Hot Pot - Thai Style

For a glutton like me, steamboat has always been one of my favourites. All you need is a steaming hot pot, all the favourite ingredients you like, and you are on your way to a sumptuous meal. Coupled with a renowned chilli dipping sauce and you have Coca Steamboat Restaurant.

During peak hours, the food is charge by per plate basis at the Takashimaya outlet, but head to the outlet at International Building next to Thai Embassy at Orchard and you can get a bargain at $20+++ per head for the eat-all-you-can buffet lunch and $30+++ for dinner.

Although I have not tried the Tom-Yum soup-based, other reviews I read, recommended it highly. Personally, I like the special Coca dumplings and cockles – the latter because it is fresh and juicy – but disgusted by many. With its large array of meat, seafood and vegetables to choose from, along with its different flavoured soup-based, Coca definitely cater to the tastebud of everybody.

Rating
Food: 4/5
Service: 3.5/5
Ambience: 3.5/5
Price: 3/5
Total: 14/20
#04-22 Ngee Ann City,
Takashimaya Shopping Centre,
#02-03 International Building,
Singapore

Nostalgia?

In today’s Straits Time Saturday special report, the headline “In Food We Trust” sprang up on me and caught my attention immediately. As quoted in the report, the reporters tracked down on “eight most enduring restaurants, which not just prevailed but prospered” in Singapore. And there in the report was one of the restaurants that I have visited during Father’s Day – Shashlik. The restaurant is name after a Russian Staple, shashlik, or a skewered meat, which is one of the restaurant’s signature dishes along with Borscht, a vegetable soup with a hint of beef in it.

Although the soup was delicious, I felt it was too cold for my liking, although this is how some are served over in Russia. For my main, I opted for the Tournedos Rossini, named after a great composer, Giacchino Rossini, instead of the Shashlik, as my last visit told me it was too dry for my liking. The beef came with a hint of foie gras, or French goose liver on the top.

However, I was disappointed with the main despite the combination of two very delicious ingredients. The “medium-rare” beef came out medium or even medium well as it was served on a hot plate. This often frustrate me as I find that not many restaurants in Singapore, despite paying top dollars, can served medium-rare beef the way I want it. Also, The rainbow trout that my sis-in law ordered has only one word to describe it - BAD! It was dry and simply tasteless.

Also since it was Father’s Day, I presumed that the “Ah Kor” or silvered hair Hainanese waiters – known for their excellent service - was out celebrating the big day. Only one was present that day, and the lady that was assigned to serve us probably felt very unwilling. She was loud and rude, but since it was my dad’s day, we decided not to spoil our mood thinking about it.

Although I had a very high opinion initially about this place, this visit definitely proved me wrong. And as the report from Straits Time said it, Singaporeans probably still visit this place due to this very reason: nostalgia.

Rating

Food: 2/5
Service: 2/5
Ambience: 3/5
Price: 2.5/5
Total: 9.5/20
#06-19 Far East Shopping Centre,
545 Orchard Road
Singapore 238882

Glimpse of a Tai Tai's Lifestyle

Working with a Tai Tai boss has its perks, and one of them is you get to have a glimpse of their rich and famous lifestyle. My dad doesn’t owe any country club membership and I only stepped in once prior to working under her. Once awhile when she is in a good mood, she will offer to buy us lunch at one of the many country clubs she is in. The way she rattles off the list of country club she is part of is like how men list the soccer clubs in the EPL. Hence at one such occasion, she decided to buy us lunch at the Singapore Recreation Club. Although we only dined at the café and not the restaurant situated in the country club, I could immediately sense the difference we mere mortals are used to as compared to people like her. You see, the café is situated next to the indoor swimming pool. This swimming pool is heated, unlike the cold and freezing pool I encountered every Sunday morning, when I was having swimming lessons in primary school. Such comfort, such luxury! Although the Western set lunch I ordered was nothing that extraordinary, the fact that I am dining like a Tai Tai makes it all worthwhile!


Rating

Food: 3/5
Service: 3.5/5
Ambience: 4.5/5
Price: 3.5/5
Total: 14.5/20
B Connaught Drive,
Singapore 179682

The Good O Days

At times, I tried hard to come to terms that I am all grown up, earning my own living, having to give allowance to my mum - instead of stretching my hands to ask for it. Other things that I missed from growing up include, having my mum to wake me up from my bed, and having breakfast prepared the moment I am awake - even though I dread eating the moment I wake up. Recently after many years, I had the luxury of having my mum prepared breakfast for me once again. She did 2 half-boiled eggs and the usual hot Milo to go along with it. Although the eggs were too uncooked for my liking, it did spur me enough to seek out the traditional half boiled eggs with kaya & butter toast at the Good O Killiney Kopitiam. Tucked at the quiet side of Orchard Road near Somerset MRT, Killiney Kopitiam can be found along a stretch of shophouses at Killiney Road (Which explains why the name). I ordered the usual fare of half boiled eggs and kaya & butter toast along with a cup of Teh Peng or ice milk tea. Awww…..the sweet reminisce of childhood!! With 12 branches and franchises all over Singapore, finding back the Good O Days has never been easier before.

Rating

Food: 4/5
Service: 3/5
Ambience: 4/5
Price: 3.5/5
Total: 14.5/20
67 Killiney Road
Singapore 239525

Guiltless Sin

The Japanese, for a long time has known green tea for its health benefits. Among them, it is reputed to be helpful against cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and cholesterol levels. The secret of green tea lies in its powerful anti-oxidant. Besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels. Together with the fad on J-Culture, more and more Asians are embracing this marvellous entity for consumption – even I, who is not known for his healthy eating habits, is slowly being suck into it. The strong flavour of green tea together with that tint of bitterness, is simply so amazing! This makes the indulgence of the ice cream cone simply less sinful - so much so that the female friend who was with me (and is always so cautious of her weight) went for a second helping.

Rating
Food: 3.5/5
Service: 3.5/5
Ambience: 4/5
Price: 4.5/5
Total: 15.5/20
Legend of Tea,
Level 2, Aeon Tebrau City
No.1 Jalan Desa Tebrau
Taman Desa Tebrau
81100 Johor Bahru, Johor

Hell then Heavenly...

I always believe people need to experience the worst to appreciate the best in life. After my horrific experience with Crystal Jade La Mian & Xiao Long Bao at Holland village, I look forward to savour Din Tai Fung at Wisma Atria ever since then. The best thing I like about them is their excellent and quick service. This was closely matched by its Steam Pork Dumplings, or better known as Xiao Long Bao. Famed for its 18 folds that ensures the excellent texture of the dumplings, the hot soup that spurt out when you bite into it is even greater. Other superb recommendation includes its La Mian with Fried Pork Chop. The noodles might be normal but the fried pork chop is exceptional. The well-marinated pork is well-fried on the outside and tender-juicy on the inside. Also delightful is unbelievably their fried rice. Those who knows me well knows that there are some items like fried rice which I would never order from a restaurant as I feel they are waste of money (as they can be easily prepared and cook at home), same goes for vegetables like fried bean sprout. However Din Tai Fung definitely blows my mind with its Fried Rice with Egg. Try it, it will blow your mind!!

Rating

Food: 4.5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Ambience: 3.5/5
Price: 3.5/5
Total: 16/20

• Paragon B1-03/06
  
• Junction 8 Shopping Centre#01-41
  
• Tampines Mall #02-01/31
  
• Wisma Atria #02-48/53
  

World Cup Fever

Once every 4 years, doctors all over the world are puzzled by a series of illness where numerous women would declare themselves as “widow” for a month. Yet to many people, this syndrome is simply known as “World Cup Fever”. This is the time when temperature of woman rise, and felt that their husbands are as good as dead. However, to the man, this fever is simply adrenalin. For Asians especially, man would stay up late and yet be ready for work the next day since many soccer matches would be telecast after midnight due to the difference in time zone. While some watch at home, many would opt to watch it with other supporters in pubs and even in Kopitiams. And in JB, the perfect place to watch and dine at the same time would be in Singgah Selalu. With its large capacity filled with tables and projector screen, along with its large varieties of food to choose from – Western delights to Asian cuisine, BBQ Stingray to Tom Yum Soup, but the best of all would be Prata. I have tried the egg prata and the “tissue” prata, and both are high-quality. I would also highly recommend the “Teh-O” to go along with your prata, of which the taste of the tea is simply different from the ones you can get here, don’t ask me why. Most important of all, the whole experience only cost me less than RM10, a steal if you ask me.

Rating

Food: 4/5
Service: 3/5
Ambience: 4/5
Price: 5/5
Total: 16/20
Restoran Singgah Selalu
Lot 36D, 36E, 36F, Jalan Skudai,
80200 Johor Bahru
Johor Darul Takzim

Do You Love Mee Two?

Almost a month ago, I wrote about how I always been a fan of Crystal Jade Kitchen’s Wanton Noodle Soup. Recently, I had the chance to relish it again…Awww the sweet remembrance!!! The noodle is still as tangy although the standard of the soup differs from the different outlets.

Rating

Food: 3.5/5
Service: 3/5
Ambience: 3/5
Price: 4/5
Total: 13.5/20
Suntec City, Ngee Ann City, Holland Village,
Parkway Parade and many more....

Do You Love Mee?

When you have a fever, you consume Panadol. When you are thirsty, and crave for a fizzy drink, you drink Coca-Cola. When you want a fast and quick meal, you frequent McDonalds. And in Singapore, when you are hungry at night and feel like eating noodles for supper, you head for Bedok 85 Bak Chor Mee. Slowly but surely, these “SuperBrands” are slowly becoming representative for the product category that they belong in. However amidst these “SuperBrands”, there are always worthy competitors. And under the local Bak Chor Mee category, there lurked the Chai Chee Noodle Village. It is reported that this noodle chain owns 14 outlets islandwide, of which six open 24 hours. Providentially, I have one such chance to visit one of the outlets in the wee hours of the night, and get the chance to taste the soup, which is famed for being prepared by 18 ingredients. Along with the noodles, we also ordered the beancurd with mincemeat, which goes well with the chilli sauce that comes along with it. But above all, it was the noodles that I enjoyed most. With its generous amount of pig liver, mincemeat and mushrooms alongside the most critical element in Teochew-style Bak Chor Mee - the Dark Vinegar - the noodle is definitely a strong contender in the category of Super Mee.

Rating

Food: 3.5/5
Service: 3.5/5
Ambience: 3.5/5
Price: 4/5
Total: 14.5/20
Six 24-hour outlets:

Block 443 Pasir Ris Drive 6, 01-02 Block 682 Hougang Avenue 4, 01-300 32/34 Aljunied Road, Junction Food Place Block 444 Pasir Ris Drive 6, 01-102 376 East Coast Road 39 MacPherson Road, Jackson Food Centre

Invasion of Culture

Over at Perth, you can find more and more Asian Cuisines. As the “Ang Moh” countries are getting “Chee’Na-nised”, over here in Singapore, we are being bombarded and invaded by the Western culture every minute – from fashion to television, the way we carry ourselves to even the food we eat. That is why I am not at all surprised when I knew that Hog’s Breathe Café is here in Singapore at Chijmes. Although I haven’t tried it over here in town, I do hope that the food would be as good as those served over in Perth at Northbridge. Cheers Mate!

30 Victoria Street,

Block A #01 26/27 Chijmes,

Singapore 187996