Fresh Halal Ala Carte Buffet @ Window on the Park

Author: Alexius Chua

Here’s an a la carte buffet with the prettiest presentation we’ve seen. Window on the Park @ Holiday Inn Orchard City Centre has recently introduced the Halal Weekend Dinner Ala-carte Buffet, perfect for date nights or double dates.
And of course, safe distancing and measures must be practised during dining (not more than 5 guests per table).
I like the fact that the dishes served are made to order, so the food is always fresh and in its optimal condition. You can also keep ordering till your stomach desires without needing to queue for the buffet spread.

HolidayInn

Starting with the appetizer, with an assortment of sushi, 3 types of antipasti of the day and mixed greens to freshen and open up your palate. The Local Fare Appetizer Set holds a myriad of dim sum and kueh pie tee, and fruit rojak to munch through.

HolidayInn

Then there’s the Seafood On Ice, which is a platter of succulent fresh seafood comprises Poached Tiger Prawn, Canadian Black Mussel and Lala Clam to warm the cockles of your heart. They are accompanied with Thai Mango Chili Sauce Cocktail Sauce and Hot Sauce Tabasco to further ampt up the flavour.

HolidayInn

By this point we were already like half full but wait there’s more. The local fare highlights continue with the Assorted Satay (chicken, beef and mutton) which is delicious, the Tandoor Chicken Tikka and the signature Claypot Nyonya Laksa with Prawn.

HolidayInn

Just look at that ginormous prawn which takes up like half the portion of the claypot. Noodles are al dente and smooth laksa broth not too spicy, it’s an ultra worthy dish at this value.

HolidayInn

Next comes the all-time favourites – the Seafood in A Wok. It’s a one time table service with precious seafood gems such as flower crab, slipper lobster, prawn, mussel and clams with your choice of signature sauce (Black Pepper or Mushroom Cream Cheese). Full of wok-hei umami, for the seafood lovers it’s the perfect seafood bonanza.

HolidayInn

If you love more seafood like we do, then at the Hawker Highlights section where you can order Singapore Chili Mud Crab with Golden Mantou, Wok Fried Prawn Char Kway Teow and Wrapped baked Fish with Banana Leaf. It’s unlimited servings of over 40 dishes all so you can your heart’s fill.

HolidayInn

There’s still room for desserts right? Their tiered dessert which comprises of assorted nonya kueh, kueh lapis, red velvet cake, tiramisu cake, bread and butter pudding and more, with a selection of coffee or tea. One commendable item in the tier is the durian cake, so light yet so punchy and flavourful. If you don’t mention its dinner I would have thought it’s a high tea set.
There’s also a fruit platter and Chef’s Choice of Local Hot Dessert for those who want to digest their satisfied stomach.

1 for 1 Halal Weekend Dinner Ala-Carte Buffet @ Window on the Park
Holiday Inn Singapore Orchard City Centre
Website and Booking: https://singaporeorchard.holidayinn.com/offer/alacarte-buffet
Instagram: @holidayinnsporeorchardcityctr
Every Friday to Sunday
1-for-1 Offer: S$96++ (for 2 persons, inclusive of table served Seafood in a Wok available in two flavours of mushroom cream & cheese or black pepper)

Indulge bountiful feasts at The Carvery @ Park Hotel Alexandra

Author: Alexius Chua

If you want to pig out, you can consider doing so at The Carvery, Park Hotel Alexandra. This popular buffet restaurant celebrates the lunar new year with an abundant array of mouth-watering meats, seafood, sweets and treats that are worth every calorie. There’s also a chance to win a weekend stay at the hotel!

parkhotel

I like my yusheng to have bursts of citrusy sweetness – bonus if its healthy – instead of being blanketed in sugar. The Carvery Golden Eight Treasure Yusheng with Cured Trout and Abalone ($68+) suits my palate perfectly. The combination of shredded vegetables, candied walnuts, fruits and generous topping of cured trout and abalone, all brought together with a slightly tart white balsamic and peach dressing.

parkhotel

Following the tradition of abundant feasting, The Carvery has lined up auspicious marquee highlights of the signature roasts. From chicken, pork, lamb and beef – all these premium meat cuts are served at the carving station right smack in front of the entrance so you won’t missed it.
Using only top quality Australian prime rib further dry-aged with Himalayan salt to concentrate the flavour before slow roasting, the Angus Beef Prime Ribs (weekends only) is the piece de resistance at The Carvery. You just cannot go without trying it!

parkhotel

The signature ones for this CNY includes the Pork Porchetta with Mushroom and Chestnut Stuffing, which is the Chinese Roast Pork made from Prime Grade pork belly with satisfying crunchy crackling skin, and the Spit-Roasted Char Siew Chicken. The bird possesses that sweet, savoury richness which probably came from Chef Ian Hioe’s own seasoning mix of hoisin, superior cooking wine and other condiments.

parkhotel

Of course, you get to enjoy the all-time delectable like the salad and dessert spread, western and Chinese stations, with some given a festive twist. So if you came with a family everyone will surely will have their favourites!

parkhotel

Here’s a bonus for those who dined during the first 3 days of the lunar new year (24 to 27 Jan 2020), will receive a complimentary ‘Golden Prosperity’ Welcome cocktail, and a Lunar New Year Lucky Bag containing a pair of mandarin oranges and a pack of Park Hotel Group angpows. Also, they will be entered into the hotel’s Lunar New Year Grand Draw to win a 2D1N Weekend stay at Park Hotel Alexandra*.
For those born in the lucky year of the Rat (those born in 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996 and 2008), The Carvery will also be giving away complimentary dining vouchers as well.

The Carvery at Park Hotel Alexandra
323 Alexandra Road, Singapore 159972
Telephone : +65 6828 8888
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ParkHotelAlexandra/
Check out the CNY Festive Dining schedule and pricing here – https://www.parkhotelgroup.com/en/alexandra/promotions/cny-2020

Festive Feast @ The Square Restaurant, Novotel Clarke Quay

Author: Alexius Chua

The sumptuous spread artfully presented at The Square Restaurant @ Novotel Singapore Clarke Quay would have made even King Henry VII envious. Packed in 1 room are 2 buffet spreads – Christmas and Chinese New Year themes – all equally enticing and with sinful desserts to boot.

Novotel Clarke Quay

It’s a merry little Christmas feast at The Square Restaurant from 1st to 31st December 2019. Starting the traditional xmas festive favourites with the proteins – 24-hour roasted brine turkey, roasted beef striploin and roasted lamb leg. There’s also A-la minute pasta with homemade salted egg sauce or Chef Kishen’s new creation – Mala sauce, which is not too spicy for me. Adding on the spread will be Seafood on Ice, Sushi and The Square Signature Laksa.

Novotel Clarke Quay

Here’s something to loosen up your belt for – the desserts. Their homemade Christmas Log Cake, Fruit Cake, The Square Signature Durian Pengat, Chocolate Fondue and Tiramisu are some that’s worth the extra calories for.

Novotel Clarke Quay

Coming in to the second festival which is just 2 months away, the Chinese New Year buffet would kickstarts from 8 January to 8 February 2020. Following the traditions, we have a toss of Yu Sheng to usher the new year with prosperity and start the year on the right foot. The Yu Sheng we had, of course is Novotel-style MEGA.

Novotel Clarke Quay

The spread features assorted Chinese BBQ platter, Roasted Chicken & Duck, Poached Broccoli with Dried Oysters & Black Moss and Dim Sum. The roast is always my favourite, and its perfectly moist and juicy meats perfectly cut by a master carver are worth more than gold.

Novotel Clarke Quay

For Lunar New Year’s eve, there’s the DIY Kong Bak Pau Station, Wok Fried Salted Egg Prawn, Wok Fried Sliced Beef with Fungus and Black pepper Sauce, and the not-to-be-missed traditional Hong Kong Style Steamed Pomfret. It’s freshest of the fish its not overpowered by the sauce, brilliantly executed.
Not to mention local infused pastries like Pandan Egg Tart, Taro Butter Cake, Bak Kwa Chicken Floss Swiss Roll and many other sensational desserts, to make your tummy and the year round and sweet, figuratively speaking.

The Square Restaurant @ Novotel Clarke Quay
177A River Valley Road, Singapore, 179031
Phone: +65 6338 3333
The Festive Buffet Lunch and Dinner are at S$48++ and S$68++ respectively for adults.
Check out http://www.novotelclarkequay.com/en/dining/the-square-restaurant.html for detailed pricing.
Facebook and Instagram: @novotelclarkequay

Tong Xin Ru Yi Traditional Hotpot – Not Your Typical Hotpot place

Author: Alexius Chua

The serenity of this hotpot restaurant envelops you immediately when you enter the premise. Adorned with artistic trademarks of Chinese craftsmanship like calligraphy, porcelain and bamboo dividers, this 150-seater is much akin to an oriental art gallery than a bustling hotpot place.
Once I settle down, I slowly appreciate what this beautifully curated space offers – a bustling hotpot eatery with fine-dining vibe, it’s a gap that existing hotpot joints apparently missed filling. It’s not your typical hotpot establishment indeed.

