Tim Ho Wan Singapore: The First Michelin Star Dim Sum Restaurant from Hong Kong is here!

Posted on April 22, 2013 by missuschewy

– Tasting Invite –

Hello chewys! Have you Tim Ho Wan-ed yet? Even before this famous Michelin star Dim Sum restaurant opened its doors to the public on 10 April at Plaza Singapura Atrium Space, it had already gotten everybody’s attention. Why the hype and excitement?

True blue dim sum lovers have probably heard of, or even tried, the renowned One Michelin starred Tim Ho Wan from Hong Kong’s Mongkok branch which had recently ceased operations. It is also the cheapest and most affordable Michelin starred restaurant in the world which makes it so popular!

Finally, the foodies in Singapore can have a taste of Tim Ho Wan’s legendary dim sum without having to fly over to the Hong Kong and subsequently queue for hours at its remaining branches just to try it. I was very lucky to be invited by one of my favorite PR companies, Brand Cellar, to be amongst the first in Singapore to taste Tim Ho Wan’s much raved about dim sum, especially their Big 4 Heavenly Kings!

Brand Cellar was also kind enough to allow me to have misterchewy join me in this mass dim sum party! Yeah as you can see, we are one of the true BLUE dim sum lovers. LOL 😛

Hahaha ok here’s another photo of us because my eyes look bigger.

This was for our table of six… NOT! I think we ordered like at least 4 to 5 times of these! Major food coma but very satisfying! *Rubs tummy with glee* 😀

Group shot! Sorry I didn’t use my flash that day so it’s not the photographer’s fault that the pic is yellowish. Kinda lost touch with taking food photos after our 3 week long honeymoon trip in Europe 🙁

And without further ado, I shall first introduce Tim Ho Wan’s Big 4 Heavenly Kings – Baked Bun with BBQ Pork, Vermicelli Roll with Pig’s Liver, Pan Fried Carrot Cake and Steamed Egg Cake, in this order. After which, I will be reviewing the other dishes that we had also tried.

Of all the dim sum dishes at Tim Ho Wan, my favorite was the Baked Bun with BBQ Pork ($4.50 for 3 pcs), which I prefer calling char siew bao. It is not your typical char siew bao though, because the bun is baked and not steamed. When eaten hot, the sweet and fragrant BBQ pork oozed out of the bun which was unbelievably soft and a little crusty with a slight bounciness to it.

The Vermicelli Roll with Pig’s Liver ($5.50) was also a crowd pleaser. Loved the cheong fun’s smooth and firm texture and the pig’s liver was soft instead of rubbery.

We had mixed views towards the Pan Fried Carrot Cake ($4.50 for 3 pcs) so it really depends on personal preference. It might be too soft and flimsy for some, and might come across as steamed instead of pan fried. This makes it unique and is still worth a try.

Kinda like our Malay kueh, the Steamed Egg Cake ($3.80) was very light and fluffy. Taste wise, it was not cloyingly sweet which soon got us asking for seconds!

Other than the Big 4 Heavenly Kings, we also sampled all the other dishes that were available during the media launch. First up, the Prawn Dumpling ($5.50 for 4 pcs) was nothing to shout about. It was just normal. No surprises here.

The Pork Dumpling with Shrimp ($5 for 4 pcs) or more affectionately known as siew mai, was jam packed with flavor and this is something which I will definitely find myself ordering again and again and again!

If you are not a fan of pig’s liver, you should try the Vermicelli Roll with BBQ Pork ($5.50) as an alternative, which is equally impressive!

I didn’t fancy the Dumpling Teochew Style ($4 for 3pcs) because of the odd taste and smell of chives. Other than that, the crunchiness of the dumplings was quite pleasant.

The Beef Ball with Beancurd Skin ($4.20 for 3 pcs) looked really tempting and I almost took a bite until misterchewy told me that it’s beef. 🙁

The Spring Roll with Egg White ($4.20) was the only fried item that we tried at Tim Ho Wan and it was really good. Instead of the typical vegetables encased in a deep fried crackling shell, the egg white filling was smooth and creamy and this was good enough to be eaten on its own.

Finally, for desserts, we had the Tonic Medlar & Osmanthus Cake ($3.50 for 3 pcs) which was like agar agar served cold. The light sweetness and subtle fragrant hint of osmanthus was a wonderful delight to the taste buds.

