Mum and bro were invited to do an interview on Love97.2FM to introduce the restaurant and a couple of its signature dishes recently. We've had some visitors to the restaurant after the interview was aired and I'm glad that we've been getting some positive feedback.
The 3 dishes introduced were the Hakka Yam Abacus, Hakka Braised Vinegar Pork & the Nonya Boneless Roast Chicken. Have a listen to the interview if you'd like to find out more! The interview is in Mandarin since 97.2FM is a Chinese radio station so if you do need some help with understanding the interview, I'd be more than happy to translate it to English.
Thursday, December 03, 2009
another year.
I was just chatting with a friend a couple of days back about how 2009 had passed without any remarkable events in my life. It then dawned on me that my blog had turned 4 yesterday. 4 years! I can't believe that I've kept this up for so long. Although I'm not very conscientious with my updates (Yes! I'm guilty!), it's rather amazing that I'm sitting in front of my computer and typing away because I never imagined that I'd still be doing this 4 years down from when I first started. It's not really very exciting news anyway.
Since we're already at the tail end of 2009, I'm hoping what is remaining passes quickly so I can get started on ushering in the new year. Hopefully 2010 will be a better one for me and for all of us.
Since we're already at the tail end of 2009, I'm hoping what is remaining passes quickly so I can get started on ushering in the new year. Hopefully 2010 will be a better one for me and for all of us.
Monday, November 23, 2009
feels like home @ Linda's Home Kitchen.
Linda's Home Kitchen
206 Telok Ayer Street
Tel: 65 6284 7272
Opening Hours: 11.30am - 3pm; 5.30pm - 10pm Daily
Facebook: Linda's Home Kitchen on FB
Hungrygowhere: Linda's Home Kitchen on HGW
It's been a hectic 2 months since Linda's Home Kitchen opened its doors. I feel like I now have 2 jobs and although I can no longer differentiate between weekdays and weekends, I'm having fun. Linda, who is my Mum by the way, has always loved cooking. She loved to cook for family and friends as much as they always enjoyed coming over to our place to have a meal. It's always been a thought of the family to put her food out there; the food that the family has always been proud of but it was only until a few good months earlier that we really decided to put our plans into action.
Linda's serves good ol' traditional style home cooked food. As my family is Hakka, one would find quite a number of Hakka dishes on the menu along with dishes from other dialect groups. A lot of the recipes were handed down from my grandmother and many were also adapted by my mum through her years behind the stove. Although we've moved the cooking from a home kitchen to now, an industrial kitchen, the flavours are just like what I always have at home including the important part of not adding any MSG to the food.
The menu includes favourites of the family but I have a couple of personal favourites which I'd like to share with you.
Linda's Ngoh Hiang
This is a huge hit with the family during the get-togethers. Mum does this awfully well since she's Hokkien and she's always proud that her meat and seafood mixture does not contain any flour unlike many Ngoh Hiangs that are sold elsewhere. I'm always grabbing for the ends of the roll cos that's my favourite part!
Hakka Braised Vinegar Pork
This is a recipe that was passed down from my grandma. It's always been something that we could only get at home since I've never seen this sold anywhere else. It's basically pork belly braised with radish & dried chillies in white vinegar. Although mum had modified it a little by choosing a slightly leaner pork belly, I believe Grandma would be proud that many people will get to try this dish.
Hakka Yam Abacus
The family grew up eating this when we used to live across the Causeway so it's always been a family favourite. However, all the versions that we've tried always had more flour than yam thus making the abacus springier. Ours is different as we put more yam so that the taste of yam comes through and with a softer texture. We then stir fry it together with minced pork, black fungus, yellow beancurd and dried cuttlefish. This is one of the most popular items on our menu since this dish is synonymous with the Hakkas and there aren't many around who make theirs like we do.
Deep Fried Hakka Pork Belly marinated with Fermented Beancurd
This is a crowd pleaser especially for beer drinkers. While I'm not a fan of alcohol, D and I are big fans of this dish. It's one of those where you can't stop after one piece. The dish is simple but the flavours really come out as you chew on the meat. YUM!
Hakka Yong Tau Foo
The special part of this dish is in the meat stuffing. Mum does this the traditional Hakka way by using a generous amount of meat and some salted fish. The original Hakka Yong Tau Foo uses only beancurd but we've modified it and included eggplant, bittergourd etc.
Minced Meat Omelette simmered in Tomato Sauce
My siblings and I grew up eating this. According to Mum, she learnt how to make this from Grandma although I have no recollection of Grandma making it. It's a simple dish really with minced meat wrapped in a fluffy omelette soaking in a tomato gravy but I guess it's memories of eating it during the growing up years that makes this dish extra special for me.
Stir-fried Mee Pok with Eggplant & Minced Meat
Mum usually makes this for brunch on Sundays when we're not out looking for new eats. It's excellent when eaten with Mum's homemade sambal belachan.
Food has always been what brings my family together. That's the basis of setting up the restaurant; a family sitting together to enjoy a good home-cooked meal. It feels like home when I'm at the restaurant and I hope you feel that way too when you visit.
See you soon!
* photos by Marc Wang Photography
206 Telok Ayer Street
Tel: 65 6284 7272
Opening Hours: 11.30am - 3pm; 5.30pm - 10pm Daily
Facebook: Linda's Home Kitchen on FB
Hungrygowhere: Linda's Home Kitchen on HGW
It's been a hectic 2 months since Linda's Home Kitchen opened its doors. I feel like I now have 2 jobs and although I can no longer differentiate between weekdays and weekends, I'm having fun. Linda, who is my Mum by the way, has always loved cooking. She loved to cook for family and friends as much as they always enjoyed coming over to our place to have a meal. It's always been a thought of the family to put her food out there; the food that the family has always been proud of but it was only until a few good months earlier that we really decided to put our plans into action.
Linda's serves good ol' traditional style home cooked food. As my family is Hakka, one would find quite a number of Hakka dishes on the menu along with dishes from other dialect groups. A lot of the recipes were handed down from my grandmother and many were also adapted by my mum through her years behind the stove. Although we've moved the cooking from a home kitchen to now, an industrial kitchen, the flavours are just like what I always have at home including the important part of not adding any MSG to the food.
