The-sight-of-it is enough to excite me. The flowing chocolate - like water plunging down from a magnificent waterfall: wonderful, sweet. The cute white marshmallows beckon to me. The puffs - baked for the sole reunion with the delicious chocolate. The big juicy strawberries, oh my. What’s there not to like about a chocolate fondue? I love it!
Now, I famously don’t like buffets. When I see food laying out, exposed, I see food dying. I see the ocean trout that every passing diner can feel free to squeeze at. I see food left out in the open air unprotected from the passing fancies of everybody. BUT, but, the current Citibank credit card 50% promotion for 10 @ Claymore is simply too good a deal to miss, so I decided to go for it after all.
How does $29 for buffet lunch sounds? On top of it with a 1-for-1 promotion, and we are talking about Pan Pacific Hotel, not some dubious twenties-odd range buffet (you-know-where-I-am-referring-to). Given, the variety here cannot compare with other international buffets who have more spread, but what I like about 10 @ Claymore is the focus.
Instead of giving a lot items to choose from, they decided to give just enough. For those who inherited our Singapore-kiasu-genes, my apologies. But this is one buffet where I actually don’t feel guilty trying to gorge myself silly. I ate a bit of everything, and rushed to have my desserts.
The chocolate truffle was terrific - sweet, smooth, refined, yet unbelievably simple. I had mutiple helpings of it, until my stomach decided to do a red-shirt-alike-protest to me.
Total bill was $34 for 2 person after the citibank credit card promotion. The current good deal last until 30 April, 2 person are entitled to a 50% discount. For $17 bucks per person, buffet lunch at a classy environment, enough said! And oh yes, I forgot to mention that the service was top-notch; the staffs were attentive and always happy to help out when you need anything
You are always welcome to visit ladyironchef for a full-up on this trip. Whatever written herein are my genuine feelings expressed in words. Food, my dear, is what they call an adventure!
Mention the name Jumbo Seafood and the first image that pops to mind is the gigantic boat against a backdrop of neon glowing lights as you are taking a motorboat to the floating palace-like restaurant in Hong Kong. In Singapore, however, its a restaurant with the sign of a boat and the attitude of Hong Kong in that, everything needs to be done fast. Order fast, reach on time and serve fast. The restaurant started back in 1987, this home grown business has since opened 9 outlets with 2 in Japan over the last 22 years. I'm not able to determine if there is any connection between this and the Hong Kong restaurant but i guess in the end, its the food that counts. So without further ado, lets dive in.
Personally, i've never been to the Safra Resort and i must say, i was quite impressed. It looked just like a country club, at discount prices for our guys serving the nation. Its a shame if they didn't make good use of the place. The restaurant, on the other hand, was packed with people and as you can see from the shots, quite huge. Simple carpetted floors with multiple big round tables spread evenly throughout the floor. I like the fact that the layout was simple and no nonsense. The following will be the food we had. We ordered 2 set meals to feed 20 people at $437.80 per set.
Jumbo Appetiser Platter - Surprisingly, the appetiser platter contains rather heavy food items like deep fried dough with squid paste and mayonnaise, braised duck, donut with seafood paste and jellyfish. Everything on this was hot apart from the jellyfish. Everything is a little oily but otherwise good. The appetising items were the duck and and jellyfish which were predominantly sour and appetite rousing.
Steamed Live Prawns - Big, scrumptious and crunchy fresh prawns always get me in a good mood. This really isn't about cooking, simply boil fresh and huge prawns for a good time. And i have to say, their prawns were sweet and huge. Good stuff.
Shark's Fin with Seafood Soup - Do not let the name fool you. I'm suspecting this is seafood soup with some shark's fin thrown in. Why so? There's so much seafood in the soup, its difficult to ignore. Shrimp, mushrooms, fish, shark's fin and even beancurd. Add the fact that its less starchy and the shark's fin is rather difficult you can see why i suspect the above. However, i'm not saying its bad by any means, its just not shark's fin soup per se.
Scallops and Asparagus - Scallops were rather plump and springy but otherwise a very standard dish.
Jumbo Chilli Crab - Jumbo Pepper Crab - Finally, something done right. Huge Sri Lankan crabs, about 4 crabs prepared in different styles per set. Out of this, the favored style will be the chili crab which went well with the fried buns as usual. The crabs were definitely fresh and wasn't overcooked since the meat does not stick to the shell and were sweet. The chili style however, felt more like tomato since it wasn't spicy in the least bit. The black pepper version had the same trademark freshness and was more spicy and fragrant then the chili version. Of the 2 i'd say the black pepper version was done better.
Groupa done HK Style - Once again ,this was fresh, sweet and cooked just right. The meat literally melts in your mouth. Consistency is suspect though since the other table had a fish that was overcooked.
Longevity Noodles - After having all the items above, the noodles arrived to finish everyone off. Having had bad noodles before, i had a phobia for these things. The upside is, this is actually done well. The noodles were chewy yet soft. The flavor is apparent and fragrant. I managed to finish this bowl but couldn't stuff anymore even though i wanted to.
Honey sea coconut with longan.....i guess this says it all doesn't it?
