Delifrance Celebrates 30th Anniversary with Launch of Singapore's first Michelin Sandwich

Bonjour!

17 June 2013 - Delifrance, the popular French bakery celebrates its 30th anniversary in Asia by launching the first-ever Michelin sandwich - the "Le Paris-Singapore" - created by renowned 1-star Michelin chefs Jacques and Laurent Pourcel from France. 

Do you know that Delifrance opened its first pilot cafe in the year 1985 at the Clifford Centre? It's the first cafe in Singapore to offer French fare like Delifrance's Le Classiques sandwiches and other iconic pastries. Since then, the number of Delifrance cafes and outlets has grown to more than 30 across Singapore!

The Sultana Croissant has been my favourite choice since young. This is considered a special treat for me as it is pricey as compared to normal hot dog buns so my mum don't usually buy it for me. I love it whenever my mum carried the Delifrance carrier bag home cause I know there will always be my favourite Sultana Croissant inside. 

With my special love for Delifrance's french pastries, I'm really excited when I received the invitation to join in the celebration for their 30th anniversary right in the Delifrance Cafe at Harbourfront Centre.

We are most honoured to have Chef Jacques Pourcel himself to fly in specially from France to kick off the celebration with the launch of his special creation. He gave a demonstration of the fine art of sandwich making and standing beside him is his English translator and the pretty host of the day.  

Here, he's introducing us to Delifrance's French stone-baked rustic baguette that takes 10 hours to bake. It's so fresh and crispy you can hear the sizzling of the bread when you take it out of the oven. So they called in the "Le Singing Bread!" 

To create the Asian flavour, Chef Jacques Pourcel choose the juicy pineapple slices as one of the ingredients as well as Thai Chilli sauce to marinate the roast chicken. He gets inspiration as he travels around. 

 Gee, he didn't really say that, I made that up, for the LOL effect. 

Chef Jacques Pourcel applying a thin layer of mayonnaise onto the baguette. When cooking a dish, or even if it's just making sandwich, he's always thinking of how to create the best eating experience for the people who will be eating the food.

 No wonder, he and his brother have become two of the best ambassadors of French fine food. In 2010, they were even selected to represent French gastronomy in the French Pavilion at Shanghai World Expo, with their 6Sens restaurant.    

Chef Jacques Pourcel proudly presenting his creation - the Le Paris Singapore! Beside Singapore, he will also be visiting Hong Kong to launch the Le Paris-Hongkong. 

After Chef Jacques Pourcel's demonstration, we are asked to leave our seat and move to the table as we will be creating our very own Michelin Sandwich under the guidance of Chef Jacques Pourcel! The thoughful Chef is already helping us to slice the pineapple.

The ingredients that is needed to create the Le Paris-Singapore sandwich is all on the table. 

Shu Qing and I in the midst of creating our own Michelin sandwiches. 

Thanks to the English translator for volunteering to help us take the photos while we are busy making our sandwiches. 

Here's the special recipe. I'm very pleased with my creation and I even kept it for breakfast the next morning. 

Monin Sparkling Drinks

Together with the launched of the limited edition Michelin sandwich is the introducing of a unique and refreshing selection of two specially created sparkling drinks. 

I've tried the Spicy Mango cause it's really interesting to hear that a drink that taste spicy. After drinking it, I concluded that the spiciness is a little bit like eating ginger that type of feeling. 

This two exclusive sparkling drinks are available for a limited period only and can be enjoyed at an a la carte price of S$5.00 or paired with the Le Paris-Singapore at only S$12.80 at selected Delifrance's outlets. 

"French Art of Living" Contest

As part of the 30th anniversary celebration, Delifrance is having this "French Art of Living" contest . With a minimum spending of S$10 at any Delifrance outlet from now will 31st August 2013, one would be eligible for the SMS lucky draw. 

One lucky winner will walk away with the a "French Art of Living" experience worth more than $6,000! The unique experience includes a pair of economy class return ticket to Paris, 3 nights accommodation and a one-day French baking class at The Paris Bakery and Patisserie School by Grands Moulins de Paris, parent company of Delifrance Group. 

WOW! The prize is so tempting. I want to win also!!! 

PHOTOS!!!!

Enjoyed myself with Shu Qing, Jessie, Terence, Ying Zi and Malcolm and the rest of the bloggers and the chef. 

Thank you, Cindy for inviting me to this event. Thank you, Delifrance for the sweet box of Macaroon. Thank you for reading this posts! 

Now You See Me ... Now You Don't

THE CLOSER YOU LOOK, 

THE LESS YOU'LL SEE

The movie begins by introducing us to the four street magicians who were performing their individual tricks at different locations. Daniel Atlas (Jesse Eisenberg), a street performer with his poker card tricks. The typical I-can-guess-what-card-you've-chosen tricks. Henley Reeves (Isla Fisher), a bigger scale performer who risk her life performing an escaping show on stage to the thrill of the audiences. Merritt McKinney (Woody Harrelson), a mentalist who can hypnotize and read the minds of others. Jack Wilder (Dave Franco) with his random tricks and sometimes stealing money from his audience.

While they are performing at different locations, we see the same guy in a hoodie observing them from far, his face was never shown to the audience. 

Eventually, the four magicians path crosses when they each received an "invitation" to gather in the form of a tarot card and what seems to promise them the membership to an exclusive magician society known as The Eye. 

One year later, they join forces and performed in Las Vegas as The Four Horsemen. We were told that the show was made possible by their wealthy sponsor, Arthur Tressler (Michael Caine). Sitting in the audience seat and secretly filming the whole performance is Thaddeus Bradley (Morgan Freeman), a former magician who earns money by exposing the secrets behind other magician's performances. Their last act to rob a bank with the help of an audience and a teleporter gets the attention of the law enforcers. All the money in the bank was really gone and we see the money dropping all over the theater. FBI agent Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo) and Interpol agent Alma Vargas (Melanie Laurent) is called up to investigate with this case. 

Anyway, the Four Horsemen continued with another two more performances but the ending was the main twist of the whole movie.

Revealing of the fifth horsemen!!!

* If you have not watched the movie and intend to watch, please do not read on.

The fifth horsemen was actually the FBI agent Dylan! He was the son of the magician who attempted a underwater trick and drowned. He created this plot to take revenge on those involved.

Thaddeus, for humiliating his father. The bank in Paris and Tressler's Company, which refused to pay out the insurance claim on his father's death. The Company that produces the safe used in his father's trick, they used inferior quality of metal and indirectly contributed to his father's death. Dylan was living in poverty until The Eye recruited him.  

Credits:

Tarot cards images : http://www.premiereprops.com/tarot-cards-movie-props-p-11471.html

Interesting reads: 

http://www.popcornorsnore.com/2013/06/now-you-see-me_4.html

http://www.sugarscape.com/main-topics/film-and-tv/889575/film-review-now-you-see-me-starring-jesse-eisenberg-dave-franco-and-i

This is a very intriguing movie. It's one of the few movies with a better storyline. However, watching a magic show performance on the movie screen just lacks that excitement. It's like in a movie everything can be made possible with the help of some CGI and editing. Magic is already unreal, an illusion and then there's a scene whereby Henley was trapped in a giant bubble and was floating away. Far too exaggerated. I felt that every characters in the movie is fully utilised with their individual different role. I actually have much higher expectation before watching the movie because so many of my friends all told me it's nice and such. 

Rating : 3.5/5

PHOTOS OF THE DAY

Trying on my manager's black frame specs. I seriously need to consider changing my specs already. 

Precious moments at Tiong Bahru. 

LASTLY...

Due to the haze issue, somebody with a creative mind created this on SGAG. 

Now You Can't See Me, because everybody's wearing a mask. Good one! 

SAFRA MovieMax : Man of Steel Preview Movie Treat

Big thanks to SAFRA MovieMax Club for selecting bf to win a pair of preview tickets to watch Man of Steel at Shaw Lido.

OFFICIAL TRAILER

[Quotes from theatrical trailer, source: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0770828/quotes]

Clark Kent - age 9: The world's too big, Mom.

Martha Kent: Then make it small. Focus on my voice. Pretend it's an island out in the ocean. Can you see it?

Clark Kent - age 9: I see it...

Jonathan Kent: You have to keep this side of yourself a secret.

Clark Kent at 13: What was I supposed to do? Let them die?

[brief pause]

Jonathan Kent: Maybe...

Jonathan Kent: You just have to decide what kind of man you want to grow up to be, Clark. Whoever that man is, he's going to change the world.

THE BIRTH OF SUPERMAN

On Planet Krypton, all babies are bred through genetic engineering with a planetary 'Codex' that decides the fate and life of a person's place in life. Everyone is coded either to be a leader, scientist, general, workers, etc.

Superman, Clark Kent/Kal-El (Henry Cavill) was born naturally but he was being sent to Earth by his parents Lara Lor-Van (Ayelet Zurer) and Jor-El (Russell Crowe) shortly after birth to prevent him from the destruction of Krypton and threat of General Zod (Michael Shannon). 

THE YOUNG SUPERMAN

Found and raised by Jonathan and Martha Kent (Kevin Coatner and Diane Lane), he was given the name Clark. It was difficult for him as a kid to accept that he was different from the rest of the kids, that he has to come to terms with his special powers. His parents know of his power but tried to hide it as a secret with the fear that society could not accept him. 

There were many scenes that show how little Clark tried to save others with his power but was told by his father to suppress his power. This left little Clark in a very conflict state of mind. Should he use his power to save others or to watch them die? 

Then, there was the very emotional scene, of how Jonathan died in a tornado. Clark could have saved his father, but his father gestured him not to do so, so that he would not reveal himself, in the end, he was swept away by the tornado. The painfulness of watching his father being swept away and what is most devastating is the fact that he could have used his power to save him and prevent him from dying yet he couldn't do it.    

THE GROWN-UP SUPERMAN

The grown-up superman started to realised his mission on Earth. He found a hologram of his real father via the 'Key' and he fought a battle against his race to save the people on Earth. General Zod was the last of his race that he killed. 

