Oscar @ Conrad Centennial Hotel Singapore

In celebration of Singapore's golden jubilee, Oscar at Conrad Centennial Hotel Singapore is having a local theme buffet from 01 July to 31 August 2015. Besides the local fare, there is also the usual spread of seafood, cooked food and desserts.

Cold Seafood and Oysters 4.5/5

I started my dinner with some cold seafood and oysters. What impressed me is that there was 4 different varieties of oysters at the buffet spread. There were Canadian Oyster, Tasmanian Oyster, USA Oyster and Fwe De Claire from France.

Local Fare 4/5

One of the highlight for the local buffet theme at Oscar has to be the cooked food section. I felt like I walked into a local cze char stall with the array of local selection. There were Chai Tow Kway, Wok Fried Beef with Black Pepper Sauce, Braised Sea Cucumber with Mushroom, Deep Fried Pork Rib with Shrimp Paste, Oyster Omelette and Seasonal Vegetable. There were many other local delights such as the Chilli Crab and Curry Fish Head which is not in the picture.

Laksa 4/5

You would probably missed the live station which is located outside the restaurant. The Soup and Noodle Bar offers a choice of tasty broth like Tom Yum, Bak Kut Teh, Prawn Noodle Soup, Fish Noodle Soup Wanton Noodle Soup and Laksa.

For Singapore's 50th birthday, the hotel has created a special SG50 Bandung flavoured Kueh Lapis Cake, spotting the red and white colour of our national flag. It is also available at 1kg at $75.

On Monday to Wednesday, quote "Ice Kacang" to enjoy SG50 Buffet Dinner at $50++ per adult, $25++ per child. Dines of 60 years and above enjoy 50% off regular price for Buffet lunch and dinner, except on eve and public holidays.


Oscar
Conrad Centennial Hotel Singapore
2 Temasek Boulevard
Singapore 038982
Tel: +65 64327481
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Promenade (CC Line, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon -Thu: 6am - 1am
Fri-Sun, Eve & PH: 24hr

Buffet Breakfast: 6am - 1030am
Buffet Lunch: 12pm - 230pm
Buffet Dinner: 6pm - 10pm
Sunday Brunch: 12pm - 3pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Promenade MRT station. Take Exit B. Continue walking along Temasek Avenue to destination Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

L'Atelier TiramiSu @ The Central Clarke Quay

If you were to ask me where to get the best tiramisu in Singapore, I would recommend L'Atelier TiramiSu at The Central Clarke Quay. About two years ago, I visited the place and fell in love with their tiramisu. Back then it was more of a takeaway kiosk with only a small sitting area of around 10-12 people. It has recently expanded their place, doubling their seating capacity for a cozier place to enjoy their beautiful tiramisu.

Brulee Tiramisu 4.2/5

Besides celebrating the joy seeing L'Atelier TiramiSu expanded, I am back again to check out two of their new flavours. Starting with Brulee Tiramisu ($7,50) which is a new creation in 2014 to celebrate its 1st anniversary. Upon order, the tiramisu is torched on the spot and then put in the chiller for a minute or two before serving to customer. Result is a layer of sweet bitter topping complementing the wet and moist tiramisu.

Pistachio Tiramisu 4/5

The latest creation in 2015 is the Pistachio Tiramisu ($7.50). The nutty topping gives the tiramisu a nice contrasting texture. If the tiramisu has a denser pistachio flavour then it would be perfect.

Classico 4.2/5

The Classico ($7.20) is still one of favourite at L'Atelier TiramiSu. Without other distraction, this execution allows me to enjoy the classic Italian dessert to the fullest.

The other flavours available at L'Atelier TiramiSu are Lychee, Dark Cherry and Matcha. Besides individual slices, L'Atelier TiramiSu sells the tiramisu in a whole cake too.


L'ATELIER TiramiSu
The Central @ Clarke Quay
6 Eu Tong Sen Street
#B1-09
Singapore 059817
Tel: +65 93898582
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/LAtelier-Tiramisu/562673593776094
Website: http://latelier-tiramisu.com/
Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri : 12pm - 930pm
Sat : 1pm - 930pm
Sun: 1pm - 7pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Clarke Quay MRT station. Take Exit F. Journey time about 2 minutes. [Map]

FYR Cycene Ond Drinc @ Boon Tat Street

We are back to FYR Cycene Ond Drinc at Boon Tat Street to find out more about their weekend brunch after a delicious dinner visit in April. The weekend brunch will be available every Saturday and Sunday from 9am till 330pm.

