Gochi-So Shokudo - Iberico Pork Belly

ABBEY: After attending a talk, we had dinner at Gochi-So Shokudo. They are serving Iberico pork and I got a bowl of Iberico Pork Mix Don. 

The pork is soft (melts in your mouth). Don’t forget to put the sauce as it will give more flavor to the pork specially to the rice when it’s soaked.

Gochi-So Shokudo
Iberico Pork Belly and Iberico Pork Mix Don

Gochi-So Shokudo
MENU

WILL: A lot of choices where to eat the basement of One Raffles Place. And most of the time all diners are full specially on lunch and around 6-7pm (overtimers), and we arrived 740pm and the place is still busy as bee. 

Gladly, we catched a free table at Gochi-So Shokudo and got a promotion of $10 for BBQ Iberian Prok Belly Don. 

Please take note that they never put anything on the pork but still, you can taste the deliciousness of a pure pork's meat. And it feels like healthier! Oh, that feeling of "healthy" because the Iberian Pigs were fed by acorns and weeds! A herbivore pigs! Nice! That's explain that this pork belly doesn't have too much fats section. 

Nom-nom-nom! Add some spices that is on the table and you will surely ask for another bowl.

***

Gochi-So Shokudo

(F) https://www.facebook.com/gochiso.shokudo/

(H) 11AM - 930PM

(A) 1 Raffles Place,#B1-30 

(T) 6536 6447

Makanista - A New Style Food Court

ABBEY: Wilma suggested to eat at Makanista. It has 3 shops that offers Western, Indian, and Chinese/local foods. 

I had crispy chicken burger with fries. Food prices starts at 5-6 SGD. Nothing special about my burger :) But the chicken is juicy and crispy.

Makanista - A New Style Food Court
Western Food - Burger and Fries

Makanista - A New Style Food Court
Plain Prata 

WILL: It is 7PM and diners are full! Why not head over at Makanista? 

It is like a hawker but every stall is selling drinks. I am craving for prata, yes plain prata with a fish curry sauce. And I am happy to know that they served a crispy-thin prata. OMG! How do they know that I prefer that? Hehe. 

A decent place to talk (not that noisy) and a good place for a affordable food at Tampines!

***

Makanista

(F) https://www.facebook.com/MakanistaSG/

(H) 8:00 - 10:00PM

(A) 4 Tampines Central 5, Tampines Mall, #01-42/43/44

Punggol Discovery Cube

ABBEY: We were on an afternoon run when we saw a building beside Waterway Point mall. It was the Punggol Discovery Cube. And when my schedule opened, we headed to it. As the name implies, you will discover Punggol from the past and its future plan. There is a huge 3D map of the area on the first floor. The second storey shows the timeline and key events that took place. You can get a panoramic view of waterway on the third floor.

Who would have known that there devices that measure the airflow (cold and hot) to check whether it is sustainable to live in that area or that is a block of buildings using solar panels for power? Yes, that’s me. I learned them all at the cube.

WILL: Our first flat together as husband and wife is Blk 295 at Punggol Central, there's not so much to see and go, that was 2010. 

But now, 8 years had passed, malls, groceries and container/food vans are all over Punggol! Yeah, I saw somewhat a small "transformation" of this place. But I was shocked to see that this is the former fishing village. Whew! A well planned transition. From a fishing place to the very first Singapore's eco-town. 

What is a eco-town? Well, I am happy to say that residents in Punggol are active in recycling (of course including us). You will see most of the time that the Punggol residents are putting their recyclables in the bin. Water harvesting system was installed to collect rain water and to use it in cleaning corridors and watering the plants. Solar panel was installed to the roofs to harness solar energy and light up LEDs at carparks or podiums. 

Check-out the Punggol Discovery Cube! It is just beside Waterway Point.

***

Punggol Discovery Cube

(A) 85 Punggol Central 828726

Kublai Khan Mongolian BBQ

ABBEY: After a day of conference for the Institute of Blockchain Singapore’s launch, Alvin (CEO and founder) gave the volunteers a dinner. It was at Kublai Khan Mongolian BBQ (The Central).

