Tag Archives: Marina Square Chinese Restaurant Recommendation

Get Your Home Ready For Chinese New Year

Hi guys!

How has your 2018 been so far? If January flew by for you (as it did for me), no worries, it’s but a trial period! 😛 Chinese New Year is now round the corner (16 Feb 2018, in case you’re wondering) and it’s another opportunity to start anew!

With Chinese New Year fast arriving, places to get your Chinese New Year decorations such as Chinatown are beginning to get really crowded! That’s why for this post, I’ve teamed up with the lovely folks at online store Masons Home Decor to share how you can get your home ready for Chinese New Year with these popular decorations, so your guests and you can crush the Instagram game this festive season! 😉 

1. Wall Decoration – Stickers, Scrolls, Banners

 A must have item to usher in the Lunar New Year is a pair of red vertical banners with auspicious phrases written on them. These auspicious phrases would be in Mandarin and would indicate well wishes of joy, good health, and prosperity. The upside down ‘fu’ Mandarin character on a red background in the form of a wall sticker or hanging décor is also extremely popular. This, bundled with the vertical banners/scrolls at your door would be perfect in setting the mood right, and welcoming your guests in style.

Image from Pinterest.com

2. Lanterns

Lanterns provide an oriental touch to any space. Most homes in Singapore are very modern and many may feel that lanterns would not suit the theme of their home décor. There are in the market however, lanterns that look extremely modern. These lanterns are not your usual traditional looking lanterns made of paper or plastic, but they are made of premium fabric. Check out Mason’s premium fabric Chinese New Year lanterns that are perfect in blending in with a modern home décor theme, and at the same time introduce an oriental festive atmosphere.

3. Red Cushions / Bean Bags

As we already know, house visiting is a huge tradition for most Chinese in Singapore. Apart from welcoming guests in style, ensuring that their comfort is not jeopardised would be a big point to note for the host! A change of linens to the red colour or the introduction of red cushions would inevitably bring about the CNY atmosphere. The colour red in the Chinese culture represents fortune and joy. If you would like to go the extra mile in providing comfort, perhaps you could even throw in a red bean bag to allow your space to accommodate to more individuals. After all, bean bags are a comfy home decor tool that can be easily moved around the home!

Image from Potterybarn.com

4. Artificial Flowers

Cherry Blossoms and Peonies are must haves when it comes to floral arrangements for the New Year. Cherry Blossoms signify longevity while Peonies are a representation of good fortune. These are two attributes that many individuals would want! These flowers are also suitable for decorating the home after the festive season ends.

Image from ebay.

5. Pineapple

In the context of Chinese New Year, Pineapples have a deeper meaning than the pineapple tart party. Yes, it is definitely a must have CNY goody, but it is also too a must have CNY décor! Pineapples are known to be lucky items. In some dialects, the term pineapple can be directly translated to ‘prosperity is here’. This is why, you can see hanging pineapple decorations in many shops or offices you visit. Having pineapple decorations all over your home would represent a home that is bound to be blessed with good prosperity and wealth.

If you’d like to beat the crowd outside, you can get your home Chinese New Year ready by shopping from Mason’s array of Chinese New Year decorations! If you would prefer to get the whole family together to partake in some DIY CNY decoration making, check out this article here.  Regardless of how you are going to attain your decorations, I hope you have a great time with your family and loved ones this festive season while ushering in the celebrations!

x

Ena

Cantonese Fine Dining at Kai Garden @ Marina Square

I’m a huge fan of Asian, especially Cantonese cuisine. Kai Garden open its doors early this year and you’ll be happy to know that they serve up a mean course. Here’s what I’ve tried, read on to find out which ones are highly recommended! 😉
Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0013 Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0012 Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0000 Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0002 Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0006Chilled Cherry Foie Gras. I’d definitely pick this over the other Chilled Mini Tomato with Sweet Plum because I’m a Foie Gras lover and not a fan of sour food. Also, I am fascinated with how they made this. The thin later over the Foie Gras tastes like jelly. It tastes decadent.
Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0003This is not on the menu, its scallop over fruits, and it’s great.
Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0004 Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0005The Chilled Mini Tomatoes with Sour Plum. I guess if you’re a fan of sour plums, you’d like this!
Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0007We had a choice of Double-boiled Japanese Matsutake (mushrooms) Served in Hot Pot or Shark’s Fin in Supreme Collagen Stock. I picked the former. This soup is boiled with pork and it tastes great. The manner of serving is also very unique, as it came in a teapot and pours out to a small tea cup.

Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0014Leanne opted for Shark’s Fin in Supreme Collagen Stock. I do wish restaurants would stop serving Shark’s Fin. Fish collagen is great, but we don’t need to eat Shark’s Fin.

Next we have Signature Crispy Peking Duck!Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0008The many coloured skins/wraps that comes along to serve up the Peking Duck.
Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0009 Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0011The staff slicing the crispy Peking Duck.

Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0010I love this. The 5 types of serving sauces. I like the Traditional Sauce.

Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0015 Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0016 Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0017 Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0018Each skin wrap has a different flavour, the taste of which isn’t remarkable but I do like the various colours. 

And then we have Garoupa in Lobster Soup!Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0019 Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0020The staff brings out the Garoupa and serves up the dish bowl by bowl, as the fresh fish is blanched before placing into the soup bowl. Don’t you agree that the presentation of the Garoupa is spectacular?

Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0021Ingredients placed into the bowl.

Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0022Blanched fresh fish slices served in the lobster soup. Unfortunately I am allergic to lobster, so I cannot comment on the taste of this. But it looks amazing.
Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0023Next we have Sweet and Sour Pork on the Rocks.
Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0024I highly recommend this dish. It’s hot on the inside and crispy and cold on the outside.
Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0025 Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0026 Deep Fried Vegetarian Roll.Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0027Love the generous serving of the ingredients and the pumpkin puree.
Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0028Another highly recommended dish: Pan Fried Charcoal Pork Bun. This is amazing. We were already so full by this dish, but it still tastes amazing.
Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0029For desserts we had Chilled Fresh Coconut Puree. I am not a fan of coconut but this tastes like Birds Nest (it is not) but it does and I love this.
Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0031With Kai Garden‘s owner and executive chef, Fung Chi Keung and Leanne. Chef Fung was previous Group Executive Chef for Paradise Group.

Take a look at the pretty restaurant:Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0037

Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0032Private room.

Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0033Another private room.

Gorgeous city skyline view in the night:Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0034 Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0035 Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0036

Kai Garden Cantonese Cuisine Blogger Review Ena Teo Enabalista_0038Live seafood on display.

I’d highly recommend Kai Garden for family dinners and dim sums, whilst the price per pax averages $60 (or more, depending on what you order), it undoubtedly serves superb Cantonese dishes with a twist that will delight both the young and old.

Check out my Youtube video of Kai Garden here:

Visit Kai Garden:
#03-128A/B, Marina Square, 6 Raffles Boulevard, 039594
+65 6250 4826

Check out their websites:
Official website

Facebook

Instagram

Thank you Kai Garden Singapore and Sharon Vu for the media tasting invite.

x

Ena