Battling the BUG

It’s been 3 days on to the 4th, and I am still not recovered. Thankfully my fever subsided yesterday but I am still coughing and blowing. Sorry I am using this space to whine but I’ve pretty much been cooped up at home for the last couple of days and all I have been doing is pretty much eat and sleep. That’s great considering I think I needed the recharge after a hectic and stressful first few months of the year at work, but hibernating sick is not as rejuvenating as hibernating at will, when one feels well.

I travel to Taipei quite a bit for work, and so I decided to share with you some of my yummy food finds. I know I kept the business cards of these places somewhere but I can’t seem to find them now. Still, I will do my best in giving you the deets so that you may check them out on your own.

In general, Taipei is significantly cheaper when it comes to taking cabs. As such, I wouldn’t really recommend taking the subway as cabs are readily available in Taipei and they cost about a third of Singapore’s cab prices. Food is generally cheaper here too especially quality food. The Japanese food you get in Taipei is of excellent quality yet the same in Singapore would probably cost you twice as much. Even their steaks are done to perfection at about two-thirds of the price in CUT or Mortens. So here goes:

No. 168 Prime Steak @ Grand Victoria Hotel

The steak here is done to perfection. Nicely charred on the outside yet raw and tender on the inside. I like it how they have the entire steak nicely cut for you into strips, making it much more palatable and the colour just whets your appetite. The meat is juicy and it is done beautifully, not too dry and with just the right amount of fat to give it that extra umph. The lobster is also a star on its own. I was pleasantly surprised by the generous portion served given the price of the set meal. The lobster was fresh, sweet and very tasty.

When visiting such restaurants in Taipei, I strongly recommend ordering the set meals instead of ala carte as they are often value-for-money and you get to try a wide variety of dishes for a very reasonable price.

TEL: 02-8502-0007

FAX: 02-6602-5165

Address: 10466 台北市中山區敬業四路168號
No.168, Jingye 4th Rd., Taipei, 10466, Taiwan

URL: http://www.grandvictoria.com.tw

Danny & Company

Said to be the sister restaurant of Prime Steakhouse, Danny & Company offers a similar perfection in their steaks. Their set menus are also well thought-out and every dish is done with meticulous effort and attention to detail. The layout at Danny is very simple, cosy yet clearly more up market. The staff are very attentive and accommodating. I was extremely satisfied with my meal except for the escargots which were part of my set. The escargots were hard and rubbery and didnt’ seem very fresh. I must say I was disappointed as I am an escargot fan and was delighted when I saw escargots were offered as part of my set. The staff were very apologetic and replaced my escargots with another dish without any form of contesting. Personally, I was very impressed by the service and how they sought to please me first rather than question my complaint as some restaurants do.

If you are a steak lover, I highly recommend Danny & Company.

http://dannyandcompany.com

Gan Bei/ Kanpai Japanese BBQ

This place reminds me a bit of Gyu Kaku and Chang’s Korean BBQ @ Dempsey. I love the ambience because every table is in a little private room, which makes a great place for catching up with friends and just chilling. Toasting sakae whilst enjoying a casual meal of Japanese BBQ. I love the way the meat is being displayed and in a similar style  to  Mortons and CUT, the chef comes out with an entire slab of meat for you to take a look before cutting a portion for you. The ventilation of the restaurant is key and I must say despite all the little small “rooms”, the place is not smokey or greasy. In fact, you don’t inherit and BBQ smell after your meal. Love it.

1, Lane 198, XinYi Rd, Sec 2
(02) 2394-9388
Hours:Mon-Thu 5 pm-1 am; Fri & Sat 5 pm-3 am
Credit cards accepted. 10% service charge.
www.kanpai.com.tw

There a few more good ones but I will save those for another time. Feeling drowsy after my meds. :S

A few of you have asked me why I haven’t blogged in so long, and yes, I know I am behind in my entries. This year has been a crazy year since the beginning in terms of work for me, not to mention my weekends burnt by the countless weddings, so I haven’t really found the time. But I will try my best to update more regularly.

Some of you have asked me to not just write about food but also some beauty/fashion related entries. Frankly, I am no guru. My beauty consultant is S. She is the one who picks up new products and encourages me to try this and that. Recently, perhaps it is due to the coming of age, my complexion has been horrendous. There are so many possible factors that I can’t quite pin-point the cause. The fact that I am getting older definitely plays a part in terms of how my body and skin react to certain things, and on top of that my sheer laziness at make up removal. Sometimes I am just so tired that I plop into bed without removing my make up resulting in clogged pores and just bad skin. So my #1 tip is to REMOVE  YOUR MAKE UP no matter how tired you are! I have tried cleansing wipes from The Face Shop and it’s not bad, but somehow doesn’t quite feel very clean. Recently, a friend introduced me to Bifesta (Cleansing Express).

