21 On Rajah Restaurant & Bar @ Days Hotel Singapore

21 On Rajah Restaurant & Bar is an all day dining restaurant of the newly opened Days Hotel at Zhongshan Park in the central district of Novena along Balestier Road. 21 On Rajah marries the best of nature and modern architecture with a Mediterranean inspired menu.

As of 31 March 2013, 21 on Rajah launched a Sunday Brunch Buffet from 12pm to 3pm with a dazzling array of Western and Mediterranean comfort food.

Proscuitto e Melone

Grilled Seabass in Lemon Cream Sauce

Braised Chicken in Tomato Sauce "Hunter Style"

Braised Beef Cheek in Red Wine Sauce

Sautéed Seafood with White Wine

The spread may not be extensive but it comes with quality. I have to say I am pretty satisfied with the offering for the Sunday brunch buffet.

Kicked start my Sunday brunch with some fresh and delectable appertizers and starters.

If you missed your eggs for breakfast, worried not as the Sunday brunch comes with a egg live station. Now we have all day breakfast, how cool is it?

Among the cooked dishes I tried, I felt that the kitchen was better with seafood than meat. My favourite was the Grilled Seabass with Lemon Cream Sauce and Sautéed Seafood with White Wine.

The Sunday brunch buffet also comes with pasta live station. I had the spaghetti with mushroom cream sauce. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente but the sauce was bland.

Roasted Lamb with Rosemary Sauce

Roasted Lamb with Rosemary Sauce

Although I was already quite full, I could not help going back for a servicing of the beautifully roasted lamb complemented by a lovely rosemary sauce.

Do remember to save your stomach for the desserts. I am not a dessert person but I ended up going back for a second serving. 21 On Rajah has quite an impressive pastry chef.

Besides the delectable array of food, the Sunday brunch buffet has an afternoon fun filled activities for children such as face painting, balloon sculpting and kite making while the adults can indulge in the food. Discover the best of Balestier with the hotel's staycation package offering a night stay at the hotel's Days City view room at an affordable price of $198++ for stays until 31 December 2013. Guests will also enjoy complimentary Sunday brunch for 2 at 21 on Rajah and a guaranteed late check out at 3pm.

Shuttle Bus Service
- Novena MRT Station. Pick up/Drop off point just outside Curry Times Restaurant, #02-33/34, Velocity @ Novena Square.

Sunday Brunch at 21 on Rajah
- $38++ per adult inclusive of 1 alcoholic beverage and 1 non-alcoholic beverage
- $58++ per adult inclusive of free flow of Kissing Bridge Sparking Wine
- $19++ per child (7 to 12 years old)
- Free dining for child (1 to 6 years old)


21 Rajah Restaurant & Bar
Days Hotel Singapore
1 Jalan Rajah
Singapore 329133
Tel: +65 68086847
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/21onRajah
Website: http://www.dayshotelsingapore.com/
Nearest MRT:

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 6am - 11pm
Sat-Sun: 6am - 1130pm
Sunday Brunch: 12pm - 3pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Novena MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to the shuttle bus service pick up point at Velocity @ Novena Square. Journey time about 10 minutes.

2) Alight at Novena MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Irrawaddy Road. Walk towards Ren Ci Community Hospital direction along Irrawaddy Road. Turn onto Shan Road and walk to the end. At the end of the Shan Road, cross Balestier Road to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes.

3) Alight at Toa Payoh MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to Toa Payoh bus interchange (Stop ID 52009). Take bus number 139 04 145. Alight 3 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes.

4) Alight at Toa Payoh MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to bus stop at Toa Payoh MRT station along Toa Payoh Lorong 2 (Stop ID 52189). Take bus 56, 105 or 153. Alight 1 stop later. Cross the canal. Cut through the cluster of HDB flats and carpark towards block 103 onto Ah Hood Road. Continue on Ah Hood Road to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes.

White Rose Cafe @ York Hotel

Mention York Hotel, most will associate it with their wildly popular and successful Penang Hawkers' Fare promotion for the past 27 years. As part of the culinary initiative to celebrate the culture and heritage of popular Singaporean cuisine, York Hotel's White Rose Cafe presents Treasured Flavours of Singapore menu featuring all time favourite Singapore specialty dishes. The highlight of the new menu is a selection of specialties inspired by the repertoire formerly served at the now defunct Soon Heng Restaurant; one of Singapore's oldest home style family restaurants. Recreating the lost flavours is Executive Chef Charlie Tham who started his career at Chin Wah Heng which was later renamed Soon Heng Restaurant. York Hotel has also rooted in Chef Jordan Liang formerly from Soon Heng Restaurant to assist the kitchen team.

Fish Head Curry 3.8/5

The Fish Head Curry ($28 for half / $42 for whole) is prepared accordingly to the well guarded recipe from Soon Heng Restaurant dating from 1970s, touted as the creator of the Singaporean Chinese style fish head curry. The red snapper fish head is first steamed and then cooked in a mildly spiced assam or tamarind based curry sauce together with tomatoes lady fingers, sliced onions and fresh chillies. The fish is cooked perfectly, firm and moist with a delectable sweetness of the flesh. However  I felt that the spicy level can raise a couple of notches more. I did not find it spicy at all.

Sambal King Prawns 3.8/5

Who can resist this huge king prawns coated with fiery looking sambal? The Sambal King Prawns ($8 per pc) was fresh and bursting with the prawn's sweetness. Sad to say the sambal did not mange to excite my taste buds, it lacked that pungent aroma and spiciness that will give me an avalanche rush for water.

Black Ink Sotong 4.5/5

The Black Ink Sotong ($12) definitely triggered a lot of childhood memories for me. This traditional kampong or home style dish was one of my favourite dish during my childhood. Whenever my mum cooked it, I will drench my own plate of rice with the black squid ink. The fresh squids are first poached and then simmered tilled tender in a delicious smoky spicy squid ink gravy comprising a proprietary mix of fresh green and red chillies, onions and garlic.

Deep Fried Curry Chicken Wings 3/5

The Deep Fried Curry Chicken Wings ($8) was fried to a nice golden brown and came with a crackling crisp skin. However the deep fried curry chicken wings were lacking in the curry flavours.

Crab Masala 3.8/5

Incorporating Indian flavour to the crab dish, the fresh handpicked crab is stir fried and then simmered in a robust masala sauce which matched perfectly with the sweetness of the crab meat. A nice alternative for crab lovers. The Crab Masala ($32) offers a tantalising alternative to the usual.

Chicken Masala 4/5

Packed with aromatic homemade masala spice blend of various spices such as cinnamon cardamom, cloves and fennel seeds, the classic rendition of the Chicken Masala ($12) was mouth watering with tender chicken.

Chap Chye 4.2/5

I was privilege to learn that there are 3 types of Chap Chye. What we are having is the Nonya style Chap Chye ($8) in a savoury soybean paste sauce consisting of cabbage, black fungus, dried lily flowers, glass vermicelli and dried beancurd skin.

Sambal Kang Kong 3/5

The Sambal Kang Kong ($8) was stir fried to a nice crunchy bite but it was lacking that fiery factor that is more suitable for the local palate.

The Treasured Flavours of Singapore nostalgic flavours is like taking a tasty trip down memory lane. The new menu encompasses over 20 tantalising dishes with many of which are familiar favourites adapted from foods of different ethnic groups. Available for dine in and takeaway, the Treasured Flavours of Singapore menu currently needs one day's advance order to ensure freshness of the ingredients required for the dishes.


White Rose Cafe
York Hotel
21 Mount Elizabeth
Singapore 228516
Tel: +65 68301156
Website: http://www.yorkhotel.com.sg
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
All day dining: 6am - 1am
Treasured Flavours of Singapore: 1130am - 1030pm (call one day in advance to order)

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk down Scotts Road towards Goodwood Park Hotel. At Goodwood Park, turn right and walk to the end of the carpark. Journey time about 10 minutes.

Shabu Sai @ Orchard Central

A new eat all you can Shabu Shabu and Sukiyaki buffet, Shabu Sai has opened on the 8th floor of Orchard Central just a couple of steps away from Kiseki Japanese Buffet. Serving up 7 different soup base (Seaweed, Sukiyaki, Spicy, Curry Dashi, Tomato and Tonkotsu Shouyu) and an array of more than 60 items on the buffet spread. There is also a bi monthly special soup base for a limited period. This month's special is Yuzu Salt Beauty hotpot that is infused with with collagen goodness. Opened by the Creative Restaurants Holding, they are the same people behind Hifumi, Maccha House, Yukari, Chiso Zanmai and Hiramiya in Singapore.

The design of the buffet spread area is quite interesting with cold air blowing out from the side keeping the raw ingredients fresh.

The signature items at Shabu Sai are the pork, beef and chicken served in bamboo. It is known that the bamboo's anti bacterial properties help to protect the freshness of the minced meat.

While waiting for the raw ingredients to be cooked, one may want to savour some sushi rolls and mini donburi while waiting.

Of course the highlight is the meats at any Shabu Shabu and Sukiyaki buffet. The meats are not too thinly sliced and of pretty decent quality, can't complain much since it is free flow, eat all you can.

Singapore loves their sauces and condiments when having hotpot or steamboat. A corner has also been set aside for patrons to mix and match their own sauces to their choice.

Japanese Hotpot 2.8/5

During our visit, we managed to try all the seven soup bases but they were all disappointing. They were either too salty or bland. It is really a pity that the wallet friendly pricing with fresh and quality ingredients were lacked down by the lackluster soup bases. Even the bi monthly yuzu salt beauty hotpot was lacking in consistency, tasted salty for one table while another was fine. Unless the restaurant improves with the offering of their soup, safer to go for their bi monthly special soup base and remember to add on $1.99++ for the free flow of drinks and soft serve. You will need it to quench your thirst with all the saltiness.

Lunch
Weekdays (Mon-Fri)
Adult: $16.99++ Child*: $9.99++
Weekends and PH
Adult: $19.99++ Child*: $9.99++

Dinner 
Weekdays (Mon-Fri)
Adult: $24.99++ Child: $9.99++
Weekends and PH
Adult: $29.99++ Child: $9.99++

*Child between 5-9 years of age; those below the age of 4 dine for free


Shabu Sai
Orchard Central
181 ORchard Road
#08-09/10/11
Singapore 238896
Tel: +65 68846760
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/ShabusaiSingapore
Website: http://www.createrestaurants.com/en/
Nearest MRT: Somerset (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 1130am - 3pm, 6pm - 1030pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 1130am - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Somerset MRT station. Take Exit to Orchard Road. Turn right on Orchard along the flow of traffic. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes.

Singapore Favourite Food 2013 - Food Trail

In conjunction with the 20th anniversary of Singapore Food Festival, the Singapore Food & Beverage Alliance (SFBA) will be celebrating Singapore's unique food heritage and pays homage to local culinary heroes with the Singapore Favourite Food Village (SFF Village) at Bayfront Avenue (Marina Bay) from 12 to 21 July 2013. The 10 day extravaganza, Singapore Favourite Food 2013 will showcase Singapore's favourite dishes such as chilli crab, carrot cake, rojak, laksa, roti prata and tau huay bringing together a selection of popular hawkers and eateries for this one time celebration. Apart from the 20 favourite vendors voted from the online poll, this unique village will also feature another 20 popular local favourite hawkers and eateries. Visitors will be spoilt for choice with a total of 40 different local favourite dishes to feast on.

Leading up to Singapore Favourite Food 2013, I was invited for a food trail to feast on some of Singapore favourite dishes and learn more about our rich culinary heritage. These are also the hawkers and eateries that is nominated for the online poll.

Ri Ye Xiang Rojak

Rojak

Our first stop is one of the oldest surviving Rojak stalls in Singapore. With 48 years of history since 1965, Mr Edward Koh (stall owner) has been preparing rojak since the age of 20. Rojak which means mixed in Malay is a dish born from our cultural diversity of Singapore incorporating both Chinese and Malay elements in the ingredients.

Ri Ye Xiang Rojak
Kopitiam
Blk 450 Clementi Ave 3
Singapore120450

Opening Hours:
Daily: 3pm - 11pm

Leng Kee BBQ

Fried Oyster Omelette

Second stop brought us to Bukit Timah Market & Food Centre for some Fried Oyster. Fried oyster used to be used by hawkers on rusty tri-cycle with 3 foot cast iron skillet rested above a makeshift wood fired stove which was fashioned out of an old oil drum. The Singapore version of fried oyster omelette uses a batter of oyster juice and sweet potato starch to achieve the crispiness, garnised with cilantro.

Leng Kee BBQ
Bukit Timah Market & Food Centre
51 Upper Bukit Timah Road
Stall 144
Singapore 588215

Opening Hours:
Daily: 3pm - 11pm

Star Yong Kwang BBQ Seafood

BBQ Sambal Stingray

The third stop is at Alexandra Village Food Centre for some Stingray. Chinese fishermen used to discard the fish but it was the Malay who discovered the juicy, fleshy wonders of stingray by cooking it in curry and coconut masala. The Chinese hawkers then adapted the dish by grilling it on banana leaves and heaped with spicy sambal, chilli, and shallots which is popularly enjoyed nowadays.

Star Yong Kwang BBQ Seafood
Alexandra Village Food Centre
120 Bukit Merah Lane 1
Stall #01-04
Singapore 150120

Opening Hours:
Daily: 4pm - 11pm

Jin Jin Hot/Cold Dessert

'Gangster' Durian Mango Ice 

Wrapping up the food trail on a sweet note, our last stop was at ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre. The work Gangster is a playful take of the mandarin term for the dessert, Liu Lian Mang Guo which sounds like the word gangster when shortened to just Liu Mang. The word Gangster is now a registered trademark and this iconic dessert of Mango Ice is laden with a generous scoop of durian puree and condensed milk.

Jin Jin Hot/Cold Dessert
ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre
6 Jalan Bukit Merah
Stall #01-20
Singapore 150008
Website: http://www.jinjindessertclub.com/

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 12am


Vote Online For Your Favourite Local Vendors to be at SFF Village

Leading up to the Singapore Favourite Food Village, food lovers can vote online at http://sg.openrice.com/sff from now till 2 June 2013 for their favourite local vendor in each of the 20 categories featured this year shortlisted by the SFBA organising committee and advisory panel. Voters stand to win attractive prizes such as:

1st Prize: Singapore Favourite Food 2013 limited edition FlashPay Card worth $1,500
2nd Prize: One year supply of Taiwan Fruit Beear worth $1,200
3rd Prize: Zonin hamper of Italian Prosecco wines worth $500
Weekly Prizes: $100 cash vouchers. A total of 12 will be given out over four weeks.

Take Part in SFF Instagram Photo Contest

Singapore Favourite Food is also holding an Instagram photo contest from now till 30 June 2013. Foodies can simply upload photos of their favourite local dishes. The item must be part of te 20 dishes highlighted in SFF 2013 and hashtag their submissions with #SingaporeFavouriteFood2013. The best photos will win limited edition Singapore Favourite Food 2013 FlashPay Cards worth $12 each.

Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao @ Holland Village

Unlimited servicing of Xiao Long Bao? Yes you did not hear me wrongly, that's what you get at Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao at Holland Village when you are there for their steamboat buffet. Crystal Jade has come a long way since 1992. From 1 outlet to over 100 outlets across 18 major cities in 9 countries in Asia Pacific region offering 21 concepts and still counting.

Anyway my visit this round was not for the steamboat buffet. I am here to savour their ala carte menu. Here are some of the delectable dishes I tried.

Steamed Soupy Xiao Long Bao 4.5/5

Not to be missed is the Steamed Soupy Xiao Long Bao ($5.20 for 4pcs). Picking it up with the chopsticks, the delicate thin skin of the Xiao Long Bao held the balanced mixture of pork and soup without bursting. The subtle broth was cooked for 6 hours melded perfectly with the meat for an exquisite taste with the right proportion and thickness.

Chicken Marinated with Chinese Wine & Wolfberry 4/5

The Chicken Marinated with Chinese Wine & Wolfberry ($9) is served chilled. The nourishing bowl comes with health benefit wolfberry and chinese yam. Wolfberry is good for strengthening the eyes, liver and kidney. The chinese yam is good for indigestion. relieve stomach pain and diarrhoea.

Spicy & Sour Thick Soup in Sichuan Style 4/5

The bowl of Spicy & Sour Thick Soup in Sichuan Style ($7.50) comes with a generous serving of mushroom, bamboo shoot and shrimp. The bowl of soup was neither too sour or spicy, just right for my taste. If you prefer stronger taste, you can add chilli oil or vinegar to further enhance the flavours.

Braised Pork Belly 3/5

The Jiang Nan style Braised Pork Berry served with pancake ($14.80) was nice but did not standout for me. The skin was braised to tender melting soft but the meat was a tad tough for me. The sauce was also a bit mild for my palate, I prefer stronger flavours. The pancake was also too small for sandwiching the braised pork belly due to the cut size.

Sauteed Egg White with Fish Meat and Conpoy 4/5

Story goes that the Sauteed Egg White with Fish Meat and Conpoy ($13.50) was created by the villagers for the emperor. The emperor was craving for crab meat but the port village did not have crabs that day so they substituted it with egg white and fish meat creating a texture and taste similar to crab meat. This delicacy was quite addictive no wonder the villagers managed to con the emperor.

Spicy Chicken with Poached La Mian 4.5/5

Having the Spicy Chicken with Poached La Mian ($9.80) was like discovering a pot of gold. I love Sichuan Dou Hua's spicy chicken (口水鸡) and I didn't know Crystal Jade does pretty awesome spicy chicken too. Pairing the spicy chicken (口水鸡) and la mian (拉面) was like a match in heaven for double enjoyment. Do you know that at Crystal Jade excluding the traditional la mian, you can choose from the 8 types of la main (dragon beard, double width, triangle, flat face, broad face, double line, hand teared and hand sliced) that comes with different textures.

Mango Pudding 

Mango Pudding 4/5

Using only Philippine mango for their Mango Pudding ($6), each bowl of mango pudding is made with 1 whole mango. Half of it is pureed while the other half is juiced. You can also add a bit of condensed milk to enhance the taste further.

Crystal Jade has always been a trusted brand dishing out exceptional food quality and consistency in a congenial ambience. Besides traditional Cantonese and Teochew cuisine, Crystal Jade has also diverse   into other Chinese cuisine, Korean cuisine and even bakeries serving pastries and breads.


Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao
Holland Village
241 Holland Avenue
Singapore 278976
Tel: +65 64630968
Website: http://www.crystaljade.com
Nearest MRT: Holland Village (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon- Sun & PH: 11am - 12am
Steamboat: 5pm - 12am

Direction:
1) Alight at Holland Village MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to destination. Journey time 3 minutes.