Cuisine Paradise | Eat, Shop And Travel

Tim Ho Wan (添好運) @ Hong Kong Station Podium

2013-12-12T21:04:00.001+08:00

Before visiting Hong Kong I have heard so much about their local food as well as one of their well-known dim sum restaurant; Tim Ho Wan which launched their first outlet in Singapore (Plaza Singaura) last year as well as a second branch at Tao Payoh lately. So when we happened to see their outlet at Hong Kong MTR Station (initially we intended to go to their branch at Sham Shui Po (深水埗) but it's too far out from our schedule as we only have limited time before departure), we decided to take the opportunity to try out some of their items since the queue there is definitely shorter than Singapore.

Tim Ho Wan (添好運) @ Hong Kong Station Podium Level 1

According to what I have Google Tim Ho Wan has a few outlets located in different parts of Hong Kong and the one which we visited in IFC Mall is consider one of the newly setup. Although the restaurant is fully occupied plus there were quite a number of people waiting outside for seats but the moving flow was still quite fast as we only waited for about 20 minutes before our turn.

[Tim Ho Wan (Hong Kong)] Ordering Menu

As usual on their practice when you registered for your seats, you are given one of this ordering slip to select your choice of dim sum while waiting so that once you get your seats your food will be served in a short while.

[Tim Ho Wan - 添好運] Hong Kong Menu

[Tim Ho Wan (Hong Kong)] Baked Bun with BBQ Pork @ HK $18 (3 pieces)

Baked Bun with BBQ Pork (HK$18; SG$2.90) is something like a fusion of crispy pineapple bun (bo luo bao - 菠蘿包) with roasted pork (char siew - 叉燒) fillings. The texture of the bun is great with crispy outer skin and yet fluffy bun texture beneath plus the BBQ pork taste great with combination of lean and fat meat coated with their special sweet and savoy sauce.

[Tim Ho Wan (Hong Kong)] Shrimp Wrapped In Beancurd Skin @ HK $24 per plate

Even thought this Shrimp Wrapped In Beancurd Skin (HK$24; SG$3.80) is a recommended item from their menu with crispy deep-fried the outer skin but overall we find it rather oily and nothing special to be excited about.

[Tim Ho Wan (Hong Kong)] Vermicelli Roll Stuffed With Pig's Liver @ HK $20 per plate

Vermicelli Roll Stuffed with Pig's Liver (HK$20; SG$3.20) is something rare that we don't get to eat in Singapore but after trying we don't really like the taste of the pork liver which somehow different from those in Singapore. So if to compare the differences we still prefer the one served in Tim Ho Wan, Singapore outlet.

[Tim Ho Wan (Hong Kong)] Steamed Egg Cake @ HK $14 per slice

Steamed Egg Cake (HK$14; SG$2.25) in Hong Kong outlet definitely taste better than the one in Singapore. It's texture is so fluffy and bouncy plus the caramelized fragrance makes it so addictive that you just cannot stop eating it.

[Tim Ho Wan (Hong Kong)] Tonic Medlar and Osmanthus Cake @ HK $12 (3 pieces)

I am always curious about the taste of Osmanthus Cake which I saw from those Hong Kong drama so we decided to order this Tonic Medlar and Osmanthus Cake (HK$12; SG$1.90) for dessert. Indeed it has a sweet aroma from the Osmanthus flower and they are quite generous with the amount of medlar (gou qi zi - 枸杞子) seeds too.

Overall our dinning experience at Tim Ho Wan, Hong Kong was quite enjoyable as we still managed to try out some authentic dim sum before flying back home. But we will definitely look forward for another trip to Hong Kong to try out more of their local food as well as other sightseeing attractions.

With this post With this post we conclude our Hong Kong weekend getaway and I hope it will help you with some planning tips to Hong Kong Disneyland and Airport Transfer too. Till then stay tune for our upcoming Taiwan travelogue soon.

TIM HO WAN
添好運點心專門店
Shop 12A
Hong Kong Station
Podium Level 1, IFC Mall, Central
Telephone: (852) 2332 3078
Nearest MTR station: Tung Chung Line, Hong Kong, Exit A1

Opening Hour:
9:00am - 9.00pm (daily)

中環香港站12A鋪(IFC地庫一層)

* Disclosure: Hong Kong Disneyland Magical Experience was partially sponsored by Hong Kong Disneyland. No monetary compensation was received, and all opinions are on our own.

Pezzo Launches Ho Ho Hola Hawaiian Pizza

2013-12-12T20:58:00.000+08:00

[Pezzo Pizza] Hot Chick, Fisherman's Favourite and Sambal Ikan Bilis (clockwise)

Pezzo, a home-grown pizzeria chain with 13 convenient pizza-by-the-slice kiosks and 6 delivery stores around the island of Singapore. With its fresh new look of bright red and yellow Carnival-themed storefronts and custom designed delivery boxes, Pezzo hopes to create the same happiness for their customers through its pizzas too. And thanks to the folks of Pezzo, we get to try some of their new creations plus their Ho Ho Hola Hawaiian pizza which will be available for this festive season till 31 December 2013.

[Pezzo Pizza] Sambal Ikan Bilis, Ho Ho Hola Hawaiian (top row), Fisherman's Favourite and Hot Chick

The pizzas are Pezzo are freshly made with hand-stretched dough that topped with freshest quality of meat and vegetables together with different types of cheese to enhance the taste of each creations. Overall we were quite satisfy with the taste of the four flavours that we had tried but the crust was not very consistent (perhaps due to hand-stretched) as certain portions were relatively thicker than the other which we think there is still rooms for improvement.

Below are some of our thoughts on each of the flavours that we had tried.

[Pezzo Pizza] Hot Chick

Hot Chick sounds "fierce and spicy" to you? This is Pezzo’s new fiery creation that made with strips of spicy chicken, fresh cut red chilli, special chilli sauce, red and green capsicum, roast garlic and a combination of cheddar and mozzarella cheese. We love its cheesy taste that compromise well with the hint of spiciness that makes each slices so addicting.

[Pezzo Pizza] Fisherman's Favourite

Fisherman’s Favourite will be a great choice for veggies and seafood lovers because it was loaded with generous helpings of tuna, shrimp, spinach, onions, red pepper, tomatoes, oregano and basil. With it's greenish look I am sure it will take care of your waistline with the greens and let you enjoy your favourite pizza without feeling guilty.

[Pezzo Pizza] Sambal Ikan Bilis

And for those who wants to try some local flavour perhaps you can consider their Sambal Ikan Bilis pizza which made from Sambal, crispy Ikan Bilis and Mozzarella Cheese. This was my mum's favourite pizza out of the 4 mentioned in this post because the spice level of the sambal ikan bilis was just right making it a hit for the folk to enjoy western food with a twist of Asian flavour.

[Pezzo Pizza] Ho Ho Hola Hawaiian

Lastly for this festive season, Pezzo also launched this Ho Ho Hola Hawaiian pizza that topped with Turkey Ham, Turkey Bacon, Green Pepper, Fresh Peach, Cherry Tomato and Mozzarella Cheese at SG$29.90. And this sumptuous festive pizza will only be available at the Pezzo kiosks and for takeaways from 14 November - 31st December 2013 which makes it perfect for those entertaining at home and office parties!

On top of that, from now till 31 December 2013 be among one of the 50 lucky winners to win their "1 Year's Supply of FREE Pizza" with a lucky draw coupon when you purchase:

- 3 slices of pizza at any outlet;
- Buy a Ho Ho Hola Hawaiian; or
- Spend S$20 on a delivery

*Disclosure: All opinions expressed in this post are my own and there is no monetary compensation received.

Weekend Champagne & Croissants Brunch At Ô Batignolles

2013-10-11T17:35:00.000+08:00

To celebrate it's first year anniversary, Ô Batignolles; a French bistro located at 2 Gemmill Lane has introduced a brand new weekend brunch menu featuring a range of delicious new dishes typical of Paris. This new "Champagne And Croissants Brunch" offers a three-course (croissant, choice of bread and choice of main) menu served together with freshly squeezed orange juice, premium coffee or tea plus free flow Yveline Prat Brut Champagne at S$89++.

Alternatively for those who prefer a non-alcoholic brunch, the ‘Champagne And Croissants’ is also available without Champagne for only S$29++ or you can order other dishes from their A la Carte Menu (shown below) that suits your preference.

[Ô Batignolles] The main indoor dining area

[Ô Batignolles] A private dinning area which is beside the main area

[Ô Batignolles] Alfresco sitting area

[Ô Batignolles] A la carte menu

[Ô Batignolles] There are 6 different types of Champagne available on their A la carte menu

[Ô Batignolles] Yveline Prat Brut Champagne for the "Champagne And Croissants Brunch"

Yveline Prat Brut is a pale yellow champagne that sparkles slowly with fine bubbles which known for its floral notes and toasted aromas. After taking a few sips we agreed with Antoine (the owner) it is a perfect pairing with their brunch menu giving it a smooth and sweet after taste that runs down the throat.

Our brunch starts with a glass of bubbly Yveline Prat Brut Champagne follow by our choice of beverages (Cappuccino and Latte) together with freshly squeeze orange juice and in-house (freshly baked in their kitchen) "croissants".

[Ô Batignolles] Croissant and my Choice of Bread (Pains au Chocolate Basket)

I am bread lover who easily get excited with Rustic Bread or flaky pastry like Croissants. I must confess I really really loves the croissants served at Ô Batignolles which has crispy outer layer and fluffy (it's so airy and yummy) texture inside which you can see from the photo above.

And good news; according to them their signature"Croissants and Pains au Chocolate" are available for individual sale and take away too. So if you loves these pastry you know what to do right *wink*?

[Ô Batignolles] Choice Of Bread - French Toast

From the above menu you will notice there are 4 Choices Of Bread where you choose from either "Brioche with Nutella of Speculoos", "Blueberry Pancake", Pains Au Chocolate Basket" and "French Toast".

Although I always made french toast at during weekend breakfast but mine was never as good as what they served. It has a unique fragrant and the bread was nicely done with soft moist texture and I think it might be the type of butter they used to cook the french toast plus some seasonings perhaps. You should try this when you order your choice of bread.

[Ô Batignolles] Choice of Eggs - Eggs Pacifico

[Ô Batignolles] Choice of Eggs - Eggs Benedict

There are also 4 Choices of Eggs available on their brunch menu such as "Eggs Benedict", "Eggs Pacifico", "Scramble Eggs" and "Eggs Cocotte".

We ordered Eggs Benedict and Eggs Pacifico which served shortly after we finished the bread dishes. Each poached egg is perfectly cooked with oozing yolk (I should have taken a video to show you how good it is) and it pairs well with ham and slight crisp half muffin as well as some lettuces salad to go with it too.

Overall Ô Batignolles Bistro offers a relaxed atmosphere that transport diners to Paris with their food and warm hospitality. Moreover it is also a family friendly place with kid's menu which I am sure kid will love their cooked ham with potatoes gratin plus vanilla ice-cream.

Ô Batignolles
2 Gemmill Lane
Singapore 069247
Reservation: +65 6438 3913

Opening Hours:
12pm – 12(midnight); weekdays
11am - 12(midnight); Saturday
11am - 7pm; Sunday

Website: www.obatignolles.com

Lastly I would like to thank Ô Batignolles and Mango PR for the invited tasting. All opinions expressed in this post are based on our own dining experience and the taste of the dishes might vary from individual. But I do hope you have a great experience trying their weekend Brunch or A la crate menu if you are planning to visit Ô Batignolles soon.

Tim Ho Wan (添好運) @ Toa Payoh Central

2013-10-04T22:54:00.000+08:00

Ever since Tim Ho Wan (添好運) opens it's first outlet in Singapore (Plaza Singapura) earlier this year in April. It has definitely captured the heart of dim sum lovers in Singapore who don't mind queuing up for at least 60 - 90 minutes just to savor their signature items such as Baked BBQ Pork Bun, Steamed Egg Cake, Carrot Cake and etc.

And now with it's second outlet opens at Toa Payoh Central (ERA Centre) and a third one coming up soon in Bedok (by end of this year), hopefully the queue will be shorter when more outlets are easily access across the island.

As the queue over at Plaza Singapura is always snake long, I decided to try my luck at their new Toa Payoh outlet since it is nearer to my area. And thanks God, when mum and I arrived at around 10.35am (opens at 11.00am) the queue was not as bad as what we thought and we managed to get our seats by 11.05am.

*so the secret tips are: avoid lunch/dinner time or try to be early before it opens.*

They serving staffs are pretty efficient as they will come on and off to check the queue sequence to make sure everything is on the right track plus a ordering list (shown above) was also given to us so that we can make the selection of food first.

[Tim Ho Wan -(添好運)] Singapore Menu

This branch is slightly smaller than the one at Plaza Singapura (PS) with less than 90 seating capacity but they have some special items on the menu which PS branch don't. And from what I had noticed during our visit, the food was served within minutes after we settled down (like those in fast food restaurant) perhaps because they have prepared most of their popular items ahead (example: when I look around almost all the tables ordered their Baked BBQ Pork Bun) which makes the dining experience seems "stressful/rushing" with food piling up on the "small" table.

[Tim Ho Wan (Singapore)] Baked Bun with BBQ Pork @ S$4.50 (3 pieces)

Here is the charm of Tim Ho Wan , their Baked BBQ Pork Bun (酥皮炬叉烧包) which you either hate or like. For us we find that it is a "sweeter" version of the usual Steamed BBQ Pork Bun with a crispy crust on top which makes it so special. But I still prefer the Hong Kong Tim Ho Wan (will share in another post) version with thicker and savory fillings.

[Tim Ho Wan (Singapore)] Steamed Chicken Feet with Abalone Sauce @ S$5.00 / plate

With mum together for dim sum we always order at least a serving of chicken feet and the Steamed Chicken Feet with Abalone Sauce (鲍汁闷风爪) here taste some how or rather similar to those braised soya chicken. The chicken feet is soft and tender to bite plus I love the ideas of adding braised peanuts in it.

[Tim Ho Wan (Singapore)] Beancurd Skin Roll with Shrimp @ S$5.50 / plate

Beancurd Skin Roll with Shrimp (鲜虾腐皮卷) comes in two version with either deep-fried or steamed (with pork added). Personally I would prefer deep-fried because of the crispy beancurd skin that blends well with fresh and sweet prawns fillings.

[Tim Ho Wan (Singapore)] Steamed Egg Cake @ S$3.80 / slice

Steamed Egg Cake (香滑马来糕) is probably the main reason why I bother to queue at Tim Ho Wan because the one that I had in Hong Kong is really very fluffy, fragrant and yummy which makes you crave for more even until today.

As for the Singapore version, although it's still taste fluffy but the texture tends to be more moist (wet) and I can't really recall that fragrance which I like. Perhaps I shall try out their PS outlet to see if there is any different.

[Tim Ho Wan (Singapore)] Vermicelli Roll Pig's Liver @ S$5.50 / plate

In Singapore the common Chee Cheong Fun that we can find are with either prawns, char siew (BBQ pork), mushroom or scallop. But in Tim Ho Wan they have this Vermicelli Roll Pig's Liver ( 黄沙猪润肠) which is indeed something special if you like "pig liver".

[Tim Ho Wan (Singapore)] Rice With Chicken, Sausage and Mushroom @ S$6.00

Actually mum wanted to try the Glutinous Rice With Lotus Leaf (古法糯米鸡) but end up she misread the menu and ordered this Rice With Chicken, Sausage and Mushroom (腊肠北菇鸡饭). Basically nothing to rave about this as it is just a pot of steamed rice with some topping and it taste rather "plain" so I guess can skip this.

[Tim Ho Wan (Singapore)] Tonic Medlar and Osmanthus Cake @ S$3.50 (3 pieces)

For desserts, they only offers either Tonic Medlar and Osmanthus Cake (杞子桂花糕) or Mango Pomelo Sago (杨枝甘露) at S$5.00 a serving bowl. So honestly I feel you can skip the desserts and concentrate just on dim sum items unless you want something sweet after meal because you can get even better dessert fix else where with that price .

Mum loves their Steamed Chicken Feet with Abalone Sauce which is different from the usual deep-fried chicken feet that we ordered from most dim sum restaurant in Singapore. On top of that, their Vermicelli Roll (Chee Cheong Fun) with Pork Liver is also something new that we might not find in Singapore.

Tim Ho Wan (添好運)
ERA Centre
450 Toa Payoh Lorong 6
#02-02
Singapore 319394
Telephone: (65)6483 2000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timhowan

Opening Hours:-
11.00 am - 10.00pm (daily)

[Day 5] Bangkok International Airport (Suvarnabhumi)

2013-08-10T16:55:00.000+08:00

After enjoying four days in Bangkok, it's time for us to go back to Singapore. Although this trip might be short as compared to our initial plan of 7 days but everyone of us are satisfy with the itinerary. And I really miss all the delicious Thai cuisines and street snacks that we have tried, and not to forget my favourite Mango Sticky Rice (photo above) which I have it every day during our trip.

Honestly revisiting Bangkok after 5 years does bought back many memories from our first trip. Like the Siam Ocean World, Chatuchak Weekend Market and Mahboonkrong (MBK), they are still looking good with some familial shops and eateries when we last visited them..

Day 5 was rather tiring as we need to wake up around 4.30am to get ready for the checkout and wait for the Airport Shuttle Service to pick us from our hotel lobby around 6.00am. You must be wondering why we do we take such an early flight back. The reason is because as it was during December peak season most of the favourable timing for return tickets are way fully booked before we can choose.

The new Bangkok International Airport (Suvarnabhumi)

Duty Free Shops @ Bangkok International Airport

Similar to International Airport that you have visited, there are also many Duty Free shops in Bangkok International Airport where you can shop for branded good, local snacks, food and etc.

My bite (pretzel) from Auntie Anne before boarding the flight

[Bangkok International Airport] Food and Beverages Section

Passengers can enjoy some hot food and beverages before the flight or during transit from the range of eateries such as Fast Food, Snack Bar or Restaurant Cuisine depending on individual preference.

[Bangkok International Airport] Processing to the boarding gate for our flight

[Bangkok International Airport] We love the experience of outdoor boarding rather then the usual indoor boarding bridge.

[Bangkok International Airport] View from our window seats on board

[Thai Airways] Safety Rules And Emergency Exit Chart

[Thai Airways] Inflight Entertainment Programs

Most of the airlines provide "Inflight Entertainment Programs" which is a great add-on for passengers to kill time especially when travel on long hour flight. With a wide varieties of entertainments such as movies, games, news, music and etc, even cranky kids can be glue to their seats for an hour or more.

[Thai Airways] Kid's Breakfast Set

[Thai Airways] Adult Breakfast Set (Omelette with sausage)

[Thai Airways] Adult Breakfast Set (fried noodles)

Other than Inflight Entertainment, my kid and I are always curious about the inflight menu. Most of the time I only clear the bread and side dishes rather than the main course because I don't really find it good. But surprising Thai Airways and Korea Airlines serves quite decent inflight food that suits my liking.

[Thai Airways] View from our window seats

[Thai Airways] View from our window seats with Singapore Coastline

[King Power Duty Free] Local Thai Snacks

We did not loop back many food stuffs but only a few that are enough for hand gifts to close friends. Here I would like to share with you two interesting snacks which we found; Dehydrate Mangosteen and Lychee as well as Mangosteen Juice. The dehydrate fruits can be eaten on it's own or add into salad, yogurt or even use it as one of the ingredients for baking. So do keep a look out for them during your trip to Bangkok.

This post marks the end of our 5D4N Bangkok Trip and I hope you enjoy reading those places of interest and food that we shared. For more details of the trip, you can refer to the Itinerary shown above. Till then stay tune for our next travelogue on Taiwan soon.

[Day 4] Lunch At Secret Garden, Thai Cuisine And Bakery

2013-08-10T16:52:00.000+08:00

Day four was rather a shopping spree where we do last minute shopping before catching our flight back to Singapore on the next morning. So after our morning breakfast at hotel, we decided to go Central and Platinum Mall via the BTS before setting our lunch at Secret Garden Thai Cuisine which is located at Sathorn Road.

We took the skytrain to Chidlom Station and walk towards Platinum Fashion Mall which occupy six floors that filled with small outlets with most of them specializing in women's clothing and fashion accessories. A good tip to shop at Platinum Mall is to purchase items in bulk (3 items and above) so that you will received discount up to 30% or more per item. (sorry I didn't snatch photos on the shops as we were too busy looking at those "goodies" :p)

And if you are hungry, just like most of the shopping malls in Bangkok there is also a food court which located on the fifth floor along with other cafes and fast food chains too! But before you start getting anything, remember to purchase your food coupons in order to get your food. Below are some of the common snacks that we saw at the food court and there are still many other dishes for you to explore.

[Platinum Mall Food Court] Assorted Rice Roll with Meat or Prawn

[Platinum Mall Food Court] Fried Quail Eggs

[Platinum Mall Food Court] Steamed Topica with Coconut Cream

At one end of the food court, you can find this Bird Nest stall selling red and white bird nest desserts (sweet soup) which comes in two different flavours ranging from 100 - 500 THB (SG$4.00 - SG$20.00). We didn't try their bird nest this round as it don't look appetizing to us when compared to what we have back home. Also we are afraid that it might be something similar to we had over at Mahboonkrong (MBK) the other day.

[Platinum Mall] Bird Nest Stall

Other than bird nest dessert, the stall also offer Bird Nests in different packaging which you can purchase and cook on your own.

After getting our stuffs at Platinum Fashion Mall, we head down to Central World Mall which can be consider as a mega shopping complex in Bangkok. It offers almost everything from brand name boutiques, funky fashion, high-tech gadgets, designer furniture to imported groceries and etc. Guess most of you can spent either half to 3/4 day just at this mall itself.

While we were at Central World Mall, my boy spotted this "enormous" Green Pig which was on display together it's company of little piggy at their Kid's section for toys.

Our lunch was at this beautiful restaurant located at Sathorn Road which is one of the busiest area in Bangkok. Secret Garden Thai Cuisine and Cafe is an English styled white building surrounded by a beautiful garden where you can chose to have either indoor or al fresco dinning depending on your preference / weather.

[Secret Garden Thai Cuisine] Indoor dining area

The indoor dining area has a bright room decorated with green tones together with flowers and large chandeliers which makes you feel cozy.

[Secret Garden Thai Cuisine] Lemon Grass Drink vs Thai Iced Tea

Brother had being to Secret Garden twice so he knew exactly what dishes to order in order to suit our liking. And while flipping through their menu, I realize they do serve a varieties of food from appetizer, main to dessert. Although their price might might be slighter high as compare to some other place but I guess it is still a good place for family to get together and enjoy the cozy environment.

[Secret Garden Thai Cuisine] Steamed Rice Cake with Preserved Turnips

Thai-style Steamed Rice Cake with Preserved Turnips is something similar to our Chinese "chwee kueh" that serve with preserved turnips and chilli. But as you can see the Thai version, their preserved turnips are less oily and more towards the dry side as compared to our local version. Taste wise still quite good whereas texture of their steamed cake is slightly firm too.

[Secret Garden Thai Cuisine] Stir Fried Black Pepper Beef

[Secret Garden Thai Cuisine] Roti with Yellow Curry Chicken

[Secret Garden Thai Cuisine] Stir Fried Chicken with Basil Leaf on Rice

[Secret Garden Thai Cuisine] Deep Fried Grouper with Spicy Sweet and Sour Sauce

[Secret Garden Thai Cuisine] Fried Morning Glory (ผัดผักบุ้งเส้น)

This is an interesting dish that I would like to recommend as it was prepared in a rather old-fashioned way by stir frying the stalks of the Morning Glory with soy sauce and cut chilli. It's quite an appetizing dish to go with rice or eat it on it's own.

[Secret Garden Thai Cuisine] Raw Papaya Salad with Dried Shrimp

[Secret Garden Thai Cuisine] Steamed Pandan Rice and Green Curry Set

Love their pandan rice that makes from real "pandan leaves" juice rather than artificial pandan essence or paste. The rice has a very fragrance taste and it pairs well with some of the dishes but again if you prefer they also have steamed white rice for your choice. As for this set, I love the spicy pork belly which is soft and tasty and it goes goes well with the noodles.

SECRET GARDEN THAI CUISINE AND CAFE
117/1 South Sathorn Road (Thanon Sathorn Tai)
Sathorn, Bangkok 10120
Telephone: 02 286 2464

Opening Hours:
11.00 am - 10.00 pm

Note:
- Depending on which direction you board the train, the Chong Nonsi BTS and take a walk toward Sathorn road about 10 minutes.

Secret Garden Bakery which is next door to their main dining area at Secret Garden Thai Cuisine.

After lunch we decided to hope over to their cafe which is just next door. I love the English design concept of the furniture, colours, flower prints and etc in their cafe which makes the diner feel so homely. Also from what I read-up Secret Garden Bakery is famous for their crepe cakes as well as wide varieties of tea cakes.

[Secret Garden Cafe] Strawberry Cheesecake

[Secret Garden Cafe] Crepe Cake with strawberry sauce

[Secret Garden Cafe] Banana Chocolate Cake

[Secret Garden Cafe] Ice Chocolate

Initially our aim was to take a look at their cake menu for future visit as we were still too full after lunch. But their cakes are really too tempting that we actually ordered 3 different flavours to share among the six of us. As you can see, we order their "famous" crepe cake with strawberry sauce and it does taste really awesome. Each layer of crepe skin is so smooth and soft, layer with fragrant cream and top with generous amount of 'real" strawberry sauce which balance the taste of the cream in it.

After all we do enjoy their crepe cake to bit and other than crepe cake, their strawberry cheesecake is also quite good with rich cheesy taste that we love. So if you need a good place to hangout for tea and cake, this is rather a good place too or you can check up my previous post on Afternoon Tea at Agalico too if you prefer something more classic with garden sitting.

After dessert we took a short walk to the nearest BTS station (Sala Daeng BTS) along Silom Road where we by-pass Le Table de Tee which is a french restaurant situated at the back alley of Soi Sala Daeng. Since the restaurant is rather small with only room that caters 20 diners, it would be advisable that you make a reservation before heading down.

At Le Table de Tee one can enjoy well-presented delicious French food such as their set menu that comes with five-course at only 950 THB (SG$ 38.00++) per person. Initially we planned to try their set menu during one of our four nights in Bangkok but as we can't make it on most of the nights we have no choice but to KIV it till our next visit to Bangkok.

Le Table de Tee
69/5 Saladaeng Road
Silom, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500
Thailand
Telephone: +66 2 636 3220
Website: http://www.latabledetee.com/

Opening Hours:
6.30pm - 10.30pm (Tuesday to Sunday)

Street Vendors selling Thai Salad and Noodles.

Fresh Fruit Juice Stall Along the Street

Fresh Fruit Stall

Further down the street towards the BTS station which is near Silom Complex, we also saw some street vendors selling local Thai Food like salad, snack, drinks, fresh cut fruits and etc along the roadside. This type of street vendors are very commonly found in Bangkok along the street near shopping mall area or along busy street where tourist or patrons can easily access them.

[Day 3] Chao Phraya Princess II Dinner Cruise, Bangkok

2013-07-29T12:25:00.000+08:00

On Day 3 evening of our Bangkok trip, we booked a Dinner Cruise for Chao Phraya Princess II via our hotel concierge and they even arrange a van picked up from our hotel to River City Pier. Upon arrival, the driver bought us to the check-in counter to collect our boarding tickets and stickers for the cruise. After which we waited for quite sometime (it's slightly behind schedule) before the cruise arrived at the pier and the queue was rather chaotic with everyone pushing just to get aboard first.

[Chao Phraya Princess II] Our boarding tickets

There are 4 Chao Phraya Princesses river cruise such as shown below and the one we went was Chao Phraya Princess II and the ticket pricing was about 1,400THB (SG$56.80) per adult :-

- Chao Phraya Princess I
- Chao Phraya Princess II
- Chao Phraya Princess III
- Chao Phraya Princess IV

[Chao Phraya Princess II] Crowds boarding the Dinner Cruise after it dock at the pier.

Chao Phraya Princess II can carry about 300 passengers and it is divided into two sections such as upper (opened air) and lower (air-conditioned) deck for guests to select base of their dining preference. For us, we preferred to have indoor dinning just in case it might rain.

[Chao Phraya Princess II] The Lower Deck air-conditioned dinning area has 120 seats.

[Chao Phraya Princess II] The Upper Deck opened air dining area has around 180 seats.

Their buffet dinner includes a wide selection of dishes ranging from Thai-style to International food, appetizers to main dishes as well as desserts like cakes, pastries and fresh fruits.

[Chao Phraya Princess II] Appetizer

[Chao Phraya Princess II] Salad Bar

[Chao Phraya Princess II] Main Dishes - Deep-fried Chicken With Thai Herbs

[Chao Phraya Princess II] Thai-style Fried Noodles with Shrimp

[Chao Phraya Princess II] Tom Yum Kung (Spicy Shrimp Soup)

[Chao Phraya Princess II] Spicy Glass Noodles with Mixed Seafood Salad

[Chao Phraya Princess II] Chicken Curry

[Chao Phraya Princess II] Dinner Buffet Spread

[Chao Phraya Princess II] Some of the cakes at the dessert counter

[Chao Phraya Princess II] Dinner Cruise Buffet

Honestly the buffet spread does consists a wide range of International Food which suits all ages but then don't expect anything fantastic like those buffet from 4/5 stars hotels. But overall few of the dishes are still quite good like Tom Yum Kung, Thai Fish Cake, Salad Bar and Fried Noodles.

[Chao Phraya Princess II] Wat Pra Kaew (The Grand Palace)

During the dinner cruise, other than filling up our tummy with the International buffet spread we also enjoyed the magnificent night view of the historical structures as well as religious monasteries like Wat Phra Kaew (The Grand Palace) and Wat Arun (The Temple of Dawn) while cruising along the Chao Phraya River.

[Chao Phraya Princess II] Rama VIII Bridge

Rama VIII Bridge which is a cable-stayed bridge crossing the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok is also another remarkable landmark which worth your snapshots. The top of the of the tower features a glass observation deck, that is enclosed in a 15-metre tall metal frame in the shape of a lotus bud and it is accessible by a lift inside the tower.

Overall we had a memorable dinner cruise on board the Chao Phraya Princess II, considering it's 2 hours cruise ride with decent buffet spread plus awesome night view along the Chao Phraya River that worth some snapshots. I am sure this is indeed an one-time experience which you might consider taking up too.

Chao Phraya Princess II Dinner Cruise
River City Pier, Bangkok 10310, Thailand
Telephone: (66) 0-2860-3700
Website: http://www.thaicruise.com/chaophraya2_en.php

[Day 3] Afternoon Tea At Agalico, Bangkok

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Agalico has been around for over a decade and it is owned by Thailand's most prominent landscapist and interior designer, ML Poomchai Chumbala, whose famous works include the exquisite gardens of Mrigadayavan Palace in Hua Hin. Other than in-door dining, Agalico also has a well-designed topical garden with gazebos, siting area, birds, flowers, fountain and etc for guest to enjoy an idle afternoon with exquisite tea and desserts.

After our visit to Siam Ocean World we decided to take a train ride to Thong Lo where Agalico is just 5 - 7 minutes walk away from the station. I have being looking forward to visit this cafe ever since my brother shared his photos with me during his last visit.

We reached there on a Sunday afternoon around 3.00 pm and most of the tables (in-door) were occupied by their local Thais and tourists. Upon entering, I fell in love with this beautiful English like designed cafe with mainly White and Blue as it's themed colour.

While looking around the cafe, you might even notice most of the furniture and accessories have price tags attached to it because the owner also has a furniture store next door which enable visitors to purchase items that are on display in the cafe.

Although Agalico might not have a huge selection to offer on their menu, but they managed to keep it simple and good with cakes, scones and quiches that are freshly made daily and cost around 150THB (SG$6.00) to go with their fine range of import teas (coffee is available too).

[Agalico] Some display of their Teas

[Agalico] Blueberry Cheesecake Vs Carrot Cake

We saw quite a good selection of cakes that day like Blueberry Cheesecake, Orange Cake, Chocolate Cake, Coffee Cake, Tarts and etc. And since we are going for buffet dinner in the evening, we decided to settle for just 2 sets of "Cake and Tea" to share among the five of us.

[Agalico] Mint Tea to pair with Blueberry Cheesecake

[Agalico] Lovely afternoon tea with the family

[Agalico] Backyard Gazebo

By spending a weekend afternoon at Agalico reading a book, catching up with friends or family to enjoy a cup of coffee/tea is simply divine. Moreover I am sure it would be great to reward yourself with a few hours off time away from the busy city life too.

AGALICO
20Soi Sukhumvit 51 Road
Bangkok, 10110, Thailand
Telephone: +66 2 662 5857
Website: http://www.agalico.co.th/

Opening Hours:
Friday - Sunday: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Monday - Thursday: Closed

To Get There:
- Nearest BTS is Thong Lo, take Exit 1 plus another 5-7 minutes walk to reach.
- For first time, don't miss out the cafe (a white building on your right side) as there is no proper signpost to indicate the direction.

[Day 3] Exploring Siam Ocean World, Bangkok

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Siam Ocean World is one of the largest two-storeys in-door aquarium in Southeast Asia which is located at the basement of Siam Paragon Shopping Mall in Bangkok. The exhibit is divided into 7 zones with individually designed theme and apart from its recreational options, it also proves a very good learning center for kids too.

With our Day 3 schedule packed with fun at Siam Ocean World, afternoon tea at Agalico and cruise dinner on board Chao Phraya Princess, I am sure you will be excited to follow us through the posts and read about our experience in those places.

As usual after our morning breakfast at Cuisine Unplugged which is located near the hotel lobby, we took the free Tutu Shuttle Service to the nearby BTS station to our first destination at Siam Ocean World.

At the ticketing counter, their friendly staff take time to explain to us about the different types of tickets and from their recommendation, we took the Family Package for @ 3,150 THB (SG$128.00) which includes 2 Adults and 2 Children (age 15 years old and below) and each ticket includes:-

- Back Of House Tour
- Glass Bottom Boat
- Pepsi (22 Oz)
- Salted Popcorn
- Happy Fish Happy Feet
- 5D Theatre

Basically Siam Ocean World is divided into 7 Zones featuring Deep Reef, Living Ocean, Open Ocean, Rainforest and etc. And within the aquarium it features more than 30,000 marine animals in its tanks which brings amazing water world experience for visitors.

[Siam Ocean World] Zone 1 - Weird And Wonder

Upon entering the aquarium, you would see all sort of weird and wonderful sea creatures such as king crabs and rare species like Coconut Octopus (row 1, right) and Leaf Scorpionfish (row 2, right) in Zone 1.

[Siam Ocean World] Zone 2 - Deep Reef

Further down at Zone 2, you would see a huge tank featuring marine life which you will find in the coral reefs.

[Siam Ocean World] Zone 3 - Living Ocean

Whereas at Zone 3, we get to visit the "Back of House Tour" where we have the opportunity to touch and witness the real operation behind the scenes of how the Aquarium actually works. Beside that Zone 3 also features some underwater rules of survival and how sea creatures protect themselves against predators.

[Siam Ocean World] Glass Bottom Boat

For some family fun, Glass Bottom Boat ride (usual price 150 THB (SG$6.00) per person) featuring a 5 - 8 minutes ride around the tanks with one of their boatman "gliding" the boat was awesome. We enjoyed our ride spotting fishes underneath but if you are keen you can also grab a cup of shrimps to feed the fishes. The experience is pretty pretty exciting as you get to see fishes like sharks, eagle rays and etc just right below your feet through the glass bottom boat.

[Siam Ocean World] Grab some shrimps for 100 THB (SG$4.00) per cup to feed the fish during Glass Bottom Boat ride.

[Siam Ocean World] Zone 4 - Rainforest, Zone 5 Rocky Shore

There are many interesting creatures and animals waiting for you in the rainforest at Zone 4 where you get to see animals like "Giant Water Rat (3rd row, 1st picture)" which look rather cute as compared to those scary street rats. Other than that, there are also Penguin, Golden Snakes, Poison Spiders and etc.

[Siam Ocean World] Happy Fish, Happy Feet

Our family combo tickets also entitled us for the Happy Fish, Happy Feet treatment where we happily sit and relax our feet in the cold jacuzzi which is filled with little fishes that softly nibbles on our skin. Indeed it was a fun experience for first timer like us to enjoy fish spa.

[Siam Ocean World] Mini Aquarium inside a microwave

[Siam Ocean World] Zone 6 - Open Ocean

Everyday around 1.00pm and 4.00pm there will be a "shark feeding show" at Zone 6 where visitors could gather around at the sitting area to watch the 5 - 10 minutes feeding show. At this zone, it features a 270-degree tunnel where you can observe sharks, stingrays and other sea creatures that are found in the deep ocean.

[Siam Ocean World] Zone 7 - Sea Jellies

Remember to drop by the Sea Jellies zone before you leave the aquarium. You will be amazed by these cute jelly fish in those colour changing light tanks which makes them look so stunning under those lights.

SIAM OCEAN WORLD
Level B1 And B2, Siam Paragon
991 Rama 1 Road, Pathumwan
Bangkok 10330 Thailand
Telephone: +66 2687 2000
Website: http://siamoceanworld.com

Opening Hour:
10.00 am - 9.00pm (daily)

Note:- Nearest BTS station to Siam Paragon is SIAM Station.

[Fuji Japanese Restaurant] Fragrant Green Tea from Japan

We had lunch at Fuji Japanese Restaurant which is located near the food mall at ground level of Siam Paragon Shopping. Even though it was past lunch hour at around 2pm+ but there were still quite a long queue outside waiting to get it. And since it was only 3 of us, we managed to get a table in about 15 minutes.

[Fuji Japanese Restaurant] Zura Soba Noodles With Assorted Tempura

Zura Soba is a type of chilled soba which is often served on a sieve-like bamboo tray, garnished with strips of dried nori (seaweed) and served together a dipping sauce known as tsuyu (mixture of dashi, sweetened soy sauce and mirin) with chopped spring onion and an quail egg.

[Fuji Japanese Restaurant] Fuji Sashimi Bento Set which includes Miso Soup and Chawanmushi @ 310 THB

Our set of Fuji Sashimi Bento Set which includes Miso Soup and Chawanmushi cost around SG$12.60 which is about 310 THB. Although the quality might not be as good when compared to those high end Japanese restaurant but with the price that we are paying the quantity is enough to feed two pax.

Fuji Japanese Restaurant @ Siam Paragon
G/F Siam Paragon Shopping Complex
991 Rama 1 Rd, Pathumwan
Bangkok 10330 Thailand
Telephone: +66 2 611 7168
Website: Fuji Japanese Restaurant

[Day 2] Health Land and Mahboonkrong (MBK)

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After spending the whole morning at Chatuchak Weekend Market till almost 1.00pm, we decided to visit Health Land which is located near Asok Station (about 10 minutes walk) where we could pampered ourselves with Foot Reflexology And Body Massage to re-fill our energy level and continue the shopping spree. Furthermore, foot reflexology is one of the common spa services that tourists love and it could be easily found at most shopping malls, shops along the streets and even in their night/weekend bazaar too. And the face is it really cost much cheaper (around half the price or less) then what we usually paid in Singapore.

Health Land has a few branches (location here) available in Thailand which opens daily from 9.00am till midnight. It provides a range of spa services such as Aromatherapy Body Massage, Therapeutic Massage, Foot Reflexology, Facial Treatments and etc which helps to release tension and stress as well as improve circulation and restoration of body state.

Waiting for BTS train from Asok Station back to Victory Monument Station. Between Terminal 21 Shopping Mall is just next to Asok Station too.

After our spa treatments, we took the BTS Train back to our hotel to take a short rest before heading out to Mahboonkrong (MBK) in the evening.

Alighting at Victory Monument Station, there is small waffle stall outside the exit toward the link bridge walkway of Century Movie Plaza and the station. From a glance at photo above, you could see there is a wide range of flavour from Chocolate, Raisin, Corn, Red Bean and etc pricing from 15THB (SG$0.60) for the small waffle and 30THB (SG$1.20) for the usual size waffle.

Delicious Rains and Corn Waffle for 30THB (SG$1.20) which is crispy on the outer skin and yet soft and yummy within.

[Night Bazaar] Local Thais getting ready for the usual night bazaar market outside Century Movie Plaza

[Night Bazaar] Deep-fried Banana Balls

While waiting for the Tutu Service to bring us back to Pullman Hotel we bought this delicious Deep-fried Banana Balls from one of the street stall at the night market bazzar. These little gems were indeed very addicting with crispy outer skin and sponge texture within.

[Night Bazaar] Night view of the Bazaar outside Century Movie Plaza which is underneath the Victory Monument BTS.

Around 6 plus in the evening we took the BTS Train from Victory Monument Station to Siam Station and board the transfer train to National Stadium. You could easily see Mahboonkrong (MBK) even before the train reached the station. Upon arriving just follow the crowds and walk toward the sign pointed MBK and access to the mall through the bridge walkway.

Some of the shops in Mahboonkrong (MBK)

Local Thai Snacks that we found in one of the retail shop in MBK

Fried Bamboo Worms

Have you seen or tried these Fried Bamboo Worms (炸竹虫) during your visit to Bangkok? For someone like me who is afraid of insects and wriggling worms, I have no courage to give it a try even though they are not alive.

Just for your information, Bamboo Worms (bicho de tacuara) are often describe as a tasty insect larvae snack which is high in protein, fiber and low in fat. And the taste and texture is similar to corn puff snacks but with more more nutritious values.

Crispy Pancakes (Khanom Buang)

Crispy Pancakes (Khanom Buang) is one of the popular Thai local snacks which you could easily find in streets and shopping malls in Bangkok. Although it might look similar like those Mexican tacos but these Thai pancakes are topped with coconut cream before various sweet/savory toppings (such as egg yolk strips, shredded coconut, cheese and etc) are placed on them.

[Mahboonkrong (MBK)] Food Court at Level 6

For dinner we went up to the Food Court located at level 6 which has a good varieties of choices and wallet friendly pricing. First walk around the stalls and to check out the dishes, next proceed to the ticketing counters located at the corners of the food court. You would required to purchase pre-paid food coupons in order to get your food from the stalls.

[Mahboonkrong (MBK)] Dessert Stall

I am always fascinated with their Thai dessert stall which has a lot of colourful ingredients to pair with their mouth-watering desserts. And my favourite is always their Thai Mango Sticky Rice, Cheng Teng and Red Ruby.

[Mahboonkrong (MBK)] F-1 Shark Fin's

MBK has a well-known Chinese stall selling Claypot Shark Fins Soup and Bird's Nest Soup which is easily recognized by it's "huge" fins on display at the front of their stall.

[MBK Food Court] Shark Fins Shop @ 180THB (SG$7.40)

[MBK Food Court] Bird's Nest With Gingko Nuts @ 55THB (SG$2.25)

We have tried both the Shark Fins and Bird's Nest Soup during our last visit 5 years ago, and we find that quality and taste of the food is not as good as what we expected it to be. But come to think about it, for the the price that we are paying it still quite decent for its experience.

[MBK Food Court] Durian Sticky Rice @ THB60 (SG$2.45)

As for dessert, I was quite regretted because I should have get the Mango Sticky Rice instead of Durian as the taste was a bit blend and it rather different from those we had in Singapore.

[MBK Food Court] Fried Seafood Bee Hoon @ 50THB (SG$2.00)

Fried Seafood Bee Hoon was good with wok hei, not too dry or over cooked and it had a generous mixture of seafood like squid and prawn in it too.

[Mahboonkrong (MBK)] Fresh Fruit Stall

Durian is an expensive fruit in Bangkok. Two or three seeds a box like those shown above cost around THB 200 - 250 which is approximately SG$8.00 - 10.00 per box. And don't be surprised you won't get those good quality of creamy texture durian like what we did in Singapore.

[Mahboonkrong (MBK)] Lulcchub @ THB50 (SG$2.00)

Lulcchub (luk chup) is a colourful Thai dessert that made with green bean. They are often made to look alike like various kinds of fruits and vegetables such as chillies, bananas, carrots, cherries, mangosteens, oranges and etc in miniature. So do grab a box of this during your next visit to Bangkok and you might fell in love with these colourful sweet snacks too.

MAHBOONKRONG CENTRE (MBK)
44 Phayathai Road
Patumwan, Bangkok

To Get There:
- Alight at National Stadium BTS Station and walk towards the shopping mall using the linked sky bridges.