Tong Xin Ru Yi Traditional Hotpot

For someone who seldom had steamboat, this place is a good introduction. The food, while prided itself for its quality ingredients, does not seem daunting and rather inviting, and most of it is actually tasty. There’s a wide range of beef cuts from all over the world including New Zealand, Australia, USA, Japan and more.

Tong Xin Ru Yi Traditional Hotpot
There’s also the Beed Tongue ($22 per portion), which resembled a rose. At first I was hesitant, but with enough inner encouragement I bite into it and proclaimed this is the dish to beat. Meaty and juicy, the cut had a tardiness that please the senses. Other beef dish tasted is the well-known Sichuan dish – Spicy Beef Cubes ($16) from USA. Bite-sized beef cubes marinated in picante sauce and chili flakes.

Tong Xin Ru Yi Traditional Hotpot

The signature soups at Tong Xin Ru Yi are slow-cooked to build up that bold and robust flavours. We had the Golden Chicken Soup and Stewed Marinated Beef with Spicy Soup. The chicken soup had a nice balance of saltiness and creaminess, while the heat from the spicy soup built relentlessly till I lost sensation of my lips and tongue. The burning numbness is both addictive and scary.

Tong Xin Ru Yi Traditional Hotpot
Next comes the BBQ Garlic Oysters ($32 for 6 pieces), plump Canadian oysters glistening in their shells in a chef’s special house-made sauce. The fragrance and texture of the oyster, with that hit of spice at the end, made this memorable.

Tong Xin Ru Yi Traditional Hotpot

The Shake-shake Crispy Pork ($10 per portion) looked deceptively dull, but the first bite will wow you. The salt and pepper lightly perfumed the crispy skin of the pork and the meat is juicy.
Tong Xin Ru Yi Traditional Hotpot

With all that meatiness, this refreshing dish comes like a breath of fresh air. The Gracilaria ($6 per portion), when hotpot-ed, has a uniquely crunchy texture much akin to cooked seaweed.

Tong Xin Ru Yi Traditional Hotpot
6 Lorong Telok, Singapore 049019
Nearest Mrt: Clarke Quay
Facebook: @hotpotruyi
Instagram: @tongxinruyi
Hashtags: #tongxinruyi #tongxinruyisg

Rumours Comes to Jewel Changi Airport, and I met our PM too

Author: Alex Chua

Yes, the rumour is true. While we were just about to walk into Rumours Bar & Grill at Jewel Changi Airport last Tuesday evening, Singapore’s PM Lee and his entourage just passed us by. Wonder where he dined at? Rumours? Lauded as an awesome hangout spot for families and friends, I wouldn’t be surprised if it is true.

If you’re familiar with its first Holland Village outlet, this award-winning Bali casual dining restaurant packs the same lively vibe, same awesome food plus more open space. I always love the idea of al fresco dining to soak in the sunlight minus the heat, and its location at the top floor of Jewel just ticks that box.

rumours changi jewel

Okai, the store front is great and I got a lucky encounter with PM Lee, so how about the food? Let’s start with the proteins. Rumours is one of the few places in Singapore that serves the premium A5 Grade Kumamoto Wagyu Tenderloin ($87.80/ 200g). Their signature dish, this marvellous beef cut is moist, very tender and yet so flavourful. Coupled with Rumours’ specialty indulgent drinks, it would be the perfect dish to warm the hearts of the chatterers.

rumours changi jewel

We’ve got the Deep-Fried Chicken Wings ($8.80) and Calamari ($8.80) to share. The 6 mouth-watering chicken wings accompanied with spicy mayonnaise is a definite value-for-money dish for drinkers who just need something to munch into.

rumours singapore

The deep-fried squid, with its golden-brown and crispy exterior, isn’t that oily or chewy kind which I hate. They are pleasant to bite into without feeling oily and offensive to the tongue. For me the chicken and the calamari is a definite must-have if I ordered drinks here.

rumours restaurant singapore

Next is the Rumours Classic Cheeseburger ($16.80). Made up of sizzling beef patty, stretchy cheese and fresh greens, piled with loads of fat chips. The patty is rather soft yet thick and juicy, coupled with a rich drizzle of melted cheese, making it a sumptuous joy to munch into it.

rumours restaurant singapore

The Australian Baby Lamb Chops with Garlic Confit ($45.80) packs that meaty, flavourful punch, thankfully not overly seasoned but savoury with a tender bite. These are just that kind of high-quality proteins that I like, especially after a hard day’s work.

rumours bar singapore

Coming to Rumours’ signature range of tropical cocktails we had the aptly named Two Boyfriends ($18). This revitalising gin-based cocktail is infused with fruity notes of plum and apple, with a shot of Baileys on top. Why this name you say – its because you need to drink from 2 straws at one go.

rumours bar singapore

If you’re the kind that enjoys performances, then the Blowing Smoke ($18) should satiate your theatrical thirst. When the jar is lifted, a cloud of white smoke billows, perfuming the air with hickory smoky fragrance and unveil the rum-based cocktail. I enjoy the light hint of elderflower and its natural sweet cinnamon scent when drinking.

rumours restaurant singapore

Now coming to the almost obscene drink (depending on your state of mind). The Come Inside Me ($18) is a smoky whisky based ice-blend, which you use the syringe filled with smooth, creamy Baileys and shoot it straight into the cup (beware of spilling all over!). An alternative way to drink this is to first shoot it into your mouth and then drink the cup. Pure satisfaction guaranteed.

If you need an uplifting vibe, deliciously rich food and refreshing drinks, then Rumours is for you!

Rumours Bar & Grill @ Jewel Changi Airport
Operating hours: Daily 10am – 3pm

How I celebrated my birthday with a Faber Licence Membership

Among all the birthdays I had, this year has been the most fruitful! I must say it was soooo fruitful that I slept a full 10 hours straight like a long after the whole day of activities!

To give you guys a short context of the happenings, I actually spent more than 24 hours in Sentosa doing a myriad of physical activities, which I have never done it. I felt slightly ashamed as well; being a Singaporean, I have never done these activities before! Like what many would deem, these activities were “so near yet so far” from me!

It is easy to plan what to do or discover discounts with the new digital Faber Licence Membership! Explore the app and find discounts for various restaurants and enjoy unlimited cable car rides onboard Singapore Cable Car Sky Network!


Faber License


This is how the digital membership card looks like. At $39, the 1-year Faber Licence offers a variety of dining, shopping and entertainment benefits and discounted staycations all-year round. It also provides one of the most generous privileges for diners, with members enjoying 20% off at F&B outlets at Faber Peak Singapore, including Dusk Restaurant & Bar and Arbora as well as Good Old Days located on Sentosa.

Psst: You can buy Singapore Cable Car tickets for your family members at 50% off! Actually, it is 50% off for Sentosa Merlion, Wings of Time and a lot more!

Registration and payment can be easily done on your phone at member.onefabergroup.com. You can view all the membership privileges in the web app too!





After registering for the membership, we checked in to Amara Sanctuary Resort Sentosa, the room wasn’t the only item that I was pleasantly surprised with. They went the extra mile to prepare a birthday cake! It’s my favourite flavor somemore! I couldn’t feel more pampered with their services. Nice one nailing my very first birthday cake of the year, lovely people from the team of Amara Sanctuary! *kisses*


amara singapore


I knew time was tight so I spare no time checking out the room and facilities before shooting out of the hotel to catch the planned activities.

Nonetheless, a quick word for the room: Apart from the captivating white colonial architecture, the room is extremely huge. As you walk past the bed, you will be invited with a pleasing view of the bathtub that promises a comforting night after a lethargic day. Both James & I took turns to soak ourselves in the tub for a one good hour at night. Not that the tub wasn’t enough to accommodate the size of two adults, we just selfishly wanted some private time with the bathtubs ourselves!

Another favourite location of the room would be the balcony. It overlooks over to the infinity lap pool, which span right next to Mother Nature! The room just gives us layers and layers of comfort close to not only nature but also our heart!


amara singapore


To stop us from becoming HANGRY, we took Bus A from the hotel to ‘Imbiah Lookout Station’ where we have to take a short cable car ride over to Arbora Restaurant, which is located at Faber Peak. Do note that if you are traveling to Faber Peak, you will have to travel by the Mount Faber Line. Rest assured that the instructions are pretty intuitive as long as you keep a lookout for the signboards.


cable car singapore


The Singapore Cable Car brought back much memories as James and I dined in one before during one of our Valentine’s! Maybe even more memories for him as he did a shoot for them before as a talent to promote Cable Car Sky Dining. Lol. I love Cable Car rides as it never fails to disconnect me from reality!


cable car singapore


It was a quick 7-10 minutes ride to Arbora (previously known as Spuds & Aprons). They rebranded themselves on October this year.


arbora restaurant


The food & services were on par. Par as in GOOD! I wished I had another stomach to try a few more of their mains. I am a super avid pasta lover and it is no surprise I would order their pasta without much consideration. But that also means that my expectation of pasta are super high! Nonetheless, they did not disappoint as the texture of the noodle was to my liking; chewy yet not being too hard.

Best part, the food was not too expensive; we had 3 mains & 1 side for $103 in total and what’s more, you can enjoy 20% off the total bill with Faber Licence! If you are looking for somewhere romantic to bring your date to, I would strongly recommend Arbora. You do not have to travel into Sentosa for them. Just drive up to Faber Peak on Mount Faber and for those that do not drive, you can take the Singapore Cable Car up from Harbourfront Tower 2. With Faber Licence, you can enjoy unlimited cable car rides year-long!


arbora singapore


faber peak food


When we were done settling our bills, the restaurant surprised me with more cakes! To be more exact, four different flavor of cakes! Sinful but all I can feel is bliss! Not only do they have good services, they are constantly smiling. That is how service should be done! Kudos to the team of Arbora!


Arbora Mount Faber


After filling our stomach, we went back to Sentosa via the Sentosa Cable Car Line and took the Sentosa Express to Beach Station. All ready for our Skyline Luge and Gogreen Segway! Two of the activities I wanted to try but never got to do so till that day!

Don’t you think we look cute here? We look like real life version of SuperMario Kart! Kids can also join in the Luge as there were quite a few kids who zoom past us with excitement even before we sat down on our Luge. However, you have to carry your things while you are on the Luge. So, my recommendation is not to bring too much things along with you when you are heading for the Luge! Good thing is the Luge is a fairly easy to learn activity; anyone can pick it up within matter of minutes! You are off to the roads before you even know it! Ha!


skyluge sentosa


Just when I thought we have to walk all the way up for another round of Luge, the guy told us that we could actually take the Skyline up. Phew!

So we had 2 rounds of Skyline & Luge in total! Here is a snapshot of us on the Skyline! We certainly look anything but tired, don’t we?!


Sentosa SkyLuge


Moving on to Segway, I was initially quite scared as I can’t balance well. However, trainings were conducted before the actual activity to ensure that we know how to operate it. One round of Segway is approximately 800m and I am super proud to say that I did not fall nor even stop a minute on it! Only regret is that 800m is so short! I want it to be loooooonger!!!


segway ventosa


Right before the sunset, we went over to the Sentosa Merlion. Even though I visit Sentosa on a frequent basis, I have never once gone up the Sentosa Merlion. I would say that it was quite an experience for me!

We were greeted with a 5-minute show, followed by a learning journey and then, up the lift to the Merlion’s mouth & head gallery! We attempted some jumping shots there with the beautiful coastline of Singapore straits but we failed. Lol! But what was successful was my patriotism towards Singapore after the session! So proud to be a Singaporean!


Merlion Singapore


Everyone who enters is also given a little GOLD souvenir (below).


Singapore Merlion


Singapore Merlion Prosperity Coins! Keep one in your wallet so that your lady luck will follow you all the way! I must say they were pretty well made. So much so I would really keep one in a safety deposit box just to always remember this day!


Sentosa Merlion


For dinner, we had ‘Good Old Days’ as it was right beside the show “Wings of Time”. We went over for the 7.40pm show. Do not worry if you miss the 7.40pm show as there will be another show at 8.40pm 🙂

Sit back and relax while you enjoy the show that comprises of beautiful lights, sound, lasers and even fireworks! To be honest, there are just so many thrilling stuff that even though my body was exhausted but my mind was still as awake as the start of the day!


sentosa wings of time


We concluded our day with a good meal at Good Old Days where local delights like Chicken Rice, Laksa and double boiled soup were served. The restaurant is located beside Wings of Time, and right infant of iFly!


Sentosa Good Old Days


If you have a day to spare, you can follow my itinerary and be a tourist in Sentosa for a day. Just make sure you sign up for your Faber License Membership before you go in!

