Showing posts with label chinese. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chinese. Show all posts
Yellow Pot: Six Senses Duxton's Modern Chinese Outpost
Labels:
boutique hotel,
chinese,
chinese food,
duxton hill,
hidden finds,
restaurants,
will return
·
Enter Yellow Pot, nestled in the lobby of the new boutique hotel Six Senses Duxton. The menu is straightforward Chinese, with no special emphasis on particular provincial cuisine - yet it's parroting of modish ingredients and ethical sustainability practises brings it into the 21st century. As you would expect of any Six Senses project, the decor is dynamic - an eclectic little enclave that's bedecked in lavish tones of black, gold and yellow; it's marbled table tops, the pedestal for 3 yellow pots of varied height - yes, you guessed it, the fountainhead. Soundtrack is techno vibe-d, and oddity for a six senses property, and much less a Chinese restaurant.
Full of Luck Restaurant: Gone with the Fortune Cat
Labels:
cantonese,
chinese,
circle line,
family friendly,
holland village,
restaurants,
roast
·
It's 2pm on a Saturday. Full of Luck restaurant in Holland Village is far from doing a roaring trade. Perhaps it's due to the lack of knowledge that the restaurant has opened its doors once again, after recently pulling up the hoardings to mask renovation works. Gone are the heavy doors, sensible automated doors put in place; the second floor ditching its kitschy hipster image in favour of a more serious Chinese restaurant. Change isn't just physical, the menu has been overhauled with more traditional dishes reinstated and the voguish Baos displaced together with the expulsion of the word 'club' from its name.
Beast and Butterflies: where culinary insurgence takes trip
Labels:
alfresco,
beer,
big groups,
chinese,
fusion,
happy hour,
hotel,
m social,
must go,
pork knuckle,
restaurants,
robertson quay
·
I'm saying this only because of the Crispy Pork Knuckle, served with the most ridonkulous Nam Jim sauce that you'll just want to bottle and use at BBQs, with grilled chicken wings, etc... Okay, then maybe I'll also make leeway for the Scallop Carpaccio and the Yam Brulee - a most ambrosial ramekin of orh nee blessed with a crackin' caramelised lid - both humble, but no less, better, incarnations of their original inspirators.
Top eats of 2017: Please Sir Can I have somemore?!
Labels:
best,
burgers,
chinese,
fusion,
must go,
restaurants,
will return
·
Tonight, from Kuala Lumpur, I'm raising my glass to one heck of a memorable year.
There have been highs, and extreme lows, bucket loads of tears, jaw-dropping sunsets and plenty of beauty.
Loads of delicious things have been set in front of me. Photos have filled the memory of my computer and pretty epic tales including silly exchanges with chefs have flowed out onto the Internet.
Here we are at the end and at the beginning. Like a hop, skip and quick restart.
But before we do so, there are certain dishes out there which I feel strongly compelled to commit to memory - here are my favourite eats of the year.
Ao Yun 2014 Vintage: The Hard-Earned Richness of Wine from the foothills of the Himalayas
Labels:
chinese,
chinese food,
must go,
shangri la hotel,
will return,
wines
·
What would compel a winemaker to uproot himself and his entire family to move to the rural areas of China (technically, one of the more romantic regions - Shangri-La) to manage a vineyard?
Well, for Maxence Dulou, estate director and winemaker of Ao Yun, the choice to 'move to greener pastures' was indisputable. Having been born and raised in le Sauternais, the French man has bundles of wine-making experience tucked under his belt, accumulated from his studies in Bordeaux and from working in South Africa, Chile and then back to France. I was a bit skeptical at first. Was it a case of a man buying into the lure of cash cow (seeing that the project was commissioned by Moet Hennessy) or was it in a spur of a moment, one inspired by Brad Pitt's "Seven Year in Tibet"?
Lan Ting: for Crackin' Dim Sum this festive season
Labels:
cantonese,
chinese,
dim sum,
hidden finds,
large groups,
Siglap,
will go,
will return
·
If the trayfuls of roast meat and leftover turkey are starting to give you the heebie jeebies then look no further than the wealth of dim sum choices at Lan Ting.
The only folks I know to churn our dim sum at 8 am in the morning, you'll be sure to visited by pangs of nostalgia similar to those you get when making your rounds of the Hong Kong dim sum restaurants.
Si Wei Yan 思味筵: Fall on Deaf Ears
Labels:
chinese,
chinese food,
club street,
large groups,
might return,
private room,
sichuan,
spicy,
szechuan
·
The title will explain itself in awhile... but now let me proceed to mop off the beads of sweat that have gathered at my temples as I scroll through the feed of dishes carrying too much spiciness in its wake.
Si Wei Yan, the newest Szechuan cuisine restaurant to reside along wild child alley Club Street, may seem a tad out of place in the bar saturated zone - it's imposing outfit reminiscent of a Chinese spa rather than a racy szechuan restaurant. The pet project of the owners of Si Wei Mao Cai in Chinatown - 思味筵 oozes finesse; the blast of cold air within its facade preparing one for the flavor assault about to unfold.
[CNY'16] Mitzo: Prosperity Delights
Labels:
cantonese,
chinese,
chinese food,
CNY,
cocktails,
family friendly,
large groups,
must go,
orchard
·
As earlier mentioned, the first place (in my books) for this year's Lunar New Year menu has been allocated to Szechuan Court in Fairmont Hotel. Coming in a close second is Mitzo's prosperous delights. Well-know for its vibrant decor, plush interiors as well as its progressive Cantonese cuisine, backed with an innovative cocktail program, Mitzo has always been a firm favourite for me when it comes to Asian dining - here, the double-boiled soups are a hit and roast meats are utterly divine. However, Lunar New Year provides some unexpected twists and turns with specialities such as the Pearls of Prosperity Kingfish Yu Sheng and the Superior Lobster Fortune Pot sounding like they are fit for royalty and looking every bit the part.
Crab-Hunting @ 姑妈家 & Joyden Treasure
Labels:
affordable,
chinese,
circle line,
crab,
family friendly,
hidden finds,
kallang,
large groups,
special occasion,
will return,
zichar
·
You don't have to have a mother who can remotely cook a single dish in the kitchen without catching the corner of her frilly apron on fire (a bit of a stretch, I know) to appreciate the charms of the food being served up at 姑妈家, located at the far end of the food-centric Macpherson Road.
The storefront and interior are kept minimal and simple as if to preserve high strung days where the establishment grounds were packed wall to wall with hungry diners. Nowadays, the rare family occasional rolls in on a weekday night; the lazy susan bearing significantly lesser burden than in those hay days. That being said, 姑妈家 with its homey environment and earnest sit-down diner experience is something suited for the large family get togethers.
[Mother's Day Special] TAO Seafood Asia: Mrs Lee's Favourite
Labels:
affordable,
ala carte,
banquet,
big groups,
chinese,
chinese food,
comfortfoods,
family friendly,
may return,
raffles place,
shenton way
·
I don't want to sound like a douche bag, but, if you have some form of culinary skills, it would probably be a good time to dig it out of the bag and give it a good dust just in time for Mothers Day. What's better than cooking up a humble storm for the most noble women in our lives.
But then again, there's the less messy option of dining out; if that's the path you've chosen to trod on, then it would be wise to dig a little deeper into the pockets and vet your choices with an iron fist. After all, its an golden opportunity to buy favours and 'get-timeout' from the provocation and nagging that ensues soon after. There's no denying it... it's going to happen, just like how everyday IS NOT Valentines' day.
Li Bai Cantonese Restarant: Splendours of Spring CNY'15
Labels:
chinese,
chinese food,
family friendly,
newton,
orchard,
soup,
special occasion,
will return
·
All it took was a little dish of dim sum samples to remind me of good times spent in Li Bai Cantonese Restaurant on my previous visit. The opulent entrance might be intimidating to some, but to others it exudes abundance and lavishness, states that we normally associate with Chinese New Year.
This year, Li Bai rolls out the big guns for CNY; Executive Chef Chung and culinary team presents a range of goodies from Yu Sheng takeaway platters to exquisite dine in menus to fit every occasion. If you're looking to bring the family out to soak in the festive mood, Li Bai has 5 different set menus designed for 8 to 10 pax with prices ranging from $868 to $3998 and another 4 set menus catered to smaller groups priced at $138 to $588. Note that these menus will be available from 2nd Feb to 4th March, so do make your reservations accordingly!
