Plain Vanilla - Pop Up Store at Rockstar

Plain Vanilla Cupcakes

It's almost December!~ the jolly season to pamper yourself & the friends around you.

A season for giving and receiving.. oh the cliché

Forget about gift exchanges, pamper youself with pretty things

& you'll feel happier!

-----

Don't you just love this pretty Tiffany's Xmas tree?

-----

Well I'd love to have that turquoise box but you know i can only afford the brown box instead~

hahahahaa that's right, PV!

-----

 proudly presenting: My Box of Happiness :>

I've tried their cupcakes once pretty long ago at Holland Village...

Mange to find the only photo I took which is in 2012...

hahahahaa back then I wasn't such a foodie person, I remember it being really moist and I like how dark choc is not too sweet for the frosting!

But i think they don't sell this anymore, maybe the closest would be the dark choc ganche

 

but then again the prices of these cupcakes usually turn me off, no really I mean how's that $3.50 cupcake worth the price plus the fosting are usually too sweet for my liking

So I'll usually go for macaroons instead...

-----

But since PV has a pop-up store at Cine, I decided to give it a try again ^^

Not exactly the cheapest cupcake but I guess $3.50-$4.00 is the usual pricing, oh the inflation~

Decided to get one of their best-sellers and the Christmas special!

---

-----

i love strawberries & hummingbird.

I've tried Hummingbird cake at The Fabulous Baker Boy before & I fell in love with those...

First up, The Hummingbird ($3.90), it really looked very pretty!

Looks just like a sunflower petal awww!

But no, it's just a dried piece of pineapple slice that is so cleverly made to this!

---

Pic below credits to PV FB Page: 

man, I love this cupcake...

if you're a fan of carrot cake i guess you'll most likely like Hummingbird as well.

---

It has a mixture of lots of ingredients from the obvious: sliced pineapple, coconut, banana in a spiced cake with cream cheese frosting!

From PV website it also says it includes a dash of bourbon too!

---

I really like how it taste so rich & soft even in room temperature.

To be honest, some cupcakes only tatse good when they are served warm but for PV it still taste just as good in room temperature!

I can tell that they don't scrimp on their ingredients!

---

It was moist & soft, the frosting goes really well with the cupcake.

It wasn't too sweet and you can even feel a little coconut crunch texture as you bite,

I guess this is also one of the reason why hummingbird cupcake are so good.

& the fragrance of spice & banana...awesome!!

   

---

Next up, Strawberry White Chocolate ($3.50)

I was told by the staff that this is one of their hot seller

So naturally, I decided to give it a try~

This is one of the classic cupcakes you'll find.

If you have sweet tooth & doesn't mind strawberries then this is for you.

It's moist & sweet perfect for your girlfriends~

It's like one of the cupcakes that never goes wrong

I like how it has a real strawberry embedded  right in the middle~

 it was a sweet berry too!  yum yum.

A really simple & satisfying cupcake indeed

---

----

Overall: PV Cupcakesare really worth your calories

Definitely will come back to try more flavors, hands down!

Anyways here is wishing you all a 

x Till then x

Plain Vanilla

Pop Up Store at Rockstar: Now till 24 Dec '13

Holland Village  •  34A Lorong Mambong, Singapore 277691

1D Yong Siak Street, Singapore 168641

NamNam Noodle Bar

NamNam Noodle Bar

It's TGIF once again, what a long week this is.

Well honestly don;t you think, every weekday always seems so far from the weekend?

Head over to Wheelock to try the highly raved pho.

---

I've read books before, Vietnamese specialty is to have a piping hot bowl of pho.

& this particular pho was said to be of  Saigon's Style.

Just a brief background for those who are clueless, Ho Chi Min was formerly known as Saigon.

Saigon is said to be land of the dragon~ (old folklore stories)

From where I was seated. Though the queue was pretty long when we came at about 7pm-ish, 

but the queue was moving considerably resonable.

   

rustic looking cups & sauces

---

First up for the dessert of the day: Sweet Potato Net Balls ($2.90)

   

This was the special dessert of the day, so we decided to have a go.

Initially I was just kinda disappointed at how small it was, I mean it's almost a dollar fifty for one stick right?!

But it really took me back by surprise! A close up view, it's really crispy and sweet! 

Fried Sweet Potato filling omonmom

---

What I had in a glance~

---

Pho Beef Combination ($9.90)

---

this is really good for first timer like me to try this.

It has the different kind of beefs in here.

From Beef Slices to beef balls to chicken chunks & some other peculiar ingredients...

---

Clear soup base, not too salty nor oily.

Looked really presentable with the large green bowl.

It's something light if you are looking for something affordable and filling, try this!

---

Okay so here is this weird looking meat? I guess, it's somewhat like fish maw (in chinese: yu piao)

texture is a little harder than sea cucumber~

---

& this is one of my favorite, beef balls! heheheh I love these as well as the beef slices!

but opps didn't manage to capture the close up of the beef slices~

(but well the beef slices are behind the balls if you can spot it)

but if you are wondering they are a little similar to yoshinoya's kinda beef!~

& at a glance....

---

Verdict: 

The ambiance was okay to chit chat but I guess anywhere in Town is crowded on a Friday night.

So no doubt for Nam Nam was too, since there was a waiting queue outside.

But food was served quite fast, which is definitely a plus point I mean who would want to queue and wait even longer for their food right?

Oh yes, the price stated is also net price! wheee but make sure you order/ pay at the counter first!

Generous amount of meat & noodles too.

---

I would say eat this when you have some serious beef craving! 

This place is worth a try but not fantastic, but I will definitely come back to order the Pho Beef Balls, cause that's my fav!

 & maybe give the sandwich a try too.

---

Oh yes, almost forgot they had this beverage called the Lotus Tea ($2.50) which is pretty bland with a tinge of lemony taste... So if you arehopping for something sweet to drink this is definitely a no-no.

-----

Overall, a humble meal indeed!

Nam Nam Noodle Bar

Lunch

Chan Kee Roasted 

Lazy day, having some chinese food to soothe my sudden craving for Char Siew Rice~

it's really good!! Only $2.50 for this portion!

You see that's why we all love hawker food sometimes, keeps us full with the freshest ingredients~

-----

Chan Kee Roasted

120 Bukit Merah Lane #01-33

Singapore 150120

Lola Cafe

LOLA CAFE

Met up with my sec school pals for some dinner!! :D

Tucked in the vinicity of Kovan, you find Lola Cafe (it is pretty near to Ice Edge Cafe, if you are wondering where is it really at)

Please pardon the pictures below, it was 7pm-ish so you now bad lightning & the cafe was dimly lit too~

   

Sitting at the couch waiting for our seats

& If you are wondering what they served for dinner, here is the menu!

There is also a brunch menu which serves the all-day-breakfasts kinda food!

At a glance~ (ughh blurry pics) there's the burger on the top 

-----

So X & H got the Spicy Grilled Chicken Burger ($14)

Here is the close-up, it's quite a big burger imo!

If you're really hungry, it's definitely one of the options you can choose to fill your tummy.

I like puffy burger, like really fat and thick! I mean we don;t usually see those at supermarkets do we? 

Anyway there's the spicy chicken patty, cheese, sliced tomatoes, lettuces and sauce inside~

My friend said that it was rather average & she won't try it again.

Tried a mouth myself, a little spicy but not memorable for me :)

\

-----
Next, B & S got the Pan Fried Duck Leg with Creamy Mash($16)

the verdict from my friends: portion is a little small, but the meat is relatively tender as well,

I think it's pretty descent and yummy coming out from someone who doesn't like to eat duck much! If you're looking for something light to eat, try this!

It's Duck leg so it's the more tender meat! & it lays atop of a patch of mashed potatoes whoaa

This is more of the fine dinning ind of dinner I would say, nicely presented but small portion!

---

& I got the Slow Braised Pork Goulash ($13)

I honestly think this is quite awesome!

Okay so I googled what is goulash & it is bascially a stew mixed with a couple of spices.

& it taste somewhat like curry/ naan kinda flavour

Really flavourful with chunks of meat (no bones at all) & some tomatoes, capcium!!

Best part of it, it is served with sliced french baguette!!

Onommonmm!! :D I thought I couldn't finish the stew, but i dipped & spooned & quite surprised to finish the pot! :o

   

Sorry for the weird colour below, it's just the currry kinda colour if you know what I mean!

the picture really don't do justice for this dish!

      

Love the big sppon, scoop up all da meat!!!

  

Dip it & eat it together with the chunky and tender meat~ mmhmm

---

We also ordered a side of Truffle Fries ($12)

Well I am quite a fan of fries, i like how it is evenly fried, not too soggy heh

but one thing I don't really like about this is that it kind of smell too cheesy for me.

Like I like how truffle fries are, but look at the chessy flakes on it.

I don't quite like it cause it kind of cover the smell of the "truffle", okay more like when you first put it in your mouth you'll think it's some cheese fries but after awhile then you get the truffle smell.

I still prefer skinny pizza version of truffle fries thouguh, but the portion is quite big, which is pretty suitable for us ( a group of 5). ^^ value for money! yay

---

   

-----

Here is one of their famous lemon tart I think!

   

-----

A pity that we were too full to have our dessert, blehh.

We even choose what we were all having when we were waiting outside the cafe! Boo

 My recommendation: if you are thinking of having dinner here, skip the fries, eat the desserts after your main!

If not you'll really be too full to have any more sweets!

---

This will be my list of come-back cafes!

The staffs are pretty friendly imo, didn't get here name, but she gave me a brief intro on all the desserts they serve!

Really patient and you just gotta raise your hand for the bottle of water to be served!

& best part? the price is already inclusive of GST!! WHOOHOO!!

;D uh huh, good for brunch/ high tea and dinner small or big group is welcomed :D

-----

Lola Cafe

5 Simon Road

Tue:3pm to 11:30pm

Wed & Thur: 10am to 11:30am

Fri to Sun: 10am to 12midnight

Cake Spade

CAKE SPADE

Decided to come over here to try the highly raved tofu cheesecake myself.

It was pretty near where I worked at, finding this place was rather convenient.

The array of cakes they sold here...

   

oh they do sell brownie and tarts as well~

      

---       

Wanted to try this because the strawberry looked so goodd but we decided to try their "popular" cakes instead~ & how do we define popular? 

By looking at which has the least number of slices left!! Don't judge us!

   

   

   

It was a pretty small & cozy interior, with a few tables on the outside~

-----

So here is what we ordered:

   

An aerial & side view~

   

-----

1. Strawberry Tofu Cheesecake ($5.90/ Slice)

As we brought this cake back to our seat from the couter, it was wobbling like some agar agar (jelly) hahahaha

this is a definitely a much lighter rendition "cheesecake" cake for the healthy conscious people.

I know, how can cakes be healthy, what I meant is that at least, it's much lighter compared to the actual cheesecake~!

Initially, this cake was kinda blend to me & my J, 

No doubt they looked really foodporn-ish but it takes a few bite to actually like this stuff

---

It's has a really light taste, the first layer was a jelly & the strawberry, the red jelly does not have much flavour but I was really pleased when the strawberry was sweet!

The middle which I suppose is the Tofu part, was rather peculiar  It didn't taste like cheese but not anything like tofu too.

hahahaha ok hard to explain, you gotta try it, just a simple "cheese" like texture that melts in your mouth!

& of course, a layer of digestive biscuit....

I was hopping for a thicker layer of digestive below, since the it's a rather light cake imo.

Can get a little addictive eating this but it will still be my 2nd choice!

-----

-----

2. Dark Chocolate Banana Cake ($6.20/ Slice)

Was contemplating to get this cake or the hummingbird

But us being kiasu, we ended up buying the dark choc ince there was only 2 slices left!

---

Loving this cake! It's definitely a must try for choc lover!!

It's very moist and not too sweet.

There's a layer of dark choc mousse on the bottom , and the middle lawyer of cream with some chopped bananas! & it is frosted with dark choc ganche!

There is also some banana chops on the top which I find is a little out of place...

---

So you see it's really not too sweet with this dark choc combination. 

Best served with a cuppa of hot tea~

Totally can imagine a lazy afternoon slipping tea & eating this cake~ ooohhh ahhh

Pardon me if my picture below does not look anything close to being aesthetically yummy, 

choc lover you know what I mean right?!

-----

-----

Overall Verdict: 

Definitely a place I will come by again for a simple catch-up session with my friend(s).

Recommend this place for couples or even a mini group of up to 4 friends!

Will come back again to try the other cake flavors!!

Personally I prefer to sit outdoor because it can be a little awkward to sit inside cause the shopfloor quite small on the inside & a little too near to the counter where the staffs are.

--- 

-----

Cake Spade

1 Tras Link, #01-06 Orchid Hotel

Nearest Mrt: Tanjong Pagar (Exit A)

Mon to Thur: 12pm to 8pm

Fri to Sat: 12pm to 1130pm