I didn't know of this place till I went online and looked for some dim sum restaurant. I think I'll prefer to go to Red Star the next time round, although I'm not saying the food here is bad.
If you drive here, please head straight for the 4th floor for your own convenience. For others, you may have some trouble locating this place. It's kind of weird that it is located next to the carpark, with a entrance big enough for car to enter the restaurant. How's that for a start? :P This place seems to inhabited the building long before, when it was still called World Trade Centre. That was like years ago.
Anyway, went here because of the buffet dim sum set. Tried many of the dishes like the traditional har kow, siew mai, char siew bao and some new dishes not common like fish fillet and minced meat stuffed items.
While some of the food came out hot, most others were served warm or even cold. I was quite disappointed with that, nevertheless it is a buffet style lunch so I don't expect it to be too good either. Don't bother to try some of the uncommon items to be safe, as it seems that some of the experiment didn’t turn out successful.
The staff here are mostly aunties and old man but service was pretty much ok. Food is served promptly and drinks are refilled regularly. Did not have to let my stomach growl from waiting, but there isn't much to rave about here. Go for some other restaurants if you're looking for a decent dim sum, if not you can still patronise the restaurant for a relatively standard buffet deal.
I walked pass this Korean eatery alot of times. Dun dare to try at all. Coz dunno nice or not.
One day, I went to VIVO City, I was tempted by the variety of items they sell, so I tried.
MASHITA!!!! I bought the Fried Chicken, Stir Fried Rice Cake, Chicken Ball and Pork Ball. I dun really like the ‘Balls’, dun like their texture. I love the Rice Cake and Fried Chicken!
Unlike Shilin Market’s, the Fried Chicken uses the Chicken Leg, not Breast. It’s tender and Juicy! The marinate is the Korean Bulgogi style. Mashita!!!
The Rice Cake looks spicy, but it’s not that spicy at all! It has additional ingredients like cabbage and fish cake. It has a unique sweet and spicy taste. Very interesting! I even have two helpings per day!
Dong Dae Mun’s meat bbq on stick are delicious too! Especially the Chicken Stick. You can choose to add mayo or chili sauce or both. But i prefer to eat it on its own. The bulgogi marinate is enough to make you craving for more! 3 for $2.50. Worth it!
But different branches has different standards. :p
I rarely can find Thai Resturant serving authentic Thai Duck Noodles.
So I was quite surprise to see it on the menu of Thai Accent at Vivo.
I almost finish the whole bowl with the soup. Serving is quite big. I like the herbal taste. Lots of bean sprouts and Carrots. Yum Yum.
I tried their appetizer platter too.
The mango salad is good. Very sour & Spicy. Very appetizing. The fish cake is so-so. I like the little golden bags and spring rolls. The meat in the golden bags taste like meat balls… which I think its really meat ball. :p The spring rolls are crispy and juicy within.
I will go back and try other stuff!
BTW, Standard Chartered Credit card holders get 15% off the bill. But I am not sure when the promotion will ends.
After lots of walking and shopping around Vivocity, I was super thirsty already.
Then hubby and I pass-by this Dragon Brand's Shop and I notice that they have cooler and pretty chairs inside. So I went closer to check them out.
It's a Bird's Nest Bar!!! A quick look at their price list. Not expensive loh! I used to think Bird's Nest very very expensive one (SGD300-400) leh. :p
Hubby treated us to one bowl each (SGD8plus). Their cup/bowl is actually heart shaped. So you can actually choose not to use spoon and just drink straight from the cup!
The Bird's Nest is really cooling and you can see the bird's nest. Unlike some places, sell more expensive and more water than Bird's Nest.
They have this Bird's Nest Bar Loyalty Club, when you order 1 bowl, you get 1 stamp and when you collected 10 stamps, you can redeem 1 free bowl of Bird's Nest!
Hubby and I had always wanted to try the food at this Kim Gary Cafe, after countless times of seeing super duper long queues outside this cafe? Restaurant?
On 6th April 2008, Hubby and I decide to make a trip to vivocity to try their food.
