Joyfulness Dining @ Kinex Mall - Introducing Chinese Zodiac Food Guide By Local Feng Shui Master Peng Song Hua

This Chinese New Year, Joyfulness Dining has invited local Feng Shui Master Peng Song Hua to match the Five Elements (Wuxing, 五行) with individuals' Chinese zodiac signs to create dishes that benefit individuals' zodiac sign and herald good fortune in the Year of the Tiger.

According to ancient Chinese traditions, everything in the universe comes from the five elements: wood, fire, earth, water, and metal. Wuxing can be applied to our food choice, whereby the energy of wood, fire, earth, water and metal can be harnessed through certain foods to help boost prosperity and fortunes.

Chicken Soup Stewed with Bamboo Fungus and Cordyceps Flowers 3.5/5

Starting with the Chinese zodiac Rat, it is recommended to have the Chicken Soup Stewed with Bamboo Fungus and Cordyceps Flowers. As the wuxing of Rat is water, it is beneficial to have food such as lotus root, lotus seed and cordyceps flowers.

Chicken with Chilli Peppers 2.8/5

I am born in the year of the Tiger in which the wuxing is wood. Hence it is recommended to have red coloured food that represents fire. Therefore it is suggested that I have the Chicken with Chilli Peppers.

Flamed-BBQ Chicken 3.8/5

Similar to Tiger, the Chinese zodiac Rabbit's wuxing is wood. Hence any red coloured food or fire which represents vitality and prosperity is good for the Chinese zodiac sign. Hence the Flamed-BBQ Chicken is such a fitting dish.

Scallops and Asparagus in XO Sauce 3.5/5

Snake's wuxing is fire, and the suitable foods are wood-based. These include green vegetables such as asparagus and mung beans. Therefore, the restaurant recommends having the Scallops and Asparagus in XO Sauce, which contains much fibre and vitamins, helps eliminate toxins from the body.

Hong Kong-styled Steamed Fish 4/5

Those born in the Horse year need to join forces with others to gain and succeed. Therefore, foods that are suitable for wuxing fire and wuxing water will be especially good for people born in the year of the Horse. Appropriate food includes fish and seafood. Hence it is recommended to have Hong Kong-style Steamed Fish.

Mushroom with Seasonal Vegetables 3.8/5

The Goat's wuxing is earth. Foods that can strengthen the earth element include tofu, mushrooms and vegetables. The Mushroom with Seasonal Vegetables is well suit to for the zodiac sign.

Black Pork with Red Wine 4/5

As the wuxing of the Monkey is metal. Foods recommended are black in colours such as black beans, black fungus and black glutinous rice. The restaurant is recommending the Black Pork with Red Wine with that in mind.

Stir-fried Carrot Cake with Beansprouts in XO Sauce

The Stir-fried Carrot Cake with Beansprouts in XO Sauce is beneficial for the Rooster as the wuxing is metal. Suitable foods are white in colour, including radish, potato, taro, sweet potato and ginger.

Dry-fried Tiger Prawns

Those born in the year of the Pig is to consume food which is "metal" in its wuxing, which are white, including scallops, fish and prawns. Hence the restaurant is recommending having the Dry-fried Tiger Prawn.

Claypot Seafood

The Claypot Seafood is good for Dog, as the wuxing is earth. Food that is "fiery" includes ingredients cooked in a clay pot, and peppery food can help improve energy levels and boost fortunes.

Of the dishes we tried, we didn't have the items for Ox and Dragon. Nevertheless, it is interesting to pair food with the Chinese zodiac. Thanks to Feng Shui Master Peng Song Hua, it is an insight into food and wuxing. While there is a good story behind each dish, I would prefer more effort to create unique dishes or use special ingredients instead of presenting dishes commonly served elsewhere.

Note: This is an invited tasting session. 


Joyfulness Dining
Kinex Mall
11 Tanjong Katong Road
#02-38
Singapore 437157
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Website
Nearest MRT: Paya Lebar (CC Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 10am - 10pm
Sat-Sun: 8am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Paya Lebar MRT station. Take Exit E. Walk to Sims Ave. Cross the road and walk to Tanjong Katong Road. Walk down Tanjong Katong Road to Kinex Mall. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Osomatsu Japanese Kitchen & Bar @ Kinex - New Mod-Japanese Restaurant With Inventive Interpretations Of Izakaya Food

Osomatsu Japanese Kitchen & Bar is a new mod-Japanese restaurant at Kinex. Diners can look forward to inventive interpretations of izakaya food and Japanese cuisine prepared with fresh and quality ingredients.

Maguro Tataki Salad 3/5

We started with the Maguro Tataki Salad ($28), which comes with thick slices of tuna layered on a bed of mixed salad and kaiso seaweed. Pour the wasabi yuzu sauce and give everything a good toss to brighten the enjoyment.