It’s a non-rinse make up remover so all I need to do is just pump it onto my cotton pad and wipe my face. I generally don’t use much make up so this works very well for me. It’s non-oil based and I chose the SEBUM range because I have relatively oily skin. I don’t use foundation and I don’t put on eye shadow or mascara so I am not sure if the effect will be as good when you have heavier make up on. But my friend who applies more make up swears by it. Typically, all I need are 2 cotton pads and I am done. It doesn’t feel sticky but rather you feel clean and light after using it. You may top it off by using your facial cleanser again but for me, I use this when I am really lazy and tired so I pretty much just leave it. For the busy working girl, this is for you!

Fancl make up remover, something I have been using for a long time. It’s very effective for removing thick make up and although it is oil based, it is very mild.

Speaking of which, have you ever wondered why your eye make up smudges after a couple of hours? Well for those of you who have oily skin, your eye area produces oil during the day and because waterproof makeup typically removes with oil-based removers, the oil produced by your eyes actually dissolves the make up resulting in smudges. So if you have oily eyes, don’t go for waterproof make up but just regular ones.

Time for my nap. Watch this space for more reviews SOON (I hope)! Have a great weekend!

SHINJI – BEST JAPANESE RESTAURANT IN SINGAPORE

When I was first introduced to Shinji at the Raffles Hotel, I was one of those who only ate raw salmon and beef carpaccio. My Japanese restaurants seldom ventured further from Sushi Tei and Sakae Sushi when it came to sushi. The closest I had to Japanese heaven, was at Yuyogi, along Mohammad Sultan Road. There, I was introduced to aburi toro (torched tuna) in the various forms (well, the different parts of the tuna). It was an amazing experience. I recall how I had my first “food orgasm”. The torched beef was frankly even better. I love the way they both just MELT in your mouth.

Shinji for me was a gastronomical experience. It’s just so unforgettable and I would say Japanese-food-eating-life-changing. Every single piece of sushi, are of just the right texture, width, size, temperature, you name it. The rice is perfect. The temperature and the amount given, even the wasabi for some; it really is sushi heaven. It was at Shinji, that I actually enjoyed almost every single weird fish that was served to me. The fish were fresh and every piece melted in my mouth, leaving tingles on my shoulders and a warm rush throughout my body. When you place that sushi in your mouth, it’s like you can’t speak for the next few seconds, you just need to close your eyes and enjoy it. It’s quite embarrassing really, because I literally need to close my eyes and my shoulders will naturally shrug because it just tastes so good. Perhaps it tastes this way in most restaurants in Japan, but for me, for someone who has not been to Japan, this is through the roof.

Taiwan is know for their quality Japanese food as well. And whilst I was there, I went to a famous high end restaurant to try their sushi. After my Shinji experience, I was more adventurous in trying to find places for a similar indulgence. However, I was a tad disappointed for it just wasn’t as good. The rice didn’t quite melt and the fish wasn’t as “sensational”.

At Shinji, you really should get the counter seat. The chefs are adorable and very friendly. Watching them  prepare the sushi whets your appetite and also makes you appreciate the skill and mastery that goes into every sushi. The effort and the precision that brings about that umph with every piece. When sitting at the counter, you get to eat each sushi right away as the chef prepares it so the temperature is perfect and it tastes better.

If you can, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND you try the 12 sushi piece set. If you go for lunch, it’s cheaper at about $150/pax after taxes. You will need to book in advance as it is always full unless you go for the late slots like 2pm.

Personally, this is truly a memorable experience and if you have never had a “food orgasm” before, then you definitely need to check out Shinji. There is no need to dip in sauce or extra wasabi. Eat each sushi as it is served. Not to worry, the chefs do ask what you do not like or take and they will replace it accordingly. For instance, many people love the orange sea urchin, but I don’t like the taste of it so I usually have them swap that out.

Dessert is equally fantastic – home made yuzi sorbet. The perfect way to end the meal and refreshes your mouth too after all that fish.

SHINJI is a MUST TRY!

GYU KAKU: JAPANESE BBQ

I love bbq food. As most of you already know, my all-time favourite is Chang’s Korean BBQ at Dempsey which also happens to be one of the top restaurants in Singapore.  Chang’s is a tad on the pricey side so here’s my alternative: GYU KAKU Japanese BBQ. With outlets at Holland Village, UE Square, etc. GYU KAKU is easily accessible, of reasonable prices and serves splendid BBQ meats as well. I have read quite a bit about this place and I had been meaning to check it out. I finally did, with R, at the Holland Village outlet.

The place is cosy and service was attentive, personable and prompt. We had our own little “cubicle” with the charcoal grill in front of us. Unlike Chang’s, it’s pretty much DIY which was fine by me really. I love the beef!!! Ordered a variety to try but decided I liked the thin ones better which had lots of flavour. We also ordered a seafood platter which was yums. They have many choices for you to choose from and basically eat to your heart’s content. We also tried this soup rice thing which R recommended and I personally found it very tasty. Somewhat like porridge but not as bland of course. I’m really sorry that it’s all sounding so sketchy as it was some time ago and I have forgotten the details BUT I know I DEFINITELY will be going back and I recommend all to check it out.

Prices were reasonable and considering we ordered 3 bottles of sakae and ate a whole lot of beef, with a seafood platter and our soup rice, etc; our total bill for 2 came up to about $200.

I think it’s a great place to visit with close friends, taking your time to bbq, chit chat, and chill over sakae. A perfect way to dine don’t you think?

Playing catch-up with my Blackberry

Contrary to what many of my friends think, I am not always prepared with my camera in my bag whenever I go out for meals so many times, I actually do not have my camera with me so this is where my trusted Blackberry comes in! Granted, the picture quality may not be the best and the food may look a bit less appetizing than it would had I used my regular camera, so do pardon me here.

Decided to clean up my blackberry memory space so here’s a photo blog on some of the food places I have visited/food I have tried, that never made it to FoodGossip.

Somehow I always don’t have my camera with me, or I just am so eager to eat each time I am here that I don’t have good pictures. Here is my all-time favourite Korean BBQ Restaurant – CHANG’S BBQ @ DEMPSEY. The restaurant is spacious with a high ceiling so you don’t feel crowded out or claustrophobic. It is brightly lit and they have a few private rooms as well as the traditional Korean seating should you wish to indulge in a tinge of cultural dining. The service is prompt and attentive. What’s more impressive is the FOOD!

I LOVE the MARINATED BEEF, OX TONGUE, and the SHORT RIB SOUP!!! Seriously yummy!! The seasoning is delicious and on top of that, Chang’s has a certain dip that seems to be sesame based, I’m not too sure on that, but it makes everything even more tasty. Usually I take the marinated beef on its own as the it’s always tender, juicy, and full of flavour without me having to dip it in the sauce. The ox tongue is great too but I love the way it tastes with the sauce. The short rib soup is a tad salty but I love it! Love the transparent glass noodles they serve it with too.

My only complaint? Chang’s is on the high side in terms of $$$ and that’s probably the reason why I don’t go as often as I want to. I can’t help myself though. Whenever I crave Korean BBQ, it HAS to be Chang’s. I heard that there is a Korean BBQ restaurant at Holland V which is supposed to be pretty good too so I will probably check that out and let you guys know. Hopefully it’s friendlier on the pocket. Oooooh did I mention that Chang’s is one of Singapore’s top restaurants for Korean BBQ?

Fish & Co is one of the restaurants I remember from my school days. It never was the super expensive atas restaurant but neither was it your fast food joint. Fish & Co is mid-priced and serves relatively good food for a reasonable price. I remember going to Fish & Co for their weekday lunch sets which were always pretty value-for-money. My favourite dishes at Fish & Co were the Seafood Platter for 2, the Mussels with Garlic Cream Sauce, the Grilled Squids and the Fish & Chips. I used the word “was” because, I think Fish & Co just doesn’t cut it for me anymore. Somehow it’s either the standard has deteriorated or I am just more fussy about my food. I won’t go as far as to say that the food is bad, in fact on first taste, they are still good but it just doesn’t work for me anymore. Above are (from left), my used-to-be favourite Grilled Squid which just tastes soggy now, and the peri peri fish with rice (the rice is not bad and I still love the raisins inside).

From left, my ALL-TIME FAVOURITE PRAWN NOODLE SOUP @ THE ARCADE, RAFFLES PLACE. Haven’t tried? You simply must. I have tried many of the reputed ones that people claim to serve the best Prawn Noodles, but none have impressed me. Call me old-fashioned, but this is the old school canteen prawn noodle soup at its best! Located in a one stall shop on the first floor of The Arcade, called CORNER DELIGHTS, this place is always packed with a long queue from 12pm to 2pm. Try to go some time before 12pm, or after 2pm if you want to beat the lunch crowd.

I love the soup!!! It’s very tasty. The authentic dark coloured soup that is full of flavour. The prawns are small but peeled which makes for easy eating. This stall has been around since I was an intern at a nearby firm a good 10 years ago! Goodness knows how long it was there even before I heard of it!

For those of you working in Raffles Place, you don’t know what you are missing out until you have tried this.

On the right top corner is a bowl of  homemade French Onion Soup with Garlic bread made by S’s dad. It was really good. He was very generous with the onions and the soup was very tasty. Yummmssss…I hope S inherited some cooking talent from his old man. :p

The bottom right picture was taken some time back. Went to Wine Connection with some colleagues for the weekday lunch set. It was a Friday and what better way to unwind  and prepare for the weekend with wine, good company and all this away from the office crowd!

The SHIP Restaurant at Shaw Centre Level 4 has been my canteen since I was a little girl. We used to come here weekly for steak and escargots! Yes, this was how I was introduced to my now favourite escargots. Over the years, SHIP has somewhat “degenerated”. It used to be a relatively above mid-range restaurant with a romantic setting that served good hainanese western food. Now, the restaurant looks less formal and it has opened its menu to cheaper set meals and even fish noodles. I am not too sure where the direction of the SHIP is going, but I will tell you one thing: they serve one of the best ESCARGOTS in town! Prices have gone up quite a bit from before, but sizzling hot escargots served on a hot plate filled with garlic and butter. Each one still in its shell. THE BeST.

If it’s your first time trying Escargots, you have to make SHIP your virgin experience. Don’t order anything else, just the ESCARGOTS. Their Onion Soup and Garlic Bread are very good too though. And their mushroom is the traditional authentic cream of mushroom.

Located near the old Ghim Moh market, the CRAB SPECIALIST has a rather decent and consistent crowd. It looks really good from the outside so I decided to check it out. Came here on 2 occasions with S and my friend D the 2nd time.

The Sambal Kang Kung is pretty good. S and I finished it as it was very tasty. The Crab Bee Hoon Soup was not bad too. The meat was fresh and although the crab was slightly smaller than what I am used to. We saw many people ordering the Salted Egg Crab and Black Pepper Crab so we thought we’d come back another time to check it out and that would be the deciding factor – I mean you can’t screw up too badly on crab bee hoon right? Soup is probably key as well as the quality of the crab. Both of which they passed.

Well I returned a 2nd time with D and he ordered the Black Pepper Crab. I didn’t like it. It was still tasty but it was like any regular Black Pepper Crab that you would get from any Hawker Centre. Nothing spectacular about it to warrant a name like the Crab Specialist – I assume this meant that they are superior in every preparation of crabs – NOT.

I think the place is not bad. It’s quite breezy when you sit outside. Service is prompt and staff are generally friendly. It’s also reasonably priced. Having said that however, I doubt I will be back. I am very particular about my crabs and if I know of better places, no reason to return if you ask me.

Had the crab cream of Garlic Butter at Seafood Paradise, The Flyer. Honestly, the taste is very good. Whilst it has the potential to feel jaded after awhile, it is actually very delicious. My only problem with it is that the crabs served are of low quality and they aren’t very fresh. Came here on 2 occasions and it was the same. Even the prawns weren’t fresh and were mushy and difficult to de-shell. Again, not returning.

TAO’s

Located at the basement of Paradiz Centre, I was recommended this place by a fellow colleague. It was over lunch and I was telling him about my food blog, showing him pictures of my now favourite restaurant – Dozo; when he mentioned that Dozo has a sister outlet called Tao’s. The concept was pretty much the same except that this was catered for shallower pockets. According to him, if you buy the coupons, it costs about $26 flat for a 7 course meal. If not, the regular price is about $29++ per head.

Completely won over by Dozo, I was compelled to give Tao’s a try. If it was anything like Dozo, the food should be good and I was expecting good value for money.

For starters, we were served some mushroom gratin which was ordinary. I know I have to adjust my expectations as I was paying a lot less for this meal than I would at Dozo. But after being spoiled by their foie gras, scallop and smoked salmon for starters, this just paled in comparison. It didn’t taste  bad, it was just an ordinary dish. The cheese was nice, hot and melted, but there wasn’t any distinct flavour and I would deem it forgettable.

S and I each had a different salad. His was not bad, better than mine frankly. His salad dressing was tasty and the lettuce crunchy. Mine was a top shell salad served with noodles. I wouldn’t say it was bad, but again, nothing fantastic.

As we were there for dinner, there was an additional dish to the set. This was some special mushroom served with a rather tasty sauce. I must give them credit for presentation as it really looked pretty good, considering the price we were paying. I think this dish was relatively good but you have to be a mushroom lover to fully enjoy it. After awhile, I felt a bit jaded as I really am just a button mushroom fan. 2 dishes of mushroom in one sitting was a bit much for me already.

S and I each ordered the mushroom soup (again mushroom I know!) but this was actually good. I must say that the mushroom soup was probably one of the dishes that hinted of it’s more atas roots from Dozo. The mushroom soup wasn’t that of the Cambell can, but actually had little bits of mushroom and a good flavour to it. It was also nicely served and in a good portion.

Now this was really good. We each ordered a different flavoured tea and both were equally awesome. This was one of the highlights for me. The tea was light, refreshing and had a nice taste. I love how they served it with those nice tea pots and intricate tea cups. We both LOVED the tea. Thumbs up for this!! (I warn you, it’s addictive. I couldn’t get enough of it!)

For the price paid, I have to give it that whilst the main courses weren’t spectacular, they were good. My steak was very tasty, of a good portion, and was served with a yummy cream mushroom sauce. The meat was tender and I actually enjoyed my steak. S ordered the lamb which was surprisingly good as well. He said there was no smell, the meat was tender and it was nicely grilled. Considering we paid just over $30 per head and with so many items in the set, I think the main course made it quite well worth it.

By the time we came to desserts, we were so full we couldn’t finish it. S had the brownie whilst I had the tiramisu. Again, nothing extraordinary. The brownie at Jules still tops the list for us, and the molten lava at Dozo is truly amazing. My tiramisu was passable. Nothing bad, just nothing I’d rave about too.

In all fairness, it’s a good meal for the price paid. I shouldn’t be giving it such an average review. But I guess if you had gone to Dozo first like I had, you can’t help but feel that you would rather pay that additional $30 or so for the meal you can get at Dozo. For the quality and type of food served in the $60++/head set served at Dozo, I find that more value for money. S and I concluded that we probably won’t be headed to Tao’s again, but we would however try to drop by Dozo’s again if our pockets were healthy.

Sushi Tei Takashimaya

I have received feedback that it is thought I only review expensive restaurants. I, along with my loyal readers, can vouch that this is not true. I enjoy eating and this includes your regualr hawker delights and you can see that I have reviewed places like chomps – recommending my favourite stalls; and from the one-off chanced upon mee soto, hokkien mee, lontong etc. Today I review Sushi Tei. My parents are members and honestly I eat here so often I wonder why I never wrote about it. I attribute it to the fact that it is always an impromptu decision that I rarely have my camera with me or I don’t remember to take pictures as I tuck in right away. Seeing that this is umpteenth time here, I will just highlight a couple of my perennial favourites and some new dishes I tried and my take on them (I do make an effort to try new dishes at age old haunts!):

Salmon cappacio

Not the best. Tops still go to En Grill & Bar. Between sakae sushi and sushi teh, sushi teh wins this dish. Served with a mixture of sesame oil (I think) and some sweet sauce, the salmon actually tastes pretty yummy. I don’t quite fancy the mini bean sprouts served with it as I find it gives off a bitter after taste so I usually remove it. Otherwise, this dish is worth a try.

Salmon Sashimi

For salmon sashimi (which is about the only sashimi I eat), I guess I know when it’s bad, or when it is extremely fresh, nicely presented, value for money; etc. In the case of Sushi Tei, they are consistently good. Nothing exceptional but at least the fish served are always fresh and I think they serve an adequate portion for the price paid. I have been to some places whereby you get 3 tiny slices for the same price! And the restaurant ain’t even all that up-market to be charging as such.

Silver Fish Tempura

Now this is one dish which is good to order when you are with a bunch of people taking your own sweet time at the sushi place, just chilling and eating. It’s very palatable, goes down well and easily which makes it addictive! It’s one of those you pop in your mouth and just can’t stop doing so. It’s soft on the inside but semi-crunchy on the outside. Many places have a similar dish but I think Sushi Tei does it pretty well, along with Crystal Jade Kitchen.

chawanmushi

So here’s the deal. There was nothing wrong with this chawanmushi and I never have anything to complain about the chawanmushi at sushi teh, but I think I need to stop ordering this! Almost by instinct I order this dish every time I step into a sushi bar, but the fact is, I have grown tired of steamed egg and each time I order it these days, I don’t finish it. So NO MORE for me! Peeps, if we are ever out, S, you especially; please stop me from ordering this.

Nattou Maki

S loves nattou so as long as it’s a Jap place this is a must-order dish. In all honesty, the nattou maki ain’t great here. In fact, I would say that both Sakae Sushi and Sushi Tei don’t do good nattou makis. The nattou used tastes like those I can easily get off Japanese supermarkets like Sakuraya. The nattou gives off a dull taste. Tops still go to En Dining and the Jap place I reviewed before in Central for their Nattou.

curry udon

I have had better. I can’t remember where was the  best I have had but I suspect it was at Waraku Marina Square. The curry udon here at Sushi Tei wasn’t great. I give it that it wasn’t too thick and “jelat” but it was too diluted. There wasn’t a distinct curry taste and the udon was so-so. Mixed with some chicken and boiled carrots, I personally loved the carrots more than anything else in that bowl. Well, and maybe the udon too. Texture-wise, waraku’s udon still beats hands down.

Grilled Squid

Thought we’d give this a try since both S and I like grilled squid. Verdict: disappointing. We left half of it unfinished. It wasn’t really charcoal grilled like I thought it would be, not really burnt and didn’t seem very fresh too as it was semi-squishy. No-go for me. The one at Double Bay is much better.

Scallop Skin

Was introduced to this dish by my bro. I think it’s not bad, quite yummy actually but I guess it’s an acquired taste as S doesn’t like it at all. It’s slightly spiced and has a good flavour to it. Not squishy which is good, in fact it is slightly crunchy. I can’t guarantee you will like it, but I think it’s worth a try.

S and I were exploding after our meal here at Sushi Tei Paragon. It was quite a lot we had for just the 2 of us. We had just finished a massage at the now defunct True Spa (look out for my upcoming entry on it on Fashion-Itch.blogspot.com – HELL a lot to lash out on that one!) and decided to dine at Sushi Tei. Personally I find the standard and quality better at the Serangoon Gardens branch. The Paragon Sushi Tei is pretty good too. I can’t quite pin point why I find the Taka outlet lacking, but whilst it is seemingly similar, it just isn’t as satisfactory and yummy. I don’t know…what do you think? Maybe I caught the chefs on a bad day…

S and I post massage and super filling meal!

Sigh I have lost an immense amount of weight lately due to lack of appetite from being sick, tired, and of course stress! Really hope to put some weight back on during this break I have but whilst losing is easy, gaining weight is just so tough! My appetite is not quite the same as it was before too. Friends, S, we need to eat more yummy food. I need to gain weight! Totally don’t get those peeps who think think skinny is beautiful. Slim, yes, skinny, no way! I look awful in the pictures I take now, and I am swimming in some of the clothes we feature on FashionItch even though I am already wearing XS! Feeling ugly..

DOZO Restaurant @ Valley Point – VALUE FOR $$$

It was my special day and S surprised me with a dinner at Dozo Restaurant. I had been meaning to check this place out after reading raving reviews about it from various magazines and web sites. Of course, S had no knowledge of this but rather stumbled upon it on his own.

Located humbly on the 2nd floor of Valley Point, a neighbourhood mall for those residing in River Valley, Dozo didn’t strike me as a very posh restaurant from the outside, unlike the impression I had based on the pictures seen of their food and decor. Once inside, you kinda forget that you really are at Valley Point and not somewhere in town or Dempsey. Dimly lit, the place is very cosy with nice little nooks for girly gatherings or group dinners. S and I were led deeper in where they had the regular tables. We were given a corner seat with not much of a view frankly. I mean, we were at Valley Point. I could see the condominium Valley Park next door and I guess the main road. But hell, I wasn’t there for the view! The ambience was really romantic and service was personal and impeccable.

The set menu costs $60 per head which is very well worth it if you consider the choices you have. There is a starter of the day, and you have a choice of 2 appetisers, followed by a main, a dessert and drinks. The selection was generous including the likes of foie gras and escargots. I would say the menu was a mix of Japanese and French, yet it isn’t fusion. They have specific french dishes and specific Japanese dishes. I loved the variety and the choices!!! I thought it was value for money just looking at the menu but once the dishes were served, I was completely sold. Everything was so well presented and of such high quality and standards. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Dozo to everyone. Here’s a look at what we each ordered:

2 drinks to start us off and cleanse our taste buds

our very lovely chef’s starter which consisted of foie gras, scallop, and smoked salmon.

beef tekaki

my choice of appetizer. this was the MOST AMAZING tasting dish EVER. Seared beef which was lightly grilled at the ends.Thin slices that literally melts in your mouth. This dish tastes really awesome and I need to know how it’s done!!! The mix of sauces plus the fresh pepper corns are an ingenious concoction. The cone you see is the beef wrapped around a type of wafer which goes very well together too! I really commend the chef on this one. FANTASTIC.

S’s choice of appetizer 1, sashimi platter

“very fresh but yours more worth it cos it’s unique and tastes amazing” – S

escargots with cheese and garlic

my choice of 2nd appetizer. Super yummy. I love escargots. 3-4 pieces served inside, with one in the shell served outside. YUmmmmssss

foie gras chawamushi

this was quite nice but honestly I couldn’t taste the foie gras. Then again I was too pleased with my escargots. S loved it though. Said he could taste the foie gras with every mouth.

S had the mushroom soup with truffles. Heaven. I could distinctively taste the truffles. Reminded me of the one we had in Bangkok at Antonio’s. I had the French Onion Soup which was equally good in its own right!

I ordered the steak for my mains. First I love beef, plus I am hoping to gain some weight with some meat. This was very very well done. Served on a hot stone, the fan-like thing you see is actually pasta that can be eaten and surprisingly goes really well with the steak. The meat was tender and juicy. Nicely sliced already and you can see how it’s grilled on the outside and slowly cooking on the hot stone. Magnifique!!!!

S ordered the pork as his main. According to him, it was not the best he has had. I tried it, but frankly, I couldn’t quite tell any different. Again, too distracted by my better order, the steak!

my dessert, cheese cake.

S’s dessert – molten lava chocolate

Happy Birthday to ME!

I highly recommend this place to all who are reading this. Absolutely AWESOME. Be prepared to be WOWed.

teeth totally discoloured by the red wine.

Thanks Baby for the lovely dinner! I thoroughly enjoyed it!!!! (I know you did too!!)

Sun & Moon @ Wheelock

I have never been a fan of Sun & Moon so it beats me why I suggested it for dinner.

The decor at Sun & Moon is pretty cosy. The dim lightings and the khaki-beige materials against the wooden interiors. I liked how the tables were a decent space apart so it didn’t feel like you were unintentionally eavesdropping  on every conversation going on around you. Ambience-wise, I think they got it right. But when it comes to food, I have to say I think I’d rather drop my dough at Watami, whereby for a similar menu, I think I would get better satisfaction, and better tasting food at a lesser price.

Walking in that evening to Sun & Moon, I could feel that the place was no longer what it used to be. Gone were the glory days where scores of people queued to grab a seat in this quaint Japanese restaurant. I recall how it used to be so popular that it was important to make a reservation if you intended to get seated. With the likes of Watami, Waraku, and many other restaurants springing up, Sun & Moon has been given a run for their money. Their direct competitors ain’t those of the sushi belt like Sakae and Sushi Tei, but rather those that offer alternative Japanese cuisine in a casual yet  cosy setting.

I find Sun & Moon overpriced frankly, not just for the portions served but also for the quality of food served. Take a normal sushi roll like the salmon dragon roll I ordered, the salmon was flat and didn’t taste fresh. The hotpot I ordered was also overly sour and didn’t go down well at all. In fact, we didn’t even finish it. S ordered ramen which was a safe bet and that was pretty much all it was. It didn’t taste anything more than instant noodles if you ask me.

So yes, I am still not a fan of Sun & Moon, however I would say, I don’t think they were that bad before. I  think their standards have dropped and something should be done or they will just slip away. Bearing in mind the competition, Sun & Moon had better pull up their socks if they hope to survive well in our increasingly densely-populated Japanese dining industry.

Love my cobalt blue top!!! Love the colour on my skin! And my curls! Now more relaxed, not like when I first did it. Think it lasted for quite long considering I did my curls last November? That’s like 7 months??!!

New Menu @ Watami

If you have been reading my blog, you would know by now that I am a fan of Watami‘s. Not just because of the food quality, its presentation, but also the reasonable prices. So with the change of menu, am I still a fan?

Well, the menu at Watami used to be very minimalistic. Very focused, somewhat like Sun & Moon in that they do not cater mainly to the typical sushi train type of dishes, but also the alternative Japanese favourites. The menu now is more extensive, with a wider variety, and unfortunately, I noticed, slightly higher prices for some of my favourites. One notably, would be the salmon sashimi. I recall previously for a relatively good serving of about 5-6 slices, it used to cost $6.80 per serving. But now, it’s been increased to $8.80. I didn’t order this so I am not sure if they increased the portion served, but if they didn’t, this would be one boo-boo for me.

Anyway, here’s some of the new dishes I tasted at Watami. I tried to be more adveturous for all of your sakes and ordered things I normally wouldn’t order and items that usually wouldn’t catch my eye. So here goes!

Watami Ramen SGD10.80

I think they could have done a better job serving this in a nicer looking bowl, but what the hell. The pork was tender and there was a sweet after taste. I thought it was a tad salty and the ramen texture wasn’t great. However, I think there will be fans for this dish, especially if you enjoy ramen and if you usually order it from the likes of Sakae Sushi, or Sushi Tei; you will find the Watami Ramen better in terms of portions and taste. I wouldn’t go as far as comparing it to Marutama Ramen as it does fall flat in this case, but otherwise, but an all-rounded restaurant that doesn’t specialise in ramen, I think this dish would satisfy some of you.

Salmon Hammaki SGD7.80

This has to be my favourite dish for the day. It reminds me of Vietnamese rolls yet with a Japanese touch. It is essentially Japanese Sushi not wrapped with Seaweed, but rather wrapped with Vietnamese roll paper. The salmon served was fresh and a generous slice. It tasted like there was cheese or something inside it as well. All in all a tasty dish with a good flavour. It is served with sweet thai chilli sauce, but trust me, it tastes awesome on its own so forget the dip!

Wasabi Tako SGD4.80

I know some people really dig this dish. As I am not a fan, it is a little difficult for me to tell you if this was any good, but what I can say, is that I have tried this same dish at Sakuraya, and Watami’s version is way better. It tastes more fresh, and the wasabi lingers without being too strong or overwhelming.

Seafood Tomato Nabe SGD14.80

For the price I think they gave generous portions of mussels, prawns, etc. I am not a tomato base person but I think this dish was done pretty well. If you have been to Waraku Pasta, or you like Japanese Pasta with Tomato based soup, you will love this. Order the pasta to go with this. I have tried similar renditions at Waraku Pasta and the one at Cineleisure (Sorry, but I forgot the name of the place), and this trashes them. The problem I had with those soup pastas served in the aforementioned, was that the soup was always too diluted and I could never really taste how the pasta complemented the soup or vice-versa. This on the other hand, was very complementary. The soup was very tasty and the pasta went very well with it.

Okonomi Satsuma Age SGD6.80

Ok, I didn’t like this dish, period. BUT I have to say that my brother thought it was really good. So maybe it boils down to individual preferences. I never liked such dishes to begin with so let’s not depend solely on my opinion here. I thought it tasted very sweet and that it was a very Chinese flavoured dish. There was a strong ginger taste which I did not appreciate. It was nice and crispy I guess, but to me that made me feel “jelat”/jaded after awhile.

Warabi Mochi (Green Tea flavour) SGD2.80

You get to choose your flavour for this and I chose Green Tea. Quite a nice dessert I must say. Cool and refreshing. It is light and kinda like a Nonya dish. It is essentially sticky gooey jelly cubes served with green tea flavoured powder. I quite liked it and I thought it was rather unique.

If you haven’t even stepped into Watami, I do advise you to pay them a visit. For what it’s worth, I think they serve good Japanese cuisine at affordable prices and that they are worth checking out. I would place them above Sun and Moon anytime in terms of value for money and tastes.

Watami @ Ion Orchard

2 Orchard Turn
#B3-23 Ion Orchard

Tel: +65 6509 9366

Satsuma Shochu Dining Bar

S was having an awfully busy period at work. We barely saw each other and he was working his butt off. I wasn’t working as hard as he was but I too was having a tiring period at work. So to celebrate the end of his “project”, we decided to go out for a nice dinner. S had previously eaten here for a friend’s stag night and was thoroughly impressed by the food and ambience. He was raving about it and on that day itself, he had already text me saying he had to bring me there. So there we were, at Satsuma Shochu Dining Bar.

Located at Gallery Hotel along Mohd Sultan, the restaurant is cosy and doesn’t sit many people. I love the simple decor and the intimate setting of the place. Should you come in large groups, there is a section with a traditional low table although there is no need to cross your legs as there is a compartment for your legs. We were pretty fortunate to have been given a private “cubicle” for just the 2 of us. It was like sitting in a cocoon of sorts. Although hidden from direct view, service was good and our tea cups always refilled, orders taken and served promptly.

I am really sorry but I don’t quite recall the names of the items we ordered but here are the pictures:

This I remember, Ox Tongue…damn juicy and tasty. A must try!!

1 of my favourites…bacon with cheese – we ordered multiple servings of this!

The place isn’t very cheap but I guess it’s pretty standard given the quality of food and the ambience. A meal for 2 should cost around $100 assuming you don’t order excessively and you stay away from the sakae.

Our receipt so you may have an idea of what we ordered and the price range.

stairs up to Satsuma

Loved the food, ambience and service was immaculate. Price is reasonable I guess for the location and quality. Would I come back? Definitely. This one gets both thumbs up from me!

 

Satsuma Shochu Dining Bar

Gallery Hotel #01-10, 1 Nanson Road (S)238909
Singapore 238909
6235 3565