ENG's Wantan Noodle (Vivo City)

I have heard so much about ENG’s wanton noodle before but not given it a try as it is located away from where I stay.

Ironically, in a twist of events, the recent dispute between the founder's son and business partner over how the original stall was run resulted in them splitting. Which led to Eng’s Wanton Noodle expanding aggressively across the island.

This happened when the business partner decided to exit the business and transferring the lease to the chief executive of Lao Huo Tang (老火汤), who decided to bring Eng’s wanton noodles to the heartlands to make it more convenient for customers to grab a bite instead of going all the way to Tanjong Katong Road.

If you are still confused, ENG's Wantan Noodle is managed by Lao Huo Tang while ENG'S Char Siew Wantan Mee is by the founder's children. By now, you may have noticed ENG's Wantan Noodle appearing in many heartlands. Besides Vivo City, they are also at many other locations such as Westgate, Bukit Panjang, Eastpoint Mall, AMK Hub and 287 Tanjong Katong Road, Northpoint City, Causeway Point and Tiong Bahru Plaza.

Their menu at Vivo City is limited as the unit space is small. They sell only Wanton Mee, Wanton, Ngoh Hiang, Oyster Sauce Vegetable and Drinks. The pork lard is free flow. The outlet at Northpoint sells Toast and Soft Boiled Eggs too.

This is the large version of the dry Wanton Mee which cost $5.50. The wanton noodles was cooked perfectly. The texture, springiness and taste of the noodles was spot on. It was good enough such that you can keep slurping only the noodles and not feel jelak (sick of eating).

The Fried Wantan $3 did not stand out. The filling and taste was typical of the fried wantan you can get elsewhere.

The $6 Fried Ngoh Hiang was average too. As a Teochew, I may have been too particular about this dish and am too used to having chestnuts in my Ngoh Hiang (which provides a crunchy bite).

Taste wise, I was expecting to be wow. Although I was not wow, I must say that the taste of the wanton mee, specifically, the noodles was above average. Surprisingly, considering how fast the business has expanded. I can foresee myself coming back just for the Wanton Mee again and again.

ENG's Wantan Noodle

#B2-26A VivoCity

1 Harbourfront Walk

Singapore 098585

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#MAKANBOLEH Epok Epok (Curry Puff) (Seah Im Food Centre)

Sardin Epok Epok $1

One evening late last year, I was scrolling through my instagram feed when I spotted a unique post about epok epok at Seah Im Food Centre that caught my attention. It was a post by Miss Ha. I searched the internet but could not find much information. I knew that I had to give it a try when I had the opportunity to. 

So I made three trips down to the stall called #MAKANBOLEH. On my first visit, I went during lunch time and was told that they only start making and selling the epok epo at 4.30pm. During my second visit, I was told that I had to wait for 1 hour! As I was in a rush, I could not afford to wait. So I made another trip and this time, I was told that the waiting time was 45 minutes. In reality, I waited for an hour.

PS: do you know that curry puff are known as epok epok by our Muslim friends? Although both terms Curry Puff and Epok Epok are used interchangeably in Singapore, their taste tend to differ. For example, curry puff tends to include curry in the fillings whereas the tradtional epok epok uses chilli sauce.

True enough when you visit after 4.30pm, you will be able to witness how the epok epok are made and cooked on the spot. From the pastry to the filling and to the frying of the epok epok. There are two varieties of Epok Epok, the Sardin Epok Epok and Potato Epok Epok. They cost $1 each.

Sardin Epok Epok $1

I have placed a one dollar coin next to the Epok Epok to illustrate the huge size of it. This Epok Epok cost just $1! Moreover, it comes pipping hot, fresh out of the stove of hot oil!

The crust of any epok epok or curry puff is always important as it needs to be thin and yet be able to hold the fillings in well, and is crisp. #MAKANBOLEH's Epok Epok crust hit all the right notes in this aspect. Moreover, it has a butter fragrance which is a plus point.

Sardin Epok Epok $1

This Sardin Epok Epok came with huge chunks of sardine meat and small pieces of onion. On the first bite, the spiciness of the chilli pasteoverwhelmed me, before the sweetness set in. The more I bite into it, the more I love it! Sedap!

Potato Epok Epok $1

The Potato Epok Epok was equally good although it tasted different. Instead of chilli paste, curry paste was used. The curry sauce was not as spicy and was sweeter, coated each chunk of potato. You can literally bite into the potatoes as they were not mashed up. A chunk of hard boiled egg was also added.

Most of the time, I prefer my Epok Epok with potato fillings. But this time, both were really good. If you are a fan of Epok Epok, wait no more! Give this a try!

#MAKANBOLEH Epok Epok (Curry Puff) (Seah Im Food Centre)

#01-36 Seah Im Food Centre 

2 Seah Im Road 

Singapore 099114 

Opening Hours: Daily 6am to 9pm

                           Closed on Mon

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Shi Ji Noodle Stall 狮记面食摊 (Seah Im Food Centre)

Seah Im Food Centre located opposite Habourfront MRT station and Vivocity is one food centre which I seldom visit. I think this is only the 3rd time in my entire life I have been to this food centre. 

With no knowledge of what to order, we scouted around to find one with a queue. That was how we decided to order from Shi Ji Noodle Stall 狮记面食摊. 

This stall sells Prawn Noodle, Duck Noodle, Lor Mee and Thai Original Tom Yam Noodle. 

Prawn Noodle $3

I ordered a bowl of Prawn Noodle $3. 

Prawn Noodle $3

At $3, this bowl of prawn noodle was so value for money! Look at the generous servings of prawns, slices of fish cakes and pork, beansprouts and noodle. Although the prawns were small, they were fresh. The soup was light and tasty. Not too bad a bowl of prawn noodle. 

Lor Mee $3

Lor Mee $3

The partner ordered the Lor Mee $3 which came with a generous amount of ingredients including ngor hiong, braised meat, slices of fish cakes, beansprouts, half a braised egg and topped with coriander leaves and garlic. The lor was wonderfully done; smoothly, fragrant, concentrated and not too starchy. Surprisingly good bowl of Lor Mee.

Shi Ji Noodle Stall 狮记面食摊 may not serve the best food, but the food was certainly value for money and decent. Worth a try if you are at the hawker centre.

Shi Ji Noodle Stall 狮记面食摊 (Seah Im Food Centre)

#01-56 Seah Im Food Centre

2 Seah Im Road

Singapore 099114

Opening Hours: Daily 10am to 8pm

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Jamie's Italian Restaurant in Singapore (Vivocity)

Most food fanatics in Singapore would have probably read or heard that Jamie Oliver has opened a restaurant in Singapore called "Jamie's Italian". The 210 seater restaurant offers both indoors and alfresco dining.

I joined Pinky Piggu, Rubbish Eat Rubbish Grow and Sg Food on Foot for dinner at the restaurant on a weekday. There was a long queue outside the restaurant. Thanks to Pinky Piggu who made the reservation, we did not have to join the queue. As this was Pinky Piggu's and Sg Food on Foot's second visit, they knew which dishes to avoid and which to order.

When ordering, we were surprised that several dishes such as Baked Mushrooms and Wild Mushroom Ravioli were already sold out. Looks like its advisable to come early.

Meat Plank ($15.50 per pax) 

Left with fewer choices, we ordered the Meat Plank ($15.50 per pax) which consisted of cured meat, pickles, cheeses (Buffalo Mozzarella and Pecorino with Chilli Jam) and crunchy salad. The cured meat were arranged in such a way that it was supposed to be consumed from the left to right.

Meat Plank ($15.50 per pax) - Buffalo Mozzarella, Crunchy Salad and Pecorino with Chilli Jam (left to right)

My favourite item on the meat plank was the Pecorino with Chilli Jam. It consisted of a thin piece of sardinian flat bread with pecorino cheese. The chilli jam on top was the 'icing on the cake'! It complemented the cheese perfectly! 

We also ordered several mains to share. The Risotto, Ravioli and Pasta comes in two sizes; small and large. Hence, there are two prices in the menu. For the pasta, the small and large portion weighs 75 and 150g respectively. According to the waitress, the pasta were all freshly made - daily with love. They had a molding machine which could churn out different pasta shapes.

Wild Truffle Risotto $16.50 

I thought that the Wild Truffle Risotto $16 / $24.50 was disappointing. I would have preferred if it was more flavourful and the risotto rice was softer (well, personal preference). Luckily we were sharing the dishes, I can't imagine myself finishing the whole dish by myself without feeling jerlak.

Jools' Favourite Sicilian Tuna Fusilli $14

The Jools' Favourite Sicilian Tuna Fusilli $14 / $21 name after Jamie Oliver's wife was a dish which he created for his wife when she was pregnant. As such this dish was skewed towards a sourish flavour with a tangy kick. In addition, using fusilli pasta (corkscrew shaped) allowed  the pasta to be coated with more of the sauce. I quite like the overall taste of this pasta.

Tagliatelle Bolognese $15

The Tagliatelle Bolognese $15 / $22 with it's meat mix of beef, pork, herbs and cheese was delish.  In addition, the Bolognese sauce was robust and flavourful.

Next up are the two most expensive mains in the restaurant.

Pink Snapper Acqua Pazza $32

The Pink Snapper Acqua Pazza which cost $32 consisted of a whole pink snapper with olives, garlic wine, capers, parsley and baby plum tomatoes. It was surprisingly good! From the appearance alone, judging from the eyes of the fish, a fish fanatic would be able to tell that this fish was extremely fresh!

