Shaw Theaters

ABBEY: We've seen a few movies in this theater. Latest is Harry Potter 7.2. As usual at the lobby is the ticket counters as well as the snack bar. Previews and posters of upcoming movies are also displayed. The staff are kind to usher the patrons of their needs. The theater is clean and has a pleasant smell. The seats are well placed and sound is superb. I hope in the future we can make use of their premiere; to dine on it before going to the silver screen.

WILL:  We have been to some movie houses here in Singapore but the Shaw at NEX Mall is really cool. As in freezing cool, but fret not, the temperature only dropped at the lobby but inside is very tolerable. It is so clean. 
              Munch your way up to your seats with their very tasty popcorn and nachos. You will not only enjoy the movie you watch but also their offered snack.. :)

Singapore Food Festival 2011

Abbey:
Another food festival, yahoo!!! This time its theme is all about spices. The festival is held at different places but we went to Clarke Quay. Its divided into 2; one is for the cuisine and the other is for gourmet.

I tried Tikka Chicken Skewers, an Indian dish, served with brianni rice. The taste of bell pepper has a perfect combination with the marinated chicken. I also had Thai's crispy chicken and sweet potato, and a Turkish shawarma. All totalled 15sgd. We went in the gourmet section, but didn't get anything as we are full. The festival had a contest in which you will smell the aroma of spices and guess its name. Winner of the contest will be given vouchers.

WILL: Wohhhhoooh! Its a feast! We went to clarke quay aftwr my office hour. And at the jampacked bridge, there located the food stalls, the best chicken tikka and chicken shawarma i ever tasted. The food costs cheaper from 3$ you can eat a dinner out of it. Here Abbey confessed, he is now loving the Indian foods ;) 
      A night of music and food is really good combination. Cheers to the organizers. We will wait for another food fair. 

The Cafe Cartel

Abbey:
We set a movie day to watch Harry Potter 7.2. But before going to the movie, we're hungry. We stopped at this diner and tried their menu. I got grilled chicken and pork topped with gravy in a hot plate. It also includes sausage and kernel corn as sides. Its flavorful. The meal is priced at 15sgd. Cafe Cartel plays on the colors of black, yellow, and white. This is a good place to have a family meal. On weekdays, they have discounts and promos.

WILL: What will you expect? The best of all inside the store right? We went here for a dinner before the final bout of Harry.
Abbey ordered pork and chicken costs around 15$. The taste? Predicatable. I ordered pasta and this is well recommended, the spices is overflowing and i love it. That costs ...
      We never took our dosage of caffeine, baka d nmn ako makasleep for that night eh hehe.
      Their branch at NEX mall was located just after the MRT exit, a good location for al fresco dining just hope rain won't fall ;)

 

The Old Stall - Punggol

ABBEY:
I'm allergic to prawn and squid. But I want to overcome this so I decided to try fried ho kien mee. The shop is located at a hawker near Shengsiong-Punggol branch.
The dish is cooked as you order. You can even watch it at a glass window. The price starts at 4sgd to 8sgd; depends how much do you want to eat. They also serve fried quay teow, carrot cake, mee rebus, and many more.
Once in a while we dine in there before going at the grocery.

WILL: Love at first sight(taste) hehe, that is my love affair with Fried Hok Kien Mee. One sunday afternoon, I saw a banner on our way to Sheng Shiong market and asked Abbey if we can eat some of those for 3pm snack.
      From there, we keep coming back to buy and indulge on this local Singapore food. The meal costs no more than $5. ;)
     

Yoguru

Abbey:
This is a newly-opened shop at International Plaza. While waiting for Wilma, I bought her a cup of this froyo. Large ones cost almost 5sgd. And the taste? Its good. Almost the same taste of other yogurts that we tried. Eating this delight from time to time will give your body good bacteria to boost your system.

WILL: A few steps away from my office at International Plaza, Yoguru is a must try! i am really fond of yogurts specially froyos. :), so this i will not let the opportunity pass :)
On their opening, it offered a 10% off, so Abbey bought their biggest cup. How much? I don't know. Hehe. The taste? Its bit creamier than others. Pwede na, but for me kasi the more sour the froyo is, the more i like it. 

