Saturday, December 26, 2015

My Cosy Corner @ Coronation Shopping Plaza

IMG_7176ed

My Cosy Corner at Coronation Shopping Plaza is very popular if you stay in the Bukit Timah area. This tiny little eatery is tucked right in the corner at level two of the shopping centre. The eatery is not that cosy as the name suggested, it felt like stepping into a small eatery in the early 80s. Furthermore it felt more like an eatery selling Japanese food, rather than local nonya cuisine.

IMG_7179ed
Kueh Pie Tee 4/5

Our lunch at My Cosy Corner started with Kueh Pie Tee ($4.80 for 6pc). I was actually feeling a bit upset that I am served with empty kueh pie tee cups and I have to make it myself. Lucky the food itself make up for it. The Chinese turnip is sweet and still has crunch to it. I would recommend adding a bit of the chilli sauce to enjoy the nonya snack in the crispy pastry tart shell.

IMG_7180ed
Mee Sian 4.5/5

The reason why I made my way down to My Cosy Corner is to have their popular Mee Siam ($5 without prawn). The rich gravy with its perfect balance of sourish and spiciness make it extremely tasty. The crispy tau pok cubes give it an extra texture bites, completing the whole enjoyment.

IMG_7189ed
Laksa 4.2/5

I also tried the Laksa ($5 without prawn) that comes in a thick and lemak gravy. The dried shrimp gives the creamy gravy a further lift in taste. This is a good bowl of laksa worth the calories.

IMG_7174ed

During my visit. I realized a lot of customers wanted to try their popiah but it was not available. Apparently they don't sell popiah on Sunday. Which also means I did not get to try their popular popiah. I am sure I will be back to try their popiah and also the delicious Mee Siam again.


My Cosy Corner
Coronation Shopping Plaza
587 Bukit Timah Road
#02-02
Singapore 269707
Tel: +65 64638286
Website
Nearest MRT: Tan Kah Kee (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Sat: 10am - 730pm
Sun & PH: 11am - 4pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Tan Kah Kee MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn right onto Bukit Timah Road. Walk down Bukit Timah Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 10 minutes. [Map]

Friday, December 25, 2015

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

IMG_3989ed

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.

IMG_4005ed

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.

IMG_3972ed
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.

IMG_3970ed
Scallop, Oyster, Bamboo Clam

IMG_3971ed
Tiger Prawn

IMG_3975ed
Promfret

IMG_3981ed
Crayfish

IMG_3976ed
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.

IMG_3993ed

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.

IMG_3977ed

IMG_3985ed

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.

IMG_3990ed

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

IMG_3997ed

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

IMG_3994ed

IMG_3996ed

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

IMG_4012ed

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.

IMG_4013ed

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.

IMG_4015ed

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]