Looking forward to our Lego Weekend

The real reason we're going to Singapore this weekend is because we bought annual passes to go to Legoland which recently opened in Johor Bahru. Sofia enjoyed Legoland in Windsor so much (even more than Disneyland Paris) that I thought it would be worth it to buy an annual pass since Johor Bahru is so accessible from Singapore, a place we still treat as our second home. I didn't realize that there was fine print in the annual passes we bought and we had to use it for the first time before the year ends. It's a good thing we're happy to go back to Singapore, since we've been missing our favorite food, which I just wrote about here.

Sofia really loved Legoland in WIndasor.
I hope she enjoys the one in Johor as well.

Our trip is quite timely too because Lego is lighting up their Christmas Tree starting the 29th of November, a day before our visit. The are claiming that it's the largest Lego Christmas Tree in Asia. Probably since it's the first Legoland brand in Asia as well, Hahaha.

We are also looking forward to visiting The Art of  the Brick Exhibit at the Art Science Museum at Marina Bay Sands that's on-going until the 14th of April. Nathan Sawaya, the featured artist is famous for using Lego as his medium.

Photo Credit: http://www.marinabaysands.com/Singapore-Museum/Whats-On/

Sofia and Ady and I will be in Lego Heaven this weekend. I'm so excited. 

we love lego. just saying.

My Singapore Food Trip Must Eat List

I am so excited to go back to Singapore this weekend. It still feels like home, even if we no longer have our Urbana flat. I am really looking forward to the food.

Since I deal so much with planning and KPIs and running after KPIs in my daily job, I also planned what are our MKL (Minimum Keeping Lines) for Must Eat Food this weekend. I even have opportunistic food options.

My Minimum Must Eat At Places include:

1. Xiao Long Bao at Din Tai Fung 

Din Tai Fung has the best Xiao Long Bao (soupy pork dumplings).
Original Flavored Xiao Long Bao, that is.

While Foie Gras and Truffle Xiao Long Bao is much tastier,
Din Tai Fung has the best Pork Chop and Egg Fried Rice.

Read more about it here.

or Paradise Dynasty

Paradise Dynasty at ion orchard is known
for their flavored Xiao Long Baos.

I love the Foie Gras Xiao Long Bao the best!

The Truffle Xiao Long Bao is my second favorite. 

See why it's so flavorful?
Look at the fat in the broth. Yummmmmmy!!!

Read more about it here and here.

*oh no, writing this post makes me want to eat at both places*

2. Le Cuison at Holland Drive

Le Cuison is my favorite hawker stall, thus the tray.

I love their Angus beef.

and their Salad with Pan Seared Foie Gras.

The best part is, you can enjoy really good French Food at Hawker Prices. 

You can read more about it here and here.

3. My favorite Food Stalls at 313 and Takashimaya

I used to snack on these things at least once a week, after dropping Sofia off at school, I'd walk back the long way (I'd walk the length of Orchard Road), picking up lunch on my way home. 

Shilin Taiwanese Snacks at B3 of 313@Somerset

I am really craving for XXL Crispy Chicken Chop and Oyster Misua.
Photo Credit: Timothy See

Tako Pochi at the food stalls of Takashima Basement (outside the supermarket)

Yummy takoyaki stall.

But my favorite one is Bacon and Cheese.

Topped with Japanese mayo (no bonito flakes for this flavor)

ToriQ also at Takashimaya basement

The Tori Q Stall is just beside Tako Pochi.

Automated cooking machine.

Assembly line to make sure it's evenly cooked
and coated with Yakitori sauce.

My favorite ones are Chicken and Chicken Ball.

My Opportunistic Places:

1. If we end up eating at Marina Bay Sands because we're going to The Art of Brick Exhibit, these are the things I want from the Rasapura Masters Food Court

I want dry Yong Tau Fu (pick your own soup ingredients)

with Laksa broth served separately.
Just imagine, the goodness of Laksa, with no carbs!

I also want the crispy squid that's really nice to munch on.
The smallest order is humongous so I hope Tim also wants some.

2. I also want Ramen from Ipuddo but I am not willing to line up for it.

My favorite Ramen in Singapore and in Japan.

You can read more about it here and here.

  

3. I also want to eat in Jumbo Seafood, but not for chili crabs, cereal prawns or even black pepper beef.

I am craving for Scallops wrapped in Yam,
served with honey.

You can read more about Jumbo Seafood here.

4. I also would not mind eating at Irvin's except it's just so far.

They have the best salted egg sauce.
I don't really care if it comes with crab or prawn.

You can read more about Irvin's here.

5. Lastly I am hoping to be able to buy and bring home roast duck.

Roast Duck from Modern Peking Duck Stall at B4 of ion orchard. 

Sofia is also insisting that I list down her Must Eat in Places.

Sofia's List:

1. Chicken Rice

Hainanese Chicken from Tian Tian at Maxwell Center.
Rice not pictured.

Sofia has been telling me for several days now that she's going to eat Chicken Rice in Singapore. It's a good thing Chicken Rice stalls are available in every food court.

2. Kaya Butter Toast

I love Kaya Butter Toast where there butter is thicker than the bread!
It is also normally served with soft boiled eggs.

But the best part is the Kopi.
I need to get my Kopi fix :)

I'm not that picky when it comes to Kaya Butter Toast. You can easily get this from Ya Kun Kaya or Toast Box.

Sofia also has an opportunistic item on the menu, as she loves Curry Puffs from Killiney, but I told her we can only get some if we pass there, since it's no longer on our way home (awwww... I miss our urbana home).

Killiney Curry Puffs have the best Potato Curry Puffs in Singapore.

Sofia actually only eats the crust because
the filling is a bit spicy.

Sofia and I are really looking forward to our foodie trip this weekend. just saying.

ART Jamming at ArTEAStiq Tea Lounge

SINGAPORE SERIES

My post on Da.U.De Tea Lounge has inspired me to do a post on Arteastiq, a Tea Lounge in Singapore where you can mix Social Painting with Sipping Tea.

Sofia and I signed up for it one one of the weekends where we had nothing planned after we got back from Brazil (October 2011). Arteastiq is located in Mandarin Gallery so I just called them before we left our flat and we just walked from where we lived. When I called, the person I talked to was nice enough to accommodate us because we only needed one slot, but I remember that when we arrived, they sort of had to squeeze us in because we were not in the official booking list.

We signed up for 1 session which includes a 50cm x 50cm canvass, free flowing paint, a set of brushes, and 1 Arteastiq Beverage for SG$48 (Php 1,600).

This is the Art Jamming area of Arteastiq.
I just realized, I have totally no photos of the Tea Lounge section.

Where Social Painting meets Social Sipping.

Excited to start painting with our set of brushes.

If you have no idea what to paint, they have a lot of binders
where you can  get inspiration.
Sofia wanted to do a cupcake but I wanted to do it Andy Warhol, Maling Style.

We meaning me first made a sketch.

Then Sofia started painting in the background.

She just turned four when we did this,
but her concentration was intense.

Sofia was standing on a stool,
the nanny had to hold her and the palette.

She did a lot of painting.

Even when she was very sleepy na.

Tandem painting.
You can see the tea lounge in the background.

I love the palette because it's actually a pad of paper,
so once you're done, you just throw it away.

I did all the details.

But Sofia signed the painting.
That's my order of fruit tea by the stool. I think I found it a bit bland.

Proud artist.

With our work of art.

Our version of Modern Art.

Maling x Andy Warhol x Cupcakes

They ask you to pose with their sign for their album.

With both of us.

I've always wanted to book another session, especially since they have different promotions for their art jam sessions. I think couples get 2 canvases (and drinks) for the price of one every Monday. I was tempted to drag Tim with us, but we never found the time before we moved back.

Arteastiq is at

Mandarin Gallery, #04-14/15

333 Orchard Road, Singapore 238867 

Opens: 11:00 am-10:30 pm Daily

you can visit their website for more details.