A Selecta Hershey’s Ice Cream Collection Surprise

A yummy cool surprise greeted me last week when I flew back from Singapore – I found a set of Selecta Hershey’s Ice Cream Collection for sampling and review in our freezer. The flavors included Hershey’s Milk Chocolate, Milk Chocolate with Almonds, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and Hershey’s Kisses. Awesome!

Hershey's Chocolate Shop in Universal Studios Singapore

Hershey's Chocolate Shop in Universal Studios Singapore

It quickly gave me flashbacks of the Hershey’s chocolate store I just visited at the Universal Studios in Singapore right beside Resorts World Sentosa. It was a chocoholic’s dream come true going into a shop full of Hershey’s chocolates in all forms and variants.

(Flashback ends) Ok, back to the ‘now.’ All my friends know I’m an ice cream lover, in what ever brand or form it may come. Although of course, I do prefer some flavors over another.

Needless to say, I had to try all four flavors in four different sittings. And after trying out the Selecta Hershey’s Ice Cream flavors one by one, I tried them again all at the same time just to be sure in the ‘taste analysis’ I conducted myself. 🙂

Hershey's Milk Chocolate Ice Cream

Hershey's Milk Chocolate Ice Cream

And the verdicts are…..

Milk Chocolate

It’s Hershey’s classic milk chocolate transformed into ice cream. This is for the Hershey’s Milk Chocolate loyalists who wants it as it is and in no other way.

Hershey's Milk Chocolate with Almonds Ice Cream

Hershey's Milk Chocolate with Almonds Ice Cream

Milk Chocolate with Almonds

This is my better version of the Milk Chocolate variant because of the chewy chocolate chips, thicker chocolate ripples, and nutty texture care of the almonds.

However, I do believe there’s still some room for more chocolate chips and roasted almonds. 😛

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups Ice Cream

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups Ice Cream

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

This is the odd one among the four. But that’s just me. I’m not a fan of Reese’s chocolates which explains everything.

But if you love Reese’s Chocolates or the peanut butter flavor, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t like this one as chunks of Reese’s peanut butter cups are spread all over.

Hershey's Kisses Ice Cream

Hershey's Kisses Ice Cream

Hershey’s Kisses

This one’s a twin swirl of milk chocolate and white chocolate ice cream sprinkled with cookie crumbles, chocolate ripples, and of course, bits of Hershey’s Kisses. I love how the whites gave my palette some rest from the slew of chocolate ice creams. 🙂

It was a hard choice for me in deciding between this and the Milk Chocolate with Almonds. In the end, I had to choose one.

There you go! Ice cream manufacturers understandably continue to try creating interesting ice cream flavors to satisfy the modern market’s ever demanding taste. But combining Unilever’s ice cream with one of the most loved chocolate brand on the world, how can it go wrong, right? 🙂

And the winner is…

All four variants has the same Hershey’s chocolate base that is undeniably creamy. But I like the mixture and added texture provided by the chocolate chips, almonds, and chocolate swirls of the Milk Chocolate with Almonds. It’s my winner with the Hershey’s Kisses coming in close second.

Hershey's Kisses Ice Cream (right) is my 2nd best choice

Hershey's Kisses Ice Cream (right) is my 2nd best choice

Pulling from their tagline “sarap ng weekend ‘pag may pure Hershey’s happiness,” I say weekend or no weekend, it’s an ice cream holiday for me, anytime, everytime.

Selecta Hershey’s Ice Cream Collection

Selecta Hershey’s Ice Cream Collection

The new Selecta Hershey’s Ice Cream Collection comes in 800mL (P135) and 1.5L (P240) packs and are now available in supermarkets, groceries or convenience stores nationwide. The Milk Chocolate variant is a priced a little lower at P125 and P225 for the 800mL and 1.5L, respectively.

Chill Out Spot: Fullerton Bay Hotel’s Lantern

In a recent trip to Singapore, we checked out the Lantern atop Fullerton Bay Hotel. The stylish rooftop bar definitely provided an awesome panoramic view of Singapore’s Marina Bay including the majestic structure of the new Marina Bay Sands.

Lantern Bar

Lantern Bar

Located alongside Marine Bay and having opened only last year, “Lantern derives its name from Clifford Pier’s historical Chinese name – ‘Red Lantern Pier‘…a landing point for Singapore’s first immigrants and red lanterns used to hang from the pier as a guide to seafarers,” its website indicate.

Merlion Cocktail

Merlion Cocktail

Lantern houses signature vintage and modern cocktails including concoctions of mojito, vodka, tequila, , and of course – wines. Most are inspired from the Caribbean Islands and Latin America.

Being a light drinker, I just had a glass of the ‘Merlion.’ At S$24, it is one of their signature cocktails and not a surprising choice from a tourist like me. 🙂 The Merlion is a Don Julio tequila with young ginger, honey water, lime and soda. It came out good with the other ingredients making the tequila seem light, which I think fits my drinking level, in that sense. 🙂

Fullerton Bay Hotel's Lantern

Fullerton Bay Hotel's Lantern

Lantern with the panoramic view of Marina Bay Sands

Lantern with the panoramic view of Marina Bay Sands

Other options include the Imperial Berry Mojito (S$28), Caipirinha (Cachaca, Lime, Refined Sugar – S$19), and Air Mail (S$22) which is basically a mixture of Pampero dark rum, lime, honey, and champagne.

Lantern's Live Band / DJ

Lantern's Live Band / DJ

They also offer a short list of tapas and grills for a light dinner or something to nibble on. The live band and acoustic beats further adds to the bar’s chic ambiance.

Lantern Rooftop Bar
Fullerton Bay Hotel
Singapore
12 pm – 2 am
Phone: (65) 6597 5299
Website: www.fullertonbayhotel.com

Lantern, Fullerton Bay Hotel (Singapore)

Lantern's Swimming Pool glass cross-section visible from the bar

As if that’s not enough, a picturesque infinity pool at the center, with a visible cross section, further accentuates Lantern‘s sophistication.

Singapore Food Festival Starts Anew

First, I’m currently not in Singapore; but I would like to consider yesterday’s lunch as a symbolic one in appreciation of this year’s Singapore Food Festival (SFF). 🙂

Singapore Tourism Board

Singapore Tourism Board

The Singapore Tourism Board invited a group of bloggers including food blog NomNomClub.com for a feast of Singaporean signature dishes at the Heritage Hotel in Roxas Boulevard, Manila.

In order, we had Singapore Slaw, Nyonya Meatball Soup (Bawan Kepeting), Singpore Laksa and Mee Goreng,  Hainanese Chicken Rice, and Sago Gula Melaka with Vanilla Ice Cream for dessert.

Singapore Slaw

Singapore Slaw

The Singapore Slaw served as the meal appetizer and was constituted by layers of green cabbage, julienned jicama, and strips of onion, carrot and cucumber, among others. The dressing gave hints of sesame oil and vinegar topped by sesame seeds.

It was crunchy and rich in texture with a sauce made just right well-fitting for a starter.

Nyonya Meatball Soup / Bawan Kepeting / Bawan Kepiting

Nyonya Meatball Soup / Bawan Kepeting / Bawan Kepiting

The Nyonya Meatball Soup, also referred to as Bawan Kepeting/Kepiting, was a simple traditional meatball soup mixed with shredded bamboo shoots.

Allow me defer my spicy adventure with the Singpore Laksa and Mee Goreng in a next week’s post. 🙂

And of course, the star of Singaporean Chinese Food – the Hainanese Chicken Rice. Your trip to Singapore is never complete without having at least one serving of Hainanese Chicken Rice.

Singapore Original: Hainanese Chicken Rice

Singapore Original: Hainanese Chicken Rice

The chicken meat was tender and good as expected although I found the rice quite different from the ones I usually have in Singapore. While variants in rice preparation can include “oily rice,” or with coconut milk, or with pandan leaves,  the one we had was like the local ‘sinangag‘ (re-cooked rice). It was ok though. 🙂

It was accompanied by three side sauces of which I can’t remember the second (I’m thinking if it’s chili but it’s not!). The other two were soy sauce and pounded ginger.

Sago Gula Melaka with Vanilla Ice Cream

Sago Gula Melaka with Vanilla Ice Cream

To cap our Singaporean lunch, we had the Sago Gula Melaka with vanilla ice cream for dessert. “Gula Melaka” means ‘palm sugar’. This dessert is basically sweetened small tapioca with ice cream on top.

And since I love almost anything with ice cream (although I hoped for an Ice Kachang), needless to say, this one’s good as well. 🙂

Singapore Food Festival 2010

So if you’re on your way to Singapore or is planning to be there anytime soon, prepare for a mouth-watering experience of culinary cultures as you get immersed in a myriad of Singapore Chinese dishes in this year’s Singapore Food Festival 2010.

Tracing its roots as far back as 1994, the Singapore Food Festiva focuses on local food culture and heritage which is a diverse mix of oriental, Indian, and Middle Eastern dishes to the gastronomic delight of participants, foreigners, and visitors alike.

The annual event is not only about ‘nomnoming‘ (eating), there are also culinary workshops, themed celebrations, and competitions.

Schedule Highlights of Singapore Food Festival for your guidance:

  • July 16-24Clarke Quay Food Street (Clarke Quay Rear Bridge)
  • July 25 Singapore Chinese Dialect Heritage Feast (Clarke Quay Rear Bridge)
  • July 16-25Singapore Chinese Dialect Tingkat Cruise (Merlion Park)
  • July 16-25Singapore Chinese Dialect Street Snacks (Central River Promenade, Merlion Park, Clifford Square)
  • plus Makansutra SFF Culinary Master Classes

Singapore Food Festival

Singapore Food Festival

Missing Something?

I know, I know, you might be wondering where Bak Kut Teh, Chili Crab, and Satay are…maybe we’ll have a Singapore Food Festival 2010closing‘ lunch a few weeks from now, who knows? (*wink). 🙂

Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice Lah!

You could say that the Hainanese Chicken Rice in Singapore is a national obsession. 🙂

If you are going to ask friends what food or dishes to try in Singapore, I believe 9 out of 10 would say that you should not miss Singapore’s Hainanese Chicken Rice – well, I did when I first went there in 2008.

Hainanese Chicken Rice

Hainanese Chicken Rice

But this wasn’t the case anymore when I went back last year. Together with Filipino food blogger friends, it was an adventure with every meal. Let me share to you the other dishes on another entry, for now, let’s focus on the Hainanese Chicken Rice adventure.

White Singapore Chicken

White Singapore Chicken

As I’ve mentioned earlier, Hainanaese Chicken Rice is almost everywhere in Singapore so you wouldn’t miss it in any hawker centers around the country. Hawker centers are food centers comparable to our “food courts” found inside malls minus the airconditioning system. Establishments are separated into stalls and usually employs the self-service system.

Queue to Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice

Queue to Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice

The uninitiated might ask if we could simply order Hainanese Chicken Rice from any of these hawker centers and that’s it?

Well, you may. But wouldn’t you want to taste the best one in town? And this is where Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice stall comes into the picture.

Fellow food blogger-friend Fran Haw recommended this one so on our second day in Singapore, we went to the Maxwell Food Center in Chinatown located at the corner of Maxwell Road and South Bridge Road (near Sago Lane).

There were about 100 food stalls but we specifically searched for Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice. And to my amazement, there was a queue of about 10 people in front of us. This might not sound surprising, only that the other food stalls doesn’t have a queue like ours.

Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice

Tian Tian Hainanese Chi cken Rice

It was already past 12 noon and my growling stomach was very much tempted to order hastily from the other stalls. But I placed my faith in Fran that the experience of ordering my Hainanese Chicken Rice specifically from Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice would be outstanding.

Hainanese Chicken Rice Menu Price

Hainanese Chicken Rice Menu Price

My turn to order came. I observed that the price of their Chicken Rice at 2.80 Singapore dollar was actually a little higher than the estimated average of its peer stalls at only about 2.50 singapore dollars. I don’t really mind the .30 difference and continued to order. I can’t remember though if I ordered the small one or the big one at $3.30 .

Anthony Bourdain praises hainanese Chicken Rice

Anthony Bourdain himself said: "Chicken Rice is so fragrant & delicious that it can be eaten on its own"

Anyhow, as expected, the steamed chicken meat was tender, fresh, smooth and smelled good. Without the sauce, others might find it lacking since it’s the kecap manis which heightens the flavor. But for me, I can appreciate the freshness of the taste and soft texture of the meat even without the sauce. I had some from time to time.

By the way, don’t expect any charming service from the stall servers. They’re just up-and-straight – “What’s your order?” (in singlish if they immediately notice that you’re a foreigner). They reply to you with the price and prepare your order. They receive your money, gives you the change, you wait in front, and they hand you your order.  Seeing that I only ordered one dish, the guy took my tray back and had me carry my plate by hand.

I’m not really sure why he did that; but I didn’t want to get into any argument and just accepted my tray-less fate. 🙂

Singapore's Hainanese Chicken Rice

Singapore's Hainanese Chicken Rice

And that is my Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice story.