Showing posts with label Sotong. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sotong. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 7, 2022

Diamond Kitchen @ Laguna Park - Celebrate 10th Anniversary with Lip-smacking ‘3 Crabs for $49.90’ Deal

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I still remember my first visit to Diamond Kitchen at Laguna Park eight years ago after an article by Straits Times food critic Wong Ah Yoke brought it to fame. The restaurant saw snaking queues overnight, and I heard they even have to turn away customers. It was so hard to get a table then. Yet, in a blink of an eye, the restaurant is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.

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Honey Marmite Crab 4.5/5

In conjunction with the restaurant's 10th anniversary, it is rolling out an irresistible crablicious deal. The special promotion allows customers to enjoy 3 Crabs for $49.90 for both dine-in and takeaway. Each crab weighs about 500g. What's more astonishing is your can choose to cook the crab in 20 different flavours.

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Gan Xiang Crab 4.2/5

I was surprised that the restaurant now offers up to 20 flavours for the crabs. Some of them are unique flavours, such as Honey Marmite Crab. It never occurs to be the sweet and savoury combination of honey and marmite that come together harmoniously with the crustaceans. It is a good change from the usual chilli and black pepper crab, which is more suitable for children.

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Curry Crab 4.8/5

The Gan Xiang Crab was the signature when the restaurant first opened. I am glad that it is still on the menu. However, I find the spice level has been toned down and is sweeter now, which didn't showcase the spices' aroma. The crowd's favourite for the night is the Curry Crab served in claypot with long beans and eggplant. It is like a crab version of the curry fish head. The curry sauce is very appetising, and I love the new style of having crab.

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X.O Crab Bee Hoon Soup 4/5

Another beautiful crab dish on the menu is the X.O Crab Bee Hoon Soup ($55.90). It hits the spot for for a good bowl of crab bee hoon soup. The only disappointment is I couldn't taste the X.O in the soup.

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Salted Egg Yolk Sotong 4.5/5

Besides the crab promotion, Diamond Kitchen also rolls out an All-Stars Set Menu ($85++ for 3-4pax / $155++ for 6-8pax) that showcases their all-time signature dishes over the ten years. It comprises five courses, starting with the Salted Egg Yolk Sotong, which is coated in a light crispy batter of cream crackers and flour for that addictive crunch. It is further tossed in handmade salted egg yolk powder and curry leaves, elevating the taste profile.

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Champagne Pork 4.2/5

Juicy and tender is the Champagne Pork. The double deep-fried pork collar is tossed in a perfect balance of sweet and tangy flavour that is delightful with each bite.

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Brinjal Claypot 4.5/5

The best to savour with a bowl of steaming rice is the Brinjal Claypot cloaked in piquant homemade sauce. The sauce is so delicious that I can have a few bowls of rice with it.

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Superior Stock Clam Bee Hoon 4.5/5

Another dish that brought Diamond Kitchen to fame is the Superior Stock Clam Bee Hoon. The silky bee hoon served in a thick superior stock is packed with natural sweetness from the generous portion of succulent fresh clams and wolfberries. I recommend having it together with their fragrant homemade sambal chilli if you love spicy food. It elevates the enjoyment to a whole new level.

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Pumpkin & Ginko Yam Paste 4.2/5

Ending the 5-course meal on a sweet note is the Pumpkin & Ginko Yam Paste. I love Orh Nee and enjoyed the rich, creamy, and flavourful warm pureed yam.

It is glad to see Diamond Kitchen is still around after all these years, surviving the tough years of COVID. I am happy that the head chef is still around, maintaining the same standard and quality all these years. The promotions will be available at both their Laguna Park and Science Park outlet.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Diamond Kitchen (钻石小厨)
Laguna Park Condominium
5000F Marine Parade Road
#01-22/23
Singapore 449289
Tel: +65 64480629
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Bedok (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 230pm, 530pm -11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Bedok MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Bedok MRT station (Stop ID 84039). Take bus number 31. Alight 6 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Bedok MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to Bedok Bus Interchange (Stop ID 84009). Take bus number 196 or 197. Alight 7 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

Friday, July 22, 2022

Verandah Rael's @ TripleOne Somerset - New Peranakan and Indonesian Cuisine Restaurant With Storybook-inspired Interior

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New at TripleOne Somerset is Verandah @ Rael's, offering Peranakan and Indonesian cuisine in a colonial style, storybook-inspired interior. The restaurant strives to bring the warmth of togetherness and the taste of home in their food.

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Chicken Satay 4/5

We started our dinner at Verandah with the Chicken Satay ($9.80) grilled to a nice tender, paired with traditional peanut sauce.

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Pong Tauhu Soup 4/5

Next is a bowl of hearty and comforting Pong Tauhu Soup ($6.90). I could taste the depth of flavours in the broth, which probably came from the long hours of boiling, drawing from the pork and prawn's essence. Rounding up the delicious soup are juicy meatballs and crunchy bamboo shoots.

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Chicken Buah Keluak 4.2/5

A staple Peranakan dish is the Chicken Buah Keluak ($19.90), whereby the chicken is braised in a tangy tamarind gravy. Minced meat is mixed with spices and stuffed into the nut.

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Nonya Chap Chye 4.2/5

Stewed to a delightfully soft texture is the Nonya Chap Chye ($12.90), which comprises a medley of vegetables such as cabbage, shiitake mushrooms, beancurd strips and tang hoon.

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Babi Pongteh 4.2/5

A favourite Peranakan dish of mine is the Babi Pongteh ($18.90). Verandah does a delicious rendition in which the sweet and savoury stewed pork belly and turnips are slow-cooked in a thick fermented soybean sauce with a peppery hint.

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Signature Indo Chilli Beef 3.5/5

Besides the Peranakan dishes, we also tried a couple of their Indonesian dishes. While I enjoyed the aroma from the spices for the Signature Indo Chilli Beef ($19.90), the texture was a little tough for my liking.

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Honey Pork 3.5/5

Similar to the Signature Indo Chilli Beef, I find the Honey Pork ($16.90) a bit tough in texture too. However, the honey black sauce drizzled over the crispy stir-fried pork is deliciously appetising.

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Grilled Sotong with Kicap Manis 3.8/5

The Grilled Sotong with Kicap Manis ($18.90) was fresh and huge with a delightful bouncy bite. I only hope there was more of the sweet and piquant soy sauce, mixed with spices marinade.

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Panna Cotta with Pulut Hitam 3/5

Wrapping up the dinner is the Panna Cotta with Pulut Hitam ($8.90). The panna cotta is served in a tall glass topped with black glutinous rice and rich coconut milk. I am slightly disappointed that the panna cotta is not creamy enough. If I had a choice, I would still prefer the classic rendition of the traditional pulut hitam dessert.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Verandah @ Rael's
TripleOne Somerset
111 Somerset Road
#01-07
Singapore 238164
Tel: +65 89319826
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Somerset (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Somerset MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn right and walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Saturday, October 16, 2021

Sabai Sabai Thai Private Kitchen @ Valley Point @ Fei Siong Group's First Thai Restaurant Concept

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Fei Siong Group, known for offering affordable local and Malaysian hawker fare, is sailing into uncharted water with the group's first Thai restaurant concept, Sabai Sabai Thai Private Kitchen. The "hidden restaurant" is tucked within Valley Point inside the premises of Nam Kee Pau, giving patrons a cosy dining experience akin to dining right in a chef's home kitchen.

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Grilled Pork Skewers 4.2/5

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Pomelo Salad 4.2/5

We started with two seasonal items on the menu - the Grilled Pork Skewers ($7.80 for 3pc) and Pomelo Salad ($11.80). I enjoyed the marination of the grilled pork skewers giving it a delish sweetness on top of the tender texture with a hint of smokiness. The pomelo salad is a refreshing and fruity starter to whet the appetite.

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Pandan Chicken 4/5

The boneless chicken leg wrapped in Thai pandan leaves is marinated in herbs and pure pandan juice. The Pandan Chicken ($11.80) is then steamed and deep-fried, giving it a crusty exterior while sealing within all the juices and flavour.

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Tom Yum Thick Seafood Soup 4.2/5

My entry-level for a good Thai restaurant is their tom yum soup. The spiciness must not be watered down to cater for the local palate. Glad that the Tom Yum Thick Seafood Soup ($11.80) did not disappoint. It has all the characteristic tangy and spicy flavours of a good bowl of vibrant tom yum soup, teeming with fresh squid, slices of snakehead fish, a jumbo tiger prawn, straw mushrooms and cherry tomatoes.

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Phad Thai Prawn 4/5

Another Thai classic is the Phad Thai Prawn ($15.80). The kitchen uses rice noodles specially imported from Thailand. It is plumper and chewier compared to the local variety, offering a more satisfying bite. Their version is also wetter, which is quite different from my places.

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Thai Flower $9.80

Another seasonal dish is the Thai Flower ($9.80). It is my first time trying the ingredients with delightful crunchiness and sweetness, paired with silky tofu.

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Steamed Sotong 4.5/5

The Steamed Sotong ($19.80) is cooked perfectly to a beautiful tender and bouncy texture complemented by the punchy yet delicately balanced blend of lime juice, lemongrass, chilli padi, green chilli and garlic.

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Claypot Jumbo Prawn & Crispy Pork Belly Vermicelli 4.2/5

The glass noodles for the Claypot Jumbo Prawn & Crispy Pork Belly Vermicelli ($26.80/ $44.80) are also specially imported from Thailand. The chewy rice noodles are flambeed in a wok and then transferred to a heated claypot to soak in the homemade peppercorn sauce. It is finally crowned with tiger prawn and coriander.

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Wrapping up our dinner, we have Red Ruby for dessert. Interestingly, it even comes with chendol in a sweet coconut milk soup. 

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Noted: This is an invited tasting.


Sabai Sabai Thai Private Kitchen
Valley Point
491 River Valley Road
#01-07/08
Singapore 248371
Tel: +65 88235988
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line), Redhill (EW Line), Fort Canning (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12 - 230pm, 530pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop before Orchard Station (Stop ID 09022). Take bus number 14 or 65. Alight 4 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Redhill MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Redhill Station (Stop ID 10209). Take bus number 32. Alight 5 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

3) Alight at Fort Canning MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop before Fort Canning Station (Stop ID 04331). Take bus 32. Alight 6 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 20 minutes. [Map]

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

SHAO @ Frankel Avenue - Discovery Of Some Unique Dishes Such Crispy Baby Pomfret, Sotong Sausage And More

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After seeing some interesting food pictures on social media, I gathered my foodie friends to check out SHAO at Frankel Avenue on a Saturday afternoon for lunch. The restaurant is located at the very end of the row of shophouses along Frankel Avenue. Interestingly for a Chinese restaurant, there are only square tables. The 11 of us have to sit in 2 rows which is quite awkward for sharing Chinese communal dishes.

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Crispy Baby Pomfret 3/5

An exciting dish on the menu is the Crispy Baby Pomfret ($16). Deep-fried until crispy, it can be eaten whole without the worry of fish bones. Of course, you can't expect a lot of meat from the tiny pomfret. This dish is simply executed to enjoy the crispiness.

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Salted Egg Yolk Yam 4/5

The Salted Egg Yolk Yam ($12) is drenched in a delicious and addictive salted egg yolk sauce. The delightful bite has a slight crunch which I enjoyed, and I still can taste the yam flavour.

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Sotong Sausage 4.5/5

Another unique dish that I don't get to see at Chinese restaurants is the Sotong Sausage ($22). Unlike the usual pork sausage, the sotong sausage has a more textural bite from its bouncy texture. It is almost like having a piece of fish cake.

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Stir-Fried Luffa with Egg & Seafood 4/5

I am not sure you are a fan of luffa, but I like its softness that comes with a little crunch. The Stir-Fried Luffa with Egg & Seafood ($28) at Shao is well-executed absorbing the sweetness of the seafood. What I find it weird is the fried egg which seems out of place. I thought it would be more enjoyable if the egg is cooked with the stock into an eggy gravy.

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Gai Choy with Roast Pork Belly Claypot 4.5/5

A dish that my dining friends have mix opinions is the Gai Choy with Roast Pork Belly Claypot ($38). Gai Choy is also known as Chinese mustard greens. It has a bitter taste or some called it mustardy that is not well received by many. However, I love this acquire taste which is a flavour I have grown up with. The pairing with roast pork belly further flavoured the mustardy greens.

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Steamed Crab with Vermicelli 3.8/5

Another dish the dining group has mix opinions is the Steamed Crab with Vermicelli ($78). Due to the size of the crab used, there is very little crab meat. Hence some felt it is not worth the cost. Others thought that the sauce is too garlicky, overpowering the sweetness of the crustacean. I actually like the strong garlic flavour which gives the dish a beautiful aroma, with the vermicelli soaking up the richness.

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Wok Fried Hor Fun 2.8/5

Among the dishes we tried, the Wok-Fried Hor Fun ($12) was probably the least favourite. It lacked the wok hei that gives life to the rice noodle.

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Sliced Fish Claypot "Pao Fan" Porridge 3.8/5

Last but not least, we wrapped up our dinner with the Sliced Fish Claypot "Pao Fan" Porridge ($28/$48). The portion is good for 2-6 pax. The porridge consists of both fluffy and crispy rice bathing in a hot pipping, delicious chicken-based soup with fish slices. It is a comforting dish for a cold, raining day.


SHAO
117 Frankel Ave
Singapore 458232
Tel: +65 66109233
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Bedok (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 11am - 3pm, 5 - 11pm
Fri-Sat: 10am - 3pm, 5pm - 12midnight
Sun: 10am - 11pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Bedok MRT. Take Exit B or C. Walk to Bedok Bus Interchange (Stop ID 84009). Take bus number 32. Alight 8 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 25 minutes later. [Map]