Lucky House Cantonese Private Kitchen (陶然居) @ Upper East Coast Road - A Wonderful 8-Course Private Dining By Self Taught Chef

Together with 10 other foodie friends and after waiting for a good 2 months, we finally get to check out Lucky House Cantonese Private Kitchen (陶然居) at Upper East Coast Road. The venue of the private dining is actually at Chef Sam Wong's home. It opens on weekday and every night he can only accept two table of guests. We paid $80 per pax for a 8-course meal.

There are 2 rooms at Chef Sam Wong's home. We are seated at the bigger room which can sit up to 16 guests. The small room sits around 8-10 pax. Don't worry, it is air-conditioned, so you can dine in comfort.

Chef Wong does welcome his guests to step into his kitchen. This is probably the kitchen where one's grandmother used to cook in. At Lucky House, this is where Chef Wong works his magic.

Charcoal Boiled Pork Shoulder, Arrow Root and Peanut Soup 3.5/5

Our first dish is the Charcoal Boiled Pork Shoulder, Arrow Root and Peanut Soup. This has been slow cooked over charcoal fire for hours. Accordingly to Chef Wong, he used 3 batches of charcoal to cook this pot of soup. No salt is used either. For some, this may taste a little bland but I actually enjoyed the natural flavours extracted from the different ingredients and herbs.

Steamed Wild Caught Red Garoupa 4.2/5

I noticed Chef Wong was frying the shallots before drizzling them over the the Steamed Wild Caught Red Garoupa. It gives the fish a beautiful aroma, complementing the freshness of the wild caught fish.

Concubine Chicken 4.5/5

I not sure why the dish is called Concubine Chicken but the sight of it just makes me want to sink my teeth into them. The flavoursome chicken was tender and juicy. One of my favourite dishes of the night.

Fried Prawn with Rose Liqueur 4/5

The Fried Prawn with Rose Liqueur was plump, huge and crunchy. I find the seasoning a bit heavy for this dish but it goes well with a bowl of plain rice.

Lucky House Roasted Duck 4.5/5

A signature is the Lucky House Roasted Duck. The duck is marinated in fish sauce and soy sauce for 2 days and air dried. It is then charcoal grilled in his hand-built oven. The result is smokiness, crispy skin and tender meat.

Fried Organic Vegetable 4.8/5

Chef Wong doesn't like to use salt and garlic in his cooking. Hence we are surprised how sweet the Fried Organic Vegetable tasted. He shared that he uses fish sauce in placed of salt. On top of that, these vegetables are freshly harvested from a local farm.

Crayfish Omelette 5/5

The dining group's favourite dish has to be the Crayfish Omelette. I think we all have the initial thought that it is just a simple egg omelette dish. Never did we expect that the fluffy egg cooked to golden brown with chunky crayfish meat is such a perfect match. It has brought my love of egg omelette to a whole new level.

Shandong Peanuts and Kidney Beans Soup 4/5

Wrapping up our dining is the Shandong Peanuts and Kidney Beans Soup. Mildly sweetened with the used of rock sugar, I enjoyed the nutty soup which is quite refreshing after all the richness from the previous dishes. It is like have a cup of tea after a great meal.

For those that is hoping to dine at Lucky House Cantonese Private Kitchen, you have to be patient as the reservation is up to a good 2-3 months now. For those driving, parking is very limited. You have to park around Evergeen Gardens private estate. You are also welcome to bring your own wine as there are no corkage here.


Lucky House Cantonese Private Kitchen (陶然居)
267 Upper East Coast Road
Singapore 466413
Tel: +65 98237268
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Nearest MRT: Bedok (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 630pm - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Bedok MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Bus Stop at Bedok MRT station (Stop ID 84039). Take bus number 137. Alight 4 stops later. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

Don Don Donki @ Orchard Central – Don Quijote Launches First Flagship Store In Singapore

Japanese discount store Don Quijote partnered with its holding company for overseas operations, Pan Pacific International Holdings Pte Ltd to launch its first ever Southeast Asian store outside of Japan, Don Don Donki store in Orchard Central which is opened to the public from 1st December 2017. Aimed to position itself as the "Japanese Brand Specialist" by offering products that are either made or designed in Japan, it also curates a unique retail experience with focuses on convenience, quality and price affordability through the store's refreshing concept and design.

