[Beijing] A good portion of my friends are hooked on the Chinese television dramas of Story of Yanxi Palace 延禧攻略, and some on Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace 如懿传.

Chinese palace drama, bring it on.

Perhaps you would have imagined how it would be like to be a Qing Dynasty royalty, then making a visit to Bai Jian Da Yuan 白家大院 can help relive those dreams.

(Click PLAY for highlights of Bai Jia Da Yuan 白家大院).

Bai Jian Da Yuan is a courtyard garden restaurant set around a large pond, rich in history and well-preserved architecture.

The mansion’s spectacular setting was once the garden of Prince Li, son of the first Qing emperor.

It is located in the famous Roca Garden on Suzhou Street in the Haidian District. (Some history: The area served as an “entertainment place” where Emperor Qian Long and his concubines visited when they felt like strolling on the streets of Suzhou. The commoners and stall keeps were acted by eunuchs and maids.)

Due to the completeness of the preservation of gardens and buildings, and the richness of cultural heritage, it has become a living specimen of the Qing Dynasty society and the life of the royal family in China.

The moment I stepped it, I got reminded of Huan Zhu Ge Ge 还珠格格 which I watched during growing up years.

It was those palace-like brightly-coloured costume and headdress that the service staff was wearing.

Walking down the red lantern lit entrance, you know it is likely going to be a bizarre experience, the grounds inside have traditional buildings and the staff are all in traditional dresses.

A really colourful place.

Within the gardens is a restaurant which serves cuisine inspired by imperial food and some typical Northern Chinese dishes.

Locals consider this THE PLACE for special occasions like birthday celebrations.

Guests looking to dine amid Chinese architecture and authentic decorations should make Bai Jia Da Yuan their first pick.

The entire restaurant staff were dressed in colourful traditional Qing-dynasty dresses and garments known.

They bow slightly and say “Nin Jixiang”, i.e. “May you have good fortune” and welcome you to this grand courtyard house, the Bai family mansion.

They even take you out for a walk in the garden while your food is prepared.

To describe my experience, I had a 贴身丫环, a “maid” sent to follow me around. Even as I made my way to the toilet, she was leading my route by a lantern.

Of course she stopped her tracks outside the gents, but I felt slightly embarrassed to have someone tagging along a grown-up man.

The table setting is glorious.

Ancient dishes are served in quick successions on stunning round tables. The decor is lovely with yellow tablecloth, pretty yellow and blue pattern China and embroidered yellow fabric covered chairs.

There is a main hall and many smaller private room all set in authentic “Qing” dynasty style

When it comes to food, they are known for its featured delicacies like Bird’s-nest soup, Braised Sea Cucumber, Abalone, and authentic Beijing snacks.

The Peking Duck, Lobster and Deer are some of the top menu picks. Other recommended dishes include the Kung Pao Shrimp, Beef/Carrot Dumplings, and Ya Fang.

Take note that there is NO English menu. Even if you have some basic knowledge of Mandarin, Chinese dishes are typically named to represent something such as prosperity and good luck. At least there is a photoelectronic menu.

Noting the high prices of some of the dishes, I went for the more ‘regular’ food such as the Crispy Pan-Fried Ru Yi Dumplings (RMB128 for 12 pieces, SGD25.70), Fried Organic Eggs with Tomatoes (RMB98, SGD19.70), Zha Jiang Noodles (RMB38, SGD7.60), Chrysanthemum Tofu (RMB68, SGD13.70), and Garlic Pork Ribs (RMB98, SGD19.70).

Other than the Fried Tomatoes with Egg, I thought that most of the dishes tasted rather average, similar to what you would get in a downtown Northern Chinese restaurant. Except that these had better presentation.

If you are new to Beijing, you can try their special local sweet snacks platter, named “Imperial Snacks” (RMB98, SGD19.70).

They have a tea menu, which is rather expensive. If you appreciate fine teas, go for it. If not, just ask for hot drinking water.

Do not leave straight after dinner.

There is typically an hour-long performance during dinner at 7pm, which includes a face-changing act (bian lian), tea ceremony, live Beijing opera and dance performances.

Be sure to ask for a table at the main dining area if you want to catch this. Otherwise, dining by the gardens can be quite an experience.

The outdoor garden adds to the relaxing atmosphere with its large fountain and rustic Chinese décor.

Unfortunately, you cannot hang around for too long. After dinner, I was escorted by the “maid-in-waiting” all the way to the main gate.

Best to make a reservation since the venue is highly sought after for wedding celebrations.

With a spectacular location, Bai Jia Da is a go-to if you are into dramas such as “Huan Zhu Gege” and “Zhen Huan Zhuan”, even while the food is relatively expensive and so-so. It could help you relive some of those drama scenes.

Modelled after the noble life and etiquette culture in the Qing Dynasty, it is one of the places to visit to understand some of China and Beijing culture.

Bai Jia Da Yuan白家大院 (Hai Dian)
Lejia Garden, No. 15 Suzhou Street, Haidian District, Beijing, China, 100080
海淀区 苏州街15号乐家花园内
Tel: +86 10 6265 4186
Opening Hours: 11:00am – 10:00pm Daily
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Quanjude Roast Duck 全聚德 (Qianmen, Beijing)

Click HERE for other BEIJING 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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No one can deny that the PS.Cafe people are great in their design work and interiors.

The group has gone on to open a new Japanese casual restaurant at Martin Road, replacing Chopsuey Café.

For the good and bad of it, people are talking about the modern-meets-rustic Japanese theme, costal vibes, Japanese hip-hop music and even the staff’s indigo-navy coloured uniform.

In fact, those fisherman lanterns hanging from the ceiling were the first things noticed for many.

You get my point.

In this social media era when diners can easily get distracted by the décor, there is a huge portion of people who really still go for the food.

The menu serves up a variety of items from Robata Sticks, Sushi Rolls, Sashimi, small plates, All Day Bowls and desserts.

I suspect the items are largely designed for small group sharing, and to go with drinks.

I was in the mood of going for something more substantial, and thus the Tonkatsu Curry Rice ($19) of Iberico Pork Cutlet with shredded cabbage and grilled shishito.

The bowl didn’t depart far from the other average Japanese restaurants that would serve Japanese Curry as part of their many dishes, with slightly tough meat and sauce that wasn’t impressionable.

Except that it would come with a higher price tag.

But at least it was at least better than the Charred Charsiu Ramen ($17), with soggy noodles contained in a not-very-rich-soup. A waste, really.

Thankfully, the dessert was a delight, as the Coconut Matcha Panna Cotta ($11) was wobbly-smooth with light fragrance of the coconut.

Even though the interior was quite a stylish place in its own way, I found the menu lacking in character that could gel better with the theme.

JYPSY
No.38 Martin Road, Singapore 239072
Tel: +65 8188 6177
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 4:00pm, 5:30pm – 11.00pm Last Order 10:30pm (Tues – Sun)

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* 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 JYPSY – PS Cafe Opens Stylish Japanese Restaurant, Go For The Matcha Panna Cotta appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

[Bangkok] Constantly distracted by Thai street foods of Tom Yum, Pad Thai and Pad Kra Pao, I admit that I haven’t been paying much attention to “Yen Ta Fo”.

Quite under-the-radar, and under rated.

(Click PLAY for video highlights of Yentafo Convent.)

The noodle dish of Yen Ta Fo (เย็นตาโฟ) comes distinct with a signature bright pink sauce and soup, the colour said to come from the fermented soybean paste.

As to why and how it looks this almost-luminous pink, it remains quite a mystery to many.

The name would remind you of the Hakka Chinese dish of “Yong Tau Foo”, made of pieces of tofu and vegetable filled with fish paste. The two versions share many similarities.

One of the best places to get Yen Ta Fo at Bangkok is at Si Lom, also a short walk from Sala Daeng BTS station, dotted with pushcarts and small shops.

Yentafo Convent has been serving this pink noodle soup for more than 40 years, so named because the shop is located along Convent Road. (The stretch is home to the Catholic community, with buildings such as Christ Church and St Joseph’s Convent.)

The humble family-style eatery is also listed in the Bangkok’s Michelin Bib Gourmand.

The people behind Yentafo Concent is said to related to the founders of Yentafo Wat Khaek – the original stall in the Bangkok city.

There are two styles of noodles offered, the original Yen Ta Fo with the pink sauce, and a plainer Seafood and Minced Pork in soup, both inexpensively priced at 50 baht (SGD2.10, USD1.50)

You can choose from four styles of noodles – rice vermicelli, egg noodles, rice noodles and flat rice noodles.

The unique feature about the pink-sauced soup other than its colour, and that it was lightly sweet and slightly tangy – thus quite refreshing. This is partly because the base was included with tomatoes and sweet potatoes.

The accompanying ingredients provided a myriad of textures, from the small bouncy fishballs, crispy wanton dumplings, soft pig blood curd, to the crunchy kang-kong vegetables.

Surprisingly, I enjoyed the Seafood and Minced Pork in soup better.

Ordered with egg noodles, it reminded me of the Bedok 85 Minced Pork noodle soup back home, a comforting treat of clear yet flavoursome soup.

To have a more filling meal, you can add on a plate of “Appetizer Mix Fried” of various fried tofu and corn fritters dipped in a sweet chiilli peanut sauce.

Yentafo Convent เย็นตาโฟคอนแวนต์
36/3 Convent Road, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500, Thailand (Sala Daeng BTS Station)
36/3 ถนน คอนแวนต์ แขวง สีลม เขต บางรัก กรุงเทพมหานคร 10500
Opening Hours: 7am – 5pm (Mon – Fri), 7am – 3pm (Sat, Sun)
Google Maps – Yentafo Convent

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Jeh O Chula (Soi Charat Muean, Bangkok)
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Raan Jay Fai (Mahachai Road, Bangkok)

Click HERE for other BANGKOK Food Entries

* 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 Yentafo Convent – One Of The Best “Yen Tao Fo” Pink Noodle Soup In Bangkok, With Michelin Bib Gourmand appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

What’s with all the sandwich places? First Isaac Toast, then Egg Stop’s s Brioche Toast, and now Jaffles?

Amber Ember, a chic café located at Upper Serangoon Road, serves up serves Jaffles for brunch.

It is located off Serangoon Central, at a standalone building situated next to Upper Serangoon Shopping Centre.

While marble white with cement grey are the norm café colours (too many actually), I was greeted with a store dressed with dusty pink interiors.

Which was charming in its own ways.

If the usual bright pastel pink is not your kind of colour, rest assured the desaturated pink blush were not in any way intimidating.

In fact, I found the place relaxing to unwind over a cup of coffee.

Their brunch menu revolves around a range of jaffles options. From savoury; Truffle Shrooms ($11) and K-Pork ($10) to sweets; PB & Jelly ($8) and Chocobanana ($8).

I went for the Pablo’s Beef ($10) which came with minced beef, capsicum and loads of melted morzerella cheese.

Sinful, but I like.

All savoury Jaffles also comes with a choice of accompanying sides such as Buttered Mash Potato, Purple Sweet Potato Mash and Purple Cabbage Apple Slaw.

The purple sides did win me over its aesthetic appearance, which gave what it seemed like ‘mediocre’ toasted bread a revamped ‘facelift’.

Other non-Jaffles brunch options include Asian ‘Risotto’ ($10), Avo On Toast ($9) and Medi Brunch ($12).

Feeling curious, I opted for Fu Yong Eggs ($11), which is the namesake of my favorite cze char dish.

Served with a sourdough base, followed by Chinese-style omelette and then topped with mushrooms and fried spinach.

It tasted very much like an English scrambled egg open toast while I expected ‘wok hei’ infused omelette.

For sharing sides, AFC – Amber’s Fried Chicken ($10) turned out to be the crowd pleaser.

Well marinated with spices, the wings and drumlets were drizzled with blue cheese ranch and siracha dressing which enhances the flavour of crispy fried chicken.

Since Truffle Fries are so passé, the Szechuan Spices Fries ($8) immediately captured my attention.

Served with yuzu aioli dip, I thought the spiciness was mild and didn’t really pair well with the dipping sauce.

Maybe they should consider tweaking to Szechuan MALA fries instead? #malaislife

With different types of sandwiches store sprouting in the food scene, what other sandwich variations can we expect in future?

Amber Ember
730 Upper Serangoon Rd, #01-01, Singapore 534613
Opening Hours: 8am – 5pm (Mon, Wed to Fri), 9am – 6pm (Sat & Sun), Closed Tue
https://www.facebook.com/amberembersg

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

The post Amber Ember – Charming Chic Café With Dusty Pink Interiors At Serangoon. Serves Jaffles for Brunch appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Tempted to eat that next mooncake, but worried about “sweetness” and “high sugar levels”?

Mooncakes are a great gift during the Mid-Autumn Festive season, but the amount of sugar within usually becomes a concern, especially when they are meant as a gift to the health-conscious and older generation.

Worry not.

This year, TungLok has developed Singapore’s first mooncake certified by Health Promotion Board (HPB) for containing lower sugar and higher dietary fibre.

The HPB-approved mooncakes includes all that contain White Lotus Paste and Red Lotus Paste.

That means healthier option and higher nutritional values, without compromising on its taste and flavours.

Each mooncake collection comes in different packaging, ranging from goldfish that reflects the traditional story of Mid-Autumn Festival to hares, lanterns, water chestnuts, osmanthus, lotuses, clouds and grapefruits that signifies good fortune.

Here are 6 different TungLok healthier and tasty mooncake collections to look out for:

TungLok Perfect Duo ($66+ for box of 4)
As the Chinese saying goes, “Hao Shi Cheng Shuang” (好事成双).

The name (Perfect Duo) implies that each box comes with 2 of each of the 2 flavours: White Lotus and Red Lotus, with 2 egg yolks in it.

The Perfect Duo is also one of the HPB-approved mooncakes, packed with the 2 nutritional characteristics and priced at 2 digits of “6” (aka $66).

That is a lot of 2s.

Signifying prosperity and happiness, the mooncakes are encased within a metallic royal blue box with goldfishes swimming in a lotus pond with floating lanterns.

TungLok Treasure Box ($188+ for box of 4)
Another one of the HPB-approved mooncakes that consists of 4 pieces of traditional baked Double Yolk White Lotus mooncakes.

With a reduced sugar level, flavours from the white lotus paste become more distinct and less “jelak” without being cloyingly sweet.

In terms of packaging, the limited edition TungLok Treasure Box contains multiple bling-bling – with designs of symbolic hand-crafted goldfishes and lotus flowers, further enhanced with LED light (powered by USB connection).

Makes the perfect “jewellery box” that shines bright like a diamond.

TungLok Four Seasons ($62+ for box of 4)
Just like the ever-changing four seasons in a year, this collection consists of 4 different flavours: Egg Yolk White Lotus, Egg Yolk Red Lotus, Egg Yolk Pandan Lotus with Pistachios and Mixed Nuts.

The Pandan Lotus flavour stood out with its bright hues and uniquely local taste.

The four mooncakes are encased within a rustic looking brown box with goldfishes swimming in the lotus pond with reflection of the full moon which symbolises reunion and wealth.

TungLok Bite-sized Mooncakes ($60+ for box of 16)
Probably one of my highly anticipated mooncakes this year that comes in 8 different flavours (2 of each in the box) that are all bite-sized.

Convenient for consumption without feeling (too) guilty due to its smaller portion per piece, it can be interesting to guess the flavour after popping it into the mouth.

Flavours include Pineapple, Lotus with Orange Peel, White Lotus, Red Lotus, Black and White Sesame Lotus, Pandan Lotus, Red Bean with Almond and Green Tea Lotus.

My favourite is the pineapple mooncake with a similar size, filling and texture that greatly resemble the pineapple tarts we have during the Chinese New Year.

The box comes in a colourful shade of chic pastel colours with an assortment of fun-filled petite treats.

Autumn Blossoms ($54+ to $60+ for box of 4)
The season of joy and celebration calls for a total of 7 different traditional baked mooncakes in this collection.

Six out of seven varieties are HPB-approved such as Double Yolk White Lotus ($60), Egg Yolk White Lotus ($58), Double Yolk Red Lotus ($58), Egg Yolk Red Lotus ($56), Melon Seeds with Red Lotus ($54) and Macadamia Nuts White Lotus ($58).

For additional crunchiness, the Egg Yolk Pandan Lotus Mooncakes ($58) come with Pistachios embedded within for the textures.

The mooncakes come in a metal casing, symbolising both reunion and wealth.

Mini Snow Skin Mooncakes ($58+ – $62+ for box of 8)
With a total of 4 different sets in this collection, both traditional Egg Yolk White Lotus ($58) and White Lotus with Nuts ($58) are now available in the form of snow skin mooncakes.

The latter is infused with Moringa leaf, a superfood known for its high nutritional contents: Vitamin A, C, E, calcium, potassium and protein, support brain health, anti-inflammation, antibacterial and protects the liver!

For the durian lovers, the Durian with Chestnut Snow Skin Mooncake is worth a try with rich and flavourful durian filling stuffed within the thin and delicate snow skin.

Beautifully crafted Petals Mochi Snow skin mooncakes come in either red bean and peanut, or peanut and black sesame with a soft and chewy texture that is uniquely different from other snow skin mooncakes currently in the market.

The TungLok Mooncakes are available at: Selected TungLok Restaurants, FairPrice Xpress, Cheers at Esso Stations and selected Cheers store, till 24 September 2018

For more information, head over to https://www.tunglok.com

* Written by Nicholas Tan @stormscape. This entry is brought to you in partnership with TungLok Group.

The post TungLok Mooncakes – 1st Mooncakes Certified “Lower Sugar and Source of Dietary Fibre” In Singapore appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Bubble tea and fruit tea fans have to get ready for not just one, but two big brands arriving to Singapore.

TaiGai 台盖 has opened its first outlet at NEX Serangoon (basement 2 opposite BreadTalk and Toast Box); while Nayuki 奈雪の茶 known for its fresh-fruit blended premium teas and soft-euro bakes café concept will come later in the year.

Established in Shenzhen, TaiGai is a popular tea specialty brand in China with over 60 stores across the country, and is especially appealing to the youths. This is despite a competitive landscape where many international beverage chains are also aiming for a piece of the pie.

This NEX outlet in Singapore is its first overseas store.

I am sure you have noticed the resurgence of bubble and fruit tea shops, and may be wondering, “What’s the difference between TaiGai and the rest?”

TaiGai is the original creator behind the “Fruity Milky Kiss” – fruit-blended milk cheese crowns.

Essentially, they are drinks topped with milk cheese foam that has been blended with fruits, which add that natural sweetness as you take sips especially from the top layer.

So perhaps you can also guess the origin of its name “TaiGai”, in which “Tai 台” pays homage to Taiwan where bubble tea originally came from; and “Gai 盖” which means “cover” refers to its signature milk cheese crowns.

Other than the Fruity Milky Kiss, I need to highlight the “Beary Cute” that comes with an adorable bear-ear lid (and I will have some Instagram tips for you towards the end of the post).

Here are some of the TaiGai 台盖 Singapore recommended drinks:

Pulpy Strawberry Kiss 满满草莓 ($6.80)
The first brand to develop the fruit-blended milk cheese crowns, with a balanced milk-cheese to fruit ratio so that it doesn’t get too jelak (rich).

The “crowns” also differs depending on the drinks offered, to best compliment the taste profile.

There are varying ways people take their cheese drinks, but I would recommend first taking a sip from the opening at the top; then pop off a part of the lid and drink from the side of the cup.

This way, you can first taste the blended crown with a touch of fruit-sweetness, and creamy-savouriness from the cheese.

When you drink from the side, you can experience those two layers – the crown followed by the fruit-blended tea.

The most popular “Signature Fruity Milky Kiss” type is the Pulpy Strawberry Kiss, which is both a refreshing and luxurious treat. (Just check out the amount of strawberries that go into the drink.)

Other than a good anti-oxidant boost, I can imagine why people would like this drink, as it had a mix of both fresh sweetness and slight-sourness from the strawberries, along with fragrance of the tea.

Pulpy Pineapple Kiss 满满凤梨 ($6.20)
Also a part of the “Signature Fruity Milky Kiss” series, the Pulpy Pineapple Kiss is probably my favourite of the lot.

Perhaps it was because I first imagined it to have that canned-pineapple taste which might have been overly sweet, but it was anything but that.

In the hot Singapore weather, this felt like a sweet and juicy tropical summertime blend, that is both fresh and zesty.

Pulpy Black Grape Kiss 满满黑葡萄 ($6.20)
This reminded me of a grape smoothie, especially when you mix the crown and blend up towards the end. Vitamin-rich, tasty and tangy.

Milky Kiss Alisan Oolong Tea 芝士阿里山乌龙 ($4.50)
For the tea lovers, Tai Gai offers both the “Pure Tea” versions, and “Pure Tea Milky Kiss” series series topped with milk cheese crown.

What you can expect include Jasmine Green Tea 茉莉绿芽, Sun Moon Lake Black Tea 日月潭红茶 , Alisan Oolong 阿里山乌龙, and Baby Cicada Oolong 小蝉乌龙.

I would generally recommend the Alisan Oolong Tea – known for its outstanding aroma and flavour. The golden-coloured tea was smooth with only subtle bitterness.

The teas make a good everyday-treat after meals.

Fresh Premium Orange Burst 满满特级橙子 ($5.90)
Fruit Teas have gained momentum in Singapore, great as a thirst-quencher with slices of fresh fruits within.

