Gaston Luga: Best Women's Backpack Recommendation

Not sure if you face the same problem. But I always have a difficulty finding the right size of backpack when I travel. Laptop, portable charger, DSLR camera, passport, handphones, water bottle...I often have to divide them two bags because my old backpack gets full very easily once I slot in my bulky camera. I have another bigger size mountain backpack but it makes me look as if I am going on an mountain hiking adventure even though I maybe just walking down the streets of Shinjuku.

But now with Gaston Luga, the problem is solved. It's big enough to store everything that I need (no more for the need of one shoulder bag and one laptop bag) and yet stylish at the same time. I adore the Scandinavian minimalistic design that allows me to carry it to everywhere without feeling like a school kid. I can bring it to posh locations like hotels and carry it as I trek through forests or mountain regions. 



Most importantly, it doesn't lack in functionality. For instance, on the back of my Classic Olive and Brown backpack is the unique Gaston Luga pocket for passport, travel documents or other important belongings that need to be kept safe yet easily accessible. I no longer have to dig my passport or travel pass that's probably squashed by my camera or water bottle.

Two-way metal zipper opens the main compartment, which contains an inner 13-15" laptop compartment and 2 smaller pockets for smaller belongings such as wallet or phone.

Like most backpacks, Gaston Luga's backpack comes with an outer zipper pocket to keep other small belongings that are often used and have to be easily accessible. But what makes it special is that the extra front leather straps are held by strong magnets, adding another layer of security when travelling on the road.

Good news for all dairyandcream readers! Enjoy FREE shipping + 20% off as tax rebate (from non-EU country) + 15% off with my code "dairyandcream" on the remaining price after tax rebate. That means a whopping discount of more than SGD100! Example of a classic bag will cost $216.92 after discount (original up to $319)

Shop for your ideal backpack at www.gastonluga.com now!

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Magie Du Chocolat マジドゥショコラ : So called "Magic" Chocolate Soufflés

Opened in Dec 2016 by chef-owner Matsumuro Wagomi, Magie Du Chocolat is the latest addition to the hot chocolate scene in Tokyo. It sells everything to do with chocolate and is said to support the direct trade movement of chocolates. An eco-friendly sustainable practice, that is.

But did I taste the magic here? Unfortunately not. The Uji Matcha Chocolat Souffle (¥480) was too sweet and tasted predominantly of white chocolate. Nonetheless, we loved the creamy texture when the cake melted in the mouth even though it looked rough when sliced apart. Never mind if it didn't possess any of the fluffy or airy characteristics of the common soufflés we know. This was rich and dense, with a biscuit base which had turned a little soggy.

Thankfully we decided to give a second chance by trying the Tanzania 75%. Indeed, this dark chocolate was a safer bet with its mellow bitterness. Skip the soft serve as it tastes as cheap as convenience store ice cream. Even if it is said to be made from chocolate Papua 35% and Tanzania 75%. To be honest, I'm cynical about the source of chocolates used here as I saw its supplier carrying boxes of XX chocolates, a common chocolate brand used in the industry, into the kitchen. Bean to bar? Really? Hmm....

myfoodsirens and I couldn't understand why there is a queue for this shop. Perhaps it's the magic of chocolate but we left disillusioned.

Magie Du Chocolat マジドゥショコラ
〒158-0083 東京都世田谷区奥沢６丁目３３−１４
10am-7pm (Closed on Tues)

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Atmosphere Bistro : New Menu, Better and More Delicious

When it comes to seaside dining experience, I tend to think of expensive and generic food that tends to play second fiddle to the ambience. But I am happily proven wrong during my recent visit to Atmosphere bistro which has revamped its menu to offer new Asian fusion dishes that more than pleases the eye.

The western-centric menu remains casual but the quality has definitely gone up notches since my last visit. Starting with the Garlic Butter Mussels ($14.80), the whole shell blue mussels were plump and fresh, with an aromatic garlic butter cream sauce that is perfect for mopping up with the crispy roti prata. Many dishes have become more instagram-worthy but thankfully they are not short of flavors. For instance, the Lava Cheese Burger ($24.80)  is something you might want to reward yourself with after sweating out at East Coast Park. Beneath the toasted Brioche Buns is an evil stack of deep fried Camembert Cheese that oozes while your knife cuts through to the beef patty.

Just like the Waffle Burger ($21.80), the beef patty here was slightly too mushy and thus my vote goes to the Mentaiko Pull Pork Burger ($24.80) as the moist pork is more easygoing on the palates and the bed of shredded carrots worked like a refreshing coleslaw that added pleasant acidity to the dish.

Fusion is no longer confusion here with the Mentaiko Waffle Pizza ($16.80) serving as another good example. The tender buttermilk waffle isn't those crispy types but that's not a bad thing at all. Together with the Pork Bratwurst Sausages, Mentaiko Mayo, pineapples, cheese and bonito flakes, this is a sweet-savory combination that resembled a Hawaiian Pizza but hundred times better than one. The Premium Seafood Rice Bowl ($24.80) is my another favorite dish that comes with plenty fresh seafood like scallops and cod fish atop of premium Japanese rice. The garlic butter sauce did not overpower the natural sweetness of the seafood and this serves as a good break from the monotony of western dishes.Considering the quality ingredients here, this is a value-for-money dish not to be missed. 

Desserts are given a serious makeover here and one should definitely not miss the Black Pearl ($16.80). Even though the idea of pouring hot sauce over chocolate sphere is nothing new, the chocolate is potent and the intense rum punches through the sweetness. I was teleported to cloud nine. The Matcha Lava Cake ($14.80) was too sweet while I preferred the Coconut Cheesy Toast ($14.80) to have more Gula Melaka to balance out the rich Mozarella Cheese. But overall with the major improvements in food, this bistro certainly offers more than just the "atmosphere" 

Monday to Thursday: 6pm to 12am

Friday and Eve of Public Holiday: 6pm to 1am

Saturday, Sunday, Public Holiday: 10.30am to 1am

* Closing time subjected to change for LIVE sport screenings

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Chocolatier Inamura Shozo : Hidden Chocolate Patisserie in Ueno Tokyo

Most patissiers would serve chocolate cakes but very few would open another outlet just dedicated only to chocolate. Imamura Shozo is one of those. Located in the quiet suburbs of Yanesen, Chocolatier Inamura Shozo is Chef Inamura's second boutique after his popular Patissier Imamura Shozo which debuted in 2000 in Ueno Sakuragi.

But the range isn't very wide. Only chocolate entremets and confectionaries like bons-bons or pound cakes. No plated desserts or ice cream. Even for the entremets, you can easily count them in less than ten fingers. And there's only 6-8 pieces for each type. Apparently, the range doesn't change frequently as well. 

Yet, I can say that the chocolate entremets are high flyers in the league of chocolate even though I only tried two items. The chocolate glaze was as smooth as mirror and the mousse glided around the tongue almost like an Olympian ice skater skiing in the ice rink. The Matcha Chocolate is probably the most matcha-ish chocolate entremet I've ever, ever have. There's a good balance of matcha and white chocolate, with the mellow bitterness emerging mainly from the matcha ganache. It was sweet but in the milky form that won't shut you off like some entremets which make you feel as if you are just eating sugar. 

Coincidentally, the Larme (涙のしずく) was another tea-based entremet of bergamot tea. I picked this because the tangy lemon cream provided a nice refresher which prevented me from feeling jaded with the chocolate. Both works were impeccable in achieving the right consistency of chocolate mousse that can be enjoyed at a cool temperature of 25-26 degrees. Even better than Jean Paul Hevin to me. But it could be more adventure in the textures. None of the entremets had a crunchy component and a macaron base is the furthest you can get besides the typical sponge-mousse-ganache combination.

Nevertheless, the CP value is high and I was very satisfied with the two I had (initially I even wanted to order three for myself). It's worth a detour if you are in the Yanesen district or maybe as breakfast before lunch at the coffee house. Just be prepared that the potency of the chocolate is likely to get you a little chocolate dizzy.

〒110-0002 東京都台東区上野桜木2-19-8

10am-7pm

Closed on Mondays and every Third Tues 

http://www.inamura.jp/

宇治の抹茶とホワイトチョコレートを合わせたムースとチョコレートのムースで層をつくり、土台のマカロンに抹茶のガナッシュとチョコのガナッシュの２種類をサンドいたしました。

ベルガモット風味の紅茶が香るチョコレートガナッシュ・チョコレートムース・レモンのクリーム・マカロンショコラが入っております。レモンクリームで爽やかさを表現しており

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Bee's Knees @ Botanic Gardens : Extended Opening Hours with Delicious Bar Bites

Food from cafes and restaurants in tourist attractions tend to be overpriced and lacking in quality. But not so for Bees Knees Cafe, the sister cafe of Botanico located at the 1st floor of the restored two-storey heritage building in Botanic Gardens.


Already attracting crowds of locals and expats alike during weekends, Bees Knees has expanded its menu to offer a plethora of hearty western dishes from pastas to bar bites. The Potato Chips Salad ($8) is a spinoff from Japanese Potato Salad with a familiar taste of Japanese mayonnaise mixed with Spanish Onions and mustard.


But this is a thousand times more addictive because the thin extra virgin oil fried potato chips make munching such an easy affair. Not to be missed is the crispy Boxing Chicken ($14) with Siracha mayonnaise and the Crispy Calamari ($14) with Chincalok Coriander. But the ultimate sinful indulgence was the "Beef Cheeky" Fries. With soggy fries drenched in rich beef ragout and mozzarella, it looked as if it popped out from American food shows. And the sodium level here is also no joke.

But rest assure that these aren't the only delicious food on the menu. For something light and healthy, try the "Veggie Goat" ($16) a refreshing quinoa salad tossed with cherry tomatoes, roasted pumpkins, figs, watercress and caramelized goat cheese. The balsamic reduction injects the right degree of acidity and livens up the flavors. For the sandwiches, they are interestingly served with the uncommon Turkey bread that has a crunchy crust and holds up wet ingredients very well.

The Tiger Prawn Pasta ($18) turned out to be totally different from what I imagined. Luscious dark brown pappardelle fully absorbed the seafood flavors with tiger prawns so fresh and plump that makes this almost as lavish as a lobster pasta. This self-service cafeteria also offers fresh croissants, cakes all baked in house. There's waffles and pancakes but I highly recommend the Five Spiced Churros. They are so delicately crisp on the outside and stretchy on the inside. Being neither too doughy nor greasy, these deep fried snacks are even better than  the ones I had at Barrio.

Portions are huge for sharing so it is best to get a group of friends down to share the variety (and calories). But do pick the right time to come or be prepared to queue.

Currently, Bee's Knees is offering a promotion of 2 regular pints of beer and 1 pizza for $38. Don't miss this great deal! (p.s I don't drink but I had the Truffle Mushroom Pizza which was fragrant and delicious!) 

Bee's Knees
50 Cluny Park Road
Botanic Gardens

Monday to Tuesday, 8 am - 6 pm

Wednesday to Sunday, 8 am - 10 pm

*'Live' band plays acoustic music every alternate Friday

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Tasty Court by Chef Pung 尝鲜阁 : Journey to the East for Delicious Chinese Food

My parents came home one Saturday night and raved to me about their delicious dinner at Tasty Court by Chef Pung Lu Tin. It is a new restaurant that has only been opened for a month or so by celebrity chef Pung who used to helm the kitchen of now-defunct Seafood International in East Coast Park. Wow, when did my parents become so informed of the new hot places when it hasn't been posted on social media (almost zero post on Instagram but some on facebook). Not even in mainstream media. And rarely do I see my parents react so fervently towards the food.



But when I looked at the food pictures they took and how my parents described the food, I was immediately convinced that I had to give it a try. Even if it means I have to travel more than 1 hour to the East. To play safe, my friends and I stick to the chef's recommendations listed on the menu and none of them disappointed!

The 浓汤花胶煲 Braised Fish Maw with Chicken Stock in Pot ($28) boasted a pale-yellowish broth that was unexpectedly rich, flavorful and lightly peppered. Even though I thought it was slightly salty, my makan kakis felt the seasoning level was just right The slices of ginger imparted some heat to the soup while the fish maw was smooth, gelatinous and not fishy at all. Fortunately, the pot was huge enough to feed my table of four with two servings per person because one serving is simply not satisfying enough! #太好喝

Another must try dish is the Crispy Dong Tok Roasted Chicken ($22). The chicken was still dripping oil when it made entrance but this classic Cantonese dish often only seen in wedding dinners doesn't taste greasy at all. Hats of to the roasting chef because the outermost skin is crisp, yet retaining some fats beneath. The meat is tender throughout, including the breast meat part.  Dabble the chicken with the special chilli sauce for the extra shiokness but even on its own, it is already finger licking good!

My parents said I needed to try the Tobiko Fried Rice and the Stewed Vermicelli. But since we only had space for one, we opted for the 乌巴叶焖米粉 ($16) stewed vermicelli in opeh leaf. Having fully absorbed the essence of the seafood stock, the stewed vermicelli were wet and tasty, with bonus bits of deep-fried flat fish to enhance the aroma and texture.

A meal couldn't be complete without desserts and the selection here isn't extensive. But that's not a problem as we spotted the one with like to try--Orh Nee with Coconut Milk ($5). The yam wasn't too sweet but nothing spectacular like the mains. On the other hand, the Soy Milk Pudding with Mango Sago Purée tasted strangely like a coffee pudding.

Overall, the food here is very reasonably priced and the menu offers a good mix of classic and innovative dishes. Singapore Chilli Crab Fried Kway Teow? Hainanese Pork Belly? I'm not in a rush to be back but I know this definitely won't be the last time I'll dine in here.

1 Figaro Street Singapore 458322
11am-2.30pm
6pm-11pm
Tel: 6538-3533

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All The Batter: Probably Singapore's First Avocado Specialty Cafe

I often wonder why the cafe isn't called "All About Avocadoes" because All About Batter sells all kinds of desserts and drinks revolving around one of the world's superfood, avocados. Little known is that the shop has been selling avocado drinks and natural food at a kiosk in Anchorpoint since 2014. It takes online orders for cakes and caters for corporate events or special occasions.



It does not instill huge confidence to find the cafe tucked discreetly in one of the shophouses at Aldephi Park (next to Thomson Plaza), with seats and tables barely filled up on a weekend afternoon. Nor will one's heart rejoice when you browsed through the food photos posted on social media because the colors are dull and unappetizing. But once my family and I had a taste of the cakes and drinks, those initial suspicions were soon allayed.

The cakes here may not be fit into the photogenic criteria these days but they are all tasty and not too sweet at all. Above all, avocados are used to replace certain dairy products like butter and cream, making them healthier than the conventional pastries we know. What a bonus.

The Avocado Milk Ball ($2.90) is actually a choux puff filled with avocado cream. There is nothing spectacular about the choux pastry and the cream filling doesn't possess the dark green hue as shown on the official photo. But the avocado cream tastes like what it should be. The texture is dense but the flavor is pure and light, almost like eating an avocado.

The signature Avocado Rhapsody Slice ($6.50) is a cream cheese frosted chocolate sponge made with avocados in substitute of butter. I am not a fan of cream cheese frosting so I naturally swerved towards the Avocado Gula Melaka ($5.90) even though the two layers of cake here belongs the dense American style that can easily fill one up.

If I were to return again, I'll definitely order the Avocado artisan drinks that is churned from a multi-grain base. The Avocado Chocolate Ganache sounds like a super indulgent, calorie-laden smoothie but it turns out to be exactly the opposite. Barely sweetened yet rich, nutty and wholesome. The ganache (made with avocado too) is so thick that it hardly dissolves into the drink. Same goes for the Matcha Avocado that is also sweetened with honey. The restrained sweetness here is the most attractive aspect of the menu here.

Healthy and tasty. Now I know I don't have to travel too far for my sweets indulgence.

17 Jasmine Road, Aldephi Park
Weekends only 11am-9.30pm
http://www.allthebatter.com/

Matcha Avocado Smoothie

Avocado Rhapsody 

Avocado Gula Melaka

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