After conquering the hearts of many with their Holland Village outlet, Frolick has moved on to the North - Serangoon Gardens!!!
Just few units away from Ice3, it holds on to the same theme of white background and bright colourful slogans on one side of their wall and the other decked out with multiple of button pins (Note: 317 to be exact – the same number as the bus that brings one to Gardens – and in case you are wondering, I didn’t count – the girls at the counter did).
With that, Frolick retains the branding of being loud and edgy rolled into one. To recap, an Original Frozen Yogurt cost $3.50 for Cup A, $4.80 for Cup B ( 1 topping) & $6.30 for Cup C ( 2 toppings) and a Flavoured Frozen Yogurt cost $3.90, $5.30 & $6.90 respectively. Additional assorted toppings go for $1 each.
I ordered the Cup C of the Original Flavoured Yogurt with Granola and Vanilla Clodhoppers, or Crunchy Vanilla Fudge-covered Graham Clusters and it was lovely. The standard of the yogurt is consistent with their flagship outlet and the vanilla clodhoppers were a delightful topping to munch.
Seating is limited but the crowd was thin on a Friday night. And if guys out there haven’t yet noticed, Frolick employs the same policy as Ben & Jerry’s by hiring eye-candy as counter staff – girlfriends beware!
Frolick also has another outlet opening soon in Millienia Walk but I reckon it is not before long that you will find another one in Siglap – just to complete the trio (this is entirely my own conjecture and it does not represent the official statement and position of Frolick).
You can view the all photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
Have you ever wished you could have a nice and relaxing weekend brunch/lunch in a lush greenery setting without the midday heat or the pesky mosquitoes? Well that was certainly on my mind as I headed to Canopy for a lazy weekend lunch with my gf.
Located smack in the middle of Bishan Park, Canopy is managed by Asmara spa and the cosiness is apparent from the minute you step in. Comfortable padded chairs coupled with huge wooden trim glass doors that allow sunlight to peer in make for a nice resort feel. The arched ceilings add a touch of colonial class and best of all, the interior is airconditioned. Canopy offers al fresco seating as well but unless you don't mind sweating it out on a hot day then by all means go ahead.
Eggs Benedict - One of the items on the breakfast/lunch menu, the eggs benedict was a rip off in my humble opinion. $12 for 2 slices of bread, 2 slices of ham and 2 poached eggs drizzled with Hollandaise sauce just screams expensive. And to top it off, it wasn't exactly outstanding. The egg yolk wasn't the least bit runny and the bread was a tad too dry.
Wagyu Steak with Skinny Fries & Herb Butter - A daily special that was scribbled on an overhanging chalkboard, the wagyu beef weighed in at about 300g(according to the waitress) and came as per requested - medium rare. However that's where the complimentaries end. The wagyu didn't taste like wagyu at all. The meat wasn't as tender or succulent as I had expected it to be and it was pretty much tasteless. I know of places which can put this dish to shame with their normal beef. And in case you are wondering, the herb butter was pretty bland as well.
Linguine Tossed with Lobster - As tantalizing as this dish may sound, it was a disappointment really. For starters, the linguine wasn't al dente and came across as very bland. The small lobster cubes (yes cubes), though crunchy and fresh, were bland as well and overall the whole dish was rather dry.
ps: I could count the number of lobster cubes with 2 hands. I suspect all the cubes combined can barely form one whole medium sized prawn.
Disappointment would be an understatement, not when I had to fork out over $75 for a less than satisfying lunch. Service was a tad slow and the food was so average that I didn't have the heart nor the wallet to stay on for dessert. The good thing about this place is its setting, but unless the management decides to lower the prices or buck up on the quality, the neighbouring joint shows more promise.
I've purchased several accessories from GetPlush! and i find that their designs are simple yet very pleasant.
Some time last year, they participated in the lime flea market at *scape (behind cineleisure) and i practically sprinted down there to get my hands on their accessories.
Sad to say, they did not look as pretty as they did on my computer screen. The images you see in the online store are (i'm giving a rough estimate) about 30% better than what it is in real life! It was a rather disappointing discovery since i had high expectations from the start when i saw the pictures of their accessories online.
The size of their accessories are also quite small. While there may be certain intricate details being weaved into the whole design, in real life, it might be too small to be even noticed and i feel its quite a waste. Perhaps they should try to make bigger accessories?
The quality of their accessories are only average. I have purchase accessories from other blogshops which have lasted for 1 year or more, which is quite a remarkable lifespan considering that they're only costume jewellery. However, i can't say the same about accessories from GetPlush!.
After merely 5 or 6 times of wearing it, the chain simply snapped! I was not even tugging at it. Very disappointing.
I have tried to contact the blogshop owner but after 3 weeks, i've yet to receive a response. I must say i'm quite disappointed with their after-sales service. Many other online sites provide way better service. Their prices are therefore also more justifiable in that way.
Heard many good things about Bistro 103's food and service so made the trip west one evening to try it out for myself. Opened in April 2007, Bistro 103 is a small family run restaurant with the husband as the chef and his wife and brother in law manning the store.
Located at the unlikelinesses of places, in a small shop unit along Pasir Panjang Road just next to a motorcycle repair shop and Manhill Restaurant, Bistro 103 offers a simple and unpretentious dining area filled with wooden furniture and daily specials scribbled on a chalkboard. From what I understand, the menu is rotated monthly and corkage stands at $5 .
Breaded Seafood Tofu with Wasabi Mayo - This was something unique which I have never tried anywhere else before. The tofu was coated with bread crumbs and deep fried till a crisp. There was a slight hint of tofu taste but the texture seemed a little too firm for my liking. Also, the bread crumbs came across as a little too thick as well.
Bacon, Ham and Mushrooms - We chose to have this dish done with a tomato base for a change and I must say it was quite well executed. The tomato sauce was lightly sweet with a mild tomato undertone, which is vastly different from the usual zesty type of tomato sauce that I'm used to. The pasta was a little too overcooked though, as evident by its limpness. The quantity of mushrooms was also found lacking but the generous servings of ham and bacon made up for it somewhat. Maybe they should just omit the mushrooms in the title altogether.
Oven Baked Barbeque Pork Ribs - This came as a recommendation and though huge in serving size, I found the execution a little wanting. The marination was not thorough enough and some parts tasted bland. On the upside, the meat fell off the bone with minimal resistance yet retained a certain degree of firmness. Nice but could have been better.
Chocolate Panna Cotta - Usually chocolate and panna cotta in the same dish would do the trick for me but not in this case. The panna cotta wasn't firm enough and I couldn't quite make out the taste of it as the layer of chocolate syrup and cocoa powder above proved a tad too overwhelming. So much for a $5 dessert.
Brownie with Ice Cream - A staple personal favourite, the brownie was served steaming hot (literally!) as evident by the steam it emitted when I cut through it. Moist(a little too moist actually) and not too sweet. Coupled with the normal tasting ice cream, it made for a sweet and not too expensive ($5) ending.
Dinner for 2 cost about $62 which does stretch the value for money notion a little thin. But hey, its $62 for an appetiser, 2 mains and 2 desserts - a value proposition that can hardly be found elsewhere, not for the quality of food nor the service. And if you need that extra nudge, try patriotism. Its after all, local.
Our fourth and final stop of the tour - Waraku, a casual Japanese dining joint with quite a few outlets in the eastern and central parts of Singapore.
Located on the 3rd floor of Central just further down from Wakashachiya, Waraku seems to be rather popular with Singaporeans judging from the long queues that form during meal times at alot of their outlets and the relatively good comments online. The interior at this particular outlet was decked out in shades of white and brown with wood featuring prominently in the decor. As with most of the other restaurants at Central, the window seats look out into the picturesque clarke quay for a more enjoyable dining experience.
California Ura Maki - Uramaki differs from other types of maki(rolled sushi) in that the rice is on the outside and the nori(layered sheets of seaweed) on the inside. Preparation methods aside, the california maki barely made it past the average mark. The rice was a little too dry and loose and the copious amounts of roe did nothing to enhance the taste, preferring to remain as decorative pieces.
Sashimi 5 Kinds - The huge platter of sashimi came with prawns, salmon, tuna, squid and yellow tail served atop a bed of ice and garnished with leaves and flowers to up the visual appeal. I don't know if the standard for sashimi is consistent throughout all the Waraku outlets but the sashimi at this particular outlet was bad. Nothing was fresh and I kid you not, I spit out the prawn and salmon as soon as I took the first bite. Maybe I'm just being picky and overreacting but it happens that I'm very sensitive to seafood which aren't fresh. But I wasn't the only one. Most of the sashimi was left untouched save for the polite gesture of a few pieces.
Feeling stress... Finally it weekend, after working for 5 days. Time to relax and destress.. I was being intro this place by my colleagues. Grapevine~!
There is a pool table infront, on the left hand side is the bar, right side there is alot of sofa seat and inside there is other seat too. It something like a open air bar. No air-con but I wouldn't feel hot as it actually windy to me.
Hmm... I didn't get to seat on those comfortable sofa seat. Anyway it ok. we order some finger foods and drinks.
1 BBQ Bacon Rolls ($4.80)
2 sticks of bacon rolls, each roll has 3 small bacon rolls. The bacon was small and oily. Not really that good. For the price, I don't think it worth.
1 Samosas ($3.80)
8 pieces of samosas, inside there is curry potato. It hot and good. It not oily. Nice finger food to go with beer.
1 Honey & Lemon Juice ($2.90)
I didn't get to try it as my colleague has order it. She said it abit sweet but it still refreshing to her.
4 Hoegaargen (Half Pint) ($31.20)
1 half pint is $7.80, I have intro this drink to my colleague. She feel is smooth. Same goes to me. I feel the beer is smooth too. Not bad.
The place do sell few different type of wine, beer and some main course too. I didn't get to try, will go back and try other foods and drinks.
Overall I like the place, it good place to relax and chill out with your friends. I guess if you want to get the sofa seat is good that you call and make reservation.
Total bill: $46.97 (Including 10% Service Charges, No GST)
*P.S: Do take note they do accept only cash and credit cards. For using credit cards must be $50 and above.
The same night of cake adventure hunting before we went to Grand Hyatt’s Mezza9. My secret food partner and i went in to Marriot pastry shop at the lobby to inquire whether they have any promotions for their cakes, but they only have half price for their pastries. And the staff were already packing up, so there’s only a few selections left.
Banana Muffin ($1.50 after half price) Such a big muffin for only $1.50, grab one after 9pm!
Muffin ($1.50 after half price) We brought two muffin since there were two types left.
Almond Crossiant ($1.75 after half price) The nice look of the almond chips on the crossiant is what tempted us to bring it home.
Total bill for 2 muffins and 1 crossiant is $4.98 after half price promotion. Reasonably cheap for hotel standards pastries, sorry for the lack of details because we had the cakes from Mezza9 and were too full for the pastries here. My secret food partner took it home, and they were gone in an instant.
You are always welcome to visit ladyironchef for a full-up on this trip. Whatever written herein are my genuine feelings expressed in words. Food, my dear, is what they call an adventure!
Wessex village, a tranquil and peaceful estate in the leafy Portsdown Road area is no stranger to the art scene in Singapore. Recently, with the entry of some new restaurants, it is slowly becoming the “It” place to be.