Grand Mandarin: I'm so fancy
Labels:
chinatown singapore,
chinese,
chinese food,
dinner,
family friendly,
lunch,
may return,
outram,
special occasion
·
Grand Mandarin, located in a inconspicuous building just off Outram Park MRT (inside joke: take heed that this IS in fact the nearest mrt station to the restaurant) houses a somewhat dated, dark and sophisticated dining room serving elaborate Chinese dishes that appeal the mid-tier diners and up. If you're got money to splurge and want to avoid the usual suspects hailing from large culinary groups, then Grand Mandarin would be a good pick of an underdog.
Take for example the empura fish that swims with such a lavish aura around it, as if it has come to self-awareness of it's prized existence from watching itself on television re-runs. The price on its' head escalating above the mortal thousands. I imagine the creamy sweetness of its flesh in my mouth and swiftly shut it down. It's not something worth dreaming about...
For the common folk, like me, Grand Mandarin does offer a wide range of impeccable Cantonese cuisine ranging from the customary dim sum to the homely doubled boiled soups and finally to the more extravagant roast duck. And just like so many new restaurants, the Grand Mandarin isn't strong across the board; for starters, service can be lackadaisical and not exactly polished. Requests for tea top-ups were forgotten and dirty plates not cleared with structured procession. The appetizers got the ball rolling with a delectable gleaming Deep Fried Prawn coated with creme lemon sauce ($32++ per order), earning points for its unparalleled flavor combination. The prawn still retaining a nice bite, melded well with the welcome rays of sunshine derived from the lemon sauce. The rest of the items, I was disagreeable with there after. Famous as it is, the Honey Glazed Barbecued Pork Loin ($15++ per order) with its pudgy rings of uncaramelized sugar on its exterior went down with a fight, the crunch exposing a figurative circle of refined white sugar that was slow to disintegrate compared to the pork loin that was melt-in-your-mouth tender - an addition that I found added unnecessary heft and calories to the dish. The Crispy Soft Shell Crab coated with Chicken Floss and Curry Leaves ($18++ per order) was a tad too sweet for my liking, the inclusion of curry leaves not providing any flavor profile assistance to the dish.
The Double-boiled chicken soup with cordycep flower ($9++ per person) was pedestrian with a general lack of seasoning. Though, I did enjoy the cordycep flowers which provided a crisp and chewy factor.
Another dish that didn't knock my socks off was the Steamed Silver Cod with pink ginger topping in bonito sauce ($22++ per person). Yes, the cod was supple and fresh, but the random jolts of piquant cured ginger layered like a mossy green carpet on a polished parquet floor was again haphazard and excessive. The bonito sauce working wonders to revive the umami of the rather neutral tasting steamed cod. I would suggest making a beeline for the baked version with lemongrass infusion sauce instead.
Tofu with crabmeat and egg white in carrot broth ($24++ per order) caused many quizzical looks round the table as the use of firm tofu failed to accentuate the luscious qualities of the crabmeat and eggwhite mixture.
A quintessential dish at every Cantonese food fest would be the roasted duck. Here at the Grand Mandarin, things are kicked up a notch with their Roasted Duck with Perigord Truffle ($28++ per order). At the very mention of truffle, I was afraid of the assault on the taste buds, however, contrary to that, my first bite had me on a wild goose chase for the lingering note of truffle. None. Where is it? I felt cheated.
The last dish on the tasting menu was a Stir fried Crystal Vermicelli with Pork Collar in X.O. chili sauce ($22++ per order), an adventurous carb offering with short plump strands of vermicelli tossed in a divine sauce forming the base of a bejeweled bowl of ingredients. The pork collar came in the form of decadent silvers of pearlescent fatty meat perfectly cooked and curled into submission. I revelled in the successful execution of the dish.
Liu Sha Baos were our next order of business. Fluffy balls encapsulating a torrent of sickly sweet salted egg yolk custard that flows out without much persuasion. Still, Mouth Restaurant's version has stolen my heart.
A more worldly dessert rounds up the meal. The Refreshing Green Apple Jelly with Lime Sorbet ($8 per serve) with it's tangy notes and cold construction had its desired felicitous effects and I greedily slurped up the stray bits of aloe vera earnestly. Definitely a humble but sensuous way to end the meal.
'
Notably, Grand Mandarin prides itself on being one the few solo establishments devoid of links to the big leagues. And serving such cuisine in Singapore, it certainly makes it a dime in a dozen. That being said, food standards with its price relativity leave much to be desired from this restaurant and unless improvements be made to befit the slightly heftier pricing, clients are likely to pack up and go after a one time experience.
Grand Mandarin
325 New Bridge Road
#01/02-00 S(088760)
t: 6222 3355
P.S. for those of you who would like to get a chance to win The Entertainer App. Please visit here to participate in my {GIVEAWAY}!
Mouth Restaurant @ China Square Central: #LikeABoss
Let me first make a disclaimer; Chinese cuisine and it's intricacies are not and never will be my forte, hence my opinions are entirely subjective and very personal. But nevertheless, being an experimental diner, I was more than thrilled to be invited to Mouth Restaurant to taste the Treasure Pot Feast 九大簋盆菜.
Priced at just $31.80++/person for a party of 6-9 pax, the number scoops down to a low of $29.80++ when you round up more than 10 people for the feast. All this for a palatial and ostentatious 9 course meal fit for a king (promo last till 15th Dec'14). Story goes that the Treasure Pot Feast was invented in close resemblance to the common man's poon choi, but this one done with lavish intent.
We started off the meal with Steamed Shanghai Hairy Crab. Note that this was a replacement to the usual Suckling pig as denoted on the usual Treasure Pot Feast menu; however, Mouth Restaurant is currently having some promotion sets for the hairy crab that are worth checking out. Digging into the cream, roe-infested flesh of this hairy crustacean does set the tone for the meal. Succeeding in gearing the palate up for some culinary pampering.
The Early Days Shark Fin Soup was a well executed version with the extra bells and whistles contributed by the fine shreds of deep fried wanton skins placed on the side that provided texture; the brightening jolt of acid from the vinegar highlighting the affair.
The next dish is an ode to a classic old school dish of prawn toast. The Nostalgic Whole Prawn given a twist with the emergence of whole prawns instead of the conventional prawn mince used to adorn the normally dry door stopper like tiny toasts. A clever reinvention, revealing a dish that I'm sure would steal the hearts of the young and old alike.
The chef's fine-dining chops show on such preparations such as the Sauteed Asparagus with wild mushrooms in truffles. Heady with the aroma of the forest floor wafting through the dining room, I relinquished in the expert execution of this dish, from the crunchy asparagus to the tangle of mushrooms, all this gleaming from a thin coat of oil that gave the dish visual impact.
The next plate featured the traditional braised 'pi-pa' tofu. Deftly shaped in soup spoons, these elegant parcels of silken tofu, minced pork and prawn and other condiments were the epitome of Chinese comfort food emerging in more exquisite forms. It was delicious, enhanced by a crusty exterior that allowed for the salty brown sauce lathered over the top to adhere to it.
The star player of the line-up was undoubtedly the HK Temple Street claypot rice, that true to its form showed up in jaw-drop worthy moments as the gargantuan claypot lid was lifted up. It is a pleasant mix of tender juicy chicken, rice and other proverbial goodies. Dig into this with a generous dash of the garlic vinegar sauce for maximum utility.
But for me, the best dish of the day had to be the Sauteed Basil Grouper in 3 cups sauce. It's sprawling mermaid like stance in the deep bowl revealing hunks of meaty grouper lightly tossed in soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger and Thai basil. I chopstick-ed my way through the cascading pyramid of succulent fish, followed bravely alongside Li Tian (dairy&cream) who gamely wrestled the fish head and carcass. Like a boss.
My least favourite dish of the spread came in the form of Braised trio Sea Treasure in Abalone sauce. Since I was not a big fan of either 魚鰾 or 海参, I struggled to find common grounds with the rest of the diners dishing out nothing but praises for this hot plate of delicacies.
Given how impressive the savouries were, we were looking forward to the desserts. The Double Boiled Ginger Tea with Glutinous Rice Balls did not disappoint; I sank deep into the recesses of my seat as I revelled in the warm syrupy sweetness of the ginger tea, the ridiculous burst of flavor from the sesame glutinous rice balls helping to break the monotony.
