This is almost like a storeroom but very well kept and organised. ViewPoint Trading & Collectibles is one shop that you cannot miss when you're at China Square Central.
Housed with many vintage collectibles, ranging from vintage toys, furnitures, black vinyl records and player, to awesome items that you can hardly (or never) find in the modern days. The shop though not very big, is very well organised and maintained. Items are placed in groups and display in a way that is easy to spot interesting things among the clutter of collectibles.
If you're looking for unique decor for your house, this is a great place to go if you're into the retro and vintage stuff.
I love Wasabi Tei as well. The food comes in a good portion with tasty appertiser and sides. Its quite authentic and with the barside seats all round, I cannot help but feel a little japanese.
It is constantly crowded. Mainly because of the very yummy food and value for money prices. However behaving well with good courtesy and being considerate is an important virtue when u dine in this restaurant.
Don't come in Big Groups... There might not be sufficient seat for you and your friends, less you want to take turns to eat on the table.
Do not change your mind after your ordered your food. Less your ears will bleed from grumbling.
Do no ask for this and demand for that as quality food does not necesary comes with quality service.
If you happen to sit by the corners, please make sure you allow ample space for that poor diner inside who wants to get out.
Always put a smiling face even if the stern looking chef stares at you for playing with his cutleries. If you K-L, he will unleash the tiger within.
VERY SUPERB YUMMY QUALITY FOOD and AFFORDABLE Prices.. This Place is FAB.....but NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED.......
We went to four floor to ask for a room package, but to our shock it was quite crowed , so we wait for quite a long time.
And finally, it is our turn , the counter girl told us one sentence " K student ar ? go to level eight "
So we took a lift and went to level eight , the girl on the counter say , k student is only till 5pm while in fact it SHOULD be till 7 pm !!!
We asked for the reason , and she said is because we didn't call and reserve !!!
Ok, what a lousy excuse !!! even though we were quite irritated but since we were there , we might as well as paid more to sing longer period ! $22.25 !!! while in fact is should be only $17.50 NETT !!!
I think soon or later, i will not be going any KTV !
Was in the mood for a lazy and peaceful brunch late one Saturday morning so decided to skip town and head to Le Bistrot at Kallang, a bistro purportedly featuring classic and inventive French cuisine and of course a brunch menu at seemingly reasonable prices (the main draw).
Le Bistrot boasts a rather quaint yet cozy interior with wooden paneling and cushions to go along with the co joint seats. There are floor to ceiling windows and even part of the ceiling is made from glass, allowing sunlight to flow through. Very much like a homely greenhouse with bulbs hanging from the ceiling.
Toasted Bread - You get to choose your choice of spreads for the bread, ranging from apricot jam to chestnut jam, all self service from the wooden shelf thats sits in the centre of the room. I appreciate the choice of jams and certainly the quality of the bread, which had a muffin like texture - a tad chewy and porous. Only bone I had was that the crust was a little too hard, but at least it was served warm.
Marinated Artichoke Salad & Mixed Fruit Soup with Mango Sorbet -
Artichoke seriously isn't my cup of tea hence I didn't quite take to the salad. The mango sorbet was refreshing and came served with diced rock melon and pineapple cubes for added texture and taste.
Viennoiserie - Viennoiserie, or French for Viennese Specialities, include stuff like croissants, Danish pastries etc. This particular one was a chocolate croissant I believe. Nice and flaky without the lingering oil stains on the fingers. The chocolate filling wasn't too sweet or hard, which probably meant it hadn't been lying around in the open for too long - a good sign definitely.
Omelette with Smoked Spicy Pork Sausage & Omelette with Nurnberger Pork Sausage - The omelettes were a little runny yet smooth without being too heavy on the milk, which equates not nausea inducing, for me at least. The spicy pork sausage (addition of $3.50) didn't exactly wow me with its limp chilli taste and non existent smokiness. I thought better of the Nurnberger sausage(addition of $4) though, which was mildly salty with a slightly uneven texture, making it a nice accompainment to the omelette.
Hot Chocolate - Its one of the few times I order hot chocolate in favour of coffee/tea and I must say it came as a surprise to me when we were served a small pack of valhorna 61% cocoa chocolate, a pot of heated milk and one pot of molten chocolate. The idea is to place the piece of chocolate in your cup and pour in your desired amount of molten chocolate or milk to suit your tastebuds. Please remember to stir of course!
$57 for a 2 pax brunch tends towards the expensive side especially when there wasn't really much to eat. But I must admit that the environment is rather relaxing and no crowds are a big plus. Service is good as well but I doubt I'll be back for brunch, not unless they drop their prices.
Located in the same vicinity as Royal China, Ah Tengs Bakery is an extension of Empire Cafe which specializes in sandwiches, coffee and the oh-so-important dessert. Having had a less then savory dim sum experience and feeling utterly unsatisfied, i was pulled along into this bakery to have some coffee and to sin further after the meal. Read on my friends.
First up, you'll notice how retro this place looks. A horrible looking sign and drab interiors belie the wonderful desserts they sell. Do not be deceived however, its out coverings definitely do not do its tasty sweetness justice.
Premium Black Coffee ($4.67) - After all the oily dim sum, a coffee black simply hits the spot. No sugar, no milk, just pure black coffee bean goodness. This was lightly acidic and yet has a great aroma which is easy on the palate.
Tiramisu ($4.21) - Now, i've never had a really good tasting Tiramisu in Singapore so far. In fact, i'm quite a dunce when it comes to Tiramisu. Still, the fact remains that no Tiramisu has given me enough reason to rave about it. This is no exception sadly but it does come close. Thick and sinful mascarpone cheese adorn the main body while 2 layers of rum soaked cake serve to provide the flavor and balance which all Tiramisu's try to attain. The chocolate powder is used deliberately for the outer covering which still gets the job done.
Ambrosia ($4.21) - Ambrosia is a terribly awful and sinful dessert. I must say, indulge in this at the peril of your waistline. Rich, thick chocolate covers the entire outer layer and inner layer as well. The chocolate is a mix of bitterness and sweetness but its enough to keep you asking for more. The inner workings include 2 surprise layers of flavor hidden near the middle. The flavors there are familiar workings which remind me of....strawberry and some other ingredient i simply can't recall but the important thing is, its all good. There's even some gold foil used on top of the dessert for that decadent look. If this is sin, oh, lord, i have sinned badly and i will sin again.
Total bill for this delectable dessert turned up at $18.50 which is remarkably cheap.
This dessert saved the day really. And the price is reasonable enough for me to want to return in a hurry. Definitely try the cakes here. Not too sure about everything else though.
Authentic cantonese cuisine in a comfortable setting. Wah lok has been in the business of serving good Cantonese food to the masses for a long time. In fact, the restaurant has been a winner of the Singapore Tatler for best restaurant for 10 consecutive years. There's a lot to live up to and thats something me, my gf and my good friend was there to ascertain.
As far as interior goes, i do like the open spaces and the slick wood finish that seems to be teak or redwood. This design choice permeates the entire restaurant for a classy finish reminiscent of the restaurants i've been to in Hong Kong. In fact, it even goes so far as to have authentic cantonese speaking staff which is either a boon or bane depending on your preferences and language proficiency. Either way, the interior is abuzz with activity and rather full on the Saturday i visited.
Deep fried Squid ($6), Carrot Cake ($4) - These 2 items arrived on a push cart and was peddled by a nice old lady. By her recommendation, these were fresh and supposedly good. Somehow, i didn't think the squid was very tasty since it tasted dry and overfried. The carrot cake was quivery and firm without being too oily but lacked much taste. This was promptly rectified with their delectable chili sauce however.
Custard Pastry ($3.20) - Walnut custard pastry i should say. Its rather interesting. The walnut gives it a very distinct flavor while the pastry itself was crispy and flaky. The custard was rather minimal which rather contradicted with what i really liked in custard pastry....namely, the custard.
Har Gao AKA Shrimp Dumplings ($5.40) - A must have item in any dim sum session. This rendition however, doesn't quite measure up. No doubt the shrimp/prawn filling is adequately sweet and tasty but the skin turned out to be too thick for my liking. In fact, it sticks to your teeth and simply isn't as good as it should be. Change the skin and they might fare much better.
Deep Fried Beancurd aka Fu Pi Juan ($5.60) - Another item i wouldn't miss whenever i have dim sum, this turned out too oily however. The fillings were also rather inadequate and thus making it feel overpriced.
Siew Mai ($4.60) - Also known as pork dumplings, this came in a decent size and had a strong meaty taste some will love and others will love to hate. A surprising amount of mushroom were used on this rendition as well, so be prepared for a fungi explosion of taste.
Steamed Chive Dumplings ($4) - The first problem here is that the skin was the exact same one used for the prawn dumplings earlier, thats a major minus point in my book. The second problem is that the chive and pork mixture actually neutralizes the strong taste of chives which i like. Thus rendering the dish obsolete.
Char Siew Pastry ($3.80) - I like the sweet pork meat inside which was equally tender and tasty. The let down here was the pastry which lacked a stronger taste of butter and that crispy flakiness of the version in Yan Ting which still stands as the best out there for me.
Chicken and Century Egg Congee ($3) - Well, this congee certainly didn't astound me in any way.... Century eggs, chicken and some bacon thrown in. A nice aroma to the stock and the congee was suitably soft. Thats about it really.
Egg Tart ($3.20) - The pastry is a let down while the egg tart itself was definitely too eggy such that the proportion does not justify nor bring out the taste of the other. Major improvements needed here.
Prawns and Scallop Cheong Fan ($5.40 each) - We ordered 2 versions of this cheong fan and in all honesty, the regular one is still the better of the 2. Regular being the prawn cheong fan. The soy sauce is just right in terms of saltiness but the use of ingredients for both versions were skimped on such that there was very minimal prawn or scallop taste in either.
Pork Buns aka Char Siew Bao ($3.60) - Fluffy but sticky buns with the aforementioned sweet bbq pork. As usual, the proportion of meat to bun is rather disproportioned in the wrong way. Too much bun, too little pork.
Total bill for this rather lackluster dim sum session came up to $77.90.
Maybe there's just too much to live up to or i've got my hopes up too high for this place. I can't help but feel disappointed at what i've been served this day. The dim sum offering actually doesn't quite stand in the league of Peach Garden, Royal China, Yan Ting or even Hua Ting. If this is any indication, than i'd probably recommend to try those other restaurants i've mentioned above for a better dim sum experience.
St Regis' Remede Spa specialises in pampering, leaving you relaxed, happy and some might say feeling like royalty.
It's tip-top service from the moment you enter, to the receptionist (Ms. Lynne Khoo) who was kind enough to send me a menu via email (it arrived in 5 minutes! now THAT'S efficiency.) to the friendly people at the counter. They will always answer the phone as long as they're open, even if you call at 9plus pm. Bring a friend along and when you ask for the bill, they'll very kindly and considerately ask whether you'd like it to be charged to 2 different credit cards instead. Someone will walk you to the locker room area, which was empty when I arrived. You may also request for one of the staff to show you around the place.
None of those useless customer service people some might get at inferior spas like True Spa.
The massage is customised, you can choose any techniques you want. I asked for a combination of Shiatsu, Swedish, and Balinese. The 60 minute full body massage comes with a paraffin foot treatment. The 90 minute massage comes with both hand and foot paraffin wax.
There were 3 kinds of aromatherapy oils to choose from for the treatment I booked, the first being a very calming lavender eucalyptus which my companion chose. 2nd was some kind of aquatic oakmoss sandalwood fir one; third was an uplifting refreshing citrusy minty lemon bergamot one which I picked.
They provide amenities needed- combs, deodorant, etc. including disposable underwear (made of black cottony-stocking material, not those paper things you get elsewhere) and the area's decorated with red roses on tables and such. They've got nice fluffy robes with a towely layer inside, another normal thick cotton layer over. The usual fluffy towels. Fluffy cottony slippers unlike those standard papery ones, in a gauze-y mesh bag.
Cost of the treatment? $180SGD each (excl. GST and service charge) for a 60 minute massage. Don't forget to use their spa facilities (an extra $35 each for treatments above 100, an extra 70 each for treatments below 100)
They have: a heated indoor jacuzzi, an outdoor jacuzzi, eucalyptus scented steam room. Sit on the infrared heated marble loungers, take a sip of the nice fruity water they have at the lounge. If your face gets too hot because of the steambath or sauna, there's also a mini-fridge inside with cold eucalyptus/mint scented face towels to wipe yourself off, or just grab some ice from the ice fountain.
Take a walk along the aqua reflex path when (and if) you ever get bored, and enjoy the peacefulness and serenity of the place. If you're lucky enough you're probably the only one there, but in case you're unlucky it's always good to note that the facilities are never crowded, never more than just one or two other people with you.
Go with a friend or your partner and book the Jade Suite, with a separate changing room, shower cubicle, and its own toilet. The room's partitioned into two, with the massage area separated from the changing/shower/hydrobath area by 2 big doors. Both sides are big and roomy.
If you'd prefer to go alone, then the Vichy Shower Massage in the Vichy Suite's good too.
There's no extra charge for Suites vs. individual treatment rooms.
Don't rush off after your treatment, there's complimentary champagne, chocolates and tea (of your choice) at the Sensorial Lounge. There are different lounges and facilities for men and women, and while you can't enjoy being in a jacuzzi with your partner, you're free to sit together at the lounges anytime.
I loved my massage (by this very nice lady called Jacqueline) and my companion really enjoyed theirs as well. So if you're looking for a wonderful, relaxing time; then I'd say St Regis' Remede Spa will make you feel at peace with the world and completely relaxed. The staff are helpful yet unobtrusive, friendly and kind. I couldn't find my locker key because I enjoyed myself so much in the facilities, and they hunted all over for me.
It's truly worthy of the 6-Star Rating given to the Hotel and the Spa. (too bad yebber only has up to 5 stars lol)
HFB is happy to announce that a new Astons Specialities has finally come to TOWN and is located at The Cathay Building!
With its simple wood-based furbishing and its signatured chalkboard indicating the Special of the Day, HFB couldn’t resist himself but be tempted by the promotion screaming WAGYU RIBEYE Grade 5/6 - $38.90nett [including 2 side dishes] and end up ordering it along with Sweet Corn and Coleslaw.
The sweet corn patted with butter was satisfyingly sweet – love it! As for the coleslaw, I would prefer the cut of the veggies be thinner, but otherwise it was normal.
Grilled to a perfect charred on the outside and medium rare on the inside, what sets this wagyu ribeye apart from the normal ribeye is the tenderness of the meat - marbled with monounsaturated fats; the natural juices that gushed out with each chew were such a delight! Also, the lingering tint of sweetness on the palate was pure enjoyment.
But coming back to reality, HFB wasn’t fully satisfied with 200gm of meat, and he was harbouring over his dining partner’s Prime Ribeye X’tra Cut ($16.50nett) that was much thicker and bigger.
Besides nicely cooked to medium rare, what HFB found lacking in the wagyu, was ironically satisfied by the X’tra Cut – the “Beefy” taste!
A personal preference, HFB believes a beef should taste like beef and that was somehow missing from the wagyu, or perhaps he is just not used to eating wagyu.
You can view the all photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
Took part in the recent Prego - Spaghetti & Meatball Eating Challenge. Nestled in Fairmont Hotel Singapore, Prego is a contemporary, chic restaurant that serves hearty authentic Italian fare. The restaurant is huge with high ceilings and easily seats more than a 100 pax - a place ideal for both business dining and large group gatherings.
Although my plate of meatball spaghetti was gobbled down in a space of 4mins and 05secs, HFB was able to taste the very smooth pasta sauce and al dente pasta. The tomato based sauce didn't come across as too heavy - which HFB likes it a lot!
Due to the eating challenge reasons, the meatballs were made slightly harder than usual, so HFB is not going to comment of the texture of the meatballs. But what I like is the "beefy" taste of the meatballs, yet not overwhelming. They charged $12nett for the competition and the actual retail price of the pasta is $25 .
You can view the all photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
1=SGD 0.0587
This is almost like a storeroom but very well kept and organised. ViewPoint Trading & Collectibles is one shop that you cannot miss when you're at China Square Central.
Housed with many vintage collectibles, ranging from vintage toys, furnitures, black vinyl records and player, to awesome items that you can hardly (or never) find in the modern days. The shop though not very big, is very well organised and maintained. Items are placed in groups and display in a way that is easy to spot interesting things among the clutter of collectibles.
If you're looking for unique decor for your house, this is a great place to go if you're into the retro and vintage stuff.
Rating given:
I love Wasabi Tei as well. The food comes in a good portion with tasty appertiser and sides. Its quite authentic and with the barside seats all round, I cannot help but feel a little japanese.
It is constantly crowded. Mainly because of the very yummy food and value for money prices. However behaving well with good courtesy and being considerate is an important virtue when u dine in this restaurant.
Don't come in Big Groups... There might not be sufficient seat for you and your friends, less you want to take turns to eat on the table.
Do not change your mind after your ordered your food. Less your ears will bleed from grumbling.
Do no ask for this and demand for that as quality food does not necesary comes with quality service.
If you happen to sit by the corners, please make sure you allow ample space for that poor diner inside who wants to get out.
Always put a smiling face even if the stern looking chef stares at you for playing with his cutleries. If you K-L, he will unleash the tiger within.
VERY SUPERB YUMMY QUALITY FOOD and AFFORDABLE Prices.. This Place is FAB.....but NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED.......
Rating given:
Today , went to this place with my best pals.
We went to four floor to ask for a room package, but to our shock it was quite crowed , so we wait for quite a long time.
And finally, it is our turn , the counter girl told us one sentence " K student ar ? go to level eight "
So we took a lift and went to level eight , the girl on the counter say , k student is only till 5pm while in fact it SHOULD be till 7 pm !!!
We asked for the reason , and she said is because we didn't call and reserve !!!
Ok, what a lousy excuse !!! even though we were quite irritated but since we were there , we might as well as paid more to sing longer period ! $22.25 !!! while in fact is should be only $17.50 NETT !!!
I think soon or later, i will not be going any KTV !
Rating given:
Was in the mood for a lazy and peaceful brunch late one Saturday morning so decided to skip town and head to Le Bistrot at Kallang, a bistro purportedly featuring classic and inventive French cuisine and of course a brunch menu at seemingly reasonable prices (the main draw).
Le Bistrot boasts a rather quaint yet cozy interior with wooden paneling and cushions to go along with the co joint seats. There are floor to ceiling windows and even part of the ceiling is made from glass, allowing sunlight to flow through. Very much like a homely greenhouse with bulbs hanging from the ceiling.
Toasted Bread - You get to choose your choice of spreads for the bread, ranging from apricot jam to chestnut jam, all self service from the wooden shelf thats sits in the centre of the room. I appreciate the choice of jams and certainly the quality of the bread, which had a muffin like texture - a tad chewy and porous. Only bone I had was that the crust was a little too hard, but at least it was served warm.
Marinated Artichoke Salad & Mixed Fruit Soup with Mango Sorbet -
Artichoke seriously isn't my cup of tea hence I didn't quite take to the salad. The mango sorbet was refreshing and came served with diced rock melon and pineapple cubes for added texture and taste.
Viennoiserie - Viennoiserie, or French for Viennese Specialities, include stuff like croissants, Danish pastries etc. This particular one was a chocolate croissant I believe. Nice and flaky without the lingering oil stains on the fingers. The chocolate filling wasn't too sweet or hard, which probably meant it hadn't been lying around in the open for too long - a good sign definitely.
Omelette with Smoked Spicy Pork Sausage & Omelette with Nurnberger Pork Sausage - The omelettes were a little runny yet smooth without being too heavy on the milk, which equates not nausea inducing, for me at least. The spicy pork sausage (addition of $3.50) didn't exactly wow me with its limp chilli taste and non existent smokiness. I thought better of the Nurnberger sausage(addition of $4) though, which was mildly salty with a slightly uneven texture, making it a nice accompainment to the omelette.
Hot Chocolate - Its one of the few times I order hot chocolate in favour of coffee/tea and I must say it came as a surprise to me when we were served a small pack of valhorna 61% cocoa chocolate, a pot of heated milk and one pot of molten chocolate. The idea is to place the piece of chocolate in your cup and pour in your desired amount of molten chocolate or milk to suit your tastebuds. Please remember to stir of course!
$57 for a 2 pax brunch tends towards the expensive side especially when there wasn't really much to eat. But I must admit that the environment is rather relaxing and no crowds are a big plus. Service is good as well but I doubt I'll be back for brunch, not unless they drop their prices.
See all my pictures here.
Rating given:
Located in the same vicinity as Royal China, Ah Tengs Bakery is an extension of Empire Cafe which specializes in sandwiches, coffee and the oh-so-important dessert. Having had a less then savory dim sum experience and feeling utterly unsatisfied, i was pulled along into this bakery to have some coffee and to sin further after the meal. Read on my friends.
First up, you'll notice how retro this place looks. A horrible looking sign and drab interiors belie the wonderful desserts they sell. Do not be deceived however, its out coverings definitely do not do its tasty sweetness justice.
Premium Black Coffee ($4.67) - After all the oily dim sum, a coffee black simply hits the spot. No sugar, no milk, just pure black coffee bean goodness. This was lightly acidic and yet has a great aroma which is easy on the palate.
Tiramisu ($4.21) - Now, i've never had a really good tasting Tiramisu in Singapore so far. In fact, i'm quite a dunce when it comes to Tiramisu. Still, the fact remains that no Tiramisu has given me enough reason to rave about it. This is no exception sadly but it does come close. Thick and sinful mascarpone cheese adorn the main body while 2 layers of rum soaked cake serve to provide the flavor and balance which all Tiramisu's try to attain. The chocolate powder is used deliberately for the outer covering which still gets the job done.
Ambrosia ($4.21) - Ambrosia is a terribly awful and sinful dessert. I must say, indulge in this at the peril of your waistline. Rich, thick chocolate covers the entire outer layer and inner layer as well. The chocolate is a mix of bitterness and sweetness but its enough to keep you asking for more. The inner workings include 2 surprise layers of flavor hidden near the middle. The flavors there are familiar workings which remind me of....strawberry and some other ingredient i simply can't recall but the important thing is, its all good. There's even some gold foil used on top of the dessert for that decadent look. If this is sin, oh, lord, i have sinned badly and i will sin again.
Total bill for this delectable dessert turned up at $18.50 which is remarkably cheap.
This dessert saved the day really. And the price is reasonable enough for me to want to return in a hurry. Definitely try the cakes here. Not too sure about everything else though.
Rating given:
Authentic cantonese cuisine in a comfortable setting. Wah lok has been in the business of serving good Cantonese food to the masses for a long time. In fact, the restaurant has been a winner of the Singapore Tatler for best restaurant for 10 consecutive years. There's a lot to live up to and thats something me, my gf and my good friend was there to ascertain.
As far as interior goes, i do like the open spaces and the slick wood finish that seems to be teak or redwood. This design choice permeates the entire restaurant for a classy finish reminiscent of the restaurants i've been to in Hong Kong. In fact, it even goes so far as to have authentic cantonese speaking staff which is either a boon or bane depending on your preferences and language proficiency. Either way, the interior is abuzz with activity and rather full on the Saturday i visited.
Deep fried Squid ($6), Carrot Cake ($4) - These 2 items arrived on a push cart and was peddled by a nice old lady. By her recommendation, these were fresh and supposedly good. Somehow, i didn't think the squid was very tasty since it tasted dry and overfried. The carrot cake was quivery and firm without being too oily but lacked much taste. This was promptly rectified with their delectable chili sauce however.
Custard Pastry ($3.20) - Walnut custard pastry i should say. Its rather interesting. The walnut gives it a very distinct flavor while the pastry itself was crispy and flaky. The custard was rather minimal which rather contradicted with what i really liked in custard pastry....namely, the custard.
Har Gao AKA Shrimp Dumplings ($5.40) - A must have item in any dim sum session. This rendition however, doesn't quite measure up. No doubt the shrimp/prawn filling is adequately sweet and tasty but the skin turned out to be too thick for my liking. In fact, it sticks to your teeth and simply isn't as good as it should be. Change the skin and they might fare much better.
Deep Fried Beancurd aka Fu Pi Juan ($5.60) - Another item i wouldn't miss whenever i have dim sum, this turned out too oily however. The fillings were also rather inadequate and thus making it feel overpriced.
Siew Mai ($4.60) - Also known as pork dumplings, this came in a decent size and had a strong meaty taste some will love and others will love to hate. A surprising amount of mushroom were used on this rendition as well, so be prepared for a fungi explosion of taste.
Steamed Chive Dumplings ($4) - The first problem here is that the skin was the exact same one used for the prawn dumplings earlier, thats a major minus point in my book. The second problem is that the chive and pork mixture actually neutralizes the strong taste of chives which i like. Thus rendering the dish obsolete.
Char Siew Pastry ($3.80) - I like the sweet pork meat inside which was equally tender and tasty. The let down here was the pastry which lacked a stronger taste of butter and that crispy flakiness of the version in Yan Ting which still stands as the best out there for me.
Chicken and Century Egg Congee ($3) - Well, this congee certainly didn't astound me in any way.... Century eggs, chicken and some bacon thrown in. A nice aroma to the stock and the congee was suitably soft. Thats about it really.
Egg Tart ($3.20) - The pastry is a let down while the egg tart itself was definitely too eggy such that the proportion does not justify nor bring out the taste of the other. Major improvements needed here.
Prawns and Scallop Cheong Fan ($5.40 each) - We ordered 2 versions of this cheong fan and in all honesty, the regular one is still the better of the 2. Regular being the prawn cheong fan. The soy sauce is just right in terms of saltiness but the use of ingredients for both versions were skimped on such that there was very minimal prawn or scallop taste in either.
Pork Buns aka Char Siew Bao ($3.60) - Fluffy but sticky buns with the aforementioned sweet bbq pork. As usual, the proportion of meat to bun is rather disproportioned in the wrong way. Too much bun, too little pork.
Total bill for this rather lackluster dim sum session came up to $77.90.
Maybe there's just too much to live up to or i've got my hopes up too high for this place. I can't help but feel disappointed at what i've been served this day. The dim sum offering actually doesn't quite stand in the league of Peach Garden, Royal China, Yan Ting or even Hua Ting. If this is any indication, than i'd probably recommend to try those other restaurants i've mentioned above for a better dim sum experience.
Rating given:
St Regis' Remede Spa specialises in pampering, leaving you relaxed, happy and some might say feeling like royalty.
It's tip-top service from the moment you enter, to the receptionist (Ms. Lynne Khoo) who was kind enough to send me a menu via email (it arrived in 5 minutes! now THAT'S efficiency.) to the friendly people at the counter. They will always answer the phone as long as they're open, even if you call at 9plus pm. Bring a friend along and when you ask for the bill, they'll very kindly and considerately ask whether you'd like it to be charged to 2 different credit cards instead. Someone will walk you to the locker room area, which was empty when I arrived. You may also request for one of the staff to show you around the place.
None of those useless customer service people some might get at inferior spas like True Spa.
The massage is customised, you can choose any techniques you want. I asked for a combination of Shiatsu, Swedish, and Balinese. The 60 minute full body massage comes with a paraffin foot treatment. The 90 minute massage comes with both hand and foot paraffin wax.
There were 3 kinds of aromatherapy oils to choose from for the treatment I booked, the first being a very calming lavender eucalyptus which my companion chose. 2nd was some kind of aquatic oakmoss sandalwood fir one; third was an uplifting refreshing citrusy minty lemon bergamot one which I picked.
They provide amenities needed- combs, deodorant, etc. including disposable underwear (made of black cottony-stocking material, not those paper things you get elsewhere) and the area's decorated with red roses on tables and such. They've got nice fluffy robes with a towely layer inside, another normal thick cotton layer over. The usual fluffy towels. Fluffy cottony slippers unlike those standard papery ones, in a gauze-y mesh bag.
Cost of the treatment? $180SGD each (excl. GST and service charge) for a 60 minute massage. Don't forget to use their spa facilities (an extra $35 each for treatments above 100, an extra 70 each for treatments below 100)
They have: a heated indoor jacuzzi, an outdoor jacuzzi, eucalyptus scented steam room. Sit on the infrared heated marble loungers, take a sip of the nice fruity water they have at the lounge. If your face gets too hot because of the steambath or sauna, there's also a mini-fridge inside with cold eucalyptus/mint scented face towels to wipe yourself off, or just grab some ice from the ice fountain.
Take a walk along the aqua reflex path when (and if) you ever get bored, and enjoy the peacefulness and serenity of the place. If you're lucky enough you're probably the only one there, but in case you're unlucky it's always good to note that the facilities are never crowded, never more than just one or two other people with you.
Go with a friend or your partner and book the Jade Suite, with a separate changing room, shower cubicle, and its own toilet. The room's partitioned into two, with the massage area separated from the changing/shower/hydrobath area by 2 big doors. Both sides are big and roomy.
If you'd prefer to go alone, then the Vichy Shower Massage in the Vichy Suite's good too.
There's no extra charge for Suites vs. individual treatment rooms.
Don't rush off after your treatment, there's complimentary champagne, chocolates and tea (of your choice) at the Sensorial Lounge. There are different lounges and facilities for men and women, and while you can't enjoy being in a jacuzzi with your partner, you're free to sit together at the lounges anytime.
I loved my massage (by this very nice lady called Jacqueline) and my companion really enjoyed theirs as well. So if you're looking for a wonderful, relaxing time; then I'd say St Regis' Remede Spa will make you feel at peace with the world and completely relaxed. The staff are helpful yet unobtrusive, friendly and kind. I couldn't find my locker key because I enjoyed myself so much in the facilities, and they hunted all over for me.
It's truly worthy of the 6-Star Rating given to the Hotel and the Spa. (too bad yebber only has up to 5 stars lol)
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AH ! the 10 dollar KTV !!!!
I was a regular customer one year ago.
But now i left no choice but to patron the expensive k box again .
I like their budget rate and the avaliable of latest songs !!!
Moreover,you can have flow flow of drinks through out !
It is the best Karaoke i can said .
But saddly, nowadays, i don't get any room avaliable even though i tried to book the room like one week before hand.
i think now i must try to book two weeks beforehand or worst one month before hand...
If i can get a room easily , maybe i will give it a 4 star rate .
"good things can share , but when too many people knew it became a bad thing "
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HFB is happy to announce that a new Astons Specialities has finally come to TOWN and is located at The Cathay Building!
With its simple wood-based furbishing and its signatured chalkboard indicating the Special of the Day, HFB couldn’t resist himself but be tempted by the promotion screaming WAGYU RIBEYE Grade 5/6 - $38.90nett [including 2 side dishes] and end up ordering it along with Sweet Corn and Coleslaw.
The sweet corn patted with butter was satisfyingly sweet – love it! As for the coleslaw, I would prefer the cut of the veggies be thinner, but otherwise it was normal.
Grilled to a perfect charred on the outside and medium rare on the inside, what sets this wagyu ribeye apart from the normal ribeye is the tenderness of the meat - marbled with monounsaturated fats; the natural juices that gushed out with each chew were such a delight! Also, the lingering tint of sweetness on the palate was pure enjoyment.
But coming back to reality, HFB wasn’t fully satisfied with 200gm of meat, and he was harbouring over his dining partner’s Prime Ribeye X’tra Cut ($16.50nett) that was much thicker and bigger.
Besides nicely cooked to medium rare, what HFB found lacking in the wagyu, was ironically satisfied by the X’tra Cut – the “Beefy” taste!
A personal preference, HFB believes a beef should taste like beef and that was somehow missing from the wagyu, or perhaps he is just not used to eating wagyu.
You can view the all photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
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Took part in the recent Prego - Spaghetti & Meatball Eating Challenge. Nestled in Fairmont Hotel Singapore, Prego is a contemporary, chic restaurant that serves hearty authentic Italian fare. The restaurant is huge with high ceilings and easily seats more than a 100 pax - a place ideal for both business dining and large group gatherings.
Although my plate of meatball spaghetti was gobbled down in a space of 4mins and 05secs, HFB was able to taste the very smooth pasta sauce and al dente pasta. The tomato based sauce didn't come across as too heavy - which HFB likes it a lot!
Due to the eating challenge reasons, the meatballs were made slightly harder than usual, so HFB is not going to comment of the texture of the meatballs. But what I like is the "beefy" taste of the meatballs, yet not overwhelming. They charged $12nett for the competition and the actual retail price of the pasta is $25 .
You can view the all photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
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