Tuesday, January 7, 2014

W39 Bistro & Bakery @ Jalan Mas Puteh (West Coast Road)

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People staying in the West must be rejoiced when the relax, casual and chirpy cafe opened in their neighbourhood. The place has a lazy but yet sunshine ambience with its white, blue and yellow themed cafe. W39 Bistro & Bakery is hidden from the main street, the cafe is located away from the hustle and bustle of the daily grind.

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Caffe Latte 4.2/5 Ribena Lemon Twist 4/5

I ordered a cup of Caffee Latte ($4.50) which was strong, bittersweet but not overly acidic. While my partner has refreshing Ribena Lemon Twist ($4.50).

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Wagyu Burger 4/5

As I was pretty hungry, I had the Wagyu Burger ($20) with fries. The wagyu patty was quite juicy but I thought I can be more flavourful and cheesy. I like my burger to be messy.

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Salted Caramel Cake 4/5

My partner has the Salted Caramel Cake ($6.80) which I took a few bites. Many of my friends will know not I am not a dessert, pastry or cake person. The fact that I will go back for a few bites mean that the cake was good. It was not too sweet, nicely balanced in flavour, dense and moist.

The cozy cafe is one of the better cafes I have visited so far. The ambience, food and coffee got all the ticks in my scorecard. If not for the fact that I stay in the East, I would probably be spotted regularly at W39 Bistro & Bakery.


W39 Bistro & Bakery
39 Jalan Mas Puteh
Singapore 128637
Tel: +65 95465372
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/W39Bistro
Website: http://www.w39bistro.com/
Nearest MRT: Clementi (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Fri: 11am - 10pm
Sat-Sun & PH: 9am - 1030pm
(Closed on Mon except on PH)

Direction: 
1) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to bus stop at Clementi MRT station (Stop ID 17171). Take bus number 78. Alight 3 stops later. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Clementi MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Clementi Bus Interchange (Stop ID 17009). Take bus number 285. Alight 3 stops later. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

Monday, January 6, 2014

Crystal Jade Golden Palace (翡翠金阁) @ Paragon

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Mentioned Crystal Jade and many may known as a household name in Singapore. However many may not know that Crystal Jade has actually 22 concepts with over 120 outlets in 19 major cities in Asia Pacific region and the United States. One of these is the fine dining concept at Crystal Jade Golden Palace located on the fifth floor of Paragon in Orchard. To welcome the year of the horse, the themes of the lunar new year menu is health, wealth and prosperity featuring seasonal delicacies from around the world done with a light, contemporary touch using premium, fresh and nutritious ingredients.

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Hearty Five Treasure Yusheng 4/5

A staple Lunar New Year dish is the Yusheng to usher in the year of the spirited horse. Crystal Jade Golden Palace has brought back the Hearty Five Treasure Yusheng ($78.80/$128.80) after its successful debut in 2012. The auspicious dish comes with healthy vegetable salad, energy giving pine nuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, white sesame, peanuts and slices of fresh mango. Fresh salmon and premium amberjack fish slices topped with gold leaf flakes are drizzled with Crystal Jade's special plum sauce and hazelnut oil for a toss to abundant wealth and health in the Year of the Horse.

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Deep Fried Japanese Amadai 3/5

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Deep Fried Japanese Amadai 3/5

The Japanese Amadai ($5.50/37.5gram) is a small and elegant fish specially imported from Japan. Deep fried to golden brown and sprinkled with shichimi powder, it is enjoyed together with the crispy shimmering scales to resemble a field of gold. It was quite interesting to eat the deep fried Japanese amadai together with its scale. While I appreciated the texture, I thought the execution was lacking in flavour. I was actually hoping that there was a sauce to give the dish a much needed lift in flavour.

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Stewed Canadian Lobster 4/5

Using the yin and yang style of cooking, the Canadian Lobster ($11/100gram) is first seared in hot oil and then gently simmered in superior stock containing halibut. The luscious firm white flesh of the lobster was sweet with mildly infused with the sweet taste of halibut.

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Sauteed Kurobuta Pork Strips 3.5/5

The Sauteed Kurobuta Pork Strips ($32) uses premium Kurobuta pork from Japan. The rich and juicy pork is sauteed with assorted mushroom, capsicums and cordycep flower. Using organic raw extra virgin coconut oil from Thailand, it gave the dish a light, fragrant and creamy finishing.

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Braised Sea Cucumber and Scallop with Barley 4.5/5

The Braised Sea Cucumber and Scallop with Barley ($38) is a good and healthy substitute to the usual fried rice or glutinous rice served in Chinese restaurants. Cooked in a special sauce, the barley was infused with beautiful flavours and each mouth of has delightful bite to it.

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Festive Trio 4.2/5

Dinner ends with the Festive Trio of Steamed Black Eyed Pea Cake ($25.80), Steamed Glutinous Rice Cake ($23.80) lightly tossed with shredded coconut and peanuts and Pan Fried Carrot Cake ($25.80). These delectable cakes are available for takeaway at all Crystal Jade restaurants.


Crystal Jade Golden Palace (翡翠金阁)
Paragon
290 Orchard Road
#05-21/22/23/24
Singapore 238859
Tel: +65 67346866
Website: http://www.crystaljade.com/
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line), Somerset (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 10am - 11pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit C or D. Proceed to the road level. Walk down Orchard Road until the junction of Orchard Road and Orchard Link. Cross the road and walk to Paragon. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Somerset MRT station. Take Exit B. Proceed to the road level. Turn left on Orchard Road and walk down Orchard Road until junction of Orchard Road and Orchard Link. Cross the Road and walk to Paragon. Journey time about 12 minutes. [Map]