Located at Thomson Imperial Court building along the busy Upper Thomson Road, I wouldn’t relate its location to the word ‘convenient’ but as they all say, it does take some effort to have great food on your table and I think Little Pancakes would be one of such cases where abit of extra effort goes a long way. This relatively cozy eatery can seat around 25 people in full capacity, with breakfast and brunch hours being the time where the place is usually bustling with customers.

Going through its menu, I was quite surprised by the wide range of pancake varieties this place has to offer. First, there’s the Sweet section which has all the offerings that a sweet-tooth would love, such as Going Nutella for You ($6.20) whichi comes with generous serving of the hazelnut spread topped with chocolate chips, wafer cubes, almonds and a scoop of chocolate ice-cream. There’s also the Simple and Sweet ($6.50) for those who love pancakes the simple way.

Under the Savoury section, the Big Fan of All Day Breakfast caught my eye and I couldn’t help but to give it a try.

Big Fan of All Day Breakfast ($10.50)

Served with 10 mini pancakes accompanied with special glazed mini sausages, a slab of butter, scrambled eggs, greens and potato salad. This dish is simply huge! It has all you need for a fulfilling breakfast. If you need something less fulfilling but equally taste, consider their Ham and Cheesy ($8.50) which consists of ham, cheese, potato salad and greens.

My Fruity Pie ($8.90)

Love fruits? My Fruity Pie comes with 10 mini pancakes and also an irresistible fruity combo of peaches, kiwi, strawberries and bananas topped with raisins. All these goodness accompanied with a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Interestingly, there’s also a Asian section within the menu which serves pancakes, albeit Singapore style. With interesting names like Singaporeans Unite ($7.50) that has pancakes serve with kaya and butter and condensed milk dip (think kaya-toasts). We ordered the Mr. Bean Turns Red which is recommended  and boy, not only this is one good looking dish but also very tasty indeed. If Azuki Beans and Green Tea Ice Cream are your favourite, this is the perfect order to go for.

Mr. Bean Turns Red ($6.50)

Another customer favourite wold be thte Gimme S’more Oreos! ($8.20) which is a pancake dish that serve tributes to the cookie and campfare treat. A sugar-rush item!

What I love about Little Pancakes is that the mini pancakes here are made fresh only upon order, which not only ensures that what you have on your plate are fresh but also piping hot! Truth be told, it does make a huge difference between a hot and lukewarm pancake. All of my orders have the pancakes consistently done and each of them of almost the same size!

If you need extra toppings or sides to go with your orders, extras can be made at $0.80. Ranging from additional maple syrup, gula melaka syrup,marshmallows, etc. Add all you need to enhance the pancake experience!

Little Pancakes also serve up an extensive drinks menu, with offerings such as Floats, Yakult-based drinks, Juices, Tea and Coffee.

Large Cappucino ($4.50) and Medium Hazelnut Latte ($4.00). Simply put, the coffee here exceeds my expectations

Conclusion
Little Pancakes is the place to go to for bite-size, mini pancakes. The extensive menu means that one could easily find something that suits the tastebuds. The location might be a little bit off for some but I still believe its worth the trip coming by here to have a taste of what Little Pancakes has to offer. This is also one cool place to simply have a cup of coffee and chill out with friends and family.

Ratings: 4.0 foodiedoos out of 5.0

Little Pancakes
200 Upper Thomson Road
#01-04
Singapore 574424
Tel: 62588515
Website

First of all, pardon me to take this long to have my first entry for 2013. The reason it took me this long to reach my first post in 2013 is because I have been involved in quite a bit of freelance photography projects. From pets to food, events and even automobile photography, I’ve been rather involved in shooting for the past few months. With these ‘projects’ ongoing, I would say that time is something that I really need and although it has been really busy for me, I find it completely fulfilling as well.

To cut the chase, 2012 was definitely a great year for me, of which I made many friends throughout my food journey.

And with foodiedoo running into its 3rd year now, I would like to thank all of my fellow readers who have been playing a huge part in motivating me to keep this foodblog running. For my first post in 2013 I would like to share with fellow readers a very special dinner which I attended back in November 2012 at 2am:lab. Those who are unfamiliar with 2am:lab, do checkout the talented team behind it here. Special thanks to Janice Wong, owner and founder of 2am:lab, Jonathan Sparber and last but not least, Roberto Cortez for the amazing evening.

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2am:lab is not your usual restaurant. In fact, I wouldn’t even consider this place as a restaurant at all. You see, the unique thing about 2am:lab, which is the brainchild of talented chef Janice Wong, is to pave the way for culiunary aficionados around the word to be inspired to create new flavours, textures and techniques. Think of 2am:lab as a laboratory for chefs!

2am:lab invites international guest chefs at least 4 times a year and the last chef for 2012 was Chef Roberto Cortez from the States. Roberto, a private chef, flew into Singapore and worked together with the folks at 2am:lab and with their talented minds, came up with an interesting themed 3-night-only dinner called “Illustrious Magic”.

With just around 20 seatings per evening, seats were extremely limited during the run of “Illustrious Magic” and I was given the great opportunity to get involved and worked with a very talented team of chefs.

I still remember when I first met up with Roberto Cortez at 2am:lab, my first impression was that he is definitely a very interesting, charismatic and fun (not to mention, talented) guy. We shook hands after being introduced by Janice and Jonathan and we just sat down, have a chat. At that point of time the team was basically trying to conceptualize and prepare the menu for “Illustrious Magic”. By the end of my first meeting, I could feel the team’s enthusiasm in delivering a magical evening for the guests.

They say that pictures are worth more than a thousand words. Probably a video would be worth alot more then.
See the [creations] video here made by yours truly.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

The seating capacity at 2am:lab is unlike your usual commercial restaurant. With a seating capacity of just 20-seater for each run of the dinner, seats were snapped up rather quickly before the first dinner commenced.

Eventually, after days of prep work and experimentation with the different types of food which Roberto could get his hands on, the dinner arrived. And I was pretty much blown away with what the folks had to offer and I believe so do the guests who attended the dinner. Don’t believe? Check the next [reactions] video out.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

As for the food,I’ll let the shots do the talking this time round. Enjoy!

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I also managed to do a quick interview with Roberto & Jonathan. Huge thanks to them for obliging to my interview request!

Jonathan & Roberto

Hi! Thank you for your time. Glad to have both of you here! Congratulations on your great success of the Illustrious Magic dinner.
R: Thanks Jimmy, it was such an adventure and working with Janice and Jonathan was really enriching.
J: Hi!

Tell us a bit more about yourself and how did you get into culinary creations?
R: I was a musician for a long time. Then when I moved to Austin Texas to get into my own band, I suddenly developed tendonitis in my forearm. It was so severe that my guitar career was over. I saw a commercial on TV for a cooking school and it intrigued me, so I decided to try it. That’s all it took, I was hooked.
J: I was 18 at that time and got bored of the commercial college I went to. Back then,I did not know what to do with my life and after a long thought process I was left with the choice of gardening, design or cooking.  Eventually I chose cooking which has elements of all the things i was interested in.

How did the Illustrious Magic concept at 2am:lab came about and what inspired you to creating these spectacular and amazing dishes?
R: Talking to Jonathan a few months ago we decided to have a concept on which we could create a menu once I got to Singapore. I had been fascinated with magicians and elements of magic. Jonathan and I started to develop the concept even further together. It was great fun, especially creating the dishes with Jonathan, it turned out to develop it’s own style.
J: There were a couple of ideas!  I researched into South-East Asian mythology, fairy tales etc. Roberto then told me about his recent inspirations regarding the traveling magicians in the past century. At the end “Illustrious Magic” became the collaborated creation between Roberto’s and 2am:lab, translating our emotions and thoughts into those dishes.

Where do you get inspirations and ideas for your creations?
R: I literally get inspired by so many things. I love design and art. But music and creative people really get me going.
J: Everywhere! I try to see the world like a 3 year old, to look at things in different angles and rethink a lot. Doubting the usual. there are definitely periods of fixation on certain products, textures, concepts etc. Inspiration is everywhere!

Of the many dinners you have created for the rich & famous, any memorable ones?
R: There was one in particular, It was in the South of France and I was cooking for 14 people. I didn’t know who it was until after the dinner as they asked to meet me in the dining room. I walked into mad clapping and there stood Mick Jagger, Jerry Hall, and whole list of other musicians. I was humbled by their compliments and realized I had a blessed life.
J: Cooking for my family would be memorable since I hardly ever do it.

Question for Jonathan. As a chef yourself, do you have any favorite restaurant where you now live and what do you like about it?
J: Singapore street food in general it is almost always good and theater without a director.

To Roberto. This is your first time in Singapore and in fact, also the first time in South-East Asia. How do you find this part of the word (food-wise, ambiance, etc)? 
R: Well, the street food I had, of many varieties, were the best ever . The variety was amazing but even more the delivery of flavor in different forms, textures and combinations was amazing. the people were so wonderful to me as well.

Any local food which left your tastebuds craving for more?
R: Satay sticks, soursop, mangosteen, curry noodles, fried pumpkin with salted egg yolks, radish omelets, I could go on!

I see that you also take your own photos and videos. As a photographer myself I have to say that your media works are just as good as your skills in the kitchen. Any secrets?
R: I tell people that the only reason I can take photos is because I’m a chef. I know food on many levels so therefore I can see where the food will look it’s most beautiful. As far as videos, I didn’t know what I was doing (literally), I just trusted my creativity to make something inspiring. I just went for it!
J: Natural light would be my ‘secret’.

Once again, thank you for your time and I really hope to see you back here in Singapore!
R: Thanks Jimmy, I really want to make it back there again, after all, I have a whole new group of friends now!
J: Thank you!

I’ve been a regular patron of Orchard Yong Tau Fu for quite a number of years, with my first encounter with this popular food stall at the first level of Cuppage Plaza but I always find the lack of space, the long wait and massive lunch crowd a turn off. Luckily Orchard Yong Tau Fu expanded its operations and opened a few outlets which serve as good alternative for those who wants a taste of some really tasty Yong Tau Fu.

The boss, Mr. Tan Ah Shui, picked up the skills of making Yong Tau Fu from his father when he was very young. They opened their first stall back in 1979 at the now-defunct Yaohan.

It’s latest franchised outlet is located on the fifth level of Far East Plaza and being a frequent town-goer, this is really good news for me. There used to be one at 313 Somerset’s Food Republic food court which I frequent as well but has since changed owners (probably due to high cost of rental?).

Choices of ingredients are aplenty here although not too different from Yong Tau Fu from elsewhere.

The reason why I keep on coming back to this Yong Tau Fu stall is simple – the soup. Having tried many Yong Tau Fu stalls around Singapore, Orchard Yong Tau Fu’s soup easily tops my list of being one of the best. Elsewhere I would usually order the dry version of the Yong Tau Fu but whenever I come here, soup version is the way to go.

Coming back to the soup, I really like its flavourful, peppery taste. There’s also a generous serving of soy beans that comes with the soup. Overall the soup base is alot richer than the regular Yong Tau Fu stalls. I also have to give some credit to their home-made sweet sauce which comes with sesame and very thick in texture. The chilli sauce is just so-slightly spicy which helps heighten the taste of the dish.

Located in the lobby of Miramar Hotel along Havelock Road, Ikoi has gained tremendous popularity since its opening back in the early days. This small, cozy Japanese restaurant has won the heart of many buffet goers mainly for its wide variety of Japanese food, particularly the fresh sashimi, yakimono and tempura items.

When I said wide variety you might be wondering just how ‘wide’ it actually is. Well, I made a count of its menu items and there are around 103 different items altogether under its buffet food selection.

My first impression upon stepping into Ikoi was its size – it is one very small restaurant and very, very crowded. The buffet starts at 1130am and when I arrived an hour later the whole place was already running in its full capacity. Seats were basically back to back with one another and consequently, a very noisy and rowdy restaurant.

If you are someone like me who prefers a quieter dining environment, this small Japanese restaurant is definitely not something that would top your list of favourite restaurants. Having said that, the crowd should point to something positive which is the food. Or is it?

Interestingly, Ikoi is also one of those buffet restaurants which provides complimentary albeit one-time-only items. I am also unsure as to why this is necessary but I guess its just one of the restaurant’s ways to make its diners feel full quicker than usual?

As with most buffet it would be almost impossible to try everything within the menu so here are some of the items that reached our table for the day. For $38++ per adult, let’s see what Ikoi has to offer for Japanese food lovers.

Starting with the Complimentary Items!

Salmon Sashimi

This was what arrived shortly after we placed our buffet orders. There’s no doubt about the freshness of this small serving of salmon sashimi. Generously sliced and topped with some kind of soya sauce which compliments the raw fish, this dish does present well the quality of the sashimi here. However, I couldn’t help but think how different is this salmon sashimi as compared with the ‘regular’ ones in the order menu? [4.0 out of 5.0]

Vegetable Sticks on Ice

I’m not sure why the restaurant even bothered to serve this item. Unless you love raw carrots (or you are Bugs Bunny) and cucumbers, you would most likely turn away from this dish or eat for the sake of eating. Comes with an accompanying sauce. [2.0 out of 5.0]

Chawanmushi

Probably the most ‘basic’ steam egg custard I’ve tried. Pure egg custard throughout with a ‘complimentary’ peace of chicken meat on it. It tastes alright but I like it better with a little bit of light soya sauce mixed in it. [2.5 out of 5.0]

Obin-Mushi (Teapot Soup)

Unlike most Obin-Mushi served elsewhere which comes with ingredients in the soup, I was quite disappointed to see just the clear broth after opening the lid of the teapot with much anticipation. Comes with halved lime, the soup is rather salty and abit fishy in taste. I’m guessing its fish soup. Just guessing! [3.0 out of 5.0]

Salmon Steamboat

Consists of spring onions, carrot slices, beancurd, Japanese mushrooms and small chunks of black fungus, this salmon steamboat dish is actually quite good. The soup base is sweet and flavourful. Do give it some time to let the soup heat up once its of the right temperature, I’m sure you can’t take your tastebuds off this dish. [4.0 out of 5.0]

From the Order Menu

California Temaki

I’m not really a fan of handrolled Temakis but this one is really up to my personal expectations. The seaweed that wraps around the Temaki is of the right thickness and the rice holds itself very well. Within the Temaki there’s the whole crabstick, cucumber slices and sliced tamago all accompanied with the delicious maki sauce. Eat this on its own or with wasabi, both ways are equally tasty. [4.0 out of 5.0]

Assorted Sashimi
Choice of Salmon, Tuna, Yellow Tail, Swordfish, Cuttlefish, Octopus and Snapper

Sashimi-lovers rejoice! In fact, this is definitely one of the reason why Ikoi is so popular among foodies. Unlimited serving of sashimi is simply too good to resist. There are seven types of sashimi to choose from the menu.For $38++ and with some of the less-than-common sashimis to choose from, its no wonder that Ikoi is so popular among foodies.

With the reasonable price doesn’t mean that Ikoi compromises on its sashimi quality. In fact, these are easily some of the freshest sashimis I’ve ever tried. [4.5 out of 5.0]

Zaru Soba

I’m a huge fan of cold buckwheat noodles. Presented in a small bowl and soaked in slightly salty soba dipping sauce, this dish is best served and eaten cold. One could probably finish this serving in just a few mouthful. Topped with sliced seaweed for the extra crunch and flavour, I suggest noodle-lovers to try this. [3.5 out of 5.0]

Agedashi Tofu

Served in a small, cute bowl just the size of the fried tofu itself, the accompanying sauce with the Agedashi Tofu is pretty alright. Not too thick and of the right sweetness. [3.5 out of 5.0]

Grilled Shishamo (Capelins)

Well grilled, fresh and really crispy on the outside, I guess the freshly grilled Shishamos make very good finger food around the table. No complains about these little grilled fish. [4.5 out of 5.0]

Ebi Tempura

Nasu Tempura (Egg Plant)

One of the die-die-must-try dishes at Ikoi would be their deep fried tempura and agemono menu items. Particularly the Ebi (Prawn) and Ika (Cuttlefish) Tempura and lots of other vegetable-based tempura dishes, I’m sure you would be able to find your favourite orders here. The prawns use in their Ebi Tempuras are huge and fresh. It might be all deep fried but surprisingly it doesn’t feel too oily for the stomach.  And do dip these tempuras into the accompanying dip sauce! Easily one of the best tempuras in town. [4.0 out of 5.0]

Grilled Saba Shioyaki

What beats a good serving of well-grilled saba fish? The grilled saba pretty much represent how skilled the grill chef is at Ikoi. Slightly salted with a slightly burnt and after that crispy texture reveals the tender white meat within, it’s easy to appreciate how good this is. More please. [4.0 out of 5.0]

Yakitori

Skewered chicken sticks grilled over flame and topped with yakitori sauce. Upon first bite, the initial impression is that its abit too hard. The yakitori sauce is also abit too sweet for my liking but still acceptable. The serving is definitely huge though. [3.0 out of 5.0]

Potato Croquette

These bite-size croquettes are quite good and not to mention, addictive as well! I actually ordered two servings of these and both came piping hot. Shows the consitency that the orders are made upon order. Very crispy on the outside (you could hear the audible crunch upon biting) and piping hot within. You probably wouldn’t get enough of these. [4.0 out of 5.0]

Chicken Katsu Curry Rice

A single portion of curry rice topped with a couple of chicken katsu slices. I quite like the serving size. Good for sampling yet not over-whelming and allows more stomach space for other food. I find the curry sauce to be slightly watery but within acceptable range. As for the chicken katsu, a little bit to dry. [3.5 out of 5.0]

Conclusion
For $38++  Ikoi Japanese Restaurant has managed to deliver pretty high quality Japanese food at reasonable prices. If sashimis and tempuras are what you are after, you probably won’t be disappointed by what this restaurant has to offer. Although there are some items which I feel that can be improved on, I still find that overall the food that Ikoi serves up are pretty much up to expectations. With all that being said, would the one-month advance reserveration be worth your wait? Well, it really depends on what you are after in Ikoi’s menu.

Ratings: 4.0 foodiedoos out of 5.0

Ikoi Japanese Restaurant
Miramar Hotel (Level 1, Lobby)
401 Havelock Rd
Singapore 169631
Tel: 6887 3788
Adult: $38++ / Child $22++ (below 10 years old / under 1.3m height)

Open Daily
Lunch: 1130am till 230pm
Dinner: 600pm till 1100pm

Poulét, the first French casual dining chain concept in Singapore, has just opened its second outlet at Great World City (after much fanfare when the first outlet at Bugis+ opened just four months ago) and I was fortunate enough to be invited for a dinner here.

