Day Trip to Kyoto: Kiyomizudera Temple and Kichi Kichi Omurice

Posted on May 10, 2016 by missuschewy

The Chewys went on a day trip to Kyoto on the 7th day of our Japan trip. We took the Shinkasen at about 7plus in the morning from Shin-Osaka to Kyoto. Since we were a bit early, we decided to buy a bento to share before departing.

Japan is the land of bentos! LOL! They have all kinds of bentos at the train station and we stood there in awe. I wanted to get the Hello Kitty one for Little misschewy but it was out of stock! 🙁

After a short 15 minute ride, we arrived at Kyoto Station! Took the public bus to Kiyomizudera Temple, also known as “Pure Water Temple”. It is one of the temples that you must visit in Japan!

Omamori in the form of randoseru for school children! So cute! Randoseru are large and sturdy backpacks used by Japanese elementary school children.

Women clad in kimono is a common sight in Kyoto!

Dramatic story-telling in Japanese within the grounds of Kiyomizudera Temple.

We didn’t spend much time at the temple as we had an appointment with the kimono rental company in the afternoon. So, off we went, in search of some food!

There was a queue for cream puffs and we joined in! I had the matcha cream puff and it was delish!

Our first MacDonald’s meal in Japan! Haha! Why no Mc Pork! 🙁 We had one of their chicken burgers instead and the meat was so tender! We ate our burgers en route to the kimono rental studio, which we will share in a separate blog post.

In the meantime, here’s a sneak preview! We spent about 4 hours in total inclusive of the photoshoot, which explains why we didn’t have time to visit the other attractions in Kyoto. Would love to head back to this amazing place again!

After our photoshoot, it was close to dinner time and we were famished! Stopped by for a quick meal at one of the restaurants at Kyoto Station. I ordered the Katsu-don with udon set, which worked out to be less than S$12! Good thing I was really hungry because I managed to finish all my food! Hahaha.

Not sure if you can recognise him, but he’s the famous Chef Yukimura Motokichi of Kichi Kichi Omurice in Kyoto! Chef has generated quite a hype online through photos and videos uploaded by customers who patronised his restaurant! We didn’t include Kichi Kichi in our itinerary and one day before our Kyoto day trip, misterchewy emailed the restaurant to make reservations. Not surprisingly, they couldn’t take in any more reservations and suggested that we try walking in about 30 minutes prior to closing time, which we did! BUT, the 8-seater restaurant was still packed and unable to accommodate us.

The waitress told us to return 15 minutes later and they managed to squeeze us in! I suppose we were really lucky because I read reviews that reservations are strongly recommended if you want to dine at Kichi Kichi, or be prepared to be turned away!

It was an eye-opening experience for all of us, being able to watch Chef Yukimura in action! Even though it was almost closing time, Chef and his two female wait staff remained very upbeat and amicable.

A display of Chef’s skillfulness! We ordered only the Omurice in regular (‎¥2500 ~ S$31.50) and mini (‎¥1350 ~ S$17). There were other items on the menu but we just wanted to try Chef’s omurice. Hehehe.

TADAHHHH! Chef wasn’t looking in my direction because he was busy entertaining Little misschewy and making her crack into heaps of laughter. LOL.

Omurice in demi-glace sauce! This meal certainly wasn’t cheap but I shall not go into that. Chef’s omurice tasted quite good and heartwarming; it felt as though we were eating a home cooked meal prepared by a close friend!

Little misschewy had some omurice from misterchewy’s regular portion.

She gave a thumbs up without any prompting and Chef was so amused that he roared with laughter!

Here’s the video which I took using my iPhone! Must watch as it’s highly entertaining 🙂

Thank you Chef Yukimura for accommodating our little family! We certainly had a wonderful time! Stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy 🙂

Kichi Kichi ザ・洋食屋　キチキチ
京都市中京区材木町185-4
185-4 Zaimokuchō, Nakagyō-ku, Kyōto-shi, Kyōto 604-8017, Japan
Nearest Station : 京阪三条駅 (keihan sanjyou)
Lunch: 12pm-2pm (Sat, Sun & PH)
Dinner: 5pm-9pm

THE CHEWYS’ MARCH 2016 JAPAN 10D9N ITINERARY
(Tokyo – Osaka – Kyoto – Kanazawa – Shirakawago)

Day 1: Singapore to Narita Airport > JR Narita Express to Tokyo > Check into Airbnb at Kita-Ikebukuro > Asakusa Temple & Shopping Street > Shopping and dinner at Sunshine City

Day 2: Tokyo Disneyland

Day 3: Tsukiji Fish Market > Ueno Park > Shopping at Ameya-Yokocho Market > Tea at Fujiya Peko-chan Milky Restaurant > Pokemon Centre at Sunshine City > Dinner at Ichiran

Day 4: Tokyo DisneySea

Day 5: Fujiko•F•Fujio Museum (Doraemon Museum) and Doraemon Cafe > Shopping and dinner at Harajuku

Day 6: Shinkasen from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka > Check into Airbnb at Shin-Osaka > Osaka Castle > Dinner at Dotonburi (Namba station, Midosuji line)

Day 7: Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Kyoto > Kiyomizu-dera Temple > Kimono rental and outdoor photoshoot > Dinner at Kichi-Kichi Omurice > Shinkansen to Shin-Osaka

Day 8: Thunderbird Limited Express from Shin-Osaka to Kanazawa > Check into Hotel Nikko Kanazawa > Kenroku-en Garden > Kanazawa Castle > Lunch at Sushi Zanmai > Omicho Market > Higashi Chaya District > Tonkatsu dinner at Tomikinton (富金豚)

Day 9: Nouhi bus from Kanazawa to Shirakawa-go > Sightseeing around Shirakawa-go > Nouhi bus from Shirakawa-go to Kanazawa > Thunderbird Limited Express from Kanazawa to Shin-Osaka > Dinner at Dotonburi (Namba station, Midosuji line)

Day 10: Kansai Airport Limited Express “Haruka” from Shin-Osaka to Kansai Airport > HOME SWEET HOME

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

Posted on May 8, 2016 by missuschewy

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

Cucumber Sandwich with Ikura Roe

Mini Prosciutto Ham Bagel

Smoked Salmon Mille Feuille with Caviar

Duck Rilette in Sesame Bun

Boston Lobster Cornet a l’Oriental

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

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

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!

Strawberry Tart, Chocolate Éclair, Lemon Tart

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.

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

Canelé and Pistachio Madeline

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.

One-Day Suggested Osaka Itinerary: Osaka Castle and Dontonburi

Posted on May 1, 2016 by missuschewy

If you only have one day in Osaka, where will you go and what will you do? Our original intention was to spend at least 3 days taking in the sights and sounds of Osaka but due to some last minute changes in our plan, we only had one full day instead! On Day 6 of our Japan trip, we took the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Osaka in the morning. We actually missed our train by a few seconds (!!!) and had to reserve seats again for the next train. Well, at least that gave us a bit of time to hunt for breakfast at the station.

These Siretoco donuts caught my attention from afar and I found myself oohing and aahing over them. Aren’t they the cutest?! I mean, just look at the innocent panda face peering out of the donut! LOL.

If my memory serves me right, each donut costs about ¥310 (~S$4) which definitely isn’t cheap and not knowing if it would taste nice, we only bought one, the Tokyo version, for Little misschewy. Verdict? It’s totally Instagram-worthy and let’s just say that we were glad we only got one. Hahaha. 😛

We reached Shin-Osaka station after a 2.5 hours train ride and had no problem locating Studio Shin-Osaka, our Airbnb, as our host gave us very clear directions via email. Also, it was just a 5 minute walk from the station! So convenient! We didn’t get to meet our host, who lives in Tokyo, so we retrieved the keys from the mailbox.

We were very impressed by how spacious and clean our Osaka Airbnb was!

Mattresses on tatami mats! As we only had one day in Osaka, we decided not to waste any more of our precious time and quickly made our way to our next destination!

