Monday, June 9, 2014

Ramen Bar Suzuki @ Boat Quay

My first visit to Ramen Bar Suzuki, I left disappointed. The ramen there was highly raved by my gf... but I did not even get to try it =.= Apparently, the last order for the 1st half of the day is 2:30pm and we reached there slightly past the stipulated timing.

Well, I eventually had the chance to try out the ramen when I meet up with my gf some time back (on a laid back Saturday afternoon). 

Ramen Bar Suzuki
61 Circular Road #01-01

Mon-Thu: 11:00am - 3:00pm (last order 2:30pm), 6:00pm - 10:00pm (last order 9:30pm)
Fri: 11:00am - 3:00pm (last order 2:30pm), 6:00pm-10.30pm (last order 10:00pm);
Sat: 11.30am - 3:00pm (last order 2:30pm), 6:00pm - 10:00pm (last order 9:30pm)
Sun & PH: Closed
- Accepts cash only -

PS: A loyalty card will be given. With every 6 stamps, you will get a complimentary bowl of ramen! Good deal yea?

According to my gf, this place is very popular with the office crowd in Raffles Place. Queues are a common sight during weekdays as it sits about 30 pax. 

With every order of ramen, you get free flow of (hard-boiled) eggs, seasoned beansprouts (super yummy and addictive!), sesame (for that extra fragrant), garlic chips (hmm... not a fan), fried pork lard (ooo... I didn't see that!), steamed Japanese rice (available only during lunch time) and their ultimate potato salad (too delish!!!). Oh, and the chilled genmaicha (brown rice tea) is free flow too, very refreshing and thirst-quenching. 

Disclaimer: They are free until everything is gone xD

While waiting for our ramen, we were busy indulging in the free flow beansprouts and potato salad. The seasoned beansprouts have a delightful aromatic sesame taste with a spicy kick. Fresh and crunchy with every bite... I can't help but keep eating non-stop :x

I am totally in love with their potato salad! Uber tasty and very-very filling as there are chunky meat bits, eggs in it! I got full by just eating this... oops!

At Ramen Bar Suzuki, you get to customize your ramen by choosing the type of ramen:-

  • Pure White Tonkotsu Ramen (Standard) - S$12.90
  • Cardinal Red Tonkotsu Ramen (Spicy) - S$13.90
  • Jet Black Tonkotsu Ramen (Mild) - S$13.90
  • Emerald Green Tonkotsu Ramen (Cheese & Basil) - S$14.90
  • Sakura Pink Tonkotsu Ramen (Prawn-flavored) - S$14.90

You can also choose the noodle texture and taste, where I like mine normal... with less flavored oil coz I prefer mine to be not so oily. 

If you are extremely hungry, you may wish to add the Special Topping (extra chashu, flavored egg and seaweed) at an additional of S$3.00. We did, and regretted since we ate too much beansprouts and potato salad. My bad, I took too much :x

Mine was the Pure White Tonkotsu Ramen, the most popular dish which large quantity of Tonkotsu is used as the main ingredient and carefully simmered until perfection. 

Every bowl of ramen comes with the standard topping (black fungus, red ginger, spring onion) which you can opt out if you don't like 'em. See the dollop of orangey thingy at the side? That is their Special Home Made Sauce, which added a lil' spicy taste to my ramen broth. I quite like the taste. Just a third of that amount given suffices else the broth will get too salty.

As for my gf, she had the Jet Black Tonkotsu Ramen, which comes with their specialty broth with squid ink and pan-fried garlic. Topped with black miso and pork, it is an original recipe that can only be savored at Ramen Bar Suzuki. I tried the broth and it was much richer than mine. A tad salty for my liking though.

If you don't already know, Ramen Bar Suzuki's noodle is the authentic traditional Tonkotsu noodle in Japan. Their noodles are extra thin, the thinnest I've tried so far. As such, it is advisable to eat fast else they will turn soggy and of coz... less appetizing. 

I must say, the broth is really rich and flavorful without being too overwhelming. The slices of belly chashu are pretty tasty as the meat texture is just right, not too tough (at least to me). I would prefer it to have slightly more fats though. heh.

Hmm... I personally don't enjoy the flavored eggs here as the yolk ain't semi-runny (almost hard-boiled, as seen in the photo). That is indeed a huge letdown. I don't think I would order their flavored eggs in future.

Okay, that's all for now. Thank you for reading! Feel free to share your fave place for yummilicious ramen (: 

Sunday, June 1, 2014

Cervical Cancer Awareness - Protect to Tell

Cancer comes in many forms. If you don't already know, cervical cancer is the 2nd most common cancer affecting women worldwide, with almost 500,000 new cases diagnosed annually. And, it is the 9th most common cancer in Singaporean women.

The tagline for this "Cervical Cancer Awareness" campaign is Protect to Tell. Yes, to spread awareness via word-of-mouth. To protect ourselves and our loved ones.

An event was specially organised at Lady M, where we (female bloggers) learnt more about cervical cancer via professional doctors.

Yummy cakes later... (:

Love - Happiness - Health - Wealth ♡

***CLICK TO ENLARGE***

Myth 1: Cervical cancer is not common, it can never happen to me.
The number of cervical cancer cases in Singapore has been decreasing in the last 20 years because women take part in prevention programmes. Without theses programs, cervical cancer is the 2nd most common cancer afecting women. 

Myth 2: I am not at risk of cervical cancer as there is no such history in my family.
Almost all cases of cervical cancer occur in women with no family history of it. It is caused by a common virus – HPV. There are about 130 different types of HPV, but only 15 cause cancer.

Myth 3: Getting cervical cancer is linked to being sexually promiscuous.
HPV is transmitted through skin-to-skin contact, via sexual intercourse or contact at the genital area, and non-sexual contact, e.g. mother to infant during delivery. Women can still be infected having just one partner, as long as they are sexually active.

Myth 4: I am feeling well, I do not have HPV infection.
Cancer-causing HPV is silent. Infected individuals do not know that they are infected and may unknowingly spread the virus. Early cervical cancer has no signs or symptoms. Hence, regular screening and prevention are critical.

Myth 5: If I have a normal Pap smear, it means I will not have cervical cancer.
A pap smear is a screening test to detect any changes in cervical cells. One normal Pap smear is not enough to protect you from cervical cancer. In Singapore, all woman aged between 25 and 69 years old who ever had sex are advised to have a Pap smear done once every 3 years.

Myth 6: Pap smear program is effective, HPV vaccination is unnecessary.
Pap smear and HPV vaccination play different roles in the holistic prevention of cervical cancer. Pap smear detects changes in the cells of your cervix which may develop into cancer later. Vaccination helps prevent certain HPV infections and reduce the risk of developing cervical pre-cancer and cervical cancer.

Myth 7: I am already sexually active, so the vaccine will not work for me.
The best time to vaccinate is prior to sexual debut. However, It does not treat or protect against any HPV infection you may already have. HPV vaccine has been proven to protect thousands of women in the clinical trials who were already sexually active.

Myth 8: My daughter is too young to be vaccinated. She won't be at risk of cervical cancer at the age of 10.
Immune response is stronger when vaccinating young. Singapore has included HPV vaccination into its National Childhood Immunization Programme starting from age 9-26 years old.

Myth 9: Vaccinating adolescents will encourage sexual promiscuity.
The main aim of vaccination is to reduce the risk of cervical cancer. As such, vaccination should not encourage promiscuity.

Myth 10: I must wait for my daughter's menses before vaccination.
Vaccination will not impact the onset of the menstrual cycle. The antibodies generated by the vaccine will not interfere with adolescent development. The side effects associated with HPV vaccine are namely:- injected site pain, redness, low grade fever and fatigue.

All women who are over 18 or who are sexually active, should have a Pap test at least once a year.

Hmm... the tools used for the Pap test...

Does it hurt? They say, it depends on the doctor :s

Do make an appointment for your FREE Pap smear!

Camwhoring with the lovelies - Tiphanie & Herine (:

The gluttony yours truly tried each and every cake :x

Okay, here's my absolute fave Lady M Green Tea Mille Crêpes!!!! It was soooooo delish I had to have at least two :d~

Signature Mille Crêpes

Strawberry Shortcake

Gâteau aux Marrons

Checkers Board

Let me reiterate, 'Protect to Tell - Stay vigilant and increase awareness of Cervical Cancer protection.'

CLICK HERE to find out more about Ovarian Cancer.

***All info and unmarked images are extracted from press release.***