Home-baked Mochi Muffins

I was recently able to secure a slot to purchase some mochi muffins from Tiky Mochi Muffin, a hot home-based bakery which I’m sure needs no introduction. Snagged a CNY Bundle Box ($25.50 nett, PayNow payment only), which comprises of a mix of 3 CNY + 3 Original flavours of choice.

My selection –
🔸3 CNY Flavours: Honey Butter Cornflake, Red Velvet Cream Cheese, Ondeh Ondeh
🔹3 Original Flavours: Thai Milk Tea, Double Chocolate, Matcha Adzuki

After sinking my teeth into the first muffin, I regretted not buying more (limited to 3 boxes per order though 😂). The texture of the muffins is pleasantly chewy. For some reason, I expected the texture to be similar to the Pão de Queijo from Four Leaves. Using that as reference, it’s actually much denser, & makes for a solid, firmer (but still chewy) bite.

The good variety of flavours are appealing, too, with seasonal flavours rotating to keep things interesting. If I had to pick a favourite, it’d be the Red Velvet Cream Cheese (CNY flavour) & the Matcha Adzuki (original flavour). These can keep for a couple of days (details/instructions are provided), however I found that these were mfost satisfactory on the day I collected them.

Happy to support local businesses & even more so when it’s one run by a friend. Congratulations Tiky Mochi Muffin on your 1st anniversary! They’re running a crazy promotion for February where delivery is only $1, which is insane. I self-collected my stash, & while it was a fuss-free experience, I’d gladly opt for $1 delivery in a heartbeat.

Healthy Lo Hei with Lean Bento

Can’t decide what I love more about Lean Bento – that their food is delicious & healthy, or that they constantly innovate to keep things fresh & exciting. This festive season, check out their unique Lo Hei specialties, served from 14 Jan – 26 Feb 2021 (excluding Sun), in the various portion sizes that you need.

Pictured above is the Plentiful Wealth Lo Hei Gift Box for 1 pax – yes, that’s right, I can lo my own hei by myself! Perfect for my solo dinner on a busy work day. This $29.88 deal comes with a set of cutlery & a bottle of water. TBH, I’m not hot about disposables, but I acknowledge the convenience if you want to eat this outside of home.

Bottled water for thirsty people like me

It’s presentable too, which makes it great as a gift. With an ingredient cheering label in Chinese on the inside of the cover, that gets plus points for convenience (but remember, don’t flout the rules this CNY). More importantly, it’s delicious & healthy 😄 My favourite ingredient is the freshwater unagi. A great substitute to the traditional sashimi that you’d usually find – a particularly meaningful replacement for me as I can’t eat raw fish.

To me, this is the star of the show. Grilled lovingly & with a velvety smooth texture, it glides down your throat for that oomph shiok factor. Against a bed of fresh homemade ingredients – julienned carrot, white radish, dragonfruit cubes, golden egg crepe, citrus & melon strips, & so on. Topped off with a great miso dressing – there is no lingering saccharine taste from the sweet sauce in traditional lo heis. With such complementary flavours, I actually used up the whole sauce portion – which I normally don’t, but this was too good to pass up.

Might I add, also – the golden crackers, a hot crowd favourite? These are low-fat, tasty & guilt-free. I mean, I don’t count calories… But for what it’s worth, this dish in its entirety is under 650kcal a serving, with Protein 35g, Carbohydrate 62g, Fat 29g, Fibre 8g.

Thank you Charleswanmushi for sending over this Lean Bento gift box! A great start to the oxpicious new year 🤩

Strangers’ Reunion – Loved their Grain Bowl and White Magic Coffee

Strangers’ Reunion has free delivery for orders >$50, which honestly isn’t too difficult to hit with a couple of dishes. I ordered some of these items while they were on sale, & ended up spending more than double required for free delivery… LOL.

Their delivery time slots are in 2-hour brackets; I chose 10AM – 12PM but indicated that I’d prefer as late as possible (“closer to 12PM”) & they actually took note of it.. Very appreciated!

Their Grain Bowl with Seasonal Vegetables caught my eye – with several options available, I went for the Hanger Steak with Chimichurri on a base of Quinoa ($16.00+).

The steak survived the delivery journey well. Even though it wasn’t warm anymore, when I bit into it & decided I didn’t need to heat this up to enjoy it. The hunky pieces of beef were still moist & tender; I wasn’t fighting tooth & nail to bite it into manageable pieces.

Grain Bowl with Seasonal Vegetables – I choose the Hanger Steak with Chimichurri on Quinoa

There was a nice variety of vegetables in the bowl too – various textures & flavours to keep things interesting. The onsen egg being kept separately such that you Add it in just before you eat? Brilliant idea. Mixed it in with the bed of fluffy quinoa & barley tucked right in. Quantity-wise, there were enough grains to pair with all the ingredients; glad they’re not stingy with that.

100% would order this dish again! Undecided if I should stick to this steaky goodie, or choose from their other options:

Grilled Chicken with Citrus Soy
Pan-seared Salmon with Spicy Shoyu
Charred Pork with Hoisin BBQ
Tofu & Tempeh with Ponzu (Vegan; No Egg)

Ps: If quinoa/barley isn’t quite your thing, you can opt for brown rice.

There are many parts to the Strange Breakfast ($20.00+). You can choose eggs done 1 of 3 ways: Scrambled/poached/sunny side up. I chose the former. It had good texture, creamy & not watery or hard despite having roughed out the delivery ride.

However, the taste was WAY off. It was salty beyond belief, & this was unanimous feedback from everyone at the table. I would hope that was a one-off incident & the eggs don’t taste like this for everyone who orders this.

Thankfully, this wasn’t my main dish – if it were, I wouldn’t have eaten any more of the scrambled eggs past the first bite. It was just that salty. It was disappointing especially because it was the most expensive item of the order.

The rest of the brunch was okay – grilled tomato on vine, smashed potatoes, spiced beans, bacon, butcher’s choice sausage, toasted brioche & seasonal salad. The eggs really had potential to be the star of this dish, but I’m a bit afraid to re-order this again.

I’ve heard great reviews of White Magic ($6.90+), but even that wasn’t enough to prepare myself for my first sip. Guys, this is freaking amazing. Few other milky coffees can compare to this.

Don’t think that just because it’s “white”, thus it’s gonna be more milky than anything else (although, yes, it has a touch of cream in it)… Um, no.

I took a sip of this before an early morning meeting & this PERKED ME RIGHT UP. The caffeine boost slapped me right in the face. It lifted my mood so amazingly. It is pretty potent & robust. I would order this again in a heartbeat… I think I’m in love. 😍

Unfortunately, this cup of coffee was barely warm when it reached me

In comparison, I’d advise against getting their regular coffee delivered. I had a Coffee: White – Magic/Skinny ($5.50+) delivered, & it was okay… I drank it all, but didn’t impress me as much as the White Magic did. It didn’t have that robustness that I was hoping for in the caffeine department. Perhaps also because it was only lukewarm by the time it reached me.

I mean, it wasn’t terrible, but I’d pay a little bit more & get the White Magic.. Trust me.

Happy 1st Birthday Kins’ Cafe!

It sucks to not be able to chill at a cafe over the weekend to relax & unwind… But during this circuit breaker period, I’ve discovered some pretty delicious food & beverages to keep my tummy happy. &, for some of these, I would like to visit these establishments to dine in, the next time I can. Kins’ Cafe is one of them.

They have delivery options, but there was a self pick-up promotion back when I ordered so I went for that. I placed my order via WhatsApp & paid using PayNow. Drove to Bijou Condo where they are located – parking is open to the public. The carpark grace period is 10 mins, which was enough time for me to walk & navigate the elevator to reach the cafe.

When I collected my food, I got a sneak peak of the premises & it looks like a nice space to while my weekend away. I’d probably take the train here – Pasir Panjang MRT is a very short walk away.