Poulét’ new outlet at Great World City is located on the second floor of the mall and it is not hard to spot the restaurant. Just walk into the main atrium and Poulét can be spotted right above it. This 62-seater open-dining sports the modern alfresco setting that makes you feel like you are seating right in the streets of France. If you have been to the City of Love & Lights, you probably wouldn’t disagree.

I quite like how the seats are being arranged. Surrounding the central open kitchen, it allows diners to catch the chefs in action so you could see how your orders are being prepared. You could even see the chicken roasting process! When I arrived during the evening, there was already a long queue outside Poulét trying to get in. I’m not sure if it was the fragrance of the roasted chicken that draws the attention but the place is sure popular among patrons of the mall, with queues that didn’t end till late into the night.

Either Poulét  hires really excellent staff or credits to the restaurant seating layout, I find it really easy to catch the attention of the service crew. Everyone is just so within reach and that’s even when the outlet is in full house. mode. Thumbs up for the service here. Not to mention that my orders came rather quickly as well. Let’s see what’s on the order list for the evening.

French Onion Soup ($5.80)

This caramelised french onion soup with Fond de Veau (veal stock) with a slightly thick and smooth texture is overall rather sweet in taste. There’s plenty of french onion in each spoonful and with added Cheese Croutons added for the extra crunch texture, I find this soup to be absolutely fulfilling. A great opener for the next few dishes.

Sauté Wild Mushroom ($7.80)

Mushrooms are never separable from French Cuisine. In fact, I feel that these edible fungi plays an important role in a lot of French dishes. The Sauté Wild Mushroom is one of the Les Entrées items. It comes with a combination of Sautéed Button, Shimeji and King Oyster shrooms accompanied with a huge Poached Egg. Each type of mushroom gives a slightly different texture but overall taste is consistent throughout. Just so slightly salty in terms of taste and non-oily at all.

Saucisson ($6.80)

Another Les Entrées menu item. What you have here are grilled French Garlic and Pork Sausages served with home-made Black Mission Fig Marmalade and Double Pommery & Dijon Mustard. Ideal for sharing, I suggest to dig into this entry item while its piping hot. No complains about the accompanying sauces.

Escargot de Bourgogne ($8.80)

This is one absolutely amazing entrée and definitely one of my favourite orders during my visit. What you have here are half dozen of Burgundy Snails served with Tomato Fondue and Almond Garlic Butter. Served sizzling hot when served, what hits your senses are the aroma of the almond garlic butter first follow by the just-so-slightly burnt yet inviting smell. The escargots are chewy in texture and very well cooked.

Poulét de Cranberry ($17.80 for half | $30.80 for whole)

Poulét is widely known for its Signature French Roast Chicken. The Poulét Roti ($15.80 for half | $28.80 for whole) is a die-die must try dish for diners here.

Along with the opening of the new outlet at Great World City, Poulét came up with yet another signature roast chicken dish. The Poulét de Cranberry is a refreshing twist to the Poulét Roti. Served in Double Pommery & Dijon Mustard and fresh, luscious Cranberry Sauce, I quite like the fruity yet savory combination of the Poulét de Cranberry. With Christmas coming up, I do feel that this dish would be really appropriate to indulge in with your family and friends.

I’m actually quite impressed with how well the roasted chickens are done. In fact, during my visit I noticed that almost every table has a serving of these delectable poultry dishes. The roasted, juicy flavours  are locked in nicely within absolutely non-oily at all (great news for the health-conscious, no?). I also love the colors of the dish – golden roasted skin with tender, white meat underneath, accompanied with green leafy vegetables. A treat to the eyes and taste buds!

Braise de Canard ($15.80)

A huge, juicy serving of Braised Duck Leg, topped with Cranberry and soaking up a good serving of that tangy Sweet Wine Sauce. This duck leg is accompanied with Baby Spinach and Carrot and Glazed Shallots. First impression, this dish really tastes like the typical braised duck rice type of duck meat. Very oriental style I would say. Yes, the serving is indeed huge but I guess that’s pretty much I would compliment about this main course. As compared to the Poulét Roti and Poulét de Cranberry, this dish is definitely lacking some ways but still, it should be able to satisfy most duck meat lovers.

If poultry dishes ain’t your type, consider the Mediterranean Stew Lamb Shank ($15.80) or the Oxtail de Bourguignon ($15.80).

There are also the In-Betweens, such as the Chicken and Fig Marmalade Sandwich and Granny Smith Chicken and Egg Mayo Sandwich ($8.80 each) for those who are looking for something lighter for the stomach.

Profiteroles ($7.80)

Here we have 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream, both sandwiched between a pair of Choux Puffs and topped with Warm Chocolate Sauce with Almond Flakes. The end result? An indulging and definitely very sweet dessert which I find it perfect for our warm weather here. The almond flakes are aplenty and to be honest, the serving can even be shared among two persons.

Tiramisu ($7.80)

Presented within a huge, lid-covered glass and taken right out from the icy-cold fridge, the Tiramisu here might not be the best in town but it is definitely good. Made up of Mascarpone Cheese, Sponge Finger soaked in Espresso and generous serving of Rum Syrup, I consider this as the perfect ending to my dinner. The overall texture is smooth, really soft and in the middle of it all, the rum syrup to heighten the taste up. The dessert chef here is absolutely generous with the cocoa powder too!

Other recommended desserts include the Caramelised Apple in Puffy Tart ($7.80) and Panna Cotta ($6.80), which is basically Soy Bean Panna Cotta served with Longan.

Conclusion
Poulét has managed to successfully deliver very good quality French cuisine at reasonable prices to the masses. Having tried the food here, it’s not hard to understand why the queue simply doesn’t end during the peak hours. I left the restaurant at 9PM and there were still customers streaming in! Apart from the whole chicken orders, otherwise you are looking at less than $20 menu items at Poulét. So the next time when someone rejects your suggestion for French cuisine, you know where to bring them!

Thanks to Chantel for the kind invite and warm hospitality!

Poulét – Amazing French Roast Chicken
Great World City
Level 2 #02-K2/K3
Tel: 6733 4395
Facebook

Opening hours
Daily from 11:30am till 10:00pm

Situated at the first level of Shaw Leisure Gallery inside Shaw Towers, Oversea Restaurant require no advertising efforts to gain its customers. Simply put it, there isn’t much publicity needed. Local foodies or Malaysians residing in Singapore would know how good the food is over here and customers who come here are referred mainly from word of mouth.

The restaurant is decently spaced out with 2 dining rooms seperated from the main area which are ideal for those who want to dine in private. Tables are spaciously spread out across the restaurant. Very comfortable setting. It even sports very similar interior decor as of the restaurants in Malaysia. Regulars might just think that they are walking into one of the Oversea Restaurants in Malaysia!

Cold Cut Abalone with Signature Dip

Served on a huge mountain of shaved ice, the Cold Cut Abalone has 18 pieces of small, whole abalones resting on sliced lemons. The abalones are tangy, chewy and tastes totally good on its own but I highly recommended you to try the abalones with the dip sauce that comes with this dish. The dip sauce is rather garlicky in taste but also comes with a hint of spiciness and sweet note to it. [4.5 out of 5.0]

Double Boiled Chicken Soup with Dried Scallops

Cantonese are well known for their “Leng Tong” or soup and I must say that Oversea Restaurant does make really, really great soup. Core ingredients in this traditional soup are huge chunks of chicken, salted vegetables, mushrooms and a variety of herbs. The dried scallops are huge and gives this already-tasty soup some added sweetness to it. Without the need to say, I finished the entire bowl! [4.0 out of 5.0]

Deep Fried Grouper with Assam Sauce

Think Malaysia-style for this dish. Crispy on the outside, fresh and tender on the inside. The grouper here is sliced and then deep fried in hot oil. I find the fish to be very fresh and comes with lots and lots of garnishings. Topped over the freshly fried fish are slices of flavourful onions, the sour sauce has a slight sweet note to it. This would go well with a bowl of steamy white rice! [4.0 out of 5.0]

Stewed Kampong Chicken with Herbs & Deep Fried Wanton

A rather weird combination of Stewed Kampong Chicken with Fried Wanton at first thought. This two items actually form one dish. Compared to farmed chicken, ‘kampong chicken’ is usually the preferred choice of chicken meat due to its firmer texture and of course, a natural rearing process involved without injecting anything to the chickens. The chicken served for the evening is a little bit lean but the meat is definitely smoother and tender to taste. No complains for the wantons also. [4.0 out of 5.0]

Pan Fried Shell-less Prawns with Special ‘Hu Nan’ Sauce

Rather spicy to taste, these pan fried unshelled prawns are pretty okay but I find the prawn taste to be a little on the strong side. Would definitely love to have more sauce over the prawns though! [3.0 out of 5.0]

Stir Fried Assorted Fruits & Vegetables with Sliced Almond

Very light but hearty plate of assorted vegetables and fruits. For all I could name, there are chunks of water chestnuts, celery, carrots, benkoang and asparagus all lightly stir-fried before topping them with almond slices. It also has abit of wok hei flavour to it. [4.0 out of 5.0]

Roasted Pork and Char Siew

The star dish of the evening is definitely this roasted pork and char siew combination plate. This is by far one of the best, if not THE BEST char siew I’ve tasted. The caramelised char siew is really well-marinated with honey and a generous coating of malt sugar. The chef uses the “wu hua rou” portion of the pork which comes with a soft and fatty in the centre. The roasted pork belly comes with a distinct, crispy crunch with each slice put in the mouth. Honestly, I don’t know how charsiew can be made any better than this. You can skip every single item in the restaurant but definitely not these! [5.0 out of 5.0]

Sherred Noodles with Spare Ribs

Exactly the same kind of thin noodles that you expect to find in wanton noodles, this staple item is pretty decent. The braised sauce is quite good and the noodles are perfectly cooked. A small serving of fresh garlic is added for the extra kick. [3.5 out of 5.0]

Conclusion
I left Oversea Restaurant rather satisfied with the overall food and service quality. Dishes are served at a decent pace, maybe its because there isn’t that many customers during my visit. It’s been weeks that I last visited the restaurant and the urge to go back for the char siew is still with me. Although I have not tried the original restaurant in Malaysia but by coming to this outlet I find that I really ought to go across the causeway and try the other foods at the main restaurant.

Ratings: 4.5 foodiedoos out of 5.0

Oversea Restaurant
100 Beach Road
#01-27
Shaw Leisure Gallery Shaw Tower
Singapore 189702
Tel: 6294 2638
Website

Opening Hours
Daily from
12:00 pm – 2:30 pm &
6:00 pm – 10:30 pm

]]> http://www.foodiedoo.net/2012/11/19/oversea-restaurant-shaw-tower/feed/ 0 http://www.foodiedoo.net/2012/10/31/yomenya-goemon-star-vista/ http://www.foodiedoo.net/2012/10/31/yomenya-goemon-star-vista/#comments Wed, 31 Oct 2012 02:44:08 +0000 Jimmy Oh (foodiedoo) http://www.foodiedoo.net/?p=2466 Spaghetti may be a dish that is originated from Italy but Yomenya Goemon somewhat takes pastas to another level albeit Japanese Style. Yomenya Goemon opened its first Singapore outlet in late 2010 and has since opened five outlets across Singapore with the sixth one up and coming and has been tremendously popular with local foodies. Let’s find out why.

I believe most of us have more or less tried our fair share of Italian-based spaghetti and pastas. How about Japanese-style pastas? Personally, not so much for myself. I’ve been to many Japanese restaurants but I’ve yet to try any of these specialized Japanese Pasta restaurants, until my visit to Yomenya Goemon.

Located at the new Star Vista shopping mall right beside Buona Vista MRT Station, I popped by this spanking new outlet during lunch and was surprised by its popularity among lunch crowds. It didn’t took me long to find out exactly why – the lunch menu. Starting from an agreeable $18.50++, patrons can get a variety of no-frills set lunches off the expansive menu. There’s the Japanese Taste and Western Style pastas for you to choose from and each of these styles come with pretty much the same core ingredients imported from Italy – Spaghetti, Cheese and Olive Oil.

Best of all, there are no “limit-this-or-that” kind of menu conditions. Just pick the set lunch you prefer and select the choice of spaghetti. No rocket science here. For those who cannot decide what to eat, there’s even the Half & Half Set which consists of some two pre-selected spaghetti dishes in half-portions. Each set comes with a choice of drinks, soup & salad.

