” SINGAPORE - Singapore’s annual inflation rate hit a 25-year high of 6.6 percent in January, according to Department of Statistics (DOS) data released on Monday.
The inflation rate, as indicated by the consumer price index (CPI), was the highest since the 7.5 percent hit in March 1982… “
You must be thinking whether LIC has gone nuts writing food reviews, or you must have step into the wrong place, not quite like your impression of a food blog. Don’t just read the start, you need to finish the story!
Back to food, the point i am trying to bring across is, in this day where inflation rises like nobody’s business, and price of food soars, where can you even see food that just cost 2 bucks? Fishball noodle, Chicken rice, fried kuay teow, all your familiar local delights, $2.50 is the norm, with more selling at even higher prices in the hawkers nowadays.
The store we are looking today has a signboard with an ambiguous name of just Fried Kuay Teow Mee may be deceiving, and unknown to the rest. But this store at Seah Im food centre opposite Vivocity, cooks a mean plate of fried kuay teow, all for just 2 bucks.
Char Kuay Teow ($2) Walking past the stall, the fragrance of the char kuay teow already caught my attention, looking at the board, $2 for all their stuff, fried kuay teow, fried carrot cake, fried hokkien mee, mee goreng. Gosh!
The char kuay teow did not disappoint. Not the most good-looking one around, no fancy plates to go along. The greasy plate of char kuay teow may not looks welcoming to your calorie intake, but once in a while, you got to spoil yourself.
Not too soggy, and not too dry, the savouring plate of char kuay teow is simple, and at 2 bucks, you really can’t complaint.
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!
With over 60 tanks of ‘LIVE’ seafood and almost 100 kinds of seafood to choose from – chefs will prepare your meal on the spot, in your preferred style, with no extra charge – this place is a dream come true for all authentic seafood lovers!
What’s more, dine on a weekday (except PH and eve) and you will enjoy a 50% discount off the seafood, and 30% off on weekends, PH and Eves of PH.
Despite the big dining area spreading across two levels, Owen Seafood Restaurant's décor is simple without much fanfare.
Since ‘LIVE’ and ‘FRESH’ was the order of the evening, we decided to go raw that night – by that I meant the dozen Canada Oysters ($1.60 each after 50%), the Geoduck Clam ($84/kg after 50%) and the Lobsters ($52/kg after 50%) prepared 'Sashimi' style.
“Sweet”, “Taste of the Sea” and “Succulent” was some of the adjectives used to describe these dishes that evening. However for the daunted ones, we also ordered a Soup Broth ($8) for them to cook the geoduck and the lobster meat.
The next round of dishes were prepared steamed – Sea White Prawns ($34.50/kg after 50%), Bamboo Clams ($4.40 each after 50%), French Giant Scallops ($4.40 each after 50%) and Marby Goby, or Soon Hock ($42.50/kg after 50%). This is where you are able to distinguish the skills of the chef.
The prawns were straightforward, thus nothing much to comment about, but the shell dishes were rather disdain. The bean paste that accompanied the bamboo clams overwhelmed its natural sweetness – and not that there was much to begin with, as the clams were overcooked that its flesh kinda turned rubbery.
A mixture of fried and very minced garlic also fails to bring out the natural flavour of the scallops. I would prefer a stronger, aromatic tang from the fresh garlic – less chopped up of course, as compared to the fried garlic, which seeks to steal the thunder from the main lead with its oily aftertaste.
Most of us also found the Soon Hock a tad disappointing, as its meat were flaky when served – a sign of over-steamed – but otherwise we did enjoy the freshness of its flesh.
The Flower Clam ($22.50/kg) we ordered that night was a total waste of money. Fried with the pathetic minced garlic, it was very oily and very tasteless. Being a shell-food lover, even I didn’t eat much of those that evening.
The only non-seafood dish that evening, the Fried Spinach with Garlic ($12.00) was another similar case of too oily and too bland. The only positive note was that the veggies were very fresh.
The Cereal Prawns ($34.50/kg after 50%) was average to say the least. The cereal itself was not as crunchy as I thought it should be, it also lacked that bit of the curry leaves whiff. Not much complains to the prawns itself though since they were fresh and its meat firm.
We ended the night with how we started – the Lobster – with its head, legs, shells, and feelers fried with E-fu Noodle in Broth ($15.00). We all thought it was not too bad except it could have been enhanced if the noodles were simmered a little longer to entrap the natural flavour of the crustacean better.
Overall, we thought it was still kinda costly for ‘live’ seafood even with the gimmicky 50% discount on seafood items as the food served wasn’t exactly of high standard.
You can view the all photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
If anything, i hate buying clothes. Being a food blogger has taught me that mixing lots of rich food and trying to keep fit simply don't go together. However, today, i did somehow manage to get few nice clothes for myself and was accompanying my gf to get her stuff when we saw G2000 Black Label having a "Up to 50%" sale. So we went for it.
Now, the interior was black as per the namesake and much of the clothes were the usual business dressing stuff, there were however some nice bargains for about $20 to 30 after discount and we were trying to get sizes for the items. The female staff in the shop seemed rather busy but that was due to weekend rush i suppose.
After trying, we tried to get sizes but were promptly told that there were no sizes for purchase. Asking for colors netted a black faced attendent who had every other color but black....in a black label shop. Well.....thats weird. And asking any further questions all met with black faces...and it wasn't just one of the serving staff either, it was all the female serving staff on duty. Thus, i duno, my money not good enough for them or something? I'm spending and it would be good to get a smile from them when i ask something.