In TaiGai’s “Fresh Fruit Tea” 鲜果茶 category, there are offerings of Fresh Lemon Burst (Black Tea) 鲜果柠檬红茶 （红茶）, Fresh Golden Kumquat Burst 鲜果金桔柠檬, Fresh Premium Orange Burst 满满特级橙子 , Kiwi-Nata de Coco Burst 满满奇异椰果茶 and Fresh Green Lemon Burst (Green Tea) 鲜果绿柠檬 （绿茶）.

The recommended drink is the Fresh Premium Orange Burst, in which the fruits are freshly sliced (via a machine), which helps retain the natural fragrance and sweetness.

The calming orange and cooling tea makes it the delightful drink for the afternoon.

Beary Co Co 可可熊 ($4.90)
This will probably be a favourite with the young, of chocolate sauce lining the cup, added with pearls, fresh milk and cocoa powder for that beloved chocolatey flavour.

Beary Creative 混混熊 (From $4.50)
A milk tea drink with choice of pearls, nata de coco, or red bean.

Instead of the usual black boba pearls, TaiGai offers translucent golden-yellow tapioca pearls with their milk tea. These pearls are somewhat smaller with a springier bite.

A special feature of the drink is the “Beary Cute” cup with the bear-ear lid. Here are 2 instagram tips for you:

Firstly, you can shine the light from the top of the cup, and a face of the bear will be cast on the drink. Order the Beary Co Co, and you would get a lovable brownish bear.

Next, angle the light source and shine on the cup; then move your phone left and right and you would get a dancing bear. Best for your boomerangs.

On launch week, the Beary Cute series will be sold as an Opening Exclusive with 2 flavours (Beary Co Co and Beary Creative), while stocks last.

TaiGai Opening Exclusive – Beary Cute Series for a Beary limited time only
Beary Co Co (Fresh Milk + Chocolate Sauce + Cocoa Powder + Pearls at $4.90)
Beary Creative (Milk Tea + any 1 add-ons (choice of pearls, nata de coco and red bean) at $4.50, add $0.80 per extra add-ons)
Period: From 5 Sep, while stocks lasts (estimated 1 – 2 weeks)

It is understood they have different creative flavours such as Brown Sugar and Mango Coconut for this range in China which Singapore will also consider bringing in subsequently.

Stay tuned here for updates.

TaiGai @ NEX
NEX Serangoon, #B2-34, Singapore 556083 (Opposite BreadTalk)
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with TaiGai Singapore.

The post TaiGai 台盖 – Popular Tea Brand With Fruit-Blended Milk Cheese Crowns And “Dancing Bear” Cups Opens At NEX appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

While Shabu Shabu has always been known to be a Japanese dish, there are in reality many Korean style Shabu Shabu (샤부 샤부) restaurants found in South Korea.

It is not uncommon for groups to dine and cook out together for a heart-warming dining experience.

Similar to the Japanese version, the Korean counterpart is categorized by cooking slices of meat and vegetables in a pot of broth, dipped in sauces before eating. Some variations are the incorporation of certain ingredients and the use of spicier sauces.

About time that Singapore offers some Korean Shabu Shabu, and good to know that the food item is now available at both Masizzim Westgate and 313@somerset.

(Also look out for the DanielFoodDiary promo in which diners can get 15% or 25% OFF NEW dishes with order of a Double Pork, Beef or Premium Wagyu Shabu Shabu. More details at the end of the post.)

“Masizzim” which is an amalgamation of the Korean words ‘masi’ (delicious) and ‘jjim’ (stew), specialises in saucy meaty stews such as Beef Rib Stew, Pork Rib Stew and Spicy Chicken Stew; do-it-yourself rice balls; and other Korean side dishes.

Its newly expanded menu features NEW dishes of Shabu-Shabu with three choices of meat, Bulgogi Rice Balls with beef or pork, King’s Ribs, Crabmeat Egg Roll and Spicy Octopus.

Here’s more about the NEW dishes to savour at Masizzim:

Shabu-Shabu
Pork – Single ($17.90), Double ($29.90)
Beef – Single ($19.90), Double ($32.90)
Premium Wagyu Beef – Single ($24.90), Double ($40.90)

The Shabu-Shabu comprises of dashi soup made using Masizzim’s unique recipe, served in a cast iron pot over an open flame. The soup base is available in non-spicy or spicy versions.

The good thing is, you can opt for a single for individual consumption, or double if you come in pairs or bigger group for a more substantial meal.

In terms of meats, choose from a selection of sliced pork collar, beef short plate, or wagyu beef which you are supposed to gently swish across the hot soup. The set also includes assorted vegetables and mushrooms, Korean ramyeon.

While most Shabu-Shabu soups tend to be on the plainer side because it is really all about the freshness of the meats, Masizzim’s stock base was relatively flavourful so you could even drink it on its own (like hotpot). There was also this sweetish tinge that reminded me of Sukiyaki.

You can dip the meats into the raw egg, or complimentary dipping sauces of Masizzim’s own special blend with a dab of wasabi.

All-in-all, a comforting meal (and I didn’t feel thirsty after that).

If you feel like including more ingredients, available add-ons are Pork ($3.50 for 100g, $8 for 250g), Beef ($5.50 for 100g, $12.90 for 250g), Wagyu Beef ($8 for 100g, $19 for 250g), Mixed-grain rice ($1), Rice Ball ($6), and Raw egg ($1).

King’s Ribs ($16.90)
Some of Masizzim’s existing stews include the Beef Rib Stew, Pork Rib Stew, and Spicy Chicken Stew, with bubbling pots of succulent meat.

The introduction of the “King’s Ribs” should be a piece of good-news for protein-lovers due to the larger sized beef ribs used.

The beef ribs are first slow-cooked in Masizzim’s secret stew sauce until fork-tender, then stir-fried with capsicums, red dates, king oyster mushrooms, chilli powder and sesame seeds.

The King’s Ribs Stew is served in a cast-iron pot, and placed over live flames at the table to keep the portion hot throughout the meal.

The ribs are considered fall-off-the-bone, in a thick sauce that reminded me of sweet-savoury braised meats. I would recommend pairing this up with a bowl of multigrain rice (additional $2).

Spicy Octopus ($17)
A favourite dish among the Koreans, the “Naki Bokum” is a spicy octopus dish stir-fried with spicy gochujang sauce

Masizzim’s version consists of whole baby octopus, similarly in a fiery sauce, served on a bed of blanched beansprouts to balance out the hotness.

Though wrapped with lettuce, the dish is served with Korean-Mexican fusion – wrapped within pieces of soft tortilla topped with ebiko (shrimp roe).

The wrap reduces the sensation of spiciness; though you can also eat the octopus plain on its own to experience the shiokness.

Bulgogi Rice Ball Pork ($9) / Beef ($10)
These Rice Balls “Jumuk Bap” requires you to do some ‘work’ and experience some diversion with your meal. My tip: leave the handphone aside before it gets ‘sauced up’.

All you need to do it to wear the gloves provided, mix the ingredients up, and form them into shapes (round or even heart) before consuming them.

This bowl consists of mixed grain rice (white rice, black rice and roasted millet), a choice of bulgogi fried pork or beef, kimchi, seaweed and sesame seeds.

There was this sweet-crunchy ingredient (which I couldn’t quite decipher, could be crispy anchovies) and crushed chilli padi which added some kick to the rice balls.

Easy to make, quite tasty, with an element of fun.

Crabmeat Egg Roll ($12.90)
These Egg Rolls were previously my ‘new-found’ comfort food, of fluffy omelette roll wrapped with tuna flakes flavoured with tomato sauce, or the oozy cheesy version.

You know how much I love my eggs.

The Egg Roll is cooked with layers of omelette interlaced with seaweed, wrapped with generous servings of shredded crabmeat.

For that extra touch, dip a piece into the zingy honey mustard sauce.

DanielFoodDiary Exclusive
– Order 1 x (Double) Pork/Beef Shabu-Shabu and enjoy 15% off other new ala carte dishes (excluding Shabu-Shabu).
– Order 1 x (Double) Premium Wagyu Beef Shabu-Shabu and enjoy 25% off other NEW ala carte dishes (excluding Shabu- Shabu).

T&C:
– Valid from 6 to 12 September for dine-in only.
– Customers must flash this post to redeem.
– Offer cannot be stacked with any other promotions or discounts.

Masizzim – Westgate
Westgate #01-07, 3 Gateway Drive, Singapore 608532 (Jurong East MRT)
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm Last order 9.30pm (Sun – Thurs), 11am – 11pm Last order 10.30pm (Fri – Sat)
https://www.facebook.com/masizzimsingapore

Masizzim – 313@Somerset
313@Somerset #B3-02, 313 Orchard Road, Singapore 238895
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm Last order 9.30pm (Sun – Thurs), 11am – 11pm Last order 10.30pm (Fri – Sat)

Other Related Entries
Nipong Naepong (JEM)
NY Night Market (Westgate)
Chir Chir (Bugis Junction)

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Masizzim.

The post Masizzim – Korean Shabu-Shabu, Bulgogi Rice Balls And Crab Egg Roll. Promo: Up To 25% OFF! appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

[Bangkok] It is undeniable that Bangkok cafes are stepping up their game, especially in their design element.

If you are searching for that one “instagrammable” café, BOYY & Son Café ticks most of the boxes.

Located on the ground floor of a newly renovated building in Gaysorn Village, BOYY & Son Café is stylish, calming, pretty in pink and light cyan. Can I add fashionable?

Of course it has to be to, as it is the café off-shoot of international brand BOYY, headed by designers Jesse Dorsey from Montreal and Wannasiri Kongman from Bangkok.

The cafe is adjacent to the BOYY Boutique where you can purchase handbags, shoes and a variety of accessories.

This tastefully designed establishment is an ideal place to visit for a coffee break, especially when it is not that far from the main shopping area. Central World is across the road, Erawan is a short walk away.

The interior is inspired by a lovely mix of an American diner and a vintage Italian joint from the 70’s.

You have the comfy seating booths with retro finishes, Murano glass ceiling lamps, cushion textiles crafted by Loro Piana Interiors, as well as a nice built-in aquarium in the wall decorated with gold edges.

Yes, REAL fishes within.

At the coffee bar, you would find a retro-style custom made pink La Marzocco coffee machine.

Every inch of this place is designed with extreme attention to detail. The utensils, the napkins… I mean the colour of their sugar packages matches with the colour of the seating booths, and the coffee cup has the same design as their booth seats.

Considered a small space, yet there are all those details.

And thanks to the giant windows around the café, there is plenty of natural light here.

The menu is pretty straight forward, containing mostly beverage items and a few snack options.

The standout items include Pandan Latte (140 baht), BOYY Café Yen (140 baht), Iced Thai Orange Mocha (140 baht), Icy BOYY & SON Expresso Caramel (130 baht), Matcha Latte (140 baht), Houjicha Latte (140 baht), Iced Genmaicha (120 baht), and Iced Valrhona Dark Chocolate Mint (150 baht).

As an indication, the drinks are between SGD5 (USD3.70) to SGD6.30 (USD4.60).

The coffee was decent, and the Pandan Latte surprisingly was not overly strong, with the delicate fragrance of the leaves coming in only subtlety.

Take small sips, and take your time.

The food choices are still limited for now, though they will introduce seasonal bakes and rotational items.

Some of the available items were Italian Cheesecake, Cakettes in flavours of Young Coconut and Chocolate Cream, and selection of Croissants.

The Croque Monsieur Croissant with Egg (170 baht, SGD7.10, USD5.20), slightly on the pricey side, had delicious cheesy fillings, but I wished that the pastry was fluffier.

If you are looking for a stylish café with a friendly and warm vibes, BOYY & Son Café should definitely be included on your list of must-visit coffee joints in Bangkok.

I visited the café early in the morning for the non-crowd interior shots. If you come later in the day and during weekends, it would be filled, mostly with females aiming for a shot.

BOYY & Son Cafe
BOYY 127 Unit L00-01 GAYSORN Tower2 Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 253 8300
Opening Hours: 8am – 8pm Daily
Google Maps – BOYY & Son Cafe

Other Related Entries
Gram Café & Pancakes (Siam Paragon, Bangkok)
Roots (Sathorn, Bangkok)
Souffle&Souffle Pancakes Café (Thonglor, Bangkok)
Burger & Lobster (Gaysorn Plaza, Bangkok)
Featherstone Bistro Café & Lifestyle Shop (Ekkamai, Bangkok)

Click HERE for other BANGKOK 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 BOYY & Son Cafe – Stylish, Instagrammable Cafe By Popular Fashion Label, At Gaysorn Bangkok appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

[Hong Kong] Dim sum restaurants in Hong Kong are a dime a dozen.

In a bid to differentiate themselves from competition, some restaurants (for example Dim Sum Icon, Yum Cha, Hello Kitty Chinese Cuisine) are modernizing the traditional yum cha experience, by creating “insta-worthy” dim sum pieces.

Ming Bistro attempts to stand out by giving the classic dim sum items a contemporary twist, focusing on attracting a more youthful customer base.

Therefore, expect the unexpected.

Think cute animal dumplings, chess piece cookies served on a chessboard, and edible mahjong tiles.

Ming Bistro is the brainchild of the second-generation owners of the established Ming Garden Restaurant chain.

Offering Cantonese dishes as well as Shanghai and Sichuan specialties; they currently have 3 outlets and have been operating the one at Central for 2 years now.

Abandoning the traditional Chinese restaurant look, even right down to the round table seating, the 80-seater restaurant has opted for a more modern and intimate seating arrangement – which is perfect if you do not enjoy being seated with strangers at “yum cha”.

I ordered the more photogenic-looking dim sum items, and the first dish that was served was the Deep Fried Milk Rolls (HKD48, SGD8.40).

They were really crunchy and the sweet milk custard filling tasted quite strong. Probably not for those who don’t enjoy strong milk-tasting dishes.

The Purple Yam Puff Swans (HKD58, SGD10) were little swans made from taro paste hidden in layers of fried pastry skin.

They were not too sweet, and the skin was crispy enough.

I wanted to try the Shrimp Dumplings (HKD58, SGD10), and that came served in the shape of little goldfishes.

The dumpling skin was a little thicker than the usual classic shrimp dumplings but the overall taste was good.

Rose Steamed Buns (HKD48, SGD8.40) looked interesting on the menu, but they were actually plain “mantou” with sweet chilli sauce served as a dip.

I kind of regretted ordering this item as the buns were not pillowy soft and tasted very ordinary. The dip didn’t work well with the steamed rose buns either.

I also ordered the Chicken Buns (HKD48, SGD8.40), and a basket of 3 little mice was served.

This dish was actually chicken filling enveloped in a dumpling layer made out of sago and coconut cream – sweet on the outside but savoury on the inside.

On the more classic items menu, the Fried Rice with Seabass (HKD168, SGD29.30) was nicely-flavoured, and the seabass used fresh with a generous amount.

Not sure if I am too ‘traditional’, but this was my favourite dish out of the lot.

Okay, what really caught my eye was the mahjong tiles dessert.

I ordered half a portion of Thirteen Orphans (HKD68, SGD11.90) – coconut pudding jellies made to look like half a set of mahjong tiles served along with edible money.

The food in general was nicer looking than they tasted but nevertheless it was a fun experience to have.

The portions were also more suitable for people with smaller appetites, so be prepared to order more if you are a big eater.

Ming Bistro is located on the second floor of a building, or in local terminology called “Level 1”, so it might take a bit more effort to figure out where it is.

Ming Bistro, Central
1/F, Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, Hong Kong
中環擺花街一號廣場一樓
Tel: +852 2180 0768
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 11:00pm (Mon – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/mingbistrocd
Google Maps – Ming Bistro

Branch: Ming Bistro, shop 1401, 14/F Hysan Place, 500 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay
Tel: +852 2180 6578
Open Hours: 11.30am – 11:00pm (Mon – Sun)

Other Related Entries
Hong Lin Restaurant 康年餐廳 (Mongkok, Hong Kong)
Hello Kitty Chinese Cuisine (Hong Kong)
One Dim Sum 一點心 (Prince Edward, Hong Kong)
Famous Dim Sum 名點心 (Prince Edward, Hong Kong)
Dim Sum Icon (Central, Hong Kong)

Click HERE for other HONG KONG Food Entries


* Written by DFD’s Hong Kong Correspondent @kara_the_explorer, who is the Singaporean “tai tai” living the foodie dream in Hong Kong. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

The post Ming Bistro 名館 – Cute, Animal Dim Sum And Edible Mahjong Tiles, At Hong Kong Central appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

While bakery stores with bubble and fruit tea seem to go well hand-in-hand, funny it took this long for a brand to start this in Singapore.

MuYoo, known for its Cheese Cloud Fruit Teas, Fun Fruit Teas, has opened a “plus” concept at Bedok Mall.

(Click PLAY for highlights of MuYoo+ at Bedok Mall.)

The name “MuYoo” is a combination of the words “沐”, which means to immerse in, and “优” to mean excellence. The MuYoo+ store is a step further with the incorporation of a fresh bakery section.

Finding this store was not that difficult, located on the outside of Bedok Mall Level 1, directly opposite the popular Bedok Interchange Hawker Centre.

The original MuYoo Singapore store can be found at the basement of Raffles City.

The menu is centred around fruit-based beverages, namely the Cheese Cloud Fruit Teas, Fun Fruit Teas and Fruit Smoothies.

The opening of the bakery, with breads baked fresh daily, offers a good synergy. For example, there are offerings of Fresh Fruit and “Fairy Wand” breads, filled with fruits from strawberries, mangoes to cherries.

Here are 10 of the recommended MuYoo+ drinks and breads:

Dirty Drink Series – Brown Sugar Fresh Milk with Pearls ($3.90)
This is the IT drink of the year, popular among youths in many Asian cities.

For those who frequent Taiwan, you would have come across this familiar drink of “青蛙撞奶” – literally meaning “frogs’ eggs hitting the milk”. The eggs in this case refer to the boba pearls.

There are three recommended ways to have this “Dirty Drink”. First, you suck up the brown sugar cooked pearls from the straw, and experience the warm, chewy sensation.

Then, you take a sip of the milk and enjoy the contrast of hot-boba and cold-milk.

After which, you mix it all up and relish the milk with the caramel-like sweetness.

Dirty Drink Series – Mango + Fresh Milk, Strawberry + Fresh Milk ($3.90)
In line with MuYoo+’s positioning, there are also offerings of “Dirty Drinks” with Mango or Strawberry flavours.

For this, I would recommend shaking the cup up, and drinking it up almost like a smoothie, except that you can savour bits of fruits in between.

Cloud Fruit Tea – Ruby Red Watermelon ($4.50) , It’s Just Peachy ($5.50)
These are fruit-blended tea that comes topped with a luscious layer of “cheese cloud”.

Flavours wise, you can choose from the best-selling Ruby Red Watermelon and It’s Just Peachy, refreshing Winter Winter Grape, or tropical-flavoured Golden Honey Pineapple, and Strawberry and Banana.

There are various ways to have the drink – try the cheese cloud first, take sips of the fruit blend, before stirring them together.

You may find the cheese cloud smooth and light, slightly savoury and complements well with the blend below.

That is because the “cheese cap” is made with a number of quality ingredients sourced from different parts of the work – naturally derived milk powder from New Zealand, pure cheese powder from Holland, real sea salt from Bolivia and other natural ingredients.

This is as compared to the more commonly used creamer, which probably has a more artificial taste.

Cloud Tea – Lapsang Souchong ($3.90), Da Hong Pao ($3.90)
The dreamy cheese cloud is also topped on MuYoo’s regular cold-brewed tea such as Roasted Oolong, Lapsang Souchong, Taiwan Spring Tea, Jade Tie Guan Yin, and Da Hong Pao.

All are priced from $3.50 to $3.90, additional 60 cents for an upsize.

If you would like something with smoky aroma and flavour, I would recommend the Lapsang Souchong – a black tea from the Fujian province, the tea leaves finished by drying over smoked pine fire.

After a heavy meal, I generally prefer some Oolong and thus will go for the toasty Roasted Oolong, or fuller-bodied Da Hong Pao – known to be one of the most expensive teas in the world.

Fun Fruit Tea – Peach + Kalamansi + Passion Fruit ($4.90)
If you would like a healthy, no-frills drink, you can go for the “Fun Fruit Tea” or “Fruit Smoothies” series.

The Fruit Teas are known to comprise of fresh ingredients, with sliced fruits in full view within the cup.

Popular offerings include Green Tea Jelly with Lemon, Grapefruit with Jasmine, Pear with Pineapple, Passion Fruit with Aloe Vera and Cucumber, and Peach with Kalamansi and Passion Fruit.

The Peach with Kalamansi and Passion Fruit has that added slight sour and zingy-ness that I liked, making it a refreshing drink for the hot Singapore weather.

On to the bakery side, Muyoo+ offers over 30 types of breads, said to use the fresh, premium ingredients with zero additives.

The other thing to add is that the bakery puts in the additional effort in terms of the presentation of their bakes.

For example, the Salted Egg Lava bread comes with a rainbow coloured exterior, and savoury buns like the Ori Octoki and Hot Crabby come in shapes of the respective sea animals. Cute.

Hot Crabby ($5.50)
My favourite of the lot is the Hot Crabby filled with crab meat mixed with Thai chilli sauce, mayonnaise, Cheddar cheese, which gave that creamy, luscious bite.

If you would to buy this home, I would recommend heating or microwaving (just a couple of seconds) so that you get that warm, flowy filling in the middle.

I also liked that there was curry powder on the outer layer, enhanced with that touch of spice suitable for the Asian palate.

Ori Octoki ($5.90)
The other popular bread, largely because of how it looks is the “Octoki” filled with fresh octopus, Italian cheddar cheese, wasabi and dark & white chocolate chips.

Looking at the ingredients alone, you can figure that there is a lot going on with its flavours, from that seafood-savouriness, light saltiness from the cheese, and sweetness from the chocolate.

I think people would enjoy this because the fillings were wet and moist.

Okay, but the ‘tentacles’ are just plain charcoal bread though, so you might feel there is a lot of carb going on. The kids may just enjoy those parts.

Durian Lava ($4.50)
Needs little further explanation. Soft bun filled with fresh Mao Shan Wang durian. Quite legit.

Rainbow Wand series – Strawberry Rainbow ($4.90), Mango Rainbow ($4.60), and Oreo Cherry Fairy Wand ($4.90)
Similar sweet buns have been trendy in major cities in China for a while, and it finally came over here.

Filled with fresh fruits and custard creams, these breads are rotational depending on the seasonality of the fruits.

Out of the three, I would go for the Mango Rainbow Wand, largely because it is the ‘easiest’ to consume (without creating a mess), and that the tangy mangoes go well with the sweet fluffy cream.

Rainbow Salted Egg Lava ($4.20)
Surprisingly quite under-the-radar. The dreamy unicorn-colours aside, this will be a favourite with children, and adults who enjoy that slight-grainy salted egg custard fillings.

Soft chewy bun, and not too sweet as well.

MuYoo+ at Bedok Mall Opening Promotion
Now till 9 Sep – Buy 1 drink get 1 bread free (2 transactions per person maximum)
10 Sep – 16 Sep – Buy 2 drinks get 1 bread free (no restriction)
17 Sep – 23 Sep – 50% OFF 2nd item (All breads and drinks, for item with the lower price)
24 Sep – 30 Sep – 20% OFF 1 Drink and 1 Bread

In addition, from 10 – 30 Sep, spend a minimum of $15 and receive limited edition MuYoo+ gifts such as cloth bags, ‘see thru’ bag or tumbler. While stocks last.

MuYoo+
Bedok Mall, 311 New Upper Changi Road, #01-94 (Bedok MRT)
Opening Hours: 9 am – 11pm (Mon – Sun)
www.facebook.com/MuYooSG

MuYoo – Nurtured by Nature
252 North Bridge Road #B1-67 Raffles City Shopping Centre Singapore 179103 (City Hall MRT)
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with MuYoo+.

The post MuYoo+ – 1st Bakery With Fruit Tea Concept In Singapore At Bedok Mall. Get A Bread FREE With Any Drinks appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Well, news on social media spreads fast, and fans of Yan Kee (炎记) Noodle House’s Bak Chor Mee and Dry Mee Sua would have known they have opened a shop right opposite their previous location.

Long story short: Yan Kee used to be at BK Eating House at the junction of South Bridge Road and Circular Road for about 10 years, popular among office workers and clubbers nearby.

Word has it that they have been “forced to move out” by their previous landlord.

The only thing is, there is another stall at BK Eating House now selling the same dish with the same stall name, similar logo, uniform, and almost everything else.

Unsuspecting customers would have thought they were the same stall anyway.

I asked a friend who tried both places, and he commented “I can’t tell the difference, but then again, I am not a foodie.”

Some got really angry about the ethics of it all, but this post is not about the right or wrong of things because we do not have the complete facts.

When the current Yan Kee staff was questioned, they weren’t direct with their replies, and just mentioned ”We used to be from opposite but no choice have to move out.”

Of course, throughout the ‘food history’ in Singapore, such competing stories are not uncommon – we can even possibly compile a listicle of it all.

You know at the end of the day, the average customer just cares about – which one tastes better?

The NEW Yan Kee Noodle House is located on 9 Circular Road, diagonally opposite its old place.

The good news: Prices remain affordable at $4.00 per bowl, plus AIR CON.

It continues to be opened 24 hours a day (except for Sundays) making it a suitable place for early breakfast before work, or after drinks supper.

The specialty is the Dry Mee Sua ($4.00), of thin wheat vermicelli. The usual Mushroom Minced Pork Noodles ($4.00 for dry/soup) and Handmade Fishball Noodles ($4.00 for dry/soup) are also offered.

What makes this special is that the Mee Sua was thin with a good bite, and not ‘floury’ or soggy as some of those found outside.

There was also that obvious addition of vinegar, though it doesn’t overpower the entire dish.

I hadn’t had this dish for a couple of years actually (used to work nearby, so was a regular lunch favourite), but I did remember that the sauce combination was more pleasurable and balanced.

Without saying, I think fans of the Yan Kee will start surging towards this new shop; though I think the BK Eating House branch would still attract customers because “it is always good to have variety” and not everyone reads everything on Facebook.

Yan Kee Noodle House
9 Circular Road Singapore 049365
Opening Hours: 24 Hours (Mon – Sat), Closed on Sun

Other Related Entries
Eng’s Char Siew Wantan Mee (Tanjong Katong Road)
ENG’s Wantan Noodle (Tanjong Katong Road)
Wanton Fu (Jalan Besar)
Chilli Pan Mee (Far East Square)
Hai Kee Brothers (Chinatown 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 Yan Kee Noodle House – Popular Dry Mee Sua Shop Opens Opposite Its Old Location At Circular Road appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

A very well-hidden gem in the east.

Established in 2009, Lots Gourmet started off their gastronomy journey in Upper Changi Road North.

It was one of my secret hide out places, before many other indie cafés and bistros started flourishing.

Unlike trendy fads, their quality food offerings must have worked its wonder which allowed them to withstand the test of time.

Nine years is LONG, some of the new F&Bs entrants cannot even last for nine months (* cough cough*).

Due to the expiry of previous lease, they found themselves a bigger home at CSC@Changi consisting of a dining room, bar and alfresco dining area.

I love how their midnight blue walls complements the golden shelves, giving the bistro interior a modernized classy look.

For those who need a good drink, you will be elated to see their wide assortment of alcohols neatly shelved against the wall.

From the bar, you are also able to get a full glimpse of seaside view while dining.

The place serves daily breakfast menu (till 2.30pm for weekdays and 3.30pm for weekends) which consists of comforting choices such as English Breakfast ($19), Steak & Egg ($22) and Eggs Benedict ($14 onwards).

Other full day menu options include Iberico Burger ($18), Tempura Soft Shell Crab Burrito ($19), Steak Sandwich ($19), Vongole Linguine ($21) and Udon Carbonara ($17).

I remembered them for being good at doing their grills and ordered the Iberico & Foie Gras Rice Bowl ($23), which came with pork belly and goose liver grilled till tender soft.

The bowl of rice came with distinctively charred fragrance, but the components felt independent of each other and I could use more sauce to pair them together.

Feeling adventurous, I also went for the Blue Cheese & Lemon Pappardelle ($17). The handmade pappardelle were cooked al dente and tossed in blue cheese cream-based sauce.

The piquant taste could be overwhelming for some (but I love it). Thankfully, there were some accompanying arugula leaves, walnut and cauliflower to neutralise the flavour.

You must MUST order their Portobello Katsu Fries ($14.50) which came huge and chunky sliced. Coated with a layer of breadcrumb, deep fried till golden brown yet retaining its juicy mushroom ‘meat’.

Very sinful but satisfying when eaten together with the aioli dipping sauce.

I have a love relationship with hummus spread and their Hummus & Halloumi Mezze ($17) didn’t disappoint.

Served together with toasted flat bread, their homemade hummus was packed with spices and acts as a flavourful spread. But for that price tag, I secretly wished for the hummus spread to be refillable.

With quality food, nice interior and seaside view, I would definitely return for more. The sole deterring factor is the distance.

Lots Gourmet
2 Netheravon Road, CSC@Changi , Singapore 508503
Opening Hours: Lunch, 11am – 3pm (Mon to Fri), 10am – 5pm (Sat & Sun)
Dinner, 5.30pm – 10pm (Sun to Thu), 5.30pm – 11pm (Fri & Sat)
https://www.facebook.com/lotsgourmet/

Other Related Entries
Panamericana (Sentosa Golf Club)
Wine & Chef (Keong Saik Road)
Dusk Restaurant & Bar (Faber Peak)
Burp Kitchen & Bar (Tanjong Katong)
Dallas Restaurant and Bar (Suntec City)

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

The post Lots Gourmet – Midnight Blue, Classy Gold Interior and Seaside View At Changi Village. Under-Radar Australian Bistro Relocates appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Aqua S, that dreamy baby blue soft serve from Sydney Australia, is FINALLY ariving in Singapore.

The softserve shop has opened at Orchard Xchange basement, located at a level above the Orchard MRT station exit.

(Click PLAY for highlights of Aqua S Singapore.)

When I headed over to Orchard Xchange (where Forever 21) used to be, I realised that there will be many F&B outlets opening up there.

As for Aqua S, you may have seen their Whimsical ice cream all over Instagram, and now can try it in person.

The Aqua S softserve is famed for its blue-hued twirls on a cone, surrounded by a cloud of fluffy cotton candy and caramel popcorn.

The dreamlike blue has started a wave of other soft serve brands going multi-coloured as well.

The one thing special about Aqua S is that while the blue-coloured signature sea salt flavour remains as the only constant, there will be two NEW flavours rotating every 2 weeks. And they seldom repeat.

For the opening launch in Singapore, it is confirmed that the two flavours will be Lychee and Thai Tea.

That means you can order a single flavour (Sea-salt, Lychee or Thai Tea), or a Twisted flavour (Sea-salt & Lychee, or Sea-salt & Thai Tea) – priced at $6.40 which comes with a Black Waffle Cones, or $5.40 or $6.40 for a cup.

Extra toppings such as Toasted Marshmallow, Sweet Popcorn, Fairy Floss and Pop Rocks go additional 80 cents each.

I found that the Sea-salt flavour was just as good as what it tasted like in Sydney, creamy and milky with an alluring tinge of saltiness.

The colour though, did not look as blue, but was in a lighter shade, even close to Cyan.

Between the two NEW flavours, I much preferred the Lychee with its light, fruity taste – going well with the Sea-salt in terms of its balance.

The Thai Tea could have been stronger with a more obvious bitter-tea element.

(Click PLAY for highlights of Aqua S)

Here are 5 things to know about Aqua S:

1. Their signature sea salt flavour was dreamed up after a trip to the Japanese seaside town of Okinawa.

The owners wanted to recreate those happy moments and bring smiles to their customers.

2. The blue sea salt flavour is the only constant flavour. The “S” on “Aqua S” stands for sea salt.

3. New flavours are announced on the 1st and 16th of the month over their social media accounts.

4. To date, Aqua S has developed over 130 soft serve flavours. Some of the more recent ones include Tiramisu, Apple Cinnamon Pie, Peanut Butter, Thai Milk Tea, Snickers, Baileys, Milo, Pandan, Peanut Butter to Mango Raspberry.

5. The softserve can be included with toppings such as flame-grilled marshmallows, popping candy, and fairy floss.

Aqua S Singapore
#B1-01 Orchard Xchange (above Orchard MRT Station), 437 Orchard Road, Singapore 238878
Opening Hours: 10:00am – 10:00pm (Mon – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/aquassingapore

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Aqua S.

The post Aqua S Singapore – Dreamy Blue Soft Serve Shop At Orchard Xchange, With Flavours Of Lychee & Thai Tea appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

FOOD plays a very big part in students’ life (and teachers), and that they can be a spark of joy in the middle of endless assignments and assessments (for us, marking).

So when the popular Splash n Decker outlets serving sandwiches at Ngee Ann Polytechnic and Nanyang Polytechnic closed, students were left disappointed.

Nothing to smuggle in lecture halls anymore.

I used to teach at Ngee Ann for a couple of years, but I think I have gotten their sandwiches only once or twice – so I don’t feel the loss as much as many of the other ex-students.

My ex-colleague Stella Thng was the one who found the Splash & Decker shop again, this time renamed as Sandwich Lab at basement 4 of ION Orchard, operated under the Four Leaves Bakery group.

Will things be the same ever again? Not quite, I guess.

Prices have gone up.

Other than the previous popular favorites of Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich ($4.80), Spicy Chicken Potato Sandwich ($4.00), Bacon & Egg Sandwich ($4.50), there are new offerings such as the Peri Peri Chicken Sandwich ($4.80) and Tom Yum Seafood Sandwich ($4.50).

I ordered the Teriyaki Chicken Sandwich, which came neatly cut in half for easier consumption, filled with moderate fillings of chicken meat, fresh lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise.

There wasn’t anything really spectacular about it, but it made a decent take-away snack (or meal) and the bread was soft with the right texture. Plus the sandwiches are freshly prepared.

A quick note: Time to needed for preparation. While I was the only customers, it took about 5 minutes to get a packet ready.

The Tom Yum Seafood was the more impressionable piece, also because this is not as commonly found. It came filled with crabstick and tuna, with a light-tangy-spicy punch.

Truth is, without the “Splash n Decker” back-history, the average shopper may just walk past the kiosk and give it a miss.

Perhaps the ex Ngee Ann and Nanyang Polytechnic students can go try it, and let me know if there is very much different from the previous renditions.

Sandwich Lab
2 Orchard Turn, #B4-40/41/42, ION Orchard, Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 6509 9500
Opening Hours: 10am – 9pm Daily

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* 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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There is a part of me who loves discovering new, obscure cafes – not those frequently splashed over Instagram.

From the appearance alone, you would not expect to find such a café here, located at a quiet Upper Aljunied HDB estate un-obstructively on the ground floor.

The place has an interesting name as well – “Make Your Own”, which is actually a D.I.Y. workshop studio, recently expanded with a workshop café concept.

This is the kind of place for you to do some activities (say even corporate events), and have coffee.

Workshops available include including terrarium, copper lamps, modern calligraphy and more, with a retail section offering DIY terrarium items.

They have a small menu selection – all vegan friendly, eggs and dairy free. Coffee is served with organic soymilk.

In terms of drinks, the recommended ones are the Mint Mocha ($5.30), Artisan Blooming (Flower) Tea ($4.80), and Yuzu Lemon Cold Brew Tea ($3.80).

Didn’t get to try the coffee as I went too late in the day, but the Yuzu Lemon Cold Brew Tea was refreshingly smooth, and thankfully not overly citrusy or sweet.

Also offered are a couple of homely light bites such as Vegan Triple Chocolate Brownie ($4.00), Vegan Choco Walnut Banana Muffin ($3.80), and Vegan Mushroom & Veg Tofu Frittata ($5.80), and Cranberry Coconut Scones.

The Frittata is baked with mushroom and vegetables, with a blend of silken and firm tofu that gives a taste resemblance of scrambled egg.

Perhaps this is not the kind of place you will go out-of-the-way just to have a cup of cuppa, but if you intend to have a reprise, get involved in such kind of crafts, this could be the café to spend a leisure afternoon at.

Make Your Own Café
Blk 4 Upper Aljunied Lane #01-06 Singapore 360004
(closest MRT: Woodleigh MRT – to transfer bus 100/135/155 at Exit A, alight at 3rd stop, recommended MRT: Serangoon – to transfer bus 100 at bus interchange, alight at 7th stop)
Opening Hours: 10.00am – 6.00pm (Mon – Wed, Fri – Sat), 10:30am – 6:00pm (Sun), Closed Thurs

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* 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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[New Delhi] An extension to the homegrown luxury brand Napa Dori, Café Dori has been receiving rave reviews since it opened in Delhi.

A menu that comprises of delectable European favourites, complete with beautiful presentations and flavours, has made the café one of the trendiest places in the city to dine and be seen at.

Gautam Sinha’s Napa Dori has always had a niche upmarket clientele lusting over the high-quality trunks, bags, and other accessories that he started selling at the beginning of this decade.

A move towards food was surprising at first, but keeping in mind the immaculate craftsmanship that Napa Dori prides in.

It was a welcome addition to the changing culinary scene of the country.

Originally started as part of their Mumbai store, Café Dori’s space in New Delhi is genre defining and comes with its own set of quirks and wonders.

In Delhi, Café Dori is a part of the Napa Dori shop in Dhan Mills Compound which in turn comprises of “warehouses” that host studios, a theatre, gym, and designer shops.

The place attracts a rather specific following however with the success of Café Dori, it has become the go-to place to meet friends, mingle, relax over coffee or a meal.

As a warehouse, there is an atmosphere of openness upon entering Café Dori with lots of space to walk around.

I am happy that they haven’t overcrowded it, which would be good for business, but could hinder with the aesthetics.

One side is designated for the shop, while a majority of the space is allotted to the café that has a semi-industrial feel to it.

A separate section that was cornered off has a workshop and library for design enthusiasts along with an Enfield motorbike stationed to add a sense of cool to the scene.

Café Dori’s ambience is exceptionally relaxed, yet classy. Dyson fans placed around the room, to battle the heat of the city, look modish as does the framed dictionary with “hygiene” highlighted, in the bathroom.

In fact, as weird as it may sound, do head on out to the toilet in the café if you are a Potterhead for instead of the average “bathroom music” you get to listen to an audiobook of the famous series.

The food at Café Dori is its true champion and accolade worthy.

Reviews from my family and friends have placed the pasta and salads at the café as among the best in the city.

But for me, it was their All-Day Breakfast menu that satiated my craving for eggs as well as proper nourishment.

The highlight of my meal was undoubtedly the Turkish Eggs (Rs 375, SGD7.45) which was a burst of flavour with its perfectly poached eggs in garlic infused Greek yoghurt and the chilli butter adding a punch to each bite.

Their Salmon Croffle (Rs 475, SGD9.45) which consists of taking a croissant and heating it on a waffle iron is a brilliant little idea which gives a nice crunch besides all the extra toppings that makes it tasty.

For dessert, I went with the Mango Croffle (Rs 425, SGD8.45). While the fresh mangoes were not the best, this being the end of the season, their mango ice cream was absolutely delicious.

One of the biggest reasons for Café Dori’s success, besides the food, is that it is dog-friendly.

This unique aspect makes the environment more natural as I saw dog lovers mingling over coffee in the “open” area of the restaurant while others inside had come with their pets for family lunches.

However, I did find the management to be a little stubborn. They are courteous, and the service was excellent, but their breakfast menu, the only thing available during the first two and a half hours of operations, is extremely limited.

A few of the people on my table had to leave as being non-egg eating vegetarians there just want’s much for them to eat. And, a request to make an exception was denied.

Similarly, they were a little clueless about how to accommodate us in the beginning. We were told that tables can’t be moved around, so we had to squeeze in a little.

I must say that eating at Café Dori was a pleasant surprise.

Having a niche has become extremely important in this volatile business, but it is always the dishes, the ingredients, the sharpness of the seasonings, and the ability to entice the palate that finally pushes any restaurant to the next level.

Once you put aside the oddities, the style quotient, the dog friendliness, what really matters is that the food at Café Dori is distinct and phenomenal and reason enough to drive down there.

Café Dori
Dhan Mill Compound, 100 Feet Road, Chhattarpur, New Delhi 110030
Tel: 011 2630 2488
Opening Hours: 10:00am-10:00pm (Mon-Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/cafedorichhattarpur
Google Maps

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* 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.

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[Hong Kong] Hong Kong is known to be a cosmopolitan food city, gathering some of the best restaurants and cafes from all over the world in a single place.

Other than the local staples of dim sum, wanton noodles and cha chaan teng food, perhaps it is time to try out some of the best international “street food” available.

During my last trip, I experienced some food I previously wouldn’t have tried in Hong Kong, only because I didn’t know about them prior – from modern Korean bites, Latin-American platters, to Taiwanese Beef Noodles.

If there is one word to describe all these food, it would be “colourful”.

Yes, even the famed Singapore Tian Tian Chicken Rice and A Noodle Story – so how does the “Hong Kong version” fare?

Jiu-Wu Beef Noodles 玖五牛肉麵
G/F, Golden Jubilee House, 399 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai Hong Kong (Causeway Bay MTR, Exit C)
銅鑼灣駱克道399號金禧大廈地舖
+852 2892 0320
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 11pm (Mon – Thurs), 11:30am – 12am (Fri – Sat), 12pm – 11pm (Sun)

Famous Authentic Taiwanese Beef Noodles Shop Brought To Hong Kong
If you have been to the Da-an distract of Taipei, you might have come across this famous Taiwanese Beef Noodles shop. The brand has been brought into Hong Kong by Laurinda Ho – daughter of billionaire Stanley Ho (She has been described as “shockingly gorgeous” and you may just spot her while having your Taiwanese fare).

Jiu-Wu’s signature Beef Noodles comes with options of three different broths – braised, tomato, spicy; along with a dry version.

To maintain its authenticity, Jiu-Wu uses premium beef and the precious cuts from the shank meat, while its noodles are made with precise specifications by a noodle factory in Hong Kong to maintain the QQ texture.

The winning element is really in its soup base, made cooking the beef bones for eight hours with the addition of herbs and other secret ingredients.

Other than that, you can also look forward to side dishes of Braised Beef – prepared using a secret sauce recipe from Jiu-Wu family so that the meat remains tender and stronger in flavour; and Cold Noodles mixed with butter oil, fresh cucumber, and sesame sauce from a century old store in Taiwan.

Tian Tian Plus 天天海南雞
Shop H2, G/F, 9 Kingston Street, Fashion Walk Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
Phone: +852 3108 2181
Opening Hours: 12:00pm – 3:00pm, 6:00pm – 12:30am Daily

Most Famous Hainanese Chicken Rice From Singapore
For fellow Singaporeans, Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice will not be an unfamiliar name.

It has been widely known to serve one of the best Chicken Rice at Maxwell Road Hawker Centre, praised by celebrity chefs Anthony Bourdain and Gordan Ramsay, and was also awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand for 3 years in a row.

Here’s the verdict: The rice from Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice is fluffy and aromatic; along with poached chicken that is tender, smooth and melts in your mouth. There are still slight differences, but it is good to experience a varied take.

