Shokudo (Part 1)

I have been going to this Japanese Marche at least twice a week. Erm... not becos the food is fantastic, but becos the concept is pretty new.. So i have been catching up with my various groups of friends in this restaurant.

As they function like Marche (card concept), u don't really know or keep track of how much u have spent... it's a very gd marketing concept as u don't feel the pinch.. until u pay at the cashier after yr meal.

Individual items seem cheap initially... ranging from $7-$12... but as u accumulate with side dish and desserts... +GST + Service Charge, it's not cheap at all!!! Average spending at the end is about $18 and beyond. My friends of 3 generated a receipt of $100+! He felt quite cheated... it's abt $30/pax, could have go for an authentic jap restaurant instead.

Verdict: Tried once for the experience is sufficient. Their dessert crepes is the only thing to rave abt and sth which i will go back for. Their pasta is not too bad, with special jap cream sauce, nicer than pasta de waraku. The rest are not worth the $ tho...

My 1st Visit (out of 7 times)

Teriyaki Chicken Burger: 3/5
Hmmm... Edible. Not sure if it's the quality of the camera or this burger really was unappetizing. Fries and veggies looked rather uncooked hor. Guess it's for those who are hungry but not out to look for good quality burgers...
Pasta:4/5
I like the special wafu sauce. For the healthy conscious, soup based pasta is available too =)
Omelette Station
Mushroom Cheese Omelette:3/5
Too expensive for a plate of omelette. The fillings were quite stingy too. Dessert: Mochi Ice with Red Bean +Green Tea ice cream: 3.8/5
*Very chewy mochi with sweet red beans.. but don't be fooled by this picture.. It isn't a bowl of red bean but a bowl of shaved ice, topped with a layer of red bean. Nice Gelato green tea ice cream.

Watch out for Part 2! more food and more desserts(CREPES) pictures! =)

ButterCup

It was my first time in Novena (that place is quite out of the way for me, but happened to be settling Work&Travel USA doc ard that area) so i began to explore that area. There are so many more things to try in that area!!

I love the pancake, waffle and crepe family (do u see any similarity in them?). Buttercup- This little shop is located at a small little corner in Square 2. It caught my attention immediately!
They sell waffles and crepes with a variety of flavours. More unique one will be the chocolate banana flavour. Price consider relatively cheap, considering the fact that it is situated in a shopping mall.

Given that waffles is widely available, i went for the crepes~ I missed a gd crepe ever since i last had mine in Taiwan. Recently, a few crepe shops have sprouted out in Singapore- Plaza Singapura(french crepe), Suntec, Jurong point, IMM (japanese crepes)- all are soft skin crepes. But i having been looking for crispy crepes like those found in HK and taiwan! And yup, Buttercup has it!! I ordered a mushroom cheese crepe which costs me only $3.20 (cheap as compared to other crepe outlets which costs from $4-$5++). It's pretty filling and i supposed quite healthy too (of cos depending on what flavours u choose) =) Ratings: 3.8/5

Ochacha~ my new love

I love Greentea! Esp when i have tried the Green Tea Frappe from Starbucks. Ochacha immediately caught my eye when i was heading to Shokudo for dinner. I told myself that i must definitely give this shop a try one day!

Fast enough, within two weeks, i have visited the shop 3 times! Very clean looking shop. They have powerpoints by the side so u could actually work on yr laptop there! A good news for people like me whose battery can only last for 15mins...

After surfing thru some food blogs for reviews, and by the recommendation of the staff, we ordered this hot green tea: Green Tea Latte. Hmm... not too bad... can taste the quality of the green tea but the milk tasted a lil like baby's milk powder.

Ratings: 3.8/5

Matcha Azuki cake ($4 b4 GST). Just look at the powdery green tea cake with small layers of fresh cream and azuki! So pretty! Seldom see green tea cakes ard except the one from Breadtalk. But this has a stronger matcha taste, less creamy... doesn't feel sinful at all after eating! self-comforting... how healthy can dessert be -_-" They have other varieties of desserts such as panna cotta, sponge cake, biscuit, muffin etc.... all green tea flavours

Ratings: 4/5
2nd visit: Azuki Freeze ($6.50 b4 GST) + Sakura Egg sandwich ($4.80 b4 GST)
Azuki Freeze: Very expensive... but very nice~ Green tea and azuki (Red bean) is such a perfect combination! it's not too sweet like Starbucks Green Tea frappe... so u don't feel jieliat after drinking. Refreshing!

Ratings: 4.5/5

Sakura Egg Sandwich: You get to choose btwn Foccacia or panini bread. Comes along with seaweed potato chips (i think it's calbee brand) and a bowl of salad. Oh i muz comment on the salad! I am never a all greens salad lover (muz at least have potato or meat)... but this salad is gd! I have no idea what dressing they used but it tasted like jap soy sauce... a lil saltly but very nice, unlike those creamy fattening thousand island. The salad is topped with corns, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, wasabi green peas! Very fresh ingredients used!

Salad ratings: 4/5

Oh look at the fillings! not sure what those pink colour stuff are... Although it's just a simple egg mayo sandwich, i think $4.80(b4 GST) is pretty worth it, given that my other sandwich cafes are getting more expensive (i.e. Ce*el*... more than $7 for a sandwich!). The ingredients are really fresh. This is much better and healthier than eating mcdonalds!

Ratings: 4.3/5

The staffs are very friendly. Greeted every customers who stepped in... Offering free samples of their drinks w/o u asking... I guess i will be going again soon!

Raffles City basement (beside Shokudo Food Bazaar)

Overall ratings: 4.5/5

Giant Bao in Malaysia

In my village back in Malaysia, there is pasar malam every fri night. Something exciting for the villagers to look forward to... esp the food!! I didn't manage to take many photos cos i will be seriously deem as a weirdo to be taking pictures of food. It is definitely not their culture... But this interesting roadside pau stall has so many special varieties of pau that i couldn't help but try to snap it.... very discreetly... as i walked past... slowly ... and snapped while no one is looking.

The set up of the stall looked as if it's back in the 70s...
Just take a look at those buns! Hot dog buns!! if i'm not wrong, i think the green one is pandan or kaya... yellow one should be curry, corn or custard... (i'm trying to match the fillings with their colours)
The pau below is the ultimate- it's called the Ye Zi Mei pau... i doubt many of u know who is Ye Zi Mei. She is a HK actress in the early 90s who is well-known for her big boobs. Now you can understand why it's name after her. This Ye Zi Mei pau is so huge!! just compare it with the styrofoam boxes... it's abt twice the size! The fillings inside are meat.
Too bad i was filled with other food, hence didn't get a chance to try any of the pau above.

Creativity rating (given that it's from a kampong): 4.5/5

Dedicated to The Arcade's Pancake King

Went to Raffles Place for lunch on Monday and realized that The Arcade's pancake uncle is no longer there!! Don't misunderstand me... he is still alive... his stall is no longer there~~ I always patronized this stall while serving my internship at Raffles Place last summer. Eat at least thrice a week!
This pancake comes in many flavours. Couldn't quite remember all but i know there were chocolate, peanut and cheese. These pancakes are different from the chinese mee jiang kueh, which is spongy and thick. These pancakes are thin and crispy, it's like the malay apom balik. I love it because that's what i eat in Malaysia~
That's an ugly picture of my pancake. Cos it is quite embarrassing to take it in front of so many working adults. They must think there is something wrong with me, to be taking a picture of a pancake. Hence, i took a quick shot within seconds, without much focus or angle.
As i was such a loyal customer, the uncle soon became my friend. There was once he asked me to go behind his counter and helped him to collect the $ (because he was too busy). I was quite shocked and the office ladies were looking at me~ They passed me the $$ and the uncle told me to open his $$ drawer to return them the change. Hahahaaha. Another time, the uncle was telling me that he wanted to pass down his stall and skill to somebody as he couldn't manage two jobs (He is a Cze Cha cook at night). He asked if i'm interested... hohohohoho.

Sighz, think i have to wait for pasar malam or go back to Malaysia to eat these pancakes again. *Bugis street has one tho but such pancakes must be eaten fresh and hot, while it's still crispy!

Ratings: 4+0.3/5 (0.3 for our friendship)

Indian food is not just Roti Prata

This was a dinner gathering with the SA hockey gals... This Northern Indian Restaurant is located in Holland V but i forgot which exactly it is since there are at least 2-3 along that stretch of road! If i'm correct, it should be Kinara.

I used to think Indian food is limited to Roti Prata, Indian Rojak and Thosai... Don't expect to see all those which i have just mentioned in India. Let's look at what authentic Northern Indian food is... they ain't cheap:

1. This is a free starter... hmm... some indian chips... i'm not sure of the name for it. Start with C i think (not Chips). It comes with the greeny yogurt. I realised North Indians love yogurt! In their sauce, in their drink etc...

2. Ohhh~~ Cheese!! My fav dish of the meal!It's cheese naan! Taste a little like cheese prata but healthier i supposed? since it is not fried with oil. But looking at the thickness of it, seems like less oil but more carbo.
3. Er... I can't remember what are these. I think one of them is Tandoori Chicken, marinated in yogurt and spice.
4. A mixed platter of meat
Oh i didn't manage to take a picture of their rice... they called it basmati rice. Very different from the normal thai white rice... they are very floury and smooth.

You can visit another food blogger's website for more detailed write-up: http://food.recentrunes.com/?p=1446

Other than the price and the small portions, we are quite satisfied with the taste, given it's our first time trying authentic north indian food. The service was very good, maybe cos we were the only customers to eat dinner at 530pm. The lady, in her traditional punjabi costume was VERY gentle and polite. The ambience was very classy and well decorated... made us feel like north indian princesses~

Ratings: 4.2/5

Va Va Voom

Had a nice gathering with my Marketing 101 class at this vietnamese cafe called Va Va Voom. It is located at 36 Seah Street. Used to be at Bugis and was recommended by Rachel Nip when we were in year 1. Now i'm already year 3!

As Viet and Van are vietnamese, thought of bringing them to try this little cafe instead of having the usual western fare. That's my group! (oh wow.. i used to be skinnier... now, after all the rounds of makans, cheeks are drooping)

Our drinks: 2 x Honey lemongrass and 2 x green tea with mint (we all love our own drinks) i'm not used to the taste of honey lemongrass. The mint added a refreshing taste to the green tea!

Shared dish: Fried Tofu with sweet gluey sauce. Rachel's recommendation!

Jenny's dish: Sweet sour claypot soup

My Viet popiah with satay sauce (ok, that's not the correct term). It is wrapped with lettuce, thick bee hoon, chicken strips etc... i think it costs about $4-$5 plus... heard from Viet that in Vietnam, it's all along the streets which sells only about $1?

Van's pho: Her verdict: incomparable to those in vietnam.
Viet's rice: forgot what rice is it... pork chop? One of their recommended dish.

Ratings: 3.7/5 (not too bad and heard that their chef is from Vietnam. Pretty affordable... Avg $12/pax)

Soup Spoon @ Raffles City

Forgot whom i had this meal with... too many makan khakis already... Anyway, i ordered their
SouperValue Combo Meal, which includes soup (regular, medium or grande size), choice of either a salad or sandwich AND choice of either a pack of chips or apple AND a yummy chocolate.Price range: S$8.70 – S$10.90.

I had their mushroom soup and chicken tikka wrap. Verdict: Just go for their soup... it's enough to fill u. If you are a wrap lover, go for TOAST (outlets in Taka and Raffles place)... for the suaku- TOAST is not the Toastbox which u eat kaya roti... it's actually a cafe under marmalade pantry which serves sandwiches and desserts (will post up a write up soon on it).

Bread goes well with the soup. A little bun (sometimes white, sometimes grainy, sometimes brown) is served alongside with the soup. My sister prefer Cedele's soups, which i think you can find more ingredients in it.

Sigh, as inflation hits us, all the prices went up. One bowl of soup costs about $5.10 onwards! Can eat a Happy Meal! But guess it's a healthy way to fill u up...
Ratings (for soup):3.5/5
Ratings(for wrap): 2.5/5

Frujch

At this time when i'm writing this blog, it is about 1hr+ to the closing of Frujch. Frujch is a student-run cafe and as the bosses are graduating this semester, they would have to "sell" their business away. It's a place which many people will remember for their takeaway brown bags and of cos the bestseller- Portobello Sandwich and milkshakes.

I only managed to capture their Portobello Sandwich and waffle. Guess i will not have a chance to take photo of their food again. For more pictures and menu, you can go to http://frujch.wordpress.com/menu/

Yup, this is my fav sandwich! Simple and easy to make, yet delicious! I tried making for daddy at home b4, using sandwich maker (w/o the grill lines effect). Dad commented that it is the best sandwiches he ever eaten (showered with the love of the daughter i supposed for him to make such exaggerated comment)

This is abit chao tau... but still as good. They are very generous with the portion of mushrooms. Cheese! I love cheese. There are actually garlic butter and onions in it as well. I love those grill lines... it added that extra crunch and omph~ to the whole sandwich!
Ratings: 4/5

Okie, here is their waffle with vanilla ice cream. Nicely decorated... hmmm.. i guess sandwich is still what they sell best.

NUS Yong Tau Foo

知己知彼百战百胜! As many of u know, my mum runs a Yong Tau Foo(YTF) stall for almost 16years. So i have been running around to try good YTF so that i can help mummy to improve on her variety and concept. So... upon hearing NUS cheap and good YTF... I met some of my NUS friends for lunch.

Check out the queue! And if u squin your eyes, there are medals and awards displayed at the counter (i shld make a few for mum... "Best YTF in Jurong" or "Best YTF in the heart of the daughters")
I wanted to order soup based but heard that their laksa is very gao3. It costs really cheap... 25cents per item if i remembered correctly. Alamak, how to fight with this kind of pricing! Only school canteen can afford to charge at such a price la~

Sorry mum, but their laksa is really good... i think they added a lot of coconut milk. Their chilli and sweet sauce (besides my mum's one) is by far the nicest i have tried as compared to the other stalls.



Ratings: 4.2/5 (cheap and good)
*Advertisement time: My mother's YTF stall is situated at Jurong West Ave 1 Blk 493. I will take pic of it one day and post them up too... aiya, too many customers at her stall so i have no space to take. Over 40 varieties to choose from with many handmade items!

Sultan Kebab

Looking for good food around SMU? This little cafe is just a 5mins from SESS building... tucked in a small little corner in Peace Centre. It is run by authentic Turks! Quite good looking if you go for exotic looks (their pics are posted on http://chubbyhubby.net/blog/?p=170)

Not a huge range of menu... only 4 types to choose from: sandwich, a roll, a rice with meat dish, or an iskender kebab (with either beef or chicken fillings).

I have chosen their chicken roll (i called it chicken wrap). $5 only~ don't be deceived by the size. It's extremely filling! Many of my female friends complained that they can't finish or very full after eating one... (except for diana who has a big stomach).

The wrap itself is grilled to crispy-ness. Unlike S*bwa*, where they just warmed it in the oven, this skin is really warm and crispy! Not thick and rubbery like Su*w*y.

Look at the fillings! Topped with chilli sauce and yogurt (healthier than mayo i supposed). Their chunks of meat is really alot! Quite a balance diet given the amount of veggie that is inside!
Ratings: 4.5/5 (Must try!)

1 Sophia Road #01-15 Peace Centre
Singapore
228149

Open daily, 11 am to 9 pm (or until the meat runs out~)