The Marmalade Pantry

Let's continue on my early birthday treat from my bff! The night got more excited with the dinner at The Marmalade Pantry at the Stables! First Lush Spa at polo club, then dinner at the stables...hahaa..I guess the theme is about horses this year...anyway horses are very loyal and majestic animals, I love them! Bff and I are animal lovers so we are not those who make lot of noises when we smell horse poo or pee..however because the spa and dinner were during the evening time, I didn't get to see any horse but I heard some neighing! Felt really great already to be close to nature and animals..

Marmalade Pantry also has a branch at ION but this branch at the Stables is a very private and better ambience one. You won't see shoppers walking around you, stare at your food and judge you.

 This is alfresco, abit darker but added romance to the ambience..not sure if there were mosquitoes or not..

This is the crowd on a Thursday evening..very peaceful and pleasant with no kids crying or noisy gathering. The background music was soft and new age. Great for lovey dovey or first date..we were starving so we ordered quickly with the friendly and approachable waiter's recommendation based on our preference.

 Crab Cesar with pine nuts and parmesan ($22)

The salad was really moist and the lettuce were fresh and crispy. There were big pieces of breadcrumbs which I think they made it themselves and not bought from supermarket..the crab slices were real crab meat and not those conventional red and white sticks..the salad was quite filling, so I suggest that you share it with a friend unless you only take salad for dinner. 

Hazelnut King Prawn with potato rosti, sweet chili jam and herb salad ($32)

My bff's choice for dinner..so little right?! But this dish was really good! The rosti was crispy and not greasy, the prawns tasted smokey and the texture was bouncy and not powdery, it's like you were eating it right out of the sea..

Steak and egg on a skillet with smashed peas ($38)

I love the look of the sunny sides..but I prefer the yolks to be slightly uncooked and oozing out when poked. The steak was tender and nicely done (medium rare). It wasn't as burnt as it looked from the picture, it was actually the seasoning coat got caramelized..the meat was not oily too, so you won't feel "cheated" that you paid for the layer of fats..hehe..

Sea Salt Caramel Cheesecake ($8)

From the name you will think that the cheesecake will be too sweet or salty right? Actually it was not! It has just a hint of salt and the caramel aroma lingered at the back of my throat when I exhaled through my nose. The cake melted in my mouth once popped in..really heartwarming eating it..thank you bff for bringing me here!

So here are my views:

Ambience 4/5
Food 3.5/5
Service 3.5/5
Price Slightly steep but worth it
Toilet Availability 3/5 

Address:
55 Fairways Drive Singapore 286846

Telephone: 6467 9328
Reservations: +65 6467 7748

Operating hours:
Tuesdays to Fridays 3.00pm to 11.00pm
Saturdays and Sundays 10.00am to 11.00pm
Closed on Mondays

If you are keen, check out their website at http://www.themarmaladepantry.com.sg/stables/. It has classy horse photos!

Next, TIM HO WAN! Does this michelin star dim sum worth our 1.5hrs of queuing? Stay tuned!

xoxo

Lush Spa

My bff brought me to one of the best spa in Singapore and a romantic dinner as my birthday present (really sweet of her). I shall leave the dinner later, let me tell you about my spa experience this time.

I've been quite a number of spa places in Singapore and some in overseas. One thing good about spa in overseas like Bali and Batam is the ambience..cozy, nature-hugging and exotic. Well, all these work easily with great space. However in Singapore, the limited space and high rental cost challenge the creativity of interior design to give the best ambience which normally results in expensive spa package. It is really really hard to find a spa in Singapore that can let me feel the same enjoyment that I get from Bali. But we've found it!

It's Lush Spa at Singapore Polo Club. A humble cozy place that I wish I can laze for the whole day.

Can you see "no kids below 8 yrs"?? That means no screaming, crying or running kids! Sorry but noisy kids give me migraine and I just can't stand that the parents are so numb about the noise and expect other people to tolerate their failure of controlling them.

Anyway back to the spa. We were warmly welcomed by the staff at Lush Spa, explaining to us what services they will be providing for this visit with a cup of warm ginger tea..nice..We get to smell and choose our scrub and if you want, you can choose a different massage oil (at additional cost).

  There are chocolates for you to sample and buy home..they all taste good after the massage.hehe...

 Finally after a 5 minutes wait, our turn arrived! We proceeded to our couple room with great anticipation..even the pavement to the room feels great under my feet.

Ta-da..our room. all the rooms in this spa has its own shower and steambath facility. For couple room, there is a hydrobath too (top right in the image) for you to be more intimate with your partner. Couple spa package comes with champagne! I really like the fabric that they put on the massage bed, felt like sarong and reminded me of Bali..the room was dim and there is no weird smell..you know sometimes spa room smells funny.

See the view outside? Which spa can you see such green view? Really love the energy of this room inside out!

We had a foot bath first, body scrub, steambath and then the main course - full body massage. I chose coffee body scrub which was slightly coarse and left my skin really smooth..My friendly massage therapist, Sharon, has really strong and firm hands. My aching muscles just melted under her skillful fingers..I will definitely look for her when I go back.

I truly had a wonderful and pampered spa experience in Lush Spa. It is so private, cozy, no hardselling staff, no therapist who tells me what's wrong with my skin and I have to pay more for extra treatment, no kids..if you go during your birthday month, you will get a discount based on your age and your friend will get 20% off too. Remember to place an appointment first ok?

Check out their website at http://www.massageatwork.com.sg/lush/lushspa.html for the spa menu and promotion.

Address:
Singapore Polo Club
80 Mount Pleasant Road Singapore 298334
(next to the Old Police Academy along Thomson Rd)

Telephone: 6254 9091
Operating hours: 10am to 9pm (Mon-Sun)

Is it time to pamper yourself already?

xoxo

Cat me if you can

 This is the result if you didn't keep the Ikan Bilis immediately when you reach home.

And nobody admitted.

You will know who did it when she has no space for her cat food..

Itacho Sushi

I love Japanese food, not because it has so much raw meat that most of the other cuisines do not have, but the presentation of the food enhances my appetite and increases my expectation of the taste, which normally does not disappoint me too much. They put in so much effort to beautify the dish to make me feel that they prepare it specially just for me.

This time since my mom came to ION with me (which is a super eclipse-rare case), we went to try out Itacho Sushi. One thing that I've to tell you: be prepared to queue. However, it didn't take that long for our turn, about 10-15mins and we were brought to nice cushioned seats.

 I took this picture at where I was queuing, still quite far.

 

 I totally could not make up my mind on which one to order, I wished I can order all.

 While waiting, I read on how to eat sushi in authentic way, from then on I have been eating like that.

The food came really quick and the service was efficient too. The background music of that place did not disturb my conversation with mom and give me migraine. Another plus point. So service and ambience seem okay, how about the food? Be warned, prepare a napkin to wipe your drools..they are all so tasty and creative!

 Left: Salmon Lobster Salad Roll ($3.60); Right: Lobster and Mango Salad Roll ($4.50)

 Left: Surf Clam Sushi ($2); Middle 2: Salmon Sushi ($1.20); Right: Scallop Sushi ($2.60)

 Cream Croquette ($3.70)

 Salmon Sashimi ($3.60)

 Fatty Tuna with Spring Onion Roll ($7.00)

 Spicy Salmon Sakura Shrimp Inari with Ebiko ($1.90)

 Roasted Eel Sushi ($2.80)

 Roasted Kagoshima Wagyu Beef ($4.80). Apologies, I didn't manage to take picture of this because it looked really tasty and I couldn't wait to pop it into my mouth. It was indeed good!

 Deep Fried Shrimp Gyoza with Grean Tea Salt ($2.40)

 Hokkaido Pumpkin Tempura ($4.50)

 Roasted Eff with Tobiko and Corn ($3.20). Like this dish alot, the egg was slightly sweet, texture was soft and layered, when you chew it you will get the popping from fish eggs and corn.

 Deep Fried Chicken with Citrus Junos ($6). Not greasy or too hard at all!

Avocado Tuna Salad with Cheese Roll ($2.50)

We finished all plates as soon as it arrived. So satisfied and full..I will definitely come again when there is no queue to try out other dishes. You don't have to worry that you can't finish the food if you come alone because most of the dishes are for 1 pax like the Surf Clam Sushi and Roasted Kagoshima Wagyu Beef sushi. 

So here are my views:

Ambience 3/5
Food 3.5/5
Service 3/5
Price Slightly steep but affordable
Toilet Availability 0/5 (please use ION's toilets)

Address:

2 Orchard Turn

#B2-18 ION Orchard

Tel: 65098911

Operating Hours:
Sun - Thu: 11:00 - 22:00
Fri - Sat: 11:00 - 23:00 

So if you are around the corner and feel like eating Japanese, do give Itacho a try! 

xoxo