Either way, their black faces ruined the day and i honestly think that if they want good business and service. The company should start off by firing these 3 ladies on duty today 3rd August 2008.
If management from G2000 reads this. Please educate your staff or fire them so they get the idea. We (consumers) spend to be happy, if you don't want our money, don't come to work. Period.
Mosburger. Somewhere i would gladly patronize whenever i have a pang for fast food. This branch in compass point exhibits a rather homely feeling with it being rather small. Seating capacity is probably around 20 -30 people when totally full.
Like all Mos burger joints, my favorite items are the fishburger and the teriyaki chicken burger. Both are excellent imho.
The set meals come with huge fries which look like wedges and nice chili and tomato ketchup which are more sweet then spicy.
The fishburger is great with the small gripe being that its been getting smaller and smaller over the years. This branch thankfully, serves the burgers hot unlike others which i've eaten at, for example, tampines central branch. The sauce is still the star of the day and if the fish patty is hot, this burger is just awesome.
The teriyaki chicken burger is equally good with crispy crunchy lettuce and a well marinated chicken patty which remains juicy and tender and sweet with each bite. Another winner.
Overall, the Compasspoint branch does pretty well if the seating capacity can increase a little. I hate waiting in line for seats when i'm hungry.
It was my colleague, Florence's birthday that we decided as a team to go down to Changi Airport for a quick get together lunch with the entire team and the boss. Well, Breeks has been around for at least 15 years if i'm not mistaken and has been serving unbiased and unpretentious western fast food for the masses since its inception. Its strong points according to its website are its fish and chips and its chicken of which i have yet to try honestly.
Clam Chowder Soup - Its definitely thicker then usual campbells soup and there is quite a good variety of condiments and bread in the soup. Not lacking in the taste department at all and in fact, its pretty satisfying for a starter.
Safari Feast ($14.50) - As we were trying to decide which other starter we should have, the waitress informed us of the safari feast which included everything we needed to have. Criss cut fries, chicken drumlets, fried fish and some deep fried shrimp. Sinful stuff. Anyway, we ordered the feast and were delighted that they gave us 5 drumlets instead of 4 which was the norm. Great service on that one. The fries were golden, thick and crispy, the wings were crispy, spicy and juicy which were both good. The shrimp and fish were alright though it could be better as they somehow lacked much taste.
Hotplate Salmon Steak ($16.90) - Fish and Shrimp Lafayette ($15.90) - Baked Seafood Rice ($14.90) - Leaving you with the photos as i didn't get to eat much. I did try the seafood rice which was decent but not outstanding, the fish lafayette was alright as well but not fantastic. My boss had the chicken melt which was actually quite tender and fragrant but also, not fantastic. Honestly, that holds true for my main course as well.
Pan seared Black Pepper Fish Spaghetti ($16.90) - The spaghetti is worth mentioning as it was done al dente and worked well with the tomato based sauce it came with. The black pepper fish itself was also done pretty well but lacked the sweetness it should to be above average as the black pepper tended to mask the taste. However, in its defense, the fish was soft and seared well to retain its juices. The garden salad was a good choice to neutralize the taste when it overwhelmed as well.
Total bill came up to $134.10 for 7 people which averaged about $20 per head. Not too expensive but the quality needs improvement.
The place was surprisingly quiet for lunch and the seats were more or less free to choice. Service was pretty good but lacking finesse and the food has lots of room for improvement. However, for simple unpretentious fast food which it really is, it gets the job done. Just don't expect me to return when there are so many other better places around.
Udders aka cows mammary glands are a home grown brand of ice cream. Highly possibly opened by our female compatroits, Udders is a funny and friendly brand situated along Thomson Road. I chanced upon the ice cream during a food convention at Suntec City and the following are what i have to say about it.
Lychee Martini (approx $5 for one scoop) - This ice cream actually had actual lychee bits in the ice cream. It had so many lychee bits that the taste actually overshadows the martini taste which made it rather unpleasant for me. Would have prefered a stronger martini and lighter lychee taste.
Baileys and Bourbon (Approx $5 for one scoop) - This one is a clear winner for me. I'm a huge fan of Bailey's and so anythign with it inside works for me. The taste is strong, which is excellent and the creamy taste is a godsend which works superbly as ice cream. Love this!
Overall, the baileys saved the day. The ice cream ain't cheap but at least it was authentic. Give it a try, you never know, you might like it.
Aston's is no newcomer to the food scene and i was delighted to see a new branch opened so close to my workplace and so close to the east. In true Aston's fashion, this is located in a the heartlands in a simple kopitiam.
Being my first visit, its only natural to go straight for the beef steak while my gf had the chargrilled chicken.
Prime Sirloin Steak ($10.90) - I had the sides of pasta salad and whipped potato which were rather below average this time. The pasta tasted a little hard and uncooked while the whipped potato had a pasty firm texture which is either liked or disliked easily. The steak itself was thankfully done well. Medium rare, juicy and at a decent size, this is still what Astons excel in.
Chargrill Chicken ($5.90) - This came with sides of seasonal veggie and potato salad. The seasonal veggie is uncooked and tasted raw while the potato salad is a little too soft. Lacking the crunchiness of the Seragoon branch outlet. The chicken itself was tender, juicy and quite fragrant with spices albeit having a little frozen taste within. It still clocks in at a decent size though.
Overall, i'd say the meal is still above average for a kopitiam but they really need to work out the kinks for the kitchen before they can really take off.
Second Visit - Well, we were running out of cheap good places to visit so it was back to Aston's again to try it out. Hopefully, the standard has risen.
This time, we ordered a grilled fish with herbs and a Astons, I eat Superburger. And to sum it up, this visit was a much better.
Grilled Fish with herbs ($6.50) - Now this is a classic, my gf had it the first time we visited Aston's and now she's having it again. Not as good as the first time around but still, it was done soft and fragrant as it should be. The sides this time included a potato salad and french fries which were both way better then out first visit here. Service is still bordering on bad though.
I-eat Superior Burger ($12.50) - Its my personal mission to always try a beef burger and i must say, i was not disappointed this time. The burger was huge for its price, neighboring tables were angling for a look at my burger. Yeah, its pretty big. And i had sides of the potato salad which retained its former glory of being slightly soft and yet crunchy. The burger itself had loads of stuff in it. Apart from a rather large beef patty which was done really well i might say. There were tomatoes, lettuce, bacon, cheese and including, an onion ring or crown which really just made the burger irresistible. The meat was done medium rare which let it retain its juices and chewiness while the rest gave off a beefy fragrance which i loved. Top stuff, i'd say try this once you are there.
Overall, the second visit made my confidence for this branch increase a little. Its still green in the service but otherwise, its definitely looking like a good new Astons for the east to me.
I listen to this station almost every morning when i'm communing to work! Its a relaxing, funny and fun filled station with noteable morning shows with Ding Zhi Yong and company who usually talks about loads of issues close to the heart of Singaporeans. The good part is how they manage to make all this funny.
The evening show is equally good with Zhou Chong Qing and Zhou Tai Tai with their not-so-subtle jokes with double meanings.
The song selection is alright with some new songs gradually introduced on a weekly basis but sometimes it does feel repetitious after awhile. But its not a complaint really, there's really only so many songs available at times.
Either way, this is my most listened to Chinese Station. Cheers!
It was a day of celebration, a celebration of me and my gf's 1 year anniversary together that we decided to patronize a recommendation by my boss. The location was good, nestled in the middle of Sentosa with practically no one around to bother us. Still, it was with trepidation that we went since i've heard no other accounts of a good visit to the place due to its relatively infant start. Loving adventure and the unknown, we went ahead.
Here's a place that gives the impression of being miles away from your troubles and cares of the world. Calm, clean white covers most surfaces with glass walls and sleekly varnished tables and chairs. The view is equally enticing with the palawan beach spread before your eyes and your date. Its an ambiance that reinvigorates in the afternoon and energizes in the evening.
Its not in my thoughts or habit to order drinks in a swanky restaurant but then again, i couldn't stinge on a date like this i suppose. The end result is that we ordered 2 fruit punches which could have bought me about 6 fruit punches elsewhere. To be fair, it is rather good, being well balanced in sweetness and sourness but its still an expensive drink.
The complimentary bread was served warm with a nice aroma which reminds me fondly of pizza. Upon opening it, there are small granules of cheese and some chili thrown in for good measure. The crust is crispy while the inside was soft and warm. Not a bad start.
Pan seared foie gras, banana chutney and chocolate sauce - Doesn't this just look delightful? Who could resist foie gras anyway? Not me. This rendition was seared crispy on the outside and melt in your mouth on the inside. The gripe here is that the foie gras itself, had a layer of salt on it and the "chocolate sauce" tasted more like soya sauce which meant it was extremely salty overall. The banana managed to lessen the taste but i wonder if they actually poured the wrong sauce on this? It could have been so much better if the sauce was sweet. Even with this gripe, the foie gras was still done well.
Pamma Ham, Scallops and Rocket Salad with Honey Balsamic Dressing - I had a piece of the scallop in pamma ham and it was delightful. Light, sweet and fresh tasting, its easily taken and liked. Though the scallop could have been more plentiful and the dressing as well. The lack of honey dressing left a bitter taste on the rocket salad actually.
Pan Roasted Pork Belly with Savoy Cabbage and Spiced Port Sauce - This is a worthy main course. Don't be fooled by its rather oily and fatty appearance. What you get with each bite is melt in your mouth tasty meat (and fats of course) but sinning has never felt better. Crispy pork belly that actually tastes salty and sweet at the same time. This is definitely something to try. The savoy cabbage is light and manages to neutralize a bit of the aftertaste that the pork leaves behind. Still, this was pretty darn good.
Roasted Cod with Ratatouille and Basil Dressing - My gf had this. Simply put, it looks amazing. 2 fine sized cod pieces between servings of ratatouille and sprinkled with basil sauce. Subject to the taste test however, and it falls flat. Amidst all the colors, i was unable to find much flavor in the roasted cod. In fact, it was also less tender and soft then any other cod dishes i've tried. The ratatouille was also lackluster in taste but at least it tasted fresh.
Cheese Platter - I was rather surprised with the menu when i saw the cheese platter as a choice for dessert. So, i decided to try it out just to know how it actually tastes like. The platter came with a variety of choices including blue cheese, cheddar and a few others i can't quite remember but the one thing i do remember is...i'll never have blue cheese...ever again. The taste is indescribably unpleasant. Stay away from this unless you have an acquired taste for it.
Cinnamon apple tart with cinnamon ice cream ($14) - Sweet! Sweet sweet and sweet! Sugar icing, mashed apples soaked in syrup and crumbles adorn this sweet dessert. The tart was served warm and crispy with a pleasant fragrance. In fact, it tastes pretty good until you mix it up with the cinnamon ice cream which tipped the scales from bearably sweet to excruciatingly so. Without the ice cream, this is one dessert thats easy to recommend.
Chocolate Lave Cake with Hazelnut Ice Cream - I expected this to be good but it turned out only average. The reason for this is the rather thick layer for the crust and the unmelted chocolate which definitely did not flow like lava. But bigger then this gripe is the weird pairing choice, chocolate lava (bitter) with hazelnut ice cream (equally bitter). And to add insult to injury, the hazelnut ice cream tasted more like coffee ice cream to me which thus resulted in one of the most bitter desserts i've ever had. Improvement definitely needed.
The total bill this time came to $131.85 for 2 people. Acceptable but not for the quality of food i had.
There's potential here for sure. The serene location and open space gives the customer a santuary away from the bustles of life. Yet, the pairing quality and the preparation of fish needs a definite improvement. Otherwise, this becomes perpetually, a place which has potential but lacks substance.
Attended a dinner at Tetsu one weekday evening with my gf. Tetsu, which is owned and operated by Food Junction (yes, the foodcourt operator), prides itself as the first Japanese restaurant to offer Kushi style (food is served in skewers) tempura and Tonkatsu menu which is prepared live in front of you (assuming you take the counter seats of course).
Located on the top level of Tanglin Mall, Tetsu stands out with its chic interior that oozes sublime class without the frills. A partial open concept kitchen coupled with white washed pillars, wooden beams and clever layering of light add to the sophistication. Seats are decidedly comfortable but the tables do seem a little too low for comfort (maybe its just my table).
Kami Tofu - The Kami tofu, or century egg with tofu, was rather easy on the palate and provided a good start to the meal. The tofu was silky yet firm through the addition of eggs (a tad too much egg though), while the finely diced century egg cubes had but a faint aftertaste, ideal for people like me who do not really fancy this variation of eggs. Parallels can be drawn to chawamushi in terms of taste, albeit being much lighter.
Kajiki Tataki - The Kajiki, also known as swordfish or Pacific blue marlin, was another excellent starter. Lightly seared till faintly charred along the edges, the fish, coupled with what I believe to be Ponzu (ポン酢) sauce and spicy radish atop, emanated a nice savoury taste. Only gripe I had was that the texture of the fish did seem a tad too hard and dry.
Salmon & Yellow Tail Sashimi - I'm not too big on sashimi so neither the salmon nor yellow tail wowed me. Both were fresh, but I've had fresher cuts before. The wasabi or わさび,ワサビ was probably just a mixture of horseradish, mustard seed and green colouring, tasting nothing like the real wasabi, which usually comes grated. But no complaints here as very very few places in Singapore actually serve up the real thing because of its prohibitive prices.
Yasai Takiawase - The Yasai Takiawase, or simmered seasonal vegetables, consisted of white radish, carrot, pumpkin & snow pea stewed in a pot for 3 hours straight. Honestly, this dish just didn't do it for me. Everything was soft to the extent of being mushy and nausea inducing. According to the chef, this dish is very popular with the Japanese and it tastes better with every try. I would like to give the chef the benefit of the doubt, but I seriously can't bring myself to try the same dish again.
Kushi Age Style Hotate, Soft Shell Crab, Hire Katsu & Ebi - This is an area where Tetsu differentiates itself through its live preparation of Kushi style food. I see it more as a marketing gimmick. Honestly, how difficult is it to prepare food on skewers live? For starters, the food wasn't served hot, not even warm. And I personally found the batter a tad too thick and oily for my liking. The soft shell crab had an overdose of salt while the scallop, though huge and purportedly flown in from Japan, was tasteless. The Hire (pork) Katsu's taste was overwhelmed by black pepper while the prawn didn't come across as sweet. All in all, definitely not my idea of a must try.
Consomme - The clear consomme tasted to me like egg drop soup. By and large there's nothing much to comment on it except that it was light and definitely something you can get anywhere else.
Salmon Sushi Roll - Served up with compliments from Tetsu, the salmon sushi roll was definitely one of the better dishes that evening. What was interesting was the usage of flakes of fried tempura batter to coat the sushi's exterior, resulting in a nice crunchy piece of sushi that carried a lightly sweet overtone from the drizzled teriyaki sauce. Couldn't quite make out the cooked salmon taste though, save for a very faint smokiness.
Udon & Kushi Tem Lotus Root, Mushroom, Green Capsicum - I found the udon quite decent, with the noodles chewy and not too "fat" and the broth lightly salty with lots of tempura flakes. The sides of mushroom, lotus root and capsicum provided some frills to this simple dish but proved to be rather flat.
Goma Ice Cream - Rock hard, straight from the freezer and totally uninspiring. My 3 adjectives to describe the Goma ice cream.
As it was a prearranged dinner, the cost was capped at $30nett per pax. Portions were sampling size and I personally felt that $30 for the stuff we ate wasn't exactly such a great deal as nothing on the menu seemed really expensive. Service was good, but then again thats subjective. Overall the dinner was an average affair for me and I seriously doubt that I'll be back.
1=SGD 0.0587
” SINGAPORE - Singapore’s annual inflation rate hit a 25-year high of 6.6 percent in January, according to Department of Statistics (DOS) data released on Monday.
The inflation rate, as indicated by the consumer price index (CPI), was the highest since the 7.5 percent hit in March 1982… “
You must be thinking whether LIC has gone nuts writing food reviews, or you must have step into the wrong place, not quite like your impression of a food blog. Don’t just read the start, you need to finish the story!
Back to food, the point i am trying to bring across is, in this day where inflation rises like nobody’s business, and price of food soars, where can you even see food that just cost 2 bucks? Fishball noodle, Chicken rice, fried kuay teow, all your familiar local delights, $2.50 is the norm, with more selling at even higher prices in the hawkers nowadays.
The store we are looking today has a signboard with an ambiguous name of just Fried Kuay Teow Mee may be deceiving, and unknown to the rest. But this store at Seah Im food centre opposite Vivocity, cooks a mean plate of fried kuay teow, all for just 2 bucks.
Char Kuay Teow ($2)
Walking past the stall, the fragrance of the char kuay teow already caught my attention, looking at the board, $2 for all their stuff, fried kuay teow, fried carrot cake, fried hokkien mee, mee goreng. Gosh!
The char kuay teow did not disappoint. Not the most good-looking one around, no fancy plates to go along. The greasy plate of char kuay teow may not looks welcoming to your calorie intake, but once in a while, you got to spoil yourself.
Not too soggy, and not too dry, the savouring plate of char kuay teow is simple, and at 2 bucks, you really can’t complaint.
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:
With over 60 tanks of ‘LIVE’ seafood and almost 100 kinds of seafood to choose from – chefs will prepare your meal on the spot, in your preferred style, with no extra charge – this place is a dream come true for all authentic seafood lovers!
What’s more, dine on a weekday (except PH and eve) and you will enjoy a 50% discount off the seafood, and 30% off on weekends, PH and Eves of PH.
Despite the big dining area spreading across two levels, Owen Seafood Restaurant's décor is simple without much fanfare.
Since ‘LIVE’ and ‘FRESH’ was the order of the evening, we decided to go raw that night – by that I meant the dozen Canada Oysters ($1.60 each after 50%), the Geoduck Clam ($84/kg after 50%) and the Lobsters ($52/kg after 50%) prepared 'Sashimi' style.
“Sweet”, “Taste of the Sea” and “Succulent” was some of the adjectives used to describe these dishes that evening. However for the daunted ones, we also ordered a Soup Broth ($8) for them to cook the geoduck and the lobster meat.
The next round of dishes were prepared steamed – Sea White Prawns ($34.50/kg after 50%), Bamboo Clams ($4.40 each after 50%), French Giant Scallops ($4.40 each after 50%) and Marby Goby, or Soon Hock ($42.50/kg after 50%). This is where you are able to distinguish the skills of the chef.
The prawns were straightforward, thus nothing much to comment about, but the shell dishes were rather disdain. The bean paste that accompanied the bamboo clams overwhelmed its natural sweetness – and not that there was much to begin with, as the clams were overcooked that its flesh kinda turned rubbery.
A mixture of fried and very minced garlic also fails to bring out the natural flavour of the scallops. I would prefer a stronger, aromatic tang from the fresh garlic – less chopped up of course, as compared to the fried garlic, which seeks to steal the thunder from the main lead with its oily aftertaste.
Most of us also found the Soon Hock a tad disappointing, as its meat were flaky when served – a sign of over-steamed – but otherwise we did enjoy the freshness of its flesh.
The Flower Clam ($22.50/kg) we ordered that night was a total waste of money. Fried with the pathetic minced garlic, it was very oily and very tasteless. Being a shell-food lover, even I didn’t eat much of those that evening.
The only non-seafood dish that evening, the Fried Spinach with Garlic ($12.00) was another similar case of too oily and too bland. The only positive note was that the veggies were very fresh.
The Cereal Prawns ($34.50/kg after 50%) was average to say the least. The cereal itself was not as crunchy as I thought it should be, it also lacked that bit of the curry leaves whiff. Not much complains to the prawns itself though since they were fresh and its meat firm.
We ended the night with how we started – the Lobster – with its head, legs, shells, and feelers fried with E-fu Noodle in Broth ($15.00). We all thought it was not too bad except it could have been enhanced if the noodles were simmered a little longer to entrap the natural flavour of the crustacean better.
Overall, we thought it was still kinda costly for ‘live’ seafood even with the gimmicky 50% discount on seafood items as the food served wasn’t exactly of high standard.
You can view the all photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
Rating given:
If anything, i hate buying clothes. Being a food blogger has taught me that mixing lots of rich food and trying to keep fit simply don't go together. However, today, i did somehow manage to get few nice clothes for myself and was accompanying my gf to get her stuff when we saw G2000 Black Label having a "Up to 50%" sale. So we went for it.
Now, the interior was black as per the namesake and much of the clothes were the usual business dressing stuff, there were however some nice bargains for about $20 to 30 after discount and we were trying to get sizes for the items. The female staff in the shop seemed rather busy but that was due to weekend rush i suppose.
After trying, we tried to get sizes but were promptly told that there were no sizes for purchase. Asking for colors netted a black faced attendent who had every other color but black....in a black label shop. Well.....thats weird. And asking any further questions all met with black faces...and it wasn't just one of the serving staff either, it was all the female serving staff on duty. Thus, i duno, my money not good enough for them or something? I'm spending and it would be good to get a smile from them when i ask something.
Either way, their black faces ruined the day and i honestly think that if they want good business and service. The company should start off by firing these 3 ladies on duty today 3rd August 2008.
If management from G2000 reads this. Please educate your staff or fire them so they get the idea. We (consumers) spend to be happy, if you don't want our money, don't come to work. Period.
Rating given:
Mosburger. Somewhere i would gladly patronize whenever i have a pang for fast food. This branch in compass point exhibits a rather homely feeling with it being rather small. Seating capacity is probably around 20 -30 people when totally full.
Like all Mos burger joints, my favorite items are the fishburger and the teriyaki chicken burger. Both are excellent imho.
The set meals come with huge fries which look like wedges and nice chili and tomato ketchup which are more sweet then spicy.
The fishburger is great with the small gripe being that its been getting smaller and smaller over the years. This branch thankfully, serves the burgers hot unlike others which i've eaten at, for example, tampines central branch. The sauce is still the star of the day and if the fish patty is hot, this burger is just awesome.
The teriyaki chicken burger is equally good with crispy crunchy lettuce and a well marinated chicken patty which remains juicy and tender and sweet with each bite. Another winner.
Overall, the Compasspoint branch does pretty well if the seating capacity can increase a little. I hate waiting in line for seats when i'm hungry.
Rating given:
It was my colleague, Florence's birthday that we decided as a team to go down to Changi Airport for a quick get together lunch with the entire team and the boss. Well, Breeks has been around for at least 15 years if i'm not mistaken and has been serving unbiased and unpretentious western fast food for the masses since its inception. Its strong points according to its website are its fish and chips and its chicken of which i have yet to try honestly.
Clam Chowder Soup - Its definitely thicker then usual campbells soup and there is quite a good variety of condiments and bread in the soup. Not lacking in the taste department at all and in fact, its pretty satisfying for a starter.
Safari Feast ($14.50) - As we were trying to decide which other starter we should have, the waitress informed us of the safari feast which included everything we needed to have. Criss cut fries, chicken drumlets, fried fish and some deep fried shrimp. Sinful stuff. Anyway, we ordered the feast and were delighted that they gave us 5 drumlets instead of 4 which was the norm. Great service on that one. The fries were golden, thick and crispy, the wings were crispy, spicy and juicy which were both good. The shrimp and fish were alright though it could be better as they somehow lacked much taste.
Hotplate Salmon Steak ($16.90) - Fish and Shrimp Lafayette ($15.90) - Baked Seafood Rice ($14.90) - Leaving you with the photos as i didn't get to eat much. I did try the seafood rice which was decent but not outstanding, the fish lafayette was alright as well but not fantastic. My boss had the chicken melt which was actually quite tender and fragrant but also, not fantastic. Honestly, that holds true for my main course as well.
Pan seared Black Pepper Fish Spaghetti ($16.90) - The spaghetti is worth mentioning as it was done al dente and worked well with the tomato based sauce it came with. The black pepper fish itself was also done pretty well but lacked the sweetness it should to be above average as the black pepper tended to mask the taste. However, in its defense, the fish was soft and seared well to retain its juices. The garden salad was a good choice to neutralize the taste when it overwhelmed as well.
Total bill came up to $134.10 for 7 people which averaged about $20 per head. Not too expensive but the quality needs improvement.
The place was surprisingly quiet for lunch and the seats were more or less free to choice. Service was pretty good but lacking finesse and the food has lots of room for improvement. However, for simple unpretentious fast food which it really is, it gets the job done. Just don't expect me to return when there are so many other better places around.
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Udders aka cows mammary glands are a home grown brand of ice cream. Highly possibly opened by our female compatroits, Udders is a funny and friendly brand situated along Thomson Road. I chanced upon the ice cream during a food convention at Suntec City and the following are what i have to say about it.
Lychee Martini (approx $5 for one scoop) - This ice cream actually had actual lychee bits in the ice cream. It had so many lychee bits that the taste actually overshadows the martini taste which made it rather unpleasant for me. Would have prefered a stronger martini and lighter lychee taste.
Baileys and Bourbon (Approx $5 for one scoop) - This one is a clear winner for me. I'm a huge fan of Bailey's and so anythign with it inside works for me. The taste is strong, which is excellent and the creamy taste is a godsend which works superbly as ice cream. Love this!
Overall, the baileys saved the day. The ice cream ain't cheap but at least it was authentic. Give it a try, you never know, you might like it.
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Aston's is no newcomer to the food scene and i was delighted to see a new branch opened so close to my workplace and so close to the east. In true Aston's fashion, this is located in a the heartlands in a simple kopitiam.
Being my first visit, its only natural to go straight for the beef steak while my gf had the chargrilled chicken.
Prime Sirloin Steak ($10.90) - I had the sides of pasta salad and whipped potato which were rather below average this time. The pasta tasted a little hard and uncooked while the whipped potato had a pasty firm texture which is either liked or disliked easily. The steak itself was thankfully done well. Medium rare, juicy and at a decent size, this is still what Astons excel in.
Chargrill Chicken ($5.90) - This came with sides of seasonal veggie and potato salad. The seasonal veggie is uncooked and tasted raw while the potato salad is a little too soft. Lacking the crunchiness of the Seragoon branch outlet. The chicken itself was tender, juicy and quite fragrant with spices albeit having a little frozen taste within. It still clocks in at a decent size though.
Overall, i'd say the meal is still above average for a kopitiam but they really need to work out the kinks for the kitchen before they can really take off.
Second Visit - Well, we were running out of cheap good places to visit so it was back to Aston's again to try it out. Hopefully, the standard has risen.
This time, we ordered a grilled fish with herbs and a Astons, I eat Superburger. And to sum it up, this visit was a much better.
Grilled Fish with herbs ($6.50) - Now this is a classic, my gf had it the first time we visited Aston's and now she's having it again. Not as good as the first time around but still, it was done soft and fragrant as it should be. The sides this time included a potato salad and french fries which were both way better then out first visit here. Service is still bordering on bad though.
I-eat Superior Burger ($12.50) - Its my personal mission to always try a beef burger and i must say, i was not disappointed this time. The burger was huge for its price, neighboring tables were angling for a look at my burger. Yeah, its pretty big. And i had sides of the potato salad which retained its former glory of being slightly soft and yet crunchy. The burger itself had loads of stuff in it. Apart from a rather large beef patty which was done really well i might say. There were tomatoes, lettuce, bacon, cheese and including, an onion ring or crown which really just made the burger irresistible. The meat was done medium rare which let it retain its juices and chewiness while the rest gave off a beefy fragrance which i loved. Top stuff, i'd say try this once you are there.
Overall, the second visit made my confidence for this branch increase a little. Its still green in the service but otherwise, its definitely looking like a good new Astons for the east to me.
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I listen to this station almost every morning when i'm communing to work! Its a relaxing, funny and fun filled station with noteable morning shows with Ding Zhi Yong and company who usually talks about loads of issues close to the heart of Singaporeans. The good part is how they manage to make all this funny.
The evening show is equally good with Zhou Chong Qing and Zhou Tai Tai with their not-so-subtle jokes with double meanings.
The song selection is alright with some new songs gradually introduced on a weekly basis but sometimes it does feel repetitious after awhile. But its not a complaint really, there's really only so many songs available at times.
Either way, this is my most listened to Chinese Station. Cheers!
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It was a day of celebration, a celebration of me and my gf's 1 year anniversary together that we decided to patronize a recommendation by my boss. The location was good, nestled in the middle of Sentosa with practically no one around to bother us. Still, it was with trepidation that we went since i've heard no other accounts of a good visit to the place due to its relatively infant start. Loving adventure and the unknown, we went ahead.
Here's a place that gives the impression of being miles away from your troubles and cares of the world. Calm, clean white covers most surfaces with glass walls and sleekly varnished tables and chairs. The view is equally enticing with the palawan beach spread before your eyes and your date. Its an ambiance that reinvigorates in the afternoon and energizes in the evening.
Its not in my thoughts or habit to order drinks in a swanky restaurant but then again, i couldn't stinge on a date like this i suppose. The end result is that we ordered 2 fruit punches which could have bought me about 6 fruit punches elsewhere. To be fair, it is rather good, being well balanced in sweetness and sourness but its still an expensive drink.
The complimentary bread was served warm with a nice aroma which reminds me fondly of pizza. Upon opening it, there are small granules of cheese and some chili thrown in for good measure. The crust is crispy while the inside was soft and warm. Not a bad start.
Pan seared foie gras, banana chutney and chocolate sauce - Doesn't this just look delightful? Who could resist foie gras anyway? Not me. This rendition was seared crispy on the outside and melt in your mouth on the inside. The gripe here is that the foie gras itself, had a layer of salt on it and the "chocolate sauce" tasted more like soya sauce which meant it was extremely salty overall. The banana managed to lessen the taste but i wonder if they actually poured the wrong sauce on this? It could have been so much better if the sauce was sweet. Even with this gripe, the foie gras was still done well.
Pamma Ham, Scallops and Rocket Salad with Honey Balsamic Dressing - I had a piece of the scallop in pamma ham and it was delightful. Light, sweet and fresh tasting, its easily taken and liked. Though the scallop could have been more plentiful and the dressing as well. The lack of honey dressing left a bitter taste on the rocket salad actually.
Pan Roasted Pork Belly with Savoy Cabbage and Spiced Port Sauce - This is a worthy main course. Don't be fooled by its rather oily and fatty appearance. What you get with each bite is melt in your mouth tasty meat (and fats of course) but sinning has never felt better. Crispy pork belly that actually tastes salty and sweet at the same time. This is definitely something to try. The savoy cabbage is light and manages to neutralize a bit of the aftertaste that the pork leaves behind. Still, this was pretty darn good.
Roasted Cod with Ratatouille and Basil Dressing - My gf had this. Simply put, it looks amazing. 2 fine sized cod pieces between servings of ratatouille and sprinkled with basil sauce. Subject to the taste test however, and it falls flat. Amidst all the colors, i was unable to find much flavor in the roasted cod. In fact, it was also less tender and soft then any other cod dishes i've tried. The ratatouille was also lackluster in taste but at least it tasted fresh.
Cheese Platter - I was rather surprised with the menu when i saw the cheese platter as a choice for dessert. So, i decided to try it out just to know how it actually tastes like. The platter came with a variety of choices including blue cheese, cheddar and a few others i can't quite remember but the one thing i do remember is...i'll never have blue cheese...ever again. The taste is indescribably unpleasant. Stay away from this unless you have an acquired taste for it.
Cinnamon apple tart with cinnamon ice cream ($14) - Sweet! Sweet sweet and sweet! Sugar icing, mashed apples soaked in syrup and crumbles adorn this sweet dessert. The tart was served warm and crispy with a pleasant fragrance. In fact, it tastes pretty good until you mix it up with the cinnamon ice cream which tipped the scales from bearably sweet to excruciatingly so. Without the ice cream, this is one dessert thats easy to recommend.
Chocolate Lave Cake with Hazelnut Ice Cream - I expected this to be good but it turned out only average. The reason for this is the rather thick layer for the crust and the unmelted chocolate which definitely did not flow like lava. But bigger then this gripe is the weird pairing choice, chocolate lava (bitter) with hazelnut ice cream (equally bitter). And to add insult to injury, the hazelnut ice cream tasted more like coffee ice cream to me which thus resulted in one of the most bitter desserts i've ever had. Improvement definitely needed.
The total bill this time came to $131.85 for 2 people. Acceptable but not for the quality of food i had.
There's potential here for sure. The serene location and open space gives the customer a santuary away from the bustles of life. Yet, the pairing quality and the preparation of fish needs a definite improvement. Otherwise, this becomes perpetually, a place which has potential but lacks substance.
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Attended a dinner at Tetsu one weekday evening with my gf. Tetsu, which is owned and operated by Food Junction (yes, the foodcourt operator), prides itself as the first Japanese restaurant to offer Kushi style (food is served in skewers) tempura and Tonkatsu menu which is prepared live in front of you (assuming you take the counter seats of course).
Located on the top level of Tanglin Mall, Tetsu stands out with its chic interior that oozes sublime class without the frills. A partial open concept kitchen coupled with white washed pillars, wooden beams and clever layering of light add to the sophistication. Seats are decidedly comfortable but the tables do seem a little too low for comfort (maybe its just my table).
Kami Tofu - The Kami tofu, or century egg with tofu, was rather easy on the palate and provided a good start to the meal. The tofu was silky yet firm through the addition of eggs (a tad too much egg though), while the finely diced century egg cubes had but a faint aftertaste, ideal for people like me who do not really fancy this variation of eggs. Parallels can be drawn to chawamushi in terms of taste, albeit being much lighter.
Kajiki Tataki - The Kajiki, also known as swordfish or Pacific blue marlin, was another excellent starter. Lightly seared till faintly charred along the edges, the fish, coupled with what I believe to be Ponzu (ポン酢) sauce and spicy radish atop, emanated a nice savoury taste. Only gripe I had was that the texture of the fish did seem a tad too hard and dry.
Salmon & Yellow Tail Sashimi - I'm not too big on sashimi so neither the salmon nor yellow tail wowed me. Both were fresh, but I've had fresher cuts before. The wasabi or わさび,ワサビ was probably just a mixture of horseradish, mustard seed and green colouring, tasting nothing like the real wasabi, which usually comes grated. But no complaints here as very very few places in Singapore actually serve up the real thing because of its prohibitive prices.
Yasai Takiawase - The Yasai Takiawase, or simmered seasonal vegetables, consisted of white radish, carrot, pumpkin & snow pea stewed in a pot for 3 hours straight. Honestly, this dish just didn't do it for me. Everything was soft to the extent of being mushy and nausea inducing. According to the chef, this dish is very popular with the Japanese and it tastes better with every try. I would like to give the chef the benefit of the doubt, but I seriously can't bring myself to try the same dish again.
Kushi Age Style Hotate, Soft Shell Crab, Hire Katsu & Ebi - This is an area where Tetsu differentiates itself through its live preparation of Kushi style food. I see it more as a marketing gimmick. Honestly, how difficult is it to prepare food on skewers live? For starters, the food wasn't served hot, not even warm. And I personally found the batter a tad too thick and oily for my liking. The soft shell crab had an overdose of salt while the scallop, though huge and purportedly flown in from Japan, was tasteless. The Hire (pork) Katsu's taste was overwhelmed by black pepper while the prawn didn't come across as sweet. All in all, definitely not my idea of a must try.
Consomme - The clear consomme tasted to me like egg drop soup. By and large there's nothing much to comment on it except that it was light and definitely something you can get anywhere else.
Salmon Sushi Roll - Served up with compliments from Tetsu, the salmon sushi roll was definitely one of the better dishes that evening. What was interesting was the usage of flakes of fried tempura batter to coat the sushi's exterior, resulting in a nice crunchy piece of sushi that carried a lightly sweet overtone from the drizzled teriyaki sauce. Couldn't quite make out the cooked salmon taste though, save for a very faint smokiness.
Udon & Kushi Tem Lotus Root, Mushroom, Green Capsicum - I found the udon quite decent, with the noodles chewy and not too "fat" and the broth lightly salty with lots of tempura flakes. The sides of mushroom, lotus root and capsicum provided some frills to this simple dish but proved to be rather flat.
Goma Ice Cream - Rock hard, straight from the freezer and totally uninspiring. My 3 adjectives to describe the Goma ice cream.
As it was a prearranged dinner, the cost was capped at $30nett per pax. Portions were sampling size and I personally felt that $30 for the stuff we ate wasn't exactly such a great deal as nothing on the menu seemed really expensive. Service was good, but then again thats subjective. Overall the dinner was an average affair for me and I seriously doubt that I'll be back.
See all my pictures here.
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