February 22, 2012

Balmoral Bakery

Got my weekly supply of cake treat from my favorite Balmoral Bakery yesterday, after dinner at Sunset. Poppy's been uber nice, and has been reminding me to get my cake fix every other day... sometimes, he volunteers to buy it for me.

I chanced upon this quaint confectionery during one of my visits to the vet with Custard. And I've been their loyal customer since. Every time I have their butter cream cake, it reminds of Custard. But of course, the great taste's one of the main reasons I kept going back for more.

I've been recommending it to all my friends, and I thought I should introduce them here as well. A little history from one of the contributers at Hungrygowhere.com...

Balmoral Bakery is a spin off from the original pair of Steak and Bakery restaurants at Holland Village from the 60s, Balmoral and Kingsford. These two were side by side each other at the vacant land, just next to the Fosters Cafe, balanced on a slope that descended from Holland Road down to the Lorong Mambong area. Both restaurants were forced to relocate when Holland Road had to been widened. Balmoral Steak restaurant went and joined up with Sloane Court hotel (great steaks too) and the bakery went to Clementi to revive the "Ah Koh" tradition. This tradition stems from the Hainanese and Foo chow workers who served the British Armed forces and prepared food and bakery items suitable for their palate. FYI, Holland Village was THE place for British, Aussie and NZ soldiers stationed at Portsdown and elsewhere for their Wednesday (afternoon) and weekend shopping. Unlike today, Holland Village was an Ang Moh area, with soldiers and expats mingling freely. Local Singaporeans when to Chinatown and Hill Street for their shopping.


Food: This is a takeaway bakery with no places to sit. Curry puffs were the traditional flake type, quite different from the Old Chang Kee, A1, Tip Top and Malay Epok. This is the English type of curry puff, prepared with butter (now margarine) and layer after layer of pastry filled with curry chicken and minced beef. This was the original curry puff I ate until the OCK came along. OCK was a one man stall next to Rex. Also bought their kaya and chocolate fudge rolls - better value than the curry puff, each at $4.50 per long (1m roll of cake and filling. Added triangular apple pie and walnut cake to complete the dessert menu. Also sell French crusty loaf.


Ambience: The design reminds me of the Balmoral steak house with its wooden (simulated) beams, from the Shakespearen era. Chilled counters and great smells complete the ambience. If they aircon the place, it would be like a cake stall in England.

My favorite, of course, being the butter cream cake - my weekly dose



And also the "Cake with Cream Centre" (I call it the "Butterfly Cakey"). Much similar to OChacha's "Matcha Cotton" (S$2.90), but only at, S$1.20, a fraction of the price.

Picture courtesy of ladyironchef

Haven't had my fix from Rich & Good, another of my fave, recently. But when I do, I'll post some pix here.

You may also read more about Balmoral Bakery from ladyironchef's review here

February 09, 2012

15Days of Goodness

15 Days. 7 Lo Hei's. Unlimited fun.
Shall let the pictures speak for themselves.

December 21, 2011

Short Trips

We're finally going back to Bangkok after missing it for a year. Seems like Poppy has gotten over his trauma of "too-much-of-Bangkok".

Wanted to do the trip for my birthday, but unlikely that my leave will be granted so we're bringing it forward to March instead. February will be reserved for the Mister's Genting getaway after unsuccessful plans for Japan. Not feeling up to much travel for the year, so we're spending a little more on this trip. Accommodation-wise, we'll be staying at Shanghai Mansion Boutique Hotel and Grand Diamond Plaza Suites this time 'round.

Very much glad we don't have to lug our loot around because we're taking a suite at Grand Diamond, just beside the Platinum Mall, for the second half of the trip. And looking forward to chillaxing at the pretty Mu Dan suite at Shanghai Mansion and tucking in to the yummies in Yaowaraj for the first couple of days.

The suite room at Shanghai Mansion




The suite room at Grand Diamond Plaza Suites




Oh, i miss Bangkok. Hope everything's peaceful and well throughout the trip.

December 17, 2011

Fantasyland

Had our D&D at Shangri-La hotel's Island Ballroom last night.

The first time our department is dressing up and we snagged the Best Dressed Table, Best Dressed Female, Top 3 Best Dressed Male awards!

Not forgetting, 3rd Prize for Best Christmas Decoration competition held earlier in the month.



众神云集 together with Danny aka King Tut

With ET (Athena) and GL (Perseus)

With Saul and AS (Hera)

So much fun, we're gonna do it again next year!

November 25, 2011

Swamped.

Hello, my much neglected blog and readers (are there even any?)

Our Team Retreat has just ended. Lotsa fun with awesome food from Mad Jack Cafe and Hyatt's Straits Kitchen, and our Vegan and Apple pot pies from the baking session.

Picture courtesy of AS =)

And now although we're piled with different projects, we're all uber enthusiastic about our upcoming themed D&D. Bought our costumes online a couple of days back, and expecting it to arrive next week. And, riding on Black Friday sale in USA, i've just helped them order accessories from F21 before work today. Next up will be the make-up tryout. Exciting!

Well, of course the peak period begins in less than a month. So we're resting up and preparing for the madness. My team is tying up the loose ends for the current project, then i'll be helping out with part of the Orientation.

Busy? Definitely, but happy.
Credits to Poppy for being super duper sweet all these while. He bought us the tix to the 3D Puss In Boots, and we had a great time yesterday evening.

November 04, 2011


It's been so long since I've been so upset.
I hope this feeling goes away soon...

October 27, 2011

Back from Korea.

Back from the tour around Korea... and i survived the killer packaged tour itinerary that's more hectic than my work. Rawr.

Started clearing work emails from home since i arrived home yesterday evening, and managed to finish them today in the office. Feels great to be back at work. Had a few moments of low period earlier this month, but i'm back on my feet now. Hope it lasts for a good long time.

Pops has been recurrently sick since 2 weeks ago. Fever's gone but he's down with rashes. Poor thing has been on medication for the longest time ever. My absence meant that he's been largely staying at home alone... why of course, he's sneaked out to meet the Alex-es and attend Zavier's baby shower.

Bought him a little pressie from Tiffany's while i was away for our 5th anniversary this weekend!
Couldn't resist and gave it to him in advance. Hopefully it cheered him up a tad.

October 18, 2011

Out of Town


Out of Town

Seoul Far So Good Part II


Bittersweet October.
The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause between the opposing miseries of summer and winter.
- Carol Bishop Hipps

October 16, 2011

PureConnect

Released this month - my new loot from Brooks PureProject™.


Fits like a dream <3

October 03, 2011

Just because...

A month since i last posted.
And here i am blogging just because schmelly Poppy says i'm lazy.

Off to Korea again in 2 weeks' time.
Nui says it's blistering cold there now. Gotta bring out my autumn/winter wear and wash them before my trip. Bummer.

Ok, back to work.