Many thanks to the organizers for this trip to the off beaten tracks of Singapore, letting us enjoy the natural greenery along the way and get in close with nature. Waking up early at 630am to travel all the way to CCK Mrt Station can be quite unattractive (for an easterner like me), not to mention that it is followed by a torturing 1 hour (estimated) journey (Bus: 975) to the Hay Dairies Goat Farm.
Luckily for us, there are not much passengers at the bus-stops after the bus left the CCK town boundary, thus we are spared the long journey to Lim Chu Kang. Having the length of the journey cut by half, and with much help from the cool weather, the short trip to the Hay Dairies Goat Farm is relaxing indeed.
With some luck, our timely arrival coincide with the milking session of the goats, where we get to see how goat milk are extracted to be bottled for our human consumption. Well, I really pitied the goats where they have to get their nipples "suck" everyday by machines and some of us wondered if the process is painful to the goats =p
After we have seen enough of the milking session, the group proceed on a mini tour around the farm. Due to the recent H1N1 issues, visitors are no longer allowed to get into close proximity with the goats, so activities such as goat feeding and goat patting are now off the shelves. Due to the unbearable stench coming from the goat dungs around the farm, we quickly exited the tour and went to the counter to get some goat milk to drink.
To minimise the unique "goatty" smell, I ordered the chocolate version of the milk bought at $2 for a 200ml bottle. The milk, to me, taste pretty diluted and the chocolaty favor is lacking. Given a choice, I think I would not have bought the goat milk again from this farm, unless they start giving me better quality milk. Overall, it was still a good unique experience, nontheless.
This is my second time in Pasta de Waruku. If not for the 30% discount, I wouldn't have gone into the shop. For the Seafood with Wafu Tomato Sauce, I ordered the up-size version as I remembered that the last time, the serving they gave without up-size was too small. Overall, in my opinion, the dish is average. I find that tomato sauce is too cheesy and it makes me feel guilty. Looks like I have to exercise more to burn off the excess fats~ For the seafood they served, I have to say that their prawns are fantastic! They are big, fat and juicy, however, for the squid and oysters, they pale in comparison. The squid is a little bit hard and the oyster, to me is a little bit dry. If without the 30% discount, I would have find that it is not worth the money paid I have paid.
Edited 15-Jul-09
A joyful occasion to celebratemy friend, Perry's birthday~ The day started with some singing of K which unfortunately I could not join in. However, I did manage to make it for the dinner, while most of the others are late! =) The group later decided on going to the restaurant (Pasta de Waraku) which gladly is not too expensive.
Having been the first time entering this restaurant, I decided to try their "sukiyaki" which is a mixture of beef, mushroom and cabbage mixed in their special Wafu sauce. I quite like this dish as the cabbage they used is sweet and it enhances the taste of the whole dish. However, I still find the portion a bit small for my stomach. For my drink, I decided to try their "Maccha Float". The waiter said that this ice-cream was made of some tea leaf favour and I initially had some expectation for this drink. However, after taking a sip, it was total disappointment as the ice-cream are pretty tasteless and hence, the whole drink was pretty spoilt.
Overall, the staffs are quite friendly in this restaurant and provide satisfying answers whenever questions are asked. The ambient set up was pretty good for group gatherings to sit down and catch up with each other. Even though it was at the prime of dinner hours, the whole restaurant is still quite quiet for diners to enjoy a couple of quiet moments.
Having gone to this restaurant last week for lunch, I left the place with much a pretty good impression. We ordered some of their ala cart dishes on the menu, such as sweet and sour pork, crispy noodle and yang zhou chao fan. So to start it off, let me first introduce the highly recommended sweet and sour pork. I swear that I have never eaten such a good and nice sweet and sour pork at any other place other than this restaurant. The pork served is so soft and the sauce they used are just the right combination of sweet and sour favour! Yummy!!
Up next is their cripsy noodle. They used a generous portion of "dai zi", "xiao bai cai" and mushroom to compliment this dish. The taste of the noodle is normal, but the side compliments served, for example the "dai zi" is fresh and soft. One bite into it is enough to send you soaring to heaven.
For their Yang Zhou Chao Fan though, is nothing out of the ordinary. It taste the same as what you would get at any other "zi ca" stall in the coffee shop. I would recommend you give this dish a skip and order some other dish on the menu.
For their service wise, I would find that they are very attentive. Waitress would automatically filled up your tea when they saw that your cup is almost empty. Their supervisor would come around the table to get feedbacks on the quality of the food served so that they can continuously improved in the service and dishes served. Good job and keep it up
Dining at swenson is usually the selection of fish and chips for me. But for this occasion, I decided on a change of choice and ordered the baked spaghetti bolognaise instead to try out its latest addition to their menus. I have no idea how long this dish has been introduced as it has been ages since I last stepped into the restaurant. Certainly, this dish has not disappoint me. With its melted cheese spread over the hot spaghetti mixed with minced beef in tomato sauce, the taste is just heavenly. One reason I prefer tomato sauces over cream as base sauce for baked dishes is that you will not easily get sick of the meal while you are eating it. One regret though, the meatballs are just plain normal. I would have expect more from them since it is the main attraction for the dish. Well, this is one area they can improve on.
One particular service that I find interesting in Swenson is the way they served their cold water. Usually, the restaurant will just give each person a cup of cold water. But for Swenson, they came in 2 empty little cups and a cute little bottle filled full with water. So now, instead of keep calling the waiter to refill your cup, now you can DIY at your own convenience. I find this rather innovative of them. Keep up the good work.
The Oyaku Chicken Ramen (picture above) from Ramen Ten looks appetizing with its fine selection of vibrant colours - freshly green lettuce, tasty dark green seaweed, soft orange carrot cubes and tender chicken meat. Add another $2 for the big bowl ramen will guaranteed you a full and satisfying stomach for the day. The soup base was boiled to just the correct sweetness (compliments to the chef) that it was neither too salty nor blend. Overall, I would find this dish above average, though not really that delicious until it would blow my mind off. Bring along your Safra card if you want to enjoy their 50% off on 2nd order promotion..
For the staffs, I find that they are very helpful and patience. They took great length to make sure that the customers know what are the current promotions they are having in the store so that the patrons would not miss out on any possible good deals. Whenever they have any doubts, they would come back and re-verify with the customers so that the orders are being made to what the customers actually wanted. Though this is part of the basic service skills that all the waiter / waitress should have, but, I still appreciate them for their efforts.
1=SGD 0.0587
Luckily for us, there are not much passengers at the bus-stops after the bus left the CCK town boundary, thus we are spared the long journey to Lim Chu Kang. Having the length of the journey cut by half, and with much help from the cool weather, the short trip to the Hay Dairies Goat Farm is relaxing indeed.
With some luck, our timely arrival coincide with the milking session of the goats, where we get to see how goat milk are extracted to be bottled for our human consumption. Well, I really pitied the goats where they have to get their nipples "suck" everyday by machines and some of us wondered if the process is painful to the goats =p
After we have seen enough of the milking session, the group proceed on a mini tour around the farm. Due to the recent H1N1 issues, visitors are no longer allowed to get into close proximity with the goats, so activities such as goat feeding and goat patting are now off the shelves. Due to the unbearable stench coming from the goat dungs around the farm, we quickly exited the tour and went to the counter to get some goat milk to drink.
To minimise the unique "goatty" smell, I ordered the chocolate version of the milk bought at $2 for a 200ml bottle. The milk, to me, taste pretty diluted and the chocolaty favor is lacking. Given a choice, I think I would not have bought the goat milk again from this farm, unless they start giving me better quality milk. Overall, it was still a good unique experience, nontheless.
Rate: 6/10
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Seafood with Wafu Tomato Sauce
This is my second time in Pasta de Waruku. If not for the 30% discount, I wouldn't have gone into the shop. For the Seafood with Wafu Tomato Sauce, I ordered the up-size version as I remembered that the last time, the serving they gave without up-size was too small. Overall, in my opinion, the dish is average. I find that tomato sauce is too cheesy and it makes me feel guilty. Looks like I have to exercise more to burn off the excess fats~ For the seafood they served, I have to say that their prawns are fantastic! They are big, fat and juicy, however, for the squid and oysters, they pale in comparison. The squid is a little bit hard and the oyster, to me is a little bit dry. If without the 30% discount, I would have find that it is not worth the money paid I have paid.
Edited 15-Jul-09
A joyful occasion to celebratemy friend, Perry's birthday~ The day started with some singing of K which unfortunately I could not join in. However, I did manage to make it for the dinner, while most of the others are late! =) The group later decided on going to the restaurant (Pasta de Waraku) which gladly is not too expensive.
Having been the first time entering this restaurant, I decided to try their "sukiyaki" which is a mixture of beef, mushroom and cabbage mixed in their special Wafu sauce. I quite like this dish as the cabbage they used is sweet and it enhances the taste of the whole dish. However, I still find the portion a bit small for my stomach. For my drink, I decided to try their "Maccha Float". The waiter said that this ice-cream was made of some tea leaf favour and I initially had some expectation for this drink. However, after taking a sip, it was total disappointment as the ice-cream are pretty tasteless and hence, the whole drink was pretty spoilt.
Overall, the staffs are quite friendly in this restaurant and provide satisfying answers whenever questions are asked. The ambient set up was pretty good for group gatherings to sit down and catch up with each other. Even though it was at the prime of dinner hours, the whole restaurant is still quite quiet for diners to enjoy a couple of quiet moments.
Rate: 6/10
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Up next is their cripsy noodle. They used a generous portion of "dai zi", "xiao bai cai" and mushroom to compliment this dish. The taste of the noodle is normal, but the side compliments served, for example the "dai zi" is fresh and soft. One bite into it is enough to send you soaring to heaven.
For their Yang Zhou Chao Fan though, is nothing out of the ordinary. It taste the same as what you would get at any other "zi ca" stall in the coffee shop. I would recommend you give this dish a skip and order some other dish on the menu.
For their service wise, I would find that they are very attentive. Waitress would automatically filled up your tea when they saw that your cup is almost empty. Their supervisor would come around the table to get feedbacks on the quality of the food served so that they can continuously improved in the service and dishes served. Good job and keep it up
Rate: 7/10
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One particular service that I find interesting in Swenson is the way they served their cold water. Usually, the restaurant will just give each person a cup of cold water. But for Swenson, they came in 2 empty little cups and a cute little bottle filled full with water. So now, instead of keep calling the waiter to refill your cup, now you can DIY at your own convenience. I find this rather innovative of them. Keep up the good work.
Rate: 6/10
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For the staffs, I find that they are very helpful and patience. They took great length to make sure that the customers know what are the current promotions they are having in the store so that the patrons would not miss out on any possible good deals. Whenever they have any doubts, they would come back and re-verify with the customers so that the orders are being made to what the customers actually wanted. Though this is part of the basic service skills that all the waiter / waitress should have, but, I still appreciate them for their efforts.
Rate: 6/10
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