Jang Shou Korean BBQ

If you never try, you never know, just what you're worth - Coldplay

I can say that I am lucky and bless that since I work in this Korean company, they certainly fed me well kekekek and apart from the fact that I have a wonderful colleagues and bosses, you can see the Korean Bento and delivery that had been made during my momento in office.

In one fine day, one of our Korean Boss asked all of us to have dinner in the most aunthentic Korean BBQ according to them. Jang Shou Korean BBQ located at 8 Raffles Avenue #01-13B, Esplanade, Singapore. The bosses ordered all the dishes and I am just sitting quietly well behaving happy look, I can imagined if I am a puppy, I will definitely wagging my tail while waiting anticipating the foods to be provided and Ta-Da! not long after that, with a glimpse the table was full with various array side dishes and our raw dinner were presented in front of our eyes.

Korean barbecue is often prepared at the diner's table on gas or charcoal grills that are built into the center of the table. This BBQ customs come with various side dishes such as onion and a fresh vegetable dish including lettuce, cucumbers, and peppers. A popular way of eating Korean barbecue is to wrap the meat with lettuce and add condiments, I personally will add Kimchi in it too, Iam not sure whether its againts the norm as long as my tummy agrees..I will add anything I wish. wkwkwkw

We had so many many meats, I had lost counts. They certainly have the best cut of beef and pork for the grilling which the staffs help us with. Iam very much impressed that they keep changing the hot plate to avoid the meat from getting burnt & stuck onto the hot plate, Meat was deliciously marinated, tender and juicy!

We also ordered kimchi pancake and Kimchi Soup consists of kimchi itself, bean curd, other available vegetables, Korean rice cake mixed with pork and cooked as a stew. Hot, spicy and sour gave a soothing feeling inside my belly. 

And with a wine accompanied our dinner feels like I am in 7th heaven that certainly need a deep scrub bath afterwards as stain all over my cloths and hair and I certainly smells like one of the marinated meat that ready to be grilled as well hehehehe hmmm all these meals were settled by my boss so Iam not really sure how much its costs, but I can assume its a bit pricey as when I observing their body languages and faces. Well we all are a hardworking employees (wink)

Opening Daily 11.30am–2.30pm and 5.00pm–12.00am

Al Forno

Feelings are much stronger than thoughts. We are all led by instinct, and our intellect catches up later - Bono

I always pass this restaurant everytime I am on my way home from work, just another few blocks away, everytime I pass I notice that I can't help myself from looking further to see that this Italian family restaurant is actually almost packed everyday especially during weekend and end month after pay day kekekek. I only have visited this restaurant twice with my fellow Australian padawans who apparently stay around the corner. This restaurant located at 400 East Coast Road, Singapore. The restaurant is spacious with their tiny wooden chair (quite tiny for those whose tall and broad builded person) and marble table. Feels like an old vintage Italian restaurant. The service is oke standard, so far I got nothing to complain nor praise about. So here is our foods:

Carpaccio Napoletano

Prosciutto & Mozzarella di Bufala

 Scaloppina al Vino Bianco = Thin veal in white wine sauce served with baked potatoes

Risotto Pescatore = Risotto with mixed seafood in light tomato sauce and a dash of chilli

Tagliatelle Ai Porcini = Pasta with porcini mushrooms, onions, extra virgin olive oil & a dash of chilli in light creamy sauce

I do tempted to try their Tiramisu but as you can see from the pictures, the portion is quite enormous. I actually felt full after the 1st course and barely eaten half of my main course. The food is not exhilarating as the crowds showed me however there's no doubt about their freshness and quality of its ingredients, seafood, meat, herbs, mushroom and cheeses that they claimed to have imported directly from Italy. Since almost of their product is from Italy therefore the price for each dishes is slightly higher, especially for their starter but with the price that I paid and the portion they gave, It was still allright, I would suggest for the small eater people to order just 1 dish either main, pasta, starter or pizza that their specially bakes with a traditional wood fire oven and ending it with dessert. Magnifico as per website..maybe good but not magnifico yet.

Open Daily 12pm-2pm, 6:30pm-10:30pm

Ramen Fever

A friend is someone who gives you total freedom to be yourself -  Jim Morrison

I wonder why Ramen blooms for the past year in this hot Singapore. I never have a high appreciation towards this Japanese noodle dish before. Ramen is normally serves with meat in a broth, and its question me whats the different with all other type of noodle soup across Asia. But since it's become one of the talk in town and with a blink of an eye, the noodle slurping fever spread very rapidly all over the islandwide and out of curiosity, and of course the "me too" way of thinking appeal me. So I’ve visited some of the most recommendation places and I patiently queued. After I see each Ramen that serves in these below restaurants, its manifested great approval from my eyes and brain as I discovered is actually more than a noodle soup, its about creating a supreme broth, delicate chewy noodle, juicy tender meat that literally melt in my mouth and of course those creative cute compatible Japanish garnish on the side. Believe me all the hard work of queuing is all worthy. The price ranges for all these Ramen is SGD 15-20.

