the best for last, because this post concludes my series of posts on Hydra and while I'm not any more willing to jump on a budget airline to get there, writing this has just helped me confirm that I will be going back, I just don't know when yet, but some time in the not so distant future.

I have one requirement for a place to make it to my favorite, and I want to keep coming back list. It always boils down to the food (yes, not the shopping). And Hydra has good food in spades. It might have helped that I have a friend with a friend (you know the drill) who loves Hydra and was nice enough to share with us her favorite places to eat so all we had to do was follow her list to enjoy Greek Island life like a local.

Here are her recommendations and our top pics:

1. Isalos
Isalos provides the best welcome to Hydra. It's located directly in front of Hydra Port (where the ferry docks) and you can't help but want to grab a table, order some food, and just enjoy looking out on the harbor.

This was where we had our first meal in Hydra, while waiting for our room at Glaros (which you can read about here).

The waffle to share was yummy... 

But I've always been an omelette kind of girl...

The brunch fare more than made up for the sad food available at Pyreaus Port, which you can preview here. But I guess, Clint was too hungry for brunch food.

My general observation is that food is generally more expensive in Hydra,
compared to Athens, but together with the Island Living ambiance, the small
difference is worth it.

2. Kodylenia's Taverna
Our next meal was on this lovely Greek Taverna which went to on the way to Kamini beach. It's quite a trek so we recommend that you do the same.

The view is so beautiful, we even came back after the beach for sunset with
dessert.

We had a spread with prawn and rice similar to paella,
2 types of squid and lamb and I'm pretty sure the food was
good enough for us to come back on the same day.

 

It's a good thing we are mostly like minded when it comes to food.

Kodylenia's at Sunset

Dessert to share, but I remember the view more. But I'm sure we weren't
complaining as we gobbled this down.

Since no vacation is complete until you have 3 full meals in a day, with unlimited snacks in between... Dinner was at Xeri Elia, a restaurant you need to google to find, because it is hidden somewhere in the middle of the island (not too middle, you can find it on foot, no need to call a donkey), and it's nice to get a chance to explore the small streets of the island.

3. Xeri Elia

This is what I mean by hidden, you do through small alleys that twist and
turn, then suddenly you find this courtyard. 

Something wrapped in Grape Leaves (I am personally not a fan).

But Fried Saganaki I definitely love.

I love how island life makes you appreciate the basic simple Greek Dishes like grilled lamb and moussaka.

4. Karamela Zaxaroplasteion (across Anita's)

For Ice Cream and Baklava

It was okay. But I had a high bar to compare it too. Nothing beats
Hafiz for me. But I never say no to Baklava...

5. Pirate Bar
Since we are a bit past the partying age, we decided to brunch at Pirate Bar instead, when the rest of the youngsters would choose to go partying here instead. It was still a nice place to see the Island wake up as things start to get busy.

One of the few vehicles on the island. This is one of the rubbish trucks.

A more common site are guys pulling carts or donkeys carrying the load.

My favorite meal is always brunch and they have a good spread here.
We were even able to take the leftover bread and butter for our beach picnic.

The only thing I won't order on Hydra is their sandwiches.
I think it looks sad. Hahaha.

They do Yogurt (they don't call it Greek Yogurt when you're in Greece)
and honey quite well. The fruit and muesli is a nice touch.

Our beach day was probably the only one where we didn't have 5 meals, but I need to come clean and admit that in between brunch and dinner, there was a picnic on the beach, probably a couple of cheese pies we snacked on when we got back, and yes, Pork Souvlaki too... A winner find for €2 that I just absolutely had to try and I was happy I did with no regrets. You can read about that here.

6. Annita's

I have no idea about how I managed to eat dinner at Annita's but I'm sure I managed. Hahaha.
The food was similar to the rest, and believe me when I say that when you're there, a weekend is not enough to get sick of it. I think the only difference is that Annita's has set meals, based from what I remember anyway.

You never get sick of fried Saganaki and Salad (like yogurt, they don't call
it Greek salad here). But you don't need to order a side dish, the set meal
already comes with a generous serving.

I don't think I'll ever get sick of Grilled Meat, Feta with greens (as the feta is always served with a generous portion) and calamari.

To conclude this post, I will end it where it all started. Our last meal was again brunch at Isalos... hahaha.

I couldn't leave without ordering another cheese pie.
(especially if it comes discounted with the coffee!).

Sucker for a sale that I am, I ordered it to share. Hahaha.

You know the waffles are good, when you order them a second time.

And yes, the (Greek) Yogurt and Honey too!

This was actually our last meal, before we started our long journey home, via Mati which you can read about here.

Well, Isalos is definitely the perfect place to sit in front of the port, wait for our ferry... I can just say I definitely will be back with Fi. And I'll try not to take too long, because I want to go back before more people discover this island that I feel so at home in. just saying.


Isalos Cafe
hydra attiki 180 40, Greece

Phone: +30 2298 029661


Kodylenia's Taverna
waterfront in the area of Kaminia, Hydra
http://www.hydra-kodylenia.gr/
Open only March to October


Xeri Elia Douskos Taverna 
Πλατεία Ύδρας, Hydra 180 40, Greece

Phone: +30 2298 052886


Karamela Zaxaroplasteion (Baklava)
Ikonomou, Hydra Town 18040, Greece


Pirate Bar
Votsi, Idra 180 40, Greece

Phone: +30 2298 052711


Annita's Taverna
Votsi, Hydra Town 180 40, Greece


Hole in the Wall Souvlaki Place in Hydra
also known as Nostimomania (Νοστιμομανία)

https://www.facebook.com/Nostimomania-180246045495173/