JB Makan Review - D' Shanghai 大上海 @ Sutera Mall

It was just one of the days where you feel like you need to take a break from work, head to somewhere nothing can remind me of work, and spend the day just window shopping and stuffing myself silly.

It was just one of those days and I headed to JB Sutera Mall to have a day of utter emptiness and do nothing but shop and eat. I woke up in the late hours of the bright afternoon and by the time I arrived at my destination it was way pass lunch time. I desperately needed food and after one single round of walking pass all possible F&B outlets, I decided to stick to something I have ate before at KSL - D' Shanghai. It felt safe and I wanted to save some space for a better dinner.

Dishes are ranked in descending order of like:

Fried Prawn Dumplings (RM7.20) cannot go wrong. 

Actually anything deep fried stuffed with prawns can't go wrong.

Fried Carrot Cake (RM7.50) was surprisingly pleasant and had great flavour. Definitely not something I would expect be nice in a dim sum restaurant. Loving the crispy bits.

Vegetables (Choi Sin) with Oyster Sauce RM7.50 was not bad, at least so much better than some of the following dishes. 

Fried garlic on vegetables with oyster sauce, won't go wrong.

 Steamed Prawn Dumplings / Har Gou (RM5.80) had its skin slightly on the thick side, but filling was fresh with a slight crunch. You know how some har gou have mushy fillings? 

Thank god, this wasn't like that.

I still cannot get over the fact that their Signature Xiao Long Bao costs only RM4.80 

(which is a mere S$1.70)

Seriously I have nothing to complain.

Beancurd Skin in Broth (RM5.50) something you order hoping to comfort your soul but end up tasting nothing but MSG.

Zha Jiang Noodles (RM11.90) was an utter disappointment, the sauce was flavourless and didn't coat the noodles. Even after adding soya sauce, it was still bland.

Fried Spring Rolls (RM4.50) was an absolute nightmare. Seriously how do you even make spring rolls taste bad? 

I cannot even describe how "not-spring roll-like" this spring roll was.

Prawn Rice Rolls / Chee Cheong Fun (RM7.20) was like eating a thick sheet of steamed plain dough and I had to really dismantle the whole thing to look for a couple 5mm pieces of chopped up shrimp.

The total bill including drinks only cost me RM83 (less than S$30) and filled up 2 full grown adults' tummies. Honestly with a favorable exchange rate like this (2.8) I shall not even attempt to make nasty comments on mediocre dim sum. 

Just remember - have no high expectations, smile, and move on to the next makan stop.

Overall verdict: 3/5

Will I come back again? 

Most likely I will, when I really have no special cravings and just need simple fare to fill up my tummy.

What to eat in Bangkok (BKK) - Nara Thai Cuisine, Central World

Singaporeans crave about this restaurant, both in Singapore and Bangkok, and when I was there, at least 80% of the diners were Singaporeans, the rest other foreigners. I arrived early at 11:30am and got a seat immediately. However, by 12 noon, a queue started to form and the electronic queue system was already in use.

The decor was beautiful, and it is not always I would choose to have Thai fine dining. But I was genuinely impressed with the ambiance (before the crowd flooded in)

To be honest, I didn't find the food fantastic to the extent of "die-die-must-eat" when you visit Bangkok, I usually fill my tummies with street food, but I wouldn't say that it was bad. It was hmmm pretty good.

Tord Man Kung Prawn Cakes (260 baht)

The prawn cakes were very different when compared to those I had in Singapore. The prawn cakes at Nara had a higher content of minced prawn, whereas those we have in Singapore is more like a prawn paste. The thai chili sauce served alongside it was overly sweet, without any trace of chili, most likely adjusted to suit the international palate.

Verdict: 3/5

Poa Pia Nara - Crispy Spring Rolls (130 baht)

The thin sticks of "fried popiah" was so pretty, but we could barely taste the filling of pork and vegetables. But presentation gets full marks.

Verdict: 3/5

Tom Yum Kung Maenum (370 baht)

Much more expensive than what we get at other places, the tomyum was not the best I had but acceptable. The prawns were larger than the usual versions, and fresh, thus we didn't feel the pinch. 

