Taste Paradise @ ION Orchard - New Luxurious Spring Seasonal Menu Available For Limited Time

Fine Cantonese restaurant Taste Paradise unveiled a new seasonal menu to mark the dawning of the spring season. It features a medley of dishes specially curated using luxurious sea and land ingredients, including osmanthus mussel, coral trout and lobster.

The menu will be available from now till 30 April 2023, with special discounted prices* on weekdays for Maybank Credit or Debit Cardmembers and PGR members.

Chilled Ice Plant with Tangy Sesame Sauce 3.8/5

We started off dinner with starters from their existing menu. First of which was the refreshing Chilled Ice Plant 胡麻酱冰菜 ($16.80). The fragrance of the nutty sesame sauce made this an appetising start, but the ice plant could be crunchier.

Classic XO Carrot Cake 4.2/5

For the second starter, we had the Classic XO Carrot Cake 经典XO酱萝卜糕 ($14.80). Each carrot cake cube had a lovely thin and crisp crust around it but remained fluffy and soft inside. Stir-fried in an umami XO sauce, eggs, and beansprouts, the savoury notes and hint of spice made this very appetising.

Doubled-Boiled Black Chicken Soup with Sea Whelk and Sea Coconut 4/5

The Doubled-Boiled Black Chicken Soup 海椰皇螺头炖乌鸡汤 ($76.90*, UP: $85.90) is carefully boiled for over 8 hours before it's served to diners. The clear yet flavourful superior stock is made with fresh sea whelk, chicken feet, American ginseng, wolfberries and coquito nuts. While I wasn't a fan of the hard and crunchy coquito nuts, they did provide a mild sweetness to the broth. We were also told that they aid in strengthening your immune system.

Steamed Coral Trout with Pickled Cabbage and Potato Vermicelli 4.5/5

Our favourite dish of the night was the Steamed Coral Trout 川味酸菜水晶粉蒸东星斑 ($18/100g*, UP: $20/100g) prepared in Szechuan style. The fresh slices of boneless fish fillets were firm and tender, with the gravy packing a comfortable level of heat and numbness. Hidden underneath was springy potato vermicelli that soaked up the broth particularly well.

Boston Lobster Black Truffle Fried Rice with Sakura Shrimp 4.2/5

The Boston Lobster Black Truffle Fried Rice 波士顿龙虾黑松露樱花虾炒饭 ($76.90*, UP: $88.90) is fried with a housemade truffle sauce to a mild smoky fragrance, with sakura shrimps, chopped asparagus and diced fresh mushrooms. Topped on top are chunks of tender Boston lobster meat. The truffle fragrance was stronger than its flavour, but we appreciated that as it allowed the rest of the ingredients to shine better.

Stir-fried Osmanthus Mussel with White Asparagus in Black Truffle Sauce 4.2/5

Our last savoury dish of the night was the Stir-fried Osmanthus Mussel with White Asparagus 松露松茸桂花蚌炒淮山白芦笋 ($76.90*, UP: $86.90) that is done in the same black truffle sauce. Osmanthus mussels are unlike the usual mussels that we are more familiar with. They are softer with a bit of a chew and have an impressively light crunch. The earthiness from the matsutake mushrooms paired with Chinese yam, spring white asparagus, fresh lily bulb petals and the aromatic truffle sauce was delicious.

Chilled Aloe Vera and Lemongrass Jelly in Sour Plum and Lime Juice 3.5/5

We ended the meal on a refreshing note with the Chilled Aloe Vera and Lemongrass Jelly in Sour Plum and Lime Juice 芦荟酸柑香茅冻.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Taste Paradise
ION Orchard
2 Orchard Turn
#04-07
Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 65099660
Nearest MRT: Orchard MRT (NS Line, TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 11am - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm
Sat-Sun, PH: 1030am - 430pm, 6pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit 4. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Goodwood Park Hotel Christmas 2022 - Celebrate The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year With Enchanting Line-up Of Festive Items

Are you planning for your Christmas celebration? Goodwood Park Hotel this year has put together an enchanting line-up of new festive takeaways, dining specials and staycations from 15 November 2022 to 2 January 2023.

Chinese Style Braised Whole Turkey with Braised Eggs, Peanuts and Homemade Chilli Sauce

Goodwood Park Hotel has been known for its Asian-inspired Turkey, and this year the kitchen team surprised us with the Chinese Style Braised Whole Turkey with Braised Eggs, Peanuts and Homemade Chilli Sauce ($388 nett). It is served with a choice of yam rice with preserved sausages, mushrooms and dried shrimp or thick rice porridge and braised gravy. Braised turkey may sound weird, but it was deliciously good.

Slow-roasted Iberico Pork Belly

Mini Turkey Pot Pie and Curry Turkey Pot Pie

Other delicious choices for your Christmas feast include the Slow-roasted Iberico Pork Belly ($418) with Crackling, Pickled Cabbage, Apple Sauce and Pork Jus, accompanied by Potato Gratin. The Mini Turkey Pot Pie ($56 for 6pc) and Mini Curry Turkey Pot Pie ($40 for 6pc) are a delightful addition to the festive spread.

DIY Turkey Popiah Roll

Wok-fried Carrot Cake in Homemade Sambal Chilli

Other Asian-inspired interpretations of the quintessential Christmas dish - Turkey, include the DIY Turkey Popiah Roll with Homemade Sambal Chilli ($78) and Wok-fried Carrot Cake in Homemade Sambal Chilli with Turkey Meat, Capsicum, & Bean Sprouts ($48).

Three-tiered Christmas Tree Set

The dazzling afternoon tea Three-tiered Christmas Tree Set and Two-tiered Christmas Carousel Set also make a comeback this year with delicately sweet and savoury bites ideal for a cosy get-together.

Festive Tropicana Log Cake

Beary Merry Yule Log

Jolly Holiday Travel Cake

Pink Party Christmas Tart

Besides the savoury dishes, there are also new festive sweet creations, starring the all-new Festive Tropicana Log Cake ($98), Beary Merry Yule Log Cake ($98), Jolly Holiday Travel Cake ($98), Pink Party Christmas Tart ($68). In the spirit of giving, the hotel will donate 10% of the sales of Christmas log cakes to The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund.

Traditional Fruit Cake

Goodwood Mao Shan Wang Durian Christmas Log Cake

Not forgetting the time-honoured Traditional Fruit Cake ($40/$75) and the signature Goodwood Mao Shan Wang Durian Christmas Log Cake ($138).

Christmas Durian Combo

Goodwood Park Hotel is well-known for its annual Durian Fiesta, which features delightful creations of durian pastries. For this Christmas. Goodwood Park hotel has put together a Christmas Durian Combo ($68 for 6pc) consisting of D24 Coffee Glaze Cake, D24 Cookies 'N' Cream Cake, D24 Crunchy Chocolate-Hazelnut Tartlet, D24 Kueh Dadar and D24 Puffs.

Takeaway festive offerings will be available from The Deli from 15 November to 26 December 2022. Guests may place their orders at the Festive Online Shop goodwoodparkfestive.oddle.me for delivery or self-collection. Alternatively, guests may visit The Deli from 10am – 7pm; contact the Christmas Call Centre at (65) 6730 1867/68 from 10am – 6pm; or email festive@goodwoodparkhotel.com to place their takeaway orders for self-collection only. An advance order of five days is required for takeaways; the last pre-order date is 19 December 2022.


Goodwood Park Hotel
22 Scotts Road
Singapore 228221
Tel: +65 67301746
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line, TE Line)

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit 1. Walk down Scotts Road to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Ya Ge (雅阁) @ Orchid Hotel - New Modern Chinese Restaurant Serving Fine Traditional Chinese Cuisine With A Modern Taste

Newly opened at Orchid Hotel is Ya Ge (雅阁), led by Executive Chef Tse Chi Leung, who has 25 years of professional culinary experience. He has worked in kitchens of top hotels and restaurants across Hong Kong, Singapore and Jakarta, including Imperial Treasure at Marina Bay Sands and Yan Restaurant at Park Hotel Group.

The restaurant recently launched a new eight-course 'Taste of Ya Ge' menu ($268++, U.P $360++) that features a selection of the restaurant's signature dishes. The menu is suitable for four to five persons, available from 11 July to 30 September 2022.

Chilled Hua Diao Chicken Roll 4/5

We had the Chilled Hua Diao Chicken Roll kickstarting our eight-course meal. Unlike many places that chopped the chicken into pieces, the culinary team painstakingly rolled the chicken into a roulade. Fifteen years old Hua Diao has been used to give the succulent chicken an aromatic finish.

Carrot Cake with Dried Shrimp Paste 4.2/5

The eight-course menu includes two dim sum items in the Carrot Cake with Dried Shrimp Paste and Crispy Mini Pumpkin Pastry with Minced Chicken, Mushroom & Thyme. The Carrot Cake with Dried Shrimp Paste is crispy on the exterior and soft on the inside, fragrant by fried eggs and dried shrimp paste.

Crispy Mini Pumpkin Pastry with Minced Chicken, Mushroom & Thyme 4.5/5

The Crispy Mini Pumpkin Pastry with Minced Chicken, Mushroom & Thyme has a delightfully chewy texture stuffed with savoury filling consisting of minced chicken and mushroom. Adding thyme to the filling gives it a touch of minty earthiness, lifting the taste profile.

Fish Maw with Crab Meat in Superior broth 4.2/5

Unlike most Chinese soup that uses pork or chicken as a stock base, the Fish Maw with Crab Meat Soup uses duck and chicken instead. It is a delicious change from the usual, bringing out the sweetness of the chunky crab meat.

Deep-fried Marble Goby with Supreme Soya Sauce 4/5

For the fish dish, diners have a choice of having it deep-fried or steamed. We went for the Deep-fried Marble Goby with Supreme Soya Sauce. Of course, the star has to be the supreme soya sauce, complementing the crispy and moist fish.

Sauteed Diced Beef with Black Garlic 4.5/5

At first glance, the Sauteed Diced Beef seemed to be cooked in black pepper sauce, but it is cooked with black garlic, giving it a coat of sweetness on top of its tender texture.

Roasted Floral Tea Infused Chicken 4.5/5

One of my favourite dishes is the Roasted Floral Tea Infused Chicken. The tender chicken with its crispy skin is perfumed with the floral tea aroma, fire-roasted to perfection and garnished with fried tea leaves for a satisfying crunch.

XO Egg White Seafood Fried Rice 4/5

We had the XO Egg White Seafood Fried Rice for the carbo dish packed with 'wok-hei' smokiness. I enjoyed the firm texture for its delightful bite.

On top of the new eight-course menu, business professionals looking for a lighter meal may appreciate Ye Ge's ongoing lunch and dinner sets priced from $48.80++ per pax for two or more persons daily.

Note: This is an invited tasting


Ya Ge (雅阁)
Orchid Hotel
1 Tras Link
Level 3
Singapore 078867
Tel: +65 68186831
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 230pm, 530pm - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk straight towards Orchid Hotel. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

618 Sim Carrot Cake @ Yishun Ring Road - The Stall Sells White Carrot Only With Generous Chye Poh

What is the good food in Yishun? Most of us will probably mention 928 Yishun Laksa or 925 Yishun Hainanese Chicken Rice. Another popular hawker stall in Yishun is 618 Sim Carrot Cake. Coincidentally, it has numeric number on its stall name too. By the way, the stall only fries white carrot cake. It does not sell the black version.

The first thing I notice is the heap of sweet chye poh (preserved radish) on the plate of White Carrot Cake ($3.50/ $4.50). It is not unusual to add chye poh to fried carrot cake, but it is usually fried with the steamed radish cake.

I am not going to complain about the generous serving of chye poh as it accentuated the flavour profile and gave it a delightful texture bite, contrasting the softness of the radish fried cake.

If you realize the fried carrot cake is cut into small cubes and held together by a generous amount of eggs, almost like an omelette. One side is fried to crispy, while the other allows the enjoyment of the egg's fragrant and carrot cake's softness. It is like having two ways of enjoying the plate of fried cake.

681 Sim Carrot Cake indeed serves an excellent plate of white carrot cake. However, my friend told me to have the carrot cake with prawn option as it tastes even better with the crustacean's flavour infused into the fried carrot cake. I will do so on my next visit.


618 Sim Carrot Cake
Blk 618 Yishun Ring Road
Singapore 760618
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Khatib

Opening Hours:
Mon, Wed-Sun: 630am - 130pm
(Closed on Tue)

Direction:
1) Alight at Khatib MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk down Yishun Ave 2. Walk to traffic junction Yishun Ave 2 and Yishun Ring Road. Cross the road and cut through the housing estate. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

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
Facebook
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]