Sunday, March 20, 2011

PARADISE DYNASTY @ Ion Orchard

I first saw some 8-colored dumplings on Channel 8.. part of an advertisement or something. Been wanting to try it for the longest time and finally did today (:


For optimum tasting of these 8 flavors, savour them in numeric order. But, with 2 monkeys in tow, and not sure how they will take to the unusual flavors, I ordered only 1 basket to share.
Dang, BIG MISTAKE, should have ordered 1 for them and 1 for ME ONLY :S

Kids gaga over dumplings (they love Ding Tai Fung's) and these colorful bundle are just so pretty :)

SzeChuan flavor.. the thin dumpling skin, generous pork fillings and the abundance of broth was simply delish! Sadly.. I didn't get to try Black Truffle & Foie Gras  :( my boy has "exquisite" taste.. those were the ones he picked, and love!  :S

Baby Bamboo Shoot in Oyster Sauce- This is a MUST-TRY appetizer. Really Really Really good. Really. Can't describe. Just try it, you won't regret (:


Cold Tofu with Century Egg - No-frills, simple yet tasty appetizer. Just plain silky tofu topped with century egg and drizzled with sauce. Nicey too (:


LaMian in Signature Pork Broth Soup- Paradise Dynasty has 18 different types of LaMain with different toppings in their menu. Each strand of noodle (and their dumplings) are made from the open kitchen. The broth was flavorsome and the noodles springy and smooth.

Little boy ordered the LaMian with scallops,prawns and crabmeat toppings. Half boil egg, crabmeat, prawns, scallops (not pictured), fishmaw and vegetables were tossed together with the noodles.

Ash had the LaMian with shredded pork and preserved vege. The bowl looks HUGE.. though the noodles fill up half of it only, but definitely ample for one's fill.

Cheese dumplings - Kids love it so much we specially ordered 1 more basket of cheesey dumplings only. Each dumpling is generously filled with mince pork, broth and just a right tinge of cheese for the flavor.

Service was thumbs up too (and I think service plays a major part for returning customers). I will definitely be back again for a basket of 8-colored dumplings... and no, I am not sharing this time round ^^

Friday, March 18, 2011

SABOTEN @ Parco Marina Bay

I often gripe about the vast difference in the service locally as compared to Japan. Boy, I was bowled over by the amazing service at Saboten. The staff attending to us courteously bowed at every of our request and attended to us promptly. Considering we had 5 jumping, climbing and yakking children, we were definitely not an easy table to serve.

Saboten is supposedly Japan's (Shinjuku origin) largest tonkatsu specialty chain. With unlimited refill of salad, miso soup, rice and green tea; the basic set meal which cost around SGD$22+ is definitely very worth it (:



DIY grinding of the sesame seeds. This was fun. Kids were painstakingly grinding every single seed, ensuring that each and every sesame was perfectly grinded to powder.

The grinded sesame seeds.



One of the reasons Saboten claims that make them stand out from its competitors. Home made Tonkatsu sauce. Sauce is made from scratch using generous amounts of  fruits and vegetables, crediting the sweetness as natural, without any sugar added.



 Mixed the sauce with the grinded sesame seeds and tadah.. we have our dip (:


I don't remember the name of this set I ordered  :(


This neither, can't remember but it was some creamy roe thingy?
But the katsu are good  ^^


What really awed me that evening was this innocent-looking bowl of shredded cabbage. It was so amazingly fresh, crisp and with a choice of either the citrusy yuzu-based vinegar or creamy sesame sauce, this salad definitely beats all its competitors hands down.
This salad was so good we asked for multiple servings that nite :P


Ended the meal with a matcha ice cream which was delightfully yums ^^




I used to satisfy my tonkatsu cravings at Tonkichi, but Saboten has now top my list of favouritEST tonkatsu restaurant in Singapore ((:
(ps: will return to try other items and get the names of the Katsu I ordered :P)

Sunday, March 13, 2011

MAD FOR GARLIC @ Suntec

The name says it all. Only for garlic lovers :P



DRACULA KILLER - Soft bread serve with garlic cooked in olive oil & anchovies *loads of cheese sprinkled*
This is literally "garlic bread", serve with whole garlic and not garlic cream spread.  This is one of the recommended appetizer; the bread was really soft, topped with one of the garlic which is so fragrantly cooked in olive oil. The kids love this and garlic is still one of the "miracle food" I swear by till date that credits to my kids' good health.


MIXED CHEESE PIZZA - Pizza topped with 4 different kinds of cheese.
Thin crust 4 cheese pizza serve with dollops of cheese. Nothing special, though I kinda of like the dollops of cheeses melting in my mouth :P


GARLIC SNOWING PIZZA - Special sweet garlic pizza topped with shrimps and pineapple dice.
One of the toppings was slices of garlic fried to the crisp. The garlic adds a tinge of unique fragrance to the thin crust pizza.. and yes, its thin crust, I am already won over (:


 SEAFOOD RICE - Fried rice with spicy pepper seeds and different kind of seafood.
This is one spicy dish! Menu indicate 2 chilli at the side (max is 3) and I love the generous serving of seafood. They should go easy on the oil though.


MUSHROOM RISOTTO - Risotto cooked with spinach and mushroom topped with grilled chicken leg.
This has 2 chilli indicator as well. Chicken portion was huge abd the risotto was nicely spiced.


GARLIC STEAK - Special Ribeye steak topped with various kinds of garlic serve on a hotplate.
Where is the steak? This dish was really drowned in garlic, garlic and more garlic.

The only disappointment of the nite, steak was a tad too tough (it was a bad cut of meat), medium doneness instead of medium rare and too many veins.
The over-generous toppings of different kinds of garlic was the only consolation (oh yes, I love my garlic).


Their selling point is Garlic (of course) and I might just return to try the rest of the menu (but I will skip the beef the next round, there are definitely better choices for good old steak).

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Ah Balling Peanut Soup @Golden Mile Food Centre

Glutinous balls with fillings serve in sweet peanut soup. I will always try and squeeze space in my tumtum for a bowl of this to complete my meal at Golden Mile Food Centre. Most Singaporeans would know Ah Balling (hor?). Need no further recommendation from me, I guess.


I ordered 1 in almond milk too. Verdict? Traditional peanut for me please (:


Ah Balling with sesame fillings. My fav ^^


Peanut fillings.


Red bean fillings.

91 Fried Kway Teow @Golden Mile Food Centre

Signage screams : No Pork, No Lard.

This char kway teow is served with heaps of greens and anchovies, promotes healthy eating with no pork, no lard.
One can't help but wonders, how can this stall whip up a healthy lardless rendition of the famous lard-laden, oily, high cholestrol char kway teow?

Conclusion? Texture was smooth, it was surprisingly not dry nor bland and the generous servings of vegetable mellow out the guilt of eating char kway teow. Yes mom, I had my daily serving of greens :D

If u feel like eating char kway teow but can't bear the guilt trip, go for this.

Else, a full-fledge lard laden (+guilt-stricken) char kway teow definitely delivers the punch this healthy version can't :P

CHUNG CHENG CHILLI MEE @ Golden Mile Food Centre


CHILLI MEE
This stall is a 老字号, most would rave about and tell you its a must try. There always seems to be an incessant queue each time I pass by. My other half adores the chilli mee and would gladly join the queue each time we're there.

Chilli is moderately spicy, not those "power" tongue-burning chilli.I have tried it a few times, but somehow I felt the standard has dropped or the novelty of joining the crowd for this must-try dish has weaned off?
Imho, this chilli mee is good, but lacks that punch..somehow.


PORK RIB PRAWN NOODLE SOUP
Coming from a famous noodle stall, guess one's expectation would naturally be higher. Soup base tasted a little flat, without the oomph of "prawn-rich" taste. Pork ribs were soft and tender, noodles and prawns the usual, nothing special.
An ok dish overall, and if you do patronize this stall, opt for the chilli mee instead (: