Din Tai Fung @ Baits

With such a short Chinese New Year break this year, I could hardly go anywhere far. But one good thing about living in JB is the fact that whenever we feel like it, we can easily cross the causeway and bring ourselves to Fine City, Singapore. I went to Resorts World Sentosa with my family during Chinese New Year this year and the main reason is really to go eat at Din Tai Fung @ Baits there.

I know there are several Din Tai Fung outlets around Singapore and even KL, so why all the way to Resorts World Sentosa just for Din Tai Fung right? Well, truth is although Din Tai Fung has many outlets but they are all not quite the same. Some are more premium than the others while some have exclusive dishes made available only to that designated outlet. And the one at Resorts World Sentosa is one such outlet. Unlike it's other counterparts, Din Tai Fung at Resorts World Sentosa is a conjoint with Baits and even awarded Michelin star.

Long queues outside the restaurant. We waited like 20-30 minutes before we finally got a table

So, what makes Din Tai Fung @ Baits different from the rest? Other than having the Michelin Star and being more upmarket (thus they even serve black truffle xiao long bao), some of the dishes made specially available to the outlet are like nyonya curry fish head in claypot, Hong Kong class steamed cod fillet with superior soy sauce, cantonese sweet and sour pork, homemade bean curd and sea prawns on sizzling hot plate, beef sirloin with black pepper sauce on sizzling hot plate, crispy prawns with plump lychees and juicy peaches and crispy chicken wings marinated in shrimp paste. Surely a twist from their signature xiao long baos and fried rice.

The first dish that came - Braised beancurd with mince meat

We decided to try one of the exclusive signature dish - the Hong Kong class steamed cod fillet with superior soy sauce. The cod is really fresh and it goes rather good with the soy sauce

Pork chop fried rice - the fried rice is a MUST-TRY! Their fried rice is simply good

Springy noodle with special sauce. I actually think this is too plain on top of the fact that it totally lacks of any ingredients. To be honest, I don't quite like the noodles from Din Tai Fung. While they are good with their fried rice and xiao long baos, I still like their arch rival (Dragon-I) noodles better

Stir fried spinach - I'm not much a fan of vegetable, but this plate of simple looking spinach deserves some compliment for being stir fried so well I found myself ended up taking helpings after helpings of it

Steamed red bean bun - the red bean filling is pretty good but I don't like the fact that skin of the bun is a tad too hard

Steamed chilli crab + pork bun

The interior of the bun. I pretty much like this too. The combination of chili crab and pork in a bun is definitely something refreshing to the palate

Their signature pork xiao long baos (steamed pork dumplings). I really really love their pork xiao long baos alot. Xiao long baos are like one of my comfort food. They always makes me crave for them

Grass jelly (cincau) with black glutinous rice - this is like a perfect Chinese desert on a hot day. Refreshing and cooling, this also leaves me craving for more

While the other typical Din Tai Fung dishes are as satisfying as usual, I think the exclusive dish like the cod fish is pretty worth the try as well. I find dishes at Din Tai Fung less oily and less salty comparatively, a more healthier option for those who are health conscious but still wants to enjoy sumptious xiao long baos and whats not definitely. 

Gong Xi Gong Xi

So quickly , it's already the 6th day of CNY. I believe most of us are back to work already. Which, in retrospective, being a student is so much more enjoyable especially during the festive season where you get like one week break straight. Anyways, stay safe, stay healthy and continue enjoying the rest of the festive season. :)

Din Tai Fung @ Baits, 
26 Sentosa Gateway,
#01-217/222 The Forum,
Level 1 @ Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore

PS : This is not a paid advertorial or review. All opinions are based on yours truly point of view only. As one man meat may be another man poison, yours truly is not responsible for any discrepancy in taste or opinion. :)

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Charlie Brown Cafe Penang, Malaysia

While I was shopping in Singapore the other day at Somerset 313, I came across a Charlie Brown Cafe which remind me of the one we have in Penang, only ours have an even more extensive and complete collection of the Peanuts gang. I haven't had chance to check out the one open in KL but sometime ago when I was in Penang, I managed to squeeze in some time to go hang out at our first Charlie Brown cafe at Straits Quay, Penang. I felt like a blissful little girl sitting there drinking hot chocolate and eating cakes while being surrounded by so many of my fav cartoon characters, Snoopy especially.

Charlie Brown Cafe, Penang

Even the wall outside has the entire gang on it

Charlie Brown says welcome :)

The interior of the cafe

Cappuccino with Lucy on it

Hot chocolate with Snoopy on it! ♥

♥♥♥

They also have tiramisu with Charlie Brown on it

Classic cheesecake

Baked potato wedges with ham and cheese

We only ate some cakes and finger food because the rest of the time was spent taking pictures around the cafe. I mean with so many of the cute figurines around, we just can't resist taking pictures can't we? Furthermore, being in Penang, it's all about non stop eating, so we had to reserve our tummy for more food later.

I ♥ Snoopy. My fav beagle definitely

The many different version of Snoopy. I wish I could bring them all back

There's even a Peanuts gang chess set. How cute!

Oops!

Charlie Brown : "Thanks for visiting." :)

Straits Quay, Penang

The Peanuts gang is technically everywhere in the cafe, from figurines to plush toys to drawings on the wall to paintings to the lights and lamps. Even the television is playing the famous comic. If you are a fan of the comic strip, like me, you'll definitely be in seven heaven surrounded by all the cute and lovely Peanuts gang. To be honest, the food is nothing much to shout about, but just sitting amidst while marveling at all the Snoopy, Charlie Brown, Woodstock, Lucy and the rest of the gang makes the visit worth it. So, if you are a fan of the comic strip, don't miss the opportunity to drop by for a cup of coffee or chocolate the next time you are in Penang (or KL for the KL branch). :)

Charlie Brown Cafe

Lot No: 3A-1-17 & 18, Block A, 

First Floor, Straits Quay, 

Jalan Seri Tanjung Pinang, 

Tanjung Tokong, 

10470, Penang, Malaysia

PS : This is not a paid advertorial/ review. All review is based on yours truly point of view only. Hence, yours truly is not responsible for any discrepancy in taste or opinion. :)

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Kampachi at JPO

My love for Japanese food has always send me on a lookout for any new and good Japanese restaurant around. There's plenty of Japanese restaurants in Johor Bahru, but not many are exactly good. The few Japanese restaurants that I really like are like Ninja Jones and Sushi Zanmai but unfortunately they are not available to us Johor Bahru folks.

The latest to add to the list of mushrooming Japanese restaurants around town is none other than Kampachi at the Johor Premium Outlets (JPO). Food there are kinda pricey but pretty much worth it. I wouldn't say it's the best Japanese restaurant around but the standard of quality is definitely there.  The salmons and unagi are fresh and juicy and I really like their macha ice cream a lot. Not forgetting, the staff there are all very friendly and helpful. I had been there twice and both left me with a pleasant dining experience. So, go to Kampachi if you feel like pampering yourselves a little with good Japanese food. :)

Kampachi Maki - tuna, avocado and crabstick topped with grilled eel

Shake Aburi Maki - seared salmon roll topped with grilled eel

Satsuma Age Homemade - deep fried home made fish cake

Seafood teppanyaki set that also comes with rice, salad and soup

Sliced duck miso ramen

Saba Teriyaki set - grilled mackerel with teriyaki sauce. You can choose between the mackerel, pike, salmon or cod and if you prefer salty, you can always opt for salt over teriyaki sauce

Macha ice cream with red bean, my favourite desert of all time. This is like really good. Although still can't beat the one I had in Japan, but close enough. Feed me this and I'll be happy :)

Ok now that you have gotten hungry from staring all those food pics, go feed yourself. I know I'm gonna cont feeding myself with all those awesome CNY cookies. Till then, toodles! :)

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The Johor Premium Outlets

Happy Dragon Year all!

As part of the Chinese tradition, every Chinese New Year, on the first day, all Chinese will don on everything new from head to toe, be it new clothes, new shoes, new belt etc to welcome the brand new year in the Chinese calendar. Hence, it's the perfect reason to go shopping of course! :)

And this year, we Johoreans have somewhere new to go shopping; the Johor Premium Outlets (JPO). Opened recently in December last year, it is the latest buzz around town. With more than 80 outlets like Burberry, Coach, DKNY, Armani, Michael Kors, Roxy etc, I was really excited to go check out the place.

I went there with HT about 2 weeks ago, about 1 month after their opening and perhaps it was a week day, the crowd was very much bearable. During their initial opening period and especially on weekends and public holidays, the crowd was maddening. My mum said there was long queues outside Coach and Burberry all the time and the whole place was pack with people it was so difficult to shop.

Located at Indahpura, Kulaijaya, it's about 45 minutes drive from Johor Bahru.

The Johor Premium Outlets

Yay, time for shopping!

Besides Burberry, Coach, Armani, DKNY, Zegna, Michael Kors, La Senza and CK, they also have outlets like Cotton On and Charles and Keith there. The first Charles and Keith in JB! Yay! Honestly, I'm pretty happy with the stuff they have at the outlets. I mean, the stuff there are all pretty decent still, not just oversize, long out of season stuff that most outlets usually sell. Of course, most of the stuff are still off season but some are actually specially designed for the outlets itself. Besides, they have discounts of up to like 10-70% at almost all their outlets which makes the stuff there cheaper than their usual retail prices. It's like in La Senza you could get underwears at 6 for RM 80; jeans at Levis and GAP for RM 99, sandals and shoes at Charles and Keith at RM 40; jeans at CK at RM 350; dresses at DKNY for RM 600; a jacket at Nike for RM 150, bikinis from Roxy and Rip Curl for RM 100 etc. Even our very own Padini and Vincci has their outlets there and their stuff is seriously like super discounted. I just wish they have Zara, Topshop or Radley too.

Though I must say, not everything is super real cheap. Some are just slightly cheaper than usual which makes the price the same as outside stores on discounts too. You have to take time to source for the real goodies. And of course having discounts now helps too. But whether all their stuff will maintain this cheap all year round with the further discounts or will the prices be very much the same as outside stores on discounts remains very much to be find out.

Our load after an afternoon shopping. Hehe :)

So after a day shopping at JPO, let's take a look at my steals that day. Just in case you guys like to know what are the prices like, I also include the prices of the stuff I had bought. :)

Bought this bag from Fossil- RM 450. I really like this bag but darn robbers took it that day as well.

Another bag from Fossil. Bought this as a gift so not going to reveal the price. :p. I really like the vintage bags from Fossil. ♥

Clutch from Charles and Keith- RM 60.

Cotton On spree

More from Cotton On. All of these for only RM 200+

Working shirt from G2000 - Rm 40

Shirts from Padini - RM 80 for 2

Charles and Keith sandal - RM 40

Charles and Keith wedge - RM 50

Aside from shopping at JPO, been shopping a little at Singapore too. teehee

I couldn't resist this shirt from Forever 21. Look at all the Scottie dogs. So cute

Got these from H & M

Blazer from H & M

More accessories from H & M

Ballerina flats from H & M.

Another oxford shoe to the collection ♥

This has totally nothing to do with my shopping spree but got the iphone 4s not too long ago only to have it robbed last week! :( But it's only after I lost the phone did I realize the full potential and also the downside of the 4s, particularly the iCloud. I mean seriously I don't exactly get how the iCloud is really beneficial until I had lost the phone. It was then only I realized had I turn on all the applications in iCloud (which includes the Find my iPhone function), I will be able to retrieve them now from any pc as long as I have an iCloud and iTune account. But with the 4s having such an extremely short battery life (seriously it couldnt even last me throughout my shift which is like 12 hours), it's almost impossible to keep all the applications running all the time which then make all those smart apps redundant. Even with wifi and data plans turn off, the battery goes flat in like 10 hours (just using for phone calls alone). Besides Siri is kinda really dysfunctional. I mean at least for users out of the U.S region. It's only fun because it's so lame it will reply you with so much crap but when you really wants it to search for serious stuff, it cannot work or function properly. So, I dno if I be getting another 4s but with Siri being not exactly attractive and it's extremely short battery life, I'm seriously having second thoughts.

For full listings of all the outlets at JPO or how to get there etc, you can check out their website here. Alright, that's all for now. Stay safe and stay healthy this Chinese New Year. Once again, Gong Hee Fatt Choi everyone! :)

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