Kins’ Cafe looks like a very nice space to chill in

The coffee was full-bodied & impressive; part of the reason why I’d return. I picked the largest size – a 7oz White Coffee ($6). Double shot coffee for the win! (The smaller sizes are, by default, single-shot)

The other reason why I’d return: I enjoyed the food that I had. The Tom Yum Pasta ($18) had plenty of fresh seafood ingredients, & the flavours were the right balance of slightly spicy, a little bit sour, & not too salty. I did not try the others – Wagyu Beef Yakiniku Rice Bowl ($20) & Lobster Mac & Cheese ($15) – but received positive feedback about them.

Also, their desserts were bomb. The Kins’ Burnt Cheesecake ($8) was actually the original reason why I placed an order with them. If you’re bringing this home to eat, I suggest putting it in the fridge for a little while to cool down before consuming, for a firmer texture.

This is the first burnt cheesecake I’ve ever tried, so I can’t say it’s the best as I don’t have a basis of comparison. However, I will say this – I enjoyed its light texture, unique (but not offensive, as it is only pleasantly not pungently cheesy) flavour so much that I would want to try other burnt cheesecakes as well.

Oh, & the Carrot Cake with Salted Cream Cheese Frosting ($7.50)? Also pretty good.

Crust Brewing – All Sorts of Local Beer Made with Bread

Check out my latest beer stash from Crust Brewing! I shared their Instagram post & tagged them to get $10 off & free delivery. Sweet deal.

I love bread, & I love beer. I also love “optimizing” every part of my life. To know that the founders of Crust believe in maximizing their resources & reducing waste.. I like that. This seems like a great fit for my alcoholism, tastes & beliefs 😜

Crust was born out of their love for beer & founded on their strong belief in sustainability. Making use of fresh surplus bread from various sources (bakeries, hotels, grocers) in the brewing process, these bread are given a new lease of life instead of going to waste. 🍞 🍻

They currently have 5 beers available; 2 flagship & 3 collaborations. Quickly DM them for details, limited stock available!

Unfortunately, with circuit breaker rules in place, Crust Brewing can’t produce or bottle more beers at the moment. But hopefully once these restrictions are lifted, their online store will be up & running for us to GO GO GO 🤞🏻🍻

Also worthy to note: Don’t throw the beer bottles out when you’re done – you get a 50¢ refund per bottle on your next order when you return them. They also reuse their carton boxes for delivery, so keeping those to return to them would be helpful too.

So how do the beers fare?

Breaking Bread Ale (5% ABV)

Crust entered the market with this flagship light ale. An easy pale ale to drink, the tasting notes are crisp & floral fragrant. Its caramel notes linger around, but it isn’t sweet. Not sure if I’m imagining it (placebo effect or issit I’m drunk liao), but I do taste a faint yeastyness of bread.

I like it! Would order this again. I am glad that the “duplicate beer” (6 bottles but only 5 kinds of beer, remember?) is this one 🍻

Kaya Toast Stout (4.3% ABV)

Kaya Toast Stout (4.3% ABV) with The 1925 Brewing Co.

This collaboration brew with The 1925 Brewing Co. is described as “your morning breakfast of kaya toast & coffee, reimagined at night“. This is quite true, & I enjoyed this stout very much.

The aftertaste is quite reminiscent of kaya – just a hint, only – without the saccharine sweetness that I dislike. This creamy stout has notes that remind me of roasted coffee beans & caramel.. The flavour profile isn’t too strong, but it is nonetheless delicious. A well-executed, easy-to-drink stout that I am impressed with.

The King’s IPA (4.7% ABV)

The King’s IPA (4.7% ABV) with Edible Garden City

Crust’s pioneer collaboration brew with Edible Garden City has hints of green mango. Not from actual mangoes (but my photo gets an A+ for effort, right?), but from ulam rajas grown right here in Singapore. Don’t know what that is? Google it. I had to. No shame in that, I’m always curious to learn 😁

I’m not a huge fan of IPAs, but I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I liked how refreshing this was with the slightly fruity notes.. Yet the characteristic hoppyness of an IPA was not lost. Made it easier to drink than your usual IPA.

I’d order this again – hopefully I’m not too late as it’s running low in stock. It’s a popular one!

Beerguette (4.5% ABV)

Beerguette (4.5% ABV) with Tiong Bahru Bakery

Another collaboration brew, this time with Tiong Bahru Bakery. This pilsner-style beer uses TBB’s fresh surplus baguettes. I found it to be rather bitter & too hoppy for my liking; in terms of flavour profile, I (expectedly) didn’t taste much breadyness in this one.

Not really my kind of beer – but everyone has their preferences, right? I’d still say give it a shot if you haven’t tried it before. I recommend starting out ordering a 6 pack so you can try Crust’s full variety of 5 types of beer. Then re-order your favourites next time.

I Knead An Easy IPA (4.7% ABV)

Right off the bat, I love this pun on their 2nd flagship beer. Second to that, this is quite the easy IPA to drink. The hoppyness is balanced with the fruity flavours.

Out of their 2 flagship products, though, I prefer the Breaking Bread Ale for its crisp/clean profile. Unfortunately, that’s sold out for now – when they’re able to start bottling again, grab that quick!

Pope Jai Thai – Affordable Delivery of Thai Cuisine That Supports a Good Cause

I learnt about Pope Jai Thai from a friend – admittedly drawn in by the perk of a free mango sticky rice. She then shared with me about their cause & what they stand for. They are a F&B-focused social enterprise that employs a range of disadvantaged groups; underprivileged & marginalized individuals make up 90% of their workforce. During the COVID-19 outbreak, they’ve also created new job opportunities (since they offer islandwide delivery) for taxi drivers & dispatch riders who have been affected by this pandemic.

I’m not going to put myself on moral high ground here. But I’m happy to support a meaningful social cause like this. & eat delicious food while I’m at it.

Delivery is an affordable $5, & if you quote BUIBUISUPPORTPJ when ordering (min. spend $30), you get a FREE mango sticky rice on your first order! Valid until 4 May 2020.

Pope Jai Thai‘s menu is pretty extensive. They have set meal deals (main + drink), a la carte mains, zhi-char style dishes for sharing, appetizers, & dessert too of course. I was happy with the food I ordered:

Phad Thai Set (Seafood) with Thai Lemon Tea (Cold) – $8.80 nett
Stir Fried Tanghoon Set (Vegetables) with Thai Milk Tea (Cold) – $8.80 nett
Homemade Thai Prawn Cake (3 pieces) – $8.80 nett
Clear Tom Yum Glass Noodle Soup (Seafood) – $8.80 nett
Garlic Honey Chicken (Large) – $15 nett
Garlic Baby Kailan (Medium) – $11 nett

I usually don’t like paying for delivery, but their $5 delivery fee (min. $20 spend) is reasonable. Delivery service was also satisfactory; my food arrived on time (within the 30 minute window – in fact, at 12:22PM when I requested for 12:15PM delivery!). My soup was shrink-wrapped at the top to avoid spillage, & the dispatch rider had stored my food in an insulated bag (warm & cold in 2 separated bags) during the ride 👍🏻

Would order from them again & when circuit breaker period is over, I’d like to pay their dining establishment a visit too – they’re conveniently located at *SCAPE.

GUDSHT Bottled Cocktails by Elite Bar Solutions

If you can’t go to the bars.. Let the bars come to you. Been seeing a plethora of bottled cocktails offerings pop up everywhere since circuit breaker measures were introduced in Singapore. Quite apt because I think most of us are going crazy staying at home.

Elite Bar Solutions took it a step further to pay it forward, & I was fortunate enough to receive a free GUDSHT cocktail of my choice, delivered to my home! I picked the Unicorn Barf ($48.00 nett), a glittery cocktail of Roku Gin with homemade Yuzu Rose Infusions & Butterfly Pea Syrup Infusion.

It’s quite unlike my usual drink choice.. Deeznuts ($54.00 nett) would be more aligned with my default. But I wanted to try something different, & Unicorn Barf sounded quite refreshing & floral.

Yo guys this kept me quite happy in the 2 nights that I drank it over. I wanted it to last longer (lol) so I served it over an ice ball – happy to report that it wasn’t too diluted at the end. I loved the citrus from the yuzu & also the sweetness (think sweet plum & honey) that was just right for me. I dislike insanely sweet cocktails, but this was fine.

Elite Bar Solutions‘ cocktails are free of preservatives, so they should be consumed within 10 days from bottling. Generally not a problem for me 😛

I usually float around to different bars to drink their cool cocktails (obviously), but also to appreciate their ambiance, as I’m mostly alone & enjoy it this way. Can’t do the latter anymore, but with a nice jazz playlist in my bedroom, cocktail in hand… I’m not really complaining. Yet.

Happy to be able to pay it forward myself by nominating someone to receive a bottled cocktail as well. I think I shall nominate the most extroverted extrovert I know, whom I’m certain is quite miserable during this circuit breaker period. & who also is an alc– I mean, who also enjoys tasty adult beverages, just like me. Yes, that’s what I mean.

Teapulse Now Delivers Kombucha & Probiotics Health Drinks

I’ve been having the strangest craving for kombucha in recent weeks. So when I chanced upon Teapulse’s Instagram post that they now do island-wide deliveries (thanks, #circuitbreaker), I immediately jumped on it. Each day, they deliver to a different region based on location – makes a lot of sense for their logistics.

They have various options available:

“Pure” probiotics lemonade concentrates (250ml for $16)
“Pure” undiluted kombucha (800ml for $25, or 250ml for $5.20)
“Concoctions” of ready-to-drink kombucha/probiotics drinks (250ml for $5.60)

#1 & #2 come in glass jars/bottles (respectively); these should be mixed in the appropriate ratios before drinking. Fret not, it’s easy to do & your order comes with a detailed instructions sheet to follow.

For those who are lazy to mix up a storm, you can opt for #3 – these, however, come in plastic bottles which I’m not a fan of.

I DM-ed them on Instagram to get their order sheet, which they promptly sent over & informed me of what flavours (for #2) were available for the week. I filled it up to make up the minimum $30 for free delivery & sent it back to them on WhatsApp. Paid up by PayNow & they advised me on delivery timing.

Happily received my stash on time, the day of:
#1 – Probiotics Brown Lemonade Concentrate
#2 – Pure Kombucha (Osmanthus, Green Tea)
#3 – Lemongrass Kombucha with Aloe Vera

My Teapulse stash of kombucha & probiotics lemonade concentrate

Immediately drank #3 (left-most one) & shared it with my mum – her first time. She liked it & didn’t find it too acidic/vinegary! As for the rest, I am slowly mixing them & going through my stash.

Pleased with this experience & will order from them again. Teapulse has actually been on my Burpple wishlist for a while, but I hadn’t had time to stop by their store at Phillip Street.

When the time comes & stores are allowed to re-open, I’d like to swing by to show my support. You can also get 1-for-1 drinks here on Burpple Beyond, which gives me even more reason to visit… Hehehe.

Amazin’ Graze Healthy Snack Pack

Today’s lunch features a little something from Amazin’ Graze – Blueberry Goji Coconut Granola. I made a purchase for some nut snack packs on their website recently (free shipping & free snack pack on your first order!) & this came in the mail with my shipment.

Perfect with my Chobani Greek yogurt (Redmart had a sale hehe) & big fat blueberries from my neighbourhood fruit stall.

Spicy Mala Nut Mix, Pandan Coconut Nut Mix, Tom Yum Kaffir Lime Nut Mix – aren’t these flavours so unique!? I can’t wait to try them! 😍