A potluck party is a fun way to entertain on a budget. It is also a relatively fuss-free entertaining solution if you aren’t completely sure of your own cooking skills. While potlucks can take a load off the host, it can easily turn into a disorganized mess if some planning isn’t put into place. By: Sharlene Tan Ever been to those potluck parties where there is a strange mishmash of dishes that don’t quite work together, or a duplication of dishes? Anne, an administrator, remembers attending such a potluck party with one salad too many:...

Quite like an art piece in its own right, the latest Food For Thought café exudes laidback chic in its new location at SAM at Q8, Singapore Art Museum’s design extension. Nanzinc.Com checks out the youngest cool dude on the grand old Queen Street. By: Audra Lim The first thing you notice when you enter the premises is the odd presence of 504 empty pasta bottle jars hanging pretty from above, jars that were instrumental in helping out a few children’s homes in Singapore. Set against a mod industrial-feel ceiling with strategically-placed lightbulbs,...

Sometimes, we all need a place to get away from it all and spoil ourselves silly, even if it’s just for an afternoon. The White Rabbit, with its Alice-in-Wonderland charm and delectable European food, is a place worth retreating to. By: Melanie Lee My friend C. and I recently had a very lovely lunch at The White Rabbit. C. just gave birth to twins last December, and needless to say, hasn’t had many opportunities to paint the town red. Our lunch appointment was the first time she’d out on her own since her confinement nanny had left, and...

It’s the weekend! Throwing a party but can’t tell your spatulas from your springform pans? Breathe easy. Nanzinc.Com shows you how you can pull off a Nigella-style dinner surprise for a party of four, and impress your guests with your ability to ooze charm as the hostest with the mostest. By: Audra Lim You may have recently, on a spur of the moment, invited three of your best pals to dinner at your home. However, between rushing out that 50-page report at work and spending quality time with your children, there is precious little time left...

The June school holidays are draining all the goodwill out of you, and work is just unbearable. Before you lose it, pack your bags and escape for a quick solo getaway. Nanzinc.Com shows you where. By: Audra Lim You really need some downtime, and a staycation just isn’t good enough. Bintan has a been-there-done-that feel, while Sentosa is too close for comfort. For those moments when you need a me-time getaway to recharge and expand your horizons, Nanzinc.Com uncovers five nearby chill-out destinations fewer than 4 hours away by air. Cebu, Philippines Cebu...

Even a Superwoman needs her sweets – let’s get real! But where to find an easy cheesecake recipe that tastes good and is not too sweet and heavy? You’ve come to the right website. This recipe needs only a handful of ingredients and is versatile enough for any occasion. Written and baked by: Ng Lin-Li Whenever I am invited for a potluck or festive occasion, my friends usually request that I prepare this particular dessert. In fact, I made it about five times last Christmas and New Year. Fortunately for me, it is fast and easy to...

Taking a roadtrip with friends while on a holiday is an adventurous and exciting concept – windows down, wind in your hair, discovering new, unexpected terrain in your own terms. However, roadtrips can also severely test a friendship – arguments about directions and what music to play are just the beginning. How do you ensure that your relationships make it though to the end of the journey? By: Sharlene Tan It’s been said that you don’t really know someone until you travel with them. So before you hop into the cramped confines of a car...

What better way to escape the mid-week ennui than to dream about a getaway? While Napa Valley is what most people associate with California wine country, its lesser known neighbour, Sonoma, offers a less jam-packed, more laidback atmosphere with its many boutique wineries and great restaurants. By Sharlene Tan Napa Valley is famous for its big name wineries and highly rated restaurants, but a vacation there can also mean traffic jams, crowds and expensive accommodation. My husband and I, always budget conscious travelers, took instead to neighbouring...

Quiche may seem like a difficult dish to make but this recipe is quick, easy and adaptable, suitable for both the beginning and intermediate cook. It’s a perfect dish for Christmas — or Sunday brunch this weekend. By: Sharlene Tan My love for cooking goes back to my mother, who, despite her full-time job, always managed to prepare home cooked dinners – albeit sometimes in the fridge, ready to be heated up in the microwave when it was mealtime. As a teenager returning home from school, I loved to hang around the kitchen and help her prepare...

Would you pay $300 or more for your 7-year-old’s birthday cake? Many parents do just that, going by the burgeoning number of bakers who are offering customized themed fondant and cream cakes to satisfy the pastry desires of both parents and children alike. By: Audra Lim Remember when birthday cakes for children’s parties were simple cream cakes in the shape of the number of the child’s age? The fancier ones, at most, had red cherries and old school multi-coloured wafer flowers adorning the top. But these days, parents seek nothing but the...