Little Hokkaido, in Singapore!

Our family had always loved Japanese food, and basically most things Japanese! Ramen and udon are the kiddos' favorites, and they had also been having sashimi since young! If given a choice, I am pretty sure that they would want to have them for every meal! The last time (and only time actually) that our family visited Japan was 3 years back. I can still recall my fascination with their many beautiful confectionery that looked good and tasted great!

Just over the last December holidays, many friends popped by Hokkaido and raved about the great the great snow-clad sceneries and the FOOD! The freshness of the seafood and the experience of eating soft-serve Hokkaido milk ice-cream in winter! It made me so jealous of them and I wonder when it would finally be our turn to experience it. But before we actually make the trip to Hokkaido, we can definitely try some of their goodies here in Singapore! It is no secret that Liang Court caters largely to our local Japanese community and of course to all those who loves all things Japanese as well.

The Hokkaido Dosanko Plaza located within Meidi-ya Supermarket at B1-31, features a wide variety of best-selling confectionery from Hokkaido and boosts a wide selection of over 250 types of products from the prefecture. We browsed through the shelves and were introduced to many famous brands and top-selling goodies in this Hokkaido local specialty shop. This would be a great place to find the local products that you had been sorely missing since your last holiday trip, or to get a real taste of Hokkaido even before flying over! Do yourself a favor and get a Hokkaido milk soft-serve cone while you are there too, as they were really delicious!

These Melon Castella cakes are simply delicious and flavorful! 

Choose from a variety of flavors, including cheese or original!

Yummy soft-serve ice-cream made from real Hokkaido Milk!

Oh and do you know that a little Hokkaido corner had popped up on The State of Fun, Sentosa island not too long ago? Step out from Waterfront Station and look right for the rows of 3 shoplets, namely Ohara Farm (Ice Cream), Watanabe Coffee (Cakes & Drinks) and Hokkaido Sushi Bar (Sushi) that makes up the Little Hokkaido. We visited that over the weekend and were treated to some pretty awesome Japanese fares! We all know how the weather can ridiculously HOT at times, and we found that a serving of Hokkaido soft-serve or a cup of ice-cold coffee could do wonders! Grab their special $8 CNY promo set which consists of a slice of cake and your choice of iced coffee or iced matcha latte which you are there. Or you can also choose to upgrade your drink to a frappuccino for $2 more. They do carry a range of Snaffle's catch cakes that were really soft, cheesy and suits my sweet tooth just fine!

Walk out from the Waterfront Station.

Follow the delicious-looking banners on the left.

And you will this little corner called Little Hokkaido!

Lots of desserts, all made with authentic Hokkaido ingredients!

Melon is a must try but Steffi was attracted to Lavender but I ended up finishing the flower-infused ice-cream for her!

Check out their $8 CNY Promo happening right now!

Soft and cheesy Snaffle catch cake!

Steffi went along with the promo set, but we upgraded to a frappuccino! 

Our family had the great pleasure of trying out their oishi sushi sets, even though the sushi bar was not opened to public yet. The island is not exactly known for cheap food, but the sushi bar does serves up great tasting sushi that were not that detrimental to my wallet! I would totally describe the experience as restaurant quality food at supermarket takeaway prices. BUT take note that there are only 3-4 sets of tables and chairs in the alfresco dining area. The boss also explained to me that this would be exactly how the sushi rice tasted in Hokkaido, as they followed the exact proportions of the rice and vinegar etc. The Japanese embraces technology and in this small bar, the pressing of the sushi rice is actually automated, with each equally-sized rice piece then lovingly topped up with the right ingredient by the chef. It was productivity without the loss in quality but I am really no sushi connoisseur, hence I would not have noticed any difference if I was not told. There are many sets to choose from, with price ranging from $8.90 (Tamago Inari Set, 8 pieces) to $22.40 (Hokkaido Set, 10 pieces) if you feel like indulging in premium seafood.

