2022 Story

D'Resort @ Downtown East
1 Pasir Ris Close

https://www.dresort.com.sg/


Decently Comfortable Modern Chalet

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 7
Visited: Dec-2022
Ambience & Setting: 7
Food & Beverage: 6
Service: 7
Value for Money: 8
Budget about SGD $810 per stay.
- $700 Accommodation 3D2N
- $70 Ground Floor Unit Surcharge
- $40 Barbecue Pit Rental


Hotel Facilities: Free Wi-Fi, 1 Cafe (Rainforest Cafe & Grocer), Meeting & Function Rooms, Convenience Store, Vending Machines, Barbecue Pit Rental Service, Bicycle Rental Service (Bike Stop), Currency Exchange Service, Pasir Ris Park & Beach, Wild Wild Wet Water Theme Park, E!Hub @ Downtown East & E!Avenue @ Downtown East


Hotel Activities: Internet Surfing, Meetings, Relaxing, Shopping, Barbecue / BBQ, Cycling, Water Play Activities, Indoor Skating, Nature Walk, Karaoke, Rock Climbing


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Introduction
Located about 15 minutes drive away from the Changi international airport in Singapore, D'Resort @ Downtown East is a nature inspired, all-inclusive family resort chalet, with an integrated water theme park (the Wild Wild Wet Water Theme Park) and shopping mall (the E!Hub @ Downtown East & E!Avenue @ Downtown East). Being affordably priced and with such diverse activities and amenities nearby, D'Resort @ Downtown East is a popular staycation experience for Singaporeans. My memories of this chalet from years back was that it was rather shabby, but ever since their revamp, the place is more akin to a legit hotel now.


Ambience
Ambience at D'Resort @ Downtown East is a mix of urban and nature. Surrounding the resort is the natural greenery and beaches of Pasir Ris Park & Beach, but within, the place is a distinctly urban setting. Personally, I felt some of the buildings look like a prison. However, the layout offers easy access with some privacy, and the overall place feels relaxing and tranquil. Great for catching up with family and friends.


Room
Rooms at D'Resort @ Downtown East are spacious, clean, and decently stocked with amenities. I stayed at the Mangrove Walk, requesting for a room on the ground floor which opens to a nearby barbecue pit. The 2 queen size beds were clean and comfortable, and the blankets were soft and warm. The bathroom and shower were clean and easy to use, with basic amenities. The working desk and plentiful charging points were put to good use, and the in-room wifi was fast and stable. I also appreciate the medium sized refrigerator which can store a good number of items. The only drawback was the television, which features the bare minimum of Singaporean channels.


Food
Food at D'Resort @ Downtown East is provided by the Rainforest Cafe & Grocer as well as the Convenience Store, offering a smattering of local Singaporean dishes and snacks. The bigger appeal for me was the Barbecue Pit Rental Service, where you can BBQ / barbecue / grill your own food. This was easy to set up and use, and the common outdoor sink and large trash bins nearby were thoughtfully placed.


Service
Service at D'Resort @ Downtown East is friendly and efficient. Checking in and out was easy, hassle-free, and quick. Staff were helpful, demonstrating good knowledge in answering queries. Housekeeping is hardworking and efficient, and there's also cleaning of the barbecue pits. I particularly like the parking service which allows residents to park anywhere in Downtown East complex for a small daily fee (about SGD $13 per day), which I made full use of.


Facilities & Activities
The facilities and activities at D'Resort @ Downtown East are plentiful and family-friendly. Within the resort itself are several gardens, meeting and function rooms, and a bicycle rental service. Around the resort is the Pasir Ris Park & Beach, and the adjacent shopping malls of E!Hub @ Downtown East & E!Avenue @ Downtown East boast movie theaters, karaoke joints, indoor skating rink, rock-climbing facilities, wellness shops, and more. Residents also get discounted rates to the Wild Wild Wet Water Theme Park.


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The Food Pan 3
65 Jalan Ma'mor

https://www.instagram.com/thefoodpan3/

https://www.facebook.com/people/Thefoodpan3/100084932408558/


Home-Based Business With Made-To-Order Pies & Festive Seasonal Goodies

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 8
Ambience & Setting: N.A.
Food & Beverage: 8
Service: 8
Value for Money: 9
Spent about SGD $26 per person.


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As this particular staycation at D'Resort @ Downtown East was planned for a Christmas 2022 celebration, beyond just ordering raw food for the barbecue, we also ordered several ready-to-eat cooked food festive dishes from The Food Pan 3. A tongue-in-cheek name on "the food pantry", The Food Pan 3 is a home-based business offering made-to-order pies and other seasonal specialities.

Placing the order with The Food Pan 3 was easy and quick, with payment transferred electronically (though the eventual receipt is in hardcopy). I made arrangements to self-collect direct from their kitchen. Packing of the items was nicely done, and the food transports well, being warm and ready to eat upon arrival.

The Shepherd's Pie Beef (SGD $58 for 1kg) features a large tray, lined with juicy minced beef, tender diced carrots, and crisp celery, marinated in worcestershire sauce, spices, and a rich beef stock gravy. It's then covered with a layer of creamy smooth mashed potatoes, and oven baked till golden brown. Dig in and the enticing aroma greets you, while every mouthful is a burst of starchy sweet vegetal meaty salty savoury flavour. Comforting and delicious. Good!

Shepherd's Pie Beef (SGD $58 for 1kg)

Shepherd's Pie Beef

Shepherd's Pie Beef

Shepherd's Pie Beef

The Apricot Glazed Shoulder Ham (SGD $65 for 1.5kg) features a large hefty pork shoulder, studded with cloves and glazed with an apricot preserve, then oven-baked till tender, juicy, and succulent. So satisfying to carve thick slices of the pork ham, and each bite has a beautiful meaty salty savoury fruity sweet spice flavour. A favourite of all during our barbecue. Highly recommended!

Apricot Glazed Shoulder Ham (SGD $65 for 1.5kg)

Apricot Glazed Shoulder Ham

Apricot Glazed Shoulder Ham

A traditional holiday classic, the Beef Wellington (SGD $108) features a large hefty beef striploin, seasoned with salt and black pepper, dressed in a wild button mushroom pate, and wrapped in a puff pastry and baked. Cut in, and you get the crisp flaky puff pastry with its buttery bready sweet savoury flavour, then the soft mushroom pate with bold vegetal earthy salty savoury notes, then the tender moist beef striploin done to medium-rare with pleasant meaty savoury flavour. Served with a red wine au jus. Highly recommended!

Beef Wellington (SGD $108)

Beef Wellington

Beef Wellington

The Traditional Christmas Fruit Cake (SGD $28) is unlike other versions elsewhere, which I personally feel are terrible. This however, was pretty good. A rich, moist, soft sticky cake is studded with a mix of fruits and nuts, lending a chewy crumbly juicy crunchy texture. Includes orange zest, red cherries, redcurrants, blackcurrants, golden sultanas, black raisins, apricots, cranberries, and hazelnuts. Each bite has a lovely burst of fruity zesty tangy sour sweet nutty flavour, yum. Good!

Traditional Christmas Fruit Cake (SGD $28)

Traditional Christmas Fruit Cake

Traditional Christmas Fruit Cake

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Christmas 2022

Shinya Izakaya Tasting Session
79 Boat Quay

Opening Hours:
Tue - Sun: 4pm - 3am,
Closed Mon


https://shinya-izakaya.business.site/

This was an invited media review. I did not pay for the meal during the free hosted tasting session.
Attended with representatives from Jennifer Yeo Lifestyle, msginginly, Purple Taste, and Chubby Botak Koala.

Assorted Sashimi Premium (SGD $80)

Best Of Singapore Hawkers & Casual Dining: Egg Omelette

Egg Omelette

Best Of Singapore Hawkers & Casual Dining: Egg Masala

Egg Masala

GO Noodle House
313 Orchard Road
#B3-37 313@Somerset

1 HarbourFront Walk
#B2-24 VivoCity

https://www.gonoodlehouse.com.sg/

Signature Bursting Meat Ball & Pork Belly Slice Noodles (SGD $13.50)

Morsels Tasting Session 2022
25 Dempsey Road #01-04

Opening Hours:
Tue - Thu: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm,
Fri - Sat: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 10:30pm,
Sun: 11am - 3pm,
Closed Mon


http://www.morsels.com.sg/

This was an invited media review. I did not pay for the meal during the free hosted tasting session.
Attended with representatives from Jennifer Yeo Lifestyle, msginginly, and Chubby Botak Koala.

Carbs - Jeju Live Abalone

Best Of Singapore Hawkers & Casual Dining: Egg Bhurji / Egg Poriyal

Egg Bhurji / Egg Poriyal

Wings Of The Dawn Co-Working Space
712 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6 #03-4056

https://www.tagvenue.com/sg/rooms/singapore/42135/new-dawn-learning-studio/co-working-space


Comfortable Environment For Work, Meetings, Or Small Private Events

(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 9
Visited: Nov-2022
Ambience & Setting: 9
Food & Beverage: 7
Service: 9
Facilities & Amenities: 9
Value for Money: 9
Budget about SGD $20 per person.


Lounge Facilities: Wi-Fi, Flat Screen Smart Television, Portable Audio Speakers, Meeting Room With Projector & Sound System, Height Adjustable Desks, Ergonomic Chairs, Lounge, Nintendo Switch, Board Games, Art Jamming Studio, Microwave, Water Dispenser, Coffee Machine, Air-Conditioning, Power Outlets, Photo Spot, Pantry With Snacks & Drinks


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Introduction
Located within Ang Mo Kio Central, above the NTUC FairPrice Finest supermarket, Wings Of The Dawn Co-Working Space is a co-working lounge, meeting area, and private event area, owned and operated under New Dawn Learning Studio (a tuition center). Opened in October 2022, Wings Of The Dawn Co-Working Space is available for booking via co-working apps such as Switch or TagVenue, and offers a quiet and conducive environment for working, studying, relaxing, or entertaining.


Ambience
Ambience at Wings Of The Dawn Co-Working Space is bright, clean, comfortable, and casual. The modern space features a large self-help pantry, ample natural light and white light, a large comfortable lounge, an art jamming studio, and even a photo spot. Being new, it's also relatively quiet, making it conducive for focused work.


Food
Food at Wings Of The Dawn Co-Working Space is better than most other co-working spaces, with a well-stocked pantry that includes snacks, biscuits, instant noodles, drinks, and even ice cream, all included as part of the booking price (at SGD $4.20 per hour per person). There's also hot beverages like coffee, tea, and milo.


Service
Service at Wings Of The Dawn Co-Working Space is attentive and welcoming. Staff help to ensure guests are properly set up, with power outlets, wifi connectivity, and other equipment as needed. They also brief on instructions for using the pantry, coffee machine, water dispenser, and on cleaning up. The check-in and check-out process was easy and quick too.


Facilities & Amenities
Facilities & Amenities at Wings Of The Dawn Co-Working Space are modern and well-maintained. Love the comfortable and ergonomic furniture. There's space to stand and stretch, and the quirky art jamming studio and photo spot allows for creative expression. The well-equipped meeting room is a good size. The only quibble is that washrooms, located outside, require keycard access. I'm very happy with the overall experience at Wings Of The Dawn Co-Working Space.


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