04/01/17: Review - Out of The Cake Box

Yo! I know, it's been a long long while since I last wrote anything here on my Blogspot. Rather, I'm not exactly sure when I kinda lost the habit of writing long ramblings on my numerous Weebly blogs and Livejournals. Maybe it's something which comes naturally when you get older?

But, I decided that maybe I should pick up writing again after all. Takes my mind off the thoughts which I had pretty much suppressed and kinda just, refresh my system every once in a while for new thought processes to flow?

Things started to get pretty trying after the last week of December last year. Sinusitis wasn't exactly the type of New Year gift I'm expecting, but it was stuffed to me unceremoniously right on New Year's Eve. Totally not cool? Especially when my nose is stuffed halfway up to heaven and this infernal condition takes about a month or two to clear.

Although, it strikes pretty much at regular intervals of one or two years, pretty much depending on my luck actually.

Which was why I wasn't really surprised when my friend saw me last week and went, "Is it just me or you have lost abit of weight?"

I deliberately ate less solid foods and took more of liquids to reduce the chances of me getting choked on my own phlegm and saliva because the constant back drip of sinusitis is not exactly pretty in my honest opinion.

Also, in the light of recent events, it had made me take serious considerations on certain matters which had been in the back of my mind. They had put me through quite an exhausting bout of contemplation once, but once I came to terms with them, they were quite a-ok actually.

And because I came to terms with them, black and white is no longer a dominating factor, not even grey to be exact. To me, the term "absolute" is only synonymous to being stubborn for no apparent reason other than being stubborn.

But, to be flexible is one thing, to face attitude which was totally uncalled for is another. "Hate" is too strong a word and highly inaccurate in my case. It's more like an irritation which comes up like an instinct.

An irritation which strongly reminded me that maybe I might have waited far too long to give someone a piece of my mind.

Putting it aside for now on cold turkey since staring at it isn't going to yield miracles or any viable results, being someone as practical and a straight arrow as I am.

Recently, I saw an article on Daniel Food Diary on a new cake establishment at the spanking new Our Tampines Hub. To be honest, I got to know of Our Tampines Hub via the many Facebook tags on my friends' list but had not been there myself. So this is a first and my first impression? It's one hell of a sprawling and colossal complex.

As far as I could see, it was split into two wings on the inside, which could be pretty confusing to a first timer. It took me a fair bit of time before I managed to locate what I was looking for.

Though the wing which Out of The Cake Box was in was not exactly fully opened up yet, it was fairly easy to locate and hard to miss because of its warm and spacious counter, lined with rows upon rows of delectable cakes and pastries.

A die-hard matcha and yuzu fan, I just had to try their Matcha Yuzu Cheesecake ($6.50 per slice). The matcha is smooth with just the right touch of bitterness, where it is harmoniously off set by the fluffy cheesecake layer studded generously with yuzu peels and a crunchy biscuit layer for that extra bit of texture. It's exactly what I would call a wonderful experience which had worked its way marvellously into my heart and sweet tooth!

I'll definitely be going back for their Rose Lychee and Earl Grey Shortcake! Till then, praying that my sinusitis recovers sooner so that I could go back to working on my rifle commish. Hubs had forbade me to work on it for fear that the contact with sealants will only set to worsen my condition.

OISHI Green Tea Launch

Some pretty and dainty dark cherry red blossoms I saw in Botanic Gardens

Finally have some time to sit down and edit the photos I took of the OISHI Green Tea Launch on 12th March.

In a way, you could say it's a pretty last minute decision on my part to take up the task of featuring this tea launch because I was debating internally whether I should take leave from my day job or not. In the end, this opportunity to be at an official product launch as a media identity won because well one, I needed the experience because truth to be told, I had never been in a position of a media identity before, at least those with proper RSVP media invites that is. And two, hey, you know I can never say no to tea.

Botanic Gardens eh, how long since I've been there? 2004 or something like that? Or did I visit here again for a friend's wedding in 2008 or 2009? Memories are pretty fuzzy but you get the drift, it's been years since I've been to Botanic Gardens.

And hence, my first time alighting at Botanic Gardens station (CC19). Which, turned out to be a very wrong move because my face almost turned blue when I realised that I am all the way at the other end of the stated venue - Botany Centre (Tanglin entrance) for the shuttle to Villa Halia. 1.2km walk to Botany Centre and I almost got lost at the Jacob Ballas Visitor Centre (it's like the mid-point of Botanic Gardens). I must really thank the counter staff at Jacob Ballas Visitor Centre for pointing out the right direction to a geographically challenged person like myself.

Thank the stars I wasn't too late for the shuttle (5 minutes late actually, but thank goodness the shuttle was 10 minutes late too) and it was only until the shuttle dropped us off at Villa Halia which I realised how awfully blur I was.

In my state of panic then, I did not notice that Halia Restaurant/Villa Halia was right in front of me when I took the left fork of the road to Botany Centre. Which meant that, I could have jolly well reached the venue without having to rush my life for the shuttle.

But well, there's always a first for everything. At least now I know which are the landmarks to take note off in Botanic Gardens should there be other media launches or events held here in the future.

Received my media tag from the very helpful staffs at the reception!

Distinguished guests and media all gathered at the dining area

The calligraphy booth at the corner of the dining area

Sample choices of colours and three Japanese basic forms

Upon being ushered into the main event area, I was given an official media tag, whose customized lanyard I like very much because of how aptly designed it was to the event theme.

Being encouraged to explore by the very friendly staffs at the reception booth, the first thing I was looking for was the calligraphy booth, as it was one of the two featured fringe items for this event.

Both calligraphers were very pretty and friendly Japanese ladies. I particularly like the lady dressed in lavender as her sharp tapered outfit decked out with trad Japanese flowers reminds me of that worn by ninjas, which is pretty cool.

Visitors get to choose to have their names written in Hiiragana, Katakana or Kanji. I wrote mine down in Katakana and the lady in lavender was pretty surprised, as most of the visitors she attended to had to have their names translated into the Japanese language. Mine was already given to me by Kubo Sensei a long time ago while I was still back in our Japanese Cultural group in poly hehe. It was only until when I met Hibi Sensei that my Hiiragana translated name was translated into Katakana (because my name is considered as a "foreign name" and anything "foreign" is traditionally translated into Katakana in the Japanese language).

We had myriad colours to choose from for our names to be written in. Wanted to pick purple but red seems more striking for calligraphy (like the 朱砂 in traditional Chinese calligraphy and watercolours). Her other colleague who wrote my name in calligraphy style did it really skilfully and she was very happy when I complimented her for it. Although it came in a dainty red envelope to match, but I felt that keeping it in seems like a pity since it was written so well. Now, it's a permanent fixture in my room as a result hehe.

Graced by many acclaimed media!

An energetic and vibrant Taiko performance!

The emcee for the day!

Speech by GOH

An trad opening ceremony with sake barrel breaking!

All media and attendees were treated to a splendidly energetic Taiko performance next - as mentioned, the 2nd fringe event highlight for the day. Personally, I like the Taiko performance very much, or maybe that's the Japanophile in me speaking haha!

The opening ceremony after was the breaking of a sake barrel with trad wooden mallets for good luck and success. It was an interesting experience for me because this is my first time seeing a sake barrel being broken open in this way and the symbolism of doing so.

The spread outside the dining area!

Dainty spoonfuls of deviled eggs with salsa mix and dressing

Mussels in tart crust

Goma rice cakes, assorted sushi and maki rolls and salmon sashimi

Chawanmushi in salsa mix and dressing

My pick of the mains!

The dessert section in the dining area

Matcha Opera

Milk Pudding with Azuki Beans

Handmade Dark Choco dusted with Cocoa Powder

Lemon Meringue Tarts

The featured drinks of the day!

I believe everyone is pretty curious of the buffet spread prepared for the guests, so let's have a look shall we?

The mains are mostly laid outside - dainty spoonfuls of deviled eggs in salsa mix and dressing, which are pretty delish. The mussels in tart crust is something pretty new for me and I like it because well, mussels lover here hehe! The crispy Goma Ricecakes goes down surprisingly well with one of the two featured drinks - the Genmaicha version of the Jasmine Green Tea. Probably because of the Genmaicha that's why, that brown rice and rice combination.

For the chawanmushi, the presentation was interesting but I think could use more salt to bring out the taste better.

Being a person with a sweet tooth, the desserts were a delight. Amongst everything listed above, my personal faves includes the Matcha Opera, Milk Pudding with Azuki Beans (seriously can't get enough of those haha!) and the Lemon Meringue Tart (anything with lemon or yuzu, that sourish tang is addictive haha!).

The handmade dark choco has an interesting texture with the cocoa powder sprinkled on it and that slight bitterness offset with the light-tasting Jasmine Green Tea perfectly hehe!

Like her outfit!

The ladies attending to us for this event was decked out in matching emerald and forest green yukatas with subtle green tea leaves print. I found this lady here particularly striking and photogenic, which was why I requested for a photo of her (I was quite embarassed myself actually because I was wondering if my photo request would sound weird or something).

Thank you so much for being so sporting!

Goodie bags lined by the door!

Guess what's in this customized wooden box???

Which I cracked the side lid by accident, oh dear

Yummy tea and a ceramic fortune kitty!!! SO CUTE!!!

And a pop-up card too hehe

Free chopsticks set anyone???

The goodie bag I brought away from the event was a surprisingly heavy customized wooden box (probably of MDF wood make). Which, I had the misfortune of splitting the side lid because it flopped off the chair of my usual bread fix shop, where I went to for some tea and warm bread after the event.

Asked Hubs if it can be fix (because honestly I was quite sad of the box's predicament). He took a close look at it and told me that it should be as good as new once we patch it up with some white glue, and well, probably a good idea too to give it a wood colour makeover with some lacquer.

And thank goodness the cute ceramic Maneki Neko (aka "Fortune Cat or Fortune Kitty") didn't get smashed into smithreens because the outer layer of the box absorbed most of the impact (hence the split side lid ugh).

There's two bottles of the featured drinks inside the box! Good things must share so I'll probably drop them off in our office fridge hehe.

To add on to the box of goodies, there's a box of customized chopsticks too with the trad Japanese symbols the sakura, the crane, the iris (?), the dragonfly and the flounder imprinted on them.

I remembered seeing cups of neatly and delicately folded cranes on each table in the dining area. And of course, they are for the guests to bring away for good luck. I took one too and I look forward to the next launch haha!