Only the finest with Shabestan

If you are into something exotic, you are in luck. Because today, I will be sharing about one of the finest Persian cuisine I ever had in my whole life. This is my second time having food from the middle east region and the experience was so different from my first. The first time I had such food was at a shop at Tanjong Pagar at a recommendation of my colleague. Boy oh boy, that was the last time I ever wanted to taste such food.

The good thing about me is that I am always open to second chances. And there are good reasons for doing so. Shebestan is a fine example of that. If I didn't give middle eastern food another chance, I would have never stumbled upon this gem. While I was at Shebestan, I noticed that most of their clientele was non-Chinese. Quite a pity really, because their taste is quite suitable for locals.

It has been such a long while since I came to a restaurant which I have absolutely nothing but raves for. From left to right, top to bottom:

1. Tabouli Salad ($12): We ordered this simply because the other table beside us had this. And I am glad we did that cos this is an extremely good appetizer. This dish is made of familiar vegetables such as chopped parsley, onions and tomatoes, but the taste is highly unfamiliar and in a very, very good way. It is not a typical salad, so try it if you must. 

2. Soups - Ash Reshth or Soup E-Jow ($11): Generally, I will never recommend having 2 soups at a restaurant because one would always be an obvious winner. But this time round, I am truly conflicted. I think I ever had Ash Reshth (a yogurt-based lentil soup with Persian noodles) elsewhere and it was horrid, but this was divine. I slurped up both the soup. Chef Hamid told us that the soups are boiled and brewed for hours to get such a taste, and I am thankful he put so much effort into food preparation. Otherwise, we would never taste such goodness. Go for both cos they are just that good. 

3. Appetiser Platter ($35): The dips for this is out of this world. If they sell the dips in bottles, I might have bought a few for my bread. You get 5 dips in total. All are excellent but I will rank them for your sake. Homemade Cheese -> Muhamara (walnuts) -> Hummus -> Borani Esfanaj (spinach), Halim Bademjan (eggplant). Personally, I feel that the salad, soups and appetizer platter would serve as a good meal for 2 already. So come in a group if you want to taste more of what Shebestan can offer. 

4. Horesh-E-Gureh-O-Jujeh-O-Bademjan ($30): I feel really bad for this dish because I felt like a bad parent comparing my kids, and this was the kid that didn't do as well. Mind you, this spring chicken is still an A, the flesh was so tender that it tore off the bone. But the thing is, if I have limited stomach space, I am going to give this a miss because I think I can find something similar outside. 

Yes, we stuffed ourselves for your sake, so read on. From left to right, top to bottom:

5. Persian Saffron Ice Cream ($8): This was the last dish I had there. Madan, the store manager insisted that I had to try this when I told him I was too full. And I am glad I caved in, cos this pistachios ice-cream is out of this world and Shebestan isn''t even an ice-cream maker. I told him I only have room for 1. After I had it, I actually had room for 2. Haha. Dang Desserts Tummy. 

6. Shabestan Platter for 4 ($165): Value-for-money, this is what I would call it. It is definitely too much meat for 4, it is more like for a party of 8. You get to taste all the meat, but I am not into all. Highlights for me are the prawn kebab (Yes, for someone with slight prawn allergies, I risked it all because this was exceptional), lamb on the bone, beef fillet (always a beef girl). 

7. Assorted Rice: This is a special made, so ask for it when you are there. I love all the rice types, especially the rice biscuits. All I can say about Shebestan is that you either never had such dish before or had it elsewhere but they just seem to do it better. It is not a little better but so much better, till it is memorable and you know you will come back for more. 

8. Drinks selection: Most restaurants tend to lose focus when it comes to the sides and their drinks but not Shebestan. I can safely say, try anything that catches your eye because they never fail to impress.

Mind you, it is not only their food that is fine. If you want an intimate setting, grab a table indoors. If you want something more light-hearted, go alfresco. It is a perfect place for special occasions with family and friends. I don't think it comes as any surprise but Shebestan was awarded the Best Middle-eastern Restaurant in Singapore. 

For the Chinese Singaporeans, I think you are missing out. This is one hidden gem that you must try! For me, the question is when can I find the occassion to come back. Heehee.  

Hidden Gem: Goldleaf Resturant

The weather has been wet and cold lately. So I thought I am obliged to share with you guys some good comfort food. If you would like a taste of home, something light, something simple but very very delicious, you should really check out Goldleaf Restaurat.

It is a hidden gem at Amoy Street, serving Taiwanese Tze-Char. There is free-flow of rice and porridge. But I would really suggest the sweet potato porridge. If you are lucky, you might even have 2 chunky potatoes in your bowl!

Generally, I think you can follow my orders because I made really good choices. I was only disappointed with at most 2 dishes max. The rest, I am practivally raving about them.

• Goldleaf Prawn Rolls ($9.80) - For me, this is a pass. It is not bad. It is just average. And i have tasted better!
• Er Chye (Taiwan Lettuce) ($10) - Honestly, I am never eaten this vegetable anywhere else before. It is so addictively delicious, even though it was kinda of oily.
• Chye Por Omelette ($10) - If you chee kueh and the dried radish, you should order one. Chye Por is really hard to self-make, so this is probably one dish you can't make it yourself.

If you need something good for the eyes, instagram and stomach, don't miss out the Goldleaf Pork Ribs ($18), it was so frigging good. The sauce was savory and the meat was plentiful! And it is amazing with the porridge (Did I tell you u i had 3 bowls! OMFG!)

This would have been easily been the best meat dish there, until I tried the 3 Cup Chicken. ($15) The thing is I ever had 3 Cup Chicken, and I didn't have my mind blown. But I saw every table ordering one and so I caved in to the recommendations.

And you know what, you shouldn't leave without having it. Even if 2 meat dishes are too much, you must also eat it. This is one dish you can smell the fragrance of it till it makes you droll. (It was my last mains by the way but I still made tummy for it!)

The chicken was so tender and the zap (gravy) was so delicious! I could probably eat plain porridge with the sauce. It is pure gold. Actually, it leans towards the salty side, but it was so flavourful and yummy I just drank it like soup! Hahaha!

And seafood lovers, you can try the crab and the fish. I didn't try them out but given the other quality, I am sure they are brilliant as well. But what I did try was the Seafood Beancurd ($8) You can eat it on its own or with the sauce. The sauce is really good, so good you could eat it on its own as a dish too.

Instead of free peanuts, you can free tofu with ikan bilis and yellow beans. It is very different but I feel very value for money (like got a free main like that...haha) Oh and do try out the Oyster Mee Sua. ($10) Annoyingly, they always sell out in the afternoon, now you know when to go.

Thought you might want to know, the drinks at Goldleaf Restaurant are handmade ($3.50 per glass). I would strong recommend Plum Juice. Desserts choices are a bit limited with Yam Paste ($5) and Herbal Jelly ($4.50). The Yam Paste standard was top notch. But the herbal jelly tasted kinda of like Grass Jelly. Hmm.

Personally, I think this place is under-rated. Hope you all enjoy this secret share of mine. See you all soon :P

Goldleaf Restaurant

103 Amoy Street, Singapore 069923

Daily: 11:30 - 14:30

Mon - Wed: 18:00 - 22:00

Thu - Sat: 18:00 - 23:00

Sun: 18:00 - 22:00

Food Review: WOK°15 Kitchen

Ok, this post is kinda of delayed. But hey good stuff are worth the wait right? So remember during the launch of Jules Taylor (read more about the post here), food was being served! Today, we will be sharing with you more about the food!

First off, more information about the WOK°15 Kitchen. Lauded as "Singapore's Top Restaurant" by Win & Dine, you can expect hearty Cantonese cuisine that will appeal to even diners with the most discerning tastebuds!

I hope you are feeling hungry because we are going to do a a quick run through of all the food. (Look at how yummy they are! Mind you, these photos don't even need to be edited!)

Appetizers (at the bottom)

1. Deep Fried Fish Skin - This is sinfully good. Fried to crunch perfection. But please don't have to much of it, it is not that good for your health.
2. Chilled Cucumber & Garlic - It is what we call the "开胃菜" (open stomach vegetables LOL!). It is refreshingly good and is a good cleanser to the savory food coming out next. 
3. Sautéed Pork Belly with Special Sauce - I am pork belly lover so I would recommend this side as well. Once again, this should be shared unless you want to get a free float around your waist!

Mains

1. Deep Fried Marble Goby with Deluxe Soya Sauce - WOK°15 Kitchen is really good in their frying skills. (Yumm!) However, I am always of this impression if the fish has to be fried it is less fresh than the one being steamed. 
2. Sautéed Beef Cubes with Garlic Flakes - I hope you readers can consume beef because it is such a waste to miss this. The thick cubes were juicily good! Mmm!
3. Singapore Chilli Crab with Fried Mantou - We saved the best for last. For overseas readers, this dish is one of Singapore's pride. Most tourist I know like to go Jumbo to satisfy their craving. You know what, I think you can come to WOK°15 Kitchen for it. I love the buns. Can eat them on their own.

And by the way, I am super in love with the atmosphere at WOK°15 Kitchen (although sometimes I think any place with a sea view can easily win me over.) Personally, I like it because it is quaint. The exterior and interior is elegant making this a good place to host business lunches.

If you are going to get married soon, there is even a grand dining hall available! I think it can be quite an exoitic experience for the guest though those who are trying to take public transport in may face a little difficulty. (It can only accommodate up to 120 guests so it is quite perfect for a small wedding!)

This is the point where everyone starts scolding us for being hedonists. We were enjoying the yacht so much we actually took quite little photos of the food. Oops.
So here's some of the finger snacks served on board:-

1. Chilled Drunken Chicken Roll with Osmanthus and Wolfberries - This is actually really good for health. And for a health food, this taste awesome! Order this on board!
2. Sautéed Scallops with Egg White and Truffle Oil - This is super luxurious and a delight to the tastebuds. The generous truffle oil is going to make all fans of truffles squeal with delight. Do try it ok!
3. Sautéed Prawns with Wasabi Sauce - This is one of the finest combination. It is good but if you are looking for something exclusive, this may not be what you are looking for. 

With that, we have come to the end of the event launch write-up. Please don't be too surprise if you catch me at WOK°15 Kitchen in the near future. :D

Note: This post was written with input from my representative.

Food Tour Part 4: Hawker Version

So you may know by now that I am working (out) hard. And apparently, I realised I have been eating damn hard too. Lol! Considering the food photos I have accumulated thus far. Well, I guess I have truly been eating.

FYI, not all reviews are good. So please read them carefully. These columns are food that I bumped into. Some are hits while others are misses!

Amoy Spicy Noodle (Near the ATMs)

I am sure many of you have heard of Noodle Story but this is not it. (Sorry, I forgot the store's name!) This is also at the first floor but at the other end. Taste-wise, it isn't as fancy but it has a queue too. And it is around $3-$4. My friend doesn't like it. She say "not spicy enough" but it wasn't too bad. Not something I would have craving for but is something I am fine filling my stomach with.

I actually burst the egg and mixed it? I am not sure if that's how you eat it. But I like my noodles soggy. It comes with a bowl of soup too. Try it and let me know if you like it. :D

MACS Nasi Lemak Burger

I did try the Minion's stuff the last time round. And unfortunately it didn't work my way. I just didn't like it. Shake head fervently! Guess banana is not my thing. But you know I like novelty so I gave this new MAC trend another go. It was initially pretty conflicting cos Nasi Lemak and burger just sounds like a huge amount of calories.

But it is all worth it! Please try it, I know some influencers called it confusing but I love it. It is a mouthful of Nasi Lemak goodness and worth every calories. And the coconut pie is awesome too. I tot the drink was just average. But I still want this to be in Macs permanent menu. Just change the bread to rice and this is perfect! (BF was so hungry. The photo even has him putting his hands at his tummy! WTH!)

Clementi Central Chwee Kueh

There are so many people raging on how good their Chwee Kuehs are. But I really think this is the best I have tasted so far. I only go for Clementi Centrals's cheap and yummy one (even though it writes there Bedok -_-) In fact, Clementi has a lot of good food. I should really do one post on it some day.

Yea, do go and try them out! This is really where I satisfy all my Chwee Kueh cravings. And mind you, I got try out the "famous" Ghim Moh one too. I still think this one is better. :D

There is going to be a lot more food posts coming up. (I have too much photos!) So if you are a foodie or is just hungry for more choices, you can just keep reading. :D

Food Tour Part 3: Tanjong Pagar Theme

Maybe I am really growing fat. Cos I am writing about food again. This is because after my exams, I have more time on my hand to eat with my friends. More time means can eat more. Haha, as simple as that. Usually, I eat the same stuff. #loyaltytofood

But I tried some things that are different cos I have new friends. Kidding la. Cos after exams very stressed so easily influenced to eat other type of food and try something different. Hehehe.

100 AM Level 3

Oops, I wish I am able to give you more information, but crap I really forgot what it is called. It has a curtain over the entrance though. :D Yea, usually this is not my go-to place for my Ramen craving. But oh my, it is actually really good. More expensive than the Orchird Hotel one though, but it is a nice change.

It is a lot more savory and the portion is humongous too. But oh well, it is pricer too. It is really a good rainy day comfort food meal. And if you are a big eater, you should go for this instead!

Obean

This is like my favourite vegetarian store so don't be too shock to see me munching there. So it is only recently I found out that they moved to a more inaccessible location. Sian. And now that the environment look slightly more atas, the price also go up a bit liao. Double sian. But I think the portion did grow bigger.

My friends used to ask me like "filling meh? No meat leh!" Trust me, you won't need a second helping there. And in terms of taste wise, it is really one of the best vegetarian good I have ever tried, but yea it is a little on the more fancy side. Tell me if you like it ok cos I really want to open their franchise store. :)

Japan Rail Cafe

I am only eating at this place because I am on my way to eat the Ramen at Orchird Tower but the BF, not me, him ok wanted to try something different and wanted to spurge. The meal isn't cheap but the food was decent and the portion is amazing.

I think the concept is interesting as well cos you can actually book your trip to Japan here as well. I think it is a waste not to serve Jap food but hey maybe they wanted a bigger target market. BTW, these photos even won a bit of a contest. So yeah to great photography!

So here's a photo by the BF of me looking all dumb after my exam. Quite a terrible angle but that's the best he can do. Trust me. And I just realised all the food places this time round is in Tanjong Pagar again! Guess I just gave you guys variety. Enjoy, and let me eat up another around of food to share :D

Just Chillin' at Birders

A little bit of Sake. A little bit of Yakitori. Just some Japan magic to end off the weekend. If you are looking for something different for your next drinking spree, you might just want to read on.

Check out Birders! (I shall not type out the Chinese name for it cos it is kinda of crude...haha) It opens till midnight so if you crave for some fulfilling supper, here is where you should go!

So some of you may not be familiar with Yakitori, in SG terms it is a bit like the Japanese Satay. Basically, it is meat on a skewers. But of course you don't restrict it to meat. Even sweet corn can be skewered too! Personally, I find Yakitori really good bear food. It is one of those rare cases where a flavorful snack complements a zesty drink!

I tried out some of the Yakitori and honestly not all suited my taste. Lol. For any of you who are more adventurous, I shall suggest the Heart and Gizzard. I think it is an acquired taste. Haha. We missed out trying the Pork Belly and Quail Eggs which I am sure it is good. T.T Let me know if you tried them.

Check out our happy face. Here are some which we tried which you might like to have a go at too:-

1. Unami Corn 
2. Onsen Egg
3. Japanese Yam - This is quite different from those that we normally have.

Oh dear looking back, I realise that there are a lot more things I would like to try on the menu. But haha, my tummy ain't that big too store all the food anyway.

If you are like my parents who need rice in order to have a filling stomach, don't worry cos they have fillers. For something more traditional, try Yakitori Don. This is really value for money cos not only you get
to try the Yakitori and have rice to go with it.

But, I would really recommend you to try the Takikomi Chazuko which is something like a dashi broth. It is more interesting and broth is really yummy. My brother and I actually drank the whole broth. Oops Hahaha.

If you are looking for some drinks (more like alcohol) to quench your thirst, Birders has a good selection of Sake. Don't worry if you can't name what you want because the friendly waiters there will help you. You just have to describe what you like. Sweet? Strong after taste?

Don't worry if among your group of friends, you are not much of a drinker. There are alcoholic drinks being served as well though I think the alcoholic menu is very very impressive. One thing I really like about Birders is that you can actually have a good chat with your friends without screaming over a singing band. I would describe Birders as a pretty chillax hangout. Not too noisy and rowdy.

I have obviously save the best for last. And these 2 sharing dishes are your Die Die Must Have. If you are there, you must try the Liver Mousse. It is just so damn good. The buns are fried to such crispness, it should be sold by itself so that you can tabao home. And the mousse, I have never taste anything like that. I would even come back for it.

Wings - Duh, everybody love chicken wings. Okay, if you really want me to compare Liver Mousse beats everything. And on normal day, I don't even eat liver. You can imagine how good it is!!! Awesome goodness that you eat it yourself if you are sharing. Haha, can't imagine I am saying this.

And if some Japanese magic and liver moouse isn't enough, keep your eyes peeled. You may just be enough to be star-struck. Yes, the owner is Adam Chen from Tanglin! <3 <3 <3 I can imagine every lady reader flocking there already. Hahaha!

Food Tour Part 2

The only reason I am writing about food again is because I am clearing the photos in my phone and I realise that there are too much food photos AGAIN! (Food review blog maybe?!?)

I am also kinda of busy lately, and these are the only posts that doesn't require too much of my time to write since the photos are already are so well taken (supposedly for Instagram) but yea dono why never post also :( 

Tae Woo Ban Jum Korean Restaurant

This is my favorite Korean restaurant of all time. I was contemplating for the longest time whether I should write about them because lol once they are famous, I would probably have to queue :( and I will lose a quaint spot where I can have a nice meal with my friends etc. (LOL!) But yes, this place serve the best Ja Jiang Mian ever. I even preferred it to those I ate it Korea.

I have tried nearly everything off the menu and I wouldn't recommend the dumplings. Other than that, all the food are very good although some of them is very Chinese cuisine like. I think they are owned by a Korean family (Not sure, cos every time only go there eat not to interview HAHAHA). But they are so good now, even though they are at a very hidden spot in Central, there is still a queue! Be prepared to queue if you are going there during dining hours.

Song Fa Bak Kut Teh

My Dad actually makes pretty decent Bak Kut Teh so I don't usually have Bak Kut Teh outside. (My standards are very high.) If I do, I will have mine at Song Fa. :D There is actually a few other popular Bak Kut Teh stores (one on the purple line which I don't bother to remember the location cos I don't like it :P) but I like theirs best.

I think I like the strong herbal taste of the soup (Free flow some more) and their Chicken Feet. Damn good. Soft and Slimy. That means Yum. And I know a lot of my friends who like it as well. So I can happily conclude, I am in no way bias.

Crystal Jade Kitchen

Had this on either my Mum and Dad's birthday. I don't usually take Crystal Jade lol cos my secondary friends like DTF and my college friends go for Paradise Dynasty (we even have membership with them?!?). So, I don't usually eat anything different. But...actually Crystal Jade is quite good too. 

I think comparatively. DTF is lighter. Paradise Dynasty is richer and more thicker in terms of taste and texture. The food serve at Crystal Jade is more homey and looks more unhealthy LOL! But is quite a nice variation to what we usually eat and have :D

Do try some of them and let me know if you like them as much as me. This segment is just interim as and when I have too much food photos. So, please don't keep asking when will the next one be up!

Food Tour Part 1

I found quite a lot of food photos in my album, so I thought why not start an informal series on food. I am not a foodie in any sense but the BF is and he goes around Singapore and other parts of the world if we are there, to try the raved food.

They were supposed to be on my Instagram. But I guess I grown lazy or is not so keen on maintaining the food content on my Instagram. Still, let's not waste those photos. It is probably interesting to hear some rants and grunts for a change. So, here's 3 to start the ball rolling.

Hwa Nam Restaurant

There have been quite a lot of people writing about this Dim Sum place. It is very old school and thus the price is very reasonable. My BF actually liked the food a lot. Me, not so, I only like the brown thing in the middle and there was this dish with a fish. I basically picked items I couldn't find in Tim Ho Wan etc.

I thought that was a pretty good strategy because I found the typical Dim Sum tasted better at the chain store. The Chicken Feet in my opinion was mediocre but for the price, I think it raise the tasty level Hahaha.

I wouldn't go all the way there for it. Maybe for their porridge only, which was really silky and yummy. But if you live near there, why not? For those who intend to just make one trip there just to try it, you can try out the Rocher Beancurd House - Tao Huay and egg tart on your way and also the rolled ice-cream at The Famous Ice-Cream Rolls.

I found the ice-cream rolls overly sweet but yea for novelty sake still worth a try. Plus since you made all the way to Upper Thompson, must as well make the trip worthwhile. Haha. Tell me if you have tried other nice things there. :D

Ah Bong's Italian 2

This is one Italian restaurant that served really delightful and affordable food as well. I find it to be on the homey side. Something really good for a rainy day. It did inspire me to go to the kitchen and whip out a few good dishes. But at the same time, yea it did make me wonder if I could actually make them at home myself.

For me, if I were to go to eat out, I would preferably be eating something that I can't or have no chance of making it myself to make the money worthwhile. Maybe I am on a more thrifty mode, otherwise I do see myself patronising them again and again. :)

Captain K Seafood Tower

This is really good and you have to pre-make reservations. My tray was really tiny because there was only 2 of us, so it wasn't economical to order what we could eat. We didn't know before-hand but we realise later that we could swap out seafood which we didn't like for others. I didn't really liked the lobster too much.

We took the basic soup base cos I wanted to save money. The lower layer is just some soup and very little condiments. But you can top them up with a-la-carte add-ons, which means you will eventually end up spending more. Personally, I would suggest a spicier soup base just to break the taste. Something like kimchi would be good. *Yummy*

We dined there last year, so there are probably bits and pieces of my memory that are forgotten. But one thing that struck me was the seats, which looked like dustbin. You are supposed to store your bags inside. Rather creative huh. There were also tiny dustbins on the table to throw your shells which the waiter/ waitress would clear rather promptly.

The food is not cheap. But when has seafood truly been cheap in Singapore?!? I think apart from the novelty factor, the seafood was really sumptuous. I would definitely go there again but with a bigger crowd. Cos more people means more layers = more food to try. :D

Pokemon Cafe Review

From the photos, I think it is no surprise where I went to chase my Monday blues away. Yeap, it is the Pokemon Cafe. :D Sent a number of my friends an editorial picture of it and was kinda of expecting nobody to follow up with me (as always) - cos I am suggesting out-of-the world ideas and usual and this is one hell of an expensive place.

But, apparently, a Pokemon-craze friend followed up with me and there I am. I picked Monday night cos I intelligently expected it to be less crowded. And true enough, we didn't even queue more than 15 minutes. Amazing or what!

Although it is called a Pokemon cafe, it is pretty much Pikachu themed. Hate rodents? You really shouldn't be there. Don't want to break your bank, please shy away from there too. Generally, the food is decent. What you are looking at is nearly $100-worth of cuteness.

Located at Bugis Junction on the 4th floor, I took the escalator up and down just to take photos of the surrounding. Xiao Za Bor or what. I am not really that ardent of a fan, but when I looked up from my phone and saw an army of Pikachu surrounding me...well, yes I am simply overwhelmed by the kawaii-ness. *swoons*

Not going to be embarrassed to admit that I am there to just take photos. There were supposed to be Pikachu mascots. I guess that's just me. Chey. But it's alright, I can happily self-entertain. And so we just took photos and more photos. $100 entrance fees all for this. #IknowIamFrivolous

And just when I thought I was the mad hatter in the family. Someone in my family went to take photos at a cemetery. Damn good ones too. But, I am too chicken for that, so well you have to live up with the cute me. Hehe.

Supposed to get a free cup, but dang it is out of stock. Come back in July folks. But...I got S$5 off. Haix not meant to be mine. And we got toasters...the cheap papery kind. Just kept one for momento. They were also "table mats". Can't remember what that crap is really called, cos it is just a piece of lousy paper.

Basically, all the free gifts sucks. But cos, I am Singaporean, I am gonna go "Better than nothing"! (Only the cup is decent, but it is OOS) I thought I was going to bring a merchandise home. But when I saw the price, logic got the better of me. LOL. 

Ending off with an anniversary-like photo. If this were a Bromance, I would have been labelled gay. But I am a girl, so society accept affectionate behavior from me. Heheh. I have good art skills yea.  And if you are wondering why it looks kinda of messy...erm cos they served the dessert first?!? So being a smart alec, I thought we should just put it aside.

Who knows the Pokeball couldn't stand the test of time, Pikachu refused to be caught and escaped!!! The table was really small too. Zzz. Overall, I think it is quite a novel experience. You definitely have to pay for novelty so the price ain't much of a surprise. Will I drop by again? Excuse me, I am not made of money OK!

P.S. Sorry, Mondays makes me bitchy