Soyato Buy 1 Get 1 Free - Earth Hour Special (till 14 April 2012)

Source: Soyato

Soyato Buy 1 Get 1 Free - Earth Hour Special (till 14 April 2012)

- Valid till 14th April 2012
- To redeem say 'I Support Earth Hour'
- Valid for Scoops and Sundaes
- Only valid for Soyato at Bugis Junction (#B1-K5)

Tao's Restaurant (PoMo) 2nd Post

Another visit to Tao's Restaurant located at the basement of PoMo (formerly known as Paradiz Centre). Tao's Restaurant is a fushion restaurant that serves a combination of Western and Asian Cuisine. It is well known for its concept of set menu; serving 6 to 7 course meal at affordable prices. 

Modern classy design.

Menu

During my visit last year, I was expecting the price to increase. But to my surprise, there was no increase. Well, this year, there was an increase in price, which was expected. Their new menu now looks so classy!

Lunch: 6 Course Set Meal at $21.80++
Dinner: 7 Course Set Meal at $31.80++

I visited during lunch time with a group of friends (6 to be exact), hence it was a 6 Course Set Meal.

Starter - Bacon & Mushroom Gratin

Bread (2 pieces per person)

Course 1: Starter - Bacon & Mushroom Gratin with toasted bread (soft and fluffy). Bacon & Mushroom Gratin baked with mushroom, bacon and cheese. It was perfect using it as a spread on the bread. Delicious! You can request for more pieces of bread!

Salads - Prawn Roll with Pork Floss

Course 2: Salads - Prawn Roll with Pork Floss. Light, refreshing and sweet. It is akin to popiah. The pork floss inside added unique texture and taste to the prawn roll! I have also tried Top Shell Salad, Farm Boy Splendour and Fruit Salad during my past visits. My favourite is still Prawn Roll with Pork Floss!

Salads - Huai San & Tofu

Course 2: Salads - Huai San & Tofu. Will not comment on those that I did not taste. 

Soups - Cream of Mushroom

Course 3: Soups - Cream of Mushroom. Another of my favourite! This bowl of soup is for mushrooms lovers only, contains 100% mushrooms! Chunks of mushrooms in each spoonful. The whole bowl of soup has a strong essence/flavour of mushroom. Definitely made themselves and different from the ones you get outside from cans. Can't help but notice that the bowl is the same colour as the bowl. 

Soups - Cream of Pumpkin

Course 3: Soups - Cream of Pumpkin. I am a mushroom person! Having said that I am sure you know which soup I prefer. 

Main Entrees - Spicy Stingray

Course 4: Main Entrees - Spicy Stingray. This stingray is different from those at Chomp Chomp, East Coast Park or other restaurants. The stingray was very fresh and well cooked. It was definitely not barbecued or fried. Most likely steamed? The sambal chilli on top was very spicy and certainty complement the stingray well. For those who can't take spicy food, you are strongly advised to avoid this! 

Main Entrees - Grilled Sea Bass with Japanese Sauce

Course 4: Main Entrees - Grilled Sea Bass with Japanese Sauce. During our last visit, the staff actually informed us not to order this dish as the Sea Bass was not fresh. Where else will the staff tell you not to order certain dish as the ingredients are not fresh? So far this is the only place that I know that does this! Kudos to Tao's Restaurant.

Main Entrees - Slow-cooked Pork Back Ribs

Course 4: Main Entrees - Slow-cooked Pork Back Ribs. 

Desserts - Brownie with Ice Cream 

Course 5: Desserts - Brownie with Ice Cream. Nothing to shout about for this dish. 

Desserts - Tiramisu

Course 5: Desserts -  Tiramisu.

Desserts - Yangsheng Poached Pear with Red Dates

Course 5: Desserts - Yangsheng Poached Pear with Red Dates. 

Beverages - Iced Rose Apple Tea (left), Iced Tropical Grapefruit Tea (right)

Course 6: Beverages - Iced Tropical Grapefruit Tea.

