Bossy Flossie
It’s me again – number one chocolate fanatic in Singapore! Earlier this year I fell in love with bean-to-bar chocolate. I started a new video series called My Chocolate Journey on YouTube to share my passion for quality chocolate with you all. Ahem…. okay. The video series is also a convenient excuse to eat more chocolate. So, this month, I indulged in some yummy chocolate balls called Balleros by Zotter.
In July, the Bossy Flossie Family went for a luxurious two-night staycation at the Sofitel Hotel in Sentosa. The Sofitel, a French chain, is apparently a five-star hotel and our stay wasn’t exactly cheap at around $400++ per night. But, we figured that we deserved a bit of luxury. Our last staycation was nearly a year earlier at the Oasia Hotel back when I was still pregnant! We had an enjoyable time. The shower was oh so magical and the swimming pool was fab. However, due to the location, our mini staycation felt more like a four-star experience.
I love a good sandwich which is kind of strange given my history. When I was a kid, I refused to eat the sandwiches packed in my school lunch box. I suppose they were kinda soggy. Lately, I have been craving chunky bread stuffed with fresh (and sometimes fried) ingredients. So, because I mostly work from home, I treat myself to a takeaway sandwich order from time-to-time. The below videos are my tried-and-tested recommendations. They are the best of the best takeaway sandwiches in Singapore!
What is a donut? Deep-fried cake with a hole in the middle and perhaps a dusting of sugar. Nothing more. Nothing less. Well, that was what I thought until I discovered City Donut. They take deep-fried cake to a whole other level!!! Their donuts are all inspired by classic Singaporean dishes. They even do a Singapore Chilli (No) Crab donut. Whoa!
Calling all you praline and chocolate lovers out there! Come and be seduced by the irresistible range of Pralus Barre Infernale chocolates. These melty sensations are so damn fine they are sold out in a flash on the Hello Chocolate website. But, if you are patient, a delicious fat bar of Pralus Barre Infernale is worth the wait.
Earlier this year, I confessed to being a chocoholic. Like any true cacao lover, I adore white chocolate just as much as the dark stuff. White chocolate gets a bad rap at the best of times. But for many small-batch chocolate makers, creating delicious white chocolate is an art form. I am new to the bean-to-bar chocolate scene so I decided to sample a selection of high-quality white chocolates for myself.
I was reluctant to try the gorgeous food and drinks from The World is Flat on account of the name. Why do they call themselves, The World is Flat? Because the sandwiches look like round and flat flying saucers! This place prides itself on “mammoth comfort sandwiches”. The specialty boba teas are also out of this world. Altogether, a very irresistible proposition.
The only thing better than a good ol’ sammie is Japanese inspired sandwiches. So, without further ado, let me introduce you to Sando. This place is amazing! Sando specialises in fuss-free Japanese lunches that don’t hurt your back pocket (too much). I was particularly curious about their sandwich selection. The minimum order for home delivery from Sando is $66 so I thought, why not? Let’s splurge! I ordered five different lunch sandwiches to sample and I was mightly glad that I did.
Every weekend I go out trekking Singapore with my baby. I am on a mission to discover every pram-friendly walk on this island nation – from the beautiful, to the touristy, to the wild and grassy. There are more than you think!
Gosh how I miss lunches at Two Men Bagel House in Tanjong Pagar. The joint is just around the corner from my office. In the pre-COVID19 era, I indulged in one of their hunky chunky bagels every Friday. Then, working from home happened. Then, I had the harebrained idea to just order myself a takeaway instead. I discovered the bagels at Two Men Bagel House taste just as good when home-delivered as they do in-restaurant. Choice!
So we are back in semi-lockdown in Singapore. What better excuse is there to splurge on some takeaway? I’ve been dying to try Korio cheesy sandwiches since FOREVER. Korio is located far away from my neighborhood. So you can bet your bottom dollar that I have jumped on the chance to order me some of these New York-style cheesy sammies from this week. And, with a box of yummy donuts to boot!
The first thing I did upon moving to Lorong Chuan was to set out in search of good coffee. Wow, what an adventure it has been. Lorong Chuan is super residential. There are not as many trendy cafes around here as in Farrer Park, where I used to live. But it has been a blessing in disguise as I have learned to appreciate local kopi. I believe they call that, desperate for caffeine. Long gone are the days where I would only drink cafe lattes! There are a few wonderful breakfast, brunch, and coffee places in Lorong Chuan as well as neighboring Serangoon. These are my top recommendations.
Please forgive me if I only recently discovered kopi. During the last four years living in Singapore I was happily sipping away on my cafe lattes. That was until I discovered Moments in Serangoon. This cafe has converted me from Western brunch-fan to local brekkie expert. These days, I cannot resist a delicious salted egg bun, or some kaya toast with a hot kopi C, on the weekend. Moments in Serangoon serves all these Singaporean breakfast favourites plus more.
Here’s a tongue twister for ya. It is not nutty to go nuts for nummy-num-num nut butters. Nut butter is a healthy, delicious, and fuss-free way to spruce up a meal. So long as you stay away from varieties with excessive salt or sugar. I love devouring crunchy peanut butter straight from the jar. I am also partial to almond butter. I started adding nut butter to my breakfast (and dessert!) to increase my protein intake and help feel fuller for longer. Keep reading to discover everything I have learned about the best nut butters in Singapore as well as some creative ways to eat them.
Are you contemplating moving to Farrer Park? You have my vote of confidence. Farrer Park was a wonderful neighborhood to me. I lived there for four years. I still remember arriving in Singapore and signing a two-year lease at City Square Residence like it was yesterday. Back then, City Square Residence was considered a dive. I suppose it still is! The condominium attracts many young foreigners, including students, due to its cheap rents and the fabulous pool. Naughty subletting was rampant once upon a time. Imagine 10 people squeezed into a 3-bedroom flat! These days, that’s all been nipped in the bud thanks to COVID19 and the introduction of a strictly guarded entrance.
Finally, a decent Thai restaurant in Singapore that doesn’t charge the earth! I’ve always been astonished at how Singapore, a country totally obsessed with food, has so many mediocre Thai restaurants. Krapow is very good, but it cheats with its heavily Chinese-influenced menu. That’s why SUK’s Thai Kitchen is a welcome addition to the Farrer Park neighborhood. Admittedly, the menu is a little hit-and-miss. But there are many superb dishes and the prices are reasonable. Read on for my recommendations on what you MUST order at SUK’s.
Congratulations, you just gave birth! But in addition to swaddling, burping, never-ending sleep deprivation, and, of course, plenty of precious cuddles, there is also critical paperwork to complete. Foreigners living in Singapore have 42 days to obtain a Dependent Pass (‘DP’) or another valid immigration status for their newborn. Otherwise, your little one could face financial penalties and/or deportation.
I admit it. I am a hardcore chocoholic. In my opinion, there is no better breakfast than a bar of milk choccie with a hot cuppa. I can easily scoff an entire block of Cadbury in one sitting. And, I’m not afraid to confess, I love white and caramel chocolate just as much as the brown stuff. Sadly, my love of chocolate does not go hand-in-hand with my goal of losing weight. Or, at least I thought so. I recently discovered a whole world of low-sugar and sugar-free varieties that I am excited to discuss with you.
For years I have celebrated my birthday over dinner. Usually, at somewhere swanky, which serves a decent drop of wine. But this year was different. I had just had a baby and hadn’t dined out (let alone slapped on any makeup!) for quite some time. So this year I decided to play it safe and go for a birthday lunch instead. After numerous days (okay, I admit it, weeks) of scouring the internet for ideas while baby was napping, I decided to reserve a table at Artichoke for the special occasion. What a delightful treat it was! Of course, getting dressed up to go out is always a “treat” these days. But even so, the food at Artichoke was sumptuous.
There is plenty of good food in Farrer Park, you just have to know where to find it. During the past few years of living in the area, I have found some real foodie gems in and around Farrer Park, from authentic Chinese dumplings and sautéed eggplant to dukkah sprinkled avocado on toast and hand-pulled Muslim noodles. Please enjoy my foodie roundup and top places to eat good food in Farrer Park.
Living on Petain Road by Somme Park has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I have enjoyed many special memories here such as getting married, having a baby, and a COVID-related lockdown! Calling a shophouse home was on my bucket list (as discussed in a previous blog). That’s why I decided to film a three-part mini-series about a life we love at Petain Road. It will be something my family and I can look back on for years to come. Plus, who isn’t curious about shophouse life?
What do you do when you are bored of eating Chinese and the local Thai is not up to scratch? Go to Krapow in Chinatown Point! This place is one heck-of-a-find. I know my fellow pork addicts will agree. Melty pork in red curry sauce and Pad Thai with roasted pork belly are among the best dishes here.
The Bossy Flossie family recently grew by one with new recruit little Jammy! My little cherub is now seven weeks old and, mercifully, his delivery is fast becoming a foggy memory. The labour was both a joyful and a traumatic experience. I am so glad I chose to give birth at NUH, as discussed in an earlier post. The nurses were great, the facilities were modern, and the final medical bill did not horrify.
My area wouldn’t be complete without a little Italian on Serangoon Road in the form of Bruno’s Pizzeria. Italian is my favourite cuisine. There aren’t too many Italian restaurants in Singapore that live up to my expectations. Fortunately, my local pizzeria happens to be a gem.
When I first moved to Farrer Park in 2017 I never expected to write a blog about cafe hopping in the area. Back then, the only place to get a decent cuppa was Cedele in City Square Mall. Oh how things have changed. New cafes are popping up by the dozen here!
Welcoming a baby into the world can feel like an overwhelming challenge! To prepare myself for parenthood, as well as minimise any personal stress, I signed up for the Antenatal Care & Parentcraft Programme at NUH. I’m so glad I did. The lovely teachers and practical information has made me feel more confident about what to expect. The programme is open to all expectant parents in Singapore, whether or not you intend to deliver at NUH.
There are a lot of hawker stalls in Farrer Park but none of them can really be classed as great except the 88 Hong Kong Roast Meat Specialist. In fact, amazing is probably a better descriptor. I have no hesitation in saying their original stall serves the best wanton mee and roasted pork belly in Singapore.
Singapore is a very expensive country to have a baby. Especially if you are a foreigner without international insurance. At the time of writing this, I am 38 weeks pregnant. Here is my experience of the healthcare system in Singapore, a breakdown of prenatal costs, and a summary of insurance options. Ultimately, I have chosen to deliver at NUH due to the great service and some financial considerations.