The Hokkaido Sushi Bar serves Sushi sets, Chirashi Don and Temaki too!

Hokkaido Set ($22.40) - Ebiko Gunkan, Hamachi, Maguri, Salmon, Spicy Salmon Gunkan, Amaebi, Unagi Tamago & Engawa)

Authentic Set ($12.60) - Salmon, Maguri, Tako, Saba, Hotate, Ebiko Gunkan, Ebi and Ika.

Grab yourself a seat in the dining area in front of the stalls and enjoy the feast!

So there you have it, now you know exactly where you can find authentic Hokkaido goodies without the need for air-tickets! But if you insist on tasting them personally in Hokkaido, you can also try winning yourself a trip there simply by visiting the Hokkaido Smile campaign at https://www.passp.asia/hokkaido and filling up a simple survey there. For travel enquiries to Hokkaido, feel free to check with Hokkaido Government Representative Office based in Singapore or visit http://www.hokkaido-asean.org! This post is brought to you in partnership with the wonderful folks from Little Hokkaido. 

2018 Yu Sheng 发发发

This coming CNY is going to be extra special for our family, because our newest family member will be joining the family in tossing Yu Sheng just two days before CNY. Things may be getting busier for us, but nothing is going to stop us from having our Teo Family tradition of having Yu Sheng (鱼生) from the eve to the fifteenth day of CNY!

A lot of people think we are crazy to be having the same dish for 16 days in total but having the whole family participating in the toss, is really a happy thing to do. And you know what people say about being happy? Once you are happy, luck will come naturally! There are indeed many restaurants out there that try to come up with their own rendition of this famous CNY die die must-have dish, and I am glad to share where you can find some of them available at the malls of Frasers Property Singapore.

---

Northpoint City North Wing, #02-42/43/44

PUTIEN

Served with an array of quality ingredients and tossed together with premium seafood and specially concocted Yu Sheng sauce, PUTIEN's Prosperity Yu Sheng represent all the blessings you'd want for the New Year ahead!

Price: $28.80++ (small) | $36.80 (medium) | $49.80 (large)

Check out the list of ingredients used in their Prosperity Yu Sheng -

Layer 1: Pickled White & Red Ginger, Preserved Melon, Vegetable, Leek and Cucumber Strips, Lime, Strips of White Radish, Green Radish & Carrot, Candied Strips of Persimmon, Winter Melon & Brown Melon, Jellyfish, Pomelo, Lemongrass.
Layer 2: Seaweed, Cinnamon Powder, Peanut Oil, Pepper, Toasted Peanuts & White Sesame Seeds, Golden Crips, Yu Sheng sauce. Raw Salmon Slices

Available from now till 02 Mar 2018 at this Michelin One-Star restaurant!

---

Waterway Point, #01-30

Dian Xiao Er

How not to prosper with their Prosperity Smoked Salmon Yu Sheng with slices of premium Norwegian smoked salmon or get an upgrade to their Prosperity Gui Fei Abalone Yu Sheng for just a few dollars more!

Price: $32.80 (medium) | $56.80 (large) for Smoked Salmon 

or

Price: $36.80 (medium) | $62.80 (large) for Abalones

So take your choice of fish or mollusk, available from now till 02 Mar 2018. You can also check out their CNY takeaway menu here.

---

The Centrepoint, #05-15/16

Beauty in The Pot

Their Prosperity Abalone Yu Sheng is served with strips of cucumber, carrots, radish freshly grated in the restaurant while the rest of the condiments are prepared by their central kitchen to ensure the consistency in taste and quality. Be treated to tasty baby abalones that looks so much like gold ingots too!



Price: $39.80++ (Dine-in, up to 6 pax) | $62.80++ (Dine-in, up to 12 pax)

or

$48.80+ (Takeaway, up to 10 pax)

Besides Beauty in The Pot, this Yu Sheng is also available for takeaway or dine in at Canton Paradise, Paradise Dynasty, Paradise Classic and Paradise Hotpot from now till 04 Mar 2018. Check out their website for restaurant info.

---

The Centrepoint, #04-17/18

Kyoaji Japanese Dining

Kyoaji Yu Sheng - Their Yu Sheng is truly unique and with all the condiments prepared in house, tastes really "Japanese" too! Their salmon slices are fresh and succulent, but it is really the special mixture of various seeds and condiments that makes it really special, not to mention their special sauce too.

Price: $68.00++ (suitable 2-4 pax)

This dish is only available from 05 Feb to 02 Mar 2018, for both dine-in and takeaway. UOB card members enjoys special price of $45++ too! Check website for restaurant info.

---

The Centrepoint, #03-43

Crystal Jade Kitchen

Reunion Baby Abalone Yu Sheng - This is as traditional as it gets, with the usual suspects and their homemade plum sauce, but it comes with fresh baby abalones instead. You can opt for salmon instead too, if you still prefer fish.

Price: $42.80 (suitable for 5 pax) | $68.80 (suitable for 10 pax)

Available for both takeaway and dine in, and you need to order 3 days in advance if you wish to do that online here before 27 Feb. Purchase at outlet will be till 02 Mar 2018. Do note that collection for CNY eve is before 3pm and collection is also not available from 16 – 18 Feb 2018.

Then again, this Yu Sheng is also available at Crystal Jade Kitchen and Crystal Jade Jiang Nan too!

---

China Square Central, #01-56(part)/57/58/59/ 60/61/62

Mouth Restaurant

Mouth's Abalone Yu Sheng - In support of the Health Promotion Board's healthier meal initiatives, the restaurants added in lots more green and reduced the sugar for its home-blended sauce. Now you can enjoy the Australian baby abalone with less guilt! But for those who still prefers real fish, you can also opt for the special Duo Fish version that uses Crispy Fish Skin (Dace fish) and Silver Fish (White Bait Fish) instead.

(Mouth's Abalone Yu Sheng) Price: $53.80++ (M) | $69.80++ (L)



(Prosperity Duo Fish Yu Sheng) Price: $39.80++ (M) | $49.80++ (L)

The ala carte Yu Sheng is available for collection till 04 Mar 2018. Check our their CNY menu on their website and I suggest that you check them out now as I sighted some really good discounts!

---

Causeway Point, #02-08/09 | Waterway Point, #02-35 | Northpoint, #02-12

Swensen's

Fortune 18 Yu Sheng - Toss to an abundant Year of the Dog with this yusheng, a classic quintessential with 18 auspicious ingredients such as fresh pomelo bits, preserved white and brown melon, shimeji mushrooms, crispy wonton skin, golden crackers, sweet and sour plum sauce, and slices of smoked salmon. This Halal-certified rendition is also perfect for company luncheons, where dietary restrictions may come into play. Takeaway boxes come with a special ‘Cai Shen Ye’ sticker; download the ‘ePrism’ smartphone app and scan the sticker to be greeted by a cute Augmented Reality (AR) God of Fortune holding a large ingot.

Price: $23.90++ (Dine-in), $36.90+ (takeaway, good for 4 - 6 pax)

The Yu Sheng is available from now till 02 Mar 2018 and you can easily order online here too!

---

The Centrepoint, #02-53/54

MOF の My Izakaya

Prosperity Yu Sheng - A traditional platter comprising of fresh vegetable strips and the usual various pickled condiments and topped with fresh salmon sashimi. A true classic.

Price: $28.80++ (suitable 1-3 pax) | $46.80++ (suitable 4-6 pax) | $62.80++ (suitable 7-10 pax)

Available for both dine-in and takeaway (only GST applies).  Their outlet at AMK Hub was convenient for our family since it is in our hood, but you can check out website for their outlet locations.

