Blend It Up Italian Fusion Restaurant by Celebrity Chef Peter Neo

Chef Peter Neo

A few years back, misterchewy and I had the privilege of meeting Celebrity Chef Peter Neo in person and trying his dishes at another restaurant. Chef Peter has since ventured out on his own and set up a cosy and quaint Italian fusion casual dining restaurant along Upper Paya Lebar Road. With 35 years of cooking experience and numerous awards under his belt, Chef Peter, who was trained in Italy, is highly regarded in the media and F&B industry in Singapore and has garnered numerous fans who are also returning customers over the years.

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Two-month old Blend It Up Italian Fusion Dining Restaurant aims to bring an Asian twist to Italian cuisine, using only the freshest quality ingredients and blending all of them together with their natural goodness to create the restaurant’s handcrafted soups, sauces and mains. Expect only authentic flavors that are free from any preservatives at Blend It Up!

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For starters, we had the Seafood Soup which was rich and tangy, and more importantly, packed with flavors of the ocean. There was also a chockfull of ingredients such as prawns, squid, mussels and clams.

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Using only the freshest mushrooms, the Wild Mushroom Soup had a very nice earthy taste that warmed the cockles of my heart. Great for slurping up on a chilly day!

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The accompany slices of bread are freshly baked in-house and Little misschewy enjoyed it so much.

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What’s the best way to eat a fresh squid? Grill it! The Whole Grilled Squid was first seasoned with homemade blend of mixed herbs, paprika, crushed black pepper, basil, and diced cherry tomatoes. After grilling, it was glazed with extra virgin oil and some lemon. The result was a wholesome piece of squid that was so tender and juicy, with its taste further enhanced by the seasoning.

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The Roasted Pork Belly with Porcini Sauce is our favorite dish at Blend It Up. The pork belly was slow-roasted till tender and was evenly marbled with fat, underneath a layer of crackling which was perfectly crispy. A few steps were involved in the making of this dish, which is Chef Peter’s secret! You wouldn’t believe how crispy the pork crackling was! The homemade Porcini sauce went very well with the roasted pork belly, but I preferred dipping the meat in the refreshing pineapple sauce to tone down the taste of the pork a little.

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The Salted Egg Spaghetti tasted almost like carbonara with a very faint hint of salted egg. Salted egg pizza is available too!

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Blend It Up Pizza is Chef Peter’s favorite pizza. The pizza was thin, doughy and crispy around the edges, topped with feta and mozzarella cheese, honey baked ham, mushroom, rocket leaves and a beautiful sunny side up.

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Little misschewy is quite a fussy eater but let me tell you that she ate at least two slices of pizza. It was that good!

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There is a variety of lava cakes such as chocolate, salted egg, pistachio and durian, at Blend It Up. We had the Chocolate Lava Cake with Vanilla Gelato. The lava cake was moist and warm, and upon slicing, molten black sesame oozed out from it. Eat it together with the vanilla gelato for a taste of heaven!

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Thanks to Blend It Up, we have TEN $10 vouchers to give away! Simply comment on my Instagram and/or Facebook page by telling me what is your favorite Italian dish, and tag 3 friends in the comment, and also ‘Like’ Blend It Up’s Facebook page. Contest closes on 15th November 6pm and winners will be notified accordingly.

Blend It Up
325 Upper Paya Lebar Road
Quemoy Building
Singapore 534946
Tel: +65 6281 2688

Opening Hours:
Daily
11.30am – 3pm (Lunch)
6pm – 10:30pm (Dinner)

10 Scotts @ Grand Hyatt Singapore Afternoon Tea

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The hubs and I recently went on a triple date afternoon tea session with our fellow foodie friends at 10 SCOTTS, located at the lobby level of Grand Hyatt Singapore. Phoebe, Elaine and Daniel were the first few people we befriended back when I started blogging about food in 2010! Omg we go a long way back and all of us are happily married now. 2016 seems to be the year of afternoon teas for me! Anyway, I’m gonna eat as much as I can before I pop really soon! Wheeee! 😀

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The first time I had afternoon tea at 10 SCOTTS was sometime around the end of 2014 and that was with a group of mummies from my EDD group, as well as some of their babies. It’s quite an ideal place for babies and young children even though the number of baby chairs might be limited, there are low couch seats which are pretty comfortable and you can simply have your little one seated next to you.

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Let me just say that I highly recommend 10 SCOTTS’ afternoon tea because of the fact that the food items are REPLENISHABLE and they are served on two-tiered stands, which make everything seem so much more aesthetically pleasing. While the coffee and tea are refilled with hot water upon request, you are not obliged to stick to the same beverage throughout your afternoon tea session.

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There is a double-seating policy at 10 SCOTTS which does not only apply to weekends but weekdays as well. Also, afternoon tea is slightly pricier on weekends.

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Besides the replenishable items from the two-tiered stand, there is also a buffet line of cold cuts, main course and desserts! Aren’t you excited already?! The menu changes on a weekly rotational basis, so you will always have the chance to try something different on your subsequent visits.

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Cold cuts, cheese and bread.

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A humble assortment of Sushi

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Hot savoury live station featuring one type of main course.

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During our visit, it was Peppered beef fillet with brandy and green peppercorn sauce gravy. Tiger prawns and chicken fillet are offered on other weeks.

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The freshly baked Raisin scones from the buffet line were warm and crumbly, but only if they were more buttery! Besides clotted cream and raspberry jam, 10 SCOTTS also serve their scones with kaya jam!

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Smoked salmon wrap with avocado, cream cheese and dill.

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Borsch (cold beetroot soup) with sour cream foam.

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Curry fish balls.

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Mustard leaf rolls with rice noodle, tofu and laksa leaf.

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Curry puffs.

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Crab cakes with remoulade sauce. These were da bomb and we each had quite a few servings. I think misterchewy ate like four crab cakes.

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Berries crumbles.

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Caramel choux buns.

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Cassis yoghurt mousse in shooter glass.

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10 Scotts at Grand Hyatt Singapore is definitely one of the places that I will recommend for a leisurely afternoon tea date! Till then, stay connected with us on Facebook and Instagram!

10 SCOTTS
Grand Hyatt Singapore
10 Scotts Road
Singapore 228211
Tel: + 65 6416 7118
Email: 10scotts.sg@hyatt.com

Afternoon Tea sessions:
12pm to 2.30pm (First seating)
3pm – 5pm (Second seating)

Weekdays
S$43.00++/ S$50.61nett per person
S$75.00++/S$88.27nett per person with free-flow perrier-jouët champagne

Weekends & Public Holidays
S$53.00++/ S$62.38nett per person
S$85.00++/ S$100.04nett per person with free-flow perrier-jouët champagne

*One complimentary 4 hours parking coupon for every $100 spent in a single receipt.

Seafood & Champagne Afternoon Tea at The Westin

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Amidst all the craziness over the past two weeks when Little misschewy was hospitalised, misterchewy and I managed to spend some well-deserved couple time relaxing over afternoon tea after an appointment with our gynae. After all, we had cancelled some of our plans but a pregnant mother still has to carry on eating for two! LOL.

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Taking advantage of the Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) Twice as Nice promotion (which ended on 15 June), where SPG members get to earn double Starpoints whenever they dine with SPG outside of a stay, it was my perfect excuse to experience having afternoon tea on the 32nd level of The Westin, at Lobby Lounge.

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The husband and I were at The Westin on a Friday and afternoon tea is served from 2.30pm to 5pm on weekdays. There are two seatings for afternoon tea on weekends. We reached slightly early, so we took some photos around the area.

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For our afternoon tea date, I specially chose this Sequin Flare Dress from Jump Eat Cry, which is now one of my top favourites in my wardrobe! I seldom wear white and was secretly surprised when the husband complimented that white looks good on me 😀 Jump Eat Cry is currently having a GSS Mega Sale till end June, with selected pieces going for up to 50% off! Quote ‘MISSUSCHEWY15‘ to enjoy additional 15% discount! Super good deal! I’m so in love with their maternity wear because it really flatters the bump! Just an update that I’m past 30 weeks now! Kinda lost count if I’m 31 or 32 weeks! Or is it 33?! LOL.

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We strolled in at 2.30pm and chose one of the seats by the window. Actually, majority of the seats were next to the window so it wouldn’t be difficult to snag one especially on a weekday. Not sure if I can say the same for weekends! Anyway, we were told that food will only be served around 2.45pm which wasn’t really an issue for us since afternoon tea is supposed to be a slow and leisurely affair. Haha.

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Instead of a nice full view of the South China Sea and the Marina Bay, construction works also came into the picture. Pun intended. Not exactly the most amazing view, but nevermind.

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Lobby Lounge at The Westin serves the most indulgent and luxurious afternoon tea in Singapore! How does having lobsters, oysters and crab legs with a glass of bubbly sound? That’s The Westin’s Seafood and Champagne Afternoon Tea for you! We found ourselves rubbing our hands with glee when the first course, which comprised of Lobster Thermidor and Fresh Oysters, was served.

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Cooked lobster in creamy white wine sauce, topped with Parmesan cheese and broiled till golden brown, this spells perfection! There were three kinds of dipping to go with your lobster – champagne dressing, lychee bourbon and lime, and shallot vinaigrette. All three were equally good, but eating the lobster on its own works fine too! There were fresh oysters as well but they weren’t exactly very meaty.

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The second course was served on a three-tier stand. Items from the bottom two tiers are actually the same as the portions are meant for two.

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Lovely sight, isn’t it!

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Really like the presentation of the afternoon tea items!

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On the top tier, we have the Blini Alaska crab salad topped with salmon roe, garnished with chunks of grapefruits, pomelo and grapefruits jelly. It was small enough that we could pop the entire thing into our mouths. Very crunchy and somehow, the taste reminded us of McD’s Fillet-o-Fish. LOL.

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There were more fried items from the bottom tiers. We started with the Alaska crab tempura with avocado, apple, pine nuts and tuna tartar, followed by the Lobster cake with tomato and avocado salsa. The taste wasn’t exceptional but I like how avocado was incorporated here. Seared butter oyster with horseradish cream and grilled lemon was quite good but I still prefer my oysters raw. Spicy scallop salad with apple and pear walnut salad was a little over done and not too memorable. The husband liked the Chard salmon sushi which had an interesting presentation where we got to inject soy sauce into the sushi.

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After all the savoury items, we were happy to be greeted by this plate of desserts of carrot cake, strawberry lemon tartlet, salted caramel chocolate finger, green tea cheese cake, raspberries lime profiteroles and assorted chocolate crunch! It’s so hard for me to pick a favourite because I have a sweet tooth but misterchewy claimed that the salted caramel chocolate finger was the best of the lot. If I really had to choose, it would be either the strawberry lemon tartlet or raspberries lime profiteroles.

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We really enjoyed The Westin’s jazzed-up interpretation of a leisurely afternoon tea. It was definitely a first for us, indulging in seafood and champagne, and ending afternoon tea off with a platter of sweets. Priced at $85++ for two persons inclusive of two glasses of Veuve Clicquot Brut Yellow Label, we reckon that the Seafood and Champagne Afternoon Tea is one of the best afternoon tea in Singapore! To make your afternoon tea experience sweeter, you can also have the afternoon tea set with a whole bottle of champagne at just $130++.

Note that reservations are required.

Stay connected with us on Facebook and on Instagram!

The Lobby Lounge
The Westin Singapore, Level 32
12 Marina View
Asia Square Tower 2
Singapore 018961
Tel: +65 6922 6988
Email: lobbylounge.singapore@westin.com

Afternoon Tea sessions:
Mon to Fri
2.30pm – 5pm
Sat & Sun
2pm – 4pm (1st seating)
4.30pm – 6pm (2nd seating)

Priced at SGD85++ for two persons inclusive of two glasses of champagne.
To enjoy a bottle of champagne, the afternoon tea set is priced at SGD130++ for two persons.

Handlebar: Biker-themed Restaurant and Bar

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A couple of weeks back, I was tasked to come up with a dinner place to celebrate my brother’s birthday. You must be wondering why me and not the birthday boy. I have no idea too LOL. Anyway, I gave a number of suggestions and we finally decided on Handlebar at Sembawang. I came to know about this biker-themed restaurant cum bar quite some time ago when I still had the time to catch up on food and lifestyle blogs. The place looked pretty interesting and if you wanna find out more prior to visiting, Handlebar has a badass website. Haha.

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Handlebar is undeniably ulu, located along Jalan Mempurong. It was kinda scary when we drove along the small road because it was so dark! Had to park our vehicle outside and walk into Handlebar.

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Modified parts of cars and motorcycles were turned into bar counter seats.

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Definitely a highlight.

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We were seated outdoors, near the kitchen but could’t see any action lol.

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All of us had the usual boring drinks except for misterchewy who ordered a bottle of Fucking Hell ($12). Haha.

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Cocaine Wings ($14) are named as such because they are supposed to be addictive. Out of the three spiciness levels, we tried medium. Ehhhh.. No kick la. Just a slight tingling sensation on the lips. The wings tasted a little sweet too.

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If you like onion rings, you will enjoy the Blossom Onion ($12). I’m not a fan though.

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I had the Righteous Ribs ($28) which was slightly pricey but the portion was so huge that I only managed to finish slightly more than three quarter of the ribs. Ribs were juicy and tender.

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Didn’t try the Beer-battered Fish & Chips ($18) for myself but I dont think anything could go wrong here!

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My parents and brother had the Grilled Pork Chop ($26). Imagine two thick slabs of pork chops.. How to finish?! Big eaters rejoice!

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On the overall, Handlebar is quite a nice place but I would recommend going earlier before the sun sets. Food is mediocre, nothing to shout about but great for sharing given the large serving portions.

Handlebar
57 Jalan Mempurong
Singapore 759057
Tel: 6475 9571

Opening Hours:
Tue to Thu
5pm – 1am
Fri
5pm – 2am
Sat
3pm – 2am
Sun
3pm – 1am
(Closed on Mondays)

Afternoon Tea at Pollen, Gardens by the Bay

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Since Little misschewy had not been to Gardens by the Bay, we went there recently with the intention to check out Tulipmania at Flower Dome. Somehow, reading up on Tulipmania online led me to discover that Pollen, housed within Flower Dome, serves afternoon tea! Our previous visit to Pollen was way back in 2012 and we had celebrated my birthday by having their set lunch. If you are keen to have a laugh at our old photos, here’s the link lol. Fast forward 4 years later, we are back with Chewy Junior #1 and a little bun in the oven! 😀

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Anyway, back to afternoon tea! Contrary to what is stated on some blogs/websites, I have managed to confirm that Pollen serves afternoon tea from 3pm to 5pm daily, except on Tuesdays as the restaurant is closed. Reservations are required for afternoon tea and charges are based on the number of diners. Complimentary access to Flower Dome is provided to all guests at Pollen. You can visit Flower Dome before or after dining at Pollen at your convenience, but entry to The Dome has to be made through the restaurant.

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Some of the beautiful blooms spotted at Tulipmania!

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Love this belly bump shot captured by misterchewy. I have lost count of the number of weeks I was when we visited Gardens but one thing I knew for sure, I can no longer fit into any of my clothes! :O I really like this Pastel Lace Dress from Jump Eat Cry, which is very light and comfortable! They have a wide collection of maternity and nursing wear which is very versatile for various occasions! Here’s a special discount code for our readers! Simply quote MISSUSCHEWY15 to enjoy 15% off your order! No minimum purchase is required but take note that the code expires on 30th June 2016.

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Afternoon tea is served at Pollen Terrace, on the second level. If you are lucky, you might get one of the tables overlooking Flower Dome.

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Pollen’s Afternoon Tea Menu is priced at $38++ per person which includes 5 types of savouries and 5 types of sweets, including a choice of coffee or tea. The food items are non-replenishable, while the hot drinks are only refilled with hot water.

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An assortment of open-faced sandwiches are served as savouries.

