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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
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Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Original Sin #3
Blk 43, #01-62, Holland Village, Chip Bee Gardens 6475 5605 Citibank had a 1-for-1 main course promotion which was a really good deal. Thinking that Elaine is probably the only who would truly enjoy a meal here, I asked her out for lunch today. Both of us had the Bosco Misto ($25++) which is my absolute favourite! Spinach, feta and tofu patties are served with sautéed button mushrooms in a plum sauce and topped with asparagus. Awesome!  Hands down, this is one of my favourite restaurants around. Not only does it uses the freshest ingredients, Original Sin creates the best vegetarian Mediterranean cuisine which is simple yet creative! I've yet to be disappointed by a meal here and doubt I will be in future.Labels: Mediterranean, Vegetarian 12:30 PM ---------- Saturday, February 21, 2009
Tom's Palette #2
#01-25, Shaw Leisure Gallery 6296 5239 After raving to my sis about the ice cream here last night, sis wanted to try it too. So, in less than 24 hours, I'm back to bust my calories on ice cream again! This time, I didn't want anything sweet so I went for Coffee and Chocolate Stout ($2.50 for a small cup). The coffee flavour was really strong! I love the bittersweet coffee bean that was embedded in the ice cream.
Sis chose Rum & Raisins and Granny's Favourite, which was a good combination with strong contrasting flavours.  Eunice, the owner, was really friendly and offered us water when we decided to have our ice cream in the small parlor. When I asked her why did the ice cream melt so quickly, she explained that that was due to the absence of stabiliser as she wanted to use ingredients that were as natural as possible. Service here was really fabulous! Combined that with great ice cream, this is really a winner!Labels: Desserts 4:37 PM ----------
Yogi House
#02-08, Fu Lu Shou Complex 6297 1220 Mom, Sis and I went for an early lunch at this organic cafe recommended by Sis who came here with her colleagues before. Like most organic cafes I've been to, this one also encompasses a "shop" within the cafe where diners can also purchase organic products.  All of us liked the starter, Pumpkin Cake ($3), which was firm yet "bouncy" to the bite. The texture was very smooth and the sweet sauce further enhanced the natural sweetness of the steamed pumpkin. I had the Sushi Roll ($3.50) which seemed to be a common item on the menu of most organic cafes. This version used ume vinegar and syrup to complement the crunchy shredded vegetables. Mock meat floss was sprinkled over the sushi to add a hint of savouriness to the dish. Personally, I like Nutrihub's version more than this.  Sis ordered the Buckwheat Noodles ($6) which she slurped up within minutes.  Mom had the Brown Rice Set ($5.50) which included a bowl of soup. I think this looked pretty normal compared to the rice set served at Nutrihub which was more generous and colourful.  For desserts, we shared the Konnyaku & Bonsoy with Flaxseed ($3) which was basically cubed jelly in soymilk sprinkled with flaxseeds. Sis didn't like the smell of it but surprisingly, the taste was not too bad. I liked the jelly most of all as it was very firm and nice to bite. Another dessert we tried was the Kanten Jelly with Collagen ($2.50). Now, anything with the word "collagen" got us excited as we all know it's very good for our skin. This jelly reminded me of the one Grandpa used to make. Compared to the previous dessert, this was softer and smoother in texture. The owner of the cafe once appeared on a wellness television programme before and she was friendly enough to approach us while we were looking at the organic products. It turned out that she noticed us as I was snapping pictures around the cafe. We began to chat and she even taught us how to make yogurt at home. In the end, I was the proud owner of a bottle of yogurt starter ($30). I can't wait to try it out at home!Labels: Organic, Vegetarian 1:25 PM ---------- Friday, February 20, 2009
Tom's Palette #1
#01-25, Shaw Leisure Gallery 6296 5239 After marketing discussion, I wanted to satisfy my craving for ice cream at the nearby Tom's Palette since Eric had said it was very good. The girls didn't join Zhi Peng and I as they wanted to go home. At first, Mr Sim wanted to go to MOF instead but he was no match for my "whining"! While we were there, the small parlor was quite crowded even though it was almost closing time.  There were many interesting flavours such as Lavender, Wasabi and Lime, and Peanut Butter. The staff was really friendly and explained the different flavours to us. He was also very patient while I deliberated over my choice. The small cup only cost $2.50 for 2 flavours! I settled for Chocolate Stout, which used ABC stout, and the shop's bestseller, Granny's Favourite, which was a mixture of malt and cookie dough. I love this! The bitter sharp alcoholic Chocolate Stout contrasted perfectly with the not too cloyingly sweet Granny's Favourite.  Zhi Peng chose Chocolate and Rum & Raisins. You may think that it's boring to choose Chocolate but sometimes, the simplest classic flavour is the best as it's so hard to find a really good one. Rich, thick and not overly creamy, Tom's Palette's version was really quite top-notch. However, I think that Ice Cream Gallery's version of Rum & Raisins is better. NTU and SMU students get a 10% discount! Fabulous and cheap ice cream... I'm a happy girl today! Labels: Desserts 9:36 PM ----------
Deli Moroccan
30 Bussorah Street 9121 5121 Our marketing group meeting today encompassed an eating session too and I was handed the task of sourcing the place for dinner. Ever since I've tasted middle east cuisine in New Zealand, I've liked it a lot as it uses many different spices and herbs for the fragrance. When googling online, I came across Deli Moroccan accidentally and decided to have a go at it since the reviews were quite good.  We were one of the earliest diners there and the waiter immediately ushered us to a table outdoor as it was al fresco dining. The menu was quite limited and comprised mainly of beef, lamb and chicken dishes. In the end, I chose the Hammoos Musharmai ($4.50) which was whole chickpeas simmered in a tangy tomato base sauce. Initially, I thought that I would probably still be hungry after eating this but the portion turned out to be very generous! Zhi Hong ordered the beef tagine ($7.50) which is one of the cafe's specialties. Zhi Peng kept making fun of the tagine as the mushy form looked like a pile of you-know. I tasted it and it was quite good with a good balance of spices. Both Hui Ling and Wan Ying had the Chicken Kebab with Fries ($7.60). Again, the portion was huge and Wan Ying couldn't finish it. I was surprised that the kebabs were served in chopped pieces rather than skewered. The Moroccan Beef Kebab ($5.60) was also not skewered but served like a piece of thin steak. Zhi Peng said it tasted similar to the army's cookhouse version which I didn't think that's a compliment. The cafe seems to be rather popular as people were waiting for an available table by 7pm. Personally, I liked the food and service but somehow, I sensed that I was the only one who enjoyed dinner. The rest of my group seemed to find it merely average. Nevertheless, I see myself coming back here soon to explore the rest of quaint cafes along the street. It's truly a new experience dining under the stars and with the mosque providing a backdrop to the meal.Labels: Middle East 7:03 PM ---------- Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Nutrihub #2
#B2-25/26, Cuppage Plaza 6738 2746 In less than a week, I came back here again for a meal! This time, it was for lunch with my sis as we had a movie to catch later. The staff was really friendly and kept recommending the menu to use. In the end, I chose to have the Organic Wholemeal Sandwich ($6) over the Gado Gado. I wouldn't say I liked this a lot as the bread was... strange. It had a soggy-like texture and was too soft to my liking as I prefer dense bread. The patty was quite interesting: a little sweet due to the carrots and yet savoury at the same time.  Sis had the Tuesday Special: Pumpkin Brown Rice with Stewed Taukwa, Brinjal & Veggie ($6). I tried the eggplant which was really well-marinated with a very subtle hint of spiciness. To me, the rice looked horrible though as it seemed really moist and sticky. We got a glass of Walnut with Black Sesame Milk ($5) which was freshly blended on the premises. I liked the nutty flavour but it would have been better if the taste of black sesame was stronger. I think the prices are extremely reasonable for a healthy and organic meal. Even though I didn't enjoy the food as much as I did the last time, I would definitely still come back whenever I'm in the area. Labels: Organic, Vegetarian 1:50 PM ---------- Saturday, February 14, 2009
The Ice Cream Gallery
#01-20 Valley Point, 491 River Valley Road 6235 0870 Valentine's Day is always an excuse to indulge, isn't it? After Love Fest, Jialing and Bernard brought me over here for a late night ice cream treat.  Unfortunately, most of the more interesting flavours were sold out by the time we reached as it was almost their closing time. That said, the cafe was still full and we had to wait for a table. After some deliberation, we settled on a triple scoop ($6.50) to share. My favourite is the Rum and Raisin which was fantastic! The plump raisins were soaked with rum and burst with an alcoholic sweetness. I didn't really like the Strawberry Cheesecake and Vanilla with Chocolate Chips flavours though.
Prices are extremely reasonable since big and generous scoops of ice cream were served. The cafe mainly caters to the expatriates staying around the area with its homemade, reduced fat and sugar ice cream. I would definitely come back again to try its more delectable flavours such as Prune and Whisky, Sea Salt Caramel and Strawberry Champagne! Labels: Desserts 10:23 PM ----------
White Dog Cafe
#02-131/132 VivoCity 6376 9970 Even though it's Valentine's Day, the cafe still offered their daily set lunches at the same price. Naturally, this attracted many diners since many other restaurants were only offering overpriced "special" couples' menus. Hui Yi and I needed to wait awhile before a table was available.  We decided to share the set lunch ($11.80++) which came with soup, a choice of main course and either coffee or tea. Since I didn't want the cream of chicken, we topped up another $2++ for cream of mushroom. It was hearty and thick with finely chopped mushrooms. This is definitely not the Campbell soup standard! We also ordered an appetiser to share. The Sauteed Wild Mushrooms ($4++) was average. Chopped garlic and parsley lent a fragrance to the otherwise bland slices of mushrooms. Portion size was good though for the price paid.  The choice of main course was Pan-fried Glazed Salmon with Japanese Sauce. This was served with a side salad and butter rice. This reminded me of something I will see served in a hawker centre rather than a cafe. The salmon was too dry but the skin was crispy enough. I suppose I can't expect too much for the price paid.  We topped up another $3.50++ for a slice of White Dog Specialty Cake. The Hazelnut Crunch was the winner after perusing the list of cakes but was an utter disappointment. I think only hazelnut essence was used to bring out the flavour instead of the real deal. Cheap cornflakes were sprinkled on the cake which was much too creamy.  Hui Yi has been telling me about the Warm Chocolate Cake ($5.80++) for ages and I finally got the chance to try it today. It was good but definitely not the best I've eaten.  When the cake was cut, the hot chocolate lava did flow out but not as much as I would have liked to see. The vanilla ice cream was awful! It was too milky and sweet.  I didn't particularly like the service as it could be better. When I requested for the menu a second time and subsequently for a bottle of water, the waitress didn't look too pleased. I was 99% sure a flicker of annoyance passed over her face before she turned away. The lady at the table next to us was unlucky enough to have milk poured accidentally onto her lap and bag. Food wise, there was nothing that would make me come back again. Labels: Western 1:46 PM ---------- Friday, February 13, 2009
Ministry of Food #3
#B1-40, Suntec City Mall 6338 5523 Since Hui Yi and I were still full from our late lunch and only wanted desserts, Yee Hwee and Yong Huat chose MOF over Crystal Jade for dinner. The Salmon Cutlet Maki ($9.20++) wasn't nice at all. Too much rice was wrapped around the deep fried salmon cutlet which seemed to have more batter than fish.  Yee Hwee ordered the Yasai Nabeyaki Udon ($14.50++) with mixed vegetable tempura. The girl didn't know how to break the egg into the claypot, so it was Yong Huat to the rescue!  The Katsu Toji Set ($18.80++) included deep fried breaded pork cooked in egg sauce and Japanese fried chicken.  Dessert time! Hui Yi and I waited for the both of them to finish their mains before ordering desserts. We shared the Macha Mixed Imo ($6.80++) and topped up another $2.50++ for an additional scope of Hokkaido Black Sesame Gelato. I love the marriage between the hot and deep fried sweet potato and yam, and the cold milk base soft serve and gelato! The red bean paste was also oishi as it was not cloyingly sweet.  The Black Sesame Mixed Imo ($6.80++) was similar but instead of the green tea sauce and red bean paste, the soft serve was drenched in black sesame paste. MOF card members with DBS card get 15% off the total bill which was quite a good deal. I think this is a good place to get good and simple desserts rather than mains. It seemed that MOF is quite popular as the place was packed with people by the time we left.Labels: Japanese 7:32 PM ----------
Ishi Mura
PoMo (former Paradiz Centre), 1 Selegie Road Level 3 After reading that the former Paradiz Centre has undergone a $20 million facelift some time ago, I've been wanting to check out the Japanese-themed foodcourt that is one of the new highlights of the mall. When Xin Hui, Hui Yi and I were there in the late afternoon, the place was completely deserted. The exterior of the foodcourt was nicely decorated and looked pretty much like a Japanese restaurant.  I ordered the Ebi Okonomiyaki ($4.90) without mayonnaise which was neatly presented on a heavy grill pan with seaweed and bonito flakes topped on it. However, after the 1st few bites, I realised that this was the mixed seafood okonomiyaki instead as scallops and octopus were also included. Nevertheless, I rather liked it as there was plenty of cabbage and seafood. The teriyaki sauce was a tad too salty though. Xin Hui ordered the Seafood Omu Rice ($5.90) instead of the pasta. If you want to change the pasta sauce from cream to tomato (or vice versa, depending on the menu), there's an additional charge of $0.50 which I think is ridiculous. I don't understand the logic behind it as it is not as if we are requesting for 2 different sauces, but just a substitute. Hui Yi didn't really enjoy the Salmon Omu Rice ($5.90). I think the proportion of rice to salmon was too skewed as it seemed that too much rice was given. I would say that the food will not blow your mind away but neither will it blow your pocket. With such reasonable prices, this is definitely good value for money as we walked away feeling full to the brim. However, I wonder how long will PoMo last as the human traffic seems really low. With another branch in Northpoint, I don't see myself returning here anytime soon.Labels: Japanese 3:51 PM ---------- Friday, February 6, 2009
NutriHub #1
#B2-25/26 Cuppage Plaza 6738 2746 Mom and I were wandering along Orchard Road and decided to check out the foodcourt at Cuppage. However, it has since closed down and the whole stretch is filled with fancy restaurants. Not wanting to break the bank, we went into the plaza in search of more affordable food. That's when I saw this lone cafe hidden in a corner at the basement.  The owner, Ms Vinitha Ang, was very friendly and warm. She started to introduce her menu to us and I was sold immediately. Though limited, some of the items on the menu looked interesting enough to warrant a try. I went with the 5 Spices Salad Tofu ($6) which was a new item. Firm yet soft slices of tofu were generously given and also well marinated. The Not-Tuna Nori Sushi ($7) was a visual feast for the eyes with so many bright and different colours. Taste-wise, it was fabulous! Organic almond pate and wakame were creatively used to imitate the taste of tuna. Thus the name "not-tuna". Though not exactly successful, the savoury sushi was interesting and different from any others I've came across. Mom had the Mushroom Ramen Soup ($6) as the 8 treasures rice set was already sold out. This had a very flavourful and sweet broth. Again, generous amounts of kombu, mushrooms, corns and other assorted vegetables were given. Food preparation was a tad slow though as mom was already almost done with the ramen by the time the sushi and tofu were served. However, I took this as a good point as it meant that the food was freshly prepared on order. Tasty yet healthy, what more could I ask for? I'm always slightly partial towards organic food as they carry more flavour and are definitely more healthy than the usual cafe and restaurant fare. This is definitely a hidden gem which I will frequent often! Labels: Organic, Vegetarian 7:03 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 | |