Occupying a double-storey retail space that spans 1,397 sq m at basement B1 and B2 of the mall, it operates 24 hours, seven days a week, and features a wide array of authentic Japanese merchandise that define the Donki experience, yet carefully selected to suit local preferences. The broad diversity of products, estimated at a jaw-dropping 30,000 items ranges from daily household items, cosmetics, stationery, kitchen goods, novelty items to fresh foods and beverages amongst many others. One would be able to find almost anything at Don Don Donki. It's akin to the Japanese version of Singapore's Mustafa.

A Hokkaido themed retail experience is adopted, having a third of its specialty offerings curated from Hokkaido, including fresh meat, fish and produce such as the Tokachi Beef. The bottom basement level boasts a mega huge super mart filled with a wide variety of fresh meat produce, such as packages of fresh seafood and premium cuts of beef, Tokachi Hokkaido Wagyu (Kobe) beef at $20 per 100g which is imported directly from Japan. We tasted a sample of it during the media preview. With a texture so tender and succulent that just melts in the mouth with each bite, it is definitely more than enough to warrant return purchases for their fresh meats.

Don Don Donki also features a ready to eat section with bento boxes, onigiri and gelato made from Hokkaido milk, where customers can purchase and immediately tuck into these takeaways.

Fruits and vegetables are restocked daily to ensure its freshness. The myriad of colourful fresh produce on display showcases a very rare variety of Japanese such as the Mutsu and Kurenaino Yame. They come in mega sizes and are priced at $2.90 each. The sweetness, sourness and hardness levels of each apple variety are displayed on the signboards for customers to differentiate and make their most preferred choice.

A plethora of Japanese nibbles occupying rows and rows of shelves would definitely render shoppers spoilt for choices with the huge varieties of snack items available. It is akin to heaven for all kids and adults alike.

The drinks section features a variety of Japanese alcoholic drinks, as well as non alcoholic ones such as the juices and soy milk beverages. If you’re brave enough, do try their Natto Sodas and Salty Squid drinks, which are labelled as the most disgusting drinks in Japan.

The second storey of Don Don Donki features essentials, household items, cosmetics, luggage, stationery, as well as toy plushies, quirky accessories, costumes and party goods. The section which would most possibly trigger potential impulse buys, you might spend more time exploring the multitude of interesting items that they have there than you intended to.

With the festive season just around the corner, the shelves are piled high with Christmas goods, decorations and festive wear. This is the perfect place to do some of your Christmas shopping, and just in time too!

In partnership with Hokkaido Marche, a dine-in space will be rolled out in Jan 2018 to further enhance the true Hokkaido dining experience. The exact opening hours for Hokkaido Marche will be confirmed nearer to the opening date. Good new is that Don Don Donki is set to open a second outlet in Tanjong Pagar mid-June 2018. There are also plans for further expansion into Asia, with a store launching in Thailand next December.

Words and photos 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.


Don Don Donki
Orchard Central
181 Orchard Road
Singapore 238896
#B1-15 to #B1-29,
#B2-01 to #B2-10,
#B2-30 to #B2-43
Tel: +65 69283043
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Somerset (NS Line)

Opening Hours: 
Daily: 24 Hours

Direction:
Alight at Somerset MRT station. Take Exit C or D. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Full of Luck Club @ Holland Village - Launches New Menu Showcasing Progressive Cantonese Cuisine

Full of Luck Club at Holland Village is a modern Cantonese restaurant that subverts the traditional style of Chinese dining. Hues and pastel colours set for a cheerful and jazzy mood, aligning with its hip Cantonese bites and beverages. With that direction in mind, it has launched new selections of Chinese baos, beverages and items from its Signature and Prestigious set menus.

Green Tea Macchiato 3/5

I ditched my usual cup of Chinese tea and opted for its Green Tea Macchiato ($12) to go with the dishes. To fully appreciate tea macchiato, one is advised to sip the tea directly from the glass instead of using a draw. That allows the respective layer to greet your taste buds individually before harmonising each other. Mine is a simple concoction of Emperor's tea infused with gin, tea, milk foam. This macchiato tea series is inspired by Taiwanese beverages. Though the drinks are quite creative especially when I like tea cocktails, I don't quite see how this gel with the theme.

Huat Huat Fried Chicken Bao 4/5

The Bao series is one of the most popular items here especially back when modern mantou was on the roll last year. The bao here have taken on a slider form, so that diners get to try more flavours. Huat Huat Fried Chicken Bao ($3.50) is the latest creation. I thought it looks really adorable, like a puffed-up fried chicken burger. The kimchi sauce really gives this bao a strong identity with its robust flavour. The fried chicken was tender and moist with just a thin deep fried crust.

