Tag Archives: food

Unlock Massive Savings! How the ENTERTAINER App Can Cut Your Daily Lifestyle Expenses in Half

Posted on by
Reply

As many of you may know, I’ve been using the ENTERTAINER app for a while now, because I love finding ways to save on everyday activities! Although I’ve mainly been using the app for restaurants, the ENTERTAINER is crammed full of merchants that you can try, all the way from salons to days out and even gyms and fitness locations!

In today’s article, I really want to share how you can use the ENTERTAINER as a tool to make huge savings, regardless of your lifestyle or interests. It saves you from downloading various apps for different discounts and scouring the Internet! I thought I’d mention a few of the outlets that I enjoy, some new places you can try, and the kinds of discounts, that you’ll be looking at saving!

Food

I thought I’d start off with food, as it’s the main reason many purchased the ENTERTAINER app, and the platform is chock-a-block, full of restaurants, casual dining, cafés, and even food outlets that you can try. 

I’m quite often in the CBD, whether that’s throughout the day at the office or after work, meeting friends or clients for drinks or dinner. So, a great option for me is Santi’s Pizza in Telok Ayer. This restaurant specialises in alfresco cuisine, especially pizzas, and pastas! My friend and I went here for dinner, and on the ENTERTAINER app, you can get one for one pizza or pasta, which was absolutely delicious! The saving came to just over $20.

If you’re looking for a deal that really has that wow factor, I would recommend Panmericana. This restaurant, located in Sentosa, is perfect if you’re looking for somewhere with a fantastic view, and you want to treat yourself a little bit! What I love about this deal with the app is that you’re basically getting a steak for free; either a rump cap, or a ribeye when you purchase one, with a saving of about $68! I think, considering the location and the quality of the food, that’s an absolute steal!

I also think it would be great to highlight that the ENTERTAINER is not only 1-for-1 deals on food, but also on drinks. For example, I quite often go to Ice Cold Beer on Emerald Hill; a lot of my teammates from the dragon boating community like to hang out there because it’s a chill and fun vibe. Using the ENTERTAINER app, you can get one for one on house bottles of wine, which brings your approximate savings to $70. There are tons of bars and hang out spots available on the app, so check it out and have a look around because I’m sure there is something that you’ll like.

Beauty

The ENTERTAINER has an increasing number of beauty salons for facials, spas and manicures. For example, Paint Shoppe in the east is great because you can get an express gel manicure and get one free, with a saving of $48. What I like about these kinds of sessions is you can either go with a friend, so that means either treating them, or going halves on the cost of one manicure, or saving it for yourself for next time. I think that’s a great perk that the ENTERTAINER app offers, because if you do want to enjoy multiple treatments for yourself, you can do.

Fitness

As some of you may know, I’ve been on a bit of a health kick over the past year or so and having access to various gyms and classes across the city makes that all the more easy for me. I love variety in my workouts, and I also love working out with a friend. That’s why I think being able to use the ENTERTAINER in this way motivates me, even more in my fitness journey, with the added benefit of saving money. 

Me personally, I love a spin class, so I would highly recommend R1OT or Ground Zero, as you can get buy one get one free on spin classes, for saving of about $45. That means, you can either go with a friend, and pay $22.50 each, which is an absolute steal for a spin class, or you can utilise it goes for yourself over two sessions.  If you’re not interested, there are tons of other options on the app such as yoga and Pilates.

There’s a few more sections on the app that I can’t wait to try, such as fun activities and I noticed that they are even offering savings on hotel stays. Another great thing that you can do as well as sharing deals, is sharing access to the app itself, with being able to add up to 3 members on your app.

The ENTERTAINER is a great way that you, your family and friends and make huge savings to your lifestyle, whether you prefer going out for a working lunch, a coffee, catch up, a date night, but also, if you’re into getting your nails done, treating yourself to a massage, or trying a new gym class.

The ENTERTAINER has been kind enough to offer me a promo code for everyone reading this post, listening to my podcast episodes and viewing my social media content. Use the promo code DANNI20 to save $20 on purchasing membership. You just need to add this promo code at checkout.

Checkout [theentertainerme.com]

Happy exploring and saving using the ENTERTAINER app! 

Maximising Savings with the ENTERTAINER App: A Week of Delicious Deals in Singapore

Posted on by
Reply

As a finance and lifestyle blogger here in Singapore, I’m always on the lookout for ways to enjoy the city’s best offerings without breaking the bank. One tool that has truly transformed my dining and entertainment experiences is the ENTERTAINER app. With its extensive range of 1-for-1 deals and discounts across restaurants, cafes, and lifestyle venues, it’s a game-changer for savvy savers like me.

What is the ENTERTAINER App?
The ENTERTAINER app is a digital membership that offers exclusive 1-for-1 deals and discounts at numerous merchants in Singapore. It’s incredibly user-friendly—simply browse the deals, search by location or category, and redeem instantly. One of my favourite features is the map search function, which helps me find nearby deals effortlessly—perfect for spontaneous outings or planned dinners. You can check out their website here: https://www.theentertainerme.com/ where you can see all the great merchants they work with! Recently, the price has been reduced: It’s only $72. So essentially you could save double what I “paid” for it!

Deals Available & What I Love About the App
From local hawker-style eateries to fine dining restaurants, the app covers a wide spectrum. I love how the app not only provides great discounts but also allows me to try new places I might not have considered before. Plus, most merchants are familiar with how to use the app, making redemption seamless.

A Week of Savings in Singapore
Here’s a quick rundown of my experience this week using the ENTERTAINER app:

Monday:

  • Poke Theory at Raffles Place
    BYO Pokebowl (Tuna, Chicken, Tempeh) at SGD 17.50 each. I shared this with a colleague, so we split the cost—saving half.

Tuesday:

  • Poke Theory again
    This time, with a drink included, the bowl still at SGD 17.50, plus an additional deal for 1-for-1 mains at Sichuan Alley, Telok Ayer. My friend and I enjoyed home-style mashed pea noodles and braised pork rib noodles. The total bill was SGD 28, but with the deal, I got the cheaper dish free—saving SGD 13.80. I also noticed Sichuan Alley offers cocktail deals through the app, which I’m eager to try next!

Wednesday:

  • Dinner at Harry’s, Boat Quay
    A 1-for-1 mains deal meant I enjoyed a delicious salmon dish while my client had chicken. Total savings: SGD 21.83.

Thursday:

  • Back to Poke Theory
    This time, I added a snack pack of almonds (my colleague got cashews). Over three visits, I saved a total of SGD 57.13—amazing value for consistent dining!

Friday:

  • Quentin’s The Eurasian Restaurant, Ceylon Road
    My husband and I tried this place on a whim as it was a different cuisine that we both hadn’t had in a long time. We ordered several dishes—prawn curry, fish bostador, and a meaty cutlet—some under the 1-for-1 mains deal. Our total savings: SGD 28.02. The food was fantastic, and I didn’t expect such a feast!

Sunday:

  • Stirling Steaks, East Coast Road
    I am normally not in the mood for ‘western food’, but my husband & I decided that we will go on the hunt for a really good steak! Both of us enjoyed perfectly cooked sirloin steaks with fries and a garden salad. Total savings here: SGD 21.83. The steak was so good—I can’t wait to go back! I also noticed that they do a steak buffet & have a speakeasy upstairs, so that would be cool to try.

Total Savings for the Week: SGD 148.46

Why I Recommend the ENTERTAINER App
This week’s experience highlights how easy and rewarding using the ENTERTAINER app can be. It complements my previous posts about saving money in Singapore, proving that with a little planning, you can enjoy a variety of amazing places while keeping your budget in check. The app’s user-friendly interface and the familiarity of merchants with how to use it mean redemption is quick and hassle-free.

Whether you’re a foodie, a coffee lover, or someone who enjoys exploring new entertainment venues, the ENTERTAINER app makes it simple to try new places and save big. It’s a fantastic way to make the most of Singapore’s vibrant dining scene without overspending.

I haven’t even explored the other options available on the app, like massages, treatments and manicures. As a foodie, I’ve mainly been focusing on the restaurant deals, but for experiences & treatments, this app is great too!

Final Thoughts
If you’re looking to stretch your dollar and enjoy Singapore’s best offerings, I highly recommend giving the ENTERTAINER app a try. My week of savings shows just how much you can enjoy—SGD 148.46 saved in just seven days! Whether for casual meals, special date nights, or catching up with friends, this app is a must-have for any budget-conscious person in Singapore.

Happy saving and dining!

(Don’t forget: You can check out their website here: https://www.theentertainerme.com/ where you can see all the great merchants they work with! Recently, the price has been reduced: It’s only $72. So essentially you could save double what I “paid” for it!)

And I’m very excited to announce that I have a discount code – DANNI20 – for $20 off for my readers! You just need to add this promo code at checkout.

Checkout [theentertainerme.com]

Ni Yao Youtiao Ma?

Posted on by
1

I have recently become somewhat addicted to youtiao. Sometimes known as the ‘Chinese Churro’, these deep-fried dough sticks are devilishly moreish. But, I wasn’t always such a big fan. I often saw my husband dipping one into his hawker centre kopi and frankly, that kind of grossed me out. But then I realised that the youtiao is a vessel for many more wonderful things. So, I decided to explore them…one more step to being local!

Ba Kut Teh

I love ba kut teh; this peppery and herbal pork rib soup is delicious. Quite often you will see youtiao included in your order. I like letting the dough get soaked into the soup until it’s a bit soggy.

Sweetened Soy Milk

I am definitely not at this stage yet; to me, dipping anything in soy milk is a disgusting concept. I don’t like soy milk at all, which is what the problem is here. But if you do, this might be up your street. Some people even dip their youtiao into soy pudding.

Condensed Milk

I have seen this a lot, and I guess it makes sense. A youtiao, in actuality, is just a long doughnut, and doughnuts are normally covered in icing or various other sweet and sticky substances. Condensed milk is so sweet and rich, dipping youtiao into it is a no-brainer for dessert-lovers or those with a sweet tooth.

Coffee

A very traditional and obvious choice. Whilst I don’t like it myself, it’s a similar concept to us Brits dipping a bickie into our tea or coffee. I just don’t like floaty pastry bits swimming around in my cup. It’s a no from me.

Congee

You may have guessed by now that youtiao is a Singapore breakfast staple, as is rice porridge! The two go together quite nicely, especially with a bit of soy sauce, for a balance of sweet and salty, soft and crunchy.

Curry Sauce

I’ve saved the best until last. And of course, someone from Birmingham loves anything drenched in curry sauce. In my opinion, youtiao is a perfect vessel for curry; it soaks it up perfectly and is the most comforting, stodgy snack. It may seem like a weird combo at first (and trust me, I thought so too), but you really can’t knock it until you’ve tried it. This combination got me back into youtiao, so I encourage all to give it a try!

I’m sure that I haven’t come across all ways of eating youtiao, and in fact I know that youtiao can be found across Chinese and South East Asian cuisine, each country having their special way of enjoying it. Have you tried this local staple? And how do you like to eat it?

Hanoi Travel Tips

Posted on by
Reply

I recently took a short trip to Hanoi. But what some may not know is that I actually used to live in Hanoi, Vietnam before I moved to Singapore.

Returning back to the city, I really felt like not much had changed, and I slotted myself right back in. But, I was conscious that to some, Vietnam might be a total culture shock; food is unusual, streets are manic and English is not widely spoken.

For these reasons, I thought it would be a great idea to share some of my tips, as an ex-expat in Hanoi and now as a tourist.

The Roads

This may be the number one most difficult thing to adjust to in Vietnam. Traffic lights are seldom seen or used, most people drive motorcycles and to an outsider it may seem like total chaos. But, this is actually not the case. There are several unwritten rules when driving (and being a pedestrian) in Hanoi, and if you know these tips it may save you a lot of stress and hassle.

Even though there doesn’t seem to be any rules, it is simple. Like a river, or a colony of ants, the traffic in Hanoi moves constantly and slowly. There are no jerking movements, no need to suddenly break, and so long as everyone consistently flows around each other, it works. So, how does this affect you as a pedestrian? Well, if you panic whilst crossing the road, you disrupt the system. Do not expect people to move, or stop, for you. Walk slowly, at the same pace and in the same direction across the road. You will find that vehicles will work their way around you. This is why it is very important not to run, not to change your direction, or to get scared and stop half way through. Maintain your pace (and your confidence!) and crossing the road will seem like a breeze.

The Money

When I lived in Vietnam, the money seemed easy, especially because at the time it was easy to convert in my head to USD and from there into GBP. Now, going back as a tourist, it’s very difficult to convert in my head to SGD (one Singapore dollar is about 17,000 Vietnamese dong). Not only that, a lot of the paper notes are similar in colour, so it is easy to get them mixed up. My tips for dealing with the money would be as such; whilst it’s tricky to always convert, be mindful of how much things should cost in VND. For example, street food, like a bowl of pho, should cost anything from 25000 VND to about 60000 VND (60k for a really large portion, or at a famous street stall). Of course at restaurants, this will be more, maybe in the 100000 – 200000 VND range, and beers tend to be very cheap wherever, costing maybe 20000 VND. (Actually, I used to drink at places where the beer was 7000 VND (about 40 cents) but that is at a really local spot). You can see that Vietnam is really a very affordable place to visit.

My second most important money tip would be, do not pay in USD. Many blogs, tour groups and travel companies will tell you to pay using USD. And they’re not wrong, you can- maybe stores in the Old Quarter will accept dollars, but you are going to be massively ripped off with the exchange rate. Cash is still King in Vietnam; not everywhere will accept card, but using American dollars is a sure fire way to lose money.

The Food

Vietnamese is my favourite cuisine of all time. There is such a range of healthy, fresh and delicious food, and it’s always at a very affordable price. I would say that street food is always better than restaurants! 

If you’re staying around the Old Quarter, there are some great famous spots you can try out, such as Bun Cha Nem at 6 Ngo Tram Street, Bun Cha Huong Lien 2 Obama (the one that Obama and Anthony Bourdain ate at), Banh Mi 25 & Pho 10 Ly Quoc Su. 

My favourite dishes are:

  • Pho bo tai lan- flash fried steak noodle soup
  • Bun cha- pork patties and belly in a fish sauce broth with fresh herbs and rice noodles, sometimes with spring rolls as an add on!
  • Bun bo hue- a spicy soup noodle dish originating from the old capital of Hue
  • Ca phe trung- Vietnamese egg coffee
  • Banh bao- a giant bao with spring roll-like filling, and two quail eggs!
  • Pho dat biet- ‘house special’ beef pho, with many different cuts of beef

If you’re not so adventurous, and want some safer options, you can try:

  • Pho ga- chicken noodle soup
  • Nem nuong- spring rolls 
  • Pho xao- wok fried noodles (bo means it’s with beef)
  • Banh mi – French baguette sandwich (trung is with egg, pa te is with a pork pate and xuc xich is with sausage)

Culture & Language

To be honest, even when living in Hanoi, I struggled with language. If you try and learn Vietnamese online, best of luck, the Vietnamese that they teach you on the apps is South Vietnamese- not what they speak in Hanoi!

In all actuality, even though many locals don’t speak English, they are more than happy to help, or try to understand what you are trying to say. So long as you are polite and don’t get frustrated, you’ll be fine. And also, saying ‘me oi’ is a good way to get people’s attention.

I hope these tips will help those planning on going on a short trip to Hanoi- maybe it’s your first time, or maybe you don’t want to feel like a tourist anymore! 

Health Myths Debunked

Posted on by
Reply

  I don’t claim to be a health specialist, nor a doctor, nutritionist, or even one of the healthiest people around. However, due to the nature of my work, and having had a bit of a health scare before, I’ve embarked on a journey of trying to be a healthier person, who eats better, exercises more, and tries to educate herself on these topics. Through my research I’ve found that there is a lot of misinformation out there when it comes to health (hello TikTok pretending that lemon water cures all ailments). So, I thought I would debunk a few of these myths.

Myth: You Should Drink 8 Glasses of Water a Day

While drinking water is of course in no ways bad, as it helps with hydrating your body, prevents gallstones and is good for your skin, the idea of drinking 8 glasses a day is not scientifically supported. If you think about it logically, we don’t just get water and hydration from drinking plain water. Many fruits, vegetables and of course other drinks provide our bodies with the hydration it needs. So how do we know how much water to drink? Well, every individual is different, so simply drinking water when you feel thirsty is sufficient.

Myth: MSG Causes Cancer

This myth is actually fraught with racist stereotypes. Known as ‘Chinese Restaurant Syndrome’, many people reported feeling sluggish and unwell after eating food that contained MSG, and the public were led to believe that this ingredient was unhealthy, higher in sodium than normal salt, and even contained carcinogens. Research has found that the vast majority of people, even those claiming a sensitivity to MSG, don’t have any reaction when they don’t know they are eating it. Essentially, this myth was created out of people’s fear of ‘exotic food’. In actuality, unlike regular table salt, which is 40% sodium, MSG contains only 12% sodium, and is safe to eat- free from carcinogens.

Myth: Microwaves Zap Nutrients Out of Food

Another myth that has no scientific backing, many people believe that cooking with microwaves is a bad cooking method. While cooking microwavable TV dinners, I agree, has little to no nutritional value, using your microwave to heat up leftovers, or even steaming veggies, does not decrease the nutritional value. In fact, microwave cooking is actually a better way to retain vitamins and minerals as compared to other cooking methods, due to the fact that lesser nutrients are lost from shorter heat exposure, and the minimal amount of liquid needed for microwaving food simply stops nutrients from leaking out.

Myth: Diet Pills Don’t Make You Lose Weight

There are a lot of miracle products on the market. I admit that most don’t work, but unfortunately, many work so well, that they have lasting consequences. These fat burning pills can decrease your appetite, or speed up your metabolism, causing you to lose weight. The problem is that once you stop, all the weight will go back on, or even worse, you can end up heavier than when you started. This leads to a dependency on these products, and can cause nasty side effects, such as rapid heart rate and higher blood pressure. It’s best to just avoid these pills as a whole.

A funny thing to note is even these ‘natural’ pills have horrid side effects. I used to frequently take Sena tablets to help control my weight, but as soon as I stopped taking them, I had constant constipation and abdominal pain, to the point where it was difficult to move comfortably.

Myth: Drinking Through a Straw Stops Food Staining Your Teeth

Regrettably, drinking coffee through a straw doesn’t prevent coffee from staining your teeth. The only thing that will stop staining is not having a prolonged contact with coloured food, rinsing your mouth frequently and not drinking an excessive amount of tea and coffee.

There are so many more myths I stumbled upon, but that’s for another article! What are some health myths you’ve debunked?

Best Hawkers For Expats…Part Two!

Posted on by
Reply

It’s back! Another list of hawkers that expats might not know about, but should! I got a bit of backlash from my first post so, just to reiterate…this is not a list containing all the well-known expat locations like Newton or Lau Pa Sat; I am not writing about these because a) everyone already knows about them b) I sometimes think they’re a bit overpriced.

If you’ve tried my previous list and are looking for more suggestions then please read on!

Old Airport Road

Must Try: Curry Chicken Noodles

To be honest, I don’t know why this wasn’t in my first list. Old Airport Road is great; it has such a wide selection and it is huge- there’s something for everyone. The chicken rice there is great, the curry chicken noodles are delicious and there is an abundance of beer, what more could you ask for!

Chom Chom

Must Try: Stingray, Carrot Cake

This made the honourable mentions list last time but I went back recently and tried pretty much everything there! The food there is very reasonably priced and it is your one-stop-shop for all Singaporean food. The feast I had contained satay, chicken wings, black and white carrot cake, stingray, rice and kangkong. Can I just say that the portions are huge so be careful when ordering! I definitely over-ordered!

Seah Im Food Centre

Must Try: Boat Noodles

This hawker centre is a short walk away from Vivocity. It’s incredibly underrated and is great after a long day at Sentosa. During the day a lot more stalls are open than at night, but no matter what time of day you go I would highly recommend the Thai stall that sells beef boat noodle soup; it’s spicy, flavourful, comes with or without beef stomach (I personally like it with) and you get a good bowl for a cheap price! There are many stalls to choose from, so if you’re not particularly in the mood for Thai you can always grab something else.

Golden Mile Tower

Must Try: Leng Saap

Speaking of Thai food, next to the very famous Golden Mile Complex is Golden Mile Tower. In the basement there is lots of great food, notably leng saap, or pork spine soup. This soup is not for the faint of heart; imagine a vast bowl filled with spicy coriander soup, and protruding out the top, massive pork spines where the meat falls off the bone. You can choose your size and spiciness level, and the soup is usually refillable. The meat that comes off the pork spine is so juicy and tender, it’s making my mouth water just typing about it!

Eunos Crescent Market and Food Centre

Must Try: Yong Tau Foo, Indian Rojak

Right next to Eunos MRT Station, this hawker is packed full of choices. It may seem small, but each stall as something different. I also think that, because it’s not very well known by expats, it tends to be more reasonably priced. The satay here is great, and you can get hand pulled noodles at the ban mien stall. Behind the first set of hawkers is another, mostly specialising in Chinese and Hong Kong cuisine. Here I recommend relaxing with a beer and trying the Mala Xiang Guo. When I don’t know what to eat, my go-to is either the Indian rojak stall, or the Yong Tau Foo with laksa gravy.

So there you have it, another 5 great places to eat around Singapore. I hope this list has got your mouth watering enough to go and try all my latest top picks! Which hawker is your favourite?

Best Hawkers For Expats!

Posted on by
Reply

  When the conversation of coffee shops come up around expats come up, Newton is ALWAYS mentioned. It’s the one in Crazy Rich Asians, it’s the one where people try sting ray for the first time, but it’s pretty touristy and they jack the prices up. So, I’ve come up with a list of my favourite hawkers across Singapore, and what my favourite food is from those places.

Maxwell

Best Things To Eat: Chicken Rice, Shanghai Dumplings

  This is my favourite hawker in the whole of Singapore; the food is so delicious and very reasonably priced. My top picks for food would be the chicken rice; there’s a lot of famous chicken rice stalls at Maxwell and they’re all so tasty. But my absolute top pick for food here is the Shanghai dumplings; they’re incredibly juicy and soft. And, the beer is cheap!

Bedok Food Centre

Best Things To Eat: Mala Xiang Guo

  I don’t know why people don’t talk more about this hawker- it’s MASSIVE and there are so many amazing and delicious things to try here. It gets very busy on the weekends to make sure to bring some tissues to chope your table! The mala xiang guo is very fresh and yummy and incredibly reasonably priced; I often find mala to be quite expensive if you’re eating for 1, but this only costs $5!

East Coast Park

Best Things To Eat: Satay

 Of course I was going to put this on the list- there are so many fantastic foods to try. I love the stingray, the carrot cake, the fried rice but especially the satay. People say that Lau Pa Sat has the best satay but I disagree- East Coast Park takes the gold. What’s more, the beer is the best here- so cheap!

Yishun Park Hawker Centre

Best Things To Eat: Mee Jiang Kuah

 This is my favourite hawker in the north. It’s near where I used to live so during circuit breaker I would go there once a week just to treat myself and get myself out the house. I would highly recommend the mee jiang kuah; these fluffy pancakes come in many different flavours. I like the charcoal and peanut butter ones.

Satay By The Bay

Best Things To Eat: BBQ Sting Ray and Kang Kong

Even though the satay here is very popular I would also recommend their tze char, especially their stingray and kang kong. This hawker is a great place to go after a cycle around the Marina Bay area. It feels so rewarding chomping down on delicious food after a long day exercising!

Honourable Mentions: Nasi Lemak at Boon Lay Food Centre; Curry Fish Head at Zion; Hokkien Mee at Chom Chom

What are some of your favourite local Singapore delights?