Nomu Nomu Cafe @ Westgate

Nomu Nomu Cafe located at the fourth floor of Westgate shopping mall offers modern Japanese inspired cuisine bringing a different dining experience to the heartland mall.

Seaweed Chikin Wings 3/5

The Seaweed Chikin Wings ($7.90) is deep fried and served with seaweed mayonnaise. Yes it is spelt as chikin and not chicken in the menu. Appearance wise it definitely didn't look anything like it and it looked dry. The crispy chicken wings actuall tasted quite nice but then I still prefer my wings that is plump and juicy.

Winter Soba 3.5/5

This is quite an refreshing and interesting dish. The Winter Soba ($12.90) comes with thin slices of grilled pork, cabbage, soft boiled egg and shiitake mushroom. If you prefer something light, this will be perfect for the day with the shoyu based broth.

Spicy Goma Soba 3/5

Another modern take is the Spicy Goma Soba ($12.90) served with grilled chicken. I like goma sauce with salad but I have yet to try it with soba. It actually tasted quite nice with hints of spiciness. The goma sauce gave the noodles a nice sesame aroma too.

Charcoal Roasted Coffee 3.5/5

Lastly I ended my lunch with the Charcoal Roasted Coffee ($5). A delicious dark roasted coffee with a strong bold character, a unique result from roasting with Japanese binchotan or white charcoal. Smooth finish with hints of citrus fruit notes.

Overall I think Nomu Nomu Cafe brought some interesting modern Japanese inspired dishes to the locals. However I thought the food was decent but lacking the wow factor. A place for a quick and affordable meal if you want to beat the long queues at other more popular restaurants.


Westgate
3 Gateway Drive
#04-37
Singapore 608532
Tel: +65 68442298
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nomunomu
Nearest MRT: Jurong East (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 10am - 10pm

Direction
1) Alight at Jurong East MRT Station. Take Exit A. Walk to Westgate Mall. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Seriously Ice Cream @ Everton Park

Located just a very doors away from Nylon Coffee Roasters is the newly opened Seriously Ice Cream. Owner Daniel Teo churns out small batches of his innovative flavour combinations at the shop. Each day there are about 12 different flavours available. Some of the interesting ice cream flavours available during my visit were Miso Gula Melaka, Collagen, Honey Rosemary etc

Waffles with 2 scoops 3/5

After trying out the different flavours, we decided to go for the Waffles with 2 scoops ($9.60) of ice cream. For the ice cream, we had the Lychee Rise and Orange Crush. The waffle itself was decent but with rooms for improvement. The ice cream itself seriously needs more adjustments in our opinion. The group of five of felt that the ice cream textures were too icy. It lacked the smooth creamy texture in a real ice cream. It felt more like we are having ice shave rather than ice cream.

Miso Gula Melaka 2.5/5

As mentioned earlier, Seriously Ice Cream has a lot of interesting flavour combinations. Accordingly to the owner one of the most popular flavour is the Miso Gula Melaka ($4.30 for premium 1 scoop). The ice cream palour will usually rotates the 12 flavours periodically but decided to have this as permanent due to popular demand. While I applauded the bold creativity, this did not impress me at home. Bluntly, this tasted bland with a confused taste and the icy texture did not help.

The 20 plus seaters ice palour not only sells ice cream and waffles. It also has a retail corner selling stuff like accessories, sunglasses and bags etc.

Seriously Ice Cream seriously needs to make some immediate adjustment to their ice cream. I like their bold ice cream flavours which is half of the winning formula, once they manage to get the other half right I am sure it will be a hit. I look forward to their improvement before the ice cream dream melted.


Seriously Ice Cream
Blk 4 Everton Park
#01-44
Singapore 080004
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seriouslyicecream
Nearest MRT: Outram Park (EW Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon, Wed-Thu: 1230pm - 9pm
Fri-Sat: 11am - 11pm
Sun: 11am - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Outram Park MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk down Cantonment Road towards the direction of Pinnacle. At the junction of Cantonment Road and Neil Road, cross the junction walk to towards the block of flats. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

Thai Village Mooncake 2014

Since we last visit to Thai Village at Indoor Stadium, the restaurant seems to be able to spring up another surprise for me. Besides the yummy Thai Teochew cuisine the restaurant offers, it never occurs to me that the restaurant also sells mooncakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival.

I have tried many durian mooncakes and I find that Thai Village is really thoughtful with the styrofoam box besides the packaging. As we all know not all people likes the smell of durian and this can help seal the smell while keeping it temporary chilled for takeaway.

Thai Village Snowskin Mao Shan Wang Durian Mooncake ($60+ for 8pc) is made using 100% durian paste without preservatives. The bite size mini mooncake with its creamy durian paste felt exactly as if one is having the real fruit.

For those that prefer the traditional baked mooncakes, Thai Village also offers the White Lotus Seed Paste ($46+ for 4 c), White Lotus Seed Paste with Double Yolks ($48+ for 4pc), Pandan Lotus Seed Paste with Double Yolks ($48+ for 4pc) and Traditional Assorted Nuts ($48+ for 4pc).

The mooncakes can be purchased at various Thai Village Restaurants in Singapore at the following outlets,

Singapore Indoor Stadium
2 Stadium Walk
#01-02/03
Singapore 397691
Tel: +65 64402292

Goodwood Park Hotel
22 Scotts Road
Singapore 228221
Tel: +65 64408251

Jurong Outlet
19 Yung Ho Road
Singapore 618592
Tel:+65 62683885

For more information visit Thai Village website at http://www.thaivillagerestaurant.com.sg/

NUVO @ Marina Square

The Dining Edition at Marina Square has injected some vibe into the shopping mall with the numerous restaurants in the area. Located at the far corner of the dining section is NUVO, a contemporary Italian Japanese restaurant helmed by Executive Chef Mark Richards. With Chef Mark Richards on board and a refreshed menu, I was looking forward to try the new creations at NUVO.

Dinner began with complimentary bread with truffle butter. A delightful start to dinner.

Warm Japanese Mushroom Salad 4.8/5

My favourite vegetable is spinach and I could not be more delight to have the Warm Japanese Mushroom Salad ($18) that is filled with my favourite greens. The baby spinach dressed with butter truffle oil shoyu has a subtle sweet and tangy combination that was very pleasant on the palate. Paired with pine nuts, mushroom and asparagus, this gives the salad the needed textures of enjoyment. And it is served warm.

Crispy Calamari 4/5

Another salad dish on the menu is the Crispy Calamari ($18) with arugula, togarashi, white balsamic and compressed watermelon. The crispy calamari is sprinkled with Japanese chilli pepper giving it a hint of spiciness to lift the springy calamari. Not many people enjoy arugula because of its bitterness but the compressed watermelon in yuzu was a brilliant idea for the balance of the dish.

Angus Osso Buco Stew 4/5

Stew and oyster fritters pairing on a plate is a first for me. The Angus Osso Buco Stew ($28) with the stew made from roasted bone marrow, consists of Hijiki and Porcini mushrooms that are oven roasted with thyme and rosemary. It is finished with a reduction of veal jus, parmigiano reggiano and toasted breadcrumbs. This a rich and full flavoured dish with many components working harmoniously together.

Kurobota Pork Belly 4/5 and Angel Hair Wakame 3.8/5

There is actually 2 dishes on the plate in the Kurobota Pork Belly ($32) and Angel Hair Wakame ($18/$24). The pork belly is cooked Kakuni style which is simmered in dashi, soy sauce, mirin, sugar and sake. The result is a tender and flavour pork belly that is so what similar to Chinese cuisine. I remembered trying this dish at Immanuel French Kitchen too. It is not surprising as both chefs used to work at Keystone. I ave mixed opinions of the Angel Hair Wakame. While I like the texture and dryness of the pasta which resembles the Chinese stir fried noodles flavoured bythe lobster essence and rayu oil, I thought the dish somehow was one dimensional without much excitement.

Baked Olive Cod Fish 4.8/5

The next dish definitely hit the right spot for me in both taste and presentation. The Baked Olive Cod Fish ($35) with pepperoni, hon shimeiji and baby potatoes blown me off with its rich flavours. The cod fish was also cooked perfectly to tender and came with nice buttery flavour.

Japones Australian Lamb Shank 4/5

The Japones Australian Lamb Shank ($38) was a sous vided in limoncello giving it a nice fruity zest to the fork tender lamb. The gamey lamb is well suppressed by the seasoning but the highlight for me is the bed of organic pasta from Sicily known as fregola sarda. It was a very delectable bite that is similar to couscous.

Smoked Uni Cabonara 4.5/5

The signature dish at NUVO probably is the Smoked Uni Cabonara ($38) which is given a modern interpretation. The star has to be the rich and creamy uni sauce that gave the dish its character while the truffle soil completed the innovative cabonara crowned with an onsen egg. While there is crayfish in the dish, I have to say I walked away not remembering tasting it.

Wild Honey Panna Cotta 3.5/5

The smooth Whild Honey Panna Cotta ($16) comes with dehydrated fruits such as lychee and makan. I was surprised by the flavour of the dehydrated fruits. It tasted like the real thing.

Fuji Apple and Parmigiano Reggiano Torta 4/5

Using a secret family recipe with an Italian twist, the Fuji Apple and Parmigiano Reggiano Torta ($14) is baked with Parmesan and fresh Fuji Apple. The torta was moist ad cheesy. This is served with a scoop of fig and honey ice cream adorned with crumble and flake almonds.

Not to be missed is the 3 course Set Lunch menu ($15++) and 4 course Dinner Menu ($35++). The value for money lunch set comes with 3 courses of starter, main and dessert. The dinner menu on the other hand comes with a soup, entree, main and dessert.


[CLOSED]
NUVO
Marina Square
No 6 Raffles Boulevard
#02-100
Singapore 039594
Tel: +65 68222098
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nuvosingapore
Website: http://nuvo.sg/
Nearest MRT: Esplamade (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 3pm, 5pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Esplanade MRT station. Take exit B. Walk to Marina Square via Marina Square Link. Walk to the destination. Journey time about 5 mins. [Map]

Yan Ting Mooncake 2014

Yan Ting at St Regis Singapore, the award winning purveyor of authentic Cantonese delicacies presents an assortment of delicately crafted celestial delights for a joyous reunion amongst friends and families this Mid-Autumn Festival.

The mooncake gems are encased in an elegant and distinctive turqoisx box, adorned with golden Chinoiserie-inspired motifs. Ideal for gifting this festive season, the box can be transformed into a lantern that is perfect ornament for the evening appreciation of mooncakes and Chinese tea.

This year, Yan Ting's snowskin mooncake assortment comes in five palatable flavours with the popular Pure Mao Shan Wang Durian Indulgence ($118 per box of 8), new creation of Chocolate Royal Liqueur Tuffle ($70 per box of 8), Black Sesame and Melon Seeds Crunch ($68 per box of 8), Chestnut Cravings ($68 per box of 8) and Red Dates and Wolfberries Delight ($68 per box of 8).

Purists who enjoy the classic will take pleasure in four tantalising flavours of Yan Ting's traditional mooncake selection in the White Lotus Paste with Single Yolk ($71 per box of 4), White Lotus Paste with Double Yolk ($75 per box of 4), Reduced Sugar White Lotus Paste with Macadamia Nuts ($68 per box of 4) and White Lotus Paste with Assorted Nuts and Yunnan Ham ($75 per box of 4).

Yan Ting's mooncakes will be available at Yan Ting Restaurant located at level 1U and La Patiserrie located at the lobby level from 1 August to 8 September 2014.

For more information and mooncake enquiries or bookings, please call Yan Ting at (65) 65066887, email yanting@stregis.com or visit http://www.yantingrestaurant.com/midautumn

ON-YASAI (温野菜) @ Chijmes

The biggest Shabu Shabu chain in Japan, ON-YASAI (温野菜) with over 300 outlets have landed on our shore with its flagship outlet at Chijmes. ON-YASAI (温野菜) which means boiled vegetables hopes to provide not only meat but also various vegetables together to create a complete dining experience. Targeting women and those who are conscientious about their health, ON-YASAI offerings meets the current needs of healthy eating.

Jagakara 4/5

Before starting our Shabu Shabu meal, we began with some appertizers. Have you heard of Jagakara ($8.90)? It is my first time too. This is an interesting or rather unexpected combination of baked potato topped with picked squid. The combination can be acquire for some but I enjoyed it.

Italian Style Tomato 4.2/5 and Quail Egg Marinated with Special Sauce 4.5/5

It may seems strange that a Japanese Shabu Shabu is serving the Italian Style Tomato ($8.90) and Quail Egg Marinated with Special Sauce ($5.90) but I am not complaining as they were really very good. The sweetness of the tomato paired with goat cheese and peso sauce worked for me. The quail eggs marinated with the special sauce were simply popping goodness.

Brown Sugared Broad Beans 4/5

Broad Beans my favourite snack and I was delighted to see this on the menu. The Brown Sugared Broad Beans (3.90) gave it the nutty broad beans a nice coat of caramelized sweetness that is perfect to go with a glass of beer.

Golden Soup Truffled Flavoured and Citron Soup with Collagen

Seaweed and Soya Milk

Moving on to the Shabu Shabu, at ON-YASAI there are 8 different types of soup base. They are Sichuan Spicy, Secret Sukiyaki, Tomato, Citron Soup with Collagen, Japanese Style Spicy Soup, Golden Soup Truffled Flavoured, Seaweed and Soya Milk. We tried four different soup bases during our visit. It is very interesting to know how the different soup brought out the flavours of the meat. For beef it goes well with the seaweed if you like to enjoy the natural flavour of the beef to the fullest while the golden soup and citron soup enhanced the beef flavour. To my surprise, the soya milk was the best combination for the pork

Vegetable Platter

Oyster Mushroom, Brown Shimeji Mushroom, King Oyster Mushroom

Part of the whole ON-YASAI brand is about their offering of the different vegetables on their menu. They have more than 20 types of fresh produce.

Japanese Momoiro Pork Collar 4.5/5

Australia Wagyu Chuck Roll 4.5/5

Japanese Wagyu Chuck Roll 4.5/5

Of course not forgetting the main stars for Shabu Shabu is thinly sliced meats. We tried a couple  of the meat in the Japanese Momoiro Pork Collar ($18.90), Australia Wagyu Chuck Roll ($23.90) and Japanese Wagyu Chuck Roll ($34.90). The quality can be ensured as ON-YASAI has strict controls of breeding place, feed and rearing process of the meats they used. Among the meats I tried, I could not decide which is my favourite as they were all as good with their own characteristic.

Chicken Tsumire 4.2/5

Another popular items on the  menu is these Chicken Tsumire ($6.90) a type of Japanese chicken meatballs. Different type of tastes is available.

Soya Milk Cheese Risotto 4.2/5

I have never know that there is another way of enjoying Shabu Shabu until my visit to ON-YASHI. One can complete their meal by cooking rice in the flavoured soup after absorbing all the essence from the different ingredients. Add Soya Milk Cheese Risotto Set ($5.90) which comes with the condiments, cheese, rice and egg to fully enjoy the shabu shabu experience at ON-YASHI.

Golden Soup Truffled Flavoured Risotto 4.2/5

Besides the creamy soya milk cheese risotto, we also cooked the rice in the golden soup which gave us a very earthy Golden Soup Truffled Flavoured Risotto. Thumbs up for this method of appreciating hot pot to the fullest at ON-YASAI.

Season Sherbet, Peach 4/5

ON-YASAI Ice Cream 4/5

Complete the meal with a selection of desserts. For ice cream lovers, one can choose between the Season Sherbet ($6.90) and ON-YASAI Ice Cream ($7.90). The season sherbet during my visit was peach flavour that was light and refreshing. The ON-YASAI ice cream itself was sweet and creaming but the star is the fragrant of the brown sugar and kinako spreads that lifted the enjoyment.

Vanilla Warabimochi Ice 3.5/5

The Vanilla Warabimochi Ice ($7.90) is a classic Japanese dessert with mochi, red beans and ice cream. One gets a bit of everything in this dessert to wrap up the meal on a sweet note.

Homemade Pumpkin Pudding 4.2/5

Mango pudding has been too common but what about Homemade Pumpkin Pudding ($8.90)? If you have not the tried this before, then it is a must try here. The lovely pumpkin and wobbly pudding combined with the brown sugar was an excellent idea and combination that will be well received by many.

I tried the ala carte menu but if you are that is indecisive then I would suggest going for the buffet (Per adult $49.90 weekday / $54.90 weekend and Children under 12, $29.90) which comes with 40 different types of vegetables and appetizers. Each customer also has a selection of a tray of meat, a minced chicken in bamboo stick and a dessert. However do take note that there is a time limit of one and half hour per table for buffet.


ON-YASAI (温野菜)
Chimjes
30 Victoria Street
#01-03/04
Singapore 187996
Tel: +65 63364002
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Onyasai.Singapore
Website: http://on-yasai.com.sg/
Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW Line, NS Line), Bras Basah (CC Line)

Opening Hours
Daily: 12pm - 11pm

Direction
1) Alight at City Hall MRT station. Take Exit A. Cut across Raffles City Shopping Centre to Bras Basah Road. At the junction of Bras Basah Road and North Bridge Road, cross the road to Chijmes. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Bras Basah MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk southwards towards Victoria Road. At the junction of Bras Basah Road and Victoria Road, cross the junction to Chijmes. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]