The bill knocked my socks off at a whooping $1009.09 for 20 people.
Ambiance: 6/10 Service: 7/10 Food: 6.5/10 Value for money: 6/10 Final score: 6/10
Last word: I find the bill to be a little too much for the quality of food we had. Is the food bad? Definitely not! The ingredients were fresh and the cook had a good grasp of the timing for the dishes. The only problem is, i could find this at a coffee shop for less then 1/4 of the price minus air conditioning and service. Still, i had a good time meeting most of my family again during this occasion so it wasn't all bad. Could be better though.
Foie Gras is in my blood. Having said that, I’m more beef than Foie Gras, really. Wedges here, is my awesome assistant, The new Spring fashion is so passé, sun-dried tomato is the latest in-thing now! Marmalade Pantry’s famous, Sun-dried tomato Foie Gras Burger ($26).
My name is Chocolate, Chocolate Truffe ($7.80). I’m the ladies man, smooth is my texture, sweet is my nature. Try me, and you are sold. No one can resist my temptations, the thick, oh-so-thick chocolate which is so rich and good.
Hello everybody, eh, my name is Chocolate Tart ($4.20). I don’t have anything to say about myself. I’m a simple guy, but they say my chocolate is wondeful, I will rather keep a low profile. Please, don’t tell anybody else. Thank you.
They call me little miss rose ($4.2). I’m very girly and feminine in nature, but most people just judged me by my appearances. I snub those pretentious of my kind who can only face the world with their frosting make-ups. Simple is beautiful, once you get to know me, the ladies worship me and the guys adore me.
The spokesperson for Marmalade, everybody calls for me when they are here. It will be impossible if you have not heard about Sticky Date toffee pudding ($12) by now. My companion, the lovely Vanilla bean ice cream compliments me perfectly.
***
Having heard so much about Marmalade Pantry Foie Gras burger, the few of us were rather disappointed by it because there just wasn’t much foie gras taste. But the wedges that accompanied the burger was very good.
The chocolate truffle cake, and chocolate tart was wonderful, with the chocolate being very sweet yet not overly heavy. By now having tried two of Toast (under the same group as Marmalade) cupcakes and another one today, I must say their cupcakes are the better ones around. Moist and rich, there wasn’t any pretty frosting, just a solid good cupcake.
The sticky date toffee pudding also did not impressed us. Perhaps it was undone by its famous reputation, we were somewhat expecting more from it, but it never came. Nonetheless, nobody could resist having cold icy vanilla bean ice cream with the warm pudding.
Total bill was $64.15 for 6 person. Even though the burger and pudding did not exactly wow me, but I will definitely come back to try the array of desserts available, and of course their cupcakes.
You are always welcome to visit ladyironchef for a full-up on this trip. Whatever written herein are my genuine feelings expressed in words. Food, my dear, is what they call an adventure!
Taste paradise is run by none other then the Paradise group of restaurants and has been raved by my friends in their blogs as well as commercial reviews. See here and here. My wife-to-be was having her birthday as well and that's when i decided to bring her there for a meal. Its a risk since i've never personally tried their food and seafood paradise wasn't exactly mind blowing but its what she has been asking for, so i figured it would be a good birthday present.
The interior is slick with heavily carpeted floors, padded leather chairs and corner booths for comfort and intimacy. Its also one of the more colorful restaurants i've been to with emphasis mainly on red, yellow and white. Lighting was dim and sleep inducing with mild instrumental chinese music in the background for added ambiance. Everything felt perfectly synchronised and well thought. Service is personalized and impeccable. The staff will remember you by name and provide commentaries and recommendations on the food if you are lost. Advise them on your preferences and they will remember it for you next visit. Simply outstanding.
Signature XO Carrot Cake ($7) - For a $7 carrot cake, it arrived with little fanfare. However, pop a piece in your mouth and you'll be treated to an explosion of taste and texture unlike any $3 carrot cake could ever dream of giving. Crispy and clear wok hei taste on the outside and quivery smooth on the inside with a fragrant XO aftertaste. This is definitely something everyone should try.
Peking duck: Fragrant herb taste, crispy and minimal fats make this a winner. Wasabi Mayonaise Prawn: The prawns is generally big, juicy and well battered with a subtle wasabi mayo coating. The wasabi is strong enough to exert its presence, yet mild enough to not overwhelm. Add the fact that the prawn is crunchy and sweet and pair that up with a palatte cleansing watermelon and this is simply perfect. Pan Seared Foie Gras: Having heard good thing about the foie gras, i'm glad to report that it is at least as good as they say. Soft and quivery on the inside and seared to a crisp on the outside. It doesn't feel overly oily as well but still, take in moderation.
Double Boiled Shark's Fin with Bacon Onion Roll - Designed to be another signature dish by the restaurant, this traditional Beijing broth is double boiled to perfection and served in a japanese claypot to keep the broth warm all the way to the last drop. The broth is light and not starchy with generous amounts of shark's fin, scallops and dried conpoy. The accompanying bacon onion roll is also worth a mention as it is extremely crispy, fragrant and goes really well with the broth. This is most definitely the best item we had that day.
Baked Rack of Lamb in Lamb Stock - Smooth tender, medium rack of lamb with a delectable sauce. I'm not really into lamb but this is very very good.
Baked Cod Fish with Chef's Recipe - Sweet, soft cod fish marinated in chef's special sauce. The sauce gave the impression of being a little like teriyaki and honey which gave the fish its golden color. Its also lightly charred on the outside and still moist and quivery on the inside. Wonderful.
Baby Abalone, Hoshimeiji mushrooms and hand made noodles - I was pleasantly surprised when this final dish was served, to find a decent sized abalone sitting atop the noodles. The noodles were very springy and yet surprisingly soft just as the abalone is and the sauce it was done in reminded me of Sze Chuan spicy soup which is perfect since we were already pretty stuffed by this time. Excellent.
The desserts were nothing short of excellent as well. Especially so when one of them was given free via the recommendation of the captain. Sweet, sourish and palate cleansing, its the perfect ending to a wonderful meal.
The total bill for this meal came up to $222.45.
Ambiance: 8/10 Service: 9/10 Food: 8.5/10 Value for money: 7/10 Overall Score: 8/10
Last word: Good food, good service, new experiences and good ambiance. To me, this place has won me and my girl over quite simply and i'll definitely be back. No doubt about it. If i really need to complain about something, it would be the location. Driving is very much recommended to hae a meal here. To those who have not tried it yet, i heartily recommend giving it a chance. Go in with an open heart and it will warm up to your expectations.
Me and my sister were shopping at John Little and found out they have a promotion with every $60 above you will be given a $15 discount and above $80 you are entitled to a gift set consist of a small goat brush with a pouch.
I bought a Kawaii set with Cleanser, spf day cream and a Gel moisturiser, usual price $98 I pay for $83 with free gift.
My sister bought 2 items at $68 and $78 respectively. Marvin, the cashier, instead of total the 2items and give a $15. He explain if we want to split into 2payment so each item are entitled to $15 discount but no free gift entitled.
We are taken aback, that's a saving of $30 in total compare to the $19.90 gift. Probably there aren't alot of people at the cashier, if not, dont think he will suggest that.
But we learn 1 thing, in future if such same cases, as consumers we can request for split payment.
I must say Marvin did a good job by going the extra mile to help us save another $15. Thank you.
As it was a Wednesday and they have a special price for ladies for buffet dinner, it was decided that my boyfriend and I try since we were in the area.
I like the spacious area and the recommendations by the waitress. She was very thoughtful and gave us suggestions about the food. We tried the dual soup base since my boyfriend loves spicy bases while I prefer the non spicy ones.
The mushroom soup base tasted slightly herbal and I love it. Soon, our orders arrived. I loved the fried Shitake mushroom, however, it could only be ordered once during the buffet. Most of the other choices can be ordered as much as you like.
The beef and fish slices were sliced thinly, so it was rather fast to be cooked ready for eating. The ambiance feels cozy and quiet. I'm not sure if it was due to being a weekday but it sure felt good not having to wait for too long for a meal.
This was a trip taken to Taipei, Taiwan late last year. I had a hectic and stressful time before that, so decided to unwind myself by travelling.
Main highlights of my trip would consist the shopping, snacking and visiting of temples. Night Markets are aplenty in here, comprising of food, fashion and accessories. Shilin is the best of them all, offering all sorts of great bites such as Smelly Tofu, Oyster Omelette and the humongous Chicken Cutlet. Wufenpu’s the place for all the clothing and fashion at very affordable price.
Don’t miss the opportunity to conquer the tallest building in the world, Taipei 101. Felt like a little kid looking in amazement at the magnificent aerial view of the city. Shopping craze? Head down to Zhongxiao East Road where the whole street is littered with top brands like Esprit, Mango, TopShop and SOGO.
Travelling around is made simpler via the MRT Train. Very easy to navigate and in fact, their stations are located very near great spots such as Ximending and Long Shan Temple stations. Almost forgot, remember your prayers for safety and luck at the famous Long Shan Temple.
I’m bewitched by the wonders of Taipei and I’m lovin’ it! Definitely recommending Taipei to everyone else! (:
Had been itching to try out this new cafe - Spruce, after seeing quite a few reviews of it online as well as in various publications. Apparently their chef was from Wine Garage, which made really good burgers. Reservations were a pain though as the place was almost always full, till I got lucky one evening and managed to squeeze in a reservation for an outdoor table.
Outdoor seating probably isn't the best idea especially when Spruce is located just up a tiny hill next to lush greenery along Tanglin Road. But hey, if bugs are your best pals, then by means go ahead. Read. The bugs are suicidal. They do kamikaze stunts like crashing into your drinks, table and food. After a couple of minutes, we surrendered and requested for a seat indoors, which was promptly given to us (Whatever happened to the reservations?).
Roasted Mycofarm Mushrooms with Herbs - We initially wondered if mycofarm was some special type of mushrooms but after googling, it turned out to be the name of a farm in Singapore. On hindsight we probably shouldn't have ordered this side dish. The mushrooms tasted very normal but were literally drenched in oil. And it was definitely not olive oil.
Creamy Macaroni and Cheese - Now this side dish fared much better. Simple comfort food for the masses. Small macaroni shells evenly coated with a nice smooth creamy and cheesey layer. Not too overwhelming. The bits of burnt mozzarella cheese on top provided a nice crisp texture.
Seared Tuna with Steamed Bok Choy, Carrot and Ginger Broth - Make no mistake. This was a main. 5 slices of tuna tataki with a clump of bok choy going for $22. The tuna was disappointing to the say the least. Not pan seared till lightly charred on the outside while uncomfortably limp on the inside. Being less then generous on the salt didn't exactly help matters as well.
The Spruce Burger with Hand Cut Chips - The burger was good though a tad small. The beef patty crumbled with ease when I poked my fork into it, leading to us coin it "burger crumble". Corny I know. The patty was probably one of the best I've had in a long while. A little moist without the beefy taste overwhelming. Simple and unadulterated. I thought the buns could do with a little more toasting though. There is an option of topping up $2 for a slice of bacon to go along with the patty.
Cranberry, Blueberry and Coconut Tart Ala Mode - I thought this tart sounded really interesting and healthy with all the berries so I had a go at it. Well I wouldn't say it was fantastic but at least it was decent. I could make out the taste of blueberries and cranberries and strands of coconut in between. Lightly sweet. Unfortunately, the accompanying scoop of ice cream melted really fast and was your run off the mill vanilla ice cream.
Yogurt and Buttermilk Panna Cotta with Seasonal Fruit - This dessert was actually more yogurt then panna cotta, smooth and semi liquid. The layer of blueberry was sweet and complemented the yogurt quite well. It was topped with this brownish looking muesli bars that stuck to my teeth when I chewed on it. Nice but majorly irritating.
Generally speaking, prices aren't really over the top but food quality could be improved quite a bit in general. Service in general was good but there was this young waiter that stood out with his earnest attitude and attentiveness. Pity I didn't catch his name. Spruce is worth a try, just for the burger, but probably not worth a return. By the way, parking is free.
For all your Golfing needs.. Nike by B.I.R.D is one of the best choice you can get in terms of style, user friendliness, range of items and most importantly, its endorsed by the famous world No.1 Golfer.... Matter of fact.. they had an entire range of merchandisers named after him...
I like NIKE GOLF stuffs.. They are really chich and stylo-milo..... I mean.. apart from looking good, these apparals and comfortable to wear and very breathable.... Its important to have good airy clothes yet can shield some UV rays as well as block some wind when it gets a little chilly out there in the course....
I went to this shop the other evening to do some shopping and i came across the beautiful cap that i've decided to buy almost immediately.. Seldom do i do that.... but this cap is just so special... Made of a silky light material.. this cap comes in 3 colours.. Light Blue, Black and Brown... The design of the cap is most thrilling.... The outside is just a simple smooth solid black colour with a durable short velcro for that pony tail of mine... Most importantly.. underneath the tongue of the cap.. is covered with a checked printed fabric in which made the cap totally sleek with a tinge of retro....
Its a beautiful cap.. though not cheap, however.. I love it alot.. The service is pretty ok.. though the shop is not huge, but it does hold alot of stuffs... The lady serving me is nice and gave me a new piece when i asked.... I love the fact that she gave me space to shop.. instead of hanging so close to me wherever i go and try to delibrately strike conversation with me.
My shopping ritual is that.... "IF i need something I will ASK... Please don't hog me or disrupt my thoughts with your irritating Questions" :)
We're all farmiliar with the brand Timberland.. We see it all the time and it pratically grew up with me....
I am most amazed by its LOGO.. A TREE on a SLOPE..... It simply represents ECOFriendly..... and I believe that Timberland products are environmentally friendly - judging by this name card i hold... is printed specially on the front that its 100% Recycled Paper...
Expect Recycled Tags, Paperbags, Packaging as well as bottled water....
Talk about bottled water.. I simply love the idea of them giving away TIMBERLAND bottled water to every customer that walks into their shops.. Its a clever idea to make me feel indebted to them somehow and I simple love the attentive gesture.... I mean who is not thirsty.... Moreover you could also recycle the bottles and it also act as free advertisements..... How SWEET :)
Lets talk about the merchandises now.. The clothes are great for trekking, fishing and other outdoor sports. Made of great range of materials with breathing fabrics... I would especially recommend the Jackets.. I love the jackets.. they are user friendly.. does not stink with time and most importantly.. some repels water and keeps you warm and cosy on the inside.... Even its winter on the outside... You are sure its always summer on the inside....
The leather boots are the next best thing you can ever find in this shop. Timberland are almost mainly famous for their boots.... Made of leather of different kinds as well as breathable technology and sturdy soles.. These shoes are pratically to die for.... What more.. You could design your own shoe.. customizing every part of the shoe with the colour coding you want yourself for just a mere $299. There is a assembler's desk where u can mix and match every single part of your boot with the demo sets there.. both fun and intriguing...
Its a nice place to go to.. and nice merchandises to buy :)
1=SGD 0.0587
The-sight-of-it is enough to excite me. The flowing chocolate - like water plunging down from a magnificent waterfall: wonderful, sweet. The cute white marshmallows beckon to me. The puffs - baked for the sole reunion with the delicious chocolate. The big juicy strawberries, oh my. What’s there not to like about a chocolate fondue? I love it!
Now, I famously don’t like buffets. When I see food laying out, exposed, I see food dying. I see the ocean trout that every passing diner can feel free to squeeze at. I see food left out in the open air unprotected from the passing fancies of everybody. BUT, but, the current Citibank credit card 50% promotion for 10 @ Claymore is simply too good a deal to miss, so I decided to go for it after all.
How does $29 for buffet lunch sounds? On top of it with a 1-for-1 promotion, and we are talking about Pan Pacific Hotel, not some dubious twenties-odd range buffet (you-know-where-I-am-referring-to). Given, the variety here cannot compare with other international buffets who have more spread, but what I like about 10 @ Claymore is the focus.
Instead of giving a lot items to choose from, they decided to give just enough. For those who inherited our Singapore-kiasu-genes, my apologies. But this is one buffet where I actually don’t feel guilty trying to gorge myself silly. I ate a bit of everything, and rushed to have my desserts.
The chocolate truffle was terrific - sweet, smooth, refined, yet unbelievably simple. I had mutiple helpings of it, until my stomach decided to do a red-shirt-alike-protest to me.
Total bill was $34 for 2 person after the citibank credit card promotion. The current good deal last until 30 April, 2 person are entitled to a 50% discount. For $17 bucks per person, buffet lunch at a classy environment, enough said! And oh yes, I forgot to mention that the service was top-notch; the staffs were attentive and always happy to help out when you need anything
You are always welcome to visit ladyironchef for a full-up on this trip. Whatever written herein are my genuine feelings expressed in words. Food, my dear, is what they call an adventure!
Rating given:
Mention the name Jumbo Seafood and the first image that pops to mind is the gigantic boat against a backdrop of neon glowing lights as you are taking a motorboat to the floating palace-like restaurant in Hong Kong. In Singapore, however, its a restaurant with the sign of a boat and the attitude of Hong Kong in that, everything needs to be done fast. Order fast, reach on time and serve fast.
The restaurant started back in 1987, this home grown business has since opened 9 outlets with 2 in Japan over the last 22 years. I'm not able to determine if there is any connection between this and the Hong Kong restaurant but i guess in the end, its the food that counts. So without further ado, lets dive in.
Personally, i've never been to the Safra Resort and i must say, i was quite impressed. It looked just like a country club, at discount prices for our guys serving the nation. Its a shame if they didn't make good use of the place. The restaurant, on the other hand, was packed with people and as you can see from the shots, quite huge. Simple carpetted floors with multiple big round tables spread evenly throughout the floor. I like the fact that the layout was simple and no nonsense.
The following will be the food we had. We ordered 2 set meals to feed 20 people at $437.80 per set.
Jumbo Appetiser Platter - Surprisingly, the appetiser platter contains rather heavy food items like deep fried dough with squid paste and mayonnaise, braised duck, donut with seafood paste and jellyfish. Everything on this was hot apart from the jellyfish. Everything is a little oily but otherwise good. The appetising items were the duck and and jellyfish which were predominantly sour and appetite rousing.
Steamed Live Prawns - Big, scrumptious and crunchy fresh prawns always get me in a good mood. This really isn't about cooking, simply boil fresh and huge prawns for a good time. And i have to say, their prawns were sweet and huge. Good stuff.
Shark's Fin with Seafood Soup - Do not let the name fool you. I'm suspecting this is seafood soup with some shark's fin thrown in. Why so? There's so much seafood in the soup, its difficult to ignore. Shrimp, mushrooms, fish, shark's fin and even beancurd. Add the fact that its less starchy and the shark's fin is rather difficult you can see why i suspect the above. However, i'm not saying its bad by any means, its just not shark's fin soup per se.
Scallops and Asparagus - Scallops were rather plump and springy but otherwise a very standard dish.
Jumbo Chilli Crab - Jumbo Pepper Crab - Finally, something done right. Huge Sri Lankan crabs, about 4 crabs prepared in different styles per set. Out of this, the favored style will be the chili crab which went well with the fried buns as usual. The crabs were definitely fresh and wasn't overcooked since the meat does not stick to the shell and were sweet. The chili style however, felt more like tomato since it wasn't spicy in the least bit. The black pepper version had the same trademark freshness and was more spicy and fragrant then the chili version. Of the 2 i'd say the black pepper version was done better.
Groupa done HK Style - Once again ,this was fresh, sweet and cooked just right. The meat literally melts in your mouth. Consistency is suspect though since the other table had a fish that was overcooked.
Longevity Noodles - After having all the items above, the noodles arrived to finish everyone off. Having had bad noodles before, i had a phobia for these things. The upside is, this is actually done well. The noodles were chewy yet soft. The flavor is apparent and fragrant. I managed to finish this bowl but couldn't stuff anymore even though i wanted to.
Honey sea coconut with longan.....i guess this says it all doesn't it?
The bill knocked my socks off at a whooping $1009.09 for 20 people.
Ambiance: 6/10
Service: 7/10
Food: 6.5/10
Value for money: 6/10
Final score: 6/10
Last word:
I find the bill to be a little too much for the quality of food we had. Is the food bad? Definitely not! The ingredients were fresh and the cook had a good grasp of the timing for the dishes. The only problem is, i could find this at a coffee shop for less then 1/4 of the price minus air conditioning and service. Still, i had a good time meeting most of my family again during this occasion so it wasn't all bad. Could be better though.
Rating given:
Foie Gras is in my blood. Having said that, I’m more beef than Foie Gras, really. Wedges here, is my awesome assistant, The new Spring fashion is so passé, sun-dried tomato is the latest in-thing now! Marmalade Pantry’s famous, Sun-dried tomato Foie Gras Burger ($26).
My name is Chocolate, Chocolate Truffe ($7.80). I’m the ladies man, smooth is my texture, sweet is my nature. Try me, and you are sold. No one can resist my temptations, the thick, oh-so-thick chocolate which is so rich and good.
Hello everybody, eh, my name is Chocolate Tart ($4.20). I don’t have anything to say about myself. I’m a simple guy, but they say my chocolate is wondeful, I will rather keep a low profile. Please, don’t tell anybody else. Thank you.
They call me little miss rose ($4.2). I’m very girly and feminine in nature, but most people just judged me by my appearances. I snub those pretentious of my kind who can only face the world with their frosting make-ups. Simple is beautiful, once you get to know me, the ladies worship me and the guys adore me.
The spokesperson for Marmalade, everybody calls for me when they are here. It will be impossible if you have not heard about Sticky Date toffee pudding ($12) by now. My companion, the lovely Vanilla bean ice cream compliments me perfectly.
***
Having heard so much about Marmalade Pantry Foie Gras burger, the few of us were rather disappointed by it because there just wasn’t much foie gras taste. But the wedges that accompanied the burger was very good.
The chocolate truffle cake, and chocolate tart was wonderful, with the chocolate being very sweet yet not overly heavy. By now having tried two of Toast (under the same group as Marmalade) cupcakes and another one today, I must say their cupcakes are the better ones around. Moist and rich, there wasn’t any pretty frosting, just a solid good cupcake.
The sticky date toffee pudding also did not impressed us. Perhaps it was undone by its famous reputation, we were somewhat expecting more from it, but it never came. Nonetheless, nobody could resist having cold icy vanilla bean ice cream with the warm pudding.
Total bill was $64.15 for 6 person. Even though the burger and pudding did not exactly wow me, but I will definitely come back to try the array of desserts available, and of course their cupcakes.
You are always welcome to visit ladyironchef for a full-up on this trip. Whatever written herein are my genuine feelings expressed in words. Food, my dear, is what they call an adventure!
Rating given:
Taste paradise is run by none other then the Paradise group of restaurants and has been raved by my friends in their blogs as well as commercial reviews. See here and here. My wife-to-be was having her birthday as well and that's when i decided to bring her there for a meal. Its a risk since i've never personally tried their food and seafood paradise wasn't exactly mind blowing but its what she has been asking for, so i figured it would be a good birthday present.
The interior is slick with heavily carpeted floors, padded leather chairs and corner booths for comfort and intimacy. Its also one of the more colorful restaurants i've been to with emphasis mainly on red, yellow and white. Lighting was dim and sleep inducing with mild instrumental chinese music in the background for added ambiance. Everything felt perfectly synchronised and well thought.
Service is personalized and impeccable. The staff will remember you by name and provide commentaries and recommendations on the food if you are lost. Advise them on your preferences and they will remember it for you next visit. Simply outstanding.
Signature XO Carrot Cake ($7) - For a $7 carrot cake, it arrived with little fanfare. However, pop a piece in your mouth and you'll be treated to an explosion of taste and texture unlike any $3 carrot cake could ever dream of giving. Crispy and clear wok hei taste on the outside and quivery smooth on the inside with a fragrant XO aftertaste. This is definitely something everyone should try.
Peking duck: Fragrant herb taste, crispy and minimal fats make this a winner.
Wasabi Mayonaise Prawn: The prawns is generally big, juicy and well battered with a subtle wasabi mayo coating. The wasabi is strong enough to exert its presence, yet mild enough to not overwhelm. Add the fact that the prawn is crunchy and sweet and pair that up with a palatte cleansing watermelon and this is simply perfect.
Pan Seared Foie Gras: Having heard good thing about the foie gras, i'm glad to report that it is at least as good as they say. Soft and quivery on the inside and seared to a crisp on the outside. It doesn't feel overly oily as well but still, take in moderation.
Double Boiled Shark's Fin with Bacon Onion Roll - Designed to be another signature dish by the restaurant, this traditional Beijing broth is double boiled to perfection and served in a japanese claypot to keep the broth warm all the way to the last drop. The broth is light and not starchy with generous amounts of shark's fin, scallops and dried conpoy. The accompanying bacon onion roll is also worth a mention as it is extremely crispy, fragrant and goes really well with the broth. This is most definitely the best item we had that day.
Baked Rack of Lamb in Lamb Stock - Smooth tender, medium rack of lamb with a delectable sauce. I'm not really into lamb but this is very very good.
Baked Cod Fish with Chef's Recipe - Sweet, soft cod fish marinated in chef's special sauce. The sauce gave the impression of being a little like teriyaki and honey which gave the fish its golden color. Its also lightly charred on the outside and still moist and quivery on the inside. Wonderful.
Baby Abalone, Hoshimeiji mushrooms and hand made noodles - I was pleasantly surprised when this final dish was served, to find a decent sized abalone sitting atop the noodles. The noodles were very springy and yet surprisingly soft just as the abalone is and the sauce it was done in reminded me of Sze Chuan spicy soup which is perfect since we were already pretty stuffed by this time. Excellent.
The desserts were nothing short of excellent as well. Especially so when one of them was given free via the recommendation of the captain. Sweet, sourish and palate cleansing, its the perfect ending to a wonderful meal.
The total bill for this meal came up to $222.45.
Ambiance: 8/10
Service: 9/10
Food: 8.5/10
Value for money: 7/10
Overall Score: 8/10
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Good food, good service, new experiences and good ambiance. To me, this place has won me and my girl over quite simply and i'll definitely be back. No doubt about it. If i really need to complain about something, it would be the location. Driving is very much recommended to hae a meal here. To those who have not tried it yet, i heartily recommend giving it a chance. Go in with an open heart and it will warm up to your expectations.
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Me and my sister were shopping at John Little and found out they have a promotion with every $60 above you will be given a $15 discount and above $80 you are entitled to a gift set consist of a small goat brush with a pouch.
I bought a Kawaii set with Cleanser, spf day cream and a Gel moisturiser, usual price $98 I pay for $83 with free gift.
My sister bought 2 items at $68 and $78 respectively. Marvin, the cashier, instead of total the 2items and give a $15. He explain if we want to split into 2payment so each item are entitled to $15 discount but no free gift entitled.
We are taken aback, that's a saving of $30 in total compare to the $19.90 gift. Probably there aren't alot of people at the cashier, if not, dont think he will suggest that.
But we learn 1 thing, in future if such same cases, as consumers we can request for split payment.
I must say Marvin did a good job by going the extra mile to help us save another $15. Thank you.
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As it was a Wednesday and they have a special price for ladies for buffet dinner, it was decided that my boyfriend and I try since we were in the area.
I like the spacious area and the recommendations by the waitress. She was very thoughtful and gave us suggestions about the food. We tried the dual soup base since my boyfriend loves spicy bases while I prefer the non spicy ones.
The mushroom soup base tasted slightly herbal and I love it. Soon, our orders arrived. I loved the fried Shitake mushroom, however, it could only be ordered once during the buffet. Most of the other choices can be ordered as much as you like.
The beef and fish slices were sliced thinly, so it was rather fast to be cooked ready for eating. The ambiance feels cozy and quiet. I'm not sure if it was due to being a weekday but it sure felt good not having to wait for too long for a meal.
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This was a trip taken to Taipei, Taiwan late last year. I had a hectic and stressful time before that, so decided to unwind myself by travelling.
Main highlights of my trip would consist the shopping, snacking and visiting of temples. Night Markets are aplenty in here, comprising of food, fashion and accessories. Shilin is the best of them all, offering all sorts of great bites such as Smelly Tofu, Oyster Omelette and the humongous Chicken Cutlet. Wufenpu’s the place for all the clothing and fashion at very affordable price.
Don’t miss the opportunity to conquer the tallest building in the world, Taipei 101. Felt like a little kid looking in amazement at the magnificent aerial view of the city. Shopping craze? Head down to Zhongxiao East Road where the whole street is littered with top brands like Esprit, Mango, TopShop and SOGO.
Travelling around is made simpler via the MRT Train. Very easy to navigate and in fact, their stations are located very near great spots such as Ximending and Long Shan Temple stations. Almost forgot, remember your prayers for safety and luck at the famous Long Shan Temple.
I’m bewitched by the wonders of Taipei and I’m lovin’ it! Definitely recommending Taipei to everyone else! (:
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Had been itching to try out this new cafe - Spruce, after seeing quite a few reviews of it online as well as in various publications. Apparently their chef was from Wine Garage, which made really good burgers. Reservations were a pain though as the place was almost always full, till I got lucky one evening and managed to squeeze in a reservation for an outdoor table.
Outdoor seating probably isn't the best idea especially when Spruce is located just up a tiny hill next to lush greenery along Tanglin Road. But hey, if bugs are your best pals, then by means go ahead. Read. The bugs are suicidal. They do kamikaze stunts like crashing into your drinks, table and food. After a couple of minutes, we surrendered and requested for a seat indoors, which was promptly given to us (Whatever happened to the reservations?).
Roasted Mycofarm Mushrooms with Herbs - We initially wondered if mycofarm was some special type of mushrooms but after googling, it turned out to be the name of a farm in Singapore. On hindsight we probably shouldn't have ordered this side dish. The mushrooms tasted very normal but were literally drenched in oil. And it was definitely not olive oil.
Creamy Macaroni and Cheese - Now this side dish fared much better. Simple comfort food for the masses. Small macaroni shells evenly coated with a nice smooth creamy and cheesey layer. Not too overwhelming. The bits of burnt mozzarella cheese on top provided a nice crisp texture.
Seared Tuna with Steamed Bok Choy, Carrot and Ginger Broth - Make no mistake. This was a main. 5 slices of tuna tataki with a clump of bok choy going for $22. The tuna was disappointing to the say the least. Not pan seared till lightly charred on the outside while uncomfortably limp on the inside. Being less then generous on the salt didn't exactly help matters as well.
The Spruce Burger with Hand Cut Chips - The burger was good though a tad small. The beef patty crumbled with ease when I poked my fork into it, leading to us coin it "burger crumble". Corny I know. The patty was probably one of the best I've had in a long while. A little moist without the beefy taste overwhelming. Simple and unadulterated. I thought the buns could do with a little more toasting though. There is an option of topping up $2 for a slice of bacon to go along with the patty.
Cranberry, Blueberry and Coconut Tart Ala Mode - I thought this tart sounded really interesting and healthy with all the berries so I had a go at it. Well I wouldn't say it was fantastic but at least it was decent. I could make out the taste of blueberries and cranberries and strands of coconut in between. Lightly sweet. Unfortunately, the accompanying scoop of ice cream melted really fast and was your run off the mill vanilla ice cream.
Yogurt and Buttermilk Panna Cotta with Seasonal Fruit - This dessert was actually more yogurt then panna cotta, smooth and semi liquid. The layer of blueberry was sweet and complemented the yogurt quite well. It was topped with this brownish looking muesli bars that stuck to my teeth when I chewed on it. Nice but majorly irritating.
Generally speaking, prices aren't really over the top but food quality could be improved quite a bit in general. Service in general was good but there was this young waiter that stood out with his earnest attitude and attentiveness. Pity I didn't catch his name. Spruce is worth a try, just for the burger, but probably not worth a return. By the way, parking is free.
See all my pictures here.
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For all your Golfing needs.. Nike by B.I.R.D is one of the best choice you can get in terms of style, user friendliness, range of items and most importantly, its endorsed by the famous world No.1 Golfer.... Matter of fact.. they had an entire range of merchandisers named after him...
I like NIKE GOLF stuffs.. They are really chich and stylo-milo..... I mean.. apart from looking good, these apparals and comfortable to wear and very breathable.... Its important to have good airy clothes yet can shield some UV rays as well as block some wind when it gets a little chilly out there in the course....
I went to this shop the other evening to do some shopping and i came across the beautiful cap that i've decided to buy almost immediately.. Seldom do i do that.... but this cap is just so special... Made of a silky light material.. this cap comes in 3 colours.. Light Blue, Black and Brown... The design of the cap is most thrilling.... The outside is just a simple smooth solid black colour with a durable short velcro for that pony tail of mine... Most importantly.. underneath the tongue of the cap.. is covered with a checked printed fabric in which made the cap totally sleek with a tinge of retro....
Its a beautiful cap.. though not cheap, however.. I love it alot.. The service is pretty ok.. though the shop is not huge, but it does hold alot of stuffs... The lady serving me is nice and gave me a new piece when i asked.... I love the fact that she gave me space to shop.. instead of hanging so close to me wherever i go and try to delibrately strike conversation with me.
My shopping ritual is that.... "IF i need something I will ASK... Please don't hog me or disrupt my thoughts with your irritating Questions" :)
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We're all farmiliar with the brand Timberland.. We see it all the time and it pratically grew up with me....
I am most amazed by its LOGO.. A TREE on a SLOPE..... It simply represents ECOFriendly..... and I believe that Timberland products are environmentally friendly - judging by this name card i hold... is printed specially on the front that its 100% Recycled Paper...
Expect Recycled Tags, Paperbags, Packaging as well as bottled water....
Talk about bottled water.. I simply love the idea of them giving away TIMBERLAND bottled water to every customer that walks into their shops.. Its a clever idea to make me feel indebted to them somehow and I simple love the attentive gesture.... I mean who is not thirsty.... Moreover you could also recycle the bottles and it also act as free advertisements..... How SWEET :)
Lets talk about the merchandises now.. The clothes are great for trekking, fishing and other outdoor sports. Made of great range of materials with breathing fabrics... I would especially recommend the Jackets.. I love the jackets.. they are user friendly.. does not stink with time and most importantly.. some repels water and keeps you warm and cosy on the inside.... Even its winter on the outside... You are sure its always summer on the inside....
The leather boots are the next best thing you can ever find in this shop. Timberland are almost mainly famous for their boots.... Made of leather of different kinds as well as breathable technology and sturdy soles.. These shoes are pratically to die for.... What more.. You could design your own shoe.. customizing every part of the shoe with the colour coding you want yourself for just a mere $299. There is a assembler's desk where u can mix and match every single part of your boot with the demo sets there.. both fun and intriguing...
Its a nice place to go to.. and nice merchandises to buy :)
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