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Sport & Recreation
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1=SGD 0.0587
My companion kept raving about Awfully Chocolate that it made it impossible for me not to try. We went about looking for an outlet but realised the one at Katong had closed and all that was left was an office above Everything with Fries (which is also great btw).
So we dropped by at the itsy bitsy outlet tucked away in a corner of Vivo City. The first thing that occurred to me was.. HUH two tables only? They only had two high tables and about 3 chairs per table. They had a nice glass counter display which lined two walls, making an L-shape so it was pretty cramped. But well it is a specialty shop and most places like this don't even have seats at all. And we were there for the ice cream so there is hardly a need for seats.
They had ice cream (1 flavour - HEI which means black), chocolate bars and chocolate cake and cupcakes for sale. The ice cream went for $3.80 for a single scoop, $6.20 for a double scoop and $11.80 for a pint. The chocolate cupcake was $4.90 and the stacked chocolate cake was $6.50 per 100g. Truffles were $13 for 100g.
They had iced water in a jug set aside for customers and provided plastic cups, so that even if you had to do a takeaway you could grab a cup of water, which is great.
So we got our double scoop ice cream from the cheery girls behind the counters and sat on the mall's seats just outside the store.
The ice cream was fantastic. It rich and creamy and I love the dark chocolate taste. Definitely not for sweet chocolate lovers. The spoons we had were really cute and perfect for spooning the ice cream into our mouths.
Since then, I've had it three times and am still lemming for it. :)
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The opportunity to visit 1TwentySix presented itself one humid weekday evening, in the guise of a voucher, courtesy of the management. I can't say that I've been eager to try out this sister outfit of One Rochester @ Rochester Park, not after the bad reviews I've heard about it so far.
Located along the inner fringe of Big Splash towards the sea, 1TwentySix boasts an al fresco sitting area that is rich in nature and certainly great for chilling out. The "air conditioned" interior is actually a small area with some form of feeble air conditioning. The problem is, the area isn't enclosed and there is no air curtain to stop the cool air from escaping. There is a huge glass partition but it is apparently only used in the afternoons. And yes, it did get a little too warm that evening.
Complimentary Bread - Crusty exterior with bits of wheat and corn amidst the soft and warm dough - good bread never fails to start a meal off on the right foot.
Tuna Nicoise in Two Styles, Seared Tuna Tataki and Tuna Confit with French Beans, Cherry Tomatoes and Soft Boiled Quails Eggs - The tuna tataki was good - well seared on the outside while retaining its smooth yet firm texture on the inside. A lingering smokey taste accompanied by a dash of saltiness. Can't really fault it.
The tuna confit, on the other hand, was lost amongst the salad, masked by a rather saline solution. I could still make out the tuna though, but barely.
Tartare of Scallop, Ocean Trout and Tuna Loin with Foie Gras Parfait and Caramelised Shallots - I had thought that the tartare of scallop, ocean trout and tuna loin would certainly be a very fishy combination, but I was wrong. It was actually nice and to a certain extent, refreshing, without coming across as overly raw. Topped with a raw egg.
Please let me qualify that even though I like foie gras, I am not a big fan of it done parfait (75% foie gras) or pate (50% foie gras) style simply because I like my liver whole. So the chilled, smooth foie gras parfait simply didn't appeal to me.
150 Day Grain Fed Beef Tenderloin with Roast Bone Marrow with Chilli and Shallots -
Although 1TwentySix's menu seemingly focuses on produce from the sea, I took a gamble and went with the 150 day grain fed tenderloin. And I was suitably impressed. The tenderloin was nicely char grilled on the surface and done to a perfect medium rare. Add to the fact that the meat was tender and flavourful and you have a clear winner. One thing odd was the mushroom sauce, which had a strong mushroom taste but did seem a little overly sweet.
The side of fries were decent and didn't turn soggy when cold. What I thought was interesting was the broccolini, which was cooked with garlic and ginger - a very Chinese style of cooking, just way too oily.
Black Cod Fillet with Fennel, Blood Orange and Pistachio Salad served with Beaujolais Sauce - Fresh, firm yet flaky but outright bland. The fish wasn't sweet nor the sauce flavourful. All I could make out was a faint taste of fish and an initial sugar induced sweetness. Decent by any standards but could have been a lot better.
Frozen 'Deconstructed' Strawberry Shortcake with Home Churned Strawberry Ice Cream -
A recommendation from our waitress, I didn't quite take to the strawberry shortcake at first due to the seemingly excessive strawberry ice cream. However, as I dug deeper, I could make out a mish mash of sponge and flaky pastry, making the dessert quite enjoyable after all. If only I had 2 stomachs.
Valrhona Dark & White Chocolate Fondant with Coconut Praline Ice Cream - Most chocolate fondants come in only the dark variant, but 1TwentySix's offering combines both white and dark chocolate. Rather gimmicky if you ask me, because its just white chocolate oozing out together with the dark chocolate when you crack open the surface. But something different nonetheless. Texture wise, the crust was a little soft but at least it wasn't gelatin like. Coupled with a rich viscous chocolate filling and a creamy coconut ice cream, this dessert held promise for a sweet ending.
Fine Apple and Frangipane Tart with Calvados Ice Cream - The tart had a thin, flaky and crisp base with a nice oven baked taste to it. The apple slices weren't overly tart and I could make out a tinge of sweetness from the frangipane (sweet almond filling). It probably helped that the tart was sprinkled with icing sugar. The calvados (French apple brandy) ice cream didn't really make an impact though. Easily forgettable.
I would have had a wonderful meal if not for the less than cool dining environment. And the price for such an indulgence? Approximately $202 (before the use of discount voucher). Expensive? Arguably yes. But with very few other "fine dining" options in the east, 1TwentySix could probably be a consideration for your next special occasion or celebration.
See all my pictures here.
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Here I am sitted by the bright full length glass window, enjoying the warm soothing afternoon sun while still having the indoor air conditioning maintaining my cool and layers of expensive make-up on my flawless face. This outlet is one of my favourite outlets...
It is quite a chore to try to find a nice hideout in this building... With the bustling crowd of lunching white collars and eager agents with their laptops presenting their products... Few know about this place. Its good because its not crowded, serve decently priced food and drinks as well as few servers to give you the eye. Complimentary on the house, you still get the pretty view of the river, occasionally, some wide-eyed tourist boarding the HIPPO RIVER TAXI and when evening comes, some crazy teens on the Singapore Bungy screaming their heads off.....
I would say.. what is really nice is not the food here.... though they are pretty and yummy, what is excellent here is the unoppressed feeling that it brings... Stretegically placed tables and couches allow one to be able to hideaway in a corner while tall mirrors allow us to amplify our view to see who's coming up behind us. It is extremely eco-friendly too. The bright sun rays brightens up the place and no halogen lights needs to be turned on... Do you know that one halogen bulbs takes up at least 50W of power and emits a harmful UVA, UVB and UVC rays...
So much so for a wonderful experience.. till the next review....
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Liang Kee used to be housed in the now defunct Ellenborough market and known for its Teochew cuisine. After the death of its founder, 3 variants of the Liang Kee brand name have popped up, giving rise to theconfusion as to which is the original and "authentic" outlet. If you are interested in reading more, see here.
We chose to patronise the newly opened outlet at Whampoa, which moved from Robertson Quay, because of practical reasons - it was the closest one to our area and we had walked past it on our previous visit to Ban Heng.
The air conditioned interior has limited seating and reservations on a weekend are necessary, or you risk either sitting outside in Singapore's humid weather or a long wait for a table to free up.
Teochew Braised Duck - I am not sure if geese is still in shortage but we had to make do with duck. And what a huge duck it was, going by the breadth of the meat slices. I did think that the duck was a wee bit too dry but at least it had a mildly rough texture that made for better chewing. The gravy was fragrant which did help to enhance the flavour of the duck.
Stir Fried Kailan with Prawn - This dish had a nice wok hei tint to it and the addition of ti po (crispy fried sole fish) accentuated the taste and texture. To top it all, the prawns were fresh and crunchy, making for a simple yet enjoyable vegetable dish.
Prawn Rolls - Crisp on the outside, the prawn rolls were moist on the inside but a little overloaded on the fatty meat. And ironically, I couldn't quite make out any prawn taste even though it was called prawn roll. Palatable but could have been better.
Liang Kee Beancurd - It seems like every mom and pop stall is making their own beancurd nowadays and Liang Kee, being an established brand, is no exception. The beancurd wasn't silky and had a strong egg taste coupled with a sublime savouriness, which I personally like. But the deal clincher was the minced pork gravy with dried shrimp that almost engulfed the slabs of beancurd. Very nice!
Pumpkin Yam Paste - An all time favourite of mine, the orh nee was nothing short of wonderful in my humble opinion. Fragrant with the smell of yam and smooth without being too oily or sweet. A perfect
balance of texture and taste, allowing Liang Kee to catapult into my list of favourite orh nee places.
For the quality of food, $74 for 3 pax for dinner leans towards the value for money category, especially if you factor in the amount of food we ordered. Service was a little spotty but at least the lady boss (I presume) was nice enough. With Ban Heng, Guan Hin and Liang Kee all located in one stretch, it will be interesting to see how the competition heats up.
See all my pictures here.
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They are located at the corner nearer to the Intercontinental Hotel. If you could not find it... Check out the bunch of school girls exclaiming "So Cute!!! So Cute!!!" at the glass panals... Thats the shop!!!
This outlet I notice... have one of the most live animals besides the flag ship outlet at vivo and holland village. You can find Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, hamsters of various breeds as well as rats if you like.. Not to forget fishes and turtles. The shop though small, can house many things... including colourful cages with rotating balconies and tanks for fishes...
One of the many outlets i patronise frequently, their service is great. Helpful and informative. They even taught me how to get my membership number online so that I can chalk up the points of what little things i buy. Theres this once i called up their hotline and boy... the operator was so gentle, understanding, helpful and informative.
Though i find maybe a little long winded, He offered me great solutions, contact numbers for the outlets and things to look out for and helpful information to beware of. I am very VERY impressed by the extent of service they offer....
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Time Flies... My lovely guinea pig is already coming 2 years old... and is still a bachelor. While looking around for a beautiful girlfriend to share his bachelor pad with, I could not but browse at every Pet Lovers Centre. Reason being, they are just everywhere.. Conveniently located at many shopping spots, you can never miss them. Most importantly, they have a good supply of small pets almost at every stall.
I compared the prices of pet supplies and find them priced quite reasonably. On top of that, for a mere $50 of purchase and above, you could get their free delivery.... Thats a super great service they offer... imagine lunging a 35litre of Cats Litter walking around. Its a physical and emotional disaster.
They do have some pretty good promos around sometimes for 20% discount on food and necessity. I am also impressed services they offer. They have a vet like staff in almost every outlet that sells live animals and they are knowledgable as well as helpful. I get most of my know how to take of my GP from them.
If you need a pet... This is a place you can go to... Healthy pets and fresh supply of goods... with free delivery.....
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Most people think of Changi Village as a rustic spot still relatively untouched by modernisation, with its lush greenery and long sandy beach. What most people don't know is the existence of an Italian semi fine dining restaurant, La Cantina, at the only "modern" building there - Changi Village Hotel.
Hidden from sight on level 8 of the hotel, La Cantina offers a splendid view of the ocean as well the surrounding greenery through the vast windows that stretches all the way up to the second floor, which incidentally happens to be the private dining area I believe. The decor revolves around simplicity with a touch of Victorian elegance through the addition of Roman pillars and crafted figurines. For people who prefer the outdoors, there's the more romantic (but warmer) al fresco option as well.
I didn't think too much of the Bruschetta, which was decent but not the least bit outstanding. It was essentially garlic bread with diced tomatoes on top, in which case the tomatoes looked a tad tired but managed to retain its juiciness fortunately.
Billed as the specialty for the week, the grilled scampi was nice with a smoky grilled taste but did come across as a tad too salty for my liking. Another grouse was that the meat was minimal. And at $29, it certainly didn't come cheap.
Linguine Al Granchio - Crabmeat Linguine in Creamy Tomato Sauce -
A most decent dish save for the fact that the creamy tomato sauce overwhelmed the taste of the crab, which was a pity really. They could have added chicken and there would be minimal differences except for the texture. Pasta was al dente however and overall the dish didn't come across as too heavy on the palate.
Quattro Stagioni - Pomodoro, Mozzarella, Ham, Artichoke, Mushroom & Olive -
First looks, the pizza looked huge and was literally spilling off the sides of the plate. However it was more of an eye full than anything else. The crust was a little limp and not the least bit crispy, while the ingredients tasted rather bland with neither cohesion nor contrast of flavours.
Coffee Creme Brulee - I had thought the coffee creme brulee would have been an interesting dessert but it didn't really live up to expectations. The creme brulee was very sweet on the first mouth but slowly became better. The coffee taste was unique but a tad too strong for my liking.
Chocolate Bitter Tart - Contrary to its drooling inducing appearance, the chocolate tart was merely average with its crust being too hard and the chocolate not being rich enough. Never ever judge a dish by its appearance.
Chocolate Souffle - Probably the best dessert of the evening, the chocolate souffle was not too sweet but small and didn't come with ice cream which would have complemented it very well. The crust could have been a little firmer as well but no complains about the oozing chocolate though. I would say its a slightly above average rendition.
Dinner for 2 cost almost $125, which isn't too expensive considering the quantity of food we ordered. Sure, the quality isn't top notch but its still decent Italian fare with huge portions to boot. Throw in the excellent ambience and service and there's no question if a revisit is on the cards.
See all my pictures here
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Suburbia - A residential district located on the outskirts of a city. A most interesting name for a restaurant, but decidedly apt considering its location. Opened just 2 weeks ago, Suburbia is a newcomer to the uppity culinary scene of Sentosa and is touted as the place for good food and wine - a claim supported by the fact that it is managed by Wine Network.
Housed in a former monorail station (Fiscus station), Suburbia glistens in the dark skylight with its orangey hues and bluish overtones. The place is divided into 2 levels, with the al fresco dining section located on the first level, overlooking lush green lawns on one side and the Fiscus tree aka "Marriage Tree" on the other. The second level is air conditioned and employs a "classroom" look through the use of louver windows, which does seem to clash with the modern chic vibe that the place oozes. Tables are limited on the second floor, probably squeezing in about 15 four seater tables, which did seem a little too close for comfort although I wouldn't have been able to give a fair judgement given that we had the whole place to ourselves.
Complimentary Bread - Very few places serve up noteworthy bread and Suburbia falls into that minority. Served up in a glass vase, the assortment of bread was moist, warm and tasty. The butter was different as well, smooth and lightly sweet with a rather strong hint of orange flavouring. Appropriately named Orange Butter.
Crab Meat Waldorf Salad - First looks, I was petrified at the size of it, or lack of for that matter. I could have probably stuffed the whole thing down my mouth at one go without breaking a sweat. Taste wise, it was above average but nothing too outstanding. The rather diluted crab meat was sandwiched between layers of thinly sliced crunchy green apples, which acted as a counter balance to the rawness of the crab. Lightly sweet with a dash of saltiness and rawness.
Beef Tenderloin I'infusion De Poivre Noir - Weighing in at a mere 200g, I must say that the tenderloin was a tad too small for the price ($38). Grilled to my specification of medium rare, the meat retained its natural flavours without being too chewy or limp. Topped with mushroom sauce, it was a dish to slowly savour and relish save for the fact that the meat was a little too soft at some places.
Tiramisu - Interestingly, crushed cookie bits were sprinkled atop the tiramisu instead of the de facto cocoa powder. This gave it a different texture altogether and eliminated the risk of me choking on the fine cocoa powder. Light and fluffy, the tiramisu didn't come across as too wet or soggy but I couldn't make out any liquor taste in the sponge fingers - a must have in any good tiramisu.
Belgium Marquise - The Belgium Marquise wasn't too sweet or rich with a nice wafer texture in between. It had a slightly chewy texture which reminded me a little of chewing on mudpies. I didn't think too much of the ice cream and sesame brandy snap basket though, with the latter tasting almost exclusively of sesame.
$108($86 after 20% soft launch discount) for an appetiser, a main, 2 desserts and a glass of wine earns Suburbia a spot among the ranks of mid range pricing restaurants. However in this case, the price does seem a tad over the hill(without discount) especially when the food, though good, isn't particularly outstanding. There is hope yet as I understand from my friends, who were there as well, that the rack of lamb was good and that, coupled with a rather comprehensive wine list and a lovely ambience, might just be enough to entice me to return.