Shrimp, Bacon, Mozzarella & Onsen Egg ($14.50)

This tomato-based spaghetti  pretty much comes with all of my favourite ingredients. On top of theat huge serving of spaghetti comes with shrimps, a good serving of bacon and that ever-so-yummy onsen tamago. That onsen tamago is very well executed. Very firm egg yolk, not to the extend of half-boiled but just a little bit well-cooked than that. Tempted to poke that egg yolk? So do I! Some people don’t like tomato-based spaghetti as they find it too much for taste towards the end of the serving but I say do go ahead and order the tomato sauce spaghettis here. It’s not too heavy and the bacon really compliment the dish very well. [4.0 out of 5.0]

Carbonara Chilli Tomato Sauce with Bacon ($13.50)

Slightly spicy but definitely acceptable even for those who can’t take much spicy food. The egg yolk gives the entire plate of pasta a much creamier texture overall and there’s enough bacon to last to the last mouthful of creamy goodness.This tomato-based, Western-style Carbonara is probably one of the simplest dish on the menu but it tastes really, really good. [4.0 out of 5.0]

 Mentaiko Spicy Cod Roe with Shrimp & Japanese Herb Ao-Shiso ($14)

Pure Japanese taste this is. Cooked in Extra Virgin Oil and Garlic, this wholesome seafood spaghetti is for those who love to go for quality seafood indulgence. The cod roe is not spicy at all. A dash of the Japanese Perilla herb help enhanced the entire dish flavor, it’s hard to fault this plate of spaghetti but then again, there are other similar pastas out there which is better also. [3.0 out of 5.0]

Cabonara with Yolk and Bacon ($13.50) (Supposedly)

Does anyone know what the above order might actually be? I went through the entire menu but couldn’t managed to identify the above pasta. Cabonara with Yolk and Bacon was the order but I think the kitchen might have got my order wrong (or ingredients for that matter) for this item. It seems like the ingredients found in the plate belongs to another dish that has Sausage and Bacon in it. Then again, it still taste pretty decent! [3.5 out of 5.0]

Souffle Cheese Cake with Strawberry Ice Cream (comes with Dessert Set)

Light Japanese Cheese Cake with a scoop of delightful strawberry ice cream. Served cold directly from the fridge, this dessert did put a sweet end to my meal. If strawberry ain’t your type of flavour, go for the Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Ice Cream or Mango Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream. I’m sure there’s bound to be one that you would love! [3.5 out of 5.0]

Conclusion
Despite one of my orders didn’t arrive as what was intented (or at least, didn’t match any of those in the menu), the pastas here are definitely worth coming for. There are just too many different variations of pastas available for choice and I believe there is bound to be one that suits you even if you are a picky-eater. Prices are reasonable also. Service-wise, my orders arrived rather promptly and the waiting staffs are very attentive to my needs as well. I certainly didn’t expect Japanese-style pasta to be this good actually. Definitely will be back for more sometime in the near future!

Ratings: 4.0 foodiedoos out of 5.0

Yomenya Goemon
The Star Vista (Beside Buona Vista MRT Station)
1 Vista Exchange Green #02-04
Singapore 138617
Website

Honest & simple comfort food are what Five & Dime Eatery is after for its customers. Situated inside what used to be a shophouse, the exterior of the eatery sports a pure white facade matched with prominent black windows. Stepping in, the entire place can accomodate up to 32 diners. Not exactly a big eatery but definitely cozy and comfortable.

What I like about Five & Dime Eatery is its one-of-a-kind location. Imagine sitting by the glass window and watch the world goes by here. I think I have found my favourite spot within the eatery already.

Five & Dime Eatery serves a variety of menus catered for different dining crowds throughout the day. There’s the Lunch and Brunch Menu, Dinner and also a recently-added Supper menu. My first visit here was for dinner and these were my orders for the evening.

Meatballs ($8)

Off the Starters section I ordered a serving of their popular Meatballs which is a combination of home-made chicken and pork all smothered in tangy tomato sauce. The funny thing is that I actually taste more BBQ sauce than tomato sauce itself. Maybe that has to do with my own tastebuds. Within the bowl is a serving of five meatballs which is ideal for sharing. The sauce is quite thick and really does compliment the meatball quite well. No complains. [4.0 out of 5.0]

If meatballs ain’t your kind of stuff, consider the Salmon Rocket ($15) which comes with flame-torched salmon fillets all wrapped in rocket leaves and wasabi mirin dressing. There is also the Mac & Cheese ($15) that comes with a good serving of macaroni with creamy lobster sauce under melted cheddar, mozzarella and parmesan.

Seared Salmon ($23)

What you get here is a generous piece of salmon fillet. Seared then baked with mozarella and parmesan under high heat, the end result is a layer of very slightly burnt but crispy baked cheese topped on the salmon fillet, accompanied with mash potatoes and mesclun salad. The chef is so generous with the cheese that it covers the salmon fillet entirely and we could even smell the baking process while waiting for the dish to be prepared. Upon served, the fragrance that comes along with it whet my appetite even further. The salmon flavours are fully locked-in beneath the cheese. If you love salmon, this is the definitely the dish to order. [5.0 out of 5.0]

Another popular dinner item worth checking out would be the Fish & Chips ($20) which comes with battered shark catfish fillets served with hand-cut fries. The serving is absolutely huge and I recommend this for sharing among a few people. If calories are of no concerns to you, go for The Burger ($23) which is a combination of dirty-big beef and pork patty on toasted soft bun served with shoe-string fries.

Truffs’ Earl Grey Chocolate Tart ($9)

I chose this for desert upon the staff’s recommendation. One of the reasons is that this dessert is the only one mentioned on the menu with limited portions available and I was wondering why is that so. It turns out the Five & Dime has a certain relationship with Truffs, a popular atelier for artisanal chocolate truffles and that’s how the name of this tart came about. Voted as one of the Top 10 Pastry Chefs in Singapore by Timeout Singapore, Chef Teng Ei Liang from Truffs is the part-owner of Five & Dime Eatery.

Limited portions of the Earl Grey Chocolate Tart are obtained from Truffs. Served cold, the chocolate is really, really good. Taste the subtle delicate bergamot fragrance of the earl grey infused chocolate ganache. This is a brilliant combination of an intense chocolate flavour with a deep tea tone. Sinful? Absolutely. [5.0 out of 5.0]

As I mentioned, Five & Dime Eatery also serves a good range of Brunch, Lunch and Supper items.

If you love brunch (who doesn’t?), do go for the Big Brekkie ($22) which comes with either scrambled or sunny side up eggs with pork bacon, chicken chipolata sausages, baked beans, sauteed mushrooms and thick toasts. The Eggs Benny ($16) is also worth checking out for. With poached eggs on warm brioche with smoked ham, mesclun greens, breakfast potatoes and fruit salad, expect a fulfilling brunch from this dish.

For something sweet, there’s the Buttermilk Pancakes ($15) with choice of pork bacon, chicken chipolata sausages and fruit salad as accompaniments and the Waffes ($15) that comes with 2 scoops of ice cream, fresh strawberries, caramelized bananas and maple syrups.

Note that Brunch serves from 10am – 3pm while Lunch menu is between 12pm -5pm.

As for the Supper menu, it consists of mainly bar bites such as Sweet Potato Fries ($7) with sea salt and Beef Potato Croquette ($8) and serves between 10pm – 1130pm.

Conclusion
Five & Dime Eatery has successfully won my heart as one of my preferred eateries. I was particularly happy with the level of service here. Absolutely fantastic and top-notch in my opinion. The casual and cozy settings, coupled with hearty, no-frills food items makes this place an absolute favourite among casual diners, including myself. Most of the items on the menu are reasonably priced but there are also some which might be considered just a tad pricey. That said, one can be sure that the quality of food here is second to none. I am looking forward to my next visit almost immediately after I left the eatery. For those who drive, parking space are available right behind the eatery and there are also many bus services that could reach the eatery, all within walking distance from the bus stop. If a drink is all you need, you will also love the extensive drinks menu available here. Five & Dime pretty much got all things covered, no?

Ratings: 5.0 foodiedoos out of 5.0

Five & Dime Eatery
297 River Valley Road
Singapore 238338
Tel: 92365002 (Reservations)
Website

Opening Hours
Mondays to Fridays: 12pm till 12am
Saturday, Sundays & PH: 10am till 12am

With 16 cafes already opened all around Singapore, foodies would be glad to know that 13 of these outlets will be operationally opened till 4AM on either daily or weekend basis. I guess this is great new for those who love late night suppers! I took a recent visit to one of Xin Wang Hong Kong Café’s latest branch at Holland Village. This newly furnished, double-storey Hong Kong cafe is located just within a few steps from Holland Village MRT station.

Personally, apart from Dim Sum I am not a huge fan of other  Hong Kong  cuisines and I’m not too sure why either. Having said that, I’m glad that locally there are quite a number of Hong Kong cafes around with Xin Wang Hong Kong Café being one of the more popular ones. Let’s see what’s on the table this time round!

 Spicy Diced Pork & Egg Soup Noodles ($6.80)

First impression – very-simple-to-whip-up type of noodles, made up of instant noodles and spicy diced pork topped with a fried egg and single stalk of vegetables. The taste is just so familiar that I’m sure anyone would be able to whip up this dish at home. Nothing to shout about. I’m not sure but the spicy diced pork seems taste very similar to the off-the-shelf canned spicy diced pork which I would usually eat with porridge. [2.5 out of 5.0]

Luncheon Meat & Egg Dry Noodles ($6.80)

Another instant noodle offering. This dry variation comes with 2 slices of luncheon meat, fried eggs and some vegetables.  The noodles is of the right ‘dryness’ and not oily. Slightly salty but goes really well with the ingredients, I prefer this over the soup noodles. [3.0  out of 5.0 ]

If you are into local spicy noodles, consider the Wanton Chilli dry Noodles ($6.80) and Fu Zhou Fish Ball Chilli Dry Noodles ($6.80).

Luncheon Meat & Egg Papaya Soup Bee Hoon ($8.80)

Using home-made papaya soup as the soup base, this is one of the restaurant’s specialties. Comes with generous amount of Bee Hoon all drenched in the light Papaya Soup with added corn and hard boiled eggs, this light dish is ideal for those who are not going for something too heavy. I like the overall sweetness and lightness of the soup base. [3.5 out of 5.0]

XW Signature Stir-Fried Noodles ($8.50)

I would consider this a must-try at Xin Wang. Stir-fried yellow noodles with a good range of ingredients, such as prawns, squid, meat and vegetables. Topped with fried mini ikan bilis for the added crunch. I wish the serving to be more though! [4.0 out of 5.0]

If rice-based meals are your type of staple food, be sure to try out their Cheese Baked Rice with Pork Chop ($10.50) or the Black Pepper Chicken Chop & Egg Steamed Rice ($8.80). There’s also the XW Signature Fried Rice ($8.50) and Chicken & Salted Fish Fried Rice ($8.50) that are worth checking out also.

XW Special Sauce Rib Eye Steak with French Fries ($9.80)

Most of the time I prefer my steak to be medium-rare or well done. This time round I ordered a medium rare and the chefs at Xin Wang does managed to pull off quite a decent steak. You get accompaniments such as french fries, some greens, baked beans and fried egg. The special sauce is somewhat sweet and comes with a hint of black pepper taste. I wish there were more of the sauce though! [4.0 out of 5.0]

Chicken In A Basket ($8.80 for 3 pcs | $14.50 for 5 pcs | $19.80 for 7 pcs)

Piping hot when served, these deep fried chicken parts are really quite good in my opinion. Very crunchy on the outside and tender-hot hot on the inside. It’s definitely not for those who are watching their calories as the skin certain parts are quite oily but they are definitely worth it. The batter used is quite good, with a hint of spiciness in it. Have this with your favourite order or order a basket to share with your friends for a much more fulfilling meal. [4.0 out of 5.0]

Iced Milk Tea Float ($5.80)

This is a fantastic choice of beverage for a hot day. I like how the cafe chose to use the long, metal cup (similiar to those you see at bubble tea outlets). This is one huge cup of iced milk tea with a decent scoop of vanilla ice cream on it. Despite the huge cup, one is never enough! [4.0 out of 5.0]

Ice Milo Dinosaur ($3.80)

Another iced beverage using the metal cup to keep the drink icy cold throughout! I can’t fault this drink much. Well, except that more milo powder can be added. Otherwise, it is still quite  good. [3.0 out of 5.0]

Conclusion
The decision to open the cafe into the wee hours is definitely a welcomed move. Foodies who are into late night supper or have the habit of grabbing a bite after a late night’s out and partying can now look forward to some decent Hong Kong street cuisines. One thing to note is that I personally find the offerings in the menu to be either a hit or miss affair. Some are definitely worth the try while I find other dishes to be too simple of a dish for the price. Nevertheless, foodies can easily appreciate the great range of food at almost any time of the day.

Ratings: 3.5 foodiedoos out of 5.0

Xin Wang Hong Kong Café (Holland Village)
251 Holland Ave
Singapore 278981
Tel: 6469 0325
Website

Click Here For List of Branch

The Boxing Crab is opened by Food Junction, one of Singapore’s leading F&B companies. This 250-seater restaurant comes with a magnificent backdrop which sets the stage for those who are planning a romantic evening dinner, a casual family meal or even for business dine-out. In short, diners here get to enjoy a fantastic and breathtaking view while indulging in some really good seafood.

Undeniably, local foodies love seafood. Unlike most other seafood restaurants (and a certain touris-ish hawker center) that are selling seafood at exorbitant prices,  The Boxing Crab offers quality seafood and other popular local delicacies at really reasonable prices.

As with the restaurant’s name goes, the speciality dishes are would be the crabs. From the tasty Sri Lankan mud crabs, to the slightly more expensive Swimmer Crabs and of course,  really fantastic Flower Crabs – I’m sure you will be having hard time to choose what’s best for your tastebuds and stomach.

The philosophy behind The Boxing Crab is to bring back nostalgic gourmet experience where seafood aficionados can induge in luscious seafood dishes by the sea. Not just that of course – as the restaurant also offers dishes which comes in a mix of Chinese, Balinese and Western culinary styles. There’s even a bar where diners can enjoy immaculate cocktails, wine and tipples.

Enough of the talk and let’s look at what’s on the table!

Balinese Charcoal Grilled Duck Satay ($12)

Satay – the one variety of food that’s widely available locally but ever tried the ‘Bali version’? This simply looking yet absolutely delectable dish is nothing short of simple in terms of taste though. Generous chunk of duck meat wrapped around a firm stick of spring onions and charcoal-grilled to perfection. The flavours are very well locked-in and I highly recommend that you try it upon served and piping hot. Go with some spicy onions to heighten the taste.

Otah Otah Cigar ($12)

Crispy on the outside, piping hot on the inside. The otah within is not too spicy which is good news for non-spicy foodies. Despite being a fried food, it’s not too oily to taste. Absolutely one item that is ideal for sharing.

Other small bites include the popular Deep Fried Soft Shell Crab ($12), the awsome Vietnamese Crab Meat Spring Roll ($12) and the well-received Homemade Fresh Mango Prawn Bar ($12).

Steamed Bamboo Clams with Minced Garlic (Market Price)

I didn’t expect bamboo clams to be prepared as such. Steamed to perfection, the flavor of the meat is locked in with a small serving of vermicelli in dark soy sauce. Topped with fragrant minced garlic, the entire combination is simply perfect. The bamboo clam meat is well-cooked and tender which leaves you asking for more.

Charcoal Grilled Marinated Fish (Choice of Red Snapper $28 | Garoupa $38)

Love fish? Or rather, love charcoal grilled fish? Very fresh fish is being used before it hits the charcoal grill. Slightly charred on the outside and revealing chunks of tender white fish meat on the inside, I highly recommend the charcoal grilled seafood dishes here. If you want more than fish, consider the Charcoal Grill Mixed Seafood (for 2 persons, $78) which comes with a combination of snapper , squid, prawns and clams or the classic  Charcoal Grilled Sambal Stingray (from $16 onwards). Whatever your order is, rest assured that only the freshest items and ingredients are used.

If you love prawns, I would also highly recommend the Wok Fried Cereal Prawn with Curry Leaf (from $23) and the Baked King Prawn with Garlic Butter Sauce ($18 per pc).

Braised Claypot Crab with Superior Broth and Pumpkin (Market Price)

Personally I’ve never tried crabs of such flavor before. While most seafood restaurants typically offer the usual Chilli Crab, Black Pepper Crab and the Salted Egg Crab, The Boxing Crab also offer this unique flavor of mixing superior broth with pumpkin braised in a huge claypot. Rich in flavor and thick in texture, the golden sauce compliments the fresh steamed crab very, very well.

Crab with Caramelized Spice and Curry Leaf (Market Price)

Somewhat similar to Black Pepper Crab but with a hint of sweetness and enhanced fragrance from the various spices used. For those who always avoid eating the Black Pepper Crab for it being too spicy, the Caramelized Spicy Crab makes a good alternative for non-spicy foodies. Stir-fried under high heat, expect some wok-hei flavour to this tentalizing dish!

Other interesting crab dishes include the White Pepper Butter Crab, Steamed Crab with Soya Milk and Salt Baked Crab with Scallion. Hungry already?

The Boxing Crab also serves a good range of Live Lobsters, such as the Steamed Lobster with Minced Garlic and Scallion, Baked Lobster in Portuguese Style and Balinese Charcoal Grilled Lobster with Chilli Dip.

Singapore Style Fried Noodles $15)

Full of wok-hei flavour, the noodles are very well stir-fried with lots and the chef included lots of fresh ingredients within. I absolutely love the presentation! The thin layer of pan-fried egg makes this ordinary dish look even more tentalizing. Generous amount of shredded lettuce topped the dish to give the noodles that added crunchy texture.

Conclusion
The Boxing Crab surprised me with many high quality and rather reasonably priced dishes. Considering its unique location and fantastic view, I do seriously feel that The Boxing Crab would be a hit among seafood lovers who are after the most unique gourmet experience. Imagine having a fulfilling and sumptuous at the restaurant before taking a stroll along the seaside and soak in the atmosphere. The Boxing Crab also serves Quick Lunch Sets and Afternoon Tea Menus also. For those who wish to have more privacy while dining, consider the two VIP rooms available for booking as well. Service level-wise, the waiting staff are very friendly and responsive. The orders didn’t took too long to arrive at my table also. All in all, I recommend all to come and give this place a shot. I’m pretty sure you will like it as much as I do.

Many thanks to Pris, Rachael and The Boxing Crab for the invite!

The Boxing Crab
80 Siloso Road
(Sentosa Island, behind Underwater World)
Singapore 098969
Tel: 6274 7760

Opening Hours
Daily from 11:00am to 11:00pm