Flowers of Life 3.8/5

Flowers Of Life ($7.50) is a light bite with a TCM twist. These fried cordycep flowers are made moreish with house made seasonings. The most common substitutes would be enoki or mushroom fries hence I find this quite a brilliant dish. The taste is right and it suits the oriental theme too.

Chef's Signature Honey Glazed Char Siew, Genghis Khan Premium Pork Rib 4/5

Roast meats is a quintessential Cantonese dish and is usually the star of the restaurant. Both its Chef's Signature Honey Glazed Char Siew ($14) and Genghis Khan Premium Pork Rib ($18) are refine and rather exquisite in taste. The char siew came with a glistening sugar armour. It had a balance of meat and fats, neatly sealed up by a layer of caramelised sugar which bring the flavours together as it melted away in my mouth. As for the pork rib, although I'm not familiar with Mongolian sauce, this mildly spicy sauce did jazz up the pork rib quite a bit.

Crunchy Medley of Vegetables with Lilybulb 4.2/5

Balance your meal with a plate of its nourishing Crunchy Medley of Vegetables with Lilybulb ($12). I love ginko and it's rather rare to find them in a savoury dish. For stir fried dishes, wok hei is like your umami that adds dimension to the flavour but that comes only when the chefs are highly skilled. And indeed they are in here.

Yuan Yang Hor Fun 3.5/5

The same goes for its Yuan Yang Hor Fun ($16). The wok hei is very pronounced in the stir fried hor fun. The fried hor fun atop gave the dish its crunchiness, along with a good portion of fish slices, leafy greens and beansprouts.

Sakura Ebi Fried Rice 4/5

I enjoyed the Sakura Ebi Fried Rice ($14) a lot. Each grain is neatly separated, loaded with crunchy cubed fresh prawns. Both sakura ebi and tobiko can be quite salty but as there's minimum seasoning in the fried rice, both flavoured the rice just right.

Osmanthus Raindrop Cake 2.5/5

For desserts, I was hoping for some good Cantonese homemade desserts. However, since this is a modern Cantonese place, you will get desserts such as my Osmanthus Raindrop Cake. I thought it is rather blend and a waste of effort. Perhaps, traditional Cantonese desserts may still be the team's forte.

Prosperity Shooter 3.8/5

Ended the meal with a Prosperity Shooter ($16 for 2) which is supposed to aid digestion with its mint infused vodka, fermented pineapple, basil and yakult foam. I love it! It may be a bit strong but very refreshing.

Presentations may have changed but the essence of Cantonese food is pretty much still there. It reminds me a lot of the Asian fusion restaurants and bars that I patronised in Melbourne, which imbue a strong underground vibe within. Perhaps, Full of Luck Club could be slightly naughtier to fully stand out among the Chinese restaurants that dominate the area.

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.


Full Of Luck Club
243 Holland Ave
Singapore 278977
Tel: +65 62086845
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Holland Village (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 11am - 11pm
Fri-Sat: 11am - 1am

Direction:
1) Alight at Holland Village MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn left and walk to destination. Journey time about 2 minutes. [Map]

Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant @ Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium - Unveils New Executive Chinese Chef & New Signature Dishes

The popular Chinese restaurant at Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium, Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant has recently undergone refurbishment spotting a brighter interior. At the same time, the restaurant welcomes new Executive Chinese Chef Chan Shun Wong and new dishes that showcases modern Cantonese cuisine.

Xin's Signature Home-style Roast Duck with Tea Leaves 3.8/5

Our dinner at the newly refurbished restaurant started with the Xin's Signature Home-style Roast Duck with Tea Leaves ($32 half duck/ $58 whole duck). The duck is first smoked in a medley of Pu-Er, Chrysanthemum and Jasmine leaves before roasting. The result is having a layer of crispy duck skin on top of the tender meat. I personally felt that the aroma of the tea leaves can be stronger.

Poached Clams 4/5

The Poached Clams ($22 Small/ $33 Medium/ $42 Large) comes with sweet and juicy clams, served with preserved vegetables, shredded snow fungus, bamboo pith and crowned with shredded ginger. A dash of premium Chinese wine is added to boost the flavour. When we took a sip of the broth, we thought it tasted like salted duck soup. I would say this is rather unique as I was expecting a seafood based broth.

Deep Fried Prawns coated with Yuzu Mayonnaise 4/5

Next we had the Deep Fried Prawn coated with Yuzu Mayonnaise ($10 per portion/ $26 Small/ $39 Medium/ $50 Large). The succulent prawn has a coat of crispy thin batter complemented by the yuzu mayonnaise. A well balanced execution.

Hong Kong Kai Lan with Preserved Vegetables 4.2/5

I dish that I wished for more is the Hong Kong Kai Lan with Preserved Vegetables. The highlight was actually the preserved vegetables. I was wishing that there was some braised pork belly to go with the preserved vegetables.

Stir Fried Wagyu Beef Cubes with Black Pepper and Longan 4.2/5

The Stir Fried Wagyu Beef Cubes with Black Pepper and Longan ($36 Small/ $55 Medium/ $72 Large) gives the tender and juicy wagyu beef cubes a peppery kick while the longan provides a delightful tartness to the finishing.

Poached Rice with Seafood in Superior Broth served with Crispy Rice 4.5/5

A signature item on the menu is the Poached Rice with Seafood in Superior Broth served with Crispy Rice ($14/portion). Poached rice which has absorbed the essence of the superior broth is served with morsels of scallops, prawns and compoy. Diners can pour the crispy rice served at the side into the pot of broth, for a harmony of texture enjoyment. It was pleasing and comforting.

Chilled Mango Coulis and Hashima 4.5/5, Fried Sesame Ball 4/5

Wrapping up the dinner, we had the Chilled Mango Coulis and Hashima as well as the Fried Sesame Ball with Red Bean and Liqueur Chocolate Filling. The cold dessert was very refreshing while the hot dessert was aromatic with a surprise interior burst of flavours from the red bean and liqueur chocolate filling.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant
Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium
317 Outram Road
Singapore 169075
Tel: +65 67317173
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Tiong Bahru (EW Line)

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

Direction:
1) Alight at Tiong Bahru MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Tiong Bahru MRT station (Stop ID 10169). Take bus number 123. Alight 4 stops later. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

Na Na Original Thai Food @ Clementi Road - The Popular Golden Mile Complex Restaurant Has Opened A 2nd Branch In The West

Great news for folks staying in the West, the popular Na Na Original Thai Food at Golden Mile Complex has opened a second branch at Clementi Road, at the stretch of shop houses beside Kent Ridge Bus Terminal. It has taken over the space of Fei Fei Wanton Mee. Great to see the change as the wanton mee was nothing close to the original one in Joo Chiat.

Papaya Salad 3.5/5

Our dinner started with the Papaya Salad ($6). The flavours hit the palate like a tank with its sweetness and spiciness, on top of crunchy papaya stripes. It definitely whetted up our appetite.

Phad Thai with Prawn 3/5

I could not say I actually enjoy the Phad Thai with Prawn ($5). The version was a little too sweet for me. It was also quite stingy in the ingredients, the whole plate looked very pathetic.

Red Curry Chicken 3/5

For our meat, we gone for the Red Curry Chicken ($8) which comes with chicken pieces, pineapple, tomato and eggplant. Do not be deceived by the red coloring of the curry, it is not spicy at all. It fact I find it diluted and sweet.

Stir Fried Kai Lan with Oyster Sauce 4/5

Lastly we had the Stir Fried Kai Lan with Oyster Sauce ($7) to complete the meal. This is probably the best executed dish, with the green retaining its crunchiness. On top of that the oyster sauce was balanced, not overly salty, complementing the earthy taste of the green.

During my visit, the kitchen was a bit chaotic with many tables getting impatient waiting for the food. I could not really blame them because it was only a few days to their opening. It probably needs more time to smooth out the operations. Food wise, I thought it was rather average. However the price point is reasonable cheap. By the way, the restaurant is 24 hours!


Na Na Original Thai Food
18 Clementi Road
Singapore 129747
Tel: +65 68732250
Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line), Haw Par Villa (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 24 Hours

Direction:
1) Alight at Haw Par Villa MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop opposite Har Paw MRT station (Stop ID 16011). Take bus number 10 or 200. Alight 8 stops later at Kent Ridge Bus Terminal. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Haw Par Villa MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop opposite Har Paw MRT station (Stop ID 16011). Take bus number 30, 51, 143 or 188. Alight 7 stops later. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

3) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk to bus stop at Clementi MRT station. (Stop ID 17179). Take bus number 183 or 201. Alight 7 stops later. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]