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Dropped by Gim Tim for dinner with my parents, who had heard much about it but never really gotten down to trying. Just a little background on Gim Tim. It started out as a humble restaurant in its present location, at the corner of a row of shophouses in the midst of a sleepy HDB estate. From there, it has since grown into 4 outlets but with only the original outlet retaining the Gim Tim name.
If its your first visit, some topography skills are required as the restaurant is located behind a market in a quiet cul-de-sac facing a block of HDB flats. The interior holds no allure, save for the fact that its air conditioned.
Braised Boneless Duck with Sea Cucumber - We ordered this dish thinking that it was sufficient for 3 people. It turned out to be much bigger than expected ( I estimate it to be for about 5 pax) and we had to doggy bag the left overs. The duck meat was tender yet firm and fibrous while the sea cucumber was not too soft and chewy. Both came in generous servings. Just a little something that I learnt about the cooking procedure for this dish. The duck has to be fried first till crispy and then simmered in the gravy to let it absorb all the flavours. Thats why the duck meat still manages to remain firm when served.
Broccoli with Prawns - A most excellent dish with the sizeable prawns fresh and crunchy and the broccoli cooked just right. Simple yet tasty.
Home Made Beancurd with Spinach - A little crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, the homemade beancurd was decent, but still had room for improvements. One major flaw is its lack of taste, even with the spinach. I did like the mushrooms that came with it though, wildly refreshing yet not overpowering.
$75 for 3 pax might seem a little too much given the variety of food and cost of items. However, no one complained. Honestly, I think the quality and potions more than justify the price. Throw in good service minus the service charge and this place goes into my book of must return places.
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Azhang is an intriguing place because the name sounds Chinese, yet it serves largely Mediterranean food. How you define Mediterranean food, I don't have a clue though, but thats what it has been described as. From its old hideout at Joo Chiat, Azhang has relocated to a nicely done up shophouse unit along Mohamed Sultan Road, just beside the Italian eatery, Papi (which happens to be a place that comes highly recommended from my friend). Decor was simple and subtle, giving rise to that homely and laid back atmosphere which I personally fancy quite a bit. There were 8 of us for dinner and we were split into 2 camps - the beef eating and the non beef eating. 5 of us formed the former and we had the Azhang's Combo Platter and the Rib Eye to share between us. Everyone had a serving of the highly recommended Roasted Corn Salad.
The Roasted Corn Salad had a nice mixture of colours and tasted really great. The corns were coated with butter and roasted over an open flame until slightly charred. Toss in some garlic, salt, pepper, olive oil and whats not and you get a really sublime flavour. Although I am not a fan of Corn Salad, I must say this one is without question, one of the, if not THE best Corn Salad I have ever tried.
When it comes to steaks or prime ribs, comparisons with Morton's offerings are inevitable. And so it was the case with the Rib Eye served with a topping of Onions and Sauteed in red wine atop a bed of Pilaf. The Ribeye was actually quite decent, except that it was a little too rare which made it a little too chewy and difficult to carve (I did the carving so I know). Decent, but not worth the $26.90.
A feast for the eyes awaited in the form of the Azhang's Combo Platter. Honestly, I have never seen such a huge platter before. Salmon Belly, Calamari, Jumbo Prawns, Tandoor Chicken, skewers of Lamb and Beef Kebab and Pilaf formed the platter.The Salmon Belly was pretty alright, without the salmon taste being too overpowering. Calamari was tasteless except for the grilled taste. The Jumbo Prawns were huge but they were pretty tough due to the grilling and it was a major chore trying to get the shell off. I looked forward to the Beef and Lamb Kebabs, but they were disappointing. Too much spice and minimal natural flavours from the meats. It was also a little too charred on the outside. The Tandoor Chicken was the pits. I practically couldn't taste any chicken at all because it was too charred which had a very acidic taste. Acidic enough to make me cringe with every bite.
Thus concludes our dinner for the night and our bill stood at about $297/-, inclusive of a bottle of red wine. Not worth it if you ask me. Sure, the atmosphere is great and stuff, the wait staff are personal and friendly (namely Ava), but for the quality of food and pricing, I am better off elsewhere.
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