Dear Diary | January 2025 Edition

Happy 2025! ❤

Welcome to the brand new year. January started off rather hectic, both at work and personal aspects. With so many things going on, I wish I could have the chance to pause, rethink and recalibrate myself for a brand new year. 

Nevertheless, I was glad that we were able to secure a great spot for the new year eve countdown at the water promenade. It was supposedly, a mark for new life, new beginning, both spiritually and mentally. 

Thanks for the new year treat!

First meal of 2025. ❤

01.01.2025 | 1 January kickstarted with our first ever hotpot meal at Beauty in The Pot (美滋锅), something heartwarming and remarkable for the new year celebration. Not a hotpot fan usually, but I love its resemblance of the festivity. 

SYIP festive vibe - Persimmon Osmanthus Cream Tea. ❤

04.01.2025 | Back to our favourite hideout, SYIP, this round for the festive drink which was too sweet for my liking. Nevertheless, it was a great lunch with my favourite Kani Sando being the highlight of the meal. 

Evening in the Night Safari. ❤

04.01.2025 | A date in the Night Safari, the world's first nocturnal wildlife park. It was a unique and fun experience to witness the thrill of the animal kingdom come alive after sunset, especially when we managed to walk down the adventurous trails in the jungle. 

Overall, it was an awe-inspiring session to learn more about the wonders of the night, especially during the renowned Creatures of the Night presentation where the Asian small-clawed otters and fennec fox display their natural talents. On top of that, meeting the pangolin, porcupine, sleeping leopard and lion was the main highlight of the visit. Definitely worth a visit if you love wildlife! 

Seoul Noodle Shop, Tanglin Mall ❤

05.01.2025 | Favourite thing to do: Exploring new eatery! Seoul Noodle Shop is a specialist for Korean knife-cut noodles or kalguksu, handmade daily. Lovin' the spicy pork bone broth and clear chicken broth that are equally tummy-comforting especially on a cold, rainy day. 

Baristart, Wisma Atria Orchard - Cute latte art and cream puff ❤

05.01.2025 | Found a quiet corner cafe in the heart of Orchard and I love the peaceful atmosphere here. Look how cute the café latte art is, made using the exceptional Hokkaido BIEI Jersey Milk. Perfected with a crispy Hokkaido Cream Puff bursting with the silkiest, richest milky cream. 

JB weekend trip ❤

11-12.01.2025 |  Spending a weekend in Johor Bahru has been in the to-do list for the longest time ever. Finally did so on the wettest weekend ever (been raining for 4 consecutive days). and stayed overnight in Capri by Fraser's one-bedroom deluxe king suite, so that we get to explore more food in town. 

Returning to our familiar places for our favourite food - salmon ochazuke from Keijometo, crunchy peanut butter bun from Roast & Coffee, and Penang hokkien pasta from The Replacement Lodge & Kitchen - was the best thing we did for a perfect weekend getaway there. 

Happy 1st anniversary, Umai Artisanal Udon Bar ❤

14.01.2025 | Purposely came here for the Little Guin! It came complimentary with the purchase of anniversary set (4 mains + 2 side dishes) - all the food tasted extra good with the companion of Little Guin. 

New Bahru - The Coconut Club & PPP Cafe ❤

18.01.2025 | Back to exploring places on a weekend, and here we were at New Bahru, the new creative lifestyle enclave repurposed from an old high school. Albeit the limited options of eateries and long waiting lines, we managed to tuck into the Michelin Bib Gourmand awarded Nasi Lemak Ayam Berempah in The Coconut Club. Delicious meal and lovely ambiance! What surprised me more in New Bahru were the unique shops in each floor which each has its own uniqueness. 

Light to Night 2025 ❤

18.01.2025 | Light to Night 2025, the marquee event of Singapore Art Week, is back! It has become our to-go festival as we enjoy checking out the mesmerising light projections that illuminates the Civic District and exploring the artwork in the National Gallery Singapore during their “Open House” day. Great spot for shutterbugs too! 

Buri by Two Chefs @ Bukit Jalil ❤

25.01.2025 | Homebound, for the festive season. Family moments are becoming more precious, especially after the December 2024 incident, hence I have decided to spend a good two weeks here at the comfort of home - helping out with house chores, clearing up spaces and simply being present all the time actually feel a lot more important now than before. 

Kwai Chai Hong ❤

27.01.2025 | Happy Chinese New Year! Lovin' the vibes in Chinatown especially at the culture-rich Kwai Chai Hong. Happy to make a trip down to Chinatown for Tai Sui prayer as well as the nostalgic scenes that remind me a lot about my high school days. 

Gong Xi Fa Cai | Year of Wood Snake ❤

29.01.2025 | Happy Chinese New Year! Having the reunion dinner with a different vibe this year, nevertheless Papa managed to whip up a good vegetarian course similar to my late Mama's cooking. Although Mama is no longer around, the spirit of love and togetherness in our family always remains. 

❤ ❤ ❤

2 0 2 5 ; Welcome to the Guin family ❤❤

2025 started with the expansion of my Guin family, my loyal companion everyday in Singapore home :) Welcome home to the Little Guin. 

...and a super cute Pooh and Lotso Bear towel set! ❤

These are the little things that brighten up my little SG home :)

 

❤❤❤

Thanks for the great start of the year!

Looking forward to a better year ahead.

xoxo,
FiSh

31.01.2025

[澳門美食攻略] 3D2N Macau Food Guide - Top 10 Must-Try

Hello, Macau! ❤

Welcome to my Macau foodie guide! During our 3D2N trip to Macau, we took a slower pace to immerse ourselves into the rich culture and historical heritage of Macau. We also managed to try a lot more food this round, as we had plenty of time to explore both the old town as well as the stunning Cotai area.

After doing rounds of online research before the trip and sampling the local cafes and restaurants,

here are some of my personal picks / recommendations for breakfast, lunch, dinner and tea break.

Man Kee (文記咖啡麵食)

Operating hours: 8am – 6pm daily

The first thing you ought to try in Macau is definitely the Pork Chop Bun (豬扒包). Honestly, it is easily available at almost every shop in town but good ones are few and far between. We found an ultra juicy version, enhanced with slab of peanut butter spread served in a polo bun - the Peanut Butter Pork Chop Bun (花生豬扒波蘿包) is highly recommended! 

Same goes to the Stir-fried Tomato Macaroni (鮮茄蛋炒通) which was punch-packed with wok hey and flavours from the tomato, eggs and secret sauce. It paired very well with the Iced Milk Tea (冻奶茶). 

Nam Peng Cafe (南屏雅敘)

Operating hours: 6.30am – 6pm daily

If you are craving for Hong Kong-style breakfast, you can't go wrong with the BBQ Pork and Egg Sandwich (叉烧蛋三明治) and French Toast (法兰西多士) at this 1960s old school cafe nestled in the city center.

It also serves various pastries and breads for both dine-ins and takeaways, and is extremely popular in the neighbourhood. No wonder it can still stand strong after more than 30 years. 

Mr. Gung Dim Sum (耿记点心)

Operating hours: 8am – 10pm daily

We were craving for Hong Kong-style dim sum, but did not expect ourselves to stumble upon a good one in Macau. Mr Gung Dim Sum shop serves a wide variety of dim sum in piping hot baskets and we enjoyed the simple staple fare such as the Xiao Long Bao and Deep-fried Pork & Chives Dumplings. This place is really busy during the mornings, so do buffer some waiting time in your itinerary. 

Macau Cha Dong (馬交茶檔 - 復古茶餐廳)

Operating hours: 11.45am – 8.45pm daily

For those hunting for lunch in Taipa Village, one of the most popular cafes there is the Macau Cha Dong which is a beautiful rustic charm located just a short distance from the main casino strip. 

The name of the dish "Killing me softly BBQ pork rice with egg" (驟然又燒煎雙蛋飯) caught our attention, and it turned out to be a decent dish with generous serving of soft BBQ pork, double sunny side ups and drizzles of sauce on the rice. The Black & White Milk Tea (黑白奶茶) on the other hand was just okay for my liking. 

Lemoncello Gelato (檸檬車露 意大利手拉雪糕店) 

Operating hours: 12noon – 10pm daily

There is always room for dessert after lunch, hence we were here at Lemoncello for the famous Lemoncello flavoured gelato, which was lightly tangy but not as creamy as I thought. Be mindful of the queueing time too, as it can get very crowded at times. 

Pork Chop Bun from Kam Ma Lon Cafe (金馬輪咖啡店) |

Portuguese Egg Tart from Margaret's Café e Nata (瑪嘉烈蛋撻)

Both are classics that you must try at least once if it is your first time in Macau. The pork chop here looks the simplest but it is just so good. Made to order, the freshly fried, well marinated pork chop is made to perfection! Besides, the crisp homemade bun is really nice too!   

Goat Baker

Operating hours: 11am – 7pm daily

We had tried Margaret's Café e Nata (瑪嘉烈蛋撻) several times in the past, so we wanted to have some innovative egg tarts instead. Goat Baker is the perfect spot for Instagrammable and tasty egg tart. We tried the signature Flower Cheese Tart and we were sold! The flakiness of the pastry was mind-blowingly good, and the custard-like filling was the bomb. Recommended! 

Pace Coffee Macau

Operating hours: Mon-Fri: 9am – 6pm; Sat-Sun: 11am – 7pm

When it comes towards midday, we often crave for coffee and so there we made a pitstop at one of the top coffee places in Macau - Pace Coffee - where there are many interesting coffee from various origins to choose from i.e. Yunnan etc. 

Although this little cafe has very limited seating, we had a great time sipping on our favourite Flat White and taking some Instagram-worthy shots.

blooom Coffee Roasters Macau

Operating hours: 11am – 7pm daily

Blooom was the first specialty coffee roaster in Macau back in 2011. Today it is one of Macau's very best local roasters which is well worth making time to find if you are visiting the St. Lazarus area and fancy a proper cup of coffee.

十月初五街水蟹粥 @ Lok Kei (六記粥麵)

Operating hours: 12.30noon – 11pm daily

When it comes to dinner in Macau, we couldn't find many recommendations online. But luckily we managed to come across this Michelin-guide restaurant which specialises in Crab Porridge (馳名水蟹粥) and Stir-fried Noodles with Shrimp Roe (蝦籽撈麵) - in which both turned out to be fantastic! The crab porridge is especially sweet and flavourful, perfectly comforting for the chilly evening. 

Son Tak Kong (順德公飯店)

Operating hours: 11am – 11pm daily

If you would like to try something out of ordinary, perhaps some Shun De cuisine then? Since 1979, Son Tak Kong has been jam-packed with happy regulars, lured by its no-frills, authentic Shun De cuisine. 

Their signature Shunde Steamed Fish Soup (順德拆魚羹) calls upon exquisite knife work, high-quality ingredients and rich, slowly simmered fish broth. The result? Ultra creamy and rich in oceanic sweetness. 

We also tried the Wok-Fried Sticky Rice (古法生炒糯米飯) with Sakura shrimps and pine nuts, served in a traditional iron pot. An excellent dish for sharing. 

Chiado (希雅度德国餐厅)

If you would like to splurge for a special night out, try Chiado, the Michelin-starred Portuguese Restaurant in The Londoner Macau. Feel free to read my review here.

巨記 Koi Kee Bakery

Don't forget to enjoy the souvenir shopping in Macau too - especially the freshly-baked Almond Cookies. Freshly made from scratch, each piece is full of crunchy almond bits and chunks!

❤ ❤ ❤

Food to avoid in Macau

Lun Kee Cheung Fun Rice Roll (倫記軟滑腸粉)

Operating hours: 7am – 12.30pm daily

Lun Kee, supposedly featured as a Michelin-guide restaurant in Macau, is famous for its silky smooth rice roll which is prepared upon order. We tried the Egg Rice Roll with Spring Onion (蔥花雞蛋腸粉) which was too bland for our liking. It felt like the eggy aroma was missing and we had to skip this halfway.

Bamu Bakery (八目烘焙)

Operating hours: 10 am – 7pm daily

While the Caramelised Egg Tart (焦糖酥皮蛋撻) was the star product here, we did not try as it looked utterly disappointing in the display shelf. We went for the Puff Pastry Lemon Bow Tie (檸檬蝴蝶結酥) instead, but the pastry was dense, wet and unappealing. 

❤ ❤ ❤

Overall, Macau is a food haven especially for the local favourites, hipster cafe scene, and traditional boldly-flavoured Portuguese cuisine. I truly enjoyed my stay here and I hope this guide helps you to navigate with your foodie adventure in Macau!

[FOOD] Chiado (希雅度德国餐厅) - Michelin-starred Portuguese Restaurant @ Macau

Chiado, Michelin-starred Portuguese Restaurant

Olá! It was my birthday and we were here in Macau for a quick birthday getaway. One of the must-try in Macau is definitely the Portuguese cuisine, and we stumbled upon this Michelin-starred Portuguese restaurant located in The Londoner Macau - Chiado (希雅度德国餐厅) that is perfect for a memorable birthday. 

Chiado is a refined, elegant restaurant in Macau that draws inspiration from Portuguese cuisine, offering a mix of traditional and contemporary dishes. The mastermind behind Chiado is the award-winning, Michelin-starred celebrity chef Henrique Sá Pessoa, who brings the best of Portugal to Macau. Henrique owns six restaurants in Portugal & hosts a series of highly rated TV shows as well as written numerous cookbooks.

The atmosphere is sophisticated yet welcoming,

with sleek, modern decor and a cosy, intimate vibe. 

Honestly, as it was my first time sampling the Portuguese food, I did not know what to expect. The menu highlights several uniquely crafted dishes that accentuate the bold, rich flavours in the typical Portuguese cooking. And we were excited to try out some of the signature dishes. 

Complimentary House Bread 

We were greeted with some fluffy bread and olive dip - pretty decent (passable) but we tried not to indulge ourselves too much into this, as there were many dishes coming our way thereafter. 

Complimentary Palate Cleanser

Slow-roasted octopus, miso romesco, baby asparagus

烤章鱼、辣椒杏仁味噌酱、嫩芦笋

The Chef's special starter was the first to arrive, and we were delighted that the dish was a showcase of complexity in flavours, especially when we bit into the perfectly-cooked, succulent octopus. The lightly spicy romesco sauce was a delicious Catalonian dip made with roasted tomatoes, that spiced up the dish.. 

Tuna tataki, vegetable escabeche, tomato tartare

炙烧吞拿鱼片、腌制蔬菜、番茄韃靻

We then sampled another Chef's special entree which was equally pleasant. The thick, melt-in-the-mouth tuna was very well enhanced with the hints of citrusy flavours from the vegetable escabeche and tomato tartare while retaining its tender, buttery texture in the center. 

Alentejo pork presa, fermented pepper paste, clams, coriander jus

黑毛猪肩胛肉、发酵红椒酱、蛤蜊、香菜汁

For the main, we wanted to try the signature suckling pig confit which unfortunately is only available on the 6-course desgustation menu. However, we had a great time tucking into the fine cuts of pork which had intense flavour and marbling. So juicy and went well with the condiments.

"Cobblestreet" salted cod, egg yolk, onion purée

葡式鳕鱼、慢煮蛋黄、洋葱泥

The star of the evening was definitely this beautiful masterpiece which we could see the strong emphasis on the presentation and flavour, making Chiado such a great spot for a special night out.

Made with shredded salted codfish and thinly chopped potatoes, it was bound with slow-cooked egg yolks. This amazing dish was an explosion of flavours and textures on the palate! 

Happy birthday to me :)

Knowing that it was my special day, the team had prepared a surprise complimentary cake with a candle, as the grand finale of the meal. The blueberry mousse was absolutely delicious and completed the evening well. 

Complimentary desserts

Not only that, they also loaded us with complimentary sweet treats which were a culinary delight especially the chocolate bomb with salted caramel and hazelnut.  

Thank you Chiado for the amazing evening! ❤

Overall, Chiado in Macau is a standout for those seeking an elevated Portuguese dining experience. Whether you are a fan of seafood, meats or the bold flavours of Portuguese cuisine, Chiado consistently impresses. 

Chiado

Shop 2206, Level 2, The Londoner Macao

Website / Menu: https://www.londonermacao.com/macau-restaurants/chiado.html

Phone: +853 8118 8822

Email: chiado.reservation@sands.com.mo

Operating hours: 5:30pm – 10:30pm

(Closed on every Tuesday)

[TRAVEL] 5D4N Shanghai Food Guide Part 2 - Top 10 Pastry, Coffee, Gelato & More!

Hello from Shanghai! ❤ 

Continuing from Part 1 of Shanghai Food Guide which earlier focuses on the local Shanghainese cuisine, this Part 2 of the Shanghai Food Guide shows you the more modern side of Shanghai including the ever blooming cafe scenes, coffee culture and bar! 

BAKERY /  PASTRY

1. 紐約貝果博物館 New York Bagelous Museum 

2. 百丘 Pain Chaud

3. Drunk Baker

COFFEE
4. 方塊咖啡 Coffee Cube x Merakicoffee 

5. 星巴克臻选•上海烘焙工坊 Shanghai Starbucks Roastery

6. Birdie Cup Coffee 

7. 52樓朵雲書院 Duoyun Books 

GELATO

8. Fontaine

9. 酷矿手作霜淇淋 Corner Cone Gelato

COCKTAIL

10. 1988 Bar

BAKERY /  PASTRY

1. 紐約貝果博物館 New York Bagelous Museum 

Location: 上海市 新天地馬當路245號 新天地時尚購物中心2期一層L111鋪位

 

If there is something that I wish could be available in Singapore, then it would be the New York Bagelous Museum! It is a Korean-style bagel café in Shanghai and the queue was really long during our weekday visit. 

❤ 香葱韭菜芝士贝果 Chives and Leeks Cheese Bagel (38元)

❤ 黑松露无花果火腿贝果 Black Truffle Fig-ham Bagel (48元)

We initially thought we went for the aesthetics, but ended up enjoying the bagels so much. I couldn't decide which was better, because both tasted equally great and flavourful with generous fillings in it. 

2. 百丘 Pain Chaud

Location: Multiple branches

❤ 开心果泡芙 Pistachio Choux @ 38元

❤ Croissant @ 16元

Pain Chaud is a French Artisan Bakery (上海法式手工面包店) which is the more popular option among the expats and tourists. We heard that the pistachio choux here is really good so we were here to try and true indeed, it did not disappoint. The choux was airy soft while the pistachio filling was so intense in flavour. Love it! 

3. Drunk Baker

Location: Multiple branches

❤ 墨西哥辣椒萨拉米贝果 Jalapeno Salami Bagel (16元)

❤ 抹茶手撕面包 Matcha Bread + 热巧克力 Hot chocolate (50元)

Drunk Baker looks like an unassuming, tiny neighborhood bakery but we realised there are so many Drunk Baker outlets in Shanghai city. Made with traditional French baking philosophy, the bagel and matcha bread were equally delicious and fueled our morning with positive vibes. An ideal spot to spend a quiet, relaxing morning.

COFFEE

4. 方塊咖啡 Coffee Cube x Merakicoffee

Location: 上海市 浦东新区陆家嘴街道银城中路242号

Coffee options are aplenty in Shanghai. We love this one located in the city centre, with breezy outdoor seating amidst the shades of ginkgo leaves (銀杏樹群). Sipping on a cup of Starry Osmanthus Latte (繁星桂花拿铁 - 35元) is probably the best escape from the hustles and bustles of the city. 

5. 星巴克臻选•上海烘焙工坊 Shanghai Starbucks Roastery

Location: 上海市 静安區南京西路789號

But when it comes to coffee specialist, the Shanghai Starbucks Roastery is a must-visit as it is one of the largest Starbucks roasteries, spanning a whopping 30,000 sqft area. The one I have been in Tokyo's Meguro City is slightly bigger (32,000 sqft) but the offerings are slightly different here.

Apart from the roasting facility and hand-crafted coffee bars, it also serves nitro draft lattes and alcoholic drinks. 

❤ CHEMEX手冲烘焙工坊典藏拼配 - 45g for 500ml (86元)

❤ 拿铁冷 RSTY-烘焙工坊典藏拼配 -20g (46元)

Here we get to try the outlet-exclusive Starbucks Roastery-inspired Microblend, a small-lot, high-quality coffee unique to Shanghai City itself. It is blended and roasted onsite, and then hand-brewed in our preferred Chemex method. I enjoyed the complexity of caramel sweetness, citrusy and floral notes.

It is a perfect spot for coffee connoisseurs to immerse themselves

in the sights, sounds and aromas of coffee!

 

6. Birdie Cup Coffee

Location: 上海市 徐汇区武康路105号 (武康路店)

Along Wukang Road, we had a quick pit stop at this cute little coffee joint. The café scene here is very vibrant, but this cute birdie cup attracted me with the seasonal Osmanthus Longan Latte (初桂龙眼拿铁 - 26元) - something sweet and soothing to the mind and soul. A great pick-me-up of the day!

7. 52樓朵雲書院 Duoyun Books

Location: 上海市 浦东新区银城中路501号上海中心大厦52楼

❤ 那朵云 (酸奶芝士慕斯) Yogurt Cheese Mousse (52元)

❤ 燕麦拿铁 Oat Latte (48元)

Located on Level 52 of the Shanghai Tower, this café garnered the attention of the public because of its magnificent view of the whole Huangpu including the Oriental Pearl Tower. The queue was tremendously long, and there was a minimum spend of RMB 42 per pax.  

Honestly, the crowd was too much to handle, and the food / beverages were not great. Definitely not worth the hype and not recommended for the view as it was quite obstructed by the weather condition. 

GELATO

8. Fontaine

Location: 上海市 徐汇区武康路98号 (武康路店)

Found my new favourite gelato in town! It was a Yamazaki Whisky Gelato (山崎威士忌 - 49元) with a slight alcohol content of 2.3%. Made of Yamazaki whisky, vanilla and milk, the gelato actually felt refreshing, bright and aromatic on the palate, without being too potent on the alcohol flavour. 

9. Corner Cone Gelato 酷矿手作霜淇淋 

Location: 上海市 徐汇区 淮海中路1852号武康大楼底楼 (武康路店)

Stumbled upon another cute gelato shop in Wukang Road and thought the Tinkerbell Gelato (38元) was pretty cute! It was made of frozen yoghurt, so the flavour was acceptable for me. They have different designs / characters in different seasons, so keep an eye on the latest menu and enjoy the surprise.

COCKTAIL

10. 1989 Bar

 Location: 上海市 黄浦区福建中路193号11楼 (人民广场店)

 

❤ 王母划的银河 The Queen Mother Cuts the Galaxy (98元)

Alcohol 20% - 罗勒皮斯科，都灵印象味美思，君度橙皮油糖，柑橘，新鲜凤梨汁

❤ 亢奋 Euphoria (108元)

Alcohol 35% - 朗姆酒，菠萝，火龙肉桂威士忌，甜椒金色法兰姆，

芒果，新鲜青柠汁，橙味苦精

What completes our trip to Shanghai is a cocktail night at the bar. Not the best cocktail I ever tried, but it was the companion and conversation that mattered the most. I enjoyed my experience here thus far. 

Thank you Shanghai for the exciting foodie adventure! ❤

Overall, our 5D4N Shanghai food adventure has concluded with a very bright and happy note. The trip has been filled with beautiful sights, delicious food, and unforgettable memories. Looking forward to seeing the beauty of China again!

- FiSh | Shanghai | Spring 2024 -