Tastings Room

I am still sorely lamenting the fact that I rushed from the office to Morton’s Bar at 6.15pm and I failed to get any of the free steak sandwiches. Greedy fellow patrons who grab two or three sandwiches at one go – shame on you.

We were starved after our martinis and needed dinner desperately. Since I had a hungry deal 30% discount voucher, I suggested checking out Tastings Room, located not too far at Marina Square. The place was packed on a Friday but I had called 30 minutes ahead to book and they very nicely showed our group of 6 to a small private dining area. Heh. I feel like a VIP.

The food orders came fast – excellent. A few of us had the duck confit ($23) and it was pretty tasty, albeit dry in some parts. I liked the mash potatoes. Others who had the seared salmon ($23) said it was fresh and well-cooked too. Only the pumpkin risotto ($18) was not well-received.

We couldn’t not try the wines, given that the place was called Tasting Room. Bert suggested trying a Burgundy (atas palate) so we got a lower-price-range bottle of Bouchard Père & Fils Beaune du Château Pinot Noir at $89. Hmmm, nice honeysuckle and chalk nose, soft and easy to drink, but it’s lacking liveliness.

We weren’t too impressed with the first pinot, so for our second bottle we settled for a good value $64 “cannot-fail-us” bottle Kiwi pinot – the Ata Rangi Crimson Pinot Noir 2009. It’s nothing too elegant, just plain vibrant black cherries and plum, but we liked it.

I can’t say the food was fantastic but it was adequate enough for me to log on to hungrydeals again the next day to buy another discount voucher. Will return to try the appetizers and maybe a bottle or two of the other wines.

Blu Kouzina

I'll admit it. I am a typical kiasu Singaporean. But if making a reservation a month in advance to secure an unforgettable dining experience is what it takes, I’ll do it. Giving myself a pat on the back for an excellent choice for a group dinner gathering!

Blu Kouzina’s been on my radar on a while and judging by the reviews online and how hard it is to get a reservation, I daresay I’m not alone. It’s a lovely place indeed. Think Santorini’s white washed walls, blue doors and windows, an open concept kitchen, bustling dinner crowd and you’ll hardly feel like you are in Singapore.

Since there were 6 of us, we decided to order a selection of mezedes (greek tapas) and kreatiko (meats) to share. I must compliment the efficiency of the kitchen because at 8.30pm we were all starved and the food came very promptly after we placed our orders.

First up was the melitzanosalata (smoked eggplant with herbs). It was very flavourful and we wiped it up greedily with our order of pita bread, fresh from the oven. Yums, great way to start the meal.

Next, we had the saganaki (goat cheese) with figs and sauce. It didn’t look like much but I thought it was very good – the sweetness of the figs complimented the saltiness of the goat cheese perfectly!

The spanakopita (filo pastry with spinach and feta cheese) was a big hit. Everyone loved it. Crispy crust with warm creamy filling, I wish they sold these frozen so I could buy some home to pop into my oven.

Only K ordered an individual portion of lentil soup and he said it was very hearty. The rest of us devoured the kalamaki (beef) souvlaki and the paidaki stin Sxara (lamb chops). Oh dear, not enough to go around. The portions of these mains were a tad small. Luckily the mousaka (oven baked eggplant with potatoes and mincemeat) - comfort food - filled us up.

We splurged on a psarika anamikta (grilled seafood platter). $98 seemed a bit expensive but when it arrived, we were quite pleased with it – there was a whole red snapper (400g), 3 Jumbo Prawns and a large squid. Everything was grilled to perfection and drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and lemon. The taste of the ocean reminded me of my surreal holiday many years back island-hopping in Santorini, Mykonos, Paros and Crete *big sigh, those were the days*

We washed all these excellent dishes down with “dry white wine” recommended by the owner of the restaurant. I didn’t know them Greeks made such good wine. We had 3 bottles of the Mercouri Estate Foloi White 2009 (Korakohori Ilias, Greece) – fantastic value at $38 a pop (unbelievable value). The wine is made from a blend of Roditis & Viognier. Rather reminds me of a sauvignon blanc, but this is pale yellow in color with a much fruitier and floral aroma and taste.

