Natural Isotonic with more benefits than you know!

"Get your coconut water  it’s good for your daughter
Coco got a lot of iron, make you strong like a lion"

Harry Belafonte's old refrain contains some truth about coconut water, expect that coconut water is great for just about anyone!

It's not just the iron content that brings the lion out of you though. Coconut water is a rich source of minerals such as, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, copper, iron, phosphorous, sulphur, and chlorides! It's an all in one mineral boost! That's not all, the cooling drink is naturally sweet and helps to balance sugar levels in the body.

 Did you know it may help to alleviate headaches? Coconut water ensures that the body's natural fluid levels are maintained and the body is hydrated. It's a natural isotonic drink and is great to sip on  while doing any exercise!

Make your very own refreshing mocktails by adding sprigs of mint, lemon slices or orange zest to coconut water.

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The Indispensable Lemon

Lemons are the most versatile of fruits that have numerous uses ranging from adding a zing to marinades,salads etc to deodorising your refrigerator!

What's more refreshing than chilled lemonade, spiked with honey when battling a hot day? Did you know halved lemons were actually used as finger moisteners to count large bills at tellers and cashiers. The very lemony scent may have an uplifting effect on your mood.

The tart taste also makes it a great substitute for salt. If you're watching your salt intake, serve a lemon wedge with meals instead.

(Photo Credit: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net)

Cooking class at Palate Sensations

Chef Yogesh Arora spread the good news about holistic cuisine on Sunday, May 8 at Palate Sensations cooking class!

Herb boquet

Participants strut their dishes!

No cooking like Mom's cooking!

For many food enthusiasts, the best food memories begin at their humble home than at stellar restaurants! When asked about their favourite dish, many may relate back to childhood memories of chowing down sumptuous meals whipped by their mothers!

There's nothing quite like her cooking (or her!), and no Michelin restaurant may ever be on par. Many of mother's dishes are seasoned with her love that can never replaced by even the top-notch chefs.

This Mother's Day, hold her tight and thank her for the delightful tastes of food and life that she's given you. Also, share some of your childhood experiences eating her cooking by adding a comment to this post.

What's Cooking?

Cooking ain't just about tossing ingredients together! According to Design A Cuisine's Consultant Chef, Yogesh Arora, cooking is a multifaceted task that involves ingredients, recipes, techniques and the intention and feelings of the cook!


How many times have you tried to cook one of Mum's dishes in your own home? In spite of following the recipe to a tee, have you been able to create the exact taste that of the dish? Mum's cooking was seasoned with her love, thus tasted far better!


Therefore, it's important to be mindful as we prepare food. Happy cooks make good food, and the best foods you've tasted were probably seasoned with the nicest thoughts and emotions. Season dishes with smiles and love.

Hardly pea sized!

Good things come in small packages, or in this case the black eyed pea!


Black eye peas are a rich in calcium, magniesm, iron, folate and protein. Aside from beefing up veggie patties, boost the nutritional value of sandwiches by spreading pureed cooked beans on bread. This can also be used a tasty dip for vegetables and crackers. It is also high in fibre and can assist in weight control.


The humble pea has also been the inspiration for popular hip hop band, The Black Eyed Peas who named themselves such to allude to the fact that their music was "soul food".

Design A Cuisine @ World Gourmet Summit 2011

May Day 2011, Design A Cuisine was invited to take part in a sumptuous seafood buffet at part of the World Gourmet Summit 2011 at Capella, Sentosa!

Chef Yogesh whipped up some highly lauded dishes like potato patties, tandoori salmon and prawn briyani that were paired with mango, mint or basil and tomato chutneys. People were spoilt for choice with a huge array of seafood and desserts to choose from! Capella's rain forest setting provided guests and foodies the perfect place to lounge and eat to their heart's content.  Chef Yogesh's chutneys were a perfect digestive for anyone who had eaten with his eyes.

The dishes were seasoned with herbs and cooked carefully to retain its health properties. Standout dishes were the potato patties that kept people coming up to Design A Cuisine stand and the tandoori salmon than turned some onto salmon enthusiasts.

Prawn Briyani

Chutneys galore!

Chef Yogesh posing with the Design A Cuisine stand at Capella, Sentosa