Pikachu Cup Noodles

Sapporo Ichiban Shoyu Ramen ($3.50)

This price tag is definitely hefty, for the little cup that doesn't fill you.

There was no seasoning pack to open, as it was already peppered within the noodles. You just need to pour in hot water and wait for that 3 minutes. And voila...

Cute Pikachu faces on the tiny fish cakes greet you when you tossed over your noodles; I counted 4-5 of them. The instant noodles are of the standard texture, having no difference from the average. The soup tastes not bad at all, none overly salted, smelling delicious also.

A real treat for that little Pokémon fans.

Christine's Handmade Gourmet Cookies

Christine's Gourmet Cookies, 225g ($25)

Kiwi Mango Cookies: Flour, Butter, Sugar, Baking Powder, Vanilla Pod, Kiwi, Mango, Honey Macadamia Nuts.

ABC Cookies: Flour, Butter, Sugar, Baking Powder, Vanilla Pod, Apple, Blueberry, Cashew Nuts.

The scent of the cookies was delicate; while i gingerly minced my first bit off the most expensive cookies of my life; trying to explain the lavishness of it all. One cookie led to the other. Distinct taste and fragrance of each of its ingredients were prominent. It was lightly buttery, fluffy, crisp and none cloying. I never felt the guilt that bothered me with factory manufactured cookies.

Notice how eggs and milk are not included in their recipes? I last heard of them using the world's finest vanilla pods from Madagascar.

Proudly produced in Singapore by The Cookie Museum, the Christine's handmade cookies were seasonal. The above launch was for the lunar Chinese New Year. Before this, they did another for Christmas. Such perfect timing to pamper that someone, or yourself.

Bonsoy - best taste of packaged soy milk!

Organic Bonsoy, 1 litre ($8.95) 

Bonsoy is my best tasting packaged Soya milk! This Japan product comes with a heftier price tag too. But it sure tastes good - natural, full bodied with a subtle sweetness which further enhances its mellow aroma. I thought it is only second rated to mum's fresh grated ones from home.

If you aren't into fancy health terms like 'organic' or 'non-genetically modified' in your food list, try the NTUC Fairprice housebrand fresh Soya milk (1 litre, reduced sugar, priced at S$1.55) from the supermart chilled section. Be surprised by its richer 'beany' flavor when compared with other premium branding that is costing more.

Godiva Chocolatier - Sea Salt with Cacao

Godiva 50% Cacao Sea Salt, Godiva 72% Cacao Almond

And i almost forgot Godiva chocolate, dismissing them simply as bars of cocoa without creativity; until Nic bought these from his America trip - bitter chocolate with tiny bits of sea salt crystals. We love it!

Now that i better appreciate; it maybe anytime a decent Godiva than the fancier Royce.

Royce Chocolate

Petite Truffle "Praline - liquor free" ($12.50, 120g), Marshmallow Chocolate "Milk Coffee" ($12.50, 85g), 

Chocolate Wafers "Tiramisu Cream" ($15, 12pcs)

Royce chocolate makes impressive gift because of their high price tags and recognized quality. These were gifts from my bosses and it certainly made a statement. But it was the hand-made card from them that is touching.

The Tiramisu cream wafers is most delightful with taste of mascarpone cheese and white chocolate, then comes the soft marshmallow coated with rich bitter cocoa.

The truffles fared lowest as i've high expectations for them - Truffettes de France from France is my most gratifying truffles so far. The Japanese can't ever beat.

Cadbury Marvellous Creations

Marvellous Creations, 290g ($8.90)

When Cadbury first launches the Marvellous Creations, i thought the chocolate was so much more expensive than our regular chocolate bars of the same weight. What's its specialty, i had wondered?

Now, i'm totally enchanted by its flavor of "Jelly Popping Candy Beanies". For the first time, popping sweets are introduced into chocolates - the popping sweets which exists in the late 80s, 'explodes' in the mouths and brought much fun and laughters to our simple childhood. Now it's here! Packaged conveniently in the chocolate bars; a tad pricey and tasted really sweet, but worth the nostalgia.

The "Jelly and Crunchie Bits" bores no surprises; sticks easily to the tooth and are even sweeter! I still want my popping sweets!

珍妮曲奇, Jenny Bakery from HK

4 Mix Butter Cookies - Flower, Coffee, Shortbread, Raisin Oat, 640g (HK$120)

There is a mania in Hong Kong over freshly baked butter cookies from Jenny Bakery; after those of the wife cake. It has gone to the extent where there's always a long... queue outside the shop (they have 2 outlets only); the time when you don't see a queue is when they are sold out!?

My enthusiastic colleague joined the queue and bought these from her trip; everybody loves them (I could only took a picture after they polished off the 1st tier of the tin)! The cookies are impressively buttery, yet fine and light at the same time; seeming to break at the slightest pressure. I like the shortbread best, and the raisin oat next; both in plain circular shape. I could snack on this all day.

But if the buying experience at their shops were as unpleasant as described in this blog; i too think i wouldn't join in the craze to spoil the vacation. Between the 2, i'll still take my wife cake ")

陈年老桔, Essence Lime with Liquorice

三叔公, Essence Lime with Liquoorice (RM$22, 800g)

The weighty bottle of San Shu Gong Lime syrup sat on the kitchen shelf and does not draw any interest after Dad bought it home, prettily wrapped. One day, Sis came down with a nasty cough and thought it tasted really nice after i made her some - i was marinating freshly cut Aloe Vera with the thicken lime syrup.

Today, i am doing the Aloe again. Recovering from my Flu, the dry throat and bitter mouth-feel made me craves for the bitter-sweet-sourish drink. Actually, i hate Liquorice (甘草) in confectionery, but this is really tasty.

The precious bottle, now seats in the fridge.

Gimbal's Jelly Beans - I call these Joy Beans!

Gimbal's Gourmet 41 Flavors Jelly Beans, 14oz. ($6.30)

Weighted down by a harsh slam from boss and an unfamiliar job task, I couldn't have been more blue... Popping these, not pills but delicious jelly beans from Gimbal's Fine Candies, lifted my spirit and cheered me to take all in my stride.

Thank God for Jelly Beans! 

These does not have the funny plastic taste which i remembered, and comes in 41 fantastic flavors, i.e Watermelon, Root Beer, Tutti Frutti, Green Apple, Tangerine, Wild Cherry, Pink Grapefruit, Strawberry Cheesecake, Pomegranate, Coconut, Mango, Spicy Cinnamon, Licorice, French Vanilla, Roasted Marshmallow, Tiramisu, Kiwi, Butter Popcorn! I am amazed, how do they do this? And all without Trans fat and high fructose corn syrup.

37 pieces of these chewy beans yield just 27g of sugars and 140 calories! I'm eating all that i want to stay gleefully happy!

To satisfy my craving, we later bought from the Jelly Bean Factory, as Gimbal’s is not available in Singapore market. But it doesn’t match up to Gimbal’s; quite contrary to claims that jelly beans tasted the same.

Not all jelly beans are the same.

Doggyman hello! Pet Milk

Doggyman hello! Pet Milk for Gods and Cats, 1000ml ($4.20)

Our Jack Russell is completely sold by the hello! pet milk from Japan, the Doggyman. He waits about for his 'milk milk' once you retrieve the pack from the fridge; and this is quite unlike his usual response to human-consumable fresh milk which i now recalled - he was sort of patronizing us then.

Despite being milky white, the milk has a delicious chocolaty fragrant which also attracts me. The dog consumes a bowlful each time and does not display any lactose intolerance symptoms.

Nutritional Information on Package

Sunnyhills Pineapple Cakes

凤梨酥, Pineapple Cakes (Box of 10, NT$ 350 = S$14.46)

Singapore listing, S$25 for box of 10

Received a souvenir from Taiwan, of Mung Bean cake (with red bean) from Vigor and Pineapple cakes from Sunnyhills. Decided to blog about the latter cos that's the one that made me want a third; 2 is not yet enough.

We love the packaging of Sunny in steady cardboard, paper wraps and canvas tote bags for carrier - modern and eco-friendly.

I like Vigor's Pineapples cakes previously, now the ones from Sunny overtook them. These from Sunny tasted sweeter than Vigor's, but it isn't cloying. And i could actually extract a full piece of toasted pineapple fiber easily from the beefy 50g piece.

Fresh from Taiwan, the baked pastry has an amazing toasty finish that was missing from those at the Singapore retail in Raffles Hotel.

Welch's Grape Juice

Welch's 100% Concord Grape Juice, 1.36L ($8.20)

It wasn't exaggerating to serve the juices in a wine glass; the Welch's grape juice is 100% juice, with added 120% of vitamin C, no sugar added and supports a healthy heart. You'll simply love the taste of it - slight sparkling, thickly flavored, sourly sweet. I am putting this on my shopping list.

A small glass like this packs a punch for a nice after-dinner sip. Serve chilled. 

You could say it's red wine without the alcohol.

This thing really reminds us of the Cup at our Sunday holy communion!

Market O Real Brownie

Market O Real Brownie, 80g (4,800 won, S$5.28)

Friend was contracted to work in Korea and bought this brownie for us on her visit back. The brownie is bitterly chocolatey with bit of chocolate chips between bites. It is rather nice.

Of course you can't compare it with warm brownies obtain fresh from good bakeries but this is definitely a convenient and tasty choice to accompany that cup of coffee when you do not want to travel out. A comfort for an untimely cocoa craving.

Some Korea supermarket brought in the stock; we saw many boxes at Shine Korea retailing at $4.90.

Ceres 100% Juice

Ceres 100% Juice, 1 litre ($2.35)

Used to having fruit juices in conventional stand-alone flavors, it piqued our curiosity watching these fancy juice blend from Ceres, South Africa making to our supermart. Poetically named like 'Full Moon Harvest' and 'Whispers of Summer', it's good marketing to lure in the romantics.

This Summer, the beverage tasted exceptionally refreshing compared to a glass of ice cold Coke; minus the Caffines. Took some time finishing these packs to give you a brief run-down here.

Full Moon Harvest - Pear, Peaches, Berries

Cloudy in birch color, sweet and little sour with taste of Peaches and Pear.

Guava

Thickly cloudy in pink, tasted both of sweet and sour with tinge of bitterness! Most memorable of the lot.

Cranberry and Kiwi

Clear in transparent yellow - think apple juice, tasted sharply sour on a sweet tone, like apple juice but of a more interesting streak. An effective thirst quencher.

Whispers of Summer - Orange, Mango, Passion Fruits

Looked like Orange juice, and tasted almost like it until you note the clear hint of Passion Fruits layered in Mango flavor. Sweet.

Mango

Semi transparent orangey yellow, of the color of mango. Lightly sweeten, ripe mango with a nice aroma that you get from sucking on the hairy seed of the fruit.

Grape

Clear colored and tasted like the Ribena drink. Only, this is sweeter and more flavorsome. But if you compared it to Welch's grape juice; Welch's wins hands down.

Orange

Lightly cloudy with broken orange pulps floating about in orangey yellow liquid. Bitter, tangy and a little sweet. I relate this much to an orange squash than an 100% orange juice pack.

Tostitos Tortilla Corn Chips

Tostitos Restaurant Style Tortilla Chips, 283.5g ($6.35)

While teenage friends munch on potato chips, i took to corn chips for its flavorfulness and firm bites. Those days, corn chips were cheaper than potato chips but tough on your tooth, unlike these fine things by Tostitos - Stone-ground White Corns.

We had their Restaurant Style which resembles the old thing but much fine-grained (love this!); Hint of Limes tasted amazingly of Khong Guan's Lemon Puffs and thinly textured Scoops! designed for generous heaping of Salsa dips.

These are naturally flavorsome corn chips, good enough to replace some of the best potato chips around. I am sure.

Gardenia Choco Raisin - only in Malaysia

Gardenia Delicia Choco Raisin (RM$4.20)

Recently, i've began to acknowledge the supremacy of Gardenia's recipe. Wholemeal loaves that are branded as dry and tough, are made cotton soft and tasty by Gardenia. We have been buying their Super Soft and Fine Wholemeal, Fine Grain Wholemeal and Low Glycemic Index (GI) Multi-Grains.

So we never hesitate getting the Gardenia Choco Raisin from Malaysia when we spotted it; cos we don't have them in Singapore.

If you had preferred chocolate bread as rich as Bonjour Choco Chip bread, you would be disappointed. Unlike the Bonjour that smudged your hands with melted chocolate, Gardenia leaves you relatively clean.

The raisins though, are good substitute for a lighter recipe and we enjoyed the soft, firm bread.

Gardenia Delicia Raspberry Milk & Cranberries (RM$4.20), 
Gardenia Wholemeal with Canadian Purple Wheat (RM$3.50)

Months later, Sis bought these 2 Gardenia loafs from Johor Bahru! What innovation! Yes, the one with Canadian purple wheat produces purplish dough, it is interesting! And altogether delicious.

Why is Singapore's Gardenia so conservative? Even if they ain't, price is a factor - each special recipe loaf that Sis bought in today cost less than S$1.70!

Nature's Wonders Nuts

Tai Sun Fruits & Nuts Fusion, 320g ($6.80)

Tai Sun The Royal Mix, 240g ($8.90)

I had thought old Tai Sun was over the hill. Studying the air tight packaging of Nature's Wonder, it is a surprise to have Tai Sun's name behind these best quality dried fruits and nuts. Now our favorite Camel has a worthy opponent.

The tough packaging preserves its content perfectly while i could smell only naturalness and freshness from these nuts, none any tints of chemical bleaching or sweeteners! It is safe assurance we were consuming.

Accustomed to their Fruits & Nuts Fusion, the Royal Mix re-introduced me to Macadamia, Walnuts and dried Cranberries which i had previously shunned. To the designer who put together these clever mixes - you made eating healthy, attractive.

Vietnamese Lotus Seed

Roasted Lotus Seed, 500g (S$10)

Nic was back from a work week in Vietnam and specially visited us tonight with a pack of Vietnamese popular local product - seeds of fresh-water Lotus flower.

It has a aromatic crunch and is tasty... Ummm... a texture like dried red dates but much firmer and tougher, like nuts. 'Tis an interesting buy from Vietnam which would cost you double to triple the price to purchase the rare snack in Singapore.

The Chinese especially adores these seeds for its medical values - high in protein, benefiting the spleen, kidney, heart and improving conditions of sexual, insomnia, venereal diseases, diarrhea. Even the bitter embryo within the seeds that were usually removed before processing is believed to be beneficial.

But how much of these properties were retained after the roasting process? We just popped them like popcorn snack into our mouths ;)

Salt roasted Cashews with skin

As a bonus tips - these ugly salted cashews from Vietnam is terrific too! 

They looked ugly because the testa, skin of the nuts were not removed for the roasting. But this is good! The texture is so fine, you don't taste them and it helps increase the antioxidants in the nuts. This is special treat. Must buy back, ok!

Godiva Chocolate Bar

Godiva Chocolate Bars Assortment, 60 pcs ($78)

I don't reject chocolate; they are innocent, just as kids. Even when the sender makes the gift with a purposeful glaring price tag sticker... they are but a box of decent chocolate.

The box contains 0% cocoa content of White-Blanc Chocolate and 30% Milk Chocolate, 50%, 72%, 85% Dark Chocolate - where the 72% is our favourite, with mild sweetness and just the right amount of cocoa.

White Chocolate is too sweet while the extreme of 85% cocoa tasted of light bitterness with undeveloped flavor.

Sahm Yook Korean Seasoned Seaweed

Korean Dried Flavored Seaweed, 3 x 5g pack ($1.60)

Are you getting tried of having packed lunch everyday, from particularly the same food stalls? I am.. since we're getting too busy to afford lunch out :(

So i'm packing simple home-cooked food rather than agonizing over lunch orders. And these savory Sahm Yook Korean seaweed peps up any plain meal of rice - i ate wrapping the crunchy sheets, like sushi roll over rice. It certainly feels healthy, minimizing on food intake as we desk bound the entire day...

And though the seaweed tasted quite salty (going very well with rice), it doesn't dry you like MSG. Simple lunch; now's back to the computer screen...