My eyes strayed to the corner as we walked in, the desserts section; I saw the chocolate cake waving to me, the dessert shooters like a lighthouse beaconing the direction. And not lest, the-sight-of-it again: the omnipresent chocolate fondue, my heart just flew over with hugs and kisses.
Not able to resist the seduction, I dropped every last bit of pretence in me and embraced the temptation; lets start with the desserts shall we? We took a bit of everything, and started tucking in. We decided just to have some, and come back for more later. It was a difficult decision; to stop after we started, it was akin to asking a vampire to stop after he started sucking blood from your neck.
And so, the cold seafood counter. There were prawns, there were crabs, and there were mussels & scallops.
A sniff of the icy chilled oyster, the sea breeze gusted into my nose. The hassle of opening up the clam creature was avoided, for it was already prepared nice and clean on the bed of ice. I squeezed a whole wedge of lemon onto it, careful not to spill any outside the shell; every drop of lemon was precious, to fully bring out the quintessence of it. I pitched it up with a fork, and slowly put it into my mouth, one swallow, one gulp, and it was gone.
Our stomach has served us well, and to reward it for the hard work, let’s start with some salad. We took a bit of all the different greens, and dressed it up with the many-variety of dressing available; I always preferred thousand island, while you went for the lighter Italian dressing, and also the adventurous yoghurt one too.
It was fun, the process of ‘playing’ with the Kueh pie tee; we took the shell, add in the typical popiah turnip fillings, sprinkled a bit of the crushed peanuts, drizzled the sweet sauce, beautify it with paisley, and had options of tuna, chicken, and prawns to top with. Boy, it was good! The crispy shell, with the turnip fillings, but it was the sweet sauce and peanut which provided the difference.
There was roasted meat selections, Indian food, Western & Asian mains to choose from too. Again, we ate some of each, and finally it could wait no longer! This time, for desserts, we shall try everything, one of everything. Two if we can help it!
At first glance, it looked like pandan cake. Then, the pistachio financier name tag appeared, in a concealed corner oblivious to the naked human eye. The green stuff, they called it the pistachio nut, it was a personal favourite of our friend; and surprisingly, the pandan-cake-lookalike had a flavourful pistachio taste!
I remembered the truffle berry compote cake for its smooth and silky chocolate, with composition of berries within.
For some unknown reason which continue to evade me, passion fruit seemed to be a popular choice for patissier, I did not have any nice experience with it so far; but I guess it’s the intriguing combination of that-something-sour with the strong cheesecake. I, however, did not like it. I like sweet stuff, something sweet please.
While it had became a common thing for buffets, the chocolate fondue still never failed to excite me, I dipped fruits, puffs, marshmallows, and everything I could find under the flowing chocolate lava.
This, was my favourite part of the buffet. There’s a chef specially preparing waffles and crepes on-the-spot. The waffles were excellent, but they used the same mixture for the crepes, which turned out to be overly thick. And the staffs actually delivered the waffles to our tables when we forgot to collect it, now my dear, that’s what you call service!
I used syrup and butter for my first waffle. Then I returned for more with a topping of all the ice creams available, creativity struck me as I poured some of the lava from the chocolate fondue over my piece of crispy waffles.
The weekend dinner buffet from Mon to Wed is $45 , while dinner from Thursday onwards to Sunday is $50 per head. We were too full to try all the food; we missed out on the Indian food, and the roasted duck selections. Eating a little of everything was almost enough to fill up the tiny stomach of ours. Plenty of tea and a long chat after the meal aided in the digestion too! My appreciation to Helen, the F&B manager of Traders Hotel, for the food tasting invitation.
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!
I never fail to visit pet lover's centre when i go shopping at IKEA or Queensway Shopping Centre.. Its not a very big shop, but you can buy everything you need for your pets there.... There's food, bedding, snacks and treats...
Basically, I love to squat and watch the little animals lazing away in their tanks.. Though the tanks don't look really clean but they have everything they need inside the tank... like water, hay, food bowl, bedding, pee container and their comfy hiding place...... Its really hard to keep them clean anyway... judging by the fact that they stay in the tank all day and shit alot....
I love the service in this shop as I find the staff extremely helpful.. and they love the animals.... Occassionally, you can see them bringing out the little animals for a short cuddle and that will make these little lovelies.. really happy....
They have new stock of live animals all the time and not only their turn-over is high, the animals are in such good conditions... Fluffy Fur, Shiny Coats, Excellent ears and eyes.. and most importantly they have good various breeds. Theres bound to be something u like...
By the way.. the little animals they sell are hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits.. If you like Dogs and Cats, why not drop by Pets Safari at VIVO....
All in all, the prices are reasonable and I love the fact that they do delivery for purchases above $50 and you could also get a membership for $5 with discounts all year round.
If your darling pet gave birth to too many children, you can also bring down to the shop to ask to sell to them... They handle these animals so expertly... and have a good eye in keeping them healthy and selecting the healthy ones from the not so good ones.. So its pretty safe if you buy live pets from PLC....
I read about Chef Suffian Zain, who relinquished his position as head chef of renowned fine dining restaurant, Iggy's,to join L'Entrepot, a new casual bistro by the Esmirada group serving up classical French food. And that was good enough reason to give the newly minted restaurant a shot.
Aptly located at Clarke Quay, along the Singapore river (entrepot is French for warehouse and is a place where import and export activities take place), L'Entrepot's al fresco and indoor dining area is seperated by a pedestrain walkway. While the al fresco area offers a venue to take in the sights and sounds of the Singapore river, the indoor area doesn't have much of a view to offer. It is however, a rather cozy place with a seemingly huge wine cellar showcasing dozens of bottles of wine.
Lobster Bisque - Apparently a must try at L'Entrepot and one that garnered rave reviews in a certain newspaper, the lobster bisque was disappointing to say the least. As with any lobster bisque, there were a few small cursory pieces of lobster flesh but the soup was rather watered down and lacked richness. The puff pastry, though flaky, wasn't buttery enough in my humble opinion.
Angus Rossini (Pan Roasted Angus Tenderloin, Mashed Potato, Duxell Mushroom, Pan Fried Foie Gras, Red Wine Sauce) - The tenderloin came in 2 chunks, both done medium rare as per request. Although the meat was relatively tender, it did seem a little dry and void of the beefy taste that most beef lovers would appreciate. The mushroom duxell(e) came sandwiched between the 2 blocks of beef and tasted rather bland and watery - not exactly ideal. As for the foie gras, it was thinly sliced and decently soft and quivery on the inside. I understand that it was better then the foie gras dish some of my dinner companions had ordered as appetisers.
On my part, the bill came up to about $47 after a 20% discount ($59 without discount), which is rather expensive for the quality of the food. We were so disappointed that we made the decision to adjorn elsewhere for desserts. Service was decent but that's not good enough reason for me to want to return. I had definitely expected more from Chef Suffian Zain.
Had a craving for ramen but didn't fancy jostling with the mad crowds at Santouka or Marutama nor was I particularly willing to pay in excess of $15 for a bowl of ramen. Enter Men Tei, which I came across while reading some forums online. Its selling point (to me at least)? All bowls of ramen go for $13 nett.
Located on the ground level of Robinson Centre along Robinson Road in the Central Business District (CBD), Men Tei occupys a small space that is simpley done up and seats probably about 20 pax tops. The menu occupies a single sheet of paper (6 different types of ramen) so if you are looking for variety, this place is probably out.
Shio Ramen - You have the option of specifying the "doneness" of your noodles, ranging from normal, hard or extra hard. I didn't know that until after my ramen was served so I am assuming they gave me the normal option. I thought that it was a little too soft but at least it retained a little chewiness. The ramen broth honestly wasn't very robust and I couldn't quite make out any pork taste. Simply put, it was just salty but light. The egg was quite well done - quivery without being overly soft while the yakibuta (3 slices) was tender and flavourful.
Spicy Tonkatsu Ramen - Although the spicy ramen looked the part, it actually wasn't that bad and that's coming from someone who has a low tolerance for spiciness. As with the Shio ramen, the broth wasn't very robust but the yakibuta and tamago were equally good.
For the price, I honestly think its value for money given the quality of the ramen. Service is decent as well and best of all, there is no queue when you dine there on weekday evenings (they do not open on weekends or public holidays). The same can't be said for weekday lunch though. Men Tei also provides a delivery service to nearby offices for those who crave ramen but are too busy to step out.
Chanced upon this place two weeks ago with the bf. This little restaurant is tucked away in a tiny corner of the 7th floor, of the big vertical maze that is Orchard Central. I confess I knew nothing about this restaurant although it has several branches around Singapore.
Also, I knew nothing about its signature dish, the Okos. Until now, I have no idea what it stands for. However, the Moonlight Okos that I ordered was served in a big platter with a flattened metal spatula not unlike those of a teppanyaki chef.
It comprised of pork, squid, prawns and cabbage packed in a flour / egg mixture and garnished with lots of fish flakes and a sunny-side-up egg, all drenched in teppanyaki sauce and mayonnaise. To me, it tasted like one big takoyaki, but with more flavour. Quite tasty and very, very filling. 3/5 stars I would say.
The boyfriend ordered a Pork Soba Omu, which I thought was much tastier than my Moonlight Okos. The bacon strip is dipped in teppanyaki sauce, rolled up, then fried with the noodles, making it much more flavorful. All of this was wrapped in one big omelette, with lots of sauce on top. Sinful as hell but I love it! 4/5 stars.
Didn't manage to try their desserts but they sure do look interesting on the menu.
The service was only average as the place is new. The waitresses would hover around tables attempting to look for a table number before doubling back to check the kitchen orders again, all the while carrying the food around. Could do with a bit of improvement there.
I bought my DARLING MR CASH here at Happy Paws.. After much tedious research and hunting... I finally found the PET HAVEN OF SINGAPORE.. Its not some pet farm.. its not a ulu place like deep in the some reserves.. its right at serangoon north.... West landers like me will not know such a place until you have read enough blogs and forums to find out...
I went to farmway, went to SPCA, however i could not find the THE ONE... and after much hunting, found my darling guinea pig which i named him MR CASH at Happy Paws.....
There are many shops there... selling Chinchillas, Dogs, Cats, Birds, Hamsters, Rabbits, Guinea Pigs and Fishes.. however upon viewing so many shops, i decided to buy my first REAL PET at Happy Paws.. and the reason is obvious...
First, they have a comprehensive range of products and the prices are very reasonable.. on top of that they have given me good discounts...
Second... I saw 2 well kept and cleaned caged guinea pigs.. unlike some where the cages are so dirty and you wonder if you are bringing back a sick pet which will just pass on in a few days... I was glad when i asked to hold the gp i chose before commiting to buy i was declined as handling them will make them frightened.. i'm sure my pig is going to survive.....
The things i bought included cages, pellets, cat's litter bedding, water bottle, shit bowl, hay and Mr Cash.... When I asked, they actually took the time to help me fix up everything, dress up the cage before putting Mr Cash in.. and they also included his toy ball he was playing with and the apple sticks he chews on.... Before putting him in his new house... The owner actually talks to him, cooed him and whisper some soothing words to him and it really helps calm him down.....
She then advices me on him.. telling me what are his favourite food and how to handle him.... Matter of fact she had his brother which is one of the earlier batch from the same parantage and his brother was such a big boy in such good conditions... I was impressed when she told me she feeds them organic carrots and corns as treats and I'm so sure... MR Cash is going to be so healthy....
If you are looking for a pet, or pet supplies or any grooming services, you can put your trust in Happy Paws Pet Kiosk.... as I know my pets are in good hands when they are with them.... Such passionate animal lovers are the most important criteria in grooming, caring and even introducing you the best they can offer for the well being of your companion.... Most importantly.. they are associated with a REASONABLE PRICE...
If you feel particularly chinese today, then you should lunch as hand in hand.... Though i like the name of the restaurant, i however do not like to hold hands with rude waitresses...
I was trying to get a quick bite one busy afternoon at jurong point where it seems like EVERYWHERE is packed.... Oh.. School Holidays Again and when i saw there are special in-house seats for these restaurants in the food court, i have no choice but to get in as there are the only seats available.
There again.. friendly calls that promises nothing but good food and friendly services still gets a hold of me.. however they are nothing but empty promises.. and the worse thing is I get conned again and again, hoping that things wll improve. This lady at the counter attracted me with the good variety of spread in the menu and most of all.. available seats..... I mean, one can't help but want to get away from crowds and so... i took the bait and went in hoping to get a good meal..
As i admired the deco, which is typically china chinese style, I was rudely offered some cutleries with a bang on the table.... There she goes.. stating all the famous dishes and me and my pal basically chose some noodles and giving the dumplings a miss... She hounded on about how good the dumpling are and blah blah blah but when i ask for some warm water, she told me there was none.... Not Even Tap Water.....
The food came in about 10 mins and while the food court is bustling away... I was stranded with my poor pal in a quiet corner in this part of beijing... However, the fried noodles was quite nice... chewy and well flavoured noodles with some prawns, veg and other stuffs. The braised beef noodles were good as well.... The soup savoury and beef soft... We also tried the century egg toufoo which however is not to my liking... I find it too plain but my pal thinks its nice...
All In All.. the food was great and if these chinese friends can have more social responsibility in providing better services and more kindness.. It would just be great... Heal the world... Make it a better place... For you and for me and the Great China.....
Nihon Mura is part of the Sakura group of restaurants dominating the buffet lanes in Singapore.
My first impression of the Tampines outlet has since been altered recently in my subsequent visits to this restaurant.
The Cathay outlet is similar to the other outlets in terms of its decor and food offerings but the entire place is almost always packed with people and the queues are quite amazing.
The food has improved a whole lot since i've last been here and the quality of sushi is also a step above the last visit with new $1.99 plates of premium sushi that usually would have cost about $5.99 at a rival restuarant.
The salmon sashimi here is definitely worth a try. I'm not sure why but its very tender, cold and sweet as compared to other places. Including my favorite Wasabi Tei. @ $5.99 for 6 pieces of reasonable size, this place has stolen my heart for salmon sashimi to eat. The rest of the sashimi i've tried are ho hum though. So just go for the salmon sashimi.
All said and done, the new offerings and good salmon sashimi has won me over and i will indeed be returning for more.
Le Grenier a Pain originated from Paris France under the leadership of Michel Galloyer. The bakery has since accumulated multiple accolades before being franchised into Singapore by Ms Ellis Noval in an attempt to bring authentic French pastries into Singapore.
The pastry on sale has taken up a decidedly Singaporean flair with local favorites such as ham, bacon and even chicken curry flavors to appeal to the locals. Within it, you will find fancy named breads and cakes along with a rather high end price tag. In terms of the pastry, i bought about $15 worth of bread with a Chocolate fondant being the more expensive item. Tastewise, its mostly above average with the bread being soft and crusty and the chocolate being of better quality then usual. Cream and custard were both light and airy without impacting its taste. The fondant came across as average because we overbaked it and it turned out to be more chocolate sponge cake then an actual fondant.
Overall score: 6/10
Last word: I love eating bread but i simply am not able to stomach the cost thats levied on them by this bakery. In fact, when i saw how much the bread cost, i was rather shocked that 5 pieces of bread with a chocolate fondant could cause $15. I was also unable to ascertain the reason for the cost through taste but maybe thats just a personal issue of not understanding quality bread when i have one. For me, i'll probably stick with the local brands for now.
I need some chocolate, I need some sweets; to cure my oh-so-painful-heartache. I need a patissier to cheer me up: Tiramisu, mont blanc, creme brulee, macaron, le royale; give it to me, give it all to me.
“A slice of everything on display, and a cup of hot chocolate with extra chocolate.” “Everything?” “Yes! Which part of every-thing do you not understand?”
The patissier is my best friend, he will know how to make this go away. Stepping into the patisserie, a tiny part of the gloominess was lifted, at the sight of the so-many-pretty-and-petite desserts.
I sunk my teeth into it, and oh-boy, it was good, I already felt better! The richness of the cake was soaked and immersed in the essence of the espresso, brandy & white rum, I was literally intoxicated.
Bittersweet. It’s all about chocolate. The first taste, so sweet and rosy, followed by the slightly bitter taste from the dark chocolate; the perfect analogy to life, the bitterness, the happy times, it depends on which part you want to taste - I want sweet now!
* * *
(1) The above is a largely exaggerated story on my part, no doubt sweets and chocolates helps when you are feeling down, but it is only a temporary measure. A heart-to-heart chat with a good friend does wonders, and the best part: we had it over desserts.
(2) The two slices of cake are Tiramisu and Chocolate Amer. The latter was a half-price promotional item for Bakerzin in the month of May. The current dessert that is on half-price is the New York cheesecake.
(3) As much as I do not really fancy Bakerzin, and the fact that I’ve tried almost every cakes there, the half-price promotion on a slice of cake was too tempting.
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!
1=SGD 0.0587
My eyes strayed to the corner as we walked in, the desserts section; I saw the chocolate cake waving to me, the dessert shooters like a lighthouse beaconing the direction. And not lest, the-sight-of-it again: the omnipresent chocolate fondue, my heart just flew over with hugs and kisses.
Not able to resist the seduction, I dropped every last bit of pretence in me and embraced the temptation; lets start with the desserts shall we? We took a bit of everything, and started tucking in. We decided just to have some, and come back for more later. It was a difficult decision; to stop after we started, it was akin to asking a vampire to stop after he started sucking blood from your neck.
And so, the cold seafood counter. There were prawns, there were crabs, and there were mussels & scallops.
A sniff of the icy chilled oyster, the sea breeze gusted into my nose. The hassle of opening up the clam creature was avoided, for it was already prepared nice and clean on the bed of ice. I squeezed a whole wedge of lemon onto it, careful not to spill any outside the shell; every drop of lemon was precious, to fully bring out the quintessence of it. I pitched it up with a fork, and slowly put it into my mouth, one swallow, one gulp, and it was gone.
Our stomach has served us well, and to reward it for the hard work, let’s start with some salad. We took a bit of all the different greens, and dressed it up with the many-variety of dressing available; I always preferred thousand island, while you went for the lighter Italian dressing, and also the adventurous yoghurt one too.
It was fun, the process of ‘playing’ with the Kueh pie tee; we took the shell, add in the typical popiah turnip fillings, sprinkled a bit of the crushed peanuts, drizzled the sweet sauce, beautify it with paisley, and had options of tuna, chicken, and prawns to top with. Boy, it was good! The crispy shell, with the turnip fillings, but it was the sweet sauce and peanut which provided the difference.
There was roasted meat selections, Indian food, Western & Asian mains to choose from too. Again, we ate some of each, and finally it could wait no longer! This time, for desserts, we shall try everything, one of everything. Two if we can help it!
At first glance, it looked like pandan cake. Then, the pistachio financier name tag appeared, in a concealed corner oblivious to the naked human eye. The green stuff, they called it the pistachio nut, it was a personal favourite of our friend; and surprisingly, the pandan-cake-lookalike had a flavourful pistachio taste!
I remembered the truffle berry compote cake for its smooth and silky chocolate, with composition of berries within.
For some unknown reason which continue to evade me, passion fruit seemed to be a popular choice for patissier, I did not have any nice experience with it so far; but I guess it’s the intriguing combination of that-something-sour with the strong cheesecake. I, however, did not like it. I like sweet stuff, something sweet please.
While it had became a common thing for buffets, the chocolate fondue still never failed to excite me, I dipped fruits, puffs, marshmallows, and everything I could find under the flowing chocolate lava.
This, was my favourite part of the buffet. There’s a chef specially preparing waffles and crepes on-the-spot. The waffles were excellent, but they used the same mixture for the crepes, which turned out to be overly thick. And the staffs actually delivered the waffles to our tables when we forgot to collect it, now my dear, that’s what you call service!
I used syrup and butter for my first waffle. Then I returned for more with a topping of all the ice creams available, creativity struck me as I poured some of the lava from the chocolate fondue over my piece of crispy waffles.
The weekend dinner buffet from Mon to Wed is $45 , while dinner from Thursday onwards to Sunday is $50 per head. We were too full to try all the food; we missed out on the Indian food, and the roasted duck selections. Eating a little of everything was almost enough to fill up the tiny stomach of ours. Plenty of tea and a long chat after the meal aided in the digestion too! My appreciation to Helen, the F&B manager of Traders Hotel, for the food tasting invitation.
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:
I never fail to visit pet lover's centre when i go shopping at IKEA or Queensway Shopping Centre.. Its not a very big shop, but you can buy everything you need for your pets there.... There's food, bedding, snacks and treats...
Basically, I love to squat and watch the little animals lazing away in their tanks.. Though the tanks don't look really clean but they have everything they need inside the tank... like water, hay, food bowl, bedding, pee container and their comfy hiding place...... Its really hard to keep them clean anyway... judging by the fact that they stay in the tank all day and shit alot....
I love the service in this shop as I find the staff extremely helpful.. and they love the animals.... Occassionally, you can see them bringing out the little animals for a short cuddle and that will make these little lovelies.. really happy....
They have new stock of live animals all the time and not only their turn-over is high, the animals are in such good conditions... Fluffy Fur, Shiny Coats, Excellent ears and eyes.. and most importantly they have good various breeds. Theres bound to be something u like...
By the way.. the little animals they sell are hamsters, guinea pigs and rabbits.. If you like Dogs and Cats, why not drop by Pets Safari at VIVO....
All in all, the prices are reasonable and I love the fact that they do delivery for purchases above $50 and you could also get a membership for $5 with discounts all year round.
If your darling pet gave birth to too many children, you can also bring down to the shop to ask to sell to them... They handle these animals so expertly... and have a good eye in keeping them healthy and selecting the healthy ones from the not so good ones.. So its pretty safe if you buy live pets from PLC....
Rating given:
I read about Chef Suffian Zain, who relinquished his position as head chef of renowned fine dining restaurant, Iggy's,to join L'Entrepot, a new casual bistro by the Esmirada group serving up classical French food. And that was good enough reason to give the newly minted restaurant a shot.
Aptly located at Clarke Quay, along the Singapore river (entrepot is French for warehouse and is a place where import and export activities take place), L'Entrepot's al fresco and indoor dining area is seperated by a pedestrain walkway. While the al fresco area offers a venue to take in the sights and sounds of the Singapore river, the indoor area doesn't have much of a view to offer. It is however, a rather cozy place with a seemingly huge wine cellar showcasing dozens of bottles of wine.
Lobster Bisque - Apparently a must try at L'Entrepot and one that garnered rave reviews in a certain newspaper, the lobster bisque was disappointing to say the least. As with any lobster bisque, there were a few small cursory pieces of lobster flesh but the soup was rather watered down and lacked richness. The puff pastry, though flaky, wasn't buttery enough in my humble opinion.
Angus Rossini (Pan Roasted Angus Tenderloin, Mashed Potato, Duxell Mushroom, Pan Fried Foie Gras, Red Wine Sauce) - The tenderloin came in 2 chunks, both done medium rare as per request. Although the meat was relatively tender, it did seem a little dry and void of the beefy taste that most beef lovers would appreciate. The mushroom duxell(e) came sandwiched between the 2 blocks of beef and tasted rather bland and watery - not exactly ideal. As for the foie gras, it was thinly sliced and decently soft and quivery on the inside. I understand that it was better then the foie gras dish some of my dinner companions had ordered as appetisers.
On my part, the bill came up to about $47 after a 20% discount ($59 without discount), which is rather expensive for the quality of the food. We were so disappointed that we made the decision to adjorn elsewhere for desserts. Service was decent but that's not good enough reason for me to want to return. I had definitely expected more from Chef Suffian Zain.
See all my pictures here.
Rating given:
Had a craving for ramen but didn't fancy jostling with the mad crowds at Santouka or Marutama nor was I particularly willing to pay in excess of $15 for a bowl of ramen. Enter Men Tei, which I came across while reading some forums online. Its selling point (to me at least)? All bowls of ramen go for $13 nett.
Located on the ground level of Robinson Centre along Robinson Road in the Central Business District (CBD), Men Tei occupys a small space that is simpley done up and seats probably about 20 pax tops. The menu occupies a single sheet of paper (6 different types of ramen) so if you are looking for variety, this place is probably out.
Shio Ramen - You have the option of specifying the "doneness" of your noodles, ranging from normal, hard or extra hard. I didn't know that until after my ramen was served so I am assuming they gave me the normal option. I thought that it was a little too soft but at least it retained a little chewiness. The ramen broth honestly wasn't very robust and I couldn't quite make out any pork taste. Simply put, it was just salty but light. The egg was quite well done - quivery without being overly soft while the yakibuta (3 slices) was tender and flavourful.
Spicy Tonkatsu Ramen - Although the spicy ramen looked the part, it actually wasn't that bad and that's coming from someone who has a low tolerance for spiciness. As with the Shio ramen, the broth wasn't very robust but the yakibuta and tamago were equally good.
For the price, I honestly think its value for money given the quality of the ramen. Service is decent as well and best of all, there is no queue when you dine there on weekday evenings (they do not open on weekends or public holidays). The same can't be said for weekday lunch though. Men Tei also provides a delivery service to nearby offices for those who crave ramen but are too busy to step out.
See all my pictures here.
Rating given:
Chanced upon this place two weeks ago with the bf. This little restaurant is tucked away in a tiny corner of the 7th floor, of the big vertical maze that is Orchard Central. I confess I knew nothing about this restaurant although it has several branches around Singapore.
Also, I knew nothing about its signature dish, the Okos. Until now, I have no idea what it stands for. However, the Moonlight Okos that I ordered was served in a big platter with a flattened metal spatula not unlike those of a teppanyaki chef.
It comprised of pork, squid, prawns and cabbage packed in a flour / egg mixture and garnished with lots of fish flakes and a sunny-side-up egg, all drenched in teppanyaki sauce and mayonnaise. To me, it tasted like one big takoyaki, but with more flavour. Quite tasty and very, very filling. 3/5 stars I would say.
The boyfriend ordered a Pork Soba Omu, which I thought was much tastier than my Moonlight Okos. The bacon strip is dipped in teppanyaki sauce, rolled up, then fried with the noodles, making it much more flavorful. All of this was wrapped in one big omelette, with lots of sauce on top. Sinful as hell but I love it! 4/5 stars.
Didn't manage to try their desserts but they sure do look interesting on the menu.
The service was only average as the place is new. The waitresses would hover around tables attempting to look for a table number before doubling back to check the kitchen orders again, all the while carrying the food around. Could do with a bit of improvement there.
Rating given:
I bought my DARLING MR CASH here at Happy Paws.. After much tedious research and hunting... I finally found the PET HAVEN OF SINGAPORE.. Its not some pet farm.. its not a ulu place like deep in the some reserves.. its right at serangoon north.... West landers like me will not know such a place until you have read enough blogs and forums to find out...
I went to farmway, went to SPCA, however i could not find the THE ONE... and after much hunting, found my darling guinea pig which i named him MR CASH at Happy Paws.....
There are many shops there... selling Chinchillas, Dogs, Cats, Birds, Hamsters, Rabbits, Guinea Pigs and Fishes.. however upon viewing so many shops, i decided to buy my first REAL PET at Happy Paws.. and the reason is obvious...
First, they have a comprehensive range of products and the prices are very reasonable.. on top of that they have given me good discounts...
Second... I saw 2 well kept and cleaned caged guinea pigs.. unlike some where the cages are so dirty and you wonder if you are bringing back a sick pet which will just pass on in a few days... I was glad when i asked to hold the gp i chose before commiting to buy i was declined as handling them will make them frightened.. i'm sure my pig is going to survive.....
The things i bought included cages, pellets, cat's litter bedding, water bottle, shit bowl, hay and Mr Cash.... When I asked, they actually took the time to help me fix up everything, dress up the cage before putting Mr Cash in.. and they also included his toy ball he was playing with and the apple sticks he chews on.... Before putting him in his new house... The owner actually talks to him, cooed him and whisper some soothing words to him and it really helps calm him down.....
She then advices me on him.. telling me what are his favourite food and how to handle him.... Matter of fact she had his brother which is one of the earlier batch from the same parantage and his brother was such a big boy in such good conditions... I was impressed when she told me she feeds them organic carrots and corns as treats and I'm so sure... MR Cash is going to be so healthy....
If you are looking for a pet, or pet supplies or any grooming services, you can put your trust in Happy Paws Pet Kiosk.... as I know my pets are in good hands when they are with them.... Such passionate animal lovers are the most important criteria in grooming, caring and even introducing you the best they can offer for the well being of your companion.... Most importantly.. they are associated with a REASONABLE PRICE...
Rating given:
If you feel particularly chinese today, then you should lunch as hand in hand.... Though i like the name of the restaurant, i however do not like to hold hands with rude waitresses...
I was trying to get a quick bite one busy afternoon at jurong point where it seems like EVERYWHERE is packed.... Oh.. School Holidays Again and when i saw there are special in-house seats for these restaurants in the food court, i have no choice but to get in as there are the only seats available.
There again.. friendly calls that promises nothing but good food and friendly services still gets a hold of me.. however they are nothing but empty promises.. and the worse thing is I get conned again and again, hoping that things wll improve. This lady at the counter attracted me with the good variety of spread in the menu and most of all.. available seats..... I mean, one can't help but want to get away from crowds and so... i took the bait and went in hoping to get a good meal..
As i admired the deco, which is typically china chinese style, I was rudely offered some cutleries with a bang on the table.... There she goes.. stating all the famous dishes and me and my pal basically chose some noodles and giving the dumplings a miss... She hounded on about how good the dumpling are and blah blah blah but when i ask for some warm water, she told me there was none.... Not Even Tap Water.....
The food came in about 10 mins and while the food court is bustling away... I was stranded with my poor pal in a quiet corner in this part of beijing... However, the fried noodles was quite nice... chewy and well flavoured noodles with some prawns, veg and other stuffs. The braised beef noodles were good as well.... The soup savoury and beef soft... We also tried the century egg toufoo which however is not to my liking... I find it too plain but my pal thinks its nice...
All In All.. the food was great and if these chinese friends can have more social responsibility in providing better services and more kindness.. It would just be great... Heal the world... Make it a better place... For you and for me and the Great China.....
Rating given:
Nihon Mura is part of the Sakura group of restaurants dominating the buffet lanes in Singapore.
My first impression of the Tampines outlet has since been altered recently in my subsequent visits to this restaurant.
The Cathay outlet is similar to the other outlets in terms of its decor and food offerings but the entire place is almost always packed with people and the queues are quite amazing.
The food has improved a whole lot since i've last been here and the quality of sushi is also a step above the last visit with new $1.99 plates of premium sushi that usually would have cost about $5.99 at a rival restuarant.
The salmon sashimi here is definitely worth a try. I'm not sure why but its very tender, cold and sweet as compared to other places. Including my favorite Wasabi Tei. @ $5.99 for 6 pieces of reasonable size, this place has stolen my heart for salmon sashimi to eat. The rest of the sashimi i've tried are ho hum though. So just go for the salmon sashimi.
All said and done, the new offerings and good salmon sashimi has won me over and i will indeed be returning for more.
Rating given:
Le Grenier a Pain originated from Paris France under the leadership of Michel Galloyer. The bakery has since accumulated multiple accolades before being franchised into Singapore by Ms Ellis Noval in an attempt to bring authentic French pastries into Singapore.
The pastry on sale has taken up a decidedly Singaporean flair with local favorites such as ham, bacon and even chicken curry flavors to appeal to the locals. Within it, you will find fancy named breads and cakes along with a rather high end price tag.
In terms of the pastry, i bought about $15 worth of bread with a Chocolate fondant being the more expensive item. Tastewise, its mostly above average with the bread being soft and crusty and the chocolate being of better quality then usual. Cream and custard were both light and airy without impacting its taste.
The fondant came across as average because we overbaked it and it turned out to be more chocolate sponge cake then an actual fondant.
Overall score: 6/10
Last word:
I love eating bread but i simply am not able to stomach the cost thats levied on them by this bakery. In fact, when i saw how much the bread cost, i was rather shocked that 5 pieces of bread with a chocolate fondant could cause $15. I was also unable to ascertain the reason for the cost through taste but maybe thats just a personal issue of not understanding quality bread when i have one. For me, i'll probably stick with the local brands for now.
Rating given:
I need some chocolate, I need some sweets; to cure my oh-so-painful-heartache. I need a patissier to cheer me up: Tiramisu, mont blanc, creme brulee, macaron, le royale; give it to me, give it all to me.
“A slice of everything on display, and a cup of hot chocolate with extra chocolate.”
“Everything?”
“Yes! Which part of every-thing do you not understand?”
The patissier is my best friend, he will know how to make this go away. Stepping into the patisserie, a tiny part of the gloominess was lifted, at the sight of the so-many-pretty-and-petite desserts.
I sunk my teeth into it, and oh-boy, it was good, I already felt better! The richness of the cake was soaked and immersed in the essence of the espresso, brandy & white rum, I was literally intoxicated.
Bittersweet. It’s all about chocolate. The first taste, so sweet and rosy, followed by the slightly bitter taste from the dark chocolate; the perfect analogy to life, the bitterness, the happy times, it depends on which part you want to taste - I want sweet now!
* * *
(1) The above is a largely exaggerated story on my part, no doubt sweets and chocolates helps when you are feeling down, but it is only a temporary measure. A heart-to-heart chat with a good friend does wonders, and the best part: we had it over desserts.
(2) The two slices of cake are Tiramisu and Chocolate Amer. The latter was a half-price promotional item for Bakerzin in the month of May. The current dessert that is on half-price is the New York cheesecake.
(3) As much as I do not really fancy Bakerzin, and the fact that I’ve tried almost every cakes there, the half-price promotion on a slice of cake was too tempting.
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: