I am on Instagram!

I know, I have been neglecting this blog and I feel awful about it. I love writing and I am passionate about food and I want to share my life in Hong Kong as an expat; with every one of you.

For now, Instagram is my platform. I have restaurant reviews, travel, fashion (yes, those outfit of the day shots) and basically a peek into my life here as a Singaporean living in Hong Kong. Until I finally become more disciplined with blogging, please follow me on Instagram @germaine_says

I promise I still do take the time to write about the restaurants I go to and enjoy on these Instagram posts. Insta stories is my new favourite too as it allows me to capture the audio visual of a moment which I think it’s a great way of sharing an experience. It’s like you are right there with me!

So, until I revamp this blog and be more conscientious with my posts, see you on Instagram!

@germaine_says – please do leave comments and let me know what posts u would like to see more of on my Instagram!

Restaurant Review: Under the Bridge Spicy Crab (Hong Kong)

For those of you who have been following my blog, you probably figured out that I am a huge fan of crabs. I grew up in Singapore and to this day, I would say we serve the best crabs in terms of quality, variety and cooking styles. The Black Pepper Crabs at Long Beach and Jumbo, White Pepper Crabs and Salted Egg Yolk Crabs from Long Beach, Salted Egg Yolk and Curry Crab from No.3 Crab Delicacy…just to name a few. And of    course the Black Pepper Crabs from Joo Chiat Road…Living in HK has been great except I really miss my Singaporean local delights (hawker food!) and my crabby indulgences. SO, needless to say, I have been on a hunt, looking for something close to satisfy my crab cravings. The one commonly recommended was Under the Bridge Spicy Crab – their specialty? Fried Crab with Crispy Garlic and Chilli which has varying levels of spice depending on your capacity.

I came with high hopes and left sorely disappointed. In fact, I gave it at least 3 chances, coming with 3 different Singaporeans and we all left dissatisfied. Perhaps it’s the Singaporean palate that has been spoilt with flavour and the availability of large Sri Langkan crabs with succulent meat, but this just didn’t cut it for me. Still, many flock here to try their famous spicy crabs and if you didn’t know better, I guess it suffices.

Crabs in HK are generally more expensive than Singapore in my opinion, given the size and crab quality. A 1.2kg crab could cost you about 500HKD-600HKD (~90-100 SGD) yet of poorer quality than what you will get in SG. I know that in some places in SG, your would get 1.3kg for the same or less.

So the first problem for me, was the crab size. They were not big. You could request for a larger crab, but you would be paying through your nose for that.

Crab quality – the meat just wasn’t succulent and sometimes it didn’t taste entirely fresh. The meat would stick to the shells and often times the pincers were not full. The shells were also very difficult to crack unless the Sri Langkan ones in Singapore I was used to. I would wager that these are probably mud crabs for the price of Sri Langkan ones.

In terms of preparation, I do like this Garlic and Chilli preparation however the one at this particular restaurant is way too salty for my liking. And for those who know me, I like flavour and salt is my thing. However even by my standard this is a tad too salty.

I have found another place, a “da-pai-dang” as they call it here that serves decent quality crabs with good flavour in their cooking styles. They serve this preparation as well and they do it so much better. You can taste the garlic and spice, both of which infuse perfectly with the crab. Will write about this place soon. Watch this space…

Under the Bridge Spicy Crab

G/F-3/F, Ascot Mansion, 421-425 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, HK Tel: 852) 2893 1289 / 2834 6818 (Exit C, Causeway Bay Station)

Restaurant Review: Aqua (Kowloon, Hong Kong)

B, S and I had been meaning to organise a boozy brunch for some time. B had been to the Aqua brunch and she loved it, so we gathered the troops cross harbour to Kowloon!

I’ll admit, I am not at home in Kowloon. In fact, I think I have only been there a handful of times since moving to HK a year ago. My visits to Kowloon have been limited to ICC and Harbour City for client appointments and one time to a Korean Chicken Wings place. But I was game for an afternoon of gluttony with good company and lots and lots of wine!

The Antipasto Platter

The Sashimi Platter

The buffet works with an unlimited supply of appetizers, namely the Antipasto platter and the Sashimi platter. This was heaven for me as I love my sashimi. The salmon was very fresh but I have to say that the toro was a tad disappointing as it was a little “fishy” for me. Also, they could have been more generous with the portions but perhaps it was their way of making us keep ourselves in check for we kept asking for a refill! 🙂

 

Green Tea Soba Noodle with Poached Japanese egg

Homemade potato Gnocchi gently tossed in a black truffle cream sauce with fine herbs

Paccheri “Verrigni” in duck ragout flavoured with orange and rosemary

The restaurants serves one of each pasta and you are welcome to ask for more servings. I must say the pasta is pretty heavy and by the time I was done trying a bit of everything, I was stuffed that I didn’t have much room left for the mains. The pastas were average. Nothing stood out in particular, but I guess it’s good lining for the stomach especially if you were going to be boozing on free flow champs and wine.

Slow cooked Marsala beef cheek with fresh herb potato puree

I am generally not a fan of beef cheeks so it’s probably unfair for me to review this. Not even sure why I chose the beef cheeks given my long standing dislike for the dish (what was I thinking). I will say it was done nicely, soft and tender. The gravy went really well with the potato puree and the boys loved it with one of them having my remaining half portion.

Aqua Dessert Platter

The dessert platter was delightful and perfect way to end the meal. There was a good variety on that platter and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

Would I return though? Probably not. The view is awesome however for what they offer and the price, I think I would pick the champs brunch at Zuma or Tiffin Lounge anytime simply because the variety is just better and the quality of food is also of good standard, making them a lot more value for money. The ambience at both places, though lacking the incredible Aqua view, still make for a good boozy Sunday afternoon.

Aqua

29 + 30F

One Peking

Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong

Reservations : +852 3427 2288

Restaurant Review: Aberdeen Street Social (Hong Kong)

So when Aberdeen Street Social first opened at PMQ HK, it was all the hype. Reservations has to be made at least 2-4 weeks in advance and there were specific seatings. I was told they serve a gd brunch menu and was anxious to check it out. But as with any new restaurant, I always believed in letting them settle in before checking it out so I waited.

My first time to Aberdeen Street Social was for dinner with a group of friends on a weekday. I was really looking forward to it although by this time, I had already heard some negative reviews about how it was over priced and not meeting expectations but I wanted to judge for myself.

We arrived on time for our reservation but as the table wasn’t ready we started off with cocktails at the bar. The bar was dimly lit but not so much cosy as it was simply dark. The cocktails were pretty decent and I liked how they served mine with a glow in the dark ice cube. Given our late dinner reservation, I must say the cocktails and good company didn’t distract me from our half hour wait. After what seemed like forever, we were finally seated.

The glow in the dark ice cube which added that much coolness to my fancy cocktail :)

We ordered some appetizers to share and decided to have the steak as a main for it came highly recommended. Our starters came and I was thinking to myself “so far so good”. The portions were small but I guess it was like every other high end restaurant so no complaints there. The presentation was good and they the dishes had a good flavour. They certainly whet my appetite for what was to come.

The steak came. A huge chunk of meat placed on a wooden board. My first thought was it looked thick and dry. Upon placing it in my mouth, I was proven right and sorely disappointed. I have had some great steak in Singapore Mortons, Wolfgang CUT, Chris Ruth’s Steakhouse and in Sydney at the Rockpool Steakhouse; and these are just some of the more memorable ones. Well, the steak at Aberdeen Street Social just didn’t cut it for me and I didn’t enjoy it. There were no morsels of fat like Rockpool and CUT, neither was it juicy like Mortons and CRS. It was actually bland and a tad difficult to go down. For the amount we were paying, I told myself I would not return.

However I did. This time for brunch. I must say I like the ambience on a Sunday afternoon, with the french doors and sunlight coming in against the dark wooden decor. The menu was simple but interesting and it was pretty decent. I think it’s a good brunch venue but again, i wasn’t thoroughly impressed. It wasn’t particularly value for money, neither was it distinctively awesome tasting, and the ambience could be replicated and I prefer something more open to begin with.

I would say however that the steak at brunch was better seasoned and more tasty. I like how they presented the dish and it was good for the money paid. 

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Perhaps Aberdeen Street Social will work for some, but unfortunately it’s not up my street. I wouldn’t be back.

Aberdeen Street Social

35 Aberdeen Street, Central, Hong Kong
+852 2866 0300

FRESH OYSTERS AT HKD18 EVERY WED!

SO for those of you who have been following my blog, you would know that I was never an oyster fan. I found it eeky and very sea-ish most times. One random Wed night in HK, I decided to check out the oysters at CVCHE along Wydnham as they looked really fresh and it would have been a cheap experiment at 18 bucks – It was amazing! So apparently these are Finn de Clairs (I learn later that even amongst Finn de Clairs there are many types) and I love them! Not too sea-ish but extremely palatable. Whilst some people have their oysters with just lemon or tabasco, I like mine with some onions and and vinegar.

I wouldn’t say oysters are my thing now, because my ultimate comfort foods are still crabs and escargots with garlic and herb butter; but I do feel that oysters with wine and good company make for a very relaxing night and is the perfect wind down for a mid week.

For those living in HK, be sure to check out CVCHE along Wyndham on Wednesdays. Reservations required. Nowadays the default isn’t Finn de Clairs though but Coffin Bay which is good too. 20% off total bill if you dine between 6-8pm!

My First Rugby Sevens in Hong Kong

So this entry is months overdue but I figured it was still worth penning down.

I have heard of the Rugby Sevens in HK for the longest time. It’s when party people from all over converge in HK and turn every inch of the streets into one massive party. There are of course those who fly in to watch the actual games but the highlight has to be the parties during the games as well. It’s almost festive and the entire week feels exciting with people not in the mood to work and just waiting to knock off. Some would even get off and start Happy Hour early. It’s pretty similar to the Grand Prix F1 weekend in Singapore.

I managed to score some tickets to the game for both Friday and Saturday. The stadium is like one huge club with many rooms of different themes and music. These rooms are actually sponsored “boxes”, mostly by banks and they each usually have their own themes, fully stocked with free flow beers and some light bites. The best boxes this year have to be one of the HSBC boxes (there were 4 different ones I think) which was pretty much like a club, the UBS box which had face painting and cowboy hats. It was good fun and the atmosphere was incredible. People dress up in costumes, almost like Halloween. Put that with loads of beer, great music and sports, the stadium was rockin’.

Plenty of party options all through the week, I thought this party in the park was really nice. The weather was perfect, cool and with a slight breeze every now and then. Against the back drop of HK’s beautiful city skyline, this was perfect for an outdoor concert. Whilst I liken this to Gardens by the Bay in Singapore where I attended the Jason Mraz concert, I think the edge HK has is the fact she has 4 seasons, allowing more conducive weather for such parties and concerts in the park.

After the party in the park which I was kindly invited to by a fellow Singaporean client, I went for yet another party at the LKF Hard Rock Cafe. This was a private event, a company party for one of my clients who again was sweet to invite me. Live band, lots of booze and finger food along with high spirited people dancing away with huge colourful afro wigs and colourful blinker plastic glasses, it was good fun. Unfortunately this was during a time when I was consumed by work and wasn’t in the mood (my first 6 months in HK – refer to earlier entry) so whilst I tried to get in the groove, I was a wooden block, dull and boring in my sombre work clothes and rigid mind constantly reminding myself of work the next day and how exhausted I was – not happening next year. Rugby Sevens 2015, I’ll be ready for you!!!

My First Bubble Soccer

I’m not sure how many of you have seen the youtube video that was floating round Facebook about bubble soccer – essentially soccer except you are inside something like an air filled ball; well not exactly in it per se, but holding it up like some sorta shield. Whilst the game goes on, players may bump each other like bumber cars in a bid to get the ball. Other than the usual out lines, there are essentially no rules.  A friend of mine decided to organise a bubble soccer match (the first to be played in HK) for her birthday. There is now an official Bubble Soccer HK facebook page where u could contact them should u wish to organise a game of your own. The referees and bubbles will be provided with venue suggestions to choose from. For my friend’s birthday party, we had the bubble soccer in an indoor basketball court – too small in my opinion but it was the first and very experimental -Thanks KL for inviting me!

My friend T and I picking out purple costumes to wear in our bubble because YES, we were in the PURPLE team!

 That’s me, Brinjal (eggplant) meets Hit Girl in a purple wig 

GO PURPLE TEAM!!!! We finished 2nd!!! Woooohooooo!!!!

It was great fun and definitely an experience. Will I do it again? Maybe but if I do, I’m gonna make sure I am better prepared with knee pads!!! Check out my awful bruising!

***Tip to the girls: Don’t bother trying to ram into a dude. The impact of your bubble against his will have u fall regardless. If you are lucky, he falls with u, if not; it’s just u babe. The boys somehow are always still standing! Have other guys ram them down 😉

Restaurant Review: Yardbird (Hong Kong)

Yardbird is one of those must-go restaurants in HK. To be honest, the food ain’t michelin awesome but it’s really about the vibe, the service, and the promise of a chill night. As with most fashionable restaurants, Yardbird does not take reservations and the wait list could be from an hour to two. The trick is go really early or to go get your name on the list for a dinner an hour later. A sister to another of my favourite restaurants, Ronin (a speakeasy whiskey bar/restaurant), Yardbird is good fun and a great place for visitors looking for a NYC groove.

Serving mainly yakitori, they manage to cook almost all parts of a chicken it seems. The oyster sells out quickly so remember to reserve it if you are waitlisted. For those of you as clueless as I was, “oyster” in this instance does not refer to the afrodisiac we are all so familiar with but rather a part of the chicken just above the bum. It’s supposed to be one of the best parts. I don’t mind the oyster but I think for me, my favourites have to be the neck, the thighs and inner thighs as they are tender and juicy.

This is my favourite dish at Yardbird – the sweetcorn tempura. I love how they fried it with a very light batter and a dash of salt which makes the entire dish come together nicely. I will say it is one of those which is a hit or miss for some, though a hit more often than not.

A signature dish at Yardbird, is the KFC cauliflower. It kinda feels a tad korean I must say, the spice and the strong flavour of the batter surrounding a simple cauliflower. I don’t care too much for the sesame seeds I will admit. The staff will always tell u that the lime makes a huge difference but personally, I prefer it without.

Speaking of the staff, the ones upstairs are very upbeat and extremely personable, attentive and with an excellent memory; it makes the Yardbird experience. I almost always get good service here except one time when I was seated downstairs and the staff barely caught my eye and got my orders wrong and forgot a thing or two. That night was a disappointment. Otherwise, Yardbird always scores when I bring visitors and is great for a random weekday night.

Yardbird

33 Bridges St, Hong Kong
+852 2547 9273

Hong Kong 2014

For those of you who have been faithfully following my blog, I thank u and I am truly sorry for deleting all the previous entries. I hope my previous article stating my list of favourite eats in SG would somehow suffice.

I moved to HK for work end of last year and it has been a tumultuous 6 months. Moving out of the house, where I have been blessed to have a maid take care of me, and to live with my family who are always there for me; and coming out here to live on my own…it has been educational and rewarding. I enjoy the independence and the time away. Whilst I definitely miss my family and friends back in SG, the distance and difference also allows one to appreciate the good. Besides taking care of myself and the very basics of living alone, it has also been challenging meeting new people and making new friends. Technically, I haven’t really made new friends in years. Sure, we form acquaintances, but we always have that set of friends to fall back on. The ones that know us and do not judge, the like minded companions and the ones who will be there to catch you when you fall. I have always thought of myself as a sociable and extroverted person, but since moving here, I find it challenging fostering connections and deep genuine relationships. When is it time to bring down those walls and open up to a new friend? When is it too much too soon?

Whenever people hear I had just moved over, they always tell me “HK is a great place to meet people.” “You make friends all the time.” But the reality as I see it is, yes, you meet a lot of people provided you put yourself out there and mingle. Making friends? Not so much. People are generally less cliquish than in Singapore, and there is a very wide variety of people from various backgrounds. Also the expats tend to clutter together in the same areas so it is easy to run into people. As most people you meet tend not to be natives, they too are looking for friends and to belong so people are more open to conversation. That being said, depending on which wave of people coming into HK, some would have already formed firm friendships and whilst they are welcoming, there is still an invisible barb wire.

Most of my friends were in HK for work 2007-2012 and they have mostly left to return home or move elsewhere to start families. A large number of the people I meet now are my brother’s age, a good 5 years younger. Despite the age differences, I have learnt to be more open minded and use this opportunity to get to know and understand more about people from various cultural backgrounds and take in the maturity of the minds as opposed to the numerical age.

My first 6 months went by  so quickly and with so many kinks. Now, yet another year older, and at the halfway mark for 2014; I am resolved to live my life in HK the best way possible. To be that person I wanna be, to discover myself and to learn and experience as much as possible. HK is a vibrant city with much to see and do. I love it here. The convenience and just how everyone is so upbeat and alive. Despite having never been, I would liken HK to New York City, with a strong dining and happy hour culture, as well as many outdoor activities and beautiful sights. People in HK generally make more effort to dress up too which adds to the fun and view.

I have tried a couple of interesting restaurants and chilled at a couple of bars/lounges here and I am looking forward to blogging all about them, so STAY TUNED! 🙂 2nd half of 2014 –> I am back!

My SG List

I have received quite a few comments regarding my deletion of all previous entries. Almost all of you feel I should not have deleted all my entries as they served as good references. For those of you who have been following my blog for the last couple of years, I am really sorry.

My blog was created when I was in a relationship with S. At that time, he and his brothers were running yum.sg which I was contributing articles to. I decided then to start foodgossip since I was doing the reviews anyway and I had quite a bit of spare time back then, especially at night when S would be working and I didn’t have much to do. Many of the reviews were done with him, which was why I decided to remove them all, and start on a clean slate. However, as a consolation (I hope), I have come up with my list of favourite haunts thus far and I hope this helps. I will review new places I have been to as well as old places I have revisited but please be patient with me as I have less time these days. So, here goes!

FAVOURITE RESTAURANTS

Gunthers (French)

Gunther’s Specialty: Cold Angelhair Pasta with Truffles

I have actually been here a couple of times and I love the food here as well as the immaculate service. You must try their house speciality, the Cold Angelhair Pasta with Truffles. This is heavenly and is done to perfection. Usually I will order their daily specials. So far, I have tried the Wagyu beef and the lobster, both of which were deliciously prepared.

Gunthers is  tad pricey, however you can order to share and they will split the portions accordingly. I reckon a 3-sharing would be just about right.

Celebrated my big 3 here with my girlies

Shinji (Japanese Omakase)

Shinji at Raffles Hotel has the best sushi omakase in town. Go during lunch as it is more value-for-money. Personally, I love sitting by the sushi counter and my favourite sushi chef has got to be Oshiniro-san (you may request for him). The rice portion and temperature is perfect. Everything there is delicately done and every bit of sushi just melts in your mouth.

Gyu Kaku (Japanese BBQ) – CHIJMES outlet

I used to love Chang’s Korean BBQ at Dempsey. But after I discovered Gyu Kaku, I have actually never gone back to Chang’s. I find Gyu value for money and I love the taste of their short ribs. Every piece is tender and juicy. There is no need to order the Wagyu standard as the regular beef is amazing. The pork belly is also pretty good. You must order their speciality salad as well as their soups. I actually get cravings for Gyu sometimes. Love this place.

Celebrating my big figure change with my Bestie @ Work!

Long Beach Seafood – Dempsey outlet

White Pepper Crab

Salted Egg Yolk Crab

Black Pepper Crab

I love crabs. For those of you who have been following my blog, crabs are one of 2 of my biggest loves (the other being escargots). I have tried many places for crabs and I must say that Long Beach Dempsey has been the most consistent in terms of crab quality and preparation. The crabs are sizable and meaty. The meat is succulent, fresh and firm. In terms of preparation, they are best for their Black Pepper, White Pepper and Salted Egg Yolk. In fact, I would go as far as to say that their Salted Egg Yolk is by far the best I have had as I am by nature not an egg yolk lover. Be sure to book in advance though as this place is always full!

Bamboo Clams with Garlic

Aside from crabs, other dishes worth ordering would be their herbal prawns or drunken prawns, their bamboo clams with garlic, sambal kang kung and for dessert, the aloe vera jelly with dry ice!

Aloe Vera Dessert!

Jumbo Seafood – Dempsey outlet

Jumbo Chilli Crab

For awesome chilli crabs, I recommend Jumbo. Whilst Long Beach has good ones as well, the Jumbo chill crabs stand out more somehow. There is a better blend of chilli, ketchup, eggs and whatever magic it is that they mix into their sauce. Pair it with fried or steamed buns, the chilli crabs here are tasty and addictive.

Jumbo Black Pepper Crab

Although I prefer the black pepper crabs at Long Beach, I sometimes do crave for the black pepper crabs at Jumbo. It is prepared differently with a stronger black pepper taste along with butter. However there has to be the right balance for I find the standard inconsistent and when there is too much pepper, it kills the taste of the crabs and all you get is that pepperish after taste.

Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse 

I have been fortunate enough to try steaks at many of the acclaimed steakhouses like Cut @ MBS, Mozza Osteria @ MBS, Mortons @ Mandarin Oriental, etc; and I must say the most impressive and memorable steak I have had, was the one I had at Ruth’s Chris Steakhous @ Pan Pacific Hotel. The meat was juicy with just the right amount of fat nicely spread out in minced portions throughout the steak. It was not overly done but simply grilled and the taste of the steak was not marred by any over-bearing sauce. The restaurant provides a variety of sauces for you to choose from. These complemented the flavour of the steak and the sides were delicious as well, enhancing the overall experience.

One of the better steaks I have had in my life was at Rockpool Grill & Bar in Sydney. The steak at Ruth’s comes a close second if not on par.

Koh Grill & Sushi Bar

Located in the food court of Wisma, Koh Grill & Sushi Bar is one of my discoveries for the year. I read about it on someone’s food blog and made a reservation to check it out with the girls. I thought it was a regular restaurant at first, but I had my doubts when the number given was a mobile number. I was actually surprised to find it beside Ding Tai Fung in Food Republic.

Open concept, there was a long queue when we arrived. The turnover was pretty quick and since I had a reservation, we didn’t have to wait long.

Sunday night dinner w A & L

The menu was simple and straight forward. Everything look yummy and I was soon ordering away. This was made easy especially with the very reasonable pricing. My personal favourites were the aburi salmon sushi, salmon  carpaccio, and their in house specialty, the shiok sushi. The salmon carpaccio was rather unique and tasty. Not the best I have had, but it was good and the salmon was very fresh and served in generous portions. I particularly enjoyed the shiok sushi. I generally avoid sushi rolls in Japanese restaurants as I find them rather heavy and dry after 2 pieces. And until the shiok sushi, I had not come across a sushi roll that was tasty. On a subsequent occasion, I tried the shiok sushi #2, but it wasn’t as memorable and the flavour was similar to other sushi rolls.

Koh Grill & Sushi Bar is value for money and yet with a very good standard of sushi. I would definitely go back again. I have actually been there twice and I hope to bring my family there next.

FAVOURITE HAWKER CENTRE

Chomp Chomp @ Serangoon Gardens

I grew up a “gardener” and anyone who understands that, know Chomp Chomp is one of the key landmarks and is pretty much synonymous with Serangoon Gardens.

Forget Newton Circus, Chomps has the best BBQ chicken wings, BBQ stingray, lala, Hokkien Mee, Sugar Cane Juice, Satay, and Carrot Cake – you just need to know which are the right stalls to go to!

My favourite BBQ seafood stall is the first stall on the left (assuming u r facing chomps). The stingray here has just the right amount of sambal, burnt just enough to have the flavour of a grill, with the optimum amount of onions…it’s perfection. The lala is amazing as well. The sauce is divine. I always felt that their lala sauce was distinctive and tasty enough to rival that of the chilli crab. I am sure the same sauce would go very well with other seafood. Although I must say that the lala flavour complements the spice and sweetness of the sauce perfectly. I like their sambal kang kung too. It’s not too spicy and has just the right mix of prawn paste and sambal.

The best hokkien mee stall has definitely got to be Ah Hock Hokkien Mee, located on deeper in on the right side (assuming u r facing chomps). Expect a minimum waiting time of 30mins. The hokkien mee here is very unique and I have to say, the best I have had. They use thin bee hoon and have a good mix of bee hoon and yellow noodles. It is not too dry neither is it prepared wet like some other stalls. The Ah Hock hokkien mee is dry yet moist, full of flavour and served with one of the best sambal chillis. It is actually addictive and one would crave for it at times. Definitely worth the wait!

FAVOURITE CHILL-OUT SPOTS

10 Scotts @ The Hyatt Hotel

It’s perfect for that afternoon tea with the girls or even a Saturday night out where u enjoy simple, tasty food, slowly over girly chatter. Free flow of wine and comfy couches with a cosy setting, you could laze here for hours.

We celebrated G’s birthday here and it was a relaxing, fun and chill night. We started out with the trays of appetizers and moved on to the main course, ending off with cheese and fruit. We did this over 4 hours of chatter and lots of wine. Mid-way through the night, we were happy-high and just enjoying each others’ company. It’s the perfect way to unwind after a long stressful week. 10 Scotts is neither pretentious nor stiff, instead it is very homely. I like the concept of a simple and limited selection of food and the free flow wine. This ensured that there was quality yet it didn’t make you feel like you had to try a lot of things and gobble down lots of food. It was a very focused buffet and it allowed you to pace yourself and really just enjoy the night out.

By the end of the night, we were sufficiently full and satisfied yet not overly stuffed and feeling like we just gorged a huge buffet meal.

Martini Bar @ Mezzanine at the Hyatt Hotel

I love this place especially after work as it is away from the business district so you feel adequately away from the office yet it is also central so you don’t feel like you are away from town. It is often packed so you have to go early or you won’t be able to get good comfy seats, or any seats at all. On Wednesdays from 6-9pm I believe, there is a 1-for-1 martini special. They have an extensive variety of cocktails and again, this is a great place for a girly night.

I have been here a handful of times and I have actually always been here with my colleagues. So it really isn’t a girly-place per se. Unlike most bars, you don’t have to contend to mediocre finger food here. They have a pretty decent selection of finger food and you are also able to order sushi and other dishes from the mezzanine kitchen itself. I personally love the chicken wings here as they break it up into convenient pieces and fry them golden brown. Hot edamame also goes surprisingly well with cocktails, as does sushi.

     

Having a rough day at work? Or just need to unwind and chill? The Martini Bar @ Mezzanine is relaxing and enjoyable as you get nicely high on delicious cocktails and fill your stomachs with yummy food.

Mad Men Bar

The Mad Men Bar was introduced to me by a friend and since then, I have actually patronised the place at least a dozen times. Located along North Canal Road, on the roof of a shophouse, Mad Men is in the heart of the CBD and if you are seated outside, you are literally surrounded by the taller office buildings which has a certain feel to it especially at night when the lights come on.

It is rather difficult to get  a seat at Mad Men so if you are coming in a group, I suggest you make reservations or go as early as 6pm. The place is mostly full with bankers and lawyers working in the vicinity. Mad is popular for its offering of Black Nikka, however they do serve other alcoholic beverages and I must say very decent bar food.

For me, the highlight of Mad has to be the live band. I love live bands and Mad showcases some of the best local bands and singers. Every night is a different act, and whilst they all have their unique styles, they are also extremely talented and the bar is set pretty high at Mad.

Unpretentious, very casual with good music, Mad is one of my favourite places to be when I just want to chill after work with some friends. It is not cushy and comfortable whereby you can laze there, but it is relaxing and entertaining. Think rowdy bar with live music, full of people standing right under the stars, nestled in the middle of tall concrete buildings.

FAVOURITE PLACE FOR MY FAVOURITE FOOD (other than crabs) – ESCARGOTS

The Ship Restaurant

Back in the day, when I was a little girl, I was really skinny and my palms were white as sheet. The doctor told my parents that I had more white blood cells than red and they needed to feed me with more red meat. And for as long as I can remember, we used to patronise The Ship Restaurant at Shaw Centre every week, where I would have my mushroom soup, garlic bread, half a dozen escargots and either the Ship Steak or the New York Steak. My drink would always be the Ship’s Evergreen Drink, which was essentially a non-alcoholic mocktail. As we went there so often, this mocktail eventually became “on the house” whenever we dined there.

Today, the outlet at Shaw Centre is closed for renovation and they currently have one outlet at NEX. The Ship has transformed over the years from a mid-range restaurant where we would actually dress up to dine, to a relatively casual restaurant with people going in slippers and shorts. The family restaurant now also serves asian food such as fish noodle soup and have a wide variety of set meals to choose from.

Personally, I find the standard of the steaks has dropped, or perhaps I have grown a more discerning palate; but I wouldn’t come here for the steak. The steaks are average, and similar to those of a western food stall in at a food centre. However, there is one thing which they used to do fantastic and still do – their Escargots. I have tried escargots at many restaurants, and some really high end ones too. But the escargots at The Ship are divine. Served traditionally on an escargots hot steel plate along with the shells, the escargots are done sizzling hot with a generous serving of garlic and herb butter. The taste is exquisite and unique. The garlic is not too overdone, burnt just enough and together with the butter, the entire dish is just extremely mouth-watering. Needless to say, another thing they do very well is their garlic bread. They toast a regular square soft white bread with the same mix of garlic and butter and this is done just right, not too crisp, so the white bread is still soft like a sponge that soaks up the garlic flavour.

Love escargots? Or haven’t tried them? The Ship restaurant serves possibly the best escargots I have ever had.

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I think I shall stop here for now. I will continue on with my lists as I think of other restaurants or haunts to share with you. I have so many new restaurants I have been to which I want to review, as well as topics I want to discuss, beauty items to share…etc. Until my next entry!