---

I will be updating this post as more information comes in so stay tuned. Meanwhile here's wishing all our readers, a wonderful Year of the Dog and may your every Yu Sheng dish brings you even more luck and happiness throughout the new year! Huat ah!

Gaston Luga Backpack!

[Review]

I am pretty much a simple person, and the majority of the bags that I carry are often bought by my wife. She knows me best, my style, my pattern and my stinginess. In fact, most of my bags are used till they break apart and there was even a period of time when I carry plastic bags to work! So as you can see, I am pretty experienced when it comes to cheap bags, which I have no qualms using. I have gotten bags from the night markets in Taiwan and weekend markets in Bangkok and they generally cost me less than SGD$50. They may look pretty fashionable on the surface, but they have one thing in common, they do not last. I had even been cut by the sharp edges of badly moulded plastic buckles too and my last cheap bag tore when I carried a load of coins in it.

My first cool fashionable black backpack from Gaston Luga!

So I jumped at the chance to review a new bag when it came along, a new backpack from Swedish brand Gaston Luga. The first impression of the bag when I opened it from the parcel (which arrived pretty fast after ordering it online) was how expensive it felt. It even has its own dust bag ok? Sorry lah, I am too used to cheap bags! And when I held it in my hands and felt the thick canvas material, I knew that this sturdy bag is meant to last for a LONG time.

The red velvety inner lining makes it feel like a luxurious bag indeed. Big interior means lots of space to put your stuff!

However all my previous bags came with normal zippers, thus this new Black Pråper backpack took me quite a while to get used to as it came with a drawstring for the main compartment! There are certainly pros and cons for anything. With a drawstring, I can have a LOT of stuff in the bag and still be able to close it. It was almost like a 八宝袋 BUT that also meant I have a big mess inside when I just dump my stuff in! It can hold my laptop with no issues and still have sufficient space for stuff like umbrellas, wallets, files and what nots! So just take note that you better be an organized person lest you like taking time to look for stuff!

Free shipping + Rebate + Discount Code + Free Luggage Tag = Good Lobang!

Oh the pretty bag also comes with faux leather made from plant fibers, so you ain't killing no animals for the pretty bag. And now, the big question is HOW MUCH? It would have cost SGD$249 for the bag alone BUT free delivery is included, with a 20% off as a tax rebate and you also get a free luggage tag (worth $50). But that's not all, use my code "perfectfather15" for an additional 15% off after the rebate which means you only pay SGD$169.32 nett. Hop over to their official website to browse their collection and make your purchase.

My verdict of the bag? Well it definitely looked more fashionable that the bags I had been carrying, and made of far superior materials as compared to my cheap bags. In my humble opinion, it is well worth the $169.32 price tag and would make the perfect gift for your loved ones, BUT you need to remember to use the discount code (I do not make anything from it). Thank you for sending me the heavy duty backpack Gaston Luga! I am sure it will be my companion for a long time!

Active Daddying

One of the things I hear rather often hear from friend and colleagues, is that I seem to spend a lot of time with the children. In all honesty, I really feel that what I had been doing, is really quite normal and not out of the ordinary. I have the impression that most dads would have done the same too. However, after hearing from other moms, it seems that some dads are still indeed clueless, or may have a totally different mind-set when it comes to parenting. Anyway, I have to explicitly state that I do not have the authority to say what is “RIGHT”, but am merely writing about my own personal experiences.
 

I can imagine that as a working dad, one may wish to go home to a good meal after work, and then either rest or just play with the kiddos for a while. But in this modern day and time, the wife often have to work too, and will appreciate any extra help from her partner when it comes to parenting. Whilst the following may seem mundane, troublesome or may even seem more suitable for the wife to do, they are really great bonding time with the kiddos for dads too -

• Bathing the kiddos – I do bathe the kiddos from babies till now and it just felt like the right thing to do. In fact, I even bathe TOGETHER with the kiddos at times and it is also an opportunity for me to educate the kiddos on our body anatomy. But of course depending on your comfort level, you can just choose to bathe them only and help your wife out a little.
  
  
• Walking them to school – I know some parents who drives, feel that the travelling time in the car is a good time to catch up with the children. For me, because I do not have a car, I walk them to the school and I do feel that it is also a good time to bond with them as well. Again, this allowed the wife to have a little more sleep in the morning.
  
  

Sometimes, I would love to just sleep in and do nothing.

• Rest days – I do not send my kiddos to any enrichment classes, and preferred that my weekends are free time. But my wife and myself do work on weekends at times, and would have to leave the brood home with only one partner. At times like these, it would be tempting for me to just rest in and pass the kiddos their tablets or phones. BUT these weekends are great for a swim at the public pool or even grocery shopping. Dads can also bring the kiddos out for fun or some exercise and create great memories on your own too!

But off days are great to spend with the kiddos too!

There are so much more to being a dad, other than just providing for the family. I may not be as accomplished compared to many my peers in terms of career, but I am proud to say that I am always there for my kiddos and family, as much as possible. And I probably would not have this many kiddos if I had not helped out with their caregiving! Happy wife = Happy Kiddos = Happy Family. Dads do not have to be no-nonsense man of the house and can loosen up by -

• Playing pretend with them – Be the superhero or even the evil villain, and join them in their imaginary world. Sure they can play with their siblings but it is extra special with the man they look up to playing along
  
  
• Being the clown – I play the fool, dance weird grooves and crack stupid jokes at times. It gets everyone laughing and releases endorphins! And guess what? It even takes all the stress off you too!

We brought the kiddos into this world, it is only right that we do the best we can to equip them with the right tools for their lives, for them to grow into mentally strong and emotionally healthy adults. And the best thing we can do while they are young, is to give them our time. We need active daddying, because fathering is not enough.

Note: This blog post is in collaboration with Friso. Kids learn from experiences whether big or small, good or bad. That’s why Friso provides the right nutrition for your child to be strong inside to take on challenges. For more information on Friso, follow them on their Website, Facebook or Instagram.

MoonRock Bags Rocks!

[Giveaway]

With the blink of an eye, Christmas was already over and we welcomed 2018! My wife just sent Stacci to primary school today and guess what? Even though Santa may be a little late, but Stacci and Leroy did receive a brand new school bag each, in time for school re-opening!

Truth is, I am happy that 3/4 of the kiddos are going primary school already, because that meant some savings from having less childcare fees to pay. But when I think about picking them from school, I get a little "sianz" because their bags are freaking heavy! It doesn't help when I have to carry 3 bags altogether or risk them saying I am bias! A good ergonomic bag that they can carry on their own, would be a good investment for the growing kiddos (and for my old body).

To be honest, I never knew about the MoonRock bags till the kiddos received their bags. The fabric used was strong but yet still relatively light at less than 900g, and I can feel it as I held the bag to see for myself how their books and stuff can fit into its many spacious compartments. Because I know the weight the kiddos need to carry once the term REALLY starts, it is reassuring to know that the school bag is endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association, and the first in the world too! The thick padding at the bag allowed good air-flow and there are reflective strips all around for safety while crossing the road under low-light situations. Nowadays, one also need to be safe even on the walkway because of irresponsible e-scooters riders.

Ask any kiddos to choose their own school bag, and they would almost certainly request for one based solely on the looks (usually it would be some cartoon characters, be it licensed or knock-offs). But if you ask me to choose, I would definitely opt for some simple designs (which MoonRock offered), instead of some cheesy cartoon characters, and it is even better now, knowing that it would be good for their backs and keep the kiddos safe from any harmful materials too! Check out the following color combinations available!

Well even if you have gotten a school bag for your child by now, we are still happy to give you the opportunity to replace it with an even better one through our giveaway, courtesy of MoonRock Bags Singapore! All you need to do to win the blue one that Leroy is holding, is to follow the steps below -

Giveaway Instructions

Ensure that you complete ALL the following before the end of Sun, 14 Jan 2018 -

1) Like and Follow The "Perfect" Father Facebook page;

2) Like and Follow MoonRock Bags Singapore Facebook page;

3) Like and Follow MoonRock Bags Singapore Instagram page;

4) Like and Share this Facebook post publicly and;

5) Comment in the Facebook post and tag friends you know who would need one of these and share this great news with them!

Meanwhile for you readers out there, do take note of the special promo code MR2017BTS (which is valid only till 31 Jan 2018) for 10% off online bag purchases at http://www.moonrocksg.com! 

KidsFest 2018

[Giveaway]

KidsFest 2018 will be making its highly anticipated return to Singapore next year from 19 January to 11 February for its seventh run! Family favourites like The Gruffalo (a mainstay since 2013), and the immersive and educational Dinosaur Zoo featuring prehistoric creatures will be making a return, so be sure not to miss it this time!

 

 

Get your tickets to the shows here and use code ‘KFSG18’ code for 10% off ticket prices! On this Boxing day, we have a Family of Four ticket package (4 x tickets) to catch Hairy Maclary and Friends on Friday, 26th January at 5pm to giveaway, courtesy of KidFest 2018! All you need to do is to follow the instructions below.

 

Giveaway Instructions

Ensure that you complete ALL the following before the end of Sun, 07 Jan 2018 -

1) Like and Follow The "Perfect" Father Facebook page;

2) Like and Follow Kidsfest Singapore Facebook page;

3) Like and Share this Facebook post publicly (tagging friends whom you think would be interested too); and

4) Comment in the Facebook post and state in the comment what 2 shows you would love to watch! (Tip: Check their website, FB page or the photos lor!)

 

 

Good luck to all of you!

Fun With Dad!

As a working father, it is always so tempting for me to consider sleeping in on a weekday or whenever I am off from work. The idea would be to have a good rest to recharge before facing work yet again. But somehow something deep down inside me would make me reconsider, to give up on the idea of rest, and to enjoy family time instead. And if cost is a concern (for me it is), there are many activities around the island that are mostly free too!

---

Playgrounds

These public playgrounds are definitely situated within a stone's throw from the neighbourhoods. It is only that the neighbour's playground always seem to be better than yours. I can still remember my childhood playground where I would spend hours with childhood friends, just playing with the very basic concrete structures and one single merry-go-round. Sometimes it is the company that matters!

But of course if you are looking for those bigger, better and newer playgrounds, the two that you can check out would be the Marine Cove Playground over at East Coast Park, and the Admiralty Park Playground that are also easily accessible by public transport. 

---

Shopping Centers

Okay, this is something that MOST parents and children would like. Because it is clean, air-conditioned and totally comfortable for the whole family. In fact, you can find everything that you need at some of the bigger shopping centres. Let's be real, these places do not install water playgrounds or interactive play areas for kids of all ages just to have fun. The idea is of course for children to want to visit so that parents can SPEND at the malls. Maybe a meal there is justified for a fun day out at the malls, or you can simply just use the free facilities here!

Check out the outdoor sheltered play areas in malls like Bishan Junction 8 and City Square Mall, indoor air-conditioned play area in Waterway Point or Marina Square or the water play at NEX or Sembawang Shopping Mall!

---

The above are some of the places that you can bring your kiddos out on your days off from work and the whole idea really is spending as much time with the kiddos and family as possible. Of course with the right amount of cash, there are so many places one can bring the whole family to but the lack of it should never deter a dad from bringing the kiddos out! Some things lost, can never be found and TIME is one of it.

Note: This blog post is in collaboration with Friso. Kids learn from experiences whether big or small, good or bad. That’s why Friso provides the right nutrition for your child to be strong inside to take on challenges. For more information on Friso, follow them on their Website, Facebook or Instagram.