They have sushi, sashimi, satays, laksa, pasta, fish fillet, chilli crab, soup and rice. The Mongolian BBQ taste great; depends greatly on your preference of sauce like garlic or sesame oil. I prefer chicken though. The beef is hard to chew even though the slices are thin. Coffee, soda, and juices are also included.

Kublai Khan Mongolian BBQ 
BBQ Wheel? 

Kublai Khan Mongolian BBQ 

Kublai Khan Mongolian BBQ
at Clarke Quay Central

Kublai Khan Mongolian BBQ
Institute of Blockchain Singapore with Volunteers and NEM Singapore

WILL: I just volunteered to help whatever I can on Institute of Blockchain Singapore official launch event and  it ended up with this; Two NEM personnel became speakers, one panellist and a photographer. Oh! You can see me at the registration too! Haha! To talk more about future collaborations, Alvin Chua invited NEM team for a dinner. Woootwooot! Thanks IBS Boss!

I know that if it is Mongolian cuisine, there will be someone who will cook for you, but I am not expecting to have a huge wheel like plain flat iron. 

Anyways, what is the best? I will go for their mushroom soup with freshly baked bread on top. It is filling. Sorry I didn’t try their mongolian cooked food. Their chili crab is so-so. Their mussels is too salty. But I enjoyed the prawns and sushi plus non-stop talking with the IBS volunteers! 

Karma is always around. It is a boomerang! You do one good thing, well, it will come back to you in three-folds! 

More good karma to you Alvin and whole IBS! Till the next launch abroad!

***

Kublai Khan Mongolian BBQ

(W) http://kublaikhanbbq.com

(H) Lunch: 11:30AM – 3PM / Dinner: 6PM – 10PM

(A) 6 Eu Tong Sen Street #02-01 Yellow Zone, Clarke Quay Central

(T) 63344888

Irvins Salted Egg's Hot Bomb

ABBEY: This is the new variation of Irvin’s chips. And I can say the chips are hot. Haha. I preferred fish skin and it went really well with the spicy and salted egg flavor. 

Irvins Salted Egg's Hot BombFish Skin and Potato Chips

WILL: I am ecstatic when I saw that Irvins Salted Egg offers a HOT BOMB! No! It is not the dangerous bomb but it will blast you by its spiciness!  

We bought a pack of Fish Skin and Potato Chips now, I can say this is indeed dangerously addictive haha! Abbey even told me that he will save $1 a day to get a big pouch of Hot Bomb Fish Skin. 

Even that Irvins supplies a huge fan of its chips, the quality and tastiness is still there. The flavour was not compromised. 

Get ready of your water in munching this snack! Whooo!! 

***

Irvins Salted Egg's Hot Bomb

(W) https://irvinsaltedegg.com
(H) 10am - 830pm

(A) Plaza Singapura B2-56

NEM Participated at Institute of Blockchain Singapore's Official Launch

ABBEY: We were studying blockchain technology for a while now and we’re also building a community here in Singapore. Then we came to know Institute of Blockchain Singapore founded by Alvin Chua. The institute aims spread awareness of blockchain and its uses by educating the public.

With that advocacy, we helped by volunteering on the time of its launch last July 29 at The Bridge (Science Park). It is a Sunday but the attendance reached a hundred.

Attendees came from a variety of industries like marketing, finance, healthcare, legal, as well as academia.

NEM Blockchain gave a thorough talk regarding their platform and included a demo. It even rewarded some guests with XEMs.

Institute of Blockchain Singapore's Official Launch
Door Gifts

Institute of Blockchain Singapore's Official Launch
Francis Preparing for Gadgets :) 

Institute of Blockchain Singapore's Official Launch
NEM Ninja Dolls together with Angela and Yi Ling

Institute of Blockchain Singapore's Official Launch
Sheikh and Sam 

Institute of Blockchain Singapore's Official Launch
Opening Address by IBS President, Alvin Chua

Institute of Blockchain Singapore's Official Launch
Participant Creating his NEM MOSAIC (Token) 

Institute of Blockchain Singapore's Official Launch
William Tan Showing How to Bridge People into The Blockchain

Institute of Blockchain Singapore's Official Launch
NEM SEA Project Director, Lance Cheang as Panellist 

Institute of Blockchain Singapore's Official Launch
NEM Singapore together with NEM SEA Project Director and IBS President 

Institute of Blockchain Singapore's Official Launch
Volunteers

WILL: I was challenged by the NEM Southeast Asia Project Director and of course, I gladly accepted it.  

I am not a tech person, unlike Abbey, that is why I am very fond of using the NEM Nano Wallet. It is like the "Apple" of blockchain industry. All I need to do is type and click and I can easily communicate with the NEM blockchain. On my IBS talk, I shared my enthusiasm to the attendees. They were surprised that it is how easy to do a coin or "mine" (harvest) at NEM. Because it is a timed talk, I think I explained too fast! But when I asked for a participant to create his own coin, he'd done it as if it is not his first time to see the NEM mosaics. I do hope, many attendees learn and feel my love and happiness while sharing the beauty of NEM Platform. 

Thanks Institute of Blockchain Singapore in inviting the NEM Singapore team on your official launch. We wish you more power and more students to be a developer/coder. We all know that we needed a lot of them. 

***

Institute of Blockchain Singapore

(W) https://ibs.edu.sg

Starbucks Reserve™ Rochester Park

ABBEY: We went to one of the “atas” Starbucks branch in Singapore. It is at Rochester. Since it is Starbucks Reserved, I picked my item from their “reserved” menu. A venti size of Peru coffee. It went well with the complimentary cookie. 

It has a bit sour after taste though. The good thing is it is free; I used my Starbucks stars. Yey!

Starbucks Reserve™ Rochester Park

WILL: Our only goal is to visit the one of the unique Starbucks branch in Singapore. But surprise-surprise, we bumped into one Starbucks Reserve in town. 

As usual, I ordered my favourite Hoji Chia tea latte and Abbey tried one of the reserved coffee available. We opted to seat at the Reserve Bar because there is no seat available upstairs. Well, that is a good thing as we somewhat chatted with the barista and explained to us the beans and ways to brew the coffee. That's what you call making a connection with customer.

Now, you know where to go when you want some extraordinary taste on your coffee.

***

Starbucks Reserve™ Rochester Park

(W) http://www.starbucks.com.sg

(A)33 Rochester Drive

Guzman y Gomez - Mexican Taqueria

ABBEY: The first time we went to Gomez Y Guzman I ate the food very fast and standing as there are no tables available (lunch time at Tanjong Pagar).

Our second visit is at their branch at Star Vista mall. I had a beef burrito bowl. It is loaded with rice, black beans, salsa, cheese and chunks of beef. The serving will definitely make you full and satisfied. I hope they provide spoon as well.

Guzman y Gomez - Mexican Taqueria
MENU 

Guzman y Gomez - Mexican Taqueria
Mini Burrito and Burrito Bowl

Guzman y Gomez - Mexican Taqueria
The Star Vista Branch

WILL: Who does offer pork in a burrito? I think only Guzman Y Gomez have this right? 

For real, I am not a fan of burrito. I don't like rice on my wrap but this! This! The taste of salsa, black beans and cheese it is perfect for the succulent pulled pork. 

Warning! If you do not have a big tummy to store food, go for Mini size. It is indeed filling food!

***

Guzman Y Gomez - Mexican Taqueria

(W) https://gyg.com.sg

(H) 1030am - 930pm

(A) 1 Vista Exchange Green #01-32 The Star Vista

(T) +65 6694 2044

Nissin Cup Noodles Black Pepper Crab & Tom Yam Seafood

ABBEY: Nissin Cup Noodles “transformed” their noodles into chips. :)

We were intrigued about how it taste so we bought a couple of packs.

The black pepper flavor is like ordinary chip at first bite. But, it is hot. We couldn’t finish it on one sitting.

The Tom Yam flavor is meh. Not even my preference as a dish.

The sour smell is overpowering.

Both flavors can be enjoyed if you have soda on the side. Aaaah!

Nissin's Cup Noodles Black Pepper Crab & Tom Yam Seafood

WILL: Nissin Cup Noodles is now crossing to chips industry and to touch the palate of Asians, they introduced to us the Tom Yam Seafood and Black Pepper Crab Flavours. 

Tom Yam Seafood has this seafood pungent smell. You know the well concentrated smell of Tom Yam? On that, I am not a fan. 

While the Black Pepper Crab, it became my instant fave. Why? If you really crave for some butt-kicker spice, go on and buy some of this. Whew! Can't eat those chips in one sitting! Please be ready for your water.

***

FairPice Finest

(A) Changi City Point #B1-08/09/10/11 

(T) 6444 1472

Chinese Medical Centre - 1-Hour Full Body TCM Massage under FAVE

ABBEY: Wilma is having back pain and this time we opted to go for a Traditional Chinese Medicine massage. We went to Chinese Medical Centre for an hour of full body masaage. 

Our schedule is at 6PM but got delayed for 20 minutes. It’s worth the wait. The masseuse's hands ate heavy and really relieved my muscles from tension. I was kneaded with elbows amd knuckles. It’s painful but good. Ready to tackle the week ahead.

Chinese Medical Centre
1-Hour Full Body TCM Massage
Plus Additional Cupping ($10)

Chinese Medical Centre
FAVE Voucher
$28.00 

Chinese Medical Centre - Punggol Plaza Branch

WILL: I went back here in Singapore with a severe backpain (left area). I know, I know. Why I went back without seeing a masseuse in Manila. I ran out of time, huhu. Tell you..I know this is not an ordinary pain. All I know is I want to see a Chinese Doctor. Hahaha. 

Another hurdle aside from time, Abbey's insurance is not yet out and I do not want to pay enormous amount, so who I gonna call? FAVVVEEEE! HELP!!! Haha! 

Saw an hour of TCM Massage at Chinese Medical Centre and they have a branch at Punggol Plaza! Nice! Bought and booked immediately! 

How's the massage? Totally different! It feels like every strand of my muscle was kneaded. And the masseuse always asked and caught me lying. Hahaha! All I care about is my left upperback but she found and I realized that there's some distressed part of my body too! I asked her if she can give me acupuncture, but she resisted and advised me to have a cupping instead. 

I am agitated to that process. Why? I can't breathe whenever the cup was placed on my skin. As it is sucks all the oxygen in me. Haha. But I need to bare that anxiety. So I relaxed myself by breathing in and out. And on many attempts on that, I finally quiet my brain and make it understand that this is for my sake. 

After 10mins she blurted out. "Oh my! So black! Is this your first time?" Imagine? She described my back "black" in color. 

After, the session, I felt so tired. Haha. It seems someone beat me! At home, there is no position for me to be comfortable. Seriously, how can I get a sleep? But maybe because inside, my body is doing a repair. I drifted off. 

The next day, I felt better and the cracking sound at my left upper back and arm is lesser. 

I will come back for another TCM once Abbey and I already have our ID for our insurance. 🤗

Thanks FAVE for relieving my "stingy" anxiety and Chinese Medical Centre for alleviating the backpain!

***

FAVE

(W) https://www.myfave.com

Chinese Medical Centre

(W)http://cmc.sg/

(H)Daily 10:00am to 8:30 pm

(A)168 Punggol Field #02-01, Punggol Plaza 820168

(T)6581-9038

Istana Heritage Gallery

ABBEY: After a hearty lunch at Orchard Central, we went to Istana Gallery. This is for guests who cannot visit Istana on the Open House. It showcases the gifts given by other foreign leaders as well as their signed cards when they came to Singapore. 

You can buy souvenir items and the proceeds will go to the President Challenge which aims to help the less fortunate and building social entrepreneurship.

Istana Heritage Gallery

Istana Heritage Gallery - Emblems of Change

Istana Heritage Gallery - President's Challenge

Istana Heritage Gallery -- Istana

WILL: I admit it, it is tough sometime to get off my bed and explore Singapore. But when I think what I’ll be mssing, here I am checking what are the places I never visited in here in the beautiful country of Singapore. 

Istana Gallery is just the opposite of Istana itself. It is free of charge and you can learn the history and functions of Istana, past emblems and the charity institutions the President is helping. 

This will not take so much of your time. Visit and feed your mind with Singapore's History!

***

Istana Heritage Gallery

(W) http://www.istana.gov.sg/the-istana/istana-heritage-gallery/gallery-highlights

(H)Daily from 10 am-6 pm, except Wednesdays 

(A) 35 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238902, Istana Park

(T) 69044289

K.COOK Korean BBQ Buffet (Orchard Central)

ABBEY: Medel gave his own “send-off” party at Kcook Korean buffet. That’s how “galante” he is. 

As the name of the restaurant, it serves Korean cuisine. They have spicy rice cakes, glass noodle, gimbap, and kimchi. The barbecue items include marinated pork shoulder, pork belly, chicken, bacon, shrimp and ribeye steaks. Squid, shrimp, and vegetable tempura were also available. Salads, noodles, soup, and free flow of drinks can be enjoyed as well.

WILL: We celebrated a new chapter of life for Abbey and Medel. For 9 years, finally, they were now a regular employee of one of the biggest bank in Switzerland. Thanks Medel for the treat! 

KCook is the witness of our joy that day! I am surprised that Kcook have a lot of choices despite of its very affordable lunch buffet rate which is inclusive of soda and ice craam. 

So what's the best I have tasted there? Well, they have this marinated porks that no need any sauce to be perfect. Then, the kimchi that is not overpowering and quite a good selection of tempuras. 

If you enjoy to cook your food. Please do visit Kcook. One of the cheapest buffet at Orchard.

***

K.COOK Korean BBQ Buffet (Orchard Central)

(F) https://www.facebook.com/kcooksg/

(H) 11:30 - 15:00, 16:00 - 22:00

(A) 181 ORCHARD ROAD 238896 

(T)6884 7282

Bad Bird | Umami Fried Chicken

ABBEY: This was one of the pasalubongs of Wilma coming back from Philippines. She said that they dined at Bad Bird restaurant (Robinsons Manila) and she wanted me to taste it. 

The chicken pieces are huge and rubbed with lots of spices; lots of it that the chicken became dark brown in color. The taste? The one that I had is spicy and lived up to its flavor. The chicken is not too fat but juicy. 

Next time, we will try other flavors.

Bad Bird | Umami Fried Chicken -- Spicy Flavor

Bad Bird | Umami Fried Chicken -- MENU

WILL: You may call it crazy, but I will consider it betrayal if I tried something new without my husband. So when I dined with my nieces and nephew while on vacation in Manila, I got the chance to try the Bad Bird located at Robinsons Manila. 

Finally, I saw a huge-sized fried chicken with rice. Hahaha! And when I tasted it, it flashbacked a memory of Kipp's Chicken of SM North foodcourt. Ahm, well, Bad Bird is better hahaha. It is crispier and not that oily. The taste will make you crave for more. Yum! 

Back on my story. For me not to be haunted by this feeling of betrayal, I brought Abbey Spicy 4 piece platter with hush puppies for only Php695.   

Thanks Ate Ynnah for buying those for Tito Abbey. This Bad Bird is recommendable!

***

Bad Bird | Umami Fried Chicken / Manila

(W) http://bitebadbird.com

(H) 10am - 9pm

(A) L1, Robinsons Place Manila, Pedro Gil, Brgy 670 Ermita Manila

(T) +63 (2) 712 7228

Tostitos Chunky Habanero Hot Salsa Dip

ABBEY: Don’t be intimidated by the “habanero” label on the jar but also not too complacent that it is not hot. 

We bought a pack of Tostitos Scoops and fill it with small amounts of salsa. The salsa will be sweet and not too much heat on first few scoops. But it will be in a few more. Haha. My advise is that eat it moderately and with wine or soda :)

Tostitos Chunky Habanero Hot Salsa Dip

WILL: Isn't nice to eat a bag of chips while watching your fave tv series? Abbey went extra mile and bought a Habanero Dip by Tostitos! 

Correct! It is spicccy!! You will finish a large bag of chips before you finish the spicy salsa dip! This is totally recommended to people who loves spicy salsa. 

Buy some soda at FairPrice! Enjoy the night!