The menu includes favourites of the family but I have a couple of personal favourites which I'd like to share with you.
Linda's Ngoh Hiang
This is a huge hit with the family during the get-togethers. Mum does this awfully well since she's Hokkien and she's always proud that her meat and seafood mixture does not contain any flour unlike many Ngoh Hiangs that are sold elsewhere. I'm always grabbing for the ends of the roll cos that's my favourite part!
Hakka Braised Vinegar Pork
This is a recipe that was passed down from my grandma. It's always been something that we could only get at home since I've never seen this sold anywhere else. It's basically pork belly braised with radish & dried chillies in white vinegar. Although mum had modified it a little by choosing a slightly leaner pork belly, I believe Grandma would be proud that many people will get to try this dish.
Hakka Yam Abacus
The family grew up eating this when we used to live across the Causeway so it's always been a family favourite. However, all the versions that we've tried always had more flour than yam thus making the abacus springier. Ours is different as we put more yam so that the taste of yam comes through and with a softer texture. We then stir fry it together with minced pork, black fungus, yellow beancurd and dried cuttlefish. This is one of the most popular items on our menu since this dish is synonymous with the Hakkas and there aren't many around who make theirs like we do.
Deep Fried Hakka Pork Belly marinated with Fermented Beancurd
This is a crowd pleaser especially for beer drinkers. While I'm not a fan of alcohol, D and I are big fans of this dish. It's one of those where you can't stop after one piece. The dish is simple but the flavours really come out as you chew on the meat. YUM!
Hakka Yong Tau Foo
The special part of this dish is in the meat stuffing. Mum does this the traditional Hakka way by using a generous amount of meat and some salted fish. The original Hakka Yong Tau Foo uses only beancurd but we've modified it and included eggplant, bittergourd etc.
Minced Meat Omelette simmered in Tomato Sauce
My siblings and I grew up eating this. According to Mum, she learnt how to make this from Grandma although I have no recollection of Grandma making it. It's a simple dish really with minced meat wrapped in a fluffy omelette soaking in a tomato gravy but I guess it's memories of eating it during the growing up years that makes this dish extra special for me.
Stir-fried Mee Pok with Eggplant & Minced Meat
Mum usually makes this for brunch on Sundays when we're not out looking for new eats. It's excellent when eaten with Mum's homemade sambal belachan.
Food has always been what brings my family together. That's the basis of setting up the restaurant; a family sitting together to enjoy a good home-cooked meal. It feels like home when I'm at the restaurant and I hope you feel that way too when you visit.
See you soon!
* photos by Marc Wang Photography
Monday, September 14, 2009
Sunday, September 06, 2009
a review. Delight 'n' Delicious.
Delight 'n' Delicious
Blk 26 Jalan Membina
#01-10, 29 Food Center
Tel: 65 6238 0382
Website: http://www.delightndelicious.com.sg/index.htm
Opening Hours: 12pm - 9.45pm (last order) daily
Pei had talked about a western food stall set up in a coffee shop just below her block for months. She had told me about how she really liked the food and hoped that I would do a review of it. So last weekend, along with 9 other dining buddies, I finally paid a visit to the humble food stall and met with Moon & Fion, friendly owners of Delight 'n' Delicious.
Moon, with 15 years of industry experience helms the kitchen with 2 other chef helpers in tow. Along with his wife Fion, he striked out on his own after kitchen stints at Senso Ristorante & Bar and the now defunct, Bice Bistro. Delight serves a good variety of dishes for a small outfit like theirs and we got to sample quite a number of them. The first order of the day was Soup.
Left: Clam Chowder
Right: Beef Consomme
To be honest, things did not look too good in the beginning. The Clam Chowder was quite a letdown. The soup was too runny to be called 'chowder' and it had a really milky taste. Pei mentioned that she's tasted a thicker and far more superior version before. I guess it was just my luck that day.
Things then started to look up. While the Clam Chowder failed to impress, the Beef Consomme, the special of the day was a favourite with the group. It was tasty and hearty; just what we needed as it was pouring earlier in the day. I think they should put it on the regular menu!
What were to follow was in my opinion Delight's forte; the pastas.
Top left: Prosciutto de Parma; tomato-cream base with parma ham, mushrooms & fresh tomatoes
Top right: Seafood Bianco; seafood combination with white wine
Bottom left: Seafood Combo; tomato-based seafood combination
Bottom right: Creamy Mix; creamy base with bacon, mushrooms & onions
Everyone at the table had their own personal favourites.
Some loved the Seafood Combo as the tomato sauce was fresh and of the right tartness. LS gave it a two thumbs up even though she's never liked tomato-based sauces. Some particularly loved the Creamy Mix just because the sauce was tasty, creamy and addictive. The Seafood Bianco was really light tasting and had the fragrance of the white wine when the dish arrived at the table. I personally felt the alcohol should have been left to evaporate a little while longer as the alcohol taste was very apparent. My personal favourite was the pasta that was supposed to come with Parma ham. Due to some problems with the supplier, the ham had to be substituted with bacon. I didn't feel any loss with the substitution and liked the fresh tomatoes. I did feel that there could have been a larger proportion of tomato sauce mixed into the cream as the taste was not very apparent. In general, the pastas were cooked pretty well although they could have been a little bit more al dente and less heavy handed with the creamy sauces. Servings are generous so I personally feel that prices ranging from $5.50 for the classic Bolognaise and $8.90 for the seafood pastas are very reasonable.
The mains that followed were a bit of a hit and miss. The Paprika Chicken was grilled really nicely and had a smoky flavour which made it seem like it was cooked over charcoal although it wasn't after a quick check with Moon.
The Full Moon Beef Cheese Burger, one of Delight's house specialities was rather delicious. Although the burger bun and condiments were ordinary and nothing to shout about, the success of the dish was in the thick beef patties. The minced beef patties were well marinated unlike some gourmet burger patties which I've tasted recently.
My personal favourite out of all the mains served that evening was the good ol' Fish & Chips. The fish was fried to perfection. The batter was crispy and of the right thickness. The fish was not overcooked and you could even taste the freshness of the fish. It was definitely one of the better Breaded Fish & Chips that I've had in a long while.
