cravings and wanderlust

Tatsuya, Goodwood Park Hotel, Singapore - Irresistible Lunch Deals

2012-02-22T22:26:00.003+08:00

Sashimi Unajyu Set, $30.90

How was your weekend? I just hopped off a 4 days 3 nights weekend cruise with Royal Caribbean (two days ago) and I'm still feeling blissfully sun kissed! Also, the wonderful people behind "The View From Fez" recently published my post on Moroccan street food here. Do check out their site - it's incredibly informative!

During the cruise, we dropped by Penang and Malacca, which were absolutely delicious destinations. Before I blog about the cruise and our day excursions though, here's a lip-smacking post on Tatsuya. Remember how I resolved to squeeze in better lunches this year? Tatsuya was right on my agenda and I couldn't be more pleased when my best friend, S, brought me there for a birthday treat! I had the Sashimi Unajyu set, which was pretty much the best of not one, not two, but three worlds - marrying luscious sashimi cuts (including a slice of Mekajiki) with excellent unagi and crispy tempura. The unagi had everything going for it - fatty cuts, barely discernible bones and an addictive sweet, sticky and savoury sauce. In fact, it was so good that unagi-averse S liked it too! The tempura was satisfying but the batter could be lighter. The set also included a velvety smooth chawanmushi alongside a bowl of miso soup and fruits.

Sashimi Bento Set, $28.90

S had the Sashimi Bento set, which was similar to mine except without unagi and sporting an additional slice of yellow tail. Chunky cubes of tamago were also scattered on top of the rice.

Interior

As if the food wasn't enough of a draw, service at Tatsuya was also top notch. Most of the wait staff, who were donning beautiful kimonos, were incredibly polite and well-versed in Japanese, English and Mandarin. We even received a text message thanking and inviting us to visit again a few hours after leaving the restaurant! Lunch at Tatsuya is definitely something I want to do again very soon. Its gorgeous location just makes it the perfect respite from the usual hustle and bustle of town, don't you think?

P.S. My last Morocco post is still in the works... stay tuned!

Tatsuya
22 Scotts Road,
Goodwood Park Hotel, Singapore
Tel: +65 6887 4598

Keisuke Tonkotsu King, Orchid Hotel, Singapore - Ramen just the way you want it

2012-02-16T00:08:00.003+08:00

Tonkotsu Ramen, $10.80, $12.80 with flavoured egg

I dropped by Tanjong Pagah for lunch at Keisuke Tonkotsu King with M a few weeks back, and we walked away utterly captivated. The decor was charming, the ramen was lip-smacking good, and the free condiments really won us over. Every ramen gets a ticket which allows you to tick your preferences (taste of soup, chicken oil, noodle texture) and it was just wonderful to have absolute control in designing almost every part of the ramen - only the delicious tonkotsu broth remains fixed. What's more, the condiments are top notch. The sesame seeds (available in a small suribachi) added a lovely fragrance to the ramen, and the seasoned bean sprouts were so good I kept having seconds!

Complimentary boiled egg

Also, boiled eggs are complimentary. Imagine that! I honestly don't know any other ramen joint dishing out free boiled eggs. Do you?

Interior

What was supposed to be a super casual lunch turned out to be a real great find. I can't wait to head back to try their black and red spicy ramens! Have you tried?

Keisuke Tonkotsu King
1 Tras Link, #01-19
Orchid Hotel, Singapore
Tel: +65 6636 0855

Lee Do (Cold Crab) Restaurant, Ubi Avenue, Singapore

2012-02-13T20:52:00.001+08:00

Cold Crab (Small), $34

Man, cold crabs really get me going. I don't know what it is about them - maybe the aromatic chinese seasoning, firm flesh, or incredibly umami roe. Maybe everything. But at $34 a pop for a cold crab so small it can lie in two parts on my palm, I probably won't be heading to Lee Do everyday. Instead, I've resolved to nail this in the kitchen. Tip: Scroll to the bottom to learn how you can make it at home.

Lee Do Prawn Roll, $15

These prawn rolls looked great but ended up tasting terribly mediocre. They were sliced really thin, and the prawn chunks were so few and tiny it was hard to detect them amidst the gluey (but not unpleasant) fillers. Not worth the price tag at all... You can just check out photos here and here to see what I mean.

Fu Zhou Fish Ball Soup, $6

I'm a huge fan of Fu Zhou fish ball soup since my grandmother makes really fabulous ones at home. This rendition was pretty decent. The fish balls have a lovely bite that really brings home the greatness of food made by hand. I wished the fillings were more juicy though - I've always thought of Fu Zhou fish balls as a xiao long bao cousin, and the soup within the fish balls was its most precious trait...

Fried Mee Sua, $10

The fried mee sua came next and we really enjoyed it, almost as much as the cold crabs. It was incredibly tasty and a great example of fine chinese cooking. I don't think many people understand how difficult it is to coat every strand of noodle so evenly, especially when you're cooking them dry instead of drenching them in gravy. Great dish! Overall though, I don't think there's a strong enough pull for me to head back to Lee Do. I'll be going back to my usual haunt for Fu Zhou cuisine - Singapura Restaurant. Would you recommend any Foo Zhou restaurant you know of?

Lee Do Restaurant
61 Ubi Avenue 2, #01-13 Singapore
Tel: +65 6742 2181

Fantastic Street Food in Fez, Morocco

2012-02-12T04:17:00.001+08:00

Moroccan Mint Tea, Coffee

Start the Day with Moroccan Mint Tea (and Coffee)

Street food in Morocco is a dizzy affair. At once familiar and exotic, the subtle twists that made certain dishes completely different really blew me away. We spent three days in Fez, (and two in Marrakech), but I suspect we have barely scratched the surface of Moroccan street fare. Each morning, we would begin our day at a completely local joint for mint tea and coffee. Tasting coffee all over the world is one of my favourite travel to-do, even if I can't put a finger on the differences sometimes. The moroccan mint tea, a local favourite, was both soothing and refreshing. It may look a tad intimidating and unpolished, but it really wasn't as overpowering as it looked - Mint tea in Morocco is made using brewed green tea as the base, so mint leaves are only thrown in at the last moment. Note of caution: Steeping the mint leaves for more than two minutes may cause acid reflux!

Hole in the Wall Bakery, Cream Puff, Chewy Dates Pastry

Secret Bakery

This unassuming hole in the wall bakery was one of our greatest discoveries in Fez. They seemed to be always churning out freshly baked pastries throughout the day, and we couldn't resist buying a few to try each time. We went back so often, the owners began recognising us! Everything tasted wonderful (especially fresh from the oven), but we were particularly partial to the chewy dates pastry and heavenly cream puffs drenched in chocolate! I can't praise this gem enough.

Assorted Moroccan Pancakes

Moroccan Pancakes and Breads

Instead of going for Beghir, the classic Moroccan pancakes (second from the left in the first picture), we tried out something I still haven't been able to identify (help, anyone?) - what looks to me like a charred rice pancake which we had with Moroccan butter and honey. I must say, even though the pancake itself was a little dry and tasteless, the combination of fillings was wicked! Msemen (bottom left in the first picture) is a cousin of the Indian prata and is definitely a must try as well. If the riad you're staying at serves that for breakfast, count your blessings and eat your fill. If they don't, try to get freshly pan-fried ones, not those pre-cooked and stacked up as pictured. They go best with Moroccan butter!

Home-made Yoghurt, Raisin Juice, Pistachio Juice

Moroccan Yoghurt and Exotic Juices

After passing by this stall that sold refrigerated white drinks a couple of times, our curiosity finally got the better of us and we approached the lovely stall owners to ask what those white drinks in glasses were. "Raib - home-made yoghurt", they said. We were sold. It had the familiar taste of sweetened yoghurt but the consistency was less that of commercial smoothness and closer to that of a milkshake (reminiscent of India's lassi). Totally delicious! All sorts of juices were available along the streets too. We had raisin juice and pistachio juice, among others. Isn't it interesting that they use raisins instead of fresh grapes? It looked so thick and the idea of raisins crushed into juice was so unnatural that I felt gutsy just for trying. The taste was certainly unique - much lighter than I'd imagined, surprisingly refreshing and intensely sweet. Pistachio juice was an equally surprising beverage - I never knew juices could be made from nuts and still taste this light and refreshing. Really interesting juices, though I'd have the yoghurt over these any day.

Fried Chicken with Fries and Seasoned Rice Vermicelli

The Unapologetically Addictive Sidekick - Spicy Vermicelli

Snack AMINE sold a mean fried chicken. I was walking by the stall when the aroma of fried chicken and grilled meat stopped me in my tracks. A closer glance at what the locals were eating had me point at the fried chicken, and my friends and I have been fans ever since. It wasn't so much the chicken (though it was undeniably tasty, for sure), nor the fries. Instead, it was the inconspicuous noodles tucked beneath the chicken (you can see a glimpse of it in the picture, just beside the chicken on the left) - an orange-tinged seasoned rice vermicelli (bee hoon). Unassuming but so unapologetically addictive. The spicy, salty and sour flavour combination really kept us wanting more! I sincerely hope that one day, I'll find out exactly what they call this noodle and get a copy of its recipe.

Assorted Flat Bread and Stalls

Khobz (Flat Bread) with Fried Liver, anyone?

Khobz (flat bread) laced with all sorts of fillings (beef, chicken, etc) can be found almost everywhere in Morocco. We had a few of the beef ones when we were hungry - they were tasty, but hardly a revelation. Then one day we saw this stall completely enveloped by locals. When we closed in to "investigate", I was immediately intrigued. The three stall owners were operating like a single machine - two of them deep frying slices of livers, sunshine eggs, green chilli and potato cakes, while the other assembles the sandwich, slitting the middle of the Khobz to form a pocket, then stuffing it with freshly fried liver and additional fillings. I think I might have drooled a little. Alas, by the time the queue reached me, the fried livers were sold out and I had Ma'Quoda (potato puffs) in my Khobz instead. Tasty, yes, but not what I really needed to try. So I came back the next day and finally laid my hands on the fried liver sandwich! Had some fried green chilli to go with it too. The strong, distinct liver flavour punctuated with sharp, bright notes from the green chilli and a slight, sour tang from the red chilli sauce - just brilliant.

* All stalls located within the medina of Fez.

Next up in the Morocco series - a write-up about the incredible desert tour!

Other Moroccan Posts
7-Day Morocco Travel Guide

Buffet Spread at The Line, Shangri-la Hotel, Singapore

2012-02-10T03:45:00.001+08:00

Freshly Shucked Oysters

M brought me to The Line for my birthday dinner this year. I was all excited! Oysters and sashimi are my absolute favourite. In fact, I started my meal with 7 of these darlings. I asked for half a dozen actually, but of course I couldn't say no when the chef gave me an extra. I probably had a dozen of these overall? M had none as usual, just looked on, completely bemused at my enjoyment. I'm still irrationally optimistic that he'll be a convert one day! If it can happen to my best friend, S, and so many other close friends of mine, it can happen to him! These were actually a little too salty for me. Oysters take on the flavour of the water they are harvested in, so I guess it probably had something to do with that.

Sashimi and Sushi

The sashimi served at The Line was top notch. The Mekajiki (swordfish) sashimi was fabulous - sweet with a wonderful bite. I'd skip the octopus next time though (a little rubbery), alongside all the sushi - they were simply left there for too long. There was also a selection of appetizers including parma ham, which was great - thinly sliced and wrapped around sweet melons, but I missed taking a photo of it.

Cold Crab Claws and Prawns

The cold seafood available were decent. There was a beautiful selection of prawns, mussels and crabs laid out in crushed ice. I loved the firm, succulent flesh of the crab claws. Clearly, everyone loved them too - they were snapped up like hot cakes every time. The prawns were sweet and fresh - quite a delight, really. I skipped the mussels since cold, cooked mussels are probably the dullest method of preparation in my entire cooking dictionary.

Teh Tarik

We tried the Teh Tarik next and it was phenomenal! Funny how this was nearly my favourite dish of the night (if you don't count the oysters and sashimi). It was just so aromatic, smooth and wonderfully frothy. Don't miss it!

Laksa

The laksa was great too. The gravy was absolutely delectable - how do all hotel buffet chefs nail this so well? It came with half a boiled egg and a lovely, crunchy prawn.

Salmon and Roast Beef (Top), Indian Selections (Bottom)

Neither of us were fans of the miscellaneous cooked dishes, with the exception of the salmon, which was baked to perfection. The fattier bits literally melted in my mouth! The papadums were left in the open for too long and no longer crisp, but the indian curries and naan were pretty much faultless.

Roasted Pork and Duck

These you must skip at all cost. Without crispy skins, roasted pork and duck are really not worth eating.

Assorted Desserts

The selection of desserts were excellent - so incredibly varied you'll most likely be spoilt for choice. We had the champagne jelly (which was yummy, but tasted just like any other jelly to me), cream puffs, and black sesame crème brûlée (which was unique and delectable).

Bright and Modern Decor

The decor was bright and modern but somehow it didn't strike a chord with me. I guess I sort of felt like I was in a classy kopitiam. Overall, there were hits and misses, so depending on your likes and preferences (as well as how much sashimi and oysters you can handle), The Line may or may not be worth the $78 price tag!

Weekend Dinner: $78++

P.S. More Moroccan posts are still in the works!

The Line
22 Orange Grove Road,
Basement Shangri-la Hotel, Singapore
Tel: +65 6213 4275
http://www.shangri-la.com/en/property/singapore/shangrila/dining/restaurant/theline

7-Day Morocco Travel Guide (Marrakech, Merzouga, Fez)

2012-02-08T04:14:00.001+08:00

Marrakech Sights

I've been meaning to write about Morocco for a while now. Such a gorgeous, gorgeous country. The vibrant hues everywhere you look, refreshing mint teas, addictive tagine meals, and seemingly endless souks (street markets) that sells almost everything you can ever imagine. It took us some time to plan the trip since there was limited information available on the web especially regarding the Merzouga desert tour, but we made it finally - travelled from Marrakech to Fez, with just enough time for a desert tour in between! Hopefully, the itinerary and travel tips below come in handy when it's your turn to visit this lovely multi-hued country!

Itinerary

Our week-long itinerary was simple - we flew in to Marrakech (via Ryanair from Barcelona) and explored the city for 2 days before embarking on a local Merzouga desert tour (3 days 2 nights) that included an amazing night spent at the desert under the stars. The tour was supposed to bring us back to Marrakech, but we requested for them to drop us at the nearest town from the desert. There, my friends and I took a local bus down to Fez, witnessing with our own eyes how dramatically the scenery (terrain and climate) changed throughout the entire ride (from desert plains to fields so lush you'd think you'd somehow winded up in Austria). We spent our last few days wandering about the souks in Fez before finally leaving for Belgium via Ryanair.

Marrakech Sights

Travel Tips

1. Don't miss the orange juice at Jamaa el Fna! This famous square and market place at Marrakech's medina quarter (old city) is probably home to the largest congregation of orange juice carts in the world. Here, freshly squeezed orange juice goes for only 4 dirham per glass and is a must-try. Too delicious, refreshing and affordable to pass up. We had these at least twice a day! At night, just before the carts wind down, slight bargains are possible - imagine the whole line of men in their orange juice carts yelling for you to patronize their carts - quite the experience.

2. Book your desert tour with local operators. Desert tours offered online are exorbitant. My friends and I took the plunge and flew to Marrakech without any bookings - it paid off! We visited a few local tour operators, did some serious bargaining, and winded up paying only 70 euros for a 3 days 2 nights desert tour that basically included all the sights that the online operator offered. Really, all you have to do is go through your hostel - the tour was offered across all hostels at 90 euros but we bargained really hard - being students definitely helped!

3. Marrakech is more prone to hard-selling than Fez. Window shopping is not something Moroccans condone in Marrakech. Be prepared for some of the most persistant sale tactics you'll ever witness even when you've chosen to walk away and don't be surprised if the hard sell ends with some alien sounding expletives.

4. Veer away from safe-looking tourist restaurants. We've all been guilty of this. I'd recommend starting out at a more touristy restaurant for your first meal, then plunging straight into street food heaven - I'll wager you'd regret wasting your time with that first touristy restaurant. Tagines, whether chicken, mutton, or beef, are not to be missed! Meshwi (kebabs) are everywhere too and highly recommended. Snail soup is a staple street food as well - plenty decent, I'd say, though I have to admit that the soup itself didn't do much for me. Just eat what the locals eat - you only live once!!

5. Stay in a riad! Morocco isn't the kind of place I'd want to stay in posh hotels. Maybe because these riads are so gorgeous and comfortable. At Auberge Douzi, you get to enjoy breakfast at the tranquil rooftop over-looking the crowded souks - wait, have I mentioned that Moroccan butter (always served at breakfast alongside flat bread) is seriously out of this world?? Also, staying at a riad often means that the fun starts as soon as you step out of the door - straight into a wondrous and never-ending maze of souks in the old city.

6. Moroccan Hammans (bath houses) are readily available and definitely worth a try! You'll be amazed by how much grime they manage to scrub out. If you're hoping to get some of these scrub gloves back home for a DIY experience, just keep your eyes peeled strolling through the souks!

7. Children/teenagers eagerly offering directions expect monetary reward.

Other Morocco Posts
Fantastic Street Food in Fez

Dessert at Hummerstons, Robertson Quay, Singapore

2012-02-05T02:26:00.000+08:00

Berry Bread and Butter Pudding, $10.50

Classy and Quirky with a whole lot of character - Hummerstons is incredibly chic. S and I headed there for desserts after dinner at Mondo Mio and fell in love immediately. There's a beautiful tranquility probably owing to its secluded location on the second level of Robertson Walk. Everything down to the chairs and tables were unique and many of their pieces were clearly imported. It was a lot of fun trying to figure out the places captured in the postcards plastered on one particular wall - so many places we need to visit/want to return to. Our dessert pick was Berry Bread and Butter Pudding. There seems to be two broad variants of bread and butter pudding out there. The first version is crispy on the top but so light and delicate below it practically collapses when you pour in the cream, the second version is denser and resembles more of a cake. This was the latter. Both variants have things going for them, and even though I do prefer the former, the one served at Hummerstons is pretty darn tasty. My mark for a good bread and butter pudding (the second version) is a good scatter of soft, silky bits for a nice contrast with the stodgy parts, a great crust on top, and a lovely, creamy sauce to go with it. This isn't the best bread and butter pudding I've ever had, but it certainly checks all the boxes. Their poutines (fries with gravy and toppings) have been raved too and I can't wait to try them!

Hummerstons
#02-14, 11 Unity Street,
Robertson Walk, Singapore
Tel: +65 6737 8863
http://www.hummerstons.com/

Angus Steak House - Fabulous Set Dinners!

2012-02-02T19:03:00.000+08:00

Hors d'oeuvre - Lightly Battered Prawns with Broccoli and Cracker in Seafood Sauce

As a child, there were certain restaurants I dreamt about. Sometimes, I read about them, other times, I walked by and just couldn't seem to take my eyes off them. Angus Steak House is both. Almost everything I've read about it has been all roses and no thorns. And it's the sort of restaurant that looks so classy and pretty on the outside I can't help but dream about how perfect it must be to finally dine there - I loved that the walls of the restaurant were all washed in white, with colonial style windows that lent me a sneak peak into the "world" inside. But somehow, in the blur of growing up, this and other dream restaurants of my childhood retreated to the back of my mind - I was too busy worrying about a million other things. So many new restaurants sprang up, too. But when my parents asked me where I wanted to go for my birthday dinner two weeks ago, Angus Steak House suddenly came to mind. After renovating last year, apart from the ambience remaining perfect for dinner dates, the restaurant is now a lot more modern than what I remembered, complete with plush cream-coloured chairs and elegant dark wood tables.

The most amazing part about dining here is the choice of making any a la carte charcoal grilled mains a set by topping up $10, which would include in your meal a hors d'oeuvre, freshly baked bun, salad, soup and dessert. Completely irresistible. It used to be even more of a steal at $6 and included coffee or tea, but I guess I chanced upon the scene too late! The hors d'oeuvre of the day was a plate of two lightly battered prawns, thin cracker and a wonderful, orange-pink sauce full of crustacean notes. It was such a fantastic start. The prawns were excellent - crunchy, firm and absolutely delicious with the sauce. The cracker was not as crisp as it could have been but still perfect for mopping up more of that delectable sauce. The appetizers change every fortnight, which mixes things up quite a bit. Check out the past hors d'oeuvres here, they all look fabulous!

Freshly Baked Bread

The buns were next and they were fantastic as well. These buns are freshly baked every day, and served warm! It's crusty on the outside and so soft on the inside. I knew I didn't need an additional bun to fill me up but it was gone pretty quickly as soon as I slathered on some butter.

Soup of the Day - Cream of Corn

The soup of the day was corn soup, which isn't exactly my favourite, but it tasted surprisingly good. It's the sort of Japanese-style western soup that's really creamy but very well balanced so you wouldn't find yourself leaving the soup unfinished.

Green Salad

Salad was next! It's easy to say that the salad was nondescript, but the meticulous preparation deserves praise! They were probably well spun in the salad spinner - you won't find any of that uninspiring puddle of salad "water" at the bottom. It's doused in a Japanese dressing, which in normal circumstances would sit well with me, but I found it a little over-salted that night.

Charcoal Grilled Mixed Seafood Set, $33.50

My mum had the Charcoal Grilled Mixed Seafood Set, which came with king prawns, cuttlefish and scallops. Those were some gigantic scallops! Wonderfully fresh, and so tender. It was a little bland on the inside, which couldn't be helped given its size. It wasn't a problem though since all grilled items came with a smear of golden-brown grainy seasoning on the hot plate that went well with everything. The cuttlefish was alright and the prawns were tasty and pleasantly smoky, though a tad overcooked. Dad had the grilled codfish, $37.50, which was very well executed. I guess grilling fish is a lot less tricky than prawns and cuttlefish that won't stay flat!

Tenderloin Steak, 150g, $45.50

I had the Tenderloin steak at medium rare, which was absolutely fantastic. This is what steak is supposed to look like! Every bite was so tender and juicy - I didn't really need the seasonings on the hot plate. I haven't had the ones at Morton's or Lawry's but this is definitely great quality stuff for a good price. If you're thinking of something more luxurious, the Wagyu and Kagoshima steaks start at $76 and $142 respectively.

Dessert of the Day

I was pleasantly surprised when the desserts came. How refreshing to see a set meal dessert so thoughtfully made, along with a few cuts of fresh fruits! Gotta give it to the Japanese - they make everything exquisite! The cake was lovely - the hazelnut cream was addictive and I finished everything even though I was filled to the brim by then. Overall, it was definitely one of the best set dinners I've ever had at this price point. Service was marvelous as well! Other than steaks and grilled seafood, they also serve up pretty interesting renditions of spaghetti. I really want to give the sea urchin and scallop spaghetti a go the next time - the combination sounds fantastic!

Angus Steak House
391 Orchard Road,
#04-25 Ngee Ann City, Singapore
Tel: +65 6735 6015
Dinner Menu Prices here
Lunch Menu Prices here

Snapshot: Red Tea Jelly with Longan at Changi Village

2012-02-02T03:57:00.001+08:00

Red Tea Jelly with Longan, $2

If there's one thing that I subconsciously love about this island city, it is our wide selection of affordable desserts. I swoon over macarons and crème brûlée, but our most humble offerings are plenty heartwarming. I'm probably biased since I grew up with them, but a hot bowl of pulut hitam or almond paste really is all I need sometimes. In an odd way, I feel blessed that our desserts generally go for no more than three dollars, especially since desserts in Hong Kong are frequently priced above char chan teng mains!

Red Tea Jelly with Longan is relatively new to me, actually. Before I met M, I've never heard of it. But it's one dessert that is close to his heart, so it's been on the table every time we visit Changi Village ever since I knew him. To me, it's like a new age version of ice kachang, which is really a good thing since I don't dig all the ingredients in the original, but I'll be hard pressed to find faults with longans, condensed milk, red tea jelly, crushed ice and drizzles of syrup. Nothing mind-blowing, but so satisfying! Especially on a hot day like the ones we've had intermittently this past week. I'm totally craving for it right now.

Mei Lin Yin Pin
#01-40 Blk 2 Changi Village Road,
Changi Village Hawker Centre, Singapore

Mondo Mio, Robertson Quay, Singapore - Fantastic Place for Pasta

2012-01-30T19:13:00.000+08:00

Nautical Mural, Mondo Mio

Robertson quay is a marvelous treasure trove of dining gems. For one, it houses Sugisawa, my favourite Japanese restaurant for affordable bento sets. And then, there's Brussels Sprouts, which gets their mussels right every single time. Not forgetting a slew of other gems I've yet to discover. So when my best friend, S, told me to choose a spot for dinner, my location of choice was hardly a surprise. Lo and behold our latest discovery - Mondo Mio, an incredibly cosy Italian restaurant just beside Sugisawa!

Linguine al Nero di Seppia (Squid rings tossed in linguini with squid ink sauce), $19

I loved the decor - it reminded me of the times when I was visiting quaint, seaside restaurants along the Italian coast. When the pasta was served, boy, were we thrilled. Everything was done right - the heated plates, piping hot pasta, wonderful aroma and flavourful sauces... I went for my favourite pasta of all time - squid ink. It was wonderful - tender squid rings and al dente pasta coated in a jet black squid ink sauce that had a great taste of the ocean but also a subtle earthiness. Faultless unless you want to nitpick on flavour intensity, which can be stronger. Did you know that most, if not all, of the squid ink dishes we're having is really made of cuttlefish ink? This fascinating read here explains everything.

Linguine al Sugo di Granchio (Linguini pasta with crab meat with pink sauce), $20

S had the crabmeat pasta in pink sauce, which was extremely satisfying. The chunky crabmeat had a great bite and the sauce was sublime - tasted as though the chef squeezed out every ounce of crustacean flavour humanly possible. Such a pretty dish, too. Arguably, the flavour was even better than that of the squid ink pasta, but really, if I do come back, I still won't be able to choose. There is something very addictive about squid ink that just keeps drawing me back. Have you been to Mondo Mio? Which is your favourite pasta?

Mondo Mio
30 Robertson Quay
Singapore 238251
Tel: (65) 6736 2503
http://mondomiosingapore.com/

Changi Village Nasi Lemak, Singapore - Would You Queue?

2012-01-26T02:47:00.000+08:00

Nasi Lemak with Chicken Wing, Otah and Egg, $4.50

With the Chinese New Year holidays officially over, let me come clean - I'm finally feeling the effects of delicacies overload. Forget abalone, scallops and sea cucumbers, I just want all my favourite hawker stalls to be up and running again! Don't you? Not so long ago, I had an intense craving for Nasi Lemak and practically convinced M that we need it for lunch the very next day.

You see, I've been to Changi Village for Nasi Lemak a couple of times with different groups of people, and those memories have sat well with me. Going back for Nasi Lemak felt like the most natural thing to do. Then we saw the insanely long queue. I seem to have the ability to only remember the best things about places. I guess we could have gone to Mizzy's, the stall beside International, which hardly ever witnesses a queue, but we went ahead anyway. After a pretty grueling wait, we finally sat down with two plates of Nasi Lemak. It was certainly delicious - the egg was deep fried just the way I like it, with golden brown egg white crisps at the side, the rice was decent, the chilli was a satisfying mix of sweet and savoury and the otah was downright tasty. But the chicken wing, while tasty, had a batter that was a tad hard and didn't feel all that freshly fried. A pity because chicken wings are all I care about in a Nasi Lemak, apart from the rice, of course. Would I queue again? Probably not. My memories of Changi Village Nasi Lemak are no longer so fond. I would rather head to Chong Pang and Punggol Nasi Lemak for my fix! They have much better wings. Are you a fan of Changi V Nasi Lemak? Would you queue?

International Food Stall Nasi Lemak
Blk 2 Changi Village Road
#01-57 Singapore 500002
Opening Hours:
0930 - 0100 (Sunday - Friday),
0930 - 1900 (Saturday)

Paradise Dynasty - A Modern Take on Xiao Long Bao, Ion, Orchard

2012-01-19T03:02:00.002+08:00

Signature Dynasty Xiao Long Bao, $13.80 (Original, $6.80)

Food is a funny thing. It originates somewhere, but eventually ends up pretty different when it lands elsewhere after a couple of coats of local touches. The irony really kicks in when you find yourself digging the transformed product more than the original itself. A friend once commented that he really doesn't give a damn about authenticity as long as the food tastes good. I vehemently disagreed then, mainly because he was gushing about a Thai restaurant in Europe which really had me yearning for a plane ticket straight to Bangkok. But you know, in this context, he may just be right. I remember being full of anticipation when I visited Shanghai for the first time - the land of these little soup dumplings! Yu Garden (Yu Yuan) was my top priority, because that was where it all began, wasn't it? At Nan Xiang Restaurant. Unfortunately, my first bite left me aghast - thick, starchy skin, meagre soup fillings. That, that, was the original?

I'm sure you'll agree that for the longest time, Din Tai Fung, which originated from Taiwan, was the de facto standard in Xiao Long Bao worldwide. But Paradise Dynasty is certainly giving them a run for their money, at least here in Singapore. Xiao Long Bao specials isn't new to Ding Tai Fung - they had a really popular chilli crab version that went on for a while. But Paradise Dynasty has taken the spin to a whole new level - 7 unique flavours, not promotional items but menu staples. Almost feels like a Xiao Long Bao revolution of sorts. Completely inauthentic, but darn good. My friend did have a point, didn't he? Of the 7 special flavours, I found the cheese and truffle ones slightly faint in terms of flavour, while the foie gras, crab roe and szechuan ones were downright tasty. The flavoured Xiao Long Baos are pretty much double the price of the original ones though, so it's probably best to order their signature mix before deciding which ones you love the most, or that you don't care for these flavours at all (anything is possible).

Egg Fried Rice, $6.80

We had a serving of Egg Fried Rice too since it didn't seem like we could survive on soup dumplings alone. It was alright but I thought I detected some soy sauce - I do prefer my fried rice flavoured without relying on soy sauce... Din Tai Fung comes to mind here.

Pan-fried Pumpkin Pastry, $3

Speaking of Shanghai, M spent a couple of months there when he did an internship abroad, so when he suggested having these, I went ahead even though it sounded rather foreign to me. It was excellent! Seriously crispy on the outside and wonderfully chewy on the inside, a little reminiscent of nian gao. Really great stuff.

Undoubtedly, this meal was a satisfying one. Have you tried these Xiao Long Baos yet? Which is your favourite flavour? I'm looking forward to a whole steamer basket of foie gras xiao long bao the next time!

Paradise Dynasty
2 Orchard Turn, #04-12A
ION Orchard, Singapore

Tel: +65 6509 9118

The Loft - Hidden Gem in Katong, East Coast Road, Singapore

2012-01-17T23:55:00.010+08:00

Seafood Bisque, $5.90

As an unabashed fan of seafood, I knew I had to give the Loft a try the moment I found out that it purportedly serves seafood at pretty affordable prices. That was really all the information I needed. M and I dropped by for dinner that night and started our meal with the Seafood Bisque. On first taste, it seemed as though the bisque was lacking a little in flavour, but once you're done with that spoonful, the crustacean flavour (pretty strong, really) kicks in all of a sudden. Since I would prefer the bisque to be whole-bodied flavour-wise the whole way through, this was alright but strictly speaking not fully satisfying, at least for me.

Martini Prawns, $9.90

The Martini Prawns, on the other hand, was a fully satisfying experience. I think I'll be hard pressed to find prawns this crunchy, huge and delicious at such a great price anywhere else. The Martini may not be particularly evident, but the vegetable broth was still tasty in its own right. The alfafa that topped the dish added a refreshing note of earthiness. I did wish that the garlic was sliced thinner but M, ever the garlic fan, liked it just the way it was.

Rock in Pink, $15.90

I was really looking forward to Rock in Pink because the combination of ingredients (prawns and baby rock lobster) sounded fabulous for the price, but unlike the perfectly cooked prawns in the previous dish, the ones here, while equally large, were a tad mushy. So was the lobster. The pink sauce was sheer delight though, with wonderful crustacean notes and tons of flavour. Lets hope the mushiness is once off! I really want to give this another go!

Contrasting Interiors on Both Levels

The interior design was interesting (just slightly off the mark if you ask me) - full-on whimsical on the first level, with what seems to be an ecological theme too, muted victorian-style colours on the second. The contrast is really stark, but I guess that presents us with two ambiences to choose from. For some reason, even though the food on the whole had hits and misses, I feel really inclined to give it another go. I just have this hunch that the Loft will deliver the next time. I'll update you guys on that!

The Loft
41 East Coast Road, Singapore
Tel: +65 9171 2888

Chinese New Year in Singapore: The Complete Checklist

2012-01-15T23:22:00.027+08:00

Call me naive, but I've always thought that everyone around the world celebrated Chinese New Year (henceforth abbreviated CNY) largely the same way I did. It wasn't until I celebrated CNY away from home for the first time last year that I discovered how wrong I really was. What I've taken to be completely normal routines were foreign to my friends from Hong Kong and Shanghai. So, mostly in the name of fun, and also for visitors who are looking to join in the fun, here's a checklist for CNY, Singapore style.

1. Bak Kwa

A Singaporean CNY essential. Have you gotten these wonderful sweet-salty dried meat yet? If you have to name one item, just one item, that sets CNY in Singapore apart, this is it. I still can't figure out how someone actually made this a CNY essential for an entire city out of nothing, you know? We may be tiny for a city but this is still no mean feat! It could have so easily been something else, something equally random, like fish balls. I'm not complaining though, I love bak kwa. If you're thinking of getting some, the city's perennial favourite is Lim Chee Guan.

2. Pineapple Tarts

This is another snack that we get really excited about when CNY rolls around. Being city dwellers at heart, most of us buy our snacks instead of making them at home. But I actually know a good number of families who insist on making their own pineapple tarts for CNY year after year. These morsels are just something Singaporeans are particularly fond of, subconsciously or not, during the festive CNY period.

3. Other CNY Snacks

Singaporeans are big fans of good food, in general, and most families can't help stocking up on assorted CNY snacks to entertain guests when the visiting (bai nian) kicks in. Many of these snacks are pretty much "made in Singapore", things you won't find overseas. Some of my favourites include the crumbly snow-white kueh bangkit, spicy prawn rolls, and more recently, the crispy arrowhead that seemingly popped out of nowhere. What are your favourites?

4. Yu Sheng (Lo Hei)

Lo hei or Lao Yu Sheng is my absolute favourite CNY activity. Essentially, Yu Sheng is a Teochew raw fish salad with shredded vegetables and various condiments symbolizing auspicious sayings. You begin by pouring in the condiments while saying the respective auspicious phrases. When that's done, everyone picks up their chopsticks and starts to "toss" the salad at the same time. It's good to take the salad as high as possible with your chopsticks, and this is when you begin to say all sorts of nice wishes, such as "let work be smooth", "let grades improve", etc. But what I really love about Yu Sheng is the taste - the refreshing sweet and sour salad with wonderfully crunchy crackers and of course, my favourite sashimi. What's there not to love? Again, although this dish may be available in China, Singaporeans were the ones that transformed it and made it CNY worthy. I don't know how it happened, but it did, thankfully!

5. Wearing New Clothes

Most Singaporeans insist that it's auspicious to wear a new set of clothes on the first day of the new year. Sounded logical enough to me, so I was surprised when my Hong Kong friends didn't really make it a point to do anything like this. I wouldn't say this tradition is unique to Singapore, but we definitely embrace it with more gusto. Most of us, anyway.

6. Red Packets (Ang Bao)

Receiving red packets is possibly the one thing that makes CNY so anticipated for many of us. The unwed ones, to be specific. In Singapore, before you're married, you'll receive red packets from your parents and married relatives. Once you're married, you become the one distributing red packets! Guess it's a fair cycle if you've been receiving your share of Ang Baos. Red packets are also known as Ya Sui Qian, or money that wards off evil. Hence, on Chinese New Year's Eve, the more traditional ones would sleep with the red packets given by their parents under their pillows (or in their pockets) to ward off evil. I do that.

7. Gambling Materials

You definitely need to gather some gambling materials (think poker cards and mahjong sets) since gambling is essentially the number one social activity during CNY. It becomes another reason for visiting homes, especially your friends' homes, those you were not required to visit, so to speak. As long as it's kept within "healthy" limits, let loose a little and have some fun!

8. Staying Up Late on Chinese New Year's Eve

Another tradition I know of is to stay up as late as possible during Chinese New Year's Eve so as to improve your parent's longevity. I only found out about this a few years ago, and have been practicing it ever since. I know it sounds silly, but if there's a chance that it may actually work, why not? Besides, it's fun to stay up late with friends!

9. Mandarin Oranges

It's also a must to bring along two mandarin oranges when you go visiting (bai nian), at least in Singapore. These oranges are then exchanged whenever you visit someone's house. It's unthinkable to go visiting without mandarin oranges, and if you bring them around without a nice paper bag, people sometimes offer to give you one (true story). It's apparently a traditional symbol of abundance and good fortune, so it's more polite if your mandarin oranges are as smooth and unblemished as possible.

10. Spring Cleaning

Last but not least, spring cleaning! (Kindly pointed out in the comments below.) This must be the most universal tradition of all, something everyone attempts to do before CNY. It's a symbolic activity of ridding the old and welcoming the new - a recurring theme during CNY. It's also important because you're not supposed to use the broom in the first few days of CNY or you'll chase the Fortune God away from your house. Even if that doesn't bother you, a clean house can do wonders in lifting spirits! I'm definitely aiming to clean out all the clutter in my room in the remaining days to CNY!

And that's it. 10 CNY traditions that will have you set for a very Singaporean CNY. Are there any other traditions you would like to share?

La Petite Cuisine, Upper Thomson Road, Singapore - Affordable French Cuisine

2012-01-14T02:26:00.002+08:00

Mushroom Soup, Complimentary Bread Roll, Interior

If I wake up one day and all I have in mind is a quick French meal, (just the mains - no appetizers, not even desserts,) La Petite Cuisine will be the first place that pops into my mind. This was one meal where I sincerely wished I'd cut to the chase. Why did I order such a thin, bland and over-salted Mushroom Soup? Why did I bother eating cold bread rolls? Not even butter can remedy cold bread rolls... don't you think so?

Duck Confit, $16.50

But the mains - that's a different matter altogether. It even startles me how the standard can differ so much from course to course. The Duck Confit was excellently done. The skin was as crispy as it gets and darn tasty. Duck fat is so precious! The meat may not be extremely tender, but it wasn't too tough either and went pretty well with the sauce (though we found it very liberally salted on its own). For my sides, I chose fries, which was served in a separate basket. The best Duck Confit I've had was still at Chez Josephine Dumonet in Paris, but I'm not going back anytime soon and this comes pretty close for less than half the price.

Steak Frites (Medium Rare), $15

Looks wise, the Steak Frites was less impressive, being on the thin side and not browned beautifully. Even so, it was tasty and juicy - my two favourite traits in beef. We enjoyed it. On the side, the shoe string fries may not be as crisp as I'd like them to be, but still made for a good munch. The vinaigrette salad was decent too - any place that bothers to throw in arugula makes the cut for me.

Dessert of the Day

We ended our meal with the dessert of the day as it came included in the set meal we topped up for. I couldn't catch what this was, but it was so sweet that we simply left it untouched after a bite. See what I mean? Cut to the chase! Alternatively, go for the higher priced appetizers (desserts doesn't seem to be their strong suit). From what I've read around the web, their Pan Fried Foie Gras ($17) is worth a try, as is their Escargot in Puff Pastry.

Will I go back? As a matter of fact, yes. Only for their delectable (and affordable) mains!

La Petite Cuisine
227 Upper Thomson Road, Singapore
Tel: +65 6459 0553

Food Diary #3

2012-01-12T21:28:00.005+08:00

One "Small" Spicy Aburi Salmon Roll, Sun Dining, ~$9 | Two "Small" Avocado Soft Shell Crab Roll, Sun Dining, ~$9 | Three Tonkotsu Negi Shabu with Kagoshima "Sangenton" Pork, Sun Dining, $24.80 | Four Fugu Mentaiko Pepperoncino, Sun Dining, $16.80 | Five Tofu Cheesecake, Sun Dining, $5.50

I don't actually know why it took me so long to try Sun Dining. Maybe because I wasn't always very impressed with their sister restaurant, Sun with Moon, apart from their wonderful tofu cheesecake! Well, my virgin visit to Sun Dining has guaranteed that it wouldn't be the last. The prices are steeper than your usual Japanese family restaurants, but M and I both liked the food enough to want to go back.

My favourite for the night was the Spicy Aburi Salmon Roll. It was melt-in-the-mouth good and the whole combination of ingredients was just fabulous. I would place this a few notches above Sushi Tei's sushi rolls. The Avocado Soft Shell Crab Roll was fresh and tasty, but not nearly as great. We had two items from their seasonal menu as well, the Tonkotsu Negi Shabu with Sangenton pork and the Fugu Mentaiko Pepperoncino. The former was your usual heartwarming shabu shabu with Sangenton Pork, a hybrid pork of three species which was seriously tastier than usual. The latter was lovely mentaiko pasta with a dollop of Fugu or Pufferfish meat (which wasn't all that distinctive, though we did enjoy it). And of course, dessert had to be their signature Tofu Cheesecake. This time, it had a hint of ginger. Is this unique to Sun Dining? I don't quite remember Sun with Moon's Tofu Cheesecake having any ginger notes, but my memories may be dusty. In any case, it was a wonderful meal and I'm excited to head back to try out their new seasonal specials!

An Indulgent Lunch at db Bistro Moderne, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

2012-01-11T02:38:00.011+08:00

Complimentary Bread

One thing's for certain - I've been missing out on good lunches. The past year was a blur - I can hardly remember occasions when I could afford time for a leisurely lunch. Even more embarrassing to admit, there were days when I had time, but somehow I ended up watching it slip me by, eventually resorting to grabbing quick bites. No more. My new year resolution #3 is to squeeze in good lunches whenever possible! This is why I knew I had to sit down with a good friend for an indulgent lunch at DB Bistro Moderne before the curtains for 2011 were drawn.

Duck Pâté, Toasted Sourdough

The complimentary bread was good with butter (what isn't?), but once the duck pâté and sourdough came along, we quickly forgot about it. Paired with the sourdough, the pâté almost tastes like ham. All I'm saying is, unless you smear a large chunk on your sourdough, the subtleties in the flavour are hard to detect. If you taste it on its own, though, there is a hint of liver and the flavours are more complex, in a good way. This was part of the Menu Bouchon Prix Fixe - we chose the 3 course menu for $48. Next time, I'll be happy to give the Beetroot Salad a try since it features deep fried goat cheese - one of my favourites. Have you tried?

Minute Steak

For the main course, we chose the minute steak at medium rare. It was a fantastic choice. The steak was juicy, delightfully flavourful and charred just enough to lend a subtle smoky flavour. The mustard glazed fingerling potatoes at the side were surprisingly tasty as well, especially with the beef jus. Highly enjoyable!

The Original db Burger, $38

Next was the original db burger. Isn't it a monster of a burger? Not the bun, of course, but the patty. It's also most definitely royalty... what with the foie gras center and red wine braised short ribs at the sides. Let's see... a cross between monster and royalty... Shrek? The fries were extremely addictive when they first came piping hot. Don't let yourself feel guilty if you find yourself going for it continuously. Unless you aren't planning to finish the fries, you might as well eat it before it turns into cold potato straws! Truth be told, I really wanted to love this burger, but the dryness made it quite a letdown. We ordered medium, actually, but it was served to us practically well done. In fact, the minute steak from the Prix Fixe fared way better. We really should have sent it back to the kitchen. Undeniably, the foie gras tasted beautifully light and smooth, but that tiny sliver couldn't make up for the rest of the dry patty. I ended up liking the fries more than the burger, which wasn't what I had in mind, really. Remember to never order medium for your original db burger.

Banana Tart - Milk Chocolate Crémeux, Banana Gingerbread Ice Cream

I didn't have high hopes for the Banana Tart - it sounded a little strange to me. But boy, this was excellent stuff. First of all, the banana tart was topped with a hard caramel just like what you'd find on a crème brûlée. And it was pefectly torched. The chocolate cream added a nice dimension as well but the real star was the Banana Gingerbread ice cream. Simply sublime... You know how banana ice cream always tastes too artificial? Not here. It tasted like the real fruit, with the tiniest hint of ginger. I really can't think of any better way to end our indulgent lunch. You have to try it!

Overall, it was a good lunch, but I'll be back for the Prix Fixe instead of the original db burger.

P.S. More lunches ahead! Know of any fantastic lunch deals you would like to point me to?(:

db Bistro Moderne
10 Bayfront Ave, #B1-48
Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

Tel: +65 6688 8525

Ootoya, Orchard Central, Singapore - Just Like Home, Only Better

2011-12-29T01:17:00.009+08:00

Katsu Toji Set, $23.50

How was the holidays? We are dangerously close to the next one, so I'm sure the celebrations must already be starting up again for you! Before it all became a flurry of parties and dinners though, I had a great, homely meal at Ootoya with my best friend, S. It's a little bit surreal now considering all I've been having these past few days were hearty, hearty fare. Well-prepared, homely food is just what I need right now.

It wasn't my first time at Ootoya. I first visited it in Bangkok at a good friend's recommendation, and I've been meaning to try it in Singapore ever since. I have to say, I definitely prefer the Katsu Toji Set to the normal Katsu. The soggier and more abundant egg at the sides and beneath that has soaked in all the wonderful juices from the pork really is too good to pass up. I also loved that the katsu had a decent crunch amidst the delicious sogginess - I'm getting a bit abstract here but I think you know what I mean.

Steamed Clams with Bamboo Rice and Tofu Soup Set, $19.50

Admittedly, Katsu Toji isn't something that particularly reminds me of home cooked food, so to speak. But the Steamed Clams with Bamboo Rice and Tofu Soup Set definitely is. The soup was a thickened broth with home-made tofu that fell apart upon the gentlest nudge. The almost indiscernible grainy texture added a bit of rustic feel to the dish. To be completely honest, the tofu was pretty much tasteless on its own, but it tasted good paired with the gravy-like broth. The steamed clams with bamboo rice was surprisingly satisfying and much tastier than it looked. The clams were juicy and the rice definitely soaked up some of the clam goodness. This is clearly the healthier option, but still delicious!

P.S. UOB is currently running a 15% discount at Ootoya!

Ootoya
181 Orchard Road, #08-12
Orchard Central, Singapore
Tel: +65 6884 8901

Opening Hours
Daily: 12pm – 9.30pm

12 Tantalizing Dinner Party Recipes to Mix and Match

2011-12-18T20:39:00.015+08:00

At a lost for dinner party recipes? Here's what I've scored after scouring the web. I'll certainly be trying these out! Hopefully, these recipes will come in handy for you as well. Don't be afraid to mix and match!

Appetizer
1. Prawn Cocktail with three sauces. or with mango salsa.
2. Seared Scallops. A simple method here. A more sophisticated one here.
3. Deviled Eggs. Take a look at a basic recipe here. You can easily add a touch of luxe by topping it with caviar, prawn roe, salmon roe, or even slivers of smoked salmon. Have fun experimenting!

Soup
1. French Onion Soup via Smitten Kitchen. Doesn't it look fabulous? I can't wait to try it!
2. Cream of Mushroom. One of the simplest recipes I've seen.
3. Tomato Soup. Bisques are too much trouble? Try Jamie Oliver's recipe for tomato soup instead and serve it with grilled cheese toasts for an extra oomph.

Main Course
1. Roast Chicken, Christian Delouvrier's Way via Chez Pim. I don't think I've ever seen a roasted chicken this gorgeous!
2. Baked Ribs. I'm partial to just baking the ribs at 162 degrees for 2 hours with absolutely nothing at all then basking it with your sauce of choice. Find my recipe here.
3. Lamb Chops. This recipe looks fantastic. Not forgetting a drizzle of parsley lemon sauce... sublime.

Dessert
1. Justin Quek’s Crème Brûlée via Chubby Hubby.
2. Molten Chocolate Cake. Here's a simple recipe and video demonstration. Check out an even simpler recipe by Chubby Hubby here.
3. Peaches and Cream. Just because it's so easy... Here's Nigella Lawson's take and Rachael Ray's take.

Enjoy!

Images sourced here, here and here.

Dim Sum at Royal China, Raffles Hotel, Singapore

2011-12-18T15:55:00.010+08:00

Har Gow (Prawn Dumpling), $4.80

One more week to Christmas! Are you pulling your hair out thinking of what presents to buy? Because I am. But before I head to town to squeeze in with the happy and frantic crowd, here's a post on my current favourite restaurant for dim sum - Royal China. I suppose it's only fair to finally do a post after raving about it so long ago. What I really love about Royal China, other than its unique and classy decor, is its fantastic value for the quality presented. I was here with my family this time round, and we started with the har gow, which was very much perfect with the thin and slightly chewy skins encasing juicy, crunchy prawns. Delicious!

Siew Mai (Pork Dumpling), $4.80

The siew mai came next. I feel that my feelings for siew mai have gradually faded over the years. These days, they seem to be on the table only out of habit. Can any siew mai lover gush about these morsels to reignite my feelings? That said, they were tasty, and even rather unique with dates topping them instead of prawn roe. The skin looks dry in the photo but they actually weren't at all.

Century Egg Congee, $5.00

As usual, my family loves to have dim sum with century egg congee so we had two bowls to share. There were plenty of century egg and lean pork in the congee - very satisfying. I especially loved the healthy dose of crispy fritter toppings!

Beancurd Skin Roll, $4.80

The beancurd skin roll was deep fried to a crisp and yet manages to stay rather light instead of being too heavy. Absolutely delectable with the vinegar dip. Crystal Jade has a fantastic rendition as well.

Prawn Cheung Fan, $4.80

Now, this was a highlight. The cheung fan was silky smooth and so luscious that it seemed almost vulnerable. The crunchy prawns, as you can see, were pretty huge too. This is cheung fan at its best. I'm not sure how it can get any better. Oh, perhaps if they served zha leung?? Now that would grab my attention.

Steamed Chicken Claws, $3.60

These were fantastic as well. All the flavour of the insanely addictive sauce has permeated within the steamed chicken claws. Every bite was a juicy, gelatinous delight. This is one dim sum dish I will never ever fall out of love with. Isn't it always the strangest things that sometimes has the strongest pull on our hearts?

Scallop Taro Roll, $4.80

This is another must-order dim sum dish at Royal China. It has everything going for it - succulent scallops that has been beautifully browned on the outside, a basket of crisp and a mixture of mashed taro and tasty seasoned pork encased within. It was most definitely the best dish of the day.

Sharks Fin Dumpling Soup, $4.80

We ended our dim sum meal with two bowls of Sharks Fin Dumpling Soup. This was unfortunately supremely underwhelming. Aside from the fact that the sharks fin was undetectable (I really didn't expect otherwise), the other ingredients were seriously disappointing as well - crabsticks instead of real crab meat, in particular. The soup was tasty but the dumpling... give this a miss and your dim sum meal will be flawless.

Unique, Classy Interior

So... how often do you actually go for dim sum? What are the dishes you can't do without? Let me know!

P.S. Tomorrow night, my friends are coming over for a Christmas dinner! I have a menu all planned out and I'm super excited. I'll post up a recipe round-up tonight just in time for you to invite your friends and host some dinner parties of your own(:

Royal China
1 Beach Road, #03-09
Raffles Hotel, Singapore

Tel: +65 6338 3363

Opening Hours:
Lunch
Monday to Saturday - 12.00 noon to 3.00 pm
Sunday and Public Holiday - 11.00 am to 2.00 pm
Dinner
Daily - 6.00 pm to 10.30 pm

What is Food to You?

2011-12-15T14:32:00.005+08:00

An unforgettable Seafood Risotto at La Lampara, Cinque Terre, Italy

Has this question ever crossed your mind? As a food blogger, it might seem pretty obvious that food must be my way of life. And it is, for the most part. But I've come to realize that even for someone like me, who obviously lives to eat, my feelings about food can fluctuate from time to time. Or is it just me?

Happy Times

Strangely enough, and maybe this is a good thing, when I'm happy, food makes me even happier, but when I'm down, no amounts of good food can really lift my spirits. During those times, food becomes mere sustenance. I become the kind of people whom I've never been able to connect with so well - the kind who really eat to live, whereby food has no other meaning beyond that. I can never quite get over the fact that sometimes I become someone like this too. I guess in a way, this makes me human.

Fortunately, this blog serves as a healthy reminder of what food is to me during happy times. Maybe because I'm the author (and therefore biased!). Whenever I browse through my past posts, I take delight in reminiscing all the joy I've found in good food. It brings me back to being who I was and who I want to be. To me, good food is synonymous with happy times. It's even a sort of positive energy, don't you think?

Social Glue

You might notice that I often include slight references to the people I dine with. I really do this because good food and good company are so difficult to separate. They both elevate each other to so much more. When I look back at my posts, I'm reminded of all the wonderful times I spent with close ones. I recall a certain joke someone cracked, or a funny thing that happened, or just how much I enjoyed myself. I love the positive emotions that good food evokes - how conversations seem to flow better when everyone's put in such a good mood.

I've been thinking of what I really want this blog to be. And I think I have a clearer answer now. I really want my posts to be (mostly) a reflection of the joy I find in food... Not so much "hey she rated this place 4/5" but more "hey she had a great time there and she said that the grilled chicken wings was an epiphany, lets go try it for ourselves". I say "mostly" because I'll never lie to you that something is good when it isn't... and not all places have all hits and no misses.

I'm still shaping this blog... as you can probably tell if you've been frequenting. Sometimes, I actually do ask myself why I'm spending so much time on this. But you know what? As long as I feel that I'm evoking positive emotions in you somehow through my zest for living to eat, I'll keep writing.

So... what is food to you? Do share with me, I would love to know(:

Food Diary #2

2011-12-14T22:14:00.008+08:00

One Toffee Nut Latte (Grande), Starbucks, $6.80 | Two Thai Prawn Cakes, Nakhon Kitchen, $12 | Three Green Curry (Beef), Nakhon Kitchen, $8 | Four Seafood Fried Rice, Nakhon Kitchen, $6

As the Christmas season rolls in, I can't help but notice that the Starbucks Christmas drinks are back! I'm definitely glad my favourite Toffee Nut Latte has made the cut. Though I do mourn the demise of Dark Cherry Mocha. Having one of those drinks really makes Christmas a little bit more real for me. Can you believe that it's only a little more than a week to Christmas? How are you spending it this time round? It's going to be a lot of cosy home gatherings for me - just good company and good food!

Back when I spent the summer in Hong Kong last year, I fell in love with a cosy and unpretentious Thai Restaurant along Wan Chai. My favourite was always their Beef Brisket Thai Green Curry. I loved how they served up generous portions of chunky and slightly chewy beef brisket that were soaked in all the green curry goodness. I have to say, Nakhon Kitchen's version is pretty damn tasty as well. Though the curry is on the thin side and they certainly don't serve up beef brisket. This time round, we opted to try their Thai Prawn Cakes, which is twice the price of their Thai Fish Cakes. It was delicious, for sure, with an addictive, almost pungent prawn flavour. But it really wasn't twice as delicious. And somehow, I actually like their Thai Fish Cakes better. I'll go back to those the next time. We tried their seafood fried rice for the first time too and liked it a lot. Besides being highly tasty, it also came with crunchy prawns, thick fish slices and quite a few slices of squid. Nakhon Kitchen is most certainly still the place to go to for authentic and budget Thai food!

En Japanese Dining Bar, River Valley, Singapore

2011-12-12T16:54:00.008+08:00

Trio Sashimi Platter, ~~$24.50~~ $12.25

Yesterday, M and I headed to En Japanese Dining Bar for a light dinner. We were early birds (read: half priced sushi and sashimi from 6-8 pm) and so what we had for dinner should come as no surprise! We started off with the Sashimi Platter of Salmon, Tuna and Yellowtail. We really enjoyed this one - the sashimis were wonderfully fresh and sliced pretty well!

Soft Shell Crab Temaki, ~~$6.00~~ $3.00

Next, we had a Soft Shell Crab Temaki. The soft shell crab itself was really crispy, but the entire assemble came across as a tad dry. Some cucumbers or sauce thrown into the mix would probably make this a whole lot better.

California Maki, ~~$10.00~~ $5.00, Salmon Avocado Maki, ~~$11.00~~ $5.50

The California Maki and Salmon Avocado Maki came next. They were much larger than I expected and filled us up quite a bit. They were pretty tasty, actually, but I did wish that there were more ingredients and less rice.

Mekajiki Sushi, ~~$6.00~~ $3.00

We had to order some Mekajiki Sushi. As you can probably tell, one slice was a lot better than the other. As luck would have it, I had the one which had a small, hard bit inside but M's piece was perfectly great. This was pretty disappointing for me.

Aburi Mekajiki Sushi, ~~$6.00~~ $3.00, Ebi Sushi, ~~$5.80~~ $2.90

We had another order of Mekajiki in the hope that the slip up was an isolated incident. This time we had it aburi style and it was perfect. It tastes a little different from Aburi salmon in that it doesn't melt in your mouth given the harder texture of the fish itself, but the torched part lends a lot more flavour and aroma. The ebi sushi was surpisingly good - the prawn was relatively large and had a good bite.

Aburi Hotate Sushi, ~~$7.00~~ $3.50, Aburi Salmon Sushi, ~~$5.20~~ $2.60

The Aburi Hotate and Aburi Salmon sushi were our favourites! The huge scallop was fresh and sweet and the contrast in textures due to the torching worked very well. But it also comes packed with a huge dollop of wasabi so watch out for that! I love aburi salmon because it literally melts in your mouth. In this case, the sushi was still incredibly tasty, but the melt in your mouth effect wasn't so pronounced.

Overall, except for the slip up with the Mekajiki Sushi, En Dining serves up fresh goods at a compelling price if you're in time for their early bird special. I would stick to their sashimi and nigiri sushis since their makis are a little too rice-heavy for my liking. The early bird special happens everyday and drinks are 30% off too during those hours, so En Dining is definitely worth a shot!

Have you been to En Dining? Was there anything fantastic you tried that I missed? I would love to know!

En Japanese Dining Bar
207 River Valley Road, #01-57
UE Square, Singapore
Tel: (65) 6735 2212

Opening Hours
Sun – Thu: 6pm – 12am
Fri – Sat & PH Eve: 6pm – 3am

Snapshot: Singapore's Spiciest Buffalo Wings at Buckaroo BBQ & Grill

2011-12-10T21:07:00.003+08:00

1/2 Dozen of Level Two Spicy Buffalo Wings, $19.80

My stomach churns even as I'm looking at this! Have you tried the spicy buffalo wings at Buckaroo's? My friends and I started with the level two wings, which were very enjoyable, actually. The wings were coated with a surprisingly tasty hot and sour sauce that had just the right amount of kick! Only levels 1-3 wings are on the menu, the rest (up till level 10) are $1.20 per dozen for every additional level and diners are warned to order them at your own risk. So yes, we were warned, but after polishing the level two wings, we got a little bit too confident and went straight to level 5. Well, let's just say we were... overwhelmed? I had one and a half wings and that was all I could handle... all the while blinking away sweat and tears... Why do we sometimes pay to torture ourselves? I guess it's all part of the experience. That said, I'm staying off buffalo wings for a while(:

Divine Cakes at K Ki, Ann Siang Hill, Singapore

2011-12-05T03:29:00.010+08:00

Dainty Cakes on Display

Last week, I finally visited the very quaint K Ki nestled on Ann Siang Hill for a long due catch up with my lovely friend, E. It was one of those rainy late afternoons, which somehow added to the atmosphere, once we were done braving the rain, that is. Hot tea was necessary!

Antoinette, $8, Tiramisu, $9, Green Tea (Pot), $5.50

It took us a long time to choose from such a pretty selection of cakes, but finally we made up our minds and settled for the Antoinette and Tiramisu. They were divine. The Antoinette was white chocolate mousse on a thin cake base with a gorgeous mango center, sprinkled with tiny cubes of preserved mango. For some reason, I've never quite pictured these two flavours together before, but they work like a charm. I also loved how refreshingly delicate the mousse was - you definitely won't have difficulties polishing this number down to the very last bite. The Tiramisu was the usual mascarpone cheese (but a delightfully light version) with a center layer of sponge cake soaked in Kahlua. In terms of flavours, it was decidedly more ordinary compared to the Antoinette since Tiramisu is nothing new. Still, we really enjoyed it. The liquor content was pretty strong too, in a good way. It's fine since there is all that mascarpone to go along with it. I'm actually excited to head back and try the rest of their selections! Since tea is absolutely necessary on a rainy day, we had a pot of Green Tea to go along with the cakes. It wasn't bad at all. Rather than tasting run-of-the-mill, it was fragrant with sweet, almost fruity notes.

Half of K Ki is dedicated to a fun, quirky selection of an assortment of things that were at once surprising and nostalgic. We found bookmarks made of scanned bus ticket stubs, MOS burger tomato paste packets and even old Golden Village movie tickets. Then I chanced upon an amusing notebook sporting blank pages labelled A-Z with singlish phrases and explanations at the bottom of each page. Cute. I really like their art pieces too. Isn't the combination of pencil sketches with knitted materials cool?

K Ki
7 Ann Siang Hill #01-00
Singapore 069791
Tel: +65 6225 6650

Opening Hours:
Tue – Sat: 12pm – 7pm
Sun: 1pm – 7pm
(Closed on Mon)