Everything in pictures!

Recently made a short trip to HK to visit my good friend S. Before moving over, she was my shopping kaki at FEP and we used to spend loads in just 2-3 hours. We were great together because we had the same shopping speed – fast; and we kinda knew what each other would like. She has a keen eye for good stuff and her fashion taste is exquisite. MISSED HER SO MUCH. Well, older now, and in Hong Kong, we shopped till the holes in my pockets were so huge it was no longer just a hole. We had a blast though. Shopping, doing spa manicure/pedicure, eating and just being girly creamed with late night girly chats on her couch and watching shows like the Bridget Jones Diary. I MISS YOU BABE.

 I love dim sum and where best to have them but in HONG KONG! Every time I am in Hong Kong we check out a different place for dim sum. This time, S brought me to DRAGON KING RESTAURANT. It was awesome! I loved the selection and the quality of the dishes served. My highlight has to be the scallop chee cheong fun.

I like it how they had it cut up into pieces each with a full scallop! I finished an entire plate all on my own! The place is cosy with little “cubicles” for each table which added to a sense of privacy. Great ambience and quality food, this place gets TWO thumbs up from me!

Not  a fan of egg tarts but the ones here were really good!

THE UPPER HOUSE, situated near the Mariott Hotel, Conrad and Shangrila is a great place to just chill and enjoy the view of the harbour. Reservations have to be made as this place is usually packed especially weekends. The general vibe is a little like SEVVA. Perfect for a night out with the girls, or that romantic post dinner date. I love the view and the ambience. Kinda wish Singapore had more of such places. Now we just have so many rooftop chill bars springing up. Not that I am complaining, but it would be nice to have more of such options as well. I guess we do, like the one at Swissotel and perhaps at the Martini place at the Hyatt Hotel. But we could use more of such I think. Oh well.

Incidentally, there is a similar outfit in Beijing by the same people, called THE OPPOSITE HOUSE and I was there just 2 days later when I was over for business. Here the hotel’s focus is in its artistic design. I would definitely try to spend a night here come my next trip. Looks pretty cool. Somewhat like an arty farty boutique hotel.

Been traveling quite a bit for work. Last one was to Shenzhen, Beijing and Shanghai. I like Beijing. Wanna visit the Forbidden City again if I get a chance…

On the way to client’s…

When I was in HK, S and I went for Sunday Brunch at the Tiffin Lounge @ the Grand Hyatt. I must say it’s by far the best champagne brunch I have ever been to! Amongst the wide variety of desserts and international cuisine were PAN FRIED FOIE GRAS and CHEESE LOBSTER!! Those 2 were enough to make me go back the next time I am in Hong Kong. Be sure to make reservations!! Try to get the window seats if possible. Absolute decadence on a Sunday afternoon, made perfect by the best company – D and S!

Feeling hungry just looking at the pics…

Recently checked out Artichoke with R for brunch. Located at the old Secret Garden, I like the ambience here. It’s very cosy and intimate. My idea of a casual, lazy Sunday afternoon. It can get pretty hot if you are seated outside though which is really unfortunate as it is so much nicer outdoors – drats! Singapore weather!

Service is somewhat slow as it a small kitchen. Prices are very reasonable and the highlight for me has to be the BACON! It’s not often in Singapore that I get served the entire whole thick slab of bacon. Usually, its the thin fried strip, but here, you get it whole and full. Nicely grilled, with lots of oil and fat but absolutely YUMMY!

Sigh I really should start exercising. I think my body is protesting all these fattening food by growing a belch. :S

So it was one of those lazy nights at home where we didn’t want to travel too far yet I had to eat something yummy. Dad suggested checking out this place he drove past one day. Apparently they were selling crabs at $35/kg!! For those of you not in the know, places like Jumbo and Long Beach go at $44/kg and House of Seafood goes at $48/kg. I love checking out these random hawkers at HDB blocks as they usually can be very surprising. I was not disappointed. Not only was the crab tasty and fresh. All of the dishes were equally excellent. Delicious and very reasonably priced! Service was also prompt and good. I was thoroughly impressed. Will I be back? Definitely! (Unfortunately I didn’t take pictures of everything I ordered but I had the LALA with sambal, Black Pepper OR Spring Onion Beef, one or the other – very tender; baby kailan with garlic, and Black Pepper Crabs – 2: They are tiny at 800g compared to those 1.4kg I am used to, but still alright. I think I ordered one more dish but I can’t recall right now…)

The crab wasn’t outstanding but for the price paid, I say it was VERY GOOD. A mix between the peanut taste at House of Seafood/Still Road, and the sweet taste of Melban and No.3 Crab Delicacy. Will check out their other preparations next time!

Best and Most Memorable Ba Cor Mee @ Bedok Block 85. Cheap and YUMMY! One of my tops for favourite late night supper food!

Went to Oversea Restaurant for Lunch that day. I still think the char siew is one of the best but according to my friend, there’s a better one in KL. Some hawker stall. Whilst I still think their KL branch does it better, this serves me well too. Having been here longer now as compared to my previous entry on this, they now have more of the KL dishes available. Slightly over-priced in my opinion but definitely worth a try. Remember to reserve your char siew! And yes, it can get quite jelat so don’t over order!

The uncle convinced me to try this eggplant with otah and fish cake dish but I think I should have stuck to my eggplant and minced pork.

Had lunch at Golden Peony with my colleagues last Friday. I always had a good impression of Golden Peony @ the Conrad for serving good food ever since my cousin’s wedding at Conrad hotel 2 years ago. But I must say I was a tad disappointed at their dim sum selection. It was limited, and frankly, not great. The ala carte dishes took way too long to be served as well. Should have gone to Wah Lok…

This was not bad. Scallop with bean curd I think…but not outstanding.

I usually like my yoghurt plain without toppings but colleague bought this. LOVE frolick yoghurt, especially the one at Millenia Walk. It just tastes better. Yammi Yoghurt too!! sigh will miss this area when we move end of this week…

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ok super long entry. Tired…gonna crash. Brand new week. And we move to asia square on Friday! Excited about new desk and screens and all but sure gonna miss our cosy nook at Millenia/Suntec. Haven’t figured out my travel route yet…

Went for dim sum lunch at Taste Paradise at ION today so look out for that review coming up!

Good night!

XoXo

Royal Room – Great music and FOOD! :)

And so the folks at Filter decided to expand their brand of entertainment so here we have Royal Room. In place of the old Stereo Lounge, Royal Room which opened just last week, is already the pre-party destination and for some THE PARTY. People start to fill the place around 9 and many drink, chill, talk, and dance will about midnight or 1 before proceeding to Filter. Then there are also those who stay till closing at 3am. Whilst Filter caters to a members only crowd and only opens on Fridays and Saturdays as well as the Eves of Public Holidays; Royal Room is open on weekdays which gives a welcomed alternative to Zouk on Wednesdays, for those who prefer a more mature crowd and something less thumping.

I like Royal Room and I am looking forward to the opening of MINK which will replace the old Stereo Lab. If it is anything like Filter, I’m sure it will be a huge success and we can be assured of awesome music and a great party.

So I had drinks at Royal Room and whilst I am not reviewing the wines and alcohol served, I must say, I am rather pleased with the food selection. Enough of the regular bar food, Royal Room offers a selection of gastronomical tapas which personally, I fully embrace. After hanging out at Boulevard and Harrys so much, with chicken wings, burgers, pizzas and such; I like the higher quality food with its lovely presentation and good taste. I won’t rave about it and say that it’s amazing food of michelin quality, but for a lounge, I think the food selection is good and it tastes pretty yummy. I actually like all the dishes I tried. I am neutral on one of the beef dishes (the one with the bread), but otherwise, not bad at all. If it’s your first time, try everything. I tried about 4 dishes. So if you tried anything else that you think is good, do let me know. All in all, I give it a thumbs up. Good job guys!

 This was so-so. Not bad, but not great.

When I ordered this, I had no idea it would be raw fish and all. But it was actually very good! Not fishy and quite refreshing. Liked this!

Not a huge fan of pork, but I really enjoyed this one. The skin was nicely burnt and there was just the right amount of fat. It wasn’t dry at all. In fact, it was juicy and tender. Went perfectly with the mustard. YUMMY!

When this dish first came, I was afraid it would not be fresh and fishy. There was a strong smell when it was placed on the table. But surprisingly, it was actually alright. I like how it’s charred on the outside. The taste was not exactly memorable but it wasn’t bad. Pretty good and a decent portion for the price. In fact I would say the dishes are all reasonably priced.

I really liked this dish. Even the salad was delicious. Not sure how they made it but there’s a tinge of wasabi taste or mustard and cheese I think. The overall combination was just great. MUST ORDER!!!

*Sorry for the bad pictures. I went there after work and I wasn’t equipped with my camera so took these using my iphone. Was there for work drinks so didn’t take note of the menu for the names too!! Hopefully the pictures help (show them to the staff?).

CHEERS.

Yummy Mini Wagyu Beef Burgers!!

STEREO LOUNGE @ PAN PACIFIC HOTEL

Honestly, the service here ain’t here. Neither is the crowd that patronises the place nor is the ambience particularly cosy. Yet Stereo Lounge serves one of the best Mini Wagyu Beef Burgers in town! And at an affordable price too! $12 for 3 mini burgers. It’s delicious and seriously addictive! Another yummy treat would be the sausages. Thinly sliced, they are way more appetizing than the huge ass sausages served at most bars. The chicken wings are not bad too although I still prefer the ones at Harrys (I think the chef has moved the Pauleners as the wings at Harrys are no longer the same, whilst those at Pauleners now taste really similar to the ones previously at Harrys…hmmm).

I am going to keep this entry short and simple (it’s 12.50am and I am really exhausted from the weekend!). TRY the mini burgers at Stereo and see for yourself!

PS: The DJ is pretty good too! If you like Top 40s, R&B, Hip Hop, Slow Rock…this is the place!!! Love the music!

CHEERS.

Morton’s Bar Martinis Happy Hour

I have long heard of the Martinis Happy Hour at the Morton’s Bar but never had the chance to check it out. So here’s the deal: On weekdays from 5pm-7pm, Morton’s Bar at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel serves 1-for-1 Martinis. During this time, there is also free flow of steak sandwiches being served. Sounds unbelievable right? Well, if you can, head down to the Morton’s Bar and check it out for yourself.

A small and circular place, the bar is cosy and intimate. Perfect for chilling after a stressful day at work. The Martinis are yummy too, coupled with the steak sandwiches. Juicy, tender steak, similar to those served at Morton’s itself, this slabs of beef come served in semi-baked hot dog buns. Simple and tasty.

A Night Out with a Good Friend

D and I have been good friends since college days. I remember the times when I was sad and down, both of us would sneak out of school in the middle of the day, hop on SBS #36 to town and indulge in my all-time favorite comfort food – ECARGOTS at the SHIP Restaurant, Level 4 of Shaw Building along Orchard Road. It had been a childhood family hangout. I recall how Dad always felt I needed to “beef up” and we would have dinner here every week. SHIP in the old days was a relatively “atas” restaurant with dim lights, illuminated mainly by candles that were found on every table. The menu was old and rustic looking, the interior designed like an old SHIP, with red leather cubicle seats, cloth table mats and napkins. The SHIP restaurant of today is a lot more commercial and whilst the prices haven’t gone cheaper, the overall feel of the restaurant has, as it is now of a more casual ambience with an extended more “regular” menu.

I have actually done a review of the SHIP before in a previous entry, naming it the place to go for the BEST ESCARGOTS in town. I still stand by that. Authentic French Snails served with generous portions of garlic and butter. SHIP got it right many years ago, and they still have it right. I LURVE the Escargots here. It has just the perfect amount of garlic, fried/baked perfectly. The snails are fresh and served piping hot on steel plates. I love it how they come slightly burnt adding to its flavor. If you are going to try Escargots for the first time, or if you are a fan of this French appetizer, you have to check out the ones served at the SHIP restaurant. S$13.90 for half a dozen.

As I have recently recovered from chicken pox, this weekend was like my break-away from food prison. And given everything else going on in my personal life, I really needed comfort food. So it was money aside, just spend! D and I ordered a half dozen of scallops which was also served in garlic, similar to that of Escargots. Now I say similar as it tastes of garlic, but there is a tad difference in the overall flavour of the dish. As a rule of thumb, I think garlic butter goes extremely well with snails. However, the way they prepared the scallops was pretty awesome too. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Particularly also because they served the scallops on the shells without the gross orange part of the scallop which I really dislike. Brownie points from me for that pleasant surprise.

It was a night of Garlic as I ordered my favorite Garlic Bread. The Garlic Bread at the Ship is one of the best in my opinion. Served using a regular bread slice, it is perfectly toasted. Slightly crisp at the crust and the inside is soft with just the right amount of garlic. I guess SHIP gets all garlic related dishes right!

I also ordered the Onion Soup which was very tasty. Served with loads of onions, it wasn’t too sweet (some places have the onions way too caramelized), but just right. Add some pepper and it is perfect. *It goes really well with the Garlic Bread too, although I prefer to enjoy them individually.

For my main course, I ordered the New York Steak. Something to note: They actually have set menus which cost the same as the main course on its own but it comes with the Soup of the Day, Dessert and Coffee/Tea. Do check it out. The SHIP Steak is pretty good from what I remember. It used to be my regular order before I started paying for my own meals. The New York Steak used to be cheaper but now it’s kinda caught up close to the price of the Ship Steak. I think it has something to do with the fact that it is now served on a hot plate too! :p (New York Steak about S$31. Ship Steak about S$34.)

Steaks at SHIP are pretty much the typical Hainanese fashioned steaks. To put it plainly, it’s like high-class Western stall steaks. The types you find in the canteen or hawker centre. It is not bad, and it is definitely better than those at the actual stalls, but don’t expect the likes of authentic Australian grilled steaks. The meat isn’t juicy with flavor on its own. In fact the essence of the steak really comes from the sauce. Not bad frankly, and they are quite tasty.

My New York Steak came served on a hot plate with boiled vegetables, potato served with bacon bits, salad dressing, and spring onions. On top of my steak was a good portion of flavored butter which went well with the steak and caramelized onions. The beef was tender and as a whole, it was a good main.

D had a fish dish called ikan something. I didn’t try it but I guess it was not bad considering he finished it and didn’t complain.

I closed off my meal with a glass of fruit punch and by the end of it I was extremely full. A satisfying meal and I definitely will be back again for the Escargots. Perhaps I’ll wing a dozen escargots, garlic bread and soup; then head off elsewhere for mains. :p

After dinner, D and I headed out to take night pics at the Esplanade with our Panasonic Lumix LX3 (yes, he has the same one!). I must say I am extremely satisfied with my camera purchase (yup, just got this a couple of weeks ago!) and I love how the pictures come out without flash looking so sharp. Here are some of the pictures I took!

ORGO – rooftop bar at the Esplanade

Came here a couple of times before and since I was there taking pics, just thought I’d give it a special mention for those of you who haven’t been there. It’s a pretty cool place with a nice ambience. You can reserve little glass box rooms for a more private chilling with your friends or sit under the stars. It’s really pretty. But do make your reservations at least a week in advance especially if you are hoping to get the box rooms. I recall there being a minimum spending too.

The Esplanade was surprisingly crowded the night I was there. Not sure if there was a performance in the theaters but there was a local act performing outdoors by the water and it wasn’t bad at all. I was surprised at the audience that had gathered to watch but the performers were really pretty good. I think it was nice how people just sat around to watch and the atmosphere was relaxed and nice. I liked it. The acoustics were good and it was very enjoyable just being there. Many people seem to have taken an interest in photography as well and I saw many people just sitting on the steps around, near the water, and many taking pictures of our skyline and of course the view of the magnificent Marina Bay Sands, Fullerton Hotel, Merlion, Singapore Flyer, etc. It was really pretty and reminded me somewhat of the Shanghai Bun, except the Bun had more lights and some of the buildings look quite tacky. I think Singapore did good.

Nothing to do on a Saturday night? Check out the Esplanade, and remember to bring your camera!

Where to go in Hong Kong: POP BITES

Was recommended this place by my girls who were working and living in Hong Kong. A nice quaint little place for afternoon tea and for late night desserts. Whilst I haven’t tried dinner there, my friends say it is pretty yummy and inexpensive. I like the place for its ambience mostly. A small cosy joint to chill with friends, or spend some alone time with that book or magazine. There is a little area with a sofa, perfect for a bunch of girlies to sink their butts in and engage in their usual chatter amidst wine or tea and some sweets.

PLAYERS Restaurant & Bar

Not sure what to do on a Friday night? Meeting a bunch of friends with no idea what to do and where to go? Well you could check out PLAYERS Restaurant & Bar. Located along Carpenter Street, PLAYERS is actually quite nice place to catch up with friends, hang out and have good clean fun amidst beer and games.

There are actually 2 stories to PLAYERS although I must admit I went straight up to the 2nd floor. I was famished so I ordered some garlic fries and the chicken thigh whilst my friend got the steak.

I couldn’t quite taste the garlic in the fries, but it was tasty. Interestingly enough though, S claimed I had garlic breath all night. So you might want to avoid this dish if you are out on a date.

The chicken thigh was mediocre but for the price I paid, I would re-rate it as good. Whilst the seasoning is similar to that of Kenny Rogers, this was much better in terms of flavour, presentation and the quality of meat. The boiled vegetables were also a grade above that of Kenny Rogers. And the best part? It wasn’t even expensive. I would go as far as saying I thought it was rather cheap if not reasonably priced.

So what can you do at PLAYERS? After some dinner, you could engage in some drinking games with your friends with the ever popular being Beer-Pong. This is essentially beer in cups with the use of ping-pong balls. Go figure. They also have board games, and stuff like JENGA (the balancing game), darts, etc. PLAYERS is a bar. But in an interesting sorta way, I actually find it pretty wholesome.

Great for group gatherings/outings and a lazy night out.

Pictures taken using my blackberry hence the poorer quality.

PLAYERS

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=81194158801

 

SPRUCE: Lovely ambience for brunch & tea

S was recommended this place by a friend so we decided to check it out. It was a late Saturday afternoon and we were looking for a place to chill, munch and snuggle into our latest addiction – HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER. Located along Tanglin road, SPRUCE is a little single story “house” located on a slight hill. Covered with luscious greenery, the dark woody decor makes it look really cosy from the outside.

There are actually 2 sections to SPRUCE. One being the outdoor section which is fully sheltered and relatively dim even at day because of the surrounding trees. Ironically, the indoor segment is really bright and cheery. Natural sunlight is allowed to penetrate through glass window panels and the high ceiling gives the place a spacious feel. In fact, you kinda feel like you are out in the country somewhat.

So top scores for ambience, however as we were here for tea, I am afraid I can’t quite comment on the food. S and I ordered some cheese, tea and latte; all of which were good though nothing particularly fantastic or differentiating. I promised to return for brunch or dinner and you can be sure I will do a proper review on it!

Pictures taken using my blackberry bold hence the poorer quality.

Rooftop Chillin’ with Friends

We were bored and so we decided to check out some place new. S suggested a boutique hotel since they seem to be sprouting all over our sunny island. I surfed the internet and chanced upon newly opened Wangz. The rooftop bar – HALO; looked cosy and peaceful. The bar was lined by a shallow water terrace and was nicely lit. It looked really good from the pictures on the website and so we went.

We didn’t have trouble finding the place but we had a problem trying to park. In the end, we parked at Linked Hotel’s open air parking right next to the hotel. Frankly, the hotel was not much of a looker from the outside. The architecture and facade was very much like a police station or some whack office building. Right at the junction near the CTE entrance/exit for Outram, Wangz really was not eye-catching, AT ALL.

The interior was small and cramped but well-lit to slightly make up for the hotel’s dull exterior. Perhaps it’s because I was comparing to Scarlet Hotel or Hotel 1821 (the one that houses Restaurant Ember), Wang’s failed to strike an impression with me and was fairly disappointing. When we arrived, there was a big dinner going on in what seemed like the hotel lobby. The place is seriously small. We were led up to the rooftop by enthusiastic service staff only to realise we were the only guests. It is important to mention though that this was before their official opening and they were still in the midst of their soft launch and had only been opened a week.

When we arrived at Halo, it wasn’t really like how it looked in the pictures. It rained earlier so the place was damp and the lights that made the place look so warm and inviting on the website were off. We later found out that they had blown shortly after opening and that they were still in the midst of twigging the little glitches such as an extendable roof for when it rains, some fans, lights, and tables fitted in the water area.

We were served by an Italian bartender who made a few creative concoctions of his own. He was quite a delight to talk to and apparently it was only his first week in Singapore. We talked to him for a bit and it was pretty cool being the only customers for we got his full attention and personalised service. He was basically the only one upstair serving us the entire night and we actually felt bad towards the end as we probably were the only reason preventing him from an early night.

All in all, the place makes for a nice out-of-the-city getaway. Something different, away from the crowds. A nice place to just chill with good company, catch up with old friends and perhaps even throw a get together party.

Will I go back again? Maybe…but then again, there are so many other boutique hotels with rooftop bars to check out. I particularly like Breeze @ Scarlet Hotel. More on that next time…

HALO

Wangz Boutique Hotel

http://www.wangzhotel.com/

Midweek Chillin’ with Girls

It’s Christmas week and for some reason, I wasn’t feeling it. I guess you see the many empty tables at work, the darkened rooms, as people go for their long vacation and clear their leave; see scores of people in town especially at the newly opened 313 which I think is pretty awesome. But somehow, I just wasn’t feeling it, YET.

It was a long and tough day at work and I met up with some of the girls for dinner and drinks. Dinner was at Out of the Pan, located at the basement of Raffles City near the fountain. We didn’t originally intend to eat there but as it was far too crowded elsewhere and we were much too tired, we settled. To our pleasant surprise, there was a 1 for 1 with Citibank credit cards on the savoury crepes so it was pretty much a 10 bucks per pax meal.

Whilst it is obvious the service staff really tried their best to serve us well and be attentive to all their customers, it was difficult getting their attention. I attribute it to a case of ratio whereby there just weren’t enough staff to cater to all the customers. Not to mention the layout of the restaurant has everyone sprawled out which made it difficult for the service staff to see and I guess maneuver. Plus with the open concept of the restaurant and so many people walking around outside of the restaurant, it can get pretty confusing and distracting. I am close to saying chaotic.

The food was mediocre. Nothing special and the various crepes we tried left us unimpressed. I’m afraid I really don’t have much to say about the food for it really was just average. Perhaps even blend. My friend who had the Seafood Jungle was quite happy with her order so I guess it would be something you could try. G and I had 2 different crepes which had beef in it and we thought ours were just alright.

After dinner, we stumbled into CITY SPACE on the 70th floor (I think), just below the stairs leading to New Asia Bar. We had initially wanted to drink at New Asia but it was packed. I was actually rather surprised. Maybe it’s the holiday season that everybody was feeling but if this is how it was every other week, Man, I really need a life after work!

Sorry the pictures are blurry as I took them without flash. Didn’t wanna be flashing when the room was so dim.

City Space turned out to be a really nice place. It was a cosy little hole in the wall which had the signature view. It was beautiful. Glass walls all the way to the top lined a side of the room and of course with it’s high ceiling, the night view was breathtaking. There was also a female singer who provided the only entertainment but she was pretty good with a jazz feel to her music. The drinks were rather expensive though averaging $20 for a mere cocktail and $30 plus for a glass of wine.

For the ambience I probably might go back again, perhaps with S for a nice romantic night out. It’s not somewhere I would visit over the weekend though or on a Friday night, probably because it is just too near my work place or too much in the heart of the city; but for a weekday destresser, this could be it.