Beverages - Iced Rose Apple Tea

Course 6: Beverages - Iced Rose Apple Tea. This is my favourite! Refreshing, light drink with hints rose tea fragrant. Inside, there are pieces of apple (can be eaten) and rose buds.

Beverages - Iced Grassjelly Mint Tea

Course 6: Beverages - Iced Grassjelly Mint Tea. 

Despite the price increase, I still find the lunch at Tao's Restaurant value for money. I especially like the Bacon & Mushroom Gratin, Prawn Roll with Pork Floss, Cream of Mushroom Soup, Iced Rose Apple Tea and Tiramisu. 

*Edited: Tao's has moved to Central #04-86 (Clarke Quay)*

Tao's Restaurant (PoMo) 
1 Selegie Road
#B1-19 PoMo
Tel: 6339 8858
Opening Hours: Daily 1130am - 10pm
Website: 
Facebook

McDonald's Singapore Buy 1 Get 1 Free Filet-O-Fish (5th to 6th April 2012)

Source: McDonald's Singapore

McDonald's Singapore Buy 1 Get 1 Free Filet-O-Fish (5th to 6th April 2012)


- Valid from 5th to 6th April 2012 (all day)
- One a la carte Filet-O-Fish redemption per transaction
- Print or flash coupon to redeem
- Valid for Dine-in and takeaway
- Not valid at institutional stores and iFly Singapore
- While Stocks last

Manhattan Fish Market: Manhattan Fish 'N Chips at $3.99 Extended (2nd to 5th April 2012)

Source: Manhattan Fish Market Singapore

Manhattan Fish Market: Manhattan Fish 'N Chips at $3.99 Extended (2nd to 5th April 2012)

- Valid from 2nd to 5th April 2012 (11am to 5pm only)
- Valid at all stores except Iluma & JCUBE
- Each guest is entitled to a maximum of two $3.99 Manhattan Fish 'N Chips (Dory)
- All prices subjected to Service Charge and GST
- Not valid with other discounts, privileges and vouchers
- While stocks last
- Manhattan Fish Market reserves the all rights to change the terms and conditions without prior notice

Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice (Maxwell Food Centre)

As mentioned in my previous post, Hainanese Chicken Rice is a de facto national dish of Singapore. It can be enjoyed in literally any food courts, hawker centres, coffee shops and restaurants. To me, I determine how good a chicken rice is based on three factors. Firstly, Chicken rice. Secondly, Chicken meat. Lastly, Chilli.

There has been claims that Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice along with the likes of Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice, Chatterbox and Fook Seng Goldenhill Chicken Rice are favourites among Singaporeans. Having check out Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice previously, I happened to be near Maxwell and hence decided to check out the Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice.

I visited Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice at 4pm on a weekday and was surprised that there was a queue. This stall is certainly famous.

They have expanded and now occupy 2 stalls now. Place your orders at the right (of the picture) and collect at the other end!

Endorsement from magazines, newspapers and even celebrities. They are even recognised internationally! Anthony Bourdain (Celebrity Chef) said that the rice can be taken alone. Although it is simple, it delivers a taste that develops wonderfully and engages the sense!~

'White' Chicken Rice $3.50 with Gizzard $0.80

The chicken drizzled in some 'special' sauce that is mixed by Tian Tian was amazingly tender, fleshy and tasty. It was so good that I found that there was no need for me to dip it (chicken meat) into the chilli sauce. Nevertheless, I did try the chilli sauce. It was delicious! The spiciness and sourness (from lime) gave it an extra oomph! It made me wonder each time when I am eating the chicken if I should dip it into the sauce as either way was equally delicious!

The rice was fragrant and flavourful. However, not all the grains of the rice was soft. Some stuck together and were hard. As for the Chicken Gizzard? It was slightly more expensive than else where at $0.80 and I wish that they were sliced in smaller pieces to aid eating.

Overall, Tian Tian is certainty a place to check out if you are looking forward to a meal of chicken rice.

ps: out of all the places that I have eaten thus far, I would rate Tian Tian's Chicken Rice at second. My top favourite would be the Hainanese Boneless Chicken Rice at Golden Mile Food Centre. Main reason is because some parts of Tian Tian's rice were hard.

Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice (Maxwell Food Centre)
Maxwell Road
#01-10/11 Maxwell Food Centre
Tel: 9691 4852
Opening Hours: Tue to Sun 11am - 8pm
                          Closed on Mon
Website
Facebook

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Middle Road Pork Ribs Prawn Mee (Queen Street)

Middle Road Pork Ribs Prawn Mee is located in Bugis at a (2nd to be precise) coffee shop behind Iluma. It is weird that there is another similar stall located at 16 Sam Leong Road with the same name, dishes, prices and even opening hours. Does anyone know if these 2 stalls are related?

Signboard with Menu

Middle Road Pork Ribs Prawn Mee is located at the corner of the coffee shop. Blocked by a pillar of wall, customers will not spot it unless they walk into the coffee shop.

Looks like this stall has been advertised (endorsed) in the newspapers in the past.

Prawn Pork Rib Noodles $4.00

Ordered the Prawn Pork Rib Noodles for $4.00. Ingredients include noodle, prawns, pork ribs, beansprouts and lard. The prawns small and de-shelled were firm and sweet. The pork ribs despite the many pieces given was hard.

The broth was brown in colour, clear and on the oily end. Likely made from prawn heads and pork bones. It's taste was unique; almost like bak kut teh soup mixed with prawn soup.

Overall, I felt that this bowl of prawn noodles was yummy and unique (broth). It would have been much better if it was less oily.

Middle Road Pork Ribs Prawn Mee (Queen Street)
Blk 269B Queen Street
#01-236 Hong Joo Food Centre
Tel: 9737 3520
Opening Hours: Tue to Sun 8am - 2pm
                           Closed on Mon
Location

Island Creamery (Serene Centre)

Island Creamery a ice cream parlour specialises in producing freshly made premium ice creams with local flavours. Premium ingredients are used with no artificial flavours, colourings, preservatives, eggs or gelatine. 

I visited Island Creamery at Serene Centre, located at the junction of Bukit Timah Road and Farrer Road. Island Creamery and Tom’s Palette seems to have similar branding. But the key differentiator is that Island Creamery is known for its local flavour ice cream such as Teh Tarik, Pulut Hitam, Pineapple Tart, Holicks and Bandung. The lastest addition they have is Bak Kwa ice cream!

Menu

Another differentiator is that besides Ice Creams, there are Ice Cream Cakes, Baked Alaska and Mudpies.

Fridge full of Ice Cream Cakes, Mudpies and tubs of Ice Cream for take away

Double Scoop Ice Cream [Pulut Hitam (left) & Nutella (right)] $4.50

We ordered the Double Scoop Ice Cream with the 2 flavours Pulut Hitam and Nutella. Pulut Hitam is also know as Black Glutinous Rice. The Pulut Hitam ice cream taste just like the real thing! Whoever though of making this dessert into an ice cream is a genius! The Nutella was good too. I wish that there was more chunks of Nutella in it.

Mud Pie $4.80

Top to bottom layer of ice cream: ReversO, Cookies'n Cream and Burnt Caramel)

The Mud Pie is highly recommended by my sister. The top layer and bottom layer is covered in Oreo crumbs. In the middle, there are 3 layers of ice cream namely; (top to bottom) ReversO, Cookies'n Cream and Burnt Caramel. The Mud Pie was superb! I like their crunchy Oreo crumbs. And it certainty helps that their ice cream is fabulous too! Another must try item!

We decided to buy a tub of ice cream back home, had a hard time deciding what to buy.

Used to pack the ice cream

Tub of Nutella Ice Cream $9.00

Tub of Nutella Ice Cream $9.00

After hesitating for a long time, we decided to buy a tub of Nutella. We were torn between buying Pulut Hitam or Nutella. This time round, I felt that the Nutella taste slightly different from the one I had at Serene Centre. It was more diluted with much even lesser chunks of Nutella. Do note that the ice cream has to be consumed within 3 days as no preservatives were added.

I wish that I live near Island Creamery. However, I am putting up in the north and Serene Centre is located too far away. If not for that, I would frequent this ice cream parlour for its Pulut Hitam Ice Cream! If you are in the area, try the ice cream there!

ps: Readers in Indonesia who happen to read this, Island Creamery has opened a Indonesia (near Jakarta)

Island Creamery (Serene Centre)
10 Jalan Serene
#01-03 Serene Centre
Tel: 6468 8859
Opening Hours: Sun to Thurs11am - 10pm
                          Fri, Sat, Eve and Public Holidays 11am - 11pm
Website: 
Facebook

Island Creamery (Great World City)
1 Kim Seng Promenade
Tel: 6733 7668
Opening Hours: Daily 11am - 930pm

Island Creamery (Holland Village)3 Lorong Liput #01-02
Holland Village Shopping Mall
Tel: 6466 6865
Opening Hours: Sun to Thurs 11am - 10pm
                          Fri, Sat, Eve and Public Holidays 11am - 11pm


Island Creamery (King Albert Park)
11 King Albert Park 
#01-02 McDonald's Place
Tel: 6467 1571
Opening Hours: Sun to Thurs 11am - 10pm
                           Fri, Sat, Eve & PH 11am - 11pm

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Manhattan Fish Market: Manhattan Fish 'N Chips at $3.99 (29th to 30th March 2012)

Source: Manhattan Fish Market Singapore

Manhattan Fish Market: Manhattan Fish 'N Chips at $3.99 instead of $10.90 (29th to 30th March 2012)

- Valid from 29th to 30th March 2012 from 11am to closing time
- Valid for take-away and dine-in
- Each guest is entitled to a maximum of two $3.99 Manhattan Fish 'N Chips (Dory)
- All prices subjected to Service Charge and GST
- Not valid with other discounts, privileges and vouchers
- While stocks last
- Manhattan Fish Market reserves the all rights to change the terms and conditions without prior notice

Taishoken (Ramen Champion @ Iluma)

With this visit to try Taishoken, I have covered 5 out of the 6 ramen stalls at Ramen Champion at Iluma. I am just left with Ikkosha to try!

Let's go back to Taishoken. Taishoken started out more than 50 years ago is well known in Tokyo. 

Pardon me for the unclear pictures

Moreover, it is the inventor of the concept Tsukemen. 

Tsukemen is the concept whereby the soup and ramen are served separately. The soup in this case is concentrated and customers dip the noodles into the soup before drinking. Once the ramen has been eaten, customers can drink the soup by diluting it with fish based soup from the stall.

Menu

As usual, order with the staff, and you get a disk which will vibrate once your ramen is cooked. I noticed that there are no longer any queues at Ramen Champion unlike the first month when it was open. Now I get my food much faster. 

Tokyo Ramen Deluxe (Regular) $15.00

I did not try their Tsukemen. Instead, ordered the Tokyo Ramen Deluxe (Regular) for $15.00

The broth was made from chicken, pork and anchovies. It was on the salty end. The ramen was springy, thin and firm. The Chashu (char siew) was flavourful, however was accompanied by too much fats (which of course is a factor that some may like).

The egg was not bad especially when I compare it to the one I got from Tetsu Ramen. Egg yolk was molten, not powdery (overcooked). The egg white on the other hand was cooked; hard when it should have been gooey and soft. 

Well, again taste is subjective, what is deem as salty / nice to me may not be the same for you. The best way is to go down and give it a try! For fans of Ramen Champions, the good news is that they have opened a branch at Changi Airport Terminal 3. However, there are only 4 stalls: Gantetsu, Ikkosha, Riki and Gensuke. (yes, 2 new stalls!)

The six Ramen restaurants are:

1.IROHA from Toyama
2.BARIO from Tokyo
3.GANTETSU from Sapporo
4.TETSU from Tokyo
5.IKKOSHA from Hakata
6.TAI SHO KEN from Tokyo

Taishoken (Ramen Champion @ Iluma)
201 Victoria Street
#04-08/09/10 Iluma (Bugis)
Tel: 6238 1011
Opening Hours: Daily 1130 am to 1030 pm
Website

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