It took about 15 minutes from Shin-Osaka Station to Osaka-jo Koen Station via JR Osaka Station. Upon exiting Osaka-jo Koen Station, we saw plenty of food stalls selling street snacks! HUNGRY!

I have no idea what these are called but they are like savoury pancakes wrapped around chopsticks.

We tried the one with a poached egg on top and it was so darn delicious!

After a bit of walking and eating, we found ourselves outside the majestic Osaka Castle!

Treated Little misschewy to ice cream as a reward for her good behaviour. Hehe.

Dotonburi is a must-visit if you are travelling to Osaka! It is like a one-stop food paradise for all types of delicious food that you wouldn’t want to miss out on!

I was quite amused by all the giant food boards at Dotonburi! They certainly caught my attention and I just had to snap photos of the more flashy ones.

Almost mistook this for a food board as well, only to realize it’s a caricature shop. LOL.

The famous giant crab!

We tried a box of two Charcoal Grilled Crab Legs (‎¥700 ~ S$9) which tasted pretty decent. Juicy with a hint of smokiness.

The giant octopus can only mean one thing.

Takoyaki balls!

We didn’t have any concrete plans for dinner and joined the queue to get into Mizuno Restaurant, which specialises in Okonomiyaki. We queued for more than an hour in the cold!

Shall let the photos do the talking! 😉

We had two types of Okonomiyaki — the one with pork loin, and the Mizuno Okonomiyaki. Both were equally delicious, and the cabbage gave the Okonomiyaki a nice crunchy bite. Must try if you are heading to Dotonburi! Remember to avoid peak hours!

Shopped for souvenirs after our dinner and passed by the famous Glico running man sign!

The hubs prefers Asahi. Hahaha.

We did what everyone else was doing — selfie with Glico man! 😀 This concludes our one and only full day in Osaka! Next up, we will be covering a short post on Kyoto!
Do stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy for more updates! 🙂

THE CHEWYS’ MARCH 2016 JAPAN 10D9N ITINERARY
(Tokyo – Osaka – Kyoto – Kanazawa – Shirakawago)

Day 1: Singapore to Narita Airport > JR Narita Express to Tokyo > Check into Airbnb at Kita-Ikebukuro > Asakusa Temple & Shopping Street > Shopping and dinner at Sunshine City

Day 2: Tokyo Disneyland

Day 3: Tsukiji Fish Market > Ueno Park > Shopping at Ameya-Yokocho Market > Tea at Fujiya Peko-chan Milky Restaurant > Pokemon Centre at Sunshine City > Dinner at Ichiran

Day 4: Tokyo DisneySea

Day 5: Fujiko•F•Fujio Museum (Doraemon Museum) and Doraemon Cafe > Shopping and dinner at Harajuku

Day 6: Shinkasen from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka > Check into Airbnb at Shin-Osaka > Osaka Castle > Dinner at Dotonburi (Namba station, Midosuji line)

Day 7: Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Kyoto > Kiyomizu-dera Temple > Kimono rental and outdoor photoshoot > Dinner at Kichi-Kichi Omurice > Shinkansen to Shin-Osaka

Day 10: Kansai Airport Limited Express “Haruka” from Shin-Osaka to Kansai Airport > HOME SWEET HOME

Fujiko.F.Fujio Museum (Doraemon Museum) and Doraemon Cafe

Posted on April 18, 2016 by missuschewy

My favourite colour is blue and since young, I have a strong preference over cartoon characters that are predominantly blue in colour like Donald Duck, Cookie Monster, Smurfs and not forgetting, DORAEMON! Of course, no trip to Japan would be complete for a Doraemon fan without stopping by the Fujiko.F.Fujio Museum, more affectionately known as Doraemon Museum, in Kawasaki! Fujiko F. Fujio (Fujimoto Hiroshi) was the creator and manga artist of Doraemon, and he had lived in Kawasaki for a long time.

From Shinjuku Station, we took the train via Odakyu Odawara Line to Noborito Station, where shuttle bus services are available at ¥210 (S$2.60) per person each way. The bus journey took about 10 minutes and we cruised past various houses that looked similar to the ones we had come across in Doraemon manga! It was an interesting experience.

Tickets are not sold at the museum and must be purchased in advance. Our helpful Airbnb host from Tokyo bought the tickets using the Loppi automatic ticket machine at one of the Lawson convenience stores and passed them to us on the day of our arrival. A specific entry date and time slot (10:00, 12:00, 14:00 or 16:00) must be selected when purchasing your ticket, so we gave our host a few options just in case tickets for a particular time slot were sold out. Alternatively, you can also purchase your tickets online but it will be relatively more expensive.

Photography is strictly prohibited at areas where Fujiko F. Fujio’s extensive collection of artwork is displayed. Upon admission, you can request for an English audio guide which will give you greater insight into Fujiko’s life and artwork. Finally! We could take photos at the Woodcutter’s Spring. Keep pressing the lever and Gian will pop out!

Manga Corner. The manga were all in Japanese.

Gachapon Machines.

Interactive Play Area which caught the attention of many kids.

Joined the queue to catch an exclusive Doraemon short film, not available anywhere else!

Movies run every 20 minutes.

Children’s indoor play area.

Time for diaper change and milk feed!

We took our very first Neoprint at Doraemon Museum and I think it makes a pretty nice souvenir too!

Small shop selling Doraemon snacks.

We headed to the outdoor area where plenty of photo-taking opportunities await us!

Remember this playground? It’s where Nobita likes to hide whenever he’s being bullied by Gian and Suneo.

This Dokodemo Door (Anywhere Door) is one of Doraemon’s most commonly used gadgets. Be transported to anywhere you want just by walking through this pink door!

We bought this vanilla-flavoured Dorayaki ice cream to share and it was sooo good!

Deliciously creamy vanilla sandwiched between two fluffy pancakes! What a great cold weather sweet treat!

We had our lunch at Doraemon Cafe! Prior to this, we had to get a queue number and it took about 45 minutes to an hour before our number was called. The wait wasn’t that agonising for us because we were occupied with taking photos at the outdoor area.

Iced Strawberry Flavoured Milk (‎¥510 ~ S$6.40) is also available as a hot drink. There are 9 types of latte art and you will be randomly given one, so treat it as a surprise!

You can take home this cardboard coaster as a souvenir.

Doraemon’s Rice Casserole with Soup (‎¥1230 ~ S$15.40) was quite tasty; Little misschewy enjoyed it too! It was creamy and cheesy, but I don’t think we found any ingredients in there!

From the Sweets Menu, we ordered the Dessert Plate (‎¥1200 ~ S$15) which resembles the layout of the outdoor area where we took photographs earlier!

Cafe staff offered to help every table take photos!

Before leaving the museum, we made a beeline for the Gift Shop and it was really crowded! Everyone wants a piece of Doraemon!

Be prepared to set aside approximately half a day (inclusive of travelling) for a visit to the Fujiko.F.Fujio Museum! We reckon it’s totally worth it if you want to relieve those precious childhood memories! 🙂

Fujiko.F.Fujio Museum
Location: 2-chome 8-1 Nagao, Tama-ku, Kawasaki-city, Kanagawa Prefecture, 214-0023
Transportation Access: Shuttle bus service run from Noborito Station (Odakyu line or JR Nanbu line)

Opening Hours:
10:00 – 18:00
Closed every Tuesday except during the Golden Week (April 29th to May 5th) and summer holidays (July 20th to September 3rd). Also closed during Year-end and New Year Holidays (December 30th to January 3rd).

Purchase admission tickets in advance by selecting preferred date and time slot.
Entrance time is divided into quarterly time-schedule: 10:00; 12:00; 14:00; 16:00
(Visitors must enter the museum no later than half an hour within the reservation time schedule.)

