Situated on the 1st level of Bukit Timah Plaza is this eatery with unique selection of taiwanese delicacies.
What do we like about this place?
1. Friendly staff - Service seems to be their top priority. The boss is very particular about not letting customers wait longer than they are suppose to wait. Hence the food is served pretty fast inspite of the lunch crowd. 2. Chilli - Why chilli? This chilli is super hot but nice. Everytime they serve this chilli, they will explain to the customer that it is very hot. So customers are prepared for it. Even my friend who takes spicy food in abundance agrees that it is hot hot hot. 3. Freshness - We ate here twice and both times we find freshness in the ingredients and food. 4. Price - Price is reasonable between $6 to $9 for a main dish. Portions are also reasonably large enough.
What did we try?
1. Boiled dumpling - Upon ordering, they mention that it takes about 10min to prepare. When it arrived piping hot, we can taste the freshness of the ingredients used, especially the prawns. 2. Fish Ganache with Rice - The fish is freshly fried and you can tell that it was not re-fried as done in some other places. 3. Taiwanese Curry Rice - Something like Japanese Curry, Taiwanese curry is also not that spicy. Tasted fine to us and the pieces of meat were done just right. 4. Yam and pumpkin paste - Or nee with pumpkin, what a different combination but a nice one. The yam paste was silky smooth and not too thick. It was not too sweet which was acceptable to the other half.
Why no smelly toufu?
The boss mentioned that he is not able to get approval for it as the smell might drive the neighbours crazy.
Recommended for a simple, no frills Taiwanese experience.
Looking for a place to relax and do nothing? We found this quiet little spot in Bintan in a place called Yasin Bungalow. It is a row of 7 water bungalows, yes, rooms strategically located above the sea shore, right on the beach. So while you are in your room you can hear waves hitting the shore right below your room....just perfect.
Unlike a kelong, the water is clean and the beach is just awesome and did I say, private. So only hotel guest will have access to the beach. And with 7 water bungalows and 7 other beach front villas, how many guest can you have at one time? not more than 20. So this is really a private place to get away and relax...
Of course there is much to do here. Many who come here are expats who work in Singapore. We met 6 from US, 1 from Japan and many Koreans....no Singaporeans in sight...as all of them are at the other resorts like the mana mana, etc. haha.
Here is what we like about the place:-
1. Rooms. Each has a private balcony. No aircon. So natural seabreeze and the breeze blows 24 hours non-stop.
2. Meditative and relaxing sounds of water lapping gently against the shores. Just pure relaxation music in real live surround sound.
3. Food. Even in this isolated place, the local food served is sufficient to whet the tastebuds.
4. Price. One night is $35 per room. No mistake.
5. Nothingness to do. Haha, for once in your life, you will be able to get a headace thinking of what to do.
6. Friendly Staff - Always smiling and attentive.
So what can you do here?
1. Nothing
2. Read your favourite book or novel
3. Write your life story
4. Eat and Eat
5. Sleep and sleep
6. Swim
7. Walk to the next island (during low tide)
8. Water sports (canoeing, banana boat)
9. Hike
10. Cycle
11. Take lots of photos
12. Study for your exams
How to get here?
Take a ferry from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal to Tanjung Pinang (2 hours). From TP, transfer by land to the resort (1 hour). In 3 hours, you will be in your secluded spot in the middle of nowhere thinking of what to do.
Will visit the place again before stress levels hit an all time high.
Its been quite some time since i've had decent dim sum in Singapore and it was with deepest pleasure when i was invited to join a couple of friends to try out Royal China at Raffles hotel. Having passed by the place a few times, i had never been interested enough to visit until this day. Interestingly, the first restaurant for this little gem actually started in London. And just before all of you read the review and wish to visit it, please note that it is now under renovation.
The decor consists of mainly wood furniture and red livery carpets. This will probably change though since the restaurant is going through a makeover session at the moment. Either way, the restaurant projects a positive and lively energy when you enter.
Chili and Roasted Honey Cashew Nuts - Why am i showing this? Well, i got pretty acquainted with the nuts and basically want to tell everyone that the nuts were great. Well roasted and sweet without losing any of its crunchiness. The fragrance and sweetness of it is simply appetising as well. A sign of good things to come i believe.
Char Siew Sor (5 for $6.50) - Thin and moderately crispy pastry surrounds the thick stuffed filling of char siew that is bursting at the seams. The char siew is moist, sweet and thick with lots of taste. The only gripe here is that some of the meat was slightly burnt in my serving but otherwise, a good dish.
Crispy Pork Belly with Mustard ($12) - A small serving like this is actually worth $12. I was astonished actually but upon tasting it, i guess its somewhat justified. Extremely crispy skin contrasts with the thick juicy meat that is found below. Dip it in mustard sauce and you'll know exactly what sinful good food tastes like. The thing you have to get over is the fact that you are eating fatty meat and the fact that one plate is never enough.
Chee Cheong Fan ($10) - We had 2 different Cheong Fan's here. One with the basic char siew and 2 with the shrimps. The shrimp version actually tasted alot better then the usual char siew version because of the extremely fresh and crunchy shrimps. One good thing is that although there's an entire layer of soy sauce beneath, it never got overwhelmingly salty. Definitely worth a try.
