Showing posts with label - Pork Belly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label - Pork Belly. Show all posts

Wednesday 15 August 2012

Marmalade Pantry at the Stables (Fairways Drive)

The Marmalade Pantry at ION Orchard has always been attracting a large crowd during meal times. With its success, Marmalade Pantry has opened another outlet called Marmalade Pantry at the Stables at Fairways Drive. It is located near Bukit Timah Saddle Club and Riders Cafe. 

Marmalade Pantry at the Stables is located away from the city. I felt as if I was transported back to the past when there was no tall buildings and am at the country side surrounded by greenery. But of course with this, Marmalade Pantry at the Stables is located at a remote location and you would need to either drive or take a cab in. A quiet place for a relaxing evening, perfect for a date.


In the interior with its tall windows, high ceilings and cushion seats, it gives a modern colonial feel. The tables, chairs, utensils and cups were well arranged with precision.
Salad: The Mexican Chicken Salad $22
Salad: The Mexican Chicken Salad $22
The first thought when I saw The Mexican Chicken Salad with Crispy Tortilla, Avocado, Spiced Corn and Salsa was that, for such ingredients, they presented it so well. The different combination of ingredients resulted in contrasting texture(soft, crispy, chewy) with each bite. In addition, each mouthful was packed with different flavours. 
Salad: Pan Seared Haloumi $21
The Pan Seared Haloumi was served with Roma Tomatoes and Watercress Herb Salad. It was well presented. The Haloumi is a semi-hard cheese made from a mixture of goat's, sheep's or/and cow's milk. One of its (Haloumi) unique characteristics is its high melting point. Hence, it is often (suitable) fried or grilled. The Haloumi has a similar appearance to beancurd. In terms of taste, it had a delicate smokey and salty flavour. The saltiness was balanced with the sweetness from the fresh juicy Roma Tomatoes and Watercress.
Meat & Fish: Crispy Pork Belly $32
Meat & Fish: Crispy Pork Belly $32
Crispy Pork Belly with Celeriac and Apple Slaw, French Mustard and Natural Jus. It was well seasoned but lack the crispiness as the layer of skin (fat) was removed. It was also too dry for my liking. This dish reminded me of the Kalua Pork at Charly's T which was executed differently.
Meat & Fish: Braised 120 Days Grain Fed Beef Cheeks $32
Braised 120 Days Grain Fed Beef Cheeks with Horseradish Mash, Field Mushrooms and Pearl Onions was well executed. The Beef Cheeks were braised to perfection and were incredibly tender and flavourful with melt-in-your-mouth sensation.
Pasta & Risotto: Spaghetti Cabonara $24
The Spaghetti Carbonara with Poached Egg and Flat Parsley was a cream based pasta topped with shredded crispy bacon bits.
Pudding: Lemon Brulee Tart $14
The Lemon Brulee Tart will be a dish that you either love or hate. Thin crispy golden caramelised crust coated on the top of the moist lemon tart provided a mixture of texture. The mix of sweetness and sourness was just right for me. No wonder there is this saying 'there's always room for dessert'. Despite feeling so full, I could not resist second and third bites.
Cakes & Tarts: Sea Salt Caramel Cheesecake $8
The Sea Salt Caramel Cheesecake will also be a dish you either love or hate. Initially, my first thought was that this would be too heavy a dessert. Those who know me will know that I am not a fan of cheese cake. Yet this cheesecake was so good. The flavour of cheese was very forgiveable and not did not overwhelm the other flavours. In addition, it was light and dense with walnuts and a crumbly base with a hint of caramel saltiness. One of the best cheesecakes I have eaten!
Cupcakes: Red Velvet Cake $4.50
The Red Velvet Cake with Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting was unique as it was topped with grated coconut. Moreover, no red food colouring was added. Instead, the deep red colouring came from beetroot juice. Personally, I prefer a more moist cupcake and the addition of the coconut did not suit my taste preference. 

There was hits and misses. Out of all the dishes, I was most impressed with the Braised 120 Days Grain Fed Beef CheeksLemon Brulee Tart and Sea Salt Caramel Cheesecake. Looks like a great place for a meal away from the fast-paced city life.

Thank you Amanda (FoodNews) for invite and hosting.

Marmalade Pantry at the Stables (Fairways Drive)
55 Fairways Drive
Tel: 6467 7748
Opening Hours: Tue to Fri 3pm - 11pm
                         Sat to Sun 10am - 11pm
                         Closed on Mon

Thursday 19 July 2012

Charly T's (112 Katong)

Charly T's second outlet is located at 112 Katong. It's first outlet is located at Nomu Building (next to The Cathay). At Charly T's, customer first order at the counter before entering the restaurant to choose their seats. Their orders will be served to them directly when it is ready. 

It has a unique concept as cuisines from different countries are put together and served at this restaurant. Essentially, your food journey can bring you from Europe to America to Asia (without the need to board a plane)!

Part of the wall in Charly T's showcase the drawings done by different children who have been to Charly T's. The restaurant will provide the colouring pencil and paper for children. Talk about family/kids friendly restaurant. This will keep the children busy while parents savour the food (peacefully).
Charly T's also have a Peranakan theme private room for six
Furthermore, there is an al fresco lounge area outside. Perfect for drinking, watching soccer matches and/or enjoying the view.
Charly T's Odysseys - Green Flash $6.50
Kick started the meal with Charly T's Odysseys - Green Flash; mix of green apple, orange and pineapple. Refreshing fruity thirst-quencher.
Rotisserie Chicken Original Recipe ($13 for quarter chicken + 2 additions, $24 for half chicken + 3 additions, $42 for whole chicken + 4 additions)
The signature Rotisserie Chicken (original recipe) was marinated for over 13 hours before being slow-cooked rotisserie-style.  It did not disappoint. Marinated with herbs and spices, the exterior was crisp while the interior was juicy and tender. Yummlicious.

When ordering, you can request for your favourite chicken part.
Rotisserie Chicken Kansas City BBQ ($15 for quarter chicken + 2 additions, $27 for half chicken + 3 additions, $46 for whole chicken + 4 additions
Rotisserie Chicken Black Pepper ($15 for quarter chicken + 2 additions, $27 for half chicken + 3 additions, $46 for whole chicken + 4 additions
The Rotisserie Chicken Kansas City BBQ was my favourite. Executed slightly different from the original recipe and black pepper, it was well marinated. It was more flavourful and tasty. In addition, the thigh meat was so soft, tender and juicy that I had to go for second serving to satisfy my palate.
(Left to right):  Kansas City BBQ  Sauce, Creamy Roasted Sesame Sauce, Chermoula Sauce, Charly T's Original Sauce 
Four different type of sauces to complement the Rotisserie Chicken. (I did not see a need for the sauces, as I like the original flavour (marination) of the chicken)
Clockwise from top left: Macaroni & Cheese, German Potato Salad, Fresh Vegetables, Butter Garlic Rice
Four additions (sides) available when you order the Rotisserie Chicken; namely Macaroni & Cheese, German Potato Salad, Fresh Vegetables and Butter Garlic Rice
Macaroni & Cheese
My favourite was the Macaroni & Cheese (it was tough choosing between German Potato Salad and this). You will either hate this or love this. To me, this was superbly executed. This uses a recipe from award-winning Chef Rozanne Gold's 'Eat Fresh Food' cookbook. It contains less cheese and includes fresh cauliflower.
Kalua Pork $16
Kalua Pork $16
A popular Hawaiian (Honolulu) dish, the Kalua Pork was marinated and slow-cooked for 48 hours! The top layer of fats and skin have been removed, leaving just the lean meat behind. It was so soft and tender that the meat could be easily pulled apart. If you prefer a healthier choice compared to Chinese-style pork belly, this is a good alternative as you can indulge guilt-free.
Jumbo Schnitzel Burger $14
An Austrian German dish, the Jumbo Schnitzel Burger consists of  a big piece of deep fried chicken cutlet and slices of bacon sandwiched by 2 buns served with fries. The chicken was coated with bread crumbs and deep fried till golden brown. It was incredibly crispy on the outside yet tender and moist on the inside. The fries deserve a mention too. Lightly salted, the fries were crispy on the outside and soft,fluffy on the inside. Exactly the way I like my fries to be. (I am sure this is a kid's favourite!  fried chicken and fries!)
CT's Beef Burger $10.50
CT's Beef Burger $10.50
CT's Beef Burger served with nachos. The beef patty was thick, meaty and tasty. However, it was on the a tad too chewy and dry.

I was impressed that Charly T's fried the bottom of each of the 2 buns before serving. Despite being full, (the usual practice will be just to skip having the bun) I found myself savouring the buns as on the bottom, it was crisp yet at the top it was soft (the little things that matters).
Kaiserchmarrn $14
Kaiserchmarrn $14 - Pancake
Kaiserchmarrn $14 - Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Talk about ending the meal with a bang. The Austrian German dessert;  Kaiserschmarrn totally blew me off. Shredded warm, fluffy caramelised pancake dusted with powder sugar and raisins complemented perfectly with the Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. The hot and cold combination along with the raisin and powder sugar were such a perfect match that I found myself indulging endlessly despite being full. A must order (tip: get the piece with the most powder sugar and pair it with the raisins and ice cream)

Thank you Janice (FoodNews) for invite and hosting.

Charly T's (112 Katong)
112 East Coast Road
#03-15 112 Katong 
Tel: 6636 4701
Opening Hours: Mon - Thur 11am to 11pm
                         Fri 11am to 1am
                         Sat 9am to 1am
                         Sun 9am to 11pm
Website
Facebook
Location

Charly T's (Nomu Building)
20 Handy Road
Level 1 Nomu Building
Tel: 6336 7789
Opening Hours: Mon - Wed 11am to 11pm
                          Thur - Fri 11am to 1am
                          Sat 9am -to1am
                          Sun 9am to 11pm


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Sunday 18 September 2011

Hainan Chicken Rice Ball (Jalan Besar)



Singaporeans love chicken rice, there will always be a chicken rice stall in a food court and at coffee shops. This chicken rice stall located at Jalan Besar, oppsite Sim Lim Tower, near Sim Lim Square. The stall is different/special from the many chicken rice stalls in Singapore. What is the difference? The stall name is Hainan Chicken Rice Ball, well the name clearly states why it is different/special - rice ball.

Chicken Rice Set $4.00

I ordered the Chicken Rice Set which consists of 2 rice balls, steam chicken, pork belly and a bowl of soup.
Chicken Rice Balls
Just before serving, the Chicken Rice Balls were shaped into balls. Each grain of rice was soft, hence it was easily shaped. Moreover, the rice balls were fragrant as the flavours of chicken, garlic and ginger were infused into it. 
'White' Chicken & Pork Belly
The 'White' Chicken was different from other stalls. It was skinless and boneless. Moreover, black sauce was drizzled over it. Despite the chicken being dry, it was amazing soft and tender.

As for the Pork Belly, it was soft, tender and fatty. Black sauce was drizzled over it too enhancing its already flavourful taste. I am not a fan of pork belly, hence did not enjoy it. But I am sure for people who enjoy pork bell, they will like this!
Soup
The set came with Soup. Normally, chicken rice soup are full of MSG. Well, this was a black colour soup that had distinct herbal taste. But, honestly speaking, I have no idea the type of herbs were used or if herbal ingredients were used. 
Overall, a very unique stall that is certainty very different from the other chicken rice stalls in Singapore with it's own character. 
Hainan Chicken Rice Ball
Boon Hwa Food Center
43 Jalan Besar

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