Food Review: Fresh Fruits Lab

I paid two visits to Fresh Fruits Lab already, heheh.
Its up there on my favourite cafe list, along with Chock Full of Beans, and Stranger's Reunion.

As the name suggests, the cafe is themed along a laboratory setting,
featuring fruits as their primary source of focus.. or experiments, as they like to call it.
They try to mix up your usual dishes with fruits, some of which are pretty creative.

First visit was with Bimb!
It was her idea to visit this cafe - and ironically we went on Labour Day.
As if we not sick of going to lab.

#workaholic #thatswhywebff

Fresh Fruits Lab is located near Kembangan MRT, just a five minutes' walk away!
Cross the traffic light at the station exit, follow the canal path next to Kembangan Plaza.
At the end of the path, there's another traffic light. No need to cross!
Turn right and walk down the road till you see FFL.

Fresh Fruits Lab

351 Changi Road

Singapore 419818

Opening hours:
Tue -Thurs 11 am to 10 pm
Fri 11 am – 11 pm
Sat - Sun 10 am – 11 pm

Brunch menu is available Sat - Sun from 10 am to 3 pm.
Burgers and 'Hearty Meaty' Mains not available during brunch timings.

Closed on Mondays

We were pleasantly surprised that we managed to find seats easily despite it being a PH.

Received a complimentary test tube of their fruit juice - flavors at given at random.

Actually it felt very wrong to be putting the test tubes to our mouths LOL.
It's exactly what we haven't been allowed to do all this time :x

Ordered our usual drinks - Iced Chocolate for me, and Iced Mocha for Bimb! - $7
Both were not bad, not too sweet or tasteless.

Actually it would have been perfect; if not for the single strand of hair in mine.

That's the only thing I would have complaints about:
The staff had untied hair, which I think is inappropriate for service staff in F&B.
Especially if they are preparing food !

And because it was brunch, we ordered breakfast foods, and a side.

Messy Breakfast - $17
Toasted English muffins, scrambled truffle eggs, bratwurst sausages, bacon wrapped pineapple and fruit salad.
Messy enough for you?

Bananalicious Pancakes - $11
Banana infused pancakes, topped with caramelized and fresh bananas.

Pancakes were done well, soft and fluffy.
Bananas not too sweet as well.

Eh but they forgot to mention the pancakes was infused with blueberries too.
Not so nice if you have any allergies or don't like blueberries.

Beer Shrooms - $10
Deep fried juicy button mushrooms coated with beer batter.

Super awesome !
No unexpected surprises - lightly coated and nicely seasoned. Very juicy too.

Of course, my bff has a dessert stomach so we couldnt miss their Lychee Cake - $6.50

Looks pretty on the outside and the inside.
Honestly it tasted weird - the sponge layers wasn't spongy like your usual shortcake, it was more like huat kueh.
And too sweet after few bites.

Coincidentally, we bumped into a poly friend of ours,
AND saw Aunty Lay Hua and her family as well!
Damn small world. Hahaha.

So we left there feeling quite satisfied - not a perfect visit, but there's still obvious skill and potential.
Just never order their lychee cake :x

Second visit was with a bigger group - my sisters, pearlyn, bowei and pok.
This time it was a dinner visit.

More utensils - bring out the scalpels!
What do you mean, no scalpels.. okay lor a sterilization tray will suffice.

Told you I'd be back for you, Beer Shrooms.

Oh you and your bff Truffle Fries - $12.

I'd pick Beer Shrooms anytime, because in all honesty, the truffle fries are well seasoned, yes,

but I'm bored of it already. :B

Our feast!

Da Bomb Burger - $19

250g beef patty with lettuce, tomatoes, sweet onion, cornichons, crispy bacon, sunny side-up egg & melted cheese.

Cornichons are actually pickles.

I don't take beef, but the little sister had this and she said it's heaven on a plate.

Just as a warning - such a big plate !

I would like to bring honorable mention to their pasta dishes.

Masago Caviar Pasta - $20

Choice of spaghetti or linguine, topped with baked half shell scallops, fresh quail egg and caviar masago

Caviar masago is just a fancy name for your usual tobiko roe - the ones in sushi.

Very nicely seasoned, and noodles were al dente!

Creamy Alfredo Pasta - $18
Sauteed mushrooms and sliced turkey ham cooked in white wine cream sauce, garnished with crispy enoki mushrooms and shaved parmesan cheese

Exactly that.
It's so light - almost able to fight with the best carbonara I had in Bangkok. :3

Their mains - Fish & Chips, etc - also come with shoestring fries and fruit salad, though it's not mentioned.
Weirdly, the accompanying sides are mentioned for their burgers.
You may choose to top-up $3 for truffle fries.

Their pretty Fruit Infused Sodas are nicely presented in conical flasks and mini beakers! - $6
I like that they serve the flavouring concentrate separately.
You have more control over the sweetness of the drinks, and I guess it adds to the experience,
as if you're really concocting your own chemistry mix!

Fresh Fruits Lab has shown creativity, and finesse in their dishes.
There are no complaints in terms of taste - everything is well seasoned and tastes good.

I appreciate that, especially for cafes which have a central theme.
I visited a similar lab-concept cafe few months ago, and while their deco really brought out the theme,
their dishes did nothing to capture hearts.
Which is why I'd rather bring Pok to FFL :B

I would still want to give their Rainbow Cake a try too - so I will definitely be back!
Hopefully it'll be nicer than the Lychee cake.

Food Review: Fix Cafe

When I saw someone post a sexy, oozy photo of mac and cheese from Fix Cafe, 

I immediately went to Google its address.

Dropped by on a Sunday afternoon with my sister and dad!

We were in the area after our volunteer work and decided to visit for brunch.

Fix Cafe

31 Ah Hood Road, HomeTeamNS 

#01-07 

Singapore 329979

Opening hours: 

Mon to Fri 11am to 10.30pm

Sat Sun & PH: 11 am to 10.30 pm

They've got this industrial workshop feel, with all the pipes and wheels accentuating the cafe.

Best of all is the pool view seats.

Damn shiok to be lounging by the poolside and nomming.

On to the food! 

You may choose to pair your mains with either a drink (+$2), starter or milkshake (+$4), or a cake (+$3)

Quite worth it for those who want a complete meal experience.

3 Cheese Penne Gratin, or the reason why I am here - $10

Such a beautiful mix of cheddar, mozzarella and parmesan, with al dente penne.

Though it seems like too small, the serving size is actually just right to prevent it from getting too jelat.

Shiok!

Fish and Chips - $12

Ginormous piece of battered dory, sitting atop a plate of thick fries.
The classic batter is always love - not the breaded kind :x

Perfectly battered - not too thick.

Fried Chicken and Waffles - $12

Juicy chicken bits on a fluffy crispy waffle.

Niceeeeeeee.

Another reason why I flocked here, Donuts with Salted Egg Yolk Dip - $7

Reminiscent of your standard sugared donuts, but with salted egg yolk sauce.
It would have been more awesome if the sauce was warm.

I felt overwhelmed by expectations, so sad.

Fix is definitely a place I would return to - for the 3 cheese gratin, the creative sounding naanwiches, and the lepak ambience.

However getting there can be a challenge, as there's not much buses which get there.
In my opinion, a 10 minutes walk from Toa Payoh is easiest.
The twisty path of the bus takes longer. Hahaha

Review: Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Gel

Back with another Biore product to share!

This time, it's their sunblock - Biore's UV Aqua Rich Watery Gel.

Perfect timing, because my current sunblock is about to run out. :p

As with every year, the June-July sun is sweltering!

I quite heng la, this year's fasting month saved me from going out to get lunch and getting baked in the process. :B

Thankful for the fact that my working environment is sheltered and air-conditioned too.

Sometimes when I do follow my colleagues out to buy food, 

we often complain of the heat, but at the end of our lunch hour, we still have our sanctuary.

Salute the people who are working so hard under the merciless sun - namely the construction workers, and actually, taxi drivers too!

I see my dad's right arm and left, totally different color due to the window's position. ):

Must always be thankful, and count our blessings. 

Okay, so ahem, my current sunblock is also from Biore - UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence

Aiya, affordable ma, plus its a brand I'm familiar with, so no fear of pimple outbreaks.

I've been using it for the past two years, and I love it for the light, non-greasy texture.

*Previously I had tried Nivea's Facial Sunscreen, but that left a obvious white 'rim' around the edges of my face.

And my face felt slightly oily few hours after application - due to my skin type; I have combination skin.

Passed it on to my aunt - who has dry skin - and that worked for her though.

No matter what brand, it is always important to choose the right type of product for your own skin type.

For starters, Biore takes their UV protection range very seriously.

They have reformulated their products to offer SPF50+ and PA++++ sun protection rating - the highest level recognised in the industry.

How does it work? 

Sunscreen products are rated based on two rating systems, 

known as the Skin Protection Factor (SPF) and the PA rating system. 

UV Rays from the sun comprises of UVA and UVB rays, and penetrates skin at different levels.

SPF rating determines the duration of time your skin stays protected against UVB rays. 

A sunscreen with the rating of SPF50 blocks up to 98 percent of UVB rays from penetrating into skin. 

Plus, anything higher than a SPF50 rating compromises on the texture of the sunscreen, 

making it heavier and greasier when applied to skin.

PA rating is a Japanese rating system that indicates the protection you are receiving against UVA rays. 

The higher the number of pluses, the greater the protection against UVA rays. 

Currently, the highest standard of PA protection in the industry is PA++++.

So basically, Biore has managed to improve their formula to protect our skin sufficiently, and at the same time, maintain a light watery texture.

Let's put their claims to the test.

And, as a bonus, what's the difference between the UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence, and the new Watery Gel?

Here I have, my old bottle of UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence, which I bought sometime in January at HK.

This is still available, but in the new PA++++ formula.

Acts as a regular sunscreen, protects skin, and promises of a light watery texture upon application.

And the UV Aqua Rich Watery Gel.

Already with the new PA++++ formula, it boasts to also brighten skin for a glowy, dewy appearance.

It is infused with hyaluronic acid and citrus extract to keep skin hydrated and fresh.

Also promises to have a light watery texture.

I squeezed a small amount of each product on the back of my hand - tried to dispense the exact same amount as possible.

I kid you not, the watery gel started to slide off my hand almost immediately.

Comparing both product consistencies, they are not very visibly different initially,

yet as I picked up my camera I could feel the watery gel becoming more liquid than the other.

Interesting.

I rubbed the product into my skin - watery gel first, cause it was sliding off, then watery essence.

Like woah, the watery gel spread very easily, and produced lots of visible droplets. Amazing leh!

And for the same amount, you can see that the watery gel covers a lot more than the essence.

Close up !

UV Aqua Rich Watery Gel

UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence

Both products absorbed easily into the skin, within a minute. 

I would dare to say 30 secs actually, cause it's true !

There's also a cooling sensation as it dried, I likey. 

Another important point to me: There is no strong smell!
There is a light citrus fragrance for both.

With regards to the finish, my skin was feeling light, and there is totally no greasy feeling or white marks.

I wouldn't say the Watery Gel gave my skin any brightening glow more than the Watery Essence did, though.

In conclusion, I actually like the new UV Aqua Rich Watery Gel better, 

because of the moisturizing effect, and it spreads easier on my skin. (Can use a bottle for longer, LOLOL) :B

For those who are interested, 

the new Biore Aqua Rich Watery Gel retails at $18.90 for a 90ml bottle, and is available at all pharmacies, hypermarkets and supermarkets, and major departmental stores :D

Review: Biore Aqua Jelly Makeup Remover

I always get excited when there's a review request for Biore's makeup removers,

because they always exceed expectations :D

I'm a loyal fan of their Biore Cleansing Oil Cotton Sheets - super convenient and effective.
1 sheet is more than enough for me to wipe off my makeup, which consists of BB cream and eyeliner.
Simplicity is the key ; and my eyes are too small anyway. :x

Today, I'm introducing Biore's new product - Aqua Jelly Makeup Remover!

I previously did another review on Biore's Micellar Cleansing Water

What's the difference for the Aqua Jelly?

The formulation is of a smooth jelly consistency, which glides on pretty easily.

It contains 40% moisturizing essence, so you are cleansing your skin and keeping it moisturized at the same time.

How to use?

No need for facial cotton pads.

Simply pump an appropriate amount onto your hands, and spread it evenly over your face.

Just like using your regular face wash!

For the amount of makeup I use, 1 pump is sufficient.

Massage gently to dissolve the makeup.

I find that it doesn't feel sticky at all! Like a lightweight gel.

Lastly, rinse off with water and taa-daa! Done.

My skin doesn't feel tight at all.
Most importantly, my super stubborn waterproof eyeliner actually managed to get dissolved!

Quite impressed, and I may actually consider switching to this instead of the cotton sheets.
Feels like less of a waste, because I only need one pump to clear all.
Cotton sheets I can actually use just half, but my sister would kill me if I kept tearing them :x


Biore Aqua Jelly Makeup Remover retails at $24.90,
It can be found at all leading supermarkets, personal care stores, pharmacies & departmental stores.