Shironi Truffle 4/5

The Shironi Truffle ($30) consists of light and clean tasting sea bream topped with caviar and drizzled with truffle oil for an elevated finishing. It is an elegant and beautiful dish.

Tofu Nuggets 4.2/5

One of my favourite items on the menu is the Tofu Nuggets ($12). The tofu nuggets are made from pressed tofu, almond meal and potato. It is as good as McDonald's nugget and much healthier.

Uni Kura Tart 4.5/5

Making an impressive entry is the Uni Kura Tart ($22/pc). It is served in a smoked jewel box, giving it a beautiful smoky aroma, topped with salmon roe and truffle cream. It is a lavish play of umami flavours.

Charcoal Chicken 4.5/5

Using chicken thigh cut, the Charcoal Chicken ($16) is tender and juicy inside, yet crispy on the exterior. It is a delightful and addictive starter. Best to go along with a few drinks.

Tsukune 4.5/5

The Tsukune ($5.20) is another delightful bite to go with the drinks. What I enjoy about the homemade chicken meatball is its soft bone, giving it a nice textural contrast.

Miyazaki A4 Wagyu Cha Zuke 4.5/5

Besides the a la carte items, diners can leave the meal to the hands of the skilful chef too. From the omakase menu, we tried the Miyazaki A4 Wagyu Cha Zuke. The best way to enjoy this is to pour the kombu dashi stock into the rice for a light and flavourful enjoyment. It is a hearty and comforting rice dish with melt in the mouth wagyu.

Ume Jelly 3.5/5

Wrapping up our dinner is the Ume Jelly ($8) made with Japanese plum liquor jelly and wholesome wolfberries.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Osomatsu Japanese Kitchen & Bar
Kinex
11 Tanjong Katong Road
#02-21
Singapore 437157
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Paya Lebar (CC Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 11pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Paya Lebar MRT station. Take Exit E. Walk to Sims Ave. Cross the road and walk to Tanjong Katong Road. Walk down Tanjong Katong Road to Kinex Mall. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Rempapa @ Park Place Residences at PLQ - Chef Damian D'Silva Opens All-Day Singapore Heritage Cuisine Restaurant

I have been following Chef Damian D'Silva heritage cooking when he had a stall at Timbre+ Ayer Rajah, followed by Folklore and Restaurant Kin. But, unfortunately, he didn't stay long at any one place. Hence I was glad to hear he is making a come back with a new restaurant - Rempapa at Park Place Residences at PLQ. Rempapa offers an all-day dining concept where the eclectic menu caters for different times of day - Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, and Dinner.

Chickpea Curry with Roti/ String Hoppers 4.2/5

Available for both breakfast and brunch is the Chickpea Curry ($18) with either Roti or String Hoppers. Perked up by the addition of Kashmiri chilli powder and turmeric powder, it is an aromatic combo of Indian and Eurasian curry flavours. It's best to have it with the buttery crisp roti or let the string hoppers soak up the delicious curry.

Sri Lankan Chicken Curry with String Hoppers 4/5

I know Chef Damian can cook many cuisines, but Sri Lankan is new to me. The Sri Lankan Chicken Curry with String Hoppers ($16) is milder with tender kampong chicken thigh. Traditionally, Sri Lankan curry is a more watery kind of gravy that is perfect for the string hoppers, commonly known in Singapore as idiyappam or putu mayam, to soak up the curry.

Stir-fried Chee Cheong Fun 3.5/5

Chee Cheong Fun is a trending dish in the food scene this year, with several hawker stalls selling it, but they all sell the steamed version. Over at Rempapa, there is the stir-fried version. The Stir-fried Chee Cheong Fun ($13) is fried together with prawn, egg, and yellow chive. It is similar to our local white carrot cake replaced with smooth and soft rice noodle roll.

Seafood Curry Mee 4.8/5

The Seafood Curry Mee ($18) available during lunch and brunch comprises yellow noodles, bee hoon, pig skin, boiled prawns, fish cake, fresh cockles (optional), long tau pok and beansprouts. According to Chef Damian, his interpretation is from a Hokkien hawker dish served during the 1920s and 1930s. He has used his own curry powder blend for more subtle spice flavours. Sand prawns and dry shrimps are used to make the stock instead of coconut milk, resulting in a rich and umami soup base which I drank to the last drop.

Fish Nasi Lemak 4.2/5

Fried Chicken 4.5/5

The Nasi Lemak ($17) comes with either Fish or Fried Chicken. The fragrant coconut rice is accompanied by sambal, silver fish, egg and cucumber. Customers who opted for the fish nasi lemak gets a whole selar fish which is enormous! I prefer the fried chicken nasi lemak, which is comparable to the popular fried chicken nasi lemak from The Coconut Club.

Fried Chicken Curry Rice 4/5

To introduce heritage cuisine to the younger generation, Chef Damian introduces them to heritage flavours by giving the dish a modern presentation. He believes the food needs to be accepted by them first before trying and learning more about heritage cuisine. Hence, he has come up with the Fried Chicken Curry Rice ($16), presented as a Japanese curry with kaarage, combing the essences of Eurasian, Peranakan, Indian, Malay and Chinese cuisines.

Kedongdong Salad 4.5/5

For the dinner menu, the dishes are more communal. The menu is different from the breakfast, lunch and brunch menus. We had the Kedongdong Salad ($15) to kick start our dinner. I am not strange to the wing bean salad as Chef has served it before in his previous restaurant. However, the new version is less spicy, and he has added more shrimp floss.

Baca Assam 4.8/5

The Baca Assam ($38) is a dish that Chef Damian's granddad cooked only on special occasions. It is a lost Eurasian heritage dish that is a mix of Peranakan and Indian flavours. Beef brisket is used, and I enjoyed the tenderness. The addition of tamarind gives the beef brisket the tanginess, which cuts the richness and whetted the appetite.

Lamb Leg Rendang 3/5

The Lamb Leg Rendang ($38) is a classic Minangkabau dish cooked in a mix of wet spice paste. Unfortunately, while I enjoyed the rempah, the boneless lamb leg came across on the dry side.

Slow-cooked Belly Pork with Ah Seng Sauce 4.2/5

It is not all about Chef Damian's family recipes at Rempapa. The restaurant also showcases heritage recipes shared by the younger chefs to motivate their immersion into heritage cuisine. The Slow-cooked Belly Pork with Ah Seng Sauce ($23) is a heritage Hokkien dish that hails from Penang. The soul has to be the mildly spicy sauce on top of the pork belly. It is like having mala xiang gou.

Kueh Platter 4.5/5

Not to be missed at Rempapa is the daily assortment of kuehs. The Kueh Platter ($6 for 4pc, $10 for 8pc, $15 for 12pc) includes favourites such as Kueh Kosui and Kueh Ku, Kueh Bengkah, Pulut Bengkah, Talam Keladi, Sago Ubi, Lapis Pulot, Rempah Udang and others available on the day.

Rempapa is unlike any of Chef Damian's previous restaurants. At the new restaurant, Chef Damian introduces his 'Singapore New Heritage Cuisine', in which recipes drawn from the soul of tradition are reinvented with elements of different ethnicities to create flavour profiles that resonate with today's diner. Rempapa is not just a restaurant. It is the place where Chef Damian elevates Singapore heritage food to a status among the world's great cuisines. And where 'cultural sustainability' is nurtured through engaging the next generation of diners and mentoring fresh talent, seeing them take pride in Singapore cuisine and driving it to the next level.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Rempapa
2 Paya Lebar Road
#01-01/02/03
Park Place Residences at PLQ
Singapore 409053
Tel: +65 94591603
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Paya Lebar (CC Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 1030am - 1030pm
Sat-Sun, PH: 930am - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Paya Lebar MRT station. Take Exit E. Walk to Sims Avenue. Cross the road. Walk to Park Place Residences. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Whampoa Keng @ Geylang Road - Opens Their 2nd Outlet In Geylang At The Corner Of Lorong 28

Whampoa Keng at Balestier Road has been a household in Singapore for their fish head steamboat. Fans of their fish head steamboat will be glad to know that they have opened a second outlet in Geylang. Besides the signature fish head steamboat, the restaurant also offers a variety of zichar dishes to complete the meal.

Signature Fish Head Steamboat Red Garoupa 4.2/5

We have to have their Signature Fish Head Steamboat when we visit Whampoa Keng. Diners can choose to have pomfret, red garoupa or batang sliced fish for the fish head steamboat. We had the Red Garoupa ($45/$55/$65/$75) for its chunky and firmer texture. Their fish head steamboat comes in 4 sizes (small, medium, large and x-large) too. We enjoyed the hearty and comforting soup, which also comes with yam, cabbage and seaweed. Compare to their balestier outlet, I thought the soup today is slightly on the sweet side, and the dried sole fish is not prominent. I still enjoy the fish head steamboat, just that I am picking bones as I have tried their original outlet, and I want them to improve.

Signature Crab Meat Foodstreet Tofu in Gravy 4.2/5

Besides the signature fish head steamboat, we also had a couple of their zichar dishes to complete the meal. The first dish we tried is the Signature Crab Meat Foodstreet Tofu in Gravy ($14/$20/$26). I love the accompany gravy with crabmeat complementing the silky tofu.

Deep Fried Nan Ru Pork Belly 3.5/5

The Deep Fried Nan Ru Pork Belly ($16/$24) was slightly disappointing for me. I am a big fan of fermented beancurd, and I thought the flavour didn't quite stand out to win over my tummy.

Sweet & Sour Spare Ribs with Golden Crispy Cod Strips 4.2/5

The Sweet & Sour Spare Ribs with Golden Crispy Cod Strips ($16/$24) is not new to me. I have eaten it elsewhere, and I have to say Whampoa Keng did an excellent job. The spare rib is tender and juicy, while not overly sweet. The crispy cod strips provided extra textural enjoyment.

Poached Chinese Spinach with Assorted Egg 4.5/5

Another dish that I find Whampoa Keng did very well is the Poached Chinese Spinach with Assorted Egg ($14/$21). The flavoursome soupy broth together with the century egg, salted duck egg and fresh chicken egg enliven a simple poached vegetable dish. 

Claypot Indonesian Style Chicken 4/5

It is my first time having the Claypot Indonesian Style Chicken ($16/$24). It looks similar to 3 cups chicken, but the sauce is very different. The chicken is first fried to crisp and then tossed in a special Indonesian sauce with curry leaves.

Diners who have been to their Balestier outlet will know that it is always very crowded. Not many people are aware of the new outlet yet. So if you want to avoid the crowd, you can come here. They are opened until 1am daily. It is another excellent supper place for those staying in the East.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Whampoa Keng
512/514 Geylang Road
Singapore 389468
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Nearest MRT: Aljunied (EW Line), Paya Lebar (CC Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 5pm - 1am

Direction:
1) Alight at Aljunied MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk straight to Sims Ave. Cross the road. Walk along Geylang Lorong 25 to Geyland Road. Cross the road and turn left. Walk down Geylang Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Paya Lebar MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Paya Lebar MRT station (Stop ID 81111). Take bus number 137. Alight 3 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]

Yakiniku Like @ Paya Lebar Quarter - Enjoy Top Quality Meats At Unbeatable Prices

Yakiniku Like, a new speciality fast food yakiniku restaurant has opened at Paya Lebar Quarter on 03 February 2020. The brand has 30 branches in Asia, which offers a quick-service concept that serves orders within three minutes. Fast food doesn't mean lousy quality, on the contrary aficionados can savour top-quality meats such as wagyu beef, karubi, harami, prime karubi,, misuji at an unbeatable price.

A yakiniku set at Yakiniku starts from as cheap as $7.80, which includes the choice of meat, rice, soup and a choice of kimchi or salad. There are a total of eight different set menus which feature the different cuts of meat.

Value for Money - Karubi Set: beef short plate ($8.80/100g, $12.80/200g, $16.80/300g)
Singapore Exclusive - Trio Set: beef short plate, pork jowl, chicken thigh ($11.80/150g, $16.80/300g)
AAA Top Quality Choice - Prime Karubi and Misuji Set: boneless short rib, top blade ($15.80/100g, $19.80/200g)
Authentic Japanese Taste - Sukiyaki Karubi Set: sukiyaki beef short plate ($9.80/100g, $13.80/200g)
No. 1 Choice - LIKE Set: beef tongue, skirt steak, beef short plate ($15.80/150g, $19.80/250g)
Best Seller in Japan - Karubi and Harami Set: beef short plate, skirt steak ($12.80/100g, $17.80/200g)
Unbeatable Price - Pork and Chicken Set: pork belly, chicken thigh ($7.80/100g, $11.80/200g)
Ultimate Indulgence - Wagyu Steak Set: premium Australian wagyu beef steak ($19.80/120g, $29.80/200g)

Specially customised for the Singapore outlet is the electric smokeless grill, which sucks the smoke down. Hence diners will not smell of smoke and grease when they leave the restaurant. Yakiniku Like is also the first restaurant in Singapore to offer individual grill for the individual customer. I thought this is a great idea, allowing an individual to enjoy yakiniku while not feeling awkward.

To perk up the enjoyment of the barbecue meats, each table comes with a variety of dipping sauces. My favourite is the Garlic Soy Sauce and Spicy Miso Sauce. There are also Like Original BBQ Sauce and Sea Salt Sauce. On top of that, there are condiments such as the red chilli, garlic chilli sauce, rock salt and black pepper.

For diners that have a bigger appetite and you feel that the set menu is not enough for you, the selection of meats are available for a la carte order too. Hence you can add on more meats if you are feeling hungry.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Yakiniku Like
Paya Lebar Quarter
10 Paya Lebar Road
#B1-28
Singapore 409057
Tel: +65 69707397
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Paya Lebar (CC Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Paya Lebar MRT station. Take Exit E. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]