 |
||
DISCLAIMER If you have any comments/suggestions/places you think serve great food, do share with us! Email me at qiuyi_ong@hotmail.com or leave a comment in the tag board. Thanks and cheers to future gastronomical adventures! MY TO-GO LIST Au Jardin (Eaten!) Au Petit Salut Buko Nero (Eaten!) Cugini (Eaten!) Forlino (Eaten!) Gunther's Jaan (Eaten!) La Strada Le Bistrot Nicolas Pasta Brava (Eaten!) Sage (Eaten!) Tatsuya Tetsu (Eaten!) I LIKE Cugini Kuriya Le Figue LivinGreens Nanbantei Ootoya Original Sin Pasta Brava Sage Tetsu Valentino PAST ENTRIES May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009
Labels Australia Buffets Chinese Desserts European French Fusion Hong Kong Indian Italian Japanese Korean Macau Mediterranean Mexican Middle East New Zealand Organic Thai Vegetarian Western
|
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Tonkichi
#04-24, Takashimaya Shopping Centre 6735 7522 Jia Ling brought Bernard, Eric and I to this great Japanese restaurant for lunch. When we arrived, there was already quite a long queue (no reservation on weekends is allowed). We had to wait for about 20 minutes for a table but it was worth it.  Tonkichi specializes in “tonkatsu”—a combination of Japanese ‘ton’ for pork and ‘katsu’ for cutlet.
The Potato Salad ($4.50++) was nice but nothing to shout about.
The Tofu Katsu ($5.50++) which Jia Ling raved about was awesome! The tofu is minced with carrots before being breaded and deep fried. It was soft but still firm.
The deep fried Soft Shell Crab ($7.50++) was very small and a tad too greasy. This is not very value for money.
 All the Rosu Katsu sets come with a bowl of sesame seeds for the sauce. As we grinded the seeds, the aroma started to waft out which was really fragrant.
Then, add the thick sweet sauce to the seeds and dip the rosu in it. Heavenly!
The Prawn and Crab Croquette set ($23++) is somewhat similar. I don’t really like the crab croquette as it has a cheese-like taste. Nevertheless, the batter was very light and not oily at all.
Service was efficient with frequent refilling of our tea. The cabbage and rice are free-flow, which I must say is quite admirable, given the recent price hike of rice. I spotted quite a few Japanese diners—which speaks volume about the authenticity and quality of the food here.  Almost everything on the menu is deep fried which may be a little too unhealthy. But really, when the food is this delicious, health precaution don’t stand a chance. Needless to say, I will definitely come back again for the oishi pork loin. Labels: Japanese 2:35 PM ---------- Thursday, June 26, 2008
Canele Patisserie Chocolaterie #1
#B1-25, Paragon 6733 8893 Finally, I satisfied my craving for a Canele cake today. Hui Yi, Wen Yi and I walked over to Paragon after dinner because they very nicely accommodated my request for a cake. When we reached, it was almost their closing time and so, I was only allowed to takeaway a cake instead of dining there.  Le Royale ($7+) is one of the signature chocolate cakes of Canele. It’s made of 66% dark chocolate mousse layered with hazelnut feullitine, almond success and chocolate genoise with rum. I like this! The texture is very smooth and this is not too sweet.
Service was professional and helpful when I asked for some recommendations.
All the other cakes on display look so good. Although the pastries here may be pricey, I don’t mind paying for the high quality ingredients which make the desserts so yummy. Labels: Desserts 10:28 PM ----------
Cedele by Bakery Depot #3
#03-14 Wheelock Place 6732 8520 Hui Yi, Wen Yi and I came over to Cedele after being told that we had to wait for 30 minutes for a table at ‘Sun with Moon’ just next door.  I ordered the Grilled Vegetable Supreme ($17.90++) which was very tasty. The platter came with grilled Portobello mushrooms, red peppers, pumpkins, mashed potatoes, roast onion and beetroot chutney, and green salad. Everything tasted good and my favourite is the grilled pumpkin slices which are so sweet and fragrant.
 Wen Yi said that his Grilled Aubergine Coriander Chicken Sandwich ($14.80++) was very good. Grilled chicken and aubergine with homemade coriander pesto are sandwiched between walnut bread, together with melted brie, mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato.
Our complementary scoop of Cloud9 ice cream by Cedele—eggless, no transfats and freshly made. There are some interesting flavours like Caramel Sea Salt and Teh Halia but I chose Earl Grey & Fig. It’s quite nice, not too milky and with chunks of figs studded in it. The earl grey flavour could have been stronger though.
Cedele has recently been newly revamped and the café seems to be more spacious now.
Labels: Western 7:56 PM ---------- Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Island Creamery #1
#01-03 Serene Centre 6468 8859 After the quick lunch, Christina and I walked over to this ice cream parlor for some homemade ice cream. All the ice cream here is supposedly healthier as they are made with no preservatives or artificial colourings.  I had the Chocolate Mudpie ($4.80 nett) which has the usual combination of chocolate, cookies and cream, and coffee ice cream with chunks of oreo cookies. I also opted for a scoop of Black Forest ice cream ($2 nett if you add it onto the same place, $2.50 nett for a single scoop in a cup). The Black Forest ice cream really knocked my socks off. This frozen version of the famous German cake is studded with a liberal amount of rum and brandy-soaked cherries. The rum and brandy add depth to the rich, bittersweet chocolate ice cream, and the booze-soaked cherry a little sweetness and tartness.
Christina opted for a Reverso Shakes ($6.50 nett) which tasted very rich and chocolatey—exactly the way she likes it.
During the entire time we were there (which was more than 3 hours), the flow of customers was very consistent. Besides students from the neighbouring schools, working adults and mothers with children also frequent the shop. It’s not difficult to see why. There are interesting local flavours like Pulut Hitam and The Tarik.
The atmosphere is very laid back and casual. Customers can even print their photos and paste them on the walls.
The prices are also cheaper than that elsewhere ($2.50 for single scoop, $4 for double) and the scoop is really generous. Note: Only cash and Visa are accepted. There is no ATM machine in Serene Centre. Labels: Desserts 4:08 PM ----------
Da Paolo Gastronomia #2
#01-01, 501 Bukit Timah Road 6468 7010 Christina drove us to Serene Centre on her motorbike and we didn’t get lost! Since it was already past lunch hour, we opted for a simple takeaway meal at one of my favourite Italian places. My Spinach Lasagna ($8.50 nett) was surprisingly tasty even though it may not look very appetizing.  The staff thoughtfully microwaved it for me and it’s rather good when eaten steaming hot. I like that the oven baked lasagna didn’t fall apart when I dug into it. The spinach fillings are quite generous and the pasta sheets are nicely al dente. This is really value for money because I was full even before I finished two-third of it.
Christina had the Roast Beef and Feta Pizza ($6.50 nett) which was nothing special. Like the lasagna, it was very filling and she couldn’t finish the whole slice.
There are some tables and chairs outside the store for patrons to have a quick meal. I don’t really like dining al fresco style because of the hygiene factor. While we were eating, the dust from the nearby construction site made us finish our lunch faster than usual.
Labels: Italian 3:11 PM ---------- Monday, June 23, 2008
TCC, the coffee connoisseur #3
#01-17, The Atrium @ Orchard 6884 9223 After watching the hilarious ‘Kung Fu Panda’, Hui Yi, Wen Yi and I went to TCC for a late night dessert. The Dark Devotion ($9.90++) was delicious! Topped with vanilla ice cream, summer berries compote and a delicate orange sesame tuile, it’s actually a warm chocolate cake.  See how the chocolate lava oozes out? Sinful but worth it!
The Devil’s Chocolate Cake ($5.80++) was not as devilish-nice as the name implies. The ratio of mousse to cake was not well balanced as there was too much mousse. The cake was also a tad too dry for my liking. A redeeming point is that there is a layer of raspberry compote between the mousse and cake which gives the cake a tangy taste.
Service was not as terrific as that of the Suntec branch. Instead of serving water to us immediately, I needed to request for them after our order was taken. Also, for some unknown reason, the waiter took away Hui Yi’s cutlery.
Labels: Desserts 10:25 PM ----------
Cross Keys Wine Bar & Restaurant
117A Killiney Road 6738 1049 Wen Yi and I discovered this great place hidden on the 2nd level of the shophouses along Killiney Road. As it was still slightly early for dinner, we were the only ones there.  The set dinner ($18 nett) includes a choice of starter and main course. The Vitamin Salad has the usual avocado, grapefruit and orange segments with romaine lettuce, sprinkled with cheese and nuts. It was decent but nothing outstanding.  Wen Yi chose the Cream Dory Mexican Style as his main course. It was served with potatoes and spicy tomato coulis. The dory was fresh and went well with the coulis which was only mildly spicy.  I had the Grilled Cajun Snapper Fillet ($23 nett) which was also accompanied with potatoes and broccoli. The fish was very tasty as it was grilled with Cajun spices and fresh herbs. Another thing I like is that the broccoli was really fresh and green, unlike those wilted ones usually served at western eateries.
I really have to commend this restaurant. There is no GST or service charge here. Yet, the surroundings and ambience are comparable to that of any restaurants in town.
Service was excellent too. The waiter (whom I suspect is the owner) was very warm and friendly. Presentation of the food was beautiful and portions were generous. On top of that, DBS cardholders get 50% off ala carte main course.
Labels: Western 6:10 AM ---------- Saturday, June 14, 2008
TCC, the coffee connoisseur #2
#01-025/027 Suntec City Mall 6339 3297 After dinner, the guys wanted to find someplace for coffee and decided on TCC. By the time we ordered, the kitchen was already taking the last orders for the day. Yang Qian ordered the Potato Wedges with Melted Cheese Dip ($7.90++) to share. The wedges are fried till crispy and served with a spicy cheese dip—which TCC claims to be the ultimate in American-style comfort food.  I had the Ti-Rum-Misu ($6.90++) and I’m glad I did! This Italian favourite is made from TCC’s finest espresso and luscious mascarpone cream. Served with biscotti, fresh strawberries, ground cherry and a chocolate cigar, this dessert looks so elegant and pretty. The portion is worth the price and I like the strong alcoholic taste of the lady fingers. This is really good!  The Choco Tango ($7.50++) is a classic combination of orange and chocolate in an icy cold frappe.
I like the strong orange flavor which is very refreshing.
The Black Sesame Freeze ($7++) is my favorite out of all the drinks I tried. I love all things sesame and this drink tastes so fabulous and healthy.
The Azuki Freeze ($7++) is a nutritious combination of Japanese red beans and soymilk blended to a wholesome goodness.
The Mint-Choc Frappe ($7.50++) is also another classic combination of mint and chocolate.  The Ultimate Hazelnut Frappe ($7.50++) is somewhat a misnomer. It tastes like normal mocha and has no strong nutty hazelnut taste at all.  Service was quite good. When we went in, the manager actually requested a few diners to relocate to another table so that we can be seated at the long booth to accommodate all of us. Maybe it’s due to our large number, they forgot 2 of our orders but the waitress apologized profusely. I think TCC will always an enjoyable place to enjoy relatively good desserts and coffees. So far, I haven’t been disappointed by them. Labels: Desserts 10:18 PM ----------
Spageddies
#02-138F Marina Square Shopping Centre 6337 9156 Today was the Justice class outing and as usual, the guys (Alvin, David, Jeremy, Harry, Kai Sheng, Yong Rui, Ricky, Zhang Rui, Yang Qian and Ho Ting) outnumbered the girls (only Glyn, Yoke Yee and I).  My Salmon with Red Wine-Olive Butter ($18.50++) is quite ordinary. It’s grilled and served with seasonal vegetables and roasted red skin potatoes. What I don’t like is that too much oil was used and the vegetables were not drained properly. See the small scoop of purplish stuff sitting on top of the salmon? At first, I thought it was yam but it turned out to be very salty butter.  The Rotisserie Cacciafore ($18.50++) is tender chicken in a spicy garlic red wine sauce, baked with cheese and served with spaghetti.  The Grilled Chicken Primavera ($16.50++) is tossed with wood-grilled sliced chicken, broccoli, peas, mushrooms and carrots in garlic and olive oil with a hint of chili flakes.  The Pork Chops ($18.50++) are grilled center cut chops and served with roasted potatoes and Italian vegetables like zucchini.  The Crayfish and Tenderloin Combo ($22.90++) is a new item on the menu. There’s sautéed crayfish in spicy neapolitan sauce, topped with mozzarella and grilled tenderloin seasoned with blackened spices.  The Chicken Scaliopini ($17.50++) is just a pasta dish with chicken medallions sautéed in a lemon butter sauce with bacons, tomatoes and mushrooms.  The Fettuccine Quattro Formaggio ($14++) is definitely something I wouldn’t order. The pasta is tossed with a rich and creamy alfredo sauce with 4 types of cheese.  The Lasagna ($13.50++) is layered with ricotta cheese filling, meat sauce and mozzarella.  The Crispy Soft Shell Crab “Arrabiata” ($19.50++) has the black pepper crab sitting on a bed of spaghetti, tossed garlic, olive oil, prosciutto ham, mushrooms and a spicy arrabiata sauce.  Due to our large number, we were seated outside alfresco style. I’m glad that the waiters didn’t forget about our existence and always top up our glasses promptly without us asking for it.  food at this place is decent enough but nothing to write home about. I think more authentic Italian food can be found elsewhere at the same prices. Labels: Italian 7:06 PM ---------- WELCOME! LOCAL FOODIES' BLOGS Gastronomic Ruminations She Bakes & She Cooks Singapore Daily Makan Photo Small Potatpes Make the Steak Look Bigger The Orthorexic Foodie The Skinny Epicurean Timeless Facade Food Glorious Food FOOD FOR THOUGHT | |