A photo of us with Chef Mak Kwai Pui, the man behind Tim Ho Wan! It was such an honour to be able to meet such an important and respectable figure from the dim sum food scene! 😀

Hope everyone enjoyed our review on Tim Ho Wan! Is it worth queuing for hours? You decide!
For more updates, connect with us at our Facebook page www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy 😉

Tim Ho Wan Singapore
68 Orchard Road
#01-29A
Plaza Singapura
Singapore 238839
Tel:+65 6251 2000 (No reservations)

Opening Hours:
Daily
10am – 10pm

Plaza Brasserie: Prosperity Buffet Feast with Free Flow Pen Cai

Posted on February 7, 2013 by missuschewy

– Tasting Invite –

Planning to go for a buffet during the Chinese New Year festive period? Plaza Brasserie @ PARKROYAL on Beach Road’s Prosperity Buffet Feast is available from now till 24 February 2013. On CNY Eve (9 Feb), the Prosperity Buffet Feast Reunion Dinner is not to be missed. Guests can look forward to the Mini Pen Cai at the live station as it features special ingredients such as fish maw, prawns, sea cucumber, sliced abalone, roast duck, chicken, pork and black moss. The best part? You can go for as many helpings as you like!

Specially created by Chef Jackson to usher in the Year of the Snake, the Fruity Yu Sheng consists of fresh tropical fruits like mandarin oranges, peaches, rose apples, rock melon, dried persimmons, green mango and papaya. This is certainly one healthy yu sheng!

Not only does this yu sheng contain plenty of vitamins and fibre, it symbolises an abundance of wealth and a well-rounded life enhanced with Chef’s special fruit flavored sauce. Traditional Yu Sheng will also be available.

Also available at the buffet are the Eight Treasure Sticky Rice, Oatmeal Prawns, Roast Duck and Soy Chicken, Braised Pork Knuckle with Dried Oyster and Black Moss, Braised Sea Cucumber with Roasted Pork and many more.

I love the Pork Belly on Steamed Bun! Too bad I only had room for one!

One of the must-try Chinese New Year goodies is the Pumpkin Mousse Cake.

If you like durian, nian gao and bak kwa then I urge you to try this winning combination of Durian Nian Gao with Bak Kwa. Eat it and let me know what you think! 😉
Thank you Karen for the invite!

The Chewys would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone Happy Chinese New Year and gong xi fa cai!

Plaza Brasserie
PARKROYAL on Beach Road
7500 Beach Road
Singapore 199590
Tel: 6505 5710

Prosperity Buffet Feast at Parkroyal on Beach Road
Lunch:
28 Jan to 24 Feb 2013: Adult $45 Child $27
10 Feb to 11 Feb 2013: Adult $62 Child $37
Dinner:
28 Jan to 24 Feb 2013: Adult $58 Child $35
9 Feb 2013: Adult $78 Child $47
10 Feb to 11 Feb 2013: Adult $62 Child $37

Banquet Reunion Dinner
9 Feb 2013: Adult $65 Child $39
Reunion Steamboat Buffet at Banquet (min 8 pax per table)
9 Feb 2013: Adult $58 Child $35

*Child below 4 years old dines for free.
*Prices are subject to service charge and government taxes

The Halia at Raffles Hotel: Contemporary European Cuisine with Asian Inspirations

Posted on February 4, 2013 by missuschewy

– Tasting Invite –

The Halia group was established in 2001 with the award-winning The Halia at Singapore Botanic Gardens. Subsequently in November 2012, The Halia at Raffles Hotel officially opened its doors and is proud to be the first home-grown restaurant brand to set foot into the historic hotel and also Singapore’s most graceful landmark. Known for its quality cuisine, well-trained staff, excellent service and ambient settings, the Halia group is poised to establish itself as a leading brand in the food and beverage sector in Southeast Asia.

Together with a few other foodies, misterchewy and I made our way to The Halia at Raffles Hotel after work!

Prior to being seated indoors, all of us ordered a drink each before we started the dinner proper. On the left is CnG ($12) for misterchewy, which was essentially Coke, Grenadine syrup and whipped cream. A deliciously sweet and fizzy drink which we both liked! I had the Halia Mint Berry ($12) which was a refreshing combination of ginger, mint leaf, fresh blueberry and sprite.

Helming the premises of the former Seah Street Deli, The Halia at Raffles Hotel preserves the charming black and white floors of its predecessor, while incorporating the lush surroundings of The Halia at Singapore Botanic Gardens. The 100-seater restaurant offers a spacious dining environment decorated by planted foliage, a collection of wood-carved tables and an abundance of daylight that peeks through the restaurant’s classic French windows

The Halia at Raffles Hotel takes away the convention of a standard three course meal and introduces a “small” and “big” plates concept instead. This encourages free form dining and casts away the notion that an appetizer has to precede a main course. The big plates are also generous enough to promote communal dining.

It is always nice to order some sides to share and potato-loving people would be happy to know that The Halia’s Potato Fries ($8) totally rocked with light yet detectable hints of truffle oil, further complemented by truffle aioli and piquant mayo.

Easily mistaken as deep fried fish fingers, the Polenta Coated Asparagus ($9), as its name suggests, is asparagus coated with polenta and then fried. It tasted good on its own and also with the basil lemon mayo sauce that came with it. A great way to sneak vegetables into your diet!

We had the chance of sampling 5 different small plates. I’m not a fan of salads to begin with, and so I wasn’t particularly eager to touch the Chicken Breast Salad ($14) to be honest. However, I found that this was not your typical salad. The chicken was quite tender and it was interesting that the salad tasted sweet from the ginger flower dressing, yet a little spicy at the same time, due to the addition of chilli.

I had mixed feelings about the Foie Gras Salad ($23) because as much as I liked the nicely pan seared foie gras, it was on the overall too sweet and fruity for my liking. Apricot chutney, candied ginger pecan, blueberry and crouton had also been added into the mix.

The Confit Salmon ($16) had an interesting semi-cooked texture because it had been poached in oil at a low temperature. It was kinda like eating sashimi, except that its texture was slightly firmer. Its taste was further enhanced by the cauliflower purée and vanilla.

This probably doesn’t look very appealing but the Celeriac “Lasagna” ($12) was one of my favorites that night. It is a “lasagna” because celeriac replaces the usual pasta and provided that extra crunch. This Vegetarian dish was creamy without being overwhelmingly so.

I absolutely approve of the Oriental Pulled Duck ($18) which was very well executed. The duck confit which had been seasoned overnight and cooked in its own fat, was very flavorful and when eaten together with the cold soba noodles, provided that refreshing mouth feel.

The Sous Vide Baharat Chicken Leg ($28) didn’t leave much of an impression; I thought that it was kinda dry from the grilling.

The Seafood Gratin ($26) won me over. The Pignolina pasta had a firm, chewy texture and the parmesan cheese was rich, creamy and very satisfying.

The Javanese Spiced Maori Lakes Rack of Lamb ($47) was very tender, and had a nice sweetness to it from the red pepper relish. There was nary a hint of gaminess, likely due to the Javanese spice that had been coated on it.

I’m not sure about my fellow dining companions but I was excited by the presentation of the Chilean Seabass en Papillote ($43) when it arrived in parchment paper. The fish had been cooked in tasty mirin broth together with shiitake and wakame mushrooms. Interestingly, the fish was served together with a plate of sushi rice, which made this a very Japanese dish on the overall.

Sometimes I fear that I will be disappointed by fusion dishes but with the Halia Chilli Crab ($25), my fears were unfounded. The chilli crab tastes exactly like our Singaporean chilli crab, perhaps even better with its perfectly balanced sweet and spicy ratio.

Moving on to desserts, let’s just say that I really liked all four that we tried. I’m the sort who doesn’t mind having a heavy dessert after a meal. If you are like me, then the Sticky Toffee Pudding ($10) would probably work well for you too. This is by far the best sticky date pudding that I have eaten in my life. The combination of date, butterscotch sauce, sea salt and vanilla ice cream is truly awesome beyond words.

I’m not sure if you have to be 18 and above before you can order the Chocolate & Orange Custard ($10) because the orange gel had been laced with Grand Marnier, a type of brandy liquor. The shortbread crumbs and almond bits provided an extra crunch to this dessert.

I like my desserts sweet and also not too sweet. Paradox I know. The Ginger Nougat Parfait ($10) was certainly not something that I would expect myself to like. The combination of caramelised pineapple, puff pastry, almond, anise and cinnamon worked extremely well together, resulting in a unique mild ginger taste.

I couldn’t decide if I preferred the sticky toffee pudding or the Chilled Strawberry Soup ($12). Both were my favorites out of the four. A good amount of sparkling wine had been poured into the chilled strawberry soup and together with the lime sorbet, this was slightly sour and very refreshing.

The Halia has also launched a very attractive Pre-Theatre Dinner Set ($28++ for 2 course, $33++ for 3 course) which is available daily from 5.30 – 7.30pm. It showcases a number of Halia’s signatures such as the celeraic “lasagna”, Halia chilli crab and sticky toffee pudding. Nope, you don’t really have to produce your movie or theatre ticket and I don’t suppose you will be chased out if your dinner stretches past 7.30pm 😛

Thank you FoodNews for the invitation and LeRoy for hosting us. Connect with The Chewys on Facebook!

The Halia at Raffles Hotel
Raffles Hotel
1 Beach Road
#01-22/23
Singapore 189673
Tel: 9639 1148

Opening Hours:
Mon to Fri
11.30am – 10pm
Sat, Sun & PH
10am – 10pm

Steam Sia: Food that is Simply Irresistably Awesome

Posted on January 31, 2013 by missuschewy

– Tasting Invite –

A modern bistro bar located in Little India, Steam Sia, as its name suggests, has an old school twist. The term ‘steam sia’ can have two completely different meanings but I shall leave you to do the guessing. My foreign colleague who learned that I went to Steam Sia asked me if the name meant anything and I merely explained that ‘sia’ originates from the Malay language and is simply an exclamation used in sentences like, “Wah lao.. Why you so late sia?”

The husband and I really liked the kopitiam decor that was totally reminiscent of the past.

I used to play hopscotch during my primary school days!

I loved blowing these when I was a kid!

Has anyone not played the country eraser game before? 😛

I was terrible at five stones!

I’m gonna be straightforward and admit that I didn’t really like the Seafood Stuffed ‘Sailing Boat’ ($8.90) which had been named as such because it’s supposed to look like a boat with all the stuffings in it. This was oven-baked with cheese and I believe it was served piping hot but it turned cold because we were taking photos of all the other dishes. It was an interesting idea although I felt that it could do with more cheese and the potato could afford to be baked a little longer.

Truffle fries are all the rage and these days, everybody just wants to have a piece of truffle fry. No truffle, no talk. Yes, it has come to this. We were a little disappointed that the Truffle Fries with Cheese Dip ($8.90) tasted nowhere as good as the ones we had at Au Chocolat, The Tastings Room and Arbite. The cheese tastes exactly like nacho cheese, which could be nacho cheese in the first place.

Steam Sia’s Nonya Chicken Curry ($12.90 for 1, $20.90 for 2) came with potatoes and carrots and was served with baguette. The curry was superb, without a doubt. It was thick and the flavors were very robust. In fact, I polished off my share of the baguette by dipping it into the curry even before I got myself started on the chicken. The chicken and potatoes were well cooked till they were soft.

Steam Sia’s Classic Tom Yum Spaghetti with Seafood ($16.90) was another exemplary dish. The spaghetti was well infused with the delicious tom yam flavor which was more sourish than spicy. This was so good that I had to keep reminding myself to leave some for misterchewy to try!

If I didn’t remember wrongly, ‘Steam Sia’s Signature Grilled Salmon with Fruit Salsa ($18.90) was misterchewy’s favorite and can be found under the Western Delights section in the menu. The thick slab of salmon was grilled to perfection, while retaining its tenderness and moisture within. I have tried salmon with kiwifruit, so the novelty of having this salmon with diced mango cubes did not wow me that much. Both of us agreed that the mashed potato that came with it was too dry.

We settled for Hot Chocolate Fondant with Vanilla Ice-cream ($12.90) because their waffles were sold out that day. It was served warm drizzled with chocolate sauce and a scoop of ice cream. When sliced open, it oozed with hot chocolate goodness and we couldn’t really fault a dessert so perfect.

Make a trip down memory lane with your friends and loved ones at Steam Sia today! Thank you Sue Ann for the invitation.

Why you no ‘like’ our Facebook page sia?

Steam Sia
5 Hindoo Road
Singapore 209107
Tel: 6396 6585

Opening Hours
Daily
11am to 12 midnight

Ristorante PepeNero: Simply Italian, Simply the Best

Posted on January 28, 2013 by missuschewy

– Tasting Invite –

Pepenero, meaning black pepper in Italian, refers to the world’s most popular and commonly used spice. As for Ristorante PepeNero, it is a semi-fine dining Italian restaurant located in the CBD area of Singapore that offers a dining experience that excites the senses. I was invited by one of PepeNero’s co-owner, Amy Sim, to try some of the dishes and went there on a Saturday night. This photo was taken after our dinner, which explains the unoccupied tables but it was surprising that the restaurant was almost full on a weekend despite its location. Amy told us that PepeNero is usually very packed on weekdays, both during lunch and dinner. As for the food, they strive to bring freshness and purity to their menu and almost all their quality ingredients are imported fresh. The ambience is relaxed which makes it a perfect place for business meetings, family gatherings, birthday celebrations or that special date.

We had a bottle of Prosecco to keep us happy throughout our dinner 😛 I’m not sure how many types are there in the market, probably plenty, but this was really smooth and a little sweet which was easy to drink. Chef Donato planned a degustation menu for us, after making a mental note that we do not eat beef. A degustation menu at PepeNero usually costs between $100 -$120 depending on the number of courses and seasonal ingredients incorporated.

We kicked things off by sampling 3 types of Antipasti dishes, which are normally served individually in a larger portion. I will introduce the dishes from left to right because the photos are arranged as such, even though we started with the lightest tasting dish.

I’m a huge fan of parma ham and the Buffalo Mozzarella from Puglia Cheese with “Pachino” Tomatoes and Parma Ham ($29) certainly exceeded my expectations. The thinly sliced parma ham, when paired with the buffalo mozzarella, was excellent. It was seductively savory enough to whet our appetites. We also had the Deep Fried Seafood “Frittura” with Jumbo Prawn, Calamari, Soft Shell Crab, Wasabi Mayonnaise and Tartar ($24) which was thankfully not overwhelmingly hot enough to make our eyes tear. If you would prefer a light tasting starter, I strongly recommend the Tuna and Swordfish Carpaccio with Orange Salad, Marinated in Sicilian Citrus Dressing ($24) which tasted really refreshing and would not fill you up that quickly if you are planning to try more dishes.

I didn’t manage to find the Pumpkin Soup with Pork Cotechino ($19) in the menu but I reckon that it will be well-received. What is a cotechino, you may wonder. It is a type of cured meat, similar to salami. The fresh sausage is made pork and fat, with pig skin that is ground in with the meat. The sausage had also been heavily spiced, so you can imagine a myraid of delicious flavors – sweet, savory and spicy, all in one dish.

Not surprisingly, PepeNero’s pastas are all made in-house. Both misterchewy and I were full of praises for the Pappardelle Pasta with Slow Cooked Pork Ribs Ragù and Pecorino Cheese ($24) as we savored every mouthful. The pasta was cooked al dente and the pork ribs ragù was extremely tender, and not forgetting, flavorful. This dish was truly exemplary.

There’s something sexy about showing off one’s black stained teeth, but that’s only if you are having PepeNero’s Home made Black Squid Ink Risotto with Calamari and Pan-Seared Scallop ($29). This was another dish that we fell in love with. The rice grains are plump and sticky, which managed to absorb the rich flavors from the squid ink and parmesan cheese. The pan-seared scallop was done just right, but then again, the risotto on its own was really good enough.

I used to proudly profess my love for fatty pork belly and that I have absolutely no qualms about eating its fats. However, this Oven Baked Pork Belly with Au Jus, Eggplant Involtini and New Baby Potatoes ($30) made me eat my words. This pork belly had been cooked for many hours and had a huge layer of soft white fats which I slowly found hard to finish. The skin was also akin to that of cuttlefish, which was difficult to chew. On the other hand, the eggplant involtini, layered with tomatoes and cheese, was pretty brilliant.

The Pan Seared Tuna Goulash with Grilled Leeks and Crustacean Reduction ($30) fell short of our expectations as we were deceived into thinking that it would be delicate and succulent since it was pan-seared. It turned out to be quite hard and dry, and the accompanying sauce failed to salvage it.

Here’s a cross-section of the tuna, shot by misterchewy. We are still puzzled as to why the meat was so tough.

After so many courses, it was finally time for some Italian desserts! The Cream Caramel with Almond Biscotti ($11) had a smooth, silky consistency while taste-wise, it was rich and creamy. I also liked the fact that it tasted a little eggy.

I was happy to spot vanilla bean specks on our Cream Pudding “Pannacotta” with Fresh Strawberry and Forest Berry Compote ($12). This was more refreshing than the cream caramel. If I had to pick a favorite out of the two, I would pick both 😛

Not sure where to celebrate Valentine’s Day? Now you do! PepeNero has already planned its Valentine’s Day dinner menu! 😉

Here’s a shot with Amy, Chef Donato and PepeNero’s restaurant manager. Thank you for the invitation and warm hospitality!