Party Detox Basket 4/5

We often heard about Champagne brunch but the fun side of FYR has created a fun and unique brunch experience with the Party Detox Basket ($10) which allows patrons to whip up their own version of Bloody Mary.

Yam & Sweet Potato Fries 2.8/5

The Yam & Sweet Potato Fries ($8) with Cheese Sauce and Tomato Salsa is a good starter especially with a group of friends but do you order fries for brunch? Definitely not me.

Grilled Squid 4.5/5

One of the small bites available on the menu is the Grilled Squid ($12). On top of the springy texture, the seasoning of tumeric, garlic, crispy onion and lime leaves complemented and accentuated the whole flavour of the grilled squid.

Skillet-Roasted Escargot 4.2/5

A light and enjoyable starter is the Skillet-Roasted Escargot ($12) cooked in tumeric and lemongrass, served with toasted bread. It definitely set the mood right for the weekend brunch.

Baked Blinis 4/5

Moving on the mains, we started with the Baked Blinis ($15) which comes with grilled salmon, avruga caviar, grated bottarga and salad. Blinis is a thin pancake made with yeasted butter. For the portion, this is definitely value for money.

Grilled Steak & Eggs 3.5/5

It may not be the best cut but the Grilled Steak & Eggs ($28) with striploin, sunny side up and toasted bread is a hearty meal for the weekend brunch.

Baked Beef Hash 4.5/5

One of my favourite dishes for the brunch has to be the Baked Beef Hash ($18). The hot pan comes with a combination of ribeye, corned beef and even a fried eye. Eaten together with the spring onion crepe, this is a sophisticated but yet delicious spin of the traditional dish, soaking up the delicacy.

Baked Java Curry Chicken Ragout 3.5/5

Another similar dish to the baked beef hash is the Baked Java Curry Chicken Ragout ($15). The hot pan comes with in a chicken stew of kidney beans, sweet corn, fried egg and coriander. This also comes with spring onion crepe. I am not a bean lover so I would prefer if there were more chicken in it instead of beans.

Baked Pistachio Melt & Pandan Ice Cream 3/5

For dessert we have the Baked Pistachio Melt & Pandan Ice Cream ($10). This is probably the most instagram photo of the restaurant that comes with pandan creme anglaise, pistachio and cinnamon. While the flavours are spot on and unique, the bake came across as floury. I did not enjoy the texture of the melt. It did not have that cakey innards.

Overall FYR is still a nice place to check out for weekend brunch. The food is actually pretty good. The pricing is affordable and the servicing is generous,


FYR Cycene Ond Drinc
19 Boon Tat
Singapore 069619
Tel: +65 62213703
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FYRBTS
Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer (DT Line), Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 11am - 11pm
Sat: 9am - 11pm
Sun: 9am - 4pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk down Cross Street and turn left onto Telok Ayer Street. Walk down Telok Ayer street and then turn left onto Boon Tat Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit G. Turn left and walk down Telok Ayer Street. At the junction of Telok Ayer Street and Boon Tat Street, turn right. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Mikuni Japanese Restaurant @ Fairmont Hotel Singapore

In Japan, during the sweltering summer season, the Japanese believe that the consumption of nutritious eel helps to increase stamina and beat the summer heat. From 20 July to 31 August 2015, Chef Moon Kyung Soo from Mikuni, Fairmont Hotel Singapore has brought the summer unagi festival to Singapore through a resplendent display of traditionally cooked unagi dishes.

3 Kinds of Zensai 4.2/5

The unagi feast at Mikuni started with Chef's seasonal selection. The platter comes with Barbecued Eel Jelly, Eel Yahata Maki Burdock and Crispy Eel Bone. The platter demonstrates the different ways to appreciate the texture of the eel, especially the crispy eel bone which is surprisingly good. Lastly there is the Smoked Salmon Yuzu to cleanse the palate after all the goodness.

Soup 4.2/5

The dinner started to warm up with the delicious bowl of soup that is made from Fresh Beancurd Skin, Hokkaido Snow Crab, Mushroom and Yuzu. Most Chinese restaurant replaced shark fin's soup with fish maw but now I have discovered an even more delicious substitution.

Seasonal Sashimi 4.5/5

The ocean came alive on the plate with the fresh Hokkaido Sea Urchin, Aori Ika, Toro, Yellowtail and Sea Bream.

Grilled Salted Eel

Served in an abalone shell, the Grilled Salted Eel is served together with abalone with mikuni sauce, wasabi and daikon. Not overly marinated or season by the teriyaki sauce, this allows patron to fully appreciate the natural taste of eel.

Kagoshima Wagyu Beef Kushikatsu 4.2/5

To allow the guest to appreciate the Kagoshima Wagyu, Chef Moon, the beef is deep fried in panko and topped with a piece of unagi, mustard caviar, flying fish roe and uni. Even with the different layers of flavours and texture, I could still taste the beautiful wagyu flavour dissolving on my palate.
'

Sunomono Moriawase 4/5

Next on the Mikuni Eel Special Summer Dinner menu is the Sunomono Moriawase consisting of Eel, Scallop, Shrimp, Ginger Flower, Seaweed and Tomato. The taste of unagi will be more familiar to many with the sweet coating of teriyaki sauce.

Charcoal Grilled Eel On Rice 4.5/5

The grand finale of the dinner menu has to be the Charcoal Grilled Eel on Rice served with mixed Japanese Pickle and Kyushu Shijimi Freshwater Clam Miso Soup. Each bowl of rice comes with 200g of eel, freshly grilled with the sweet teriyaki sauce. I was told how to check that the unagi is freshly grilled, look for the six holes at the side of the filleted eel. Due to the fatness of the eel, I usually find it hard to finish it, not to mention a good 200g of them. However I managed to finish the whole bowl to the last grain. I think the way it was filleted and the thickness make it easy for consumption and enjoy the unagi.

Kyushu Peach, Raspberry and Peach Ice Cream 4.2/5

A perfect ending to the dinner is the Kyushu Peach, Raspberry and Peach Ice Cream. The light and refreshing dessert helps to cleanse the palate after all the greasiness, finishing the 8 course meal on a sweet note.

The five course Mikuni Eel Special Summer Lunch is at $120 while the eight course Mikuni Eel Special Summer Dinner is at $220.


Mikuni Japanese Restaurant
Fairmont Hotel Singapore
80 Bras Basah Road
Level 3
Singapore 189650
Tel: +65 64316156
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FairmontSingapore
Website: http://www.fairmont.com/singapore/dining/mikuni/
Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 230pm, 630pm - 1030pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at City Hall MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Singapore Favourite Food Village 2015 @ Clarke Quay

This year Singapore Favourite Food Village 2015 takes place at Read Bridge, Clarke Quay. Themed A Wok down Memory Lane at Ellenborough Market, we see the bridge transformed into 2 rows of hawker centre from 24 July to 2 August 2015 from 5pm to 11pm.

Besides the line up of hawkers dishing our delicious food, a serial of other events such as Live Cooking Demo and Traditional Teochew Opera. Do check the schedule of the various events at the official site.

It is great to see familiar face, Ah Boy from Good Chance Popiah. In the picture is Mr Lim and Jerome from Ming Fa Fishball Noodles. There is just too much food at the Singapore Favourite Food Village. My limited stomach space only allows me to try some of the following dishes, starting off with Good Chance Popiah. Go for the chilli one as it is damn shiok.

Then wonder next door to Ming Fa Fishball Noodles to have their noodles. The mee pok coated with their vinegar and chilli was slurping good. Not to forget, the soft and bouncy fishballs.

I also tried the Jia Le Hong Kong Roasted Food's Suckling Pig. Not the best but palatable enough to go with my cup of beer.

One stall that caugh my attention is the carrot cake stall by Everything Foods that is selling Salted Egg Yolk Fried Carrot Cake and Tom Yum Carrot Cake. I tried the salted egg yolk carrot cake which was surprisingly quite enjoyable.

Everything Foods also runs another stall selling Lor Mee. I tried their Pig Trotter Lor Mee and was surprised that I was given a whole pig trotter. The pig trotter was cooked to fork tender but I thought it was lacking that rich robust flavour.

If you don't mind spending a bit more, you can try the Steamed Cold Crab from Merchant Court.

The line up of stalls also see a few cafes with their own interpretation of local flavours. The Quarters offers a trio of snack bites. There is Chilli Crab Man Tou, Salted Egg Fries and DurianCanBoleh. The durian creme brulee or DurianCanBoleh is a worthy try for something different from the usual if you are a durian lower.

A dessert I would recommend saving some space for is the Ondeh Ondeh Churros from Churros Factory. Crispy exterior with a fluffy interior, this is served with a palm sugar sauce with shredded coconut. Instead of ondeh ondeh, it actually reminds me of kueh lopes.

Singapore Favourite Food Village 2015
Read Bridge, Clarke Quay
Date: 24 July to 02 August 2015
Time: 5pm - 11pm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SingaporeFavouriteFoodOfficial
Website: http://www.singaporefavouritefood.sg/index.php

Pagi Sore Indonesian Restaurant @ Tagore Lane (Upper Thomson Road)

Pagi Sore Indonesian Restaurant is an household name servicing authentic Indonesian cuisine since 1989. Established by Ms Liyana Kwan in 1989 as an Nasi Padang concept eating house, it has expanded over the years into an la carte restaurant using a fusion of Chinese cooking techniques with authentic Indonesian flavours. Fans of Pagi Sore will rejoice to know that they have recently opened a third outlet at Tagore Lane, inside an industrial estate, located in the roof top of Entrepreneur Centre, an industrial building.

The first unique thing I noticed at Pagi Sore is the rice. Most Indonesian restaurant will go around servicing rice in a basket but at Pagi Sore it is served wrapped in banana leaf.. Not only containing the warm of the rice but also give it a nice aroma.

Stir Fried Long Beans with Belacan Chilli 4/5

To go with the rice, we order a couple of dishes from the a la carte menu starting with the Stir Fried Long Beans with Belacan Chilli ($8.80/$9.90). Cooked to a nice crunchy bite plus the heat from the belacan, this is a spicy kick start to the dinner in a good way.

Tahu Telor 3.5/5

A towering Tahu Telor ($10.20) topped with shredded carrots greeted us next. The crispy and fluffy fried beancurd and eggs when eaten with the nutty sweet sauce, whetted up the appetite.

Ayam Bali 4/5

Smokey, sweet and tender is the Ayam Bali ($5.80/$14.80). Grilled to a nice charred edge with sweetness from the kecap manis, this is quite addictive to just stop at one.

Wok Fried Butter Prawn with Spices 4/5

The aroma from the butter and spices filled the air when the Wok Fried Butter Prawn with Spices ($23.50) was brought to the table. It was so good that you can eat the whole thing together with the shells.

Ikan Otah Kukus 4.2/5

One of the must try dish at Pagi Sore has to be the Ikan Otah Kukus. This is so special and unique. A whole leather jacket fish is steamed in sweet potato leaf with a new blend of spicy paste and coconut milk. What is even more interesting is that the fish is boneless!

To be frank, never would I expect to find a restaurant in the roof top of an industrial building. It is sort of a hidden gem. The place is spacious and windy, especially at night. There is also ample parking lots. Although the address is Tagore Lane, I would recommend going via Tagore Road which is nearer.


[CLOSED]
Pagi Sore Indonesian Restaurant
Entrepreneur Centre
50 Tagore Lane
#05-07
Singapore 787494
Tel: +65 65112942
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pagisore
Website: http://www.pagi-sore.com/index.html
Nearest MRT: Ang Mo Kio (NS Line), Marymount (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 10am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Marymount MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Upper Thomson Road towards SPC Petrol Kiosk direction. Take bus number 167 or 980 across the road (Stop ID B53021). Alight 10 stops later. Cross the road to Tagore Road. Walk along the road to destination. Journey time about 25 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Ang Mo Kio MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to bus interchange (Stop ID B54009). Take bus number 138 or 169. Alight 10 stops later.Cross the road to Tagore Road. Walk along the road to destination. Journey time about 25 minutes. [Map]