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’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
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
Starters at Riverview Hotel Sunday BrunchSushi selection @ River Garden Coffee House Sunday BrunchSeafood Selection at Riverview Hotel Sunday BrunchFreshly shucked oysters @ Riverview Hotel Sunday BrunchFresh and delicious oysters at Riverview HotelSashimi station during Sunday Brunch @ Riverview HotelRiverview Hotel’s Famous Slipper Lobster Laksa with Moscato and ProseccoAsian Food SelectionSelection of Chili Crab Oxtail Stew Pig Trotters Chicken and Dim SumDessert Selection at Riverview Hotel Sunday BrunchMango pudding in the shape of a fish!Our favourite Durian Pengat!
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.
Ipoh is a food paradise! But if you’re wondering what are some of the things you must eat in Ipoh Malaysia, here are the top 10 picks of what to eat in Ipoh! By the way, this food list is in descending order, which means no.1 is a MUST TRY!
What to eat in Ipoh Malaysia
10. Ipoh Parade Shopping Centre Food Court – Popiah
Ipoh Parade Shopping Center Food Court Popiah – 2 for 5RMRich and crispy filling inside the Ipoh popiah
At the top floor of Ipoh Parade Shopping Center, you’ll find this food court, within which, there’s a stall that has its sign board that states “Popiah”. This was a really surprise find for us because we were not having lunch but were feeling peckish. The aunty sort of recommended her popiah while we walked by her stall and we tried. To our surprise, it had several layers of taste to it. Crispy, moist, fresh and tasty fillings. Try it if you’re in the vicinity!
9. MYDIN Wholesale Hypermarket in Bandar Meru Raya, Ipoh – My Nasi Kandar
My Nasi Kandar at Mydin Mall IpohTandoori Chicken @ My Nasi Kandar Ipoh – 6RMNaan @ My Nasi Kandar Mydin Mall Ipoh – 2.3RM
Mydin Mall is located at PT 229142, Jalan Meru Bestari B2, Bandar Meru Raya, 30020 Jelapang, Ipoh, Perak Darul Ridzuan. What happened was this. We were supposed to take a bus leaving Amanjaya Bus Terminal after booking for the bus online. Guess what? There was no such bus leaving that morning when we arrived at the terminal! So we went to all the booths that sold tickets to source for the next available ride to Singapore. We even met up with others who were supposed to be on the same bus and thought of car pooling. But in the end, we decided against taking a ride to Johor to transfer from there. Instead, we waited at Mydin Mall (a short walk from Amanjaya Bus Terminal) for our direct bus trip back to Singapore.
In the meantime, we managed to squeeze in a meal at My Nasi Kandar (after seeing all the crowds there). After trying the tandoori, we understood why the crowd was there. We could taste the spices, the tenderness and the juiciness of the chicken tandoori. Surprisingly good we must say 🙂
8. Cendol at Mr Cendol Mydin Mall
Soya Special Cendol at Mr Cendol Ipoh
Still within Mydin Mall, along the circumference of the mall was Mr Cendol. We’ve tried several cendols in Singapore before but since the place was called Mr Cendol, we thought they might offer something different. We sat down and ordered the Soya Special. Turns out that instead of using just shaved ice, the ice was made of soya milk and topped off with ice cream. Sedap!
7. Dim Sum at Restoran Ying Fa
Restoran Ying Fa Dim Sum Ipoh
Restoran Ying Fa is located at 1C, Jalan Sultan Yussuf (Belfied Street), Old Town, Perak, Ipoh Town, 30000. We actually arrived in Ipoh at 5am in the morning and were offered transportation by a uncle who had 6 fingers on one of his hands. Hence, he has a nick-name called liu zhi （六指 – literally meaning six fingers). He offered to take us to our hotel (for a fee of course – 20RM) and so we requested for a dim sum place enroute. We were taken to Ying Fa Restoran!
Dim sum at Ying Fa Restoran including chee cheong fun, siew mai, century egg with chicken ball ranging from 3 to 3.5RMDim sum served on traditional carts at Restoran Ying Fa Ipoh
All in all, we spent only 22RM for all the dim sum that we had. Quality was ok but the price was really economical. So do head on down if you have a craving for dim sum!
6. Kedai Makanan Nam Heong
Kedai Makanan Nam Heong – Distributor of White Coffee at 2 Jalan Bandar Timah Ipoh
Kedai Makanan Nam Heong is located at 2, Jalan Bandar Timah, Ipoh Perak, 30000. There are 2 reasons why you should visit Kedai Makanan Nam Heong coffeeshop.
Firstly, it is one of the main distributors of white coffee in Ipoh. We’ve tried the iced white coffee and it was really strong and aromatic. Unlike some diluted ones that we’ve tried before. To learn more about the meaning of white coffee, follow the link to our Things to do in Kluang Malaysia post.
Secondly, Makanan Nam Heong is actually an amalgamation of several amazing foods in Ipoh including ipoh hor fun, curry mee, penang prawn noodles, char kway teow and dim sum! Of which, the smell of the char kway teow was really irresistable. Definitely a MUST TRY!
Lim Fong Char Kway Teow @ Kedai Makanan Nam Heong IpohKedai Makanan Nam Heong Curry Mee IpohIpoh Hor Fun and Penang Prawn Noodles @ Nam Heong CoffeeshopNam Heong Dim Sum Ipoh
5. Restoran Ipoh Kong Heng
Caramel Custard @ Restoran Thean Chun and More Food Choices at Restoran Ipoh Kong HengFried and normal popiah for 3.8RM at Restoran Ipoh Kong HengRestoran Ipoh Kong Heng – Sliced chicken sar hor fun
Restoran Ipoh Kong Heng is located at 74 Jalan Bandar Timah, 30000 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia. Here, there are actually alot of food choices including the traditional ipoh hor fun, the sar hor fun (that we had) as well as the mixed popiahs (see above). The prawn soup of the sar hor fun was especially flavourful. Coupled with the springy hor fun and firm chicken slices? Yummilicious! As for the mixed popiah, the normal popiah actually tasted better although the option of tasting the fried version was interesting.
4. Traditional Hor Fun
Traditional Hor Fun at a zi char stall in Ipoh
If you have read our post questioning whether the standard of zi char in Singapore has dropped? It was all triggered by this plate of beautifully constructed hor fun. Simple dish with springy hor fun and tasty gravy. Nope, this was not at a famous place but at a random coffee shop that we visited. Speaks alot about the quality of food (especially hor fun) in Ipoh.
3. Funny Mountain Soya Bean
Kacang Soya Funny Mountain Beancurd IpohBrisk business at Funny Mountain Soya Bean IpohBean curd at Funny Mountain Ipoh
Funny Mountain Bean Curd is located at 49, Jalan Theatre (Jalan Mustapha Al-Bakri), 30300 Ipoh, Perak. We actually tried the bean curd because of the long queue indicating that they must be doing something right in their concoction of soya bean products. However, we think that the soya bean curd that we tried was a tad too sweet. In addition, we have been spoilt by the silky smooth soya bean curds in Singapore. So the bean curd here was quite normal for us. But still, there’s a reason why the crowds are streaming in, so do tell us what you think in the comments section below!
2. Kafe Sun Yoon Wah Snow Beer
Kafe Sun Yoon Wah Snow Beer IpohA bottle of snow beer at 14RM – Kafe Sun Yoon Wah IpohKafe Sun Yoon Wah Ipoh Stir Fried CalamariKafe Sun Yoon Wah Ipoh – Pork Rib King Yum!Kafe Sun Yoon Wah Ipoh – Malay Style Kang Kong
Kafe Sun Yoon Wah is located at 7,Jalan Bijih Timah, Ipoh Old Town, 30000 Ipoh, Malaysia. Definitely, strongly recommended. The snow beer is actually formed by quickly pouring beer into a chilled mug. The bubbles then forms the frost like bits because of the ice cold mug, forming the well-known snow beer. It was a totally new experience for us, quite unlike Heineken extra cold or ice cold Tiger Beer. In addition, try the stir fried calamari that goes really well with the beer. The only catch is that you must drink the snow beer relatively quickly once its poured, else it will just become normal cold beer.
1. Restoran Ong Kee Tauge Ayam – Beansprouts with chicken and hor fun
Restoran Ong Kee Tauge Ayam (Beansprouts chicken) @ Jalan Yau Tet Shin IpohRestoran Ong Kee Ipoh – fresh firm chicken splashed with soy sauce and sesame oilRestoran Ong Kee Ipoh – Fat BeansproutsRestoran Ong Kee Ipoh – Go for the Horfun and mix i the chicken and beansprouts!
Restoran Ong Kee is located at 48, Jalan Yau Tet Shin, 30000 Ipoh, Perak. If there’s one food that you must try, it has got to be the beansprouts chicken with hor fun at Restoran Ong Kee. Some people say that because of the water here in Ipoh, the hor fun is extra taong (springy) and the bean sprouts are extra fat (as you can see from the picture above). It really is true. Mixing in the chicken and bean sprouts (with a dash of the chicken sauce) into the hor fun will give you a perfect combination of what Ipoh hor fun is really about.
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Thoughts on what to eat in Ipoh Malaysia
In fact, there are many other good food in Ipoh including the salt-baked chicken and caramel custards. But nonetheless, if there’s two food that we’d recommend, it’ll certainly be the Ipoh Hor Fun at Restoran Ong Kee and the snow beer at Kafe Sun Yoon Wah.
A trip to Penang is never complete without trying out all the hawker food that Penang has to offer. In this post, we’ll answer the perennial question of “What to eat in Penang?” by covering all the great foods that we’ve tried during our last trip to Penang. Feel free to add on to this list in the comments section at the end of the post!
What to eat in Penang Malaysia
1. Penang Char Kway Teow
Penang Char Kway Teow
Ah Leng Char Koay Teow
Ah Leng Char Koay Teow at Jalan Dato Keramat
Special Ah Leng Char Koay Teow @ 11.50RM with additional toppings
Whenever one visits Penang, Penang Char Kway Teow will be one of the MUST TRY hawker foods. As with the kway teow from Ipoh, Penang kway teow also have a “taong” texture (chewy/bouncy feel) and because of this fame, Penang char kway teow can be found everywhere. Our favorite? Ah Leng’s Char Koay Teow!
Famous Ah Leng Char Koay Teow
(亚龙炒果条） Address : Jalan Dato Keramat, Kampung Makam, 10150 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
2. Penang Laksa aka Assam Laksa
Penang Laksa aka Assam Laksa
In Penang, when you talk about “Penang Laksa“, it usually refers to the Assam Laksa. Unlike the usual laksa that we find in Singapore which has a rich coconut-based gravy, the laksa in Penang has a fish-based gravy which has a sour and appetising taste to it. The version that we tried had a rich fish-based broth and you could taste the shredded fish and crunchy vegetable texture with every mouthful. Although it is a laksa, it actually tastes healthy!
3. Wanton Mee
New World Park Hawker Centre
Penang Wanton Mee (4RM)
At New World Park Hawker Centre, you can find an amalgamation of Penang hawker foods. Here, we tried the Penang wanton mee and were thoroughly satisfied. There were loads of ingredients including generous amounts of char siew and quite a number of wantons. The highlight for us was the fragrant sauce for the noodles. Shiok!
4. Penang Curry Mee
Penang Curry Mee (4RM)
Still at New World Park Hawker Centre, we tried the famous Penang Curry Mee. This version we had from the old uncle’s stall (the other is owned by a middle-aged uncle) was full of ingredients including cuttlefish, cockles, fish cake and vegetables. Mix in the chili and you’d have an amazing bowl of Penang Curry Mee! Now we understand why Singaporeans bring home instant curry mee from Penang as well. Sedap!
New World Park Hawker Centre
(新世界) Address : No. 1, Jalan Burma, 10350, George Town, Pulau Pinang, 10350, Malaysia
5. Penang Fried Oyster (Orh Lua)
Red Garden Food Paradise
Penang hawker food @ Red Garden Food Paradise
Penang Fried Oyster (RM10)
You can also find a host of Penang hawker food at the Red Garden Food Paradise. Here, we tried the Penang Fried Oyster (Orh Lua) for RM10. The oysters from this stall at Red Garden Food Paradise was huge and succulent! The taste is similar to the Singaporean style. The only difference is that the chili is not as tangy as the Singaporean version.
6. Penang Hokkien Mee aka Penang Prawn Noodles
Penang Hokkien Mee aka Penang Prawn Noodles (RM5)
Still at Red Garden Food Paradise, we tried the Penang Hokkien Mee as well. In Singapore, Hokkien Mee can refer to the fried version (with sotong) or the soup prawn noodles. But in Penang, if you refer to Hokkien Mee (Penang Hokkien Mee), it refers only to the soup prawn noodles. This version we tried has the thick prawn and pork taste to the broth which we enjoyed. Ingredients could have been more though. But for 5RM, we can’t ask for too much eh?
Red Garden Food Paradise
(红园) Address : 20 Lebuh Leith, 10000 Georgetown, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
7. Penang Char Hor Fun
Asian Kitchen @ Gurney Paragon’s Food Court
Penang Char Hor Fun (RM 7.90)
As it was raining heavily while we were at Gurney Paragon, we were not able to visit the famous Gurney Drive Hawker Centre (which we had seen and heard bad reviews of). Hence, we decided to pop by the food court at Gurney Paragon to see what’s in store for us there. To our surprise, we chanced upon the Asian Kitchen and is famous for its Penang Char Hor Fun. While the chef was cooking, we noticed that every step was prepared from scratch. The hor fun was originally white in colour (unlike the pre-fried ones these days) and the chef fried it to obtain the charred brown texture before placing it aside to prepare the gravy. The ingredients were subsequently fried, broth thickened (again the thickening agent was prepared on the spot) before switching off the gas and adding the egg on the last step. The egg was “spread” around in the heated broth to obtain the beautiful texture as seen in the picture. Needless to say, it was FANTASTIC! Strongly recommended for your trip to Penang!
Asian Kitchen @ Gurney Paragon Food Court (Level 5) Address : 163 C & D, Persiaran Gurney, George Town, Penang
8. Local Delights at Penang Bowl
Ordering Counter and Kitchen @ Penang Bowl
Mee Sua Tau Penang Bowl
Nonya Popiah Penang Bowl
While we were staying at the E&O Hotel in Penang, we decided to check out what else we can eat in the vicinity (yes, we’re voracious eaters) and we chanced upon this eatery at Penang Bowl (right next to E&O). The Mee Sua Tau and Nonya Popiah are the house specialties and we especially liked the Mee Sua Tau. Fragrant gravy with the mee sua absorbing the taste. Topped with crispy garlic bits…yum!
Penang Bowl Address : 38-B Leboh Farquhar, 10200, Penang, Pulau Pinang, 10200, Malaysia
9. Prosperous Dim Sum
Breakfast crowd at Prosperous Dim Sum
While walking along Lorong Abu Siti, we saw this HUGELY popular dim sum joint – Prosperous Dim Sum. There were tables and chairs all over the restaurant, both inside and outside. As we got closer, we saw that the prices were really reasonable. But due to the crowd, we did not try it this time round. If you’ve tried the dim sum here, let us know how it was in the comments section below.
Prosperous Dim Sum
(福星茶楼) Address : 83 Lorong Abu Siti, 10400 George Town, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
10. Penang Road Teochew Chendul
Penang Road Teochew Chendul
The Penang Road Teochew Chendul was AWESOME! At RM2.60, you’ll get a huge bowl of chendul that has such a rich milky taste. A good contrast to the gula melaka version of chendol in Malacca. We actually prefer this version in Penang. Try it and you’ll understand why…
11. The Little Nonya Cuisine (小娘惹)
Crowd at The Little Nonya Cuisine
Nonya Curry Chicken Rice RM8.80 (小娘惹)
Lo Bak RM7 at The Little Nonya Cuisine
Deep fried otak beancurd RM9 (The Little Nonya Cuisine @ Gurney Plaza)
Nonya cuisine is also a MUST TRY when you visit Penang. This time, we visit The Little Nonya Cuisine (小娘惹) at the basement of Plaza Gurney. All of the dishes above were DELICIOUS! In particular, we loved the curry chicken which was thick and frangrant. Perfect with rice. The deep fried take on otak was also amazing. Slight crisp on the outside but tender otak on the inside. The otak is also a perfect dish with plain fragrant rice. We could eat this all day long!
The Little Nonya Cuisine @ Plaza Gurney
小娘惹 Address : Plaza Gurney, 170-06-01, Gurney Dr, 10250 Georgetown, Malaysia
12. Mama’s Nonya Cuisine
Mama’s Nonya Cuisine
Curry Kapitan, Tau Yew Bak, Jiu Hu Char, Pig Stomach Soup, Bubur Cha Cha from Mama’s Nonya Cuisine
While in Penang, Mama’s Nonya Cuisine has got to be the one nonya restaurant that you have to try. We stayed at 3 hotels and all 3 concierges recommended eating here. It was undeniably good! We tried the Curry Kapitan (RM18), Tau Yew Bak (RM20), Jiu Hu Char (cuttle fish with vegetables – RM12), Pig Stomach Soup (RM22) and Bubur Cha Cha (RM4) and to be honest all of it were good! Seriously! If we were to recommend, the tau yew bak (braised pork) is a must-have. The braised pork combined with the spices went really well with rice. In fact, we had 2 HUGE portions of rice throughout the meal! Remember to save some space for the bubur cha cha. Certainly one of the best we’ve had in a long long time!
Mama’s Nonya Cuisine Address : Lorong Abu Siti, Georgetown, 10400 Georgetown, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia
13. Penang Bakeries
Ghee Hiang at Macallister Road Penang
Inside Ghee Hiang
There are many traditional bakeries in Penang. Among them, the famous ones are Ghee Hiang, Kim Heang and Seng Seng Heang. Remember to bring some back for your loved ones when you return from Penang!
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We hope you have enjoyed our coverage of the Penang Hawker Food and Nonya Restaurants that you must try when you visit Penang! Tell us what you think in the comments section below!
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 for a total of 100,000 dong about 5USD
Vietnam Coffee and Grilled Pork / Spring Roll Vermicelli
19. Prawn and Chicken Spring Roll (Saigon Centre Cafe Terrace)
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
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)
Feng Jia Night Market 大腸包小腸 from Yellow Stall NT40
大腸包小腸 (Direct translation of Big Sausage Wrap Small Sausage)
16. Ice cream with AWESOME Toppings (Miyahara 4th Credit)
15. The Best Changhua Meatballs (北門口肉圓 Bei Men Kou Meatball)
012bearbear enjoying their first changhua rou yuan
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)
鹿早茶屋 Tainan
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
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 – especially shiok when freshly fried!
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 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)
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)
A bottle of snow beer at 14RM – Kafe Sun Yoon Wah Ipoh
Snow Beer
7. Beansprouts with chicken and hor fun (Restoran Ong Kee Tauge Ayam)
Restoran Ong Kee Ipoh – fresh firm chicken splashed with soy sauce and sesame oil
Fresh firm chicken splashed with soy sauce and sesame oil
Restoran Ong Kee Ipoh – Fat Beansprouts
REALLY FAT beansprouts
Restoran Ong Kee Ipoh – Go for the Horfun and mix i the chicken and 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)
Best mango sticky rice at only 80 baht! Look inside the supermarket of Central Festival downstairs
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 Rib of Beaches Restaurant and Bar (20.99USD)
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 at Metropolitan Grill for 12USD
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)
Our order of the Westport sea feast at the Crab Pot Seattle
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 (Fisherman’s Grotto San Francisco 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 – Confirm the best Risotto ever tasted (16USD)
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!
Sharky’s in Yangon Myanmar is a classy restaurant founded by a local chef who spent 20 years in Switzerland. As a result, Sharky’s brings about a delicious European meal that is palatable for Asian’s alike. As its slogan “Food and Passion” suggests, it really brings quality food to the local community. Food made with passion!
Sharky’s in Yangon Myanmar
What to eat at Sharky’s Yangon Myanmar
Sharky’s Menu
From the menu, you’ll realise that the food is actually quite expensive, even for Singapore standards. Having said that, the quality does make up for the price and you’ll see why…
According to regulars at Sharky’s, the cheese here is top notch. And after sinking into it’s prosciutto thin crust pizza, we’ve got to agree. The thinly sliced prosciutto was a perfect complement to the rich cheesy flavours oozing with every bite. The thin crust and arugula adds a dimension of texture to the overall taste of the pizza that’s just perfect!
Sharky’s Foie Gras with Beef – 14000 kyat ($18sgd)
If you’re visiting Sharky’s Yangon Myanmar, we’d definitely recommend having the foie gras! By looking at the picture above, wouldn’t you want to have just a bite of it? The chef who thought of foie gras over beef is simply a genius! The fatty, flavourful and tender foie gras will first melt in your mouth and when you start to chew the beef slice over the foie gras, you soon realise that you are chewing on the beef with the awesome flavours of the foie gras.
Just pure genius!
Sharky’s classic burger – 17000 kyat ($22sgd)
On the onset, the burger doesn’t look much and its VERY EXPENSIVE for Myanmar standards. Even for Singapore standards, its above the average price. However, upon the first bite, you’ll soon realise why the aged beef from Sharky’s Yangon Myanmar is really different.
Just one word really… TENDER!!!
The question then is…
“Is all the work and time placed into aging beef, really necessary?”
On the first bite, you’ll start to understand what the fuss over “aged beef” is all about. You’ll first bite into the tenderness of the beef but after chewing, the flavours of the beef is slowly released with each and every bite. Truly a work of art. Shiok!
How to get to Sharky’s Yangon Myanmar
Map of Sharky’s in Yangon Myanmar
Sharky’s is located at 117, Dhammazedi Road, Yangon, Myanmar. If you have taken a look at the pictures above, you’ll find that one of the themes of the restaurant is also classic movie posters…
Scarlet Angel Poster
Buccaneer’s Girl Poster
So if you want to enjoy a classy atmosphere and quality (and we mean really good quality) food in Yangon, look no further than Sharky’s Yangon Myanmar!
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Tell us more about your experience at Sharky’s Yangon Myanmar in our comments section below!
P.S. Don’t forget to try the pistachio cranberry ice cream! One of the best ice cream we’ve EVER tasted!
Steaks are the name of the game at Metropolitan Grill in Seattle and Kate heard about it and surprised me with a visit while we were in Seattle…
About Metropolitan Grill Seattle
Facade of Metropolitan Grill SeattleInside Metropolitan Grill Seattle
Touted as having “the best steaks in town”, Metropolitan Grill has a rich history and heritage (aka atas as you can see from the picture above), being located at the historic Marion Building. Of course, many people come here for just 1 thing.
The steaks.
Steaks at Metropolitan Grill are prepared with much emphasis starting from its custom dry-aging process to its proprietary seasoning and specially selected mesquite charcoal to sear and seal in the flavours of the steaks.
But the real question is… are the steaks at Metropolitan Grill really worth it?
(The price especially!)
Lunch Menu at Metropolitan Grill Seattle
What we ate at Metropolitan Grill Seattle
We spent a total of $100USD (yes, we reiterate that its an atas place) for lunch and we ordered root beer, strawberry lemonade for drinks and the Works Burger, Filet Mignon 8oz for mains…
Warm breads with freshly made butter – this was really shiok! (Met Grill Seattle)Strawberry Lemonade and Root Beer at Metropolitan Grill SeattleThe Works Burger – 15 USD (Seattle Metropolitan Grill)8 oz Filet Mignon – 56USD at Metropolitan Grill Seattle
Let’s talk about the breads first. It was AWESOME! (Yes, it is strange for us to say that about breads at a steak restaurant) BUT YES! IT WAS AWESOME! Shiok because the breads were warm, lightly crisp on the outside and warm and fluffy on the inside. PLUS, the butter was just heavenly! It was fresh, natural and seemed like it was made in house. The last time we tasted butter like this was when we were in Poland where our friends made fresh butter right from the cow’s milk!
The Works Burger was great. Nothing fancy but it stays true to how an american burger ought to be. Juicy patty, cheese, buns and a HUGE portion at that. Typical american and we loved it!
Well, for the steak, we had high expectations for it and it met our expectations. Probably one of the best steaks that we’ve had as well. It was well seasoned on the outside and juicy, tender, flavourful on the inside. All that a “best steak in town” steak should be. But, it lacked the punch. It was good. Don’t get us wrong. But it lacked the “WOW, THIS IS OUT OF THIS WORLD!” reaction when we went in for our first bite.
For 56USD and 8oz, we sort of expected that.
Having finished our meal, our server came up to ask us whether we wanted some desserts. So we told him,
“If we were to only have 1 dessert, 1 that we MUST TRY, what would that be?”
He contemplated for a while and came up with 2 recommendations. The chocolate lava and five layer carrot cake. But we insisted on just 1 choice (because we were quite full and mostly because we were REALLY close to our budget) and he told us
“Then it has got to be the chocolate lava”
And chocolate lava it was. Turns out that it was probably one of the BEST DESSERTS WE’VE EVER HAD! (along with Turons from the Philippines)
Chocolate Lava Cake at Metropolitan Grill for 12USD
The chocolate lava was unlike any chocolate cakes that we’ve ever tasted. It had so many different textures! On the outside it was cookie-ish and crumbly-ish. But when you go for the bite, the chewyness comes in with rich chocolatey taste! When you break open the chocolate lava, “molten chocolate” oozes out and when all these tastes and textures get swirled between your taste buds? Simply divine!
After our meal, we also spent some time to recall what we learnt during the Seattle Underground Tour in the morning. Which resulted in this…writings on receipts…
Final bill of $115 (including tips) returned in this holder with a nice little message from the general manager of Met Grill Seattle
Location of Metropolitan Grill Seattle
The address of Metropolitan Grill is 820 2nd Ave, Seattle, WA 98104, United States
Conclusion
All in all, we were thoroughly satisfied with our visit to Metropolitan Grill. Perhaps you may wish to also lower your expectations of the steak. It was great nonetheless.
To answer the question of whether the steaks at Metropolitan are worth it?
The answer would be yes, but barely.
For us, the highlight has got to be the chocolate lava cake! Imagine us saying that its awesome even after our meals. Maybe it would have been “out of this world” if it was just taken as part of an afternoon tea!
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Related Posts
This is part of our coverage of San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver USA. Check out these posts if you’re visiting the West Coast of USA!
Yang’s Fried Dumpling (aka 小杨生煎) is located at No.269 Wujiang Road, Shanghai, China (Nanjing West Road).
If you’re visiting Shanghai, YOU MUST visit Yang’s Fried Dumplings. The dumplings at 小杨生煎 is an attraction itself and you will (at almost all times of the day) see a long queue outside the stall…
Staff of Yang’s Fried Dumpling 小杨生煎 busy at work
Staff of Yang’s Fried Dumpling 小杨生煎 busy at work
See the staff of 小杨生煎 busy at work? It is because of 2 main reasons.
1. CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP! You wouldn’t and couldn’t imagine this, but 4 dumplings at Yang’s Fried Dumpling only costs 6RMB! What?! That’s only 1.5RMB each or 30 cents SGD each!! AHH!!! SO CHEAP!!!
Yang’s Fried Dumpling 小杨生煎 4 for 6RMB
Yang’s Fried Dumpling 小杨生煎 4 for 6RMB
2. TASTES SUPERB! But the true reason lies in the taste. No doubt, the cheap price is a huge draw but the taste is something that we’ve never tasted (and experienced) before. Firstly, the outer skin is pan fried to a nice crispy texture while the pork inside remains sweet, flavourful and JUICY!
And secondly, we reiterate again, it’s JUICY!!! Notice that we bold juicy. This is because it is RIDICULOUSLY JUICY on your first bite! On our first bite, we were told that the only way to eat 小杨生煎 is to first nibble and suck out the soup first. We did. But when we went in for our first bite, the residual juices still spurt unto us!
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
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Enjoy this amazing experience and tell us about what you think of Yang’s Fried Dumpling 小杨生煎 in our comments section below!
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.
Long Long Lunch at the Edge Pan Pacific Singapore Hotel
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…
Sticks with our table number
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…
Prawn Noodle, Laksa, Wanton Mee, Chicken Rice and Duck RiceBak Kut TehSatay Counter for beef, chicken or mutton satayNasi LemakAsian Delights (Kuehs and asian cakes)Durian cakes, puffs and pengat!!
In addition to the local delights, there is also a selection of international cuisine for you to choose from, including…
Freshly prepared pastasPizzas made from scratchCarvingsJapanese foodQuality Ice Cream
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…
Bak Kut Teh and Teh Tarik (the 2 “Tehs”)
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!
Chicken Rice and Char Kway Teow
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!
Satay, roasted duck and homemade laksa
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.
Dim Sum and Popiah
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.
Freshly prepared Aglio Olio
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.
Asian delightsDurian selection!
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
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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!
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?
Common Man Coffee Roasters
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…
Common Man Coffee Roasters
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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 Singapore
Straits Cafe Rendezvous Hotel Sunday Brunch Buffet
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
Japanese corner with salmon sashimi and fresh oysters
FRESH HUGE AND SUCCULENT OYSTERS – only 4 oysters per order
FRESH HUGE AND SUCCULENT OYSTERS – only 4 oysters per order
Yummy sashimi!
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 – before
Snow crab and tiger prawns – after
Snow crab and tiger prawns – after
Gong gong – to be eaten using the tooth pick and a dash of mayo
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
Meat selection at Straits Cafe
Pasta salads and cold dishes…
Selection of cold dishes
Selection of cold dishes
Beautifully kueh pie tee – decorated by Kate!
Straits Cafe Rendezvous Hotel – Kueh Pie Tee
Straits Cafe Rendezvous Hotel – Kueh Pie Tee
And of course, the renowned Laksa from Straits Cafe!
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
Selection of desserts at Straits Cafe
Waffles with maple syrup and honey
Waffles with maple syrup and honey
Our favourite durian pengat from Straits Cafe Rendezvous Hotel Singapore
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
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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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 Sake Sushi Buffet
Tuna (Maguro) and Salmon Sashimi
Mochi and Ice Cream Sakae Sushi Buffet Review
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!
The Crab Pot in SeattleFacade of the Crab Pot Restaurant and Bar Seattle
The Crab Pot Seattle
As expected, there was a queue when we first arrived at the Crab Pot. We were told to wait for about 30 minutes and there were still about 5 parties before us. It was 830pm and the Crab Pot closes at 930pm. Nonetheless, we patiently waited and carefully inspected the huge sea feast menu at the entrance of Crab Pot…
Menu for the Sea Feasts at Crab Pot Seattle – Minimum order for 2
Which Sea Feast we ordered at The Crab Pot Seattle
There are 4 types of sea feasts available at the Crab Pot
The Cove. At $15.95 per person, the feast offers steamed clams, pacific mussels, shrimp in the shell, andouille sausage, corn on the cob and red potatoes in their jackets.
The Westport (The Cove + Dungeness Crab and Snow Crab). At $25.95 per person, the feast offers Dungeness crab, snow crab, steamed clams, pacific mussels, shrimp in the shell, andouille sausage, corn on the cob and red potatoes in their jackets.
The Pacific Clambake (The Westport + Oyster and Salmon). At $32.95 per person, the feast offers Oysters, Salmon Skewer, Dungeness crab, snow crab, steamed clams, pacific mussels, shrimp in the shell, andouille sausage, corn on the cob and red potatoes in their jackets.
The Alaskan (The Westport + King Crab). At $38.95 per person, the feast offers King Crab, Dungeness crab, Snow crab, steamed clams, pacific mussels, shrimp in the shell, andouille sausage, corn on the cob and red potatoes in their jackets.
We settled for the Westport which seemed to be the most economical with both dungeness and snow crab in the sea feast. However, on hind sight, we thought that we should have gone straight for the Alaskan after seeing how HUGE the King Crabs were!!
See the size of the King Crab on the extreme right! (Crab Pot Restaurant Seattle)Our order of the Westport sea feast at the Crab Pot Seattle
Was it worth it to eat at The Crab Pot Seattle?
We must say that from the following points, it was TOTALLY WORTH IT to feast at the Crab Pot!
1. Novelty. As you can see from these pictures, everyone seems to be enjoying the sea feast with their bare hands, “attacking” with the help of a small wooden mallet. Pure joy…but remember to wear your bib properly as things could get really messy!
The novelty of eating seafood ONLY with your bare hands at Crab Pot SeattleOutdoor dining at the Crab Pot Seattle
2. Value for money. For the prices stated above, it was well worth it because of the variety, freshness of the crabs (crabs were fresh but not all of the clams) and of course the taste of the crabs were sweet, succulent and chunky!
The “after math” of Westport sea feast at the crab pot Seattle. All wiped out – every last bit of it!
The Crab Pot is located at 1301 Alaskan Way, Seattle, WA 98101, United States…
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This is part of our coverage of San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver USA. Check out these posts if you’re visiting the West Coast of USA!
The next time you’re there at the Crab Pot in Seattle, head straight for the Alaskan sea feast and tell us whether the King crabs are as good as it looks!
Having watched “Friends” and remembered how much pizza and beer is part of the American culture (observe Joey in “Friends”), we approached our friendly concierge at Palace Hotel and asked where we could have some pizza and beer in a casual setting, we were referred to Umbria, within walking distance of Palace Hotel.
Entrance to Umbria San FranciscoMenu of Umbria San Francisco where we had beer and pizza
Umbria is located at 198 2nd St, San Francisco, California 94105 and it serves up authentic italian cuisine – the ones where you’ll have a waiter come up to you and introduce the day’s menu and start off the meal with bread and appetizers…
Inside Umbria Ristorante San Francisco
After looking through the menu, we ordered exactly what we came for… Ice cold beer with authentic Italian Pizza…so we ordered 2 Peroni beer (off the tap) with the Pizza Bianca Con Arugula E Prosciutto – Fresh mozzarella, fontina cheeses, prosciutto, arugula, shaved parmesan and white truffle oil.
Menu of Umbria Ristorante San Francisco – we ordered the last itemItalian Peroni Beer from the tap at 6USD each (Umbria San Francisco)Pizza Bianca Con Arugula E Prosciutto – Fresh mozzarella, fontina cheeses, prosciutto, arugula, shaved parmesan and white truffle oil (Umbria Ristorante San Francisco)
Frankly speaking, this was one of the best pizzas we’ve ever tasted! The crust was soft and fluffy with rich aromatic smell (and taste) of the cheeses on each bite. The white truffle oil did not taste like conventional oily stuff eventhough you could see the oil, you taste only the fragrance of the white truffle. And when all these tastes (fluffy crust, cheeses and white truffle oil) came together. It was perfetto and mamamia!
While we were eating at the restaurant, there was also a homeless guy who kept peering at us through the windows. One of the waiters saw this and gave the homeless guy some food and sent him away. Great restaurant with extraordinary heart, we must say.
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This is part of our coverage of San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver USA. Check out these posts if you’re visiting the West Coast of USA!
So the next time your pizza and beer cravings hit you in San Francisco, head right down to Umbria and cure the hunger pangs. Remember, one pizza is more than good for 2 to share!
We were introduced to Great Eastern Restaurant while we were shopping in Chinatown San Francisco. After getting our souvenirs (mostly magnets and stuff for you guys), we decided to ask the shop owner which restaurant would be a good one in Chinatown. After looking at the time (it was 9 plus in the morning), she thought about it for a while and said that Great Eastern Restaurant was open for dim sum. So we headed right over…
Great Eastern Restaurant Chinatown San FranciscoInside Great Eastern Restaurant with many locals!Tanks at the other end of Great Eastern Restaurant Chinatown San Francisco
What we ate at Great Eastern Restaurant Chinatown San Francisco
Beef Ball with special vinegar sauce at Great Eastern Restaurant Chinatown San FranciscoRice noodle roll with BBQ pork with yummy soy sauce (Great Eastern Restaurant Chinatown San Francisco)Pan fried pau – wanted to try something different (Great Eastern Restaurant San Francisco)Custard in fried sweet potato ballMenu of Great Eastern Restaurant Chinatown San Francisco Total damage of $17USD at Great Eastern Restaurant
The beef ball was taong and chewy yet tender and flavourful. Comparable to that of Tim Ho Wan. The other thing that you should try is the rice noodle roll with char siew. Looooooved the fatty bits with the shiok texture of the rice noodle roll.
The sauce was also not too salty, just nice 🙂 Try not to be too adventurous and steer away from the pan fried pau which had too much flour.
Conclusion
All in all, if you ask me where to eat in Chinatown San Francisco, I would say that Great Eastern Restaurant is a great place to visit for its dim sum. Seeing the number of locals visiting, you’d probably guess that the food is good and the price is reasonable. Even Obama visits…
Obama visiting Great Eastern Restaurant in Chinatown San Francisco
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This is part of our coverage of San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver USA. Check out these posts if you’re visiting the West Coast of USA!
So enjoy your trip to Chinatown San Francisco (a must visit!) and if you’re wondering where to eat, do check out the Great Eastern Restaurant located at 649 Jackson St, San Francisco, CA 94133!
McMenamins Brewery Or…Beaches Restaurant and Bar Vancouver Washington?
On our first night in Vancouver Washington, we originally wanted to visit McMenamins because of its brews. However, when we told by our concierge at Hilton Vancouver, that the service was not so good and the food was not fantastic either. Instead, we were recommended to visit Lapellah or Beaches.
We actually visited Lapellah first but as it was Christmas Eve, it closed at about 4pm. So we headed off to Beaches which opened till 630pm that evening.
Inside Beaches Restaurant and Bar Vancouver Washington
What to eat and drink at Beaches Restaurant and Bar
Although we did not make reservations that evening, we were thankfully able to quickly have a seat eventhough the restaurant was almost full. Seemed like we took the 2nd last table (table beside us was soon taken up as well). After browsing through the menu, we decided to go for the honey crisp apple wheat cider and Coor’s Light first…
Menu at Beaches RestaurantDrinks Menu Beaches Restaurant Vancouver WashingtonBar area of Beaches Restaurant Vancouver WashingtonHoney Crisp Apple Wheat (4.95USD) and Coors Light (3.95USD) in Beaches Restaurant Vancouver Washington
Kate chose the Shock Top Honey Crisp Apple Wheat while I had the Coors Light (to lighten the guilt since we’re having the “Guilty Burger”). Turns out that the crisp apple wheat cider was an excellent choice. Our waiter also told us that he preferred this version of the apple cider because it was not too sweet and had a soothing after taste – totally enjoyed it. For a dollar more, you should go for the cider as well 😉
Next, we decided on the food. We spared no expense as we were from thousands of miles away and we’re definitely gonna get some good food this evening. So we went for the Guilty Burger and the Baby Back Rib
Guilty Burger at Beaches Restaurant and Bar (11.99USD) Baby Back Rib of Beaches Restaurant and Bar (20.99USD)
The Guilty Burger really makes you guilty. It is just a monster of a burger! There’s pulled pork, grilled beef (seriously? 2 different heavy meats in a burger?!), loaded with cheese, eggs and veges. The part we love about the burger is its grilled beef. It was tender and had a flavourful smoky taste to it.
We noticed how the chefs do the burger patties. They would flip them and place sort of like a lid over it, allowing it to simmer with its own flavours, locking the juices in. That explains the tender, juicy bit of the grilled beef.
But the highlight has got to be the baby back rib. Probably the best ribs we’ve had. BETTER THAN CAFE CARTEL’S St. Louis’ Pork Ribs. It’s true. The meat literally FALLS OFF the bones just with a gentle flick. The smoky caramelised bits and lightly sweetened (not too sweet kind) BBQ sauce topped off this dish.
Did we mention, it’s probably the best ribs we’ve ever had?
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This is part of our coverage of San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver USA. Check out these posts if you’re visiting the West Coast of USA!
From the road junction of our hotel, we can see a low building with a banner that says it is an authentic spanish restaurant. We were glad to find out that it opens at 10am as that would mean we can squeeze in a early lunch because we have to be at the airport by 12pm to catch our flight back to Singapore.
Decorations at Ipar’s Spanish Restaurant Cebu
Decoration of Spanish restaurant Ipar’sDecoration of Spanish restaurant Ipar’s CebuDecoration of Spanish restaurant Ipar’s Cebu Philippines
We love everything about Ipar’s! The decoration in the cosy restaurant, the friendly waitress, the delicious food (the garlic bread! Have we mentioned how much we love garlic because of this trip? Hehe.) and the reasonable price.
Although we were quite full from breakfast, we still ordered starters, mains and a carafe of sangria. As with typical KS Singaporeans, we wanted to make the most out of this trip 🙂
What we ate at Ipar’s Spanish Restaurant Cebu
Starters Churizo 200 peso Garlic Bread 120 pesos Ipar’s Spanish Restaurant CebuSangria Carafe 450 pesos Ipar’s Spanish Restaurant CebuBreaded Pork Chop 200 pesos Ipar’s Spanish Restaurant CebuFillet of fish in famous parsley sauce 350 peso Ipar’s Spanish Restaurant Cebu
Initially, we wanted to try out the roasted pork so that we can compare to the one we tried at Serenity Spanish Bar and Restaurant in Singapore. However, due to the time required to prepare it (at least an hour), we did not have enough time to wait due to our impending flight. We even tried to ask if the wait could be half an hour instead of an hour. But due to the emphasis on the quality of the food, the waitress was quite insistent on saying no to our request. Hence, we settled for the above choices. Still, the food took a while to come, which is why we’re glad that we chose these food instead.
The churizo was a little salty. Good thing that we ordered the garlic bread to even out the saltish taste. As for the garlic bread, you usually have the spreads at pizza hut for their garlic bread? Not so at Ipar’s, you can see actual bits of garlic on the bread and there was a nice crunch with every bit. Like this version compared to Pizza Hut’s.
For the pork chop and the fish, they were both good. Especially the pork chop. Crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. The fish was good but because of its quantity and the fact that we already had breakfast, it became a little jerlat towards the end. That’s where your sangria comes into the picture. It refreshes your taste buds and provides a great compliment to the dishes as well.
Menu of Ipar’s Spanish Restaurant Cebu
Menu of Ipar’s and the price of the foods we ate…
Tapas Menu Ipar’s Spanish Restaurant CebuMeats Menu Ipar’s Spanish Restaurant CebuFish Menu Ipar’s Spanish Restaurant Cebu
We were sooooooooooo full when we went back to the hotel to get our luggage and checked out. But we did not at all regret having this meal 🙂
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Kate noticed Bo’s Coffee striking logo in the streets of Cebu and decided that we should try the coffee and food there. There is one branch near City Suites Ramos Tower so that was what we had for breakfast on our last day in Cebu. Established in Cebu in 1996, Bo’s Coffee was founded by coffee enthusiast and entrepreneur Steve Benitez. The deco in Bo’s Coffee is warm and inviting; and the selection of food was also fairly extensive. We took some time to decide what to have for breakfast. We were also tempted by the cakes and pastries but unfortunately we were too full after our mains 🙁
Bo’s Coffee
Bo’s Coffee
Bo’s Coffee mushroom and cheese omelette with toast 150 peso
Bo’s Coffee corned beef with scrambled eggs and pancakes 175 peso
Drip Coffee (10 pesos with any order of mains), Mushroom and Cheese Omelette with Toast (150 pesos) & Corned beef with scrambled eggs and pancake (175 pesos)
It was definitely a great place to enjoy coffee and pastries while people-watch as the locals make their way to work and the students heading off to school.
Bo’s Coffee Cebu
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Lechon (pronounced as lay-xi-on) is simply roasted pork and the most famous of them all? CnT Lechon!
Females chopping up whole pigs at CnT Lechon
CnT Lechon – Best Lechon in Cebu
According to locals (including our driver Long), CnT Lechon is arguably one of the best Lechon in the whole of Cebu. When you even mention Lechon, everyone will point you here…
CnT Lechon beside SM Mall. best pig ever according to anthony bourdainOther side dishes at CnT Lechon
For us, it was actually quite surprising to see only ladies at this joint. Have you seen how big the pigs are? They actually start with whole pigs and chopping them up according to the weight that customers want…check out this video of the strong women chopping up the lechon! In the video you may also notice this rather impatient guy standing in front of us whose head kept popping up because he wants to know if his food is ready! 🙂
We decided to go for the half kg (for only 200 pesos – $6 SGD!) for the 3 of us to share (including our driver Long). Not too much else we would have to run many hours on the treadmill to burn off the fats! Worst of all, we may have to rename our site to 2fatbears.com! Haha!
And here’s our half kg of lechon!
Half kg of lechon. crispy skin.juicy meat. 200 peso at CnT Lechon
As the caption says, the skin was so crispy! It’s actually Tom’s favourite part. Crispy and slightly saltish, goes really well with plain rice and a dash of the sauce provided. The meat was also tender and juicy. It was good. However, not the best for us. The best pig? If you’re referring to pork knuckle, it has got to be the pork knuckle from Hofbrauhaus Munich. As for roasted suckling pig, the one at Serenity tops our list.
Nonetheless, for the value and quality, it is still a must try when you’re in Cebu!
What else to eat at CnT Lechon
CnT Lechon mixed veg at 30 peso per servingCnT Lechon Fresh lumpia or popiah at 12 peso each
In addition to the lechon, we also had mixed vegetables (30 pesos per portion) and fresh lumpia (12 pesos each)
The lumpia is a little like our popiah in Singapore. Vegetables wrapped in a fresh flour based sheet. Not too bad.
Receipt for lunch at CnT Lechon
Location and Opening Hours of CnT Lechon
CnT Lechon is located at V. Rama Ave, Cebu City and its opening hours are from 8am to 6pm. Be there early as the lechon often gets sold out by mid-afternoon!
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The sun rises fairly early in Cebu and we were up by 6am. After washing up, we strolled around the neighbourhood to look for breakfast. We wanted something local but weren’t sure what to eat. Not far from Castle Peak Hotel, we chanced upon Alberto’s Pizza. The menu was decent and the price was reasonable. And although it was Alberto’s Pizza, we went for the local breakfasts instead! We choose the Hungarian and Cheese Krainer, each at 75 pesos (about $2!).
Alberto’s Pizza HUngarian and Cheese Krainer with garlic rice and egg for 75 peso each
Breakfast at Alberto’s Pizza Cebu!
Each set came with a sunny-side up and garlic rice! Yum! However, the Hungarian sausage was a little too salty for our taste.
Alberto’s Pizza Breakfast Set
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One of the best restaurants in the Philippines is the Golden Cowrie Restaurant. Known officially as the Golden Cowrie Native Restaurant, it serves up authentic Filipino food at a very reasonable price in a restaurant setting…
Interior of Golden Cowrie
Inside Golden Cowrie Restaurant
Golden Cowrie Restaurant – Best Filipino Restaurant Cebu
Touted as the best Filipino restaurant in Cebu, Golden Cowrie Native Restaurant embodies the pride in filipino cuisine and is one of our must-try when you visit Cebu (pronounced as SEE BOO). The funny thing was that although there was a Golden Cowrie Restaurant at Ayala Mall, we did not know about it at that time (so near and yet so far)! Therefore, we took a 10 minutes taxi ride from Ayala Mall to the Golden Cowrie Lahug @ Salinas Drive…
Our server Precious at Golden Cowrie
As we pulled up at Golden Cowrie, we were ushered by a security guard (meaning its a decent joint) who opened these big wooden doors for us to enter into the restaurant. The deco was nice, warm and inviting. Much like coming home. It has an alfresco dining area outside as well.
After being seated, our server Precious (see inset above), asked us politely if it was our first time here. She was friendly and patient in explaining the various local dishes (some of the dishes had Filipino names) while recommending some of the best sellers. Good service is always a great start to a meal isnt it?
What to eat at Golden Cowrie Restaurant
Precious then recommended for us to have the crispy pata (pork knuckle!!), squid in coco sauce, kang kong and shrimps with garlic. This was accompanied by garlic rice and free flow white rice! Oh, every order of normal rice is free flow. And you know what? We don’t usually eat that much white rice, but surprisingly, the rice was especially fragrant while the texture of grains full of goodness! No wonder even ladies pile up on the rice while eating at Golden Cowrie Restaurant! Yes, even Kate!
Golden Cowrie Squid in coco sauce 179
Crispy pata and Squid in coco sauce – Must try from Golden Cowrie Restaurant!
Golden Cowrie Cebu Kangkong 79
Kang Kong and Shrimps with garlic Golden Cowrie Native Restaurant
Golden Cowrie Cebu Garlic Rice 39Golden Cowrie Cebu Shrimps with garlic 89Golden Cowrie Small crispy pata 295
Guess what? EVERY DISH WAS GOOD!! The serving of the crispy pata was HUGE and when you take in a piece of meat together with the crispy skin, accompanied by the garlic rice? Simply SHIOK! Now we understand why many Filipinos enjoy garlic rice. It’s not only the fried garlicky taste that attracts you. When mixed in, it gives a different mild crunchy texture with every mouth. Yum!
Served sizzling hot, the squid in coco sauce was fresh and succulent, not the rubbery kind but the Q type with a refreshing taste of spices and charred taste. With a little chili on the side (not too much cause their version is actually quite spicy), it was just a perfect combination with the fragrant white rice.
The kang kong and shrimps with garlic also accompanied the rice really well. After typing for the last few paragraphs, we’re starting to wonder if dishes revolve around the rice? Because they complemented each other oh oh oh so well! Haven’t had this much rice in such a long time – SERIOUSLY!
Okok, here comes the best part. Our total damage? Only 824 pesos (including drinks) which is about $25 SGD!! This is less than a third of what you would have paid at a zi char stall in Singapore!
Where to find a Golden Cowrie Restaurant in Cebu
Here is a list of Golden Cowrie Restaurants in Cebu.
Ayala Terraces
Cebu Business Park, Biliran Road
Cebu City
Golden Cowrie Lahug (The one that we went to!)
Salinas Drive, Lahug
Cebu City
6000
Parkmall
Ouano Ave. North Reclamation Area
Mandaue City
Cebu, Central Visayas
Golden Cowrie A.S. Fortuna
A. S. Fortuna St
Mandaue City
Cebu, Central Visayas
Golden Cowrie SM Cebu
Lower Ground Floor, SM City
Cebu
Golden Cowrie Cybergate
Robinsons Cybergate, Fuente
Cebu City
Cebu, Central Visayas
Mactan Marina Mall
Lapu-Lapu City
Cebu
Golden Cowrie Restaurant is opened at lunch from 11am to 2pm and for dinner from 6pm to 10pm.
Golden Cowrie Restaurant
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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
Xing Long Cooked Food – Economical Rice aka 杂菜饭 at Marine Parade Food Centre
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!!
$6.30 economic rice at Xing Long Cooked Food
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
Hup Lee Fried Bee Hoon Nasi Lemak – Marine Parade Food Centre
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
Neptune Dim Sum Marine Parade Food Centre
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
Apollo Fresh Cockle Fried Kway Teow Marine Parade Food Centre
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
Seremban Beef Noodles Marine Parade Food Centre
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
Hokkien Fried Noodles (next to Seremban Beef Noodles) Marine Parade Food Centre
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.
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!
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.
Introduction to the Katong and Joo Chiat Area
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.
Traditional setting in 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…
Breakfast at Chin Mee Chin Confectionary
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…
Stretch of Peranakan-styled houses at Koon Seng road5 foot walkway – an iconic feature of chinese architectureFusion of colonial British and Peranakan architectureFurniture shop – using rattan as the main material!Haven’t seen one these 10cents coin telephone for a whileRow of shop houses in the dayEateries along the shop houses at nightUnderground walkways connecting Katong to East Coast Park – Notice the old-school tiles!
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
328 Katong LaksaActual stall of 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…
328 Katong Laksa – great with its sedap chili!
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
Yummy things to eat at Marine Parade Food Center Katong!
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
Yong’s Teochew Kueh Katong
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
Ampang Niang Tou Fu Katong
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
Peramakan at Santa Grand Hotel Katong
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…
Views by the beach at East Coast Park
360 Tour of East Coast Park with views of Marina Bay Sands
I12 Katong (Not 112 Katong!!) – For movies, shopping and diningParkway Parade Shopping CentreVillage Hotel Katong Staycation – Notice the pyramid-shaped towerShopping in the Marine Parade Heartlands!
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.
Alibabar at KatongInside Alibabar Char kway teow and beers at Alibabar
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Lei Garden is an atas Chinese restaurant that also has branches in Singapore and we were told to give it a try in Hong Kong because the price is about 30% lower. After trying out the Michelin-starred dim sum at Tim Ho Wan, we decided to continue with our “extravagant” ways with a classy treat at Lei Garden International Finance Center (IFC) Hong Kong!
Things to note while eating at Lei Garden Hong Kong
There are a few things to note when dining at Lei Garden.
1. Make a reservation or queue up early. There are usually alot of people wanting to dine at Lei Garden (so many rich people nowadays!). Therefore it is wise to either make a reservation or go early to avoid disappointment. In our case, we tried to make a reservation through our receptionist at Ibis Hotel Central Sheung Wan but we were told that they were fully booked that afternoon. Undeterred, we went straight to IFC hoping for a chance to dine in and we left our details at the entrance of the restaurant. Our patience paid off and we were able to be seated about 2 hours (11am to 1pm) from when we gave our details.
Full House at Lei Garden IFC Hong Kong
2. Know what you want to eat. As a Chinese saying goes, 慢工出细活, which means that slow work produces fine products. Therefore, to prevent your wait to be longer than it already is, know what you want to order before you enter (or at least have an idea). Lei Garden is famous for its double-boiled soup, dim sums as well as some high class superior chinese delicacies (which we cannot afford and so is not mentioned in this post)
Dim Sum Menu at Lei Garden Business Set Lunch that we ordered for 300 HKD per person
2. Sit back relax and enjoy the class and magic of Lei Garden. Our impression of Lei Garden is not only that it is classy (individualised service at each table & the setting/ambience was really something else), the food was also innovative and out of the ordinary. For instance, we ordered the Business Set Lunch and expected something less classy…no…I mean have you seen pork dumplings served in this manner?
Juicy pork dumplings Lei Garden Hong Kong- bursting with juices on the first bite, topped with a light crispy rice paper
What we had at Lei Garden IFC Hong Kong
We ordered the Business Set Lunch for 300HKD per person and we had the following…
Steamed Wild Mushroom Lei Garden Hong Kong Dumplings
This dumpling was really interesting in that the skin was really Q and the mushrooms were bursting with flavours within! The pan fried pork dumpling (shown above) also stirred our interest in that not only was the “dangerous” to eat (beware of bursting juices!) but the ingenuity of serving it under a crispy rice paper topping was a first for us!
Ingredients in the double boiled herbal soup at Lei Garden International Finance Center
The only dish that did not live up to the mark was the double boiled soup. It could be because it was hyped up too much by our friends. But I think its mainly because our dad makes a mean pot of soup (be it bak kut teh, old cucumber or herbal chicken). Restaurant mah. Should be better than Daddy’s right? Nope, Daddy’s soup is better!
Baked King Prawn with Italian Sauce Lei Garden Hong Kong
The king prawn was very fresh and the sauce was quite similar to a carbonara sauce of sorts. The cool thing was that we were actually quite impressed that a Chinese restaurant like Lei Garden can produce such a good blend of fusion food (a bit of east meets west kinda thing going on here). Oh, there was a braised garoupa fillet in hot pot which was REALLY great! The fish was fresh and generously covered in a spring onion, ginger sauce, served over a sizzling hot pot. In fact, a lack of photo here can attest to its taste (if you know what I mean ;))
Roasted Crispy Duck Lei Garden
Again, one of the best roasted duck we’ve tasted. The skin was of the duck was thin and fat (in both sense of the word). The more you chew on it, the better the juices mix with the meat as they dance to a symphony of harmony in your mouth! Not to mention, the presentation was great as well!
Poached seasonal greens with fresh bean curd skin Lei Garden Hong Kong
A refreshing taste. Yet another surprise here in that the bean curd skin was an unexpectedly good combination with the greens and mushroom. The more you eat, the better it tastes!
Hand pulled noodles in lobster soup Lei Garden IFC Hong Kong
We’ve had very bad experiences with lobster based soups such as the lobster bisque and it was with caution that we took this dish. However, all our fears were allayed with the first mouth where the soup was hot and rich in fresh lobster flavours. The hand pulled noodles were slurpalicious. Simply put, the dish was out in seconds. Yum!
We also ordered the char siew pau (39 HKD) from the dim sum menu.
Char Siew Bao Lei Garden IFC 39 HKDInside the Char Siew Bao
This char siew bao is another work of art. Besides the usual fluffy outer layer of the bun, the inside was different! Not the usual sweet char siew but the ginger onion char siew fillings. You will also see that the pork is sliced, unlike the usual diced version. Here you can taste the meat and the fattiness together.
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To round up this post, we would say that the meal was classy yet surprisingly. After the pork dumpling, we were actually eagerly anticipating each dish and imagining how they would be presented. Both a visual and tasty treat this was at Lei Garden International Finance Center Hong Kong!
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So you have read our review of Tim Ho Wan Plaza Singapura and is now dying to visit the orignal Tim Ho Wan in Hong Kong? Here is the minimalist guide to eating at Tim Ho Wan @ Mong Kok. Just follow these 3 simple steps to enjoy dim sum at THW – touted as the cheapest Michelin-Starred Restaurant!
Tim Ho Wan Dim Sum Restaurant, Mong Kok, Hong Kong
Step 1 : How to Queue at Tim Ho Wan Hong Kong
First of all, you must know that THERE WILL BE A QUEUE OUTSIDE Tim Ho Wan. If you think that you can just waltz into THW, eat your dim sum and whizz out in 20 minutes, you could be the owner of Tim Ho Wan OR you just arrived in Asia and not know the ways and customs of Asians with regard to food.
Therefore, you must always go to Tim Ho Wan @ Mong Kok with a plan. The plan is therefore to go straight to the entrance, grab your queue number and head on to Ladies Street to do some shopping…
Ladies Street near to Tim Ho Wan Mong Kok
The reason is because the typical waiting time is about 45 minutes to 1 hour during meal times.
So Step 1 : Grab your queue number and head for shopping good times at Ladies Street!
Step 2 : What to order at Tim Ho Wan Hong Kong
For your first order, go for the “4 Heavenly Kings” – 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）
Tim Ho Wan’s Famous Baked Bun with BBQ Pork – 3 for only 17HKD!
Tim Ho Wan’s Famous Baked Bun with BBQ Pork – 3 for only 17HKD!
Essentially, all the versions at THW Hong Kong tastes better than the Singapore version. The star of the show, the baked bun with BBQ was crisp on the outside, fluffy on the bite and flowing with BBQ (chinese style) flavours on the inside. Thrashing the Singapore version hands down.
Steamed Egg Cake – 12 HKD @ Tim Ho Wan Hong Kong
Before trying the steamed egg cake at Tim Ho Wan Mong Kok, we never thought that sweet and savoury dim sums could be eaten together. They certainly can. Each bite was an education in the art of gourmet food altogether. The steamed egg cake was surprisingly good by itself. It’s like a brown sugar cake, not too sweet but superbly fluffy. The aroma of the brown sugar just permeates through your taste buds. Mmm…
Pan Fried Carrot Cake – 14HKD @ Tim Ho Wan Mong Kok
The pan fried carrot cake or turnip cake was very aromatic. The fried mini shrimps (known affectionately as hei bi in Singapore) brought out the flavour of the turnip. Crisp on the outer layer and flavourful within. The texture of the turnip could also be felt with each bite – very much unlike factory-churned ones.
Went for the Beef Chee Cheong Fun instead – 18HKD
Instead of going for the pig’s liver vermicelli roll (chee cheong fun), we decided to go for the Beef version and we were thoroughly intrigued! The beef was SUPER tender – as though it has been pounded many times over. The roll was springy and taong (chewy or “Q” as they would call in Taiwan). Together, it was a perfect match!
So Step 2: Go straight for the “4 Heavenly Kings”, you wont go wrong with the Signatures
Step 3 : Order anything else you wish to savour at Tim Ho Wan Hong Kong
Maybe except the siew mai. We thought it was quite normal. The beef ball with beancurd skin on the other hand is a MUST TRY!
Siew Mai was relatively normal – 24 HKD
Beef Ball with Beancurd Skin – 16HKD @ Tim Ho Wan Hong Kong
Beef Ball with Beancurd Skin – 16HKD @ Tim Ho Wan Hong Kong
Beef balls were oh so tender and Q! You could literally press against it and it would resume its shape! The sauce that is poured over it was not too salty and has a light tang to it. This added to the flavours of the beef balls. Yum!
So Step 3 : Order what catches your sight but just dont order the siew mai (eventhough you may be tempted to!)
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The greatest part about eating dim sum at Tim Ho Wan is that eventhough you’ve enjoyed great Michelin-starred food, the price is still relatively affordable!
Final bill at Tim Ho Wan Mong Kok only 121HKD
Follow the 3 simple steps in our Minimalist guide to eating at Tim Ho Wan Mong Kok Hong Kong for an enjoyable dim sum meal!
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Lan Fong Yuen is one of the most famous Hong Kong cafe for traditional milk tea. Since 1952, it has been serving up breakfast (including its famous pork buns) to generations of Hong Kongers. Since we were staying at Chung King Mansion (New China Yan Yan Hostel), we decided to drop by next door to Woodhouse where Lan Fong Yuen is located.
Lan Fong Yuen Woodhouse – The place to go for traditional HK milk tea
Lan Fong Yuen opens from 8am to 8pm daily and as expected, there was a queue outside even as early as 815am! The good news is that the queue actually moves quite quickly and we were promptly seated.
For those who have luggages (we had ours as we just checked out that morning) and strollers, you are not allowed to bring them in as the space within the cafe is actually quite limited.
Inside Lan Fong Yuen Hong Kong
This morning we tried the bo luo you, milk tea, coffee as well as the pork bun…
Lan Fong Yuen Hong Kong Butter Po Luo You and Milk Tea at 13hkd and 16 hkd respectivelyLan Fong Yuen Hong Kong Pork Bun (18 hkd)
The milk tea was rich and aromatic, living up to its expectations. The bo luo you with its fresh slice of butter was also quite delicious. The slight let-down was the pork bun. Though tender, the taste was quite normal and the portion was really small. Didnt quite live up to the hype.
Nonetheless, there are many other choices on the menu should you decide not to try the pork bun. Like a typical Hong Kong cafe, it offers a variety of choices as well.
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Lan Fong Yuen is located at Chung King Mansion / Woodhouse, a short walk away from the Tsim Sha Tsui MTR station. Exit E is the closest exit to Lan Fong Yuen
Enjoy your fragrant cup of milk tea at Lan Fong Yuen and tell us how you found the pork buns here!
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You will notice that this particular shop is called Hai Xing Porridge Shop. It means that although it serves staples like toast and milk tea for breakfast, its signature is porridge! We ordered the boatsman congee and it was one of the best congee we’ve ever eaten!
Boatsman Congee Hong Kong Cafe
Legend has it that in the past, to make a quick meal, fishermen or boatsman would throw rice and everything else they could find into a pot and let it simmer. The result is an enjoyable bowl of boatsman congee. This version has century eggs, pork, pork stomach, chicken, tendon, squid along with a really enjoyable milky taste!
We also had fried dough (you tiao), soyabean milk as well as a peanut butter toast…
Hong Kong Cafe Fried dough that remained crispy after dipping into soyabean milk – 11 HKDHong Kong Cafe Char Chan Teng Peanut butter and condensed milk toast – 11 HKD
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So the secret is out, to enjoy the best of Hong Kong Cafes, note what is their specialty and order it. That way, each meal at a Hong Kong Cafe will be thoroughly enjoyed! Read also our post on “What a typical Hong Kong Cafe is like” for a better understanding of the HK Cafe culture!
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Mak Mun Kee Noodles Shop (麦文记面家) is said to have one of the best wanton and beef noodles in Hong Kong. Kate did some research online and found that Mak Mun Kee has been around for some time now and has been attracting queues regularly. So we decided to check out the noodles here…
Best Wanton Noodles in Hong Kong belongs to Mak Mun Kee?
Entrance of Mak Mun Kee Noodles Shop at Parkes Street Hong Kong
Mak Mun Kee opens for lunch at only 12pm till 1230am. Kate and I were there slightly after opening hours and the restaurant was almost full! We took a quick glance at the menu and ordered the specialties here – the wanton and beef noodles!
Menu and Introduction of Mak Mun Kee Noodles Shop Hong Kong
According to its introduction, there is ONLY ONE BRANCH OF MAK MUN KEE IN HONG KONG AT PARKES STREET! We were sat close to the entrance of the shop and we were able to observe the skills of the chef. Steam was rising up as the chef tossed the noodles in the air. Before long, our noodles were served…
Beef brisket Noodles at Mak Mun Kee Noodles Shop HKD38Wantoon Noodles at Mak Mun Kee Noodles Shop HKD38
Let’s talk about the noodles first. One word. YEASTY! Kate and I dont really like the yeasty taste in most yellow noodles and this was one of the yeastiest noodles we’ve had. To be fair, we were having the dry version. Perhaps the soup version would be less yeasty? The texture on the hand was springy and chewy – what the Taiwanese would say : “Q!” The portion was also very generous.
In terms of taste, the beef brisket was a clear winner. The beef was tender, mixed with portions of tendons that left that savoury taste in your mouth, leaving you wanting for more….
Wantons on the other hand HAD 2 PRAWNS IN EACH WANTON!! 😮 Usually we will have minced pork with (sometimes half) a prawn in our wantons in Singapore. But this version had 2 huge and succulent prawns!
Overall, the beef brisket noodles is a “must-try” while if you’re going for wanton noodles, try the soup version and let us know how it is.
How to get to Mak Mun Kee Noodles Shop Hong Kong
Map of Mak Mun Kee Noodles Shop at Parkes Street
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Hong Kong cafes in Hong Kong are not what you typically see in Singapore. In Singapore, you see classy Hong Kong cafes. They have themes and are well-renovated. Prices are EXPENSIVE as well!
However in Hong Kong, Hong Kong cafes are more like a way of life. At almost every corner you turn, there’s sure to be a friendly Hong Kong cafe nearby…
A typical Hong Kong Cafe (Cha Chan Teng)A typical Hong Kong Cafe (Cha Chan Teng)
So on the 2nd morning of our trip in Hong Kong, we decided to pop by a Hong Kong cafe to have a typical Hong Konger breakfast. There are a few things that we noticed when we ate at Hong Kong cafes in Hong Kong.
1. Spoilt for choice. Somehow this humble HK cafe manages to serve up MANY types of food each day. For morning, they serve the typical noodles, toast, bun sets. But if you’re game enough (for breakfast), they do serve spaghetti, chicken chop, cutlets and more. This morning, we went for the typical Hong Kong breakfast – bo luo bun, spaghetti soup, toast and milk tea (a must-have in HK)…
Bo Luo You & Milk Tea for 18 HKD ($3 SGD) at Hong Cafe Cha Chan Teng
The bo luo you (butter in bo luo bun – an oven toasted bun with mildly sweet crispy top coating) is a typical snack/breakfast mate. The milk tea is also a typical breakfast staple. But somehow, it tastes alot thicker in Hong Kong. Nicer but may be a be jerlat (too much) if you take more than 2 cups a day.
Hong Kong Cha Chan Teng Cafe Milk TeaHong Kong Cafe Char Siew Spaghetti Noodles and Ham & Eggs Sandwich
2. Old World Charm. When you enter a typical Hong Kong cafe, you will find that most exuberate a charm from yester years. Table arrangements, kitchen, waiters still reminds patrons of how it was like in the 80s to have a friendly breakfast at the local joint. Food choices may have increased in variety, but familiar tastes such as the toast, bo luo bun and of course the milk tea has “nostalgia” written all over it…
3. Fast service. Maybe a little too fast. The pace of living in Hong Kong has greatly risen in the past decade. In many restaurants, you will find that food is just meant to be energy for the body. You eat and you go. The humble Hong Kong cafe has not been able to avoid the brunt of this fast-paced development. Even in the most traditional HK cafe, waiters will circle around tables (like hyenas or vultures), swooping in when they spot an empty plate or when a patron has just finished the last sip of his milk tea. The glaring eyes of the waiters also beams on you should you so decide to enjoy your cup of coffee with the morning newspapers.
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Yes, we’re also wondering why it’s called the Australian Dairy Company when IT IS ACTUALLY IN HONG KONG!! The Australian Dairy Company also known as 澳洲牛奶公司 in Chinese is sort of like a Hong Kong cafe (茶餐厅) which serves typical Hong Kong breakfast fare (think tea, toast and eggs).
Typical long queue outside Australian Dairy Company @ Jordan Hong Kong
is none other than the desserts!
What desserts to eat at Australian Dairy Company 澳洲牛奶公司
To be honest, we were actually heading to Mak Man Kee (wanton noodles place at Parke street) to find out its exact location the night before so that we would easily locate it during lunch the next day. BUT, as kiasu Singaporeans, we cant help but notice a long queue outside the Australian Dairy Company.
Then we saw that it had some pictures of desserts. We just had dinner, not a bad idea to have some desserts right? Little did we know that we stumbled upon one of the best dessert stalls in Hong Kong!
After queuing for 15 minutes (surprisingly short queue that evening – picture above is the queue the next day as we headed to Mak Man Kee!), we were promptly sat down. The menu was right before us but we still took some time to figure out the Chinese words on the menu. Thankfully, the aunty who sat beside us, saw that we were struggling and ordered the 2 main favourites for us!
The famous desserts at the Australian Dairy Company are the steamed egg white milk pudding (蛋白炖鲜奶) as well as the steamed almond egg pudding (杏汁炖蛋)…
Steamed Almond Egg Pudding (杏汁炖蛋) at Australian Dairy Company Hong KongSteamed Egg white with fresh milk at Australian Dairy Company Hong Kong (蛋白炖鲜奶)
The steamed egg white milk pudding (蛋白炖鲜奶) was shiok! I really think Hong Kongers are foodie genius! Would you have thought of combining egg white , milk and STEAM it?! I know I wouldnt. Yet the result is OH SO DELICIOUS!
The texture was soft and when it enters your mouth, it just melts and spreads. Ah… The taste was rich, flavourful and not too sweet. You can actually taste the egg white and milk all at the same time! Just so yummilicious!
The steamed almond egg pudding on the other hand had a stronger taste of the egg yolk. Again, from the business sense, the creation is a work of genius. You use the white and yolk separately. Create 2 desserts and have no wastage. Genius!
However, we liked the yellow less (not to be confused with yellow yellow – aka durian in the southeast asia region) and the white much more. The yellow had an overpowering yolk taste. For fans of egg yolk, this would be a favourite. But for Kate and I? Well…let’s just say that we managed to finish it.
Just one last comment, like most Hong Kong Cafe, the waiters act fast! So dont expect to leisurely enjoy your desserts cause they’ll be eyeing your bowl every step of the way! Once you’re done, you’re outta here!
How to get to Australian Dairy Company 澳洲牛奶公司 Hong Kong
Map of Australian Dairy Company 澳洲牛奶公司 , Jordan Hong Kong
The Australian Dairy Company is located at 47-49 Parke Street. If you alight from the Jordan MTR, it is just a short 2 minutes walk away via exit C2. Once at Parke Street, you wont miss the long queue there.
Oh, there could be 2 long queues at Parke Street, the other at Mak Mun Kee. But you definitely wont miss it!
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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
Decorations at Serenity
Ambience at Serenity VivoCity
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…
Sangria Pantera Rosa @ Serenity Spanish Bar and Restaurant – (Red Wine, Raspberry Schnapps, Mixed Berries, Mint, Tonic)
Sangria Pantera Rosa @ Serenity Spanish Bar and Restaurant – (Red Wine, Raspberry Schnapps, Mixed Berries, Mint, Tonic)
Sangria De Coco – (White Wine, Malibu, Pineapple Juice)
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
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…
Pollo con samfaina – (Roasted spring chicken stuffed with Spanish style vegetable rice)
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!
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