Bliss Restaurant @ Cheng San Community Club

Bliss Restaurant which used to be at Punggol Park has been relocated to Ang Mo Kio at Cheng San Community Club. Nestled in the heartland, I am quite surprised to find the 300 seaters restaurant surrounded by cozy greenery surrounding among the blocks of HDB flats. The restaurant offers both an alfesco and air conditioned dining area with a very extensive menu that is as thich as a textbook. It was overwhelmed and I have to get the staff for recommendation.

Top Shell 4/5

The Top Shell ($7.90) tossed with chilli marinade has a refreshing spicy and tangy flavour tantalizing the appetite. It is also a good snack to go with beer.

Mussel in White Wine 4.5/5

The Mussel in White Wine ($13.90) comes with a a dozen of half shell mussels cooked in white wine, topped with garlic and parsley. The fresh and fat mussels eaten with the garlic and white wine broth was simply heavenly.

Durian Gold Rush 4/5

It is either you love it or hate it for the Durian Gold Rush ($6.90). I love durian so I am excited to have this. The unadulterated pure durian plups was deep fried with batter. The batter was not too thick hence the full flavour of the durian can be enjoyed. It has to be eaten hot so as to enjoy the crisp of the batter.

Air Flown Ribeye Steak 4/5

The Air Flown Ribeye Steak ($16.90) accompanied with baby potatoes and greens is served on a sizzling hot plate. Cheddar Cheese is also melted over the ribeye for extra flavour. It was cooked perfect to my medium request. It was a good steak but not premium. Nevertheless for the portion that is served, it is very value for money.

Aglio Olio Smoked Pepper Duck Spaghetti 4.2/5

If you order the pasta dish, you can have a choice of either spaghetti or squid ink tagliatelle. For the sauce you can go for the rich cream sauce, tomatoes marinara sauce or aglio olio. I went for the Aglio Olio Smoked Pepper Duck Spaghetti ($12.90). The spgahetti was cooked al dente with a nice bite. The Smoked Pepper Duck was beautiful, pink and succulent.

Deadly K Meet Mr. Dark 4.2/5

This alcoholic sundae has an interesting name, Deadly K Meet Mr. Dark ($7.90). Deadly K for Kahlua and Mr Dark for Dark Chocolate. Served in a glass with dark chocolate ice cream swimming in kahlua bath, chunky rich brownie cubes and chocolate fudge hit the perfect note wrapping up the dinner in a sweet note.

I am actually quite delighted to discover where Bliss Restaurant has relocated to. I also envy the people staying at Ang Mo Kio where they are only a doorstep away from the cozy dining place with great and affordable food. Bliss also provides catering services too.


Bliss Restaurant
Cheng San Community Club
6 Ang Mo Kio Street 53
#01-01
Singapore 569205
Tel: +65 62803389
Website: http://www.blissrestaurant.com.sg/
Nearest MRT: Ang Mo Kio (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 3pm - 12am
Fri-Sat: 3pm - 2am
Sun: 3pm - 12am

Direction:
1) Alight at Ang Mo Kio MRT station. Take Exit B. Follow the covered walkway along Ang Mo Kio Ave 8. At the end of  the walkway. turn right (tunnel like path) to the back (other side) of the MRT station and follow the covered walkway along the MRT track to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes.

DANRO Japanese Hot Pot @ Serangoon NEX

I was quite excited when I heard about DANRO Japanese Hot Pot opening near my neighbourhood at Serangoon Central. It is a new concept from Ministry of Food (MOF). Danro is the Japanese word for 暖炉 which means steamboat and the restaurant specialises in nabemono referring to all varieties of Japanese hot pot dishes. This is the first hot pot restaurant in Singapore serving specialty hot pots from the different regions in Japan.

photo credit: MOF

Singaporean has been introduced to ramen from different regions in Japan and many ramen outlets/restaurants have also opened here. The new concept of MOF introduces Singaporean to the hot pots from the different regions (Nagoya, Kyoto, Hokkaido, Akita, Tokyo, Nara, Shikoku, Fukuoka and Osaka) in Japan. Currently Danro offers customers a choice of 8 different broth namely, Wafu, Wafu Miso, Chicken Miso, Tonkotsu, Chicken & Milk, Chicken Spicy, Chicken Paitan and Tonkotsu Miso.

By the way it is Eat ALL YOU CAN BUFFET at DANRO Japanese Hot Pot. Singaporean loves buffet isn't it? The buffet counter offers an extensive selections of steamboat items ranging from seafood, meats, greens, many others steamboat ingredients, cooked food and desserts.

Hot Pot Ingredients

Beef and Pork

The thinly sliced beef and pork are eaten shabu shabu style  Maybe I was too hungry, I just throw them all inside the hot pot. Anyway, it is free flow. I just need to go to the buffet counter to get more.

Goma and Ponzu Sauce

For a good hot pot meal, besides the broth and ingredients the dipping sauce is as important for the perfect meal. The Goma sauce goes well with white meat while the Ponzu sauce enriched the flavour of red meat. DANRO has also specially prepared sambal chill sauce for locals who have specifically requested for this house favourite and it was also my favourite. I was totally sold.

Fresh Cold Prawn

New on the buffet counter spread is the Cold Prawn. Two ways of eating it. It can be thrown into the hot pot or just have it cold.

Spicy Chicken and Tonkosu Soup Base

DANRO uses the Ying Yang pot or what we called the half-half pot so customers can get to have choices and try the 8 different broth. I got to try the following soup base, Spicy Chicken, Tonkotsu, Chicken & Milk and Chicken Miso. Accordingly to the restaurant, Singaporean prefers the chicken and pork soup base. Wafu broth is more suitable for the Japanese palate, the local may not be able to appreciate it. My favourite among the 4 soup base I tried was Chicken & Milk.

The Japanese has hot pot with Kiritanpo (grilled rice skewer) which is a culture and tradition in Japan. Kiri means cut and tanpo means rick stick. DANRO is probably the first restaurant in Singapore to be serving this tradition Japanese food and it is complimentary for each table. Currently DANRO serves the original and miso flavour kiritanpo.

Kiritanpo is freshly handmade in the kitchen and labour intensive.  The freshly cooked Japanese rice is first pound and mash, form cylinder sticks by hand, brush special sweet sauce and miso for flavour and toasted on an open fire till the exterior is slightly crisp. The rick sticks can be dipped into the hot pot soup or enjoyed with one of DANRO's specially made dips.

We know that having steamboat takes a bit of patient for the raw ingredients to be cooked. If you are really very hungry, wary not as the buffet counter also comes with cooked food. I am not sure what is the Japanese name for the 2 dishes above so typical local term I called them the Japanese Yong Tau Foo and Japanese BaK Kut Teh.

DANRO also has a section offering deep fried food. Besides the adult, the section will be a delight for families with children.

It is a Japanese restaurant hence inevitable there is also Sushi at the buffet spread.

There is also a dessert section offering delish desserts such as jelly, cakes, ice cream and fruits.

In Japan, having hotpot with handmade kiritanpo has a significance of reunion. DANRO hopes to keep this authentically traditional to promote the culture of "nabe wo kakomu" which means sitting around the pot, providing premium quality Japanese good at affordable price for family and friends to get together. To encourage this, there are special rates for senior citizens and children.

Weekday Lunch / Dinner
Adult: $16.90++ / $22.90++
Children (12 years & below): $9.90++ / $9.90++
Seniors (60 years & above): $13.90++ /$18.90++
Students : $14.90++ / $18.90++
Members: $14.90++ / $20.90++

Weekend Lunch / Dinner
Adult: $20.90++ / $24.90++
Children (12 years & below): $9.90++ / $9.90++
Seniors (60 years & above): $18.90++ /$20.90++
Students : $18.90++ / $22.90++
Members: $18.90++ / $22.90++


DANRO Japanese Hot Pot
Serangoon NEX
23 Serangoon Central
#02-04/06
Singapore 556083
Tel: +65 66344608
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DanroSingapore
Website: http://www.ministryoffood.com.sg
Nearest MRT: Serangoon (CC Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun & PH: 1130am - 330pm, 530pm - 10pm
Fri-Sat & Eve PH: 1130am - 330pm, 530pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Serangoon MRT station. Take Exit B, E, H or G. Walk to Nex Shopping Mall Level 2 opposite Courts. Journey time about 3 minutes.