Connect with us at www.facebook.com/missuschewy 🙂

Ristorante PepeNero
14 Stanley Street
Singapore 068733
Tel: 6222 5808
Email: info@pepenero.sg

Opening Hours
Mon to Fri
12pm – 2.30pm (Lunch)
Mon to Sat
6.30pm -11pm (Dinner)
Bar Hours: 12pm – 12 midnight
(Closed on Sundays)

Begin the Year on a Bountiful Note with Si Chuan Dou Hua this Chinese New Year!

Posted on January 25, 2013 by missuschewy

– Tasting Invite –

Si Chuan Dou Hua is one of my favorite Chinese restaurants in Singapore and I’m always very happy to be back to sample the chefs’ new creations every now and then. A few weeks ago, I was invited to Si Chuan Dou Hua’s Lunar New Year Dinner, which took place at the top of UOB Plaza, on the 60th floor.

Before we started the Lo Hei proper, we were introduced to the emerald green pea strips which are specially created to herald the Year of the Snake, in addition to the salmon.

Topped with crispy fried fish skin, the Prosperity Salmon Yusheng with Emerald Green Pea Strips ($88-4 to 6 persons, $108-8 to 10 persons) is a multitude of flavors and textures! The husband and I really enjoyed the emerald green pea strips that had an interesting jelly-like chewy texture.

The Six Delicacies Combination featured a variety of appetizers, namely the Spicy Pork Belly, Spicy Cucumber, Black Fungus, Sesame Chicken, Seasoned Jellyfish, Prawn Salad. Naturally, my favorites were all the spicy ones, especially the spicy pork belly which had an extra fiery kick.

Prosper in health with a wholesome version of this season’s traditional pen cai offerings. The Scarlet Fortune Pen Cai ($438 for 4-6 persons, $588 for 8-10 persons) is the traditional Cantonese pen cai reinvented with the drizzling of a light capsicum sauce over a bubbling pot that had been lavishly filled to the brim with delicacies such as abalone, sea cucumber, dried oysters, prawns, and many more.

The pen cai was also given a finishing touch with shimmering gold flakes for that extra wow factor.

The flavor of the broth was really sweet and robust, which is not surprising given the chock-full of ingredients in it, and was highly addictive. Nobody stops at just one helping! My favorite ingredients were the abalone and sea cucumber. Hehe.

Some of the other ingredients found in the pen cai.

The Stir-Fried French bean with Prawn in Garlic and Chilli, which was spicy and piquant, was pleasing to the taste buds.

As much as I would like to restrict my carbo intake especially during dinner time, the Fried Glutinous and White Rice with Waxed Meat was impossible to resist. The wholesome and flavorful rice grains, coupled with the sweet waxed meat, made this seemingly humble-looking dish a very delicious one.

We ended our dinner with Nian Gao which came in an assortment of flavors – Traditional, Red Bean Cake with Red Date, Water Chestnut Cake with Sugarcane and Osmanthus Cake. Definitely beats something overly sweet and nian gao represents good luck as it simply means ‘higher year’. A ‘Four Seasons’ Harmony Box ($28.80) with all 4 types of nian gao (each one is about the size of a large mooncake) is available for takeaway.

Si Chuan Dou Hua’s Chinese New Year promotional set menus start from $688 and are available from now till 24 February 2013. All guests who select set menus of $688 and above will receive a complimentary bottle of house red wine. The restaurant will be open throughout the 15 days of CNY and UOB cardholders get to enjoy 20% savings off its a la carte and set menus on the first three days (10 to 12 Feb).

Thank you Joyce, Pamela and Martina for hosting us.

Si Chuan Dou Hua
Top of UOB Plaza
80 Raffles Place
#60-01
UOB Plaza 1
Singapore 048624
Tel: 6535 6006

PARKROYAL on Beach Road
7500 Beach Road
Singapore 199591
Tel: 6505 5722

PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road
181 Kitchener Road
Singapore 208533
Tel: 6428 3170

Kkongdon Korean BBQ: Best Price Value in Singapore!

Posted on January 10, 2013 by missuschewy

– Tasting Invite –

My last trip to Korea was about 7 years ago but it was still very memorable because we had Korean BBQ, Korean BBQ and more Korean BBQ! Of course, Dongdaemun, Lotte World and Everland also played a major part in making the trip so enjoyable 😛 Whenever I think of Korea, I think of Korean BBQ and I’m glad that there are more and more Korean BBQ chains mushrooming all over Singapore!

JP Pepperdine group, being a veteran player in Singapore’s food and beverage industry, it is always on the lookout to bring you more exciting F&B dining concepts in Singapore and now we have Kkongdon Korean BBQ at Marina Square.

Kkongdon in Korean language literally means best price value. With philosophy in mind the first Korean BBQ restaurant was opened in Sinchon, Seoul in January 2005. As Kkongdon provides high quality Korean BBQ at a reasonable price, thus it manages to capture the young generations who seek quality food at chic and modern environment. Over the years Kkongdon continues to grow and to date there are a total of 67 outlets in Korea.

When you order any of the main course, you are free to help yourself to the kimchi and salad buffet!

Kkongdon’s beef dishes are very popular but too bad we couldnt eat beef so we had the Boneless Chicken Leg ($14.50) instead. With a thin layer of fat, the chicken leg was really juicy, tender and sweet.

The fun part about Korean BBQ which we enjoy best is being able to ‘play’ with your food! 😛

The Spicy Pork Belly ($18) is also highly recommended as the marination was really good and the cut of the meat was tender beyond words.

Both of us had a small bowl of Hot Stone Mixed Rice, or more commonly known as Bibimbap. This small version is served upon ordering either the group or individual set lunch ($12 per pax). Check out the menu for more info. With wholesome greens and my favorite beansprouts, polishing off the entire bowl of rice was not an issue. The regular sized bibimbap is also available at $12.

Besides Korean BBQ, the Ginseng Chicken ($18) is simply awesome when eaten on a cold rainy day. Just a couple of weeks ago, misterchewy and I had really salty ginseng chicken at another Korean eatery at Tanjong Pagar but this was just wholesome and satisfying with glutinous rice that is sticky yet soft.

By and large, I like kimchi stew but I’m always afraid that the first mouthful would be overwhelmingly sour but this wasn’t the case for Kkongdon’s Pork Kimchi Stew ($7). We relished every mouthful of the flavorful soup and even drizzled some onto our bibimbap.

I’m very excited to introduce my favorite Korean dish to everyone! Yes it is none other than the humble Cold Noodles in Iced Broth ($9.50) which is made from buckwheat, vinegar, salt and sugar. Served cold with ice, this is very refreshing and light tasting. You may also choose to add a bit of mustard in it!

The next time I’m around town area and crave for Korean BBQ, I know where to go! Thank you JP Pepperdine, Chef Emily and Restaurant Manager Aaron. Connect with us at www.facebook.com/missuschewy 🙂

Kkongdon Korean BBQ
6 Raffles Boulevard
#B1-01/02
Marina Square (Marina Link)
Tel: 63362580

Opening Hours:
Daily
11am – 10.30pm

Siloso Beach Party – Asia’s Largest Beach Countdown Party

Posted on January 1, 2013 by missuschewy

– Media Invite –

Happyyyyyyy 2013 chewy chewy friends! How was 2012 for you? Or should I first ask, how did you spend the last day of 2012? For misterchewy and I, we knew we wanted to spend new year’s eve in a more happening manner and have some fun counting down to the new year at a party instead of holing up ourselves at home! Thanks to Sentosa and SPRG, we were given a pair of tickets to the Siloso Beach Party, otherwise known as Asia’s largest and grooviest countdown party! 😀

We reached there slightly after 10pm and it really did seem like some people had already started partying since 6pm!

For obvious reasons, we brought our little Canon point and shoot camera instead of the DSLR. The quality of the pics were.. not that great. Please let me know if you have any good compact camera to recommend!

We could write our resolutions for 2013 on this huge board and misterchewy wrote, ” I <;;3 missuschewy". Is that even considered a resolution?! Maybe yes. LOL.

Bought drinks along the way! I had Vodka Redbull while the hubs got himself a beer.

We got ourselves more drinks but this time, we had to purchase $50 worth of coupons and then exchange them for food and drinks, etc.

Our Tequila Lime came in small little buckets! And for $12 each, the volume was very miserable. Haha.

Everyone danced and danced and danced till it was 12am and we were treated to a fireworks display!

Thanks for being such a supportive and doting husband for the past year! Just like any other couples out there, we had our fair share of ups and downs but I’m glad we made it through. Definitely more ups than downs, which will be shared in our subsequent blog post! 😉

Hungry after countdown (we didn’t eat dinner) so we decided to get some finger food which was ridiculously overpriced. $7 for takoyaki and $7 for a sausage and some lao hong chips?!

We used up our remaining coupons by getting a cup of beer, which was overpriced too, at $12. Hahaha.

There were actually five party zones but we stuck around at the Main Arena. The hubs was keen to go to the foam party but we didn’t bring an extra set of clothes so we decided against it.

So that was how I spent the last day of 2012 with misterchewy. 2013, here we go! 😀

Christmas Festive Treats at Plaza Brasserie @ PARKROYAL

Posted on December 21, 2012 by missuschewy

– Tasting Invite –

Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas chewy chewy friends! What are your plans this Christmas? Celebrate the festive occasion in style with PARKROYAL’s Classical Christmas and New Year’s theme in Blue, White and Silver!

Just on Monday night, misterchewy and I were at Plaza Brasserie with the other bloggers! Here’s our OOTD which was also suitable for work. Hehe. 🙂

We always start off our buffet meal with some Japanese food. The sashimi and sushi section always look so enticing!

Really fresh, big, fat and juicy oysters. I had about five that night!

The Roast Meats station was pretty remarkable too. The white chicken rice was simply heavenly and I had no qualms just eating the rice on its own.

Equally satisfying was the prata with curry chicken which was spicy enough to tingle the taste buds.

This year, the hotel will be introducing Pork Knuckles served in Asian inspired Spicy Sauce and Red Wine Sauce together with the traditional Roasted Turkey, Honey Baked Ham and Meat Loaf that will also be served as part of the festive treats.

Who says that you can only have pork knuckle during Oktoberfest? Eating pork knuckle during Christmas is brilliant too! Its crispy skin and bouncy, flavorful meat is best enjoyed with a glass of red wine!

In addition, other delights such as Christmas Fruit Cake, Christmas Stollen, Bread and Butter Pudding, Classic Chocoloate Mousse, Christmas Pudding with Brandy Sauce, Assorted Christmas Cookies, Espresso Brownies, Pecan Pies, Mince Pies, Ginger Bread as well as the Assorted Log Cakes and Raspberry and Vanilla Cheese Cake will make this Christmas a heart-warming one to remember!

A photo of me, Karen and Maureen! Aren’t we three very happy looking girls? 😛

Receiving my Christmas present from Derrick! How nice of him!

Candid shot of Derrick, Charles and Kai. Hahaha.

Thank you Karen for the invitation and for hosting us!

Plaza Brasserie @ PARKROYAL on Beach Road
7500 Beach Road
Singapore 199591
Tel: 6505 5710

Opening Hours:
Daily
6am – 12midnight

Festive Feasting at Parkroyal on Beach Road
15 December 2012 to 1 January 2013
Lunch
15-24 & 26-31 Dec 2012: Adult $40 Child $24
25 Dec 2012 & 01 Jan 2013: Adult $60 Child $36
Dinner
15-23 & 26-30 Dec 2012: Adult $55 Child $33
24 & 31 Dec 2012: Adult $80 Child $48
25 Dec 2012 & 01 Jan 2013: Adult $60 Child $36
*Child below 3 years old dines for free.
*Prices are subject to service charge and government taxes

Celebrate Christmas with PrimaDeli’s Truffle Log Cake!

Posted on December 19, 2012 by missuschewy

–Sponsored Post–

I really have to thank PrimaDeli for sending me their delicious cakes every now and then. Last Christmas, I received a really cute Frosty the Snowman cake and this time, they sent me a beautiful Truffle Log Cake ($35.90 standard, $46.90 per kg) which totally blew me away when I took it out from the box!

The rich and luscious chocolate sponge cake covered with velvety-smooth truffle cream was absolutely pure decadence! Everyone who had a slice of this cake agreed that the truffle cream was surprisingly good and didn’t taste overly creamy.

Special Promotion till 20 December 2012:

-15% off Log Cakes (1 kg and above), Santa’s Cottage and Frosty Snowman.

– Additional 3% off for Prima Privilege Cardholders

– CitiBank Cardholders: 8% off + 10% Citi rebate (for Log Cakes (1 kg and above), Santa’s Cottage and Frosty Snowman)

– Starburst – Purchase any Christmas cake and add on Chef Supreme Pie @ $8.90 (u.p. $11.90)
* while stocks last

Thank you PrimaDeli!

missuschewy

Singapore Lifestyle and Travel Blog

Category Archives: #Media Invite

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Begin the Year on a Bountiful Note with Si Chuan Dou Hua this Chinese New Year!

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Christmas Festive Treats at Plaza Brasserie @ PARKROYAL

Celebrate Christmas with PrimaDeli’s Truffle Log Cake!

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