One More Chance

Abbey:
I found this movie a bit unfair; girl1 leaves boy to have her identity back. Boy was hurt but managed to moved on and found another girl2. When girl1 saw the boy again she said "Sana akin ka na lang ulit" with matching tears. Boy was still in love with her and chooses her. Girl2 was left alone. But all in all, the movie is good. Good casting :) Typical love story that has happy ending. Keep it up Basha and Popoy.

WILL: I am sorry di tlga ako fond sa mga Filipino Love Stories, after years ko napanood itong movie na ito, I am bit curios sa post na mga lines sa Facebook. 
     So what can I say? Ayun, kung balde na luha ng mga kaibigan ko sa movie n ito.. ako wala.. manhid tlga! ha! 
     Main problem lng nmn n nakita ko eh communication. Kung naging mas open pa sila sa isa't-isa, malamang nabigay ng maayos yung space na hinihingi ni Basya, tama ba? hehe..
     
     

LinkedIn

Abbey:

This is what I called "Facebook" for the the professionals. Unlike other job searching sites, in here you can post updates, connect to other people with the same interest, to your friends or colleagues. Resumes serves as the profile and recommendations as testimonials.  You can also join groups for your specialties.

WILL: I am member of this LinkedIn. Well, this is indeed one of a social network, but this is for the professional side of people. 
Here in Singapore, employers uses this frequently to headhunt on their vacancies. 
      We already installed iPhone apps, why? This LinkedIn is giving us updates on the groups we are in. So happy to have this.

FruitartShop Fruit Paradise

Abbey:
Tired of a simply-designed cakes? In FruitartShop, you can have a fancy one. Cakes have variety of colors out of the fruit that is used to design it. They have strawberry, mango, banana, kiwi and many more. A slice cost 5-6sgd. The shop is located at 1st level of Vivo near Marks and Spencer. A good dessert after a meal.

WILL: After a wasabi galore, we queued here for a healthy dessert. The banana tasted well with its cream and crunchy base. I love it a lot. Costs not more than 5$ and one slice can be shared by two pax. This is located at Vivo City ground floor. 

Lay's Stax

Abbey:
We had our weekly grocery when we bought Lay's stax. The packaging is like Pringles' but the contents are different. The chips are thicker for Lay's and flavorful as well. One "stax" costs 1.5sgd and we bought a couple of them. The day after buying them, we ate the chips while having our movie night.

WILL: Wow, this stax is way better their foil packed chips. Why? Less grease. Compared to pringles, this is thicker and bared a lot of flavors :) a new competition for Pringles, costs 1.50$

Golden Oreo Biscuit

Abbey:
Want to have a quick snack that's not too sweet? Try Golden Oreo biscuit. The biscuit has a vanilla flavor as well as its filling. Normally, you'll be thinking that its way too sweet because of vanilla, but its not. The taste is so good that you wont settle for only one pack. Good combination with coffee or tea for during breaks.

WILL: Eye-catchy packaging, this is the only oreo that is not in a color blue pack, and that made me to consider to buy it hehe. 
      I am expecting that this will be very sweet in taste, why? the cookie is vanilla flavored and the fillings were vanillas also, but damn, I am wrong!
      It is not too sweet and you will crave for more.. perfect for tea time ;) Try it and u will never regret it..   

Harry Potter Deathly Hallows Part II

Abbey:
It ended. Good is the victor. I read each book and watched all the movies of the series. I can say its great. The last installment has a mixed of action, comedy (kudos to Rupert), and drama. Visual effects are superb.   What I like is the "PA" system of Voldemort. It is very effective. Everybody listens to him :) After a decade, the HP movie franchise never fails to entertain. They're great in making the novel come to life. Cheers, Harry!

WILL: Now what? Its indeed the end of Harry Potter's fight against the bad guys. 
      Actually Harry Potter is a kid's movie that also adults got addicted to it. Hehe. 
      Harry Potter 7 Part 2 what can I say?, of course Harry will not die, good will conquer the bad, and tested friendship will never end. Thats it. I love it. No further words. 

Nelia's Salon Spa

Abbey:
Ever wonder who did my hair in preparation for our wedding? Its Nelia's. I told the hair stylist to give me a good haircut so I'm handsome for our BIG day. He never failed me :). The pictures show. Haircut costs 15sgd plus the stories and conversation with your fellow Pinoys. They also offer manicure, pedicure, hair and foot spa. The shop is located at 4th floor of Lucky Plaza.

WILL: Disappointment really hits me when i went to Mary Chia. Di kinalkal ang in-grown ko. Hmp! I am a kind of girl, na di ko feel na nalilinis ang toe nails hanggat di sila dumudugo. Hehe. So to satisfy and mawala na ang masakit na in-grown, we went to Lucky Plaza. :) 

      There, natatawa sila sa akin kasi feeling nila masakit na ang gngawa nila para sa akin pero ako ayun, walang reaction. Haha. While they do my nails Abbey is in line for a haircut. 
      Pedicure (Fil Style) worth us 25$. Ang mahal pero worthy naman. Ang gaan ng feeling. :) 

Chicken Bow Tie Pasta

Ingredients

• farfalle (bow tie) pasta, uncooked
• boneless skinless chicken breasts
• garlic, minced
• tomato sauce
• Grated Parmesan Cheese

Directions

1. Cook pasta as directed on package, fry the chicken.
2. Drain pasta mixture in colander; Saute the garlic then add tomato sauce.
3. Put the pasta in a clean bowl add the totao sauce, put on top the chicken and add in the cheese. Set the microwave for two minutes or until the cheese melts.           

Verdict:
ABBEY:

Pasta? I wont let that pass from me. This delight is unique for me, bow tie pasta was used. We normally have spaghetti, elbow macaroni, penne, and shells. But the taste is still the same; great. Put chicken on it, then its superb. Wilma always know the way how I want my pasta to be cooked.

Lipton Pyramid Tea Bags

Abbey:
Wow, a different packaging from Lipton. From what I've read, there's a reason why they test for this shape of tea bag. As I recall, it has something to do with the preservation of the aroma and to prevent the leaves to be easily burnt. Even the bags were has a different shape now, it still gives the Lipton quality flavor. And by the way thetea bags that we were used to are still available in the market. 

WILL: Amazed for the new packing and conconction of deiffent tea leaves. Abbey bought this tea for 4$ per box of 25 teabags. 
      The taste?, lovelier than the ordinary packed Lipton. 

The Pigeonhole

ABBEY: 

We planned for a long time to go to this cafe. This is located at Tanjong Pagar area. What we read from the reviews of this place is good. So one night after we had dinner, me, Wilma and Chat went to Pigeon Hole. It was a cozy place. Not like an ordinary coffee shop, the ambiance makes you feel like very comfortable. You can have a sip while sitting in a park bench, a bean bag, or a couch. They also serve dinner, wine, and also ciders. I tried their chocolate babycino. It was good. Displayed books can be bought but not the furniture. Maybe some of their patrons have already asked them how much they sell their coffee table. It was a unique experience.

WILL: Pigeonhole cafe, just few steps behind our office. 
Well their coffee is a bit cheaper with some well known SB and CBTL, their place is very relaxing and their coffee?, the best seller have somewhat kick. I think they spike some alcoholic drink lah, but i don't get tipsy. ;)
      Worth for a try, on our next visit, i hope we can hear the local bands or see some book signing ;) 

Famous Amos

Abbey:
This is a real treat. The store offers FREE smell for everyone. Once you're hooked with the smell, you will be urged to buy;  not by the sales staff but yourself. We tried it. And its good. 100 grams costs not more than 5sgd for chocolate chip. Branches we visited are Sengkang and Orchard.

WILL: I am craving sa lasa ng dating chips ahoy, yung nakapack pa sya ng parang paper, ang alam ko nabisco ang may gawa pa nun. ngayon sa mga grocery s Philippines, even dito s Singapore wala na nun, puro foil packed na. Iba n rin ang lasa.
      So disappointed, when I saw this cookies and begged Abbey to buy me some of those. My cravings? ... satisfied. :D 
      100 grams costs around 5$. Expensive but worthy. Very delicious, LOve this.. 

Salvatore Ferragamo - Perfumes

Abbey:
We were strolling along Tangs at Vivo and saw the new product from Salvatorre. I always wanted to buy Wilma a bottle of perfume for her daily use. She wont allow it as she says "Ang MAHAL naman".  But on that day, its a promotion. We planned to get one for her when the sales lady told us that we can also have one bottle for me for half the price.
As if were charmed, we bought it.  And here's the content: 2 bottles of perfume (50mL and 100mL), a hip bag, and samples of other fragrance; all for 167sgd.
The smell lasts for a day and I'm glad whenever Wilma gives me complement when I wear it.

WILL: I love scent of guys on me, and do not ask me why, because i do not know the answer either. Hehe. That's why i have almost twenty boys' perfumes ;) all gifts!
      Now, naubos na lahat ni Abbey ang mga pabango ng nakaraan, hehe, we must start a new scents for our wedding.
      Abbey loves Attimo bought it for almost $150 includes his perfume, a ferragamo bag, Incanto perfumes, and seven trial packs of other EDT.
      Just bargain with freebies at Tangs ;)

Swish Mouthwash

ABBEY:

"Switch to Swish" - that's what Mike Enriquez, a Filipino broadcaster, always advertise in his morning radio show. He's saying that Swish doesn't have any alcohol content. When we got back from PH, we brought a bottle of this mouthwash and tried it. Yes, it doesn't have any alcohol which gives you the burning sensation when you gargle. From what I experience, it also keeps my breath fresh longer than with the other mouthwash.

WILL: Sabi nga nila "Switch to SWISH", so we give it a shot. 
Right! Because there is ni alcohol content, there a no stinging sensation and no after taste of it.
      Our breath? Nicer than ever, kahit one hour mong di buka ang bibig mo, di p dn bad breath. Hehe. This is ready to use, no need to add water kaya medyo magastos nga lng. Bottle of 200ml costs Php150. 

Pepper Lunch - Japanese DIY Teppan Restaurant

Abbey: The shop we visited is at basement of Suntec mall near the fountain. A staff warmly greeted us and gave us a table number. He also advised us to get into the queue so we can order our food. A strong smell of beef filled the place. Its like a thousand cans of corned beef were being cooked :) I tried their double burger patty with rice. All meals are served in a hot plate. The presentation is good but taste is a little below satisfactory. Prices ranges from 8-16sgd. A meal comes with veggies, corn, drink, and side dishes like mash potato or salad.

WILL: Pepper Lunch have a brach at Trinoma. I tried this almost three years ago. And it costs me 300Php per pax. 
Now here in SG, their meal costs just the same in Philippines. We dined-in at their Suntec Branch. Well what can i say? Because they are serving the food on its sizzling tray, so expect the smoke fills the place.
      You must toss the rice and meat as soon as it was served unless u want it burned up. Nice experience but the food smell stayed on our clothes. 

Domino's Pizza Singapore

ABBEY: Wilma is craving for this pie. We got a flyer that they're having promotions to celebrate Green Hornet movie. And on the flyer, it indicated a free delivery for every order. After having idea that we'll pizza and chicken for dinner, I decided to call. Too bad they won't have any delivery ate my place. Its out of scope. So instead of cancelling the order, I picked it up at their Kovan branch.

She was very surprised seeing me carrying 2 boxes of pizza. The pizza is good as well as the chicken wings. They even gave me a coupon for another pizza, because they said its past 15mins for my order. Thanks :)

The next visit at Kovan was when we were with Chat. She's a food critique, but Domino's pizza passed her standard. She liked Big BBQ and Chicken Temptation. Wilma liked Four Cheese. I like them all :)

2 boxes of half and half pizza, a set of chicken wings, and a bottle of Coke cost 50sgd. Be sure to get the 10sgd off coupon.

WILL: Domino's Pizza have a limited delivery areas in Philippines, but i do not expect that it will be the same here in Singapore. 
They are off to deliver at Punggol, but no choice, we are craving for some different taste for pizzas. So abbey paved his way to Kovan for some take-out Pizza. His surprise for me :)
      
On second time, we dined-in with Charito. We ordered two half and half pizza. Their chicken pizza sauce is so nice, oh, as they say, the ingredients of that sauce is a top secret. :)
We claimed our vouchers and gladly we have discounted a $20 on our total bill. Each pizza costs not more than $25. We went home with a very full stomach. Satisfied. Babalik-balikan!

AR Photography

Abbey:

Fact: My father is the owner of the business. 
Having said that, I can't blame the readers if they'll find me bias on my blog regarding our family business. But from what I experience when we tied the knot, its great.  We hired AR Photography to capture one of the memorable milestone for me and Wilma.

Its a four-man team, including the proprietor;my father. They came to the place by the set time of appointment. They also gave us tips on how to project in front of the camera.

When we saw the video, it was superb. I watched it a several times and it never fails to make me smile and be happy. Additional factor is that its our wedding. As the son of the owner, we got huge discount for the coverage :) Thanks, Mang Boy.

WILL: Yes, this is free :) ... Well what I can say? Papa's men were on time. As in ang aga! Masaya sila kaya they will not miss a nice shot and good side of every snap. 

Their package depends on how you want them to portray your memories for life. 

You can contact them through +63-921-7929008. 

Dettol Body Wash

Abbey:

I came to know Dettol as it the handwash brand we use at the office. The handwash promises to give you protection against common household bacteria and germs. The smell after handwashing is also good.

When I saw the body wash on the store, I told Wilma if we can try it given my testimony about the hand wash.

I wasn't wrong. The body wash works well and gave me a refreshing feeling after bath.

WILL: Dettol is the brand I saw use to clean the bathroom. Kaya I am pretty hesitant to use their new released bath soap. I am thinking that it may be to harsh with our skin.
      But wait, I am wrong! It is very delicate to the skin, refreshing and feels we were totally cleaned up. 
      This Dettol costs me 8S$.

Pringles

ABBEY:

Once you pop, you can't stop. This doesn't happen to us as we give up to munch the entire contents of a Pringles' can.

They always have a promo, their large cans for a lesser price. So big that even me can't finish it at one sitting. I ended tired of chewing those delicious chips.

What we like the most are the original, sour cream and onion, and cheese flavor.

A can costs 3 to 4 sgd. They even sell with lesser price if you buy 2; giving you more chips to enjoy. 

WILL: Stop! Stop! Stop! Who can stop the munch once the lid of these Pringles popped? Maybe others, but me. 

      One tube is not enough.This crispy thin potato based snack is a historic. No one can compares. The voluminous cheese tube costs not more than $3 each. Love it! 

Bliss

ABBEY:

Every week we never forget to buy juice. By the time we tasted all the different flavor of fruit juices, we came across this yogurt drink.

We picked the one mixed with strawberry. It taste like the candy I used to buy in Philippines; the only difference - this is liquid.

A bottle costs 5sgd. Its a good thing that we have an alternative from the wide variety of juices offered in our local grocery store.

WILL: I am on bliss whenever i have a yogurt in our fridge. Once bought this yogurt drink a substitute for weekly supply of juices. Taste? Enough for me to drink the half bottle in one dining! A good source of vitamins. Buy it! 

Lucky Me! - Mac & Cheez

Abbey:

It is another "instant" specialty from Lucky Me. Want to have macaroni and cheese but time is very little? Grab a couple of this and problem is solved.

A packet 10 pesos. We brought some from PH when we got back here at SG.

The taste is fair enough to satisfy my cravings for mac and cheese.

WILL: Indeed! I am pasta lover and I am so glad to see this easy-cook baked mac. ;) 
      The pasta texture? Its up to you, and because I always want it al-dente, 2mins is enough. Then after that mixed the cheese. Eat! Savor! Love it. This only costs not more than 10Php per pack. 

Authentic Frozen Yogurt - Red Mango

Abbey:

Froyo in Red Mango is creamier than the one I had in a coffee shop. Back in Philippines we visited their branch at Trinoma Mall. Aside from original flavor, they also offer different toppings like corn flakes, berries, candies, and chocolates. Biggest serving is their take-home cup. It cost 8.8sgd. It doesn't melt quickly and can survive the 1-hour homeward bound. Yogurt gave our bodies good bacteria to help us boost our body defense, that's what I'm told :)

WILL: An internationally-known name for Frozen Yogurt. So we took the opportunity to indulge in. They have a branch in Trinoma in front of Fitness First. Each cup costs Php90 then. 
Here in Singapore you can see them at Esplanade Station. Here the prices ranges from $5. The taste? Outstanding!
Abbey surprised me a pint of this. I am overwhelmed :)

Ginger Pork

• 1 pound boneless pork loin, cubed
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup chicken broth
• 1/4 cup water
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon white sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• salt and pepper to taste

Coat up the Pork with Flour. Then fry until brown. 

Combine chicken broth, soy sauce, water, sugar, and ginger. Let it simmer then put in the Fried Pork. Let it simmer again. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Verdict:

Abbey: This dish gave a new twist to an ordinary sauted pork. Having enough amount of ginger to dominate the taste, it would give you a unique flavor when they were mixed. Eat it with hot rice, then its would be a sure hit combo.