Kuro Kin Japanese Dining Singapore Food Review

Posted on August 7, 2014 by missuschewy

While misterchewy is still away in the States, my family celebrated my birthday with me a few days before the actual day since I stay with my in laws on weekdays. Yay! I got to eat my favorite Japanese cuisine again! My mum wanted to go to The Grandstand so it was down to Kuro Kin Japanese Dining among the few Japanese restaurants over there.

Before I delve into the food review, I have to say that the wait for our sashimi was excruciatingly long when the restaurant was not even half occupied. It certainly didn’t leave a very good first impression on us. Besides, we noticed that the table next to us arrived much later but got their food served first! We asked the wait staff and it turned out that it was “the Chef’s arrangement”. I wonder is that fair?

I was really bored until I noticed this cute little toothpick holder! *Meow*

Received two types of appetizers on the house because they acknowledged that we had waited for too long for our food! Thankfully, the appetizers tasted pretty decent.

We ordered the Sashimi Take ($86) to share among my dad, brother and I. My mum is the only one in the family who doesn’t eat raw food while I can never have enough of sashimi! These were very firm, fresh and thickly sliced.

I needed my rice and was trying to decide between sushi and chirashi. Decided that it was easier to share the Kuro Kin Sushi ($45). Love all the sushi pieces that I ate!

Ebi Tempura ($23) was lightly battered to a nice shade of golden brown and was crispy.

Highly recommend the Gindara Moriawase ($26) which is grilled cod fish coated in three different sauces – sweet miso, mentaiko and teriyaki sauce. I like the mentaiko one best!

We ordered the Surume Ika Teriyaki ($20) because my mum loves grilled squid with sweet teriyaki sauce. Alternatively, you can also order the shioyaki version which is coated with sea salt. The squid was still quite chewy!

We also ordered two bowls of Kaisen Chahan ($12) to share because we have two big men in the family. The seafood fried rice was very fragrant albeit a little oily.

A photo with my happy Chanelle! Hopefully, she will be able to sing me a birthday song next year 😛
Stay connected with us on www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy 🙂

Kuro Kin Japanese Dining
The Grandstand
200 Turf Club Road
#01-27
Tel: 6462-1213

Opening Hours:
Daily
Lunch: 12pm to 2.30pm
Dinner: 6pm to 10pm

Cafe Melba: A Tranquil Foodie Escape From The City

Posted on September 4, 2013 by missuschewy

I have always wanted to visit Cafe Melba after seeing photos of truffle fries posted by some of my friends on Facebook. I’m not on a quest to hunt down the BEST truffle fries in Singapore but it’s actually quite fun comparing and agreeing on which are the places that serve really really good ones! 🙂

As our birthdays are one week apart, it was good enough reason (sorry cuz we are very busy ppl) for Pei Rong and I to celebrate and catch up over dinner with our husbands on a lovely Saturday evening. For some reason, I didnt have any of my cameras with me and had to rely on my iPhone 5 that day. #bopian

Thankful that PR and her husband gave us a lift (we came from the west) because Cafe Melba is located at such an ulufied place! I have never even heard of Goodman Arts Centre. Sheesh! Take public transport at your own risk 😛

However, Cafe Melba has a very nice ambience. Rustic, yet romantic. I like. But Pei Rong and I agreed that Cafe Melba reminds us of PS Cafe. Does anyone know if they are under the same group?

Even the menu is so PS Cafe-ish.

The Truffle fries ($13) were quite good, but not the best that I have had so far. I don’t think I would travel all the way to Cafe Melba just for this.

There is all day breakfast here! Good for those who like eating breakfast food anytime of the day. Haha.

Pei Rong and misterchewy had the Full Melba cooked breakfast ($25). Eggs can be done in various ways – poached, sunny side up or scrambled. Only free range, organic eggs are selected. I only tried a bit of pork sausage and mushrooms. Sausage was quite salty but the mushrooms were good.

Forgot that we had truffle fries to share, if not I wouldn’t have ordered the Haddock and chips ($24). The fish was coated with light batter and was crispy. Nothing to shout about though.

Every pizza at Cafe Melba is made to order a la minute and is available from 12pm onwards everyday. There are 10 types to choose from and we had the 12 inch smoked chicken pizza with additional shiitake mushrooms ($25). I only had a slice because I personally found it strangely sweet. Not really to my liking.

The food that we had was satisfactory but I really like the ambience. Perhaps we would have better luck with the other dishes next time!
Stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy 🙂

Momma Kong’s Crab Shack: Mum’s Recipe Made Hip By Sons

Posted on July 11, 2013 by missuschewy

The bloggers, Derrick, Nadia, Maureen and I were planning on a quadruple date with our partners. So, sometime around end April this year, we met up for dinner at Momma Kong’s Crab Shack which makes this blog post two months overdue but heng ah, I’m not the last 😛 Hehehe.

Somehow, it ended up with Derrick being ‘responsible’ for coming up with a dinner place probably because he was the only male blogger in the whatsapp convo. We listed some conditions such as centralized location and air-conditioned place, etc, and Derrick suggested having crabs at Momma Kong’s, which we readily applauded. It meets our criteria of being centralized at Chinatown, it is air-conditioned, and on top of that, it was (at the time of our visit) a relatively new place that we had not blogged about before! LOL.

The interior of Momma Kong’s is simple and minimalistic, very laid-back and unpretentious. Youngsters who love eating crabs should be seen and heard at Momma Kong’s, as this place blasts R&B music and serves a wide variety of alcoholic drinks. What I like most is how Momma Kong’s Crab Shack came about. First time restaurateur and chef Edmund Kong was craving for his mother’s home-cooked crabs one day and he attempted to recreate her recipe. While at it, he found that it was too tedious to cook them on a regular basis and an idea struck him.

Edmund had this ingenious idea to cook the crabs in batches, freeze them, and then heat them up in individual boxes whenever the craving hits. Saves time and trouble! Along came the thought of opening a restaurant which was then put into action. If you are not completely sold on the idea of eating pre-cooked crabs, not to worry, the crabs are cooked-to-order for eat-in, take away and delivery. Currently, crabs are served fresh in order to ensure that customers have the best possible taste and experience with their food. With regards to the reheating of crab in boxes, Edmund is working with external consultants to perfect the process and will be launching that once the quality of the products that customers experience from Momma Kong’s can be guaranteed.

Don’t believe? We put the Steamed Crab ($38, 3 at $110) to the test! Steeped in fragrant huadiao jiu, the sweetness and freshness of the crab really shined through. I seldom eat steamed crabs but if the crabs are fresh, then steamed is the way to go!

Don’t leave without trying Momma Kong’s signature Crab Beehoon Soup ($38, 3 at $110) which will definitely warm your belly on a cold rainy day. The broth is rich and milky, and we finished the entire bowl in no time!

I’m not exactly a fan of Chilli Crab ($38, 3 at $110) but surprisingly, I actually liked Momma Kong’s rendition which was mildly spicy and not grossly sweet. Their Fried Mantou ($1.50 each, minimum 2 pieces) were also so much better than that of most places!

Lastly, let me introduce my favoritestest of all, the Black Pepper Crab ($38, 3 at $110). It was definitely a winner and a crowd pleaser. Very spicy, addictive and shiok! I admit, I licked the gravy clean with my mantou. LOL. Finger licking good I tell you.

Hopefully you will know where to go to when the crab craving hits! Stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy 🙂

Momma Kong’s Crab Shack
34 Mosque Street
Singapore 059512
Tel: 6225 2722

Opening Hours:
Tue to Sun
6pm to midnight
(Closed on Mon)

The Ascot @ The Grandstand: Authentic English Gastrogrub

Posted on July 8, 2013 by missuschewy

– Tasting Invite –

Wotcha chewys! Sometime back, misterchewy and I dropped by The Ascot at The Grandstand, formally known as Turf City. It was our first time at The Grandstand but we had been to quite a few of the seafood restaurants with our families when this place was still called Turf City. The change is quite huge and the place is livened up with many eateries and large crowds. Really glad to see that! 🙂

Owner Sylvester Fedor Thang chatted with us for a bit and asked if we know what The Ascot is all about. He previously spent two years studying in the UK and wanted to recreate the very best of the quintessential English pub experience right here in Singapore. Lovingly referred to as a British ‘gastrogrub’ by Sylvester, he wanted to serve authentic British cuisine and Singaporeans would be exposed to a whole lot more than just the usual Fish & Chips.

The Ascot at The Grandstand is named after the Ascot Racecourse, which is located in Berkshire. It seems that Sylvester is determined to share a piece of what he had experienced in UK with his fellow Singaporeans. Not surprisingly, The Ascot is very popular among expats as the food reminds them of home.

I had always wanted to try Toffee Apple Cider because I had such a hard time finding it at various supermarkets. It tasted really sweet and a little bitter. I think I still prefer beer 😛 The husband had a bottle of Pear Cider which was less sweet and more refreshing.

I was initially kinda skeptical of the Strawberry spinach salad with crumbled blue cheese, pistachios, bacon & avocado ($18) but the ~~crazy~~ unusual combination worked surprisingly well! The blue cheese was undoubtedly pungent and had a sharp acidic flavor but the sweetness derived from the strawberry slices and raspberry vinaigrette countered this well.

The husband and I were both surprised by how unique this bowl of Smoked tomato soup ($8) tasted, very full-bodied with a slightly smoked flavor to it. At the same time, it was rich, tangy, and a little sweet tasting. This certainly whetted our appetite for the remaining dishes to come!

The Cold Cut Platter ($18), featuring 3 types of cold cuts served with silver onions, gherkins, scotch egg & homemade bread, is a must order at The Ascot. Obviously, the scotch egg stole the show. It is essentially hard-boiled egg wrapped in sausage meat, coated in bread crumbs and baked or deep-fried. Perhaps I should try this in my own kitchen next time!

A bunch of bangers ($20) would definitely serve as a perfect pub grub, or gastro grub in this context. Have I ever told you that misterchewy and I loveeee sausages? I think we would have been on cloud nine if we had ordered beer instead of cider. Sausages + Beer = Heaven. We had two broiled sausages (instead of three because we don’t eat beef) on bubble and squeak drizzled with onion gravy. Bubble and squeak is a British dish made with shallow-fried leftover vegetables. Very interesting and we loved it.

Since this The Ascot is a British gastrogrub, we did not expect the Chicken Tikka Masala ($18) to come into the picture. Tender pieces of chicken were marinated in yoghurt and spices. Bathed in creamy and spicy curry sauce, this dish was very addictive and we couldn’t help dipping pieces of naan into the gravy even though we were quite full by then.

The Roasted chicken served with vegetables & potato lyonnais ($24) was even more tender than the chicken tikka masala. The first few bites were not bad but I soon found that the BBQ-like marination was too thick and sweet for my liking.

The husband and I felt that the desserts wrapped things up really nicely and we were very satisfied. Served warm, the Classic Bread & Butter Pudding ($9) and the vanilla ice cream were a match made in heaven. Moist, fluffy and slightly spongy, we enjoyed this dessert thoroughly!

We saved the best for last, and true enough, the Deep-fried Mars Bars in batter ($8) tasted as awesome as it sounds. Thick, gooey, caramelized goodness enveloped in a light, crispy and savory batter. This was a real sweet treat!

If you have not popped by The Grandstand, The Ascot gives you every reason to do so now! The place is made accessible with free shuttle services from Newton, Botanical Gardens and Toa Payoh mrt stations.
Stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com/missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy 🙂

The Ascot @ The Grandstand
200 Turf Club Road
#01-16
Singapore 287994
Tel: 6462 0881

Opening Hours:
Tue
3pm – 11pm
Wed & Thu
12pm – 11pm
Fri
12pm – 1am
Sat
10.30am – 1am
Sun
10.30am – 11pm

MUSEO @ Quayside Isle: A Delightful Gastronomical Experience Where Art Meets Food

Posted on July 4, 2013 by missuschewy

– Tasting Invite –

I was pleasantly surprised upon finding out that MUSEO (pronounced as ‘MOO-ZAY-O’) at the Quayside Isle on Sentosa Island is opened by the brilliant folks behind Arteastiq, which I had previously blogged about before. Even though I had only been there once, I loved the wonderful idea of combining art with food, making it a social painting and tea sipping place.

MUSEO means ‘museum’ in Italian, which brings to mind fine exhibits by world-renowned artists, all displayed in an elegant and refined setting. Incorporating its unique take to the term, MUSEO has translated the concept into gastronomic treats exquisitely presented with a contemporary twist.

Every single detail of its offerings, as well as interior atmosphere, down to its lighting, wall displays and music, are crafted with deliberate care to reflect a fine taste in food and art which all art enthusiasts would appreciate.

MUSEO provides the perfect weekend retreat for all city dwellers, as well as a peaceful sanctuary for working executives craving for a haven to wind down their minds after a long day of work. Sunset dining in the plush and luxurious setting, topped off with the perfect selection of house music and magnificent view of the marina littered with beautiful yachts, creates a paradisiacal holiday for everyone.

The venue is also perfect for a romantic first date between budding lovers. The creative vibe in the air and MUSEO’s integrated social painting studio allows all inspired souls to create their very own masterpiece.

As mentioned in my previous post, we had a staycation at Movenpick Heritage Hotel Sentosa and we took a feeder bus to Quayside Isle which was really convenient.

The drink that I wanted was unavailable and I went along with what was being recommended to me. Thyme and Grapes ($18), a concoction of fresh black grapes, unfiltered sake, vodka and thyme tasted deliciously sweet yet a little potent at the same time. This would definitely make a perfect after-dinner drink for ladies. The husband didn’t like his Berries Galore ($16), which tasted too strongly of vodka.

Among its many new creations, MUSEO is the first to serve food in exquisite glass cups. Simply named ‘Dine-In-A-Cup’, this refreshing concept is a guaranteed hit amongst the young, trendy and sophisticated, who crave intimacy and convenience even when dining more formally.

One of MUSEO’s selling point is its Mezzanine selection, which is named after some of the most eminent and celebrated art pieces in the world. Somehow, this made us appreciate the food that we tried at MUSEO even more and we relished every bite. Smile of Mona Lisa ($12) was truly unforgettable, oozing with yummy molten camembert cheese. It was served with cranberry sauce but we prefered it on its own. Picasso’s Blues ($12), deep fried prawns flavoured with lavender were crunchy but failed to leave a lasting impression.

Our favorite was Joys of Life ($12), the smoked roast pork belly served with hot sauce really hit the spot! It was one of the best roast pork belly that we had ever had. We even dipped it in the cranberry sauce that was supposed to go with the deep fried cheese, and it tasted just as amazing. We enjoyed The Kiss ($12) as well, barbequed squid with chilli and pepper was spicy enough but the sauce was a bit on the watery side. Diners have the flexibility in customising their own unique Mezzanine set by choosing 4 of the 12 Mezzanines available for only $39.

Our mains! Looks quite good right?

We found the Two-Way Lamb ($35) an interesting dish. Besides the roasted marinated lamb rack which was fork tender albeit a bit dry, it was also served with shepard pie which had been baked with lamb. The cherry tomato chutney complemented the lamb rack well and enhanced its flavors.

I can’t remember what misterchewy thought of the Pan Roasted Cod Fillet ($33) but I didn’t quite take to the onion relish which reminded me of Indian cuisine. Not that I have anything against that, in fact, I love Indian food. Perhaps the onion relish was very overpowering and I could not really taste the natural flavors of the cod fillet. The mushroom risotto was also too dry and sticky.

We were looking forward to the Vodka Chocolate Lava Cake ($12) and was surprised by its small serving size. The chocolate cake had a vodka filled molten chocolate centre which was thick and rich. Gelato of choice includes champagne vanilla, chocolate or yuzu.

I never order fruits as desserts but since the Eton Mess ($12) was recommended, we went along with it. Haha. On the overall, it was very sour, with diced strawberry and peach marinated with lemon juice and rum, topped with whipped cream. If your tolerance for sourness is very low, I suggest you don’t try this.

The husband and I were impressed with MUSEO’s Mezzanine range and we certainly don’t mind going back just for that. Maybe we will try to paint something while we are there! Hahaha 😛
Stay connected with us on Facebook www.facebook.com.missuschewy and on Instagram @missuschewy and @misterchewy

MUSEO
Quayside Isle (Next to W Hotel)
31 Ocean Way, #01-22
Sentosa Cove
Singapore 098375
Tel: 6734 8066

Opening Hours:
Mon to Thu
2pm – 1am
Fri, Sat & PH Eve
1.30pm – 2am
Sun
1.30pm – 1am

Embark on an Auspicious Epicurean Journey with Park Hotel Group this Chinese New Year!

Posted on January 14, 2013 by missuschewy

– Tasting Invite –

Chinese New Year is just around the corner! Wish everyone Gong Xi Fa Cai in advance! 😛 I was invited by Park Hotel Group to usher in the year of the Snake with them at Grand Park City Hall and I asked my bff/bridesmaid, Bee along. We were treated to a Lunar New Year lunch feast at Park Palace, which is situated on level 2 of the hotel. I didn’t have much time to explore the hotel but the ground floor looked really grand and had a totally different feel from that of Grand Park Orchard. In case you missed my post, I was lucky enough to be invited for a staycation at Grand Park Orchard last year and I would recommend it to everybody! 🙂

Soar to the pinnacle of success with prosperous Lunar New Year banquets at Park Palace. Lauded for the finest Cantonese gastronomy, this Oriental paradise beckons with a flourish of evergreen à la carte Lunar New Year cuisines, Set Menus and innovative Lunar New Year offerings created with a twist.

Early Bird Special: Book now and dine in from 21 January to 7 February and enjoy 20% off Lunar New Year Set Menus and a la carte at Park Palace.

Chinese New Year Set Menus

– $78++ per person (a maximum of two persons)
– $288++ per table (for four persons)
– $438++ per table (for six persons)
– $588++ per table (for eight persons)
– $788++ to $2388++* per table (for ten persons)

*Orders to be made at least one day in advance.
*Enjoy a complimentary bottle of house wine per table with booking of ten tables or more (ten pax per table).

Some of the early blogger birds from my table – Lobster, me, Charleen, Ellena and Derrick.

We waited patiently for everyone else to arrive before we started with our Lo Hei!

I wouldn’t be surprised if someone’s new year resolution is to do a Prosperity Toss for a minimum of say, 10 times this Lunar New Year! Yusheng means an increase in abundance so let’s all start tossing away! At Park Hotel Group, almost nothing can be more glamorous and spectacular than tossing Golden Shunde Yu Sheng ($88++) with exquisite gold dust and gold flakes. This is available from 21 January to 24 February.

A distinctly-prepared delicacy hailing from Shunde – a river town in China’s Guangdong province –
renowned for its freshwater fish and fresh produce, this luxurious gourmet treat uses fresh Yellowtail.

I really must applaud the Chefs at Park Hotel Group for coming up with such an ingenious twist to the ordinary Yu Sheng. The base of crispy fried vermicelli is vibrantly adorned with slender slices of ginger, spring onions, crunchy capsicums and finely grounded peanuts; tossed in a special concoction of fragrant peanut oil and premium soya sauce. The Yu Sheng boasts a refreshing twist with none of the cloying sweetness that may overwhelm the palate. You will find yourself reaching for more servings.

Do not miss out on the Imperial Suckling Pig ($238++) which is an absolute crowd pleaser. The whole process of air-drying and roasting the piglet which weighed about 5kg is done in-house so please remember to reserve at least one day in advance.

The skin of the suckling pig was crisp yet retaining its tenderness underneath. Simply addictive!

Another must-have during Lunar New Year is fish, which also represents abundance. Please your old folks with the Golden Happiness Crispy Garoupa!

Out of all the dishes that we had, I felt that the Prosperity Flambé Pen Cai ($268++ for 6 pax, $428++ for 10 pax) stole the show. It boasts as many as 18 luxuriant ingredients including Sliced Abalone, Sea Cucumber, Whole Conpoy, Prawn Balls, Roasted Duck, Roasted Pork Belly, Duck Web, Soya Chicken, Fatt Choy, Black Mushroom, Lotus Root, Broccoli, Radish, Beancurd Skin, Gingko Nut and Black Fungus with quality stock in a casserole pot. At this point, I really want to shout “Huat ah!”

Adding a twist to this year’s creation, the Prosperity Flambé Pen Cai is infused with Cognac, and flambéed to bring out the rich flavours and tastes of its ingredients, with a tang of alcohol.

The suckling pig made its appearance once again, this time, it was the Imperial Suckling Pig Oven-baked with Lemongrass which was done really well while maintaining its juiciness and the taste of lemongrass was subtle yet discernible. Very refreshing and easy on the palate!

The dishes and their presentation keep getting better and all of us were pretty much captivated by the Auspicious Glutinous Rice with Foie Gras and Preserved Meat!

As sinful as it may be, but I really really really love foie gras. This was done expertly and I really appreciated the exquisite texture of the foie gras. I didn’t manage to finish the glutinous rice though, as it was way too sticky and chewy for me to stomach.

I almost squealed in excitement when the Steamed Mini Pumpkin Dumplings with Green Bean Paste were being laid before our eyes. Much effort must have being put into kneading these delicate mini pumpkins! We couldn’t bear to eat them but of course we did in the end, after taking countless photographs. These reminded us of the Thai dessert Luk Chup but these were undeniably less sweet and made a perfect light dessert treat for all of us.

If you are looking for auspicious epicurean reinventions this Chinese New Year to impress the young and the old in your family, take this opportunity to enjoy 20% off the Lunar New Year Set Menus or A’la Carte when you book now and dine-in from 21st Jan to 7th Feb! There is also Blog Promotion for all my readers! Simply quote “missuschewy” during reservations via email/phone and receive a complimentary bottle of house red wine per table of minimum 10 pax.

Don’t forget to connect with us at www.facebook.com/missuschewy and huat together! 😛 Thank you Park Hotel Group for the invitation and warm hospitality.

GRAND PARK CITY HALL
10 Coleman Street Singapore 179809
Tel: 6432 5888
For reservations: 6432 5543 or email parkpalace.gpch@parkhotelgroup.com

GRAND PARK ORCHARD
270 Orchard Road Singapore 238857
Tel: 6603 8855
For reservations: 6603 8855 or email fnb.gpor@parkhotelgroup.com

PARK HOTEL CLARKE QUAY
1 Unity Street Singapore 237983
Tel: 6593 8855
For reservations: 6593 8855 or email fnb.phcq@parkhotelgroup.com

missuschewy

Singapore Lifestyle and Travel Blog

Tag Archives: food blog singapore

Kuro Kin Japanese Dining Singapore Food Review

Cafe Melba: A Tranquil Foodie Escape From The City

Momma Kong’s Crab Shack: Mum’s Recipe Made Hip By Sons

The Ascot @ The Grandstand: Authentic English Gastrogrub

MUSEO @ Quayside Isle: A Delightful Gastronomical Experience Where Art Meets Food

Embark on an Auspicious Epicurean Journey with Park Hotel Group this Chinese New Year!

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