Left: Grilled Salmon
Right: Char-Grilled Rib Eye
Whilst most of the mains impressed, we were pretty disappointed with the Grilled Salmon and the Char-Grilled Rib Eye. I did not have a problem with the cooking of the salmon. My only gripe was that it was rather bland. There was not really any sweetness in the flesh of the salmon and the dish was sorely lacking in salt. The beef from New Zealand was tender but severely undercooked although I have to add that it was probably difficult to gauge the doneness of the beef considering it was a thin cut. I had a bigger problem with sauce. The sauce needed quite a bit of spicing up as the black pepper was almost unnoticeable. I did however, like that there were potatoes chunks deliberately left in the otherwise, smooth potato mash that came with both dishes.
We were stuffed by the time it got to desserts. Of the 3 desserts we had, the most note worthy was the Tiramisu. There was a good balance of the mascarpone cheese, the coffee and the sponge fingers. What could help it further is to increase the liquor that is usual with tiramisus. Of course, the prices will then need to go up so I'm not complaining for the lack of it here.
I thought that the Chocolate Bread Pudding needed some cinnamon to lift things up a little; give it a bit more depth. Somehow, it just felt like something was missing without it. I liked the Brownie better as it was paired well with the chocolate chip ice cream. However, I did think that it could have done better if the texture was little denser and served a tad warmer.
Left: Chocolate Bread Pudding
Right: Brownie with Ice Cream
Delight 'n' Delicious does not score in every aspect but they definitely try to be different in their dish offerings as compared to your regular Western food stall. The variety is commendable as they try to set themselves apart and a bar higher than their competitors.
Thanks to Moon & Fion for their kind hospitality that evening. Thanks also to Moon's crew for working so hard in the kitchen to feed 10 hungry people.
We had fun.
Blk 26 Jalan Membina
#01-10, 29 Food Center
Tel: 65 6238 0382
Website: http://www.delightndelicious.com.sg/index.htm
Opening Hours: 12pm - 9.45pm (last order) daily
Pei had talked about a western food stall set up in a coffee shop just below her block for months. She had told me about how she really liked the food and hoped that I would do a review of it. So last weekend, along with 9 other dining buddies, I finally paid a visit to the humble food stall and met with Moon & Fion, friendly owners of Delight 'n' Delicious.
Moon, with 15 years of industry experience helms the kitchen with 2 other chef helpers in tow. Along with his wife Fion, he striked out on his own after kitchen stints at Senso Ristorante & Bar and the now defunct, Bice Bistro. Delight serves a good variety of dishes for a small outfit like theirs and we got to sample quite a number of them. The first order of the day was Soup.
Left: Clam Chowder
Right: Beef Consomme
To be honest, things did not look too good in the beginning. The Clam Chowder was quite a letdown. The soup was too runny to be called 'chowder' and it had a really milky taste. Pei mentioned that she's tasted a thicker and far more superior version before. I guess it was just my luck that day.
Things then started to look up. While the Clam Chowder failed to impress, the Beef Consomme, the special of the day was a favourite with the group. It was tasty and hearty; just what we needed as it was pouring earlier in the day. I think they should put it on the regular menu!
What were to follow was in my opinion Delight's forte; the pastas.
Top left: Prosciutto de Parma; tomato-cream base with parma ham, mushrooms & fresh tomatoes
Top right: Seafood Bianco; seafood combination with white wine
Bottom left: Seafood Combo; tomato-based seafood combination
Bottom right: Creamy Mix; creamy base with bacon, mushrooms & onions
Everyone at the table had their own personal favourites.
Some loved the Seafood Combo as the tomato sauce was fresh and of the right tartness. LS gave it a two thumbs up even though she's never liked tomato-based sauces. Some particularly loved the Creamy Mix just because the sauce was tasty, creamy and addictive. The Seafood Bianco was really light tasting and had the fragrance of the white wine when the dish arrived at the table. I personally felt the alcohol should have been left to evaporate a little while longer as the alcohol taste was very apparent. My personal favourite was the pasta that was supposed to come with Parma ham. Due to some problems with the supplier, the ham had to be substituted with bacon. I didn't feel any loss with the substitution and liked the fresh tomatoes. I did feel that there could have been a larger proportion of tomato sauce mixed into the cream as the taste was not very apparent. In general, the pastas were cooked pretty well although they could have been a little bit more al dente and less heavy handed with the creamy sauces. Servings are generous so I personally feel that prices ranging from $5.50 for the classic Bolognaise and $8.90 for the seafood pastas are very reasonable.
The mains that followed were a bit of a hit and miss. The Paprika Chicken was grilled really nicely and had a smoky flavour which made it seem like it was cooked over charcoal although it wasn't after a quick check with Moon.
The Full Moon Beef Cheese Burger, one of Delight's house specialities was rather delicious. Although the burger bun and condiments were ordinary and nothing to shout about, the success of the dish was in the thick beef patties. The minced beef patties were well marinated unlike some gourmet burger patties which I've tasted recently.
My personal favourite out of all the mains served that evening was the good ol' Fish & Chips. The fish was fried to perfection. The batter was crispy and of the right thickness. The fish was not overcooked and you could even taste the freshness of the fish. It was definitely one of the better Breaded Fish & Chips that I've had in a long while.
Left: Grilled Salmon
Right: Char-Grilled Rib Eye
Whilst most of the mains impressed, we were pretty disappointed with the Grilled Salmon and the Char-Grilled Rib Eye. I did not have a problem with the cooking of the salmon. My only gripe was that it was rather bland. There was not really any sweetness in the flesh of the salmon and the dish was sorely lacking in salt. The beef from New Zealand was tender but severely undercooked although I have to add that it was probably difficult to gauge the doneness of the beef considering it was a thin cut. I had a bigger problem with sauce. The sauce needed quite a bit of spicing up as the black pepper was almost unnoticeable. I did however, like that there were potatoes chunks deliberately left in the otherwise, smooth potato mash that came with both dishes.
We were stuffed by the time it got to desserts. Of the 3 desserts we had, the most note worthy was the Tiramisu. There was a good balance of the mascarpone cheese, the coffee and the sponge fingers. What could help it further is to increase the liquor that is usual with tiramisus. Of course, the prices will then need to go up so I'm not complaining for the lack of it here.
I thought that the Chocolate Bread Pudding needed some cinnamon to lift things up a little; give it a bit more depth. Somehow, it just felt like something was missing without it. I liked the Brownie better as it was paired well with the chocolate chip ice cream. However, I did think that it could have done better if the texture was little denser and served a tad warmer.
Left: Chocolate Bread Pudding
Right: Brownie with Ice Cream
Delight 'n' Delicious does not score in every aspect but they definitely try to be different in their dish offerings as compared to your regular Western food stall. The variety is commendable as they try to set themselves apart and a bar higher than their competitors.
Thanks to Moon & Fion for their kind hospitality that evening. Thanks also to Moon's crew for working so hard in the kitchen to feed 10 hungry people.
We had fun.
Monday, August 10, 2009
my gardening project part 3.
Monday, August 03, 2009
the best cuppa.
Oriole Café & Bar
Pan Pacific Serviced Suites
96 Somerset Road #01-01
Tel: 6238 8348
Website: http://www.oriole.com.sg/
It's always nice to hang out with the p.schoolers. Whilst it may not be often, we always find new things to talk about and pick up from where we last left off. Meet ups almost always involve food; whether it's a cookout or barbeque at someone's place or sussing out a new place in town. We found ourselves at a relatively quieter outfit in the Orchard Road area last weekend for a belated birthday get-together.
Oriole, alongside with Bedrock Bar & Grill is Whitebait & Kale's newest venture. The whole vibe of the place is rather casual and is excellent for an afternoon chat session with the girls.
Oriole has a rather extensive salad and sandwich menu which makes it a good place for light meals. The sandwiches are served on its own without any sides. I liked Wen's Cubano sandwich as I really found the combination of pickles, ham, bacon & cheese rather enticing. My only gripe was that the bread was slightly soggy. The quesadillas were not too bad with all the generous amount of gooey cheese but I felt that it needed a bit more flavour; a bit more punch if you know what I mean. The Mushroooms on Toast was unimpressive as the bread was too thick and too dry.
While Oriole doesn't exactly impress with its food, it excels in the beverage department. Oriole is home to Singapore's Number 1 and 3 baristas so one would expect a good cup of coffee there. To be honest, I'm no coffee expert but the coffee was to my liking; aromatic and not too acidic. It was also pretty, to boot.
I did learn something interesting from Liz who had taken a barista course previously. Apparently, you could tell the skill of a barista from the foam of the coffee. If the teaspoon rests on top of the foam without sinking immediately, it's good foam. No points for guessing that the foam at Oriole passed the test with flying colours. We even made sure by trying it on a 2nd cup of coffee. I guess the Number 1 barista in town, John Ting does live up to his name.
Prices are reasonable and I would be returning for the coffee and the laid back ambience. Oriole could be on to something with its boast of excellent coffee. If only they could do better with their food.
Pan Pacific Serviced Suites
96 Somerset Road #01-01
Tel: 6238 8348
Website: http://www.oriole.com.sg/
It's always nice to hang out with the p.schoolers. Whilst it may not be often, we always find new things to talk about and pick up from where we last left off. Meet ups almost always involve food; whether it's a cookout or barbeque at someone's place or sussing out a new place in town. We found ourselves at a relatively quieter outfit in the Orchard Road area last weekend for a belated birthday get-together.
Oriole, alongside with Bedrock Bar & Grill is Whitebait & Kale's newest venture. The whole vibe of the place is rather casual and is excellent for an afternoon chat session with the girls.
Oriole has a rather extensive salad and sandwich menu which makes it a good place for light meals. The sandwiches are served on its own without any sides. I liked Wen's Cubano sandwich as I really found the combination of pickles, ham, bacon & cheese rather enticing. My only gripe was that the bread was slightly soggy. The quesadillas were not too bad with all the generous amount of gooey cheese but I felt that it needed a bit more flavour; a bit more punch if you know what I mean. The Mushroooms on Toast was unimpressive as the bread was too thick and too dry.
While Oriole doesn't exactly impress with its food, it excels in the beverage department. Oriole is home to Singapore's Number 1 and 3 baristas so one would expect a good cup of coffee there. To be honest, I'm no coffee expert but the coffee was to my liking; aromatic and not too acidic. It was also pretty, to boot.
I did learn something interesting from Liz who had taken a barista course previously. Apparently, you could tell the skill of a barista from the foam of the coffee. If the teaspoon rests on top of the foam without sinking immediately, it's good foam. No points for guessing that the foam at Oriole passed the test with flying colours. We even made sure by trying it on a 2nd cup of coffee. I guess the Number 1 barista in town, John Ting does live up to his name.
Prices are reasonable and I would be returning for the coffee and the laid back ambience. Oriole could be on to something with its boast of excellent coffee. If only they could do better with their food.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Italian with Basilico.
Basilico
The Regent Singapore
1 Cuscaden Road
Tel: 6725 3232
Email: basilico.rsn@fourseasons.com
I love having long lunches. There's just something about the sunlight and the whole casual feel that puts me in the mood to have a nice leisurely meal. Thus, when it came down to choosing a place for my birthday meal, I decided to put a 'check' next to the place I've wanted to try since reading about it weeks back.
Basilico runs an Italian lunch buffet on Sundays with a free flow Mumm champagne ($99) or Billecart Salmon Rose option ($175). If you're not an alcohol lover like me, go for the alcohol-free option ($49). This is one of the buffets in town with the best value in my opinion as I find a lot of a buffets ridiculously priced for the quality of food served these days. Most buffets try to throw a whole lot of food out but let's face it, how many of us actually get round to tasting everything? So while I'd say that it's not a whole lot of variety one gets at Basilico, I find that it's more than adequate and I guess that partially explains why prices can be kept at a reasonable level.
At the antipasti table centred in the restaurant, you'd find a good variety of Italian meats, carpaccios, olives, salads such as Caprese and fresh seafood. I especially loved the freshly sliced prosciutto with rock melon, mortadella and salami. There is also a good selection of breads and crisps. Having said that, there was a tomato dip which tasted great when spread over some ciabatta. I have to learn to make that!
The mains section had fresh pizzas made on the spot. There was also a pasta station where you could customise your own pasta dish. The meat and seafood section had a good selection of roasts and grills. I thought the grilled lamb and beef medallions were cooked really well and were simply delicious. The roast wagyu beef was nice but paled in comparison to the grilled meats in terms of flavour. Hearty Italian fare such as Eggplant Parmigiana, Spinach Cannelloni were also available but I didn't spend too much time with them since I thought they were too filling.
There's also a cheese room located at another part of the restaurant where you can find foie gras terraine, pan fried foie gras, freshly shaved black truffles and of course, a good selection of cheeses such as Gorgonzola and Taleggio. The foie gras was rich and fantastic with a bit of herb salt sprinkled over the top. This was probably my favourite section at the buffet!
The desserts table had a variety of familiar Italian favourites such as Tiramisu and gelatos. There was even Hot Chocolate which was a treat to have out of a little chocolate mug. I personally loved the Ameretti cake and the Bread & Butter Pudding.
In addition to the items available at the buffet table, there were some items that were served to our table. There was a Foccacia stuffed with mascarpone, Parma ham and rocket leaves which I thought was delicious, a squid ink pasta with prawns and Cannoli rolls filled with ricotta, dried fruit and chocolate chips. There was also a dish which resembled risotto topped with truffle oil but I didn't find it memorable.
I personally thought that service was impeccable. The service staff were really prompt in topping up the champagne and clearing the plates. They even went to the extent to remind us about the cheese room and even suggested we have black truffles shaved over our pasta. In fact, I saw one of the chefs shave a generous amount of black truffles over a plate of mushroom ravioli at the table next to ours.
Although the food isn't all of the finest quality, I'd highly recommend Basilico for it's good value and decent food if one's out looking for an Italian buffet. This is definitely one place that should be added to your Sunday lunch list.
The Regent Singapore
1 Cuscaden Road
Tel: 6725 3232
Email: basilico.rsn@fourseasons.com
I love having long lunches. There's just something about the sunlight and the whole casual feel that puts me in the mood to have a nice leisurely meal. Thus, when it came down to choosing a place for my birthday meal, I decided to put a 'check' next to the place I've wanted to try since reading about it weeks back.
Basilico runs an Italian lunch buffet on Sundays with a free flow Mumm champagne ($99) or Billecart Salmon Rose option ($175). If you're not an alcohol lover like me, go for the alcohol-free option ($49). This is one of the buffets in town with the best value in my opinion as I find a lot of a buffets ridiculously priced for the quality of food served these days. Most buffets try to throw a whole lot of food out but let's face it, how many of us actually get round to tasting everything? So while I'd say that it's not a whole lot of variety one gets at Basilico, I find that it's more than adequate and I guess that partially explains why prices can be kept at a reasonable level.
At the antipasti table centred in the restaurant, you'd find a good variety of Italian meats, carpaccios, olives, salads such as Caprese and fresh seafood. I especially loved the freshly sliced prosciutto with rock melon, mortadella and salami. There is also a good selection of breads and crisps. Having said that, there was a tomato dip which tasted great when spread over some ciabatta. I have to learn to make that!
The mains section had fresh pizzas made on the spot. There was also a pasta station where you could customise your own pasta dish. The meat and seafood section had a good selection of roasts and grills. I thought the grilled lamb and beef medallions were cooked really well and were simply delicious. The roast wagyu beef was nice but paled in comparison to the grilled meats in terms of flavour. Hearty Italian fare such as Eggplant Parmigiana, Spinach Cannelloni were also available but I didn't spend too much time with them since I thought they were too filling.
There's also a cheese room located at another part of the restaurant where you can find foie gras terraine, pan fried foie gras, freshly shaved black truffles and of course, a good selection of cheeses such as Gorgonzola and Taleggio. The foie gras was rich and fantastic with a bit of herb salt sprinkled over the top. This was probably my favourite section at the buffet!
The desserts table had a variety of familiar Italian favourites such as Tiramisu and gelatos. There was even Hot Chocolate which was a treat to have out of a little chocolate mug. I personally loved the Ameretti cake and the Bread & Butter Pudding.
In addition to the items available at the buffet table, there were some items that were served to our table. There was a Foccacia stuffed with mascarpone, Parma ham and rocket leaves which I thought was delicious, a squid ink pasta with prawns and Cannoli rolls filled with ricotta, dried fruit and chocolate chips. There was also a dish which resembled risotto topped with truffle oil but I didn't find it memorable.
I personally thought that service was impeccable. The service staff were really prompt in topping up the champagne and clearing the plates. They even went to the extent to remind us about the cheese room and even suggested we have black truffles shaved over our pasta. In fact, I saw one of the chefs shave a generous amount of black truffles over a plate of mushroom ravioli at the table next to ours.
Although the food isn't all of the finest quality, I'd highly recommend Basilico for it's good value and decent food if one's out looking for an Italian buffet. This is definitely one place that should be added to your Sunday lunch list.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
that time of the year.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
three's a crowd.
Monday, July 06, 2009
my gardening project part 2.
Saturday, July 04, 2009
brunch @ riders.
Riders Cafe
51 Fairways Drive (Within Bukit Timah Saddle Club)
Tel: 6466 9819
Website: http://www.riderscafe.sg/index.html
It's rare that I get out for a nice brunch with D. As the family was out of town this weekend, I spent some time last night online looking for nice breakfast/brunch recommendations. I wanted to find a place which I'd never visited; somewhere quaint. I found Riders Cafe.
Nestled within the Bukit Timah Saddle Club, the black and white building which houses Riders Cafe reeks of nostalgia and old school charm. The decor is simple and suits its surroundings perfectly. It was lovely to see the horses grazing and a lonely little black cat perched under a large tree. I loved the atmosphere and it felt good to be away from the hustle and bustle of the city. I'm just glad that there are places like these left in Singapore.
The menu is pretty simple and fuss free which I like because I always have the toughest time deciding what to have. After a little deliberation, I decided on the Norwegian Benedict; Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon & Asparagus. The eggs were well poached, the muffins were nicely toasted and I'd say, this was probably one of the best Eggs Benedict I've had in a while. I do feel that the potato side could have had more salt but it wasn't something I was preoccupied with.
D was rather hungry and decided on the Riders Breakfast almost right away. You get a choice with the type of eggs and a choice between bacon, ham or sausages to have on your breakfast plate. D chose his favourite scrambled eggs and sausages. Whilst the eggs were nice and creamy, he did comment that they still weren't as good as the ones he had at the Australia Dairy Company in Hong Kong. He did love the baked beans though as he always found the canned ones too sweet for his liking. The ones he had on his plate which the chefs might have re-cooked, were not.
Service was a little on the slow side as it was full house but it didn't really bother me since I was enjoying the laid back atmosphere of the whole place. Prices are reasonable and I know that a return visit is definitely in the cards. Plus, this place has cute coasters.
51 Fairways Drive (Within Bukit Timah Saddle Club)
Tel: 6466 9819
Website: http://www.riderscafe.sg/index.html
It's rare that I get out for a nice brunch with D. As the family was out of town this weekend, I spent some time last night online looking for nice breakfast/brunch recommendations. I wanted to find a place which I'd never visited; somewhere quaint. I found Riders Cafe.
Nestled within the Bukit Timah Saddle Club, the black and white building which houses Riders Cafe reeks of nostalgia and old school charm. The decor is simple and suits its surroundings perfectly. It was lovely to see the horses grazing and a lonely little black cat perched under a large tree. I loved the atmosphere and it felt good to be away from the hustle and bustle of the city. I'm just glad that there are places like these left in Singapore.
The menu is pretty simple and fuss free which I like because I always have the toughest time deciding what to have. After a little deliberation, I decided on the Norwegian Benedict; Eggs Benedict with Smoked Salmon & Asparagus. The eggs were well poached, the muffins were nicely toasted and I'd say, this was probably one of the best Eggs Benedict I've had in a while. I do feel that the potato side could have had more salt but it wasn't something I was preoccupied with.
D was rather hungry and decided on the Riders Breakfast almost right away. You get a choice with the type of eggs and a choice between bacon, ham or sausages to have on your breakfast plate. D chose his favourite scrambled eggs and sausages. Whilst the eggs were nice and creamy, he did comment that they still weren't as good as the ones he had at the Australia Dairy Company in Hong Kong. He did love the baked beans though as he always found the canned ones too sweet for his liking. The ones he had on his plate which the chefs might have re-cooked, were not.
Service was a little on the slow side as it was full house but it didn't really bother me since I was enjoying the laid back atmosphere of the whole place. Prices are reasonable and I know that a return visit is definitely in the cards. Plus, this place has cute coasters.
Monday, June 29, 2009
my gardening project.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
easy peasy potato salad.
I finally made it to my pasta and risotto make-up class after 6 months today. Class was fun and I did learn a couple of new things but I'm probably going to stay away from pasta for a while. Anyway, I couldn't have a proper dinner after all the food during the class and since Mum needed something to eat, I whipped up a simple potato salad.
Potato Salad (serves 2)
Ingredients
5 medium sized potatoes
8 small pink radishes, thinly sliced
3 tbsp light sour cream or crème fraîche
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1½ tsp lemon juice
chives, chopped
mint leaves, chopped
salt
pepper
Potato Salad (serves 2)
Ingredients
5 medium sized potatoes
8 small pink radishes, thinly sliced
3 tbsp light sour cream or crème fraîche
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1½ tsp lemon juice
chives, chopped
mint leaves, chopped
salt
pepper
- Boil potatoes in salted boiling water under tender.
- Run the boiled potatoes under cool running water and remove the skin. Cut the potatoes into large cubes.
- Mix the sour cream with the olive oil and lemon juice. Coat the mixture evenly over the potatoes.
- Add the sliced radish, chopped chives and mint leaves and mix well.
- Season with salt and pepper.
Sunday, June 07, 2009
hotcakes for breakfast.
You won't usually find me in the kitchen on a Sunday morning because they're always spent with the family scouring around the island for good food. Since Dad didn't seem well enough this weekend to spend his day outdoors, I decided to make breakfast for once.
Whilst thinking of what to prepare, I recalled the ricotta hotcakes that I had at Bill's when holidaying in Sydney more than a month back. I've always wanted to try making them because D liked them so much.
Bill Granger's famous recipe calls for the all essential ricotta but I couldn't find it at my friendly neighbourhood store. In its place, I added dried cranberries. I also added a little bit of maple syrup to the batter just to give it the fragrance and a tiny bit of sweetness to its otherwise, sugarless batter. Instead of milk, I used buttermilk as I've read that it makes the hotcakes taste better. As a result, the baking powder had to be replaced with baking soda to neutralise the acidity in the buttermilk. I also smashed a Cadbury Crunchie Bar and mixed it together with butter as some websites had suggested, to make the butter for the hotcakes. Bill's hotcakes recipe is a great base and I say, be creative with the ingredients. Most likely, you won't go wrong.
Cranberry Hotcakes with Chocolate Honeycomb Butter & Maple Syrup (makes 8 hotcakes)
Ingredients
handful of dried cranberries
1 tbsp maple syrup
¾ cup buttermilk
4 eggs, seperated
1 cup plain flour
1 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt
butter, for cooking
To serve
chocolate honeycomb butter
maple syrup
bananas, sliced (optional)
dried cranberries (optional)
Chocolate Honeycomb Butter
150g unsalted butter, softened
50g Cadbury Crunchie Bar, smashed
Whilst thinking of what to prepare, I recalled the ricotta hotcakes that I had at Bill's when holidaying in Sydney more than a month back. I've always wanted to try making them because D liked them so much.
Bill Granger's famous recipe calls for the all essential ricotta but I couldn't find it at my friendly neighbourhood store. In its place, I added dried cranberries. I also added a little bit of maple syrup to the batter just to give it the fragrance and a tiny bit of sweetness to its otherwise, sugarless batter. Instead of milk, I used buttermilk as I've read that it makes the hotcakes taste better. As a result, the baking powder had to be replaced with baking soda to neutralise the acidity in the buttermilk. I also smashed a Cadbury Crunchie Bar and mixed it together with butter as some websites had suggested, to make the butter for the hotcakes. Bill's hotcakes recipe is a great base and I say, be creative with the ingredients. Most likely, you won't go wrong.
Cranberry Hotcakes with Chocolate Honeycomb Butter & Maple Syrup (makes 8 hotcakes)
Ingredients
handful of dried cranberries
1 tbsp maple syrup
¾ cup buttermilk
4 eggs, seperated
1 cup plain flour
1 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt
butter, for cooking
To serve
chocolate honeycomb butter
maple syrup
bananas, sliced (optional)
dried cranberries (optional)
Chocolate Honeycomb Butter
150g unsalted butter, softened
50g Cadbury Crunchie Bar, smashed
- Prepare the butter first. Mix the softened unsalted butter with the smashed Crunchie Bar and store in the refrigerator. If you like a bit of crunch when eating the hotcakes, smash the Crunchie Bar coarsely.
- Place the maple syrup, buttermilk and the egg yolks in a mixing bowl and combine well.
- Sift the flour, baking soda and salt together into a bowl and add to the buttermilk mixture. Mix until combined.
- Place the egg whites in a clean dry bowl and beat until stiff peaks form. Fold the egg whites through the batter in 2 batches.
- Fold the dried cranberries into the batter gently.
- Lightly grease a non-stick frying pan with a little bit of butter and drop approximately 3 tbsps of batter per hotcake into the pan (I used a small non-stick pan usually used for frying sunny side-ups). Cook over low to medium heat until both sides of the hotcakes turn light golden brown.
- Transfer to a plate and assemble with sliced bananas, dried cranberries, the chocolate honeycomb butter and a splash of maple syrup. Be careful not to drench the hotcakes with the syrup as the butter already gives it quite a bit of sweetness.
Thursday, June 04, 2009
the queen and her mangosteens.
The Queen & Mangosteen
#01-106/107 Vivocity
1 Harbourfront Walk
Tel : 6376 9380
Website: http://www.queenandmangosteen.com/
When D told me about a new gastropub which opened near his work place, I was psyched! One reason was because I had not been trying any new places recently. More importantly, I was drawn to its name. If what The Queen & Mangosteen was doing was to attract their customers with their catchy name, it certainly caught me. It took me awhile to figure out the reason for its name and when I finally did, I thought it might have been because mangosteens were considered the queen of fruits. That was until I found out that mangosteens were a favourite with Queen Victoria. I never knew that there were mangosteens over in the UK.
The Queen & Mangosteen is a new British gourmet pub set up by the people behind the Highlander Bar and The Pump Room. I've tried the Irish pub grub but going British was new for me. After a crazy week at work last week, D decided to pay a visit that was overdue. It was a pretty enjoyable experience since I needed a relaxing time off and that's what I got. Whilst Singapore isn't the most ideal place to go al fresco, it was nice to sit outside and overlook the waters dividing the main land and Sentosa.
It wouldn't really be fair for me to give a real assessment of the food they served because I dropped in only for a late afternoon snack. That being said, I did think that there were hits and misses in the food we ordered. Ordering from the 'nibbles' section of the menu, we made a beeline for the Mixed Seafood Deli Board which consisted of Beer Battered Fish, Chilled Prawns, Crayfish and Fried Whitebait that came with a variety of dipping sauces such as curry tartare sauce. I loved the presentation of the dish. The seafood was rather fresh but I thought the batter for the fried items were disappointing. While the accompanying sauces were tasty, the batter on the fish and the whitebait were too thick for my liking. It's frustrating that I still can't find people in Singapore who do fish & chips like the ones at Cicerello's in Perth.
I liked the Mini Hamburger & Chips which followed. The burgers were fuss free with just a slice of tomato, some mayonnaise and a thick patty sandwiched between 2 mini buns. I think the patties had both beef and pork in it because there were really juicy. I liked that they toasted the buns because it created a really nice texture when eaten together with the thick juicy patties. I also loved the chips as they were crispy on the outside yet soft on the inside. I would have cleared the whole bucket had I not feel guilty about the carbo overload.
D also ordered us a jug of Pimm's & Lemonade, a British cocktail most well known to be served during the Wimbledon in summer. Pimm's is a gin-based alcoholic beverage which has 25% in alcoholic volume and most commonly served with lemonade which is how it's served here. Just to spice things up a little, the beverage also has cubes of strawberries, orange peel and cucumber in it. I'm not sure if one can find this drink any place else here but this was a first time I'd seen it on a local menu. I'm not usually much of a drinker so I would say it was out of the norm that I was sipping alcohol at 4 in the afternoon. I did find that it was refreshing and rather suited for Singapore's hot and humid weather so it's definitely in my list now. Trust me when I say my list isn't very long.
I wouldn't say the food's authentic British pub grub and neither do I find the food mind-blowing. To be frank, I wasn't impressed when I visited The Pump Room because I was expecting to have food like I had in an Australian café. However, I won't be so quick to rule out that I won't be returning because I think there was enough to warrant a return visit some time again. Plus, I want to try the mains on the menu. In particular, I want to have the Bangers & Mash which I have read good reviews about.
Did I also mention that I absolutely heart their cute coasters?
#01-106/107 Vivocity
1 Harbourfront Walk
Tel : 6376 9380
Website: http://www.queenandmangosteen.com/
When D told me about a new gastropub which opened near his work place, I was psyched! One reason was because I had not been trying any new places recently. More importantly, I was drawn to its name. If what The Queen & Mangosteen was doing was to attract their customers with their catchy name, it certainly caught me. It took me awhile to figure out the reason for its name and when I finally did, I thought it might have been because mangosteens were considered the queen of fruits. That was until I found out that mangosteens were a favourite with Queen Victoria. I never knew that there were mangosteens over in the UK.
The Queen & Mangosteen is a new British gourmet pub set up by the people behind the Highlander Bar and The Pump Room. I've tried the Irish pub grub but going British was new for me. After a crazy week at work last week, D decided to pay a visit that was overdue. It was a pretty enjoyable experience since I needed a relaxing time off and that's what I got. Whilst Singapore isn't the most ideal place to go al fresco, it was nice to sit outside and overlook the waters dividing the main land and Sentosa.
It wouldn't really be fair for me to give a real assessment of the food they served because I dropped in only for a late afternoon snack. That being said, I did think that there were hits and misses in the food we ordered. Ordering from the 'nibbles' section of the menu, we made a beeline for the Mixed Seafood Deli Board which consisted of Beer Battered Fish, Chilled Prawns, Crayfish and Fried Whitebait that came with a variety of dipping sauces such as curry tartare sauce. I loved the presentation of the dish. The seafood was rather fresh but I thought the batter for the fried items were disappointing. While the accompanying sauces were tasty, the batter on the fish and the whitebait were too thick for my liking. It's frustrating that I still can't find people in Singapore who do fish & chips like the ones at Cicerello's in Perth.
I liked the Mini Hamburger & Chips which followed. The burgers were fuss free with just a slice of tomato, some mayonnaise and a thick patty sandwiched between 2 mini buns. I think the patties had both beef and pork in it because there were really juicy. I liked that they toasted the buns because it created a really nice texture when eaten together with the thick juicy patties. I also loved the chips as they were crispy on the outside yet soft on the inside. I would have cleared the whole bucket had I not feel guilty about the carbo overload.
D also ordered us a jug of Pimm's & Lemonade, a British cocktail most well known to be served during the Wimbledon in summer. Pimm's is a gin-based alcoholic beverage which has 25% in alcoholic volume and most commonly served with lemonade which is how it's served here. Just to spice things up a little, the beverage also has cubes of strawberries, orange peel and cucumber in it. I'm not sure if one can find this drink any place else here but this was a first time I'd seen it on a local menu. I'm not usually much of a drinker so I would say it was out of the norm that I was sipping alcohol at 4 in the afternoon. I did find that it was refreshing and rather suited for Singapore's hot and humid weather so it's definitely in my list now. Trust me when I say my list isn't very long.
I wouldn't say the food's authentic British pub grub and neither do I find the food mind-blowing. To be frank, I wasn't impressed when I visited The Pump Room because I was expecting to have food like I had in an Australian café. However, I won't be so quick to rule out that I won't be returning because I think there was enough to warrant a return visit some time again. Plus, I want to try the mains on the menu. In particular, I want to have the Bangers & Mash which I have read good reviews about.
Did I also mention that I absolutely heart their cute coasters?
Saturday, May 30, 2009
me and takeout dinners.
I'm still trying to make my first post in a long time but when all I eat is take-out these days, I'm not so sure that's going to happen soon.
*sigh*
*sigh*
Monday, May 18, 2009
coming up.
Saturday, March 07, 2009
sadness.
I was shocked when I heard the news about the passing of Aunty L's and Uncle A's son today when I got into the office. I think my parents also could not register the news at the time when I told them about it over the phone this morning. Then I got busy at work so I did not have the time to dwell on this so much.
Now that I'm sitting in front of my comp typing this out after reading the papers, I feel sad. I never got to know him personally but I feel sad that a young man who was talented and smart had left his loved ones so early in his life. My heart aches knowing that his parents and siblings have to suffer the pain of losing a precious one.
RIP Allan.
This really hasn't been a good week.
Now that I'm sitting in front of my comp typing this out after reading the papers, I feel sad. I never got to know him personally but I feel sad that a young man who was talented and smart had left his loved ones so early in his life. My heart aches knowing that his parents and siblings have to suffer the pain of losing a precious one.
RIP Allan.
This really hasn't been a good week.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
a great cny.
Today marks the last day of the Lunar New Year festivities. I'm a little sad that the celebrations are over since CNY is my favourite festival and is also the most celebrated for me. I love the flowers that brighten up the house, the decorations that are hung on the walls and new year plants and the traditions that go along with the celebrations. Most of all, I love the family get-togethers where everyone indulges in good food, catching up and collecting ang pows!
I had my 10th and final yusheng of the year in the office today to mark the end of the festivities and it was in the company of people that I really like being around with. That made it all the more meaningful I guess.
I had a great time this Chinese New Year and I hope you did too.
All the best in the Year of the Ox!
I had my 10th and final yusheng of the year in the office today to mark the end of the festivities and it was in the company of people that I really like being around with. That made it all the more meaningful I guess.
I had a great time this Chinese New Year and I hope you did too.
All the best in the Year of the Ox!
Thursday, January 01, 2009
good bye 2008. hello 2009
It's scary that time passes so quickly these days. It didn't seem so long ago when I was bade farewell to 2007 then 2008 came and went. In all honesty, too many unfortunate things happened this year so I'm sort of glad that we're going into a new year with hope that things would get better.
Well, it wasn't all gloom in 2008. I had my good moments too.
I am thankful that I got to visit a few good establishments this year around the region.
My first trip of 2008 was to Taiwan. Although D & I didn't make it to La Petite Cuisine in Taipei as we had planned, we still found great local delicacies to feast on. In Australia, I had the privilege of meeting and talking to Tetsuya Wakuda of Tetsuya's. It was amazing to hear him talk about an inspiration he had when he tried Hainanese Chicken Rice on one of his visits to Singapore. I also had an enjoyable time at Universal Restaurant where I got to taste the interesting creations of Christine Manfield. Bistro Vue by Shannon Bennett was definitely a highlight of the year as well. On the local front, I had my first ever WCG dinner which featured Kiyomi Mikuni. Thanks to my childhood friend, I also had the chance to attend a Charlie Trotter's dinner at the Sun Festival.
I'm looking forward to more foodie adventures, more smiles and less heartbreaking moments in 2009. I hope the same for everyone too.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Well, it wasn't all gloom in 2008. I had my good moments too.
I am thankful that I got to visit a few good establishments this year around the region.
My first trip of 2008 was to Taiwan. Although D & I didn't make it to La Petite Cuisine in Taipei as we had planned, we still found great local delicacies to feast on. In Australia, I had the privilege of meeting and talking to Tetsuya Wakuda of Tetsuya's. It was amazing to hear him talk about an inspiration he had when he tried Hainanese Chicken Rice on one of his visits to Singapore. I also had an enjoyable time at Universal Restaurant where I got to taste the interesting creations of Christine Manfield. Bistro Vue by Shannon Bennett was definitely a highlight of the year as well. On the local front, I had my first ever WCG dinner which featured Kiyomi Mikuni. Thanks to my childhood friend, I also had the chance to attend a Charlie Trotter's dinner at the Sun Festival.
I'm looking forward to more foodie adventures, more smiles and less heartbreaking moments in 2009. I hope the same for everyone too.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
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