For desserts, we tried the baklava and the yoghurt with spoon sweets. The baklava gave a sweet end to the meal. I liked the spoon sweets but I miss the creamier and sourish yoghurt I had in Greece (that was my breakfast for 2 whole weeks and I never got sick of it).

I am already planning a return trip to Blu Kouzina. The service here is great (although the manager looks a bit stressed) and I really appreciated how enthusiastic the sommelier was in introducing us the wines. Greek wines are definitely worth exploring and all the better, when at a lovely greek restaurant like this.

Quaraba'r (Siglap)

I was on half day leave and Dee was free, so we decided to pop by our friendly neighborhood bar for some happy hour one-on-one girly catch-up. We met at 6pm and were the first customers there – yay the whole place to ourselves! Not for long though, because by 7pm+ the place started filling up.

Quaruba’r is as good as neighbourhood bars come. They have excellent happy hour prices and the wine selection there is surprisingly quite varied. I had a very pleasant bottle of Errazuriz (Chilean) sauvignon blanc at $68.

The pub grub there is more than decent and portions are hearty. Yes that huge plate of nicely fried and fresh calamari was only $9! The fish and chips I had there the last visit was respectable too. I will try the beef burger the next time I’m there.

The jazz band comes on around 9pm+ and they are pretty good. All in all, Quaraba’r has never failed me. It is friendly, cosy and familiar, the perfect place for a can’t-be-bothered-to-dress-up night out with old friends. Gem of the east?

Definitely.

Tonny Restaurant

I love the makan outings organized by Makansutra. The restaurant picks are always spot-on and often corkage-waived – it is sheer bliss being in the company of so many fellow gluttons (“foodies” is a nicer term) and winos (“alco*****”). Not only do I get to sample the signature dishes at new restaurants, I am also blessed with generous friends who care and share good wines!

This August, we visited 利宝饭店 Tonny Restaurant, located along the Joo Chiat stretch. I had high expectations of Tonny, whom, as I read online, was a semi-superstar of ex-Shatin Restaurant fame. He probably sees himself as such too, seeing from the huge moustachioed signage outside the restaurant *grin*.

At $45 nett per pax, the food we had was a steal:

Trio of crispy yam with truffle oil, smoked duck and crispy fish skin
- Mini Buddha jumps over the wall
- Wasabi prawn balls
- Steamed pating fish with ginger and chilli
- Bailin mushrooms braised in abalone sauce
- Steamed boneless chicken in superior soup
- Special fried rice in lotus leaf
- Golden banana ball in milk cream

There were hits and misses. The signature crispy yam failed to impress (where was the truffle scent?) and the smoked duck was just so-so. I only liked the tasty broth they served to dip the crispy fish skin in. Other non-memorable dishes were the wasabi prawn balls, bailin mushrooms and chicken. The dessert was.. bleh.

The star for me was the Buddha jumps over the wall. That pot was full of chunky goodness – whole silvers of shark’s fin (oops, sorry), dried scallops, mushrooms, even some (baby) whole abalones. This single dish in itself, was worth my $45.

Strangely, the other dish which stood out for me that night was the fried rice. It must have been one of the nicest I’ve ever eaten. Good wok hei, every single grain was evenly coated with fragrant sauce and they were generous with the shreds of dried scallop – I cleaned the bowl clean! Yup, there’s a long run on the treadmill right there.

The steamed patang fish also deserves some mention. Personally I loved the seasoning but the fish was just too oily for me. My friends devoured the dish, picking and sucking the bones dry.

It was overall an enjoyable dinner, especially considering the wines I got to sample. There was some interesting winegeek talk about the Tyrus Evan 2003 Malbec (Argentinean grape with a green card, from Oregan) and the Irvine 2005 Zinfandel Reserve (American immigrant to Barossa Valley Australia).

Since Tonny’s right in my neighbourhood, I’ll probably be back to sample the other dishes. The Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon dish (Lobster, Egg White and Dried Scallop) and the Full Cream Crab Congee sound so good.

La Maison Du Whisky

3 whisky lovers found malt/grain heaven at La Maison Du Whisky last Saturday night. We used to walk past it, slightly intimidated, back when it was just a retail outlet. Now that they put in a bar and seating, we found ourselves instinctively walking in.

Why haven’t we discovered this place before? Wow the whisky selection is really impressive - I know I say this quite often but “I wish my home bar looked like this!” Equally impressive was the décor – dark wood panels, lush leather seats and warm inviting lighting. Uh oh, I am so coming back here (often).

We eagerly started on our whisky journey. Starting from one end of the Scotch spectrum, I had the Aberlour 15 year single malt whisky – typical Speyside (also home to Glenlivet, Glenfiddich and the Macallan with heavy emphasis on fruit notes, with a hint of vanilla. A nice one to start off with.

Ling had the Springbank 10 year old, a great introduction to the Campbeltown style - mildly briny with some iodine from the sea. I took a sip and indeed, it was very pleasant. Ndee loves the peatiness of Islay scotch and he went straight for the Ardbeg Uigeadail from the Islay region (where my favourite Laphroaig and Lagavulin hail from). A whopping 50 – 60 ppm (parts per million of phenol), he was literally “smokin’ after one sip. Heh, next time, try the Ardberg “Supernova” - 100ppm phenol!

Feeling a bit peckish, we ordered a chocolate platter to share. Nice! I love pairing whisky with chocolate, they go so well together yums. To end off the evening, we order an apple brandy -
Christian Drouin calvados 15 years from Normandy, as well as the Pappy Van Winkle family reserve 15 Year Old Bourbon Wood. Hmmm.. love.

We were having such a lovely time that when the bartender announced at 12 midnight that the bar was closed, we couldn't help but pout. Oh well, it's ok, I am sure we will be back very soon!

(PS. Check out the not-for-pregnant-lady- consumption sticker on the bottle)

The Dempsey Brasserie

It might be a new joint but the Dempsey Brasserie rocked. Good customer service is such a refreshing breath of fresh air! We were impressed from the moment we arrived and the manager (I think) warmly showed us to our table. A waiter almost immediately appeared and asked if we would like some iced water. Nice.

"Pick a nice bottle of white wine" Papa Bear says. Heh, ok. I look at the wine list and decided to pick a bottle of 2008 Valduero Sobresaliente 9 from Ribera del Douro, Spain ($65) which looked interesting. The wine was a light straw colour and had a very nice aroma of pineapple (100% albillo grape). I was surprised by how light it was, until a quick google on the iphone showed that it only had a 9% low alcohol graduation.

It was just the 3 of us so we decided to order a few things to share - trio of mini burgers ($17), mussels in mariniere ($36), rocket salad ($11) and roasted poussin chicken ($28). We upgraded the fries (came with mussels) to truffle fries with grated parmesan for an additional $5.

The mini burgers were pretty good, although nothing can beat my favourite ones from Overeasy. Besides ketchup and chilli sauce, it came with a buttery sauce which I thought was quite nice. Roast chicken was nice and moist but the portion was a bit small for the 3 of us to share. More please.

The mussels and truffle fries were definitely winners. Mussels were sweet and fresh, much better than those from Brussel Sprouts. We couldn't resist drinking the mariniere sauce like a soup and cleaned the pot dry. Very satisfying, haha.

Mama Bear came to join us later and we decided to order some desserts to share. The chocolate fondant with vanilla ice cream ($14) was excellent but the suzette with orange and vanilla ice cream ($12) was a disappointment. Oh well, we can't win it all.

Kudos to the excellent service staff who made our dinner such a pleasant one. I'm making plans to return with Sis for brunch.

Wicked

I watched this musical in London a few years ago and loved it. Clever plot, interesting twists, hilarious dialogues and great special effects - BRILLIANT!

Good news, WICKED is coming to Singapore from 7 December 2011 to 29 January 2012! Tickets range from $55 to $165, a tad pricier than the 30 pounds I paid, but trust me, it's worth every cent. It's really one of the best musicals I've been to and I enjoyed every minute of it.

This is the "untold story" of the Witches of Oz. Before Dorothy dropped into the land of Oz, there were two little girls - a smart but unfortunately green-coloured girl, and her best friend, a beautiful, popular little miss sunshine. Watch how these two friends fell out and came to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. The Wicked Witch was sorely misunderstood! I won't spoil it by telling you more, but do grab tickets yeah. You won't regret it.

The Loft

The boys (my nephews) have tuition class at East Gate on Saturday afternoons so the nice Ayi (that’s me!) decided to take them out to lunch before class. The Loft, being just opposite East Gate, was the natural choice. AL had been there and gave it good reviews.

The Loft is simply decorated with plain tables and floral upholstered seating. We sat at the ground level but I peeked up into the “loft” upstairs and it was a bigger area with sofas and a small book shelf. Looks like a nice chill out place. It was eerily empty for a weekend noon though.

The boys order the standard fish and chips ($12.90). Little Noddy, the budding food critic, announces “This is nicer than Fish & Co.. But my mashed potatoes are too lumpy.” Chuckles, the quieter nephew, just sits there with a delighted grin, stuffing his face with fried fish.

My marinara pasta ($12.90) paled in comparison to their fish and chips (which was, based on the tiny morsel my nephews shared with me, really good!). They were generous with the mussels but I just felt the pasta lacked flavor. Our appetizer of teppan calamari wow-ed me though. The squid was fresh and grilled perfectly such that it was soft and moist, not rubbery. I loved the accompanying thai chilli sauce and mopped the plate clean.

Good food at very pocket-friendly prices. Definitely a keeper!

De Classic Golden Spoon

I just had dinner at De Classic Golden Spoon last Friday and I miss the food already. The tofu with cereal and pumpkin sauce was amazing! I am at this very moment craving for it.

It was a dear friend’s birthday and the 13 of us booked a big table for the occasion. We had heard good reviews and the fact that this was a free corkage “they-provide-proper-wine-glasses place” sealed the deal.

We had the ngoh hiang to start and it was well-fried and fresh with nice chunks of water chestnuts inside. Next came the recommended crab bee hoon (2 large crabs). Although this had less “work hei” compared to the version at Sin Huat, it had a generous amount of flavourful broth which everyone just couldn’t get enough of. The drunken prawns were fresh and the soup tasted robust. The coffee spare ribs were a bit of a disappointment, they came wrapped in an aluminium foil and looked appetizing but upon biting into one, all I got was a whole mouth of fat.

Luckily, the tofu with cereal and pumpkin sauce saved the day. OMG. I know I am gushing but I couldn’t get enough of this. Tofu crispy on the outside, mmm so creamy inside. The combination of cereal and pumpkin sauce was pure genius.

Very attentive service. I clumsily dropped my chopsticks on the floor and the waiter got me a new pair without me having to ask. This could be in part due to the fact that the boss Rodney is an old friend of the birthday girl and he sat with us for drinks after dinner, but still. They even proactively asked if w needed a change of wine glasses when we switched from the whites to the reds.

When are we next going back? I already know what I want to order. The tofu for sure, the crab beehoon, the crispy chicken (was unavailable the day we went), salted egg prawn and oh the steamed fish with garlic and chai por sounds good too!

Space Warehouse (HK)

I’ve never been a big fan of expensive bags. It’s a personal choice, really, I’m one of those people who like to throw my stuff (bags, clothes) around and expensive bags make me nervous. What if I spill red wine on that luscious leather?

I wasn't planning on visiting Space Warehouse during my Hong Kong trip. But I’m glad I did. I knew prices would be cheaper at this Miu Miu and Prada outlet but I didn’t expect to find such great bargains there. Erm, yes. I am officially the proud owner of a full leather Prada bag!

Just to give you an idea of the potential savings (though some have argued “real” savings are greater on non-purchases), a bag like this would cost close to $4,000 in Singapore. At the outlet, taking into consideration the marked-down price, no sales tax and the very favorable exchange rate, I got this at only $1,900.

Interested to check out the outlet for yourself? It’s a bit out of the way in Ap Lei Chau but here are step-by-step idiot-proof instructions. Trust me, I went alone and found the place easily enough. Save cab fare so you can buy more *grin*

1. Take the MTR to the Central MTR station and look for the exit that brings you to the IFC (International Finance Centre).

2. Between IFC and (I think it’s) Exchange Square, there is a bus terminus on the ground level. Just ask around if you are not sure where the terminus is.

3. Take bus m590 to Ap Lei Chau.

4. The ride takes about 30 minutes and it involves crossing over a bridge to Ap Lei Chau. Be alert once the bus crosses the bridge. You need to keep an eye out for a sign on the left side of the road that says South Horizon. Once you see it, alight from the bus.

5. Space Warehouse is just a short walk ahead. It’s next to a yellow building which is the Marina Square East Market (see my pic).

6. If you missed that bus stop (which I did), worry not. Simply alight at the next bus stop. Get down, cross the street, and just simply walk back to Space Warehouse. Happy Shopping!

Address:
Space Warehouse
2/F, South Horizons Plaza (East Wing)
Ap Lei Chau, HK Island,
HK

Breakfast in Hong Kong

... Was amazing. Here’s the report for my favourite meal of the day.

1. Law Fu Kee 羅富記粥麵專家 (G/F, 142 Queen's Rd, Central) – we landed at 5am and made it here right after they opened at 7am for some comfort congee. So simple yet so satisfying! The congee is silky smooth and they are generous with their toppings (we had the fish and pork liver).

2. Sing Heung Yuen 勝香園 (2 Mei Lun Street, Central) – this is a very old famous “tai pai dong” teahouse which took us a while to find. It’s really al fresco at its most rustic – read: hot outdoor setting, suspicious hygiene (turned out fine though) and run-down folding tables and chairs. But I loved it! Order the tomato, beef and egg with instant noodles, and also try the lemon honey crispy crispy (脆脆)

3. Australia Dairy Company 澳洲牛奶公司 (G/F, 47-49 Parkes Street, Jordan) – the ham and egg sandwich here was amazing! I wasn’t keen to join the long queue outside but I’m glad I did. Sorry for gushing but I really loved the thick and fluffy toast and the creamy scrambled eggs. They are also famous for their steamed milk/egg dessert which I am not a big fan of but my friends like it. French toast rocked.

4. Tai Cheong Bakery 泰昌餅家 (G/F, 35 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central) – I have friends who gush about the egg tart 蛋撻so I just had to tapao some back home. Yes, I lugged 16 of these little beauties 1596 miles back home. They were, in my sis’ words, “magnificent”. We warmed the tarts up in the oven and wow – warm buttery crust, flavourful egg custard filling which was firm but yet just a little bit gooey… I regret not buying more.

I miss the food already. Watch this space for my other HK food report.

Sauce

We really like Overeasy, and so when we heard that The Butter Factory (TBF) group had opened a new concept bar & grill at the Esplanade, we were psyched to check it out. Unfortunately, our experience fell flat. So much for expectations.

It’s supposed to be “a modern take on the traditional all-american backyard cookout, with a garden party atmosphere” but eeiks, fake grass is not cool! I didn’t like the outdoor area. The indoor area was a bit nicer, I liked the cutsey mini sofas and the bar was nicely done up. Service staff looked very young - enthusiastic (place was two thirds empty) but clearly inexperienced.

Ok, on to the food. First of all, the bar menu was the most uninspiring I have seen in a long time. The most interesting item might well be the luncheon meat chips but that can only take them so far. It was quite a letdown compared to Overeasy’s bar menu where I would be spoilt for choice on what to order.

We decided to order from the main menu, comprising various snacks and grill items, and a trio of sauces accompanying each item. I ordered the Classic Dog ($12) – chicken sausage in between two hotdog buns garnished with onions and pickles. The accompanying sauces were BBQ, chilli cheese and balsamic beans. The sauces weren’t too memorable but I was starving and the sausage was pretty tasty.

HS had the Rib Eye ($30) and he muttered, at first cut, “These guys don’t know what medium rare is”. Oops. The steak came with a trio of pickle & herb, mushroom orzo and rosemary roast sauce. HS barely touched the sauces so I’m not too sure how they tasted. I don’t think he really enjoyed his meal though.

There are some interesting sounding sauces such as coffee bourbon, flamed peppercorn, truffle spread and jalapeno tartar which you can order separately at an additional cost (cant remember how much - $2 - 3?) but we didn’t see the need to try these. Sorry for the lack of food pics but the lighting was dim and the pics on my lousy iPhone 3 were terrible.

Alcohol wise, I first ordered a glass of the house white wine – Xanadu Dragon Range unwooden chardonnay ($8 during happy hour) – it was bleh. Don’t order it. The Marrenon Chardonnay “Les Grains” 08 we ordered was a tad better and at $57 a bottle I can’t complain.

Hmm I know it’s early days yet but I cant help feeling disappointed. Let’s hope they buck up because if not, there’s really no reason for me to make a return visit.

Retrolicious 2011

Yes it's here again! Retrolicious 2011!

Last year, we saw Debbie Gibson, Rick Astley and Johnny Hates Jazz and it was a blast. This year, it gets better. Bananarma, The Human League and my very beloved Belinda Carlisle. Oooh Heaven Is A Place On Earth, Mad About You, Leave A Light On, SUMMER RAIN! I grew up listening to her songs lor.



The concert is on 8th October at Fort Canning park (http://www.live4music.com.sg/events/profile/452). Still a long way to go but me and my fellow 80’s-phile friends are all psyched up. Some of them have even booked a room at Fort Canning Hotel (I know, very kiasu right) - pre-empting a long night and it's the perfect excuse to also check out the boutique hotel heehee.



Tickets go at $100 but there's a 10% discount with OCBC cards (20% if you book before August 7th). Hurry, get off the couch and go buy your tickets. Yay, the 80s was a very danceable decade - FUN!

Now, to go dig up my stonewashed jeans and shoulder pads *grin*

Osteria Mozza

I really wanted to be swept off my feet.

It was a much anticipated meal. KC was back in town from Shanghai and offered to buy me a nice Italian dinner. In true food nazi fashion, I did my research and narrowed my choices down to either Osteria Mozza or No Menu. A quick toll on Facebook turned up a resounding “Mozza of course!”, so reasonably assured, I made the reservations.

We were a bit early so we had a quick drink at the bar first. Very good ambience, I love the dark wood décor and semi-dim lighting. The restaurant was busy enough to create a buzz but quiet enough for a proper conversation. They seated us at one of the best tables in the house – happy! The service staff were also very warm and attentive, full marks for that.

The wine list was intimidating. It was extensive yes, but fwahh pricey. Even though KC was buying and he asked me to splurge, I couldn’t bring myself to order from the menu. Instead, I (ok, very “uncool”-ly) requested the sommelier to recommend us a bottle of red under $200. He brought us a bottle of 2004 Gattinara, Antoniolo. Made from the same nebbiolo grape as Barolo, the wine had a nice nose with notes of almonds and cherries, medium-full body – quite a good choice for the food, it turned out, but eh, markup is too high lah.

After choosing the wine, we turned our attention to the food. They had served us bread (choice of white and multi-grain) but this was cold and unimpressive. The amuse bouche of ricotta on crackers too, was mediocre. Hmm, we hoped the other food would fare better.

We ordered two starters to share – the Grilled Octopus with potatoes, celery & lemon ($25) and the Bufala Mozzarella with prosciutto di Parma ($25). The octopus was nicely charred and soft inside, but though tasty, it was way too salty. I had to wash it down with a lot of wine and water. I liked the parma ham with the mozzarella - fresh and flavorful – we should have skipped the octopus and just ordered this because it was quite a sodium overload.

Next up, the mains. KC’s main of Linguine with clams, pancetta & spicy chiles ($29) was recommended by the waiter and it did look good when it was presented. Unfortunately, they were too heavy-handed with the spices and poor KC didn’t look like he really enjoyed it.

My main of Duck al Mattone with pear mostarda & corn ($55) fared a bit better. The serving was huge and I liked the nice crispy skin. The meat could have been juicier but the pear mostarda helped some. The corn was slightly spicy and I thought that gave a nice kick to the dish. I would suggest ordering this to share though.

I was stuffed after the duck but KC looked unsatisfied so we ordered the Piccolo Budino Caldo di Cioccolato with candied almonds & bourbon gelato ($17) to share. This was probably the best dish of the night. Then again, the desserts I had at the Pizzera the last time were excellent too – loved that olive oil gelato.

The bill came up to around $300, not as bad as I thought but seriously, it wasn’t worth it. I’ll be back at the Pizzeria but the Osteria just doesn’t cut it. It was lovely catching up with KC though, the last time we met was a year ago when I was back in Shanghai on business. Glad to see you doing well, Mr M