Archive for the ‘Photos’ Category

main course: roasted cod, fennel salad

Overall the meal was satisfactory, bar the mini baguette served alongside the meal that was cold and chewy. My highlight was the cheese platter because the selection was great and I got to eat my favourite cheese .

Originally posted here:
Saint Pierre can be affordable |

This post is for my friend, J, who was policing my blog and reminded me I was not updating fast enough

So, Sui Japanese restaurant is first introduced by my friend D. Initially put off by this hidden amongst a row of shophouses near Chinatown/Tanjong Pagar border because it is a little inconvenient to access for me, but it was after all close to town and I was motivated to find a restaurant to replace my old haunt, Tomo Japanese Dining, which is now defunct.

The kind of familiarity between my taste buds and the sushi chef is very important to me and a couple of visits later, I am pleased that I feel fairly positive about this place and the Chef/Owner Andy. He is very passionate about his food and tries to be creative with his sushi.

His sashimi was fresh and sliced thickly with clean cuts. If I had to pick bones, they were sliced just a bit too thick, reminding me of Wasabi Tei’s version. But to give benefit of doubt, we were the only customers for lunch and since he was preparing the sashimi fresh from whole fishes, he could have been more generous that normal since he believes that the fresh fish should be eaten within 1-2 hours and not be kept.

One can still find traditional sushi from the regular menu. However, going omakase allows you to experience Chef’s creative sushi. He loves being innovative and is constantly trying to find new ways to serve and garnish his sushi with different ingredients that would excite the tastebuds. He can be a little heavy handed with salt but nothing a gentle reminder could not solve.

I am not a big fan of ankimo but the little ball looked so cute I just ate it. I am glad that he made the sushi small and used a citrus dressing to cut the richness. The result was very yummy and I could easily have another.

Go here to see the original:
Sui Japanese Dining |

Sauna Prawns, did the title catch your attention yet? It is a dish found in Brother Yat, a seafood restaurant located off the beaten path – somewhere among the factories at Subang Jaya .
When I first heard and saw how this dish was prepared via photos taken by my friend, I was really intrigued. I [...]

See original here:
Sauna Prawns @ Brother Yat Seafood Restaurant, Subang Jaya |

That irritating sound won’t stop.

It just won’t stop bothering me.

258 was the number of days that I have been counting.

There it goes … I heard the sound again, echoing in the tunnel.

I moved myself to the adjacent burrow. I can feel that it is coming towards my direction. Wait, something is not right here. From the back of my body.

……

Was I dead or did I just pass out in the dark? All I can feel is the numbness in my nerves.

I hate the sound of machine guns.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I grabbed the handle strongly, so strongly that I almost clutched myself to the seat right in front of me. The bus was rocking a hard way through the terribly uneven muddy path.

‘The absorber is worn out.’

Again, my head hit high into ceiling of the bus as it runs over a huge crater on the road.

We joined a day tour to Cu Chi and Cao Dai for less than USD 7. For that price, I certainly didn’t expect a long arse journey on the bus. I think my lungs, kidneys and stomachs sagged by 1.5cm after spending 5 hours travelling on the rocky road.

Our Bobby Chinn look-alike tour guide was very entertaining.

‘Miss, whe du yeu kam frum?’

‘Ohhh…de land famous for robbers!’

Astounded by his reply, I found out later that he means ‘rubber’. Certainly one of the most interesting remarks in this journey.

The journey throughout Cu Chi was a remarkable one. I was particularly amazed by their perseverance and determination. Imagine a bunch of Viet Cong soldiers living in the dark, humid and claustrophobia-inducing underground. The American troop described the conditions within the tunnel as ‘black echoes’.

We did try to explore one of the sections of the tunnel that has been expanded to accommodate taller/ larger sized tourists.

It ain’t fun.

I was a fool to believe that the tunnel has been enlarged to accommodate the big size us. *imagining walking around the tunnel freely like visiting museum liddat*

Half way crawling through the tunnel (I almost laid flat on the floor and creep towards the end), I was sweating and screaming in my heart…the tunnel seems to be never ending. How did the Viet Cong soldiers manage to survive in the tunnel for 20 over years when I find the dark claustrophobic atmosphere unbearable for mere 2 seconds?

I am a true brat spoiled by modernity.

After the exploration, I found something amusing. I really wanted to try that real thing. At least once. The guy recommended M16, so I bought 10 bullets (USD 17) for that.

It still ain’t fun lorrrrr.

I was a fool to believe that ear muff works. The NRR (Noise Reduction Rating) is close to ‘0’. The impact of the shot was so powerful that every shot leaves my ear drum with a numb (wee wung wung…wee wung wung…) feeling.

I’m glad that I insisted on trying out Nguyen Trung’s coffee on our last day despite the fact that we were supposed to rush to the airport.

We ordered “The Legend” which was nothing like the ordinary Starbucks cappuccino. The coffee was really strong and bold, definitely one of the highlights of my trip. *Love*

Later on when we return to SG, we found out that there is actually a branch located at Liang Court, Clark Quay. *Double Love*

*
For now, I’m more than happy to return to my comfort zone, happily munching on my routine subway ham and egg, surfing dumb websites, and crossing the road without the fear of being smashed by 58 motorbikes into a slab of tomato paste in the middle of the road.

Bar none, I still love you, Saigon.

Yellow stars missing in sight …

-The end-

View post: 
# 2 The Black Echoes |

This new, three-month-old Italian restaurant took over what used to be a French restaurant at Berjaya Hotel. The food served is supposed to be southern Italian cuisine. Still relatively undiscovered, I think Saraceno deserves better because the menu was relatively interesting and had more character in comparison to mainstream Italian restaurants. The food actually tasted pretty good too. The focus was not on fancy presentation or complex range of ingredients. Each dish was kept simple and unassuming. I loved the texture of the homemade pastas, but could be slightly too ‘undercooked’ for those who do not like their pasta al dente. Therefore, if you are one of those folks, be sure to request for more well-cooked pasta. Don’t worry about the restaurant looking chi-chi and stifling. The decor is a total mismatch to the very friendly and down-to-earth personalities of the Chef and the floor staff.

Complimentary breads with olives and its oil. There were three different types of bread. The spinach bread (on the top corner) was interesting to the eye but did nothing to elevate the taste (which was otherwise just fine) . The olives were great! Not too salty and totally addictive.

(Not your traditional) Eggplant Parmagiana, which comprised of thin layers of aubergine wrapping an interior filled with hot, gooey mozzerella. The bed of rocket was not an afterthought as its slight bitterness cut across the richness of the dish.

Fresh pasta from Naples with eggplants, cherry tomatoes and smoked mozzarella ($19.80). The pasta was slight too al dente as I found out that gave me quite a work out chewing. I would have preferred a heavier hand on the salt but to each his own.

The other fresh pasta was pappardelle with grillled peppers and olives. Again, very simple flavours. Both pastas reminded me of fresh pizza toppings against fresh pasta.

Dessert was the apple tartin with vanilla ice cream. I loved the dessert despite not a big fan of the caramel sauce. The chunky apples were nicely stewed until it was soft. Against the puff pastry and cold ice cream, it was rich and heavenly. The icecream did not look homemade but at least it was of good quality with specks of vanilla against a rich creamy base.

Saraceno Ristorante Italiano
Italian. G/F, Berjaya Hotel
83 Duxton Rd
Tel: 6438-9638

Read more from the original source:
Saraceno Ristorante |

I am sooo full, I regret eating. So, let me see if I can ease my indigestion by blogging about the dinner I just had about three hours ago. It is already three hours and I am still choking with badam milk and mutton briyani. Regret, regret, regret.

Initially, we went to Chulia Street (I think) because we wanted to try the kari itik nila from Kassim Mustafa. However, I found that they only sell on Saturday and Sunday. Lawrence told me the duck curry is good but I must go around 8 pm or they will be sold out the moment they take out the dish.

Since there is no duck curry, hubby suggested Kapitan because he said the Kapitan in Bandar Perda, Butterworth has mixed grill with its naan. However, the Kapitan here only have tandoori chicken. So, I ordered the item most advertised, i.e. claypot briyani. I am never a fan of flavoured rice like nasi minyak, nasi lemak, nasi briyani or anything kind which has its own taste because I find that too filling. The rice is not even served in any claypot but a metal container like a cake tin.

Meanwhile, my son ordered the tandoori chicken set with butter naan. I prefer the tandoori at Kassim Mustafa in Jalan Burmah.

They have a pullcart selling badam milk. I like badam milk or almond milk. However, the one at Kapitan is soo thick, so rich and full of cashew nuts, raisins and don’t know what skin, like foo chook (soyabean skin) it made me sooo full. Adoi lah…I hope I don’t develop lactose intolerance and squirm on the floor tonight. Sometimes, if I eat some wrong kind of foods, I can get tummy ache so severe, I can faint. The badam milk is rather nice. But not to be drank with a rich meal like briyani mutton or else you will suffer like a python which had swallowed an animal ten times its’ size.

The pushcart which prepares all kind of healthy drinks like Milo with raw egg, tongkat ali tea and don’t know what kind of ’strengthening coffee’.

Kapitan does not serve the tastiest foods but they have a wide range of things not found at other mamak stalls. They have a few outlets in Penang and one of them is at Gurney Hotel at Gurney Tower, next to Starbucks. The one I ate is at Chulia Street, Penang.

Now, I have to find a way to get my food digested or else I can’t sleep. How?

© MalaysiaBest dot com – Visit Best Recipe and Travel for more great recipes and travel tales.

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View original here: 
Of claypot briyani and badam milk |

Once in a while, the ladies who keep me sane at work would cast their boyfriends aside and indulge in a day of eating and shopping together. We went to Fiftythree for lunch, first time for all of us.

Fancy potato chips served on a platter of charcoal was our amuse bouche of sort.

Following shortly was a little gunny sack bag containing the exact number of mini bread rolls as there were folks on the table. There were heated ball bearings at the bottom of the sack, keeping the rolls warm. Now, I am all for the novel idea and presentation effects but the bun, oh do I think it sucked. It had a too hard crust, a too dense innard and too salty in general. No amounts of good butter could save it.

The appetizer was chilled cherry tomato and watermelon, with horseradish, and mozzarella foam. This dish, I’m guessing, was trying to get this interplay going between temperature, texture, and flavour. If so, I think the idea was a great one but the execution fell short. I found the horseradish too dominating and the dish could do better without. That, plus the heavy cream sauce lining the bottom of the plate was quite redundant too.

The main course was barramundi with pear and blackcurrent jam. This was more palatable and the fish was fresh. The sweet jams surprising went well with the fish and the bits of fried shallots added delicious enthic flavours.

Dessert was apple risotto with rosemary foam and struesel of sorts. There was no rice in this dessert. The apple was chopped and diced finely to resemble risotto. Served warm, the cinnamon notes harmonized with the scent of rosemary pretty well, if not unusual. My palate could not decide if I was having a savoury or sweet course. Interesting dish that was easy to eat but I would not order it again.

Fiftythree remains an interesting place to visit once in a blue moon because I truly was not really impressed enough to come back again anytime soon.

Fiftythree
53 Armenian Street
Tel: 6334 5535
Lunch: Tues – Sat
Dinner: Mon – Sat

See original here: 
Fiftythree |

Klee is this little bar located in the slightly off the beaten track location of Portsdown Road. A couple of colleagues swear by the fresh fruit cocktails there and recommended me to visit their favourite bar.

What makes Klee so special is its sushi-bar style setting. I loved the contrast between good and bad, the innocent pine wood counter top and the alcohol display right behind. The bar chairs are an eccentric mix of different chairs, adding to the charm.

Of all the drinks I had that night, my favourites were the pear martini and the kiwi martini. A close third was the cantaloupe martini. It was interesting to see my drink being made from scratch too. The rest of the drinks were okay, but not particularly memorable. But I remember the two cute bartenders though

Klee has a policy of not serving their cocktails outside on the veranda. Before you head there, be sure to make a reservation lest you get disappointed.

Klee
5B Portsdown Road
#01-04 Wessex Estate
Closed Sundays
Tel: 6479 6911

Here is the original:
Klee |

I love brunch. Having breakfast food in an al fresco setting, with natural lighting and warmth, glass of chilled white wine, good friends with endless chat and no busy schedule to follow, would be most brilliant and make me a very happy girl.

Recently, I went to Graze for brunch. The restaurant, set in a colonial bungalow house, made me feel like I was invited to someone’s house – cosy and comfortable. Besides, the service was good and nothing to complain about. Definitely a place to return again and again.

Baked omelette with smoked salmon, roasted tomato, mushrooms and fried potato (S$17)

Waffles with nutella icecream and strawberries ($13)

If you are not a breakfast fan, there is regular food served as well, starting from 12pm. Where is your favourite place for brunch?

Graze
4 Rochester Park
Tel: 6775-9000

Read the original:
Graze T |

As you know, God is amazing. If you want something bad enough, he will give it to you. That was how I got to have a grand meal at The French Laundry anyway. Leading up to the dinner, I was just really excited, like a teenager going on her first date.

The food was excellent. Most of them I had read so much about, seen so many pictures on other blogs and reviews, that it actually felt so surreal when I saw them presented in front of me. The service was professional yet very warm and friendly. I loved the whole experience and it was nothing short of memorable.

warm cheese puffs
airy and gone in 3 seconds

salmon conets
cute mini cones crunchy and savoury. perfect complement to the smokey salmon.

oysters and caviar
If I had to choose (reluctantly), this would be my favourite dish. generous amounts of caviar only to be eaten with a mother of pearl spoon of course, paired with the freshest little oysters and a thick, rich, custard. it was orgasmic.

butter roll
Somewhat like a blend between bread and brioche. nonetheless very good and very addictive. no additional butter was required but then I needed something to spread the Vermont Butter and Local Californian butter with.

salad of French Laundry garden beets
sweet navel orange wedges and fresh greens that were very flavourful despite the lack of dressing or sauces.

hokkaido scallop tartare
the scallops were raw and sweet and the cream sauce went well with them. the vegetables were again, very fresh and tasty.

sweet butter poached maine lobster “mitts”
beautiful dish. the lobster really was fresh and not overcooked. i loved the morels.

wolfe ranch white quail
that my friends had and claimed was the most tender.

atlantic halibut “confit ala minute”
very tender and went well with the cauliflower puree, which was suprisingly the thing that binded the dish together.

snake river farms prime beef
the beef looked so good doesn’t it?

king trumpet mushrooms, sweet carrots and tarragon
the pastry crust could have been ‘puffier’. compared to the beef, this was not quite visually appetising so perhaps that was why i didn’t think much of this course.

“beermat”
pickled red endive, medjool dates, pistachios and black truffle
the sheep’s milk cheese was not so strong in smell and had a firmness of gelatine. you experience different tastes when you pair the cheese with the different condiments. it was good but i had enough after two pieces.

palate cleanser
oatmeal cookie, yogurt sherbet and apricot jam
this dish had the combination that reminded me of breakfast muesli. clever and tasty too.

parfait au citron
candied buddha’s hand, lemon snow, biscotti tuile
a very refreshing and light tasting dessert. but was not overly exciting.

chocolate cake with praline

petit four

shortbread cookies to bring home
became supper for me.

Read the original here: 
Yountville – The French Laundry |