The Pink Snapper Acqua Pazza was executed perfectly, cooked to precise timing (not a second more, not a second less). The flesh of its meat was incredibly soft and moist. If it was cooked a little longer, the meat would have been overcooked and become hard and stiff. The sauce was equally up to the mark. It was light with fine balance of delicately sweet and salty flavour. A must order!!!

30 Day Mature Prime Rib (with truffle butter and shaved black truffles) $64.50

The 30 Day Mature Prime Rib cost $59.50, we added truffle butter & shaved Tuscan black truffles for $5.00. This main consisted of Angus breed bone-in strip loin served with wild mushrooms and peppery endives.

This was insanely delicious!! They have cooked this to perfection too. Even the sides (wild mushrooms and peppery endives) were downright delish! Another must order!!! The steak was done medium-rare, it was pinkish in the medium throughout the whole piece of steak - cooked evenly. It was just so tender, juicy, moist and well-seasoned! The melted truffle butter, further enhanced the tasty and 'moisturise' the meat. Satisfying and value for money!

Tutti Frutti Lemon Meringue $11.50

For desserts, we ordered the Tutti Frutti Lemon Meringue and Creamy Panna Cotta. 

I felt that the Tutti Frutti Lemon Meringue $11.50 was average. Nothing particularly outstanding about it.

Creamy Panna Cotta $9

As for the Creamy Panna Cotta $9, it would be a dish which I would recommend. Both Pinky Piggu and Sg Food on Foot felt that the one which they had during their previous visit was better. This being my first visit and I thought that the Creamy Panna Cotta was outstanding!

The Creamy Panna Cotta was smooth, soft and wobbly. I really like the rasberry fruit compote which coated the outer layer of the Panna Cotta. In addition, after each bite of the Panna Cotta, the creamy and sweet after-taste which set in had me longing for more of this! The more I indulge in it, the more I love it! A must order!!

What a wonderful way to end the meal!

Overall, there were hits and misses. The two pastas we tried were decent, but the two most expensive mains; Pink Snapper Acqua Pazza and 30 Day Mature Prime Rib stole the show! It was worth the price ordering these two mains. Another item which I would order again is the Creamy Panna Cotta!

Service-wise, it was excellent! The waiters and waitresses frequently stop by to gather feedback from customers with regards to the food. In addition, they changed our plates frequently and on one occasion even our utensils. I can't help but wonder if it was because they knew that this was a group of 'bloggers'.

I can't wait to come back again to Jamie's Italian Restaurant! It is advisable to make reservations before coming. I have been eyeing Wild Mushroom Ravioli. If you have tried it before, do let me know if its good.

Do note that the menu in Jamie's Italian Restaurant will change twice a year with up to 20 dishes dishes being replaced. 

Jamie's Italian Restaurant in Singapore (Vivocity)
1 HarbourFront Walk
VivoCity, #1 165-167
Singapore 098585
Tel: 6733 5500
Opening Hours: Sun to Thurs 12pm - 10pm
                         Fri to Sat 12pm - 11pm

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Vanilla Pastry and Bakery (Alexandra Retail Centre)

Vanilla Pastry and Bakery is a shop selling Muffins, Cup Cakes, Swiss Roll, Choux Pastry and Cakes & Mini French Pastry. It is located in the newly opened Alexandra Retail Centre (shopping mall) which is just next PSA Building, NOL Building and Mapletree Business City, a 5 minutes walk away from Labrador Park MRT Station. With the sheltered walkway, it was a breeze walking over from the MRT station as there was no need to worry about rain, sun or even cars.

Back to the food. Vanilla Pastry and Bakery is simple; no-frills and unpretentious compared to the other shops next to it.

The many different types of muffins, cakes and pastries displayed. The muffins start from just $1 and the most expensive muffin cost just $1.20.

Double Chocolate Muffin and Banana Walnut Muffin are their top 2 bestsellers!

More variety of muffins.

Clockwise from Top Right: Double Chocolate, Oreo, Banana Walnut, Orange Chocolate Chips,

I bought a box of muffins back home. Five muffins for just $5.60. That's very value for money considering that I am buying this from a shopping mall.

Double Chocolate Muffin $1.20

Banana Walnut Muffin $1.20

Oreo Muffin $1.00

Orange Chocolate Chip Muffin $1.00

I quite like the Vanilla Pastry and Bakery's muffins. They balanced the texture and density of the cake pretty well. Moist and not dry. In addition, not too fluffy and not too dense, not too heavy. In terms of flavour, it was not overly sweet. Overall, the muffins may be mind blowing, but they were decent. For this price, you are unlikely to find such delectable muffins in any other shopping malls.

Vanilla Pastry and Bakery (Alexandra Retail Centre)

460 Alexandra Road

#01-14 Alexandra Retail Centre

PSA Building

Singapore 119963

Tel: 6270 0305

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