THE CHEWYS’ MARCH 2016 JAPAN 10D9N ITINERARY
(Tokyo – Osaka – Kyoto – Kanazawa – Shirakawago)

Day 1: Singapore to Narita Airport > JR Narita Express to Tokyo > Check into Airbnb at Kita-Ikebukuro > Asakusa Temple & Shopping Street > Shopping and dinner at Sunshine City

Day 2: Tokyo Disneyland

Day 3: Tsukiji Fish Market > Ueno Park > Shopping at Ameya-Yokocho Market > Tea at Fujiya Peko-chan Milky Restaurant > Pokemon Centre at Sunshine City > Dinner at Ichiran

Day 4: Tokyo DisneySea

Day 5: Fujiko•F•Fujio Museum (Doraemon Museum) and Doraemon Cafe > Shopping and dinner at Harajuku

Day 6: Shinkasen from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka > Check into Airbnb at Shin-Osaka > Osaka Castle > Dinner at Dotonburi (Namba station, Midosuji line)

Day 7: Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Kyoto > Kiyomizu-dera Temple > Kimono rental and outdoor photoshoot > Dinner at Kichi-Kichi Omurice > Shinkansen to Shin-Osaka

Day 10: Kansai Airport Limited Express “Haruka” from Shin-Osaka to Kansai Airport > HOME SWEET HOME

We will be covering more on our Japan trip, so do stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy for more updates! 🙂

Guide to Eating Ichiran Ramen in Japan

Posted on April 15, 2016 by missuschewy

5 nights in Tokyo, 3 bowls of Ichiran Ramen. Honestly, we could have easily eaten 5 bowls if it wasn’t for my concern that we were only eating Ichiran ramen and nothing else in Tokyo. After our 3rd consecutive night of Ichiran ramen, I told misterchewy that we should stop and at least try other types of Japanese food. LOL. The hubs had his first taste of Ichiran back in 2010 when he was in Japan for an attachment programme and when he got back, he wouldn’t stop raving about it. Of course, he had to revisit his old love on our first night in Tokyo, and the nights after.. For the first-timer like me, the dining experience at Ichiran is definitely unique, and can be a little intimidating as well. Luckily, everything is still fresh in misterchewy’s mind and we didn’t hold up the queue for not knowing how to place our orders. By the end of our trip, I became such a Ichiran ramen pro that I could do everything with my eyes closed. LOL.

1. Automatic Vending Machine

Upon entering the restaurant, you will see this vending machine where you purchase your meal tickets from. There was only one vending machine at the branch we patronised in Ikebukuro and three in Dotonburi (Osaka). Put in sufficient cash before selecting what you want. Your meal ticket will be generated. It is quite small (about a quarter of the size of my palm) so be careful not to misplace it!

2. Customise Your Ramen

One of the staff will then hand you this piece of paper for you to circle your preference. You get to select the Flavor Strength (weak/medium/strong), Richness (none/light/medium/rich/ultra rich), Garlic (none/a little/regular/half clove/one clove), Onion (without/white green onion/green onion) Sliced Pork (wihout/with), Ichiran’s Original Red Sauce (0/0.5/1/2/others) and Noodle’s Texture (extra firm/firm/medium/soft/extra/soft). In case you are wondering, Ichiran’s Original Red Sauce is their red pepper sauce mixed with three types of spices.

3. Direction Board of Vacant Seats

This signboard shows you the occupied vs unoccupied (空) seats. If you go in pairs or groups, the staff will try their best to have all of you seated together.

4. Locate Your Cubicle

The cubicles are all numbered at the top. This reminds me of my school days in the library!

5. Hand Over Meal Ticket and Preference Sheet

This is where your meal ticket and preference sheet come in. A pair of hands will grab these two items before shouting something in Japanese while pulling down the bamboo screen and scurrying off to prepare your order.

6. Ramen is Served

It took only about 5 minutes before the bamboo screen was up again, revealing a pair of hands placing my bowl of piping hot Ichiran ramen before me. There I was, feeling very blessed that I could have my bowl of ramen in my small little cubicle, without any distractions or conversations. YES, SAVOUR THE MOMENT!

7. Itadakismasu!

Taking photos is optional. Eat your ramen while it’s still hot!

I took a mouthful of the broth after mixing the Ichiran original red sauce in. The broth was milky rich with a zing of spice, yet it doesn’t feel like it had been artificially laden with too much MSG. Very addictive! On my first visit, I went for the “extra firm” noodles which were too firm for my liking, and for the subsequent visits, I had it toned down to “firm”. It was PERFECT! Each bowl of ramen with pork slices costs ¥790 (S$9.80) which is really affordable for such exemplary standards. It is a little more expensive at ¥910 (S$11.40) if you want an additional egg to go along with it. The egg wasn’t fantastic so we only had it on our first visit. All in all, Ichiran ramen is the BEST ramen I have ever eaten!

8. Refilling of Noodles (Optional)

Don’t finish all your soup if you wish to refill your noodles as Ichiran does not accept orders for extra soup. You can choose either Kae-Dama (¥190 ~ S$2.40) or 1/2 Kae-Dama (¥120 ~ S$1.50).

9. Calling for Dessert (Optional)

This step is applicable only if you order the dessert like I did. It was new on the menu and I just had to try it! When you are ready to have your dessert, follow the instructions on the small metal tray. Place the tray on the bell and press the bell to alert the staff. Initially, I thought that my dessert was going to be served in that tray. Hahaha.

The Matcha Annin Tofu (¥390 ~ S$4.90) looked promising! It was wobbly silky smooth and tasted rich of matcha without being overly sweet.

10. Ichiran Souvenirs (Optional)

There wasn’t any Ichiran souvenirs at the Ikebukuro branch but on our last night in Osaka, Dotonburi, we chanced upon magnets and coasters on our way out after dinner. I collect magnets so these were totally ideal for me! There are also packaged Ichiran ramen with soup bases that you can purchase as gifts for family and friends.

For full list of Ichiran restaurant locations, click here.

THE CHEWYS’ MARCH 2016 JAPAN 10D9N ITINERARY
(Tokyo – Osaka – Kyoto – Kanazawa – Shirakawago)

Day 1: Singapore to Narita Airport > JR Narita Express to Tokyo > Check into Airbnb at Kita-Ikebukuro > Asakusa Temple & Shopping Street > Shopping and dinner at Sunshine City

Day 2: Tokyo Disneyland

Day 3: Tsukiji Fish Market > Ueno Park > Shopping at Ameya-Yokocho Market > Tea at Fujiya Peko-chan Milky Restaurant > Pokemon Centre at Sunshine City > Dinner at Ichiran

Day 4: Tokyo DisneySea

Day 5: Fujiko•F•Fujio Museum (Doraemon Museum) and Doraemon Cafe > Shopping and dinner at Harajuku

Day 6: Shinkasen from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka > Check into Airbnb at Shin-Osaka > Osaka Castle > Dinner at Dotonburi (Namba station, Midosuji line)

Day 7: Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Kyoto > Kiyomizu-dera Temple > Kimono rental and outdoor photoshoot > Dinner at Kichi-Kichi Omurice > Shinkansen to Shin-Osaka

Day 10: Kansai Airport Limited Express “Haruka” from Shin-Osaka to Kansai Airport > HOME SWEET HOME

We will be covering more on our Japan trip, so do stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy for more updates! 🙂

Revelry Waffle Specialty Cafe Singapore Review

Posted on March 31, 2016 by missuschewy

The day after we got back from our Japan trip, we woke up early to run some errands and had local breakfast before heading back home to unpack all our luggages. It sure felt good to have so much accomplished in one day and we just had to reward ourselves by indulging in brunch in the late afternoon! I was googling for cafes in the West and Revelry was one of the cafes which sparked my interest. Revelry is a relatively new waffle specialty cafe located at Lorong Kilat, which is just a 15-minute drive from our place.

Besides its specialty in serving up sweet and savoury waffles, Revelry is a circus themed cafe which boasts very colorful and lively decor and paintings. Entering the cafe makes me happy already!

Youngest diner in the house!

I was surprised when these were handed to us. Not your usual menu! Apart from their extensive selection of waffles, they also serve other sides, pastas, desserts, etc.

Haha as usual, I took a loooong time deciding on which waffle to try. I always end up having the same thing though — smoked salmon and eggs! No regrets there as the Waffle Royale ($17.50) was really good! Loved the waffle which was crisp on the outside while buttery soft inside. I plan to try the O.K Waffle Pizza on my next visit! Otah, kai lan and mozzarella sounds divine!

The husband ordered the Chicken and Waffles ($17) which seem to be one of the more popular items. It’s hard to resist fried food, isn’t it? Hehe. Well, no calories were wasted! The fried chicken was really tender, juicy, and you end up with a layer of grease on your lips.

We were tempted to try their sweet waffles but decided to save it for our next visit. If you are planning to drop by soon, do note that parking is free after 5pm on weekdays and Saturdays, and free all day on Sundays. Stay connected with us on www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy 🙂

Revelry
21 Lorong Kilat,
#01-02
Singapore 598123 (opposite Beauty World)
Tel: +65 9278 0466

Opening Hours:
Mon, Wed & Thur
11am – 10pm
Fri
11am -11pm
Sat
10am – 11pm
Sun
10am – 10pm
(Closed on Tuesdays)

Rise and Grind Coffee Co. Singapore Food Review

Posted on March 28, 2016 by missuschewy

– Invited Tasting –

RISE AND GRIND! Isn’t that pretty much what most of us do everyday? Haha. Prior to my first visit to Rise and Grind Coffee Co. at Bukit Timah Plaza, I had walked past this cafe once and found it interesting that the cafe is not exactly located within the shopping centre but right outside, on its own. If I hadn’t passed by Rise and Grind Coffee Co. before, I think I would have a hard time finding it!

I’m a fan of green tea, so I ordered the Iced Matcha Latte ($6.50) which was full-bodied and pretty good stuff! Just make sure you don’t take too long to finish your drink as it will become diluted when the ice starts to melt.

Rise and Grind Coffee Co. serves breakfast and brunch till 3pm on weekdays and 5pm on weekends. I chose Ocean’s Thirteen ($17) because of the movie and also, I love smoked salmon! Poached eggs and smoked salmon are always a winning combination and this time was no different. The poached eggs were just perfect, with its molten yolk oozing out when our knives cut through them. I couldn’t really taste the yuzu in the yuzu hollandaise but nevertheless, it was light and refreshing when combined with the beetroot yogurt.

We have a thing for mentaiko and it was our first time eating Sweet Potato Fries with Mentaiko Mayonnaise Sauce ($10). Initially, we didn’t quite know what to expect since sweet potato is sweet and mentaiko is salty. We were pleasantly surprised that both flavors went really well together!

Little misschewy couldn’t resist her favorite fries and reached out for some.

Thumbs up!

We were also recommended the RGC Honey Wings ($9) which seem to be one of their more popular items on the menu. I really liked how crispy the skin was, while its meat was tender and juicy. The sticky sweet honey wings definitely make a great dish for sharing among friends!

Rise and Grind Coffee Co. offers a wide variety of mains and we certainly had a tough time choosing. We finally decided on Tom Yam Seafood Pasta ($17) which proved to be a great choice! We had tried the tom yam seafood pasta at 49 Seats previously, and found it ridiculously salty. The one at Rise and Grind Coffee Co. tastes so much better! The creamy tom yam sauce was flavorful and easy to stomach as it wasn’t overly rich or creamy. We also found a decent amount of prawns, squid and mussels in our pasta! Now I know where to head to when the tom yam pasta craving hits!

We were feeling quite full so we chose a smaller dessert for sharing. Homaigawd the sticky date pudding with vanilla ice cream screams awesomeness please. It was really one of the BEST sticky date puddings we have tried so far, if not THE BEST. Sticky date pudding served warm and moist, and topped with vanilla ice cream, this is really heaven.

Do check out Rise and Grind Coffee Co. if you haven’t! Everything on the menu is less than $20! 🙂
Stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy

Rise and Grind Coffee Co.
Bukit Timah Plaza
1 Jalan Anak Bukit
#L1-CA1, (Opposite DBS bank)
Singapore 588996

Opening Hours:
Mon, Wed, Thu and Sun
9am – 9pm
Tue
9am – 4.30pm
Fri and Sat
9am – 10pm

Valentine’s Day Celebration 2016 @ Luke’s Oyster Bar & Chop House, Gemmill Lane

Posted on February 17, 2016 by missuschewy

Helloooo! We are back with a short update on how we spent Valentine’s Day this year! Since it coincided with 人日 and Chanelle also has music classes on Sundays, misterchewy and I decided to celebrate the occasion a day earlier.

A week before, I texted the hubs while at work that I wanted to try the lobster roll at Luke’s Oyster Bar & Chop House for our Valentine’s Day celebration, to which he replied, “Ok! Your call!” I bet he was secretly relieved that he was off the hook for being spared the responsibility and possibly, pressure, of having to search for a suitable lunch or dinner venue. Hehe. We opted for lunch because the lobster roll is only available during lunch and not dinner!

Our complimentary starter of mini corn bread served with homemade butter that was sprinkled with paprika was warm and crumbly.

We indulged in Half Dozen Oysters ($48) from Wellfleet, Marion Port and Katama Bay, which were featured on the ‘Special’ signboard. Our least favorite were the Wellfleet oysters as they were considerably less meaty and the taste was not as robust. I loved the Katama Bay oysters the most for its briny flavor which was a little too strong for misterchewy’s liking and he preferred the Marion Port oysters. We didn’t try the champagne vinegar that came with the oysters as we felt that just a squeeze of lemon juice was good enough!

We also ordered another side dish to share. The Lobster Mac & Cheese ($26) was interestingly topped with some crushed Ritz pretzels.

The macaroni was fairly al dente and the sauce was of a cheesy, creamy consistency. We found a few chunks of lobster meat and felt that this dish was pretty mediocre. Totally no wow factor there.

The husband had his Lamb Chops ($82) cooked medium. Although a little on the salty side, the well-marinated lamb chops were remarkably juicy and tender, with a wonderful smokey flavor.

I wasn’t exactly impressed by the size of my Lobster Roll ($48) for the price that we paid. But hey, at least it was quite well-endowed. Lol. To reiterate, the lobster roll is only featured on their lunch menu. I didn’t like that the bun was soft and would certainly have preferred it to be a little more toasted and crusty. The steamed lobster chunks with homemade aioli were firm and tasted buttery sweet.

Our total bill came up to about $240 after taxes.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine’s Day! Stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy, @misterchewy and @little_miss_chewy 🙂

Luke’s Oyster Bar & Chop House
22 Gemmill Lane
Singapore 069257
Tel: 6221 4468

Opening Hours:
Mon to Sat
12pm – Midnight
(Last order at 11:45pm)
Closed on Sundays

Dim Sum at Wan Hao, Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel

Posted on January 15, 2016 by missuschewy

Helloooo! It’s been awhile.. And yup, I’m still trying to keep myself motivated when it comes to blogging. These days, I don’t even feel like switching on my laptop. Haha ok but I really do feel bad for neglecting this space so here are some photos of the dim sum that we had at Wan Hao, Singapore Marriot Tang Plaza Hotel when we met up with Misstamchiak late last year!

Crispy pork belly

Har Gau

Siew Mai

Char Siew Sou

Pan-fried carrot cake

Steamed pork dumplings

Salted egg yolk buns

Food was generally quite good. It was a pity we couldnt find congee on the menu as we wanted to order that for Little misschewy. Stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy, @misterchewy and @little_miss_chewy 🙂

Vita Italiana Singapore Review

Posted on December 9, 2015 by missuschewy

– Tasting Invite –

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!

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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!

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.

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!

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!

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

missuschewy

Singapore Lifestyle and Travel Blog

Category Archives: #Food Review

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Guide to Eating Ichiran Ramen in Japan

Revelry Waffle Specialty Cafe Singapore Review

Rise and Grind Coffee Co. Singapore Food Review

Valentine’s Day Celebration 2016 @ Luke’s Oyster Bar & Chop House, Gemmill Lane

Dim Sum at Wan Hao, Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel

Vita Italiana Singapore Review

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