The movie ended with him entering the Daily Planet building with a pair of black-rimmed glasses and was being introduced to Lois Lane (Amy Adams) whom they've both known each other through many previous encounters. 

Rating : 3.5/5

Overall, I felt that Man of Steel is a great superhero movie. Graphic wise, there was a distinct lack of colour maybe to create a more serious mood for the movie. There's lots of flashbacks of scenes so one have to really pay attention or will be lost in the movie. 

OTHER INTERESTING STUFFS

Hand-cuff superman? They must be crazy!!! With one twist, superman can easily break away from the handcuff please. Lolol~ 

In Man of Steel, the superman costume is given a slightly new and modernised look. Even his trademark of wearing his red underwear outside is gone. The blue is also a different shade, slightly to the metallic type of blue. Which one do you prefer? I do not have much qualms about the costume though. 

PIC OF THE DAY

Okay, a self-pic of me to end this post. Black mini hearts cardigan bought from the Jipaban LollyPop-Up Flea. It's only S$2.50!!! Dress also bought there for less than S$10. Heehee. 

THANKS FOR READING! 

Loving what I bought at the LolliPOP-Up Jipaban x Blogger Bazaar Party ! (1/2)

ACCESSORIES

The earrings and necklace are sold separately but they matches so well it seems like they come in a set! What a great steal! 

I love accessories cause with a little bit of matching here and there, accessories can transform a boring, plain dress into something stylish. Different types of accessories creates different mood and different feel. However, I'm not one who's ready to splurge more than $30 for a pair of earrings. Yeah, I think any pair of earrings, no matter how nice, no matter how much I like it, if it cost more than $30 then forget it. This time round, I gotten myself 7 new pairs of earrings and one necklace for just $10 bucks!!! *WIDE GRIN* 

Mad love with this necklace and earrings. I haven't tried the other six pairs of earrings yet cause for the time being, I've been wearing this combination out to work. 

When I wore the necklace out the other day to Orchard, one cashier even asked me if it's my baby's ring! The other continue by chipping in to ask if I'm married! Anyway, it doesn't symbolize anything for me. I'm not married and I don't have a baby. Checked online to whether wearing a ring on necklace means anything and the answer is:

"Some girls do it with engagement rings as a kind of pre-engagement promise. It means yes I'll take your money and jewels but no I won't marry you." -- Clunge from Yahoo Answer.

HAHAHA, nice one! Want money, don't want love?  

As for the earrings, I love the 3D effect. It's pop up with little white flowers. So sweet and nice! 

BIRTHDAY CARDS

Bought this two birthday cards for $2. These are not your usual birthday cards, these mini birthday card when opened up is shaped like a box, so special! The one on the right features Alice in Wonderland. It's so cute I might just keep them for myself instead of giving them away. Haha, oops. 

 BAG

This sling bag cost only like $5 bucks!!! Best thing is you can use it like a clutch, hook in the metal chain to look more elegant or use the rubber strap for a casual look! Super duper worth it. It's such a great buy that Jess, Qing and I, the three of us all get this identical bag each!  

PS: I really shop till I drop and I can't bear to leave. I bought so much more things as compared to that of what I bought in Malacca. Shall do an OOTD posts soon for the clothes I bought when the haze clears and I can go outside to take photos without feeling irritated. Look out for "Loving what I bought at the LolliPOP-Up Jipaban x Blogger Bazaar Party ! (2/2)". Meanwhile, do continue reading, the post has not end yet. 

Jess, Qing and I met up together for this Jipaban cum blogger flea bazaar. Jipaban is an online shopping portal, you can visit their website here. We reached there early and were among the 1,000 early birds! Yippee, we've got goodie bags.  

We were lucky to reach there early, because it's so crowded in the afternoon, it's hard to squeeze in to choose clothes. I supposed 80% of the shoppers are bloggers or at least those who read blogs so some just want to go there and support their favourite blogger in real life. I saw my favourite blogger there too, but I'm too shy to take photo with her. *_*  

At 1pm, the clothes buffet starts. A clothes buffet is just like a food buffet, for a certain amount of money, you can take all the clothes you want. Golden guideline is "GRAB ALL YOU CAN!" Depending on the rules and regulations, different organizers have different style in organizing the clothes buffet. 

In the Jipaban clothes buffet, one pay $50 and was given a shopping bag, within 1 minute, one have to stuff as much clothes as they can into the bag and that bag will be theirs to take home. 

In a clothes buffet, there is simply no time to choose and pick the clothes that you want, so a lot depends on luck. How lucky do you think the clothes you put in that bag can fit or suit you? I nearly want to participate but in the end choose not to. I rather take my time to pick and choose the ones that I prefer than anyhow grab. LOLOL. 

The pretty Jade Seah was there to host the clothes buffet. She also has an online shop, MaryJulian. 

The anxious participants. 

Group photo! Enjoyed shopping with them! 

What's in the goodie bag, some samples and a DVD. Qing and I got DVDs while Jess got a Wii game. All were satisfied! Thank you, Nuffnang and Jipaban. I am looking forward to the next flea bazaar! ^^v