Past and Present - The C Class Coupe and the CLC Coupe

(Left) Our new CLC coupe and (Right) the older C Class Coupe

So happened that we saw a Merc C Class Coupe which for the non car buff is a previous incarnation of our CLC coupe parked beside us. Being the car buff that I am, I couldn't resist a photo shot to just compare the past and present. We can see that the CLC is a gradual evolution of the C Class coupe, rather than a radical change with similar bodylines but updated with 1100 new parts including a redesigned front with new projector headlights and rear to update with the new W204 C Class plus updated engine with higher output and lower fuel consumption,LED side mirror winkers, direct steer and suspension and updated Audio 20 stereo and communications set and new speed sensitive SLK based steering wheel and chrome lined dash meters plus multi function information console.7 years separate both models with the C Class Coupe launched in 2001 and the CLC launched in 2008.

At One Caramel

Over the weekend, we celebrated mom's birthday with slurrpy and delicious bowls of Hakata ramen at Yoshimaru Ramen Bar at Playground @ East Coast. Mom and brother enjoyed the ramen as did we. Highlight was finding another opportunity to try more cakes haha at One Caramel @ The Luxe off Handy Road, beside the Cathay cinema. We were wondering if we should check our weigh this month, what with our cake binge.

The cakes we tried were D'Avocat comprising of avocado and fruity connoction layed with sponge cake and topped with blueberry: the Red Velvet which is layered moist velvet sponge dressed with layers of rich dark chocolate and cherry ganache ; and the Mango Mascarpone ( which is recommended as a must try) featuring oh so sinfully rich mascarpone cheese cream coupled with coconut crumble topped with a refreshing mango compote.




(Above and below) Red Velvet coupled with a macaron at the side.



(Above and below) D'Avocat



(Above and below)Mango Mascarpone

Cakes from Rive Gauche at Takashimaya

On the next part of our cake escapades this week, we happen to pass by Takashimaya and bought cakes from a Japanese styled patisserie - Rive Gauche. We bought two slices -





Pistachio Cherry (above) which features two layers of soft melt in the mouth chocolate sponge sandwiched with sweet pistachio and chery mousse;

Caramel nut(below) which features pudding like caramel sandwiched between two layers of light chocolate. The caramel nut was a unique cake that tasted more like a chocolate pudding and had no sponge within.



Service was good with the staff putting in extra care in placing the cake slices within the cake box and putting in dry ice to keep the cakes cool for the trip home.

Cakes at Patisserie Glace and Obolo

We have been indulging in alot of cakes over this year and recently, we went for some cakes again at Patisserie Glace at the Icon and Obolo in Joo Chiat. Patisserie Glace cakes while having bigger slices follows the Japanese style cakes with light fluffy, soft sponge and cream such that you don't feel overwhelmed despite the bigger serving. Obolo features heavier tasting cakes in a smaller slice. Our personal opinion was that Obolo is still the standard to beat in terms of taste and aesthetics, presentation which proves that the best things in life do come in smaller packages. Obolo cakes features many intricate ingredients fused that add to the rich and multi faceted experience that you get when you taste the different layers of each cake slice. Every slice of cake at Obolo is a fusion of different layers that are distinct in flavor, yet complement to make the cake slice as a complete tentalising experience.


(Above) Fruits Crepe featuring fresh juicy sweet strawberry set in Chef Yamashita's Baravian cream layered with crepe, a unique connoction.


(Above) Double Cheese Rare Mango comprising of mango cubes, puree and melt in your mouth cheese.




(Above) Patisserie treats from Obolo


(Above and Below) Nikita Cheesecake from Obolo - Dark chocolate ganache mousse layered with refreshing dark cherry and raspberry compote jelly and smooth pistachio ivoire mousse paired with layers of almond and chocolate biscuit bathed in cherry and kirsch syrup in between.




(Above) Macarons - Ruby featuring raspberry infusion coupled with dark chocolate ganache and Salted Caramel Chocolate with salted butter and caramel ganache.



(Above and below) Yuzu - a refreshing treat featuring lemon mascarpone mousse, japanese yuzu- citrus cremeux with moist vanilla genoise and mango passion gelee on a base of ivoire crunchy feuillitine.





(Above and Below) Verrine Caprice - apricot mango gelee layered by hazelnt milk chocoloate crunch, moist choclate genoise topped with a mini bittersweet chocolate macaron.

Dining at Yoshimaru Ramen Bar

(above, Yoshimaru Ramen courtesy of Camembaru Food Blog)

This weekend, we went to have ramen at the Yoshimaru Ramen Bar at Playground @ Big Splash. Yoshimaru Ramen Bar is an established ramen bar in japan brough to Singapore by the Jumbo Seafood people. It serves Hakata ramen that originated from Hakata, Kyushu. The most distinctive difference about Hakata ramen from others is that the noodles are much thinner and firmer in texture but which adds up to a very fuifilling meal. While the menu is limited in it's offerings, the prices are reasonable and the ramen offering reasonably good.


The soup base(above) has a rich stock being boiled with collagen extracted from pork bones but yet has a mellowed flavour so the array of condiments on each table is there for a purpose for each one to individually spice up their soup.Personally, me and Gayle felt that health conscious people may like it as it was not salty but for us, condiments are needed to give the soup some kick and salt.

A novel way to keep the diners occupied is to provide each with a bowl of sesame seeds and a pounder so that diners can throw in some condiments and mix and pound it with the sesame seeds and then throw it into the soup when the ramen arrives. Yoshimaru Ramen Bar's design provides for a chic and cool place to slurp japanese noodles in comfort although we felt that the music video being played was a little too loud as a background music.

As this was our second visit there, we could use the discount coupons given on our first trip which entitles you to $10 off every $25 spent which is quite worth it. I ordered the Shabu Shabu beef ramen while Gayle ordered the traditional Hakata ramen.


My shabu shabu beef ramen(above) had strips of soft and really juicy and tender beef slices which helped to add to the sweetness of the soup.


The ni tamago- seasoned egg(above) was so soft, tender with the yolk literally melting in the mouth. Gayle's Hakata ramen(below) has thin tender and juicy slices of pork slices.



There are side dishes available but personally, we felt that the richness and good texture of the ramen and soup made for a substantial meal.2 Full bowls of ramen cost us $29 with GST but we paid only $19 after the $10 discount. It is worth a visit there or two if you want to have a reasonably good bowl of Hakata ramen.

Celebrating our 2nd wedding anniversary at Marina Mandarin

(Above)Us in our cozy room

For our 2nd Wedding Anniversary, we went for a short hotel stay over the weekend to have a relaxed time together. We started off with a relaxing customised spa session at The Retreat Spa at Changi Village Hotel. After the relaxing massages and body wrap, we proceeded on to Marina Mandarin Hotel where we had booked a 2 nights stay at the Executive Premier Room with Balcony for $479 inclusive of taxes. This package is available to all VISA cardholders. It was a really relaxing time with nothing but just lazing around in the room, watching cable, makaning , shopping at Marina Shopping Centre and Suntec, and just having quiet moments together.


(Above)Gayle opening the door to our Premium Room at Marina Mandarin Hotel


(Above)Admiring the lobby view from our 19th floor room.


(Above) Us admiring the view from our balcony


(above) View of the swimming pool from our room


(Above) Our room balcony


(Above)Right view from our room balcony


(Above)Centre view from our room balcony


(Above)Left view from our room balcony.


(Above)Gayle doing some reading at the reading corner


(Above)The Bedroom looks cozy and contemporary.


(Above) Study section of the room. 42 inch LCD TV provides good entertainment.


(Above)Reading Area


(Above) Marbled tiled Bathroom and Hansgrohe fittings lend an air of luxury.

Modern Piano seat

Our previous bar stool which I had bought for Gayle to use as an interim seat for her electric piano was spoilt as the height adjustment mechanism had broken down. So on one of trips to Viviocty's Gain city electronic store, we spotted a modern steel piano seat which was what we were looking for as most of the others we had seen were the traditional wooden based seat type.

Costing $120, this QuikLok Performance Structure built seat that I bought for Gayle is constructed with 30x30 stainless steel tubing and welded joints for strength and durability. There is also a steel plate reinforcement that provides stable undersupport to the cushion seat. We like this seat because it is not only sturdy and modern in design but also provides for comfortable seating with a 8 cm thick cushioned seat with textured vinyl seatcover. This also allows for easy cleaning.






The seat's height can be adjusted between a range of 46.5cm to 64cm with a secured locking pin. All these at a lightweight 5.5kg enables ease of carrying the seat which can be dismantled flat for removal.


(Above) The rubber ends of the legs provide a secure, non scratch grip on the flooring.