[London] Roti King, a Malaysian – Singaporean street food restaurant, is peculiar in that it is both exceedingly popular and a cherished secret.

This is partly because of where it is located.

Though conveniently placed a couple of minutes from Euston station, Roti King resides in the basement of 40 Doric Way.

The fact remains that despite the restaurant being relatively non-descript – with sparse signage, the line that winds from below, all the way up the stairs and into the street, conveys just how well-loved the place is.

The restaurant itself was warm and cosy, made so not only by the amount of bodies tucked into a relatively small space, but also by the heat of the open kitchen emanating into the dining area.

The vibrant aromatics of spice, coupled with freshly cooked fish and the effulgence of slow cooked meat contributed greatly to the welcoming atmosphere.

If you are looking for a light lunch, then one of the Roti dishes (a type of Malaysian flat bread) would do, the best being the Roti Canai Special (£6.50, SGD$12.05) soft elastic flatbread with beautifully spiced bowls of unctuous fish, lamb or chicken curry.

Other Roti dishes include Roti Telur (with egg fillings), Roti Cheese, Roti Spinach and Cheese, and Roti Sardine. If you prefer a more substantial option, consider having the Chicken Murtabak and Lamb Murtabak, which are like pan-fried roti with meat fillings.

Price range from £5.00 to £6.50 (SGD$9.27 – SGD$12.05).

Going heavier would mean ordering a Kari Laksa (£7.50, SGD$13.90), one of the best in London by all accounts.

This was a delicious coconut milk broth topped with a delicate skirt of chilli oil and filled with succulent noodles and a mixture of well-cooked seafood.

The Nasi Goreng – stir fried rice with eggs, seafood, and chicken (£7.00, SGD$13.00); and the Beef Rendang – beef slow cooked in aromatic spices and coconut sauce with rice (£7.50, SGD$13.90) are some of the must try Malaysian classics.

Special mention also go to the Lamb Murtabak (£5.50, SGD$10.90) and the delightful Nasi Lemak (£7.00, SGD$13.00) – steamed coconut rice served with peanuts, fried anchovies, cucumber, egg, chilli sambal and spiced fried chicken.

Keep in mind that Roti King has a temperamental card machine so it would be best to take cash with you.

However, do not worry too much, you will find that this restaurant is one of the most affordable in the area, promising great value for money.

Roti King is situated within a basement at Kings Cross, of short walking distance from Euston metro / train station.

Roti King
40 Doric Way, Kings Cross, London NW1 1LH
Tel: +44 20 7387 2518
Opening Hours: 12 – 3pm, 5 – 10:30pm (Mon – Fri), 12:00pm – 10:30pm (Sat), Closed Sun
http://rotiking.info
Google Maps – Roti King

Click HERE for other LONDON Food Entries

* Written by DFD’s London Food Correspondent Leander Dias SaltyCritic. Leander was born and raised in Dubai, a burgeoning city with diverse food culture. Since moving to London to read for his English MA at UCL, he has utterly immersed himself in the local food scene, writing extensively about everything he eats everywhere he goes. Daniel’s Food Diary pays for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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[Taipei] There’s something alluring about Taiwan’s café which you don’t usually get in Singapore.

Some attributed the charming element as a form of 文青 (hipster) or 慢活 (slow-living) attitude, and Monga Coffee Roasters probably have a bit of both.

Smacked right in between Ximending and Longshan Temple metro station, it would require a good ten minutes’ walk to stroll to Monga Coffee Roasters from either station.

But it was all worth it.

A small cozy coffee store located in the quaint neighbourhood of Wanhua district. I liked how they put in effort in curating their space – from the lush greenery exterior to simple yet comfortable interior.

Upon entering, I was immediately greeted by coffee aroma as well as the friendly barista, whom also politely introduced to us the flavour profile of some of the coffee beans available.

Monga carries a variety of single origin coffee beans used for pour over, price ranging from NT120 to NT250 (SGD$5.50 to SGD$11.50). They also do their own coffee roasting, and generally kept their coffee beans lightly roasted.

I understand that Taiwan’s speciality coffee store are usually more proficient in doing pour over coffee.

Hence, I opted for their Cold Brew (NT120, SGD$5.50) which tasted slightly acidic, but still enjoyable and smooth to the palate. It also carried a fruity blueberry after note.

Other espresso based coffee such as Latte, Flat White and Cappuccino are also available at NT120, SGD$5.50).

Probably due to lighter roasted coffee beans, I found the coffee flavour in latte overpowered by milk and wasn’t really evident.

I am totally convinced. Pour over > Espresso Based.

The other highlight would be their signature dessert named as 倉豆花丸 (NT70, SGD$3.20) but was in fact Earl Grey Crème Brûlée.

Available daily in limited quantity, I liked how the jiggly dessert had texture similar to ‘tau huey’ (beancurd), but infused with earl grey tea fragrance.

It was topped with a caramelized layer of burnt sugar made from chopped earl grey tea for a tinge of bitter-sweetness.

So good and I wanted a second helping, but was kindly rejected by the barista as they only allow single serving per group. *Cries*

Meanwhile, they also serve seasonal desserts like Chocolate Yogurt Tart, Sweet Potato Yogurt Tart and Strawberry Chiffon Cake.

Overall, the atmosphere at Monga felt so laid-back. I could easily spend my whole afternoon there chilling, while sipping away a cup of good coffee.

Point to note, there is a minimum spending of a beverage per pax.

Monga Coffee Roasters 丸花豆倉
No. 79-1, Yongfu Street, Wanhua District, Taipei City, Taiwan
台北市萬華區永福街79-1號
Opening Hours: 10.30am – 6pm (Wed to Mon), Tue Closed
https://www.facebook.com/MongaCoffeeRoasters/
Google Maps – Monga Coffee Roasters

Other Related Entries
Matcha One (Da’an Road, Taipei)
Bobii Frutii 珍珠水果特調 (Dunhua South Rd, Taipei)
Fika Fika Café (Zhongshan District, Taipei)
Sugar Miss (Da’an District, Taipei)
Miracle Coffee (Neihu District, Taipei)

Click HERE for other TAIPEI Food Entries

* Written by Lewis Tan @juicyfingers, a self-proclaimed coffee addict. Daniel’s Food Diary pays for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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[New York City] I know. There are several Lady M shops in Singapore, so why bother? I was just curious to see what Lady M was like in her birthplace in NYC.

So, Lady M is a French-Japanese cake shop with one location in Los Angeles and a few locations in New York City – at The Flagship at 41E 78th Street, 36W 40th Street, 30 Rockefeller Plaza Suite U, The Plaza Food Hall at 1W 59th Street.

The owner, Ken Romaniszyn spent his childhood days in Japan and decided to bring flavours of Asian desserts to the United States.

It started as a cake wholesaler focused on providing cakes to restaurants, and got popular by word-of-mouth, and expanded to a large commercial bakery space.

Today, Lady M is a popular cake shop and you can read about them in famous magazines like Oprah, Brides, Vogue, Travel and Leisure, Allure, and others.

One of the branches is located right by Bryant Park, and attracts a large number of customers who have already heard great things about this place.

During lunchtime, the shop is usually full and there is a hight chance you will need to wait in line.

I was told I needed to wait outside the shop about 20 minutes or so, and found that most customers decided to skip the line, get a takeaway and eat the cakes at Bryant Park right opposite. (While waiting, I got a Blue Bottle Coffee which is a few shops away – might as well.)

Take note: Because customers are lining up outside, weather is one issue, the other thing is that last slice of cake you wanted could very well be bought by someone getting a takeaway AFTER you.

Unlike other branches that are slightly bigger, Lady M across Bryant Park offers only a couple of tables for their guests.

This French-Japanese cake shop boasts a cramped interior with white walls, small round tables, and a long counter where you can see all the cakes.

Interestingly, the selection seems to be smaller than Singapore’s – which has more seasonal and outlet specials. Also while Singapore’s branding is positioned to be slightly higher to attract the young tai-tais, this outlet at NYC seemed more touristy and bustling noisy.

Some of the most popular cakes include Mille Crêpes Cake (USD$8 per slice), Green Tea Mille Crepe (USD$8.50), Strawberry Mille Feuille (USD$8) and Gateau Aux Marrons (USD$8).

You can also try the Strawberry Shortcake (USD$7.50) and Checkers Cake (USD$8) made from vanilla and chocolate.

I had one of the most popular choice which is the Green Tea Mille Crepe (USD$8.50), made with over 20 layers of paper thin crepes with powdered matcha on top.

To be honest, I wasn’t THAT impressed. Maybe also because I had this too many times, and this wasn’t better than all the rest.

Somehow, I wished the sweetness was reduced, and not overpower than the green tea which became too subtle.

But I understand that American cakes are generally richer, and this would have already been a lot less sweet than many others.

The Checkers Cake ($8) was slightly off picture-perfect, in which the blocks could have been more uniform.

Overall, the dark chocolate ganache and sponge cake portion could have been smoother, and the cake was slightly on the dry side.

For Singaporeans, perhaps just try the cakes back home.

For those who has yet to come across Lady M, I guess this is one of those you have to check off the bucket list, especially if you are a cake lover.

Lady M
36 W 40th St, New York, NY 10018, USA
Tel: +1 212 452 2222
Opening Hours: 9am – 8pm (Mon – Thurs), 9am – 10pm (Fri), 11am – 10pm (Sat), 11am – 6pm (Sun)
http:// www.ladym.com
Google Maps – Lady M

Other Related Entries
Dominique Ansel Bakery (New York)
Magnolia Bakery (New York)
Wafels & Dinges (New York)
Luke’s Lobster (New York City
Boba Guys (Clinton Street, New York City)

Click HERE for other NEW YORK CITY Food Entries

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook and Instagram for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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For people in the East of Singapore, if you have sudden cravings for real-good Mexican food of Tacos, Burritos, Quesadilla, and Nacho Pancho, you can get them through Deliveroo Editions Katong.

Los Jefes Taqueria’s range of Mexican offerings, which was formally previously found only at Ridgewood Condominium near Holland Road in the West, is now made available more conveniently.

The shop used to be called “Belmonte Latin Foods”, known to be the “the only true Mexican ingredients grocer in Singapore” as it sold preservative-free flour tortillas and authentic range of chilies, salsas and condiments made in Mexico.

They eventually expanded to sell hot food as there was a demand, and rebranded to Los Jefes Taqueria.

“Deliveroo Editions” means those staying in Katong and neighbouring zones can order food from selected restaurants, even if they are not in Katong.

The Deliveroo Editions partner-restaurants include Los Jefes, New Ubin Seafood, Aloha Poke, Kurry Korner, Blu Kouzina, and Pho Stop.

So the Easties at Katong, Mountbatten, East Coast and Siglap areas can get a wider range of food, from Mexican fare, local zhi-char, poke bowls, Indian cuisine, Greek food to Vietnamese favourites.

Plus, if you’re a first-time Deliveroo customer, use the code “DFD18” for FREE delivery on your first two orders (valid for all orders).

Diners who want access to food from restaurants that have yet to open in their neighbourhood will be able to access their menus to enjoy at the comfort of home – cooked by chefs employed and trained by the restaurants themselves.

Food is delivered in less than 25 minutes on average.

This platform also gives restaurant owners the possibility to try out new restaurant concepts and menus.

These are some of the popular choices from Los Jefes Deliveroo Editions:

Traditional Tacos ($12.49)
Pork or Chicken Tacos marinated in house blend of Mexican spices and served with pineapple. Served on soft corn tortilla, with onions, coriander, salsa and lime. A favourite from the streets of Mexico City.

Citrus Chipotle Pork Belly ($14.99)
Fatty, juicy, spicy. Trinity in a taco.

Chicken Tinga Big Burrito ($14.99)
12″ Flour tortillas filled with rice, beans, cheese and juicy chipotle-cooked shredded chicken with caramelized onions. Slightly spicy.

Beef Picadillo Big Burrito ($14.99)
Homely ground beef picadillo, stewed with tomatoes, potatoes and carrots. Not spicy.

Quesadilla ($14.99)
3 small flour tortillas with your filling of choice and cheddar cheese. The most popular choice is the chicken leg marinated in the signature Pastor sauce. A kid’s favourite.

Nacho Pancho ($16.99)
Nachos loaded with beef or vegetarian topping, melted mozzarella cheese and sliced jalapeños. Great option for sharing.

Deliveroo Promotion: $4 OFF for Los Jefes
Get $4 OFF when you order from Los Jefes Editions.

Simply register and enter “LOSJEFES18” at checkout on https://deliveroo.com.sg/menu/singapore/tanjong-katong-road/los-jefes-at-editions-tanjong-katong or on the Deliveroo app.

If you’re a first-time Deliveroo customer, use the code “DFD18” for FREE delivery on your first two orders – valid for ALL orders, and not just for Los Jefes.

* See deliveroo.com.sg/legal for full terms. This entry is brought to you in partnership with Deliveroo Singapore.

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The Lunar New Year festivities are going into full swing, and here’s where you can find many dining options.

Somehow this is the season of hot pot, and newly opened Sichuan Kungfu Fish at Suntec City offers a not-so-traditional version with fresh fish and bountiful ingredients in tasty mala broth.