Norwegian salmon, crème fraiche, dill and pickled cucumbers – Quite good; it was one of our favourites.
Braised chicken and avocado butter – Another favourite of ours.
Focaccia with mozzarella, confit tomatoes and black olive crumbs – Tomatoes were very sweet and refreshing.
Hummus dips with dukkah spices and toast – Didn’t really like this.
24 hours short ribs, mustard, pickles, alfalfa – Replaced with braised chicken as we don’t take beef.

On the overall, the open-faced sandwiches were rather tasty, except that the bread slices were a little hard and crusty.

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Chocolate and macadamia brownies – Dense and moist. Chanelle’s favourite.
Banana tea cake with salted caramel chantilly – Went well with my Lavender Harmony tea!
Vanilla cream puff – Vanilla bean specks spotted!
Passion fruit meringue tart – A mix of sweet and tart. Very nice!
Macaron – Had the right amount of chewiness!

The sweets fared pretty well too!

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At $38++ for 10 types of small bites and a choice of tea or coffee per diner, I personally feel that afternoon tea at Pollen is slightly on the pricier side. However, it was a lovely experience having afternoon tea within Flower Dome!

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Have a great weekend everyone! Stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy 🙂

Pollen
Flower Dome, Gardens by the Bay
18 Marina Gardens Drive, #01-09
Singapore 018953
Tel: +65 6604 9988
Email: info@pollen.com.sg

Main Dining Room – Level 1
Lunch 12pm to 3pm (last order 2.30pm)
Dinner 6pm to 10pm (last order 9.30pm)
CLOSED ON TUESDAYS

Pollen Terrace – Level 2
9.30am to 9pm daily
Afternoon Tea 3pm to 5pm (except Tuesday)

POLLEN Privileges
Personalised buggy service exclusively for POLLEN’s guests, the service runs every five minutes during service times.
Complimentary access to the Flower Dome

Traditional English Afternoon Tea at The Landing Point, The Fullerton Bay Hotel

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The Landing Point’s Afternoon Tea Set at The Fullerton Bay Hotel

Savour a freshly-prepared assortment of English scones, finger sandwiches, delicate pastries and tempting sweets accompanied with a selection of fine teas and coffees.

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We had a simple pre-Mother’s Day celebration on Labour Day last week! I just felt like having afternoon tea and began to search for places that serve refillable high tea sets. It didn’t take me long to decide on The Landing Point at The Fullerton Bay Hotel and I proceeded to make reservations via email.

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We passed by The Landing Point once, but that was an awfully long time ago. Really like the atmosphere and boy, was I glad to be back! For a good view overlooking Marina Bay Sands, you may opt for the alfresco spots or indoor bar seats by the full-length glass windows. However, neither of these were suitable for us because smoking is allowed outdoors and the indoor bar seats weren’t comfortable enough for us to enjoy our high tea in a relaxed manner (yes we tested before switching to the sofa seats lol).

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Before our afternoon tea set was brought to our table, we skimmed through the menu and I thought that the Magic Moment Tea by TWG sounds lovely. The hubs, on the other hand, went for his default choice, the Moroccan Mint Tea.

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Little misschewy is no stranger to afternoon tea but it was her first time having afternoon tea in Singapore! I clearly remember that she loved the scones we had at InterContinental Hong Kong last year.

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For afternoon tea on weekends at The Landing Point, there are two seatings and we chose the first, which is from 12.30pm to 3pm. Pretty reasonable, I would say. More than 2 hours of nibbles and tea should keep our bellies happy!

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I have a preference for afternoon tea served on a two or three-tier stand because it makes everything look so delicate and dainty! Not forgetting, photogenic! Hahaha.

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Apart from the afternoon tea set, we were also served warm scones with clotted cream and berry jam. The hubs had the plain scone while I chose the raisin scone. They were crumbly on the outside and fluffy on the inside! You can request for more if you can’t get enough of them!

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Cucumber Sandwich with Ikura Roe

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Mini Prosciutto Ham Bagel

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Smoked Salmon Mille Feuille with Caviar

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Duck Rilette in Sesame Bun

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Boston Lobster Cornet a l’Oriental

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Little misschewy was equally excited and started to request for certain items that caught her eye.

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Salted Chocolate Caramel Tart, Red Velvet with Cream Frosting and Fruit Cake

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We were highly amused when she pointed at the Red Velvet with Cream Frosting and said, “I want baa baa sheep!” Well, it does kinda look like a sheep. Shaun the Sheep maybe? LOL. So this is her devouring the ‘sheep’s head’, I suppose!

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Strawberry Tart, Chocolate Éclair, Lemon Tart

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Most of the items that Little misschewy wanted were from the sweets selection but they turned out to be way too sour for her! Strawberry tart was so sour that she dropped the strawberry without hesitation.

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Oh dear, the lemon tart was also very sour! Hahaha.

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Canelé and Pistachio Madeline

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Although we have a sweet tooth, we found ourselves requesting for most of the savouries to be replenished, rather than the sweets. The Landing Point’s Afternoon Tea Set is available daily and is priced at $45++ per adult and $22++ per child (6-11 years old). Price includes free flow coffee and tea. Redemption of car park coupons is only applicable for diners after 6pm for a la carte dinner, and weekends for having afternoon tea.

We would like to take this opportunity to wish all mothers a Happy Mother’s Day! Stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy 🙂

The Landing Point
80 Collyer Quay
The Fullerton Bay Hotel
Singapore 049326
Telephone: +65 6333 8388
Email: landingpoint@fullertonbayhotel.com

Opening Hours
9.00am to 12.00am (Sundays to Thursdays)
9.00am to 1.00am (Fridays, Saturdays & Eve of Public Holidays)

Lunch: 11.00am to 2.30pm
Afternoon Tea:
Mondays to Fridays: 3.00pm to 5.30pm
Saturdays, Sundays & Public Holidays: 12.30pm to 3.00pm (1st), 3.30pm to 6.00pm (2nd)
Cocktails: 5.00pm till closing

*Complimentary parking coupons are issued on weekdays (Dinner only) and on weekends and public holidays (whole day; Brunch, Lunch, Afternoon Tea, Dinner or Cocktails) with a minimum spend of S$100 on a single receipt per coupon. Coupons can be claimed from the Concierge Desk.

Japanese Cold Soba with Ribena Cordial Recipe!

Advertorial

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Photo credit: www.facebook.com/ribenasingapore

My mum used to be very strict about what goes into our mouths when we were younger. She would either scrutinise food labels or rely on her own judgement based on maternal instincts to determine if a particular food or drink could be included in her approved food list for children. Ribena is made with 100% Blackcurrants from New Zealand and is rich in Vitamin C, with no artificial flavouring, sweetner nor colouring. My mum felt so reassured by the benefits of Ribena that she gave us Ribena to drink on a regular basis and it soon became something that we would look forward to after school every day, especially when the weather was scorching hot!

We have introduced Ribena as a healthy drink to Little misschewy when she was about one year old and she loves it! Every now and then, she would request for a cup or packet of Ribena and we have absolutely no qualms about giving it to her after her meals. Do you know that each 200ml glass of Ribena drink provides a child’s daily Vitamin C requirements? If you find that Ribena is too sweet, it is actually not! The sweetness level of Ribena Cordial can be adjusted to suit your personal preference. As for me, I love mixing Ribena Cordial with chilled green tea!

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Interestingly, one can get creative with Ribena Cordial as it can also be used as an ingredient for simple dishes, desserts and beverages. Over the long weekend, I felt like eating clean and decided to whip up a dish of Japanese cold soba noodles, topped with all of my favourite ingredients! This dish is fuss-free and very easy to execute, even for a noob cook like me. Basically, you only need to boil everything! How you want your noodles to taste depends on the sauce or dressing! I usually alternate between a savoury soba noodle dipping sauce and a fragrant roasted sesame dressing. This time, I wanted something light and refreshing! Ribena Cordial came into the picture and the result was fantabulous!

Ingredients:

Buckwheat soba noodles
Shimeji mushrooms
Honey tomatoes
Japanese cucumber
Frozen Edamame soybeans
Dried Seaweed strips
Large bowl of ice
Lemon
Ribena Cordial

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1. Boil buckwheat soba noodles at medium high to high heat for about 10 minutes.

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2. Have a large bowl of ice on standby and immediately transfer the boiled noodles over. This is to prevent the noodles from being slimy and sticky, and is also a great way to chill the noodles quickly. You may also pop the entire bowl of noodles and ice into the refrigerator.

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3. Boil Shimeji mushrooms and Edamame soybeans at high heat for about 5 to 8 minutes.

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4. Drain away the boiled water. Leave Shimeji mushrooms and Edamame soybeans to cool.

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5. Combine chilled noodles, mushrooms, edamame, cucumbers and tomatoes in a bowl.

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6. Squeeze half a lemon into the bowl.

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7. Pour in two tablespoons of Ribena Cordial.

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8. Stir noodles and ingredients well.

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9. Garnish with dried Seaweed strips and serve!

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This plate of Japanese cold soba noodles turned out exactly the way I wanted it to be! It tasted light, tangy and a little sweet, which is definitely a perfect refreshing meal on a hot day! Bonus? I got my dose of Vitamin C! If you have tried any recipes with Ribena Cordial, please share them with me!

Get a free jug with every purchase of a 1 litre bottle of Ribena Cordial today! Like Ribena Singapore’s Facebook page https://facebook.com/ribenasingapore to stay updated on latest promotions!

Vita Italiana Singapore Review

Tasting Invite

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Singaporeans are a really lucky bunch. With new restaurants sprouting up ever so often, we can safely say that the F&B scene in Singapore is a very vibrant and exciting one. Vita Italiana is a new Italian restaurant located along Mosque Street and is barely 6 months old. We were hosted by Chef Jeremy, one of the co-owners who has an impressive 15 years of invaluable experience working in the kitchens at Tower Club, Da Paolo, Bel Mondo, etc. He had even operated a “chap chye png’ stall alongside his wife in a primary school!

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Vita Italiana is a small and cosy restaurant which seats about 35 to 40 comfortably. Definitely a nice place for that first date or anniversary celebration!

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We had some homemade bread with pesto while waiting for our food to arrive. The bread was warm and had a nice chewy bite to it.

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True to its name, the Cappuccino ai Porcini ($12) arrived looking exactly like a cup of cappuccino. Four types of mushroom were used in addition to truffle foam. Dusted with a pinch of cocoa powder, this mushroom soup tasted hearty and had a wonderfully rich earthy taste. You know what they say – best for a cold, rainy day!

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We tried two types of pizza, the Carbonara ($22) and Bismarck ($24). According to Chef Jeremy, due to certain constraints, Vita Italiana does not use a wood fire oven for their pizza but I don’t see any problem with that as the pizza was very fluffy and crisp around the edges. Interestingly, beer is used make the pizza dough which results in a hint of fragrance and flavor in the pizza.

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We tackled the carbonara pizza first, which consisted of roasted garlic cream, mozzarella, bacon, egg, onion marmalade and parmigiano. The flavors worked harmoniously well together that we found ourselves licking our fingers clean. The Bismarck ($24) pizza was also a winner, with balanced notes of sweet, sour and savory. We absolutely loved the soft egg in the middle and we even used the slices of pizza to soak up as much egg yolk as possible.

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We don’t usually order ravioli but Vita Italiana’s Ravioli al Granchio ($26) homemade ravioli certainly left a lasting impression on us. The vodka tomato cream sauce was very rich and had a sharp, bright flavor which screams delicious!

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The pieces of ravioli were al dente and such a joy biting into. We were also very impressed by how generously stuffed the pieces of ravioli were, with fresh crabmeat and thyme. It was a brilliant idea to include thyme as it adds a subtle aroma to the overall dish and has a slightly minty flavor to balance out the heaviness of the vodka tomato cream sauce. This is definitely a very well-executed dish!

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Upon learning from Chef Jeremy that the Maiale al Forno ($28) involves a very arduous cooking process, we just had to appreciate this dish even more. One of the steps involves the sous vide cooking method, which allows the flavor to be locked in and its essence is amplified as the pork is cooked in its own natural juices. The pork crackling was perfectly crispy and the meat-to-fat ratio was an optimal one. It also helped that some orange juice had been drizzled over the pork for that slightly zesty flavor.

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I have a sweet tooth but sometimes, I just prefer my desserts to be not so sweet. Vita Italiana’s Tiramisu di Vita ($12) isn’t ridiculously sweet and also scored in more ways than one. The cake was moist and spongy, while the delicious creamy taste was simply unforgettable!

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Just when we thought we didn’t have room for any more food, the Tortino di cioccolato con cuore fondente ($12) had a surprise element which we could not resist. The chocolate lava cake had a Gorgonzola centre filling which made the overall taste so much more interesting! Who would have thought that blue cheese and chocolate could go so well together! Chef Jeremy told us that it was actually an accidental invention in the kitchen! If you are not a fan of blue cheese, there is also a peanut butter option.

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Chef Jeremy recommended this Ciu Ciu Tebaldo Marche Bianco IGT, Italy wine which was a great pairing for most of the dishes we tried. This wine is not readily available elsewhere, so be sure to try it when you are at Vita Italiana!

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Vita Italiana is also selling a wide range of top quality Italian Christmas Cakes, Panettone and Pandoro. If you are looking for something for your Christmas party, do check out the selection here!

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The husband and I had a wonderful dining experience at Vita Italiana. The food certainly surpassed our expectations and we highly recommend Vita Italiana to all our readers and friends. We can’t wait to revisit this fabulous restaurant! Stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy, @misterchewy and @little_miss_chewy 🙂

Vita Italiana
38 Mosque Street
Tel: 6220 0093

Opening Hours:
Sun to Thu and PH
12pm – 10pm
Fri, Sat and Eve of PH
12pm – 10.30pm

20F Specialty Coffeehouse Singapore Review

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Hellooooo chewy chewy friends! I didn’t have time to finish up the other post which I meant to post this week so here’s a short update in the meantime! The hubs and I love checking out new cafes and just yesterday morning, I happened to chance upon 20F Specialty Coffeehouse while scrolling through my Instagram feed and something caught my eye! As I was lazing in our bedroom while misterchewy was in the living room, I sent a screenshot to him and said LET’S GO! We picked Little misschewy from my parents’ place and went to Bugis before heading to 20F Specialty Coffeehouse for brunch.

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I suppose 20F Specialty Coffeehouse is one of the newest cafes around, which opened only last month. Really, want to go better faster go if not many people go then very hard to find seats. LOL. We were there slightly before 5pm, so we still had a chance to order from the brunch menu.

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Had the Earl Grey Vanilla Milkshake ($7.50) which was smooth and creamy. Their Chocolate Coconut Milkshake and Dark Chocolate Caramel Milkshake sound fabulous too!

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There are only seven items on the brunch menu and after much deliberation, I decided to try the Orange Cinnamon French Toast ($15). The french toast was thick, fluffy, and tasted as good as it looked! Wonderful idea to pair bacon and maple mascarpone to balance out the flavors. The orange cinnamon french toast wasn’t cloying sweet but had that nice zesty flavor to it.

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THIS, ladies and gentlemen, was what made us want to visit 20F Specialty Coffeehouse. Simply called Duck and Waffle ($22), this dish isn’t that simple after all. A whole duck confit with buttermilk waffle, strawberry compote and mixed berries sorbet. Yes SORBET. This made the entire dish a very fun one to eat. The duck confit certainly stole the show, with its perfectly crispy skin and layer of fat underneath. Duck meat was very tender and succulent. The hubs even commented that the buttermilk waffles were very fragrant. I found myself googling how to cook duck confit as I eating this. LOL. I want to eat this everyday!

Stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy, @misterchewy and @little_miss_chewy 🙂

20F Specialty Coffeehouse
20 Foch Road
Singapore 209261
Tel: 6291 4940

Opening Hours:
Sun to Thur
10am – 10pm
Fri & Sat
10am to 12 midnight

Guide to Top 8 Must Try Food in Penang

Guide to Top 8 Must Try Food in Penang

HELLOOOO! 🙂 Friends and readers who have been following me closely on my social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram and Dayre, would know that I went on a short trip to Penang with misterchewy and Little misschewy earlier this month. While we were there, we ate our way around Penang and I’m happy to announce that we managed to compile our very own Guide to Top 8 Must Try Food in Penang! There exists a few variations of “must eat food in Penang” lists, so it is inevitable that there will be some overlaps in what has been recommended. The last time I did a Malacca food guide back in end 2013 when I was still pregnant, it was quite well-received, so I thought I would come up with another one now as I always find joy in sharing good eats with everyone! 😉

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1. Sister Yao’s Char Koay Kak @ Macalister Lane

Char Koay Kak is actually fried radish cake but in Singapore, we call it Chai Tow Kueh. The Eoh sisters’ roadside stall which is located somewhere outside Seow Fong Lye Cafe along Macalister Lane has been around for more than 40 years. They took over their father’s helm about 30 years ago and nothing much has changed, except that in order to cater to the increasing numbers of somewhat health-conscious customers, pure lard is no longer used as the base frying oil for their Char Koay Kak. Instead, the oil used is mixed with vegetable oil.

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I stood by watching auntie prepare my plate of Char Koay Kak. She made it seem pretty effortless but surely, it requires a great deal of skill to fry such a large wok of rice cake!

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The hubs and I shared the medium sized Char Koay Kak. Fried in thick black soy sauce, the other essential ingredients are chye poh (preserved radish), bean sprouts and eggs. We caught a whiff of the aromatic Char Koay Kak which further whetted our appetites. To our surprise, the fried rice cakes were only coated with a very thin layer of grease which is good news for our cholesterol levels.

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I guess we are too used to eating fried carrot cake that has been chopped up into fat little cubes. The rice cakes here are sliced slightly thin and elongated, which somehow makes it more substantial to chew on. On the overall, the Char Koay Kak tasted mildly sweet on top of being savory and was also a little spicy. Love the added crunchiness from the bean sprouts and bits of chye poh which also contributed to the subtle hints of saltiness. We washed it all down with a cup of Teh O and it was definitely a shiok breakfast for us.

Address: 94C Macalister Lane, Georgetown, 11400 Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 7am – 1pm daily

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2. Famous Penang Road Assam Laksa @ Joo Hooi Cafe

What is a trip to Penang without Assam Laksa? You know, from the moment we confirmed our trip to Penang, I just couldn’t stop thinking about Assam Laksa. I was tempted to satisfy my major craving in Singapore but decided to settle for the real deal at Joo Hooi Cafe along Penang Road. Without a doubt, we have made the right choice as Joo Hooi Cafe was packed with a mix of locals and tourists slurping up bowls of piping hot Assam Laksa. That in itself is an affirmation that the Assam Laksa is so good that it is highly sought after.

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I noticed that the Famous Penang Road Assam Laksa is slightly watered down which is great for me because as someone who likes to drink her laksa gravy, I would want my Assam Laksa to not be overly thick and rich. This one has just the right amount of thickness and consistency. Every mouthful teases the taste buds with its spiciness and piquant tanginess. Mackerel fish and tamarind juice have also been added, which results in a very flavourful broth. One bowl of Assam Laksa is simply not enough!

Address: 475 Jalan Penang, 10000 George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 5pm daily

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3. Penang Road Famous Teochew Cendol @ Lebuh Keng Kwee

Head outside Joo Hooi Cafe after you are done with your Assam Laksa! Here, you can find one of Penang’s best Cendol – Penang Road Famous Teochew Cendol!

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There is always a long queue for their Cendol but not to worry, the queue moves very quickly and before you know it, you will be huddling together with the rest, and drinking from your bowl of deliciously sweet Cendol.

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What fantastic way to beat the heat! Everyone looked blissful slurping up mouthfuls of green pandan-flavored jelly and red kidney beans, mixed in a sweet concoction of coconut milk and gula melaka. I wish that more gula melaka could be added to make it a little sweeter though but that’s just a personal preference.

Address: 27 – 29 Lebuh Keng Kwee, 10100 Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: Mon to Fri 10.30am – 7pm
Sat to Sun 10am – 7.30pm

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4. Tiger Char Koay Teow (老虎炒粿条) @ Ping Hooi Coffee Shop

There is much debate online about the best Char Koay Teow in Penang but one that consistently shows up on the list is Tiger Char Koay Teow along Carnarvon Street.

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This is not Ah Hor (Tiger in Hokkien) but close enough. He is the grandson belonging to the first generation, who took over the reins from his father almost 20 years ago. Over the years, he earned the support from loyal customers and Ping Hooi Coffee Shop is always packed to the brim.

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We decided to try the famous Char Koay Teow with duck eggs. The rice noodles were thin and springy, while the entire dish had enough wok hei and the right amount of char. It was indeed a good move to add duck eggs as it gave the Char Koay Teow a delightful creaminess. We only found about two to three large prawns in our plate of Char Koay Teow, so if you want more prawns, remember to inform the chef about it!

Address: 179 Carnavon Street, 10300, Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 8am – 2.30pm daily

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5. Pitt Street Koay Teow Th’ng (椰腳粿條湯) @ Carnarvon Street

Carnarvon Street is littered with plenty of eateries but one that should not be missed is Pitt Street Koay Teow Th’ng. Trust me, it is so popular that even though they officially close at 4pm, they usually sell out fast. We reached there around 2pm on a Saturday but saw that their helper was busy washing bowls. The lady boss told us that it’s normal for them to close way before 4pm, so it’s better for us to return the next day before 1pm! Business is so good that they have extended their operating hours. Now, they open as early as 8am and no longer close on Sundays!

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We went back early the next day and heaved a sigh of relief to see that the stall was opened. Had a chance to speak to the lady boss again, who was extremely chatty. She confirmed that they also operate on Sundays now because they have many customers including tourists who travel all the way there for a taste of their famous fish balls. These fish balls are extraordinary because they are made using eel meat. I asked the lady boss if these fish balls are handmade and she replied that they used to, but now they have a machine to do it because they cannot handle rolling and kneading the fish balls and ensuring that each and every one of them maintains the same standard and quality. She is confident that the machine can do an equally good job and that nobody would be able to tell the difference.

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While I have not had the opportunity to try their handmade fish balls to make a comparison, I must say that these fish balls made from eel were full of bite and it was pure satisfaction biting into them. The texture of the fish balls is neither springy or bouncy, but is slightly similar to that of a Fuzhou fish ball, doughy but more delicate. We give our stamp of approval!

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The lady boss urged us to try their homemade chili which is made using chopped garlic, lime juice and soy sauce. There is indeed something unique about their chili which is very refreshing and acts as a perfect complement to the Kway Teow Thng.

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Did we mention that their Kway Teow is silky smooth which glides down the throat?

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Pitt Street’s pork slices were surprisingly lean and tender, which makes chewing easy. The lady boss revealed that that they only use good quality pork fillets. She also added that most of Pitt Street’s customers order their Kway Teow Thng, but she strongly recommends their Kway Teow Dry too because they only use top grade crispy fried shallots oil. We will try that next time!

Address: 183 Carnarvon Street, 10100, Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 9am – 4pm (Closed on Mondays)

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6. Kim Leng Loh Mee @ Joo Huat Restaurant

We heard good things about Kim Leng Loh Mee and travelled out to Jelutong area to try it for ourselves. Apparently, this stall became famous after it was featured in Axian’s (Jason Yeoh) food show many years ago. He is Malaysia’s popular TV producer cum host, who is also a self-proclaimed foodie.

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Even before tucking into our bowl of Loh Mee, we knew it was going to be something great. Our medium sized Loh Mee was served with a chockful of ingredients such as slices of barbecued pork, pig intestines, egg, bean sprouts and chicken feet!

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Apart from the generous assortment of ingredients, the flavorful gravy had been cooked with pork rib stock, five-spice powder and starched with egg white. The gravy was neither too watery nor gooey; it was of the right consistency for us to be able to enjoy our combination of yellow noodles and beehoon.

Address: 336-G1 Lintang Slim, off Jalan Perak
Opening Hours: 7am – 4pm (Closed on Thursdays)

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7. Kimberley Street Duck Koay Chap @ Restoran Kimberly

We heard that Kimberley Street is a food haven and that there is simply too much to eat there but if you are hard pressed for time like us, just go and try Kimberley Street Duck Koay Chap! Confirm no regrets. It is so good that upon the first mouthful, the hubs declared, “Let’s eat this again tomorrow!”

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This shot was captured after we were done eating. Kimberley Street Duck Koay Chap only operates in the evening from 6.30pm onwards. Since we were just around the area, we decided to pop by and see if it was open at around 5.30pm. Much to our excitement, it was! Nobody was in the queue so we didn’t have to wait very long for our bowl of Duck Koay Chap.

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Cabinet full of duck and other ingredients such as pig innards that you can have with your Koay Chap. Apart from Koay Chap, there is also a choice of rice or porridge.

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For the past 30 plus years, everything is prepared in-house, from the koay chap to the stewed duck and even the chili sauce. Duck meat is stewed together with other duck parts such as the wings, necks and gizzards, as well as pig innards. The pot is then continuously stirred and left to stew for hours, ensuring that the stew penetrates the meat.

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Alas, the shreds of stewed duck proved to be full of depth and flavor, while the texture of the duck meat was very juicy. The broth is also worth a mention, for it was packed with all the juices from the duck meat and the oomph it brought is simply unforgettable.

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Unlike the Koay Chap that we are so used to seeing in Singapore, the ones served here are slightly thicker and rolled up. I certainly prefer this as it is firmer, smoother and has a nice chewy texture.

Address: 137 Lebuh Kimberley, 10100 George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Open hours: 6:30 pm – 11:30 pm (closed on Thursday)

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8. Mama-Miya Coconut Ice Cream @ Lebuh Pantai

While we were combing Georgetown for its famous street art, we passed by a stall selling coconut ice cream and milkshake. There was a long queue but we decided to join in anyway. Mama-Miya Coconut Ice Cream is one of the F&B business which received a recommendation award at the Penang Hawker and Entrepreneur Festival 2015. Sounds promising so must support!

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On the first day we had coconut milkshake which was quite thick but a bit too sweet. We decided to return the following day to try their coconut ice cream which comes with a cup of coconut water. Not only is their coconut ice cream adorned with corn and nata de coco, there’s also pandan flavored glutinous rice!

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We have come to the end of our Guide to Top 8 Must Try Food in Penang! This list is by no means exhaustive and hopefully we will get a chance to visit Penang again to discover more yummy food!
If you enjoyed this post, do stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy, @misterchewy and @little_miss_chewy 🙂