Verdict: 3.2/5

Phad Thai Kai Krob (210 baht)

The upgraded version of all phad thais, I love the bits of fried egg scattered on top - it added the perfect aroma to the otherwise common dish. The sauce perfectly coated every strand of noodle and ingredient, and it was one of the best blends - not too sweet, not too sour. Trust me, I had phad thais that tasted like dessert, and it is not pleasant. This version, I love.

Verdict: 4.5/5


Overall experience: 3.8/5

I had a good experience at Nara Thai Cuisine, and it was a pleasant one trying out thai dishes in a sophisticated setting. The price was actually acceptable in Singapore standards, money very well spent. But, if you ask me if I would return (and have to queue to get a table), I might just settle with the equally good quality food I get at the street stalls outside Central World. 
If there is no queue, and I am feeling fancy, I might succumb :)

SG Food Review - Pick Me Up Cafe @ Parkland, East Coast Park

Once upon a sweaty day after a walk at East Coast Park, I dropped by the newly opened area to grab something to prevent a serious heatstroke, and stumbled upon this cafe whose ice cream fridge attracted my attention.

The waffles with ice-cream and cold-pressed juice (S$8.90) left me with a pleasant impression, and I am determined to return for their savoury items.

So I returned another day after a long day at work, thinking I could do with some comfort food. I ordered the Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict on waffles (S$16.90) which is described as norwegian smoked salmon, perfectly poached eggs, bonito flakes, hollandaise and rocket on a savoury miso waffle. 

The plate that I got didn't look anything like the picture on their billboard menu, and all I could see was an unappetizing pile of brown mess. I wanted to break the yolk of my "perfectly" poached egg so I diligently removed the mess of bonito flakes and smoked salmon above it to find the eggs "perfectly" cooked. It was almost a hard-boiled egg.

The waffles was also soggy not only in the middle where the hollandaise moistened it, but also around the sides where technically if it is slightly over browned, there should be a perfect crust when I cut into it, no?

It was perfectly crisp when I had it previously with ice-cream, why is it soggy now?

Verdict: 2/5

We also had their new item out of their usual menu - handmade pizza with roast duck (S$19.90). 

The name is wrong, as it's just smoked ducked slices on top of what taste to me like frozen pizza dough we get from NTUC. There was way more uncooked sliced onion to duck, and all I could get out of it was bad breath. 

The rocket was I guess a healthy touch, but didn't do anything to the dish.

Verdict: 1.5/5

To try to salvage the disappointment, I decided to have double cup of icecream (S$7.50) since I had their ice-cream before and it was pretty good. But to my horror they didn't have the flavor I had previously - Pistachio, so I chose Snickers and Manuka Honeycomb Nougat. 

The snickers tasted like chocolate, just milk chocolate, I didn't get the caramel and peanut taste a bar of snickers should rightfully have. The manuka honeycomb nougat was ironically just like vanilla. Where is the manuka, and honeycomb and nougat? It was not even sweet.

Verdict: 1/5

Overall verdict: 1.2/5

I am not sure if it was the dying thirst that made me enjoyed my first visit, or was it the long day at work that made everything I tasted bad. I was so disappointed I went home and cooked myself a packet of instant noodles with egg. 

SG Food Review - TungLok Heen 同乐轩, Resorts World Sentosa

One of my recent favourite dining hangouts must be Tung Lok Heen. 

Located at Hotel Michael, Resorts World Sentosa, this is not the best place to come just for a meal, but the food gives me regular cravings, and I try to ignore the inconvenience and exorbitant parking fees (usually more than 10 bucks for about/less than 2hrs) just to satisfy those food cravings. Also, my American Express Platinum card's Palate Dining Privileges allows me to enjoy 50% off when I dine with one other person.

I have been coming back at least once every month, and I keep ordering similar dishes - those to-die-for dishes!

Though my doctor and cholesterol levels will not be pleased, I can never resist a plate of their Salted Egg Yolk Fried Fish Skin (S$12). Coated generously with golden goodness, and yet stays crisp till the final piece.

Verdict: 4.5/5

Homemade Tofu with Monkey Head Mushrooms and vegetables (S$24, I think)

Simple silky smooth goodness. 

By the way, Mum, I am eating my vegetables.

Verdict: 4.1/5

Three-Cup Chicken (S$28, I think)

Not impressively delicious, barely acceptable to eat with plain rice. 

Note to self: order other dishes next time

Verdict: 2.3/5

Grilled Lamb (per serving S$22)
Tender and perfectly cooked. Served with "carrot cake" taste-alike cubes which is an adorable touch for this seemingly boring western dish.

Verdict: 4/5

Overall verdict: 3.8/5

With the prevailing discounts I enjoy, I will definitely be back before Tung Lok or AMEX cancels the deal. However, if you want me to randomly just stop by for a meal, I might have to give it some consideration. 
Food decisions; never-ending struggles.

Resorts World Sentosa
Hotel Michael, Lobby Level 
26 Sentosa Gateway
#02-142/143
Singapore 098138 

Tel: +65 6884 7888

Opening Hours:
Daily
Lunch: 11.30am - 2.30pm (Last order 2.00pm)
Dinner: 6.30pm -10.30pm (Last order 10.00pm)

SG Food Review - (212 Hougang Street 21) Knuckles Bistro.Cafe

Isn't it wonderful to have more unique and creative food outlets opening in the neighborhoods of Singapore? 

Knuckles, though probably not that new and located not near to my estate impressed me tremendously with it's creativity, vibes, and most importantly it's utterly delicious food at super affordable prices. 

As per it's name, the German Pork Knuckle is a must-order dish. Seriously where do you think you can find a decent plate of crispy crackling skin on top of de-boned tender pork knuckle at S$10? Comes with sides of sauerkraut and mashed potato.

Verdict: 4.8/5

The Pork Schnitzel ($8) is another satisfying dish to order for the pork-lover in you. The perfectly deep-fried slice of pork chop is indeed amazing food for the soul. Served with cream sauce, french fries and side salad.

Verdict: 4.5/5

Another of my weird favourite must be the sotong balls. It comes from a frozen pack of processed sotong balls, I am fully aware, but who is complaining if it provides you with such genuine comfort that an otherwise healthy diet can't satisfy?

Come on, paying $3 for a basket of fried goodness is damn worth it. 

The diet can wait.

"May I have my usual order of 2 portions, please?"

Verdict: 5/5

During my first few visits, I never thought of ordering a pasta dish, especially if I am in a place called "Knuckles". But with every visit, I noticed that almost every table has a plate of this intense truffle aroma rushing towards my sense of smell. So one fine day, I succumbed to my carb cravings and ordered this Truffle Mushroom Pasta (S$8) on top of my pork-related main course (of course) and was I addicted to it. 

The pasta was al dente and the truffle cream sauce was creamy and yet light at the same time. I have to order this every time now.

Verdict: 4.9/5

Overall verdict: 4.9/5

The affordable prices lowered my expectations, but the food exceeded way beyond. 

I have been returning for feasts and I can proudly say that Knuckles have never once failed to satisfy my many cravings.

Knuckles

Block 212 Hougang Street 21

#01-337

Tel: 62850549

Closed every first and third Monday

SG Food Review - Toss & Turn by Cedele @ VivoCity

I am starting to love this salad place located at VivoCity, Toss & Turn by Cedele gives me a salad coma when I get back to my office after lunch, in a wonderful and guilt-free kind of way. 

To be honest, I can never and never will be a salad person, I mean how does one get satisfied just by eating greens. Won't they get digested by the time you walk back to your office? 

But the salad here works for me.

I get to choose up to:

 2 salad bases 

(usually I select mixed greens and one noodles (either the thick noodles or soba), 

2 deli 

(got the frittata and shrimps here, but there is also roast beef slices, smoked salmon, chicken, sauteed mushrooms, etc... or you can select the hot dish like meatballs or peri peri chicken instead. The hot dishes changes from time to time though.), 

4 crunches 

(which are unlike the crunches at other places which are perhaps just some nuts and corn kernels, the crunches here also include things like sweet potato, boiled egg, brocoli, beetroot, tofu, peppers, etc...)

A regular salad like that costs S$10.50. 

I am like "look at the size of my salad!" There are so many toppings I have to seriously dig through to get to my greens. 

And you might think, if I get that for lunch, I will surely be hungry by 4pm. 

NO! 

The portion will keep you in your salad coma till dinner time. With all that protein, you have nothing to worry about.

Also, i recommend getting the set meal that comes with orange juice for just S$12. 

Very worth it!

An hour later, it looks like I still have a full portion of salad.

Verdict: 

4.8/5

Will definitely come back for more healthy and satisfying lunches :)

Toss & Turn

1 Harbourfront Walk

#01-113/114, VivoCity

Singapore 098585

Tel: 62211396

JB Makan Review - Hiap Joo Bakery & Biscuit Factory

I love any traditional bakes, and it makes my heart flutter in happiness whenever I see any old-school bakery. 

I heard of this famous old-school bakery before, selling bread and the ever so popular banana cake, but I just didn't really put my heart into looking for it. So this fateful day, after having lunch at Restoran Ya Wang, I went looking for the way back to our hotel, and drove pass this "chinatown-looking" lane that is named after a chinese man/woman with the surname "Tan".

Round the corner, there was a long queue of about 20 crazy humans under the blazing sun, and there was no way I could see what they were queuing for. I didn't want to find another parking lot (which is rather impossible there to be honest), so we made a passing remark and drove off towards the jam.

When I checked into our hotel - DoubleTree by Hilton, I was making use of the free wifi and randomly searching for where else I could explore nearby the hotel. And I saw reviews about this famous banana cake again, and to my utter surprise, the address of the bakery is at 13 Jln Tan Hiok Nee, JB. 

I thought to myself, "Don't tell me it's that queue!" and I went ahead to google map the address, and IT REALLY IS! 

Now I have to make another trip down to get it. This must be fate playing a trick on me. 

I HAVE TO GET IT!

And i did:

I went there the next day after I checked out at 11am, and bought almost every kind of bread that was available, way more than I fit into my larger than average tummy.

It was piping hot, and they just packed it into the most humble looking plastic bag, nothing fancy. Perhaps I bought too much, and everything got squeezed into a mess, thus I didn't bother to take pictures.

I risked burning my tongue and went for the otak one, and it was indeed amazing. The bread was moist and had a hint of smoked flavour from the wood-fire oven. Even though it was all squished and I couldn't use the description fluffy on it, it was still soft and comforting. The ratio of the filling was just right, and there was not too much of bread or filling.

Verdict: 4/5


I also bought way too many boxes of banana cake (RM9.60 for a box of 10), oh my love for banana cake! I had to wait about 15mins for a new batch, and I was most willing to, I can wait for as long as I can for freshly baked cake.

The smell was too overwhelming and I burned my fingers trying to pinch a piece off to eat it. The cake was the moistest of all cake I have eaten, so soft yet still has a slight spongy texture, it was baked to perfection. The aroma of fresh bananas was so satisfying, it was nothing like artificial banana flavouring (which gives me a headache)
The cake was not too sweet, and i guarantee you can keep going for it. 
It is addictive. 

I am craving for a slice (no, I want a box of it) now as I am typing this post.

Verdict: 100000/5

I need this in my life and will definitely go back for the banana cake.

JB Makan Review - Restoran Ya Wang 鸭皇药材烧腊（冷气）餐厅

There have been a constant rave on my Facebook feed about this restaurant conveniently located not far from the JB Checkpoint, serving herbal roasted duck better than Singapore's very own Dian Xiao Er. 

Apparently, they are the consultant for Singapore's Dian Xiao Er, so I am thinking most likely they came up with the original recipe, and sold it to Dian Xiao Er. 

I absolutely love Dian Xiao Er's herbal roasted duck, and I was determined to try for myself.

Of course, a few wrong turns and misleading GPS instructions later, we found the place which is in the vicinity of other Facebook raved JB makan places and cafes. Definitely somewhere we can spend the whole afternoon, cafe-hopping and stuffing ourselves silly.

Ordered a small portion of their signature herbal roasted duck (RM17). 

The smell was irresistible and the greasy sauce was just like what we have at Dian Xiao Er, maybe even more fragrant. Maybe that was what boosted my expectations further, and I was immediately disappointed when I bit into a piece of duck meat.

The skin was not crispy (which is still acceptable), and the meat wasn't to-die-for tender. The duck, if I didn't repeatedly mop it in the sauce, didn't taste anything herbal to me. I had to scoop up tablespoons of sauce to eat with the duck, just to make sure I didn't show too much disappointment. Rice (RM1.30) or noodles (RM2.20) is also available.

Verdict: 3/5

The sauce won me over, but the duck itself didn't.

We also ordered the char siew (RM10), which had a fat to meat ratio of almost 1:1. I would prefer a leaner cut, but I didn't request for it, and I am sure many others would die for this ratio I had.

The char siew was tender, and charred to perfection. The sauce was also yums.

Verdict: 4.2/5

We also had the cereal prawns (RM37), and boy, were the prawns enormous.

There were only about 5-6 pieces, and look at how they filled up the whole plate. The prawns were deep-fried into a slightly-too-thick crust before tossed in the yummy cereal mix. The vegetable dish we ordered 罗汉斋 (RM16) was a disappointment. The selection of mixed vegetables and the sauce were just a weird mushy combination of pointlessness, perhaps barely satisfactory for some dietary fibre and vitamins which i doubt still exists.

Overall verdict: 3.2/5

The prices were not high in Singapore standards, but likely to be overpriced for the locals. Was there on a Monday afternoon about 3-4pm, and the restaurant had a slow but constant stream of diners to take up about an average of 65% occupancy. About 50% were locals.

Will I come back again? Maybe if I am in the vicinity, if not Dian Xiao Er will do just fine.

Why you should have a staycation at DoubleTree by Hilton, Johor Bahru

I had to work, and couldn't fully enjoy the precious Vesak Day long weekend, so I was thinking of what I could do to make up to myself. I was tired physically and mentally and things like an expensive dinner, or retail therapy didn't seem to excite me. So I took a day off on Tuesday, so I can attempt to cheat myself that I still had a proper weekend.

I wanted to get out of Singapore, and a 1-night staycation at JB seems easy to carry out. 

The weak ringgit meant I could afford a good hotel I perhaps wouldn't pay for elsewhere and while I scrolled around Agoda.com, DoubleTree by Hilton looked perfect to me.

So i booked the "King One Bedroom Suite with Lounge Access" online, paid less than SGD$300, packed one set of clothes, my bikini, and off for a quick escape I went.

The location of the hotel was in a part of JB I have yet to explore, and I had my far share of missed turns before I arrived safe and sound. Of course, the incompetent GPS played a part too.

DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Bahru welcomed me with a warm cookie upon check-in and it made my day. 

I was sure I smiled while I held the nutty chocolate chip cookie. At least the excessive drive was worth it.

The 64sqm suite was larger than I expected, and provided me with more than enough space for a one-night getaway. The bedroom had a huge L-shaped window, and I was pleased with the sunlight seeping through. 

The bathroom was bright and clean, had a walk-in rain-shower and a bathtub is always welcomed. Hot bubble baths are compulsory for urgent staycations like this.

Spotted a weighing scale beneath the sink, and with all the JB delicacies in my tummy, I was certain I made the right choice to ignore it.

Plenty of room in the living area

This particular room type also allowed access to the Executive Lounge. Located on the 29th floor, open from 6am to 10pm (Mon-Fri) and 7am to 10pm (Sat-Sun), I could enjoy these exclusive services in the Executive Lounge:

• Complimentary breakfast 
• Cocktails and Canapes served every evening from 6pm to 8pm 
• Afternoon Tea served from 4pm to 6pm (Sat-Sun & PH only)
• Coffee, tea and soft drinks served throughout the day
• Business Centre facilities and private workstation available

Of course, smart casual attire is required when visiting the Executive Lounge. I wasn't prepared to go for a ball or business meeting and all I had was flip flops. So I gave it a miss.

Cause who doesn't like breakfast in bed?

Hits: 
Love the room, the view, the space and warm service
Love that the hotel is conveniently located near popular JB makan places such as Restoran Ya Wang and Hiap Joo Bakery.

Misses: 
In-Room wired internet worked for my laptop. But I couldn't get the in-room wifi to work on my mobile device. Public wifi in the lobby didn't work on my mobile too. Maybe it knew I needed this "disconnection" and automatically repelled my Samsung S6.

Overall experience: 4/5

Will definitely look forward to a longer stay in the near future to enjoy more facilities I didn't get to enjoy.

Note to self: Try, at least try to ignore the cheap and good JB food, so that I can dine in one of the many good-looking restaurants in the hotel. The image of the italian pasta dish looping on the TV screen in the hotel lift was calling out to me, but I really had no space left in my tummy.