We were a little early and there wasn't many people in the shop. We got a seat there's near the window, but I wanted this seat in the corner that looks very comfortable and cozy. The waiter told us that the table is reserved for their staffs to have their lunch.
Anyway, to cut this review short, hubby and I didn't like our food. The food we ordered and had don't seems to "justify" the queues we saw.
The noodle I had smells really really nice (the onions) but really didn't taste as good as it smells. I ate less than half of it. The meat's a little too tough (overcooked or something), my drink is a little too sweet, even the mini drumsticks thingy was only average.
The only item hubby liked, was his Iced Yuan Yang.
Maybe we ordered the wrong stuffs, will try them again when I'm in better mood.
I have to rant about their service! After we're done with our food, we wanted to go to their counter to pay, but when we stand up, they came to us and say they'll bring us our bill. So we sat and waited for the bill. Waited for quite a while before the bill came. Hubby gave this waitress his credit card to pay for our bill and she went and never came back!!! We waited about 10mins and decide to ask another staff for our bill. We waited another 1-2mins before darling's bill came back to us. -.-
Next time I'm so gonna use the exact amount so I don't have to wait for the change or cards.
First night of Chinese New Year 2008, I decided to give hubby and myself a little treat. I manage to book 2 gold class tickets at SGD30.00 each for "CJ7" and right after that movie, "Kungfu Dunk" SGD10.00 each ticket in the normal rooms.
We sat around in this lounge while waiting for the show to start. Since we have yet to have dinner, hubby decide to order some food. Which we love yet regret later. Read on to find out why. :)
My heart almost skipped a beat when we were in the theater. The armchairs are like so huge!!! I sat down and pulled the blanket provided, which is placed at the side of the armchair. While I spread out the blanket, hubby started playing with the buttons... located at the side of the armchair. (What other buttons were you thinking??)
I know by now you think we both are such mountain turtles. But no ones else was there yet, so we were like in our own world kind of thing. :P
The buttons allow you to adjust the seat according to how you like. You can even lie down to watch the movie if you like. No worries, even if you're lying down, you wouldn't be blocked by anyone!!! The armchair was like a bed to me. so big, so comfortable. :)
Now, to talk about the food...
Hubby and I love the food! but.. We either ordered too much or their portions are too huge! :p We couldn't finish our food loh.
Right after the movie, we went straight to the normal room to catch "Kongfu Dunk". Suddenly the seats all looks so small. lols. But seriously, for the amount of comfort, SGD30.00 per ticket is really worth it! :)
Had dinner at taste Paradise, an upmarket offering by the Paradise Group of Restaurants, which also owns and operates the popular Seafood Paradise at Defu Lane and the Singapore Flyer. Opened less than 2 years ago, it has made it to the Straits Times top 100 restaurants as well as garnered rave reviews from magazines and forums.
Hidden along a row of shophouses along Mosque Street in the traditional Chinatown area, Taste paradise sets itself apart with its classy glass facade. Through the doors onto the lighted walkway that leads up to the dining area, the interior oozes chic in a very subtle way. The dining area is divided into a few sections by means of partitions in which there are a couple of tables and a captain to oversee each section. Heavily carpeted floors coupled with a low ceiling and a rather limited floor area meant that conversation tones had to be kept to a low for fear of disturbing the other customers (not that we did though).
XO Carrot Cake - One of Taste Paradise's signature dishes, the humble XO carrot cake. It honestly wasn't impressive when served, looking more like your usual stir fried rendition from the hawker centre than a $7 plate of carrot cake. But pop a piece into your mouth and you will understand why it is truly one of the signature dishes. Chunky yet smooth and soft carrot cake with a discernible wok hei taste fried with beansprouts, egg, Chinese sausages and other condiments. Lightly spicy and sweet and not to mention fragrant. Nothing short of excellent.
Combination of Pan Seared Foie Gras, Wasabi Mayonnaise Prawn and Slice of Beijing Duck with Condiments - I was actually wondering how did foie gras get onto the menu and initially skeptical if a Chinese restaurant could pull it off. Just for the record, Taste Paradise is a Chinese fusion restaurant, which explains why foie gras is listed on the menu. As for my initial skepticisms, they were unfounded. The foie gras was very good, crisp on the outside yet soft, quivery and smooth on the inside. No overwhelming taste or sediments.
The wasabi mayonnaise prawn was quite good as well, with the wasabi not overpowering and the prawns fresh and crunchy. I personally liked it together with the watermelon as the sweetness from the watermelon permeated through.
The only bummer was the peking duck which didn't seem memorable. Sure the skin was crispy but the crepe tasted bland and limp.
Double Boiled Superior Shark's Fin with Dried Conpoy in Traditional Beijing Broth accompanied with Bacon Onion Roll - Another recommended dish, the shark's fin soup, was served up in a pre heated Japanese stone pot which can remain hot for 20 minutes, thus ensuring that the soup remains hot till the last drop. The fins were decent and plentiful while the soup was flavourful and thick. A little too starchy and heavy on the vinegar though, which made it a little sharp. The bacon and onion roll was crispy but other than the novelty, didn't seem to complement the dish very well. On a side note, there are 3 variations in prices for the shark's fin. $38, $58 and $68 (which isn't on the menu). You get what you pay for. The quality of the fins improve as the prices tend upwards.
Braised Homemade Beancurd with Shredded Scallop and Japanese Mushroom - Tofu has always been a staple at most of my Chinese dinners and this one was no exception. The tofu was very smooth and silky but the skin was a tad too hard and it lacked the smokey savoury taste that I personally like. Even the sauce was rather bland. And for $6 a person, it was 1 piece of tofu each.
Spinach Fried with Garlic - The low point of our meal, the quintessential vegetable dish. Very average tasting but at least the diced garlic was fried till golden brown, which gave the vegetables a nice slightly crunchy texture.
Szechuan Style Roasted Chicken with Homemade Crispy Crumbs - We ordered this on the recommendation of the captain and also because it sounded interesting. Honestly the only interesting part was the crispy crumbs, which I believe were rice crisps. They were coated with a Szechuan sauce which gave them a myriad of flavours - sweet, sour and spicy, all in one tasting. The roasted chicken didn't taste out of the ordinary but the execution was commendable. Crispy skin with moist and tender meat.
Mashed Taro with Almond Cream Served in Fresh Coconut - My dessert and no, it wasn't complimentary (only chilled desserts were accorded that privilege). Its the first time I've seen mashed taro or Orh Nee served up in a coconut and predictably, the coconut smell was very strong. Not that it mattered anyway as there wasn't a hint of coconut taste in both the almond cream and mashed taro. I usually don't like almond cream but this one wasn't too strong on the almond taste which suited me just fine. The mashed taro was smooth and not too sweet but more interestingly, it contained bits of chestnut, which added a nice crunchy texture and is used predominantly used in Teochew cooking. The only gripe was that the taro was a little too sticky and I had problems licking if off my spoon. Oh and there's the almost exorbitant price as well ($6.50).
An excellent dinner for 5 set us back by about $454, which is really quite steep. However I'll be the first to admit that food quality is top notch and so is the personalised service extended by the captain and his team. I can see why Taste Paradise is rated as one of the top restaurants in Singapore. And I agree.
Its been an extremely long time since i've had any wine or beer introduced into my system and honestly, i'm missing the feeling of being slightly woozy and laughing like an idiot. So it was with this intention that i brought my gf to visit Scruffy Murphy's one quiet Friday evening after work. Part of a group of pubs under the Gaelic Inns company which includes mainstays like "The Penny Black" and "Dirty Nellys". This company is definitely no stranger to the pub scene but i was a hungry for dinner as well, so lets see if they have decent grub as well.
KilKenny ($11.80 per pint) - Beer on tap and beer in a bottle. What would you choose? I'm not an expert on beer and basically, i've not had enough beer to be a judge but conversation has lead to the belief that beer on tap has a magically transformed effect of making it smoother and better. $11.80 for one pint of beer is rather expensive by any standards but i have to say, Kilkenny on tap is rather smoother and lighter then the bottled iterations.
Simplicity is the best policy in the case of this pub. Single seatings near the bar and small uncomfortable rattan chairs abound. There's a small private room at the back with air con but the rest of the pub is non air conditioned. Its still a nice, cosy setting with no one bothering you regardless of where you sit. Service is attentive as well.
Scruffy's Irish Roast Beef ($16.80) - Bearing the namesake of the pub, i expected this to be of reasonably good quality. And i was not disappointed. Judging by its namesake, i was expecting small cubic portions akin to pot roast but what came looked very promising indeed. Huge slices of beef cooked medium rare with a pinkish tint on the sides. Drenched in mushroom sauce, the meat was undeniably tender and appetizing. You could taste the marinate in eat slice and it never overwhelms. Of special mention, the yorkshire pudding on the side was excellent as well. Soft and served warm, its fragrance elevated the dish even more. Well done.
French Fries ($4.80) - Alright, this was a stupid order because we didn't know the beef came with fries. For what its worth, the fries were rather dry and bland due to the lack of salt.
Crispy Pork with Mustard and Mayonnaise ($10) - We ordered this after ordering our second pint and thought it would go well with the beer. Anyhow, the description on the menu belies its actual appearance. These few pieces of roasted crispy pork is hardly worth $10. Not that it tastes bad though. It actually tastes pretty good if not for the 2 of us being health conscious lately. Chewy thick meat and fats dominate the crispy pork belly while the mustard definitely complemented it well. Still, it was too far a departure from our expectations to make it worth our while.
Total bill came up to $55.20 for a meal and drink for 2 people. Given the excellent main we had, i'm inclined to say it was worth it.
In all fairness, the place is still worth a visit and the ambiance is pretty relaxing in the later parts of the day. Food served is decent (for the main) while service is relaxed and slow. The music is soft and conversation can be easily carried out if you require it. Otherwise, its nice to chill out and watch some matches, listen to the waves or simply drink a few beers. Now if they could lower their prices per pint, i would frequent it that much more.
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.
1=SGD 0.0587
I didn't know of this place till I went online and looked for some dim sum restaurant. I think I'll prefer to go to Red Star the next time round, although I'm not saying the food here is bad.
If you drive here, please head straight for the 4th floor for your own convenience. For others, you may have some trouble locating this place. It's kind of weird that it is located next to the carpark, with a entrance big enough for car to enter the restaurant. How's that for a start? :P This place seems to inhabited the building long before, when it was still called World Trade Centre. That was like years ago.
Anyway, went here because of the buffet dim sum set. Tried many of the dishes like the traditional har kow, siew mai, char siew bao and some new dishes not common like fish fillet and minced meat stuffed items.
While some of the food came out hot, most others were served warm or even cold. I was quite disappointed with that, nevertheless it is a buffet style lunch so I don't expect it to be too good either. Don't bother to try some of the uncommon items to be safe, as it seems that some of the experiment didn’t turn out successful.
The staff here are mostly aunties and old man but service was pretty much ok. Food is served promptly and drinks are refilled regularly. Did not have to let my stomach growl from waiting, but there isn't much to rave about here. Go for some other restaurants if you're looking for a decent dim sum, if not you can still patronise the restaurant for a relatively standard buffet deal.
Rating given:
I walked pass this Korean eatery alot of times. Dun dare to try at all. Coz dunno nice or not.
One day, I went to VIVO City, I was tempted by the variety of items they sell, so I tried.
MASHITA!!!! I bought the Fried Chicken, Stir Fried Rice Cake, Chicken Ball and Pork Ball. I dun really like the ‘Balls’, dun like their texture. I love the Rice Cake and Fried Chicken!
Unlike Shilin Market’s, the Fried Chicken uses the Chicken Leg, not Breast. It’s tender and Juicy! The marinate is the Korean Bulgogi style. Mashita!!!
The Rice Cake looks spicy, but it’s not that spicy at all! It has additional ingredients like cabbage and fish cake. It has a unique sweet and spicy taste. Very interesting! I even have two helpings per day!
Dong Dae Mun’s meat bbq on stick are delicious too! Especially the Chicken Stick. You can choose to add mayo or chili sauce or both. But i prefer to eat it on its own. The bulgogi marinate is enough to make you craving for more! 3 for $2.50. Worth it!
But different branches has different standards. :p
Rating given:
I rarely can find Thai Resturant serving authentic Thai Duck Noodles.
So I was quite surprise to see it on the menu of Thai Accent at Vivo.
I almost finish the whole bowl with the soup. Serving is quite big. I like the herbal taste. Lots of bean sprouts and Carrots. Yum Yum.
I tried their appetizer platter too.
The mango salad is good. Very sour & Spicy. Very appetizing. The fish cake is so-so. I like the little golden bags and spring rolls. The meat in the golden bags taste like meat balls… which I think its really meat ball. :p The spring rolls are crispy and juicy within.
I will go back and try other stuff!
BTW, Standard Chartered Credit card holders get 15% off the bill. But I am not sure when the promotion will ends.
Rating given:
After lots of walking and shopping around Vivocity, I was super thirsty already.
Then hubby and I pass-by this Dragon Brand's Shop and I notice that they have cooler and pretty chairs inside. So I went closer to check them out.
It's a Bird's Nest Bar!!! A quick look at their price list. Not expensive loh! I used to think Bird's Nest very very expensive one (SGD300-400) leh. :p
Hubby treated us to one bowl each (SGD8plus). Their cup/bowl is actually heart shaped. So you can actually choose not to use spoon and just drink straight from the cup!
The Bird's Nest is really cooling and you can see the bird's nest. Unlike some places, sell more expensive and more water than Bird's Nest.
They have this Bird's Nest Bar Loyalty Club, when you order 1 bowl, you get 1 stamp and when you collected 10 stamps, you can redeem 1 free bowl of Bird's Nest!
Rating given:
Hubby and I had always wanted to try the food at this Kim Gary Cafe, after countless times of seeing super duper long queues outside this cafe? Restaurant?
On 6th April 2008, Hubby and I decide to make a trip to vivocity to try their food.
We were a little early and there wasn't many people in the shop. We got a seat there's near the window, but I wanted this seat in the corner that looks very comfortable and cozy. The waiter told us that the table is reserved for their staffs to have their lunch.
Anyway, to cut this review short, hubby and I didn't like our food. The food we ordered and had don't seems to "justify" the queues we saw.
The noodle I had smells really really nice (the onions) but really didn't taste as good as it smells. I ate less than half of it. The meat's a little too tough (overcooked or something), my drink is a little too sweet, even the mini drumsticks thingy was only average.
The only item hubby liked, was his Iced Yuan Yang.
Maybe we ordered the wrong stuffs, will try them again when I'm in better mood.
I have to rant about their service! After we're done with our food, we wanted to go to their counter to pay, but when we stand up, they came to us and say they'll bring us our bill. So we sat and waited for the bill. Waited for quite a while before the bill came. Hubby gave this waitress his credit card to pay for our bill and she went and never came back!!! We waited about 10mins and decide to ask another staff for our bill. We waited another 1-2mins before darling's bill came back to us. -.-
Next time I'm so gonna use the exact amount so I don't have to wait for the change or cards.
(2 and a half stars)
Rating given:
First night of Chinese New Year 2008, I decided to give hubby and myself a little treat. I manage to book 2 gold class tickets at SGD30.00 each for "CJ7" and right after that movie, "Kungfu Dunk" SGD10.00 each ticket in the normal rooms.
We sat around in this lounge while waiting for the show to start. Since we have yet to have dinner, hubby decide to order some food. Which we love yet regret later. Read on to find out why. :)
My heart almost skipped a beat when we were in the theater. The armchairs are like so huge!!! I sat down and pulled the blanket provided, which is placed at the side of the armchair. While I spread out the blanket, hubby started playing with the buttons... located at the side of the armchair. (What other buttons were you thinking??)
I know by now you think we both are such mountain turtles. But no ones else was there yet, so we were like in our own world kind of thing. :P
The buttons allow you to adjust the seat according to how you like. You can even lie down to watch the movie if you like. No worries, even if you're lying down, you wouldn't be blocked by anyone!!! The armchair was like a bed to me. so big, so comfortable. :)
Now, to talk about the food...
Hubby and I love the food! but.. We either ordered too much or their portions are too huge! :p We couldn't finish our food loh.
Right after the movie, we went straight to the normal room to catch "Kongfu Dunk". Suddenly the seats all looks so small. lols. But seriously, for the amount of comfort, SGD30.00 per ticket is really worth it! :)
Rating given:
Had dinner at taste Paradise, an upmarket offering by the Paradise Group of Restaurants, which also owns and operates the popular Seafood Paradise at Defu Lane and the Singapore Flyer. Opened less than 2 years ago, it has made it to the Straits Times top 100 restaurants as well as garnered rave reviews from magazines and forums.
Hidden along a row of shophouses along Mosque Street in the traditional Chinatown area, Taste paradise sets itself apart with its classy glass facade. Through the doors onto the lighted walkway that leads up to the dining area, the interior oozes chic in a very subtle way. The dining area is divided into a few sections by means of partitions in which there are a couple of tables and a captain to oversee each section. Heavily carpeted floors coupled with a low ceiling and a rather limited floor area meant that conversation tones had to be kept to a low for fear of disturbing the other customers (not that we did though).
XO Carrot Cake - One of Taste Paradise's signature dishes, the humble XO carrot cake. It honestly wasn't impressive when served, looking more like your usual stir fried rendition from the hawker centre than a $7 plate of carrot cake. But pop a piece into your mouth and you will understand why it is truly one of the signature dishes. Chunky yet smooth and soft carrot cake with a discernible wok hei taste fried with beansprouts, egg, Chinese sausages and other condiments. Lightly spicy and sweet and not to mention fragrant. Nothing short of excellent.
Combination of Pan Seared Foie Gras, Wasabi Mayonnaise Prawn and Slice of Beijing Duck with Condiments - I was actually wondering how did foie gras get onto the menu and initially skeptical if a Chinese restaurant could pull it off. Just for the record, Taste Paradise is a Chinese fusion restaurant, which explains why foie gras is listed on the menu. As for my initial skepticisms, they were unfounded. The foie gras was very good, crisp on the outside yet soft, quivery and smooth on the inside. No overwhelming taste or sediments.
The wasabi mayonnaise prawn was quite good as well, with the wasabi not overpowering and the prawns fresh and crunchy. I personally liked it together with the watermelon as the sweetness from the watermelon permeated through.
The only bummer was the peking duck which didn't seem memorable. Sure the skin was crispy but the crepe tasted bland and limp.
Double Boiled Superior Shark's Fin with Dried Conpoy in Traditional Beijing Broth accompanied with Bacon Onion Roll - Another recommended dish, the shark's fin soup, was served up in a pre heated Japanese stone pot which can remain hot for 20 minutes, thus ensuring that the soup remains hot till the last drop. The fins were decent and plentiful while the soup was flavourful and thick. A little too starchy and heavy on the vinegar though, which made it a little sharp. The bacon and onion roll was crispy but other than the novelty, didn't seem to complement the dish very well. On a side note, there are 3 variations in prices for the shark's fin. $38, $58 and $68 (which isn't on the menu). You get what you pay for. The quality of the fins improve as the prices tend upwards.
Braised Homemade Beancurd with Shredded Scallop and Japanese Mushroom - Tofu has always been a staple at most of my Chinese dinners and this one was no exception. The tofu was very smooth and silky but the skin was a tad too hard and it lacked the smokey savoury taste that I personally like. Even the sauce was rather bland. And for $6 a person, it was 1 piece of tofu each.
Spinach Fried with Garlic - The low point of our meal, the quintessential vegetable dish. Very average tasting but at least the diced garlic was fried till golden brown, which gave the vegetables a nice slightly crunchy texture.
Szechuan Style Roasted Chicken with Homemade Crispy Crumbs - We ordered this on the recommendation of the captain and also because it sounded interesting. Honestly the only interesting part was the crispy crumbs, which I believe were rice crisps. They were coated with a Szechuan sauce which gave them a myriad of flavours - sweet, sour and spicy, all in one tasting. The roasted chicken didn't taste out of the ordinary but the execution was commendable. Crispy skin with moist and tender meat.