Char Siew Bao (5 for $6) - How can one reinvent the wheel for an item already done to death and found everywhere? Well, they either provide better stuffings or reinvent the dough used to wrap the stuffings in this case. They did neither but it was still a cut above the rest. The char siew was sweet and fulfilling as the pieces were rather thick. The bun itself is very fluffy and light while also being mildly sweet for good effect.
Fu Pi Juan (Deep Fried Beancurd with Shrimp) (5 for $10) - The one thing surprising about this item is that its actually not oily. Don't get me wrong, there's definitely oil used to deep fry it, but it doesn't overwhelm nor coat your mouth with oil. Taste wise though, the shrimps are generously big and crunchy but the beancurd skin was unfortunately lacklustre and failed to instill any feeling of gratification.
Beancurd with Fish Paste (5 for $6.50) - The fish paste is springy and had a mild 'fishy' taste to it while the beancurd felt like run-of-the-mill varieties. A disappointing dish.
Crystal Dumplings (5 for $7) - Ordered this because we were hoping to find out whats the reason behind the whole craze on crystal dumplings. It wasn't answered however and the skin, though translucent, was sticky and stuck to the teeth. The fillings were normal to say the least and the overall comment was that it was salty.
Custard Bun (5 for $6.50) - Now this is a simple bun that is bound to turn heads. Served piping hot, this little bun seems quite insignificant until you take a bite at it. Immediately, you will realize that you have something very special. The bun itself is soft and light as a feather while the filling of custard is literally bursting at the seems. Add the fact that the custard is only mildly sweet with hints of egg still noticeable and basically, you got the winner of the day (for me at least).
Shark's Fin with Dumpling Soup ($44 for 5) - This is the most expensive item we had that day and its easy to see why. At $8.80 a portion, its amazing that you can actually see an entire piece of shark's fin in the broth. Chicken broth by the looks of it, this isn't the usual starchy shark's fin that is the norm elsewhere. This is clear broth with vegetables and a pork dumpling and a portion of fin. The experience however, is a little bland and the dumpling is rather simple. Nonetheless, its a good dish.
Beef Ball (3 for $3.80) - Juicy, thick balls of minced beef, radish and vegetables aren't enough to save this dish from mediocrity. Its basically too salty to be liked and lacked any other discerning factors to lift its score.
Siew Mai (10 for $10) - Small, fresh and relentlessly juicy, this is a siew mai above the rest. You can taste the sweetness of pork, the freshness of mushrooms and the crunchiness of shrimp all in one package. What is there not to like?
Prawn and asparagus (5 for $10) - This is a rather......mixed bag because firstly, it isn't too special. Secondly, the sauce is too salty. Thirdly, i still love the shrimp and finally, its difficult to feel anything for it after eating because at best, its only average. Save your money for another custard bun.
Har Gao (10 for $10) - Crunchy shrimps anyone? Because if thats what you want, thats what you'll get. Ask for anything more however, and you'll be disappointed. The shrimp filling is definitely generous but the skin is a little too sticky and thick for my liking. Improvement needed.
Red Bean Pancake ($8) - I did myself the horror of ordering this. Why is it a horror you may ask? Because A: i've just had all the above B: this pancake is huge C: its a little over fried on some parts and D: its a little too sweet to be totally likeable. Its not bad actually, just not as good as i hoped and its definitely too filling for dessert.
Pomelo Sago ($4) - Yam Paste ($6) - Mango Pudding ($4) - I didn't get to try any of the above so i'll reserve my comments.
The final bill came up to $204.09 for 5 people on a lazy afternoon. It took us 3 hours to finish our dim sum foray which meant we had way too much food and little time to rest before dinner.
Its a wonderful place to have dim sum and honestly, the quality does justify its price. The only gripe i have is that its not without its misses. But i'll still gladly return any day for its custard buns. In fact, once the renovation is done, i'm going back for my little saintly buns for sure. Cheers!
This review is written on 31 March 2007.
Will updated with this year's review soon. :)
Hubby and I were exploring vivocity.
This time, we went to WHITE DOG CAFE.
In the 1st and 3rd photo features the interesting "milk" bottle which is used to put plain drinking water. Which I later on found from the bottom of the bottle that it's from IKEA. :) (pardon then blur photos) :P
WHITE DOG CAFE
Food: 7/10
Deco/View: 9/10
Service: 6/10
Cost: 7/10
Total: 29/40
The food's pretty good, the deco are alright, the sea view is fantastic, but the waiting time could be shorter though. They did take sometime to take our orders, good for those who takes a long time deciding what they want to eat. Not good for hungry people like me. :P
Chinese Cuisine with a Difference is Taste Paradise's tagline. Curious about how different this might be, 5 of us dropped by for a cosy dinner last Friday.
It was pretty easy to locate the place, however, parking wasn't that easy. In front of the restaurant there're some parallel parking spots but as you would guess too few for every one. Trying to look for parking in the area isn't too easy as they are all one-way streets. So do plan where you want to park before you go. Hong Lim or Chinatown Point would be two good places.
The restaurant is tastefully decorated with a long passage right up front. It's mainly in reds and blacks and the lighting is a little dim but still bright enough for me to see what I'm eating. Good enough for me.
We were greeted politely at the door and led to our seats in one of the rooms. After some observation, we noticed that one of the walls was actually made of panels which could be removed to make the room bigger for functions.
