Food review- Simply playtapus

Being pregnant, the first question when choosing any meal would be whether the said ‘food pyramid’ has been fulfilled with my daily requirements of carbohydrates,  greens and proteins.

The latest addition to the array of food available around Raffles place is just that; a healthy rendition of a tasty salad and meat variation.

Having ate this meal thrice this past week, there’s much to rave about this rather fiesty establishment. With its small box at $6.90, its serving of rocket leaves mixed spinach is nothing short of generous.

Doused in a sauce of your choice; Japanese sesame or honey miso appear to be evergreen flavours, this tasty meal is good enough to sate any vegetable needs that a nutritionist would impose.

A recent conversation with a colleague who’s a vegetarian revealed that for vegetarians who do not opt to pick up the 2 meat options, the box price still remains the same without discount but with a greater packed serving of pasta and chick peas.

Served from 11.30am, the norm would see that by 12.30pm, a popular choice of salmon cooked in a honeyed – like sauce would disappear from their inventory. With the same choices available, the one gripe would be the lack of variation.

Featuring the same 5-6 dishes and a staple of pasta (occasionally fried rice) served with a chick peas-corn concoction, this boutique cafe – restaurant loses points.

Still, a fabulous place to pick up some green grub that’s tasty to boot. Medium box at $8.90 and large box at $10.90.

Food Review- Toast Box’s Laksa Time

I have a confession to make. While whittling my days away in Melbourne back when we were less affluent as jobless students (I stayed in a 2 bedroom apartment with my Bro along Grattan Street) my favourite meal was part of a mega pack of mixed fishballs for AUD $9.90; Deliciously cooked in a packet of Prima Taste Laksa paste which made up to 4 pax worth of tasty soup and a package of Indo mee.

The taste of home was never too far, especially when missing your parent’s cooking despite it being too bland or salty… It was home.

But I digress. The laksa at Toast Box ($6.10 with a glass of barley) hits the spot and of course with its many branches available islandwide,  it’s my favourite solution to any cravings. 

Albeit not exactly the best tasting laksa (the sungei road one that has to be eaten with a spoon is by far the tastiest) but with my current growing girth and size, queuing for a meal that requires 30 mins in short, rids me of any cravings.

Toast Box’s laksa does what it sets out to accomplish well. A hearty and warm rendition of a popular dish. Yet it’s lack of cockles (si hum) and slightly less spicy base resembles curry more than a strong sambal flavour.

Taste – wise,  it is more subtle in flavour than belly – rubbing, chest – thumpingly delicious. A suitable treat after a long day at work where a pipping hot soup that doesn’t make one whinge from over spiciness helps alleviate a day of stress.

Food Review- Revel at poulet

Headed down for a said unpretentiously good meal at Poulet with a friend. Needless to say, with resounding good recommendations from all around, this should make for a delightful dinner.

Having gotten started with deciding our meal preferences, as it would be for dessert craving individuals like us; our dinner options comprised of a granny chicken salad ($9.80) and fries ($4.80). For the rest of its rather delicious poutry and red meat range, that’ll have to wait for another time.

Upon seeing its serving, the lack of fresh vegetable was a little underwhelming. Expecting at least a good fill of leafy goodness, there were 3 pieces at tops (most likely cos lettuce?) and 4 tablespoons of prettily decorated chicken mix; all arranged in a professionally enticing manner.

Taste – wise and for a fact that my appetite these days was not too ravenous,  it took on a rather flavourful tuna mayo sandwich – texture, with a chicken twist. Not too bad as it wasn’t as salted or savoury as would be thought of, where with its overall presentation, it was acceptable overall.

In its place and to sate our sugar cravings, a creme brulee and tiramisu was our poison for the night. The main highlights if I had to add.

Portions were big in comparison to my earlier dinner which to place in perspective was just an appetiser to this delectable concoction.

Filled to the brim with creamy cheese and sponge fingers, it was more subtle in flavour when compared to the average Tiramisu; a mouthwatering and rather filling dessert to be had.

Lastly, we had the creme brulee which came served in a lagsana dish. With its lovely fired sugar topping; a quick tap and dip after, this eggy delight was completely demolished.

Time for round 2 soon, perhaps?

Keeping in rhythm

As the weekend lazily rolled past, the lil’ jelly bean has seemingly picked up pace. From regular pushes to rapid side kicks, the inner feeling of delight certainly makes everyday a refreshing one to wake up to.

Been voraciously reading up on the pros and cons of nursing, nutrition and other nuances. Until today, this knowledge acquisition isn’t even close to 50% complete.

Cot-related: from play pen to cots and co-sleepers, there are simply too many options out there. Even mattresses where ranging from a mere 20 bucks to 299 for a baby safe one; the question remains- latex, foam or fibre? If growing up, we were coddled and cooed at from atop our cheap foam mattress, lovely purchased from the neighbour store, what makes our next generation less hardy or more precious?

Nutrition-related: Even the consumption of food has its own ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts, especially if your from a dominantly cantonese family. The feasting on herbal soups doused with cordecep (Take reference from the video game- ‘The last of Us’ and this herb wouldn’t be half as “fun” to consume); bird’s nest and herbs-I-can’t-name-without-sounding-like-an-idiot.

Too many options and it seems we are (the royal plural) coming to a new beginning shortly. The exhilaration certainly helps drive the days along, quickly.

Are you experiencing a new 2014 as well?