Original Sin (Holland Village)

Original Sin is a Mediterranean Vegetarian restaurant located at Chip Bee Gardens less than 2 minutes walk from Holland Village MRT (exit A) station. The restaurant offers both alfresco and indoor (air-conditioned) dining. As we made reservations, we decided to sit indoors as the weather was scorching hot these days. In addition, we did not want to feed the mosquitoes. 

We visited during lunch time on a Saturday. During lunch hours, they had Set Lunch available during lunch hours. The set lunch consist of a Starter (choice of Soup of the Day/Green Salad), Mains and Dessert at $26. All of us ordered the set lunch. 

Minestrone Soup (Soup of the Day)

Most of us including myself ordered chose the Soup of the Day as our Starter. The Soup of the Day was Minestrone Soup. The soup was full of ingredients such as carrot, cabbage, tomato, spaghetti, etc. The soup itself was not well balanced in taste, I felt that it was a tad too sour and something seems to be lacking. 

Green Salad

A friend of mine ordered the Green Salad.

Spaghetti

For mains, I ordered Spaghetti which was cooked with zucchini, olive, cherry tomato, tossed in tomato basil sauce and parmesan cheese. The chef executed this dish quite well. What was lacking was that they could have been more generous with some of the ingredients such as zucchini.  

Tofu Burger

My friend ordered the Tofu Burger which was served with wedges and salad greens. This was a hit among us; in a league of its own. 

Tofu Burger

The Tofu Burger consisting of tofu and lentil pattie was surprisingly tasty. Although the patty was soft and crumbled easily, we love it! The potato wedges which came with potato skin was also nicely done. In addition, the entire dish was not soggy. 

Mediterranean Wrap

The Mediterranean Wrap which was essentially tortilla wrap filled with chickpea and pumpkin spread, grilled eggplant, feta and salad was a dish which most of us did not appreciate. The main reason was because we were not a fan of chickpea which had a unique taste and smell.

Warm Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream

For desserts, we had Warm Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream. The chocolate cake was a tad too dry. The molten dark chocolate that flowed out from the centre of the cake was rich and dense. It was so good that it made the chocolate cake seems inferior.

The set lunch made the meal more affordable compared to the ala carte menu. However, one should still note that even with the set lunch, at $26++, this is not exactly cheap. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable meal.

Original Sin (Holland Village)

Blk 43 #01-62 Jalan Merah Saga Holland Village

Chip Bee Gardens 

Singapore 278115

Tel: 6475 5605

Opening Hours: Daily 1130am - 230pm & 6pm - 1030pm

Website 

.6475 .6475 56055605.6475 5605

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Liang Court Wednesdays' Food Tasting Trails: Tamoya, Shakey's Pizza and Dulcet & Studio

Continue on with my previous post on Liang Court Wednesdays' Food Tasting Trails, I made 2 trips down to Liang Court on the last day of the food trail for both lunch and dinner. 

Tamoya Udon

For lunch, I visited Tamoya Udon which is a Japanese restaurant that specialises in handmade Udon.

Tamoya Udon

With the Liang Court's Wednesdays' Food Trail Coupon, I was able to try the large Curry Udon (U.P $10.80) with Prawn Tempura (U.P $2.50), Fried Chicken (U.P $1.50) and Chikuwa Tempura (U.P $1). 

Curry Udon

The Curry Udon was delicious. The Udon handmade using three types of flour was the highlight. It was chewy yet soft and smooth. The curry with lots of onions added to it complemented the udon well. 

Prawn Tempura, Chikuwa Tempura and Fried Chicken

The Fried Chicken was decent, while the Prawn and Chikuwa Tempura were disappointing. Both the tempura were cold, hard and no longer crisp. They were also coated with too much batter.

For dinner, the Partner and I went for Shakey's Pizza.

The Liang Court's Wednesdays' Food Trail Coupon provided us with several choices:
(a) Slim Trim Caesar Salad (U.P $5) and Spaghetti Carbonara (U.P $13.80)
(b) Shakey's Baby Back Ribs (Full Slab) (U.P $19.80)
(c) Oishi Wasabi Premium Pizza (90-inch) (U.P $19.80) or;
     Hula Hawaiian Classic Pizza (9-inch)(U.P $18.80)

We went for option (a) and (c). 

Slim Trim Caesar Salad and Spaghetti Carbonara

We ordered the Slim Trim Caesar Salad and Spaghetti Carbonara.

Slim Trim Caesar Salad 

The Slim Trim Caesar Salad consisted of lettuce, egg, parmesan cheese, bacon bits and garlic bread was quite good. Considering the fact that we seldom take salad, we finish this entire dish!

Spaghetti Carbonara

The Spaghetti Carbonara served with bacon and mushrooms with creamy egg sauce may not be the best, but it as certainly quite decently executed.

Oishi Wasabi Premium Pizza 

As we wanted to try something different we decided to order Oishi Wasabi Premium Pizza which consisted of shrimps, scallops, pineapples and wasabi sauce topped with lots of bonito flakes. Surprisingly, the wasabi sauce did not overwhelm the taste and complemented this dish well. We both felt that the shrimps and scallops did not match up to this pizza. Both ingredients were not exactly fresh. What a waste.