Many Suntec City restaurants will also be offering unique Prosperity Yu Sheng which should present talking points for the family – Yu Sheng with Yuzu dressing from Ichiban Boshi; Smoked Salmon Yu Sheng with Tianjin chestnuts from Din Tai Fung; Viet-inspired Jellyfish Yu Sheng from VietBox by Wrap & Roll, and vegetarian Yu Sheng from Nature Café.

Head over to East Atrium to stock up some of your favourite CNY goodies and gifts at the Robinsons Chinese New Year fair. (More details at the end of the post.)

Sichuan KungFu Fish
Fountain Court, #B1-132
Tel: +65 656333 9519
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10:00pm Daily

Fish with a kick. NEW-to-Singapore Sichuan KungFu Fish specialises in baked fish and seafood dishes served in hot hotpots, cooked in variety of traditional spicy flavours from Sichuan China.

Fish on the menu is caught from the deep sea of the United States, which includes Cod fish, Sole fish, and Salmon; served in signature Sichuan Hot & Spicy sauce for a get-together meal with a kick. Best for this weather.

Other than Mala, other appetizing flavours available include red hot chilli, steamboat bean base, pickled Chinese cabbage, and tomato base.

Consider this a combination of Eastern and Western cuisine.

Lunar New Year Special: Kungfu Set Meal
The special KingFu Set Meat ($238.80++ meant for 4 pax) features the show-stopping Grilled Special Cod which is a West Bay White Snapper; and other dishes of Grilled Prawns, Clam and Cucumber Salad.

Interesting experience. You eat this like a hotpot as there are a number of accompanying ingredients such as baby abalone, fish maw, scallop, sea cucumber, mushroom, enoki mushroom, Indian lettuce and cauliflower – all to be cooked in the mala soup broth.

The soup base was tasty. Spicy but not over-numbing so that you can still enjoy on its own.

Crystal Jade Kitchen
Fountain Court, #B1-112
Tel: +65 6884 5172
Opening Hours: 11:00am – 10:00pm Daily

Crystal Jade Kitchen remains a family-favourite for get-together meals, for their signature dim sums, comforting classic congee, roasted meats and wok-fried specialities.

If you are heading over during the festive period, try some of the recommended signature items, which include Reunion Salmon Yusheng ($46.80 small, $68.80 large), Bountiful Abalone Treasure Pot ($248, good for 5 persons; $428 large, good for 10 persons) Deep-fried Salted Egg Shrimp with Cheong Fun ($7.80), Fried Rice with Crab Meat and Dried Conpoy ($18.80) and Sautéed King Prawn in two ways – with salt & pepper and pan-fried with sweet and sour sauce ($28.80).

Lunar New Year Special: Sautéed Garoupa in Two Ways
Garoupais a classic dish to serve during Chinese New Year as it represents togetherness and prosperity.

Having it served two ways allows you to enjoy the same fish differently for variation. One side you get it sautéed with vegetable; while the other salt & pepper version was fried till lightly crisp with slight spiciness which I think the young ones would enjoy.

Ichiban Boshi
Fountain Court, #B1-111
Tel: +65 6238 7088
Opening Hours: 11:00am – 10:00pm Daily

Casual Japanese restaurant Ichiban Boshi is known for its wide selection of Japanese set meals and sushi on conveyor belt, all kept at reasonable prices.

The Ichiban culinary team has also introduced new celebratory set meals, available for a limited period till 5 March.

Choose between the Kaisen Tonyu Miso Nabe Gozen ($26.90), Cereal Menchi Cheese Katsu Gozen ($24.90), Thai Chilli Tori Gozen ($25.90), Spicy Garlic Teriyaki Beef Gozen ($26.90), and Miso Katsu & Chazuke Gozen ($25.90).

The meals come complete with rice, chawanmushi, miso soup and a serving of fruits. Very filling for its value-for-money price.

Lunar New Year Special: Yu Sheng With Yuzu Dressing
If you would like to try something different from the usual sweet plum sauce for your Yu Sheng, then go for Ichiban Boshi’s unique Yuzu dressing. I enjoyed it for its zest and refreshing tanginess, which lifts the taste of the cut vegetables.

Available for dine-in and take-away, the Auspicious Set ($56.80++, serves 7-10 people) is great for large family reunions; while the Bountiful Set ($46.80++, serves 4-6 people) is a suitable choice for smaller groups.

Groups of 2-3 people can opt for the Celebration Set ($29.80++), for dine-in customers only. Valid from 1 Feb till 2 Mar 2018.

Din Tai Fung
West Wing (Near Convention Centre), #02-302
Tel: +65 6338 2422
Opening Hours: 11:00am – 10:00pm Daily

Talk about Xiao Long Bao, and world-famous Din Tai Fung – ranked as one of the world’s Top Ten Best Restaurants by The New York Times, comes to mind.

Their signature Xiao Long Bao aka Steamed Pork Dumplings ($10.30 for 10pcs, $7.80 for 6pcs), Steamed Chicken Soup ($10.80) and Fried Rice with Shrimps and Eggs ($12.80) remain as some of their top-sellers.

Another dish you should not miss out on is the Steam Truffle & Pork Dumplings ($5/pc), which features black truffles with fresh pork wrapped in delicate skin. Experience the truffle-infused rich broth, succulent meat with that distinct truffle aroma, especially the moment the basket is lifted.

Lunar New Year Special: Prosperity Smoked Salmon Yu Sheng
Festive favourites offered include the signature Prosperity Smoked Salmon Yu Sheng 发财鱼生, and Steamed Layered Red Date Cake 枣泥糕.

For the Yu Sheng, what I liked were the pieces of soft Tianjin Roasted Chestnuts added which included some nuttiness, along with twirls of white radish and carrots, crispy yam strips, fresh pomelo pulp, Norwegian smoked salmon and their house-special plum sauce for a sweet and tangy finish.

Penang Place
West Wing (Near Convention Centre), #02-314/315/316
Tel: +65 64677003
Opening Hours: Lunch 11:30am – 3:00pm Last Order 2:30pm,
Dinner 6:00pm – 9:30pm Last Order 9:00pm

If you are up for all-you-can-have Penang food, you don’t have to head up north to Malaysia.

Penang Place at Suntec City serves up a wide spread of Penang favourites, in both buffet and ala carte style. What you get include mouth-watering dishes of Char Kway Teow, Assam Laksa, Hokkien Mee (Prawn Noodle Soup), Fruits Rojak, Beef Rendang, Chendol, and Kueh Kueh.

Reviewed as “The best Penang Char Koay Teow in town” by the local papers, don’t miss the signature dish complete with wok-hei.

Buffet pricing starts from $24.90++ for weekday lunch, to $30.90++ for weekend dinner in which you can eat to your heart’s content.

Lunar New Year Special: Braised Sea Cucumber with Duck
Look out for special CNY delights with a Peranakan twist, with dishes such as Abalone & Salmon Yu Sheng, Fish Maw with Seafood Soup, and Braised Sea Cucumber with Duck.

GODIVA
West Wing (Near Convention Centre), #02-307
Tel: +65 6341 9203
Opening Hours: 10:00am – 10:00pm Daily

GODIVA Chocolatier is best known for its famous truffle, shell-molded chocolate pieces, and European-style biscuits.

Its Chocolate Soft Serve which is rich, smooth and indulgent, has been popular among ice cream lovers as well. If you are a fan of matcha, then the Decadent Matcha Softserve or the Chocolate Twist will definitely satisfy your craving.

Lunar New Year Special: GODIVA Chinese New Year Chocolates
These dog-shaped chocolates are both cute and delicious, infused with a range of tea flavours inspired by the Asian market.

There are three flavours – the earthy “Thé Pu’Erh”; smoky black tea and dark chocolate ganache enriched “Thé Noir Fume”; and “Thé Vert Et Pistache” incudes creamy green tea and small pistachio pieces in a smooth white chocolate shell. My favouriteis “Thé Pu’Erh” with the subtle tea fragrance.

The chocolate assortments come in elegant red and gold orange festive gift boxes from $54 for a 9 pcs gift box to $216 for a 36 pcs Luxury Gift Box. Great for gifting.

Bee Cheng Hiang
West Wing (Near Convention Centre), #01-302
Tel: +65 6266 0568
Opening Hours: 10:00am – 10:00pm Daily

The household name of Bee Cheng Hiang known for its Bakkwa needs little introduction.

Few may know that their barbecued meat are actually hand-weaved using a traditional bamboo sieve, grilled over live charcoal to a smoky caramelization, that seals the moisture.

Richly flavoured, no added preservatives, no added meat tenderizer, no artificial colouring, no flavouring & MSG, 100% natural ingredients.

I would always go for the signature Sliced Pork Bakkwa, which is an all-time favourite, a premium cut using only hind leg meat that is so juicy. Sometimes, I would wrap it in a sandwich for breakfast.

For the festive period, their hot-items include Sliced Pork (From $55/kg), Gourmet Bakkwa (From $84/kg), Pork Floss ($59), and Mini Crunchies ($8.00/Pkt).

VietBox by Wrap & Roll
East Wing (Between Tower 3 & 4), #03-348
Opening Hours: 11:00am – 9:00pm (Mon – Fri), 12:00pm – 9:00pm (Sat – Sun)

For a healthy yet flavourful meal, VietBox by Wrap and Roll at Suntec City is a Viet-Aussie self-service dining cafe offering a selection of healthy rolls, noodles, baguettes, rice and snacks.

For the more traditional Vietnamese classics, opt for VietBox’s signatures such as the Turmeric Fish Rice Paper Roll ($4.60), Grilled Chicken Dry Noodle ($9.00), Premium Australian Beef Noodle Soup ($11.00) and Grilled Pork Baguette ($7.50).

Lunar New Year Special: Viet-inspired Jellyfish Prosperity Yu Sheng
Not reading wrongly, this is probably the only Viet-inspired Jellyfish Prosperity Yu Sheng ($22.90 for small, $46.90 for big) in Singapore.

VietBox brings on a twist by adding jellyfish, with the addition of sweet and sour Vietnamese salad sauce.

Good for those who want something atypical from the regular salmon, and prefer that distinct crunchy texture of jellyfish.

Nature Cafe
North Wing (Between Tower 1 & 2), #B1-148
Tel: +65 6266 6692
Opening Hours: 10:00am – 10:00pm Daily

Your one-stop shop for Asian vegetarian food cravings. The vegetarian café serves up dishes such as Herbal Burdock Noodle Soup, Tom Yam Noodle Soup, Wanton Noodle Soup, Fried Curry Noodles, even Hot Plate ‘Chicken’ and Curry ‘Mutton’ with rice.

The team of chefs pride themselves in not using MSG, garlic, onions and wine in the food preparation, to deliver healthier vegetarian cuisine.

Lunar New Year Special: Lunar New Year Vegetarian Sets
For a vegetarian family reunion, 3 sets are offered – The “Fu Xing Gao Zhao” ($148 for 4), “Xin Xiang Shi Cheng” ($268 for 6), and “Wan Shi Ru Yi” ($388 for 8).

The set for 4 includes quite a spread, from Prosperity Yu Sheng, Cold Dish, Veg ‘Sharks’ Fin’ Soup, Bai Ling Mushrooms with Greens, Hotplate Roasted ‘Meat’, E-fu Noodles and Sea Coconut with Longan.

H&J Bakery
East Wing (Between Tower 3 & 4), #02-605A

This cake shop slightly hidden at Suntec City’s East Wing, offers a variety of cakes and bread baked fresh daily.

Their two most popular cakes are the fragrance and fluffy Pandan Chiffon Cake and the pretty-looking Rainbow Cake which will be good for birthday celebrations for the young ones.

Other cakes they offer include Black Forest, Blueberry, Fruit Gateau, and Chocolate Delight.

The store also carries several home-made Lunar New Year Goodies, and the Salted Egg Fish Skin is highly recommended.

Spend & Be Prosperous
During this festive season, get limited edition “Chun” Red Packets and Parking Coupon (worth $2.80) OR a $2 ez-link Card Top-up with a minimum spend of $68 at Suntec City.

OR redeem an attractive Mandarin Orange Carrier with minimum spent of $88.

While stocks last. Sign up as a Suntec Rewards member to enjoy all promotions. Till 25 Feb 2018. T&C applies.

Taste A Season Of Abundance With Robinsons At Suntec City
Get your favourite Lunar New Year Goodies at one place.

Expect bountiful treats from brands like Bai Jia Xing (Cookie Containers with your surname), Home’s Favourite (Black Gold Pineapple Tarts), Kele (Rose Pineapple Tart), Thye Shan Medical Hall (top quality abalone) and more.

Enjoy exclusive offers for OCBC Robinsons card and Suntec Rewards members. For more details, check out hhttps://sunteccity.com.sg/event_details/?id=306

Venue: Suntec City East Atrium (near Promenade MRT)
Date: 16 Jan – 14 Feb 2018

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Suntec City.

The post 10 Food Places At Suntec City For Chinese New Year Feasting – From Sichuan Kungfu Fish To Yuzu Yusheng appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

[New Delhi] Jamie Oliver is one of the leading and most well-known chefs in the world, and his chain of restaurants has become an example in serving delicious food made with locally sourced and seasonal ingredients.

Jamie’s Italian at Ambience Mall, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi is his first restaurant in the country.

It serves an appetizing array of Italian delicacies, along with classic favourites in the form of pastas and pizzas.

Jamie’s Italian is part of a worldwide chain of restaurants that started in 2008 when the celebrity chef collaborated with his mentor Gennaro Contaldo.

The restaurant strongly believes in serving authentic Italian cuisine with dishes that are an amalgamation of learnings that both the chefs have had over decades.

One of the highpoints about Jamie’s Italian anywhere in the world, including this branch, is the importance that is given to fresh, local, and seasonal produce.

Jamie Oliver has championed the need to eat well and eat healthy and this mantra can be seen throughout the menu in the restaurant which further uses different flavours to accentuate the taste of the dishes.

I had previously been to Jamie’s Pizzeria, which was located at a different location, and found it to be cosy yet a little claustrophobic because of its small size.

Jamie’s Italian though was a much bigger property and with space divided into two halves, there was ample space to move around. The interiors were a mixture of industrial, pub, and café like seating that was both relaxing and comfortable.

There was a sense of casualness to the entire décor as large chalkboards with menu items listed on them adorn the walls.

The little lamps that shone a spotlight on the food when placed on the table was a nice little addition that can prove to be romantic at times.

The lighting though was a little low, especially when one walks into the inside seating area, but that did help to create the right mood for a wonderful meal.

Jamie’s Italian, as the name suggests, is all about authentic Italian cuisine. The menu comprises of a wide selection that ranges from antipasti to pastas and signature pizzas to traditional Italian main courses.

As is usually the case when visiting a restaurant for the first time, I like to experiment with the recommended dishes.

Keeping up with this tradition, I first tried Jamie’s Epic Plank (Rs. 465, SGD$9.50) which consisted of really spicy chicken wings along with equally spicy – in fact, a little too much for me – tiger prawns.

However, in terms of taste, both were delicious and went well with the rest of the plank that had olives, a rainbow slaw, and a really creamy cheese fonduta.

The “Famous Prawn Linguini” (Rs. 665, SGD$ 14.00) was toned down for me in terms of its spiciness, but still lacked the garlicky prawn flavour that it had promised.

The fish broth and the saffron too were lost somewhere with only the lemon rocket flavour and smell being quite dominant. I enjoyed this dish, but hope that the other flavours can also be accentuated the next time I try it.

The highlight of the meal though was Gennaro’s Famous Porchetta (Rs.750, SGD$ 15.50) that came with a colourful mixture of beautifully roasted vegetable.

The slow cooked pork belly roulade was faultlessly cooked and the only request to the restaurant is to give a more generous helping of the absolutely divine red wine jus that is drizzled over the plate.

While there is a lot more to choose from on the menu, if you are looking for a slightly cheesy and unique pizza, then the hand stretched Julietta (Rs. 525, SGD$ 11.00) with its buffalo mozzarella and aged parmesan will surely satisfy your craving.

Eating at Jamie’s Italian, I found the food to have a delightful piquancy to it, something that was diverse, but it can also take some getting used to for the average Indian palate.

While the food is of the uttermost importance, it is the ambiance that adds to the charm of having a meal at Jamie’s Italian.

Their open kitchen was a delight as it allowed me to watch the chefs and cooks at work, almost like a ballet or a play being staged especially for me. I highly recommend taking a seat on the inside of the restaurant where the smell of the food and the opportunity to watch it being prepared is exceptional.

The service at Jamie’s Italian is textbook and the staff members are as eager to explain the dishes as they are to recommend them. They were quick to take my preference of food being less spicy into account and alerted the ordered dish accordingly.

Situated inside a popular mall in South Delhi, Jamie’s Italian makes for the perfect break from retail therapy. It is encouraged to savour the time spent at the restaurant, and enjoy the meal in a relaxed unhurried fashion.

Even though Jamie Oliver is known across the world, often when celebrity chefs open restaurants in foreign countries their food gets lost somewhere in translation.

That is not the case with Jamie’s Italian as the menu is as authentic as it can get, keeping in mind local sensitives.

The fact, that instead of trying to please the customers by Indianizing the menu, the restaurant challenges them with new and bold flavours and encourages its patrons to experiment with classic regional dishes, makes Jamie’s Italian a must, especially when you are looking for a well-rounded Italian culinary experience.

Jamie’ Italian New Delhi
Ambience Mall No. 2 Nelson Mandela Marg, 3rd Floor, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, Delhi 110070
Tel: 011 4087 0032
Opening Hours: 12:00pm – 11:00pm Daily
https://www.facebook.com/JamiesItalianIndia
Google Maps

Click HERE for other India Food Entries

* Written by DFD’s India Correspondent @tickereatstheworld. Raghav is a travel and food writer who enjoys the thrill of discovering new places and writing about them. When he is not working, he can be found driving around his two kids from one birthday party to another.

The post Jamie’s Italian New Delhi – Celebrity Chef Brand With Classic Italian Cuisine, At Ambience Mall appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

A Korean meets Singapore fusion. Samjin Amook 삼진어묵 has introduced a Bakkwa Croquette containing chewy amook filled with premium bakkwa.

This is exclusive for the Lunar New Year, available for a limited period.

I have tried their products several times, always grabbing a bite when I walk past the shop at ION Orchard basement 4.

This Bakkwa Croquette to me, is one of its tastiest offering so far.

A brief introduction to the brand: Samjin Amook was founded in 1953 in Busan, and is the largest fishcake manufacturer in Korea.

Many still have the perception that “fishcake” is just a normal street food, but Samjin Amook somehow managed to refresh the “amook” (which means “fishcake in Korean”) with its variety of flavours, quality, and bakery-style stores.

The Singapore store contains more than 40 items, and how it works is you can pick and select your favourite fishcakes displayed on the shelves.

The Amook are hand-made freshly daily, with fishcake made using Alaska Pollock and Threadfin Bream, and majority of the ingredients imported from South Korea.

Bakkwa Croquette ($2.80)
The Lunar New Year limited Bakkwa Croquette is exclusive to Singapore. What you get are balls of golden crispy croquette filled with chewy soft amook and juicy premium bakkwa fillings.

The croquettes are first coated with amook and breadcrumbs then deep fried to a golden-brown.

When I cut it apart, you could see that the filling was moist, filled with the familiar taste of sweet-savoury barbecued pork pieces.

If you bite them hot, you may be surprised to find some of the juice squirting out, so be careful.

The Bakkwa Croquette are also individually packed, and you can get a convenient takeaway box for purchase of 6 pieces.

Samjin Amook CNY Promotion
Buy 4 Bakkwa Croquette and get 2 FREE, from 1 – 11 February 2018.

Other than the Bakkwa Croquette, Samjin Amook Singapore has also introduced NEW offerings which include Special Abalone Amook ($8.80), Special Shrimp Amook ($4.50), Amook Toast ($3.50), and Amook Bites & Spicy Amook Bites ($2.00).

Special Abalone Amook ($ 8.80)
A different gourmet fishcake you can present on the Chinese New Year reunion dinner. This fishcake contains an entire whole abalone stuffed into it. (Abalone symbolizes prosperity as it looks like a gold ingot.)

While I didn’t think that the abalone added much in terms of the taste aspect, it certainly took the fishcake to another luxe level.

Special Shrimp Amook ($ 4.50)
A popular item of chewy Amook topped with a whole shrimp. (Okay, I didn’t get to try this as it was sold out! Let me know how it goes.)

Amook Toast ($ 3.50)
Good for a grab-and-go, working as a ‘meal replacement’ if you need a quick-bite for breakfast or lunch.

The surprise comes inside the veggie triangular Amook Toast, with ham and melty cheese sandwiched in between.

Amook Bites & Spicy Amook Bites ($ 2.00)
The Amook Bites come with two in a stick.

You can choose between the red paprika and pickled radish version; or spicy option with green paprika and minced spicy chili pepper. I prefer the spicier stick.

Samjin Amook Frozen Product Series

Assorted Seafood Amook

Assorted Spicy Amook

Assorted Vegetable Amook

Assorted Soup Amook

Samjin Amook Singapore has also brought in the Frozen Product series from South Korea.

During this introduction phase, there are 4 Premium Hand-made packets you can choose from: Assorted Seafood Amook $19.50) with squid and shrimp added; Assorted Spicy Amook ($19.50) for those who love a kick of chili pepper; Assorted Vegetable Amook ($19.50) with various vegetables added for the crunch; and Assorted Soup Amook ($29.00) suitable to add into soups.

The fish cakes will keep up to 9 months, and for the frozen cup 6 months.

There are various ways of cooking them, and I will recommend adding them into soup, or Korean stew in which the fish cakes can soak up all the flavours.

Quick and easy to prepare. Will come in handy this festive period, if you are having hotpot at home.

To enjoy them plain, place them on a lightly oiled tray, and grill for 12 to 15 minutes until golden. (Flip them over after 8 to 10 minutes for more even cooking)

Alternatively, you can blanch the fish cakes in boiling water to soften them, cut them into thin strips, and stir-fry – either plain or with vegetables.

Cup Amook ($5.50)
If it is rainy outside and you don’t wish to head out, this Amook with soup in a cup will be that comforting treat.

Just need to microwave – fast, simple and delicious.

Amook Bar ($3.50)
These 4 Amook Bars, in flavours of Corn Cheese, Vegetable, Squid, and Spicy, can be stored in the fridge at home, and microwaved or added into your instant noodles when you are in need for an extra

‘Seoul’ Daebak!

Samjin Amook
ION Orchard, #B4-34, 2 Orchard Turn, Singapore 238801 (Orchard MRT)
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon-Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/samjinamooksg/

* This post is brought to you in partnership with Samjin Amook.

The post Samjin Amook – Korean’s No 1 Fishcake Brand Introduces Bakkwa Croquette And Special Abalone Amook appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

As attention spans get shorter, and ‘instagram-ability’ last only that long before the next IN thing comes along, we should start seeing more pop-up cafes in Singapore.

The two big names that arrives in February 2018 are Care Bears Café and Final Fantasy Café, both attracting quite different targeted fans.

Note: Not all the “cafes” in this guide serves up coffee, as I categorised the dessert and ice creams within as well since there are quite a number of them. (Click blue link behind each cafe writeup for more detailed review.)

Oh My Mango
762 Jurong West Street 75, #01-334, Singapore 3640762
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon-Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/OMMDB/

Thai Mango Frappe, Shibuya Toast, Bingsu And Tom Yum Toast At Jurong West
Located at level 1 of Gek Poh Shopping Centre (wait, first time hearing about this place) is the addition of a Thai dessert cafe with 20 seats indoors and 6 seats outdoors.

Separated into two different units where ordering is done next door, the menu features a wide selection of 40 items.

Think 7 different types of Mango drinks ($3.90 – $5.90), Thai Milk Tea ($3), Shibuya Toast ($7.90 – $10.90), Bingsu ($9.90 – $14.90) and Tom Yum Goong Toast ($6.90).

Wait, what? A Tom Yum Goong Toast.

For those who are here just for the Thai mangoes, Mango Latte ($4.90), Mango Yogurt Frappe ($4.90), Mango Freeze ($4.90) and Mango Sticky Rice Frappe ($5.90) are available.
Oh My Mango (Jurong West)

Kazo
133 New Bridge Road, #01-30 Chinatown Point, Singapore 059413
10am to 9.30pm (Mon – Sun)

Taiwanese Kazu Kazu, Lava Polo Buns And ‘Sexy’ Matcha Latte Bottles
Taiwanese Bakery Kazo has opened at Chinatown Point (nearer Hong Lim Food Centre side), offering a selection of Polo Buns, Cream Puffs, and Kazu Kazu which are long choux pastries.

The brand is supposedly popular in Taiwan, with a different name of Nichifu 日芙洋菓子 with stores in Taichung. (My Taiwanese friends have never heard of it though.)

Offerings included Premium Ice Cream Polo ($5.50 for 2 scoops, $3.80 for 1), Hokkaido Cream Golden Lava ($3.00), Crispy Cream Puff ($1.80), Kazu Kazu ($3.50), Cheese Tart ($3.00 for original, $3.20 for chocolate or matcha) and Kazoman Beverages ($3.00 – $3.50).

My sense is the Hokkaido Cream Golden Lava ($3.00) could land up being its most popular item, as local consumers are still fascinated by the idea of flowing lava.

Mine was indeed very molten. Though I suspect some might come expecting the salted egg grainy texture, this version was more sweet, smooth and creamy. Not bad.
Kazo (Chinatown Point)

Mellow Pan。メロ Singapore
#B1-52B, Our Tampines Hub, Lobby B (Right below Public Service Center), 1 Tampines Walk, Singapore 528523
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon-Fri), 10am – 10pm (Sat-Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/mellowsgp/

1st Japanese Melonpan Specialty Shop With Ice Cream At Our Tampines Hub
Located at the basement level of Our Tampines Hub is Singapore’s first melonpan specialty shop, offering Plain MelonPan in 2 different sizes: Small (1 for $2.60, 5 for $10) and Large (1 for $3.40, 3 for $9), MelonPan Gelato with 3 options: Small melon pan with 1 choice of flavour ($4.80), Small melon pan with 2 flavours ($6.80) and Large melon pan with 2 flavours ($7.80).

Interesting flavours include Avocado, Chendol, Honeycomb, Yuzu and D24 Durian, which are local and relatable.

Toppings such as Sunflower seeds, Rainbow sprinkle and Peanuts are available at an additional $0.60 whereas durian toppings are priced at $2.50. Mellow Pan (Our Tampines Hub)

Purist Patisserie
183 Jalan Pelikat, Promenade@Pelikat, #01-01, Singapore 537643
Opening Hours: 12pm – 6pm (Fri – Sun),
Mon to Thu – Cake collection by appointment only
https://www.facebook.com/puristsg/

Exquisite Entremet Cakes Found In the Heartlands. Hidden Gem At Kovan
It was quite a journey to locate Purist Patisserie, for it was smack right in the middle of a Kovan private housing estate, with no direct train or bus services.

Situated at the end of shop houses of The Promenade @ Pelikat, it may be easy to overlook the shop if not for its bright pink interior and rose gold chandelier which caught my attention.

Joanne’s forte lies in French entremet, which her meticulous crafting skills can be observed from the exquisiteness and aesthetic details of every entremet.

I took a liking to the Cebu Sunrise [$8] which consisted of coconut, mango and jasmine rice.

The light coconut mousse was well complemented with sweet mango gelatin fillings and added rice cracker base for that crunch. Purist Patisserie (Jalan Pelikat)

Moosh
44 Haji Lane, Singapore 189237
Opening Hours: 11am – 8pm (Mon-Thu), 11am – 9pm (Fri-Sun)
https://www.instagram.com/moosh.sg/

Ondeh Ondeh And Nutella Brownie Cheesecake Softserve, From Muslim Owned Shop At Haji Lane
I found a hole-in-the-wall softserve place along the hipster Haji Lane. Moosh is Muslim-owned and uses 100% Halal-certified ingredients in their softserve and toppings.

The menu is short but yet concise at the moment, with Softserve that comes in 2 sizes: Regular ($4 – 4.50) and Large ($5.50 – 6), Cone and Kurtos (Kürtőskalács, a Hungarian chimney cone). Both the Cone and Kurtos will be offered at a later date.

With just 6 flavours available at the moment that comes with preset toppings, think Strawberry, Blueberry, Nutella Brownie Cheesecake, Smores, Apple Crumble and their bestseller Ondeh- Ondeh.

The Ondeh Ondeh SoftServe (Regular $4.50/ Large $6) comes with fixed toppings such as desiccated coconut and coconut flakes, with green pandan sauce drizzled on the walls of the cup and on the surface of the softserve. Moosh (Haji Lane)

Carrara Café
Blk 2 Jalan Bukit Merah #01-5148, Singapore 150002
Tel: +65 6250 9952
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 9:30pm (Sun – Thurs), 11:30am – 11:00pm (Fri – Sat)

Ice Cream Cafe Serving Mentaiko Pasta And Marmite Fried Chicken Waffles. At Jalan Bukit Merah
Am I the only one who thinks the name of this café is a tongue twister?

Carrara Café is located at Blk 2 Jalan Bukit Merah, of walking distance from ABC Brickworks Food Centre, few shops away from fellow ice-cream café Geometry.

There are 3 components to Carrara – a café, bistro and creamery.

The ice cream display is on the outside, enticing people who would walk past, especially the school children. Flavours include Fresh Coconut, Earl Grey Lavender, Vanilla, Mango, Thai Tea, Cookies & Cream, Strawberry, Salted Caramel and After Eight.

You can have a scoop on the Signature Waffle ($8.50) topped with chocolate sauce with a side of maple syrup. Carrara Café (Jalan Bukit Merah)

Lickerbites
30 Raffles Place, #B1-06A, Chevron House, Singapore 048622 (Raffles Place MRT)

“Infuse” Favourite Ingredients Into Your Ice Cream, At Chevron House Raffles Place
Lickerbites located at the basement of Chevron House at Raffles Place presents a different way of making ice cream.

The customer can choose a base and ingredients to be “infused” within the ice cream itself, priced at $5.90 per cup, $6.90 for the cone.

If you want to save the trouble, then get a Signature lend of Mango Bonanza, Strawberry Chocolate Crunch, Coco Without Nuts, Tropicocoa, or Chocolate Utopia (all at $6.90 each).
Licker Bites (Raffles Place)

Tarte by Cheryl Koh
1 Scotts Road, Shaw Centre #02-12, Singapore 228208
Tel: +65 62353225
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 10:00pm Daily

NEW Sit-Down Patisserie With More Cakes & Coffee, At Shaw Centre Level 2
Tarte by Cheryl Koh has relocated to Shaw Centre Level 2 with an expanded menu and cosy dining area – no sharing of space with Caveau Bar any more.

The store’s popularity went up, especially after when Chef Koh was named “Asia’s Best Pastry Chef” in the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants awards.

For this new café, you can also expect cakes such as Fraisier – light sponge cake made with crème mousseline and French strawberry; Gateau Opera; and Dark Chocolate Cake.

All are sold at $10 per slice, $45 or $85 for a full cake, available in limited quantities daily.

The tarts are available in three sizes and more than ten flavours – an individual tart size at 8cm diameter ($10), regular size at 16cm diameter ($45), and a large meant for 8 to 10 persons ($75).

I have tried a couple (maybe even at least 10 of them) over time, and personal favourites typically go to the fruit ones. I often find them of good quality, not overly glazed so that you can still appreciate the natural sweetness of the fruits. Tarte by Cheryl Koh (Shaw Centre)

+82 PlusEightTwo
9 Bras Basah Road, Rendezvous Gallery #01-02, Singapore 189559
Opening Hours: 11am – 11pm (Mon – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/Pluseighttwosg-361342644328262/

+82 PlusEightTwo – BTOB’s EunKwang Opens a Korean Bingsu Cafe In Singapore.
Fans of BTOB will rejoice as their idol EunKwang, who is the leader of the popular K-pop boyband, has opened his first Korean Dessert Cafe in Singapore.

Omo! Jinjja? Daebak!

+82 PlusEightTwo which represents the country code for South Korea, is located at Level 1 of Rendezvous Hotel at Bras Basah.

I was intrigued when some of the girls can be seen taking wefie with the male Korean service staff members even when their Oppa was not around.

The menu offers a selection of Siltarae Bingsu ($17.90) in 3 flavours: Matcha, Choco, Banana; Oreo/ Injeolmi/ Berry/ Mango/ Melon Snow Flake Bingsu in 2 sizes: Cup ($6.80-7.80) and Regular ($15.90-18.90); Grapefruit, Green Grape, Peach Ice Cube Soda ($7.50) and Sunrise/ Palette/ Injeolmi Toast ($8.50). +82 PlusEightTwo (Rendezvous Gallery)

Wolf
30 Raffles Place #01-42 Chevron House Singapore 048622

Rice Bowls And Coffee At Raffles Place, Opened By The Local Coffee PeoplePasar Bella Suntec City and Changi City Point) and will also sell burgers, the two businesses are not related.

Rice bowls are offered during lunch time, with up to a selection of 14 types, though not all would be available at the same time. This may remind some of Waa Cow Sushi Bar a short distance away, which is doing reasonably well during lunch time.

The four recommended are Short Rib, Salmon Mentai, Oyster & Eggs, and Truffled Salmon Bowls.
WOLF (Raffles Place)

Fruiturday Singapore
Northpoint City, B2-146 (South Wing), 1 Northpoint Drive, Singapore 768019 (Yishun MRT Station)
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

One Of Thailand’s Top Smoothie and Dessert Brand In Singapore, At Northpoint City
The mango drinks wave has hit several cities in Asia, though Singapore seems to be taking it slightly slower.

After Mango King is launched at ION Orchard, next comes popular Thailand’s specialty smoothie and dessert brand Fruiturday at Northpoint City.

Fruiturday which started in the city of Chiang Mai, has multiple franchises in Thailand. Their fruit beverages are made with 100% fresh fruits and ingredients.

Signature items include Mango Sticky Rice Smoothie ($6.90); Mango Delight – Mango with a Strawberry twist ($5.90); Mango sago Smoothie ($5.90); Mixed Berries Smoothie ($4.90); and Apple Shake ($3.90). Fruiturday (Northpoint City)

Boyle’s Coffee X Cold Brew Bar
#B1-106 Suntec City Mall, 3 Temasek Boulevard, Singapore 038983
Opening Hours: 11am – 7pm (Mon-Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/Boyles-Coffee-x-Cold-Brew-Bar-182442202350461/

World’s 1st Cold Brew Coffee Bar In Singapore At Suntec City
Boyle’s Coffee which first originated from South Korea, has opened the “The World’s First Cold Brew Coffee Bar” (as they claim) in Suntec City, right beside Korean Tteokbokki restaurant, Dookki.

This is after their dine-in cafe at Bukit Timah Plaza in 2016.

Being a cold brew takeaway bar, Boyle’s Coffee only uses cold brew coffee. It means that there is no espresso coffee machine to be found.

With various taps, it looks exactly like a bar where beer is pumped out directly through these cool and hipster-looking equipment. Boyle’s Coffee (Suntec City)

Final Fantasy Café Singapore
Watanabe Coffee 350 Orchard Road Shaw House #01-00 Isetan Scotts Singapore 238868
Duration: 24th January 2018 (12pm) to 10th February 2018
Opening Hours: 8am – 10pm (Sun – Thurs), 8am – 11pm (Fri – Sat, Eve of PH)
Ala-carte and Set Menu available from 11am onwards daily

Final Fantasy Pop Up Themed Café At Orchard, From 24 Jan – 10 Feb
The Dissidia Final Fantasy NT game is a follow-up to Dissidia Final Fantasy and Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, which allows players to battle one another using many characters from the Final Fantasy series.

The themed Set Menu, priced at $28.90++, includes a Moogle Curry & White Stew with a special prink.

Okay, at first I was looking at the photo of the Japanese Curry for a long time, and wondered why a Curry Png would cost more than $30 (after taxes).

Then I realised it had the face of a Moogle, the white cat-like furry creature with small wings that appeared in Final Fantasy. “Nya!”

There is also Final Fantasy merchandise air-flown from Japan. Seats are on a first come first serve basis, and no reservations are allowed. Final Fantasy Café Singapore (Orchard Road)

Care Bears Cafe
Kumoya @ 8 Jalan Klapa Singapore 199320
Opening Hours: 12.00pm – 9.30pm (Tues, Wed, Thurs, Sun), 12.00pm – 10.30pm (Fri, Sat), Last Order 30 minutes before closing, Closed Mon
Duration: 1 February (Thurs) to End March 2018

Lovable Themed Café Coming To Singapore
“Care Bear, STARE…” Care Bears Cafe IS coming to Singapore. Goody Goody Gosh! This is the first full-fledged Care Bears centric pop-up cafe in South-East Asia and Singapore.

The collaboration is taking place with Kumoya, Singapore’s first Halal-certified Japanese-French café. Kumoya is no stranger to character cafes, also behind Miffy Café and Cinnamoroll Café pop-up concepts.

The period for the Care Bears pop-up is from 1st February 2018 (Thursday) to end March 2018.

The limited-time menu has been curated and styled by well known food stylist Shirley Wong (Little Miss Bento) and the Kumoya team. Shirley is also consultant of the menu at Gudetama Café Singapore.

Offerings include Kumoya’s Star Attraction ($18.90), Cheer-Up Chicken Katsu Burger ($21.90), Seafood Chowder Rice ($28.90) and Salted Egg Yolk Fries ($11.90). Care Bears Café Singapore (Jalan Klapa)

Other Related Entries
12 NEW Cafés In Singapore January 2018
10 NEW Restaurants Singapore January 2018

* Compiled by Daniel Ang @DanielFoodDiary, Nicholas Tan @stormscape, and Lewis Tan @juicyfingers.

The post 14 NEW Cafés In Singapore February 2018 – Care Bears Café, Final Fantasy Café, And Bingsu Cafe By BTOB’s EunKwang appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

The hypnotising song of ”Don Don Don, Donki” is no stranger to any shoppers who frequent Don Don Donki, a 24/7 Japanese discount store at Orchard Central.

And now with the opening of Hokkaido Marche at Basement 2 of Orchard Central, there’s another reason for the shoppers (and supper crowd) to fill their stomachs before another round of shopping.

Partnering with food manufacturer Hokkaido Marche, Don Don Donki features a total of 8 dining concepts from Sapporo, Hakodate and Asahikawa (all from different parts of Hokkaido prefecture) in a food hall setting, 1 of which is Sushi Shika Hanamaru that will open in February.

Unlike the usual Marche that we are familiar with where purchases are credited to a single card and payment are made upon exiting the compound, diners will need to make their purchase at the respective stalls within Hokkaido Marche.

A buzzer will then be given out for self collection when the food is ready.

Itadakamasu! Here are the 7 food concepts store that are opened in Hokkaido Marche:

Sapporo Ramen Shirakaba Sansou 白樺山荘
Located at one end of Ganso Sapporo Yokocho, the famous Ramen Alley in Hokkaido, Japan, with a total of 17 ramen shops next to one another, Shirakaba Sansou is one of the easiest shops to spot there.

Famed for their miso-based ramen in Sapporo (capital city of Hokkaido) with medium sized, curly yellow egg noodles, the soup is generally rich, thick and saltier, suitable for the cold climate in Hokkaido.

The broth used is tonkotsu pork based with either Miso flavour ($13), Soy Sauce flavour ($12) or Salt flavour ($12).

Each flavour comes with 3 different variations: Original, Karakuchi aka “spicy” (additional $1) or Char-siu (additional $3).

With a thicker and richer miso (fermented bean paste) and a less “porky” taste in the broth, the Karakuchi Miso Ramen ($14) comes with diced meat (instead of slices), bamboo shoots, black fungus, beansprouts and seaweed.

Ajisai Noodle
What? Another ramen shop in the same gourmet hall?

Ajisai (not to be confused with Ajisen) is a mini chain ramen shop commonly found in Hakodate, southern part of Hokkaido, also known for their shio aka “salt” ramen.

While different seasoning is used for ramen such as: shio (salt), shoyu (soy sauce) and miso (fermented bean paste), Shio ramen is derived from Chinese-style noodle soup due to the strong relationship with Chinese in Hakodate.

With such an influence and less harsh weather for lighter, salt based soup, shio ramen became popular in Hakodate.

Even though Shio Ramen ($12) is Ajisai’s signature, the menu offers other seasoning varieties such as Shoyu ($12), Red Miso ($14.50) and White Miso ($14.50).

3 different types of soup broth is available here: Konbu ($12 – $19.50), Bean Paste ($14.50 – $19) and Seafood ($19.50).

Donburi Maruya まる屋
$7.50 Curry Png (rice) In Orchard?

With only 2 categories on their menu, Donburi Maruya まる屋 offers Donburi aka rice bowls ($7.50 – $13.50) and Curry Rice ($7.50 – $14.50).

With a selection of Pork ($12 for Don, $12.50 for Curry Rice), Chicken ($11.50 for Don, $12 for Curry Rice) and Ebi ($13.50 for Don, $14.50 for Curry Rice), additional toppings such as Poached egg ($1), Corn Salad ($2) and Miso Soup ($1) are available.

Kaisen Natsume
Ever thought of getting a Kaisen Don but you don’t eat all the types of fishes offered in the bowl?

Now there’s an option to DIY you own Kaisen Don at Kaisen Natsume with prices starting from $8.50.

This reminds me of Teppei Syokudo where we also get to customise our bowl.

A total of 3 bowl sizes are available: Small with 2 choices of fish ($8.50), Medium with 4 choices of fish ($15.50) and Large with 5 choices of fish ($18.50).

Soba Maruki
With a choice of Soba and Tendon ($9.50 – $13.50), 2 size portions served in either Hot or Cold are available for the Soba with a price difference of $2.50.

Think Mori aka Original ($8/$10.50), Iberico Pork Chasu ($16/$18.50), Yam ($13.50/$16) and Seaweed ($9/$11.50).

Yakitori Tsuyoshi
For an extra protein-packed meal, Yakitori Tsuyoshi offers a selection of Grilled Skewers ($1.10 – $2.30) and Hokkaido Buta-don ($8.90 – $12.90).

Dot Cafe & Bar
For small bites or something lighter, the menu offers golden crust Croquettes ($4.50), Softserve (Cup $4.20/ Cone $4.80) and Coffee ($3 – $4.50) to replenish some energy for more shopping at Don Don Donki.

Other Related Entries
Don Don Donki (Orchard Central)

* Written by Nicholas Tan @stormscape who loves all things [NEW]. Daniel’s Food Diary pays for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

The post Hokkaido Marche – 8 Exciting Japanese Food Concepts From Hokkaido At Don Don Donki, Orchard Central appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

To write the piece on “10 Best Hotpot Restaurants In Singapore ”, I went on a hotpot over-drive and tried some of the most recommended restaurants.

JPot offers its own unique version of this tradition with individual hotpots, but somehow the restaurant has never really crossed my radar throughout the years.

One word to describe JPot’s selling point – “personalization”, whetting the appetites of diners with Singapore-style soup bases in their own individual hotpots.

There is an increasing number offering personal pots to its diners. It is after all more hygienic after all, right? And you are not forced to share your taste preferences.

JPot is one of the multi-brands under Singapore-based Jumbo Group. The F&B company evolved from a single seafood restaurant in 1987 into 6 brands in 24 outlets in Singapore, China and Japan.

There are only 2 stores of JPot, one at VivoCity and another at Tampines 1.

I went to the branch located at the 1st floor of VivoCity on the furthest end (near Crystal Jade Jiangnan, Akimitsu, below the Cinema side).

It was crazy crowded, think because this is good for group dinners after spending a day at Sentosa or Vivocity. But even if you are a solo diner (who watches Korean drama while having hotpot – this is what I saw), it can be a suitable option for comforting soup.

Natural daylight fills the space through its floor-to-ceiling glass window, overlooking the Sentosa boardwalk.

Do reserve your table early. Online booking is available via JPot’s website. However, reservations are for individual pots only. For parties of 5 and up (or sharing of pot), contact the restaurant directly.

As I was leaving late evening on a weekend, I noted that there were 60 groups of customers in the queue, with a wait-time of at least 60 – 90 minutes. At least you can register your number and go shop around.

I read online that there were options of Bak Kuh Teh Soup and Fish Head Soup. However, the set menu that I ordered only included Superior Broth, Herbal, Laksa, Tom Yum and Vegetable.

Slightly disappointing.

For the soup base, what was recommended was the signature JPOT Superior Broth Soup ($6.80 solo/$14.80 large). However, my dining partner thought that it was not so “superior” after all, and flavours could have been richer.

The best bet could be the Laksa broth, which was like the gravy of our popular local dish, without that much oiliness and ‘coconuty’-richness.

For the popular the Chili Crab Set ($64.80 for 2), it includes live crabs & prawns, scallops, sliced squid & toman fish, dried fish maw, hand-made fish & prawn balls, fish paste bean curd & tofu, crab sticks, fried mini bun and a raw egg. That raw egg, when added to the soup with cornstarch, turns your soup into a sauce.

Comes with free-flowing drinks, and a choice between fried bean curd skin or fried fish skin.

If you order ala carte, the choices include Local Lobster ($12.80/100g), Boston lobster ($10.80/100g), Crab ($21.80/300g), Geoduck Clam ($15.80/100g or $48.00/plate), Star Garoupa ($8.80/100g), Garoupa ($42.80), Prawns ($11.80). But if you can’t choose, go for the Seafood Platter ($58.80).

Recommended meats are Sliced Wagyu Ribeye ($24.80), Sliced Premium Beef Short Rib ($14.80), Hand-made Chicken Balls ($5.80), Sliced Kurobota Pork ($11.80), Hand-made Jumbo Pork Ball ($5.80), Hand-made Cheese Pork Balls ($5.80), and Marinated Pork ($4.80).

Some slices of meats come with a raw quail egg. Break and add it to the meat to make it smoother when you cook them.

For some local delights, order the Sotong You Tiao, Fried Bean Curd Skin ($6.80) and Fried Fish Skin ($6.80).

The bill turned out to be $40 plus, close to $50 per person in the end, not as ‘cheap’ as I thought.

I think it was because I ordered the set menu, I was limited by the type of items I could order, and thus not many were impressive enough. Overall, still a decent choice due to prompt service, reasonable number of sauces and free-flow drinks, and laksa soup.

JPot Vivocity
1 Harbourfront Walk #01-53 VivoCity (Lobby F) Singapore 098585
Tel: +65 6273 3536
Opening Hours: 12pm – 3pm Lunch (Last order 2:15pm); 5:30pm – 11:00pm Dinner (Last order 10:15pm) Monday – Friday; 11:30am – 11:00pm (Last order 10:15pm) Saturday, Sunday and Holidays
Google Maps – JPot Vivocity

Other Related Entries
10 Best Hotpot Restaurants In Singapore
Hai Di Lao (Plaza Singapura)
Captain K (Middle Road)
Beauty In The Pot (The Centrepoint)
Paradise Hotpot (Compass Point)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

The post JPot – Individual Hotpot Singapore Style, At Vivocity And Tampines 1 appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

[London] When it comes to macaroni and cheese, we normally associate the dish with stereotypes of TV dinners, processed fast food, and microwaves.

For some of us, we imagine the boxes of the stuff our mothers brought us from the supermarket when she doesn’t have time or is too tired to cook.

But the Mac & Cheese at The Mac Factory is no afterthought.

This tiny restaurant just around the corner from the northern entrance/exit of Euston Square station on Gower Street, dishes up little pots of cheesy pasta that attract people from all around Bloomsbury for an indulgent lunch.

You have to get there early. Otherwise the line that awaits, may not let you get back to work on time.

While you wait, there is a sign by the entrance with the different varieties on offer, each with exciting and interesting flavours for every palate.

If you want to try the original stuff, what people first think of when they hear ‘mac & cheese’ then you have got to try the Nostalgic (£6.20, SGD$11.56).

The signature includes The Mac Factory’s classic cheese blend of mature flavourful cheddar, milky mozzarella and a parmesan and thyme crumble.

This is the very basic go-to pot, but the rest of the menu is for the more adventurous.

The La Med Babe (£6.85, SGD$12.80) is topped with herby basil pesto, orb-like mozzarella balls and glistening semi-dried tomatoes, while the Super Mario (£7.20, SGD$13.40) with perfectly sautéed mushrooms, a drizzle of truffle oil and a sprinkling of garlic.

For the more Latin American take, go for the Hey Mac-Arena (£7.25, SGD$13.50) with latin style beef chilli, crisp tortilla chips, a dollop of sour cream and slices of jalapeno; and Mambo Italiano (£7.65, SGD$14.25) comprised of a simple yet popular combination of smoked pancetta, mushrooms and garlic.

I wonder how Victoria Beckham would feel about this food, but The Posh Spice (£7.20, SGD$13.40) seemed too exciting to pass up.

It came topped with crunchily charred, juicy strips of chorizo, accompanied by sweet caramelized onions and spicy harissa.

Mixed together with the creamy, gooeyness of the stringy cheese blend and wonderfully cooked pasta, it was definitely a dish to remember.

The Mac Factory is so conveniently placed that I am already thinking about my next visit.

They are doing great things with simple ingredients and it takes only one pot to get hopelessly addicted.

The Mac Factory
152-156 North Gower Street London NW1 2LU N Gower St, Kings Cross, London NW1 2LU, UK
Opening Hours: 11:00am – 8:00pm (Mon – Fri), Closed (Sat-Sun)
www.themacfactory.co.uk/
Google Maps – The Mac Factory

Click HERE for other LONDON Food Entries

* Written by DFD’s London Food Correspondent Leander Dias SaltyCritic. Leander Dias was born and raised in Dubai, a burgeoning city with diverse food culture. Since moving to London to read for his English MA at UCL, he has utterly immersed himself in the local food scene, writing extensively about everything he eats everywhere he goes. Daniel’s Food Diary pays for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

The post The Mac Factory – Mac & Cheese Specialist At Kings Cross London. Go For The “Posh Spice” appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

[New York] If you are looking for that one food place in NYC which is iconically “New York”, then Katz’s Delicatessen can be it.

It is the oldest deli in New York, and a legendary landmark in Lower East Side.

The diner is best known for its traditional sky-high hand-sliced Beef Pastrami Sandwiches, along with Hot Dogs, Corned Beef, Brisket, and Turkey.

Each week, thousands of visitors from around the world flock to Katz’s to dine in this legendary deli.

Some introduction: Katz’s Delicatessen is a family-run business born in New York’s Lower East Side, considered an inherent part of the city’s history and culture.

Established in 1888 as a deli called “Iceland brothers”, it became “Iceland & Katz” when Willy Katz arrived in 1903. In 1910, Willy’s cousin Benny joined him, bought out the Iceland brothers, and formed Katz’s Delicatessen.

After a series of change in ownership, it is now owned and managed by Jake Dell since 2009.

Upon walking in, I felt like I was inside a Hollywood set.

Of course movie buffs know that Katz’s Delicatessen as the restaurant where Meg Ryan’s famous fake orgasm scene in the movie When Harry Met Sally was filmed.

Katz’s delicatessen has that nostalgic feel in the air, with all the photos and memorabilia hanging on the entire stretch of the wall.

In the photos you’ll see Katz’s famous customers who dined in especially during the age of Yiddish theatre.

The old wooden tables and chairs that have been kept for years exude a charm of the past – ambience was fun, loud, and vibrant atmosphere of diners.

Ordering system can be confusing for first timers though.

Every diner gets a ticket upon enter the restaurant, and needs a ticket to leave.

It is VERY IMPORTANT not to lose your ticket or else you will have to pay a minimum of USD$50.00 for each lost ticket.

When ordering, remember that most of the deli is self-service. There are 4 counter stations: grill, cutter, side dishes, and back counter.

Be sure to be ready with your order when you’re next up in line, especially in one of the 7 the cutting station where all the sandwiches are served.

Once you have your food, find an open seat in the middle or rear of the restaurant. The front tables along the front wall are reserved for waiter service only.

Popular items in the menu include hot sandwiches like Katz’s Pastrami Hot Sandwich (USD$21.45, SGD$ 29.29), Katz’s Corned Beef Hot Sandwich (USD$20.45, SGD$ 27.93), Katz’s Brisket Hot Sandwich (USD$20.45, SGD$ 27.93), and the Turkey Hot Sandwich (USD$20.45, SGD$ 27.93).

Pickles are added as a side dish for free.

Just GET THE KATZ’S PASTRAMI.

When the server was cutting up the slices, I could already smell the fragrance. He told me to take one piece to try, and you should have just seen my face of delight and bliss.

There are only some food items I would describe as “life changing”, and this is one of them.

The beef was superbly tender and so-pleasantly warm, not fatty, sliced just right. Juicy and so well seasoned.

They use the best cuts of beef for their corned beef, pastrami, brisket, and other fine foods. Their pastrami and corned beef are cured using a slower method compared to commercially-prepared meats.

No chemicals, water or other additives are injected into the meat to speed up the process.

Instead, it takes them up to 30 days to cure the meats compared to 36 hours for the commercially-prepared meats.

Another unique item in their menu (though not as popular) is their meat-free Cheese Sandwich ($11.95, SGD$ 16.32) that has about a dozen thick slices of your choice of cheese: Swiss, Muenster or American.

I couldn’t resist and also ordered a Chilli Dog (USD$5.95, SGD$7.85) which was while hearty and an above-average choice, wasn’t as mind-blowing as the pastrami.

For the drinks, try the traditional Dr. Brown’s soda and a side of their famous steak fries, coleslaw, or potato salad.

This is a cash only establishment. Pay after you have finished eating. Leave the trays on the table and bring all your tickets up to the cashier.

Katz’s Delicatessen
205 East Houston Street (corner of Ludlow St) New York City, 10002
Tel: +1 212 254 2246
Opening Hours: 8:00am – 10:45pm (Sun-Wed), 8:00am – 2:45am (Thu), 8:00am – 12:00am (Fri), Open 24 hours (Sat)
press@katzsdelicatessen.com
https://www.katzsdelicatessen.com
Google Maps – Katz’s Delicatessen

Other Related Entries
The Halal Guys (New York)
Shake Shack (New York)
Luke’s Lobster (New York City
Boba Guys (Clinton Street, New York City)

Click HERE for other NEW YORK CITY Food Entries

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook and Instagram for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

The post Katz’s Delicatessen – Best Deli At New York City, A Must-Visit For Its Iconic Beef Pastrami appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Every year, there are more and more ‘patterns’ when it comes to Yu Sheng（鱼生）aka Lo-Hei which usually comes with strips of raw fish, shredded vegetables and an assortment of condiments.

Restaurants do what it takes to outdo (or outshine) others with their unique version. (We also know the profit margin of Yu Sheng is quite high.)

The tradition of tossing Yu Sheng is believed to originate from China (Guangdong), but in fact, the culture of tossing is more commonly found in Malaysia and Singapore instead.

Fish (pronounced as “yu” in Chinese) which signifies abundance, is a sign of prosperity and Chinese believes that tossing Yu Sheng will bring in fortune in the upcoming year.

Here are 10 Interesting (or should I say, unconventional) Yu Sheng for Chinese New Year 2018

Courtyard by Marriott Singapore
Level 22, 99 Irrawaddy Road, Singapore 329568
Opening Hours: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm (Mon-Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/courtyardsingapore/

A Laksa Yu Sheng? This is so Singaporean.

A combination of Yu Sheng that is made popular in Singapore with our heritage food, Laksa, a spicy noodle soup made up of curry coconut milk.

While most Yu Sheng tends to incline towards a sweeter and sour taste with the different sauces added, the rendition at Courtyard by Marriott Singapore surprises me with a savory and spicy kick.

The laksa dressing is made up of laksa leaves, lemongrass, calamansi, fish sauce, blue ginger, red chilli and baby shrimps and drizzled on the Yu Sheng with red and green carrot, white radish, poached prawns and golden crackers.

Tasted just like dry laksa with a “lemak” taste, the Abundance of Fortune Singapore Laksa Lohei is only available for dine-in at SKy22 with a top up for $8 for a small portion or $18 for a large portion in addition to their buffet prices.

Word of advice: Try not to toss too high as you might end up looking like a walking Ang Bao (aka red packet) with laksa sauce splattered everywhere.

Antoinette
30 Penhas Road, Singapore 208188
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon-Thu), 11am – 11pm (Fri), 10am – 11pm (Sat), 10am – 10pm (Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/Antoinette-Penhas-152964444776785/

333A Orchard Road, Mandarin Gallery, #02-33/34, Singapore 238897
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon-Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/Antoinette-Mandarin-Gallery-127028587392063/

Chocolate Yu Sheng?

Encased within a huge golden chocolate egg is an assortment of chocolate fish, golden ingots & coins, almonds, cashews, mandarin orange butter cake, meringue kisses, yam and sweet potato chips.

Looks just like a giant Kinder surprise, break open the Queen’s Yu Sheng ($88), drizzle the mandarin orange, plum and gula melaka dressing before tossing everything together.

The Queen’s Yu Sheng is suitable for six to eight diners and is available for dine-in and takeaway.

Word of caution: Not suitable to use brute force to smash the Golden Egg, as half of the portion might end up on your neighbours’ table. #CheapTrills

Four Seasons Hotel Singapore
190 Orchard Boulevard, Singapore 248646
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm (Mon-Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/FourSeasonsHotelSingapore/

Bird Nest Yu Sheng?

Award-winning Cantonese restaurant Jiang-Nan Chun with its signature Peking duck had launched their Yu Sheng (nope, not with Peking duck) this year.

Instead, a smoked salmon version (Regular $104.85/ Large $147.65) that comes with crispy vermicelli, fried sweet potato strips, preserved papaya, beetroot, shredded radish, pomelo, plum sauce and pineapple paste.

Add-on option such as Three Head Abalone ($64.20), Bird’s Nest ($64.20) and Japanese surf slams ($32.10) are available.

The Bird’s nest is added onto the Yu Sheng after tossing (Heng ah, Huat ah) because you never know where it will land when you have a table of enthusiastic diners tossing as though they are trying to break the Guinness World Records.

Summer Pavilion at The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore
7 Raffles Avenue, Singapore 039799
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm (Mon-Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/ritzcarltonsingapore/

Black Caviar and Abalone Yu Sheng?

A total of 5 different Yu Sheng in 2 sizes are available: Black Caviar and Abalone ($135/ $276), Abalone ($95/ $190), Salmon ($78/ $156), Vegetarian ($70/ $140) and Lobster (market price).

The sea whelk is first braised in abalone sauce before adding to the yu sheng, along with salmon caviar after tossing. Fortunately, as you know, people do get excited (and tossed too violently) when there are caviars in it.

Min Jiang at One-North
190 Orchard Boulevard, Singapore 248646
https://www.facebook.com/FourSeasonsHotelSingapore/
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm (Mon-Sun)

Fruits Yu Sheng?

Shaped like a ‘flower’ made up of pomelo, wasabi tobiko and red tobiko and ‘petals’ that are made of julienned peaches, plums, kiwi, golden kiwi, ingot-shaped osmanthus jelly and blueberries, drizzled with Japanese sesame and plum.

Exclusively available at Min Jiang at One-North, it’s a refreshing twist to the usual salmon yu sheng that we are all familiar with.

Depending on the “Huat-ness” one needs, the small Yu sheng is priced at $88 (which means Huat Huat) and large Yu sheng is at $138 (which means Huat a lifetime).

TungLok Seafood – Orchard
Orchard Central #11-05 181 Orchard Road Singapore 238896 (Somerset MRT)
Tel: +65 6834 4888
Opening Hours: Lunch 11.30am – 3.00pm, Dinner 6:30pm – 11:00pm (Mon – Sat)
Lunch 10.00am – 3.00pm, Dinner 6.00pm – 11.00pm (Sun, PH)

Huat ah! Healthier HPB Approved Yu Sheng?

TungLok’s new and improved Yu Sheng sauce has been endorsed by Health Promotion Board (HPB) for its lower sugar content, making this popular festive dish a perfect choice for a healthier celebration.

This version of Yu Sheng also features a vibrant harmony of fresh vegetables, mushroom, yam, and sweet potato shreds.

My family typically steers away from new-fangled flavours, and I noticed that all the vegetables used for this plate were fresh, not lined with artificial colourings of vibrant red and green. Major plus point.

The Prosperity Yu Sheng 鸿运鱼生 is priced at $48++ for 6 pax, $78++ for 10 pax portion. Tunglok Seafood (Orchard Central)

Din Tai Fung
Suntec City West Wing (Near Convention Centre), #02-302
Tel: +65 6338 2422
Opening Hours: 11:00am – 10:00pm Daily

For Din Tai Fung’s signature Prosperity Smoked Salmon Yu Sheng, what I liked were the pieces of soft Tianjin Roasted Chestnuts added which included some nuttiness, along with twirls of white radish and carrots, crispy yam strips, fresh pomelo pulp, Norwegian smoked salmon and their house-special plum sauce for a sweet and tangy finish.

The interesting factor comes in when you can choose to top up with Smoked Unagi ($9.80) and Fried Salmon Skin ($4.80). One gives you that soft texture and sweetness; the other the added crunch. 10 Food Places At Suntec City For Chinese New Year Feasting

Kuro Maguro
Tanjong Pagar Centre, 7 Wallich Street #01-04 Singapore 078884 (Tanjong Pagar MRT)
Tel: +65 6386 8561
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 2:00pm, 5.30pm – 10:00pm (Mon – Sun)
Last Order 10:00pm (Mon – Sat) Last order 9:00pm (Sun)

Otoro Yusheng? Just in case you need an Otoro Yusheng for the Lunar New Year. The Kuro Maguro newly launched Yusheng packs 4 different types of fresh sashimi, namely Otoro, Salmon, Akami and Hamachi (Yellowtail).

It is drizzled with a homemade Japanese plum sauce, which has a light, zesty and refreshing tasting. Crisp-fried beancurd skin completes the Yusheng with a satisfying crunch.

The Otoro Yusheng is good for 4 – 6 pax, and goes for a reasonable $68 will be available from 1 February 2018 to 2 March 2018. Kuro Maguro (Tanjong Pagar Centre)

Crystal Jade Dining IN
1 Harbourfront Walk #01-112 VivoCity Singapore 098585 (Harbourfront MRT)
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 3:00pm, 6:00 – 10:30pm (Mon – Fri)
10:30am – 4:00pm, 6:00pm – 10:30pm (Sat-Sun, Eve of PH, PH)

This is what I would call a ’chio’ Yu Sheng. This Garden Of Wealth Lo-Hei draws reference to spring when flowers begin to bloom, with the addition of pretty edible flowers.

The not-so-typical ingredients include julienne carrot and turnip, lily pad shaped nasturtium leaves, freeze-dried wolfberries, ice plant and wood sorrel red leaves for the whole garden effect.

Home-made caramelised deep-fried lotus root slices which resemble gold coins add a sweet crunch. The accompanying dressing is a sweet-tangy blend punctuated with fresh lemon juice for a zingy finish.

Priced at $138 for large, $88 for small, available at Crystal Jade Golden Palace and Dining IN for dine-in and takeaway.

Indocafe @The White House
35 & 35A Scotts Road Singapore 228227
Tel: +65 6733 2656
Opening Hours: 12pm – 2:30pm, 6:30pm – 10:00pm

This is one Yu Sheng with a difference. I have to emphasize this special sauce that is added… Peranakan CURRY sauce. Surprisingly, it worked and gave the Yu Sheng a touch of spiciness every mouthful.

The Glorious Prosperity Yu Sheng comes with Yu Sheng or small Abalone, priced at $48 to $88.

What To Say During Lo-Hei. Hope this is useful!

First say: Gong xi fa cai 恭喜发财 and Wan shi ru yi 万事如意
Fish – Nian nian you yu 年年有鱼
Pomelo – Da ji da li 大吉大利
Pepper – Zhao cai jin bao 招财进宝
Oil – Cai yuan guang jin 财源广进
Carrots – Hong yun dang tou 鸿运当头
Green radish – Qing chun chang zhu 青春常驻
White radish – Feng sheng shui qi 风生水起
Peanuts – Jin yin man wu 金银满屋
Sesame seeds – Sheng yi xing long 生意兴隆
Deep-fried crackers – Pian di huang jin 遍地黄金

All toss the salad an auspicious 7 times! Ingredients to be pushed towards the centre to claim good luck for all at the table. Huat ah!

Other Related Entries
10 Food Places At Suntec City For Chinese New Year Feasting
LIME CNY Special (PARKROYAL on Pickering)
Tunglok Seafood (Orchard Central)
Samjin Amook CNY (ION Orchard)

* Compiled by Nicholas Tan @stormscape and Daniel Ang @DanielFoodDiary.

The post 10 Interesting Yu Sheng In Singapore, To Huat All The Way This Chinese New Year appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Dusk Restaurant & Bar
Faber Peak Singapore, 109 Mount Faber Road Singapore 099203 (Level 2)
Tel: +65 6377 9688
Email: guestrelations@onefabergroup.com
Website: www.onefabergroup.com/dusk
Opening Hours: 4pm – 11pm (Mon – Thurs), 4pm – 2am (Fri, Sat, Eve of PH), 11am – 11pm (Sun)

European Tapas & Cocktails On Faber Peak, For Some Of The Most Amazing Views In Singapore
Dusk Restaurant & Bar by One Faber Group located 100-metres about sea level, provides al fresco dining with a panoramic views of HarbourFront and Sentosa Island. Check it out.

I must say this hilltop restaurant is good for a casual yet romantic nights out, or after-work gathering with colleagues and friends over sharing platters, tapas and drinks. An added bonus is the beautiful views that can be seen from here.

As for the food conceptualised by Executive Chef Kenny Yeo and team, there is a wide range from Main Courses with a touch of Asian, European Tapas, Sharing Platters, Snacks, and Desserts.

You can also expect a Brunch Menu of Eggs Benedict ($17), The Breakfast Plate ($21) and Swiss Rosti ($22) on Sundays. Dusk Restaurant & Bar (Faber Peak)

Kanshoku Ramen Bar
Northpoint City B1-151 930 Yishun Avenue 2, Singapore 769098
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm Last Order 9:30pm Daily

Kanshoku Ramen Bar is popular for being one of the first (and most successful) ramen shops in Singapore to introduce Truffle Ramen – in both dry and broth versions.

Look out for the food truck at basement 1 of Northpoint City. That’s where you can find them.

NEW to the ramen bar is the Yuzu Ramen, with a light clear broth made from free-range French poulet added with Japanese Yuzu for that subtle citrus flavour. Northpoint City Food Guide

Pizza Maru
Northpoint City B1-192/193, 930 Yishun Avenue 2, Singapore 769098
Tel: 6254 4307
Opening hours: 11:30am – 10:00pm (Mon – Sun)

South Korea’s Most Iconic Pizza Brand
The K-wave continues to hit our shores with the opening of South Korea’s most iconic pizza brand Pizzamaru, boosting of over 630 stores in Korea.

Adding some Korean element into their menu, recommended items include the 9-inch Chicago Pizza ($26.80) made using black rice dough and Premium Pizza (9-inch $19.80, 12-inch $23.80) made using patented Green Tea Wellbeing Dough with flaxseed, chlorella, barley and 12 other grains.

The recommended is the Real BBQ Chicago stuffed with creamy double mozzarella cheese, string cheese and cream cheese mousse with honey and BBQ sauce, this is a combination of sweet and savoury in one bite. Northpoint City Food Guide

Uya 四代目菊川
501 Orchard Road, #02-15/16 Wheelock Place, Singapore 238880 (Orchard MRT)
Tel: 6732 1096
Opening Hours: Lunch 12:00pm – 3:00pm (Last Order 2:30pm), Dinner 6:00pm – 10:00pm (Last Order 9:30pm)

NEW Unagi Restaurant At Wheelock Place
The question most people will ask is, “So Man Man better or Uya?”

Uya 四代目菊川 located at level 2 of Wheelock Place, aims to offer affordable and authentic Japanese traditional unagi cuisine to the masses in Singapore.

With the offering of Hitsumabushi bowls as well, the comparison between the two will be inevitable. The price of the Hitsumabushi Set is at $35++ for the medium, and $48++ for large. In contrast, the large Hitsumabushi is priced at $26.80+ and $35.80+ (without service tax) at Man Man.

Those who find Man Man’s version too sweet, could prefer this as you can savour more of the natural flavours of the eel.

However, while the unagi was of reasonably good quality, it lacked that slight char and smokiness one would come expecting. Uya Singapore (Wheelock Place)

Typhoon Café
68 Orchard Road #04-67 Plaza Singapura (new wing) Singapore 238839 (Dhoby Ghaut MRT)
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10pm Daily

Modern Taiwanese Food Café At Plaza Singapura, With $14.90 Mee Sua
Typhoon Cafe supposedly specialises in the “Taste of Taiwan”, serving Taiwanese street food, fruit teas and instagrammable desserts set in cafe-style comfort.

Typhoon Cafe menu boost a series of 17 board sets – these Typhoon Boards Sets come in a variety of noodles, rice like Oyster Mee Sua, Lu Rou Fan and San Bei Chicken.

Prices start from $12.90, and each board set comes with a Chinese chilled salad side dish and a soup of day for rice and dry noodles.

The Taiwanese Oyster Mee Sua ($14.90) served with oyster fritters, camed with a rather smooth starchy consistency. However, I won’t go as far to use “authentic” to describe this, as it still a bit off from the familiar umami taste from those at the night market. The price isn’t “authentic” anyway.

Perhaps because the menu is too extensive, and that they are trying to find a sweet spot between being authentic and instagrammable, some dishes didn’t quite hit the mark. Typhoon Café (Plaza Singapura)

Tendon Kohaku Chinatown Point
Chinatown Point #02-34 Singapore 059413 (Opening early Feb)

Ocean Gems Seafood Tendon, And NEW Branch At Chinatown Point
Tendon Kohaku can be considered as one of Singaporean’s favourite Tendon shop.

It is known for its Edomae Tendon, where bowls of Hokkaido rice piled with tempura drizzled in a specially made sauce are served.

Other than the outlets at Suntec City and Boat Quay, and Changi Airport (Terminal 2 SORA), it will be launching its 4th branch at Chinatown Point Level 2.

The Japanese eatery has also introduced a seasonal Ocean Gems Tendon ($23.00++), its first-ever winter collection seafood tendon available in both spicy and original versions.

The bowl comprises of fresh catch such as prawns, snow crab, king crab meat, scallop, oyster and squid, topped with generous portion of ikura. Tendon Kohaku (Chinatown Point)

Seven & Ate
78 Horne Road, Singapore 209078
Tel: +65 9618 5726
Opening Hours: 11am – 10.30pm (Tue to Thu, Sun), 11am – 12am (Fri), 10am – 12am (Sat), Closed Mon
https://www.facebook.com/sevenate.sg/

Gastropub With Decadent Sandwiches, Burgers and Quinoa Bowls, At Horne Road
Seven & Ate is positioned as an all-day gastropub, which promises quality food in a casual dining environment.

The food menu was kept simple and classified into three categories – Sandwiches, Burgers and Quinoa Bowls.

I was quite tempted by their range of hearty sandwiches such as Grilled Cheese ($6), Spam & Egg ($7), Pork Belly ($8) and Pulled Duck ($9).

For healthier option, their Quinoa Bowls would be your best bet.

With Grilled Steak ($15), Pulled Duck ($15), Roasted Chicken ($12) and Fried Egg Plant ($12) to choose from, all bowls are served with quinoa base, guacamole, squash, wedges and poach egg for a nutritious meal. Seven & Ate (Horne Road)

House of Beehoon 米粉之家
151 Bishan Street 11, Singapore 570151
Opening Hours: 9:00am – 2:30pm, 5:00pm – 10:30pm

Cheese Beehoon At Bishan
The Zi-Char Restaurant at Bishan Street 11 got into the limelight recently with the introduction of the Cheesy Flavoured Beehoon. Yes, cheddar cheese with bee hoon.

If you would like something more regular, there are other options of Signature Beehoon in Superior Soup ($6, $9, $12), Crab Beehoon ($40.00), Lobster Beehoon ($45.00), Crayfish Beehoon ($16, $24, $32), and Big Prawns Beehoon ($10, $15, $20).

Even though the Signature Beehoon looked simple, I enjoyed the flavourful stock with wok-hei. The other dishes I ordered – the Sambal Kang Kong and Har Cheong Chicken, were more ordinary though.

The eatery also recommends their Signature Dried Scallop Gravy Tofu, Salad Prawn Wrap with Bacon, Dong Po Rou and Salted Egg Sotong.

Wakanui
5 Straits View #04-02 Marina One The Heart Singapore, 018935
Tel: +65 6384 2665
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 3:00pm (Mon – Fri), 5:30pm – 11:00pm (Mon– Sat), Closed Sat Lunch, Sun

Steakhouse Using Meats From New Zealand And Cooking Techniques Of Japan, At Marina One
On the 4th level of the rather futuristic looking (like off a Hollywood set) of Marina One lies two glass capsules.

One of them contains Wakanui Grill Dining, an 86-seater restaurant which features steak and lamb from New Zealand.

The stars and the essence of the restaurant are therefore the New Zealand Ocean Beef and Wakanui Spring Lamb, which are grilled over Japan-sourced Binchotan charcoal in the centrally-placed, open kitchen.

I was recommended by the service manager the Wakanui Spring Lamb Chop ($8) as the starter, and it turned out to be quite exceptional.

The lamb had intense flavour and retained its natural juiciness, without the usual gaminess lamb would have. In fact, this would count as one of the most tender lamb chops I ever had.

However, and unfortunately despite the positive reviews I had been reading, the beef turned out to be slightly overcooked, bland and almost too tough and dry. Wakanui Grill Dining (Marina One)

Hokkaido Marche Gourmet Hall
Orchard Central, 181 Orchard Road, B2-11 to 29; and B2-44 to 48 Singapore 238896
Opening Hours: 11am – 11pm Daily

8 Exciting Japanese Food Concepts From Hokkaido Japan Next To Don Don Donki, Orchard Central
With the opening of Hokkaido Marche at Basement 2 of Orchard Central next to Don Don Donki, there is another reason for the shoppers (and supper crowd) to fill their stomachs before another round of shopping.

Partnering with food manufacturer Hokkaido Marche, Don Don Donki features a total of 8 dining concepts from Sapporo, Hakodate and Asahikawa (all from different parts of Hokkaido prefecture) in a food hall setting, 1 of which is Sushi Shika Hanamaru that will open in February.

Unlike the usual Marche that we are familiar with where purchases are credited to a single card and payment are made upon exiting the compound, diners will need to make their purchase at the respective stalls within Hokkaido Marche. A buzzer will then be given out for self collection when the food is ready. Hokkaido Marche (Orchard Central)

Other Related Entries
14 NEW Cafés In Singapore February 2018
12 NEW Cafés In Singapore January 2018
10 NEW Restaurants Singapore January 2018

* Compiled by Daniel Ang @DanielFoodDiary, Nicholas Tan @stormscape, and Lewis Tan @juicyfingers.

The post 10 NEW Restaurants Singapore February 2018 – Hokkaido Marche, Uya Unagi, And Cheese Beehoon Zhi Char Eatery appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

[Taipei] There are many fans of IKEA’s furniture, and even its restaurants’ food of Swedish Meatballs, Salmon Fillet and Lasagne.

IKEA House is different though. And hard-core fans should make their way there, just to have a look.

It is another version of that giant furniture store, a 4-floor dining and shopping establishment in Taipei that is decorated exclusively with IKEA furniture and offers a variety of IKEA products and food.

IKEA House is located close to Huashan 1914 Creative Park which used to be a wine factory that was transformed into a hipster joint that hosted a number of cultural events including musical performances and art exhibitions.

Folks from Ikea House saw the potential of this place and decided to transform it into a mini IKEA.

I already liked the exterior, with windows decorated like the iconic picture frames. (I bought some of those multi-coloured frames before.)

There are four floors inside of the building.

On the first floor, you will find a counter where you can order meals and drinks. IKEA products are stored in the back in case you were thinking about buying something.

The second floor is packed with tables and seats – where you can dine (and where I spotted everyone taking their #OOTD and #Foodporn shots.)

Now, we come to the weird part of the building, as the third floor looks like someone’s apartment. It’s quite different than the other showrooms because there is natural light and no price tags.

The most spectacular part of the building is its fourth floor where the kitchen is located. They are probably going to organize cooking classes here, but for now, it is a kitchen area with a big table in the middle where you can come to chill and eat food ordered from downstairs.

(Note: The stairs are narrow so most people stay at Level 1 and 2.)

On the menu, you will basically find the same food as in their big shops.

The must have are the Swedish Meatballs (NT$120 for 10, NT$160 for 15). They offer both the beef and chicken versions, and I preferred the chicken just marginally better as they were softer.

Other main dishes on the menu included Vegetable Medallion with Shelled Shrimps (NT$120), Chicken Lasagne (NT$180), Salmon Fillet with Dill Hollandaise Sauce and Herbed Potatoes (NT$250), Pizza Slice with Mixed Vegetables (NT$120).

For desserts, the popular choice is the Cinnamon Bun (NT$30), Chocolate Boston Pie (NT$60), Lemon Pie (NT$60) and Cheese Pudding Tart (NT$60).

Somehow, I always get the impression that IKEA food is more casual-canteen, than decent-café food.

The Swedish Meatballs tasted better than those back home – tenderer, bouncy, well-seasoned. Except that I wished they were hotter.

The Cheese Cake with Blueberries & Raspberries was well, nothing to shout about, but made a quick, fuss-free dessert. If you want better cakes in Taipei, you probably get much better choices all around.

With that said, I did appreciate that they added the word “Jia”, which means “home” on the plate.

The easiest way to get to IKEA House is to take MRT all the way until Zhongxiao Xinsheng Exit 1. From there, walk towards Huashan 1914 and in 5 minutes you will reach your destination.

IKEA House
No. 37, Section 2, Zhongxiao East Road, Zhongzheng District, Taipei City, Taiwan 100 (Near Zhongxiao Xinsheng Exit 1)
Tel: +886 2 2321 3961
Opening Hours: 11:00am – 9:00pm Daily
Google Maps – IKEA House

Other Related Entries
Fika Fika Café (Zhongshan District, Taipei)
Sarabeth’s 紐約早餐女王 (Da’an District, Taipei)
Miracle Coffee (Neihu District, Taipei)
Bobii Frutii 珍珠水果特調 (Dunhua South Rd, Taipei)
Smoothie House 思慕昔 (Yong Kang St, Taipei)

Click HERE for other TAIPEI Food Entries

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook and Instagram for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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[Malacca, Malaysia] While Jonker Street in Malacca is generally quiet in the morning and more happening at night, there are generally fewer breakfast places in the tourist-centric district.

I decided to venture further from the Jonker Street area and found a popular breakfast spot selling traditional local breakfast, right opposite the Badminton Association.

Apart from the usual breakfast items such as coffee, tea and toast, Olive Baker offers interesting items such as Porridge in Bread Bowl (RM 9.50, SGD$ 3.20) and Ham & Cheese in Bread Bowl (RM 10.20, SGD$3.40).

Wow! Traditional breakfast food with a hipster presentation, yet still maintaining its authenticity.

I ordered the Cheese & Ham Wen Quan Dan Set (RM 10.20, SGD$3.40) that comes with a choice of kopi (Hokkien word for coffee) or teh (Hokkien word for tea).

Encased within a bread bowl that was made in house were ingredients such as soft boiled egg, ham, cheese, tomato and lettuce, which kinda reminded me of a burger though.

With a hearty portion hidden within the bread bowl, the highlight was the soft and fluffy wholemeal bread.

Not as tough and rigid as I expected from a bread bowl, it was surprising light and moistened by the egg white and ingredients within it.

For those seeking a more traditional type of breakfast, Butter Kaya Toast Set (RM7.90, SGD$2.70), Walnut Toast with Butter/ Cheese Set (RM9.20, SGD$3.10) and Garlic Wholemeal Set (RM8.90, SGD$3) are available, each comes with 2 eggs, kopi or teh.

The toast used in the Butter Kaya Toast Set (RM7.90, SGD$2.70) was crispy on the edges and soft in each bite.

Quite different from the usual ones which are usually not as soft after toasting.

The cup of the tea on the other hand was a tad diluted without much fragrance.

With a rich and vibrant culture in Malacca and the emergence of hipster cafes, local food is also undergoing a twist to attract the younger crowd.

Olive Baker
347 Jalan Tengkera, Malacca, Malaysia
Opening Hours: 7am – 1pm (Mon, Wed-Fri), 7am -3pm (Sat-Sun), Closed Tue
https://www.facebook.com/OliveBakerMelaka/

Other Related Entries
The Daily Fix Café (Jonker Street, Malacca)
Sin See Tai 新时代 (Jalan Jawa, Malacca)
Navy Café (Jonker Street Malacca)

* Written by Nicholas Tan @stormscape who loves all things [NEW]. Daniel’s Food Diary pays for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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[Taipei] When I was during my Taipei café research, it occurred to me that there are many quaint little cake stores which are situated along Songjiang Nanjing & Xingtian Temple Station.

Due to my hectic travel schedule, I could only shortlist a few to visit and Coffee Smith Cake 時安靜好 came up to be one of my priority.

Not to be confused with South Korea’s Coffee Smith, this Coffee Smith have brand presence mainly in Taiwan and also Malaysia.

I was immediately captivated by their cosy space and beautifully crafted desserts.

At first glance, I thought the drawings were plate designs, only to realize there that they were all hand-drawn by the talented staffs.

The neat designs were all exquisite and stellar. On a side note, it was also edible.

I went with the Shizuoka Volcanic Matcha Chiffon 靜岡火山抹茶戚風 (NT180, SGD$8.30) which came capped with matcha sauce, mimicking a volcano overflowing with lava.

For matcha lovers, this is utopia.

At first mouth, I could taste the intense bitterness from matcha powder, accompanied lingering subtle sweet aftertaste.

The chiffon base was also light and fluffy.

So good, I almost went for a second helping.

They also serve desserts with poetic stories named after angels. For instance the Chamue’s Feather 夏彌爾的羽毛 (NT180, SGD$8.30) and Uriel’s Peak 屋列爾之巔 (NT200, SGD$9.20).

Former being a tangy lemon tart layered with lime mousse and torched berry meringue shaped like a rose, latter being a chocolate chiffon cake encased in a “mountain peak” crafted using malt sugar.

Photo by @coffeesmithcake

The Uriel’s Peak was also featured on Taiwan’s lifestyle magazine and food variety show for its photogenicity and delicate craftsmanship.

Interestingly, there was a range of fantasy-themed desserts such as Purple Potato Unicorn Milkshake (NT220, SGD$10.10) specially curated for 網美 (ladies who loves to take OOTD).

Fanciful drinks are not my type. Hence, I went for the Rose Latte (NT150, SGD$6.90) which tasted slightly bitter, probably from darker roast beans, coupled with hints of floral fragrance.

While the store serves mainly desserts, light bites such as Mentaiko Crepe and Molten Cheese Bowl (NT180, SGD$8.30) are also available.

Point to note, there is a minimum order requirement of a beverage per customer.
Due to their popularity, reservations are (apparently) required. I only managed to get a table because I went in the early morning.

From my experience, initially my dessert didn’t came with the hand-drawn design. It was until the staffs saw that we were taking photos and offered to take back our dessert to complete the design.

Substandard treatment for customers? Hmmm.

Coffee Smith Cake 時安靜好
No. 2, Siping Street, Zhongshan District, Taipei City, Taiwan
台北市中山區四平街2號1樓
Opening Hours: 10:00am – 7.30pm Daily
https://www.facebook.com/coffeesmithcake/
Google Maps – Coffee Smith Cake

Click HERE for other TAIPEI Food Entries

* Written by Lewis Tan @juicyfingers, a self-proclaimed coffee addict. Daniel’s Food Diary pays for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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Interesting, a conveyor belt hotpot restaurant.

UPOT at Singpost Centre is one of those places I went without doing any research, entered due to the ‘cold-weather’ hotpot mood.

Maybe I should had just checked.

I was enticed by the relatively inexpensive price I saw on the poster – at $9.90 for a “Xiao Long Kan Old Hotpot” soup with FREE UPOT Combo which was like a bowl of vegetables.

There are 8 soup bases to choose from, such as Pork Bone Collagen, Tomato Soup, Thai Tom Yum, Taiwanese Herbal Pork Rib, and Wild Mushroom Soup.

The hot pot ingredients rotate on the conveyor belt like a sushi bar, and you pick your favourites.

Prices are demarcated by the colours of the plates, ranging from $1.99 for orange, $2.99 for blue to $3.99 for a red.

If you do step inside, I would recommend you ordering ala carte from the service staff instead. Because many of the ingredients went around far too many times, and…

You can have a look at my very pale-looking luncheon meat.

This must be one of the unusual times that even processed spam actually didn’t work well for the hotpot.

The meatballs that I took off the belt, were also dry and didn’t taste the freshest.

The Taiwanese sausages were my favourite though. That’s not saying much.

Sauces were priced at an additional $2.00. You would probably be placed in a catch-22 situation – some sauces would be needed for the meats; BUT the variety wasn’t that exciting. And the popular ones weren’t refilled fast enough.

The condiments included salt, soya sauce, and MSG by the way.

I was probably doing some comparison to Hai Di Lao. If I paid $4 at HDL for a huge offering of exciting sauces, nuts and fruits, this better be at least half as good. Well, unfortunately no.

Left the restaurant feeling quite thirsty, with the bill coming up close to $30 per pax despite not ordering a lot.

The best thing of the meal, was indeed that FREE UPOT Combo.

UPOT
10 Eunos Road 8, #01-137/138, Singpost Centre, Singapore 408600 (Paya Lebar MRT)
Tel: +65 6741 6666
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm (Mon – Thurs), 11:30am – 3pm, 5:30pm – 10pm (Fri – Sun)

Other Related Entries
10 Best Hotpot Restaurants In Singapore
Shi Li Fang (City Square Mall)
Paradise Hotpot (Compass Point)
Captain K (Middle Road)
JPOT (Vivocity)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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Little Farms Café at Valley Point Shopping Centre looks set to become an expat-favourite.

Despite River Valley being near town, peppered with condominiums and popular with the expat community, there aren’t THAT many cafés and brunch places in this district.

Not counting Starbucks.

Both Brez’n and Croute by Hummerstons which were previously in at Valley Point, had ended operations.

Little Farms has gained a little reputation since opening in 2016. It is known to offer fresh produce, meats, seafood, dairy, and groceries, source directly from suppliers in Australia and Europe.

You know, the place to get your organic and ethical stuff.

Therefore, the all-day breakfast and brunch menu served from 7:30am to 5:00pm, is expectedly more costly than the average café.

Offerings include Toast & Butter ($8), Granola & Fresh Fruit ($12), Smashed Avocado ($15), Nutty Banana Toast ($7), Buttermilk Pancakes ($17), Pasta of the Day ($18) and Fish of The Day ($22).

I typically order the Big Breakfast ($20) as it would contain a bit of everything.

Yes, it was pricy but I thought that every item on that plate – from the juicy fat pork and fennel sausage, vine tomatoes, avocado, bacon, to eggs, just tasted better than the average brunch place in Singapore. (Well, the scrambled eggs could have been milkier.)

I particularly enjoyed the avocadoes which were rich and creamy – the real stuff. Unfortunately, some other cafes in Singapore use avocadoes from the packet, so freshness would be compromised.

Making smashed avocadoes is not rocket-science, and for here, it really boils down to the fresh produce used.

I also had the Nutty Banana Toast ($7) – not the cheapest around. The first thought to anyone could be, ”I could easily assemble this at home at a fraction of the price”.

With that said, the peanut butter was just deliciously textured, lightly chunky, made of quality peanuts. So much so that I wanted to buy some home to make my own (until I stopped myself because I won’t be able to finish it before expiry date.)

Allpress Espresso coffees are served, roasted using the Allpress Hot Air Roast Method. This method elevates natural sweetness to achieve a smooth taste, and reduces the burnt taste that traditional roasting may cause.

Little Farms Café
Valley Point, 491 River Valley Road, #01-20, Singapore 248371
Opening Hours: 7:30am – 9:30pm Daily

Other Related Entries
Carrotsticks And Cravings (Loewen Road)
Common Man Stan (Stanley Street)
P.S Café (Raffles City)
Grounded By CMCR (Martin Road)
Nuevo Café (Paya Lebar)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

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Hai Di Lao 海底捞 has opened ANOTHER branch at Novena Royal Square.

This is the 7th branch in Singapore after outlets at Clarke Quay, 313@Somerset, IMM, Vivocity, Bedok Mall, and Plaza Singapura.

What should appeal to customers, other than the tasty soups and prompt service, is the contemporary design with a 270 degree full urban view (quick book the window seats).

The décor is said to encompass the culture of traditional shadow play.

(I have yet to visit this branch (as I am away) but you can read DFD’s latest review of Hai Di Lao at Plaza Singapura.)

Hai Di Lao Hot Pot
Royal Square @ Novena, 103 Irrawaddy Road, #06-01/02, Singapore 329566
Tel：+65 6565 5567
+65 6565 7767
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 6:00am Daily

Plaza Singapura #04-01, 68 Orchard Road, Singapore 238839
Tel: +65 6250 0330
+65 6250 0990
Opening Hours 10:30am – 6:00am Daily

Hai Di Lao Hot Pot branches
Vivocity #03-09 1 Harbourfront Walk, Singapore 098585
Tel: +65 6250 7557
+65 6250 7667
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 6am

Clarke Quay
3D River Valley Road #02-04, Singapore 179023
Tel: +65 6337 8626
+65 6337 8627
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 6am

313 Somerset
313 Orchard Road #04-23/24 Singapore 238895
Tel: +65 6835 7227
+65 6835 7337
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 6am

IMM
IMM #03-01, 2 Jurong East Street 21 Singapore 609601
Tel: +65 6896 4111
+65 6896 4222
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 4am

Other Related Entries
10 Best Hotpot Restaurants In Singapore
Captain K (Middle Road)
Da Miao Hot Pot (Clarke Quay)
Beauty In The Pot (The Centrepoint)
Shi Li Fang (City Square Mall)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Photo Credit of Hai Di Lao Novena Interior: Hai Di Lao Singapore.

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