This is the newest outlet opened by Planet Fitness to replace the one at Far East Square. So naturally, one will compare it with the FES outlet.
It is located at the basement of China Square Central but can be easily spotted by its black, white & blue signboard.
Just one quick peek through the glass doors, I can easily see the entire interior of the club. In othe words, the place is pretty small. The equipments are neatly arranged according to the type of fitness training, a little cramped though. However, I'm not so much of a gym equipment workout person, so I am more concerned with the group exercise studios.
Sadly, the number of such studios have been down from the previous three at FES to two over here. Not only that the variety of classes has been reduced, the size of the studio was much smaller too.
As expected, the locker room was just as cramped. Locker was small but still of reasonable size for me to put in all my belongings. There isn't many shower rooms, but the hardest part for me to get used to is the nearly transparent glass separating the shower cubicles. It just feels awkward.
Well, this place is just disappointing. I guess I'll just stick to the other clubs for classes.
I consider Clarke Quay (Clarke Quay itself, not like those places around it like Liang Court or Central or Mohamed Sultan) a crappy place to get a good meal. The motto of the restaurants there seem to be exorbitant prices for average food.
We went there at about 8 plus on a Sat night, hoping that we could get a table inside (not just because of the aircon...) but then they were packed. We did get a hugeeeee table outside (which could seat 10).
I was feeling rather stingy and settled for a $16 Chicken Sandwich. This is one of the cheaper dishes on the menu, but it doesn't make it anymore value for money than the rest - it's a normal chicken sandwich (chicken breast, quite a small portion but it's tasty and not too hard) with avocado (yum!) and brie cheese (double yum!) with beetroot on a toasted foccacia bread. Taste wise, it's ok but totally not worth the $18.72. The bread is really thick compared to the filling. The salad on the side was pretty good - it's a sour balsamic vinegar dressing with lots of different kind of leaves (not those with just iceberg lettuce).
My friends who all ate the $28 a main Ribs, Duck Confit and Lamb Shank all came to the conclusion that the mains were not worth it for the portion as well as the hefty price tag. Perhaps it was cos we had a really value for money dinner at Gourmet Plus not too long agon, and our tastebuds had been primed...
The $10 Lemon Tart was only mediocre, but I do have to say the other desesrts are much better (the Sticky Date Pudding and Honey Yoghurt Pannacotta).
The food standard leaves much to be desired, but the whole draw of the place (for me at least) is their live band - Jive Talking, on Saturday nights. Do note that the age limit for Saturdays is 21 for girls and 23 for guys, but 18 on all other days.
Apparently the sunday brunch here's really good... I should come back some time to try it (But I'm usually not even awake for lunch =\)
Galbiati is a hidden gem in the recesses of Upper Bukit Timah Road - actually, it's not that hidden considering it's quite near the main road. I suppose that the prices are kept lower than the average Italian restaurant because of the location, and the chef is as good if not better than other restaurants in town.
For a small restaurant located in a fairly ulu place, its food is of a really high standard, and much better in terms of taste as well as value for money than some other more popular Italian restaurants I've tried.
Since we were feeling rather decadant, we decided to sample a whole assortment of what Galbiati had to offer.
Starting off with the Lobster Bisque ($8 ) which is a robust tasting soup - there's also alcohol inside and thus there's a slight bitter taste characteristic of lobster bisque.
We also had a Mushroom Pizza to start, since the Smoked Salmon Pizza which I like was out. The pizza costs about $6 (it's cheaper if you take away) and it's full of mushrooms embedded in semi-melted cheese. The crust is thin and crispy, and the tomato base isn't too salty that it overpowers the mushroom taste.
My favourite dish of the night was the Goat's Cheese Salad ($15 ). I thought at first that $15 was pretty steep especially for a salad, but then it did not dissapoint. You get 3 fair sized pieces of thick goats cheese baked and melted to perfection over crusty bread. The salad itself is full of fresh greens, peacans and laced with a generous portion of sun-dried tomatoes (which are pretty expensive in the supermarkets here). The semi-sweet meaty texture of the sun-dried tomatoes give the salad body and character, and are completely unlike the tart fresh tomatoes. To top it off, the salad is drizzled with honey, making it a delectable balance between the salty cheese and sun-dried tomatoes.
Galbiati has a daily special dish, which happened to be NZ Mussels ($21 ) the day I visited. The mussels were succulent, juicy and tender and simmered in a thick slightly salty tomato based sauce. The mussels were so tender that they slipped easily out of the shell - no struggling to get bits of mussel out of the shells at all.
My main course - Salmon Ravioli with Dill Cream Sauce ($18 ) which was also the daily special. I was agonizing over either Black Squid Ink Pasta ($18 ) but then decided that since the Squid Ink Pasta was on their regular menu, the salmon ravioli might not be available the next time. I was pleasantly suprised to find that there was also salmon pieces on top of the salmon ravioli. The dill sauce was clean tasting and went well with the salmon.
Best of all, they do serve water and they're friendly, attentive and very helpful.
My friends (who live in the East, v far away from me) have been asking me to try Gourmet Plus. So I did.
The were having a UOB promotion - 1for1 Foie Gras with any 2 main courses ordered. Of course, since one place usually costs $24 , we couldn't let go of the chance to try something that we won't usually order (due to budget constraints). The Foie Gras is the cold kind, and comes with gelatine bits on top. I enjoyed my foie gras, but I actually prefer it when it's warm - but this was a good sized slab considering how little we're paying.
My most favourite dish (out of 3 that I tried) was the duck confeit ($22 - or was it $24). The outer layer was a brittle crispy shell which was lightly salted, and there was a artery-clogging huge layer of fats which melted in my mouth.The meat was delightfully soft, and fell off easily from the bone. The meat was chunky and the sauce wasn't too salty and didn't overpower the duck taste.
My $24 has been well spent!
This is the first time I'm trying squid Ink Pasta (super sua ku) ($18 ), and I must say that though it doesn't disagree with me, I won't be dying to have it anytime soon. It's very black, has a slightly gritty texture and the squid ink tastes slightly briney and well, doesn't really taste like anything actually... The clams were tender and plump, and quite juicy too.
The Lamb shank ($24 ) full of meat, robust sauce with mashed potatoes and vegetables. Honestly, I can't remember much about the lamb cos the duck was so lip-smackingly good. But it's really meaty and filling.
Overall, the service is prompt and efficient, and the waiters know the menu. The iced water was also regularly topped up, and the whole dining experience was very good and not too harsh on the wallet.
I'll recommend that you sit outside, al fresco, as the view is much better - the decor is simple and minimal but it's worth going there for since the food's great.
The 1st time I went to Keppel Island, I ate at the very uninspiring tcc. The place is flooded on weekends (by people of course), and it feels very resort-ish and unSingapore-like.
They also have a bread corner, with lots of interesting stuff like the Banana walnut bread ($7.90 for a loaf, which I shall buy back next time when I'm not rushing), whole loaves of foccacia, sourdough, whole wheat bread etc. They only sell it in full loaves though. If you order a bread, they will toast it in the oven at 180 C for you to make your loaf happily crispy and warm. And they serve it with unsalted butter. The sourdough bread ($7.90 ) we tried was deliciously crispy, soft and fresh and tasted delicious slathered in butter.
Soups - Mushroom Soup, which was deliciously creamy and packed with mushrooms, Smoked Bacon and Asparagus which yummy salty bits of bacon, sprinkled with chives. However, they're nothing to shout/rave about. Passable and forgettable.
Smoked Duck Salad (with figs and some other stuff) came with a measly few pieces of ducks breast, dressed in a vinegrette dressing. But it's not outrageously expensive for the quantity of duck.
I had the Blue Crab and Prawn Wrap ($11 ) which was absolutely delicious! The sweetness of the crab, freshness of the prawn mixed in a yummy cream sauce, crunchy onions punctuating every few bites. It's also sprinkled sparingly with chilli flakes, which gives the wrap a punch. However, i thought that the ends of the wrap could be a tad thinner as it tasted too floury at the ends.
Smoked Salmon Wrap, with some kind of fruit (apple?) chutney. Didnt really like this cos I felt that the spiced chutney didn't really go with the smoked salmon. Plus, the wrap was drippingly wet and soggy, probably from the chutney.
Chicken and Mushroom Bechemel Pie ($9 ), with buttery puff pastry baked over chicken morsels and mushrooms. There were also little bits of carrot. I conldnt really taste or see the bechemel - but the chicken bits were soft and tasty. Was pretty stuffed from the bread by then and could hardly eat anymore.
Bailey's Milkshake ($11 ), with the sweetness of the baileys and lots and lots of cream. Its pretty ok for alcoholic milkshake I suppose, but I'm not a fan. Maybe I should try the peanut butter one next time :D
We were rushing for time and couldn't try any yummies from the Dessert Conter in Privé. I'm going to try the Caribbean Panna Cotta, Chocolate cakes and Tiramisu next time! They really look yummy.
The service was quite slow, and our food seemed to take forever to come out (but we were rushing and I didnt time it, so it might just be psychogenic). However, we did note that the bread freshly warmed from the oven, was sitting on the counter for quite a while before it was taken to our table. Privé wasn't particularly crowded - it being a weekday and rainy, and they didn't seem short of staff either.
*edit This review is for Prive the bakery - there's a fine dining section as reviewed by feizhu.
Ladyironchef had a food gathering with a special sampler menu at Ochacha. We got to try nearly everything - in smaller portions.
Soup: Shitake Mushroom Soup and Tomato Soup. I liked the tomato soup because it was very tangy, and full of chewy bits of vegatables, but I found it slightly too salty. The mushroom soup was thick and creamy, with lots and lots of shitake mushroom bits. However, there was a slight bitter after taste (prob due to the mushroom).
We had small shots (actual size much bigger) of the following: Matcha Rocks ($4.95) is slightly sweetened cold green tea, and there is really alot of green tea powder inside - there was a thick layer of sediment on the bottom of mine.
My favourite was the Ochacha Rocks ($4.95), which green tea with milk in good proportions such that neither the milk or green tea overpowers the other. People who like milk will enjoy this.
The Azuki Freezie ($6.50) is green tea, milk and azuki beans. I think of the azuki beans as a healthier alternative to the pearls in bubble tea, cos it gives you something to bite on while drinking.
What I liked about the drinks was that they are not too sweet and thus taste very refreshing. I suppose that the more health conscious people who love their green tea and antioxidents will like it too.
The sandwiches we had: Sakura Egg ($4.80), Wasabi Tuna ($5.90) and Salmon Furikake ($5.90). I enjoyed the salmon furikake the most, perhaps because there was a interesting Jap twist to the usual boring smoked salmon sandwich in the form of the furikake powder (seaweed, sesame seeds, fish flakes etc). I wasn't very impressed by the sakura egg since I don't really like eating egg sandwiches, and there was just a sprinkling of sakura powder, which I couldn't really taste very well. I found the wasabi in the wasabi tuna sandwich too strong, and it kept going up my nose. As you can tell, I don't like wasabi (unless it's the freshly grated kind). If you are a wasabi fan, you'll probably like this since the wasabi is reall very strong.
The bread was nicely toasted and it was very fresh and soft on the inside. I think that the salmon furikake is much more worth it than Delifrance's sandwiches for the same cafe style dining and pricing.
Onto the best part of the dinner: DESSERTS :)
Matcha Financier ($2.90) is this quite thin, half cake half biscuit dessert which I think is very small (volume wise) for the price. It's based on a French recipe, and modified by adding the green tea powder. The good point about this is that it's very well made, with the crispiness on the bottom and sides, and the green tea taste is very strong. I'll eat this very willingly and happily if it were free, but not if I had to buy it for $2.90.
Green Tea Panna Cotta ($4.90) was served last, and a good thing too because it's really creamy and heavy. The consistency is more like mousse, and if I weren't so stuffed, I would have liked it better. Diminishing returns indeed.
Matcha Azuki ($4.90), which isgenerously sprinkled with lots of green tea powder. Green tea and azuki beans make a great combination for desserts! I really like the intense colour that the green tea gives the sponge layers.
My favourite dessert of the day was Matcha Cotton ($2.90) which is a Japanese style cotton cake but with green tea. It reminds me of the cotton cake at Tampopo, just that it has green tea and copious amounts of decadent fresh cream. The cake itself is very light and fluffy. I think it's quite worth the $2.90 pricing (even if it's mostly air, it appears big and impressions make a big difference ;)
I will definitely come back to eat this:D
The dinner ended on a pleasant note with the Ochacha Latte. It's the warm version of the Ochacha Rocks. By this time, I couldn't taste if it was sweet or unsweetened cos we just ate all the desserts, and there were many diminishing returns.
There's a variation of the Ochacha Latte called the Ochacha Silk, which comes with soyamilk instead of milk. I think that it's a very good idea since most Asians, especially Chinese are lactose intolerant.
Overall, I will recommend Ochacha for desserts, as well as a great place to sit and chill with a healthier, less sugary drink. AND you have to enjoy green tea - which is the whole idea of going to this place :)
Please do not attempt this place if you hate the concept of coffeebean/starbucks (expensive drinks). And if you really don't like green tea...
There is a new outlet at UE Square consisting of a children’s kitchen for kids to take part in baking lessons - pro-family! Although one might find the place pretty noisy on a Sunday afternoon because of these kids - so couples looking for a quiet weekend - BEWARE!
It is here I discovered my latest favourite dessert after their signatured Warm Chocolate Cake – I hereby present to you – the delicious Baked Apple Tart ($9.50), consisting of Caramelised Apple Slices baked to golden hue on a light Puff Pastry along with a dollop their very own Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream.
A heavenly combination of sweet and sour, light and creamy, & warm and cold that evokes conflicting emotions in a good way. I foresee this will be a hit among the non-chocolate lovers and those who enjoy the apple crumble.
Enjoy your long weekend!
You can view more photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
Located in an obscure corner of the newly restored National Museum of Singapore – with no signboard or whatsoever on its exterior (signboard faces inwards as I discovered), Chef Chan’s Restaurant, honed by Master Chef Chan Chen Hei – a widely known and respected figure in the Chinese culinary circle, dwells completely at ease in the ‘new’ historical setting – as it is complete with Chef Chan’s personal precious collection of Chinese antiques amassed over the years.
The place is exquisite with only four private dining rooms up for reservations – walk-ins are not entertained.
From utensils to cutleries (besides the glass carrying warm water), everything was matched to give one an authentic Cantonese dining experience to that of a Chinese noble.
With much anticipation, first up was the Melon Strips Enlivened with Orange Juice. While some claimed the melon to be crunchy, I find it rather hard to chew on. However, what turns me off from this dish was the sweet orange aftertaste one gets, and we all felt "Melon Strip Dip in Fanta Orange" would be more apt description.
One thing that irks me in Chinese fine dining is that you are unable to have a 2nd helping unlike those traditional Chinese banquet. This is illustrated when the Prawn Balls Stuffed with Pate and Wine was stacked temptingly on the serving plate but only one was distributed to each of us.
The exterior crust was crispy yet gentle for the throat but the interior was a major letdown – it was just overwhelmed with prawn taste that one cannot discern a hint of the pate or wine in it.
Stir Fried Shark's Fin with Eggs, Bean Sprouts and Spring Onion Served in Lettuce Leaves was probably one of the better dishes that night.
A good harmony among the ingredients – chewy shark’s fin and crunchy bean sprouts and lettuce leaves was a pleasure to chomp on. However, reality check beseech me to realise that one doesn’t need extraordinary culinary skill to execute this – this is one reason why my dad doesn’t order bean sprouts whenever we dine out.
The Sautéed Lobster with Garlic was another highly anticipated dish since it was one of the more “luxurious” items on the menu that night. The intense aroma of the garlic wowed us when it was first brought into our room, but we soon live to regret it as the profuse amount of garlic threatens to engulf the whole dish. It was such a shame since the lobster was very fresh and sweet but the tingling feeling from the garlic seeks to mar it.
The meat of the Steamed Sliced Red Garoupa in Village Style was very fresh with a good bite, but the gravy that accompanied it was outrageously starchy.
This is another example of excessive inclusion of element (starch if you are wondering) that threatens to blemish the already pathetic serving of fish that each of us got that night.
The Sautéed Vegetables with Shredded Mushrooms was greeted with disappointment that night. Drenched in gravy, it was just ordinary – any decent cook should be able to pull this off their kitchen – enough said.
The only showpiece for the night rightfully belongs to this seemingly humble chicken. Probably his best known dish, Chef Chan’s Famous Crispy Roast Chicken was the only dish that kept everyone quiet throughout its partake. Everyone was busy devouring the crispy skin that snap with every bite, coupled with the moist and tender chicken meat that was nothing short of flavour. This dish even though tended towards the saltier side near the end, was the only one that blew me away. A simple dish yet delicately and magnificently executed.
Dessert of the night was a choice between Papaya with White Fungus and Herbal Jelly with Glutinous Rice & Mango. And I opted for the latter, which I swiftly regretted. The dessert didn’t quite gel as one and I ended up eating it three ways, first the mango that was unripe therefore sour, then the glutinous rice which was nothing extraordinary, and lastly follow by the Herbal Jelly which some concluded should come with more honey, but I am used to having it bitter.
We chalked a total of $860.15 for 9 people (after 10% credit card discount), which roughly makes out to $96 per pax. For such a price and Straits Time claiming that it deserved at least one Michelin Star, expectations were high and I expected more. However, only the roast chicken make it for me that night that one is definitely better off having the rest of the dishes at some Tze Char stall elsewhere.
You can view more photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
I credit this place for their cheap Western cuisine and relatively decent quality. I was expecting a lot from this place when I first heard about it on Yebber, and have been bugging friends to accompany me there. But when I was finally there, my expectation dropped a level as I seldom thought highly of food at neighbourhood coffee shops.
I'm rather impressed by the variety of food provided, and the relatively low prices they're able to charge despite the soaring price levels. As I was there rather late (8.30pm), the crowd probably had dispersed already and I didn't have to wait long for my food.
Fish and Chips was not bad. The fish was rather thin however, thus making the chewing sensation a little less satisfying. But I really liked how it was fried till it was crispy. I personally felt that the coleslaw had a slightly bitter after-taste and did not like the taste of onions in it. As for their soup, it's actually Campbell soup, which I feel isn't any original at all.
I left the place feeling satisfied with the price I paid and the food I had, but with all the hooha, I must say the place is a tad over-rated. Not when soups are instant canned-soup ): Nonetheless, I'd say it's a good place for budget western food, minus the ambience.
Looking for chocolates as a gift on Valentine's, birthdays, anniversaries etc? Or just looking for great chocolates to satisfy your own craving? Try Jaime's!
Despite being a rather small shop unit and relatively unnoticed at the 2nd level of TPY Entertainment Centre, it has a great variety of chocolates! It sounds like the lower end of Godiva but I'd give Jaime's credit for its creativity and wonderful imagination.
To begin with, you will get the usual flavoured chocolates suc as nut pralines and almond at Jaime's, but there's also certain rather exciting fruit flavours like passionfruit, pear, orange, lemon, banana and lime. My personal favourites are the milk chocolates and pralines (hazelnut praline and triple praline) which leaves a velvet texture in your mouth, and is slightly creamier and more buttery than usual chocolates.
Of course it's not just about tasting good there, it's also about the visual appeal. One look and you just feel like buying everything there even if you don't like certain flavours. Their chocolates come in different shapes and sizes, with some in dog moulds, ducks, rabbits and teddies. Or you get a heart-shaped box made of milk chocolate, with another chocolate in it! On the surface of the chocolate, some of them even give the effect of sprayed paint or blowed glass - really pretty!
So if you're looking for chocolates as gifts, do try Jaime's! I'm sure they're not just visually appealing but would also taste great (: If you're not sure what to order, try those they recommend! The sales person would be more than happy to help.
1=SGD 0.0587
This is the newest outlet opened by Planet Fitness to replace the one at Far East Square. So naturally, one will compare it with the FES outlet.
It is located at the basement of China Square Central but can be easily spotted by its black, white & blue signboard.
Just one quick peek through the glass doors, I can easily see the entire interior of the club. In othe words, the place is pretty small. The equipments are neatly arranged according to the type of fitness training, a little cramped though. However, I'm not so much of a gym equipment workout person, so I am more concerned with the group exercise studios.
Sadly, the number of such studios have been down from the previous three at FES to two over here. Not only that the variety of classes has been reduced, the size of the studio was much smaller too.
As expected, the locker room was just as cramped. Locker was small but still of reasonable size for me to put in all my belongings. There isn't many shower rooms, but the hardest part for me to get used to is the nearly transparent glass separating the shower cubicles. It just feels awkward.
Well, this place is just disappointing. I guess I'll just stick to the other clubs for classes.
Rating given:
I consider Clarke Quay (Clarke Quay itself, not like those places around it like Liang Court or Central or Mohamed Sultan) a crappy place to get a good meal. The motto of the restaurants there seem to be exorbitant prices for average food.
We went there at about 8 plus on a Sat night, hoping that we could get a table inside (not just because of the aircon...) but then they were packed. We did get a hugeeeee table outside (which could seat 10).
I was feeling rather stingy and settled for a $16 Chicken Sandwich. This is one of the cheaper dishes on the menu, but it doesn't make it anymore value for money than the rest - it's a normal chicken sandwich (chicken breast, quite a small portion but it's tasty and not too hard) with avocado (yum!) and brie cheese (double yum!) with beetroot on a toasted foccacia bread. Taste wise, it's ok but totally not worth the $18.72. The bread is really thick compared to the filling. The salad on the side was pretty good - it's a sour balsamic vinegar dressing with lots of different kind of leaves (not those with just iceberg lettuce).
My friends who all ate the $28 a main Ribs, Duck Confit and Lamb Shank all came to the conclusion that the mains were not worth it for the portion as well as the hefty price tag. Perhaps it was cos we had a really value for money dinner at Gourmet Plus not too long agon, and our tastebuds had been primed...
The $10 Lemon Tart was only mediocre, but I do have to say the other desesrts are much better (the Sticky Date Pudding and Honey Yoghurt Pannacotta).
The food standard leaves much to be desired, but the whole draw of the place (for me at least) is their live band - Jive Talking, on Saturday nights. Do note that the age limit for Saturdays is 21 for girls and 23 for guys, but 18 on all other days.
Apparently the sunday brunch here's really good... I should come back some time to try it (But I'm usually not even awake for lunch =\)
Rating given:
Galbiati is a hidden gem in the recesses of Upper Bukit Timah Road - actually, it's not that hidden considering it's quite near the main road. I suppose that the prices are kept lower than the average Italian restaurant because of the location, and the chef is as good if not better than other restaurants in town.
For a small restaurant located in a fairly ulu place, its food is of a really high standard, and much better in terms of taste as well as value for money than some other more popular Italian restaurants I've tried.
Since we were feeling rather decadant, we decided to sample a whole assortment of what Galbiati had to offer.
Starting off with the Lobster Bisque ($8 ) which is a robust tasting soup - there's also alcohol inside and thus there's a slight bitter taste characteristic of lobster bisque.
We also had a Mushroom Pizza to start, since the Smoked Salmon Pizza which I like was out. The pizza costs about $6 (it's cheaper if you take away) and it's full of mushrooms embedded in semi-melted cheese. The crust is thin and crispy, and the tomato base isn't too salty that it overpowers the mushroom taste.
My favourite dish of the night was the Goat's Cheese Salad ($15 ). I thought at first that $15 was pretty steep especially for a salad, but then it did not dissapoint. You get 3 fair sized pieces of thick goats cheese baked and melted to perfection over crusty bread. The salad itself is full of fresh greens, peacans and laced with a generous portion of sun-dried tomatoes (which are pretty expensive in the supermarkets here). The semi-sweet meaty texture of the sun-dried tomatoes give the salad body and character, and are completely unlike the tart fresh tomatoes. To top it off, the salad is drizzled with honey, making it a delectable balance between the salty cheese and sun-dried tomatoes.
Galbiati has a daily special dish, which happened to be NZ Mussels ($21 ) the day I visited. The mussels were succulent, juicy and tender and simmered in a thick slightly salty tomato based sauce. The mussels were so tender that they slipped easily out of the shell - no struggling to get bits of mussel out of the shells at all.
My main course - Salmon Ravioli with Dill Cream Sauce ($18 ) which was also the daily special. I was agonizing over either Black Squid Ink Pasta ($18 ) but then decided that since the Squid Ink Pasta was on their regular menu, the salmon ravioli might not be available the next time. I was pleasantly suprised to find that there was also salmon pieces on top of the salmon ravioli. The dill sauce was clean tasting and went well with the salmon.
Best of all, they do serve water and they're friendly, attentive and very helpful.
Rating given:
My friends (who live in the East, v far away from me) have been asking me to try Gourmet Plus. So I did.
The were having a UOB promotion - 1for1 Foie Gras with any 2 main courses ordered. Of course, since one place usually costs $24 , we couldn't let go of the chance to try something that we won't usually order (due to budget constraints). The Foie Gras is the cold kind, and comes with gelatine bits on top. I enjoyed my foie gras, but I actually prefer it when it's warm - but this was a good sized slab considering how little we're paying.
My most favourite dish (out of 3 that I tried) was the duck confeit ($22 - or was it $24). The outer layer was a brittle crispy shell which was lightly salted, and there was a artery-clogging huge layer of fats which melted in my mouth.The meat was delightfully soft, and fell off easily from the bone. The meat was chunky and the sauce wasn't too salty and didn't overpower the duck taste.
My $24 has been well spent!
This is the first time I'm trying squid Ink Pasta (super sua ku) ($18 ), and I must say that though it doesn't disagree with me, I won't be dying to have it anytime soon. It's very black, has a slightly gritty texture and the squid ink tastes slightly briney and well, doesn't really taste like anything actually... The clams were tender and plump, and quite juicy too.
The Lamb shank ($24 ) full of meat, robust sauce with mashed potatoes and vegetables. Honestly, I can't remember much about the lamb cos the duck was so lip-smackingly good. But it's really meaty and filling.
Overall, the service is prompt and efficient, and the waiters know the menu. The iced water was also regularly topped up, and the whole dining experience was very good and not too harsh on the wallet.
I'll recommend that you sit outside, al fresco, as the view is much better - the decor is simple and minimal but it's worth going there for since the food's great.
Rating given:
The 1st time I went to Keppel Island, I ate at the very uninspiring tcc. The place is flooded on weekends (by people of course), and it feels very resort-ish and unSingapore-like.
They also have a bread corner, with lots of interesting stuff like the Banana walnut bread ($7.90 for a loaf, which I shall buy back next time when I'm not rushing), whole loaves of foccacia, sourdough, whole wheat bread etc. They only sell it in full loaves though. If you order a bread, they will toast it in the oven at 180 C for you to make your loaf happily crispy and warm. And they serve it with unsalted butter. The sourdough bread ($7.90 ) we tried was deliciously crispy, soft and fresh and tasted delicious slathered in butter.
Soups - Mushroom Soup, which was deliciously creamy and packed with mushrooms, Smoked Bacon and Asparagus which yummy salty bits of bacon, sprinkled with chives. However, they're nothing to shout/rave about. Passable and forgettable.
Smoked Duck Salad (with figs and some other stuff) came with a measly few pieces of ducks breast, dressed in a vinegrette dressing. But it's not outrageously expensive for the quantity of duck.
I had the Blue Crab and Prawn Wrap ($11 ) which was absolutely delicious! The sweetness of the crab, freshness of the prawn mixed in a yummy cream sauce, crunchy onions punctuating every few bites. It's also sprinkled sparingly with chilli flakes, which gives the wrap a punch. However, i thought that the ends of the wrap could be a tad thinner as it tasted too floury at the ends.
Smoked Salmon Wrap, with some kind of fruit (apple?) chutney. Didnt really like this cos I felt that the spiced chutney didn't really go with the smoked salmon. Plus, the wrap was drippingly wet and soggy, probably from the chutney.
Chicken and Mushroom Bechemel Pie ($9 ), with buttery puff pastry baked over chicken morsels and mushrooms. There were also little bits of carrot. I conldnt really taste or see the bechemel - but the chicken bits were soft and tasty. Was pretty stuffed from the bread by then and could hardly eat anymore.
Bailey's Milkshake ($11 ), with the sweetness of the baileys and lots and lots of cream. Its pretty ok for alcoholic milkshake I suppose, but I'm not a fan. Maybe I should try the peanut butter one next time :D
We were rushing for time and couldn't try any yummies from the Dessert Conter in Privé. I'm going to try the Caribbean Panna Cotta, Chocolate cakes and Tiramisu next time! They really look yummy.
The service was quite slow, and our food seemed to take forever to come out (but we were rushing and I didnt time it, so it might just be psychogenic). However, we did note that the bread freshly warmed from the oven, was sitting on the counter for quite a while before it was taken to our table. Privé wasn't particularly crowded - it being a weekday and rainy, and they didn't seem short of staff either.
*edit This review is for Prive the bakery - there's a fine dining section as reviewed by feizhu.
Rating given:
Ladyironchef had a food gathering with a special sampler menu at Ochacha. We got to try nearly everything - in smaller portions.
Soup: Shitake Mushroom Soup and Tomato Soup. I liked the tomato soup because it was very tangy, and full of chewy bits of vegatables, but I found it slightly too salty. The mushroom soup was thick and creamy, with lots and lots of shitake mushroom bits. However, there was a slight bitter after taste (prob due to the mushroom).
We had small shots (actual size much bigger) of the following: Matcha Rocks ($4.95) is slightly sweetened cold green tea, and there is really alot of green tea powder inside - there was a thick layer of sediment on the bottom of mine.
My favourite was the Ochacha Rocks ($4.95), which green tea with milk in good proportions such that neither the milk or green tea overpowers the other. People who like milk will enjoy this.
The Azuki Freezie ($6.50) is green tea, milk and azuki beans. I think of the azuki beans as a healthier alternative to the pearls in bubble tea, cos it gives you something to bite on while drinking.
What I liked about the drinks was that they are not too sweet and thus taste very refreshing. I suppose that the more health conscious people who love their green tea and antioxidents will like it too.
The sandwiches we had: Sakura Egg ($4.80), Wasabi Tuna ($5.90) and Salmon Furikake ($5.90). I enjoyed the salmon furikake the most, perhaps because there was a interesting Jap twist to the usual boring smoked salmon sandwich in the form of the furikake powder (seaweed, sesame seeds, fish flakes etc). I wasn't very impressed by the sakura egg since I don't really like eating egg sandwiches, and there was just a sprinkling of sakura powder, which I couldn't really taste very well. I found the wasabi in the wasabi tuna sandwich too strong, and it kept going up my nose. As you can tell, I don't like wasabi (unless it's the freshly grated kind). If you are a wasabi fan, you'll probably like this since the wasabi is reall very strong.
The bread was nicely toasted and it was very fresh and soft on the inside. I think that the salmon furikake is much more worth it than Delifrance's sandwiches for the same cafe style dining and pricing.
Onto the best part of the dinner: DESSERTS :)
Matcha Financier ($2.90) is this quite thin, half cake half biscuit dessert which I think is very small (volume wise) for the price. It's based on a French recipe, and modified by adding the green tea powder. The good point about this is that it's very well made, with the crispiness on the bottom and sides, and the green tea taste is very strong. I'll eat this very willingly and happily if it were free, but not if I had to buy it for $2.90.
Green Tea Panna Cotta ($4.90) was served last, and a good thing too because it's really creamy and heavy. The consistency is more like mousse, and if I weren't so stuffed, I would have liked it better. Diminishing returns indeed.
Matcha Azuki ($4.90), which isgenerously sprinkled with lots of green tea powder. Green tea and azuki beans make a great combination for desserts! I really like the intense colour that the green tea gives the sponge layers.
My favourite dessert of the day was Matcha Cotton ($2.90) which is a Japanese style cotton cake but with green tea. It reminds me of the cotton cake at Tampopo, just that it has green tea and copious amounts of decadent fresh cream. The cake itself is very light and fluffy. I think it's quite worth the $2.90 pricing (even if it's mostly air, it appears big and impressions make a big difference ;)
I will definitely come back to eat this:D
The dinner ended on a pleasant note with the Ochacha Latte. It's the warm version of the Ochacha Rocks. By this time, I couldn't taste if it was sweet or unsweetened cos we just ate all the desserts, and there were many diminishing returns.
There's a variation of the Ochacha Latte called the Ochacha Silk, which comes with soyamilk instead of milk. I think that it's a very good idea since most Asians, especially Chinese are lactose intolerant.
Overall, I will recommend Ochacha for desserts, as well as a great place to sit and chill with a healthier, less sugary drink. AND you have to enjoy green tea - which is the whole idea of going to this place :)
Please do not attempt this place if you hate the concept of coffeebean/starbucks (expensive drinks). And if you really don't like green tea...
Rating given:
There is a new outlet at UE Square consisting of a children’s kitchen for kids to take part in baking lessons - pro-family! Although one might find the place pretty noisy on a Sunday afternoon because of these kids - so couples looking for a quiet weekend - BEWARE!
It is here I discovered my latest favourite dessert after their signatured Warm Chocolate Cake – I hereby present to you – the delicious Baked Apple Tart ($9.50), consisting of Caramelised Apple Slices baked to golden hue on a light Puff Pastry along with a dollop their very own Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream.
A heavenly combination of sweet and sour, light and creamy, & warm and cold that evokes conflicting emotions in a good way. I foresee this will be a hit among the non-chocolate lovers and those who enjoy the apple crumble.
Enjoy your long weekend!
You can view more photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
Rating given:
Located in an obscure corner of the newly restored National Museum of Singapore – with no signboard or whatsoever on its exterior (signboard faces inwards as I discovered), Chef Chan’s Restaurant, honed by Master Chef Chan Chen Hei – a widely known and respected figure in the Chinese culinary circle, dwells completely at ease in the ‘new’ historical setting – as it is complete with Chef Chan’s personal precious collection of Chinese antiques amassed over the years.
The place is exquisite with only four private dining rooms up for reservations – walk-ins are not entertained.
From utensils to cutleries (besides the glass carrying warm water), everything was matched to give one an authentic Cantonese dining experience to that of a Chinese noble.
With much anticipation, first up was the Melon Strips Enlivened with Orange Juice. While some claimed the melon to be crunchy, I find it rather hard to chew on. However, what turns me off from this dish was the sweet orange aftertaste one gets, and we all felt "Melon Strip Dip in Fanta Orange" would be more apt description.
One thing that irks me in Chinese fine dining is that you are unable to have a 2nd helping unlike those traditional Chinese banquet. This is illustrated when the Prawn Balls Stuffed with Pate and Wine was stacked temptingly on the serving plate but only one was distributed to each of us.
The exterior crust was crispy yet gentle for the throat but the interior was a major letdown – it was just overwhelmed with prawn taste that one cannot discern a hint of the pate or wine in it.
Stir Fried Shark's Fin with Eggs, Bean Sprouts and Spring Onion Served in Lettuce Leaves was probably one of the better dishes that night.
A good harmony among the ingredients – chewy shark’s fin and crunchy bean sprouts and lettuce leaves was a pleasure to chomp on. However, reality check beseech me to realise that one doesn’t need extraordinary culinary skill to execute this – this is one reason why my dad doesn’t order bean sprouts whenever we dine out.
The Sautéed Lobster with Garlic was another highly anticipated dish since it was one of the more “luxurious” items on the menu that night. The intense aroma of the garlic wowed us when it was first brought into our room, but we soon live to regret it as the profuse amount of garlic threatens to engulf the whole dish. It was such a shame since the lobster was very fresh and sweet but the tingling feeling from the garlic seeks to mar it.
The meat of the Steamed Sliced Red Garoupa in Village Style was very fresh with a good bite, but the gravy that accompanied it was outrageously starchy.
This is another example of excessive inclusion of element (starch if you are wondering) that threatens to blemish the already pathetic serving of fish that each of us got that night.
The Sautéed Vegetables with Shredded Mushrooms was greeted with disappointment that night. Drenched in gravy, it was just ordinary – any decent cook should be able to pull this off their kitchen – enough said.
The only showpiece for the night rightfully belongs to this seemingly humble chicken. Probably his best known dish, Chef Chan’s Famous Crispy Roast Chicken was the only dish that kept everyone quiet throughout its partake. Everyone was busy devouring the crispy skin that snap with every bite, coupled with the moist and tender chicken meat that was nothing short of flavour. This dish even though tended towards the saltier side near the end, was the only one that blew me away. A simple dish yet delicately and magnificently executed.
Dessert of the night was a choice between Papaya with White Fungus and Herbal Jelly with Glutinous Rice & Mango. And I opted for the latter, which I swiftly regretted. The dessert didn’t quite gel as one and I ended up eating it three ways, first the mango that was unripe therefore sour, then the glutinous rice which was nothing extraordinary, and lastly follow by the Herbal Jelly which some concluded should come with more honey, but I am used to having it bitter.
We chalked a total of $860.15 for 9 people (after 10% credit card discount), which roughly makes out to $96 per pax. For such a price and Straits Time claiming that it deserved at least one Michelin Star, expectations were high and I expected more. However, only the roast chicken make it for me that night that one is definitely better off having the rest of the dishes at some Tze Char stall elsewhere.
You can view more photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
Rating given:
I credit this place for their cheap Western cuisine and relatively decent quality. I was expecting a lot from this place when I first heard about it on Yebber, and have been bugging friends to accompany me there. But when I was finally there, my expectation dropped a level as I seldom thought highly of food at neighbourhood coffee shops.
I'm rather impressed by the variety of food provided, and the relatively low prices they're able to charge despite the soaring price levels. As I was there rather late (8.30pm), the crowd probably had dispersed already and I didn't have to wait long for my food.
Fish and Chips was not bad. The fish was rather thin however, thus making the chewing sensation a little less satisfying. But I really liked how it was fried till it was crispy. I personally felt that the coleslaw had a slightly bitter after-taste and did not like the taste of onions in it. As for their soup, it's actually Campbell soup, which I feel isn't any original at all.
I left the place feeling satisfied with the price I paid and the food I had, but with all the hooha, I must say the place is a tad over-rated. Not when soups are instant canned-soup ): Nonetheless, I'd say it's a good place for budget western food, minus the ambience.
Rating given:
Looking for chocolates as a gift on Valentine's, birthdays, anniversaries etc? Or just looking for great chocolates to satisfy your own craving? Try Jaime's!
Despite being a rather small shop unit and relatively unnoticed at the 2nd level of TPY Entertainment Centre, it has a great variety of chocolates! It sounds like the lower end of Godiva but I'd give Jaime's credit for its creativity and wonderful imagination.
To begin with, you will get the usual flavoured chocolates suc as nut pralines and almond at Jaime's, but there's also certain rather exciting fruit flavours like passionfruit, pear, orange, lemon, banana and lime. My personal favourites are the milk chocolates and pralines (hazelnut praline and triple praline) which leaves a velvet texture in your mouth, and is slightly creamier and more buttery than usual chocolates.
Of course it's not just about tasting good there, it's also about the visual appeal. One look and you just feel like buying everything there even if you don't like certain flavours. Their chocolates come in different shapes and sizes, with some in dog moulds, ducks, rabbits and teddies. Or you get a heart-shaped box made of milk chocolate, with another chocolate in it! On the surface of the chocolate, some of them even give the effect of sprayed paint or blowed glass - really pretty!
So if you're looking for chocolates as gifts, do try Jaime's! I'm sure they're not just visually appealing but would also taste great (: If you're not sure what to order, try those they recommend! The sales person would be more than happy to help.
Rating given: