Paradise Dynasty @ Wisma Atria - Offering Anhui, Cantonese, Fujian, Hunan, Jiangsu, Shandong, Sichuan And Zhejiang Cuisines Under One Roof

After closing the outlet at Ion Orchard, Paradise Dynasty has re-located and moved next door, re-opened at Wisma Atria on 10 January 2019. The latest outlet can sit up to 196 pax with a new and brighter season. Besides the la mian and xiao long bao offerings that have made Paradise Dynasty a household name, the newest outlet offers cuisines from Anhui, Cantonese, Fujian, Hunan, Jiangsu, Shandong, Sichuan and Zhejiang under one roof.

Crispy Yellow Croaker Spring Roll 4/5

A new dish on the menu is the Crispy Yellow Croaker Spring Roll ($9.20/3pcs). Wrapped in the crispy pastry skin is the soft and tender flesh of the yellow croaker. A delightful starter packed with different play of flavours and textures.

Chilled Jellyfish in Soy Sauce Vinaigrette 4/5

Using the head section of the jellyfish for that extra crunch, the Chilled Jellyfish in Soy Sauce Vinaigrette ($12.80) whets up the appetite with its tangy seasoning.

Lettuce Roll with Homemade Sesame Sauce 3.5/5

The Lettuce Roll with Homemade Sesame Sauce ($8.80) may look unassuming but it turned out really delish. The fresh and crunchy lettuce roll is complemented by the excellent homemade sesame sauce that simply brought the ingredient to live.

Stir-fried Fresh Organic Bamboo Shoot with Bacon 3/5

Some bamboo shoot may come across having an acquire taste but I did not taste it from the Stir-fried Fresh Organic Bamboo Shoot with Bacon ($14.80). I also like the idea of the bacon giving the dish a coat of aroma on top of its crunchiness.

Braised Tofu with Crab Roe 3.5/5

Smooth and silky is the Braised Tofu with Crab Roe ($22.80). Unfortunately I could not really taste the robustness of the crab roe in the execution.

Prawn and Pork Dumpling in Hot Chilli Vinaigrette 4.5/5

My all time favourite at Paradise's restaurants is their Prawn and Pork Dumpling in Hot Chilli Vinaigrette ($9.80/6pcs). These parcels wrapped in a silky thin wanton skin are plump and juicy. The highlight is the aromatic hot chilli vinaigrette that elevated the whole enjoyment.

Steamed Glutinous Rice stuffed in Red Date 3/5

Its not all about savoury at Paradise Dynasty, there are sweet takes such as the Steamed Glutinous Rice stuffed in Red Date ($7.80) and Yam Paste Xiao Long Bao ($8.80/6pcs). It is not that the Steamed Glutinous Rice stuffed in Red Date is not good but it is something new to me and it probably needs time for me to accept the unique taste.

Yam Paste Xiao Long Bao 4/5

As for the Yam Paste Xiao Long Bao, the take of stuffing it with the sweet yam paste its an unique take of the traditional Xiao Long Bao giving it a sweet finishing.

La Mian with Yellow Croaker Fish and Preserved Vegetable 2.8/5

I have always enjoyed a good bowl of La Mian from Paradise Group's of restaurants. Undeniable the noodle is top notch. However the soup base of the La Mian with Yellow Croaker Fish and Preserved Vegetable ($16.80) was slightly fishy which was a let down. It is definitely note their usual standard.

Chilled Snow Fungus with Peach Resin 4.2/5

Wrapping up the dinner, I have the refreshing Chilled Snow Fungus with Peach Resin ($8.80). Mentioned in my earlier posts, I have a liking for peach resin recently. Hence this just hits the spot.

Note: This s an invited tasting.


Paradise Dynasty
Wisma Atria
435 Orchard Road
#01-08
Singapore 238877
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 11am - 10pm
Sat-Sun & PH: 1030am - 10pm

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

Bao Makers @ Jiak Chuan Road - Celebrates 3rd Anniversary With A Newer And Even More Extensive Menu

Having relocated to the hip enclave of Jiak Chuan Road from its previous venue at Jalan Besah in November last year, Singapore's pioneer Bao concept restaurant, Bao Makers released a refreshed menu with an even wider array of exciting items in conjunction with their upcoming 3rd anniversary. Established in 2015, Bao Makers pride themselves in their specialisation of delectable open-faced buns, infusing local elements into this delicacy inspired by the traditional kong bak bao.

Crabmeat Beancurd 4.2/5

Starting off with the appetisers, we had the Crabmeat Beancurd with Century Egg Sauce ($5.80). Featuring a silky smooth beancurd tofu with refreshing shredded crabmeat embedded within, it comes with a rich century egg sauce which packs a sharp spicy tinge to further liven up the flavour. The finishing touches of chopped century egg albumen and tobiko contribute another textural dimension to the dish, displaying an excellent interplay of flavours and textures.

Salmon Mentaiko Roll 3.8/5

The Salmon Mentaiko Roll ($16.80) features a maki rolls wrapped around crabsticks and crunchy cucumber pieces, before being topped with blow-torched salmon and drenched in a rich pool mentaiko sauce and generous tobiko atop.

Chilli Crab Bao 4.5/5, Fried Salted Egg Chicken Bao 4.2/5, Salmon Mentaiko Bao 4/5

The highlight would be their signature baos - fluffy mantous pan-fried slightly crisp exterior, loaded with generous servings of chilli crab meat or salted egg chicken were absolutely delicious. My favourite is the Chilli Crab Bao with chunks of fresh chilli crab meat packed with addictive spicy notes admist the meat's natural sweetness.

The Salmon Mentaiko Bao came with the option of steamed bao. Sandwiched in between these soft fluffy buns was a piece of fried crispy salmon slathered with a layer of rich mentaiko sauce and a slice of cheese atop.

Teriyaki Beef Steak 4.2/5

To cater to the greater lunch-time and after-office crowds, Bao Makers further spruce up their menu by offering a variety of Japanese rice bowls and sharing plates as well, apart from their signature baos. For the lunch-goes, tuck into their Teriyaki Beef Steak Bowl ($17.80). Generous slices of pan-seared Australian striploin coated with a savoury sweet house blend teriyaki sauce lay atop a bowl of fluffy Japanese rice, and is further topped with a runny onsen egg that soaks up all the elements in the dish in perfect golden goodness.

Kecap Manis Chicken 3.5/5

Next come the sharing plates which are available on the dinner menu. The Kecap Manis Chicken ($8.80) features deep fried chicken cubes slathered in kecap manis marinate and pepper, which rendered the chicken cubes a tad too salty. While the sauce was overwhelming in terms of flavour, the chicken was executed well.

Cheese Burger Spring Roll 4/5

Bao Makers introduces the Sharing Plates concept for dinner patrons, where diners can relish in a diversity of dishes with groups of friends or family. Reminiscent of the classic cheese burger, the Cheese Burger Spring Roll ($9.80) comes in the form of crispy fried spring rolls instead of burger buns. This rendition is no less satisfying as the richly flavorous fillings of minced beef and cheese taste almost like the real cheese burger.

Cookie Bomb 4/5

End the meal on a sweet note with the restaurant's perennial favourite dessert of the Cookie Bomb ($7.50) which features the perfect combination of hot and cold with the cold creamy vanilla ice cream atop a warm soft baked cookie dough base filled with chocolate chips within.

Black Sesame Ice Cream 4/5

With 3 ice cream options on the menu, we went with the Black Sesame ice cream, which was smooth and creamy with a rich roasted nutty fragrance.

Singapore's Latte Peng 4/5

Opt for the Singapore's Latte Peng to quench your thirst after feasting on the rich flavoursome dishes. The fragrant iced latte comes with homemade espresso jelly. The sweetness of the jelly complement the bitterness of the latte to achieve a balance in taste.

Photos and words by Crystal. A girl who likes to eat, photograph, and write about food, and dreams about travelling around the world one day. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Bao Makers
4 Jiak Chuan Road
Singapore 089261
Tel: +65 62912330
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Website
Nearest MRT: Outram Park (EW Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 10pm
Fri-Sat: 12pm - 3pm, 6pm - 11pm
(Closed on Sun)

Direction:
1) Alight at Outram Park MRT station. Take Exit H. Walk straight down New Bridge Road. Turn right onto Kreta Ayer Road. Turn right again onto Keong Saik Road. Walk down Keong Saik Road. Turn left onto Jiak Chuan Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

SG Pho House @ North Bridge Road - New Vietnamese Restaurant By True-blue Vietnamese Lady Boss

SG Pho House is a newly opened Vietnamese restaurant, nestled in one of the shophouses along North Bridge Road. The lady boss is a true-blue Vietnamese and with her leading the kitchen together with her own team, expect real Vietnamese flavours in your pho as well as other dishes.

Its interior is probably one of the closest to that of those eating places I had been to in Vietnam, perhaps what's missing are the little stools for a morning beer. Shiny mental foldable tables with much sturdier legs that are built to last, these dining tables are actually imported from Vietnam. The menu is fairly simple, offering Beef and Chicken Pho, Vermicelli, Rice varieties and sides.

Mango Salad 4.2/5

Seafood Spring Rolls 3.5/5

For sides, we had Mango Salad ($6.90), Fresh Spring Rolls ($3.90) and Seafood Spring Rolls ($4.90). I'm really pleased with their mango salad which comes with fried shallot, shrimps and sliced pork. The acidity is just right and I could taste the citrusy of the lime juice. What I really appreciate is how the shrimps and pork are being sliced to align with the shredded mango, hence there is a bit of everything in each bite. As for the spring rolls, I thought the fresh ones are kind of flat, while there is definitely a lot more going on with the fried seafood version.

Beef Vermicelli Soup, Hue's Style 3.5/5

I was told that different style of pho uses different bases. The traditional beef noodle soup, Hue style vermicelli soup, chicken noodle soup and even Thailand style (Tom Yum) vermicelli Soup have a different soup base. The sweetness and flavours are not from MSG but a concoction of imported Vietnamese herbs, spices and their solid good broths. For the mains, we had Beef Vermicelli Soup, Hue's Style ($7.90), Rice Spaghetti Soup with Crab Meat ($9.90) and Grilled Pork Vermicelli ($9.50). The broths here are indeed the soul of the dishes. What hit my senses first was the sweetness of the broths, born from hours of simmering bones and marrow. There is depth to it, accented with herbs and spices. Served alongside the beef vermicelli soup is not just your usual plate of basil and beansprouts but with a pile of shredded kang kong to provide an extra crunch and freshness to the overall taste.

Rice Spaghetti Soup with Crab Meat 3/5

Their Rice Spaghetti is similar to our local Mee Tai Mak. The soup is made with pork bones which explains the unexpected level of sweetness. I thought it was just going to be a mediocre soup base. I like the homemade meatballs which reminds me of how a yummy minced meatball make a difference to a bowl of handmade noodle soup. However, the crab meat which is supposed to be the star of the dish was rather dry and bland, hence a better option may be their vermicelli soup with seafood only.

Grilled Pork Vermicelli 3/5

As for the Grilled Pork Vermicelli, although it didn't pack much surprises, it is a crowd pleaser with very well marinated juicy pork chop. And it is not at all boring when a bowl of it comes with a pork spring roll and a grilled fermented pork, akin to a sausage.

Vietnamese Coffee 3/5

One thing I learnt from this lunch is the similar to how a Hong Kong evaporated milk made its mark in a Hong Kong milk tea, Vietnamese have their own version of condensed milk as well, which apparently is less sweet than our local ones. True enough, even though our Avocado milkshake and Strawberry milkshake were made with big spoonfuls of their condensed milk, they turned out creamy and milky without being cloying. My Vietnamese version of 'Piccolo' was fine too, though I wish it could be a lot stronger.

Out of malls and away from the crowd, I quite enjoy the rustic atmosphere of SG Pho House which elevates the experience of tucking into their hearty broths and dishes. The chicken noodle soup is highly recommended by the owner so when you need a alternative chicken soup for your soul one of these days, do drop by!

Photos and words by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


SG Pho House
774 North Bridge Road
Singapore 198742
Tel: +65 62998774
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Bugis (DT Line, EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Bugis MRT station. Take Exit E. Walk down North Bridge Road towards Ophir Road direction. Continue walking North Bridge Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Wrap & Roll @ ION Orchard - First in Singapore Vietnamese Skewer Buffet

In Vietnamese cuisine, grilling forms a huge part of it, though it is not that pronounced over here in Singapore. However, you will get to experience that at Wrap & Roll latest offering at its Ion Orchard outlet - the very first Vietnamese Skewer Buffet in Singapore. The buffet is ala carte format. You get to choose from starters, deep fried & bites, meat & seafood, as well as vegetables. Drinks will be free flow at $2.90, beer at $5 a bottle.

After ordering our items, we were given some starters first while waiting - Butter corn with pork floss, brinjal with spring onion, spicy cucumber cubes and pickled carrot. The brinjal that comes with sweet sauce was quite likeable and my favourite is the pickled carrot. Repeated orders were made for that as it went really well with all the meat skewers.

It took a while for our food to come as all will be served at one go. There is a hot plate to keep the food warm but do be careful not to put your skewers on it for too long and it may burn your food. I would highly recommend the fried Spring Rolls with Pork & Seafood as they are really made of the Vienamese rice paper instead of our local popiah skin. Do eat it as soon as it is served. The stir fried noodles and fried rice are passable.

There are 4 signature meat and seafood skewers - Lemongrass Chicken, Hanoi Pork Skewer, Hanoi Tumeric Fish and Beef Wrapped with Cheese & Onion. The Hanoi Pork Skewer brought back fond memories of my trip to Vietnam. Pork slices held together by 2 charred sticks was how it is done back in Vietnam but with a much longer and thicker sticks. I enjoy the process of removing the meat, placing it onto the vegetables and in it goes into my mouth! Every grilled skewer has it own unique individual marinate. However, you may still spice up your skewers by dipping them into either of the 4 specialty Wrap & Roll sauces given. Among the beef skewers available, the recommended beef with cheese & onion is indeed a better one as it is much more tender and juicer. The Chicken with Lime Leaves is just as good as the Lemongrass Chicken. The meats were tender and the hint of the lemongrass and lime leaves elevates the flavours.

Don't neglect the vegetables skewers! They complement the meat and balance up the meal. It's so rare to find grilled pineapples on the menu but it is offered here. It goes so well with any grilled meat, just like that of burgers! Grilled shiitake mushrooms is of course always welcome, and the grilled capsicums is great with chicken.

The waiting time for the food can be quite long, perhaps the team has yet gotten the hang of the new launch. So do pace your ordering well, especially when the buffet is limited to 90 minutes. $22.90 on weekdays, $24.90 on weekends.

Words and photos by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Wrap & Roll
ION Orchard
2 Orchard Turn
#B3-19
Singapore 238801
Tel: +65 65091555
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 10am - 10pm

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

Uncle Ho Tuckshop @ Pasir Panjang Road - Eat Like President Obama

Having been staying in the West for up to 2 years, it was only recently that I get to know that there was a Vietnamese restaurant near my place. I was researching where I can find Bun Cha in Singapore, the very dish that President Obama had with Anthony Bourdain in Hanoi. Uncle Ho Tuckshop is actually located off the West Coast Highlight, along Pasir Panjang Road inside a commercial building. It is off the main road, no wonder I have never spot the restaurant all this time.

Fried Spring Roll 4.2/5

We started will some Fried Spring Roll ($8.50) for lunch before our mains. The spring rolls were crispy and stuffed with minced meat. The full flavour and texture enjoyment is always my choice over the Vietnamese spring roll which I find it too bland to my liking.

Pho Beef Combo 4/5

A typical dish that I will always order when I visit a Vietnamese restaurant is the Pho Beef ($9.90). I had the combo which comes with beef slices and beef meatball. The sweet broth, smooth rice noodles and the fresh ingredients all came together for a comforting and hearty dish. A little disappointment is that the pho beef does not come with sides of beansprouts and mint leaves.

Hanoi Bun Cha 4/5

For Vietnamese cuisine, we are more familiar with their spring roll, banh mi and pho. However President Obama has made Hanoi Bun Cha popular to the world. This is my first time having the Hanoi Bun Cha ($12.90) in which the rice vermicelli and sweet soup is served separately.

The sweet soup comes with a mixture of vegetables, onions, grilled pork belly and grilled meatball. Some chopped chillies are added into the soup for a spicy kick. To eat, we have to dip the rice vermicelli into the soup, coating the noodles with the sweetness, for a slurping goodness. For me, the real highlight of bun cha is the grilled meatball which is well seasoned, flavourful and juicy.

Overall, the food at Uncle Ho Tuckshop is above average and it is wallet friendly. On top of that, the relax and casual dining is quite cozy during my visit on a Saturday afternoon. I would probably go back and try their banh mi in my next visit.


Uncle Ho Tuckshop
100 Pasir Panjang Road
#01-04
Singapore 118518
Tel: +65 96245791
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Pasir Panjang (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 11am - 9pm
Sat: 11am - 3pm
(Closed on Sun & PH)

Direction:
1) Alight at Pasir Panjang MRT station. Take Exit A. Cross the road. Walk down West Coast Highway along the traffic. Turn left onto Pasir Panjang Road. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Town Restaurant @ Fullerton Hotel Singapore - "Tastes of Taiwan” Buffet Dinner Promotion

Town Restaurant at The Fullerton Hotel, will be hosting Guest Chef Chia-Mo Chen, who will be bringing an extensive range of authentic Taiwanese dishes to their dinner buffet selection from 8 June to 17 June 2016.

Fresh Squid with Five-Spice Sauce 3.5/5

Pumpkin with Passion Fruit 3.5/5

Beginning with appetizers, I went for their Fresh Squid with Five-Spice Sauce (五味鲜鱿) and Pumpkin with Passion Fruit. The smoky five-spice sauce made an ideal companion to the mild tasting squid, and its crunchy texture made it even tastier. Along the same line, the thinly sliced pumpkin was exceptionally crunchy and refreshing with the tangy passion fruit.

Pineapple Spare Ribs with Orange Sauce 4/5

From the hot dishes, you get to try a range of selections specially executed by Chef Chia-Mo Chen. One of my favourites is his Pineapple Spare Ribs with Orange Sauce (橙汁凤梨骨). Under a thin coat of batter, the spare ribs remained juicy, and I hardly tasted any porkiness. The orange sauce dressed the meat with a mild sweetness, with chunks of pineapple to cut away any greasiness, not that there was any actually.

Three-Cup Chicken 3.8/5

Their Three-Cup Chicken (台湾三杯鸡) is definitely a crowd pleaser. Cooked with soy sauce, sesame oil and Chinese rice wine, I find the taste pretty balanced without being overly sweet.

Fried Rice with Sakura Shrimps 4/5

When there are so many sumptuous looking dishes, many might just give this unassuming pot of Fried Rice with Sakura Shrimps a miss. I'm glad that I didn't miss this pot of gem. Imported from Taiwan, the sakura shrimps gave punches of flavours to the fried rice, akin to our commonly used dried shrimps but minus away the salt. The rice was single-grainy and fragrant with wok hei.

Taiwanese Deep Fried XL Chicken 3.5/5

Other than fried rice, I would recommend their Fried Bean Noodles. I enjoy the lightness of the noodles, like I would of an egg pasta. It carried a mild sweetness lent from the pumpkin which was not at all overwhelmed by the dried shrimps.

Deep Fried Spring Roll, Deep Fried Shrimp Patties, Fried Bean Noodles with Pumpkin 3.5/5

At the buffet spread you also get to savour the Taiwanese Deep Fried XL Chicken in a dainty fashion. Equally delightful fried snacks would be their Deep Fried Spring Roll and Deep Fried Shrimp Patties with Sugarcane & Almond. The stuffing and patties, filled with fresh shrimps were lightly seasoned allowing me to appreciate the sweetness of the shrimps.

Barbequed Pork Belly and Hakka Salted Pork Belly 4/5

At the carving station, the stars are the pork bellies. Instead of having the Barbequed Pork Belly with Bun, I decided to try their Hakka Salted Pork Belly sandwiched in the steamed bun.

Hakka Salted Pork Belly 4/5

There was a lot of visual calories just by looking at the chef slicing up the crispy salted pork belly. The pickled bamboo shoots accompanying the meat balanced the meatiness and fats, and added to the shiok factor with its crunchiness.

Oyster Vermicelli 3.8/5

From the Live Station, a must-try is the Oyster Vermicelli (蚵仔面线). According to Chef, vermicelli from Taiwan is brown in colour and more resilient than those used locally. Local vermicelli is cream in colour and more prone to turning soggy after being cooked. I like the addition of bamboo shoots strips and mushrooms in the dish, and that its consistency is much less gluey than those commonly available.

Fried Sesame Balls, Taiwan Mochi 3.8/5

Though their western desserts' station was extensive and alluring, but for me, it is the Taiwanese Dessert station that won me over. The Taiwan Mochi (Glutinous riceballs 台湾麻糬) was pillowy, sweet and comforting. What is also popular here is the Jiu Fen Taro Ball (九份芋圆), a signature dessert that hails from Jiufen in Northern Taiwan. You can spruce up your bowl of blissful sweetness with the side ingredients lined up for you, such as lotus seeds, greenbean, redbeans, crushed peanut etc.

I learnt that Chef Chen's passion for culinary also extends to writing, where he published several cookbooks featuring a collection of recipes that honour the flavours of traditional Taiwanese food, oil-free cuisine and homemade dishes. Its no wonder that the dishes which I had tried, be it stir-fried or deep fried, I didn't feel overloaded at all.

Town Restaurant’s ‘Tastes of Taiwan’ Dinner Buffet 
Date: 8 - 17 June 2016 (Sun to Tue)
Time: 630pm to 1030pm
Price:
Sun to Tue
Adult $56 Child $26
Adult $69 Child $34 (with seafood selection)
Wed to Sat
Adult $89 Child $44 (with barbecue buffet and a free flow draught beer and Singapore Sling)
*Prices are subject to service charge and prevailing government. Children age between the ages of 6 and 11 years old

Written By Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food.


Town Restaurant
The Fullerton Hotel Singapore
1 Fullerton Square
Singapore 049178
Tel: +65 68778188
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Raffles Place (EW Line, NS Line)

Direction:
1) Alight at Raffles Place MRT Station. Take Exit H. Turn right and walk towards the river. At the river, turn right again and walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]