Enjoy 20% off membership fees with the following promo codes
Individual Membership @ $31.20/year (U.P. $39): MAYBELINE20IND
Family Membership @ $108/year (U.P. $135): MAYBELINE20FAM
Valid until 31 Dec 2018.

Chengdu Restaurant Launches Autumn and Winter-themed Dishes

Author: Alex Chua

Can someone say Crabilicious to the above?

The recently opened Chengdu Restaurant is known to be one of the most authentic Sichuan restaurants in town. Helmed by two native Chefs Qin Jun and Jing Xiao with decades of training in Sichuan cuisine, the restaurant serves both hot and cold favourites. For the first time ever, the restaurant launches Autumn-Winter themed dishes that would sure whet your appetite aplenty. No worries if you’re not really a spicy eater, there are a variety of food on its menu which includes non-spicy dishes.





Dinner started with off with Cold Sliced Pig Trotters with Noodles and Spicy Dip. The chef creatively uses pork elbow meat for its high gelatinous content. Steamed and thinly sliced and artfully presented with spirals of noodles and fanned-out cucumber. I love the pastel blue plating, giving the dish an added visual dimension. A light and refreshing appetiser to open up your palate.





Making a grand entrance is the Ice Ball with Whelk with its dramatic presentation. Served chilled in an ice sculpture, this refreshing dish features sliced sea snail fried with fresh green and red chilies. Fragrant with a light hint of spiciness, the whelk, with its texture similar to abalone or razor clams is slightly chewy yet succulent.





Perhaps the most unusual plating I have seen is the Spicy Pork Ribs. Placed on a sliced ‘Molotov’ bottle with its chain as the stand, the ribs are reeked full of umami from the traditional Lao Gan Ma sauce, which lends a spicy and savoury note. Love love love the irrelevance plating.





No visit to a Sichuan restaurant is complete without a mala dish, and Chengdu Restaurant’s Mala Pot pleased many mouths. Comes with fries, prawns, chicken wings, lotus roots and luncheon meat, the spiciness to me is cope-able and the fries just quite addictive.





Now for the grand finale is a big pot of savoury seafood delicious. Featuring an insane amount of red dried chillis, the broth is cooked with cauliflower, potato and cucumber. It is quite shiok especially when eaten with fried mantou buns or rice. The sweet flesh from the red fiery Spicy Crab is not overpowered by the spicy broth.





Crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, the Beggar Potato is coated with a secret recipe mix of 20 spices before they are deep fried. Chili powder and cumin powder are sprinkled atop for a fiery and earthy punch. While it might be plain jane from the look and first bite, it will start to grow on you after you popped a few. Simply an addictive and sinful dish.

This is one of my few favourite restaurants I’ve visited thus far. The taste notes are on point and aesthetically plated. And I just cannot emphasis enough my adoration of how each dish is presented with a surprise.

Chengdu Restaurant
Address: 74 Amoy Street, Singapore 069893
Seating Capacity: 120 pax, 2 private rooms
Operating Hours: Mon – Sat: 11.00am-3.00pm, 5.00-10:30pm. Closed on Sunday

CHAR – Traditional Chinese Roasts Gets Up to The Times

Author: Alex Chua

There’s something roasting at CHAR – the Cantonese cuisine specialist located along the trendy eateries and pubs of Jalan Besar. One, the new Head Chef, Chi Leung Tse, joined the restaurant in May this year, bringing over 20 years of culinary experience in Cantonese cuisine, with past stints at the famed Raffles Hotel, Imperial Treasures and more. Two, he revitalised almost 70% of the CHAR menu, adding his personal repertoire of Cantonese dishes, which includes the succulent Premium Slow-Roasted smoked char siew (above).

If there’s something that unites all insatiable carnivores, it’s the aroma of the slow-roasted meat, the texture and flavour when you bite into it. Using Kurobuta pork belly, this premium version has a higher amount of lean to fat and the marbling provides a firm yet moist bite. Prepared fresh daily, the whole process takes hours in low heat to render the fats and to retain its juiciness.

Do note that there is a limited number of portions (150g) served per day and will only be available during dinner. And with the tact that each reservation is only allowed one portion of the Premium version, so it’s best to reserve a table before it goes out.


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With a signature recipe sauce that consists of over 30 ingredients, specially blended to pack as much umami as possible, the Signature Char Siew (above) achieved that perfect golden ratio of melt-in-the-mouth fat and tender lean meat. It took well over a year for the owners to perfect the sauce.

A little background on the CHAR owners. Launched in 2014 by Anthony and Alvin Ung, two Vietnam born brothers who managed to harmonize their different experiences to establish this restaurant. Alvin, a chef by profession, has over 30 years of experience in traditional Chinese cooking. Anthony, on the other hand, loves Western-style food preparation techniques but via Asian ingredients and produce. The bros put a unique twist on traditional Chinese roasts such as char siew, roast pork and roast duck, accompanied with a delectable Cantonese-based menu like the Charcoal Beancurd with Spinach and Wild Fungi (below).


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Beancurd is one of my favourite go-to food, and this dish definitely tops as one of the best block of beancurd I’ve ever tried. Silky-smooth and savoury, charcoal powder is added to give this humble staple a subtle flavour and black appearance. The light broth consisting of oyster sauce, dried scallop and wild mushrooms, helps to infatuates the taste profile of this exceptional dish.


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You can taste the freshness with that lovely crunch in Passionfruit Prawn Ball. Marinated in homemade mixture of seasonings before it is lightly dusted in flour and deep-fried to perfection, the prawns were then tossed in a sweet-tangy passionfruit dressing to give that luscious and creamy glace.


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The thing I find about CHAR is its strong, robust play on flavours. Therefore, the Signature Double Boiled Chicken Soup came across as refreshing and balanced the palate well. The milky, collagen-filled broth is resulted from the hours of boiling chicken bones and cartilage. Inside this bowl consists of chicken, morel mushrooms, white cabbage and dried scallops which harmonizes the flavour fully.

Overall, CHAR could well be the one of the best spot for family or colleagues to indulge on modern Cantonese cuisine. The restaurant also serves a respectable selection of ciders and ales specially handpicked by the Ung brothers to complement the variety of roasts on the menu, so food-drinks pairing enthusiasts might want to check out this neat restaurant too.

CHAR Restaurant
363 Jalan Besar Road Singapore 208994
Operating Hours: Tuesday – Sunday (closed on Monday)

Step into a World of Flavour at .elia

There’s nothing in the world that’s one size fits all. But if you’re looking for a restaurant that sells quality sandwiches, handmade pastas and steak while sipping superbly-brewed specialty coffee, then .elia is the right place. Bistro by day, restaurant by night, .elia brings a curated menu where signatures from abroad are delectably assembled with a personal touch. Located at 10 Jiak Chuan Road, this new 30-seater restaurant provides diners a modern twist to traditional fare such as tortellini and wagyu steak. Stripping off the bells and whistle, leaving just the essentials on the plate. Helming the culinary direction is founder-and-chef Clint Seah. His casual yet refined menu logs his travels, inspiration and culinary journey – leading to the birth of .elia. Since opening its door on 3rdAugust, this quant restaurant has received nothing but raving reviews. I can’t wait to join in for a gastronomic experience.


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Exuding a quiet charm, walking into .elia gives me an impression of bare monochromatic translucency – you can see all the way to the kitchen the minute you walk in. On the right side sat a long marble top; the drinks section where you can order their specialty coffee, exotic tea, and alcoholic drinks. The interior speaks chic minimalist with a splash of grey, wooden furnishing and natural light.


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Showcasing the best produce of each season, you can expect non-pretentious, honest freshly-made pasta and sandwiches (yes, even the bread is baked fresh!) just like the décor itself. Each type of bread and pasta is paired to its corresponding ingredients, bringing out the best in every dish.

For the weekday lunch menu (available on Mondays to Thursdays), the Panchetta (image above) is the must try. Cooked in brown butter and egg yolk with Italian bacon, you could feel the rich, exquisite flavour carried into the freshly-made trenette. Choose the lunch set to add hot coffee/ tea for just $1 – absolutely value-for-money.


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Come dinner time, elia morphs into a casual dining concept befitting for a place for a place for a romantic date or just hanging out with friends. Simple and elegant, the un-frivolous naming Octopus features a perfect mix of grilled octopus with sauteed kale, caramelised chili and macadamia nuts.

Surprisingly not chewy, I love the firm, crisp bite of the delicious octopus and the visually appealing composition of this dish.


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As a unyielding carnivore, the Wagyu Beef Shortribs is my personal favourite dish within the menu. Sous-vided and seared to a perfect medium-rare, expect an explosion of flavour with each mouthful.

Overall, this cosy restaurant indeed whipped up some interesting, gourmet food. It is a perfect place to organise for a small private functions too. Fun fact: .elia does not stand for perfect. In fact, the name means far from perfect. It recognises that there is more to life than being perfect, one of which is to remain humble and constantly seek improvement. A good principle for us to seek and remind ourselves to abide to, every day in our lives.

.elia
10 Jiak Chuan Road Singapore 089264

A Taste of Italy @ Oliva

Author: James

M and I have been exploring the Arab Street region this week! Why this area? Because we both firmly believe that there are many hidden gems there!

Good news if you are huge fan of Italian cuisine because one of that not to be missed is the Oliva Italian Restaurant lining the Arab street !

This is truly a hidden jem. You may have walked past it a lot of times but not step foot in. That was what happened for us as well until the food tasting.

It has a very cosy exterior. We sat outside because we wanted to chill, eat and chat while doing some people watching at the same time. Who knows! We sat there from 6pm to 10pm. Gosh. It was such a relaxing day.

So much for the exterior! What about the interior you might ask. We felt the interior is even more amazing! (unfortunately we were too eager to try the delicacy that we forgot to take a pic of the interior. Ops! ><).

But a shoutout to the Dudes out there for a nice Valentine Day venue! For the ladies, hint your guys! The restaurant interior ambience is surprisingly nice, with candles and warm lighting, absolutely PERFECT for a romantic dinner. Shall save it for you lovebirds to explore the mystery!

Anw, M was down with eye infection so she had to go lenses-free. But no lessen my affection for her cos we are already in the Vday mood! Lol!

The lady boss, Diane is a very dedicated person and sat with us throughout our dinner to share the highlights of her menu.

One of her pride and joy is their Brushette (below): $7.50

I would say this is definitely one of the MUST TRY if you visit the restaurant. Even for a not-so-bread-eater like me, i find the texture of the bread very palatable as it wasn’t too hard but yet able to maintain its crunchy feel.

Next came the mains! *stomach growls*

I was pretty happy with the mains even at the first sight of it!

Why? Cos personally i have seen too much of restaurants trying to cut their operating cost at the expense of their customer’s growling appetite. Worst, they charge a premium for it! Booooo!  But here, it was totally different story! The restaurant was very generous with their serving, enough to satisfy BIG eaters like me! So first tick checked!

M, being an avid carbo lover kickstarted her meal with her usual pasta choice!

Ocean Lovers $24.90

Don’t be deceived by the pale complexion of the noodle (in this pic)! The savoury & peppery taste is gonna set you going for the glass of water if you cant take even a bit of spice!

But for M, who doesn’t really take much spices enjoyed it nonetheless!

What about me, the avid Protein-eater!

Lamb shank $25

I fell in love with this tomato-based dish with the generous portion of Lamb shanks (Definitely enough for a normal guy! Ladies, be ready to share!) that is served with a more herb-ish version of bolognaise sauce.

There you have it! Our meal for the evening..

‘You mean that’s all & you dare call yourself a big eater, J?!’ So Yes, that cant be all if J is in the house!

The pasta was the restaurant’s specialty. So how can i let go of such good opporunity to try more right? Next, we ordered another portion of their Crabmeat pasta. *with real crabmeat (not those crabstick kind!)

So much for savoury. What about some sweet? Especially that kind of Sugar Sweet in Adam Levine latest song: Sugar. Here we have it!

Oreo Cookie smoothie $5.90

Upclose with the thick and creamy Avocado Smoothie. Good for the skin, ladies!

By the time we reached the dessert, M’s stomach was already putting up the white flag! But upon hearing her favourite Panna cotta, the white flag become green flag! For me with the sweet tooth, it’s a no-brainer! Bring it on, sugar!

Overall, this restaurant is my new favorite in Arab Street. Unfortunately, they have a few wine selection and desserts which I have not tried as we were busy having an equally  hearty conversation with the nice and humble boss of the restaurant. Will definitely return to try it.

Tips for readers:

*Try to go down during the evening to experience the nice and zen ambience within the restaurant as i have mentioned. You can make reservations as well.

**For us Singaporeans, we love promotions right?

Oliva Italian restaurant offers promotions for dinner!

Set Dinner – Only $12.90 (Sunday – Thursday)

Lastly,

Find them at: 34 Arab Street, Singapore 199733
Ring them at: 6291 2297