Some of you might know that I am a flexitarian. That means plant-based diet as much as possible, but I can eat meat if I want to. The reason for me to do it is to buy less cheap meats where the animal's raised, slaughtered and transported to our Western food stalls and fast food places with as low a price possible, meaning that somewhere someone or something is squeezed for it. Hence my interest in vegan or vegetarian burgers, which is where Love Handle Burgers comes in! This 2020-established joint (they were brave to set up during Circuit Breaker) at the start of Ann Siang Road is modelled after the American diner and have a very simple menu of vegan fast food burgers by replacing the patty with the plant-based Impossible Meat and using vegan cheese (not dairy).

There are a couple of alfresco seats just outside the door as well. 

Hey guys! So I got a new smartphone over the weekend because my Note 8 battery was beyond redemption (I think it was a software drain issue). I decided to stick with the Note family from Samsung, and here's a quick unboxing and 4 things I liked/disliked about the phone after half a day of use! I hope you will enjoy the video!

The tall windows are love. The view's on a hill.. oh wait 😅

Here's the menu (click on it to view larger version in new window). This is just the highlights reel though - there's another QR code to scan if you wish to see their classic pastas and a more extensive wine/cocktail list. 

The waiter spoke a funny mix of Italian-accented English, Malay and Singlish, and he also recommended for us to try the Italian "siobak" or the Porchetta - which is baked pork belly with wild fennel (S S$9, L $18). I think this is another very traditional Roman dish that I saw an Italian chef on Instagram make (there were a lot of steps). The pork was good - the skin could be crispier, and overall slightly less salty, but the blend of fats and pork was very enjoyable in a melt-in-mouth way especially when it just came out and was warm. However, it can be a tad much food for 2 or 3 pax - so maybe get this if you have at least 4? For a non-casual meat eater like me, this was worth the digestion. 4/5

To be healthier, we got the Grilled Farmers Salad (S$16) to share and this again was surprisingly delish, just based on how simple and fresh everything was - just grilled with a light dash of sea salt and olive oil. And that really is at the heart of Italian cuisine, I think. You get the best of ingredients and try to find a way to savour their maximum flavour instead of detracting from or overcooking it (boiled pig trotters, anyone?). 4/5

Among the 2 pastas we got the first time, the Orecchiette, pork sausage, saffron sauce (S$19) had my vote for being the best one. The ear-shaped pasta's the perfect shape for the rich yet delicate saffron sauce to coat it and hitch a ride to your tastebuds. Coupled with bits of sausage and it's just mmmmm! I was a bit sad when there was no more of this. Try this if you are up for something a bit more different than your spaghetti bolognese. 4.5/5

We also opted for a more luxe Homemade taglioni, prawns, lemon and aromatic breadcrumbs (S$22) which was a decent tomato-based pasta with a strong seafood aroma - but strangely reminded me of seafood ee fu noodles, and could be a tad drier. 3.5/5

On my repeat visit with a dear friend, we decided to opt for their classic pastas (S$24) from the QR code menu (or in my friend's case, the same waiter's recommendation)! She got the Arrabiata with spaghetti, which was flavourful enough. Very simple, straightforward. A little pricey compared to the ones on the normal menu, but I guess you pay for the skill to make a simple dish.

Me? Why, Cacio e Pepe, of course. I had considered ordering that the previous time but wanted to give the normal menu a taste. But this time I decided to go for it. So.. the first time it was served, it smelled ok, but looked very suspicious with a dark brown/pepper sauce (like a gravy). Upon tasting, the pecorino taste was barely there - so I requested for more salt. The waiter saw my dish and promptly decided that instead of bringing me the salt shaker, to kidnap the dish. They must have cooked a new one because the one that came back after 15 minutes was much better looking in colour - and had 50% stronger pecorino taste. I would have preferred if it was drier, but hey I know how emulsifying pecorino and pasta water can be tough. Plus pecorino cheese ain't cheap so. props to them. Yet, due to this experience, I'd say stick to the main menu pastas? It could be a hit/miss - esp. if you don't know the pastas well enough. 3/5

But whatever you do, you need to end the meal with the alcohol-free "better than sex" Pistachio Tiramisu (S$14). No really, someone used those 3 words to describe the tiramisu on IG, and I might have to agree. The pistachio paste surrounding the finger wafers were divine, together with the cream. Absolutely nuts for it! 4.5/5

I'd dare say iO is the best Italian restaurant in Singapore so far, that I have tried. Maybe if I tried the pizzas I might change my mind, but overall from the vibes, the staff and the dishes presented, it truly took me back to better days in Italy.

iO Osteria

4 Hillview Rise, #02-01, Singapore 667979
Mondays to Fridays 11.30am to 10pm, Saturdays and Sundays 10am to 10pm
Reserve on quandoo or Chope or call +65 67107150

So it's been a while since I've gone to a new cafe now that life is somewhat in limbo between WFH (heartlands exploration) and office (CBD eats). Which is why I wanted to check out this somewhat out of the way new cafe (for me, at least) in the chillax East. Called East Coast Commune, it has really aesthetic vibes and the feel of a big house, being situated at Marine Cove next to East Coast Park. So it's only natural to be a hangout for families if McDonald's next door is too mainstream. 

I'm super heartened anytime a home-based business in Singapore wants to send me stuff, because I know how much work/effort it takes to create and sell something handmade, from the heart. So I was very appreciative when Seriously Bakes, a newish American-style baked goods HBB DM-ed me on IG and asked to send me some of their 'slams. They arrived one fine Friday, dressed in festive packaging.

I'd say if you have an immense craving for a good soft cookie or cinnamon roll, they are the (online) place to go. I got two packs of the smol cookies - the Tiny Tallahassee chocolate chip ones ($S5 for 100g, S$8 for 175g), and the San Antonio (smoky, spicy choco chip) ones (pictured below). They go for S$6 for 100g, and S$10 for 175g They are the perfect bite-sized cookies to pop in your mouth when you're Netflixing! A close reference to their taste would be Famous Amos - but these are crunchier, and slightly richer. Plus you know they are made in small batches!

Then there's the big daddy cookies. Here they are, it's 3 for S$10, which is quite a steal because they are very substantial! The bigger cookies are soft and melty. I enjoyed the NYC and Pennsylvania more than Beverly Hills, only because that one is a tad on the sweet side w/o the nuts to cut through, or the salty pretzel.

As for their Cinnamon Rolls, its one of those items I would crave for occasionally and I was eyeing them on their Instagram. I was pleasantly surprised they came 'dressed' as well with the reindeer, so cute haha. They are packed into a box of 4, and the Da O.G. original glaze's for $16 while the Da Porkster has plain glaze and smoky maple bacon (!) and the Da Triplet comes with salted caramel glaze and pecans. Both are S$18 for 4, and there's a 4th matcha glaze version. They were indulgently sinful straight from the box - it had soft chewy dough with generous layers of cinnamon glaze inside and around. And I didn't think they were too sweet, if you take a good cross-section of the roll!

Hope you guys didn't miss the vlog too much! Decided to do one for the past week of 30 Nov to 6 Dec, cos a lot happened. I tried out Seriously Bakes cookies/cinnamon rolls (full review to come soon), along with checking out Little Island Brewery at Changi Village, plus had maki-sushi at a kopitiam. Lastly I also reviewed the Allies of Skin and PSA Skincare products. Hope you will enjoy watching it!

As some of you might know, I am a fan of having NOTHING on my face (esp. hate wearing masks, eurgh). In fact, I've gone to some lengths to achieve that with LASIK, braces and a good skincare regime (including using a silk pillowcase). And brows are an important part of that process, like I mentioned when I first started doing eyebrow embroidery in 2015. That's why it was a pleasant surprise to find out my brow therapist Lisa has now moved to a new location at Yishun's Wisteria Mall called Lonni Beauty Brow - and invited me to go back for a touch up redo.

Here are the special first-time customer rates for LONNI Beauty Brow with Lisa. They also do other services like mole removal and eyebrow threading, but these are what they are known for. Prices are definitely super fair and at market rate. Most people will go for 3D or 6D - the key difference is in how fine the 'hairs' are. Powder gradient is something new - it creates a fade in effect from start of brows to end - which I experienced later with a combination of the 6D micro blading.

If you're curious about their eyelash extensions, here's the different types of eyelash grafting which Lisa is able to do as well, strand by strand! The difference in 3D and 6D is just how many 'branches' come out from each strand.

This is a super delayed post, but me and my friends checked out Italian restaurant Casa Manini near Serangoon Gardens after the circuit breaker and I thought I'll just make a note and food review about it. A family-run restaurant that only takes WhatsApp reservations, they've put out some mouth-watering posts about their pastas on their IG that warranted a visit. So we went for lunch one fine day! The place has lots of plants but they are mostly indoors, which is good since there's always the risk of getting bitten by mozzies by sitting in the green outdoors.

The Spaghetti arrabbiata (S$20) was quite tasty with the tangy tomatoes, and spice. I think this was the best one of the lot! 3.5/5