Mashed Taro with Almond Cream Served in Fresh Coconut - My dessert and no, it wasn't complimentary (only chilled desserts were accorded that privilege). Its the first time I've seen mashed taro or Orh Nee served up in a coconut and predictably, the coconut smell was very strong. Not that it mattered anyway as there wasn't a hint of coconut taste in both the almond cream and mashed taro. I usually don't like almond cream but this one wasn't too strong on the almond taste which suited me just fine. The mashed taro was smooth and not too sweet but more interestingly, it contained bits of chestnut, which added a nice crunchy texture and is used predominantly used in Teochew cooking. The only gripe was that the taro was a little too sticky and I had problems licking if off my spoon. Oh and there's the almost exorbitant price as well ($6.50).
An excellent dinner for 5 set us back by about $454, which is really quite steep. However I'll be the first to admit that food quality is top notch and so is the personalised service extended by the captain and his team. I can see why Taste Paradise is rated as one of the top restaurants in Singapore. And I agree.
See all my pictures here.
Rating given:
Its been an extremely long time since i've had any wine or beer introduced into my system and honestly, i'm missing the feeling of being slightly woozy and laughing like an idiot. So it was with this intention that i brought my gf to visit Scruffy Murphy's one quiet Friday evening after work. Part of a group of pubs under the Gaelic Inns company which includes mainstays like "The Penny Black" and "Dirty Nellys". This company is definitely no stranger to the pub scene but i was a hungry for dinner as well, so lets see if they have decent grub as well.
KilKenny ($11.80 per pint) - Beer on tap and beer in a bottle. What would you choose? I'm not an expert on beer and basically, i've not had enough beer to be a judge but conversation has lead to the belief that beer on tap has a magically transformed effect of making it smoother and better. $11.80 for one pint of beer is rather expensive by any standards but i have to say, Kilkenny on tap is rather smoother and lighter then the bottled iterations.
Simplicity is the best policy in the case of this pub. Single seatings near the bar and small uncomfortable rattan chairs abound. There's a small private room at the back with air con but the rest of the pub is non air conditioned. Its still a nice, cosy setting with no one bothering you regardless of where you sit. Service is attentive as well.
Scruffy's Irish Roast Beef ($16.80) - Bearing the namesake of the pub, i expected this to be of reasonably good quality. And i was not disappointed. Judging by its namesake, i was expecting small cubic portions akin to pot roast but what came looked very promising indeed. Huge slices of beef cooked medium rare with a pinkish tint on the sides. Drenched in mushroom sauce, the meat was undeniably tender and appetizing. You could taste the marinate in eat slice and it never overwhelms. Of special mention, the yorkshire pudding on the side was excellent as well. Soft and served warm, its fragrance elevated the dish even more. Well done.
French Fries ($4.80) - Alright, this was a stupid order because we didn't know the beef came with fries. For what its worth, the fries were rather dry and bland due to the lack of salt.
Crispy Pork with Mustard and Mayonnaise ($10) - We ordered this after ordering our second pint and thought it would go well with the beer. Anyhow, the description on the menu belies its actual appearance. These few pieces of roasted crispy pork is hardly worth $10. Not that it tastes bad though. It actually tastes pretty good if not for the 2 of us being health conscious lately. Chewy thick meat and fats dominate the crispy pork belly while the mustard definitely complemented it well. Still, it was too far a departure from our expectations to make it worth our while.
Total bill came up to $55.20 for a meal and drink for 2 people. Given the excellent main we had, i'm inclined to say it was worth it.
In all fairness, the place is still worth a visit and the ambiance is pretty relaxing in the later parts of the day. Food served is decent (for the main) while service is relaxed and slow. The music is soft and conversation can be easily carried out if you require it. Otherwise, its nice to chill out and watch some matches, listen to the waves or simply drink a few beers. Now if they could lower their prices per pint, i would frequent it that much more.
Rating given:
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: