[Media Invite] The Architecture & Building Services 2015 Series

Last week, i had the chance to attend the premiere Architecture & Building Services 2015 Series (ABS 2015 Series) held at Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre, Singapore. The 3-day mega show features six of the leading architectural and building services shows and four key conferences for these industries. It was declared opened by Mr Baey Yam Keng (Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, Member of Parliament, Tampines GRC, Deputy Chairman of Government Parliamentary Committee for Communications & Information.

The collaboration of six flagship exhibitions that comes together under one roof are ArcXpo 2015, International Facility Management Expo 2015, LED+Light Asia 2015, Safety & Security Asia 2015, Fire & Disaster Asia 2015, and Work Safe Asia 2015. This premiere event welcomed some 162 major exhibitors from 20 countries taking part in this six-in-one extravaganza, spanning an area of more than 8,000 square metres. An integrated premier sourcing platform for the architectural and building management industries. Visitors are able to find interesting and innovative designs as well as latest cutting-edge technologies!

As i entered the hall, i was being introduced to a few highlights which i will share it to you all here..

ROHM Semiconductor Singapore Pte Ltd with its headquarter in Japan and in which the "R" now stands for "Reliability", offers innovative, high-quality products that designed to bring greater comfort and convenience while contributing to a sustainable society. One of their latest products is the Yellow LED Lamp for semiconductor cleam rooms.

Next, i visited Diamond Award winner under the Best Boutique Booth Category of ArchXpo 2014, Light Basic Studio, that specialises in light fitting for outdoor, residential, or commercial with modern, minimalist touch.

We see more and more buildings moving towards the green, softscapes design. For aesthetic purpose and the limitation of conventional live greenery, Green Turf provides Artificial Green Walls and Artificial Turf for areas such as flooring, walls, ceilings, rooftops, green walls, both indoors or outdoors. The use of the latest polymer technology and aesthetics, GreenTurf has achieved exceptional standards in artificial turf and greenwalls. Plants can now look fabulous in every ways despite the lack of sun or rain indoor and requires no proper maintenance.

These hung up boxes are designed to function as sound-proof, private area which is suitable for people making private calls in offices.

Other booths also feature incredible designs including tiles, walls, doors, windows and furiture fittings.

In the center of the hall, was the display of the SIA Architectural Design Awards 2015. This awards series is the most prestigious award conferred by Singapore Institute of Architects (SIA) to promote and encourage distinction in architectural design, faciliate by Mr Teo Yee Chin and chair by Mr Richard KF Ho.

Over at the security sector, Concorde Security Pte Ltd showcased how smart technologies can be implemented for better security and efficiency. Their I-Man Facility Sprinter (IFS) and I-Man Access Control System (I-MACS) are two examples for their smart inventions.

ALUMINAID from Advanced First Aid Research Pte Ltd provides fast acting burn and pain relief. Their series of topical, non-surgical bandages can be used to relieve the pain from 1st and 2nd degree burn injuries. These bandages utilize both natural and synthetic elements combined together to maximize heat dissipation from all common types of thermal burns.

3M also showcased their range of protection gears in their booth!

While ABLOY provides modern locking system with high level of encryption and classified security where a key is no longer be viewed as just a key to a lock. Abloy technology enables great access control with just a single "Master key"!

Overall, this exhibition is a good platform and offers an opportunity to allow professional trades and associates to see an extensive array of new technologies, solutions, products and services catering to the architectural and building management industries. I believe the next series will be an even larger scale.. Till next year!

For more information, do visit http://www.cems.com.sg/.

[Media Tasting] Savoury Hot Meals At Pies & Coffee!

For centuries, pies have always been one of people's favourite source of food and (fortunately) PIES & COFFEE is one place to go to if you enjoy specialised handcrafted gourmet pies with buttery, shortcrust pastries that crumble in your mouth. They have a few branches in Singapore, conveniently located at Robertson Walk, Rochester Mall, The Grandstand and Alexandra Retail Centre.

For me, i really enjoy having their warm pies with their carefully selected coffee blends for an ultimate gastronomical experience in their cosy café. =)

Apart from Coffee, they do have a variety of other drinks in their menu.
Homemade Iced Lemon Tea helps to cool us down in Singapore's warm weather.

If Coffee or Tea a "No" for you, they also have Chocolates, Coolers, Fruit Frappe, Juices and Milkshake Floats! On the night of my visit, i had their Mango Juice, smooth and refreshing!!

Pies & Coffee recently unveils new savoury hot meals for an exquisite culinary experience, adding new delicious creations that extends beyond the enjoyment of pies!


New England Clam Chowder Soup served in a crusty bread bowl (S$9.20)
(Contains Garlic, Onion, Celery, Carrot, Potato, Fresh Clams, and Assorted Herbs.)
A hearty starter to kick-start our mealtime experience at Pies & Coffee will be their creamy Clam Chowder in a crusty bread bowl. Stir-fried white clams and fresh clam juice is added to the potpourri and then cooked for two hours. Rich and tasty with all the goodness in a crusty bread bowl.

Lobster Bisque Baked Rice (S$14.90)
(Contains Fresh Flower Crabs, Fresh Prawns, Onion, Carrot, Celery, Tomato, Mix Herbs, Flour, Butter, Green Mussels, Dory Fish, Long Grain Rice.)
I enjoy how all the ingredients are well put together to create an explosion of flavours once the bisque hits the palate. Fresh flower crabs, prawns and slipper lobsters lend a strong sweet note. Onions, mixed herbs, carrots and celeries are then tossed in a prawn stock, which drenches the charbroiled long-grain rice. Taking six hours to prepare, the lobster bisque sauce is a reduction of fresh flower crab, prawn and slipper lobster jus. A very beautiful, hearty dish!

Wagyu Beef Cheek (S$11.90)
(Contains Beef Cheek Chunks (from Australia), Garlic, Onion, Carrot, Ginger, Chili, Coriander, and Corn Flour.)
Not a new dish in their menu, but we had it anyway for its good recommendation! We all love their tender beef here, well-cooked and savoury! They served it with yummy mashed potato and fresh greens.

Barbecue Chicken Pie in Beetroot Crust (S$11.90)
(Contains Onion, Garlic, Lime, Chicken Leg, Flour, BBQ Sauce, Apricot Jam, Chili, Parsley, Pineapple.)
Their BBQ Chicken Pie in Beetroot Crust catches the eyes of many with its colour. Served together with mashed potato and fresh greens. Beetroot offers a very strong red colour without overpowering the taste of the crust. A comforting dish with a good amount of filling.

Charcoal Crust Curry Chicken Pie (S$11.20)
(Contains Chicken Leg, Potato, Onion, Ginger, Lemongrass, Tomato Paste, Chili Paste, Curry Powder, Assorted Spices, Fresh Coconut Milk.)

Another coloured pie new in their menu is their Curry Chicken Pie in Charcoal Crust that gives the taste close to having a 'Curry Puff'. Charcoal is said to help with detoxification, along with a myriad of health benefits! The filling however, is a little too spicy for my friends and myself.

Croque Monsieur (S$14.90)
(Contains Olive Foccacia, Butter, Turkey Ham, Tomato Peach Marmalade, Chicken, Sliced Cheese, Mozzarella Cheese, Cream, Milk, Onion and top with Pesto Sauce.)
A must-try olive-accented focaccia contains a medley of turkey ham as well as garlic turkey and is enlivened by the rich goodness of bechamel sauce and mozzarella cheese. Well-portioned in each layer. A generous serving of pesto sauce caps off the dish. Served with side salad, this tasty item makes a gratifying meal.

Hungarian Beef Goulash Pot Pie (S$14.50)
(Contains Beef Shanks, Garlic, Onion, Bell Peppers, Tomatoes, Paprika, Cayenne, Beef Stock.)
Comfort and savoury food in which the Hungarian Beef Goulash has been stewed for more than five hours. Every bite into the tender meat creates a sensory overload as this European-inspired creation is bursting with flavours. This is the best dish we had that night, strongly-recommended!

Curry Chicken Pot Pie (S$14.50)
(Contains Potatoes, Carrots, Curry Leaf, Onion, Garlic, Ginger, Lemongrass, Tomatoes, Chicken Leg, Fresh Coconut Milk, Spices).
A favourite local flavour. The curry is incredibly fragrant and fiery while the sizzling chicken is ever so succulent. Buttery, flaky and ethereal, the pie crust adds another dimension to this comforting meal.

Sticky Date Cake (S$7.90)
We ended off the session with a sweet Sticky Date Cake in which dates from U.S.A are chopped finely. Drizzled with sweet homemade toffee sauce and topped with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream!

Most of the dishes served at PIES & COFFEE are specially made by themselves with no added preservatives and colourings, and offers a good portion of well-cooked fillings. For more information, do check out their website at http://www.piesncoffee.com/ and Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/piesncoffee.sg.

The Best Of You

In August, The Best of You movement showcased their beautiful exhibit at The Star Vista's Atrium for a week, allowing visitors to take time out and reflect on the people and events that have brought out the best in them.

Extremely glad that i was being introduced to this meaningful movement; a movement about taking stock of life's accomplishments and appreciations from our fast-pace, busy lives! In the exhibition are the showcases of many life stories and artworks from the public that touches people's hearts. Held in Singapore and Malaysia respectively, it was an intimate experience filled with inspiring art, films, sharing sessions and performances by local artists and personalities.

The Best of You movement is about finding quiet moments in our busy lives to take stock of our accomplishments and appreciate our lives through sharing of personal stories. While people shared their stories, many others were inspired and even empowered by their words. And with these stories, The Best of You encourages people to come forward and share theirs too, hoping that by doing so, these stories will go on to encourage and spur more people. Your story might just change someone else's life!

Started in 2014, this movement is powered by tributes from all walks of life that speak of courage, regret, community, love, encouragement, redemption and, most of all, empowerment.

Series of events and exhibitions are being held in various shopping malls and schools in Singapore, showcasing inspiring stories and artworks. Coming October 13th to 18th, their exhibition will be at Marina Square, Central Atrium! There will be many interesting and inspiring works showcase at the exhibit through drawings, crafts, and short film!

Take a moment, come forward to their exhibition and pen down your tribute to the ones that bring out the best of you! You will be surprise they are thousands of entries till date with tributes from all walks of life, so personal yet inspiring and empowering! It doesn't have to be anything great for even a simple "Thank You" touches the heart of others! The world need more of this!!

Apart from the many stories showcased on the board, i also signed up for arm knitting workshop by Klly, joining Janice. We had so much fun learning how to arm-knit!

Janice's a fast learner! Look how happy and satisfied she was! haha!

And yayyy!! All of us completed our knits! Here's a group photo for keepsake! =)

Many thanks to Janice for bringing me along! =)

An afternoon of Summer Delights with Belvoir Fruit Farms

The month of September have been really enjoyable and eventful to me! How i wish September last longer... Oh well, shall start October 2015 with a delightful post here!

The different range of Belvoir bottles in beautiful colours were placed nicely on the front desk, welcoming invited guest at Rabbit Carrot Gun, a casual dining restaurant with boutique accommodation. I felt a little ashamed not knowing Belvoir before this media launch was held.. because their drinks taste really good!

Founded in 1984 and originated from United Kingdom, Belvoir Fruit Farms has been making the most delicious and natural range of cordials, soft drinks and Pressés. For its natural delicious taste, the drinks are made from real fresh fruits, freshly-picked elderflowers and real spices such as fresh ginger cooked on the farm. All ingredients used are real and the drinks contain no preservatives!

Belvoir Fruit Farms recently introduced four new refreshing Pressés flavours in Singapore, Elderflower & Rose, Raspberry Lemonade, Summer Fruits, and Mango & Peach. These all-lovely and all-natural flavours will be exclusively available in selected restaurants and cafes from October 2015 onwards!

Belvoir Fruit Farms' pressés add a cool and healthy alternative that is 100% good, containing no preservatives and no artificial flavourings or colours.

Raspberry Lemonade Pressé is made using real raspberry juice and squeezed lemon juice, offering a balance of fruity and zesty freshness.

Summer Fruits Pressé contains real summer berries, has a combination of mellow sweetness of strawberry, subtle sharpness of raspberry and redcurrent juices. Apart from serving just over ice for a natural refreshing taste, it can also be served as a base for a super-fruity cocktail.

Mango and Peach Pressé is a wonderful blend of real mango and peach juices infused with Belvoir's sparkling spring water. It can be served with a splash of white rum as it is fresh, fruity and exotic; like a holiday in a bottle!

Award-winner Elderflower and Rose Pressé brings about the quintessential taste of English summertime. It is deliciously scented and refreshing with a blend of hand-picked elderflowers and a hint of rose petal extract. Pink and perfect, this delicate drink will help quench your thirst all summer long.

Fruit cordials are very common in the English countryside and Belvoir Fruit Farms Cordials are versatile enough to incorporate into the everyday main courses and desserts for a delicious, natural goodness.

Belvoir Fruit Farms Cordials and Pressé will be available exclusively at selected restaurants and cafes from October 2015 onwards - namely 60z Espresso Bar, Artisan Boulangerie Co. (ABC), Bedrock Bar & Grill, Carpenter & Cook Cafe, Costa Coffee, Department of Caffeine, Drips Cafe, Fat Cow, GAEST Cafe, Jamie's Italian, Mean Bean & Wicked Grind, Oriole Coffee, Pacamara Boutique Coffee Roasters, Rabbit Carrot Gun & The Trenchard Arms, Relish Burger, Relish Garden Tanjong Beach Club, TCC, The Black Swan, The Marmalade Pantry, Udders Ice Cream, and Wild Rocket. They can also be found at Major Supermarkets, Stores and E-stores (Cold Storage, Fairprice Finest, HealthyGourmet.sg, Market Place by Jasons, Meidi-Ya, Redmart, The Organic Grocer, and Zenxin Organic).

Business Development Manager, Mr. Norman Delouis was the presenter for Belvoir Fruit Farms that afternoon - an introduction of Belvoir Fruit Farms and its products, including the four new Pressé flavours. The brand "Bel-Voir" actually stands for "Beautiful View" in French.

Delicious Belvoir Marinated mini Roast Beef!

Adorable Ginger & Orange Chicken mini-burgers!

We enjoyed specially prepared drinks made with Belvoir Raspberry & Rose Bellini and Belvoir Breeze!

Hearty HANDMADE CRAB CAKES (Starter) rested on top of fresh vegetables!

Pretty dessert canapés were served at The Trenchard Arms with real edible flower petals!

Unique Cheesecake!

Macarons!

Refreshing Belvoir English Garden - Green Apple with Belvoir Fruit Farms' Cocktail Demonstration by Mr. Lord Trenchard, the Chief Executive Officer of Rabbit Carrot Gun & The Trenchard Arms.

Rabbit Carrot Gun & The Trenchard Arms both uses Belvoir Fruit Farms' Cordials and Pressés into their menu. The opportunities are endless with Belvoir Fruit Farms - so be inspired and get creative with cocktails, mocktails, desserts and food that can be easily prepared!

For more information, do check out their website at http://www.belvoirfruitfarms.com/distributors/country/singapore/ and their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BelvoirSG.