Dulcet & Studio

After dinner we walked round the shopping centre and also visited Mediya, the Japanese supermarket while waiting for our food to digest. Before, we headed back home, we stopped over at Dulcet & Studio for its cakes.

The food trail coupon enabled us to order two pieces of cakes and also a cup of regular coffee. As we visited at close to 9pm, most of the more popular cakes had already been sold out. We were just left with three choices. =(

We chose the Rose Chiffon Cake (U.P. $7) and Macha Marble Chiffon Cake (U.P. $4)  with a cup of regular coffee.

Macha Marble Chiffon Cake

The Macha Marble Chiffon Cake was just average. It was soft and fluffy but too dry.  The macha flavour could have been stronger.

Rose Chiffon Cake

The Rose Chiffon Cake fared better. It was soft, fluffy and had a stronger rose fragrant.

The coffee was a huge disappointment. We took just two sips and left it untouched.

That's all for the Liang Court Wednesdays' Food Tasting Trails. I wonder if they will hold this again next year. It's so value for money!

Liang Court Wednesdays' Food Tasting Trails: Tamoya, Shakey's Pizza and Dulcet & Studio
Liang Court, 177 River Valley Road
Singapore 179030
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La Bonne Cave and Landmarks in Lucerne (Switzerland, Lucerne)

After touring the old Chapel Bridge and the Old Town of Lucerne (also known as Luzern), Switzerland, we went about looking for a place for dinner. There did not seemed to be many places around that offered food, more for shopping. Part of the reason could be because it was Winter; some of the shops may have closed early. As the weather was freezing cold for us (slightly below 0 Degree Celsius), we were in a rush to look for a place for a quick dinner - in fact anyplace will do.

So long as it fitted the 3 criteria;
- quick (as we were hungry)
- indoors (to escape from the cold)
- serves food 

As such, we found ourselves in La Bonne Cave which is a restaurant located directly besides River Reuss. There were two other reasons why we came here. It was because the menu had English translation and it was less pricey compared to the other restaurants. 

As you may have noticed from the decoration and environment, La Bonne Cave looks more like a wine place. In fact it is. The name of this place is actually called Weinwirtschaft Weinladen La Bonne Cave. The word 'Weinwirtschaft Weinladen' means 'Wine Shop' in English. Nevertheless, we went ahead and ordered our dinner.

Hausgemachte Tagessuppe (Klein) 6.50 CHF (S$8.50)

We ordered the Hausgemachte Tagessuppe (Klein) 6.50 CHF (S$8.50) which when translated to English means Homemade Soup of the Day (Small). The soup of the day was Tomato Soup! It was quite a small bowl of soup and was very sour. 

Bread

Bread which was served together with the soup. Nothing great about the bread, it was average. 

Gambas 'All' Aglio E Peperoncini (Klein) 17.50 CHF (S$22.87)

The partner ordered the Gambas 'All' Aglio E Peperoncini (Klein) which cost 17.50 CHF (S$22.87). It was essentially an Aglio Olio style spaghetti served with roasted black tiger shrimps with garlic and hot pepper. This Aglio Olio style spaghetti was decently executed. Many tiger shrimp was given and they were fresh and succulent.

Feuerspaghetti 17.50 CHF  (S$22.87)

I ordered the Feuerspaghetti (Klein) 17.50 CHF (S$22.87); Spaghetti with hot curry, sliced chicken and china vegetable. This was a unique dish and unlike any curry I have tried before. The curry was not spicy, similar to a thick, starchy peanut sauce with a slight hint of curry.  The china vegetable in this case consisted of mainly slices of carrots and cabbage. To be frank, I did not like the taste of this dish and wished that I had ordered something else.

Overall, the ambience at La Bonne Cave was quiet, cozy and homely. It looked like the perfect place for a quiet date and chill out. In fact to me, it seemed more of a place for wine rather than food. Food wise, it was not impressive.

There are several landmarks to visit in Lucerne.

Old Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke)

The Old Chapel Bridge also known as Kapellbrücke built in 1333 to protect Lucerne is the oldest wooden covered wooden bridge in Europe. The Watch Tower (Wasserturm) which you see in the photo is an eight sided citadel made of bricks. It was used as a watch tower, torture chamber, and prison. Both the bridge and Watch Tower are a key tourist attraction of Switzerland. The Old Chapel Bridge is just outside La Bonne Cave.

Old Town of Lucerne

The Old Town with its well preserved 14th century town walls, cobbled squares and buildings. There were murals on most of the buildings walls.

Lion Monument (Lion of Lucerne)

Since were were at Lucerne, we visited the Lion Monument (Lion of Lucerne) which was nearby. The Lion Monument carved out of stone depicts a dying lion in memory of the Swiss mercenaries who lost their lives during the French Revolution at the Tuileries Palace in Paris. The lake at the bottom of the monument was frozen.

Postillon Hotel Lucerne

Postillon Hotel, our Hotel for the night. ~Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!~ 

 The view from our room.

Lake Lucerne

Postillon Hotel is located next to Lake Lucerne.

That's all for this post. Stay tuned for more.

La Bonne Cave (Switzerland, Lucerne) 
Rathausquai 1
6004 Luzern
Lucerne, Switzerland
Tel: +41 41 410 45 16
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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 Cheeks, Lemon 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

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