Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Shabu Sai @ Orchard Central

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A new eat all you can Shabu Shabu and Sukiyaki buffet, Shabu Sai has opened on the 8th floor of Orchard Central just a couple of steps away from Kiseki Japanese Buffet. Serving up 7 different soup base (Seaweed, Sukiyaki, Spicy, Curry Dashi, Tomato and Tonkotsu Shouyu) and an array of more than 60 items on the buffet spread. There is also a bi monthly special soup base for a limited period. This month's special is Yuzu Salt Beauty hotpot that is infused with with collagen goodness. Opened by the Creative Restaurants Holding, they are the same people behind Hifumi, Maccha House, Yukari, Chiso Zanmai and Hiramiya in Singapore.

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The design of the buffet spread area is quite interesting with cold air blowing out from the side keeping the raw ingredients fresh.

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The signature items at Shabu Sai are the pork, beef and chicken served in bamboo. It is known that the bamboo's anti bacterial properties help to protect the freshness of the minced meat.

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While waiting for the raw ingredients to be cooked, one may want to savour some sushi rolls and mini donburi while waiting.

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Of course the highlight is the meats at any Shabu Shabu and Sukiyaki buffet. The meats are not too thinly sliced and of pretty decent quality, can't complain much since it is free flow, eat all you can.

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Singapore loves their sauces and condiments when having hotpot or steamboat. A corner has also been set aside for patrons to mix and match their own sauces to their choice.

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Japanese Hotpot 2.8/5

During our visit, we managed to try all the seven soup bases but they were all disappointing. They were either too salty or bland. It is really a pity that the wallet friendly pricing with fresh and quality ingredients were lacked down by the lackluster soup bases. Even the bi monthly yuzu salt beauty hotpot was lacking in consistency, tasted salty for one table while another was fine. Unless the restaurant improves with the offering of their soup, safer to go for their bi monthly special soup base and remember to add on $1.99++ for the free flow of drinks and soft serve. You will need it to quench your thirst with all the saltiness.

Lunch
Weekdays (Mon-Fri)
Adult: $16.99++ Child*: $9.99++
Weekends and PH
Adult: $19.99++ Child*: $9.99++

Dinner 
Weekdays (Mon-Fri)
Adult: $24.99++ Child: $9.99++
Weekends and PH
Adult: $29.99++ Child: $9.99++

*Child between 5-9 years of age; those below the age of 4 dine for free


Shabu Sai
Orchard Central
181 ORchard Road
#08-09/10/11
Singapore 238896
Tel: +65 68846760
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/ShabusaiSingapore
Website: http://www.createrestaurants.com/en/
Nearest MRT: Somerset (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 1130am - 3pm, 6pm - 1030pm
Sat, Sun & PH: 1130am - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Somerset MRT station. Take Exit to Orchard Road. Turn right on Orchard along the flow of traffic. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes.

Monday, May 27, 2013

Singapore Favourite Food 2013 - Food Trail

Singapore Favourite Food Village - main visual

In conjunction with the 20th anniversary of Singapore Food Festival, the Singapore Food & Beverage Alliance (SFBA) will be celebrating Singapore's unique food heritage and pays homage to local culinary heroes with the Singapore Favourite Food Village (SFF Village) at Bayfront Avenue (Marina Bay) from 12 to 21 July 2013. The 10 day extravaganza, Singapore Favourite Food 2013 will showcase Singapore's favourite dishes such as chilli crab, carrot cake, rojak, laksa, roti prata and tau huay bringing together a selection of popular hawkers and eateries for this one time celebration. Apart from the 20 favourite vendors voted from the online poll, this unique village will also feature another 20 popular local favourite hawkers and eateries. Visitors will be spoilt for choice with a total of 40 different local favourite dishes to feast on.

Leading up to Singapore Favourite Food 2013, I was invited for a food trail to feast on some of Singapore favourite dishes and learn more about our rich culinary heritage. These are also the hawkers and eateries that is nominated for the online poll.

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Ri Ye Xiang Rojak

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Rojak

Our first stop is one of the oldest surviving Rojak stalls in Singapore. With 48 years of history since 1965, Mr Edward Koh (stall owner) has been preparing rojak since the age of 20. Rojak which means mixed in Malay is a dish born from our cultural diversity of Singapore incorporating both Chinese and Malay elements in the ingredients.

Ri Ye Xiang Rojak
Kopitiam
Blk 450 Clementi Ave 3
Singapore120450

Opening Hours:
Daily: 3pm - 11pm

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Leng Kee BBQ

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Fried Oyster Omelette

Second stop brought us to Bukit Timah Market & Food Centre for some Fried Oyster. Fried oyster used to be used by hawkers on rusty tri-cycle with 3 foot cast iron skillet rested above a makeshift wood fired stove which was fashioned out of an old oil drum. The Singapore version of fried oyster omelette uses a batter of oyster juice and sweet potato starch to achieve the crispiness, garnised with cilantro.

Leng Kee BBQ
Bukit Timah Market & Food Centre
51 Upper Bukit Timah Road
Stall 144
Singapore 588215

Opening Hours:
Daily: 3pm - 11pm

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Star Yong Kwang BBQ Seafood

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BBQ Sambal Stingray

The third stop is at Alexandra Village Food Centre for some Stingray. Chinese fishermen used to discard the fish but it was the Malay who discovered the juicy, fleshy wonders of stingray by cooking it in curry and coconut masala. The Chinese hawkers then adapted the dish by grilling it on banana leaves and heaped with spicy sambal, chilli, and shallots which is popularly enjoyed nowadays.

Star Yong Kwang BBQ Seafood
Alexandra Village Food Centre
120 Bukit Merah Lane 1
Stall #01-04
Singapore 150120

Opening Hours:
Daily: 4pm - 11pm

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Jin Jin Hot/Cold Dessert

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'Gangster' Durian Mango Ice 

Wrapping up the food trail on a sweet note, our last stop was at ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre. The work Gangster is a playful take of the mandarin term for the dessert, Liu Lian Mang Guo which sounds like the word gangster when shortened to just Liu Mang. The word Gangster is now a registered trademark and this iconic dessert of Mango Ice is laden with a generous scoop of durian puree and condensed milk.

Jin Jin Hot/Cold Dessert
ABC Brickworks Market & Food Centre
6 Jalan Bukit Merah
Stall #01-20
Singapore 150008
Website: http://www.jinjindessertclub.com/

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 12am


Vote Online For Your Favourite Local Vendors to be at SFF Village

Leading up to the Singapore Favourite Food Village, food lovers can vote online at http://sg.openrice.com/sff from now till 2 June 2013 for their favourite local vendor in each of the 20 categories featured this year shortlisted by the SFBA organising committee and advisory panel. Voters stand to win attractive prizes such as:

1st Prize: Singapore Favourite Food 2013 limited edition FlashPay Card worth $1,500
2nd Prize: One year supply of Taiwan Fruit Beear worth $1,200
3rd Prize: Zonin hamper of Italian Prosecco wines worth $500
Weekly Prizes: $100 cash vouchers. A total of 12 will be given out over four weeks.

Take Part in SFF Instagram Photo Contest

Singapore Favourite Food is also holding an Instagram photo contest from now till 30 June 2013. Foodies can simply upload photos of their favourite local dishes. The item must be part of te 20 dishes highlighted in SFF 2013 and hashtag their submissions with #SingaporeFavouriteFood2013. The best photos will win limited edition Singapore Favourite Food 2013 FlashPay Cards worth $12 each.