The restaurant is said to pay special attention to every aspect of the chicken rice, from the supply of the chicken, type of Thai rice used, and the condiments from the dark soy sauce minced ginger, and signature chilli sauce that packs a punch.

A Noodle Story

Michelin Bib Gourmand “Singapore Ramen”
As Tian Tian Plus in Hong Kong is a multi-concept restaurant, there are actually 3 seldom-talked about brands within – A Noodle Story famed for its ‘Singapore-style ramen’ from Amoy Street Food Centre; Lao Jie Fang from Mei Ling Food Centre; and The 50s from Chinatown Complex Food Centre.

While A Noodle Story is Bib Gourmand listed, the other two are also Michelin-recommended.

A Noodle Story is known for a bowl with combination of tender cha-su, Hong Kong-style wontons, soy-flavoured hot spring egg, crispy potato-wrapped prawn, freshly sliced scallions and red pepper sit neatly on top of the thin, springy noodles.

Over at Hong Kong, there are also specials offering crispy noodles.

La Pampa Argentinian Steak House
32B&C Staunton St, Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2868 6959
Opening Hours: 12pm – 2:30pm, 6pm – 11pm (Mon – Fri), 12pm – 5pm, 6pm – 11pm (Sat – Sun)

1st Argentinian Steak House In Hong Kong
Few would realise that La Pampa located at SoHo, has actually been opened since 1999.

It is the first Argentinian Steak House in Hong Kong, with the name “Pampas” representing the vast lowland plains of South American where high-grade sheep and cattle bred.

Only free-range, organic and grass-fed beef and chorizo imported from Argentina are used in the restaurant.

Even if you are unfamiliar with Argentinian dishes, several of their dishes could just whet your appetite, from the prime beef cuts, succulent chorizos, to roast beef, sausages, brochette, lamb rack, salmon, to filling meat pies.

One of the highly recommended dishes is the Brochette De Pollo, rich chicken skewers with bacon, pepper and onion. The chicken pieces are lightly grilled, surprisingly still tender and juicy, bursting with vibrant South American flavours.

Portions are huge, so there is no way you will leave feeling hungry.

Picada
2F & 3F LKF 29 Building, 29 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong
Opening Hours: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 12am (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun

Latin American Restaurant Famous For Ceviches and Toritos
Hong Kong’s first pan-Latin restaurant Picada is a vibrant space offering a colourful menu of Latin American bites, known for signature ceviches, freshly griled anticuchos, and specialty drinks.

Best to be experienced as a group, start the meal off with Peruvian Ceviche, included with resh seabass, smoked sweet potato purée, “Leche De Tigre”, Peruvian corn, cancha (crispy corn), onions, and coriander.

Another popular favourite is the Colombian Picada Platter, containing the best of everything from chicken chicharron, beef skewers, yucca chips, mixed empanadas, an assortment of arepas,
fried pork belly, chorizo, and plantains served with chipotle sauce, truffle mayo, and guacamole.

I guess you cannot go to a Latin American restaurant without trying some of the Tacos, in refreshing fillings of Crab, Beef Ribs, Avocado or Chicken Al Pastor, within fresh homemade corn tortilla.

The one dish that stole my heart was the Arroz con Pato, a rice dish included three types of duck, smoked duck breast which was extremely tasty and tender, duck leg with fall-off-the-bone meat, and duck egg on green rice.

A culinary experience that is hard to find elsewhere in the city.

Kelly’s Cape Bop
57 Johnston Rd, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 9pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun

Michelin Recommended Korean Street Food
Hong Kong is one of the few cities in which the Michelin Guide has released a “street food” category.

Kelly’s Cape Bop is one of those recommended, known for its fuss-free and authentic Korean street food.

It is easy to give this store a miss as the store-front is not that conspicuous (except with large Michelin logos pasted), but this is where you can get tasty, healthy Kimbap made on the spot.

The Kimbab is a Korean dish typically eaten during breakfast, made by rolling cooked rice and other ingredients that are rolled in “gim”—dried sheets of laver seaweed then cut into bite-sized slices. These may remind you of sushi rolls.

Kelly’s Cape Bop’s version comes with vegetables and a filling of your choice – beef, pork, tuna, vegetables, cheese or spicy squid, which will ensure a filling treat.

You can even choose a “without rice” version, replaced with egg floss made from fresh eggs.

Also to look out for are Egg Rolls – pan fried eggs with chopped carrots, spring onions and fillings such as cheese; Korean Chicken Bites; Seaweed Dumplings; and Kimchi Pancakes.

Bib n Hops
18 Ship Street, Shop 13, J Residence, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
+852 2882 9128
Opening Hours: 12pm – 10:30pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun

Urban K-Food By “Demon Chef” Alvin Leung
Bib n Hops is a modern Korean restaurant bar, with menu created by three Michelin-starred Chef Alvin Leung aka “Demon Chef” of Bo Innovation fame and Korean Executive Chef Yong Soo.

Hong Kongers do love their Korean food, but few restaurants are adventurous enough to serve Korean food that is quite out of the ordinary.

Expect new, modern, refreshing flavours.

One of the “from the farm” dishes you can look forward to is the Korean Fried Chicken, containing fried boneless chicken (good for those who are lazy) tossed in a bespoke sweet curry sauce or sweet chilli sauce, served with spring onion salad and pickled daikon.

Loved how chunky yet moist the chicken pieces were, coated with an addictive, sticky sauce you would gladly lick your fingers for.

There are always new offerings to look out for, such as Korean Bibimbap with Singapore Chilli Crab or Sichuan Chicken with pepper gochujang sauce. Not forgetting the creative drinks to go along.

Honbo
G/F New Sun House, 6-7 Sun Street, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2567 8970
Opening Hours: 12pm – 4pm, 5pm – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

American-style Beef and Vegan Burgers
There are some food places in Hong Kong that mostly the locals know about, and they are constantly filled.

Honbo is one of them, known among burger aficionados for their juicy burgers made using quality USDA meat. True enough, it was packed when I visited a weekday afternoon.

Honbo which means “burger” in Cantonese, terms itself as a “grassroots burger restaurant” which stays connected to that is local farmers, brewers and artisans.

Staying true to its brand identity, the signature Potato Milk Bun is baked “just 15 minutes away” and vegetables harvested free from Yuen Long.

True enough, this was just a simple, darn-good burger – soft as pillow bun, with juicy meaty patty sandwiched in between, added with those wicked sweet potato fries.

Can give some of the big boys a run of their money.

Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival 2018
You can now experience all these international cuisine all at a single place, at the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival 2018, held from 25 to 28 October (Thursday to Sunday).

As this is the 10th edition of the largest-ever Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival, there will be 10 zones offering a host of choices, complete with a bigger venue.

Extending its reach from Central Harbourfront Event Space to Tamar Park, the venue size for this year’s Festival will be 20% larger than last year’s. There will be about 450 booths serving fine wines and exquisite food, over 10% more than last year.

Newly included zones are the “International Street Eats” and “Coffee Fiesta” which will offer gourmet delights such as Jiu-Wu Beef Noodle from Taiwan, Tian Tian Chicken Rice from Singapore, Bayern Gourmet Food from Germany, Kelly’s Cape Bop offering Korean street eats, Pampas Argentinian Steak House, and Picada for Latin-American food.

At the “FeedMe Lane” in the Wine & Dine Festival, you get to sample creations from some of Hong Kong’s most stylish and trendiest restaurants – such as Bib and Hops and Honbo.

The key event highlights is the “10-Michelin-starred Dinner” at the “Tasting Room”, where Five international Michelin-starred chefs will jointly present a highly anticipated wine pairing banquet with eight courses, fusing Chinese, Thai and French elements.

The chefs include Chef Pierre Gagnaire of “Pierre” from Mandarin Oriental Hotel Hong Kong; Chef Bee Satongun of “Paste Bangkok”; Chef Lin Cheng Ching from “The Guest House”; Chef George Chen of Shanghai’s “Wujie”; and Singapore’s very own Chef Kentaro Chen, Executive Chef of “Shisen Hanten”.

In addition, good news for Singapore travelers who are flying to Hong Kong via Cathay Pacific.

You are able to register for the Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival to receive a special pass. The pass will include complimentary entry, four wine tokens, two food tokens, and a tenth anniversary limited edition wine glass. More information here: https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_SG/offers/collection/hong-kong-wine-dine-festival.html

For details of the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival, please head over to the HKTB website:
http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/winedinefestival

*This entry is brought to you in partnership with Hong Kong Tourism Board.

The post 8 Must-Have International Street Food At Hong Kong, From Latin-American Platters To Singapore Hainanese Chicken Rice appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

Beyond the familiar cuts such as rib-eye, sirloin and tenderloin, there are steak lovers who also go for the “butcher’s cut”.

These are known to be lesser-ordered but no less surprising meat cuts that butchers themselves will recommend, for their outstanding flavour and exceptional value.

(Click PLAY for highlights of Opus’ Premium Butcher’s Cuts.)

With that premise in mind, Opus Bar & Grill at Hilton Singapore has introduced a beef lovers’ platter known as the “Premium Butcher’s Cut” – prefect for sharing, and highly recommended by their chefs for those with big appetites.

With a special introduction price of $128++ (serves 2), the Opus New Premium Butcher’s Cuts includes the following:
– 500 – 600g Rangers Valley Angus OP rib
– 150g Margaret River Wagyu Flank Steak with smoked chilli glaze
– 400 – 500g Braised Beef Short Ribs with aromatic spices, grain-fed, marble score 3
– Open-flame Jarrah Wood Charcoal Grilled Gourmet Sausages

This is also on top of the Special Wine Package that you should not miss:
– 2-hour free flow wine (Sun to Thu)
– 50% off selected wine by the bottle (Fri & Sat)

Here’s more on what you will be getting:

500 – 600g Rangers Valley Angus OP Ribs
The Angus OP Ribs is probably one of the beefiest and most flavourful cut in the entire animal.

This is also the part where the rib has its bones left in and therefore looks rather impressive.

There is the saying that goes ”the nearer the bone, the sweeter the meat”, it won’t be wrong to say this is the juiciest and most tender part as well.

I thought that that among the different cuts, this is where the most distinctive flavour of the beef comes from.

Ringed by a layer of fat and beautifully marbled, if you like your steak rich in its natural goodness, you can even savour this without the sauces.

150g Margaret River Wagyu Flank Steak with smoked chilli glaze
With a marble score 3-5, the Margaret River Wagyu Beef is full flavoured, and also boosts of relatively lower levels of saturated fats and cholesterol compared to other beef breeds.

The Flank Steak is a leaner cut of meat with some fibres running through it. Therefore, the slab is thinly sliced against the grain for more tenderness.

With intense beef flavour, and the smoked chilli glaze works as a type of “barbecue sauce” to better bring out the flavours.

400 – 500g Braised Beef Short Ribs with aromatic spices, grain-fed, marble score 3
My friend enjoyed this part most as it is literally fall-off-the-bone.

The Beef Short Ribs are first bathed in a special marinate included with spices, red wine, vinegar and other sauces for a number of hours so that it would absorb all the deliciousness,.

It is then grilled over fire in high heat then further oven-cooked so that it would yield a slight crisp exterior and tender red wine-braised centre.

Comforting with beefy goodness.

Open-flame Jarrah Wood Charcoal Grilled Gourmet Sausages
Some diners would be glad with the addition of Beef Sausages in the platter, because it provides variety in terms of texture and taste.

These were as tasty as what they seemed – chunky yet juicy, with a good meat to fat content.

There are also two Opus specialty sauces available as dips – the Smoked Chili Glaze, and Homemade Barbeque Sauce.

Opus Bar & Grill New Premium Butcher’s Cuts
– 500 – 600g Rangers Valley Angus OP rib
– 150g Margaret River Wagyu Flank Steak with smoked chilli glaze
– 400 – 500g Braised Beef Short Ribs with aromatic spices, grain-fed, marble score 3
– Open-flame Jarrah Wood Charcoal Grilled Gourmet Sausages
– Special Wine Package: *2-hour free flow wine (Sun to Thu); OR *50% off selected wine by the bottle (Fri & Sat)

Opus Bar & Grill X DanielFoodDiary Promo
The first 50 reservations to quote “DFDOPUS50” and order the new Opus Premium Butcher’s Cuts, will get 1 complimentary plate of Kelong Local Green Mussels (priced at $12++).

The plump green-lipped mussels are fresh from the local “kelong”, steamed in lemongrass fumes.

Terms & Conditions:
– Limited to 1 redemption per table
– Advance reservation required. Quote promo code “DFDOPUS50” to utilize.
– Applicable to direct booking to hotel
– Valid for dine-in from Sunday until Wednesday
– Subject to availability

Opus Bar & Grill
Hilton Singapore Lobby Level, 581 Orchard Road Singapore 238883
Tel: +65 6730 3390
Email: Opus@hilton.com
Opening Hours: Dinner 6:30pm – 10:30pm (Mon – Sun)
Bar 10:00am – 12:00am (Mon – Sun)
http://www.singapore.hilton.com/opus

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* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Hilton Singapore.

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Having Thai Mookata with a waterfront view seems like a wonderful idea.

This would also be great news to friends staying at the Punggol area, as Siam Square Mookata has just opened a new outlet at The Punggol Settlement.

(Click PLAY for highlights of Siam Square Mookata.)

Imagine having hot barbecued meats and hearty soups, feeling the cool breeze while watching the sun set in the distance.

Perhaps you have yet to try Mookata before. No?

“Moo” means “pork”; while “kata” refers to the skillet in which you get to try both barbecue and steamboat in the same pot.

When the meats and seafood are grilled, the juices and oil would drip down to the soup base below, adding more flavours and oomph which makes the broth more tasty.

Originated from Northern Thailand, Mookata has generally gained popularity in Singapore over the years as the dining experience makes it suitable for bonding with family and friends.

It is also generally considered inexpensive, compared to other forms of hotpot around.

Here are 9 things about Siam Square Mookata:

“Pioneer” Mookata
Siam Square Mookata is considered one of the earliest Mookata restaurants in Singapore, which started humbly within a food centre at Havelock Road way back in 2013.

Many of the earlier Mookata eateries have come and gone, but Siam Square Mookata has ‘survived’ the competition due to its casual no-frills setting, reasonable prices and service.

They also try to open at places where the rentals are not that expensive in order to keeps operating costs low and pass the savings to customers.

10 Outlets
Despite the Mookata trend going up then stagnant, the chain has since expanded to other outlets around Singapore, from Golden Mile Tower, Jurong Gateway Road, and Ang Mo Kio Ave 1. (Well, should venture to the East too.)

Reasonable price
Prices are considered reasonable and affordable, with a plate of ingredients priced between $2 to $3 per plate.

You can order the a la carte small plates for easy portioning and sharing. Some of the more popular items include Pork Belly, Sliced Beef, Pork Neck, Smoked Duck, Shishamo, and Clams.

Exclusive items
Every store would have certain “exclusive” items. For the Punggol outlet, you can look forward to the Cheese Roll ($4.00) of cheese sticks wrapped within bacon rolls; and Truffle Corn or Mushroom ($4.00).

All-you-can-eat Mookata Buffet
If you have a good appetite and fancy for more, go for the buffet option, priced at $29.00 per person.

Diners can choose any ingredients under the menu, with the exception of scallops, cheese, truffle and exclusive special menu items.

That is still more than 50 items to choose from, ensuring quite a variety.

Complimentary ice-cream
For the buffet, there will also be complimentary ice cream with flavours of green tea, strawberry, chocolate, and chocolates & cream. A sweet end to the meal.

Fresh ingredients
Good to know that all their ingredients are freshly bought and replenished daily to maintain the freshness.

Even the preparations of the ingredients, such as cutting, marinating and brewing of soups are done on a day-to-day basis.

Special chilli sauces
To me, the quintessential item for any Mookata is their chilli sauces.

Siam Square Mookata’s chilli sauces are made with a secret recipe, with 3 levels of spiciness – one is best paired with seafood, while the other is for meats.

I actually enjoyed the Level 1 best due to the sweetness, best paired with the seafood with its natural juices.

Pans are made of Teflon
The pans are made of Teflon so that the ingredients do not get stuck to the top.

That means you do not need oil the surface that much (less fattening), and items do not get charred that easily.

The Siam Square Mookata at The Punggol Settlement consists of both outside and indoor seating areas – that means, air-con.

Other than the open environment with that vibes, I think the best selling points of the restaurant is still its basic – fresh meats paired with spicy chilli sauce with a kick.

Siam Square Mookata
Building 3 Punggol Point #02-01, The Punggol Settlement Singapore 329566
Opening Hours: 4pm – 3am (Mon – Sun)

Golden Mile Tower, 6001 Beach Road Basement Singapore 199589
Opening Hours: 3pm – 6am (Mon – Sun)

332 Ang Mo Kio Ave 1 (Coffee Shop) Singapore 560332
Opening Hours: 5pm – 11pm (Mon – Sun)

134 Jurong Gateway Road (Jurong East) Singapore 600134
Opening Hours: 3pm – 11pm (Mon – Sun)

450 Clementi Ave 3 #01-271 Singapore 120450
Opening Hours: 4pm – 2am (Mon – Sun)

221 Boon Lay Shopping Centre (Jurong West) Singapore 640221
Opening Hours: 5pm – 1am (Mon -Thurs), 5pm – 3am (Fri – Sun)

22A Havelock Road #01-14 (Hawker centre) Singapore 161022
Opening Hours: 4pm – 11pm (Mon – Sun)

11 Woodlands Close #01-46 Stall 3B Woodlands 11 Coffee Shop, Singapore 737853
Opening Hours: 3pm – 11pm (Mon – Sun)

71 Woodlands Industrial Park E9 Wave 9 Coffee Shop, Singapore 757048
Opening Hours: 3pm – 3am (Mon – Sun)

155 Bukit Batok St 11 Singapore 650155
Opening Hours: 4pm – 12am (Mon – Sun)

*Last orders 30min before outlets close.

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Siam Square Mookata.

The post Siam Square Mookata – Inexpensive Thai Mookata Restaurant Opens At Punggol, With A Waterfront View appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.

[Bangkok] Talking about Thai fried noodles, it is usually about the Pad Thai, Pad Khi Mao (Drunken Noodles) or Pad See Ew (stir fried rice noodles) that people (I mean tourists) generally go for.

“Guay Tiew Kua Gai” or Fried Rice Noodles with Chicken isn’t always that in the radar.

Tell me the truth – have you ever had this in Thailand?

Okay. Guay Tiew Kua Gai is basically fried rice noodles added with ingredients such as chicken and cuttlefish, have minimal sauces and is therefore dry.

The entire flavour comes from being cooked at high heat in pork fat, with just that little bit of soy sauce, eggs and spring onion.

Then you may wonder: What is so special about it then?

The trick is to fry this such that the noodles are actually kind of crispy on the outside, yet smooth and soft on the inside, especially when you mix everything up.

Ann Guay Tiew Kua Gai, located near Chinatown in Bangkok is one of the best-known places to get this dish. It was also awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand. (The other awarded similar tall is Guay Tiew Kuai Gai Sunmali at Khlang Hospital Intersection. Seems like the inspectors do like their Kway Teow.)

The good thing about this eatery is that it is air-conditioned, but the food is cooked outside in the lanes, so you still get that bit of ‘street-side’ taste.

It offers Fried Noodles with Chicken, Pork, Ham or Squid (50 Baht, SGD2.10), though there is an all-in-on combination of Fried Noodles with Chicken, Ham, Squid topped with Runny Egg (60 baht, SGD2.50).

Not expensive at all.

Soup versions are also offered, though I didn’t see any customers ordering that.

The service is fast and there is a menu in English, which makes ordering quite easy.

You can choose your egg: served cracked fresh, cooked in an omelette style, or both.

When it is presented, the dish looked just like fried omelette, with the rice noodles cooked till it was coated with a layer of golden-brown.

What I liked was the smokiness of these noodles, and the runny egg on top of them added a good amount of creaminess.

Beneath the top layer, you can then ‘pull out’ slippery strands of rice noodles, otherwise known as “Guay Tiew”.

You can also add some condiments like sugar, white pepper, dried chilli flakes, and chilli, if you think the flavours are too bland.

However, I wished that there was more wok-hei (wok heat) and that it got slightly too greasy for my liking after a while.

For added variety, order the Fried Chicken (60 baht, SGD2.50) – a bowl of fried chicken ‘tenders’ that are on the crisp, though dryer side. Have it like a tidbit.

Ann Guay Tiew Kua Gai is located on Luang Road which is situated just a 15 minutes’ walk from the main parts of Bangkok including Charoen Krung Road, Chinatown, and Yaowarat.

Ann Guay Tiew Kua Gai
419 Luang Road, Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Bangkok,
419 ถนนหลวง แขวงวัดเทพสิรินทร์ Bangkok 10100, Thailand
Tel: +66 2 621 5199
Opening Hours: 4pm – 1am Daily
Google Maps – Ann Guay Tiew Kua Gai

Other Related Entries
Jeh O Chula (Soi Charat Muean, Bangkok)
Pee Aor Restaurant (Soi Phetchaburi 5, Bangkok)
Jeib Rot Dee Det (Siam Square, Bangkok)
Sawang Noodles (Phetchaburi Rd, Bangkok)
Raan Jay Fai (Mahachai Road, Bangkok)

Click HERE for other BANGKOK Food Entries

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The post Ann Guay Tiew Kua Gai – Bangkok’s Top Fried Chicken Rice Noodles With Runny Egg, Located Near Chinatown. Tried This Before? appeared first on DanielFoodDiary.com.