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Sino Chai

November 2015 Update

A good news! Our favorite restaurant has re-opened at Business Bay under the new name Taipei Dao Teahouse Restaurant & Café. Visit facebook page here.

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A sad update from Sino Chai

After a glorious run of several years, Sino Chai will no longer be serving it’s customers after 31st January, 2014.

We thank you all for being a part of this tremendous journey with us – all this would not have been possible without your amazing support and encouragement.

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Whenever we crave for a good dim sum, C and I always choose to eat at Sino Chai. It’s a plus that on weekends they have an eat-all-you-can dim sum.

C opted to order Fried Rice with Sweet & Sour Chicken while V and I shared the dim sum. The server asked if we preferred any dim sum to be served to us and since we can’t decide I asked to try one of each dim sum available.

Sino Chai Chives Pancake

 

This Chives Pancake is one of V’s favorite. Crunchy but doesn’t feel oily.

Sino Chai Soup of the Day

 

Before I forget the eat all you can comes with a free soup of the day. I forgot the name of the soup but it’s a rich broth infused with tea with chicken shreds and tofu.

Sino Chai Lotus Leaves

Lotus Leaves Dim Sum – a steamed sticky rice with chicken and shrimps.

Sino Chai Steamed Assorted Dimsum

Mix Dim Sum. I can’t remember all the name but what we have here if I’m correct they are Shu Mai, Beef Dumpling, and Vegetable Dumpling. We had to request another batch of this since V ate almost everything. Sharing is strictly not allowed but when I asked if I can share it with my 4 yr old the server said yes since he was still a small boy, they just don’t know that he had an appetite of a 7 yr old when it comes to dim sum.

Sino Chai Cake Dumplings

Checking our bill I think what we have here are the dim sum cakes: Radish Cake, Tofu Skin, and Seafood Cake. Radish cake was the least favorite, the texture didn’t appeal to us.

SinoChai_FriedOptions

Fried Dim Sum Plate: Chicken Spring Roll, Almond Prawn, Beef Fried Dumpling. The fried Almond Prawn on the left was a favorite. I stopped V to order another set of them since I know I’d end up eating everything and I no longer have any space in my tummy.

We ended our meal with some Red Bean Cake, and Sesame Ball.

BubbleDrink

And of course the meal wouldn’t have been complete with some bubble tea.

Total bill: 198 Dhs.

This includes C’s seafood fried rice and sweet and sour chicken, a diet coke, bubble tea and my Dim Sum lunch promo that cost 78 Dhs.

Sino Chai specializes in Chinese and Taiwanese food prepared in a healthier way and they also have a wide range of tea available. For all of you tea lovers and would like to try some healthy good food drop by this hidden gem inside Healthcare City.

 

Sino Chai Teahouse Restaurant

Building No. 27,
Block B, IBN Sina Building
Dubai Healthcare City
Telephone: 04 435 5650

Sex announcement (as in the baby’s gender, silly!)

When we had our scan at 15 weeks our sonographer asked us if we wanted to know the gender of the baby. C replied not really we’ll wait till we are in our 20 weeks. The lovely lady insists that we can find out at our current week. C was still not convinced.

 

Another scan at 18 weeks was done (baby scan is done every time we go for a monthly check-up) and once again our sonographer told us the baby’s gender. C still wanted to wait till we do our full detailed scan.

 

Finally the day of our full detailed scan (20 weeks) at Fetal Medical Center came, and before we left the house it has been settled that what we find out today will be final.

 

Doctor checked the baby’s head, hands, heart, tummy, feet and…

 

“Do you want to know the gender?”

“Yes, Doctor”

 

It's a Girl

Mom, are you sure?

 

YES. I’m going to have a baby sister.

Cloth Diaper

For the past week I’ve been reading about cloth diapers and boy was the information overwhelming. There’s like a secret language when you’re into cloth diapering. Here’s some of them that you would encounter:

CD – cloth diaper

MCD – modern cloth diaper

AIO – All in One

AI2 – All in Two or Hybrid

Pocket

Fitted

 

I have so far been eyeing the following diapers

bumGenius

itti bitti

Grovia

good Mama

Cushie Tushie

 

*clicking the image will direct you the the brand’s site.

 

I’m still not sure whether the AIO or Pocket cloth diaper will work for us that’s why we have decided to try each kind available and work on our diaper stash when the baby arrives. As what other mom’s suggested online you will never know which one will work for you unless you’ve tried it yourself.

I assumed that cloth diapers will be available in the UAE market but I was wrong and didn’t find one single store in the mall that have them. Luckily I found a lady who sells the Australian brand itti bitti and cushie tushie, we have yet to meet her.

We also found 3 brands that are made in the Phillipines so I’m definitely going to get some from them as well.

By the way when I told C about using cloth he initially thought of the old kind of cloth diapering where you wrap the baby in cloth and use diaper pins. After showing him some youtube videos on cloth diapering he too was amazed at how modern cloth diapering is now.

Why have I decided to use cloth diaper ?

-Initial investments are quite big but in the long run one family will actually save a lot since you get to RE-USE each diaper. The most expensive diaper I found cost about 30USD and the cheapest is 7USD.

-Save the planet. Yes we want in our little way be responsible for our planet. With all the natural calamities happening around us it is the least we can do.

-Cute! oh my how lovely will my baby’s bum be with the lovely colors and beautiful designs available in the market.

 

The BabyBump forum in my iphone have helped me a lot in understanding the benefits of cloth diaper as well as other links listed below.

BabyBump Cloth Diaper forum

Cloth Diaper Overview from Eco-Friendly Family

Cloth Diaper Whisperer

 

 

Baby Bump Update: 21 weeks and feeling better

We had our full detailed scan* at Fetal Medicine Center last Saturday. My OB required me to do the scan just to make sure that our baby’s growth is normal.

Thank God that everything is normal and baby’s growth is inline with what is expected in 21 weeks.

 

Along with the scan we have already confirmed (for the 3rd time) the gender of the baby but that deserve’s another post with some cake 🙂

Our next check-up will be on March 10 hopefully I’ve gained some weight by then since I’ve been losing since the start of the pregnancy. I’m eating well now and often look for something to eat every 30 minutes.

 

*Detailed Fetal Scan – 1000 dhs

Cassava Cake

I have the pleasure of hosting Kulinarya Cooking Club’s February challenge with Marni of Kensington Kitchen. February is the love month of the year and what better way to celebrate February than to reminisce about once first love. We asked our fellow KCC to prepare a dish that would make one recall our first love.

Kulinarya was started by a group of Filipino foodies living in Sydney, who are passionate about the Filipino culture and its colourful cuisine. Each month we will showcase a new dish along with their family recipes. By sharing these recipes, we hope you find the same passion and love for Filipino Food as we do.

Kulinarya was started by a group of Filipino foodies living in Sydney, who are passionate about the Filipino culture and its colourful cuisine. Each month we will showcase a new dish along with their family recipes. By sharing these recipes, we hope you find the same passion and love for Filipino Food as we do.

ohhh first love…Growing up I didn’t have any clear idea on what love really is. Back then love for me would be that cute stares across the table or that one nice gesture out of the blue. That happy feeling would last a day or two with numerous diary entries of what could happen tomorrow. Love is a fairy tale, I’m the princess waiting for my prince charming to rescue me from all the hardships and pain.

I had my first heartbreak at 5 years old when I lost the one man in my life who gave me everything, my Papa. Since then I protected my heart but then some days I failed and met plenty of prince along the way who at the end changed into frogs.

One prince came by surprise, the day I met him bought tears and an overwhelming joy in my heart. He erased all the pain I had in the past. I knew then the moment I laid my eyes on him that this was what really love is. The one boy I know I would love forever.

October 17, 2007: The first time I met my little prince – Vierte

 

Let me share to you the first kakanin merienda (Filipino snack) I prepared for V – Cassava Cake with Custard Topping.

 

When I asked our Manang to teach me how to prepare this kakanin she kept on reminding me to clean the shredded cassava to take the “poison” out. I’m not sure if there is any truth to what our Manang said but just to be sure I brushed the root crop, peeled making sure that no bark is left on it and finally soak it in cold water and squeezed out the liquid. One friend told me though that his mom no longer soak and squeeze the cassava juice.

I got this recipe from Ate Agnes, a Mommy also base here in Dubai.

20130810-175556.jpg

 

Cassava Cake with Custard Topping

2 cups Cassava, grated
3/4 cup Evaporated Milk
2 eggs
1 cup Sugar
1/4 cup Condensed Milk
1/2 cup Coconut Milk
1/4 cup Butter, melted
Grated Cheese for additional topping

Custard topping:
1 cup reserved Cassava cake mixture
1/4 cup Condensed Milk

 

Procedure:

Preheat oven 180C.

In a large bowl combine grated cassava, eggs, sugar, evaporated milk, condensed milk, coconut milk and melted butter mix well.

*Strain 1 cup of the liquid for the topping.

Pour the remaining mixture to the prepared pan and bake for about 30 minutes till the sides are brown.
Custard Topping:

Cook reserve liquid mixed with condensed milk over medium heat till thick. Pour over the cook Cassava Cake and sprinkle some grated cheese on top and broil till the top becomes brown.

 

 

Fellow KCC members sharing a yummy dish for February:

Pork Sisig by The Peach Kitchen
Biko by My Twisted Recipes
Aphrodite’s Baked Oysters by Chef by Day
Shrimp and Tofu Lumpia Sariwa by Pinay in Texas
Arroz ala Cubana by Jun Blog
Tiramisu Sandwich by Oggi
Lechon Manok by Adoras Box
Avocado-Calamansi Sorbet by Sassy Chef
Fruit Compte ala Jacques Pepin by Skip to Malou
Chilli Crab by Reel and Grill
Pork Menudo by Senorita Sisa
Lomi by My Expat Mommy
Longganisa Pandesal Pizza by I love Sisig

 

Hearts’ Day

Last week V came home asking me to make some cake for his friends in school when I asked why he replied “It’s Valentines Day Mama.”

I browsed around Pinterest (you just get lost in there) for some toddler valentine craft and found plenty of cute and easy crafts V and I can do.

V sat down with me and he absolutely love these Butterfly Valentine craft from SkipTomyLou

 

V went to school today with his Vday gift to his teachers and friends.

He started with the two nannies in his school bus.

“Happy Valentines Nanny! I have a gift for you. Thank you for taking care of me.”

 

 

Happy Heart’s day everyone!

Dino Live

 

C got a good deal from Cobone for the Dino Live show. The tickets are valued at Dhs 169 and we only got ours for Dhs 49/each which includes a orange slush, popcorn, a photo-op, and Dhs 25 worth of voucher to buy some souvenirs.

The show starts of with a 3D movie about a baby dinosaur who lost her mommy and some information on how they lived.  V kept on asking if the Dinosaurs will hurt us and asking “They are extinct right Mama?”  we kept reassuring him that what he will see are just giant dinosaur toys so kids will know how they look like.

It was a good exhibit but I still prefer the first one that we saw back home at SM MOA when V was still 1 year old.