While his dad, Mr Tang Chai Chye inherited his late father's Teochew Bak Chor Mee recipe in 1975. The son laid his hands on it 3 years ago in 2005, and opened his own Tai Wah Pork Noodle stall at Hong Lim Food Centre.
While the older Tang claims that the secret to his noodles lies in the quality of his black vinegar, I dare dispute that it is their noodles that did the trick. Slightly thicker than the usual Mee Kia we are familiar with, the springy bite and silky texture is so consistent that one can end up slurping just the noodles alone to be satisfied.
With plenty of ingredients – Minced Pork, Pork Ball, Pig Liver, and Sliced Pork – in a $4 bowl of noodles, one cannot help but to fall in love with this bowl of noodles, or so I thought, until I had a sip of the soup and a bite of the Teochew Keow, or Dumpling. The Dumpling Soup ($4) was virtually tasteless with a smidgen of “water” taste – it was diluted and lacked of flavour. The dumpling was also slightly undercooked, with the skin still slightly firm – but the saving grace was the Fried Sole Fish that is found within it that gives it an extra vivacity.
Given time, Tai Wah Pork Noodle @ Hong Lim might dislodge Ah Kow Mushroom Minced Pork Mee from its standings with its superior supply of noodles, but the lacked of an experienced pair of hands (pay attention to their quick flicks of wrist with every step) means HFB still flavours the legend dispute its recent decline.
You can view the all photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
The National Park to visit in Araluen during the Spring Season during the Aug/Sept period. Various plant species and numerous colours of Tulips will greet you from the start to finish - definitely a delight for the ladies!
Swing by Swan Valley, another popular tourist destination nearby, and 45mins drive from the city to visit the various wineries. Do give the Caversham WildLife Park a visit and get to hug the Wombat for a photoshoot & feed the Kangaroos! Over there, you can stop by at Duckstein, a German Brewery for lunch and sample their Pork Chops and Beer.
Do give the Viet food in Northbridge/Chinatown a try, especially their Beef Noodles and Pork Chop rice. The most popular outlet among the many there is Viet Hoa. Do note that Dim Sum is also a popular activity among the Asians on weekends for lunch in this area too.
At night, drive down to Millpoint, South Perth, a 10 minutes drive from city and enjoy 50% discount on Tuesday at the Oyster Bar. Take a stroll down the riverbanks and head off to Ciao Italia just 5 mins away at 273 Mill Point Rd for their famous Italian delight and its signatured Tiramisu.
The one dish you must not missed in Perth is the Chilli Mussels. Located at the corner of Miller Street and Shepperton Road near Vic Park, Albany Highway is probably the undisputed Conca's, that serve the best chilli mussels you will ever try!
Of course, you can visit Burswood Casino, Margaret River, etc., but I shall leave those touristy places for the other tourist bureaus' website to touch on!
Off the beaten track was the theme for the day and my gf and I found ourselves at Buckaroo BBQ & Grill at Andrews Ave near Sembawang Park. Nestled amongst private houses, it's not a difficult place to find if you drive or if you know the area well, because the surrounding area can be quite deserted at night.(Most of the houses don't look like there's anyone living in them). It looks like a cross between a tarven and a beach pub, with its alfresco open air dining, wooden tables and flooring and the jolly lightning. Luckily there were no mosquitoes last night(at least they didn't bite me or my gf), so it made for a rather pleasent dining experience. Service was attentive and very friendly. I even made small talk with one of the waiters, something that's almost unheard of in fine dining restaurants.
After a long look at the menu, we ordered half a dozen of the Combustion Wings(Buffalo wings @level 1 spiciness) and a Spaghetti Marinara(seafood) and a round of drinks of course. Food was served piping hot and the portions were huge. I was shocked by the size of the wings as well as the spaghetti. The wings were easily double the size of those you could get at the market. Seemed like a bohemian task trying to finish the dishes, especially since we were already quite stuffed from all the eating at the World Food Fair 2006.
The wings were a little sourish(something which had already been forewarned by our server when taking our order) which my gf didn't really like, but it whetted my tastebuds with its tangy taste. A pity we couldn't finish it though and had to do a take away. The spaghetti was nice without the sauce being too overwhelming, which is the case with many spaghettis that I have eaten. The prawns were fresh and so were the mussels. (I hate mussels though)The drinks are your normal soft drinks, but if you drink root beer, go for the dispenser one. It tastes a little like Sarsi, which I'm crazy about.
The owner of Buckaroo is the same guy who set up Sunset at Seletar Airbase. In my humble opinion, its worth a trip down. Portions are gigantic, so please go with an empty stomach. No service charge is imposed as well, which is a big plus point. The waiters there are friendly and non pretentious. Do try the level 10 spiciness wings if you are up for the challenge. Do note also that the entire place is non air conditioned, so it might be a little uncomfortable on a warm night, even with fans blowing at you. They close early as well(1030pm on a saturday night), so please keep that in mind. Overall, a nice place to hang out with a group of friends over decent grub without busting too big a hole in your pocket. There's also nothing nearby, just Sembawang park, so don't expect any night entertainment of any sort. Driving is recommended.
Decoders cafe is a name that hints at its intentions, more to the point, its about games, fun and most importantly about friends. I happened to have the pleasure of being invited to one such gathering with our beloved Yebber and boss, Claudia for her XX birthday. It was a nice gathering and meeting of new people. Thanks Claudia!
Cheese Sausage Spaghetti - I didn't get to try this but the birthday girl did. Not too sure how it tasted but somehow it looks normal to me.
Crackers - This was actually the best item that night in terms of food. Not that it was special or anything but it was at least decent.
Potato Wedges - It wasn't defrosted well. Thats the reason behind why the wedges, though thick and golden brown, were hot and yet soggy. Probably some items they got from the nearby minimart or NTUC by the taste of it as well.
Chicken Soup - Most definately and without a doubt, this has to be campbell's soup. Watery, salty and thinly flavored with very little chicken meat will sum this up pretty well.
Spicy Drumlets - Probably the next most decent item but thats not saying much. Also most possibly an NTUC purchase since i could have sworn i've eaten it before. Sadly, it was not defrosted well as usual and comes with all the usual sogginess.
Chicken Cubes - Absolutely no idea what they meant by cubes but its the usual items you'd find in NTUC fairprice again. Except that is badly defrosted and fried with so much oil you can practically see it in the picture. Pretty much losing all confidence in the cafe's cooking by now.
Chicken Burger with Cheese, Fries and Baked Beans - The same horrible wedges accompanied the burger which looked huge when served until you realize its the burger (bread) that is huge while the chicken patty was a miserably small piece. For what its worth, it wasn't too bad.
Seafood Pasta - Soggy seems to be the in thing in this cafe. So is this pasta. The squid, shrimp and other items were sprinkled sparingly with the watery sauce having minimal taste.
Cheesy Potato Wedges - A small upgrade from the wedges before it. This time with cheese. Its acceptable but still far from good.
Bite Sized Ham and Cheese Sandwiches - They couldn't go wrong with this one now could they? Apparently yes and no. Each bite contained no taste whatsoever so usually, you're just left wondering why you are eating it in the first place.
Brownie with Vanilla Ice Cream - The brownie was hard but thankfully had the taste of chocolate. The vanilla ice cream was normal but at least this combination went well.
Games and services - Now if i reviewed this place only on the food, it would fail quite miserably. What would you expect from a place designed to let guys play board games? On the selection of games and service of the staff, this place definitely lives up to mark. The staff will gladly spend time to teach the games recommended and they make nice recommendations to suit the players. Sometimes demonstrating and teaching till the gang gets the hang of the games. There are hundreds of board games to choose from and each is unique in its own way. Pretty well done.
Much has been said about Loy Sum Juan Restaurant, which took root from humble beginnings as a small stall before expanding into the restaurant it is today. Ask the older generation and more likely than not, they would have heard of this iconic Cantonese restaurant.
If you never knew of its existence, the probability of chancing upon this place is slim as it is hidden on the 6th floor of Tiong Bahru Plaza, which is only accessible by lift (or stairs maybe?). Decor comes across as very typical old school Chinese save for a more contemporary arched ceiling.
Har Cheong Gai - Served up piping hot, the Har Cheong Gai aka Prawn Paste Chicken was nice and crispy on the outside without the batter being too thick. Would have prefered the taste of the shrimp paste to be a wee bit stronger though.
Broccoli with Scallops - A rather average dish with the vegetables not overly soft but the scallops a tad too bland. $20 does seem a wee bit expensive for such a dish though.
Homemade Beancurd with Katsobushi & Shinjii Mushrooms - Another simple dish, the homemade beancurd was relatively smooth and soft but lacked the smokey aftertaste that I hanker after. It came topped with katsobushi or bonito flakes which did seem a little too bland. All in all an average but palatable dish.
I can't say I enjoyed my meal but at least it was filling and decently palatable and I didn't have to contend with the crowds at the other food outlets in Tiong Bahru Plaza. Service was alright and being a traditional Chinese restaurant, you do not have to pay for your paper towels and peanuts if you return them.
My fondest memory of Powerhouse would have to be the day when I first met my girlfriend there. I can safely say that a good 60 to 70 percent of the time that I club since then, the venue would be Powerhouse at St James Powerstation.
I can't deny that a good part of the reason for us to go there so often is that my gf has a membership card there and I tag along to reap the benefits like the miser I am. But apart from my miserly ways, Powerhouse is definitely one of the best clubs that you can find in Singapore. I do understand that the preference for clubs varies from person to person but looking at the various clubs that fail one after another, you'll see that Powerhouse still has the power to draw in the crowds night after night and if that isn't a testament to the quality of the club, I don't know what is.
I am not the type who can differentiate genres of music from one another well but powerhouse generally plays Pop, RnB, Hip Hop and on some nights, trance. The music is definitely danceable and won't have you on the stool tapping your feet to some obscure music that is out of the planet.
One important factor that is important for me for clubs apart from the music is the type of crowd that patronizes the place. The vibe from the crowd that I get every time I am there tells me that I am shaking my booty with like-minded people.
Do pay a visit to Powerhouse if you haven't! If the music doesn't suit to your tastes, you can always hop to the other rooms like Bellini, Movida, Dragonfly and many others.
Made a reservation for two at Vibe Restaurant, situated within Pan Pacific Orchard (formerly known as Hotel Negara along Claymore Road, behind Thai Embassy) when they were running the Premium Meat Extravaganza Promotion in July.
Priced at $78 before taxes, we were fortunate enough to be among the first 20 pax to make an advance reservation for that day, and thus enjoyed a 20% discount ($15.60), making it $62.40 per person.
And for that price, we were told that we could indulged in unlimited servings of premium cuts such as US Kobe beef, Wagyu beef, and Kurobuta Pork, Churrascaria style.
We were instructed by the manager to start off with some soup and bread for appetisers, but let me tell you that neither of them was fantastic and the polite gesture was probably a nice decoy to fill up our stomach before the meat takes centre stage.
That aside, they had a couple of other cold cuts and seafood items to distract us – and diverted my attention was, as the Oysters were really unsullied and burly and I had two helpings of it, along with other inconsequential items.
Once we were done with the obligatory appetisers, the manager finally signalled for the Passadors, who came arrived on our table with hot skewers of meat. First up – the Rump Steak, which is a lean cut and was moderately tough. The lacked of fats and marbling makes them dry out when cooked with dry-heat cooking methods like roasting or grilling. It tasted quite “beefy” and none of the delicate flavour one gets next.
What is so special about “Wagyu” is because this breed of cattle is genetically predisposed to intense marbling, and produces a higher percentage of monounsaturated fats than any other breed of cattle known in the world. However, I was utterly disappointed when I tasted it – although more delicate flavoured than the rump steak, it tasted more chewy than tender and the “melt in your mouth” effect was lost on me. In additional, I felt it was overcooked, as the meat wasn’t very juicy.
The difference between “Kobe” beef and Wagyu is that Kobe beef comes from Wagyu breed of cattle. But only after rigid production standards imposed in the prefecture of Kobe, Japan, will then the designation/appellation of “Kobe” Beef be bestowed upon the meat. However as land and grain in Japan are expensive, the cattle is now shipped overseas and raised to the exactingly specified Kobe standards – and that’s how US Kobe beef came about. Another meat, which I felt, was over-done; the Kobe beef surprisingly tasted finer and more tender than the Wagyu. This was probably the best meat I have eaten that evening, or was there more to come?
The Beef Rib was intense with smoky flavour, but was deplorably dry and slightly charred for my palate. Didn’t really enjoy this piece of meat very much.
The wrapping of Bacon around the Tenderloin was quite another catastrophe that night – the flavour of the bacon totally engulfed the beef, rendering it a piece of tasteless red meat – a pity I must say since its rather tender even though the “doneness” was well-done to medium well.
The Kurobuta Pork wasn’t as fantastic as I thought it would be. Fat was lacking, rendering the meat not as moist as it should be – not the best Kurobuta Pork I have tasted.
Undeterred by the experience, I gestured for the Passadors and appealed for a special request – Kobe Beef to be done in medium-rare – and boy was I charmed. Allow the picture below to speak a thousand words.
The Grilled Pineapple Coated with Cinnamon Powder and Brown Sugar was a pleasant surprise as a palate cleanser as well as a dessert. Even myself who is not a big fan of the fruit was enthralled by it.
For others, there are of course other choices to end the evening – by their delightful Chocolate Fountain for a treat of Chocolate Fondue, or the cheese plate, which serves a wonderful range of cheese as well as the many choices of cake, mousse or pudding.
Overall, I wasn’t exactly impressed with the quality of meat they served, and a pity that I enjoyed the Oysters more – which kinda defeats the purpose of a Premium Meat Extravaganza.
You can view the all photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
I like this online store and would always go browse the lovely and unique items on sale inside.
I get updates of new items via emails. Most of the items are under pre-order so sometimes have to wait for as long as around one mth. But it's worth it because the items are nice~~
Price-wise is ok but not very cheap.
I've bought before 2 lip balms/glosses and they were really cute! One was a cherry-chocolate lipbalm in a round box that had the Disney's cartoon character Bambi on it. The other one was a "Snapple" lip gloss. The taste of the lip gloss was really sweet.
My friend and I also bought tshirts from there recently. Both of us were pleased with the tshirts.
The prices ranged around $20-$40.
Buying 2 pieces would be cheaper.
This online store also sells many cute and nice accessories like candy/icecream necklaces/earrings/rings, sunglasses, bags, stockings, leggings. Definitely things in the fashion trend.
The seller is also friendly and efficient in responding.
This store is only below my office. Was searching all around for a suitable handbag for myself.
Went out like several days searching but ended up I bought a handbag from the store below my office in the end. Haha...
There is quite a variety of bags displayed in the store. All suitable for work/casual. And most designs have different colours. However some designs look quite "Aunty"...
So not all designs are nice. Only some are nice.
I bought my handbag at $44.90. I tried to bargain but failed...
I like my handbag but I find the price quite expensive...Only members get discounts. And I think to be a lifetime member, you'd have to pay $38.
The salespersons were quite polite.
There's a 7 days exchange period for bags in original condition with the tag intact and with receipt.
There's also a 1-month warranty period and you can bring it back for free repair for damages on the bag except for scratches.
Not bad, but still not my first choice for bags-shopping.
Most of the times I'd buy my perfume from here. The variety of perfumes here is quite good. I'd be able to find some perfumes that I wouldn't be able to find elsewhere.
I bought Gucci's Envy me here and there was a promotion. Bought the perfume and it came with the body lotion.
The staff there who explained about the promotion to me was nice enough to give me some free gifts when I asked for it. (I often ask for free gifts when buying perfume :P)
He gave me a choice of some perfume samples, and an Escada free gift pack. He then told me that the Escada free gift pack would be better as it came with a shower gel, body lotion, and a perfume vial. And I totally agreed.
When I paid at the cashier, the cashier was very friendly and polite. As always, the cashiers there are always nice and would greet us customers politely.
1=SGD 0.0587
While his dad, Mr Tang Chai Chye inherited his late father's Teochew Bak Chor Mee recipe in 1975. The son laid his hands on it 3 years ago in 2005, and opened his own Tai Wah Pork Noodle stall at Hong Lim Food Centre.
While the older Tang claims that the secret to his noodles lies in the quality of his black vinegar, I dare dispute that it is their noodles that did the trick. Slightly thicker than the usual Mee Kia we are familiar with, the springy bite and silky texture is so consistent that one can end up slurping just the noodles alone to be satisfied.
With plenty of ingredients – Minced Pork, Pork Ball, Pig Liver, and Sliced Pork – in a $4 bowl of noodles, one cannot help but to fall in love with this bowl of noodles, or so I thought, until I had a sip of the soup and a bite of the Teochew Keow, or Dumpling. The Dumpling Soup ($4) was virtually tasteless with a smidgen of “water” taste – it was diluted and lacked of flavour. The dumpling was also slightly undercooked, with the skin still slightly firm – but the saving grace was the Fried Sole Fish that is found within it that gives it an extra vivacity.
Given time, Tai Wah Pork Noodle @ Hong Lim might dislodge Ah Kow Mushroom Minced Pork Mee from its standings with its superior supply of noodles, but the lacked of an experienced pair of hands (pay attention to their quick flicks of wrist with every step) means HFB still flavours the legend dispute its recent decline.
You can view the all photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
Rating given:
The National Park to visit in Araluen during the Spring Season during the Aug/Sept period. Various plant species and numerous colours of Tulips will greet you from the start to finish - definitely a delight for the ladies!
Swing by Swan Valley, another popular tourist destination nearby, and 45mins drive from the city to visit the various wineries. Do give the Caversham WildLife Park a visit and get to hug the Wombat for a photoshoot & feed the Kangaroos! Over there, you can stop by at Duckstein, a German Brewery for lunch and sample their Pork Chops and Beer.
Do give the Viet food in Northbridge/Chinatown a try, especially their Beef Noodles and Pork Chop rice. The most popular outlet among the many there is Viet Hoa. Do note that Dim Sum is also a popular activity among the Asians on weekends for lunch in this area too.
At night, drive down to Millpoint, South Perth, a 10 minutes drive from city and enjoy 50% discount on Tuesday at the Oyster Bar. Take a stroll down the riverbanks and head off to Ciao Italia just 5 mins away at 273 Mill Point Rd for their famous Italian delight and its signatured Tiramisu.
The one dish you must not missed in Perth is the Chilli Mussels. Located at the corner of Miller Street and Shepperton Road near Vic Park, Albany Highway is probably the undisputed Conca's, that serve the best chilli mussels you will ever try!
Of course, you can visit Burswood Casino, Margaret River, etc., but I shall leave those touristy places for the other tourist bureaus' website to touch on!
Rating given:
Off the beaten track was the theme for the day and my gf and I found ourselves at Buckaroo BBQ & Grill at Andrews Ave near Sembawang Park. Nestled amongst private houses, it's not a difficult place to find if you drive or if you know the area well, because the surrounding area can be quite deserted at night.(Most of the houses don't look like there's anyone living in them). It looks like a cross between a tarven and a beach pub, with its alfresco open air dining, wooden tables and flooring and the jolly lightning. Luckily there were no mosquitoes last night(at least they didn't bite me or my gf), so it made for a rather pleasent dining experience. Service was attentive and very friendly. I even made small talk with one of the waiters, something that's almost unheard of in fine dining restaurants.
After a long look at the menu, we ordered half a dozen of the Combustion Wings(Buffalo wings @level 1 spiciness) and a Spaghetti Marinara(seafood) and a round of drinks of course. Food was served piping hot and the portions were huge. I was shocked by the size of the wings as well as the spaghetti. The wings were easily double the size of those you could get at the market. Seemed like a bohemian task trying to finish the dishes, especially since we were already quite stuffed from all the eating at the World Food Fair 2006.
The wings were a little sourish(something which had already been forewarned by our server when taking our order) which my gf didn't really like, but it whetted my tastebuds with its tangy taste. A pity we couldn't finish it though and had to do a take away. The spaghetti was nice without the sauce being too overwhelming, which is the case with many spaghettis that I have eaten. The prawns were fresh and so were the mussels. (I hate mussels though)The drinks are your normal soft drinks, but if you drink root beer, go for the dispenser one. It tastes a little like Sarsi, which I'm crazy about.
The owner of Buckaroo is the same guy who set up Sunset at Seletar Airbase. In my humble opinion, its worth a trip down. Portions are gigantic, so please go with an empty stomach. No service charge is imposed as well, which is a big plus point. The waiters there are friendly and non pretentious. Do try the level 10 spiciness wings if you are up for the challenge. Do note also that the entire place is non air conditioned, so it might be a little uncomfortable on a warm night, even with fans blowing at you. They close early as well(1030pm on a saturday night), so please keep that in mind. Overall, a nice place to hang out with a group of friends over decent grub without busting too big a hole in your pocket. There's also nothing nearby, just Sembawang park, so don't expect any night entertainment of any sort. Driving is recommended.
See all my pictures here.
Rating given:
Decoders cafe is a name that hints at its intentions, more to the point, its about games, fun and most importantly about friends. I happened to have the pleasure of being invited to one such gathering with our beloved Yebber and boss, Claudia for her XX birthday. It was a nice gathering and meeting of new people. Thanks Claudia!
Cheese Sausage Spaghetti - I didn't get to try this but the birthday girl did. Not too sure how it tasted but somehow it looks normal to me.
Crackers - This was actually the best item that night in terms of food. Not that it was special or anything but it was at least decent.
Potato Wedges - It wasn't defrosted well. Thats the reason behind why the wedges, though thick and golden brown, were hot and yet soggy. Probably some items they got from the nearby minimart or NTUC by the taste of it as well.
Chicken Soup - Most definately and without a doubt, this has to be campbell's soup. Watery, salty and thinly flavored with very little chicken meat will sum this up pretty well.
Spicy Drumlets - Probably the next most decent item but thats not saying much. Also most possibly an NTUC purchase since i could have sworn i've eaten it before. Sadly, it was not defrosted well as usual and comes with all the usual sogginess.
Chicken Cubes - Absolutely no idea what they meant by cubes but its the usual items you'd find in NTUC fairprice again. Except that is badly defrosted and fried with so much oil you can practically see it in the picture. Pretty much losing all confidence in the cafe's cooking by now.
Chicken Burger with Cheese, Fries and Baked Beans - The same horrible wedges accompanied the burger which looked huge when served until you realize its the burger (bread) that is huge while the chicken patty was a miserably small piece. For what its worth, it wasn't too bad.
Seafood Pasta - Soggy seems to be the in thing in this cafe. So is this pasta. The squid, shrimp and other items were sprinkled sparingly with the watery sauce having minimal taste.
Cheesy Potato Wedges - A small upgrade from the wedges before it. This time with cheese. Its acceptable but still far from good.
Bite Sized Ham and Cheese Sandwiches - They couldn't go wrong with this one now could they? Apparently yes and no. Each bite contained no taste whatsoever so usually, you're just left wondering why you are eating it in the first place.
Brownie with Vanilla Ice Cream - The brownie was hard but thankfully had the taste of chocolate. The vanilla ice cream was normal but at least this combination went well.
Games and services - Now if i reviewed this place only on the food, it would fail quite miserably. What would you expect from a place designed to let guys play board games? On the selection of games and service of the staff, this place definitely lives up to mark. The staff will gladly spend time to teach the games recommended and they make nice recommendations to suit the players. Sometimes demonstrating and teaching till the gang gets the hang of the games. There are hundreds of board games to choose from and each is unique in its own way. Pretty well done.
Rating given:
Much has been said about Loy Sum Juan Restaurant, which took root from humble beginnings as a small stall before expanding into the restaurant it is today. Ask the older generation and more likely than not, they would have heard of this iconic Cantonese restaurant.
If you never knew of its existence, the probability of chancing upon this place is slim as it is hidden on the 6th floor of Tiong Bahru Plaza, which is only accessible by lift (or stairs maybe?). Decor comes across as very typical old school Chinese save for a more contemporary arched ceiling.
Har Cheong Gai - Served up piping hot, the Har Cheong Gai aka Prawn Paste Chicken was nice and crispy on the outside without the batter being too thick. Would have prefered the taste of the shrimp paste to be a wee bit stronger though.
Broccoli with Scallops - A rather average dish with the vegetables not overly soft but the scallops a tad too bland. $20 does seem a wee bit expensive for such a dish though.
Homemade Beancurd with Katsobushi & Shinjii Mushrooms - Another simple dish, the homemade beancurd was relatively smooth and soft but lacked the smokey aftertaste that I hanker after. It came topped with katsobushi or bonito flakes which did seem a little too bland. All in all an average but palatable dish.
I can't say I enjoyed my meal but at least it was filling and decently palatable and I didn't have to contend with the crowds at the other food outlets in Tiong Bahru Plaza. Service was alright and being a traditional Chinese restaurant, you do not have to pay for your paper towels and peanuts if you return them.
See all my pictures here.
Rating given:
My fondest memory of Powerhouse would have to be the day when I first met my girlfriend there. I can safely say that a good 60 to 70 percent of the time that I club since then, the venue would be Powerhouse at St James Powerstation.
I can't deny that a good part of the reason for us to go there so often is that my gf has a membership card there and I tag along to reap the benefits like the miser I am. But apart from my miserly ways, Powerhouse is definitely one of the best clubs that you can find in Singapore. I do understand that the preference for clubs varies from person to person but looking at the various clubs that fail one after another, you'll see that Powerhouse still has the power to draw in the crowds night after night and if that isn't a testament to the quality of the club, I don't know what is.
I am not the type who can differentiate genres of music from one another well but powerhouse generally plays Pop, RnB, Hip Hop and on some nights, trance. The music is definitely danceable and won't have you on the stool tapping your feet to some obscure music that is out of the planet.
One important factor that is important for me for clubs apart from the music is the type of crowd that patronizes the place. The vibe from the crowd that I get every time I am there tells me that I am shaking my booty with like-minded people.
Do pay a visit to Powerhouse if you haven't! If the music doesn't suit to your tastes, you can always hop to the other rooms like Bellini, Movida, Dragonfly and many others.
Rating given:
Made a reservation for two at Vibe Restaurant, situated within Pan Pacific Orchard (formerly known as Hotel Negara along Claymore Road, behind Thai Embassy) when they were running the Premium Meat Extravaganza Promotion in July.
Priced at $78 before taxes, we were fortunate enough to be among the first 20 pax to make an advance reservation for that day, and thus enjoyed a 20% discount ($15.60), making it $62.40 per person.
And for that price, we were told that we could indulged in unlimited servings of premium cuts such as US Kobe beef, Wagyu beef, and Kurobuta Pork, Churrascaria style.
We were instructed by the manager to start off with some soup and bread for appetisers, but let me tell you that neither of them was fantastic and the polite gesture was probably a nice decoy to fill up our stomach before the meat takes centre stage.
That aside, they had a couple of other cold cuts and seafood items to distract us – and diverted my attention was, as the Oysters were really unsullied and burly and I had two helpings of it, along with other inconsequential items.
Once we were done with the obligatory appetisers, the manager finally signalled for the Passadors, who came arrived on our table with hot skewers of meat. First up – the Rump Steak, which is a lean cut and was moderately tough. The lacked of fats and marbling makes them dry out when cooked with dry-heat cooking methods like roasting or grilling. It tasted quite “beefy” and none of the delicate flavour one gets next.
What is so special about “Wagyu” is because this breed of cattle is genetically predisposed to intense marbling, and produces a higher percentage of monounsaturated fats than any other breed of cattle known in the world. However, I was utterly disappointed when I tasted it – although more delicate flavoured than the rump steak, it tasted more chewy than tender and the “melt in your mouth” effect was lost on me. In additional, I felt it was overcooked, as the meat wasn’t very juicy.
The difference between “Kobe” beef and Wagyu is that Kobe beef comes from Wagyu breed of cattle. But only after rigid production standards imposed in the prefecture of Kobe, Japan, will then the designation/appellation of “Kobe” Beef be bestowed upon the meat. However as land and grain in Japan are expensive, the cattle is now shipped overseas and raised to the exactingly specified Kobe standards – and that’s how US Kobe beef came about. Another meat, which I felt, was over-done; the Kobe beef surprisingly tasted finer and more tender than the Wagyu. This was probably the best meat I have eaten that evening, or was there more to come?
The Beef Rib was intense with smoky flavour, but was deplorably dry and slightly charred for my palate. Didn’t really enjoy this piece of meat very much.
The wrapping of Bacon around the Tenderloin was quite another catastrophe that night – the flavour of the bacon totally engulfed the beef, rendering it a piece of tasteless red meat – a pity I must say since its rather tender even though the “doneness” was well-done to medium well.
The Kurobuta Pork wasn’t as fantastic as I thought it would be. Fat was lacking, rendering the meat not as moist as it should be – not the best Kurobuta Pork I have tasted.
Undeterred by the experience, I gestured for the Passadors and appealed for a special request – Kobe Beef to be done in medium-rare – and boy was I charmed. Allow the picture below to speak a thousand words.
The Grilled Pineapple Coated with Cinnamon Powder and Brown Sugar was a pleasant surprise as a palate cleanser as well as a dessert. Even myself who is not a big fan of the fruit was enthralled by it.
For others, there are of course other choices to end the evening – by their delightful Chocolate Fountain for a treat of Chocolate Fondue, or the cheese plate, which serves a wonderful range of cheese as well as the many choices of cake, mousse or pudding.
Overall, I wasn’t exactly impressed with the quality of meat they served, and a pity that I enjoyed the Oysters more – which kinda defeats the purpose of a Premium Meat Extravaganza.
You can view the all photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
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I like this online store and would always go browse the lovely and unique items on sale inside.
I get updates of new items via emails. Most of the items are under pre-order so sometimes have to wait for as long as around one mth. But it's worth it because the items are nice~~
Price-wise is ok but not very cheap.
I've bought before 2 lip balms/glosses and they were really cute! One was a cherry-chocolate lipbalm in a round box that had the Disney's cartoon character Bambi on it. The other one was a "Snapple" lip gloss. The taste of the lip gloss was really sweet.
My friend and I also bought tshirts from there recently. Both of us were pleased with the tshirts.
The prices ranged around $20-$40.
Buying 2 pieces would be cheaper.
This online store also sells many cute and nice accessories like candy/icecream necklaces/earrings/rings, sunglasses, bags, stockings, leggings. Definitely things in the fashion trend.
The seller is also friendly and efficient in responding.
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This store is only below my office. Was searching all around for a suitable handbag for myself.
Went out like several days searching but ended up I bought a handbag from the store below my office in the end. Haha...
There is quite a variety of bags displayed in the store. All suitable for work/casual. And most designs have different colours. However some designs look quite "Aunty"...
So not all designs are nice. Only some are nice.
I bought my handbag at $44.90. I tried to bargain but failed...
I like my handbag but I find the price quite expensive...Only members get discounts. And I think to be a lifetime member, you'd have to pay $38.
The salespersons were quite polite.
There's a 7 days exchange period for bags in original condition with the tag intact and with receipt.
There's also a 1-month warranty period and you can bring it back for free repair for damages on the bag except for scratches.
Not bad, but still not my first choice for bags-shopping.
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Most of the times I'd buy my perfume from here. The variety of perfumes here is quite good. I'd be able to find some perfumes that I wouldn't be able to find elsewhere.
I bought Gucci's Envy me here and there was a promotion. Bought the perfume and it came with the body lotion.
The staff there who explained about the promotion to me was nice enough to give me some free gifts when I asked for it. (I often ask for free gifts when buying perfume :P)
He gave me a choice of some perfume samples, and an Escada free gift pack. He then told me that the Escada free gift pack would be better as it came with a shower gel, body lotion, and a perfume vial. And I totally agreed.
When I paid at the cashier, the cashier was very friendly and polite. As always, the cashiers there are always nice and would greet us customers politely.
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