Spice Brasserie is the in-house restaurant of Parkroyal on Kitchener Road Hotel where daily lunch and dinner buffets are served. This time, we were on …
Spice Brasserie Parkroyal Kitchener Road Lunch Buffet Review!
Singapore
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Big Mama Korean Restaurant @ Kim Tian Road : Great Food & Service!
Big Mama Korean Restaurant located at the corner of Kim Tian Road (Address : 2 Kim Tian Road, Singapore 169244) has been making waves since inception. Kate and I have already visited this hugely popular restaurant twice and we would most likely visit again soon…
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Recommended Dishes at Big Mama Korean Restaurant
If it is your first time visiting Big Mama, no worries. There are several recommendations including the Dakgalbi (Spicy Grilled Chicken – $18 per serving (previously $15) , minimum 2 servings) and Suyuk (Boiled Pork – $25) and you will definitely not go wrong with these recommendations. Even if you’re a newbie to Korean food like Kate and I, the friendly staff will show you the “ropes”.
On our first visit, we were pleasantly surprised that the staff took time to explain the different ways to savour the Suyuk. She made 3 different versions of the dish for us as she explained whether the dips were spicy or not (not spicy one). Unfortunately, we did not take many photos on our first visit. Hence, we made sure we did on our 2nd!
These 6 side dishes (ignore the reddish looking one at the extreme right – it’s actually a dip for the soup) are complimentary (AND REFILLABLE!!!! Did we put enough exclamations??). Our favourite, like most customers is the lotus root. In this dish, there are long beans and lotus root. The white sauce is peanuty and sesame-ey while the vege are crunchy and fresh. Really gets your appetite going!
The Dakgalbi ($18 per person, min 2 pax order) is definitely our favourite dish! Considering that we do not usually order the same dish twice, this dish must have caught our attention, having ordered it on both our visits. You will have a choice of having the dish prepared right in front of you or for the staff to prepare it first before bringing it to you. Well, the cool thing is that you can see how it’s done right before your very eyes. The not so cool thing? Well…smell that lingers on your shirt…Oh, on that note, please dress comfortably and not to the nines. Because of the preparation methods, the smell is actually quite strong. Yummy but strong.
You know when you watch Korean shows and towards the end of the meal, they will pour in some rice and fry it? This can be done with Dakgalbi. Again, no worries if you’re a newbie. The friendly staff will approach you to ask if you would like to have fried rice. A bowl of rice ($3 per bowl *Update* It is $5 now :() will be added and fried together with generous amounts of grounded sesame seeds, seaweed and seasoning. Something not to be missed!
Update
On a recent visit, we had the pork belly ($40) version of the Dakgalbi and it was just as good! However, it can get a little (too) spicy…
As with the Dakgalbi, you can also leave some meat/sauce behind and have an order of korean fried rice mixed into it for $5…
Previously, the lady would fry the rice at the table, next to the guests. However, this time, she took our pan away and fried it closer to the counter. Could be because of complaints of the smoke from the fried rice? Which was why we could only manage to take this short video…
The result…another meal ready to go!
Last but not least, do not be mistaken by the red colour and think that this is “kimchi”. If you taste the Dakgalbi and the kimchi side dish. You will notice the difference. Another korean food lesson for us. The kimchi is spicy though. Beware…:)
Remember the reddish dip above? It goes with the fish cake in this fish cake hot pot also known as Emuk Jeongol. We’re really glad that we were recommended this dish because it is a nice mild yet delicious soup that balances the strong tastes of the Dakgalbi. The servings of fish cake is really GENEROUS. We were thinking to ourselves “there’s still more fish cake?!” after eating so many pieces! There were 5 of us and we still left 1 piece standing. The texture of the fish cake is not the “do-ing” kind that we usually eat with our mee pok. It is chewy yet not jelat. Great dish.
Remember that the side dishes are refillable!!!
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How to get to Big Mama Korean Restaurant at Kim Tian Road
Big Mama Korean Restaurant is located at 2 Kim Tian Road. Although it says “2”, it is actually the first restaurant along this street. There is a bus stop along Tiong Bahru road which you can take buses 5,16,33,63,123 and 195. It is also within walking distance from Tiong Bahru MRT.
Location of Big Mama Korean Restaurant – Close to the intersection of Tiong Bahru and Kim Tian Road
REMEMBER : To avoid disappointment, you MUST make reservations by calling 6270 7704. For dinners, there are 2 time slots, 6 to 8pm and 8 to 11pm (last order at 10pm). If you are in the 6 to 8pm time slot, you must leave at 8pm for the next wave of customers. Well, good food ought to be shared right?
Overall Comment : Food is definitely good and service was great on our first visit. During our 2nd visit, the staff seemed to be quite busy as the restaurant is almost always full. Oh, the smokey thingy as well. Otherwise, MUST GO!
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Did we mention that the side dishes at Big Mama Korean Restaurant, are refillable?
The Bird Southern Table and Bar: Where a 100-Year-Old Fried Chicken Recipe Meets Premium Cocktails!
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Sushi Express : Get your cheap sushi fix right here!
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Bao Jin Tian (包今天) with a REALLY FUNNY Video of Liu Sha Bao (流沙包)!
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Crystal Jade Jiang Nan Vivocity : A Pictorial Review
Crystal Jade Jiang Nan is one of the specialty of the Crystal Jade Group. This Crystal Jade Jiang Nan we visited is located at Vivocity, 1 Harbour Front Walk, #01-52. If you’re visiting on the weekends, it’s preferred that you make reservations (Tel: 62211830) due to the huge crowds visiting during makan hours.
Enjoy this pictorial review of our coverage of Crystal Jade Jiang Nan at Vivocity!
What we ate at Crystal Jade Jiang Nan Vivocity
Crystal Jade Jiang Nan Vivocity Review
If you’re thinking of what to eat at Vivocity, you can check out Jamie’s Italian Singapore or here at Crystal Jade Jiang Nan.
Having tried all of the above dishes, we’ll strongly recommend the following dishes
1. BBQ Pork Sesame Pastry (叉烧酥）: Soooooooooo flaky on the outside! Handle with care!
2. Bamboo Charcoal Black Pepper Chicken Bun : Crispy outer layer with a ‘traditional’ black pepper chicken taste.
3. Hong Kong Ying Yang : To have a beautiful display (effect from the dry ice) while you enjoy your dinner.
4. La Mian : But maybe not the spicy beef version as it’s a tad too salty for our liking. Nonetheless, the noodles were really good. Makes you want to slurp continously!
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We hope you have enjoyed our pictorial coverage of Crystal Jade Jiang Nan @ Vivocity! Enjoy!
3 Cheap and Good Eats along the Singapore River!
There is a common misconception that restaurants along the Singapore River would be very pricey. True in most cases. But in this post, we’ll let you in on the 3 cheap and good eats along the Singapore River!
1. Saizeriya at Liang Court
Saizeriya Menu
Saizeriya is a Japanese franchise chain that specialises in Italian food. Here, you can get cheap, good and huge portions of pasta! Our favourites include Peperoncino Bacon Spaghetti ($4.90), Squid Ink Spaghetti ($5.90) and the Asari Soup Spaghetti ($5.90). For these prices and these tastes? Definitely value for money! Saizeriya also boasts to have the “cheapest Escargots in town”! For only $5.90, you’ll get 6 yummilicious escargots oven grilled to perfection.
And the best part? There’s no service charge or government taxes. All prices that you see are NETT PRICES!
Address : #02-22 Liang Court Shopping Centre (177 River Valley Rd, Singapore 179030)
Opening Hours : 11am to 10pm daily
2. Hooters at Clarke Quay
Hooters has launched its set lunch menu at $10++ with 10 choices of main course to choose from. Choices include NZ Sirloin Steak, Hooters Burger and the Hooters Chicken Wings. Set lunch even comes with sides of curly fries (hard to get them cheap outside these days), drinks as well as a scoop of the day’s ice cream.
For $5++, you’ll also get to enjoy an ice cold mug of Tiger beer. All these can be enjoyed with awesome views of the river. Excellent value for its awesome location.
Address : #01-03 SHOPHOUSE ROW (BLK 3D RIVER VALLEY ROAD CLARKE QUAY, SINGAPORE 179023)
Hours : The set lunch menu is available from 11am to 3pm daily
3. Chiso Zanmai at Central Shopping Mall Clarke Quay
Free flow of Shabu Shabu at Chiso Zanmai
Chiso Zanmai, located at Central Shopping Mall (Clarke Quay), offers Japanese buffet at only $14.90++ for lunch on week days! The best part of this buffet is the free flow of shabu shabu which you can enjoy to your heart’s content. There’s also a selection of Japanese sushi, Japanese fare and desserts to choose from. Free flow of drinks is available for $1.90++. Otherwise, ice water is complimentary.
Address : #02-17 The Central @ Clarke Quay (6 Eu Tong Sen Street, Singapore 059817)
Opening Hours : 12pm to 3pm
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We hope you have enjoyed our post and will be able to enjoy these cheap and good eats along the Singapore River!
Is Chin Mee Chin Confectionary (真美珍) in Katong worth a visit?
Before we visited Chin Mee Chin Confectionery, we checked out the things to do in Katong posts available on the web. Many recommended visiting this kopitiam for their traditional toasts. During our recent staycation at Village Hotel Katong, we decided to drop by for breakfast before checking-in and this is what we thought…
The first thing we noticed was the traditional setting of CMC Confectionery…
It seems as though time has stood still in this coffee shop. It continues to retain its old world charm and we think that the decorations has not changed much since inception. The clock is so old school!
As the number of seats in Chin Mee Chin Confectionery is limited, you may have to wait a while before being seated. We waited for about 5 minutes before someone else finished their breakfast. In this kopitiam, you’ll just wait for someone to finish and “take over” their table. Once seated, the table will be cleared and you will be asked for the drinks as well as the number of toasts and eggs that you would like. For the rest of the confectionery, you will have to go to the displays and get them like so…
We decided to go for kopi-see (coffee with evaporated milk) and kopi-peng (iced coffee) along with its famous toasted buns with kaya and butter. After ordering, we proceeded to take the custard puff and cream horn from the display…
There a few things that we enjoyed about the breakfast. True to being a confectionery, the famous toast lived up to its reputation. The home-made kaya was not too sweet and had the traditional eggy taste. The cool thing was that the toast was a bun and not the usual slices of bread. So it was lightly crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. Our other favourite was the cream horn! Really liked the texture of the cream (slight salty) which went well with the crispy outer layer.
The coffee by itself was nothing to rave about. Quite plain actually. But the confectionery which had their various tastes gave a pretty good balance to the coffee.
The Verdict
To be honest, what really attracted us was not the food or the coffee. So what’s the biggest draw?
Tradition and heritage.
Traditional tastes abound especially in the kaya toast. The kaya is unique in that it is more eggy and less sweet unlike the usual kaya you’ll taste these days. In terms of heritage, CMC Confectionery is really part of our Singapore identity, retaining how it operates and even how it looks – maintaining the traditional kopitiam feel.
Great place for parents to say “When I was young, this was the kind of coffee shop that papa went to, no Starbucks last time…”
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For your convenience, we have arranged for the best hotel deal at Village Hotel Katong right here!
And the answer? Yes. We will be back not really because of the food but because of its simple old world charms.
Jamie’s Italian Singapore Vivocity : Is it worth a visit?
Jamie’s Italian has finally made its way to the shores of Singapore! Well-known celebrity chef – Jamie Oliver, has chosen to open this italian restaurant at the vibrant waterfront of Vivocity. We’ll tell you what are some of the stuff we’ve tried and whether it is worth it to visit Jamie’s Italian Singapore!
What we ate at Jamie’s Italian Singapore
The decoration within Jamie’s Italian is the “atas casual” style where there’s an open concept kitchen to prepare starters and cocktails. Guests on the other hand feel entirely relaxed in this cosy atmosphere. As we visited the joint on a Sunday, we could feel the urge to just while away a lazy Sunday afternoon.
For starters, we went with Crispy Soft Shell Crab ($12.50) and the Jamie’s Italian Mojito ($18). The crispy soft shell crab was served with chilli, fennel, sea lettuce & smashed avocado with yuzu lime. Although the soft shell crab was really small (miniature almost), the taste packed a punch. The smashed avocado was rich and appetising, providing a perfect compliment to the lightly crisp soft shell crab.
Jamie’s Italian Mojito contains Bacardi Superior rum, Martini Bianco, fresh mint, lime & sugar, topped with Prosecco. The difference with usual mojito is the addition of the Martini Bianco and Prosecco. This version had loads of fresh mint, making the drink really refreshing. But with a pricing of $18, there just isn’t enough “wow” factor for a recommendation.
Since we were in an italian-styled restaurant, we decided to try Jamie Oliver’s take on pasta. While we were at it, we decided to try a funny-shaped pasta – Meatball Pappardelle ($14). Meatball Pappardelle has beef & pork meatballs with wiggly pappardelle, tomatoes, garlic, red wine & herby breadcrumbs. The breadcrumbs were served separately and you’ll be invited by the waiting staff to mix it into the pasta. The interesting thing about this dish is the wiggly pappardelle. When we first laid eyes on it, it really resembled the tentacles of the octopus. But the cool thing about the wiggly pappardelle is that it traps the sauces within the gaps of the pasta, allowing each mouth to burst with the flavours of the tomato-based sauce. Meatballs were also tender when the dish first arrived. But after a couple of minutes, it became a little tougher and drier on the inside. All in all, we think that the meatball pappardelle was really good and comparable to the best tomato-based pasta we’ve had at Fior d’Italia – America’s Oldest Italian Restaurant.
Jamie’s Italian Singapore Desserts
For desserts, we went with the Gelato ($10.50) and the Epic Brownie ($11.50). For the Gelato, you can have the option of 3 scoops of ice cream served with any two of these toppings: Smashed honeycomb, Crushed nuts & seeds, Fruit compote or Butterscotch sauce. We chose salted caramel, vanilla and strawberry, topped with crushed nuts & seeds and smashed honeycomb. Our favourite was the vanilla flavour but for $10.50 it was too pricey. On the other hand, we’d recommend the Epic Brownie. Each mouthful was so rich with chocolate that it tasted sinfully awesome! The choco-rich brownie was balanced with the amaretto ice cream & caramelised amaretti popcorn. Definitely one of the richest choco brownie we’ve had.
We got a sneak at the lemon meringue cheesecake when it was served to other tables. Looked really good 😉
How to get to Jamie’s Italian Singapore
Jamie’s Italian Singapore is located at level 1 of Vivocity. The nearest MRT station is HarbourFront.
Address of Vivocity is 1 Harbourfront Walk, Singapore 098585.
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Is Jamie’s Italian Singapore worth a visit?
For ala carte, the menu was indeed pricey. All in all, the above came to about $80 (WHAT?!). Still, the taste of each dish was really good and by the time we were done, we were exceptionally full as well. For a better deal, there’s a “Jamie’s Sharing Feast for 2” which costs $138. The feast includes antipasti, 3 mains, dessert plank as well as coffee and tea. This feast allows you to try the recommended items on menu at a better price.
All in all, we think that Jamie’s Italian Singapore is definitely worth a visit. But be prepared to “mend” your pockets after the meal!
Check out our coverage of Jamie’s Italian Sydney for a comparison between the two restaurants!
Riverview Hotel Sunday Brunch @ River Garden Coffee House
Riverview Hotel’s Sunday Brunch was where we enjoyed a leisurely Sunday afternoon with our family. We chose the Sunday Brunch at Riverview Hotel’s River Garden because
1. Selection of Food. The Sunday Brunch at Riverview Hotel has a wide variety of cuisine available. Beside the usual international buffet, there would be a “twist” at each promotion of Sunday Brunch at Riverview Hotel. During our last visit to Riverview Hotel’s Sunday Brunch, it was a BBQ and Beer Brunch which included the popular Erdinger Beer. This time, the promotion included free flow of moscato or prosecco as well as freshly shucked oysters!
Sunday Brunch at Riverview Hotel River Garden Coffee House
2. Location. The River Garden Coffee House has a central location by the Singapore River. After your meal, you can continue to have drinks by the river (al fresco style) and watch people strolling/jogging along the river. Kids would be playing and boats passing by as well. Accompanied by your family as everyone enjoys this view? Priceless.
Riverview Hotel Sunday Brunch
What we had at the Riverview Hotel Sunday Brunch
According to our nephew (the one who brought you this awesome review of Harris Hotel Batam), “everything is so good!”. He was spot on!
The prawns were fresh and succulent while the snow crab was sweet and delicious. Oysters were freshly shucked and were perfect with a tinge of lemon and tobasco! You can see how huge and fresh the oysters were. Comparable to the $100++ Sunday Brunches that we’ve tried. The only difference is that they only have 1 choice of oysters. But one good variety is enough to get us hooked 🙂 The minus for seafood was that the chili crabs were not fresh. In local terms, “nua nua” (meaning soft). Not a good description for crabs and prawns.
Another plus to this Sunday Brunch at Riverview Hotel is the durian pengat! This we did not notice at our last visit. Again, this durian pengat is comparable to the famous durian pengat at Swissotel Merchant Court’s Ellenborough Market Cafe – with all the edible bits of the durian. So good, that we had 2 bowls full – each.
Lastly, we sneaked a peek at the choice of moscato and prosecco at the Sunday Brunch. We realised that the River Garden Coffee House did not scrimp on their selection and had the Cascine Prosecco and Brown Brothers Moscato on their list. We’ve enjoyed several champagne brunches and we realised that the Cascine Prosecco has a relatively close taste to some selection of champagnes. Hence, if you’re not really into differentiating between champagnes and prosecco, the Sunday Brunch at Riverview Hotel is definitely a great buffet at a great price!
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If we had no budget to adhere to, the Raffles Hotel Sunday Buffet Brunch at the Bar and Billiard Room would be our top pick for Sunday Brunch in Singapore. However, as budget conscious Singaporeans, we’d definitely visit the Riverview Hotel Sunday Brunch for its quality, variety, fresh oysters and great selection of moscato and prosecco!
The Sunday Brunch Buffet at Riverview Hotel costs $48.80++ for adults and $22.80++ for kids. ANZ, Citibank, DBS, POSB and UOB Cardholders get to enjoy 15% discount on Sunday Brunch prices. CIMB Cardholders enjoy 17% discount on Sunday Brunch prices.
Top 20 Foods from 2014 Travels!
This food list originally started off as the “Top 10 foods from 2014 Travels”. But as we went through our posts in 2014, we realised that there are alot of great foods that we’ve tried and would like to share them with you! So here it goes…
Top 20 Foods from 2014 World Travels
Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam
20. Vietnam Coffee and Grilled Pork / Spring Roll Vermicelli (Ben Thanh Market)
Vietnam Coffee and Grilled Pork / Spring Roll Vermicelli
19. Prawn and Chicken Spring Roll (Saigon Centre Cafe Terrace)
Prawn and chicken spring roll
While we were in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam, we tried the foods at Ben Thanh Market as well as Saigon Centre. What impressed us was the fresh ingredients used and prepared in such a way that it brings out the natural flavours of each ingredient. Our favourite from this trip were the Grilled Pork & Spring Roll Vermicelli (Kate LOOOOOOOVES Vietnamese Vermicelli – which she says she can have all day, everyday! :P) and the fresh Vietnamese spring roll. While in Vietnam, don’t forget to also try the world-renowned Vietnamese coffee!
Taichung Taiwan
18. The Original Bubble Milk Tea (Chun Shui Tang 春水堂 )
Chun Shui Tang 春水堂 The Original Bubble Milk Tea
17. 大腸包小腸 Direct translation of Big Sausage Wrap Small Sausage (Feng Jia Night Market)
大腸包小腸 (Direct translation of Big Sausage Wrap Small Sausage)
16. Ice cream with AWESOME Toppings (Miyahara 4th Credit)
Miyahara 4th Credit Ice Cream
We start our food conquest in Taiwan (foodie’s paradise!) at Taichung. There is a wide variety of food, great tasting ones at that. But we’ve narrowed it to the Original Bubble tea at Chun Shui Tang 春水堂 , 大腸包小腸 (Direct translation of Big Sausage Wrap Small Sausage) at Feng Jia Night Market as well as possibly Kate’s favourite ice cream shop at Miyahara 4th Credit. Do check out our post on What to eat at Feng Jia Night Market for our great foods!
Changhua Taiwan
15. The Best Changhua Meatballs (北門口肉圓 Bei Men Kou Meatball)
北門口肉圓 Changhua Meatball with scallop
We’ve scoured through the top Changhua Meatball stalls and deciphered which is the best Changhua Meatballs in Taiwan. Read our post to find out more!
Tainan Taiwan
14. Breakfast Set (鹿早茶屋)
Breakfast Set at 鹿早茶屋
While staying at 1967 Hotel Tainan, we chanced upon 鹿早茶屋 – a quaint cafe with a lovely breakfast menu. We tried the breakfast set as well as the German sausage waffles. Definitely a great way to start the day!
13. Shrimp Dumpling, Coffin Bread and Oyster Mee Sua (瑞珍虾仁馄饨)
瑞珍虾仁馄饨 Shrimp Dumpling, Coffin Bread and Oyster Mee Sua
We know…there are 3 foods in this picture and we should really pick one to introduce. But if we really have to choose, we’d pick the shrimp dumpling and the oyster mee sua. The oysters were really fresh and it was the soupy version which differs from the thick broth version that is usually sold in the streets. The shrimp dumplings (what 瑞珍虾仁馄饨 is famous for) had really fresh prawns and crispy skin. Once you go at it, you really can’t stop!
Bandung Indonesia
12. Tauhu Telur (Es Teler 77)
Tauhu Telur
Bandung Indonesia is a foodies paradise and there are so many yummy food that we would like to introduce here! But if we really had to choose, it would be the Tauhu Telur from Es Teler 77 (a local restaurant chain). Not only is the presentation superb (very pretty isn’t it?), the taste of the tauhu was fresh and the deep fried egg at the top was not the oily sort. Coupled with the sweet and spicy sauce? AWESOME!
Shanghai China
11. Pan Fried Dumplings (Yang’s Fried Dumpling 小杨生煎)
Yang’s Fried Dumpling 小杨生煎 4 for 6RMB
Yang’s Fried Dumpling simply wins the battle of pan fried dumplings hands down! Not only is it really economical to dine here – 4 dumplings costs 6RMB (That’s about 30cents each! WHAT?!), the taste was out of this world as well! Don’t be deceived by this innocent dumpling, tread (or chew) carefully…it is SOOOOOOO juicy that it leaves a trail of splatters on the mouths (or in our instance – spectacles) of the diners!
Penang Malaysia
10. Penang Char Hor Fun (Gurney Paragon’s Food Court)
Penang Char Hor Fun
9. Nonya Food (Mama’s Nonya Cuisine)
Mama’s Nonya Cuisine
If you have read our post on the “13 Penang Hawker Food and Nonya Restaurants that YOU MUST TRY“, you’d realise that there are so many awesome foods to be tasted in Penang!
If we really had to choose, the Penang Char Hor Fun (from Gurney Paragon’s Food Court) and Tau Yew Bak (braised pork from Mama’s Nonya Cuisine) are definitely not to be missed! Unlike most hor fun these days, the version from Gurney Paragon is made from scratch! The chef fries the hor fun and the sauce on the spot and marries them intricately together, topped off with the “silky egg”. The result? A taste of hor fun from days past to be remembered!
If you only had time (and $$) for one dish at Mama’s, go for the tau yew bak. The sauce is slightly sweetened with the fattiness of the pork belly…ah… Plain ol’ white rice goes best with this dish. Enjoy!
Ipoh Malaysia
8. Snow Beer (Kafe Sun Yoon Wah)
Snow Beer
7. Beansprouts with chicken and hor fun (Restoran Ong Kee Tauge Ayam)
Fresh firm chicken splashed with soy sauce and sesame oil
REALLY FAT beansprouts
Ipoh Hor Fun (before mixing it all in)
Still on Malaysia and yet another foodie’s paradise – Ipoh. In Ipoh, there are 2 things that you must try, Ipoh Hor Fun (so cliche!) and the snow beer…
Snow beer? What is that?
It is actually bottles of beers that have been partially frozen that when they are poured into the frost mugs, snow like froths start to form. This gives “ice cold beer” a profoundly different meaning! Tastes great too. The only catch is that you have to drink it fast. Otherwise, it will just return to its fluid form in a really short while.
We know it is cliche, but the Ipoh hor fun at Restoran Ong Kee Tauge Ayam is not to be missed. Mix the aromatic chicken and FAT crunchy beansprouts with the taong hor fun and you’ll get a bowl of unmistakably great Ipoh hor fun!
Pattaya Thailand
6. Mango Sticky Rice (Supermarket of Central Festival)
Mango Sticky Rice
The key to a great mango sticky rice is of course the mango. It has to be slightly overripe. That’s where it is at its sweetest and most fragrant. The sticky rice has to be sticky yet retaining the form of the individual grains. The version at Central Festival has got all these bases covered…probably one of the best mango sticky rice we’ve had!
Vancouver USA
5. Baby Back Ribs (Beaches Restaurant)
Baby Back Ribs
Having the baby back ribs at Beaches Restaurant (Vancouver USA) is a one of a kind experience. The meat is so tender that it falls right of the bones, literally! It also exudes that smoky barbecued taste with the slight charred and caramelised outer layer that makes it so irresistibly good!
Seattle USA
4. Chocolate Lava Cake (Metropolitan Grill)
Chocolate Lava Cake
It is certainly strange to introduce a dessert from a famous steak joint such as Metropolitan Grill. But the truth is that the Chocolate Lava Cake was probably one of the best dessert we’ve ever tasted! There are so many textures to it…crumbly, chewy, oozy and rich. Simply divine this…
3. Sea Feast (The Crabpot)
Westport sea feast
The Crabpot is one of the originators of the sea feast (or seafood feast) and it has made this list because of its novelty factor. Armed with a wooden mallet, visitors “have a go at it” with your bare hands and have a great time feasting on the seafood pot of clams, crabs, shrimp, mussels, corn and red potatoes.
They have made dining fun again!
San Francisco USA
2. Dungeness Crab (Fisherman’s Wharf)
Dungeness Crab roasted in garlic and olive oil
We have actually not tried dungeness crabs until we visited the Fisherman’s Wharf of San Francisco. On the outside, the dungeness crab didn’t really look really appealing. Small pincers, “scrawny legs”. I mean, where is the crab meat?
But when we first tasted the dungeness crab, we understood why. Firstly, as it was in-season, the catch was really fresh. But the thing that made it stood out was its sweet sweet taste. This made the crab really easy to prepare. As long as its fresh, lightly steamed (or in our case lightly tossed) crab would taste great.
Now we understand why locals enjoy their dungeness crabs eventhough it seems that the meat seems few and far in between (the legs and pincers). A small portion satisfies 😛
1. Risotto Funghi (Fior d’Italia)
Risotto Funghi at Fior d’Italia
Fior d’Italia is America’s oldest Italian restaurant, located at the ground level of San Remo Hotel. We thought to ourselves that there must be a reason why it is still around after such a long time (since 1886!).
We found out for ourselves that the taste was simple, unadulterated good food. Both the risotto and spaghetti had the authentic italian flavours. Fresh Italian pleasures at its finest.
If you’re visiting San Francisco, do drop by Fior d’Italia. You’ll enjoy the experience too!
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We hope that you have enjoyed our coverage of the top 20 foods from our 2014 travels!
Let us know what you think in our comments section below. Bon appetit and happy travels in 2015 everyone!
Tom,
2bearbear.com
A “Long Long Lunch” at Edge Restaurant Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel!
Edge Restaurant at Pan Pacific Singapore has launched the “Long Long Lunch”, which features Singapore hawker favourites from 12pm to 4pm on Saturdays. Also known as “Tunch” (a cool name for Traditional Lunch), this buffet spread also includes local delights such as Homemade Laksa, Bak Kut Teh, Carrot Cake, Satay and lots more!
Thanks to the great folks at Pan Pacific Singapore (big shout out to Wen Xian and Cheryl!), we were hosted to a fantastic Long Long Lunch at Edge Restaurant.
Can you see the waiters dressed in traditional hawker outfit in the background? Topped with the rickshaw hat no less!
Edge Pan Pacific Singapore Long Long Lunch (Tunch)
Our expectations of local fare is especially high and usually for buffets, because of the quantity of which it is produced, the standards drop. But we’re pleased to let you know that the standard of local hawker food at this Long Long Lunch is actually pretty good! Let’s take you through the offerings of Tunch at Edge Restaurant…
Once we were shown to our seats, the waitress informed us of the numbered sticks at our table. It is actually used for foods that require some preparation time (such as char kway teow and popiah).
Hand the sticks over, food prepared, food served to your table! Simple as that!
And here’s a quick tour of the available stalls at this excellent traditional lunch buffet…
In addition to the local delights, there is also a selection of international cuisine for you to choose from, including…
You may realise by now that the Edge restaurant at Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel, is actually quite huge! What we enjoyed about the lay out is that there’s a new discovery at every turn inside the restaurant as the food is dispersed all around. In fact, we only found the traditional kaya toast (which was AWESOME – “everything is awesome…”) towards the end of our meal!
What we ate at Edge Pan Pacific Singapore’s Long Long Lunch
Here’s a low down of what we ate at the Long Long Lunch and our comments on each of these dish that we’ve tried…
You might be surprised but the bak kut teh taken out of the seemingly nondescript pot above, WAS ACTUALLY GOOD! The soup had the light spicy, peppery and not too salty taste of bak kut teh and to top things off, the rib was SO SO TENDER! The teh tarik on the other hand was milky and flavourful but was a tad too sweet. Remember to ask for siew tai/condensed milk!
You would think that for a huge buffet such as this, tastes for local delights such as chicken rice and char kway teow would be greatly compromised? WRONG! In fact, the rice was so fragrant that we REALLY wanted to go for seconds! Which we struggled very hard to decline 🙁 This is to salvage whatever space in our tummies to review the foods here just for you (yes you!) our beloved readers! And we digress…
The roasted chicken was tender, juicy and had a mildly familiar roasted fatty taste to it. To put it simply, you must eat the chicken skin with the tender juicy chicken meat! As you chew, the roasted aroma, coupled with the fragrant rice, swirls magically within…definitely one of the best chicken rice we’ve had in recent times! Oh oh, don’t forget the chili!
The char kway teow was generous in its ingredients of prawns, fish cake and bean sprouts. There was “wok hei” with freshness of the ingredients fried into the kway teow, which was not too oily. Portion was just nice as well – not too jelat!
All 3 dishes above were good. The satay sauce had the right proportion of peanut to sweetness ratio while the satay had a slight charred taste to it. These satays were BBQed “live” and you may have to wait for the next batch if your movements are a little slow. The roasted duck had a crisp and fatty layer on the outside while the meat had that firmness and sweetness as you chew into it – simply how a good roasted duck ought to be. Lastly, the laksa gravy and chili (most important parts of the laksa) were pretty decent. The only let down was the thick vermicelli which could be a little more “silky”. To solve this, politely ask the chef to cook your vermicelli a little longer.
As for the dim sum, you won’t go wrong with har gau and siew mai. Both had mouthfuls of fillings with every bite. The lobster dumpling though was a miss. The skin was a little thick and perhaps the dumpling simply did not meet the expectations of the name “lobster dumpling”. You would expect some kind of a “wow factor” with that kind of name right? The popiah on the other hand had chock-full of fillings and was a great dish to complement the meal.
Just to test the skills of the chefs, we ordered the Aglio Olio at the pasta counter and we were glad that we ordered it. The texture of the pasta was just perfect, a firm bite on each mouth (soggy pastas spoil the taste). The full flavoured garlic and chili bits rounded up this simple but elegant pasta.
To round up the meal, we headed to the desserts section! Kate enjoyed the asian delights of kueh kuehs and kueh lapis while I headed for the durian selection! You MUST TRY the durian cake and pengat at the Long Long Lunch. As with good durian cakes and durian pengats, the texture of the durian could be felt with each bite. Though the silkier texture of the pengat could be deceiving on the first impression, the power-packed taste from the King of Fruits could be savoured with each mouth – all bitter sweet tastes of it! That was why we went for seconds and helped build up our “reserves in the mid section”…
About Edge Pan Pacific Singapore’s Long Long Lunch
The highlights from the Long Long Lunch of Edge Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel includes :
Singapore Heritage
Homemade Laksa (Chef’s Signature)
Penang Prawn Noodle Soup (Chef’s Signature)
Bak Kut Teh (Chef’s Signature)
Satay
Nasi Lemak with Otah
Roti Prata
Homemade Dim Sum
Crispy Char Siew Soo
Fried Carrot Cake
Popiah and Rojak
Singapore Toast (Egg, Kaya, Peanut Butter, Butter and Sugar)
Japanese and Thai
Traditional Thai Tom Yum Soup
Thai Papaya and Mango Salad
Selection of Sushi and Sashimi
Thai-style Deep Fried Banana
Desserts
Durian Puff, Durian Mousse Cake and Durian Pengat (Chef’s Signature)
Ice Kachang (Chef’s Signature)
Soy Bean Milk Pudding (Chef’s Signature)
Portuguese Egg Tart
Mango Pomelo Short Cake
Bread and Butter Pudding with Vanilla Sauce
Pandan Kaya Cake
Chendol Agar Agar
Orange Chiffon Cake
Nonya Kueh and Chinese Cookies
Date: Every Saturday
Time: 12:00 noon to 4:00pm
Prices:
$50nett per adult inclusive of unlimited local beverages, coffee and tea
$25nett per child (below 12 years of age) inclusive of unlimited local beverages
Venue: Edge (Level 3), 7 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore 039595
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Conclusion
If you’re thinking of taking your loved ones out for a relaxing long long lunch but not sure where to get good quality hawker fare at one great location, the Long Long Lunch at Edge Pan Pacific Singapore can be an excellent option.
We used to think that great hawker foods, especially for buffet is simply not possible. Usually such buffets has more “misses” than “hits”. In addition, to keep up with food quality and great local flavours for a large quantity, is extremely difficult to say the least.
Edge’s Long Long Lunch has changed that impression. Kudos to the chefs at Edge Pan Pacific Singapore!
**Special thanks Cheryl, Wen Xian and the team from Edge for hosting us to a lovely Long Long Lunch!
Would we go back to Common Man Coffee Roasters again?
Common Man Coffee Roasters located at 22 Martin Road (walking distance from Boat Quay) is a new cafe that serves up gourmet breakfast and coffee.
Common Man Coffee Roasters is actually quite an “ATAS” (high class) cafe. The setting is quite elegant and classy yet there remains a casual feel to it.
As you can see from the price, the gourmet breakfasts cost in excess of $20. The eggs benedict we tried costs $24. Well, the real question is…is it worth it?
The organic eggs benedict has the following description
“Tender braised ox cheeks, 2 poached organic eggs with chive hollandaise with artisanal sourdough toast”
Sounds good? In fact it tastes better than it sounds. The ox cheeks was indeed tender and the spices have been infused into the meat. The eggs were very professionally prepared. When you break into the yolk, it oozes creamily (yes an odd word for yolks but it does) unto the toast. The sourdough toast gives an unique spin with its soury taste and crisp outer layer. Together the egg,toast,ox cheek fuses into one magical taste. Simply divine.
On the other hand, we couldnt really appreciate the gourmet cappuccino. To us, it was a little bitter and slightly acidic. We also ordered the Churros…
The Churros again were quite expensive. $12 for 5 sticks! But it was good. The outer later was lightly dusted with sugar and crispy on the initial bite. But as you chew on, the texture quickly turns to a soft chewy texture. With the chocolate dip, the churros tasted especially shiok.
Herein lies the problem, all this “divine” and “shiok” tastes come at a price and the total damage was…
We had tried to save by ordering one main and one coffee. But the price was already close to $50.
The Verdict
Our verdict? The eggs benedict was really unlike any eggs benedict we have tried. The sourdough toast made the difference and the churros was good. But for the price, you will really need to think twice.
We think that it would be good to visit just once, just to know how delicious simple and fresh ingredients can come together to create that unbelievably good taste. Otherwise, for the price, it would be unlikely that we’ll come back again.
Isn’t it ironic that the cafe is named “Common Man…” when the common man will really have to dig deep to eat here…
Have you visited Common Man Coffee Roasters? Tell us in the comments section below!
Straits Cafe Rendezvous Hotel : Sunday Brunch Buffet!
Straits Cafe at Rendezvous Hotel has launched its Sunday Brunch Buffet and we were invited to check out its offerings as well as its renowned Durian Pengat and Laksa!
Straits Cafe Rendezvous Hotel Singapore
Straits Cafe Rendezvous Hotel Sunday Brunch Buffet
Straits Cafe Buffet Price
Sunday Brunch at Straits Cafe starts from 11:30am to 2:30pm and costs $48++ per adult. As with most Sunday Brunches, there’s a sashimi and oysters corner which we thoroughly enjoyed. The oysters were fresh, huge and succulent while the salmon sashimi was tender, sweet and does not have the “defrosted” taste that many buffet restaurants have…
Japanese corner with salmon sashimi and fresh oysters
FRESH HUGE AND SUCCULENT OYSTERS – only 4 oysters per order
Yummy sashimi!
Seafood is also a main feature at this Sunday brunch with snow crabs, gong gong and fresh tiger prawns!
Snow crab and tiger prawns – before
Snow crab and tiger prawns – after
Gong gong – to be eaten using the tooth pick and a dash of mayo
As for mains, there’s a selection of meats including duck, beef and lamb…
Meat selection at Straits Cafe
Pasta salads and cold dishes…
Selection of cold dishes
Beautifully kueh pie tee – decorated by Kate!
Straits Cafe Rendezvous Hotel – Kueh Pie Tee
And of course, the renowned Laksa from Straits Cafe!
Straits Cafe Rendezvous Hotel Signature Laksa
Straits Cafe Signature Laksa!
After tasting the laksa from Straits Cafe, we finally understood why its so famous. The gravy was thick and flavourful leaving an aftertaste that leaves you wanting for more. The tau pok, infused with the gravy? Mmm…Mmm… of course, you can also choose to add your own toppings to the laksa, including fresh tiger prawns and maybe even the succulent oysters? That we didn’t try but do tell us about it in the comments section below!
Straits Cafe Rendezvous Hotel Durian Pengat
There’s also a selection of desserts, but our favourite? Nope, not the durian cake, not the durian crepe and not even the durian puffs…IT’S THE DURIAN PENGAT!!
Selection of desserts at Straits Cafe
Waffles with maple syrup and honey
Straits Cafe Durian Pengat, Durian Cake, Durian Puff and Durian Crepe!
Our favourite durian pengat from Straits Cafe Rendezvous Hotel Singapore
To round up the Sunday Buffet Brunch at Straits Cafe Rendezvous Hotel, we recommend having the traditional teh tarik. The teh tarik (also knowned as pulled tea) is tea traditionally transferred from one cup to another by “stretching and pulling” it through air to “thicken” the tea. As a result, you’ll have tea with bubbles and a thickened texture to it. In addition, this version at Straits Cafe is not too sweet, making it a great compliment with the desserts…
Teh Tarik and durian desserts at Straits Cafe
How to get to Straits Cafe Rendezvous Hotel Singapore
Map of Straits Cafe Rendezvous Hotel Singapore
The closest MRT station is Bras Basah MRT station while Dhoby Ghaut MRT station is also within a short walking distance.
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**Special thanks to Mike and Far East Hospitality for making the Straits Cafe Rendezvous Hotel Sunday Brunch Buffet possible!
Why You Cant Help Going Back to Sakae Sushi’s “All You Can Eat” Premium Buffet?
Over the past week, we ate at Sakae Sushi’s All You Can Eat Premium Buffet. There’s something about buffet that makes us wants to go back again eventhough we know its not good for us, causes us to overeat, resulting in large tummies.
BUT we still go back nonetheless.
So what is it exactly about buffets that attract us so much? We think its a combination of these factors…
Price. When the price is optimal (notice that I did not use “cheap” because buffets aren’t exactly cheap), it brings out the kiasu Singaporean in me that says “Wah, this is damned hua!” (worth it).
The concept of “free-flow” and “all-you-can-eat”. This concept plays on the mind that you pay a fixed price but have unlimited supply of food. But if you really think about it, there is a limit. Whether you can stomach or not, is another issue altogether.
3 hours of dining. For gatherings, buffets are a great option. In addition to the wide variety of food (which means you do not have to adjourn after dinner for drinks or desserts), you can stay at that place through the duration of the buffet hours which usually is about 3 to 4 hours without feeling pai seh about the need to order more.
And so we digress from our sushi buffet frenzy. (The above is written to reduce our guilt for visiting buffets in the future! :))
What you can expect at Sakae Sushi’s “Eat All You Want” Premium Buffet
The Sakae Sushi Premium Buffet allows you to have ALL THE RED & PINK PLATES you want (compared to 1 red and 1 pink for the normal sushi buffet). In addition, you get to have endless supply (which now you know is not true) of sashimi and teriyaki meats. So here are only some of what we ate that fateful day…
Tuna (Maguro) and Salmon Sashimi
Octopus (Tako) Sashimi
Black pepper beef with rice
Teriyaki Chicken Wings
Yakitori
Tempura Cheese Maki
Makimono
Salmon Mayo Maki
Tempura Temaki (hand roll)
Soft Shell Crab Maki
Kakiage (Fried Vegetables)
Cha Soba (Green Tea Buckwheat Noodle)
Chuka Hotate (Seasoned Scallop)
Chuka Wakame (Seasoned Seaweed)
Pumpkin Koroke
Mochi and Ice Cream
Price of Sakae Sushi Premium Buffet
Mon to Thurs
Lunch (11:30am to 2:30pm) / Teatime (3pm to 5pm) : $24.90
Dinner (6:30pm to 10pm) : $29.90
Fri/Sat/Sun/PH/Eve of PH
Lunch (11:30am to 2:30pm) / Teatime (3pm to 5pm) : $32.90
Dinner (6:30pm to 10pm) : $33.90
This means that if you go for the weekday dinner for 2 persons, it works out to 2 x $29.90++ = $70.40!!
Conclusion
Seriously speaking, there are much better sushi joints around. But when the 3 factors above come together, it is hard not to give Sakae Sushi’s Premium Buffet a long and hard consideration.
The worst part is, knowing the factors above, somehow, we will still be back at Sakae (help!) – unless you guys have some other better recommendations? Tell us (and save us) in the comments section below!
What to eat at Marine Parade Food Centre?
Marine Parade Food Centre is one of the highly rated hawker centres in Singapore and many will ask “What to eat at Marine Parade Food Centre ah?”. So during our recent staycation at Village Hotel Katong, we decided to check out the food centre and tell you what are some of the recommended stalls here…
Recommended foods at Marine Parade Food Centre
Xing Long Cooked Food
Netizens have been recommending this stall for its otah,fried potato balls, curry chicken, lemon chicken among others. This time, we tried the stir fried chicken, potato balls,otah and because we saw many going for the fried fish, we had it as well. Our choices was also fuelled by Uncle’s incessant “来” (meaning “come” – what else?)
The total damage? $6.30!! The most we’ve ever paid for economical rice!!
Truth be told, we’re just too greedy and wanted to try all the recommended dishes here. Therefore the price became quite ridiculous (it’s actually a 4-meat rice). This is because even in the potato balls, there’s some beef rolled into it. To be fair, the food was not bad. The otah otah had a firm texture (not the soft slimy kind) while the fish bits stood out from the curry flavour (unlike some with curry and no fish). The stir fried chicken has some kind of satay sauce fried into it which tasted quite unique. There was nothing too special about the potato balls and fried fish though. Fish was fresh and there was a slight crisp on the outside. But that was it.
So for $6.30? It’s definitely on the high side.
Hup Lee Fried Bee Hoon Nasi Lemak
The special thing about Hup Lee is that usually you’ll find $2 nasi lemak but this stall offers the same ingredients with Bee Hoon instead. Definitely an excellent price for a hearty breakfast meal.
Neptune Dim Sum
We did not manage to (or have the stomach to) try out this stall. However, many netizens have recommended the dim sum here. Have you tried it? Do let us know in the comments section below!
Apollo Fresh Cockle Fried Kway Teow
Another recommended stall at Marine Parade Food Centre. We were contemplating whether to go for this or give the hokkien mee a few stalls down a try. We decided to go for the latter. But according to the queues (and the look of Uncle Apollo), it seems that this is must-try as well.
Seremban Beef Noodles
We’ve tried the beef noodles during our last visit here and thought that the taste was indeed good. It reminded us of the same traditional (dry version) of the beef noodles we had when we were young. Nowadays, the dried version of the gravy seems to be either too sweet or too salty. Seremban got it just right. There’s just one gripe that we have and we would just like to remind our readers to request the Aunty to cook the beef just a tad bit more (ensure that the colour changes!) If you know what we mean…
Hokkien Fried Noodles
There are usually 2 versions of the Hokkien Fried Noodles. The dry and sticky version with all the taste infused into the noodles or this, the slightly wet version. Of course, we prefer the dry version. So it was with some prejudice that we tried this version at Marine Parade Food Centre. We also noticed that the uncle did not really “fry” the noodles but more of “stirring” the noodles into the soup. As a result, as expected, the noodles did not turn out as good as other versions we’ve tried. For the slightly wet version, Tiong Bahru and Clementi still tastes better. But as a consolation, as you work towards the end of the plate, you’ll taste the gravy and its quite sweet and delicious. Perhaps frying a little longer (and harder) would have made the difference.
Katong Chicken Curry Puffs
Again, many have raved about the chicken curry puff at Marine Parade Food Centre. And it did not disappoint. The outer layer was puffy and crispy (bits dropped off as we went in for our first bite). The puff was still piping hot – an indication of fresh ingredients and regular crowd. Last but most importantly, the curry inside oozed out as you bite into it. This is in stark contrast to the usual “dry on the inside” versions that you would have.
So a thumbs up for the Katong Chicken Curry Puff!
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To enjoy these foods, why not do a staycation at Village Hotel Katong as well? Do try out the foods at Marine Parade Food Centre and let us know what you think thereafter!
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What To Eat At ABC Market (Hawker Centre) Aka ABC Brickworks Food Centre?
What To Eat At Alexandra Village Food Centre?
What To Eat At Marine Parade Food Centre?
Things to do in Katong Singapore!
Katong & Joo Chiat is an idyllic, culturally and historically rich area set in the eastern part of Singapore. There are actually quite a number of things you can do in Katong and this post will cover some of the interesting parts of this heritage area in Singapore.
As we exited ECP and entered into the Katong area, there was a breath of tranquility that filled the air. The contrast was stark because of the “hustle” of the traffic on the expressway and when you enter the precinct, it seems like time has gone back to a more serene era filled with old world charms.
According to the introduction, the area used to be a sea-side resort for the rich in the 18th to 19th century. Today, the Marine Parade Road marks where the original shore line was. Imagine the amount of land we reclaimed!
Old World Charms in Katong
We started off the morning with breakfast at Chin Mee Chin confectionary.
CMC is an old-school kopitiam that serves up traditional kaya and butter toasts. The unique part is that the toasts are on buns and the kaya is home-made, preserving that eggy (not the sweet overpowering type) taste of kaya. Our favourite was the cream cone. Really light for the cream (a little saltish) which went really well with the crispy outer layer of the cone and the kopi…
After the hearty breakfast, we continued on our walk around Joo Chiat and came across some architectures that were an unique fusion of chinese, malay, peranakan, colonial british and other old world charms…
What to eat in Katong
When it comes to food, Katong has build quite a reputation for itself. This is a quick snapshot of the famous eateries in Katong and you should give them a try. They’re really quite good…
328 Katong Laksa
There are two 328 Katong Laksa along Marine Parade Road and the unique thing about Katong Laksa? Yes, you can eat it by using a spoon because the vermicelli has been cut to “spoon-enabled” lengths…
Sometimes, when a stall is famous, you become skeptical. Especially for local hawker fare. Why? Well, simply because I have my favourites and you have yours. But this version? It’s REALLY GOOD. Here’s why.
First of all, the laksa soup is flavourful, rich with traces of shrimps and spices. By itself, it is not too spicy. But there are containers-full of home-made chili on the table for those of you who likes to spice it up a little. Speaking of the chili, it is the other main draw. The chili packs a punch and you can taste the hei bi (little shrimps) infused into the chili. Mixed into the soup? Simply sedap! Last but not least, for $4.50, one would think that you’ve been ripped off. But the fact is, there are alot of cockles, 3 prawns and seemingly endless amount of sliced fish cake that makes every spoon a chock-full of goodness! Now we understand why its so famous…
Marine Parade Food Centre
There are so MANY things to eat at Marine Parade Food Centre that we wrote a separate post just to cover “What to eat at Marine Parade Food Centre“. The standard of hawker food is quite high. But along with that, the prices as well. We noticed that in general, for a hawker centre, the prices are above average with char kway teow prices starting at $3. Perhaps it is due to the “atas” (high class) clientele in the area of Katong and Joo Chiat. But still, food such as the economical rice, curry puff, char kway teow and beef noodles are still worth a visit!
Yong’s Teochew Kueh
Teochew oldies swear by this brand and you can often see them as gifts among friends. This is because of the tasty kuehs such as soon kueh (vege filled insides wrapped with a white outer layer) and peng kueh (rice filled insides with the iconic pink outer layer shaped like a tear-drop) that they offer. We prefer the fried version of peng kueh, cant really beat the taste when its fresh off the kwali (aka wok).
Ampang Niang Tou Fu
The first time we tasted Ampang Niang Tou Fu was eons ago. But the taste was really unique and we can still remember it today. It is the sauce that makes this Hakka version of the Niang Tou Fu so special. Price wise, not as cheap as your regular yong tau fu. But you will enjoy the sauce in which it is prepared which goes especially well with the rice.
Peramakan
For a taste of traditional Peranakan food, head to Peramakan – a nonya family restaurant. Essentially, everything there is good. SERIOUS! Every dish was a surprise and with the fragrant (unlimited) rice, it just all came together. Ideas of family, home-cooked food, rich peranakan heritage all infused into the food served at Peramakan.
But if we really have to choose, we’ll highlight the Ikan Garam Assam, Beef Rendang, Nonya Chap Chye, Ayam Buah Keluak and durian pengat as the must-try at Peramakan!
What to do in Katong
East Coast Park
East Coast Park is within walking distance of the Katong precinct and is an excellent venue for the family. For physical activities, you can choose to bike, blade or jog along the long stretch of path along the beach. For those who are into extreme sports, you can opt for wake boarding (aka cable skiing) at Ski 360.
For the older folks who want to take it down a notch, BBQ is always a favourite. Fishing and camping by the beach are other things you can enjoy at East Coast Park. For us, the best part of East Coast Park? Enjoying the views by the beach and the sea breeze…
360 Tour of East Coast Park with views of Marina Bay Sands
Shopping in Katong
There is no shortage of shopping options in Katong and here are some of them…
Night Life in Katong
If you’re thinking of having a night out, the area near I12 Katong has some options including Alibabar and Brotzeit. We had some drinks ($9.90 nett) and the char kway teow ($5) which by the way was quite tasty and the portion was huge! Good for 2 to share.
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So the next time you’re here, do check out some of our recommendations of the things to do in Katong!
Celebration @ Serenity : Spanish Bar and Restaurant VivoCity!
Recently, we had a celebration at Serenity at VivoCity. It is a Spanish bar and restaurant, touted as having some of the best tapas (appetizers) in town. The fame of its suckling pigs and paella also preceded its name. Hence, we decided to have our small celebration there and also check out the food at this Spanish joint.
Decorations at Serenity
Ambience at Serenity VivoCity
With the posters depicting various parts of Spain as well as the decorations that contributes to a relaxing atmosphere, Serenity gave us quite a good first impression. With prompt service, we were quickly tucked to a cozy corner of the restaurant where we could have our mini celebration. (Do note that this is not an advertorial and we did not inform the management about the celebration)
What to drink at Serenity Spanish Bar and Restaurant
They say (or the menu says) that a visit to Serenity is never complete unless you have tried its Sangrias. So we believe and ordered 3 Sangrias…
Classic Red Sangria Serenity – (Red Wine, Gin, Brandy, Orange Liquor, Juices, Lemonade)
Sangria Pantera Rosa @ Serenity Spanish Bar and Restaurant – (Red Wine, Raspberry Schnapps, Mixed Berries, Mint, Tonic)
Sangria De Coco – (White Wine, Malibu, Pineapple Juice)
Well, the verdict was not conclusive. Everyone had their own favourites. I liked mum’s Sangria De Coco while Kate loved the Classic Red. Bro enjoyed the Pantera Rosa. From another perspective, the conclusion is that there’s really a sangria suited for everyone! 🙂
What to eat at Serenity Spanish Bar and Restaurant
Deep Fried Spanish style cod fish cake
For tapas, we tried the cod fish cake. It was not that good. After our crab cakes lesson from USA, we should have avoided “seafood cakes” altogether. Though the crust was crispy, the insides did not do justice to the cod. Well, we’ll leave it as that. Next came the mains…
Paella Valenciana – (Saffron, chicken, Spanish chorizo, tiger prawns, squid, half shell mussels, rice)
1/2 Roasted Suckling Pig
Pollo con samfaina – (Roasted spring chicken stuffed with Spanish style vegetable rice)
Do note that the Paella and Roasted Suckling Pig are hot favourites at Serenity and will take about 30 mins to 1 hour of preparation time (depending on the crowd). Hence, if you’re ordering it, sit down, order these before looking at the rest of the mains or tapas.
Paella. Our favourite has got to be the Paella. Its said that the secret lies in the grains and Serenity uses the Boomba which is able to absorb flavours up to three times as much as normal grain. This move proved to be wise. The Paella was SOOOOOOOOOO flavourful. All the flavours of the ingredients were fused into the tiny grains and bursts forth as you take each mouthful of it. The only comment is that although the ingredients (prawns, mussels) were fresh, the manner of preparation dried them a little too much.
Roasted Suckling Pig. The roasted suckling pig proved to be a favourite as well. At $98++ it had better be good. And it was. The skin was light and crispy. The meat was tender, almost falling off the bones. The combination of the crispy skin and flavourful tender meat? Yummilicious!
In terms of flavour, the roasted chicken was ok. But the rice that went along with it was actually quite good. A little bit sticky but rich in flavours. Perhaps thats where all the flavours of the chicken went to…
Conclusion
The total bill came up to $300+ for 5 people. A little on the ex side. But the authentic Spanish taste did tilt the balance. I mean if you fly 5 people to Valencia to taste the Paella, it would have cost a few thousand bucks right? Hence, for the authentic taste and refreshingly good Sangrias, we give it a thumbs up.
But not too often, else it might just burn a hole in your pocket!
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In our comments section below, tell us more about your visit to Serenity Bar and Restaurant at VivoCity!
Tim Ho Wan Plaza Singapura : Is it Worth the Wait?
Tim Ho Wan, the famous Hong Kong michelin-starred dim sum restaurant has opened its first outlet outside Hong Kong – right here in Singapore @ Plaza Singapura!
Tim Ho Wan @ Plaza Singapura
View of the seatings @ Tim Ho Wan Singapore
Queue for dim sum at Tim Ho Wan Plaza Singapura
If this is your first time eating at Tim Ho Wan, do note that the waiting time can be quite long. As we were eating as a family and needed 8 seats, the staff needed time to re-arrange the seats and wait for patrons to finish up as well. Hence, our total waiting time was close to 2 hours.
HOWEVER, if you are eating as a couple, it is much easier to arrange seats for you. As we were waiting, many couples went ahead of us. Hence, the waiting time for couples is about 30 minutes.
Once you reach the seats in front of the restaurant, you would be given the order chit to have a look at the menu so that you can place orders as soon as you’re seated.
Page 1 of Menu @ Tim Ho Wan Dim Sum
Page 2 of Menu @ Tim Ho Wan Dim Sum
What to order at Tim Ho Wan Dim Sum Restaurant
If you have no idea what to order at Tim Ho Wan, you definitely wont go wrong with the four heavenly kings (四大天王）- Steamed Egg Cake (香滑马来糕), Vermicelli Roll with Pig’s Liver（黄沙猪润肠）, Baked Bun with BBQ Pork （酥皮叉烧包）, Pan Fried Carrot Cake （香煎萝卜糕）。。。
Four heavenly kings (四大天王） @ Tim Ho Wan Singapore
Pan Fried Carrot Cake （香煎萝卜糕）from Tim Ho Wan Plaza Singapura
The carrot cake was flavourful, slightly crisp on the outside and layered on the inside with the textures felt as you go in for your first bite.
Steamed Egg Cake (香滑马来糕) from Tim Ho Wan
The steamed egg cake has always been the surprise for us (we’ve tried the original Tim Ho Wan in Mong Kok, Hong Kong some time back). This is because it is something sweet! Try having something sweet while you’re having the savoury dim sums. Doesnt sound quite right does it? But the egg cake somehow blends in seemlessly with its mild sweetness, light fluffy texture and fragrant brown sugar taste. Somehow it goes really well with the dim sums at Tim Ho Wan…
Baked Bun with BBQ Pork （酥皮叉烧包）@ Tim Ho Wan
The char siew bao as always been the highlight of Tim Ho Wan. So much so that each person is limited to 1 order of the famous dim sum! Unlike all other buns you’ve ever eaten, it is REALLY crispy on the outside and bursting with char siew flavours on the inside! An ingenious creation indeed. Still remember our first bite at Tim Ho Wan Mong Kok…ahh…
Oh, somehow the Singapore version of the baked bun with BBQ pork fares slightly poorer compared to its HK counterpart. Especially the char siew portion. This version is slightly on the sweet side while the one in HK is on the “Oh” side (“Oh” refers to “Oh, this is really good!”)
We also tried several other dim sums such as
Prawn Dumpling (晶莹鲜虾饺）
Garlic Mushroom Spinach Dumpling (金蒜香菇菠菜饺）
You wont miss much if you do not try these 2. But do try the following (plus beef ball – unfortunately we tucked in too fast and forgot to take photo of it :p)…
Chicken Feet with Black Bean Sauce （鼓汁蒸凤饺）
Beancurd Skin Roll with Pork and Shrimp (鲜竹卷）
Spring Roll with Crab Meat (螃蟹春卷)
The beancurd skin roll, beef ball and spring roll are the next few dim sums that you must try. The meats of the beancurd skin roll and beef ball are fresh, succulent and sort of dances around in your mouth (partly also because its hot) but still, it was yummy!
The spring roll had a sweet, seafood taste to its fillings. Something that you dont quite usually get with spring rolls (usually vege inside right?)
However, if you have space for only 1 other dish, you MUST ORDER the Tonic Medlar & Osmanthus Cake (杞子桂花糕)
Tonic Medlar & Osmanthus Cake (杞子桂花糕) @ Tim Ho Wan
Again, we tucked in ferociously before we took this photo (yes, this is almost the remains of the carcass). The taste was simply REFRESHING! Light refreshing sweetness with lasting tastes of the medlar and osmanthus….did we mention that it was refreshing?
You would definitely enjoy your trip to Tim Ho Wan @ Plaza Singapura. Even our mum who is quite a connoisseur herself (high tea / buffet queen) enjoyed the dim sum at Tim Ho Wan! Hence, we would definitely say it’s worth the wait to eat at Tim Ho Wan (添好运）!
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食客 Ssikkek The Restaurant Guest Korean BBQ and Grill : Great Quality Food!
食客 also known as ” The Restaurant Guest” is a Korean BBQ and Grill franchise. Ssikkek Restaurant has several outlets across Singapore in venues such as United Square, Bras Basah as well as this outlet at North Bridge Road!
Ssikkek Restaurant aka The Restaurant Guest @ North Bridge Road
We arrived at this Ssikkek outlet near Chinatown at about 6:30pm and as you can see from the picture, there was already a crowd outside the restaurant! As recommended by many blogs (including this Singapore Travel Blog), you should always make a reservation prior to visit. We could see from the waiting list that the queue number had already reach about 40 people. Thankfully, we made the reservations and we were seated promptly in less than 5 minutes!
What to eat at Ssikkek Korean BBQ and Grill Restaurant
Actually, we did not know what to eat at Ssikkek. We just saw the queue and made it a point to visit. But as they say, if you see a queue, join it! (eventhough sometimes as Singaporeans, you may not know exactly what you’re queuing for, case in point…)
And we were pleasantly surprised…
Variety of Meats including pork collar, pork belly, bacon and beef steaks
The first thing we noticed at the Restaurant Guest is that there is a good variety of meats. Pork collar, pork belly, bacon, beef steaks, marinated chicken and beef were all available. Other than the meats, there is also a small selection of vegetables, squid, prawns and korean dishes such as kim chi, glass noodles and pancakes…
A few choices of Korean cooked food available
Soft drinks, korean tea as well as orange juice are available as well. Kate made a concoction of sprite with orange which tasted like fizzy orange – not bad at all! The star of the show is of course the meats…
Best meats at Ssikkek Korean Restaurant
Close up of the meats available at Ssikkek Korean BBQ
We’ve tried almost all the meats at Ssikkek Korean Restaurant and we must say that although the variety is not that many, the quality more than made up for it. If you prefer to have some fatty bits in your lettuce wrap (which we ate 3 platefuls of to “act healthy” – who are we kidding right?), go for the pork belly. Otherwise, we recommend the pork collar.
It is quite unusual for pork meats to have white bits in the grains of the meat much akin to Kobe beef. But the pork collar at Ssikkek is one of the best korean grills we’ve had. The meat was tender, juicy (even after the BBQ which usually removes moisture) and had a fresh bite to it. Dipped in some reddish korean BBQ sauce, some kim chi, wrapped in green lettuce and stuffed meticulously into your mouth in 1 big mouthful? Just awesome!
Pros and Cons of eating at Ssikkek Korean Restaurant
Let’s start of the pros shall we? The taste was great. Fresh ingredients, no holds barred on the generosity and quality of the meats. Our BBQ plate was also great. The technology allowed smoke to be directed away from you while the oil seeps away through the seams of the plate, leaving you with awesome, well-cooked meat!
Well, there are 2 main cons. Kate pointed out that there weren’t small dishes as a Korean restaurant should have. You know the small dishes like that of Big Mama Korean Restaurant? Yup, those…
Secondly, we realised that although the restaurant has the technology of the BBQ plate which absorbs the smoke from the BBQ, it is not used throughout the restaurant. As a result of these few plates without the suction, the entire restaurant has a “smoke-filled” environment!
How to get to Ssikkek Korean Restaurant BBQ and Grill at North Bridge Road
Map of Ssikkek Korean Restaurant at North Bridge Road (Oriental Plaza)
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Whether to eat at Ssikkek Korean Restaurant?
The price of eating at Ssikkek is $24++ every night and only $14++ from Mondays to Fridays for lunch. Sundays and PH costs the same at $24++ throughout the day. Ssikkek opens from 12pm to 2:30pm for lunch and 5:30pm to 10pm for dinner.
We say that given the quality and generous servings of meats at Ssikkek, it was really well-worth it. If you do not mind leaving the restaurant smelling of BBQ, great quality korean BBQ awaits you at the Restaurant Guest – Ssikkek Korean and BBQ Grill!