Curry favour me, please?

While if Indian Curry is spicy and burning hot, Japanese Curry is mild and even sweet. And while those instant mix cubes provide quick and easy solution for our cravings for Japanese Curry Rice, we often substitute the Chicken Katsu (Japanese style fried chicken) with chicken wings or oven baked/pan-fried chicken breast. Tucked at Stamford House just across the new SMU business school is Curry Favor – claiming to be a young and hip specialised Japanese curry restaurant. At a reasonable price of $13.90 for the Rosu Katsu (Pork) Curry and $12.90 for the Chicken Katsu Curry, you not only get the main, but a choice of Japanese green salad or miso soup to go with it. Topped it up with a bottle of Asahi Beer under the smoothing jazz music, Japanese Curry has never been this great an experience before. To end off the night, you may even indulge in some board games on that nice comfy sofa provided by the place itself.

Rating

Food: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Ambience: 4.5/5
Price: 4/5
Total: 16.5/20
39 Stamford Road
#01-09 Stamford House
Singapore 178885

The Day I Fell in Love with Cakes...

Was talking to my colleague the other day, and she was mentioning to me that her housemate is travelling to Melbourne for a holiday. Immediately, Brunetti came to my mind, as I tell her to urge her friend to visit this place when she is there. Brunetti is a café cum restaurant which serves cakes and coffee in the heart of Melbourne City, minutes away from Melbourne University. With up to 45 varieties on offer, and all decorated spectacularly, their cakes are the perfect centerpiece for any occasion. I have to first attest that I am not a guy known for his likes for cake. Personally there are only two that I really like, one from NYDC and the other from Bakerzin, though I shall leave it here to talk about it some other time. Coming back to Brunetti, it was one of those times when I had a “mood” for pastries and cakes. Having nice décor was a plus point but the numerous amounts of pastries and cakes displayed behind the glass panel were simply irresistible. Just as I urge my friend to tell her housemate about it, here I am telling you to go try it if you have the chance – for cake lovers or not, you were be simply captivated by it.

Rating

Food: 4/5
Service: 3.5/5
Ambience: 4.5/5
Price: 3.5/5
Total: 15.5/20
214 Flinders Lane,
Melbourne

Speedy Lunch on a Silver Tray

Away from home, and there will come a time when you crave for local delight. And in Subicao, I came across Chutney Mary’s Indian Restaurant to satisfy my cravings for Indian Food. The speedy lunch served on a silver tray offers a whole new meaning to the fast lunch! A large silver tray with your choice of meat, fish or vegetarian curries together with rice, naan, dahl, soup and dessert all in mini portions make this a quick and healthy lunch option. Highly recommended is the Tandoori Prawns and Mango Lassi (Mango Milkshake although it is more plain yogurt than milk). I would honestly said it is one of the best Indian restuarant in Perth City.

Rating

Food: 4/5
Service: 3.5/5
Ambience: 4/5
Price: 3.5/5
Total: 15/20
67 Rokeby Road
Subiaco, 6008
Perth

Mussels, Part 3

Continuing on mussels, let me tell you that chilli mussels is NOT the only method to cook and savour it. Mussels can be baked in cheese as well as cooked in white wine. Recently, I had this opportunity to relish mussels in white wine sauce at one of the finest Italian restaurant in town….or rather our neighbour’s town – Johor Bahru. At Italiannies, without even ordering, they will serve you with fresh bread - chiabatta, to go along with olive oil and basil vinegar – definitely a CLASSIC!!! I simply love it. Along with the mussels, my friends and I also shared a shrimp linguine. Both the mussels and the pasta come with excellent sauce. Definitely one of the best Italian restaurants I had. I believed they have other outlets in KL and I would definitely visit them if I drop by KL one of these days.

Rating

Food: 4.5/5
Service: 4/5
Ambience: 4.5/5
Price: 4/5
Total: 17/20
Italiannies
Ground Floor
Jusco, AEON Tebrau City Shopping Centre

Nothing beats a HOT breakkie...

Those who know me well enough would know that I love my breakfast warm. Nothing beats a HOT breakkie 1st thing in the morning......especially with a bowl of LAKSA!!!!

Rating

Food: 3.5/5
Service: 3.5/5
Ambience: 3/5
Price: 4.5/5
Total: 14.5/20
103 Snack House
(Coffeeshop under Tanjong Pagar Market)

Chilli Mussels, Part 2

Since we are on the topic of chilli mussels, let me just share with you my “adventures” of it while I was in Perth. While thinking that cooking chilli mussels is not that too daunting a task, I proceeded to try my hands on it. I was right about the cooking part, but I failed to foresee the preparation part of it. You see - mussels that are purchased off the market usually come with “beard” (i.e. the seaweed that mussels clinged on to). And it takes time to clear these beards and cleaning the shells. My personal experience tells me that it takes 45 minutes to an hour to clean up a kilogram of these. Anyway I have here my very own recipe and one of my proudest achievements in gourmet preparation.

Bon Appétit!!

Ingredients:
1 kg Mussels scrubbed and cleaned
3 ea garlic cloves crushed
6 lg Ripe tomatoes chopped
1/2 c Dry white wine(chenin blanc)
1 ea Red chilli chopped
2 ea Spring onions finely sliced -with green
2 tb Finely chopped parsley


Directions:
* Preheat a heavy based pot on low heat for a few minutes.
* Brush base lightly with olive oil. Gently cook garlic for 1 minute.
* Add tomatoes, wine and chilli. Increase heat to medium.
* Bring to the boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes or until tomatoes are mushy.
* Increase heat to medium. Add mussels and spring onions. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until mussels open.
* Discard any which remain closed. Sprinkle with parsley.
* Serve with crusty Italian bread to mop up the sauce.

Chilli Mussels, Part 1

As you would have already figure out, I was studying in Perth - for 2 years to be exact. And in Perth, you trip will not be complete if you do not indulge in Chilli Mussels. For students living in Nedlands near UWA, there is always the nearby Tiamo for a decent bowl of chilli mussels. Head down to Northbridge, the Chinatown of Perth, and there's always "Young Joes" or the restaurant across the road that claims they are the "Best in the West" for chilli mussels. For students staying near Curtin University, there's always Conca's Chilli Mussels along Albany Highway, that most students claim it is the best among the lot (Although the price is the best too). However today I will be showcasing Blue Mussel at Subiaco. To be honest, the mussels there is not the best I have eaten, but the décor and atmospheric environment is definitely one of the best. However for an Asian who usually prefers their chilli mussels to be spicy, you MUST definitely make a point to tell them that you can take it “VERY VERY VERY SPICY”. I had mine just “VERY SPICY” and it was probably mild to most of us.

Rating

Food: 3.5/5
Service: 3.5/5
Ambience: 4/5
Price: 3.5/5
Total: 13.5/20
50 Subiaco Square,
Subiaco, Perth UWA 6008
(Next to Subiaco Train Station)

Selections in the Heart of our City

I was suprised to find out that there was a Murray Street right in the heart of Singapore. You see, back in Perth during my convocation, I was staying in an apartment at Murray Street, and perthlings who stayed there long enough would know that Murray Street is in the heart of Perth City. Coming back to Singapore, there is this bistro at the side of Murray Terrace, opposite Maxwell Hawker Centre called Selections. Indeed this bistro gives you a hard time thinking of what to eat as it offers many choices for the different executives working in Tanjong Pagar. From noodles to rice, western to asian, soupy or dry, Selections had it all. It was literally a "One Stop Food Centre". But what it impress me the most was the service of its staff. He was able to rant off items from the menu and even remembers the types of chilli available (i.e. chilli padi, chilli sauce, etc.). Although we waited a little bit longer than usual for our food, I like the overall service and decor of the place.

Rating

Food: 3.5/5
Service: 4/5
Ambience: 3.5/5
Price: 3.5/5
Total: 14.5/20
2 Murray Street,
Murray Terrace
Singapore 079 519

Oiishi Ne...!!!

I managed to have the opportunity to travel to Japan to savour one of the best ramen I have ever eaten. This little ramen store, smacked right at the end of Sapporo, Hokkaido’s Ramen Street (or the first shop depending on which end of the street you are coming from) opens only in the evening for dinner (unlike the rest of the shops) and sits a "not so comfortable" 9 person. However that is typical of most ramen shops. Yet it is because of this cosy environment that you get the most personalised service. Service is abit slow as the chef doubles up as the waiter, however you are ensured that your ramen will be cooked to perfection as it is served one by one. What is so unique about this shop is that it offers something that the rest of the ramen shop does not offer…..EGG!!! And before you wonder what is so special about this egg, allow me to describe to you that this egg looks like a normal hard boiled egg (marinated in soya sauce) but the yolk is watery…...amazing isn’t it? Although most ramen store in Sapporo does not offer Tonkatsu (pork bone) ramen which most people like, his shoyu (soya-based), shio (salt) and miso-based is just as good, or if not better than those found in Singapore. Although you might find the soup a little too salty for your liking, NEVER ask the chef to add water or change the taste of the soup as it is considered an insult to them. So if you have the chance to drop by at Sapporo, do drop by this shop. Unfortunately, since it has been awhile, I do not have the exact location of this ramen shop. Itadekimas!!!

Rating

Food: 4.5/5
Service: 4/5
Ambience: 4.5/5
Price: 3/5
Total: 16/20
Sapporo,
Hokkaido’s Ramen Street

Not for the Faint Hearted

Ventured to MacPherson near the 24hours KopiTiam to one of my fav for a bowl of boiled turtle soup. Although I have to agree that it is not for the animal lovers and the faint hearted, I was drawn for the fact that the meat served is so tender and sweet. One thing for certain is that the soup served is always boiling hot. Personally I like the soup as it does not taste too “herbal’ish” and the service is fast. Seated for less than 5 minutes (after ordering) and you should expect to be served. However service is less than desired as staffs are usually uncouth.You will often get the feeling that you are being forced to gobble down your food. My favourite combination would be to order the yam rice to go with the “skin of the leg” for the soup. The jelly-like skin of the turtle beats the “agar agar” anytime.

Rating

Food: 4/5
Service: 3/5
Ambience: 3/5
Price: 3/5
Total: 13/20
39 Tai Thong Crescent
Singapore 347863

Let the Beautiful Journey Begin...

This blog is not about me. It's about my beautiful journey. It's about our beautiful journey. Our common journey I call food. There will not even be many words on this blog. The beauty takes precedent. Let the picture speaks. Feel the aroma. Together let's partake this "Le voyage de kalos" or the beautiful journey. For a start, I will lead this journey, but in time to come, I would love to travel it with you. Together let's raise our glasses and celebrate...on this new embarkation!!!