Ippudo located at Mandarin Gallery#04-02, Singapore

A very well known Ramen restaurant, over 40 outlets in Japan and NY, the chef himself is pronounce as Ramen King and reserved a place in the Ramen Hall of Fame after three consecutive first place wins on a Japanese television program. Despite for all the high achievement they had and I am certainly not mean to be rude, with full of respect I can say that the ramen it quite average as a whole, I cant really pinpoint whether its the broth, meat or noodle. Its just dont really impress me much. The only thing that I like is they play modern jazz in the background that is actually their trademark.

Open Mon-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 11am-10pm

Keisuke located  at 9 Raffles Boulevard, #P3-02 Parco Marina Bay

Ramen restaurant that I more favourable to. In here you can actually customise your own ramen (ingredients, adds on, noodle textures and etc ) and with their attentive services whose willing to educate their customers, it will never go wrong in ticking our preference in their paper that was given to each guest. Another one thing that I like from them that they served this plastic ware filled with  fantastic chilled beanspouts sesame, I cant stop eating it and replenish my portion once I start. 

Opening Hours Daily 10:30am-9:30pm

Santouka located at 21 Cuppage Road, Singapore

A well known Ramen restaurant, they have over 40 outlets acoss Japan, US, Canada, Kuala Lumpur and Hongkong. They presented the most delightful broth among all, I overheard that they boiled it hours and hours day and night. Whatever they do to that broth, its surely become irresistible kind of Ramen.

Opening Hours Mon–Fri 12pm–3pm, 5.30pm–12am, Sat 12pm–12am, 

Sun & PH 12pm–9.30pm

Ohsho located at 5 Koek Road, #01-10 Cuppage Plaza, Singapore

I'll come here whenever I want to have a quick lunch, I sit I eat and I leave. The place its on the corner and its small not really accomodating place to chit chat. Vey pack on the weekend, not as aunthentic as the rest, but the price is slightly lesser. What I paid is what i get basically, however its still value for money as their certaily served a generous portion.

Opening Hours Mon–Sat 11.30am–2am, Sun 12pm–12am

Bistro Du Vin

I've always been famous, it's just no one knew it yet - Lady Gaga

O lala cest magnifique, trés bien

Bistro du Vin translates as bistro wine, a casual French bistro that serve simple French cuisine, it's located in 1 Scotts Road, Shaw Centre #02-12, Singapore. Bistro du Vin is part of Les Amis Group, which is one of Singapore's most influential and well respected restaurant group. Currently the group itself has 20 outlets all around Singapore and 1 in Hong Kong that has been awarded 1 Michelin Star in 2009.

I visited this restaurant accompanied by one of my childhood friend to celebrated one special day in my life (grin) and I think this is the only French restaurant that didnt give me a pretentious and intimidating feeling that normally others French Restaurant had given me. Its not a big restaurant. Its a petite bistro with a soft red colour wall that covers with french painted potraits, dim lights, checkered green or red and white napkins gaves us the casual touches, warm and cosy feeling.

I could say I was fortunate be able to dine there, as the Executive Chef, Chef Dalton was one of my ex colleague and he was gladly enough to create a special menu for me and my friend. Honestly I am anticipating the foie gras as I was ‘hinting’ him before the 'H' day, that I was craving the bird liver for several months and yes I admitted that sounds cruel, if I recalled how they produce foie gras in the first place, the birds were forced by a feeding tube down their throat for several times a day, till their liver experiencing swelling and bloating and they were killed for that, sold the liver as foie gras, despite of so called 'cruel' process, there’s a study and fact in France that proves; ducks in the wild are under more stress compare to these birds in the feeding situation. So the objective is happy animal equal to good quality foie gras, unhappy and stress out animal equal to non saleable foie fras.

Anyway, back to this lovely bistro, here I am sitting and waiting for my meal to be served while sipping a flute of champagne :) And here is my hearthy meal:

Antipasto Platter from their Ham and Sausage Rooms a.k.a Wine Cellar.
Honestly I love their crusty warm bread 

Pan Seared Scallop and the Foie Gras

Onion and Asparagus Soup

Duck Leg Confit and Lamb

Souffle with Vanilla Ice Cream

A smile of satisfaction and definite bloated swollen tummy I have after these courses, reminds me of the birds that were slaughtered for their liver. heheheheheh. Then our kind dear Chef approaced and accompanied us after the kitchen operations finally over. He offered us to try some of their various cheeses. What a blessing evening :)

 

Cheeses

Top Notch French Bistro, good services, affordable price for a French Cuisine, superb ambience, What you can ask for more huh?!? Bon Appetit á tous! A Tout á l'heure!

Opening Hours Daily 11.30am–2.30pm, 6.30pm–10pm

Nakhon Thai Kitchen

Only God can judge me so I'm gone, either love me or leave me alone - Jay Z

I can strongly say that this restaurant is one of the hidden gem in East Singapore. This is what I feel when a dear friend of mind brought me to this restaurant couple months back. It’s located in housing estate  Blk 136 Bedok North Ave. From that moment I’ve been visiting this restaurant at least twice a month, considering my diet. All along I always fancy Thai cuisine, it's actually one of the outstanding and exotic cuisine I ever encounter in my life, the cuisine it self emphasis on lightly prepared dishes with strong aromatic components. Thai cuisine is well known for being spicy and also its balance of the four fundamental taste senses in each dish or the overall meal: sour, sweet, salty, and maybe a very slightly bitter.

Whatever listed in the menu can be considerably fantastic . With the price that fairly affordable. Each dish cost around SGD6.The variety of the menu quite diverse, basically offer me all the popular dish that I can found in Thailand. 

 

The place is small but it give them an apportunity to expand with more tables infront towards the pavement. I think over all it can accommodate up to 60 persons. Dont be suprise if you come during weekend and there will a long queue up to 8m long. 

The food they serve is quite big in portion and they surely serve in aunthentic way. 

 

Even the soft drinks come from Thailand wkwkwkkw

I will definitely put this restaurant in my routine activity agenda, with their attentive and fast service, its centainly give an additional point in my satisfaction list apart from the food itself and with their Thai song lullaby in the background can definitely bring me to Lala truly amazing Thailand. Always amazes you (as per their tourism logo)


Opening hours 12noon–3pm, 5:30pm–10pm daily

Loysel’s Toy

I don’t have time to worry about something as petty as what I look like - Adele

 

Last weekend, i visited this cafe as per recommendation by my brother, from its website, it's look like a very promising place to hang out, located in 66 Kampong Bugis, Singapore. Recently one of its Barista has just won the 2011 Singapore National Barista Championship. Love the location, it's near to Lavender MRT, you can easily swagger about 10 minutes then you arrive to this unique venue. It's kind of isolated area as its towards a dead end road towards Kallang River and there's  a park  just opposite of the cafe that make this cafe relatively breezy, tranquille and shady during the afternoon. This building was used as a warehouse before, until recently they renovated the ground floor and turned it into a cafe. The building its quite preserved as an old tired warehouse, you still can see its multiple storeys and white big gate at the entrance.

The cafe covers indoor and outdoor, the indoor area is a little bit cramp as their main operator kitchen cashier and station are all inside, the area is fill with tables and bar stool, I think it can accommodate max 20 persons. Outdoor area is much more spacious, tables and chairs are provided around its building but only some of the spot covers with marquees. Its really amazed me that this isolated cafe is crowded with guests, turnovers are non stop especially during weekends.

The name of Loysel's Toy is taken from Edward Lyself de Santais and his name is always link to coffee since 1855, as he created the world's first commercial coffee machine that can made over 1000 cups in an hour (quoted by its website). Since this place is famous for their coffee its goes without saying too that this place sell their own coffee bean in a special packaging. Apart from the famous coffee the most interesting part that catches my eyes is they provide bicycle with a children seat on the back for their guest to rent, of course in a reasonable price, they park all the bicycle just infront of the cafe itself. Its certainly a family friendly cafe.

The variety of the food hmm…quite disappointed, very limited, they serve breakfast menu, sandwiches, salads, couple of pastry and slices cake.

I ordered salad #1, hmmm which I feel mediocre to, the presentation as well as the taste.  Well nevertheless they are so generous in giving me alots alots of rocket salad which make the salad taste even bitter hehehehe…lucky I am a bitter person (as in personality) so i can overcome the bitterness..ciehhh…joking…on top of the salad they put some of tomatoes and cheeses. (well i expected a more slightly organise presentation, like cherry tomatoes, less rocket and serve in a wide salad bowl not a narrow squarish bowl) and for the drink we ordered a good ol fashioned ice tea, tasted the fresh lemon with an homemade brewed tea. Quite refreshing, its only a minor careless presentation that they serves us in two different glasses, one in plastic take away glass and the other one is in glass 'glass' :)

I won't purposely visit this cafe however I might pop by any chance if I trap in a heavy rain yearning for a hot coffee while strolling along Kallang River.


Opening Hours Tuesday to Friday 9am-6pm, Saturday and Sunday 9am-07:30pm

Soul Food

I can't help you if you won't help yourself - Amy Winehouse

No matter where I go, no matter where I stay, I always miss my home town food. Actually there’s nothing to be brag about this ‘home town food’.

What is 'home town food' anyway, well i was born in Jakarta but both of my parents and my elder brother born in Borneo, Pontianak a.k.a Kuntein to be precisely and yes we are all Teo Chew in dialect (I am so proud of it) 

So basically I grew up with Teo Chew food that has been modified in Pontianak..hmmm sounds interesting (nodding). I will briefly explain of why its such a interesting combination.Teo Chew Cuisine is a well known type of Cuisine for being healthy because it use of flavouring is much less heavy-handed than most other Chinese cuisines and it's depends much on the freshness and quality of the ingredients for taste and flavour. The terms of being modified in Pontianak that have such a rich ethnic diversity make this an exquixite exotic mixture. Herbs, spices and sauce blend together with so called a healthy simple plain Teo Chew dishes. Could'nt been better...nyummm

My mom is not a great cook, but she always tried her best to cook us what called home food dinner. She can be amazingly quick in preparing it and she surely talented in multi-tasking (she can cook, do cleaning and nag us in the same time ) Tsk tsk tsk heheheheh

She normally cooked our dinner like fried hekeng which is made from minced shrimp and lard rolled with soya been sheets or semur; dark black soup cooked with potato, chicken, star anise, shallots and cinnamon or another dish that as simple as fried ku-chai egg.. love this alot

When i was in my younger age, my dad would never missed a day to asked me to had supper (look how ‘prosperity’ i become now) we often to explore the Kuntein food hawker market that is only open during evening time, how cruel they are. 

One of my favourite dish is Pork Satay top with sprinkle fried onion and crispy chips (cracker) made from dried Melinjo, i still can remember the smell of it's peanut sauce, so thick and when after I squeeze the fresh lime juice all around the sauce, the food become more irresistible. The smells of it can literally give me an aromatherapy treatment. I think i can eat 15 sticks.sshhhhh

Well I can tell you tons of our preferably food, but I only highlights what I like (grin)

• Fried flat rice noodles with beef a.k.a Stir-Fried Beef Kway Tiaw, one of my routine activities whenever I visit Jakarta. There’s nothing special about this dish, it’s just a normal stir fried noodle with slice beef, but the way of they cook this dish, with the right heat temperature, the right wok, the right method of swinging the wok, to create the magic in this kway tiaw dish, its fried together with garlic, bean sprout and smooth tender beef slices. It’s remarkable of how this dish can be transformed to. 
• Siomai a.k.a Siobi the mixture of dried shrimps, minced pork and they will shape it like an oval covered with tofu skin, method of cooking: steam, the sauce is the mixture of black soy sauce, mustard and chilli, quite interesting concoction isn't it?! Once I deep it I will never stop. ( that’s why I would prefer to do take away for this to avoid further self embarassement hehehe)
• Chicken Rice a.k,a Koi Peng not any Koi peng that I can found in Singapore, this traditional Koi peng I only can found it in a small alley of one of the crowd-est, not so hygienic place in Jakarta, but yet this dish never ever let me down. I go there religiously whenever i return back to Jakarta. Surprisingly yes! This koi peng consists of Roast Pork, Char Siew, Roast Chinese Sausage, Roast Chicken, and a hard boiled chicken egg cooked in soy sauce broth, with a salted veggies, cucumber on the side and cover with white thick sauce and the last one but not the least, my favourite chillies made from super green chillies. I can’t really describe of how comfort the taste is, as every time I had that dish, it took me 10 minutes to finish it and I don’t think I am starving cause I believe that my parents have a mission every time i go back is to feed me with most wonderful local delicacies and my mom always use the same tactic which is she going to whisper to my ear, “eat now and diet start on Monday”, sigh and believe me she never failed, i  caught in her trap again and again in a good way though, I knew that I'll be back to the cruel earth, feel regret and dreadful afterwards especially when I am face to face with mirror in the gym trying to have a solid run on treadmill hehehehe

Home town food is like a comfort food to me, it’s not a fancy dish that have different stages of cutleries on the dining table or need to be pairing with a wine vintage. Only my tummy, brain and tongue understand the craving for the above foods hehehehe. Where ever i am, it will always be miss. (right hand side is the picture of Koi Peng, sorry half eaten, i cant resists)