Fat Cow @ Camden Medical Centre

Fat Cow is a Japanese inspired steakhouse located at Camden Medical Centre. I have been wanting to visit this place but I was worry about the price point of their offering. If you have been following my blog, you would have known that I have been using the Entertainer App that offers one for one main course. This great app has allowed me to safe on my bill as well as checking out restaurants that I probably not visit unless special occasion.

Onsen Tamago No Gyu Marrow Furai 3/5

The Onsen Tamago No Gyu Marrow Furai ($16) is served warm with a hunk of crispy fried beef bone marrow in a citrus dashi. Individually each component was tasty on his own but I did not feel that everything came together as a whole.

Wagyu No Kakuni 4.2/5

The Wagyu No Kakuni ($38) was simmered in a sweet ginger soy with fresh yuzu. The Japanese wagyu rib meat was bursting with rich and robust flavours and simply melted in the mouth.

Grade A5 Ribeye 4.8/5

Being new to Fat Cow we took a bit of time to study the menu and decide what to order. I am glad that the friendly staff is there to assist us and made recommendation. Actually it is quite simple, first decide the type of meat and second the style of cooking it. We decided to the Japan beef with both Sumibiyaki and Shabu Shabu.

For Sumibiyaki, we went for the Grade A5 Ribeye from Iwate Perfecture ($148 for 150g). The piece of steak was grilled over binchotan charcoal and served with sudachi and salt. We have requested the steak to be sliced up as we are sharing. The beautiful piece of pinky beef laterally melted in the mouth and it was so tasty and flavourful on its own. I was totally blown off by its texture and flavour.

Grade A4 Ribeye 4.8/5

For Shabu Shabu, we tried the Grade A4 Ribeye from Ohmi Perfecture ($120 for 150g). The slice of beef has lesser fat content compared to Grade A5. The Grade A4 Ribeye has a firm bite and texture with a creamy and butter taste.

The Fat Rice 3.5/5

Being Asian we need our bowl of rice so we ordered the The Fat Rice ($8) to go with the Shabu Shabu. The high end short grain rice from Akita prefecture, Akitakomachi is seasoned with the signature in house shoyu that accentuated the aroma.

Boss Coffee 3/5

Moving on to the dessert, we tried the Boss Coffee ($18) which comes with milk pudding, coffee fudge, coffee granite and agar. There were many flavours at play making it a bit too complex for the palate in my opinion.

Warabi Mochi 4.2/5

My favourite was the Warabi Mochi ($18). The house made warabi mochi was wobbly and has a very delightful bite. Rolled it over either  the kinako (roasted soy bean flour) or green tea for a different form of enjoyment.

I am glad that I have the Entertainer App. For this dinner, I get to save $120 because of the 1 for 1 main promotion. The saving is even more than what it costs to purchase the Entertainer App. If you are one that loves your beef, you should make a trip to Fat Cow and enjoy top quality premium beef at its best.


Fat Cow
Camden Medical Centre
1 Orchard Blvd
#01-01/02
Singapore 248649
Tel: +65 67350308
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fatcowsg
Website: http://www.fat-cow.com.sg
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 11pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop along Orchard Boulevard (Stop ID 09022). Take bus number 7, 77, 106, 111, 123 and 174. Alight 3 stops later. Cross the overhead bridge. Continue on Cuscaden Road towards The Regent Hotel. Turn right on Orchard Spring Lane. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

RamenPlay @ BreadTalk IHQ (Tai Seng)

RamenPlay is no more just about ramen from this March onwards. The casual Japanese dining restaurant will be introducing a new a la carte menu with a diverse selection of signature ramen specialties and wholesome donburi sets. The menu now is expanded to include a new Donburi Set section which encompasses five hearty and affordable donburi (rice bowl) sets that use premium Koshihikari rice from Niigata prefecture known for its highest quality rice production in Japan, distinctive flavour and sticky texture.

Tori Momo Don Set 4.2/5

The value for money Tori Momo Don Set ($12.80) features a sunny yellow topping of steamed egg and chicken flavoured with special Shoyu sauce atop a bed of premium quality Koshihikari rice. The set also comes with Agedashi Tofu and Miso Soup. The use of Koshihikari rice which is grown with melted snow water is already half a battle won with the delicious offering. The special Shoyu sauce was the star for me holding the dish together and bringing out the rich flavour of the grains.

Teriyaki Chicken Don Set 4/5

For those that prefers a heavy and more robust flavour, the Teriyaki Chicken Don Set ($12.80) is a good choice. The classic dish of tender chicken thigh were pan fried and seasoned with Teriyaki sauce, sprinkled with silvers of crisp seaweed and served with Agedashi Tofu and Miso Soup.

Cha Shu Don Set 4/5

The Cha Shu Don Set ($12.80) is served with complimentary miso soup and mini salad. Crowned with a slow cooked onsen egg, the pork belly is diced up so that every mouthful comes with the teriyaki marinated pork belly. If there is more of the delish marinated pork belly then it would be perfect.

Pork Yakiniku Don Set 4.2/5

Topped with an onsen egg and thinly sliced grilled pork glazed with RamenPlay's special sauce, the Pork Yakiniku Don Set ($12.80) also comes with complimentary mini salad and miso soup. Give it a good mix to enjoy the creamy combination of flavour and texture. Worth mentioning is the salad that comes with the unique red tosaka seaweed giving it an extra crunch and nutritious benefits.

Chicken Katsu Curry Don Set 3.5/5

The Chicken Katsu Curry Don Set ($12.80) also comes with a choice of pork loin. The breaded chicken cutlet was succulent and paired with a hearty curry gravy. The curry gravy is an interesting blend of Japanese and Indian style, giving it a unique flavour of its own.

Crispy Dango 4/5

Yaki Gyoza 4/5

If the donburi set is not enough to satisfy your hunger, some of the all time favourites sides such as the Crispy Dango ($3.60 for 3 pcs) and Yaki Gyoza ($3.60 for 3pcs/$5.80 for 5pcs) will be a delightful snack to supplement the whole dinner. The chicken meatballs were juicy and flavourful. The gyoza was also deliciously crisp on the outside and moist inside.

Sanpou Tonkotsu Ramen 4/5

Pork lover will rejoice in this three in one Sanpou Tonkotsu Ramen ($16.80) that contains three treasures of Toroniku (braised pork cheek), Cha Shu (braised pork belly in cha siew sauce) and Buta Kakuni (braised pork belly in special sauce) in a tonkotsu soup base. This delicious bowl of ramen is accompanied by half a braised egg with a runny centre, generous silvers of preserved bamboo shoots and spring onions

Butariki Ishinabe 4.2/5

One of the signature item at RamenPlay is the Butariki Ishinabe ($13.80) that is served in a sizzling stone pot of rice and pork. What's more interesting is the stone pot rice bowl comes with both pan fried and barbecued pork, two ways of enjoyment. What hold the whole dish together is the addictive RamenPlay's special sauce which was also used in the Pork Yakiniku Don Set.

Chilled Shiratama Zenzai 4.2/5

A meal is not complete without dessert. New on the menu is the Chilled Shiratama Zenzai ($4.80). The chilled shiratama zenzai features a comforting combination of chewy glutinous rice balls and chunky azuki bean paste. Drizzled a bit of the Kuromitsu sauce (borwn sugar syrup) to give it an aromatic boost.

Warabi Matcha Mochi Ice Cream

The other new dessert is the Warabi Matcha Mochi Ice Cream ($4.80). Consists of three elements in the vanilla ice cream, sweetened azuki beans and warm chewy matcha mochi cubes. A delectable combination to end the dinner on a sweet note.

Constantly pushing the envelope to create new dishes that showcase the chefs' versatility in Japanese cuisine, RamenPlay's latest offerings are inventive while retaining classic Japanese flavours. The new five Donburi sets are both hearty and affordable, definitely worth a try.


RamenPlay
BreadTalk IHQ
30 Tai Seng Street
#01-03
Singapore 534013
Tel: +65 64445516
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ramenplay
Website: http://www.ramenplay.com.sg
Nearest MRT: Tai Seng (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tai Seng MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to the traffic junction of Paya Lebar Road and Macpherson Road. Cross the road to Airport Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

The Kitchen Table @ W Hotel Singapore

I arrived at W Hotel for the Sunday brunch and I could not help noticing a party vibe in the air. People was gathered around the pool side in their swim wears and music was blasting in the air. I realised the crowd was here for the Endless Summer Pool Party. This is held on the first Sunday of each month. If you are interested in the pool party, more details of the endless summer pool party and ticketing can be found by clicking here.

Enough of bikini watching, let's proceed to The Kitchen Table for the Sunday Brunch ($108++ per pax, $148++ per pax inclusive of free flow champagne/house red/house white/beer). The restaurant was really crowded for Sunday brunch with large groups of friends and families.

From the Seafood Fridge and Japanese session, I helped myself to some fresh plump oyster and sashimi. I have to say the spread at Kitchen Table is not as extensive compare to many buffet restaurants but definitely of quality.

To cater for the different types of guest expected at the hotel, there is a section offering a aromatic selection of Indian cuisine infused with the different spices.

As a tourist I would like to try the local hawker fare and as a local I want to something close to my heart. I am glad that Kitchen Table does consider this and offers some local delicacy on the buffet spread too. I can understand that the spice level of the laksa has been moderated but it still came across pretty close to the real deal.

Kitchen Table a couple of live station cooking up your dishes a la minute. One of them is the pasta section where you have a choice of pasta as well as the sauce. Freshly cooked with flavourful sauces, these warm and comfort pasta will satisfy both the young and old.

For cheese lovers, you may like to take a moment to check out the selections. There were also many other cooked food items available at the buffet spread but my little stomach was not able to try them all. I have to save some space for desserts.

Buffet is never complete without dessert. Indulge in an eclectic selection of desserts to sweeten your beautiful Sunday even more. Love how the desserts are beautifully presented in little jar, cups and glass which gave it a elegant visual while allowing one to sample more of the dessert spread.

Kitchen Table may not be one of the biggest buffet spread but it definitely made up for its quality of food that were promptly replenished. The floor area may not be the largest of a hotel restaurant but it gave patron a warm, bright and spacious feel with its high ceiling and floor to ceiling windows around the whole restaurant.


The Kitchen Table
W Hotel
21 Ocean Way
Singapore
Tel: +65 68087268
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wsingaporesentosacove
Website: http://www.wsingaporesentosacove.com
Nearest MRT: Harbour Front (CC Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Breakfast: 6am - 11am
Lunch: 12pm - 3pm
Dinner: 6pm - 1030pm (Sun-Thu), 6pm - 1130pm (Fri-Sat)
Sunday Brunch: 12pm - 4pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Harbour Front MRT station. Exit station to Vivocity Shopping Mall. Go to Sentosa Express Station at Level 3 of Vivocity. Take Sentosa Express Train to Beach station. Alight at Beach station and transfer to Sentosa shuttle bus 3. Alight at Sentosa Cove Arrival Plaza. Turn left and walk to destination. Journey time about 30 mins. [Map]

2) Alight at Harbour Front MRT station. Take Exit C or E. Walk to pick up point at exit of Lobby F in Vivocity (near JPot and Nyonya & Baba Restaurants). Wait for the complimentary shuttle bus service. Check schedule here. Journey time about 20 minutes. [Map]

Ramen Kagetsu Arashi @ The Cathay

Yet another big ramen chain in Japan has expanded oversea  to our shore in Singapore. Within a short span of 6 months, Ramen Kagetsu Arashi ranked third in Japan for popularity has already opened 3 outlets in Singapore.

Ginjiro Ramen 4.2/5

With the opening of the new outlets in Singapore, Ramen Kagetsu Arashi is introducing the Ginjiro Ramen ($13.90) which is already a hit in Japan and Taiwan. The first noticeable different of Kagetsu Ramen is the used of hard boiled egg instead soft boiled egg. The broth was simmered for long hours to extract the sweetness from the pork bones before adding dried bonito, kelp and several other ingredients to create a harmonious blend.



Acknowledging that patrons have their own preference and to enhance individual's experience and enjoyment, patrons can customise and give the flavours a lift by adding one of the four add-ons with the freshly crushed garlic, special in house seasoned chives, specially imported black pepper and soy sauce made from Kagetsu Ramen's secret recipe passed down from generation to generation. My favourite was the black pepper.

Arashi Genkotsu Ramen 4.2/5

If you prefer something spicy, Arashi Genkotsu Ramen ($14.90) will be for you. It is the number one favourite in Kagetsu Ramen outlets in Japan. The broth first hit the palate with its rich natural sweetness before a tsunami of spiciness lands on the palate giving it a lingering sensation.

Gyoza 3/5

The Gyoza ($6) is made from the skin specially imported from Japan. The skin has a chewy texture which may be interpreted as a bit too doughy. Filling was lackluster as I could hardly tasted the pork filling inside.

Itameshi Dry Curry Rice 4/5

A brand new offering at Kagetsu Ramen is the Itameshi Dry Curry Rice ($12.90). Served sizzling hot, a special sauce is poured into the rice and given a good mix coating each grain with the blend of spicies, egg, butter and special sauce. A very delectable plate of rice what comes with a crispy texture and smoky aroma.


Ramen Kagetsu Arashi
The Cathay
2 Handy Road
#B1-01/02/03
Singapore 229223
Tel: +65 67363055
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KagetsuRamen
Nearest MRT: Dhoby Ghaut (CC Line, NE Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Dhoby Ghaut MRT station. Take Exit E or F. Walk to Handy Road. Turn right on Handy Road. Continue walking to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Dhoby Ghaut MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to junction of Handy Road and Orchard Road. Cross the traffic station and walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Garden Picks, The Dried Fruits & Nuts Company

I have a weak spot of nuts and I love snacking all sort of nuts ranging from peanut, almond, cashew and more. Usually I will go to the nearby convenient store or supermarket to stock up my supply. Recently I have been introduced to Garden Picks, a online dried fruits and nuts company that sells and deliver a quality wide array of wholesome snacks in Singapore. My craving can now be satisfied with just a few mouse clicks and I will have a good serving size of wholesome snacks to curb my craving.

Garden Picks has recently introduced a new range of gourmet nuts from Australia. I got my hands on a few of these new products to try. There was quite a few interesting flavoured nuts such as the Tiramisu Almond, French Vanilla Almond, Mexican Salsa Cashew, Cinnamon Almond, Canadian Maple Cashews and Thai Sweet Chilli Cashew. Among the 6 new gourmet nuts from Australia, my favourite was the French Vanilla Almond. The sugary vanilla coating around the roasted almond reminds me of those sugar coated nuts I used to buy from the kachang puteh stall.

The web based wholesome snacks supplier has grown into a manufacturing and packing facility producing and supplying a diverse range of dried fruits and nuts to corporate workplaces, government ministries, school and hotels. You can find out more of the products in the website link below. Garden Picks has a wide range of dried fruits and nuts that is delivered "factory fresh" to your doorstep.


Garden Picks
FoodXChange@Admiralty
8A Admiralty Street
#06-05
Singapore 757437
Tel: +65 66594859
Website: http://www.gardenpicks.com.sg

Ivy's Hainanese Herbal Mutton Soup @ Kim Keat Palm Food Centre

After breakfast at Uncle Kun's Delicacies, Ian, Philip and me took a stroll to Toa Payoh Lorong 7 where they introduced me to Ivy's Hainanese Herbal Mutton Soup. So where and who is Ivy? Well I did not get to meet Ivy but instead the stall owner Mr Max Ng. Apparently there is a love story behind this bowl of Hainanese herbal mutton soup. Max was wooing Ivy and knowing she likes the dish, learnt to cook the dish, winning both her palate and heart. Ivy is now his wife and he has name the stall after her.

When we arrived at the stall, Max was busy at work preparing the mutton for the day. The mutton was marinated with fermented beancurd and seared in hot oil to remove the gaminess.

Herbal Mutton Soup 4.5/5

I was quite taken back when the bowl of Herbal Mutton Soup ($7-$9) was served. A sip of the soup I could taste the different from most mutton soup. Most stalls uses a lot of ginger to reduce the gaminess but in this bowl of mutton soup, I could taste the bittersweet of the herbs, a good body but not overpowering. The price may sounds a bit expensive but it was brimming with generous serving of fish maws, black fungus, tau pok and mutton.

Herbal Mutton Soup 4.5/5

Patron can enjoy this potent and hearty bowl of herbal mutton soup without the worry of gaminess. The painstaking process to marinate, prepare the mutton and cooked in a herbal broth helps to remove that unpleasant taste. Also worth mentioning is the specially homemade chilli sauce. Dip the tender mutton with it to fully enjoyed the flavour of the mutton. Without doubt this is one of the best herbal mutton soup that I have eaten and definitely my favourite now. No wonder Max was able to win Ivy's hand with this delish bowl of herbal mutton soup.


[MOVED]
Ivy's Hainanese Herbal Mutton Soup
Kim Keat Palm Food Centre
Blk 22 Toa Payoh Lorong 7
#01-16
Singapore 310022
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ivysmuttonsoup
Nearest MRT: Braddell (NS Line), Toa Payoh (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 11am - 8pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Braddell MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to bus stop opposite Braddell MRT station (Stop ID 52171). Take bus number 232. Alight 3 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Toa Payoh MRT station. Take Exit A or B. Walk to Toa Payoh Bus Interchange (Stop ID 52009). Take bus number 238. Alight 4 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Dim Dim - The Hong Kong Pantry @ Marina Square (Marina Link)

Will Singapore slowly develop into having its own dim sum culture similar to Hong Kong? I am not surprise if one day we do from what I have observed. Dim Sum has become very popular in Singapore with many Chinese restaurants starting to offer the bite size delights. There are also a emerging trend of all day dim sum restaurants such as Swee Choon, Wen Dao Shi and the popular Tim Ho Wan which has a Michelin Star in Hong Kong. The above are usually very crowded and if you one of those that thinks it is not worth it to queue for so long for their dim sum then you may like to check out Dim Dim - The Hong Kong Pantry located at Marina Square (Marina Link).

Prawn Dumpling 4.2/5

The Prawn Dumpling or Har Gow ($4.20) was wrapped in a handmade translucent thin skin with fresh juicy plump shrimps. I also tasted something crunchy in the filling. If I am not wrong they have added water chestnut in it.

Steamed Custard Bun 3.5/5

Steamed Custard Bun 3.5/5

The Steamed Custard Bun or Liu Sha Bao ($4.20) was pretty decent but I think there is room for improvement such as fine tuning the doughy texture and probably a little more of the runny custard filling to have that explosive impact.

Cuttlefish and Peanut Congee 3.5/5

The Cuttlefish and Peanut Congee ($5) is a welcome change from the using century egg congee. The light and comforting bowl of congee was smooth and sticky with the cuttlefish, peanuts and flour crisp providing the contrasting textures.

Deep Fried Shrimp in Beancurd Skin Roll 4.2/5

Packed with generous shrimps inside the roll, the Deep Fried Shrimp in Beancurd Skin Roll ($4.60) was crispy on the outside with fresh juicy shrimp inside. I understand that the beancurd skin has undergone an additional step of cooking (using their own recipe) to achieve the taste and look.

Steamed Cheong Fun with Chinese Dough Fritters 4.2/5

I remembered I first have the Steamed Cheong Fun with Chinese Dough Frittrs or Zha Liang ($3.60) in one of my earlier Hong Kong trip. Since then, I don't remember seeing this being served in Singapore. I was glad that I finally get to eat this again after so many years. Pretty good execution with the silky smooth rice noodle roll wrapped tightly around the fried and crispy youtiao. It also comes with a peanut and seafood dipping sauce to further enhance the enjoyment.

Mini Egg Tart 4.5/5

The Mini Egg Tart ($3.60) was freshly baked from the oven daily. The flaky thin puff crust with the warm egg custard was simply too good to just stop at one.

BBQ Honey Pork Bun Coated with Crispy Butter 4/5

One of their popular dishes is the BBQ Honey Pork Bun Coated with Crispy Butter ($4.20). The bun has a nice sugary crisp on the outer layer, soft inside and filled with delectable honey pork. Compared to Tim Ho Wan's version, the flavours is milder.

Steamed Chicken Claw with Black Bean Sauce 4/5

A must order for me whether I have dim sum. The Steamed Chicken Claw with Black Bean Sauce ($3.80) was well seasoned with the flavours beautifully infused.

Aloe Vera with Sweet scented Osmanthus Juice 3.5/5

Moving on to dessert, the Aloe Vera with Sweet Scented Osmanthus Juice ($3) was light and refreshingly, somewhat acted like a palate cleanse after all the earlier dim sum items.

Mango Puree with Sago and Pomelo 4/5

The Mango Puree with Sago and Pomelo ($3.50) was really good. My only complain is that the portion was a bit too small. On the background of the photo is the herbal jelly which was not memorable.

Chilled Pumpkin Puree with Black Glutinous 4.2/5

Initially I thought this is the rendition of the Pulut Hitam dessert but it ended up not. It so what caught me by surprise as I was not expecting the combination. The Chilled Pumpkin Puree with Black Glutinous ($3.20) was served with a scoop of coconut ice cream. Overall this is a very good dessert which I will be glad to finished it. My only opinion is that the flavour of the coconut ice cream overpowered that of the pumpkin puree. Somehow the coconut ice cream became the star of the dish instead of the pumpkin puree.

Besides the usual dim sum items, Dim Dim also serves a selection of Bamboo Rice, Noodle and Congee. It even has a high tea menu at $6.80++ whereby it comes with a choice of Congee/Cheong Fun/Noodle + Steamed/Fried Dim Sum + Soya Milk on weekday from 3pm to 5pm. Overall, Dim Dim serves pretty decent dim sum that is tasty at a affordable price.


Dim Sum - The Hong Kong Pantry
Marina Square (Marina Link)
6 Raffles Boulevard
#B1-16
Singapore 039594
Tel: +65 63369088
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dimdim.marinalink
Nearest MRT: Esplanade (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 11am - 9pm
Fri-Sat: 11am - 930pm

Direction:
Alight at Esplanade MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to Marina Link. Continue on Marina Link towards Marina Square. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes.