I used to think their designs are just sexy club wear but the last visit to the shop changed my opinion instantly! They do offer a wide range of different dresses for different occasions and if you prefer more casual wear, simple blouse and jeans, you can find them there too! If I have to choose an item from KAI, I will definitely pick her cheongsam top. So sexy and it just spells PRETTY!
Hotshots is a famous burger joint originating from the Philippines which has just landed on Singapore's shores in recent months, setting up base at the iconic Lau Pa Sat with a push cart type store front.
Crispy Burger Melt ($5) - The crispy burger melt was surprisingly good with its hand made patty which boasted an uneven texture and bits of fats within for a nice chewing sensation. The patty was also juicy and char grilled till a little crisp along the edges with a nice smokey aftertaste. I thought the slice of button mushrooms and bacon bits were a nice addition to "spice" up the overall taste of the burger. One thing that caught me by surprise was the relatively small piece of patty, even though it was supposed to be a quarter pounder.
Ultimate Cheeseburger ($8) - The cheeseburger sprung the same surprise, with both patties looking a tad small even though both should have added up to half a pound. That aside, I found the patty a little too dry as compared to that of the crispy burger melt. The dual patties were also noticeably more charred as well, which could translate to a consistency issue.
Hotshots is currently having a promotion whereby you order 2 burgers and you get 2 sides free. The choice of sides is limited, namely french fries, twister fries or potato wedges. Trust me, nothing is nice, so skip the sides if you can.
Personally I think hotshots serves quite a mean burger without the exorbitant prices. Read Relish. However the burgers aren't really big so big eaters/hungry folks like me might have to go for something bigger or eat 2 servings (I ate both burgers).
I felt honoured to be invited for this food tasting in this restaurant which is actually near to my workplace.
I heard that their main business is their variety of sauces, and this restaurant is to showcase their sauces.
The restaurant's decor itself was quite simple and elegant looking. The dishes were also delicious. We ate those recommended dishes thus they should be the best in this restaurant.
Popiah DIY $20 /set
Completely healthy with stewed vegetables in prawn stock and condiments. Had a bit of fun wrapping my own popiah and it tasted good...especially with their sauces.
Chilled Crab with Special Vinegrette Sauce @ $30 /crab Really enjoyed the crabs alot with or without the sauce because they tasted very fresh and they were in quite big pieces...yum...Furthermore, they had been cut well enough for us to eat the crab meats at ease.
The Phoenix Soars @ $21
Yin-Yang boneless Village Wok Chicken The chicken wasn't bad too. Nothing much to comment.
Village Wok Celebration Parade @ $22
A combination of VW award dishes, VW Mustard Roast Crispy Pork and Village BBQ Pork The BBQ pork was not coloured like those normal ones sold outside. Nevertheless, they tasted quite nice when accompanied with the sauces.
Fried Brinjal with Crispy Squid in BXO Sauce @ $15 Aaah~~this was my favourite dish! Ate alot of it and the brinjal pieces tasted really delicious and sweet as they were like emersed with the BXO sauce...They didn't have the strong vegetable taste.
Steamed Pating Fish with Preserved Vegetable @ $44 The preserved vegetable "cai por" was nice but as a matter of fact, I don't like fish. -.-||
Black Pepper Ham Leg @ $23 Voted The Travelling Gourmet’s favorite dish Really big pieces! The skin was crispy and it should had been crispier if we had eaten them earlier. Not bad but I'm not a pork lover. Still had that strong pork taste which I didn't fancy much.
Smiling Fortune Noodle @ $8 (potion served was smaller that day)
Tangy noodles harmonized with delectable fresh prawn essence, topped with prawns. Oh this was nice! The soup was nice especially with chilli powder! I finished drinking the soup!
VW Desserts - Sampler size
Black Glutinous Rice with Coconut Ice-cream @ $4.80
Lemongrass ice-cream
Kaya with bread I can say that the desserts were all satisfactory and I was especially attracted to the lemongrass icecream. It tasted really unique and I didn't feel sick eating it though I was terribly full already. I wanted more in fact. The kaya also tasted good and it was fragrant...It was sweet but not overly sweet. Just nice!
I love Wasabi Tei as well. The food comes in a good portion with tasty appertiser and sides. Its quite authentic and with the barside seats all round, I cannot help but feel a little japanese.
It is constantly crowded. Mainly because of the very yummy food and value for money prices. However behaving well with good courtesy and being considerate is an important virtue when u dine in this restaurant.
Don't come in Big Groups... There might not be sufficient seat for you and your friends, less you want to take turns to eat on the table.
Do not change your mind after your ordered your food. Less your ears will bleed from grumbling.
Do no ask for this and demand for that as quality food does not necesary comes with quality service.
If you happen to sit by the corners, please make sure you allow ample space for that poor diner inside who wants to get out.
Always put a smiling face even if the stern looking chef stares at you for playing with his cutleries. If you K-L, he will unleash the tiger within.
VERY SUPERB YUMMY QUALITY FOOD and AFFORDABLE Prices.. This Place is FAB.....but NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED.......
Was in the mood for a lazy and peaceful brunch late one Saturday morning so decided to skip town and head to Le Bistrot at Kallang, a bistro purportedly featuring classic and inventive French cuisine and of course a brunch menu at seemingly reasonable prices (the main draw).
Le Bistrot boasts a rather quaint yet cozy interior with wooden paneling and cushions to go along with the co joint seats. There are floor to ceiling windows and even part of the ceiling is made from glass, allowing sunlight to flow through. Very much like a homely greenhouse with bulbs hanging from the ceiling.
Toasted Bread - You get to choose your choice of spreads for the bread, ranging from apricot jam to chestnut jam, all self service from the wooden shelf thats sits in the centre of the room. I appreciate the choice of jams and certainly the quality of the bread, which had a muffin like texture - a tad chewy and porous. Only bone I had was that the crust was a little too hard, but at least it was served warm.
Marinated Artichoke Salad & Mixed Fruit Soup with Mango Sorbet -
Artichoke seriously isn't my cup of tea hence I didn't quite take to the salad. The mango sorbet was refreshing and came served with diced rock melon and pineapple cubes for added texture and taste.
Viennoiserie - Viennoiserie, or French for Viennese Specialities, include stuff like croissants, Danish pastries etc. This particular one was a chocolate croissant I believe. Nice and flaky without the lingering oil stains on the fingers. The chocolate filling wasn't too sweet or hard, which probably meant it hadn't been lying around in the open for too long - a good sign definitely.
Omelette with Smoked Spicy Pork Sausage & Omelette with Nurnberger Pork Sausage - The omelettes were a little runny yet smooth without being too heavy on the milk, which equates not nausea inducing, for me at least. The spicy pork sausage (addition of $3.50) didn't exactly wow me with its limp chilli taste and non existent smokiness. I thought better of the Nurnberger sausage(addition of $4) though, which was mildly salty with a slightly uneven texture, making it a nice accompainment to the omelette.
Hot Chocolate - Its one of the few times I order hot chocolate in favour of coffee/tea and I must say it came as a surprise to me when we were served a small pack of valhorna 61% cocoa chocolate, a pot of heated milk and one pot of molten chocolate. The idea is to place the piece of chocolate in your cup and pour in your desired amount of molten chocolate or milk to suit your tastebuds. Please remember to stir of course!
$57 for a 2 pax brunch tends towards the expensive side especially when there wasn't really much to eat. But I must admit that the environment is rather relaxing and no crowds are a big plus. Service is good as well but I doubt I'll be back for brunch, not unless they drop their prices.
Located in the same vicinity as Royal China, Ah Tengs Bakery is an extension of Empire Cafe which specializes in sandwiches, coffee and the oh-so-important dessert. Having had a less then savory dim sum experience and feeling utterly unsatisfied, i was pulled along into this bakery to have some coffee and to sin further after the meal. Read on my friends.
First up, you'll notice how retro this place looks. A horrible looking sign and drab interiors belie the wonderful desserts they sell. Do not be deceived however, its out coverings definitely do not do its tasty sweetness justice.
Premium Black Coffee ($4.67) - After all the oily dim sum, a coffee black simply hits the spot. No sugar, no milk, just pure black coffee bean goodness. This was lightly acidic and yet has a great aroma which is easy on the palate.
Tiramisu ($4.21) - Now, i've never had a really good tasting Tiramisu in Singapore so far. In fact, i'm quite a dunce when it comes to Tiramisu. Still, the fact remains that no Tiramisu has given me enough reason to rave about it. This is no exception sadly but it does come close. Thick and sinful mascarpone cheese adorn the main body while 2 layers of rum soaked cake serve to provide the flavor and balance which all Tiramisu's try to attain. The chocolate powder is used deliberately for the outer covering which still gets the job done.
Ambrosia ($4.21) - Ambrosia is a terribly awful and sinful dessert. I must say, indulge in this at the peril of your waistline. Rich, thick chocolate covers the entire outer layer and inner layer as well. The chocolate is a mix of bitterness and sweetness but its enough to keep you asking for more. The inner workings include 2 surprise layers of flavor hidden near the middle. The flavors there are familiar workings which remind me of....strawberry and some other ingredient i simply can't recall but the important thing is, its all good. There's even some gold foil used on top of the dessert for that decadent look. If this is sin, oh, lord, i have sinned badly and i will sin again.
Total bill for this delectable dessert turned up at $18.50 which is remarkably cheap.
This dessert saved the day really. And the price is reasonable enough for me to want to return in a hurry. Definitely try the cakes here. Not too sure about everything else though.
Authentic cantonese cuisine in a comfortable setting. Wah lok has been in the business of serving good Cantonese food to the masses for a long time. In fact, the restaurant has been a winner of the Singapore Tatler for best restaurant for 10 consecutive years. There's a lot to live up to and thats something me, my gf and my good friend was there to ascertain.
As far as interior goes, i do like the open spaces and the slick wood finish that seems to be teak or redwood. This design choice permeates the entire restaurant for a classy finish reminiscent of the restaurants i've been to in Hong Kong. In fact, it even goes so far as to have authentic cantonese speaking staff which is either a boon or bane depending on your preferences and language proficiency. Either way, the interior is abuzz with activity and rather full on the Saturday i visited.
Deep fried Squid ($6), Carrot Cake ($4) - These 2 items arrived on a push cart and was peddled by a nice old lady. By her recommendation, these were fresh and supposedly good. Somehow, i didn't think the squid was very tasty since it tasted dry and overfried. The carrot cake was quivery and firm without being too oily but lacked much taste. This was promptly rectified with their delectable chili sauce however.
Custard Pastry ($3.20) - Walnut custard pastry i should say. Its rather interesting. The walnut gives it a very distinct flavor while the pastry itself was crispy and flaky. The custard was rather minimal which rather contradicted with what i really liked in custard pastry....namely, the custard.
Har Gao AKA Shrimp Dumplings ($5.40) - A must have item in any dim sum session. This rendition however, doesn't quite measure up. No doubt the shrimp/prawn filling is adequately sweet and tasty but the skin turned out to be too thick for my liking. In fact, it sticks to your teeth and simply isn't as good as it should be. Change the skin and they might fare much better.
Deep Fried Beancurd aka Fu Pi Juan ($5.60) - Another item i wouldn't miss whenever i have dim sum, this turned out too oily however. The fillings were also rather inadequate and thus making it feel overpriced.
Siew Mai ($4.60) - Also known as pork dumplings, this came in a decent size and had a strong meaty taste some will love and others will love to hate. A surprising amount of mushroom were used on this rendition as well, so be prepared for a fungi explosion of taste.
Steamed Chive Dumplings ($4) - The first problem here is that the skin was the exact same one used for the prawn dumplings earlier, thats a major minus point in my book. The second problem is that the chive and pork mixture actually neutralizes the strong taste of chives which i like. Thus rendering the dish obsolete.
Char Siew Pastry ($3.80) - I like the sweet pork meat inside which was equally tender and tasty. The let down here was the pastry which lacked a stronger taste of butter and that crispy flakiness of the version in Yan Ting which still stands as the best out there for me.
Chicken and Century Egg Congee ($3) - Well, this congee certainly didn't astound me in any way.... Century eggs, chicken and some bacon thrown in. A nice aroma to the stock and the congee was suitably soft. Thats about it really.
Egg Tart ($3.20) - The pastry is a let down while the egg tart itself was definitely too eggy such that the proportion does not justify nor bring out the taste of the other. Major improvements needed here.
Prawns and Scallop Cheong Fan ($5.40 each) - We ordered 2 versions of this cheong fan and in all honesty, the regular one is still the better of the 2. Regular being the prawn cheong fan. The soy sauce is just right in terms of saltiness but the use of ingredients for both versions were skimped on such that there was very minimal prawn or scallop taste in either.
Pork Buns aka Char Siew Bao ($3.60) - Fluffy but sticky buns with the aforementioned sweet bbq pork. As usual, the proportion of meat to bun is rather disproportioned in the wrong way. Too much bun, too little pork.
Total bill for this rather lackluster dim sum session came up to $77.90.
Maybe there's just too much to live up to or i've got my hopes up too high for this place. I can't help but feel disappointed at what i've been served this day. The dim sum offering actually doesn't quite stand in the league of Peach Garden, Royal China, Yan Ting or even Hua Ting. If this is any indication, than i'd probably recommend to try those other restaurants i've mentioned above for a better dim sum experience.
I missed Chinese food when I was in Netherlands. Yeah.. too much fries makes me fat & sick. I need chili - not ketchup or Mayo. :p
I kept walking pass this Chinese fast food take away store - Wok to Go. I finally get to try it in Amsterdam’s Chinatown.
Remember seeing the American shows about eating take away Chinese Food? Yeah, they really served in those boxes. Haaa…. unbelievable! I wonder if Singapore take away package can be like this. Haaaa….
Thai Green Curry Chicken with Fried Rice (EUR5,00) / Yaki Udon with lots of Bean Sprouts!!!! (Only available at this Branch. EUR7,00plus). They are delicious!!! Tasted authentic sia!
Fried Mid Wings (EUR2,50) - Yesh, I am supposed to be on diet, but I cannot resist these juicy wings!!!! :D
Mini Spring Rolls (EUR1,80 for 6pcs) - full of cabbage and not turnips. Unique.
Bali Chicken with Noodles (EUR5,00) - tasted like chili crab noodles.
Peking Duck with White Rice (EUR7,00 plus - only available at Amsterdam Chinatown’s branch). They fried the duck so it’s very crispy.
Wan Tan Soup (EUR2,50) - Chicken (kip - Dutch for Chicken). Tasted like hongkong style dumplings. Haaa… of coz. Why? The boss is from Hong Kong mah. :p
You can choose to have the main to go with White rice or Fried rice or noodles. Very flexible. Haaaaa…..
Wok to Go is a franchise business. Any rich businessman wanna bring it into Singapore?
My membership with AMORE is at Thomson Plaza. I am a die-hard fan of Pilate so I decided to join my instructor's Sunday morning class at Woodlands Civic Centre.
The whole place is a bit cramp. Though their gym facilities and aerobic classroom are big, the changing and shower room are SUPER SMALL! There is no toilet inside the fitness centre, you have to use the public toilet outside.
The changing area is already small, there are still selfish members who hang their clothings in the changing 'cubicle' (not a cubicle but an area which uses "curtain" to partition up the changing area. Like those temperory changing room in the shopping centre.
The shower cubicle is super small. I kept hitting the side of the wall!
Next time, no changing or showering at that Branch. Even if I was to go there, it will only to attend my Instructor's class.
I always wanted to join AMORE coz its meant for Female only. Haaa.. iShy....
My first lesson there was quite unexpected as I did not bring my own lock for the locker. The staff has to use the plastic tie to lock for me.
As this branch is near my home, I normally will brisk walk to Thomson Plaza. So, when I reached there my consultant told me to rest for a while coz I was sweating from my brisk walk. Haaa.. I was burning…. So, she recommended me to go for STEAM BATH. Cool! I felt refresh after the 20mins steam bath and a shower. She asked if I wanna try the KS - Kardio Sculpt; I took a peep, NAH… too tough and fast pace too… So…. What else can I do? S/Intro - Step Introductory Class.
Yeah, I went Gym then I head off for the class.
Not too bad, but I almost die in there! Lots of steps…. then the instructor who had 3hrs of continuing teaching, kept remembering the wrong steps…. :p I can follow 80% of what he taught me, but I had a hard time catching up my pace and breath.
At the end of the class, he told us the bad news - the branch decided to scrap S/Intro and make it tougher to become a Step Aerobic class. Sianz….. I dunno what to try liao….
Maybe Pilates. Heeheee
Anyway, I feel demoralise there coz everyone is so Slim. Maybe they have been members for a long time. But I spoke to some ladies who were first time there too… but their figure is GOOD lor! :( Sigh…. I need to work hard man…
1=SGD 0.0587
I used to think their designs are just sexy club wear but the last visit to the shop changed my opinion instantly! They do offer a wide range of different dresses for different occasions and if you prefer more casual wear, simple blouse and jeans, you can find them there too! If I have to choose an item from KAI, I will definitely pick her cheongsam top. So sexy and it just spells PRETTY!
Rating given:
Hotshots is a famous burger joint originating from the Philippines which has just landed on Singapore's shores in recent months, setting up base at the iconic Lau Pa Sat with a push cart type store front.
Crispy Burger Melt ($5) - The crispy burger melt was surprisingly good with its hand made patty which boasted an uneven texture and bits of fats within for a nice chewing sensation. The patty was also juicy and char grilled till a little crisp along the edges with a nice smokey aftertaste. I thought the slice of button mushrooms and bacon bits were a nice addition to "spice" up the overall taste of the burger. One thing that caught me by surprise was the relatively small piece of patty, even though it was supposed to be a quarter pounder.
Ultimate Cheeseburger ($8) - The cheeseburger sprung the same surprise, with both patties looking a tad small even though both should have added up to half a pound. That aside, I found the patty a little too dry as compared to that of the crispy burger melt. The dual patties were also noticeably more charred as well, which could translate to a consistency issue.
Hotshots is currently having a promotion whereby you order 2 burgers and you get 2 sides free. The choice of sides is limited, namely french fries, twister fries or potato wedges. Trust me, nothing is nice, so skip the sides if you can.
Personally I think hotshots serves quite a mean burger without the exorbitant prices. Read Relish. However the burgers aren't really big so big eaters/hungry folks like me might have to go for something bigger or eat 2 servings (I ate both burgers).
See all my pictures here.
Rating given:
I felt honoured to be invited for this food tasting in this restaurant which is actually near to my workplace.
I heard that their main business is their variety of sauces, and this restaurant is to showcase their sauces.
The restaurant's decor itself was quite simple and elegant looking. The dishes were also delicious. We ate those recommended dishes thus they should be the best in this restaurant.
Popiah DIY $20 /set
Completely healthy with stewed vegetables in prawn stock and condiments.
Had a bit of fun wrapping my own popiah and it tasted good...especially with their sauces.
Chilled Crab with Special Vinegrette Sauce @ $30 /crab
Really enjoyed the crabs alot with or without the sauce because they tasted very fresh and they were in quite big pieces...yum...Furthermore, they had been cut well enough for us to eat the crab meats at ease.
The Phoenix Soars @ $21
Yin-Yang boneless Village Wok Chicken
The chicken wasn't bad too. Nothing much to comment.
Village Wok Celebration Parade @ $22
A combination of VW award dishes, VW Mustard Roast Crispy Pork and Village BBQ Pork
The BBQ pork was not coloured like those normal ones sold outside. Nevertheless, they tasted quite nice when accompanied with the sauces.
Fried Brinjal with Crispy Squid in BXO Sauce @ $15
Aaah~~this was my favourite dish! Ate alot of it and the brinjal pieces tasted really delicious and sweet as they were like emersed with the BXO sauce...They didn't have the strong vegetable taste.
Steamed Pating Fish with Preserved Vegetable @ $44
The preserved vegetable "cai por" was nice but as a matter of fact, I don't like fish. -.-||
Black Pepper Ham Leg @ $23
Voted The Travelling Gourmet’s favorite dish
Really big pieces! The skin was crispy and it should had been crispier if we had eaten them earlier. Not bad but I'm not a pork lover. Still had that strong pork taste which I didn't fancy much.
Smiling Fortune Noodle @ $8 (potion served was smaller that day)
Tangy noodles harmonized with delectable fresh prawn essence, topped with prawns.
Oh this was nice! The soup was nice especially with chilli powder! I finished drinking the soup!
VW Desserts - Sampler size
Black Glutinous Rice with Coconut Ice-cream @ $4.80
Lemongrass ice-cream
Kaya with bread
I can say that the desserts were all satisfactory and I was especially attracted to the lemongrass icecream. It tasted really unique and I didn't feel sick eating it though I was terribly full already. I wanted more in fact. The kaya also tasted good and it was fragrant...It was sweet but not overly sweet. Just nice!
Rating given:
I love Wasabi Tei as well. The food comes in a good portion with tasty appertiser and sides. Its quite authentic and with the barside seats all round, I cannot help but feel a little japanese.
It is constantly crowded. Mainly because of the very yummy food and value for money prices. However behaving well with good courtesy and being considerate is an important virtue when u dine in this restaurant.
Don't come in Big Groups... There might not be sufficient seat for you and your friends, less you want to take turns to eat on the table.
Do not change your mind after your ordered your food. Less your ears will bleed from grumbling.
Do no ask for this and demand for that as quality food does not necesary comes with quality service.
If you happen to sit by the corners, please make sure you allow ample space for that poor diner inside who wants to get out.
Always put a smiling face even if the stern looking chef stares at you for playing with his cutleries. If you K-L, he will unleash the tiger within.
VERY SUPERB YUMMY QUALITY FOOD and AFFORDABLE Prices.. This Place is FAB.....but NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED.......
Rating given:
Was in the mood for a lazy and peaceful brunch late one Saturday morning so decided to skip town and head to Le Bistrot at Kallang, a bistro purportedly featuring classic and inventive French cuisine and of course a brunch menu at seemingly reasonable prices (the main draw).
Le Bistrot boasts a rather quaint yet cozy interior with wooden paneling and cushions to go along with the co joint seats. There are floor to ceiling windows and even part of the ceiling is made from glass, allowing sunlight to flow through. Very much like a homely greenhouse with bulbs hanging from the ceiling.
Toasted Bread - You get to choose your choice of spreads for the bread, ranging from apricot jam to chestnut jam, all self service from the wooden shelf thats sits in the centre of the room. I appreciate the choice of jams and certainly the quality of the bread, which had a muffin like texture - a tad chewy and porous. Only bone I had was that the crust was a little too hard, but at least it was served warm.
Marinated Artichoke Salad & Mixed Fruit Soup with Mango Sorbet -
Artichoke seriously isn't my cup of tea hence I didn't quite take to the salad. The mango sorbet was refreshing and came served with diced rock melon and pineapple cubes for added texture and taste.
Viennoiserie - Viennoiserie, or French for Viennese Specialities, include stuff like croissants, Danish pastries etc. This particular one was a chocolate croissant I believe. Nice and flaky without the lingering oil stains on the fingers. The chocolate filling wasn't too sweet or hard, which probably meant it hadn't been lying around in the open for too long - a good sign definitely.
Omelette with Smoked Spicy Pork Sausage & Omelette with Nurnberger Pork Sausage - The omelettes were a little runny yet smooth without being too heavy on the milk, which equates not nausea inducing, for me at least. The spicy pork sausage (addition of $3.50) didn't exactly wow me with its limp chilli taste and non existent smokiness. I thought better of the Nurnberger sausage(addition of $4) though, which was mildly salty with a slightly uneven texture, making it a nice accompainment to the omelette.
Hot Chocolate - Its one of the few times I order hot chocolate in favour of coffee/tea and I must say it came as a surprise to me when we were served a small pack of valhorna 61% cocoa chocolate, a pot of heated milk and one pot of molten chocolate. The idea is to place the piece of chocolate in your cup and pour in your desired amount of molten chocolate or milk to suit your tastebuds. Please remember to stir of course!
$57 for a 2 pax brunch tends towards the expensive side especially when there wasn't really much to eat. But I must admit that the environment is rather relaxing and no crowds are a big plus. Service is good as well but I doubt I'll be back for brunch, not unless they drop their prices.
See all my pictures here.
Rating given:
Located in the same vicinity as Royal China, Ah Tengs Bakery is an extension of Empire Cafe which specializes in sandwiches, coffee and the oh-so-important dessert. Having had a less then savory dim sum experience and feeling utterly unsatisfied, i was pulled along into this bakery to have some coffee and to sin further after the meal. Read on my friends.
First up, you'll notice how retro this place looks. A horrible looking sign and drab interiors belie the wonderful desserts they sell. Do not be deceived however, its out coverings definitely do not do its tasty sweetness justice.
Premium Black Coffee ($4.67) - After all the oily dim sum, a coffee black simply hits the spot. No sugar, no milk, just pure black coffee bean goodness. This was lightly acidic and yet has a great aroma which is easy on the palate.
Tiramisu ($4.21) - Now, i've never had a really good tasting Tiramisu in Singapore so far. In fact, i'm quite a dunce when it comes to Tiramisu. Still, the fact remains that no Tiramisu has given me enough reason to rave about it. This is no exception sadly but it does come close. Thick and sinful mascarpone cheese adorn the main body while 2 layers of rum soaked cake serve to provide the flavor and balance which all Tiramisu's try to attain. The chocolate powder is used deliberately for the outer covering which still gets the job done.
Ambrosia ($4.21) - Ambrosia is a terribly awful and sinful dessert. I must say, indulge in this at the peril of your waistline. Rich, thick chocolate covers the entire outer layer and inner layer as well. The chocolate is a mix of bitterness and sweetness but its enough to keep you asking for more. The inner workings include 2 surprise layers of flavor hidden near the middle. The flavors there are familiar workings which remind me of....strawberry and some other ingredient i simply can't recall but the important thing is, its all good. There's even some gold foil used on top of the dessert for that decadent look. If this is sin, oh, lord, i have sinned badly and i will sin again.
Total bill for this delectable dessert turned up at $18.50 which is remarkably cheap.
This dessert saved the day really. And the price is reasonable enough for me to want to return in a hurry. Definitely try the cakes here. Not too sure about everything else though.
Rating given:
Authentic cantonese cuisine in a comfortable setting. Wah lok has been in the business of serving good Cantonese food to the masses for a long time. In fact, the restaurant has been a winner of the Singapore Tatler for best restaurant for 10 consecutive years. There's a lot to live up to and thats something me, my gf and my good friend was there to ascertain.
As far as interior goes, i do like the open spaces and the slick wood finish that seems to be teak or redwood. This design choice permeates the entire restaurant for a classy finish reminiscent of the restaurants i've been to in Hong Kong. In fact, it even goes so far as to have authentic cantonese speaking staff which is either a boon or bane depending on your preferences and language proficiency. Either way, the interior is abuzz with activity and rather full on the Saturday i visited.
Deep fried Squid ($6), Carrot Cake ($4) - These 2 items arrived on a push cart and was peddled by a nice old lady. By her recommendation, these were fresh and supposedly good. Somehow, i didn't think the squid was very tasty since it tasted dry and overfried. The carrot cake was quivery and firm without being too oily but lacked much taste. This was promptly rectified with their delectable chili sauce however.
Custard Pastry ($3.20) - Walnut custard pastry i should say. Its rather interesting. The walnut gives it a very distinct flavor while the pastry itself was crispy and flaky. The custard was rather minimal which rather contradicted with what i really liked in custard pastry....namely, the custard.
Har Gao AKA Shrimp Dumplings ($5.40) - A must have item in any dim sum session. This rendition however, doesn't quite measure up. No doubt the shrimp/prawn filling is adequately sweet and tasty but the skin turned out to be too thick for my liking. In fact, it sticks to your teeth and simply isn't as good as it should be. Change the skin and they might fare much better.
Deep Fried Beancurd aka Fu Pi Juan ($5.60) - Another item i wouldn't miss whenever i have dim sum, this turned out too oily however. The fillings were also rather inadequate and thus making it feel overpriced.
Siew Mai ($4.60) - Also known as pork dumplings, this came in a decent size and had a strong meaty taste some will love and others will love to hate. A surprising amount of mushroom were used on this rendition as well, so be prepared for a fungi explosion of taste.
Steamed Chive Dumplings ($4) - The first problem here is that the skin was the exact same one used for the prawn dumplings earlier, thats a major minus point in my book. The second problem is that the chive and pork mixture actually neutralizes the strong taste of chives which i like. Thus rendering the dish obsolete.
Char Siew Pastry ($3.80) - I like the sweet pork meat inside which was equally tender and tasty. The let down here was the pastry which lacked a stronger taste of butter and that crispy flakiness of the version in Yan Ting which still stands as the best out there for me.
Chicken and Century Egg Congee ($3) - Well, this congee certainly didn't astound me in any way.... Century eggs, chicken and some bacon thrown in. A nice aroma to the stock and the congee was suitably soft. Thats about it really.
Egg Tart ($3.20) - The pastry is a let down while the egg tart itself was definitely too eggy such that the proportion does not justify nor bring out the taste of the other. Major improvements needed here.
Prawns and Scallop Cheong Fan ($5.40 each) - We ordered 2 versions of this cheong fan and in all honesty, the regular one is still the better of the 2. Regular being the prawn cheong fan. The soy sauce is just right in terms of saltiness but the use of ingredients for both versions were skimped on such that there was very minimal prawn or scallop taste in either.
Pork Buns aka Char Siew Bao ($3.60) - Fluffy but sticky buns with the aforementioned sweet bbq pork. As usual, the proportion of meat to bun is rather disproportioned in the wrong way. Too much bun, too little pork.
Total bill for this rather lackluster dim sum session came up to $77.90.
Maybe there's just too much to live up to or i've got my hopes up too high for this place. I can't help but feel disappointed at what i've been served this day. The dim sum offering actually doesn't quite stand in the league of Peach Garden, Royal China, Yan Ting or even Hua Ting. If this is any indication, than i'd probably recommend to try those other restaurants i've mentioned above for a better dim sum experience.
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I missed Chinese food when I was in Netherlands. Yeah.. too much fries makes me fat & sick. I need chili - not ketchup or Mayo. :p
I kept walking pass this Chinese fast food take away store - Wok to Go. I finally get to try it in Amsterdam’s Chinatown.
Remember seeing the American shows about eating take away Chinese Food? Yeah, they really served in those boxes. Haaa…. unbelievable! I wonder if Singapore take away package can be like this. Haaaa….
Thai Green Curry Chicken with Fried Rice (EUR5,00) / Yaki Udon with lots of Bean Sprouts!!!! (Only available at this Branch. EUR7,00plus). They are delicious!!! Tasted authentic sia!
Fried Mid Wings (EUR2,50) - Yesh, I am supposed to be on diet, but I cannot resist these juicy wings!!!! :D
Mini Spring Rolls (EUR1,80 for 6pcs) - full of cabbage and not turnips. Unique.
Bali Chicken with Noodles (EUR5,00) - tasted like chili crab noodles.
Peking Duck with White Rice (EUR7,00 plus - only available at Amsterdam Chinatown’s branch). They fried the duck so it’s very crispy.
Wan Tan Soup (EUR2,50) - Chicken (kip - Dutch for Chicken). Tasted like hongkong style dumplings. Haaa… of coz. Why? The boss is from Hong Kong mah. :p
You can choose to have the main to go with White rice or Fried rice or noodles. Very flexible. Haaaaa…..
Wok to Go is a franchise business. Any rich businessman wanna bring it into Singapore?
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My membership with AMORE is at Thomson Plaza. I am a die-hard fan of Pilate so I decided to join my instructor's Sunday morning class at Woodlands Civic Centre.
The whole place is a bit cramp. Though their gym facilities and aerobic classroom are big, the changing and shower room are SUPER SMALL! There is no toilet inside the fitness centre, you have to use the public toilet outside.
The changing area is already small, there are still selfish members who hang their clothings in the changing 'cubicle' (not a cubicle but an area which uses "curtain" to partition up the changing area. Like those temperory changing room in the shopping centre.
The shower cubicle is super small. I kept hitting the side of the wall!
Next time, no changing or showering at that Branch. Even if I was to go there, it will only to attend my Instructor's class.
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I always wanted to join AMORE coz its meant for Female only. Haaa.. iShy....
My first lesson there was quite unexpected as I did not bring my own lock for the locker. The staff has to use the plastic tie to lock for me.
As this branch is near my home, I normally will brisk walk to Thomson Plaza. So, when I reached there my consultant told me to rest for a while coz I was sweating from my brisk walk. Haaa.. I was burning…. So, she recommended me to go for STEAM BATH. Cool! I felt refresh after the 20mins steam bath and a shower. She asked if I wanna try the KS - Kardio Sculpt; I took a peep, NAH… too tough and fast pace too… So…. What else can I do?
S/Intro - Step Introductory Class.
Yeah, I went Gym then I head off for the class.
Not too bad, but I almost die in there! Lots of steps…. then the instructor who had 3hrs of continuing teaching, kept remembering the wrong steps…. :p I can follow 80% of what he taught me, but I had a hard time catching up my pace and breath.
At the end of the class, he told us the bad news - the branch decided to scrap S/Intro and make it tougher to become a Step Aerobic class. Sianz….. I dunno what to try liao….
Maybe Pilates. Heeheee
Anyway, I feel demoralise there coz everyone is so Slim. Maybe they have been members for a long time. But I spoke to some ladies who were first time there too… but their figure is GOOD lor! :( Sigh…. I need to work hard man…
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