I couldn't bear to analyse the menu like my companions did for it didn't have any pictures were just filled with words. There were curly Chinese characters and English descriptions but it was still pretty difficult to read. So the rest of us just let two of them decide.
One little interesting thing was that there were 3 prices for the same bowl of Shark's Fin - $38, $58 and $68. $38 was the regular serving, $58 had more shark's fin in it and $68 was fin of high quality.... the staff patiently explained to us when we asked.
Food ordered:
Carrot Cake which I forgot to take the description of. But this was delicious. I LOVED IT! The serving was enough for 2 and slightly more. It wasn't too oily. the texture was very smooth and very tasty! YUMS!
Pan-seared Foie gras, wasabi mayonnaise prawn and sliced Beijing duck with condiments - $18 per personOur starter for the day was this great combination! The foie gras was crisp on the outside and pretty smooth on the inside. It was quite sizeable, any bigger and I would be worried about my heart. The wasabi prawn was alright. The wasabi taste wasn't too strong which is good and it was quite a big one. It was served on top of a watermelon which was suppose to compliment the taste of the prawn. But I couldn't be bothered to eat it. I liked the Beijing Duck slice. It was pre-prepared with the skin and sauce and wasn't too sweet. Just right.
Double boiled superior shark's fin with dried conpoy in traditional Beijing broth accompanied with bacon onion roll - $38 per personThe presentation of this dish was impressive! It was served in a grey bowl, the sort people used to mash belachan in, with the bacon wrap on top. It was bubbling when it came and bubbled for a long time whilst we drank it. There was plenty of fin and the broth was not too starchy like at some places. But it did smell of vinegar though I didn't find it too sourish. The bacon onion roll was a nice touch though I did find it a little troublesome to eat.
Braised homemade Beancurd with shredded scallop and Japanese Mushroom - $16 This was the one dish which I found a little disappointing. The skin of the beancurd was a little too tough and hard to tear. The taste was ok and the texture of the inside was smooth. The sauce it came with wasn't too salty as I have tasted in other places and the scallop was a nice accompaniment. Just the skin bothered me.
Szechuan Style roasted Chicken with homemade crispy crumbs - Half $16By the time we got to this dish I was pretty full but I still picked up a few pieces to munch. My companions were commenting about it being spicy but I found it barely so. It was quite tasty and the meat didn't taste as dry as it looked. I liked the texture of the meat but I'm the sort who likes chicken breast meat so if you aren't like me... well.
Stirfried Spinach with garlic - price unknownToo full to have any of this. But it looked just like your regular vege to me.
Mashed Taro with almond cream served in fresh coconut - $6.50I wanted to order this but I was in a mood for something cooler but I was happy to get a taste of it. It was served in a tiny REAL coconut! SO COOL! I was more fascinated with the coconut bowl than anything else. I think the Orh Nee tasted very nice. It wasn't too sweet, not overly flavoured. It had a hint of almond (or maybe I didn't scoop so much almond) which gave it a nice twist.
Chilled Mango Puree with Sago and Pomelo served with coconut ice cream - $4.50This was my dessert of the day!! I was worried about the coconut ice cream as I'm not a fan of coconut actually. But everything's worth trying right? So try I did and I enjoyed this dessert very much. Served cold and sweet (just right).
Chilled Pumpkin Puree served with coconut ice cream (Chef's Special) - $4.50Sadly I didn't get a taste of this.... but no complaints. She seemed to enjoy it...
Chilled Aloe Vera in refreshing calamansi juice - $4.50 Neither did I try this...
We got the 3 chilled desserts free, they were on the house which was a nice surprise.
The service was very good throughout the meal. Our tea was constantly topped up and Desmond, the assistant manager was jovial and sincere when serving us. When the 2 servings of the shark's fin were late, he took the initiative to inform us, which I think is a show of good service.
Each of us paid $93.50 for our share of food. It does seem quite a lot doesn't it? But I guess with foie gras and shark's fin on the list, I find it pretty acceptable. Minus those two, it would be more reasonable.
When I was in primary school, I dun like to see a student taking a white card walking into class room. Cos it means someone in the class will be summoned to the dentist! At that time everyone hope that their names will not be called. One of my classmates even burst into tears when her name is being called. Wahahaha!
So an appointment was made and the days leading to the appointment were very anxious anticipation. Well, the truth is I last visit a dentist was like 2 years ago. I knew my teeth are in very bad state as well.
So on the fateful day (today), we headed toward Apex Dental Surgery after work. The clinic is a small but well equipped one with friendly assistant and dentist as well.
When I went into the room, I saw nothing but the dentist chair only, but the dentist, Dr Tan, is kind enough to see that I am nervous and made some small talk with me before starting the procedure. After verifying some of my allergies, she began to start work on my teeth. The drill like tool was placed in my mouth and the sound of the drill started to flood into my ears. While she was gently cleaning my teeth, I was like looking somewhere else trying to distract myself, at the same time reminding to open my mouth wide so that the drill will not go crazy in my mouth.
Dr Tan is really professional and gentle, telling me that it will have to take some time for her to clear the dirt in between the teeth and some level of pain might be experienced. In between, she will still engaged me in some small talk, while she is cleaning away. At times, she will stop and ask me rinse my mouth to clear away all the dirt.
After about 40 mins of work and I mean hard work, she is finally done. I am done. Not without her, telling me about my wisdom tooth and my few holes that needs fillings as well. Sigh... The cost of cleaning of teeth $70. Finally the "nightmare" is over and I left the clinic with clean teeth again! Think I will be back soon for the fillings and a 6 monthly check up.
I happened to be at AMK Hub again and this time round, I was determined to queue for the durian pancakes until I get them. Haha... Well, the last time round I was queuing and half way through, the shop assistant announced that they have ran out durian paste and so we'll have to wait for another 45mins or so for the durian paste to be delivered from their outlet at Takashimaya. Wow, I can't help but wonder, "Their durian pancakes are really that fantastic?" Unwilling to wait for another 1 hrs for the pancakes, I left the queue, yet somehow disappointed.
Finally, I decided to queue for the pancakes again that day, prayed really hard hoping that they wouldn't run out of durian paste again. I was lucky this time round!
The queue was super long and endless! I queued for about 30mins for my turn and there was still a long queue behind me then although it was almost 10pm already. Yes, their business was really good. While waiting for my turn, I was watching the way the shop assistant made the pancakes. She was fast at making the pancakes and gave a generous serving of durian paste for each pancake before packing them into nice boxes. The service was excellent too & she even advised customers on the storage of unfinished pancakes.
Finally, the taste of the pancake. Yummy!! I really crave for more of it. The pancake was thin and a little crispy, while the durian paste just oozed out when u bite the pancake. The taste of the durian paste was great too. It's bitter-sweet in taste. Satisfied!
Each pancake costs $1.50, which is definitely value for money.
I think I'll also want to try their durian crept, puff & mochi next time.
I frequent this dental clinic for my regular dental checkup every half a year. In fact, for the past 2 years, I been visiting the clinic every month for my orthodontic treatments.
Dr Sim is my Orthodontist while Dr Tan is my regular dentist. Both dentists are every nice and friendly, to whom you can talk anything under the sun. This definitely makes visits to them very relaxing. With all the casual exchange of conversation and laughter during the treatment, time just passed so fast and you would hardly feel any pain when all the "drillings" were done.
Of course, their service is excellent as they emphasize alot on customer satisfaction. They provide good advices on dental care & cost of special dental treatments. They have made me a satisfied & happy customer.
As for charges wise, for teeth polishing, they charge $50-70. Cost of other treatments are also clearly stated inside the clinic.
My current favourite place to dine and shop at is IKEA!
When hubby and I went to have our fix of chicken wings and Swedish meatballs on 5th April 2008, we saw bad news at the Restaurant.
The restaurant would be closed from 7th April to 22May! I'm so upset can. :(
Because the restaurant is normally always full, we always attack in this order.
1) Find seats.
2) While looking for table, discuss what we want to eat.
3) After finding the table, one person sits to "chop the table".
4) The other person clears table and quickly runs off to buy food for both.
5) Attack the food. :)
6) Clear own table after finishing.
hahas.
Anyway, what I thought is interesting at Ikea, is that on their tables, instead of signs introducing food, they have signs advertising their furniture! Cute right? :)
On 5th, we had chicken wings, smoked salmon, meatballs and lime jelly. The price is pretty average. Not too expensive, only trouble is looking for seats and clearing the table on your own if you don't wanna wait for the helpers to help you clear them.
Both hubby and I love the lood at Ikea. :)
Writing this review is making me really really hungry. :(
Can't wait to go back there to eat and shop again.
Craving for Japanese food? Why not give Shokudo a try? But be prepared to be stuck with too many choices!
After reading the above reviews, I decided to give this place a try. The chance came and I went on this mini adventure of mine at Shokudo...
Thanks for the reviews here, I already know what to expect at the entrance. And I quickly got into my adventurous mode the moment I stepped in. *haha!*
The first impression I got was Wow! So big! It's about the size of the old Marche at Heeren. But cos this place is done up in a Japanese kind of style with minimum decorations around the place, it seems slightly more spacious than the old Marche. As it was a weekday, there wasn't much crowd when I went. With many tables available, I skipped the "Reserve table" part and went on to find food.
After going around the place, I kinda got lost of my orientation. (Perhaps I was too hungry then.) Good thing I didn't place my "Reservation token" at any of the tables, cos I would most probably forget which section it was. The place is divided into various themes so customers can decided where is more suitable for the mood they're in. (This is not quite possible if you go on a crowded period thou.)
As I was alone, and having limited cash with me, I opted for something friendly for my wallet and tummy. I bought a "Hakodate" Seafood Cheese Pizza ($8.80) and a glass of japanese orange peel drink ($price forgotten). The pizza is made fresh upon ordering, so I settled down with my drink to enjoy the peacefulness during that time. There was soft music playing in background and I was totally relaxed and enjoying my time alone after a long day of meetings.
The pizza was different from the one we usually see. This was served in a rectangular wooden pan and the pizza crust was thin and crispy. There were plentiful of toppings and one bite into the pizza will make you want to have more. The pizza might not look big nor sufficient for the hungry people, but if you're having it alone, its fills just right the right amount in one's tummy. Due to its thin crust, you'll not feel "sick" of the pizza.
The pizza with the refreshing orange peel drink - a perfect match!
1=SGD 0.0587
Situated on the 1st level of Bukit Timah Plaza is this eatery with unique selection of taiwanese delicacies.
What do we like about this place?
1. Friendly staff - Service seems to be their top priority. The boss is very particular about not letting customers wait longer than they are suppose to wait. Hence the food is served pretty fast inspite of the lunch crowd.
2. Chilli - Why chilli? This chilli is super hot but nice. Everytime they serve this chilli, they will explain to the customer that it is very hot. So customers are prepared for it. Even my friend who takes spicy food in abundance agrees that it is hot hot hot.
3. Freshness - We ate here twice and both times we find freshness in the ingredients and food.
4. Price - Price is reasonable between $6 to $9 for a main dish. Portions are also reasonably large enough.
What did we try?
1. Boiled dumpling - Upon ordering, they mention that it takes about 10min to prepare. When it arrived piping hot, we can taste the freshness of the ingredients used, especially the prawns.
2. Fish Ganache with Rice - The fish is freshly fried and you can tell that it was not re-fried as done in some other places.
3. Taiwanese Curry Rice - Something like Japanese Curry, Taiwanese curry is also not that spicy. Tasted fine to us and the pieces of meat were done just right.
4. Yam and pumpkin paste - Or nee with pumpkin, what a different combination but a nice one. The yam paste was silky smooth and not too thick. It was not too sweet which was acceptable to the other half.
Why no smelly toufu?
The boss mentioned that he is not able to get approval for it as the smell might drive the neighbours crazy.
Recommended for a simple, no frills Taiwanese experience.
Rating given:
Great Getaway for the weekend
Looking for a place to relax and do nothing? We found this quiet little spot in Bintan in a place called Yasin Bungalow. It is a row of 7 water bungalows, yes, rooms strategically located above the sea shore, right on the beach. So while you are in your room you can hear waves hitting the shore right below your room....just perfect.
Unlike a kelong, the water is clean and the beach is just awesome and did I say, private. So only hotel guest will have access to the beach. And with 7 water bungalows and 7 other beach front villas, how many guest can you have at one time? not more than 20. So this is really a private place to get away and relax...
Of course there is much to do here. Many who come here are expats who work in Singapore. We met 6 from US, 1 from Japan and many Koreans....no Singaporeans in sight...as all of them are at the other resorts like the mana mana, etc. haha.
Here is what we like about the place:-
1. Rooms. Each has a private balcony. No aircon. So natural seabreeze and the breeze blows 24 hours non-stop.
2. Meditative and relaxing sounds of water lapping gently against the shores. Just pure relaxation music in real live surround sound.
3. Food. Even in this isolated place, the local food served is sufficient to whet the tastebuds.
4. Price. One night is $35 per room. No mistake.
5. Nothingness to do. Haha, for once in your life, you will be able to get a headace thinking of what to do.
6. Friendly Staff - Always smiling and attentive.
So what can you do here?
1. Nothing
2. Read your favourite book or novel
3. Write your life story
4. Eat and Eat
5. Sleep and sleep
6. Swim
7. Walk to the next island (during low tide)
8. Water sports (canoeing, banana boat)
9. Hike
10. Cycle
11. Take lots of photos
12. Study for your exams
How to get here?
Take a ferry from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal to Tanjung Pinang (2 hours). From TP, transfer by land to the resort (1 hour). In 3 hours, you will be in your secluded spot in the middle of nowhere thinking of what to do.
Will visit the place again before stress levels hit an all time high.
Rating given:
Its been quite some time since i've had decent dim sum in Singapore and it was with deepest pleasure when i was invited to join a couple of friends to try out Royal China at Raffles hotel. Having passed by the place a few times, i had never been interested enough to visit until this day. Interestingly, the first restaurant for this little gem actually started in London. And just before all of you read the review and wish to visit it, please note that it is now under renovation.
The decor consists of mainly wood furniture and red livery carpets. This will probably change though since the restaurant is going through a makeover session at the moment. Either way, the restaurant projects a positive and lively energy when you enter.
Chili and Roasted Honey Cashew Nuts - Why am i showing this? Well, i got pretty acquainted with the nuts and basically want to tell everyone that the nuts were great. Well roasted and sweet without losing any of its crunchiness. The fragrance and sweetness of it is simply appetising as well. A sign of good things to come i believe.
Char Siew Sor (5 for $6.50) - Thin and moderately crispy pastry surrounds the thick stuffed filling of char siew that is bursting at the seams. The char siew is moist, sweet and thick with lots of taste. The only gripe here is that some of the meat was slightly burnt in my serving but otherwise, a good dish.
Crispy Pork Belly with Mustard ($12) - A small serving like this is actually worth $12. I was astonished actually but upon tasting it, i guess its somewhat justified. Extremely crispy skin contrasts with the thick juicy meat that is found below. Dip it in mustard sauce and you'll know exactly what sinful good food tastes like. The thing you have to get over is the fact that you are eating fatty meat and the fact that one plate is never enough.
Chee Cheong Fan ($10) - We had 2 different Cheong Fan's here. One with the basic char siew and 2 with the shrimps. The shrimp version actually tasted alot better then the usual char siew version because of the extremely fresh and crunchy shrimps. One good thing is that although there's an entire layer of soy sauce beneath, it never got overwhelmingly salty. Definitely worth a try.
Char Siew Bao (5 for $6) - How can one reinvent the wheel for an item already done to death and found everywhere? Well, they either provide better stuffings or reinvent the dough used to wrap the stuffings in this case. They did neither but it was still a cut above the rest. The char siew was sweet and fulfilling as the pieces were rather thick. The bun itself is very fluffy and light while also being mildly sweet for good effect.
Fu Pi Juan (Deep Fried Beancurd with Shrimp) (5 for $10) - The one thing surprising about this item is that its actually not oily. Don't get me wrong, there's definitely oil used to deep fry it, but it doesn't overwhelm nor coat your mouth with oil. Taste wise though, the shrimps are generously big and crunchy but the beancurd skin was unfortunately lacklustre and failed to instill any feeling of gratification.
Beancurd with Fish Paste (5 for $6.50) - The fish paste is springy and had a mild 'fishy' taste to it while the beancurd felt like run-of-the-mill varieties. A disappointing dish.
Crystal Dumplings (5 for $7) - Ordered this because we were hoping to find out whats the reason behind the whole craze on crystal dumplings. It wasn't answered however and the skin, though translucent, was sticky and stuck to the teeth. The fillings were normal to say the least and the overall comment was that it was salty.
Custard Bun (5 for $6.50) - Now this is a simple bun that is bound to turn heads. Served piping hot, this little bun seems quite insignificant until you take a bite at it. Immediately, you will realize that you have something very special. The bun itself is soft and light as a feather while the filling of custard is literally bursting at the seems. Add the fact that the custard is only mildly sweet with hints of egg still noticeable and basically, you got the winner of the day (for me at least).
Shark's Fin with Dumpling Soup ($44 for 5) - This is the most expensive item we had that day and its easy to see why. At $8.80 a portion, its amazing that you can actually see an entire piece of shark's fin in the broth. Chicken broth by the looks of it, this isn't the usual starchy shark's fin that is the norm elsewhere. This is clear broth with vegetables and a pork dumpling and a portion of fin. The experience however, is a little bland and the dumpling is rather simple. Nonetheless, its a good dish.
Beef Ball (3 for $3.80) - Juicy, thick balls of minced beef, radish and vegetables aren't enough to save this dish from mediocrity. Its basically too salty to be liked and lacked any other discerning factors to lift its score.
Siew Mai (10 for $10) - Small, fresh and relentlessly juicy, this is a siew mai above the rest. You can taste the sweetness of pork, the freshness of mushrooms and the crunchiness of shrimp all in one package. What is there not to like?
Prawn and asparagus (5 for $10) - This is a rather......mixed bag because firstly, it isn't too special. Secondly, the sauce is too salty. Thirdly, i still love the shrimp and finally, its difficult to feel anything for it after eating because at best, its only average. Save your money for another custard bun.
Har Gao (10 for $10) - Crunchy shrimps anyone? Because if thats what you want, thats what you'll get. Ask for anything more however, and you'll be disappointed. The shrimp filling is definitely generous but the skin is a little too sticky and thick for my liking. Improvement needed.
Red Bean Pancake ($8) - I did myself the horror of ordering this. Why is it a horror you may ask? Because A: i've just had all the above B: this pancake is huge C: its a little over fried on some parts and D: its a little too sweet to be totally likeable. Its not bad actually, just not as good as i hoped and its definitely too filling for dessert.
Pomelo Sago ($4) - Yam Paste ($6) - Mango Pudding ($4) - I didn't get to try any of the above so i'll reserve my comments.
The final bill came up to $204.09 for 5 people on a lazy afternoon. It took us 3 hours to finish our dim sum foray which meant we had way too much food and little time to rest before dinner.
Its a wonderful place to have dim sum and honestly, the quality does justify its price. The only gripe i have is that its not without its misses. But i'll still gladly return any day for its custard buns. In fact, once the renovation is done, i'm going back for my little saintly buns for sure. Cheers!
Rating given:
This review is written on 31 March 2007.
Will updated with this year's review soon. :)
Hubby and I were exploring vivocity.
This time, we went to WHITE DOG CAFE.
In the 1st and 3rd photo features the interesting "milk" bottle which is used to put plain drinking water. Which I later on found from the bottom of the bottle that it's from IKEA. :) (pardon then blur photos) :P
WHITE DOG CAFE
Food: 7/10
Deco/View: 9/10
Service: 6/10
Cost: 7/10
Total: 29/40
The food's pretty good, the deco are alright, the sea view is fantastic, but the waiting time could be shorter though. They did take sometime to take our orders, good for those who takes a long time deciding what they want to eat. Not good for hungry people like me. :P
21March 2008: http://uglyfatchick.blogspot.com/2008/04/white-dog-cafe-21-march-2008.html
Rating given:
Chinese Cuisine with a Difference is Taste Paradise's tagline. Curious about how different this might be, 5 of us dropped by for a cosy dinner last Friday.
It was pretty easy to locate the place, however, parking wasn't that easy. In front of the restaurant there're some parallel parking spots but as you would guess too few for every one. Trying to look for parking in the area isn't too easy as they are all one-way streets. So do plan where you want to park before you go. Hong Lim or Chinatown Point would be two good places.
The restaurant is tastefully decorated with a long passage right up front. It's mainly in reds and blacks and the lighting is a little dim but still bright enough for me to see what I'm eating. Good enough for me.
We were greeted politely at the door and led to our seats in one of the rooms. After some observation, we noticed that one of the walls was actually made of panels which could be removed to make the room bigger for functions.
