Getting Conned at Hi-Tea Bedok Point

http://www.banquet.com.sg/outlet9.htm

Yes, I face yet another bad experience again and this time, I got conned outright! For food, I usually do not complain too much. If it taste bad, I jusy wont't go back again. No biggy.

But this incident, I feel I must share. Because I do not want other customers to fall into the same trap.
Basically, this was what happened:

I was there at Bedok point after dinner at KungFu Paradise. Oh, by the way, their food was quite good and when I forgot to take my voucher, the waiter actually took it out for me. Thats what I call a A++ service. In any case, I wanted to have a cup of relaxing tea after food and I saw the promotion that you can order an additional limited side for $2 with tea at Hi-Tea.

So, I went happily ordered a pot of White Dove (Or something like this), which was stated to be $4.00 on the menu.And I added the tuna sandwich (which is suppose to be $2.) Then the waitress asked if I wanted to add a slide of cacke and my wife asked her how much and she said $2 also. Under the impression that this may had been because its late night and the cake was going off cheap, I took one slide as well.

Guess what? The bill came up to >$11 (after discount $10 with banquet card, which is beside the story).

What was wrong?

Firstly, the tea was charge under Calming Spirits instead which was $4.50. I went to ask the cashier and she said the prices on the menu is not correct, the computer price cannot be wrong. I mean WTF? You can say one price on your menu and another when you charge customer? I will call this FRAUD!

Secondly, the sandwich was charge at full price, and not the $2 promotion! That was the reason why the bill was >$10…Only the cake was charged at $2.

I really had a long day and instead of having a relaxed cup of tea, I ended up having a really bad night at Hi-Tea. I didn’t feel like arguing with your staff because I think they have no idea what they are doing and I also notice there are no other customer beside than us in the shop. Maybe there is a GOOD reason for this!!!

In case you did not believe what I said, I have the receipt here as proof. I am still considering if I should bring this to CASE because I feel cheated by the misleading promotion as well as fake menu prices. What do you think?

Groupon Treat at Paradise Dynasty

We were pretty into Groupon recently buying coupons and savings on them (or rather spending more, but less.. how ironic...). Actually, so far it has been a great experience, until I used one at Paradise Dynasty:
http://www.paradisegroup.com.sg/dynasty/

Let me quote from the groupon:
http://www.groupon.sg/deals/singapore/-790-for-any-basket-of-10-xiao-long-baos-at-paradise-dynasty--worth-up-to--1980-/715831155

• Enjoy a basket of 10 same-flavored Xiao Long Baos or try the Signature Dynasty Dumplings (8 in a basket)
• 8 first-of-its-kind unique flavors: Original, Ginseng, Foie Gras, Black Truffle, Cheese, Crab Roe, Garlic, Sze Chuan
• Comfortable, luxurious restaurant setting
• Experienced chefs
• Perfect with friends and family

Sound perfect. But guess what? You have to take 10 pieces of the SAME favor or 8 pieces of the pre-mixed combination! Gotcha there! Ya, I did not expected that, but then, it was probably ok, so we chose 2 favors and used 2 groupons. But of course you know thats not the best part. From the look of the groupons, there isn't anything about charges, but we ended up having to pay about $10 for something. Thats what I call a con-job. The bill was pretty confusing listing the original price, then the groupon price, then some stuff here and there and its about $10 for two in the end. That totally sucks. I recalled that I had used vouchers from Citi-Bank, Maybank etc which I walked in and eat and walk out without paying a cent at other places. Why should I be charged for something which should be covered by the groupon?

To make things worse, this was actually the second time I went to this restaurant at ION because they said the groupon cannot be used during EVE of holiday as well! Well, my bad for not reading the fineprint, but it totally rubbed salt onto the wound.

I won't be going back to this place for anymore food, thats for sure. BTW, the xiao long bao sucks. At $2/piece, its only marginally better than those from Ho Kee...

7 Deadliest Food of the 200x era

Originally extract from:
http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/the-7-foods-experts-wont-eat-547963/

Alarming, we are all eating some if not most of these in our day to day. Sad fact is, we are the one killing ourselves.

Here is the 7 foods expert warn against:
1. Canned Tomatoes
2. Corn-Fed Beef
3. Microwave Popcorn
4. Nonorganic Potatoes
5. Farmed Salmon
6. Milk Produced with Artificial Hormones
7. Conventional Apples

Rice Store At Bukit Timah Plaza

I had to make a trip to Bukit Timah Plaza which is located out in nowhere a few weeks ago. My primary reason was to pick up some hamster supplies there. However, beside than what I wanted, I found something else. There is this "food court" right at the corner. There is only a few store and I ordered Cha Siew Rice with added rice. Guess what? No extra charges. $2.50 straight. And they gave me 1 full bowl of extra rice.

The rice is brownish... emm, my fear is that it doesn't not taste good. Luckily I only order 1 bowl to share with J. Well, I order another again later. It was fantastic. Like nothing you had taken before. They had a special way to prepare it and it is really good. The soup was ok, better than most place, but not fantastic. The Cha Siew was good. Cantonese style, not much fat. The Roast Pork was great too. The skin still crispy at 4pm.

However, for $2.50. I ate until I am full. J was full. We did not have a proper lunch due to travel, but this certainly finished our dinner as well.

What I love most in Kopitam

There are lots of food in Kopitam and I think its very hard to say which I love best. But I finally decided. Its the Blackcurrent Ice Kachang! Its so sour and fruity... There is this sizzing pops on it which really kinda remind me of my younger days eating junks like this. There is also a lollipop on the Ice Kacang.

Well, its sure beats the normal one with weird tasting syrups on it. But even this I have to cut down now... haha...

PL4L - Pay Less 4 Less

Yes, we should have a pay less for less campaign. We are asking for less salt, less sugar, less fat and less whatever. But the price we pay for asking for less? We pay more?

It is just not logical that when manufacturer uses less of these ingredients, it would end up charging the consumer more for it? Why? Are consumers just suckers? Or somehow manufacters hass found a way to justify it would cost more if they put less of something into their product? This alll sound so fishy. Did the Sugar Association brided all the manufacturer to put more sugar into their products? And as a result of less sugar, they lose the support of the Sugar Association (less bribe may result too).

Thats why we need to have this PL4L campaign. We should ask for less and in turn pay less for them. Maybe I will start a petition to get this started.

Happy Pay (Tian Tian) Steamboat

I recalld I mentioned once before about this store. I was there, 2 of us. And was told there was no table. But when 4 person came in, there is. This is the same store. And despite my bad impression, I decided I should try it at least once to condemned it. So happen the "english" name of this store is Happy Pay and trust me, Happy is the last thing about paying here.

The sign board stated $18 pe head. I know you want to say its the +++, thats big deal actually. The bill came up to $51.26 for 2 person! Yes, WTF! The soup cost $10!!! Its supposely award winning soup, but the fish head one really sucks and its like nothing you see on the advertisement. Well, even if its good, I don't think its justified to pay $10 for the soup. No GD way man.

That aside, lets talk about the food. Ok, it sucks. There is noodles, and the usual and even some of the usual like golden mushroon, crabsticks, fishcake etc are not there. The so call 55 ingredients is like max 55, you get some of it at anytime. Thats the way it works. We were there on no rush timing and managed to stay for awhile. The only saving grace was there is crap. Well, its neither hot or pepper, it not great, but still crap basically. Ok, I mis-spelled it. Its crab. :)

The meat is ordered from a sheet of paper which count the number of times you ordered. I wondered if they wil lcharge extra if you ordered more than 3 times. But I do know is that if you change soup, its extra charge. I heard this later, after I paid of course.

There are about 7 soups, but I cant find one I loved. I think the special mix chilli at the Tiong Bahru one was great, and the chilli here is nothing close. Its only close to normal chicken rice chilli. There is 2 choice of drink, barley or Lemon Tea, which is ok. But there is no dessert.

I think there is far too much bad here to say for he good at all. Pividor is just next street and its $30 for 2 full course western with soup + dessert in a quiet nice place with european settings. Tiong Bahru Plaza's Rajahinn is $40 for 2, All-You-Can without restriction. Order cooked dishes, chocolate fondue and other great stuff. My favorite Steamboat buffet, btw. I talked about that next time.

In summary, you won't find me again at Tian Tian Steamboat at Bugis. Even if I had a treat, I would advise whoever treating me to go elsewhere. Like as if anyone will want to pay $10 for the soup base in a steamboat. Maybe we should just bring our own Chicken stock and make our own soup next time. I also cannot be bothered to complain to anyone (other than you reading now) because I am sure, somewhere in those fine prints, they covered their asses.

Satay at Chomp Chomp

Yes, its about food again. For my oversea friends, Satay is like BBQ meat burned with sauce over the fire, then dipped into thick peanut or other type of curry etc sauce. Usually Satay comes with onion, garlic, cucumber and rice to supplement.

This time I am going to recommend the Satay at Chomp Chomp. Thats a place I used to hang out back in my service days. Because its close to my grandma and its a quiet place back then. Now you have to be early to grab a seat and the stores has changed a lot. But some good ones are still around. Some I recommend is the Hokkien Prawn Noodle which is still very good. Also, the chicken wings, but its not as good as the one in Bedok Central. Do also remember to try the $3 sugar cane mega glass there. Its like a personal Tiger Jar except its sugar cane.

Satay, you have at least 3 choices there... More if I am not wrong, but guess what happened, J has decided to order from the only Halal one there. There were these 2 guys manning it and one of the kinda look very fair. J mistooked him for a chinese and only to realize when he say "Speak English". :P Well, I guess I would had too. Their satay was a long wait, I was not very happy but there were things to keep me occupied. But I must say, its damn worth the wait. The chicken is very tender. Bouncy and juicy. Its not hard like some of the other satay I seen outside. The beef and mutton is great too, but among all I guess I love hte mutton, which is so surprising cos I usually hate Halal food, and among all mutton which usually smells to me.

Do try it if you drop by Chomp Chomp at Serangoon. BTW, thats also where Chu Chu came from. We had been there many times, but had only eaten there once due to many reasons... There is another newer food center just opposite, but its very different type of environment. Well, the prawn noodle is good too there, thats about it though. :)

Japanese S&B Assorted Chilli Pepper found to contain Marijuana!

Yes, shocking but true. This bottle of S&B powder which is common used with Japanese Ramen, Soba etc is found to contain tetrahydroncannabinol which happens to be a major component in Marijuana. No wonder this has been tasting so good... :P Better throw it away now anyway. This bottle must had been 2 years in my possession... :P

Vulture Woman

Yesterday at Bugis Junction, I had just witness what must have been the most shocking incident this month. There was this woman who is looking around, for a seat I presumed at the Bugis Junction foodcourt. Then she take a good look at the table (where I wanted to sit and there was plenty of left over food). And guess what she did?

She pick up the pieces of chicken and stuff and walked away...

Some other ladies actually saw it and just smile at me... I don't know if I should smile back... I mean this is weird shit... I heard of this type of people in China... Its like a profession there. These people picks up the remaining food of others. But this is the first time I saw it in Singapore...

I mean to come to think of it, its environment friendly. She is cleaning up the food and avoiding wastage. I should actually ENCOURAGE it... but its pretty gross enough for me. Fortunately, life has taught me to stomach anything and I did not lose my appetide after this.

After she goes around for a few round, with a cup of drink (which she pickes up also) she sat down. Ah, finally she is eating some food properly... I thought she bought it herself... Then just out of curiousity, I walked passed again. Well, there was 2 plates of food, both half eaten on the table... She was eating it... (she is alone, unless... I have heard of these invisible friends, do not attempt to joke about them...). I guess she just sat down on a table with leftover and is finishing what is left... I dare not take a pic at such close distance in case I aggitate her and get peaked at...

but here is a photo I got when she was circling the food court for remains.

FDA Pet Food Recall

After the recent recall of pet food by MenuFood, more and more companies has been announcing and recalling their products as well. Among which affected is Natural Balance, which is supposely ORGANIC and I must say I am bad luck enough to switch over just recently.

Story :
http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html

List of Recall Food (Always Updated) :
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/petfoodrecall/

To cut the story short this was what happened (according to me). Most companies do not grow their own wheat somehow and has bought them from a source in China. However, this batch somehow got conteminated and as a result some 10s of pets died and many others fell sick. FDA issued a recall.

Thats just how organic things can get? How safe can food from China be? We have so much stories there that I do not even feel like repeating! Now, add a criteria to your food selection... Source of food!

Stop the Killing... Save the Dolphin

Recently I came across a rather shocking footage of Japanese dolphin trade... There is certainly some amount of cruelty I can tolerate, but what I saw I deem far out of my level. I believe that dolphin are after animals of similar intelligence to human and should be treated with respect, but these people in the footage is not even killing for food. They are almost enjoying it. How can we even swallow this in our sushi and tempura? But, my friend, I want you to see this for yourself and decide. Maybe after this you will really think that 2 atomic bombs is not enough.

http://drbenkim.com/earthlings-documentary.html

Well, there is something you can do, do sign a petition against dolphin killing here :

http://www.wayn.com/wayn.html?wci=club&page=makedifference

And when you buy salmon, be sure to check that the salmon is taken from dolphin friendly source. Many fisherman do not adopt such practice and dolphins get killed because of salmon harvesting. I do must say I owe my life to a dolphin, so for once I am very serious about this. Do support the movement against this.