Ciel Bukit Merah

This weekend certainly was an fun filled one for the Lion family. First up, off to grab some toys for the baby lion at a charity fair held at the Australian International School and then settling lunch before heading down - at Aunty Pris' kind invitation - to grace Ciel's grand opening of a 2nd branch near SGH. The lion looked forward to some investigative (tasting) "work".

Ciel, which means sky or heaven, opened its first branch a few years back in Hougang. Now to expand their business, Chef Chara Lum has opened her second branch at Bukit Merah near to the Singapore General Hospital. Ciel sits in unassuming, quiet estate with a few hostels, an old school confectionery and a popular popiah restaurant, the cafe does bring a bit of sublime heaven to this part of the neighbourhood.

Chef Chara's signatures are all available here like her luscious Bomba
as well as the winning Fuji.
There are also talks of having baking classes on the 2nd floor of Ciel.

The Fuji - a green tea mousse cake filled with
lychee jelly complimented by a green tea sponge base,
and the divine Strawberry Shortcake.

The Lions were there for the Grand Opening and were treated to a few samples of familiar favourites as well as upcoming creations like the yuzu cake.

Ciel Patisserie (Bukit Merah Branch)

146 Jalan Bukit Merah

#01-1090

Singapore 160146

Tel: 6352 2132

www.ciel.com.sg/

Right before Ciel, the Lions had the pleasure of visiting the Australian International School (AIS) for a bought of treasure hunting aka scouring for necessary baby stuff.

The charity fair was HUGE with lots of pre-loved toys, kids' apparel and even recipe books for little tots! So many stalls and so little time.... This charity family sale is a yearly affair organised by Stork's Nest Singapore, a parenting support group.

They even have a food stall in addition to the school canteen
to offer grub to the hungry treasure hunters.

Aussie style barbie

Of course, the cub found some treasures there... mainly toys like a preloved Thomas the train which he gleefully grabbed and ran off excitedly into the crowd - much to Cuchi's consternation as she scrambled to pay for the thieving deed haha... then to tire out the little tyke, a walk on the rugby field with daddy ended the mini excursion to school.

G'day!

I had a Panettone @Ci Yuan Hawker Centre

The lions don't know if hawker centres can become a metaphor for the state of politics in the Lion City but hey they are not complaining when there's good grub. Located within the Ci Yuan Community Club at Hougang Ave 9, this hawker centre belongs to a slate of new hawker centres - Ci Yuan being the first - to be launched  by the National Environmental Agency (NEA) in donkey years. Falling under the Prime Minister's purview since it sits in ahem... ...Ang Mo Kio constituency, the lions were pretty blown away by the family friendly features and the waaaah... ...high ceilings and overall airy environment. So niceeee... ... 

The waaah factor goes even further. Look, got diaper changing room... ...waaah... ...got tables set lower for little children... ...waaah... ...got automated payment machine at each stall... ...waaah... ...and the price why so cheap one... ...waaah... ...

The lions had the Satay Cup ($2.80) from Leo Satay and were very impressed. Why hasn't anyone thought of this ingenious combo before? 5 satay sticks, peanut sauce, ketupat, onions, cucumbers and pineapple puree all sitting snugly in a handy cup - so sedap and so convenient! 

The lions were also eager to try the pasta from Pasta Stop, the hawker offshoot of Ristorante Da Valentino. Waaah... ...hopefully they can get some atas food at hawker prices... ...only in your dreams lah... ...decent pasta (seafood aglio olio at $8) but not Valentino's standard yah... ... the dessert of the day - panettone - was interesting though.

Ci Yuan Hawker Centre

51 Hougang Avenue 9

Singapore 538776

#Throwback to the Singapore Night Festival

One of the main draws of any festival is the food, glorious food. The massive throngs of people at the latest Singapore Night Festival, perhaps the most successful outdoor arts & culture extravaganza on the island, was overwhelmingly scary. Not wanting to brave the siao-on snaking queues, the two cats headed to a quieter stretch along the festival route to makan and catch a breather.

Wah liao eh, better avoid the SMU Campus Green... ...

The two cats caught some pretty installations as they made their way to the National Design Centre (NDC). They had also joget joget to the classic baba-nyonya tunes by The Main Wayang Company outside the Peranakan Museum and were really hungry. They were looking forward to stretch their legs at the alfresco nighttime terrace of NDC hosting "What's Supp" - a pop-up kopitiam concept by organiser Kueh Kakis - celebrating Singaporeans' love for latenight suppers.

The venue was surprisingly quiet given the maddening hordes just a hop and skip away at the SMU Campus Green. Red Baron was hawking its yummy quinoa goreng that the lions had tried. Chef Jeremy Nguee's new gourmet rempah brand, Batu Lesung, was also onsite selling tasty Rendang Jos - sauteed beef franks slathered in rich rendang sauce ($4). Howard Lo's The Secret Mermaid was offering a jazzed up take on "milo peng", a cocktail with chai vodka, milo, vanilla and chocolate bitters. Pity it came in a plastic cup for $15. On another night, the lions also tried newcomer Odenya's Japanese spin on Yong Tau Foo. Oishii!

The following weekend, the lions made sure their stomachs were filled at Tess Bar & Kitchen before heading down to enjoy the performances and installations. Uncle Jon would be filling their stomachs at the food truck, Kerby, on their last pit stop.

Acclaimed bartender aside, one might want to head down to Tess Bar & Kitchen for this to-die-for cocktail - Achar Mango ($17). The lioness' favourite tipple here consists of gin, pickled mangoes, Luxardo Maraschino liqueur, fresh lemon, egg white and Cajun spices. She thought that the lion's choice of poison that night - a hot peanut butter and vodka nasty served in a Turkish coffee pot - was just plain Willy Wonka weird. Ick.

Uncle Jon took care of their stomachs at Kerbside Gourmet close to midnight along the festival route. After the Kodak moment on the truck, they savoured his inventive Sabich ($10): fried eggplant, egg, sambal mayo, hummus, cucumbers and herbs encased in a pita bread and his soulful Spiced Chicken Taco ($10): pulled chicken, spiced gravy, grilled cabbage and garlic yoghurt. The lions are not being biased but they think that you should try the feel-good grub on this social enterprise driven truck at least once in your lifetime. Ta-ta, till next time.

The Farmacy Opens @Open Farm Community

Given the astronomical land prices in the teeny weeny Lion City, there are only those rare wide open spaces for families to hang out without being shot judging stares during those tiresome hissy-fit moments orchestrated by highly intelligent bambinos. So one needs effing lots of resources *cough* moolah to construct such a paradise (why you so rich one, Spa Esprit). With two beautiful sandpits for kids to get down and dirty while parents chug coffee to get their engines going, Open Farm Community (OFC) is quite an eden for the harried soul with its beautiful greens and landscaping. Then again, if you don't mind the prices most parents would widen their eyes at, you could probably spent a sublime afternoon in the restaurant proper in the company of yoga mums and socialites.

The lions made do with coffee from the takeaway coffee joint there (beans from Common Man Roasters) and yummy food from a food truck to support Uncle Jon during the Open Farmers Market (a monthly affair?). Uncle Jon, being the straightforward, no bullshit dude that he is, asked in mock horror where all the farmers were at the event which was kinda funny and of course kinda true. Then again, you also want to applaud the effort put into such a pretty event. F%$k authenticity.

The lions capitulated and tried some pasta from OFC's stand at the market. Not so nice leh or was it an off day for them dealing with the crowd? The lions enjoyed themselves though... ...

Open Farm Community

130E Minden Road
Singapore 248819