Rong Fu Ji Seafood Steam Pot (荣福季) @ The Grandstand

Singaporean loves eating seafood and steamboat. What if we bring the two of them together? Maybe Rong Fu Ji Seafood Steam Pot (荣福季) at The Grandstand is the perfect answer to it. Having tried a similar concept in Hong Kong using the steam from the pot to cook the fresh seafood, a group of friend gathered together and opened the very first Seafood Steam Pot concept in Singapore.

I was told the restaurant that does the same steam pot concept in Hong Kong has a wait list up to 6 weeks. I am glad that when I went there to celebrate my father-in-law's birthday, there was not a crowd as the restaurant is still in their soft launch phrase.

Flower Crab

We tried the 4-6 persons set menu 

($188) which comes with an abundance of seafood. There are Flower Crab, Scallop, Oyster, Bamboo Clam, Crayfish, Promfret and Tiger Prawn. That is really a lot of seafood on the table.

Scallop, Oyster, Bamboo Clam

Tiger Prawn

Promfret

Crayfish

Vegetable

Don't worry the set does not just consist of seafood only. The set menu comes with a Vegetable Platter that has Nai Bai Cabbage, Cabbage, Enokitake Mushroom and Sweet Corns.

There is also a choice of meat in the set menu. It comes with the choice of Beef Striploin or Special Black Pork Belly Slice.

There is no marination, preservative or artificial seasoning involved. Basically steamed the fresh seafood accordingly to the advised timing, usually around 3 to 5 minutes subject to the various ingredients. If you noticed the holes in the steam pot, this is to collect the essence of the ingredients as it drips down to the bottom of the pot.

My favourite among all the seafood, the crustaceans family all gathered for a good steaming sauna.

Not forgetting to have some vegetables for a balanced diet after all the seafood.

Besides the seafood and vegetable, the beef and pork selection provides a complete feast to the whole steam pot experience.

After all the seafood, vegetable and meat is cooked, the lid is removed to reveal a pot of porridge below the steam pot. Rice grains and dried scallop were placed inside the steam pot at the very beginning before eating. There is a bit of science here. Due to the evaporation and condensation theory, water is collected at the bottom of the steam pot. At the same time, the essence of the seafood, vegetable and meat also drip down. While we were cooking our seafood, vegetable and meat, the porridge below is also cooking at the same time.

To enjoy the porridge, an egg and spring onion are added before served. The bowl of porridge is hearty and comforting to finish off the meal. It is quite similar to the idea of having a cup of tea after a rich and heavy meal.

During my visit, I observe that the staff is still a bit clumsy but I am sure it will improve along the way since it was the soft launch stage where I visited. Although their dipping sauce is specially concocted for the steam pot,  I felt that the restaurant needs to provide a variety of dipping sauces for the demanding Singaporean palate.

Overall for the price that I am paying and the amount of seafood I get, I think it is quite worth it. In addition, no preservative or artificial seasoning is used. Just enjoying the seafood and other ingredients in its natural flavour, and finishing off in a bowl of hearty and comforting porridge.


[CLOSED]
Rong Fu Ji Seafood Steam Pot (荣福季)
The Grandstand
200 Turf Club Road
#01-14
Singapore 287994
Tel: +65 64633855
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Sixth Avenue (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 5pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Sixth Avenue MRT station. Take Exit A. Use the overhead bridge to exit B. Walk to Turf Club Road. Continue on Turf Club Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 20 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Sixth Avenue MRT station. Take Exit A. Use the overhead bridge to exit B. Walk down Dunearn Road towards Turf Club Road, to bus stop opposite Sixth Avenue Centre (Stop ID 42019). Wait for The Grandstand Shuttle Bus. 15 minutes. [Map]

3) Alight at Sixth Avenue MRT  station. Take Exit A. Walk down Bukit Timah Road. Walk to bus stop at Sixth Avenue Centre (Stop ID 42011). Wait for The Grandstand Shuttle Bus. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

Bo Lan Restaurant [Bangkok]

Having been to Bangkok on numerous occasions, I have yet to explore the fine dining scene in the Land of Smile. Accordingly to S.Pellegrino's Asia 50 Best Restaurant launched in 2013, several Thailand restaurants have been in the top 50 list every year. One of these restaurants is Bo Lan Restaurant in Bangok, Thailand, which I took the opportunity to visit during my recent trip.

Amuse Bouche

To keep things simple, we ordered the 4 Course Lunch Set ($980 baht per pax) which comes with a choice of starter, soup, stir fried and curry. Upon placing our order, we were served the Amuse Bouche. During our visit, the amuse bouche comes in a delicate glass of Thai Rice Noodle, Pineapple, Coconut, Dried Shrimp and Coconut Milk. Totally impressed with the combination of flavours showcasing the fundamental characteristic of Thai flavours.

The set menu actually only have a choice of two in the starter, soup, stir fried and curry, so it was quite a simple decision. We just choose each of them and get to have everything on the menu. For the first 4 course set menu, we have the Salad of Phang Nga Chicken, Wing Bean & Grilled Banana Blossom with Chilli Jam, Coconut Based Soup with Sustainable Seafood with a hint of Tumeric, Stir Fried Prawns with Paddy Oat Leaves and Red Curry of Phang Nga Chicken with Young Jackfruit.

For the other set menu, we had the Local Fern Salad & Phang Nga Bay Prawn with Shrimp Paste Dressing, Clear Soup with Chicken, Prawn and Young Coconut, Stir Fried Pork Neck with Andaman Shrimp Paste and Southern Style Yellow Curry with Pork Rib and Longan Fruit.

Last but not least the lunch experience is wrapped up with a refreshing Red Ruby Dessert with Jackfruit.

I am glad that I took the opportunity to visit for Bo Lan Restaurant for lunch. The 4 course set at $980 baht which is around $38 Singapore dollar is definitely worth every penny spent. The food was excellent, showcasing the refine side of Thai cuisine while still retaining the fundamental characteristic of Thai flavours. Furthermore it is easily accessible by the BTS station. However do make reservation to avoid disappointment since they are one of the top Asia restaurant after all.


Bo Lan Restaurant
24 Sukhumvit 53 Alley,
Khlong Tan Nuea,
Watthana,
Bangkok 10110,
Thailand
Tel: +66 2 260 2962
Facebook
Website
Nearest BTS: Thong Lor

Opening Hours
Tue-Fri: 6pm - 1am
Sat-Sun: 12pm - 2pm, 6pm - 1am

Direction: 
1) Alight at Thong Lor BTS station. Take Exit 1. Walk straight towards Sukhumvit 53 Alley. Turn right into Sukhumvit 53 Alley. Walk to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]