Celebrate The Year of the Rat With Starbucks

Hi Huneybees,

It's a brand new year and as we enter a new year of new possibilities, Starbucks welcomes the season with comforting beverages, a refreshed breakfast menu and exclusive merchandise fit for festive celebration this Year of the Rat.

Back by popular demand, the Starbucks® Okinawa Brown Sugar Latte returns to energize you for the day ahead; the Starbucks® Pure Matcha Latte and the all-new Starbucks® Black Sesame Pure Matcha Latte with Taro Foam will mesmerize you with its rich intensity. That's what I'm sipping on as I write this post, I'm loving the combination of the slight sweetness in taro, that elevates the fragrance from the matcha latte. 

Starbucks has also added to its suite of customizable drink options with Oatly – another dairy-free alternative for all! If you are a Starbucks member, check out the free customization reward in your app. 😋

To motivate a good start to the day, Starbucks has some new additions to their breakfast sets, such as the Truffle Scrambled Egg, Chicken, Kale & Cheese Wrap or Chicken Ham, Wholemeal Bagel with Egg White, Chicken Ham & Tomato Wholemeal Bagel at $8.50 per set. Otherwise, indulge in the scrumptious Scrambled Egg & Turkey Ham Pita or Turkey Bacon, Spinach & Egg Panini for $7.50 per set. For customers who prefer a lighter meal, get your hands on the Ham & Cheese Toast for $6.50 per set.

*Each Starbucks Breakfast Set comes with a tall sized freshly brewed coffee. Starbucks Breakfast menu is carried at all outlets island wide and is available for all-day enjoyment, while stocks last. Starbucks Breakfast Sets are available till 11:30am on weekdays and 2:30pm on weekends and public

Enjoy these delights over the festive season as a refreshing breakfast or mid-day snack. Starbucks all-new Overnight Oats with Pomegranate, Apricot, Fruit & Nut Mix and assorted Yogurt Parfaits promise a smile on your face.

No matter the time of day, there is always room for dessert! Take a slice of paradise with the Milk Tea Chocolate Cake and Green Tea & Espresso Cake, or ring in the festivities of the Year of the Rat with the light and creamy Say Cheese Mango Cheesecake. There’s also the dreamy, creamy palm-sized treat – Green Tea Pudding Cup, the perfect pick-me-up that you can enjoy in-store or on-the-go. These treats are available for a limited time, so grab them quick!

Squeak in the Year of the Rat and say Cheese with a great big smile alongside wide-eyed friends with Starbucks' newest mugs, tumblers and also the limited edition Lunar New Year Rat Card. Top it off by singing along to the tunes of the season with Starbucks Chinese Zodiac Musical Box – it will be Do-Rat-Mi-Fantastic!

Within the goodies gift tins is a delectable collection of Assorted Cookies and Coffee Wafer Rolls, perfect to enjoy during any family gathering. Each tin of cookies contain 4 flavors: Egg Albumen Almond, Seaweed, Black Sesame Egg Albumen and Mini Walnut. Each tin is yours for $24.90. That’s not all – enjoy 20% off when you purchase 2 or more tins of Starbucks Assorted Cookies and/or Coffee Wafer rolls.

Attention all Starbucks® Rewards Gold members – exclusive Starbucks Year of the Rat Red Packets are yours with the purchase of any item from the Lunar New Year collection, except for Starbucks Cards. Say Cheese!

For more information, you can go to https://www.starbucks.com.sg/.

Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page / follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram  for the latest updates!

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BreadTalk Unrolls A Brand New Concept Store

Hi Huneybees,

A brand new BreadTalk is now open at VivoCity after a little "nip and tuck" in the aid to rebrand their stores for a more natural touch to celebrate baking as well as digital engagement for their customers.

No ribbon cutting ceremony but a hand press to officiate the unveiling of the new BreadTalk store.

The store has taken on a more spacious layout with neutral colour palette, using oak veneers that brightens this 700 sq ft space up and accentuate the appeal of golden baked breads. 

Right in the middle of the store is a centre piece Island Bar to bring attention to their Chefs specials and beautifully made breads from  a selection of premium natural ingredients such as Japanese-milled flour and pure butter from New Zealand.

This is the first new concept store to be launched and gradually you will see more stores going through the facelift as they take on a global change. BreadTalk is also the first bakery brand to make use of interactive digital interactive to improve their productivity and reduce food wastage as well as to engage their customers.

With e-Scheduling, productivity can be improved by at least 3% and along with the e-Production, food wastage can be reduced by an estimated 20%. This integrated system also connects the internal kitchen baking process to the external digital screens in-store, where shoppers passing by can be notified of the new batch of freshly baked breads. For those working nearby, you can also register your mobile devices with the store and be prompted in advance when your favourite breads are ready! Say YAY to convenience!!!

Last 2 puzzle pieces to "Global Joy" were added by Chairman Mr George Quek and wife.

At the unveiling event, we got to share our very own recipe for joy to piece up the media board and we also got to go check out the brand new items introduced for the first time! There are over 50 new items specially developed by international chefs - Chef Shin Horie (Japan), Chef Alan Zou (Taiwan) and Chef Janson Loo (Singapore).

We got to taste a few of the new creations and I'm loving the Himalayan Pink Salt Roll together with the Hokkaido Snow Roll and Rice Chiffon. 

The Himalayan Pink Salt Roll might seem like your usual hot cross bun but one bite into it, you will find that the soft layered inside paired with the slight salty and sweet Himalayan Pink Salt, I'm finding myself abandoning my favourite buttered croissant. I'm thinking about everyday and every time I get pass VivoCity, I'm sure to drop by for a few of them.

In Mrs Quek's hands are the Hokkaido Snow Roll and Rice Chiffon. As you all know, I'm a fan of cheese, so the Hokkaido Snow Roll, being that white, velvety soft cheesecake, I'm already bias-ly sold. And if you like something light for breakfast, away from all the creamy filled buns or butter, you can definitely opt for the very unique Rice Chiffon. It will be an airy, light start for the day! :)

Of course, there are also a ton of other selections to suit your taste buds; some of them include the Snow White Yam, Sweet Potato Volcano, Red Bean Queen, Mala Chicken, etc. 

Psst, they also have the Christmas log cakes all ready for the festive season! =)

This BreadTalk concept store is located at #B2-34 in VivoCity right at the HarbourFront MRT entrance. But of course, all outlets across Singapore will be reinvigorated progressively to sport the new concept's contemporary interiors. China, Thailand and Indonesia will also see the progressive change in 2016... :)

For more information, head on over to http://breadtalk.com.sg/.

Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page / follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram  for the latest updates!

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Thank You Starbucks For The Summer Treat!

Hi Huneybees,

Being cooped up at home to recuperate from my back surgery, I have been craving a little something different on my meal menu. This special gift from my favourite coffehouse chain - Starbucks was definitely a heaven sent with their latest menu additions to "treat" my sweet tooth here.

Thank you Starbucks for sending this gift, I'm really spoilt for choice here!

These are the latest summer additions, made with no trans-fat, artificial coloring, or high-fructose corn syrup, this extensive dessert menu comprises of 9 delectable cakes. Hubby has selected 3 flavours and surprised me with them.

• Brown Cow Cheesecake
• Almond Chocolate Coffee Chiffon Cake
• Flourless Chocolate Ganache Cake

The Brown Cow Cheesecake was my favourite from the 3 with it's monochrome dairy cow outlook, I was already sold. Of course, when I bite into this rich, creamy, fudgy chocolate cheesecake, I couldn't stop digging my fork into this slice of cake. Can I have another slice?

Next up, is the fragrant coffee infused Almond Chocolate Coffee Chiffon Cake. Made with Starbucks' Italian Roast, this cake was on the lighter side, definitely for the coffee lovers and those of you who likes something that is not too sweet and not too creamy.

The coffee sponge cake is super fluffy and soft, layered with aromatic coffee caramel cream and crunchy chopped almonds, this play of texture on tongue is something I've not tried before.

Woohoo! For chocolate lovers who wants to satisfy their sweet tooth yet wana watch their weight, the gluten free Flourless Chocolate Ganache Cake who be the one. This beautifully perfect moist torte filled my mouth with never ending dark and rich chocolate that even my hubby couldn't stop going back for seconds. :D

Other flavours also include light treats like the Raspberry White Chocolate Cheese Brulée, Zesty Lemon Curd Cake, White Chocolate Yuzu Chiffon Cake, as well as returning customer favourites - Classic New York Cheesecake, Cookie Crumble Cheesecake and Chocolate Peanut Butter Stack!

Of course, you will need something to pair with those cakes, but summertime is so warm, something cooling would be best choice. 

Say hi to Starbucks Fizzio™ Sparkling Beverages - Cool Citrus Starbucks Fizzio™, Summer Berry Starbucks Fizzio™ and Lemon Ginger Starbucks Fizzio™.

These 3 new drinks are here to Invigorate your spirit and refresh your senses with real fruit flavors and jelly. I had the Cool Citrus Starbucks Fizzio™ with Mango Jelly, which has my favourite Mango chunks at the base of the drink and this is definitely the drink for some under the sun fun. 

This refreshing citrus beverage also contains green coffee extract (a source of caffeine from green, unroasted high quality Arabica coffee beans), together with tart white grape juice and the slice of freeze dried lime wheel, I'm glad to have this whole cup to myself!

The Summer Berry Starbucks Fizzio™  is a thirst quencher blend of raspberry, blueberry, strawberry and apple juice with the magic touch of the Mango Jelly. 

Whereas the Lemon Ginger Starbucks Fizzio™ features real lemon, lime, apricot and spices with the Mango Jelly evoking light notes of ginger and rosemary to soothe and recharge your senses.

Till 8 September 2015, keep a look out for the Fizzio™ Sparkle Pass on 8 Days and i-Weekly and enjoy a one-for-one Starbucks Fizzio™ Sparkling Beverages! And also look out for the exclusive Starbucks x LOQI bags at $9.90 each and Limited Edition Mini Frappuccino Starbucks Card that comes with an exclusive key charm when you buy the card with a minimum top-up of $30!

Ok, I'm gona head to bed and have my "sweet" dreams.

I'm definitely gona get hubby to buy more of these treats tomorrow. 

Hehehehe...   (⌒▽⌒)v

Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page / follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram  for the latest updates!

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Celebrate Christmas With Limited Edition Cheesecakes From Cat And The Fiddle

Hi Huneybees,

If you are big cheesecake lovers like me, you would definitely fall in love with the 2 special limited edition Christmas cheesecakes from Cat and the Fiddle!

Cat and the Fiddle's founder - Daniel Tay, launched the first-­‐of-­‐its-­‐kind cheesecake e-­‐shop with a concept of selling over 10 delectable whole cheesecakes at an affordable price (ranging from $19.90 to $35.90 for a whole cheesecake). With the convenience of next day delivery, you can simply do your ordering online, personalise the cheesecakes as well as purchasing gifts to go with it.

For the Christmas special, you can choose from 2 festive flavours - “Have a Meowy Christmas” and “Snowy Christmas”. Both cheesecakes are created atop a gingerbread crust, adding a touch of spice and crunch to the decadent velvety goodness of the chocolate cream cheese.

The “Have a Meowy Christmas” chocolate is filled with chocolate creaminess and brownie bits, best for those who are huge chocolate fans, whilst the “Snowy Christmas” cheesecake combines the chocolate-­‐ly richness of the cream cheese with brandied cherries.

I asked to have the "Snowy Christmas" cheesecake as I thought it was something different from the usual cakes, but to be honest, it was the brandied cherries that got me intrigued. Hehehehe... you need some booze for the festive season right?!

I had mixed feeling for the cheesecake as I wasn't too big a fan of the gingerbread crust and it was a little too sweet with the icing layer on top, but when you have it with the brandied cherries, they paired so well and it would go well with some wine too...

My cake was delivered plain but of course you can always choose to have it personalised with exclusive Cat and the Fiddle stencils and ornaments - from Christmas greetings stencils to Santa Claus figurine add-­‐ons. You can definitely  delight your guests with your fancy cheesecake decorations before they sink their teeth into these scrumptious cheesecakes.

Each stencil set comes with a Christmas stencil, sieve and either chocolate or snow powder, while the Christmas decorative set includes a mini hut, Santa Claus, snowman, reindeer, pine leaf, ten chocolate pebbles and three chocolate tree figurines. Both the stencil and decorative set are priced at $5.50 each (after GST).

And if you fancy a little dine-in and try out the other Cat and the Fiddle cheesecakes, you can now head on over to the newly opened Geek Café. It is the first physical store to sell individual slices of the famed cheesecakes. 

Beyond the impressive selection of Cat and the Fiddle cheesecakes and artisanal brews, the Geek café - true to its name - will sell electronic devices and provide repair services for one’s tech gadgets. The innovative café also provides barista and tech repair training.

The Geek Café will offer the 11 permanent varieties of the Cat and the Fiddle cheesecakes (all except the King Cat of the Mountain cheesecake) ranging from fruity concoctions to alcohol-­‐infused flavours. The cheesecakes are baked fresh daily and contains no additives and artificial colouring preservatives.

The cheesecakes can be bought at the official Cat and the Fiddle e-­‐shop (http://www.catandthefiddle.com) from 8 December 2014 onwards and are priced at $38.90 each (after GST). You can also be able to pick up cheesecake orders purchased online and buy unique Cat and the Fiddle gifts, such as pegs, plush toys and pots, at the Geek Café.

So get clicking, get yourself a cheesecake for your Christmas parties!

Have an amazing Christmas!!!

Geek Café is located at:

81 Marine Parade Central, #01-644, Singapore 440081

Tel: 64400256

Website: http://geekcafe.sg/

Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page / follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram  for the latest updates!

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