This will be good news for my fellow “west-erners” since LIC always lament the fact that the east side has more good food. With Holland Village, Chips Bee garden, Greenwood Avenue, Sunset way, Rochester Park, and now Wessex Village, who says there isn’t good places to chill in the West!
But this may not be music to the ears to some others, people who enjoyed the quaint environment and would rather preferred Wessex Village not to become the next Dempsey, over-rated and over-populated.
Have no fret about that, because currently in Wessex Village, there is only Pietrasanta an Italian restaurant, Laurent’s Cafe & Chocolate Bar, Klee a cocktail bar, and Colbar a very old-school coffee shop.
My friend and i explored the serene area, we checked out Pietrasanta but my friend wasn’t in the mood for Italian delights, but the place looks great and will definitely try it the next time round.
We decided on Cicada, an art centric casual restaurant lounge.
Nestled amid lush green vegetations, Wessex Village is a colonial style residential area surrounded by open space and trees to provide a soothing and relaxing ambience.
The building structure there are mostly colonial style, and this is the same for Cicada in a colonial type of bungalow building.
Al fresco area in Cicada is also spacious and roomy, which makes it a great place for friends to chill out under the the natural environment surrounded by greens, the village feel.
A large group of Caucasians chilling out, but don’t be quite mistaken by this scene. According to the manager Ronald, their main customers are actually locals and not Caucasians, and most of them are people from other area rather than the residents in Wessex estate.
Seafood Mango Salad ($13.90) Marinated seafood and honey balsamic dressing makes up the Seafood Mango Salad. The mango is sweet, and the prawn springy. The greens together with the sweet honey balsamic dressing opens up your taste bud for the meal.
Sauteed Organic Mushrooms ($5.90) Mushrooms are always a tricky dish, cook for too long and the mushroom becomes over-cooked, while finish it too early the mushroom will fail to absorb the essence of the other ingredients.
The Sauteed Organic mushrooms have a slight hint of white wine, wild herbs and tomato taste.
Smoothie Oreo ($12) The Oreo Smoothie isn’t good enough, the oreo bits are left too big to go through the straw, usually they will be crushed and mixed with milk. We gave the feedback and the manager Ronald told us the reason was due to fault in the blender that day.
However it is still quite unforgivable as this is a restaurant after all, and the least they can do is to notified us about the problem which unfortunately, they didn’t.
Butter Croissant toast with smoked salmon ($13.90) The butter croissant toast besides with the smoked salmon, comes with alternatives in ham, bacon or sausages. The greens in the toast complement the smoked salmon salty taste.
However, we lamented the fact that the croissant toast is not cripsy enough, the bread is too soft, and same for the green. We felt that it will be better if there is crunchier greens like cucumber added in, for a more complete taste.
The mayonnaise sauce also threatens to spoil the smoked salmon, fresh avocado sauce will perhaps be a better option to go along with the smoked salmon. The sandwich is an otherwise good and hearty dish, if Cicada can improve on the small issues.
Penne Pasta with seafood ($24.50) The most expensive pasta on the menu, no doubt so with the ocean prawn, scallops and calamari in spicy marinara sauce. Different type of pasta suits different type of base, tomato base spaghetti is the only choice to go with it. Well for a spicier version, the penne pasta works well.
The first savor of the Penne pasta with seafood is excellent, the spicy sauce together with the oceanic taste floods our taste bud. However, the dish seems to lack in something, because after a while we got a little sick of the dish as it starts to be overwhelming.
Cicada Club Sandwich ($15.90) The Cicada Club sandwich consists of bacon, lettuce, tomato, weisswurst sausage in focaccia bun. The bacon and sausage is decent, but again the use of mayo sauce here doesn’t quite complement the ingredients. Mayo will be better off when paired up with fried stuff.
Total Bill is $96.90 for the 2 of us. I think we sort of over-ordered given we had two appetizer, two sandwich, a pasta and a drink. The sandwich ranges in the tens, while pastas are in tens to twenty. The drink is definitely no go, while the sandwiches can really be better. And for once, i didn’t have any room for desserts.
I checked out the dinner menu as well, while lunch at Cicada is causal and simple food, dinner is more sophisticated with more selections of mains in the high twenty range. According to the manager, the atmosphere for dinner is more romantic and the area more closed up for more coziness.
We found the day-time area to be too ‘open’. Cicada should be going for the french open space concept, but this does not really encourage longer stay because the space is too bare and open. We believed that a more enclosed area, using different type of curtains can just do the trick.
All in all, Cicada promises a lot with its art-centric causal restaurant tag, but we ended up quite disappointed. Cicada certainly can be better, and hopefully the next time i dropped by Wessex, it will be a very different Cicada.
You are always welcome to visit ladyironchef for a full-up on this trip. Whatever written herein are my genuine feelings expressed in words. Food, my dear, is what they call an adventure!
” The next time, hopefully a very different Cicada “
One Twenty Six is a relatively new and swanky restaurant located at the now half year old rejuvenated Big Splash. Run by the same team behind One Rochester, the waterfront restaurant has a lot to live up to if it is to impress. Situated directly in front of the East Coast coastline, One Twenty Six boasts 2 seating arrangements. One alfresco seating and the other which is the usual fine dining establishment. In other words, the place is chic and demands at least a visit to see what the woo ha is a all about.
First off, let me apologise for the badly taken photos of the restaurant, the place definitely looks much better when you actually see it. And it is advisable to visit it at night when it is cooler since afternoons tend to heat the primarily glass made restaurant up quite a bit.
Complimentary Bread - To its credit, the place serves good bread which is made in house. They are all served warm and definitely gives the impression of being in a fine dining restaurant with its soft, fluffy and fragrant bread. Some had hazelnuts baked into them while others had raisins and hints of coffee. Add a dash of butter and its practically a meal on its own, if you are here for lunch, my advice is to ask for as much bread as possible if you are a big eater. That's my advice, take it if you like, ignore it at your own peril.
Salmon Roll/Seasoned Baby Octopus On Bed of Mesclun Salad with Japanese Dressing/Mediterranean Caprese Salad - All of the above starters had a fresh and satisfying taste about it to usher in the actual meal. The seasoned baby octopus was soft and sweet while the salmon was light and fresh. The caprese salad tastes like a cross between fish cakes and cheese with its tangy texture and milky taste but is still pretty good in the grand scheme of things.
Capellini Arrabiatta With Prawns - This main course packs quite a punch as it is very spicy albeit still maintaining a sweet tomato taste. The pasta itself tastes like a cross between chinese bee hoon and pasta with its fine strands but is definitely softer and more springy then the usual bee hoon strands. The prawns are juicy, sweet and crunchy as well. Overall, its a good filling course for people who like it spicy.
Oven Roasted Spatchcock, fork mash potato with sage jus - Spatch cock actually refers to the way the chicken is prepared. In this sense, it means the chicken is spread flat and roasted. A taste reveals an aromatic peppery taste and tender juicy meat. Pity the serving size was rather small though.
Pan Fried Sea Bass with potatoes and foam - In all honesty, the sea bass was rather thin and small. It was pan fried rather well despite the small serving. Crispy skin with a cheesy tasting foam around it. The meat itself retained much of its natural flavors and was sweet.
Roasted Lamb Loin - The lamb was done medium rare and very nice indeed. My tasting reveals well marinated and juicy meat which went well with the stew-like bed of greens below. Due to some technical issues, the waitress accidentally gave too much pepper to the dish but still, it turned out to be my favorite item at the restaurant so far.
Tiramisu/Rum and raisin nougat - While the main courses and starters might be hit or miss items, the desserts definitely had no such issue. Made fresh and sold on the day, the desserts differ daily for the lunch menu. The tiramisu had a good balance of cheese, rum and cake which helped bring out the flavors of each section. One of the better tiramisu's i've had but thats my opinion while the nougat was an interesting mixture of raisins, rum and ice cream which is very different. Nougat being nougat, i'd expected a cake or cookie like texture but this tasted more like ice cream and it melts albeit slowly. The taste of rum is strong but thats the way i like it.
All set lunches come with a choice of coffee or tea and i must say, they serve rather good coffee. Without the sourish taste that accompanies most gourmet coffees, this one was sightly bitter, strong and quite high on the acidity scale if i'm not wrong. I had the impression that it was also smooth and its something i wouldn't miss ordering if i'm here.
Portion size aside, the lunches offer a nice variety of choices to choose from and differs weekly so you'll rarely get the same choices twice. Judging by the way the restaurant cooked the lamb, i'll brave the storm and say that they probably do good in their meats (lamb and beef) but thats to be decided after i do try their 200 day old aged wagyu beef. The view and location is nice but slightly warm during noon. The service is good and friendly and their desserts are above average. Looking forward to try their degustation menu.
People always say, never eat cakes after 9.30pm! But who cares about the calories that comes along with the sinful indulgence? LIC says, have your cake and eat it! Especially since premium hotel cakes are going at half price after 9.30pm!
My secret food partner and i decided to go on a cake-hunt as we recalled that some hotels have half price promotions on their cakes after a certain timing. We went to Marriot hotel first, after which we found ourselves at Grand Hyatt, Mezza9.
Tiramisu ($7, half price $3.5) The Tiramisu here is reasonably moist, laced with a hint of coffee flavor that doesn’t overpower the sweet mascarpone. I like the subtle taste, as some tiramisu has a very strong wine taste.
Black Forest ($5, half price $2.5) The huge cherry on top of the Black Forest was what tempted my secret food partner to buy it. Ttogether with the chocolate shavings by the side, its a delight to look at and eat. At such a huge slice, even at its original price of $5 its worth a try.
Strawberry Cheesecake ($5, half price $2.5) Classic baked cheese cake with a strawberry jelly topping complete with ginormous (gigantic & enormous) strawberries! The oreo cookie base makes us felt like we were eating a cheesecake duo, we can taste the classic cheese cake flavor, and if eaten together with the oreo base, the taste becomes oreo cheesecake!
The Strawberry cheesecake itself was very filling though, creamy and rich!
Caramel cake ($4, half price $2) We came to a common consent that the caramel cake is our least favourite among the four cakes. For one, it doesn’t have the caramel taste, rather there’s a strong hint of coffee. If you like coffee cake, this is probably the one to get.
Nevertheless, it look pretty and its the cheapest at $2 after half price promotion!
Croissants ($2, half price $1) Besides the cakes, the baking items are also at half price after 8.30pm. We got the croissants for a dollar after promotion.
Total Bill is a mere $11.50 for 4 slices of cakes and 1 bread. The cakes at Mezza9 although not in the excellent league, but its definitely your premium hotel cakes after all, and at half price promotions they are certainly a steal!
Takeaway temptations, bring home Mezza9 freshly homemade products and enjoy half prices on bakery items from 8.30pm and sliced cakes from 9.30pm daily. 15% discount is also offered for whole akes from 9.30pm.
LIC will be looking to explore many more hotels to enjoy the half price promotions! Cakes and more cakes!
You are always welcome to visit ladyironchef for a full-up on this trip. Whatever written herein are my genuine feelings expressed in words. Food, my dear, is what they call an adventure!
1=SGD 0.0587
After conquering the hearts of many with their Holland Village outlet, Frolick has moved on to the North - Serangoon Gardens!!!
Just few units away from Ice3, it holds on to the same theme of white background and bright colourful slogans on one side of their wall and the other decked out with multiple of button pins (Note: 317 to be exact – the same number as the bus that brings one to Gardens – and in case you are wondering, I didn’t count – the girls at the counter did).
With that, Frolick retains the branding of being loud and edgy rolled into one. To recap, an Original Frozen Yogurt cost $3.50 for Cup A, $4.80 for Cup B ( 1 topping) & $6.30 for Cup C ( 2 toppings) and a Flavoured Frozen Yogurt cost $3.90, $5.30 & $6.90 respectively. Additional assorted toppings go for $1 each.
I ordered the Cup C of the Original Flavoured Yogurt with Granola and Vanilla Clodhoppers, or Crunchy Vanilla Fudge-covered Graham Clusters and it was lovely. The standard of the yogurt is consistent with their flagship outlet and the vanilla clodhoppers were a delightful topping to munch.
Seating is limited but the crowd was thin on a Friday night. And if guys out there haven’t yet noticed, Frolick employs the same policy as Ben & Jerry’s by hiring eye-candy as counter staff – girlfriends beware!
Frolick also has another outlet opening soon in Millienia Walk but I reckon it is not before long that you will find another one in Siglap – just to complete the trio (this is entirely my own conjecture and it does not represent the official statement and position of Frolick).
You can view the all photos and other reviews @ His Food Blog.
Rating given:
Have you ever wished you could have a nice and relaxing weekend brunch/lunch in a lush greenery setting without the midday heat or the pesky mosquitoes? Well that was certainly on my mind as I headed to Canopy for a lazy weekend lunch with my gf.
Located smack in the middle of Bishan Park, Canopy is managed by Asmara spa and the cosiness is apparent from the minute you step in. Comfortable padded chairs coupled with huge wooden trim glass doors that allow sunlight to peer in make for a nice resort feel. The arched ceilings add a touch of colonial class and best of all, the interior is airconditioned. Canopy offers al fresco seating as well but unless you don't mind sweating it out on a hot day then by all means go ahead.
Eggs Benedict - One of the items on the breakfast/lunch menu, the eggs benedict was a rip off in my humble opinion. $12 for 2 slices of bread, 2 slices of ham and 2 poached eggs drizzled with Hollandaise sauce just screams expensive. And to top it off, it wasn't exactly outstanding. The egg yolk wasn't the least bit runny and the bread was a tad too dry.
Wagyu Steak with Skinny Fries & Herb Butter - A daily special that was scribbled on an overhanging chalkboard, the wagyu beef weighed in at about 300g(according to the waitress) and came as per requested - medium rare. However that's where the complimentaries end. The wagyu didn't taste like wagyu at all. The meat wasn't as tender or succulent as I had expected it to be and it was pretty much tasteless. I know of places which can put this dish to shame with their normal beef. And in case you are wondering, the herb butter was pretty bland as well.
Linguine Tossed with Lobster - As tantalizing as this dish may sound, it was a disappointment really. For starters, the linguine wasn't al dente and came across as very bland. The small lobster cubes (yes cubes), though crunchy and fresh, were bland as well and overall the whole dish was rather dry.
ps: I could count the number of lobster cubes with 2 hands. I suspect all the cubes combined can barely form one whole medium sized prawn.
Disappointment would be an understatement, not when I had to fork out over $75 for a less than satisfying lunch. Service was a tad slow and the food was so average that I didn't have the heart nor the wallet to stay on for dessert. The good thing about this place is its setting, but unless the management decides to lower the prices or buck up on the quality, the neighbouring joint shows more promise.
See all my pictures here.
Rating given:
I've purchased several accessories from GetPlush! and i find that their designs are simple yet very pleasant.
Some time last year, they participated in the lime flea market at *scape (behind cineleisure) and i practically sprinted down there to get my hands on their accessories.
Sad to say, they did not look as pretty as they did on my computer screen. The images you see in the online store are (i'm giving a rough estimate) about 30% better than what it is in real life! It was a rather disappointing discovery since i had high expectations from the start when i saw the pictures of their accessories online.
The size of their accessories are also quite small. While there may be certain intricate details being weaved into the whole design, in real life, it might be too small to be even noticed and i feel its quite a waste. Perhaps they should try to make bigger accessories?
The quality of their accessories are only average. I have purchase accessories from other blogshops which have lasted for 1 year or more, which is quite a remarkable lifespan considering that they're only costume jewellery. However, i can't say the same about accessories from GetPlush!.
After merely 5 or 6 times of wearing it, the chain simply snapped! I was not even tugging at it. Very disappointing.
I have tried to contact the blogshop owner but after 3 weeks, i've yet to receive a response. I must say i'm quite disappointed with their after-sales service. Many other online sites provide way better service. Their prices are therefore also more justifiable in that way.
Rating given:
Heard many good things about Bistro 103's food and service so made the trip west one evening to try it out for myself. Opened in April 2007, Bistro 103 is a small family run restaurant with the husband as the chef and his wife and brother in law manning the store.
Located at the unlikelinesses of places, in a small shop unit along Pasir Panjang Road just next to a motorcycle repair shop and Manhill Restaurant, Bistro 103 offers a simple and unpretentious dining area filled with wooden furniture and daily specials scribbled on a chalkboard. From what I understand, the menu is rotated monthly and corkage stands at $5 .
Breaded Seafood Tofu with Wasabi Mayo - This was something unique which I have never tried anywhere else before. The tofu was coated with bread crumbs and deep fried till a crisp. There was a slight hint of tofu taste but the texture seemed a little too firm for my liking. Also, the bread crumbs came across as a little too thick as well.
Bacon, Ham and Mushrooms - We chose to have this dish done with a tomato base for a change and I must say it was quite well executed. The tomato sauce was lightly sweet with a mild tomato undertone, which is vastly different from the usual zesty type of tomato sauce that I'm used to. The pasta was a little too overcooked though, as evident by its limpness. The quantity of mushrooms was also found lacking but the generous servings of ham and bacon made up for it somewhat. Maybe they should just omit the mushrooms in the title altogether.
Oven Baked Barbeque Pork Ribs - This came as a recommendation and though huge in serving size, I found the execution a little wanting. The marination was not thorough enough and some parts tasted bland. On the upside, the meat fell off the bone with minimal resistance yet retained a certain degree of firmness. Nice but could have been better.
Chocolate Panna Cotta - Usually chocolate and panna cotta in the same dish would do the trick for me but not in this case. The panna cotta wasn't firm enough and I couldn't quite make out the taste of it as the layer of chocolate syrup and cocoa powder above proved a tad too overwhelming. So much for a $5 dessert.
Brownie with Ice Cream - A staple personal favourite, the brownie was served steaming hot (literally!) as evident by the steam it emitted when I cut through it. Moist(a little too moist actually) and not too sweet. Coupled with the normal tasting ice cream, it made for a sweet and not too expensive ($5) ending.
Dinner for 2 cost about $62 which does stretch the value for money notion a little thin. But hey, its $62 for an appetiser, 2 mains and 2 desserts - a value proposition that can hardly be found elsewhere, not for the quality of food nor the service. And if you need that extra nudge, try patriotism. Its after all, local.
See all my pictures here.
Rating given:
Our fourth and final stop of the tour - Waraku, a casual Japanese dining joint with quite a few outlets in the eastern and central parts of Singapore.
Located on the 3rd floor of Central just further down from Wakashachiya, Waraku seems to be rather popular with Singaporeans judging from the long queues that form during meal times at alot of their outlets and the relatively good comments online. The interior at this particular outlet was decked out in shades of white and brown with wood featuring prominently in the decor. As with most of the other restaurants at Central, the window seats look out into the picturesque clarke quay for a more enjoyable dining experience.
California Ura Maki - Uramaki differs from other types of maki(rolled sushi) in that the rice is on the outside and the nori(layered sheets of seaweed) on the inside. Preparation methods aside, the california maki barely made it past the average mark. The rice was a little too dry and loose and the copious amounts of roe did nothing to enhance the taste, preferring to remain as decorative pieces.
Sashimi 5 Kinds - The huge platter of sashimi came with prawns, salmon, tuna, squid and yellow tail served atop a bed of ice and garnished with leaves and flowers to up the visual appeal. I don't know if the standard for sashimi is consistent throughout all the Waraku outlets but the sashimi at this particular outlet was bad. Nothing was fresh and I kid you not, I spit out the prawn and salmon as soon as I took the first bite. Maybe I'm just being picky and overreacting but it happens that I'm very sensitive to seafood which aren't fresh. But I wasn't the only one. Most of the sashimi was left untouched save for the polite gesture of a few pieces.
See all my pictures here.
Rating given:
Feeling stress... Finally it weekend, after working for 5 days. Time to relax and destress.. I was being intro this place by my colleagues. Grapevine~!
There is a pool table infront, on the left hand side is the bar, right side there is alot of sofa seat and inside there is other seat too. It something like a open air bar. No air-con but I wouldn't feel hot as it actually windy to me.
Hmm... I didn't get to seat on those comfortable sofa seat. Anyway it ok. we order some finger foods and drinks.
1 BBQ Bacon Rolls ($4.80)
2 sticks of bacon rolls, each roll has 3 small bacon rolls. The bacon was small and oily. Not really that good. For the price, I don't think it worth.
1 Samosas ($3.80)
8 pieces of samosas, inside there is curry potato. It hot and good. It not oily. Nice finger food to go with beer.
1 Honey & Lemon Juice ($2.90)
I didn't get to try it as my colleague has order it. She said it abit sweet but it still refreshing to her.
4 Hoegaargen (Half Pint) ($31.20)
1 half pint is $7.80, I have intro this drink to my colleague. She feel is smooth. Same goes to me. I feel the beer is smooth too. Not bad.
The place do sell few different type of wine, beer and some main course too. I didn't get to try, will go back and try other foods and drinks.
Overall I like the place, it good place to relax and chill out with your friends. I guess if you want to get the sofa seat is good that you call and make reservation.
Total bill: $46.97 (Including 10% Service Charges, No GST)
*P.S: Do take note they do accept only cash and credit cards. For using credit cards must be $50 and above.
Rating given:
The same night of cake adventure hunting before we went to Grand Hyatt’s Mezza9. My secret food partner and i went in to Marriot pastry shop at the lobby to inquire whether they have any promotions for their cakes, but they only have half price for their pastries. And the staff were already packing up, so there’s only a few selections left.
Banana Muffin ($1.50 after half price)
Such a big muffin for only $1.50, grab one after 9pm!
Muffin ($1.50 after half price)
We brought two muffin since there were two types left.
Almond Crossiant ($1.75 after half price)
The nice look of the almond chips on the crossiant is what tempted us to bring it home.
Total bill for 2 muffins and 1 crossiant is $4.98 after half price promotion. Reasonably cheap for hotel standards pastries, sorry for the lack of details because we had the cakes from Mezza9 and were too full for the pastries here. My secret food partner took it home, and they were gone in an instant.
You are always welcome to visit ladyironchef for a full-up on this trip. Whatever written herein are my genuine feelings expressed in words. Food, my dear, is what they call an adventure!
Rating given:
Wessex village, a tranquil and peaceful estate in the leafy Portsdown Road area is no stranger to the art scene in Singapore. Recently, with the entry of some new restaurants, it is slowly becoming the “It” place to be.
This will be good news for my fellow “west-erners” since LIC always lament the fact that the east side has more good food. With Holland Village, Chips Bee garden, Greenwood Avenue, Sunset way, Rochester Park, and now Wessex Village, who says there isn’t good places to chill in the West!
But this may not be music to the ears to some others, people who enjoyed the quaint environment and would rather preferred Wessex Village not to become the next Dempsey, over-rated and over-populated.
Have no fret about that, because currently in Wessex Village, there is only Pietrasanta an Italian restaurant, Laurent’s Cafe & Chocolate Bar, Klee a cocktail bar, and Colbar a very old-school coffee shop.
My friend and i explored the serene area, we checked out Pietrasanta but my friend wasn’t in the mood for Italian delights, but the place looks great and will definitely try it the next time round.
We decided on Cicada, an art centric casual restaurant lounge.
Nestled amid lush green vegetations, Wessex Village is a colonial style residential area surrounded by open space and trees to provide a soothing and relaxing ambience.
The building structure there are mostly colonial style, and this is the same for Cicada in a colonial type of bungalow building.
Al fresco area in Cicada is also spacious and roomy, which makes it a great place for friends to chill out under the the natural environment surrounded by greens, the village feel.
A large group of Caucasians chilling out, but don’t be quite mistaken by this scene. According to the manager Ronald, their main customers are actually locals and not Caucasians, and most of them are people from other area rather than the residents in Wessex estate.
Seafood Mango Salad ($13.90)
Marinated seafood and honey balsamic dressing makes up the Seafood Mango Salad. The mango is sweet, and the prawn springy. The greens together with the sweet honey balsamic dressing opens up your taste bud for the meal.
Sauteed Organic Mushrooms ($5.90)
Mushrooms are always a tricky dish, cook for too long and the mushroom becomes over-cooked, while finish it too early the mushroom will fail to absorb the essence of the other ingredients.
The Sauteed Organic mushrooms have a slight hint of white wine, wild herbs and tomato taste.
Smoothie Oreo ($12)
The Oreo Smoothie isn’t good enough, the oreo bits are left too big to go through the straw, usually they will be crushed and mixed with milk. We gave the feedback and the manager Ronald told us the reason was due to fault in the blender that day.
However it is still quite unforgivable as this is a restaurant after all, and the least they can do is to notified us about the problem which unfortunately, they didn’t.
Butter Croissant toast with smoked salmon ($13.90)
The butter croissant toast besides with the smoked salmon, comes with alternatives in ham, bacon or sausages. The greens in the toast complement the smoked salmon salty taste.
However, we lamented the fact that the croissant toast is not cripsy enough, the bread is too soft, and same for the green. We felt that it will be better if there is crunchier greens like cucumber added in, for a more complete taste.
The mayonnaise sauce also threatens to spoil the smoked salmon, fresh avocado sauce will perhaps be a better option to go along with the smoked salmon. The sandwich is an otherwise good and hearty dish, if Cicada can improve on the small issues.
Penne Pasta with seafood ($24.50)
The most expensive pasta on the menu, no doubt so with the ocean prawn, scallops and calamari in spicy marinara sauce. Different type of pasta suits different type of base, tomato base spaghetti is the only choice to go with it. Well for a spicier version, the penne pasta works well.
The first savor of the Penne pasta with seafood is excellent, the spicy sauce together with the oceanic taste floods our taste bud. However, the dish seems to lack in something, because after a while we got a little sick of the dish as it starts to be overwhelming.
Cicada Club Sandwich ($15.90)
The Cicada Club sandwich consists of bacon, lettuce, tomato, weisswurst sausage in focaccia bun. The bacon and sausage is decent, but again the use of mayo sauce here doesn’t quite complement the ingredients. Mayo will be better off when paired up with fried stuff.
Total Bill is $96.90 for the 2 of us. I think we sort of over-ordered given we had two appetizer, two sandwich, a pasta and a drink. The sandwich ranges in the tens, while pastas are in tens to twenty. The drink is definitely no go, while the sandwiches can really be better. And for once, i didn’t have any room for desserts.
I checked out the dinner menu as well, while lunch at Cicada is causal and simple food, dinner is more sophisticated with more selections of mains in the high twenty range. According to the manager, the atmosphere for dinner is more romantic and the area more closed up for more coziness.
We found the day-time area to be too ‘open’. Cicada should be going for the french open space concept, but this does not really encourage longer stay because the space is too bare and open. We believed that a more enclosed area, using different type of curtains can just do the trick.
All in all, Cicada promises a lot with its art-centric causal restaurant tag, but we ended up quite disappointed. Cicada certainly can be better, and hopefully the next time i dropped by Wessex, it will be a very different Cicada.
You are always welcome to visit ladyironchef for a full-up on this trip. Whatever written herein are my genuine feelings expressed in words. Food, my dear, is what they call an adventure!
” The next time, hopefully a very different Cicada “
Rating given:
One Twenty Six is a relatively new and swanky restaurant located at the now half year old rejuvenated Big Splash. Run by the same team behind One Rochester, the waterfront restaurant has a lot to live up to if it is to impress. Situated directly in front of the East Coast coastline, One Twenty Six boasts 2 seating arrangements. One alfresco seating and the other which is the usual fine dining establishment. In other words, the place is chic and demands at least a visit to see what the woo ha is a all about.
First off, let me apologise for the badly taken photos of the restaurant, the place definitely looks much better when you actually see it. And it is advisable to visit it at night when it is cooler since afternoons tend to heat the primarily glass made restaurant up quite a bit.
Complimentary Bread - To its credit, the place serves good bread which is made in house. They are all served warm and definitely gives the impression of being in a fine dining restaurant with its soft, fluffy and fragrant bread. Some had hazelnuts baked into them while others had raisins and hints of coffee. Add a dash of butter and its practically a meal on its own, if you are here for lunch, my advice is to ask for as much bread as possible if you are a big eater. That's my advice, take it if you like, ignore it at your own peril.
Salmon Roll/Seasoned Baby Octopus On Bed of Mesclun Salad with Japanese Dressing/Mediterranean Caprese Salad - All of the above starters had a fresh and satisfying taste about it to usher in the actual meal. The seasoned baby octopus was soft and sweet while the salmon was light and fresh. The caprese salad tastes like a cross between fish cakes and cheese with its tangy texture and milky taste but is still pretty good in the grand scheme of things.
Capellini Arrabiatta With Prawns - This main course packs quite a punch as it is very spicy albeit still maintaining a sweet tomato taste. The pasta itself tastes like a cross between chinese bee hoon and pasta with its fine strands but is definitely softer and more springy then the usual bee hoon strands. The prawns are juicy, sweet and crunchy as well. Overall, its a good filling course for people who like it spicy.
Oven Roasted Spatchcock, fork mash potato with sage jus - Spatch cock actually refers to the way the chicken is prepared. In this sense, it means the chicken is spread flat and roasted. A taste reveals an aromatic peppery taste and tender juicy meat. Pity the serving size was rather small though.
Pan Fried Sea Bass with potatoes and foam - In all honesty, the sea bass was rather thin and small. It was pan fried rather well despite the small serving. Crispy skin with a cheesy tasting foam around it. The meat itself retained much of its natural flavors and was sweet.
Roasted Lamb Loin - The lamb was done medium rare and very nice indeed. My tasting reveals well marinated and juicy meat which went well with the stew-like bed of greens below. Due to some technical issues, the waitress accidentally gave too much pepper to the dish but still, it turned out to be my favorite item at the restaurant so far.
Tiramisu/Rum and raisin nougat - While the main courses and starters might be hit or miss items, the desserts definitely had no such issue. Made fresh and sold on the day, the desserts differ daily for the lunch menu. The tiramisu had a good balance of cheese, rum and cake which helped bring out the flavors of each section. One of the better tiramisu's i've had but thats my opinion while the nougat was an interesting mixture of raisins, rum and ice cream which is very different. Nougat being nougat, i'd expected a cake or cookie like texture but this tasted more like ice cream and it melts albeit slowly. The taste of rum is strong but thats the way i like it.
All set lunches come with a choice of coffee or tea and i must say, they serve rather good coffee. Without the sourish taste that accompanies most gourmet coffees, this one was sightly bitter, strong and quite high on the acidity scale if i'm not wrong. I had the impression that it was also smooth and its something i wouldn't miss ordering if i'm here.
Portion size aside, the lunches offer a nice variety of choices to choose from and differs weekly so you'll rarely get the same choices twice. Judging by the way the restaurant cooked the lamb, i'll brave the storm and say that they probably do good in their meats (lamb and beef) but thats to be decided after i do try their 200 day old aged wagyu beef. The view and location is nice but slightly warm during noon. The service is good and friendly and their desserts are above average. Looking forward to try their degustation menu.
Rating given:
People always say, never eat cakes after 9.30pm! But who cares about the calories that comes along with the sinful indulgence? LIC says, have your cake and eat it! Especially since premium hotel cakes are going at half price after 9.30pm!
My secret food partner and i decided to go on a cake-hunt as we recalled that some hotels have half price promotions on their cakes after a certain timing. We went to Marriot hotel first, after which we found ourselves at Grand Hyatt, Mezza9.
Tiramisu ($7, half price $3.5)
The Tiramisu here is reasonably moist, laced with a hint of coffee flavor that doesn’t overpower the sweet mascarpone. I like the subtle taste, as some tiramisu has a very strong wine taste.
Black Forest ($5, half price $2.5)
The huge cherry on top of the Black Forest was what tempted my secret food partner to buy it. Ttogether with the chocolate shavings by the side, its a delight to look at and eat. At such a huge slice, even at its original price of $5 its worth a try.
Strawberry Cheesecake ($5, half price $2.5)
Classic baked cheese cake with a strawberry jelly topping complete with ginormous (gigantic & enormous) strawberries! The oreo cookie base makes us felt like we were eating a cheesecake duo, we can taste the classic cheese cake flavor, and if eaten together with the oreo base, the taste becomes oreo cheesecake!
The Strawberry cheesecake itself was very filling though, creamy and rich!
Caramel cake ($4, half price $2)
We came to a common consent that the caramel cake is our least favourite among the four cakes. For one, it doesn’t have the caramel taste, rather there’s a strong hint of coffee. If you like coffee cake, this is probably the one to get.
Nevertheless, it look pretty and its the cheapest at $2 after half price promotion!
Croissants ($2, half price $1)
Besides the cakes, the baking items are also at half price after 8.30pm. We got the croissants for a dollar after promotion.
Total Bill is a mere $11.50 for 4 slices of cakes and 1 bread. The cakes at Mezza9 although not in the excellent league, but its definitely your premium hotel cakes after all, and at half price promotions they are certainly a steal!
Takeaway temptations, bring home Mezza9 freshly homemade products and enjoy half prices on bakery items from 8.30pm and sliced cakes from 9.30pm daily. 15% discount is also offered for whole akes from 9.30pm.
LIC will be looking to explore many more hotels to enjoy the half price promotions! Cakes and more cakes!
You are always welcome to visit ladyironchef for a full-up on this trip. Whatever written herein are my genuine feelings expressed in words. Food, my dear, is what they call an adventure!
” More cakes, more cakes! “
Rating given: