Zhou’s Kitchen - 周 (Zhou) is the family name of Andrew Tjioe, Tung Lok Group’s Founder and Executive Chairman and Zhou’s Kitchen is a welcome shift from the high end Tung Lok restaurant to a casual Chinese dining restaurant that caters to the palates and pockets of diners from all walks of life.
The décor is a mixed of Eastern influence of bamboos and jade and Western influence of clean and bright modern lighting.
Each table was served with delightful Prawn Crackers as we waited for our first dish - Young Sweet Potato Leaves Sautéed with Sambal Belachan. A straightforward dish that is a close substitute to Sambal Kang Kong, some might dislike the subtle bitter aftertaste.
The Xing Hua Traditional Homemade Noodle is a bowl of Udon-like noodles served in slightly gluey gravy. The gravy is light on the palate but noodles tend to be starchy towards the end.
The Xing Hua Dumplings served in a bowl of MSG-laden soup was disappointing. The dumpling tasted of strong pork smell and the skin was not the best I have tasted.
The best dish was the Grandma's Braised Pork with Toufu that was doled out in a claypot. Pork was soft and flavoured but a pity that the toufu was not braised along with it, as it was hard and hardly soaked in the gravy.
You can view the all photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
Secret Recipe, a lifestyle café chain that has become a household name following its debut in Malaysia since 1997. It has since successfully established its brand name in Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand.
The Lamb Stew served with Mashed Potatoes is one of their signatured dishes. The meat was very soft and yielding that a lightest tug of the fork will cause the meat to be easily separated from its bone. However, the meat could be better infused with the gravy and the mashed potatoes could be slightly salted for better flavour - we find it slightly cold and hard as well.
The Pan Grill, or Grilled Dory Laden with Lobster Gravy and served with Fries was the other main we sampled. On its own, the lobster gravy is strong with lobster tang, but we find the pairing with the fish a slight mismatch. Dory being a fresh-water fish also comes with a slight muddy taste.
The highlight of Secret Recipe belongs to its award-winning Chocolate Banana Cake. Crowned as the "Most Original Chocolate Cake" award winner in Malaysia 1999, the cake is pretty addictive. Loads of Thick Banana Slices on a Bed of Chocolate Cream with Chocolate Cake, this cake doesn’t come across as chocolaty as Awfully Chocolate’s version, and would bring a nice finale to a meal, however, we would prefer the cake to be slightly more moist.
You can view the all photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
The opening of Vivo City has seen many new restaurants/cafes popping up to capitalize on the crowds that throng Vivo City daily. One such new restaurant/cafe is White Dog Cafe.
Located just a few doors away from the much talked about Kim Gary, White Dog Cafe hosts its own steady stream of customers in its simple yet cosy interior with a view of Sentosa to boot. The menu is interestingly done up to mimic the spots of the Dalmatian. Other than that, nothing else seems to suggest why the outfit is named White Dog Cafe.
Soup of the day - This was plain lousy. The soup was way too salty and tasted like cabbage soup with some small balls of meat in it. The accompanying garlic bread was equally bad, coming across as slip shod and bland.
Deep Fried Breaded Beef with Japanese Mayo - This was recommended to me by the waiter and it sort of blew me away with its quality (this is not a compliment in case you are wondering). The bread coating was way too thick and the beef was tasteless. It was no different from eating deep fried crispy bread. Probably the only thing that was still okay was the rice. Ironical isn't it?
Etoile - My dessert of a specialty cake, the Etoile, which is essentially a dark chocolate cake with chocolate mousse. Sadly, it didn't meet expectations. The outer layer of dark chocolate did look like dark chocolate, but certainly didn't taste like it. I couldn't detect any bitterness or strong chocolate taste for that matter. The chocolate mousse was bland and the cake wasn't spongy. Terribly done if you ask me and I'm very sure the cakes aren't made in house. If they are, its time to change a new pastry chef.
A disappointing lunch for 2 pax cost $28.40. Not really expensive price wise, but factor in the quality of food and you have a no brainer conclusion. I will not be back. I guess that pretty much sums it all up doesn't it?
Along Club Street lies this quaint little colonial style building that houses one of Singapore's well known Italian Restaurant - Senso Ristorante & Bar. Established in 2000, Senso has received numerous awards and nominations for its ambience, food and wine. So it was imperative that we (my gf and I) tried out this place! Reservations weren't made as it was a rather last minute decision and we didn't think it would be too difficult to get a seat on a Sunday evening (Actually we were torn between eating at Senso and Grand Shanghai, but since the latter didn't answer my calls, we chose the former). We got there at about 645pm and were surprised to find that it only opened for dinner at 7pm. Anyway, it was but a short wait and at the stroke of 7, we were shown to our table in the courtyard. Please let me say this. We didn't opt to sit in the courtyard, but there wasn't a choice as we didn't meet the dress code.
It would be almost criminal not to dedicate at least a paragraph to the very pretty courtyard. From the moment I stepped in, it almost felt like I had been transported right into the heart of a warmly lit Tuscan courtyard in Italy, complete with a Greek statue that adorns the gardens. This is definitely one place you must see! There are strong fans around to help the customers keep cool whilst dining. However, it can get quite sticky because of the humid nature of Singapore's weather. The air conditioned interior was rather pleasing as well, with hues of orange and touches of elegance coupled with dim lighting. Decor aside, we had the Mozzarella for starters and the Frutti Di Mare and the Ossobuco for mains. On a side note, we had the chef divide everything up into 2 individual portions so that we could share.
The meal started off with a complementary serving of warm bread and bread sticks, with Chick Pea Puree as a dip. I personally found the bread sticks a little too hard for me, but it tasted quite good, especially with the Chick Pea Puree. The wheat bread was a little too dry for me. I couldn't make out the other bread, but it had onions on top and tasted soft and appetising. Following the bread was a tiny serving of Chick Pea Salad, complementary as well. I found this quite good as the chick peas had a tinge of zest coupled with the evident taste of the basil leaf. Small serving, but it sure packs a punch!
Our appetiser, the Mozzarella, was essentially pan fried Buffalo Mozzarella wrapped in Parma Ham, Marinated Raisins and Pine Kernels in Balsamico (Traditional Balsamic Vinegar). The huge chunk of cheese was a little chewy, yet didn't have too strong a cheese taste. Wrap a slice of Parma Ham around it and dip in the sauce (I think the sauce comes from the Marinated Raisins and Pine Kernels in Balsamico. It tasted a little alcoholic.) and you get nothing short of stupendous. It sure didn't look like cheese though, or anything related to it. Little wonder why this is one of Senso's signature dishes.
With such a wonderful appetiser, we thus looked forward to the mains. The Frutti Di Mare, Carnaroli Risotto with Octopus, Prawns, Mussels, Calamari, fresh Tomato and Basil, was very nicely done without being too heavy on the cream and with the rich texture of the Risotto. It was good, but not fantastic. The Ossobuco, braised Veal shank "Ossobuco" served with mashed Potatoes, Rosemary and Lemon Gremolata was very tender and fibrous, so much so that there was no need to even remove the meat from the bone. The natural Veal taste was very prevalent in this dish, which suited me fine, but people who don't like it might just want to stay away. The accompanying mashed potatoes were soft and had a tinge of butter, but nothing to shout about.
We racked up a total of $93.24 for a very satisfying meal (for me at least). I was stuffed up so much that I could barely walk, which explains the absence of dessert. This is definitely one place you should bring your date or that special someone to. The ambience alone puts many other fine dining restaurants to shame. Service is excellent and so is the food. What more do you need? Do note that prices are quite steep here, but hey, I reckon every dollar is well spent.
Just some background before I begin.. I have ever been to Aston's when it was still in the coffeeshop. I've ever witnessed two mains plus all the sides feeding a family of five with 3 young children. Two mains would stuff me and my friend and there would be leftovers, so you can imagine how large the servings were. The food was also much better than your average western food stall. It was comparable to that of a restaurant. That time I remember that 2 mains would cost less than $20.
Having been to the previous establishment and seeing all the wonderful reviews here (needless to say) gave me great expectations as I walked into the place. It was close to 5pm and there wasn't the usual queue in front of the place. We stood at the *Please wait to be seated* sign. There were two servers just 1 metre away directly in front of us and it still took 4-5 minutes for them to come over as they were finishing their little joke before they did.
We were seated in a booth and there was only one other table occupied then. We checked out the menu and soon decided what we wanted.
I was unhappy when we ordered as the server didn't seem very sure when we asked if the items could be placed separately. We also repeated the sides a number of times as he kept repeating it back to us wrongly. My friend ordered an Iced Latte and the server said ok. But 5 minutes later when my coke arrived, another server told us that they don't serve Iced Lattes but only the hot ones. Urgh
Food ordered: Sirloin Steak (Medium - Well Done) The steak came as per ordered. But it wasn't very tasty. The meat didn't have much taste on its own and there wasn't much sauce too. My friend commented that it had a little too much fatty bits for her liking.
Grilled fish This was tasteless actually. One good thing was that it didn't have any fishy smell to it. If I didn't have my trusty ketchup I don't think I would have been able to finish this. And... we raised our hands trying to get their attention for ketchup but no one noticed us. (Reminder: it was quite empty then) So we got up, searched for it and got it for ourselves.
Fries I'd thought these would be the fat fries... well these were neither fat nor thin. but a little too salty though. I read that there was some spice on others' fries but there wasn't any on mine... mmm
BBQ beans It tasted exactly like baked beans from the Heinz can. We felt cheated.
Steamed Vegetables These were alright I guess but what could go wrong with steamed vegetables?
For some reason I can't remember what the last side order is. We, two girls, managed to clean out our plates so I can't say very much for the servings, can I?
Anyway the bill came up to $27 for two mains and three drinks. It IS cheap if you consider that it's western food served in a respectable looking restaurant. But the food is really average and service was pretty poor considering there weren't many people. I'm just glad I didn't have to queue to try. At least I know I won't ever have to.
Ritz apple strudel & cafe has been around for quite some time, but it’s until now then i got the chance to actually try out their strudel which they are famous for.
We went to Ritz apple at Upper Thomson, the outlet is just a stone throw away from Chicken House
The interior of the place is very neat and clean, with simple white furniture.
Durian Strudel mini ($4.80) We made a mistake on this one, Ritz apple strudel is call apple after all, but we had the durian strudel which doesn’t quite make it. The durian is more on the sour side. Period.
Durian Crepe ($4.80) Another mistake since the durian is the same. Actually i heard their apple, or even strawberry is not bad, but my friend likes durian so we ordered durian flavor crepe.
Smoothies ($4.90) The smoothies is quite refreshing, and like the name implies, smoothes the throat!
Cashew Beef ($5.90) Beef isn’t very good when it goes along with nuts, in this case cashew as we find out. The cashew taste is too strong, which clashes with the beef. In the end we take out the beef and eat without the cashew. So much for cashew beef!
Total bill is $20.40 for the desserts. Ritz apple strudel isn’t that expensive considering the mini strudel is $4.80, i guess go for their apple or strawberry flavor and you will be alright, but please leave their durians alone.
You are always welcome to visit ladyironchef for a full-up on this trip. Whatever written herein are my genuine feelings expressed in words that may be subjected to my personal distortion or biasness. Feel free to furnish me with comments, may it be positive or negative : )
Chicken is a very common dish in everybody’s meal table, there are so many different method of cooking it. I guess most people will have heard of Kampong chicken, which is quite unlike your typical chicken found in most places.
The normal chicken is usually injected with hormones, to make them grow faster so that the people who rear the chicken can get more profits. Most people thinks that it isn’t that healthy if the chickens are injected.
Kampong Chickens are different, they are usually rear in a manner where they are allowed to “run free”, instead of staying all day in the cages like the normal chicken. The “run free” manner of growing the chicken allows them to train and “strengthen” their legs and bodies, which make the chicken meat firmer and nicer to eat.
My friend had a craving for kampung chicken, so we went to Chicken House along the stretch of Upper Thomson road where they sell only Kampung chicken.
Half a chicken cost $11, and there are also other dishes like internal organs, vegetables, and thai style chicken feet available.
Apparently the store got featured in some publications as well.
Kampong chicken for 2 people ($8) I guess we can easily finish half a chicken as well, but we just ordered Kampong chicken for 2 servings. Unless you haven’t eaten Kampong chicken before, you should roughly know the texture and taste of it.
Kampong chicken is less meaty compared to the normal chicken, but in this way you won’t get so sick of eating too much meat. The chicken is firmer and nicer to eat!
Oyster sauce Kai Lan ($4) The oyster sauce kai lan is very normal, not very well stir-fried, we couldn’t really finish the vegetables.
Total Bill was $17.10 for 2 person, we had lime juice as well, which in my opinion is one of the beverage that goes well with many type of different food. The Kampong chicken is good, and i guess not that many places sell kampong chicken in Singapore.
So if you got a craving for Kampong chicken, you know where to go!
You are always welcome to visit ladyironchef for a full-up on this trip. Whatever written herein are my genuine feelings expressed in words that may be subjected to my personal distortion or biasness. Feel free to furnish me with comments, may it be positive or negative : )
Ever since the demise of A&W in Singapore, Waffletown is probably the only fast food outlet in Singapore that serves up fried chicken and waffles in a small unit reminiscent of an old school American diner.
Located at Balmoral Plaza, the place isn't big and comes with brown table tops and orange chairs affixed to the ground just like A&W in the old days. A very serene sense of nostalgia sets in and one can't help but relish in the comfort it offers.
2 Piece Chicken Set - The chicken skin was crispy sans the layer of fats beneath, which of course is the lesser of two evils. Meat was moist and juicy and didn't come across as oily as those served up by KFC. Only downside was the seasoning of the chicken, which I personally felt was a little inadequate. The accompanying fries and coleslaw tasted like those ready made ones you can buy off the shelves from any supermarket.
Waffle with Blueberry and Vanilla Ice Cream & Waffle with Blackberry and Rum and Raisin Ice Cream - Since the place is called waffletown, its really a no brainer that waffles are their specialty. The waffles were very crispy but that in itself presents a problem, to me at least. Crispy waffles aren't moist and my idea of an ideal waffle should be crisp on the outside yet moist and full of bite on the inside. It must also be fragrant. Waffletown's waffles fulfilled the aroma criteria but they were crispy inside out, which made it a little like eating crackers. Fortunately, thats where the toppings and ice cream come into play, lending the waffles with additional flavour and moisture. All in all a good eat.
At about $6.70 for a 2 piece chicken set that comes with 2 sides and a drink, Waffletown goes for about the same price as KFC. Quality is much higher here though but there is the problem of location.
Sun Moulin is located just beside the Isetan Japanese Supermarket at Lido. My food partner and i went there after our lunch at Tetsu. I believe those who frequent the supermarket will need no introduction to this delightful bakery.
There are quite a wide range of breads, pastries, and cakes around, with prices ranging from 1 to 2 bucks, quite similar to your more commonly found Breadtalk and Four Leaves.
I was so full from the lunch at Tetsu, but my food partner is amazing, she brought quite a few home!
She has tried almost all the bread and pastries at Sun Moulin, so below are some of the ones which she highly recommended.
Soft An-pan ($2) The soft An-pan is actually more familiar to most of us as the red bean paste bun. But at Sun Moulin, they use Hawaiian Bread dough. Soft and fluffy!
Belgian Waffle ($1.30) The Belgian Waffle caught my attention first because i’m a sucker for good waffles. And at $1.30 its definitely worth a try, even though the waffle might be a little small in size. It will be excellent if you managed to get them hot off the pan.
Zebra Mini Croissant There are a few selections of Croissant here, with $0.65 for one, $1.80 for 3, and $2.70 for 5. Naturally the more you get the cheaper it is.
Petit Sesame Croissant Crispy layer of dough, with black and white sesame.
Mini croissant Mini-size croissant, try the original taste!
Mini Choc Croissant Your mini croissant now comes in chocolate flavour!
Double Taste Bun ($2) Enjoy 2 kind of home-made taste, chocolate and custard cream inside.
My food partner got the double taste bun for me, and boy the bread is really good! Peeling off part of the bread, fills my nose with aroma of the warm chocolate and custard cream.
The bread is super soft, and its delicious even eaten on its own!
Total bill for 5 items were $9.10. I only tried one of the bread, and i’m already thinking of going back to Sun Moulin for more! My plan is to go there on an empty stomach, then order a lot of different bread to have them for lunch!
Sun Moulin’s bread are definitely better than your typical bakeries (you-know-what), and the prices are also in about the same range with the most expensive bread at 2 bucks.
You are always welcome to visit ladyironchef for a full-up on this trip. Whatever written herein are my genuine feelings expressed in words that may be subjected to my personal distortion or biasness. Feel free to furnish me with comments, may it be positive or negative : )
I, a fan of desserts and Yami Yoghurt, was more than excited when we walked past Yoguru. The prices are all in Feizhu's review and they seem right. So you can refer to that.
I was a teeny bit sad when there were only two flavours to choose from. But the lady at the counter mentioned that Original flavour was a little sweeter whereas the YoguBliss one was more sourish so I picked Original.
There were about 14 toppings to choose from and I took some time with that. So maybe the lack of flavours is a blessing in disguise.I picked out Oreo Crumbs and Cornflakes for $1.80. I think that it was a nice combination in terms of taste as it adds texture to the yoghurt.
But it was quite messy to eat as the cup overflowed. If you pick one topping it was ok, but two toppings was a little too much and you would risk having it all over yourself when you were done.
I'd have to agree that Yoguru is sweeter and softer than Yami (although I don't find Yami TOO sourish) and I like how Yoguru is fatfree too. But it really is quite expensive. A regular cup of Yami one topping is $3.75. But I paid $5.10 for my yoguru with two toppings. Note that the price diff between one topping and two isn't very much.
I would give it 3 and a half stars really... take away half for being more expensive for a slightly smaller serving.
1=SGD 0.0587
Zhou’s Kitchen - 周 (Zhou) is the family name of Andrew Tjioe, Tung Lok Group’s Founder and Executive Chairman and Zhou’s Kitchen is a welcome shift from the high end Tung Lok restaurant to a casual Chinese dining restaurant that caters to the palates and pockets of diners from all walks of life.
The décor is a mixed of Eastern influence of bamboos and jade and Western influence of clean and bright modern lighting.
Each table was served with delightful Prawn Crackers as we waited for our first dish - Young Sweet Potato Leaves Sautéed with Sambal Belachan. A straightforward dish that is a close substitute to Sambal Kang Kong, some might dislike the subtle bitter aftertaste.
The Xing Hua Traditional Homemade Noodle is a bowl of Udon-like noodles served in slightly gluey gravy. The gravy is light on the palate but noodles tend to be starchy towards the end.
The Xing Hua Dumplings served in a bowl of MSG-laden soup was disappointing. The dumpling tasted of strong pork smell and the skin was not the best I have tasted.
The best dish was the Grandma's Braised Pork with Toufu that was doled out in a claypot. Pork was soft and flavoured but a pity that the toufu was not braised along with it, as it was hard and hardly soaked in the gravy.
You can view the all photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
Rating given:
Secret Recipe, a lifestyle café chain that has become a household name following its debut in Malaysia since 1997. It has since successfully established its brand name in Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand.
The Lamb Stew served with Mashed Potatoes is one of their signatured dishes. The meat was very soft and yielding that a lightest tug of the fork will cause the meat to be easily separated from its bone. However, the meat could be better infused with the gravy and the mashed potatoes could be slightly salted for better flavour - we find it slightly cold and hard as well.
The Pan Grill, or Grilled Dory Laden with Lobster Gravy and served with Fries was the other main we sampled. On its own, the lobster gravy is strong with lobster tang, but we find the pairing with the fish a slight mismatch. Dory being a fresh-water fish also comes with a slight muddy taste.
The highlight of Secret Recipe belongs to its award-winning Chocolate Banana Cake. Crowned as the "Most Original Chocolate Cake" award winner in Malaysia 1999, the cake is pretty addictive. Loads of Thick Banana Slices on a Bed of Chocolate Cream with Chocolate Cake, this cake doesn’t come across as chocolaty as Awfully Chocolate’s version, and would bring a nice finale to a meal, however, we would prefer the cake to be slightly more moist.
You can view the all photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
Rating given:
The opening of Vivo City has seen many new restaurants/cafes popping up to capitalize on the crowds that throng Vivo City daily. One such new restaurant/cafe is White Dog Cafe.
Located just a few doors away from the much talked about Kim Gary, White Dog Cafe hosts its own steady stream of customers in its simple yet cosy interior with a view of Sentosa to boot. The menu is interestingly done up to mimic the spots of the Dalmatian. Other than that, nothing else seems to suggest why the outfit is named White Dog Cafe.
Soup of the day - This was plain lousy. The soup was way too salty and tasted like cabbage soup with some small balls of meat in it. The accompanying garlic bread was equally bad, coming across as slip shod and bland.
Deep Fried Breaded Beef with Japanese Mayo -
This was recommended to me by the waiter and it sort of blew me away with its quality (this is not a compliment in case you are wondering). The bread coating was way too thick and the beef was tasteless. It was no different from eating deep fried crispy bread. Probably the only thing that was still okay was the rice. Ironical isn't it?
Etoile - My dessert of a specialty cake, the Etoile, which is essentially a dark chocolate cake with chocolate mousse. Sadly, it didn't meet expectations. The outer layer of dark chocolate did look like dark chocolate, but certainly didn't taste like it. I couldn't detect any bitterness or strong chocolate taste for that matter. The chocolate mousse was bland and the cake wasn't spongy. Terribly done if you ask me and I'm very sure the cakes aren't made in house. If they are, its time to change a new pastry chef.
A disappointing lunch for 2 pax cost $28.40. Not really expensive price wise, but factor in the quality of food and you have a no brainer conclusion. I will not be back. I guess that pretty much sums it all up doesn't it?
See all my pictures here.
Rating given:
Along Club Street lies this quaint little colonial style building that houses one of Singapore's well known Italian Restaurant - Senso Ristorante & Bar. Established in 2000, Senso has received numerous awards and nominations for its ambience, food and wine. So it was imperative that we (my gf and I) tried out this place! Reservations weren't made as it was a rather last minute decision and we didn't think it would be too difficult to get a seat on a Sunday evening (Actually we were torn between eating at Senso and Grand Shanghai, but since the latter didn't answer my calls, we chose the former). We got there at about 645pm and were surprised to find that it only opened for dinner at 7pm. Anyway, it was but a short wait and at the stroke of 7, we were shown to our table in the courtyard. Please let me say this. We didn't opt to sit in the courtyard, but there wasn't a choice as we didn't meet the dress code.
It would be almost criminal not to dedicate at least a paragraph to the very pretty courtyard. From the moment I stepped in, it almost felt like I had been transported right into the heart of a warmly lit Tuscan courtyard in Italy, complete with a Greek statue that adorns the gardens. This is definitely one place you must see! There are strong fans around to help the customers keep cool whilst dining. However, it can get quite sticky because of the humid nature of Singapore's weather. The air conditioned interior was rather pleasing as well, with hues of orange and touches of elegance coupled with dim lighting. Decor aside, we had the Mozzarella for starters and the Frutti Di Mare and the Ossobuco for mains. On a side note, we had the chef divide everything up into 2 individual portions so that we could share.
The meal started off with a complementary serving of warm bread and bread sticks, with Chick Pea Puree as a dip. I personally found the bread sticks a little too hard for me, but it tasted quite good, especially with the Chick Pea Puree. The wheat bread was a little too dry for me. I couldn't make out the other bread, but it had onions on top and tasted soft and appetising. Following the bread was a tiny serving of Chick Pea Salad, complementary as well. I found this quite good as the chick peas had a tinge of zest coupled with the evident taste of the basil leaf. Small serving, but it sure packs a punch!
Our appetiser, the Mozzarella, was essentially pan fried Buffalo Mozzarella wrapped in Parma Ham, Marinated Raisins and Pine Kernels in Balsamico (Traditional Balsamic Vinegar). The huge chunk of cheese was a little chewy, yet didn't have too strong a cheese taste. Wrap a slice of Parma Ham around it and dip in the sauce (I think the sauce comes from the Marinated Raisins and Pine Kernels in Balsamico. It tasted a little alcoholic.) and you get nothing short of stupendous. It sure didn't look like cheese though, or anything related to it. Little wonder why this is one of Senso's signature dishes.
With such a wonderful appetiser, we thus looked forward to the mains. The Frutti Di Mare, Carnaroli Risotto with Octopus, Prawns, Mussels, Calamari, fresh Tomato and Basil, was very nicely done without being too heavy on the cream and with the rich texture of the Risotto. It was good, but not fantastic. The Ossobuco, braised Veal shank "Ossobuco" served with mashed Potatoes, Rosemary and Lemon Gremolata was very tender and fibrous, so much so that there was no need to even remove the meat from the bone. The natural Veal taste was very prevalent in this dish, which suited me fine, but people who don't like it might just want to stay away. The accompanying mashed potatoes were soft and had a tinge of butter, but nothing to shout about.
We racked up a total of $93.24 for a very satisfying meal (for me at least). I was stuffed up so much that I could barely walk, which explains the absence of dessert. This is definitely one place you should bring your date or that special someone to. The ambience alone puts many other fine dining restaurants to shame. Service is excellent and so is the food. What more do you need? Do note that prices are quite steep here, but hey, I reckon every dollar is well spent.
Rating given:
Just some background before I begin.. I have ever been to Aston's when it was still in the coffeeshop. I've ever witnessed two mains plus all the sides feeding a family of five with 3 young children. Two mains would stuff me and my friend and there would be leftovers, so you can imagine how large the servings were. The food was also much better than your average western food stall. It was comparable to that of a restaurant. That time I remember that 2 mains would cost less than $20.
Having been to the previous establishment and seeing all the wonderful reviews here (needless to say) gave me great expectations as I walked into the place. It was close to 5pm and there wasn't the usual queue in front of the place. We stood at the *Please wait to be seated* sign. There were two servers just 1 metre away directly in front of us and it still took 4-5 minutes for them to come over as they were finishing their little joke before they did.
We were seated in a booth and there was only one other table occupied then. We checked out the menu and soon decided what we wanted.
I was unhappy when we ordered as the server didn't seem very sure when we asked if the items could be placed separately. We also repeated the sides a number of times as he kept repeating it back to us wrongly. My friend ordered an Iced Latte and the server said ok. But 5 minutes later when my coke arrived, another server told us that they don't serve Iced Lattes but only the hot ones. Urgh
Food ordered:
Sirloin Steak (Medium - Well Done)
The steak came as per ordered. But it wasn't very tasty. The meat didn't have much taste on its own and there wasn't much sauce too. My friend commented that it had a little too much fatty bits for her liking.
Grilled fish
This was tasteless actually. One good thing was that it didn't have any fishy smell to it. If I didn't have my trusty ketchup I don't think I would have been able to finish this. And... we raised our hands trying to get their attention for ketchup but no one noticed us. (Reminder: it was quite empty then) So we got up, searched for it and got it for ourselves.
Fries
I'd thought these would be the fat fries... well these were neither fat nor thin. but a little too salty though. I read that there was some spice on others' fries but there wasn't any on mine... mmm
BBQ beans
It tasted exactly like baked beans from the Heinz can. We felt cheated.
Steamed Vegetables
These were alright I guess but what could go wrong with steamed vegetables?
For some reason I can't remember what the last side order is. We, two girls, managed to clean out our plates so I can't say very much for the servings, can I?
Anyway the bill came up to $27 for two mains and three drinks. It IS cheap if you consider that it's western food served in a respectable looking restaurant. But the food is really average and service was pretty poor considering there weren't many people. I'm just glad I didn't have to queue to try. At least I know I won't ever have to.
Rating given:
Ritz apple strudel & cafe has been around for quite some time, but it’s until now then i got the chance to actually try out their strudel which they are famous for.
We went to Ritz apple at Upper Thomson, the outlet is just a stone throw away from Chicken House
The interior of the place is very neat and clean, with simple white furniture.
Durian Strudel mini ($4.80)
We made a mistake on this one, Ritz apple strudel is call apple after all, but we had the durian strudel which doesn’t quite make it. The durian is more on the sour side. Period.
Durian Crepe ($4.80)
Another mistake since the durian is the same. Actually i heard their apple, or even strawberry is not bad, but my friend likes durian so we ordered durian flavor crepe.
Smoothies ($4.90)
The smoothies is quite refreshing, and like the name implies, smoothes the throat!
Cashew Beef ($5.90)
Beef isn’t very good when it goes along with nuts, in this case cashew as we find out. The cashew taste is too strong, which clashes with the beef. In the end we take out the beef and eat without the cashew. So much for cashew beef!
Total bill is $20.40 for the desserts. Ritz apple strudel isn’t that expensive considering the mini strudel is $4.80, i guess go for their apple or strawberry flavor and you will be alright, but please leave their durians alone.
You are always welcome to visit ladyironchef for a full-up on this trip. Whatever written herein are my genuine feelings expressed in words that may be subjected to my personal distortion or biasness. Feel free to furnish me with comments, may it be positive or negative : )
” Apple and strawberry, no durians! “
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Chicken is a very common dish in everybody’s meal table, there are so many different method of cooking it. I guess most people will have heard of Kampong chicken, which is quite unlike your typical chicken found in most places.
The normal chicken is usually injected with hormones, to make them grow faster so that the people who rear the chicken can get more profits. Most people thinks that it isn’t that healthy if the chickens are injected.
Kampong Chickens are different, they are usually rear in a manner where they are allowed to “run free”, instead of staying all day in the cages like the normal chicken. The “run free” manner of growing the chicken allows them to train and “strengthen” their legs and bodies, which make the chicken meat firmer and nicer to eat.
My friend had a craving for kampung chicken, so we went to Chicken House along the stretch of Upper Thomson road where they sell only Kampung chicken.
Half a chicken cost $11, and there are also other dishes like internal organs, vegetables, and thai style chicken feet available.
Apparently the store got featured in some publications as well.
Kampong chicken for 2 people ($8)
I guess we can easily finish half a chicken as well, but we just ordered Kampong chicken for 2 servings. Unless you haven’t eaten Kampong chicken before, you should roughly know the texture and taste of it.
Kampong chicken is less meaty compared to the normal chicken, but in this way you won’t get so sick of eating too much meat. The chicken is firmer and nicer to eat!
Oyster sauce Kai Lan ($4)
The oyster sauce kai lan is very normal, not very well stir-fried, we couldn’t really finish the vegetables.
Total Bill was $17.10 for 2 person, we had lime juice as well, which in my opinion is one of the beverage that goes well with many type of different food. The Kampong chicken is good, and i guess not that many places sell kampong chicken in Singapore.
So if you got a craving for Kampong chicken, you know where to go!
You are always welcome to visit ladyironchef for a full-up on this trip. Whatever written herein are my genuine feelings expressed in words that may be subjected to my personal distortion or biasness. Feel free to furnish me with comments, may it be positive or negative : )
” Kampong chicken, they run free! “
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Ever since the demise of A&W in Singapore, Waffletown is probably the only fast food outlet in Singapore that serves up fried chicken and waffles in a small unit reminiscent of an old school American diner.
Located at Balmoral Plaza, the place isn't big and comes with brown table tops and orange chairs affixed to the ground just like A&W in the old days. A very serene sense of nostalgia sets in and one can't help but relish in the comfort it offers.
2 Piece Chicken Set - The chicken skin was crispy sans the layer of fats beneath, which of course is the lesser of two evils. Meat was moist and juicy and didn't come across as oily as those served up by KFC. Only downside was the seasoning of the chicken, which I personally felt was a little inadequate. The accompanying fries and coleslaw tasted like those ready made ones you can buy off the shelves from any supermarket.
Waffle with Blueberry and Vanilla Ice Cream & Waffle with Blackberry and Rum and Raisin Ice Cream - Since the place is called waffletown, its really a no brainer that waffles are their specialty. The waffles were very crispy but that in itself presents a problem, to me at least. Crispy waffles aren't moist and my idea of an ideal waffle should be crisp on the outside yet moist and full of bite on the inside. It must also be fragrant. Waffletown's waffles fulfilled the aroma criteria but they were crispy inside out, which made it a little like eating crackers. Fortunately, thats where the toppings and ice cream come into play, lending the waffles with additional flavour and moisture. All in all a good eat.
At about $6.70 for a 2 piece chicken set that comes with 2 sides and a drink, Waffletown goes for about the same price as KFC. Quality is much higher here though but there is the problem of location.
See all my pictures here.
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Sun Moulin is located just beside the Isetan Japanese Supermarket at Lido. My food partner and i went there after our lunch at Tetsu. I believe those who frequent the supermarket will need no introduction to this delightful bakery.
There are quite a wide range of breads, pastries, and cakes around, with prices ranging from 1 to 2 bucks, quite similar to your more commonly found Breadtalk and Four Leaves.
I was so full from the lunch at Tetsu, but my food partner is amazing, she brought quite a few home!
She has tried almost all the bread and pastries at Sun Moulin, so below are some of the ones which she highly recommended.
Soft An-pan ($2)
The soft An-pan is actually more familiar to most of us as the red bean paste bun. But at Sun Moulin, they use Hawaiian Bread dough. Soft and fluffy!
Belgian Waffle ($1.30)
The Belgian Waffle caught my attention first because i’m a sucker for good waffles. And at $1.30 its definitely worth a try, even though the waffle might be a little small in size. It will be excellent if you managed to get them hot off the pan.
Zebra Mini Croissant
There are a few selections of Croissant here, with $0.65 for one, $1.80 for 3, and $2.70 for 5. Naturally the more you get the cheaper it is.
Petit Sesame Croissant
Crispy layer of dough, with black and white sesame.
Mini croissant
Mini-size croissant, try the original taste!
Mini Choc Croissant
Your mini croissant now comes in chocolate flavour!
Double Taste Bun ($2)
Enjoy 2 kind of home-made taste, chocolate and custard cream inside.
My food partner got the double taste bun for me, and boy the bread is really good! Peeling off part of the bread, fills my nose with aroma of the warm chocolate and custard cream.
The bread is super soft, and its delicious even eaten on its own!
Total bill for 5 items were $9.10. I only tried one of the bread, and i’m already thinking of going back to Sun Moulin for more! My plan is to go there on an empty stomach, then order a lot of different bread to have them for lunch!
Sun Moulin’s bread are definitely better than your typical bakeries (you-know-what), and the prices are also in about the same range with the most expensive bread at 2 bucks.
You are always welcome to visit ladyironchef for a full-up on this trip. Whatever written herein are my genuine feelings expressed in words that may be subjected to my personal distortion or biasness. Feel free to furnish me with comments, may it be positive or negative : )
” My new favourite bakery “
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I, a fan of desserts and Yami Yoghurt, was more than excited when we walked past Yoguru. The prices are all in Feizhu's review and they seem right. So you can refer to that.
I was a teeny bit sad when there were only two flavours to choose from. But the lady at the counter mentioned that Original flavour was a little sweeter whereas the YoguBliss one was more sourish so I picked Original.
There were about 14 toppings to choose from and I took some time with that. So maybe the lack of flavours is a blessing in disguise.I picked out Oreo Crumbs and Cornflakes for $1.80. I think that it was a nice combination in terms of taste as it adds texture to the yoghurt.
But it was quite messy to eat as the cup overflowed. If you pick one topping it was ok, but two toppings was a little too much and you would risk having it all over yourself when you were done.
I'd have to agree that Yoguru is sweeter and softer than Yami (although I don't find Yami TOO sourish) and I like how Yoguru is fatfree too. But it really is quite expensive. A regular cup of Yami one topping is $3.75. But I paid $5.10 for my yoguru with two toppings. Note that the price diff between one topping and two isn't very much.
I would give it 3 and a half stars really... take away half for being more expensive for a slightly smaller serving.
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