I couldn't bear to analyse the menu like my companions did for it didn't have any pictures were just filled with words. There were curly Chinese characters and English descriptions but it was still pretty difficult to read. So the rest of us just let two of them decide.
One little interesting thing was that there were 3 prices for the same bowl of Shark's Fin - $38, $58 and $68. $38 was the regular serving, $58 had more shark's fin in it and $68 was fin of high quality.... the staff patiently explained to us when we asked.
Food ordered:
Carrot Cake
which I forgot to take the description of. But this was delicious. I LOVED IT! The serving was enough for 2 and slightly more. It wasn't too oily. the texture was very smooth and very tasty! YUMS!
Pan-seared Foie gras, wasabi mayonnaise prawn and sliced Beijing duck with condiments - $18 per personOur starter for the day was this great combination! The foie gras was crisp on the outside and pretty smooth on the inside. It was quite sizeable, any bigger and I would be worried about my heart. The wasabi prawn was alright. The wasabi taste wasn't too strong which is good and it was quite a big one. It was served on top of a watermelon which was suppose to compliment the taste of the prawn. But I couldn't be bothered to eat it. I liked the Beijing Duck slice. It was pre-prepared with the skin and sauce and wasn't too sweet. Just right.
Double boiled superior shark's fin with dried conpoy in traditional Beijing broth accompanied with bacon onion roll - $38 per personThe presentation of this dish was impressive! It was served in a grey bowl, the sort people used to mash belachan in, with the bacon wrap on top. It was bubbling when it came and bubbled for a long time whilst we drank it. There was plenty of fin and the broth was not too starchy like at some places. But it did smell of vinegar though I didn't find it too sourish. The bacon onion roll was a nice touch though I did find it a little troublesome to eat.
Braised homemade Beancurd with shredded scallop and Japanese Mushroom - $16
This was the one dish which I found a little disappointing. The skin of the beancurd was a little too tough and hard to tear. The taste was ok and the texture of the inside was smooth. The sauce it came with wasn't too salty as I have tasted in other places and the scallop was a nice accompaniment. Just the skin bothered me.
Szechuan Style roasted Chicken with homemade crispy crumbs - Half $16By the time we got to this dish I was pretty full but I still picked up a few pieces to munch. My companions were commenting about it being spicy but I found it barely so. It was quite tasty and the meat didn't taste as dry as it looked. I liked the texture of the meat but I'm the sort who likes chicken breast meat so if you aren't like me... well.
Stirfried Spinach with garlic - price unknownToo full to have any of this. But it looked just like your regular vege to me.
Mashed Taro with almond cream served in fresh coconut - $6.50I wanted to order this but I was in a mood for something cooler but I was happy to get a taste of it. It was served in a tiny REAL coconut! SO COOL! I was more fascinated with the coconut bowl than anything else. I think the Orh Nee tasted very nice. It wasn't too sweet, not overly flavoured. It had a hint of almond (or maybe I didn't scoop so much almond) which gave it a nice twist.
Chilled Mango Puree with Sago and Pomelo served with coconut ice cream - $4.50This was my dessert of the day!! I was worried about the coconut ice cream as I'm not a fan of coconut actually. But everything's worth trying right? So try I did and I enjoyed this dessert very much. Served cold and sweet (just right).
Chilled Pumpkin Puree served with coconut ice cream (Chef's Special) - $4.50Sadly I didn't get a taste of this.... but no complaints. She seemed to enjoy it...
Chilled Aloe Vera in refreshing calamansi juice - $4.50
Neither did I try this...
We got the 3 chilled desserts free, they were on the house which was a nice surprise.
The service was very good throughout the meal. Our tea was constantly topped up and Desmond, the assistant manager was jovial and sincere when serving us. When the 2 servings of the shark's fin were late, he took the initiative to inform us, which I think is a show of good service.
Each of us paid $93.50 for our share of food. It does seem quite a lot doesn't it? But I guess with foie gras and shark's fin on the list, I find it pretty acceptable. Minus those two, it would be more reasonable.
For more pictures go to my blog .
Rating given:
When I was in primary school, I dun like to see a student taking a white card walking into class room. Cos it means someone in the class will be summoned to the dentist! At that time everyone hope that their names will not be called. One of my classmates even burst into tears when her name is being called. Wahahaha!
So an appointment was made and the days leading to the appointment were very anxious anticipation. Well, the truth is I last visit a dentist was like 2 years ago. I knew my teeth are in very bad state as well.
So on the fateful day (today), we headed toward Apex Dental Surgery after work. The clinic is a small but well equipped one with friendly assistant and dentist as well.
When I went into the room, I saw nothing but the dentist chair only, but the dentist, Dr Tan, is kind enough to see that I am nervous and made some small talk with me before starting the procedure. After verifying some of my allergies, she began to start work on my teeth. The drill like tool was placed in my mouth and the sound of the drill started to flood into my ears. While she was gently cleaning my teeth, I was like looking somewhere else trying to distract myself, at the same time reminding to open my mouth wide so that the drill will not go crazy in my mouth.
Dr Tan is really professional and gentle, telling me that it will have to take some time for her to clear the dirt in between the teeth and some level of pain might be experienced. In between, she will still engaged me in some small talk, while she is cleaning away. At times, she will stop and ask me rinse my mouth to clear away all the dirt.
After about 40 mins of work and I mean hard work, she is finally done. I am done. Not without her, telling me about my wisdom tooth and my few holes that needs fillings as well. Sigh... The cost of cleaning of teeth $70. Finally the "nightmare" is over and I left the clinic with clean teeth again! Think I will be back soon for the fillings and a 6 monthly check up.
Rating given:
I happened to be at AMK Hub again and this time round, I was determined to queue for the durian pancakes until I get them. Haha... Well, the last time round I was queuing and half way through, the shop assistant announced that they have ran out durian paste and so we'll have to wait for another 45mins or so for the durian paste to be delivered from their outlet at Takashimaya. Wow, I can't help but wonder, "Their durian pancakes are really that fantastic?" Unwilling to wait for another 1 hrs for the pancakes, I left the queue, yet somehow disappointed.
Finally, I decided to queue for the pancakes again that day, prayed really hard hoping that they wouldn't run out of durian paste again. I was lucky this time round!
The queue was super long and endless! I queued for about 30mins for my turn and there was still a long queue behind me then although it was almost 10pm already. Yes, their business was really good. While waiting for my turn, I was watching the way the shop assistant made the pancakes. She was fast at making the pancakes and gave a generous serving of durian paste for each pancake before packing them into nice boxes. The service was excellent too & she even advised customers on the storage of unfinished pancakes.
Finally, the taste of the pancake. Yummy!! I really crave for more of it. The pancake was thin and a little crispy, while the durian paste just oozed out when u bite the pancake. The taste of the durian paste was great too. It's bitter-sweet in taste. Satisfied!
Each pancake costs $1.50, which is definitely value for money.
I think I'll also want to try their durian crept, puff & mochi next time.
Rating given:
I frequent this dental clinic for my regular dental checkup every half a year. In fact, for the past 2 years, I been visiting the clinic every month for my orthodontic treatments.
Dr Sim is my Orthodontist while Dr Tan is my regular dentist. Both dentists are every nice and friendly, to whom you can talk anything under the sun. This definitely makes visits to them very relaxing. With all the casual exchange of conversation and laughter during the treatment, time just passed so fast and you would hardly feel any pain when all the "drillings" were done.
Of course, their service is excellent as they emphasize alot on customer satisfaction. They provide good advices on dental care & cost of special dental treatments. They have made me a satisfied & happy customer.
As for charges wise, for teeth polishing, they charge $50-70. Cost of other treatments are also clearly stated inside the clinic.
Rating given:
My current favourite place to dine and shop at is IKEA!
When hubby and I went to have our fix of chicken wings and Swedish meatballs on 5th April 2008, we saw bad news at the Restaurant.
The restaurant would be closed from 7th April to 22May!
I'm so upset can. :(
Because the restaurant is normally always full, we always attack in this order.
1) Find seats.
2) While looking for table, discuss what we want to eat.
3) After finding the table, one person sits to "chop the table".
4) The other person clears table and quickly runs off to buy food for both.
5) Attack the food. :)
6) Clear own table after finishing.
hahas.
Anyway, what I thought is interesting at Ikea, is that on their tables, instead of signs introducing food, they have signs advertising their furniture! Cute right? :)
On 5th, we had chicken wings, smoked salmon, meatballs and lime jelly. The price is pretty average. Not too expensive, only trouble is looking for seats and clearing the table on your own if you don't wanna wait for the helpers to help you clear them.
Both hubby and I love the lood at Ikea. :)
Writing this review is making me really really hungry. :(
Can't wait to go back there to eat and shop again.
Rating given:
Craving for Japanese food? Why not give Shokudo a try? But be prepared to be stuck with too many choices!
After reading the above reviews, I decided to give this place a try. The chance came and I went on this mini adventure of mine at Shokudo...
Thanks for the reviews here, I already know what to expect at the entrance. And I quickly got into my adventurous mode the moment I stepped in. *haha!*
The first impression I got was Wow! So big! It's about the size of the old Marche at Heeren. But cos this place is done up in a Japanese kind of style with minimum decorations around the place, it seems slightly more spacious than the old Marche. As it was a weekday, there wasn't much crowd when I went. With many tables available, I skipped the "Reserve table" part and went on to find food.
After going around the place, I kinda got lost of my orientation. (Perhaps I was too hungry then.) Good thing I didn't place my "Reservation token" at any of the tables, cos I would most probably forget which section it was. The place is divided into various themes so customers can decided where is more suitable for the mood they're in. (This is not quite possible if you go on a crowded period thou.)
As I was alone, and having limited cash with me, I opted for something friendly for my wallet and tummy. I bought a "Hakodate" Seafood Cheese Pizza ($8.80) and a glass of japanese orange peel drink ($price forgotten). The pizza is made fresh upon ordering, so I settled down with my drink to enjoy the peacefulness during that time. There was soft music playing in background and I was totally relaxed and enjoying my time alone after a long day of meetings.
The pizza was different from the one we usually see. This was served in a rectangular wooden pan and the pizza crust was thin and crispy. There were plentiful of toppings and one bite into the pizza will make you want to have more. The pizza might not look big nor sufficient for the hungry people, but if you're having it alone, its fills just right the right amount in one's tummy. Due to its thin crust, you'll not feel "sick" of the pizza.
The pizza with the refreshing orange peel drink - a perfect match!
Will be back for more.
Rating given: