One of the best things about this flexi-schedule that I have adopted is the opp to meet friends and angels for weird middle of the day meals and chit chat sessions. Had one recently with one of my goondu friends at an amazing brunch place called Wild Honey, located at the third floor of the Mandarin Gallery.
Ok, this is not, I repeat NOT, a cheao eats place. Brunch set us back about $70 bucks. When I say us, I mean him, because he was sweet enough to treat me after he noticed that I almost went into cardiac arrest upon looking at the menu/ price board.
But, oh, was it good.
I had the English Breakfast and the nectar of the gods for a drink. Except they call it Wild Mocha Dolce. It was the first time I was served more bacon than I could eat. The sauteed mushrooms were perfect, as was the link sausage and the most heavenly scrambled eggs. The toast was about as thick as my index finger and wonderfully buttered. My dining partner has the most atas looking eggs benedict, which tasted really good, and I dont really like eggs ben, so there you go.
And then we just figuratively popped our pants and sat there for another hour, like pythons that has swallowed a whole pig each. And talked. And dreamed. And were quiet together. AIn't it grand to have friends you can be quiet with? That you don't have to entertain. Or be entertained by.
The best thing about that morning, besides the great feed, was finding a place in your soul where you didn't feel rushed, and then finding a physical space that didn't rush you either. In Singapore at least, seldom do the twain meet.
Post note: I just went to hungrygowhere to read the reviews on Wild Honey and was really surprised to read all the really bad reviews on the food and service. My exprrience was nothing like that. Maybe they have pulled up their socks after those reviews. Or maybe all those reviewers went on weekends that are never good for any brunch place anyway. We went on the a Thursday.
But ya, I had a divine experience and I think you should try it for yourself.
Showing posts with label restaurant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label restaurant. Show all posts
Saturday, April 24
Monday, August 10
Restaurant Review - KPO
Better than meeting up with friends I really enjoy is meeting them in a cool place like KPO, where the slate coloured walls, muted lighting and cosy low sofas made for great conversation.
It helped that for the first hour or so, we were just about the only ones there, the PH crowd only picking up after 1:30pm. Sad for the outlet, but yay for us.
After all the mixed reviews I read about the place on www.hungrygowhere.com, I knew that checking it out myself would be the only thing to do. So with two willing(or not) victims, that's just what we did.
KPO is right where that "philatelic" place is, the Killney Post Office, hence its moniker. I guess it must get pretty crowded at night with the yuppie crowd, but today is was a family brunch sorta vibe.
I had the all day breakfast aka the works. Scrambled eggs on ultra thick toast, nice fat sausage, generous side of bacon, hash browned potatoes for $15 was a pretty good deal to me. What was NOT a good deal was the miserable tiny cup of Earl Grey for $9 bucks. C'mon guys, if you are gonna charge that much, at least give us a pot, will ya?
R's Steak and eggs were pretty good too. The red wine reduction for the sauce was really yummy, flavoured with rosemary and delightfully fruity.
PKH's spring chicken was hardly more than chick sized. Served on mash, it was tasty enough, but the portion would hardly feed a bird.. ha ha. A little poultry cannibal humour there.
Nothing on the dessert side really appealed, so we went to TCC for some dark devotion instead.
On the whole, I liked KPO, next time might try some of the local fare. Someone at the next table was having Hokkien Mee and it smelt heavenly.
It helped that for the first hour or so, we were just about the only ones there, the PH crowd only picking up after 1:30pm. Sad for the outlet, but yay for us.
After all the mixed reviews I read about the place on www.hungrygowhere.com, I knew that checking it out myself would be the only thing to do. So with two willing(or not) victims, that's just what we did.
KPO is right where that "philatelic" place is, the Killney Post Office, hence its moniker. I guess it must get pretty crowded at night with the yuppie crowd, but today is was a family brunch sorta vibe.
I had the all day breakfast aka the works. Scrambled eggs on ultra thick toast, nice fat sausage, generous side of bacon, hash browned potatoes for $15 was a pretty good deal to me. What was NOT a good deal was the miserable tiny cup of Earl Grey for $9 bucks. C'mon guys, if you are gonna charge that much, at least give us a pot, will ya?
R's Steak and eggs were pretty good too. The red wine reduction for the sauce was really yummy, flavoured with rosemary and delightfully fruity.
PKH's spring chicken was hardly more than chick sized. Served on mash, it was tasty enough, but the portion would hardly feed a bird.. ha ha. A little poultry cannibal humour there.
Nothing on the dessert side really appealed, so we went to TCC for some dark devotion instead.
On the whole, I liked KPO, next time might try some of the local fare. Someone at the next table was having Hokkien Mee and it smelt heavenly.
Saturday, March 8
Frenching
It's been a landmine of a week and am I glad that it's almost over. Murphy had a field day with his law, and yet, I can't help but feel that God's law has triumphed.
"Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart."
Ps 119:34
I understand a little bit better God's heart and the concept of being constantly refined and renewed. Next week, there will be a better me, as a result of the me last week. Yes!!
On a lighter note, I want to talk about dinner last night.
After work, I headed happily towards Adam Road Hawker Centre, looking forward to a fiery mee-beehoon goreng, washed down with icy cold, sickeningly-sweet bandung. But alas, it was not to be.
My first clue was the the dearth of cars in the parking lot. As I neared the famed establishment, i saw a plain white banner stetched across the entrance, informing me that Adam Road Hawker Centre was closed for renovation till 30 March 2008!
As loose ends for a place to have my desired repast, I head aimlessly towards Serene Centre. I surveyed the options available - Macdonalds, Some Fusion Japanese place, Island Creamery, and La Petite Cuisine - and my heart sank further. MacD's was a good last option. The people at the pseudo Jap place didn't even pause in the busy standing-at-the-counter they were doing, although I loitered outside a good 10 mins perusing the menu. Island Creamery only served ice cream, and had a 20-person queue.
That left La Petite Cuisine.
As I walked into the establisment, I was greeted by a good looking Filipina waitress and a rough-looking Filipino with a tattoo of a snake on his neck! Her warm smile and his strangeness drew me in to take a closer look. Then a huge Frenchman with a white handlebar moustache came out of nowhere and greeted me with a hearty "Bon Soir" and I knew I had to try this joint out. If not for anything but because the chef looked like Einstein's deranged brother.
To say the place was small is an understatement. The kitchen was the size of two bathroom stalls and the chef and his two assistants stood in it. A five foot counter served as the waiters' station, order counter and cash register. The rest of the place was seating, spilling over to the terrace outside. We could hear every word they said, although the chef seemed to be the only one talking. "Where is the steak?! I am waiting for the steak and I don't like to wait!"
When asked for recommedations, the waitress without hesitation said "Duck Confit with potato gratin" and I didn't argue. I am glad I didn't. The duck was flavourful although some bits were not as tender as I would have liked. The potato gratin was swimming in heavy cream and butter. In all, not the meal for a weight watcher, but since I am not one, it was great. In a posh restaurant, it may have cost $30 easily; here is was $15.
As I was putting the last deletable morsel in my mouth, a lady came in and asked if they were open in the morning, for coffee and chocolate croissants. The chef, who was idling by the counter, said, in a loud booming voice, "No. In the morning, I sleep. With my girlfriend." The lady beat a hasty retreat.
La Petite Cuisine totally lives up to its name. It's the size of a postage stamp and the food is truly cuisine. Please try it if you can. Like the French Stall in Tekka, it's unpretentious French food at its best.
"Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart."
Ps 119:34
I understand a little bit better God's heart and the concept of being constantly refined and renewed. Next week, there will be a better me, as a result of the me last week. Yes!!
On a lighter note, I want to talk about dinner last night.
After work, I headed happily towards Adam Road Hawker Centre, looking forward to a fiery mee-beehoon goreng, washed down with icy cold, sickeningly-sweet bandung. But alas, it was not to be.
My first clue was the the dearth of cars in the parking lot. As I neared the famed establishment, i saw a plain white banner stetched across the entrance, informing me that Adam Road Hawker Centre was closed for renovation till 30 March 2008!
As loose ends for a place to have my desired repast, I head aimlessly towards Serene Centre. I surveyed the options available - Macdonalds, Some Fusion Japanese place, Island Creamery, and La Petite Cuisine - and my heart sank further. MacD's was a good last option. The people at the pseudo Jap place didn't even pause in the busy standing-at-the-counter they were doing, although I loitered outside a good 10 mins perusing the menu. Island Creamery only served ice cream, and had a 20-person queue.
That left La Petite Cuisine.
As I walked into the establisment, I was greeted by a good looking Filipina waitress and a rough-looking Filipino with a tattoo of a snake on his neck! Her warm smile and his strangeness drew me in to take a closer look. Then a huge Frenchman with a white handlebar moustache came out of nowhere and greeted me with a hearty "Bon Soir" and I knew I had to try this joint out. If not for anything but because the chef looked like Einstein's deranged brother.
To say the place was small is an understatement. The kitchen was the size of two bathroom stalls and the chef and his two assistants stood in it. A five foot counter served as the waiters' station, order counter and cash register. The rest of the place was seating, spilling over to the terrace outside. We could hear every word they said, although the chef seemed to be the only one talking. "Where is the steak?! I am waiting for the steak and I don't like to wait!"
When asked for recommedations, the waitress without hesitation said "Duck Confit with potato gratin" and I didn't argue. I am glad I didn't. The duck was flavourful although some bits were not as tender as I would have liked. The potato gratin was swimming in heavy cream and butter. In all, not the meal for a weight watcher, but since I am not one, it was great. In a posh restaurant, it may have cost $30 easily; here is was $15.
As I was putting the last deletable morsel in my mouth, a lady came in and asked if they were open in the morning, for coffee and chocolate croissants. The chef, who was idling by the counter, said, in a loud booming voice, "No. In the morning, I sleep. With my girlfriend." The lady beat a hasty retreat.
La Petite Cuisine totally lives up to its name. It's the size of a postage stamp and the food is truly cuisine. Please try it if you can. Like the French Stall in Tekka, it's unpretentious French food at its best.
Tuesday, February 27
Pepper Lunch - Restaurant Review
For some reason, I keep being convinced to eat at restaurants that go again everything that I beleive a restaurant should be.
People go out to eat because 1) They want to enjoy the luxury of someone else cooking for them and 2) because they want to eat something they cannot reproduce themselves. Among other reasons.
So places whose "concept" is food that you cook yourself just does not compute. What is so thrilling about stirring around some raw meat on a hot plate, adding your own sauce and getting a facial steaming from the result of said stirring? All the things you tried to avoid my going out to eat!
Ok, enough of a rant, this post was supposed to be about Pepper Lunch, the newest range of cook it yourself places to come to Singapore. A Japanese franchise, Pepper Lunch is a small fast food concept where u order at the counter, they served u your dish, which you then proceed to cook through, season and eat.
Yawn. Been there, done that. It's nice that its steak, good steak at that, juicy and as rare or as cooked as you want it. And its nice that they have a few differentiators like their brown sauce (like Hp Sauce meets BBQ) and a garlic soya sauce which adds a nice kick.
What I really liked though was the ice cream. Yes, it was regular soft serve. But what made it extra special was thick molassy syrup that not only laced the top but thickly coated the bottom of the cup. This "gula melaka" like syrup was the perfect way to finish a meal, any meal, even one as mediocre as the ones at Pepper Lunch.
Go for the ice cream. It's good!
People go out to eat because 1) They want to enjoy the luxury of someone else cooking for them and 2) because they want to eat something they cannot reproduce themselves. Among other reasons.
So places whose "concept" is food that you cook yourself just does not compute. What is so thrilling about stirring around some raw meat on a hot plate, adding your own sauce and getting a facial steaming from the result of said stirring? All the things you tried to avoid my going out to eat!
Ok, enough of a rant, this post was supposed to be about Pepper Lunch, the newest range of cook it yourself places to come to Singapore. A Japanese franchise, Pepper Lunch is a small fast food concept where u order at the counter, they served u your dish, which you then proceed to cook through, season and eat.
Yawn. Been there, done that. It's nice that its steak, good steak at that, juicy and as rare or as cooked as you want it. And its nice that they have a few differentiators like their brown sauce (like Hp Sauce meets BBQ) and a garlic soya sauce which adds a nice kick.
What I really liked though was the ice cream. Yes, it was regular soft serve. But what made it extra special was thick molassy syrup that not only laced the top but thickly coated the bottom of the cup. This "gula melaka" like syrup was the perfect way to finish a meal, any meal, even one as mediocre as the ones at Pepper Lunch.
Go for the ice cream. It's good!
Friday, February 16
Restaurant Review - Zingdo
Everytime I walk through Jurong Entertainement Centre, I notice this fiery, hot corner that looked like it was on well, fire.
Yesterday, hanging around with Hui Min, we decided to check it out. Turns out it was Zingdo, a Korean fast food restaurant, managed by the same people who run Seoul Garden.
Basically I think any restuarant that requires you to cook your own food is a rip off. So usually steamboat and such is not on my food shortlist. But this place had other cooked options as well, like bimibap and noodles, so went in at sat down.
Their decor is strange. Orange floor. Orange ceiling. Orange walls.Orange chairs and tables. ALL in the same shade. My guess is, they got the paint free and lots of it. All in all, its like sitting in an oven. espcially with the wisps of steam rising from your meal.
The service, however, is exceptional and fast. Not only do they bring you your food within 10 mins of order, but they also give you detailed instructions on how to cook your meal on the hot plate. (I still think since they are the experts, they should have just done it for us in the kitchen, but again, that's just me.)
The food was - ok lah, as we say here. Nothing to write home about. Bulgogi chicken/ beef cooked in a mainly soya sauce marinade, served with veggies and short grained rice. They also had this thing called kimchi soup, which was basically soup with chilli oil floating on top and unidentfied cabbagy things at the bottom.
Was it good? No.
Was it edible? Yes.
Worth $8.90? No, I rather go to the Food Horizon food court and eat the Teppanyaki Black Pepper Chicken" for $4.50.
Go only if you are stuck in the area and will DIE if you don't have Korean food.
Yesterday, hanging around with Hui Min, we decided to check it out. Turns out it was Zingdo, a Korean fast food restaurant, managed by the same people who run Seoul Garden.
Basically I think any restuarant that requires you to cook your own food is a rip off. So usually steamboat and such is not on my food shortlist. But this place had other cooked options as well, like bimibap and noodles, so went in at sat down.
Their decor is strange. Orange floor. Orange ceiling. Orange walls.Orange chairs and tables. ALL in the same shade. My guess is, they got the paint free and lots of it. All in all, its like sitting in an oven. espcially with the wisps of steam rising from your meal. The service, however, is exceptional and fast. Not only do they bring you your food within 10 mins of order, but they also give you detailed instructions on how to cook your meal on the hot plate. (I still think since they are the experts, they should have just done it for us in the kitchen, but again, that's just me.)
The food was - ok lah, as we say here. Nothing to write home about. Bulgogi chicken/ beef cooked in a mainly soya sauce marinade, served with veggies and short grained rice. They also had this thing called kimchi soup, which was basically soup with chilli oil floating on top and unidentfied cabbagy things at the bottom.
Was it good? No.
Was it edible? Yes.
Worth $8.90? No, I rather go to the Food Horizon food court and eat the Teppanyaki Black Pepper Chicken" for $4.50.
Go only if you are stuck in the area and will DIE if you don't have Korean food.
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