And if you're not watching your weight, keep a lookout for the cholesterol -busting Baked Salted Egg Yolk Buns. Fragrant, rich salted egg yolk custard is encased in flavorful pastry with a crisp top. Decadence that would cost you another hour on the treadmill if you're addicted. Don't say I didn't warn you. The Squid Ink Char Siew buns are a novelty item that is worth saving some tummy room for too.
Mouth Restaurant
China Square Central
South Bridge Court Shop House
22 Cross Street
#01-61
S( 048421)
T: 64385798
w: http://www.mouth.com.sg/http://www.mouth.com.sg/
Opening Hours:
weekday: 11 30am - 3pm, 6pm-10pm
weekend & PH: 10am - 10pm
Paradise Pavillion: Dim Sum for the restless
Labels:
CBD,
chinese,
chinese food,
dim sum,
family friendly,
marina bay,
mbfc,
raffles place
·
It's no mean feat what the folks at Paradise Group have achieved, poised as an expert in Oriental cuisine and offering it at various levels of comfort, style and price point values to it's wide spread fan base. Some of it's more exceptional outlets includes the much beloved Paradise Dynasty and Taste Paradise in ION shopping mall, both of which I have patronized back in the days. (read more about it in the links).
Uniquely housed within the silent halls of Marina Bay Financial Center, the weekend mornings see a fluster of people streaming in through the non-ventilated lift servicing solely the restaurant with only one aim in mind. To have their way with dim sum, and to have it good.
As much as the large dining rooms may seem a little intimidating for a party of two, the resounding noise that echos from the growing crowds finds its place between the nooks and voids, reaching a crescendo as the clock strucks 12. While dinner appears to be a moneyed, haute cuisine affair dominated by top notch produce, we're happy to see a bit more flexibility at lunch time, with a reasonably priced dim sum menu that still managed to display the culinary skills of the team.
We ordered the Baked Snow Bun with BBQ Pork ($5.60), a crisp flaky dome enveloping a slightly yeasty fragrant bun encasing sweet red BBQ pork. The right amount of lard thrown in the center bringing that bit of decadence to this anaemic beauty. A tad on the sweet side but it definitely highlights the skill sets of the chefs with pastry.
Paradise Pavillion shines in this next dish, the Fried Carrot Cake in XO sauce ($8.80). A quick stir fry in a mighty wok emblazoned by gargantuan flames gives the unanimously uniform chunks of carrot cake a bit of a crisp edge. The savoury pieces of egg helping to tie the dish together with a generous helping of chilli sauce stirred into the mix. Light-hearted without the heavy intention of lard, the result was a stunning reflection of the chef's dedication to clean and precise techniques.
Scallop and Chive dumplings ($5.00) featured delicate paper-thin skinned dumplings with a piping hot filling of rough minced scallops and finely diced chives. This didn't need the help of any dipping sauce to enliven it and I happily devoured the nifty creature, skin and all.
One of Paradise group's pride and joy is their Crackling Pork Belly ($12.80), overall a very subtle rendition of the classic Cantonese roasts with that unctuous flavor of fats all round, capped with an intoxicating roof of crackling; this was best enjoyed with a definitive swipe of English mustard off the side of the dish. I craved for a bigger portion but winding up convincing myself that better things should be enjoyed in tidier portions.
Another standout is the deceptively common Siew Mai Skewers ($5.80), this dish veering into mod-Chinese territory. The filling of plump prawns and juicy mince accented by a seductively smoky sweet glaze, almost like the skewers had a final bathe in a terriyaki sauce before being finished off on the grill. The admirable caramelisation that resulted on the smooth skin of the dumpling giving the pedestrian Dim Sum dish a slant.
Rounding up our meal, we departed on a sweet note with the Steamed Custard Bun ($5.50 for 3). This was definitive food porn, not to be missed. The volcano eruption of sweet salty custard taking center stage with a gentle prying of its steamed outer casing. A must order!
In terms of the ambience, Paradise Pavilion is as majestic as any Chinese restaurant can get, with the glass panels facing out to the Marina bay, blue velvet cushioned high chairs and ornate gold trimmings. Service is non-intrusive and extremely professional, sans the usual Chinese jargon that gets thrown around in a manic room that one would normally associate Cantonese fare with. Here, its a surreal and dreamy experience, and the Paradise group takes full advantage of this with fine cuisine with even higher and mightier pricing. Take heed. Dim Sum would be a better option for those who tread lightly.
Paradise Pavillion
8A Marina Boulevard
#02-01 Marina Bay Financial Centre
(ground plaza)
Singapore 018984
Tel: 6509 9308
Hong Kong Street Family Restaurant: Har Cheong Gai
Labels:
beer,
cantonese,
chinese,
chinese food,
family,
family friendly,
fried chicken,
no frills,
novena,
wordless wednesdays
·
Wordless Wednesdays unravels at Novena's Hong Kong Street Family Restaurant.
On the hit list, Prawn Paste chicken, Sum Lor Hor Fun, Hotplate Beancurd (MMmmm...) and Stir Fried Sweet Potato Leaves.
These photos nurture a chimera of narratives... but with too many words spoken these day, my lips are sealed today. I'm leaving it to your imagination to draw the deductions.
Okay, I concede defeat, so maybe the food was all sorts of wonderful. Who can refuse the lure of that sweet layer of egg underneath that lusciously thick meat sauce on a sizzling hot plate?.. not me for sure...
Some sort of Wordless Wednesday this is turning out to be...
Read more about my previous experience at the Bedok brunch here.
Hong Kong Street Family Restaurant (Novena)
273 Thomson Rod
Singapore 307644
Jin Shan Lou: Walk the talk please.
Labels:
chinese,
chinese food,
food tasting,
HGW,
marina bay sands,
porridge,
restaurants
·
Jin Shan Lou located at the lobby of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel has an imposing opulence to it, perhaps it's just me, but dining within it's regal aesthetic surroundings made for a somewhat uncomfortable experience. Thank goodness for the velvety arm chairs that made the long dinner a little more tolerable.
The dinner was spotted by tiny glimmers of hope; take for example the Jin Shan Special Combination that warmed us off. The platter consisting of roast duck, roast pork and cold chicken; vanished quickly before our eyes as the lazy susan took two spins on the dance floor. My favourite was the roast duck with its beautifully crisped skin and succulent flesh. The chicken paled in comparison with a somewhat dry interior.
Our next course was a Seafood Soup served in mini Pumpkin, another excellent dish that was well thought and executed. Presentation was spot on with the mini pumpkin steamed to perfection, ready for the diners to scrape away at it's tender sweet flesh whilst slurping down the sweet seafood broth studded with generous bits of prawns and dried scallops.
Pass up on the Golden Sands Fresh Prawn with Salted Egg, the batter on the prawns lack the tight crispness and the salted egg yolks sauce was grainy and strangely spicy at some points with the unsuspecting bits of chili padi conjuring up coughing fits amongst some of the diners.
Instead, turn your attention to the Steamed Cod Fillet with Chinese Wine and Egg White , this dish, similar to the version I had at Crystal Jade presented itself with a replacement of more luxe ingredients. The Cod Fish sat like a dainty beauty atop a bed of fluffy egg whites steeped in chinese wine and a myriad of sauces, making for an explosion of umami with every mouthful. Definitely my favourite dish of the night.
Cartilage Soup? My eyes trailed across the tasting menu, summoning a bit of doubt in me. Frankly, the Poached "Xian Cai" Served in Cartilage Soup turned out to be another winner, the cartilage adding a wee bit of milky silkiness to the broth. The balance of flavors and the soft greens making for a delightful experience.
The Mandatory carb dish at the end of our Chinese dinner was a Fujian Wheat Vermicelli with Shredded Meat. This dish despite it's simplicity, came with an extremely well balanced ratio of noodles to ingredients. The prawns, fried eggs and silvers of beansprouts adding a much needed contrast to the well seasoned noodles. Pity I didn't get to eat much of it warm...
Dessert was a Chilled Mango Sago with Pomelo. Didn't fancy this dish much because it was way to sweet for me, almost akin to eating a bowl full of sweetened mango puree.
Based on the dinner tonight, Jin Shan Restaurant has many hits and misses. But without a doubt, one of it's major draw factor would be the ridiculous operating hours, opening from 11pm-4am daily. So all you night owls out there, this is a spot worth checking out!
Marina Bay Sands Hotel
1 Bayfront Avenue
L1-05, Tower 2 Hotel Lobby
+65 6688 7733
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