Trust me..this breakfast does not do the buffet line justice
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Malaysia Escapade - Breakfast @ Concorde Shah Alam
There was a good variety of dishes at the breakfast buffet - noodles, dim sum, porridge, cold cuts, an egg station, hot chinese dishes and local malay fare. But, I ate a highly restricted meal. With long hours in the coach ahead of me, woe be it should I suddenly need the washroom.
Trust me..this breakfast does not do the buffet line justice
Trust me..this breakfast does not do the buffet line justice
Malaysia Escapade - Turf Club
Dinner was in a Chinese Retaurant at the Turf Club. Racing season must have been over as we were the only souls there.
When the dishes came, it was deja vu - same food, same taste...nothing to shout about.
The usual soup. Luckily it was a clear Seaweed and Egg Drop Soup.
The rest of the dishes were more or less the same as lunch..so here's the spread. Thank goodness for the Crispy Skin Chicken. It was a life saver.
Ohhhh....how I long for some Bak Kut Teh, Mee Goreng or Nasi Lemak.
When the dishes came, it was deja vu - same food, same taste...nothing to shout about.
The usual soup. Luckily it was a clear Seaweed and Egg Drop Soup.
The rest of the dishes were more or less the same as lunch..so here's the spread. Thank goodness for the Crispy Skin Chicken. It was a life saver.
Ohhhh....how I long for some Bak Kut Teh, Mee Goreng or Nasi Lemak.
Malaysia Escapade - Lotus @ KLCC
Just 2 hours after lunch at Putrajaya and my stomach was grumbling. All that talk about teh tarik had given me a craving for a glass of piping hot fragrant tea. The guide recommended a popular local hangout called Lotus, just a stone's throw away from KLCC.
I ordered a cup of Teh Halia and it did not disappoint. Hot, bubbly and thick, the scent of the ginger infused tea wafted across the table.
The crunchy, almost biscuit-like, pastry opened up to a scoop of chocolate ice-cream. The combination of savoury shell and sweet ice-cream was truly a delight for the tastebuds.
A highly satisfying detour ; )
I ordered a cup of Teh Halia and it did not disappoint. Hot, bubbly and thick, the scent of the ginger infused tea wafted across the table.
My snack came next..a curious little thing. Is it a curry puff? Nope. It's Fried Ice Cream.
The crunchy, almost biscuit-like, pastry opened up to a scoop of chocolate ice-cream. The combination of savoury shell and sweet ice-cream was truly a delight for the tastebuds.
A highly satisfying detour ; )
Malaysian Escapade - Putrajaya Taman Botanasi
Having a meal in Malaysia brings back a sense of rustic nostalgia, to a time less stressful and much less complicated. As I sat looking at the placid waters of the lake that meanders through Putrajaya, it was easy to imagine the stress and worries flowing away as well.
The day was hot and humid. With KL being nestled within a valley, there was hardly any wind as the heat of the sun bore down on us. The ice cold water served immediately never looked so good.
Then the perennial favourite, Egg Fu-Yong. Mmmm...light and fluffy
A string of vegetable dishes came next...a slight waste of calories, but nonetheless necessary for the daily fibre intake. Standard fare - taukwa with mushrooms, cabbage and mixed veggies.
Finally, the meat came. The lemon chicken was crispy and juicy and the lemon sauce was a good balance of sweet and sour.
The sweet and sour fish fillet was average, especially after the lemon chicken.
An interesting end to the meal - Kung Pao Sotong. Even though I like eating squid (it is scientifically proven that squid is good for the complexion) the taste of squid and spicy sweet sauce was just too jarring for me.
It had been a long journey and we were all tired and hungry. The food disappeared as fast as it arrived.
The day was hot and humid. With KL being nestled within a valley, there was hardly any wind as the heat of the sun bore down on us. The ice cold water served immediately never looked so good.
The food was simple but tasty (also largely due to the high salt content in each dish). Quite a spread for RM$ 20 per pax.
First to arrive was a starchy mushroom soup.
A string of vegetable dishes came next...a slight waste of calories, but nonetheless necessary for the daily fibre intake. Standard fare - taukwa with mushrooms, cabbage and mixed veggies.
Finally, the meat came. The lemon chicken was crispy and juicy and the lemon sauce was a good balance of sweet and sour.
The sweet and sour fish fillet was average, especially after the lemon chicken.
An interesting end to the meal - Kung Pao Sotong. Even though I like eating squid (it is scientifically proven that squid is good for the complexion) the taste of squid and spicy sweet sauce was just too jarring for me.
It had been a long journey and we were all tired and hungry. The food disappeared as fast as it arrived.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Porridge at Kang Kar Mall
After reading the Sunday Times article about Kang Kar Mall, I decided to drop by after work for a bite. The Kopitiam coffee shop had been featured in the newspaper article and the moment I read about the frog's legs in thick gravy, my decision was made. I had been craving for frog's leg porridge for some time after seeing Sharon Au raving about it on TV.
It had been a dreary and overcast day and porridge seemed to be the perfect comfort food. The pictures around the stall looked impressive and the stall had apparently won an award for its dishes. Unfortunately, the frog's leg in gravy came with rice. The legs with the porridge were the pale and pasty version. In the end, I ordered the frog's legs, omitted the rice, and ordered a bowl of shredded chicken and scallop porridge.
The legs came bubbling hot on the hot plate. But it wasn't the spicy kung pao version that I wanted. Instead, the gravy tasted very much like the one found in beef cooked in ginger. Still, it wasn't too bad.
The chicken porridge was tasty. It was piping hot with shredded chicken slices and small brown scallops. It went well wth the frog legs.
Long queues formed quicky at the porridge stall so going before 630pm is a wise move.
It had been a dreary and overcast day and porridge seemed to be the perfect comfort food. The pictures around the stall looked impressive and the stall had apparently won an award for its dishes. Unfortunately, the frog's leg in gravy came with rice. The legs with the porridge were the pale and pasty version. In the end, I ordered the frog's legs, omitted the rice, and ordered a bowl of shredded chicken and scallop porridge.
The legs came bubbling hot on the hot plate. But it wasn't the spicy kung pao version that I wanted. Instead, the gravy tasted very much like the one found in beef cooked in ginger. Still, it wasn't too bad.
The chicken porridge was tasty. It was piping hot with shredded chicken slices and small brown scallops. It went well wth the frog legs.
Long queues formed quicky at the porridge stall so going before 630pm is a wise move.
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Mouth Restaurant @ Toa Payoh Safra
One of the best things about Chinese food is its eclectic variety. There is a mind boggling array of restaurants in Singapore to choose from - Cantonese, Hakka, Hokkien, Teochew, Sichuan, etc - and each dialect group presents its own unique signature taste and dishes which are a feast for the palate. Coupled with the creativity of the chef, the imaginative interpretations of familiar dishes can yield wonderful gastronomical innovations.
The Mouth Restaurant at Safra Toa Payoh is one such restaurant that chooses to surprise and delight its customers with its reinvention of traditional Cantonese fare. PT, JT, FT and I made an unexpected detour there for lunch. We had originally planned to try the famous chicken rice balls at Toa Payoh Lorong 1, but the soaring temperatures sent us scuttling for a cooler spot instead.
DBS is currently having a one-for-one set menu promotion at Mouth. At $49.80 and with the quality and range of dishes provided, it comes highly recommended as a great value for money meal. The set meal began with a bowl of thick and tasty chicken soup which was full of chicken, black fungus and mushrooms. It came with a side of crunchy crackers that added an addictive texture when added to the soup. Surprisingly, JT took to the soup immediately, polishing off two bowls.
The dimsum appetizers comprised the usual siew mai, ha kao and spring roll. But take the first bite and you find out quickly enough that this is no ordinary coffee shop fare. FT finished both the siew mais even before I noticed it.
PT's favourite dish, the Cui Pi Ji, was next to arrive ($13 for half a chicken). This was an additional item we ordered and a must have for PT. Not too bad, but I found the chicken a tad too dry. The best I've tried so far is the one at Hua Ting at Ochard Hotel.
We were pleasantly surprised with the Fish in Cream Sauce. Served over a bowl of dry ice, the rich cream sauce was a perfect balance to the lightly salted fish.
PT was just wondering if the set came with any rice or noodles when the next dish arrived. It was called Chicken with Pasta and to our surprise, we realised that it was carrot cake generously covered with a savoury mushrooms and chicken pasta sauce. The melt-in-your-mouth carrot cake with its fried, crunchy outer skin was such a innovative substitute to the usual carbo fillers.
By this time, we were stuffed, but the last dish and desserts have yet to arrive. The final main dish was the Duck Wrap. It was just too heavy for me, espcially with the thick sauce that coated the inside of each wrap.
Dessert was Yam Ice-cream with Gula Melaka Sauce. Wonderful! The gula melaka gave a delightful kick to the lemak ice-cream. Despite commenting repeatedly how full he was, PT still went for his dessert with gusto.
I couldn't resist ordering the Durian Glutinous Rice Balls ($4). And was I glad I did! The soft skin yielded a rich filling of cold, rich-tasting durian. Fantastic!
A highly satisfying lunch! Reservations are highly recommended. By 1230, the restaurant was packed with diners.
Mouth Restaurant
Safra Toa Payoh
The Mouth Restaurant at Safra Toa Payoh is one such restaurant that chooses to surprise and delight its customers with its reinvention of traditional Cantonese fare. PT, JT, FT and I made an unexpected detour there for lunch. We had originally planned to try the famous chicken rice balls at Toa Payoh Lorong 1, but the soaring temperatures sent us scuttling for a cooler spot instead.
DBS is currently having a one-for-one set menu promotion at Mouth. At $49.80 and with the quality and range of dishes provided, it comes highly recommended as a great value for money meal. The set meal began with a bowl of thick and tasty chicken soup which was full of chicken, black fungus and mushrooms. It came with a side of crunchy crackers that added an addictive texture when added to the soup. Surprisingly, JT took to the soup immediately, polishing off two bowls.
The dimsum appetizers comprised the usual siew mai, ha kao and spring roll. But take the first bite and you find out quickly enough that this is no ordinary coffee shop fare. FT finished both the siew mais even before I noticed it.
PT's favourite dish, the Cui Pi Ji, was next to arrive ($13 for half a chicken). This was an additional item we ordered and a must have for PT. Not too bad, but I found the chicken a tad too dry. The best I've tried so far is the one at Hua Ting at Ochard Hotel.
We were pleasantly surprised with the Fish in Cream Sauce. Served over a bowl of dry ice, the rich cream sauce was a perfect balance to the lightly salted fish.
PT was just wondering if the set came with any rice or noodles when the next dish arrived. It was called Chicken with Pasta and to our surprise, we realised that it was carrot cake generously covered with a savoury mushrooms and chicken pasta sauce. The melt-in-your-mouth carrot cake with its fried, crunchy outer skin was such a innovative substitute to the usual carbo fillers.
By this time, we were stuffed, but the last dish and desserts have yet to arrive. The final main dish was the Duck Wrap. It was just too heavy for me, espcially with the thick sauce that coated the inside of each wrap.
Dessert was Yam Ice-cream with Gula Melaka Sauce. Wonderful! The gula melaka gave a delightful kick to the lemak ice-cream. Despite commenting repeatedly how full he was, PT still went for his dessert with gusto.
I couldn't resist ordering the Durian Glutinous Rice Balls ($4). And was I glad I did! The soft skin yielded a rich filling of cold, rich-tasting durian. Fantastic!
A highly satisfying lunch! Reservations are highly recommended. By 1230, the restaurant was packed with diners.
Mouth Restaurant
Safra Toa Payoh
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
18 Chefs
I met up with JO and W for a very late lunch today at 18 Chefs. It was a good break from work and a wonderful opportunity to catch up with JO. After reading about 18 Chefs in one of the famous food blogs, I suggested taking a drive down to Eastpoint mall to check it out.
18 Chefs is a casual dining cafe that specialises in baked rice and pasta dishes. The first thing that struck me was that the customers were mainly nurses (from the nearby Changi Hospital) and students (from the nearby secondary schools). Not surprisingly, there were posters promoting discounted meals to these 2 groups.
The menu had been printed on the table and was part of its design. To order, you tick your choices on a piece of paper and then proceed to the cashier to make payment. In terms of variety, the menu is rather limited with the usual favourites. The highlight was the flexibility given to diners to create their own baked dish by choosing the sauces and ingredients. Though the waiters were relatively young, service was prompt and friendly. Best of all, there was a free flow of condiments and ice cold water placed at the service counter where we could just help ourselves.
We ordered some garlic bread, a salad and some calamari and onion rings. Simple fare but appetising nonetheless.
The calamari rings came coated with a light crunchy batter.
JO ordered some home made ice lemon tea which arrived in an interesting glass mug. I was tempted but decided on a diet coke instead. I try not to waste calories on sugared drinks, unless of course it's booze.
My dish was the first to arrive - Seafood Aglio Olio. The spaghetti (with squid, prawns and mussels) was generously coated with garlic, herbs and olive oil. Personally I much prefer pastas with a tomato or olive oil base. They are light, zesty and do not overwhelm the delicate taste of the rest of the ingredients.
When JO's Seafood Marinara came, I realised that she had ordered a tomato-based version of mine. It looked extremely tempting...should have asked her for a bite...rats.
W ordered one of the specials of the day, Salmon with Lemon Butter Sauce, which came with corn soup and ice-cream. The grilled salmon lay temptingly on the rich sauce with a bed of vegetables by the side.
The pasta dishes range from $7+ to $13. Sides and salads cost between $3 to $7 and drinks will set you back from $1+. Best of all, there's a 25% discount on the meal on weekdays between 3pm to 5pm.
18 Chefs
Eastpoint Mall
Simei
18 Chefs is a casual dining cafe that specialises in baked rice and pasta dishes. The first thing that struck me was that the customers were mainly nurses (from the nearby Changi Hospital) and students (from the nearby secondary schools). Not surprisingly, there were posters promoting discounted meals to these 2 groups.
The menu had been printed on the table and was part of its design. To order, you tick your choices on a piece of paper and then proceed to the cashier to make payment. In terms of variety, the menu is rather limited with the usual favourites. The highlight was the flexibility given to diners to create their own baked dish by choosing the sauces and ingredients. Though the waiters were relatively young, service was prompt and friendly. Best of all, there was a free flow of condiments and ice cold water placed at the service counter where we could just help ourselves.
We ordered some garlic bread, a salad and some calamari and onion rings. Simple fare but appetising nonetheless.
The calamari rings came coated with a light crunchy batter.
JO ordered some home made ice lemon tea which arrived in an interesting glass mug. I was tempted but decided on a diet coke instead. I try not to waste calories on sugared drinks, unless of course it's booze.
My dish was the first to arrive - Seafood Aglio Olio. The spaghetti (with squid, prawns and mussels) was generously coated with garlic, herbs and olive oil. Personally I much prefer pastas with a tomato or olive oil base. They are light, zesty and do not overwhelm the delicate taste of the rest of the ingredients.
When JO's Seafood Marinara came, I realised that she had ordered a tomato-based version of mine. It looked extremely tempting...should have asked her for a bite...rats.
W ordered one of the specials of the day, Salmon with Lemon Butter Sauce, which came with corn soup and ice-cream. The grilled salmon lay temptingly on the rich sauce with a bed of vegetables by the side.
The pasta dishes range from $7+ to $13. Sides and salads cost between $3 to $7 and drinks will set you back from $1+. Best of all, there's a 25% discount on the meal on weekdays between 3pm to 5pm.
18 Chefs
Eastpoint Mall
Simei
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