Sakae Sushi @ Hougang Point

The one thing that bugs me is the uneven quality of food served across different branches of the same restaurant. Last Friday, JT, FT and I went down to Sakae Sushi at Hougang Point to celebrate FT's good exam results and I must say, the quality of food there was a far cry from the branch at Compass Point.

The California Temaki looked so appetising in the menu, but when it arrived, I stared down at the sorry roll lying limply on my plate. The avacado was the best part of the dish.

FT wanted something different and ordered the Tempura Udon. The dish was satisfactory but I was surprised by its saltiness. There were only 2 small pieces of chicken in the soup and I was left wandering if the chicken was part of the meal or accidently dropped in.

JT ordered his usual Kaminabe and the quality of ingredients was much lower than those we had at the airport and at Compass Point. The first and very apparent difference we noted was the number of pieces of chicken. The second were the vegetables - there was a large heap of lettuce piled beneath the rest of the ingredients.

Thankfully, when my Tempura Moriawase came, it was hot and crispy.

Still, the $50 I spent on the meal could have better been spent elsewhere.

Sakae Sushi
Hougang Point

House of Lobster

The fantastic thing about living in Singapore is that you can find the most interesting food in the most unexpected places. Today, JT had a performance at ITE Simei and it gave me the perfect excuse to bring Mum, Uncle and FT to have lunch at the House of Lobster located right smack in the Business Block. Now, there have been numerous reviews about the lobster porridge and the lobster mee sua. But paying over $60 for what basically is a commonplace dish is just not my cup of tea.

First, the all important soup. According to finicky eater JT, it's a non-negotiable must have for all Chinese meals. (And he only takes clear soups). After studying the menu, we ordered the beancurd and chicken soup ($8).

It was a light and tasty broth with servings of fish maw, chicken slices, mushrooms, carrots, spring onions, ginger and beancurds. The mix of ingredients yielded a sweet tasting soup that whetted our appetites for the meal ahead.

 Next came the Hokkien Fried Rice ($8) which was akin to Mui Fun with rich brown gravy. It was well received by FT and JT who each took three large servings. Diced prawns, chicken, mushrooms, carrots and cucumbers made this a richly textured dish.

Look at how rich and inviting the rice looks in the serving bowl. Chinese risotto.

The Venison in XO sauce ($18) was highly recommended in food forums so I ordered it. Unfortunately, it was quite ordinary and tasted more like the usual black pepper version.

The Mongolian Chicken was much more interesting.Although listed under the snack menu, 5 juicy drumlettes cost only $5.80. Coated with an exotic mix of spices and fried, each bite seemed to take me away to a far flung desert land.

The arrival of the prawn and mango salad ($9.80) was a light and zesty break to an otherwise meaty menu. The prawns were large and the mango slices had the right level of tanginess.

We were so full by the time the last dish arrived - Prawn Bee Hoon ($8). The servings were much larger that we expected. The prawns were large and succulent and the Bee Hoon covered with a thick, eggy gravy.

Quite a satisfying meal and the service was very attentive. Next time though, I would just order the Fried Rice and a range of dishes from the snack menu. The 'snacks' are much more interesting that the main dishes and are much better value for money.

House of Lobster
ITE Simei
Business Block

Korean Soups @ Kovan

We're back at Heartland Mall to have dinner at Kobayashi Restaurant. It's where JT and FT go to have their Korean fix. It's casual dining cafe where you place your order at the cashier before collecting your cutlery and drinks. Food is served to your table and service is prompt. Prices are reasonable (mainly between $6 - $10) and the dishes are pretty decent.

First the rice came.

JT and FT started tucking in immediately. "Aren't you going to wait for the soup?" I asked, but my question was met only with silence as the two of them concentrated on the rice.

Finally, the soups came, piping hot and served in cast iron mini-works.

I ordered the ginseng chicken soup (Sam Gye Tang) and mixed meat and seafood broth (Yosen Kinoko) for us to share.The ginseng chicken soup was fragrant and the chicken was tender. A rather large portion of breast meat and wing was served. For $7.80, the soup and rice combi was quite value for money. It's a decidedly potent soup with a strong medicinal aftertaste. It's also JT's favourite soup and he attacked it with gusto.

Next came the mix meat broth soup with pork ribs, prawns, chicken and squid. A good dish for those who can't decide what they want.

This broth had a much milder taste but was still rich in flavour. The pork ribs were expecially tender and the squid rings added a nice seafood tang to the broth. This was FT's preferred dish and she finished the soup, right to the very last drop.

For $7.80, the mixed broth came with rice and a side dish of battered mushrooms. The batter was light, crunchy and surprisingly tasty. Too bad there were only a couple of small mushrooms. I could have eaten a lot more.

All in all, quite a satisfying meal.

Kopitiam @ Hougang Festival Market

The cost of a simple meal seems to be skyrocketing! Today, a no-fuss lunch for 4 at the food court set us back by over $20.

FT had a western food craving and ordered some Fish and Chips ($6.90). Pretty expensive, considering that the average price for this is about $5.50. Thakfully, the serving was rather generous, with a crispy slab of fried fish fillet, baked beans, a fried egg and some fries.

Not too bad a dish, though the fish was a little dry. The salad was pathetic, just a few leaves of lettuce. They should have just given a scoop of coleslaw.

Afer last night's dinner I ordered some Yong Tau Foo soup. Boring, but I wanted something light to eat. ($3 for min 5 pieces). Soup was tasty and I selected mainly vegetables for my meal.

JT ordered a plate of his usual chicken rice. For $3.50, the stall gave quite a generous serving. The hawkers are friendly and are accommodating to special orders too. I noticed a fleshy piece of chicken butt on JT's plate but had no heart to point it out to him. Otherwise, the entire dish would have gone to waste. PT ordered some rice dish that came in a small mini wok. Unfortunately, as I had gone to collect the fish and chips, the 2 hungry chaps went for the food  before I had a chance to take any pictures.

Still feeling peckish, PT ordered some fried dumplings (jiao zi) ($4 for 8 pieces). This is one dish I enjoy, not so much because of the dumpling itself, but rather the mix of ginger, vinegar and dumpling yields a zesty burst of flavour that just leaves you wanting for more.

The Jiao Zi filing was tasty and moist, but the skin was a little too thick. I also prefer a more chewy wrapping rather than the crispy, fried one that we had.

Still can't get my macro shots right...need more practice (and more excuses to eat!)

D&D @ Royal Plaza on Scotts

I just had a crazy D&D at Royal Plaza on Scotts Hotel. The theme was 'Retro Night' and some of my colleagues could have stopped traffic with their va-va-voom getups.

You know how much foodies rave about the buffet at Cafe Carousel. Being a fan of the cafe myself, I was quite looking forward to the buffet dinner. At $88 per pax, my expectations were running high. However, truth be told, the food was so-so. Nothing near the spread or quality of the buffet at the first floor cafe. At about $45 per pax at Cafe Carousel, it was much better value for money.

As usual, I went for the cold cuts for my first round.

 The Jelly Fish and Mango Salad was surprisingly tasty. It was tangy and carried a spicy zing. The crisp semi-ripe mango slices complemented the chewy strands of jelly fish. The Brie Cheese, Aubergine and Tomatoes drizzed in Olive Oil was also one of my preferred dishes. Too bad there was no camembert cheese.  Surprisingly, the dish that I really enjoyed was the salad with pine nuts. There was a smoky aftertaste to the nuts which was absolutely delightlful.

On the left of the plate are the Seared Tuna Slices and Smoked Salmon, both of which were pretty average.

The hot trays were rather limited and held no surprises. Give the fantastic range at Carousel, I felt that the hotel could have provided a more interesting menu. Here's what I took for my second round. Detoured back to the appetizer table for more jelly fish, pine nuts and cheese.

The tomato-based stewed beef was dry and tough. I took one mouthful and left the rest on the plate.

The Morrocan Lamb was better, but still rather sweet for my liking.

Dessert was the usual fare: Fruits, eclairs, cakes. The two items that stood out were the creme brulee and the coconut panna cotta. The fruit crepe with vanilla sauce was not bad too.

Average dinner, but nonetheless a highly enjoyable one due to the lively (and rowdy) company.

Sushi @ Compass Point

I was running some errands in Compass Point when I decided to pop into Cold Storage to buy some sushi from the counter at the entrance. Compared to the other buy-and-run sushi counters, this one has a pretty decent range, offering maki rolls, sushi, salad bowls, bento sets and hand rolls. Feeling hungry, I bought a pre-packed set for $5.50.

A salty dose of Ebiko Sushi

Jelly Fish Sushi

Ebi Sushi

Tako Sushi

Unfortunately, the sushi wasn't as fresh as it looked. I supposed the pre-packed box had been displayed for quite some time. The rice was gooey as the individual grains seemed to have turned slightly mushy. I should have gone for the hand rolls or the individually packed items.

Sushi Counter outside Cold Storage
Compass Point
Sengkang

Muah Chee Fantasy

I finally tasted the much heralded Muah Chee at Blk 682 in Hougang. After reading so many rave reviews from foodies in various food forums, PT finally went down after work to buy 2 packets. There was a long queue, but the wait was worth it.

Each piece of Muah Chee is a melt-in-your-mouth soft globe of glutinous flour. The peanuts and sugar had been crushed to a fine sand-like texture and generously coated around each muah chee ball. What's more, the Muah Chee is so fragrant, a heady mix for the senses.

Each piece is painstakingly made by the owner. He pulls a small globe of muah chee from a vat, dips it in fried onion oil  (hence the fragrance) and then rolls it in the peanut sugar mixture. Even after the ride home, the muah chee remained soft, almost velvety in texture. For $2 a box, it's a steal. The portion is about double the size one gets at the pasar malam.
  
 

Definitely the best Muah Chee I've ever eaten.

Famous Muah Chee
Blk 682, Hougang Ave 8
Meng Kiat Eating House

Sakura @ Downtown East

Went to Sakura Restaurant at Downtown East with my colleagues today for a lunch treat by Mrs AJL. It was a good choice - varied selection of food, old favourites such as baked oysters and prawn fritters, and the crowd favourite - the ordered hot dishes such as chicken hotplate, saba fish, ginseng chicken soup.

I've always enjoyed eating at Sakura because of its range of comfort and familiar food. It may not be as high end as Cafe Bic or the Carousel, but hey, sometimes you just want the old favourites. Personally, I get a kick out of clipping my numbered peg onto the thin metal poles, waiting in pleasant anticipation for the food to arrive and finally giving a little 'Oooo' when the dish is finally served.

I began with several cuts from the cold trays but was sidetracked by the grill - hence the slightly messy plate for the first round.

The Ikura Sushi was not bad. Should have taken more.

It was this time when my Grilled Unagi came. Sweet and delectable.

I went for the hot trays for my second round.

The black pepper fish was surprisingly good. Unlike the usual black pepper sauce, this was light and sweet. Quite appetising, actually.

Deep fried salmon skin. Sinful and artery clogging. Worth every crunchy bite.

Another happy serving - Seafood Miso Soup. There's prawn, scallop and squid floating in the miso broth.

Wandered of for some Soba. I couldn't find the spring onions though.

At this point my beef came. See what I mean by these little delightful additions to your meal?

Good food. Great makan kakis.

Sakura Restaurant
Downtown East
About $21 per pax

Cosmo Cafe @ Kovan

It was one of those days where no one could agree on what to eat. FT wanted western, JT wanted rice and as for myself, I was just tired of the usual fare. We ended up in Heartland Mall at Kovan and decided to have dinner at Cosmo Café.

Prices are reasonable, about $5 - $10 for most of the dishes. Service is friendly and efficient. It’s a place to go when you don’t know what to eat. There's something for everyone in the menu: fried rice, noodles, finger food, toasts, spaghetti, surf and turf etc. Food is decent as long as one is not too fussy.

JT ordered a plate of Mui Fan which was surprisingly was quite appetizing. Just imagine Hor Fan with rice instead of kway teow. There were chicken chunks, crabsticks and prawns.

FT ordered the chicken baked rice. Wanted to take a picture but FT was too quick to the draw.

I mulled over the menu for quite some time before deciding on something light – mushroom omelette. It came with fries and coleslaw. Boring choice but I felt rather full. It was a light and savoury meal. I gave the coleslaw a miss though. It had a tangy dressing instead of my preferred creamy base. The cabbage was also shredded too coarsely for my liking, giving it too raw a taste.

Cafe Cosmo
Heatland Mall

Otak @ Kovan

I was shopping at Heartland Mall in Kovan when I walked past a makeshift stall on the first floor selling otak in man tous. I immediately had an otak craving which I just could not shake off. After running my errands, I made a beeline fpr the otak stall and ordered 2 man tous for lunch (@ $1.50).


Very much like those kong ba paos. But instead of fatty pork you had a slab of otak. Not bad, but I felt that the otak could be spicier to bring out the sweetness of the man tou. More veg would be good too.

PT had also bought several sticks of otak from Lee Wee and Brothers stall located in the coffee shop next to Heartland Mall.


Yummy. Actually, if this otak could be placed with the man tou, it would be the ideal combination

Durians!

The durians are back! Hooray! They are a living testimony that true beauty lies within. Who would have thought that such ugly prickly husks could yield such wonderful treasures?

I love the pungent aroma of the durian. Doesn't it immediately set your taste buds tingling? And the creamy yellow flesh deserves to be savoured slowly so that every gratifying bite is made to last as long as possible.

Who can possibly forget the burst of sweet richness and the lingering hint of bitterness that comes with every bite? Over the past 2 days, PT and I had chomped through 2 boxes of durians. Just one more box left..sigh…

Here are some of my favourite durian varieties.

Mao Shan Wang (Cat Mountain King)

Once you eat this, you’ll never want to eat another variety of durian again. Generous mounds of flesh surround small seeds. This durian gives a slightly bitter taste at the first bite which slowly yields to a complex buttery sweetness that leaves you wanting for more.

D24

The recent bountiful harvests of durians mean that the D24 variety can know be gotten at extremely competitive prices. Its succulent yellow flesh is rich and creamy and many durian lovers swear by its signature bittersweet taste.

XO

From Food Fiend

The XO durian has a very strong smell and its taste is more pungent than sweet, with undertones of cognac. It's less fleshy, wetter and the seeds are bigger. But I still remember the first bite I had of this durian and the amazement I felt when the alcoholic flavours pemeated through my mouth

Hong Xia (Red Prawn)

It's been a long time since I had this durian with its characteristic reddish flesh. The pulps are smaller than the D24 and Mao Shan Wang, but this durian comes with a unique gassy taste that needs to be acquired.