JW Marriott Singapore South Beach prides itself on being the next go-to food and beverage destination. The newly opened luxury hotel boasts a number of unique restaurant and bar concepts – including Beach Road Kitchen which is an epicurean all-day dining establishment that offers both a buffet and an a la carte menu.

While I consider the price of the buffet ($58++ for lunch, $78++ for dinner) to be considerably affordable, you can be assured that you will be greeted with nothing but first-class continental cuisine.

Replete with an exquisite selection of cuisines displayed along beautifully marbled walls and glass cabinets, Beach Road Kitchen rocks an elegant and romantic ambience with its high ceiling, warm lights and hues of brown, black and white.

The most noteworthy section of the restaurant is the cold Seafood Room. The man behind the menu, Executive Chef Stefano di Salvo, attempts to offer a curated seafood experience that borrows liberally from the Chef’s Italian roots and love for the cuisine.

Having watched chefs do their thing on television for so long has instilled in me a slight fascination with live cooking. If you’re like me, you might quickly become infatuated with Beach Road Kitchen’s chefs-on-show concept where chefs whip up a storm in an open kitchen. We will now bring you the top buffet highlights from JW Marriott’s Beach Road Kitchen.

1. Eat to your Heart’s Content at the Seafood Room

The Seafood Room is a custom-built, temperature-controlled space that features a remarkable selection of seafood antipasti, an array of smoked fish selections and fresh seafood options. Diners can look forward to Spanish mussels, French oysters, Maine lobsters and fresh crabs sourced from all around the world.

For starters, I had the Tuna Tataki, which is lightly seared and served with a citrus-based soy sauce. The texture of the tuna was buttery yet light, which made it the perfect appetizer to start the night with. The Canadian Lobsters were succulent and sweet, and I couldn’t help stuffing myself silly. Don’t forget to grab at least half a dozen of French Oysters that are freshly shucked on the spot. We promise that you won’t be disappointed.

2. Pick the Freshest Catch and Charcoal Grill

The interactive dining experience follows through to another highlight of this upscale restaurant – the Charcoal Grill. Choose from handsome cuts of meat, such as the Iberico Pork and L.A. Galbi short ribs, and other grill-to-order seafood items like prawns and squid. The Roasted Beef was done to a gorgeous medium rare, and had a slightly sinewy texture.

We were recommended the Sea Bass which was just one of the options apart from sole fish, trout, and more. I like that I was given the opportunity to pick my preferred fish. The chef first seasoned the fish on a separate tray and then grilled for a good 15 minutes. A food thermometer is used to ensure that the fish is cooked just long enough to retain its moisture. Indeed, the char on the Sea Bass was superb and the flesh soft and impeccable.

The King Prawns were also grilled to perfection, holding a crunch and firmness that will definitely catch your attention. The chefs at Beach Road Kitchen even acceded to our request of slathering the prawns with sambal chilli!

3. Design Your Bowl of Laksa at the Noodle Bar

The Noodle Bar serves up hearty bowls of Asian-style noodles with BRK’s signature homemade Seafood Laksa Broth. Infused with Asian spices and a touch of seafood, the Laksa broth had a rich texture with discernible sweet and spicy notes. Beach Road Kitchen injects an element of personalized experience by allowing us to select from an assortment of ingredients and noodle choices before having the chef prepare the Laksa right in front of our eyes.

4. Order a plate of Chicken Rice

To accommodate diners with a penchant for local cuisine, the Local Favourites section is where you can find familiar dishes such as the well-loved Signature Chicken Rice. Relish in the ginger fragrance that permeats the rice. The texture of the rice was really interesting, akin to sticky-rice, We believe that it might just tickle your palate! The chicken, which was tender and lightly seasoned with soy sauce left an impression too. Other local favourites, such as roasted pork and roasted duck, are available as well.

5. OMG, It’s TRUFFLE pizza!

Right smack in the middle of BRK is an eye-catching Pizza Oven – a section bringing out a rotation of freshly made pizzas and other baked dishes. The Signature Truffle Pizza is to die for. It is topped with a generous amount of truffle oil, mushrooms and stracchino cheese. Fresh out of the oven, the slightly crisp and chewy pizza is simply outstanding. I particularly enjoyed the slight garlicky aroma and the richness of the truffle oil and cheese combination.

6. For the salad lovers

Don’t forget to visit the Vertical Salad Bar and Charcuterie and Cheese display. The vertical salad bar offers the best selection of fresh greens, including full, plump tomatoes sourced from France. For the self-proclaimed turophile, the Charcuterie and Cheese display’s wide selection of cheeses, such as Pecorino and Brie, and cold cuts from regions across Europe will make your jaw drop. The variety of cheese and cold cuts is personally handpicked by Chef Stefano.

7. Instagram-worthy Cookie Ice Cream

Step into a world of decadence in the Dessert Showcase, where you’ll find beautiful homemade desserts and pastries, fresh fruits and nonya kuehs in a glass cabinet. The in-house chef also prepares fresh waffles and crepes that you can pair with compotes and sauces that are made in house too.

One of the highlights is the Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich, which appears to be a favorite of Chef Stefano. It was fun pumping the soft serve (Chocolate, Vanilla or both) in between two huge chocolate chip cookies. If you’d like, you could have the soft serve ice cream on a cone, and choose from an array of sugary and fruity toppings to go with it. Hidden in a chiller is Beach Road Kitchen’s very own artisanal ice cream, including classic flavours like White Chocolate and Green Tea.

An engaging feature of the dessert showcase is a panning machine which coats freshly roasted nuts in cocoa dust, making it the perfect snack to end off a good meal. The kid-friendly section features a candy parade, where you can find jelly beans, marshmallows, as well as fruity gummies.

The Beach Road Kitchen experience was nothing but phenomenal. From the hot and cold seafood collection, to the live cooking stations, Beach Road Kitchen has so much to offer. I would be lying if I said the buffet was good, because it is amazing.

The Seafood Buffet is currently available during Lunch ($58++) and Dinner ($78++) from now till August. In addition to the lunch and dinner buffet spreads, the hotel’s flagship dining venue also serves up an all-day a la carte menu, breakfast buffet ($42++) as well as a Sunday brunch buffet ($108). DBS Cardholders can get 50% off for every second paying diner.

There is an ongoing wine promotion too. For a small fee of just $30++, you can enjoy unlimited glasses of Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon from Michel Lynch, and Piccini Italian Prosecco that will go just hand in hand with your luxurious dinner.

This post was brought to you by JW Marriott.

The post 7 Buffet Highlights from JW Marriott’s Beach Road Kitchen appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Amongst the list of the 38 eateries featured in the Michelin Bib Gourmand list 2017, New Lucky Claypot Rice is a new entrant featuring traditional claypot rice cooked over charcoal fire to bring out the smoky flavours from the charcoal.

Owing to the fact that each claypot rice dish takes 45 minutes to be ready, expect at least a minimum waiting time of 45 minutes for your claypot rice if you don’t call to place your order. We called in at 4pm so we only waited 10 minutes for our claypot rice to be ready at 530pm.

Depending on the number of people you invited, they offer a regular size and a large size for big eaters which costs $5 more. For us, we got the regular sized version at $10 for 2 people and the servings were pretty generous. We also got the oyster sauce vegetables ($4) and a bowl of preserved vegetable soup ($4) to complete the hearty dinner. You also have the option to add ingredients like chicken meat or Chinese sausages for a minimum of $5.

The claypot rice is served with huge chunks of chicken, salted fish and Chinese sausages. If you listen carefully, you’ll also be able to hear the rice sizzling in the claypot when served. New Lucky Claypot Rice also allows for you to customize how much oil and dark soya sauce you want to add into your rice so that you can enjoy it just the way you like. Make sure to mix well so that the entire dish gets evenly coated with the soya sauce and oil.

As we mixed the rice, we also observed some crispy charred chunks of rice which were crackly and contrasts the soft fragrant rice on top. The rice was sufficiently moist without being overly dry and carries small bits of meat to ensure that every bite you take is filled with some ingredients not just plain rice. The salted fish is added in moderation so that the saltiness doesn’t overpower the dish. The chicken is cooked till firm but be careful of the bones. One thing that stood out would be the smoky charcoal smell from the dish that you don’t get everywhere. Overall, I felt that the rice was cooked through evenly with a consistent flavour throughout.

We also ordered the oyster sauce vegetables to balance our diet by adding some fiber to our meal. For $4, the vegetables were sufficiently crunchy and fresh, garnished with shallots and oyster sauce.

To top our dinner off, we also got the preserved vegetable soups with pork ribs. It is served in a huge bowl of soup with tomatoes and preserved vegetables. The flavour from the preserved vegetables is prevalent in the soup with a slight tanginess. I liked that the soup helps to take off some of the heaviness from the claypot rice and would highly recommend it to go with the claypot rice. The pork ribs were chewy with a nice bite but I would’ve preferred to be softer.

Not surprisingly, New Lucky Claypot Rice has little to not like but a lot to love. It wouldn’t hit me as the best claypot rice in Singapore but I think it really doesn’t get much better than this. The Claypot was well executed with generous servings for an affordable price and if you call early, this makes for a splendid lunch or dinner.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to New Lucky Claypot Rice. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post New Lucky Claypot Rice – Michelin Bib Gourmand, Lucky or not? appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

It has become a known fact that good food is ubiquitous in Bedok. However, as foodies, we only want the best, don’t we? We all know the popular ones like the bak chor mee at Bedok 85, but what about some of the lesser known stalls in Bedok? This time, we’re pulling out all the stops to present to you the ultimate Bedok food guide! Without further ado, let’s go!

Chris’s Kway Chap

Notwithstanding the long queue in the sweltering weather, Singaporeans still love a set of honest-to-goodness kway chap. Albeit the slightly higher price tag, Chris’s Kway Chap commands a throng of loyal customers, especially on the weekends. While we did find it a little overrated, we loved that the intestines were clean and void of any smell or bitterness. The broth is pleasantly robust without an overpowering herbal taste which some people love. Remember to dip those innards in the tangy chilli for an added burst of flavor. If you have to have kway chap, you don’t have to look any further.

Ye Lai Xiang Cheng Tng

One of the best ways to beat the heat in Singapore is to dive right into a refreshing bowl of ice cold dessert. While there’re admittedly other desserts, this bowl of cheng tng from Ye Lai Xiang Cheng Tng is a noteworthy one. For 3 bucks, this satisfying bowl offers a considerable amount of ingredients including dried watermelon, persimmons and sweet potato. We liked how it’s not overly sweet and is a real life-savior in the heat.

Hill Street Char Kway Teow

One of our pet peeves (probably yours too) is to waste calories eating something that wasn’t good. Fret not, because this char kway teow in Bedok South Market is definitely worth failing your IPPT and skipping your yoga classes for. Hill street Char Kway Teow ($3) is pretty popular so be prepared to come early and queue. We especially loved the wok hei in our char kway teow and the crispy pork lard that added a sinful crunch. The noodles are adequately moist and fried uniformly to ensure a consistency throughout the dish. If you’re going to have a cheat day, don’t cheat yourself by skipping this.

Hon Ni Kitchen

As a typical Singaporean, I’m also a sucker for cheap and good food. So, I’m going to share with you a 2-dollar Nasi Lemak because sharing is caring. For $2, you get coconut-flavoured rice with your choice of 3 sides which includes everything except chicken wings. Subsequent additions only costs 50 cents each. Yes 50 cents, even your tau hui zui (soya bean milk) costs more than that. You can also opt for your beloved chicken wings at just a buck. Rumour has it that the fish otah is very fragrant. The star and essence of this Nasi Lemak, however, is their homemade sambal chilli which is free!(But don’t take until other people don’t have la) While the food is cheap, the quality is far from cheap. Alas, now I’m sure I won’t be the only aunty queuing for a plate of Nasi Lemak at Hon Ni Kitchen.

Plum And Rice

If you’re into fusion food, this one’s for you! Plum and rice uses Umeboshi, a salted Japanese plum, extensively in their Japanese-local fusion hawker stall. This acidic pickled plum is known to aid digestion, mitigate fatigue and even expedite detoxification. They also offer fatty braised pork belly and fresh steamed cod fish on the side of their rice or porridge. For under $10, it really can’t get any better than this.

Xing Ji Rou Cuo Mian

Bedok 85 is a crowd magnet when it comes to supper and one of the reasons people flock here is the Bak chor mee. Since there are two Bak Chor Mee stalls, there has to be a better one right? We tried both but found that they’re nearly identical. Despite always having a significantly longer queue than its neighbour, Xing Ji Rou Cuo Mian seems to be a crowd favourite. We liked the springy noodles a little better than it’s neighbour. If you’re not in a rush, you won’t be disappointed by the Bak Chor Mee here.

Ah Balling Tang Yuan

Also reigning from bedok 85, ah balling tang yuan offers a great-value bowl of tang yuan (4 for $2). We were told that they make their tang yuan by hand daily to keep it fresh and chewy. With all the different permutations of tang yuan and soups, you’ll be spoilt for choice. We got the green tea with peanut soup combination and loved the chewy tang yuan with a mildly sweet green tea core. Great for a sweet dessert fix after your savory Bak chor mee!

Chai Chee Pork Porridge

Another well-known stall from bedok 85 is chai chee pork porridge, which serves a hearty warm bowl of porridge that never seems to bore. Some call this hospital food or old people food but I love it! We loved the gooey consistency of the porridge and the pretty generous serving. Add 50 cents for an egg and you’re good to go! Too bad they don’t open till dinnertime.

Zhong Xing Ban Mian

Walk into Bedok interchange hawker centre and you’ll notice the iconic yellow bowl syndrome originating from Zhong Xing Ban Mian. Besides the good selection of handmade noodles, they also offer a variety of different ways to enjoy your bowl of handmade noodles. As a regular, I’m usually here for their dry ban mian which I can’t recommend enough. Each bowl comes with oodles of noodles that are thick, yet chewy. We liked how the sauce balances the flavours from the dish, without being too salty nor watery. The anchovies and shallots enhance the flavour and add texture to the dish as well. Since its just beside Bedok mrt, you don’t really have any good reason not to try this if you’re in Bedok.

Xin Mei Congee

Also residing within Bedok Interchange food centre, my other go-to on rainy days is Xin Mei Congee. While my bias towards the sticky Cantonese version is apparent, this bowl of porridge is still an outstanding one. What sets this apart from Chai Chee Pork porridge is that they set the dough fritter (youtiao) sitting on the bowl instead of cutting it up and throwing it into the porridge. This guarantees a crispy, non-soggy youtiao which is so satisfying. The porridge is rather similar to the one from Chai Chee Pork porridge, even though I would probably give the edge to the latter because I prefer my porridge gooier. 

Nangfa Kitchen

Situated near Bedok 216 market is this angel of a Thai restaurant: Nangfa Kitchen. Nangfa, which means angel in Thai, is driven to serve angelic food and dish out an authentic Thai experience. We prefer Nangfa to Nakhon because of their consistently good flavors and generous portions. For $6, you can get a plate of scrumptious stir-fired minced pork with basil or even a bowl of mouthwatering tom yum soup! We love the authentic flavors of the dishes which makes for a satisfying meal everytime. If your mouth catches fire, Nangfa offers a refreshing glass of ice lemongrass ($3) or thai milk tea ($3) to extinguish the flames. They’ve even got the popular mango sicky rice and red ruby for dessert! If you’re willing to queue (which you should), then this is one place you can’t afford to miss out.

Bedok Food Corner Hokkien Mee

If you’re in bedok food corner to get the cheng tng like we recommended, you’d probably be looking for something else to eat since it is rather out of the way. Bedok food corner hokkien mee offers a good old plate of hokkien mee that hits the spot. We love the deep flavors and the use of a thinner bee hoon in this dish. Throw in the belachan for an added fragrance and fiery kick! After you’re done slurping down the hokkien mee, you’ll be grateful that there happens to be an excellent cheng tng store nearby for dessert.

Percolate Cafe

Given Singapore’s humid and sunny weather, some of you might prefer to hang out in a café to blow some steam off after a long week instead of going to a crowded hawker centre. Percolate café is a go-to for many to get their coffee fix and chill hang-out sessions. They use Papa Palheta coffee beans here. We love the minimalistic interior and the homey vibe that the café exudes. If you need a chill place to read your book or emails, this cafe is probably it.

Enak

For a wholesome breakfast, Enak serves up delectable traditional Malay dishes at affordable prices. We were impressed with their Nasi Ambeng ($5.50) which comprises beef rendang, sambal goreng, bergedil (potato), archar (picked vegetables), terung (spicy eggplant), serunding (grated coconut) and a champion sambal belachan. We love the tender beef rendang which is infused with the flavor of coconut milk. If you’re more of a noodles person, get the Mee soto($2,50)!

Red Hornbill

Situated right beside Bedok Library, Red Hornbill dishes out some pretty sweet Kolo mee and Sarawak Laksa. Owing to his heritage from Sarawak, Mr Then Hua San aims to recreate the flavors from Sarawak here in Singapore for Sarawakians that moved to Singapore. At $4, the portions of bouncy egg noodles and minced pork were more than generous. We were also impressed by their Sarawak Laksa ($5) which boasts a light-bodied broth that somehow still captures the essence of a good bowl of Laksa. We were told that the Laksa paste is brought in from Sarawak to guarantee a flavor you could probably only get in Sarawak. Served with crunchy bean sprouts, shredded chicken and sliced prawns, this bowl of laksa is great if you’re not very good at handling spice. Beware of the snaking queue on weekends (45 minutes wait)!

Milk & Honey gelato

Situated round the corner of Bedok 86, Milk and Honey Gelato is a no-brainer especially after your orh luak/bak chor mee/sambal stingray feast at Bedok 85. Easily filled on weekends, this humble café opens till midnight to appeal to the dinner/supper crowd of Bedok 85. Opened around 4 years ago, this cozy café serves gelato and waffles, amongst other items like milkshakes and teas. If you’re a durian lover, rejoice because they sell a premium mao shan wang flavor that you’ll love. If you’re a sesame street fan, then the cookie monster milkshake is for you! Great food is meant to be shared so they’ve even got a buddy meal for you and your plus-one (jio me if you have no one). In spite of the other tantalizing flavors, we still went for the classic Milk and Honey on waffles. The handmade waffles were dense and moist on the inside with a crispy exterior. The Milk and Honey gelato was pleasantly invigorating especially on a hot afternoon. Unlike most cafes, this cafe has a relatively smaller sitting area so better go early after dinner to chope your seats!

FATCAT Ice Cream Bar

If you need to get your sweet fix, FATCAT ice cream bar is yet another viable option in Bedok. Inspired by the nickname given to him by his friends, owner, Charles, decided to name his café after his nickname! Keeping to their existing Japanese theme, the interior of the café has been remodified to emanate a Japanese vibe. On that same note, they have also introduced new Japanese flavors including Umeshu (alcoholic), genmai (brown rice green tea), kinako black (roasted soy bean flour), and edamame (green soybeans)! Unfortunately, we weren’t very adventurous and went for the all-time best-seller: Earl Grey Lavender ice cream on a charcoal waffle. We were told that they make their ice cream and waffles in-house daily to guarantee a freshness like no other. 

Refuel Café

Eating out with a group or friends or family can be tough because everybody wants something different. Located just beside Bedok Reservoir, Refuel café’s extensive menu is bound to put a smile on every face. While it is seemingly out of the way, this café is no stranger to Bedokers. What stood out was their all-day brunch selection which serves up your favorite breakfast all day err day. We decided to go for the Honey BBQ ribs which was one of their bestsellers. For $14.90, we were not disappointed with the generous serving of 8 juicy ribs drenched in a sweet tangy BBQ sauce. Served with corn and slaw, the ribs were tender and just delectable.

Seng Kee Black Chicken Herbal Soup

One of our favorites for rainy days is the kidney mee sua from Seng Kee Black Chicken Herbal soup. We especially love the thick, rich herbal soup which is just irresistible. For $4, you get a hearty bowl of mee sua with kidneys, innards or lean meat. We like how the herbal taste does not overpower the dish and the generous serving. Overshadowed by their slurp-worthy mee sua, the steamed fish is yet another noteworthy dish from Seng Kee Black Chicken Herbal Soup. You can customize and choose how you like your fish to be cooked. Depending on the number of people you’re feasting with, they’ll recommend an appropriate portion that will ensure that you go home satisfied. 

Bedok North 85 Fried Oyster

As our list draws to a close, how could we ever forget fried oyster omelet (orh luak)? While fried oyster omelet comes as an acquired taste for some, this is great comfort food for me. Katong Da Fei Kun is another, yet great, option to enjoy at Bedok 85. The fried oyster omelet comes in thick big chunks which we like. We also appreciate the generous amounts of eggs that’s fried to perfection. Ultimately, the use of fresh big juicy oysters won our hearts over. If you’re headed to Bedok 85 for supper with the gang, get the 10 bucks version and you’re golden.

Ah Wah Rojak

Whilst waiting for your sinful char kway teow from Bedok South Market and Food Center, you’ll probably want something to munch on to help pass the time right? Ah Wah Rojak showcases an interesting take on the popular Chinese rojak dish by using cuttlefish for an added crunch and flavor. We especially love the prawn paste which is just the way we like it: sweet, sticky, tangy and not too watery. What makes this stall stand out from other rojak stalls is the extra step they take in toasting the fried beancurd (taupok) and dough fritters (youtiao) to guarantee a warm toasty crunch. Mix all that together in a mixing bowl and we’ve got ourselves a winner! Who knew waiting for char kway teow could be this enjoyable?

Chai Chee Fried Carrot Cake

Contrary to traditional fried carrot cake which we just love for breakfast, Chai Chee fried carrot cake offers patrons a bag full of thick fried carrot cake strips without the egg. They look like fries and are just as addictive as fries. Bite into the crisp exterior to reveal soft toasty carrot cake that is just surreal. It’s like fries, just better and cheaper. Once you start, you won’t stop. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Tian Nan Xing Minced Pork Noodles

To end the list with a bang, here is yet another bowl of bak chor goodness that you shouldn’t miss out on. With over 80 years of history, Tian Nan Xing bak chor mee is one of the reasons why Bedok has been unanimously crowned a Bak Chor Mee haven in Singapore. For the same price as Xing Ji Rou Cuo Mian from Bedok 85, you’ll get a more generous helping of ingredients that makes for an even more satisfying meal. If you prefer softer noodles, you’ll probably like the one from Bedok 85. If you like your noodles done with bite, then this bowl of Bak Chor Mee is definitely for you! We also love the handmade dumplings which were just heavenly. Taking into consideration the shorter queue and larger serving, this would probably be a better bet than the one from Bedok 85. Afterall, there’s a reason why they’re still drawing throngs of people after 80 years right?

Granted, this list is not exhaustive but hopefully you will find this guide helpful especially if you’re travelling to Bedok from afar for the first time. While we did exclude simpang Bedok from this list, you can check it out in a separate list which we made some time back. Let us know if you think we have missed out anything from this list and we’ll be happy to add in your recommendation.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visits and paid its own meals at the stalls featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to the cafes/stalls listed above. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

The post The Ultimate Bedok Food Guide – 23 Fab Places You Must Try appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Situated in the quiet upscale area of Yebisu, The Westin Tokyo is a popular 5-star hotel with both business travelers and holiday-makers. The Westin Tokyo has consistently been ranked as one of the best hotels in Tokyo, and it’s not surprising at all. The grand hotel boasts a total of 418 spacious guest rooms and 20 suites decked out in classic European décor that are furnished with luxurious bathrooms and complemented with 5-star amenities and services. The Westin Tokyo is just minutes away from the JR Ebisu Station and steps away from a shopping mall, supermarket, restaurants, brunch spots and bars. The location is truly impeccable and its accessibility to key destinations in Tokyo makes it all the more appealing.

The deluxe room spans a stunning 42-square metres. If you have been to Tokyo, you should be no stranger to small rooms and “cozy” spaces. The Westin Tokyo really took things to another level with their incredibly huge room that comes with a posh bathroom. The room was so big that we were able to include an extra bed (3 beds in total). Even with the extra bed, there was more than sufficient space for our luggage(and I have to emphasize that our luggage were huge), a trolley table, shopping bags and backpacks strewn all over the place. 

I was really impressed by the amount of space that we had. You see, I’ve been in Japan a total of 42 days and, apart from certain stays at resorts, I’ve been staying in pretty small hotels and apartments. This was a total breath of fresh air. Adding on to the abundance of space is a glorious view of the city skyline.

I’ve stayed in The Westin Singapore before and I couldn’t stop raving about the Heavenly® Bed. Fluffy, soft, but firm, the beds at The Westin Tokyo were as comfortable as I’ve remembered them to be. I was so excited that before I even brought my luggage in, I jumped onto the bed. If you even need anything at all, you’re just a call away from it, all 24 hours of the day.

The luxurious bathroom has a separate shower, and a bath tub. You can have a good soak in bubbles and hot water if you have time, or just run in for a quick shower if you’re short of it. You can find snug bathrobes and good quality towels, which are absolutely essential to complete the entire bath experience. 

The room is equipped with a LCD television, large closet, iron, ironing board, Nespresso machine.

The Westin Tokyo sends guests newspapers every morning, so you can call for room service, and have some breakfast in bed while reading the latest news. We were lucky enough to be treated to fresh handcrafted chocolates that were delivered to our room. And boy, were they adorable, and delicious!

10 dining destinations await you at The Westin Tokyo. If you’re staying at The Westin Tokyo, I’ll recommend that you have dinner at Yebisu and Mai.

Yebisu

Yebisu sits pretty on the 22^nd level and is a famous Teppanyaki restaurant. Revel in a theatrical dining experience as skillful chefs whip up a storm right in front of you. 

The rich tastes and textures of the Yebisu Brand Beef which is developed by Executive Chef Toshio Numajiri and Yebisu Head Chef Hiroyuki Saito in collaboration with Nozaki Farm in Kagoshima Prefecture will dazzle your tastebuds. This tender, juicy, and absolutely delicious Yebisu beef(a premium Kuroge Wagyu) is only available at Teppanyaki Yebisu. There are two versions of the Yebisu Beef – red and black. The red Yebisu beef is ultra rare, happening in only 1 percent of the cow population. Needless to say, the Yebisu beef was sensational. A perfect medium rare, every bite-sized piece was a taste of heaven. This was definitely one of the best meals that I’ve had in Tokyo.

Mai

If you’re craving for sushi and sashimi, Mai is definitely the place to visit.

We dined in an intimate setting where there were about just 8 seats at the counter. Two chefs worked their magic and dished out our omakase dinner item after item. With fresh fish sourced directly from Tsukiji, Mai makes sure that the quality of the offerings here are of top notch quality.

I can tell that my dining partners thoroughly enjoyed dinner and we were so stuffed at the end of it.

The Westin Executive Club stays popular throughout the day (6am – 10pm). Guests of Westin Executive Club level rooms and suites can enjoy light refreshments and accompaniments throughout the day. The Evening Cocktail Hour runs from 530pm – 730pm and guests can indulge in an unlimited flow of alcoholic beverages. Other benefits that guests can enjoy include complimentary WestinWORKOUT® Fitness Studio access, complimentary filter coffee among your in-room refreshments, and complimentary shoe-shine service.

Victor’s

Our final breakfast at The Westin Tokyo was at Victor’s, an authentic French restaurant that specializes in bouillabaisse and lamb. Victor’s is dressed in an elegant baroque style and offers a breathtaking view of the city. I’ll highly recommend that you pop by Victor’s for an exclusive breakfast.

They have a variety of options that range from eggs, to muesli, to steak. There’s undoubtedly something for everyone here.

After breakfast, we were treated to an exclusive tour of the helipad. Warm sunshine, a soft breeze and a knockout 360 degree view of Tokyo met us the moment we emerged onto the rooftop. This experience will forever by etched in my memory.

The Westin Tokyo is within walking distance of the Yebisu Beer Museum. I’ll suggest that you go on the tour where you can gain a more in-depth knowledge of the history of the iconic beer.

Yebisu beer is only available in Japan so be sure to grab a taste of it! The tour entitles guests to 2 glasses of Yebisu beer. If you can’t get enough of the delicious beer, you will be pleased to know that you can purchase more at the tasting counter.

My 3-night stay at The Westin Tokyo was nothing short of impeccable. Amazing location, wonderful service, delicious food, and comfort at its very best. Truly a five-star experience. 

The post The Westin Tokyo – 5 Star Luxury in the Heart of Tokyo appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

As Europe’s oldest city, Athens is an ancient beauty with tradition and history. There are incredible monuments, museums and centuries-old structures around every corner.

Acropolis, one of Athens’s most popular destinations, is a wonderful place to get lost in. Visible from almost everywhere in the city, Acropolis is a world of its own. It manages to surprise and dazzle regardless of how well-documented it is.

Besides the historic spots that is plays host to, Athens has become a foodie destination in the last few years. There are all kinds of eateries all ready to deliver authentic Greek cuisine to you.

I met my tour guide, Maria Synodinou, who brought me to places on and off the beaten track. We tried a whole range of local delicacies and visited shops with premium Greek products. I even had the chance to speak with a few talented budding chefs.

Athens has long been a dream destination for many but the cost of flying there is always a concern. Now, we can fly to Athens easily and most importantly, affordably and safely, thanks to Scoot. Scoot has just launched their first direct long-haul flight to Athens, Greece! You get to fly on the spanking new Boeing 787 Dreamliner with All-in Fares from just SGD 268! With that, let me present to you my BEST FOOD FINDS IN ATHENS!

Food Truck

Take a short walk around the city and you will discover that Athens has joined the street food revolution. At the newly-opened Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center, which is home to the National Library of Greece and the National Opera, we met Georgios Glinos who started a mobile ‘Food Truck’ that serves delicious and healthy Turkish Gözleme. Even though he has a degree in astrophysics and an MBA, he decided to jump into a totally different career.

Gözleme is a flatbread filled with delicious ingredients. Georgios gets his produce from small producers, and every item on the menu is carefully crafted by him. I shared the feta cheese with greens with my guide, as we enjoyed the view of Stavros Niarchos Park. If you’re short of time, and only have limited time to try out the food available in the city, don’t miss the Feta with Greens here.

Jimmy’s Fish

Located along the coast of Microlimano Piraeus, Jimmy’s Fish is a restaurant famous for fresh fish, seafood and Greek cuisine in Piraeus. Owner, Babies, took over the business 2 years ago from his good friend Jimmy. He used to work on a ship and knew nothing about F&B. However, he picked it up along the way and now Jimmy’s Fish is one of the most popular restaurants in Athens.

Only the freshest supply from local fishermen is served here. Our order of grilled grouper was firm but tender, the wine-braised octopus bursting with flavour, and the fried shrimps crunchy and fresh.

Classic Greek dishes are available at Jimmy’s Fish too. It may sound silly to you, but it was my first time eating Greek salad in Greece so I was really excited about it. It’s such a beautifully simple salad with sweet red tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, rich olives and salty feta cheese. Enjoying such a timeless Greek classic while admiring the view of the harbour was nothing short of enchanting.

O Gyros pou Girevis

Plaka, the oldest district in Athens, is built at the foothill of the Acropolis. We thoroughly enjoyed the wonderful view of the picturesque neoclassical houses, and the abundance of cafes and restaurants in the area. Roaming the streets is a delightful assault on the senses.

My tour guide, Maria, told me that the gyros here is one of the best in Athens. I did not doubt her as the aroma of the roasted meat was truly inviting. Gyros is a Greek dish made of meat(traditionally pork, or chicken) cooked on a vertical rotisserie. The moist and crispy meat is served wrapped in a flatbread with tomato, onion, and tzatziki sauce (made from yogurt, garlic and cucumber). If you are only heading to Athens for a really short period of time and wondering what is one restaurant that you absolutely cannot miss, O Gyros pou Girevis is it.

Froots Juice Bar

This is a lovely corner near the Acropolis Metro station. Froots Juice Bar serves freshly cold-pressed juices and sandwiches. Michael opened this juice bar 2 years ago. There are energy-boosting juices, stress-reducing juices, and more. I picked the apple, carrot, ginger and lemon combination, in the hopes of a quick juice cleanse after a day of indulgent feasting.

Here’s a fun fact! Froots has two entrances. The one from Porinou Street (pictured) has a little secret garden amongst the surrounding apartments. Sipping on a cup of refreshing fruit juice in the garden is a great way to recharge after a long day.

Takis Bakery

This small bakery located near the Acropolis Museum is an eye-opener. Artemi’s and Theodori’s Grandfather started this bakery in 1971 after working in a “koulouri” shop in Thessaloniki. Koulouri Thessalonikis is the most popular street food that one can find in Greece. This sesame seed-encrusted bread ring is a traditional snack that Greeks have as breakfast-on-the run.

Today, more than 50 different kinds of bread are produced here everyday. You will find sandwiches, cookies and cakes in the bakery. They also supply to many cafes in Athens.

Drupes & Drips

Coffee joints are bringing new buzz to the once languishing areas. The owners of Takis Bakery has opened a café “Drupes & Dripes” beside the bakery. They serve specialty coffee and juices in the morning, and fine wine and tasty Mediterranean bites later in the day. As Drupes & Drips and Takis Bakery are both owned by Artemi, food from Takis Bakery is allowed to be brought over to Drupes & Drips. We got apple pie, koulouri and brownies from Takis Bakery to go along with a cup of coffee here.

This is where I got to try Greek coffee. A strong brew (just like our kopi-gao) is boiled in a tall, narrow pot with foam on the top. It is traditionally served black, though some young people prefer to order a “double” Greek Coffee and add milk to it. This is the perfect venue for coffee-sipping and people-watching.

Melilotos

Melilotos started out as a delivery service of home-cooked meals before they decided to open a restaurant in downtown Athens. This family-run restaurant uses regional ingredients to whip up simple and traditional Greek dishes.

For a start, we shared a plate of salad with figs, French soft goat cheese and pastrami deli meat. I had the black tagliatelle made with cuttlefish ink from Chios Island. It is cooked with smoked trout from Orhomenos, cherry tomatoes and ouzo sauce. Cooked al dente, the pasta is striking in both flavour and color. The salmon baked in paper with celery, leek and fennel, is moist and tender.

Scholarchio Restaurant

Scholarchio Restaurant is one of the older restaurants in the Plaka area, closer to the base of the Parthenon. I met my Greek friend, Michael, for dinner on my last day and we managed to snag a nice table by the window.

I was honestly very impressed with the moussaka at Scoot’s meal presentation and I wanted to try it again at a local restaurant. The moussaka sees thin pieces of fried potato and eggplant layered with meat sauce, and topped with béchamel sauce. I have to admit that the moussaka was absolutely brilliant.

Noel

It feels like Christmas when I entered Noel. One of Athen’s hottest bars, this space exudes a warm and welcoming holiday charm all year round. The red walls are accented with golden touches, and chandeliers dangle from the ceiling. Do try their range of uniqe cocktails such as the Windmill Fizz – a concoction made from vodka, raspberry syrup, lemon, love bitters, cider and egg white.

Central market

Athens Central Market is where you get to see the real Athens. I enjoyed walking around the market with a carnival of smells, colors, people and activities. The best part was sampling a wide variety of fresh produce and local products along the way. There are excellent cured meats and cheeses, herbs, spices, sweets, honey, liqueurs and anything you can think of from every corner of Greece.

Throughout my few days in Athens, we tried a good range of Greek food from places only the locals knew. Maria was passionate and knowledgeable about Greek culinary heritage and shared with me a great deal about how food has always been an important part in the lives of the Greek.

Weather in Greece

To be honest, I think anytime is a good time to come to Greece because there is always something to see every season. If you really want to be specific, spring and autumn are probably the perfect times to see Athens. Between March and May, and September and November, sunshine is pretty much a guarantee. The skies will be a gorgeous azure blue and the temperature very pleasant.

Scoot to Greece

Low-cost carrier Scoot has launched their first ever long-haul flight between Singapore and Athens. The route will be serviced by Scoot’s fleet of Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner and it is a non-stop, direct flight from Singapore to Athens. The planes are fitted with eight crew bunks and a total of 329 seats, including 18 in ScootBiz.

There will be three to four flights from Singapore to Athens per week (depending on the season). During winter season (October to February), they have 2 flights a week. The planes are scheduled to take off at 2.45am (Singapore time) and land in Athens at about 8.45am (Athens time). Don’t miss the sale that runs till 30 June! To book, visit Scoot’s website.

Read: A Look at Scoot’s Long Haul Inflight Meals to Greece

The post Athens Food Guide – What to eat in the capital of Greece? appeared first on Miss Tam Chiak.

Ang Ku Kueh is a small oval-shaped Chinese pastry that has chewy and sticky glutinous rice flour skin wrapped around a sweet filling that fills the centre of the pastry. Traditionally, it is red in colour. However, the ones at Kueh Ho Jiak come in an array of colours – purple, brown, yellow and even BLACK.

Rest assured, for there is no artificial colouring and preservatives added to the ang ku kueh here. The skin gets its colour from the sweet potatoes that it is made from. 5 different types of sweet potatoes are used in the creation of the skin. Think Hannah sweet potatoes, Japanese sweet potatoes, Jewel sweet potatoes, Purple sweet potatoes and Garnet sweet potatoes. The skin of the kueh is freshly made by the creative Chef Sandy Hannah Tan.

Compared to the usual ang ku kueh, the skin is softer and slightly thinner with fillings that are not as sweet. They have a range of fillings for you to pick from. Flavours include classics like mung bean, red bean and yam, as well as more premium flavours like fresh durian, fresh jackfruit and hae bee hiam.

The Sweet Potato Ang Ku Kueh with Red Bean fillings go for $1.20 per piece, and was my favourite out of the lot, as the filling was not too sweet and tasted rather natural. The skin was a bit too oily and left a greasy shine on my fingers after popping the kueh into my mouth. However, we liked that the skin was thinner compared to the usual ang ku kuehs out there.

You might also recognise a certain cartoon character on their kuehs! The Hello Kitty-shaped Sweet Potato Ang Ku Kueh ($1.20) contains a peanut filling. The sweet ground peanut filling is sure to be a hit among children. We liked that the ground peanut fillings were tightly packed together in the core of the plump kueh.

The Yam ($1.20) filling is made from scratch by mashing yam together. It is made using Chef Sandy Hannah Tan’s own recipe, and is healthier as it is less sweet.

If you’re wondering how to differentiate between the different kuehs, here is a short guide to help you. The Bear-shaped ones have coconut fillings, full purple-coloured ones have yam fillings, Hello Kitty-shaped ones have ground peanut fillings and the flower-shaped ones have either red bean or mung bean fillings.

Other than their classic Ang Ku Kueh, Kueh Ho Jiak also offers unique items like Bomb Puff. They currently have Curry Potato ($1.50), Extra Spicy Lime Sardine ($1.50) and Egg Mayo ($1.50). The bomb puffs have crispy laters that are handmade with love with the use of top quality butter.

This is an interesting rendition of the classic Ang Ku Kueh and is worth trying! Do place an order with Elizabeth at 90284359 to prevent disappointment, as stocks are limited after 1pm.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Coocaça. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

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They say good dim sum is only found in Hong Kong but we like to think that Singapore has her own hidden gems that are yet to be found. Unbeknownst to some, Dim Sum is the Cantonese pronunciation for the Chinese word 点心 (pronounced as Dian Xin) which means small snacks or pastries. Owing to the duality nature of the Chinese language, 点心 can also mean to touch one’s heart and many are firm believers that good dim sum will touch your heart. Ergo, with your interest at heart, we travelled to Simpang Bedok to find out if this Halal dim sum eatery can truly touch our hearts and yours!

While Enak Enak offers a moderate spread of handmade dim sum, it owes its current success to the Chinese chef they hired years ago to create their halal dim sum menu from scratch. Launched 7 years ago, Enak Enak’s menu has evolved to include other cuisines. They have even opened a second branch in East Coast! To cater to our indiscriminate cravings in the wee hours of the night, they also serve up a plethora of Chinese, Indian and Mediterranean cuisines all the way to 5am! Do note that they only start serving their mains from 11am onwards.

We tried a few of their more popular dishes including siew mai ($2.50 for 3pcs), Har kow ($3.50) and their golden sand buns ($2.90 for 2pcs).

While the siew mai was usually large, the juiciness and flavor of the meat did not impress. However, we liked that the siew mai had a good meat to flour ratio. It probably would have been nicer if prawns were added. Overall, it was a tad disappointing.

If you’re a fan of liu sha bao (salted egg custard buns), you’ll be delighted to know that the liu sha bao here was not half bad. While the lava did not ooze out as one would expect, the salty lava complements the sweet bun well, albeit the slightly grainy and watery texture. Alas, the buns would have been a lot more appetizing if they were served warm.

Unless you’re allergic to prawns or shrimp, there’s absolutely no reason not to order har kow when having dim sum. The shrimps were pretty fresh and crunchy in contrast to the soft doughy wrapping. Unlike traditional Har kow that is known for its thin translucent wrap, the wrap used in Enak Enak’s Har Kow was slightly thick and starchy.

We also ordered their Shanghai Steamed Dumping with Chilli Crab($5.40 for 4pcs) and the steamed rice roll($3.90).

The steamed rice roll, or better known as chee cheong fun, is served with a side of prawn paste. We recommend adding the paste to the sauce to enhance the flavor of the dish.

Reminiscent of xiao long bao, the steamed dumplings with chilli crab were filled with a satisfying broth and spicy chilli crab filling. This dish stood out for me because of the spicy filling hidden within each innocent looking package. The filling was well seasoned and the broth was pretty slurp-worthy, even though I would have preferred a milder spicy kick. The only reservation that we had about the dish was that the skin enveloping the soup and filling was too thick.

While the dim sum here did not thoroughly appeal to our tastebuds, we still recommend trying a dish or two, especially if you’re in the vicinity at 3am in the morning. 

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to XXX. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

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Combat the sweltering weather with a cup of Froco at Husk. Nope, I didn’t spell froyo wrongly. Froco is an abbreviation for frozen coconut, the new dessert on the block that blends nutrients from young Thai coconuts into a creamy ice-cold swirl. Not unlike frozen yogurt, it is a refreshing dessert that is perfect for coconut and ice-cream lovers!

Husk blends young Thai coconut flesh and water to form their in-house specialty – a smooth and light concoction that has a distinct coconut taste. It has a low dairy content (around 1%!) and is low in sugar as well. Don’t be mistaken, that doesn’t mean it won’t be able to satisfy your sweet tooth. The young Thai coconut flesh is a natural sweetener for the froco, without leaving it cloyingly sweet.

Husk has 3 sizes available for their frocos: Short ($3.80, $0.80 for additional topping), Tall ($5, $0.80 for additional topping) and Parfait ($6.50, comes with 3 toppings).

Toppings include mango, pineapple, jackfruit, banana and watermelon for fruits and homemade muesli, homemade granola, peanuts and chocolate for the crunch.

The Parfait is the most value-for-money, as it comes with a generous swirl of froco. Compared to other frozen yogurt establishments, they have a limited variety of toppings. Also, there aren’t any ‘sauces’ to pick from. However, we didn’t miss it at all! We got the watermelon, mangoes and homemade muesli(Thai recipe).

I know how it feels like to step out and have your once tall froco swirl melt into a sad puddle. If you’re going to be outdoors, Husk offers smoothies as well. Instead of being coconut-based, they are fruit-based instead with the addition of coconut water.

We tried the Pump It ($6.20) Smoothie which is a Power Smoothie made from a blend of banana, honey and granola. It is rich and decadent with a strong banana taste. Banana helps to replenish the body with essential electrolytes and potassium nutrients.

They also have Green Smoothies like Just Beet It ($6.80) which has carrot, beetroot and lemon as well as Fruity Smoothies like the Jumping Jack ($6.80) which features mango and jackfruit.

Husk is located at B2 of Plaza Singapura. Their cheery turquoise and yellow decorations make them hard to miss. Would I go back again? Certainly. Froco is a healthier alternative to frozen yogurt and is no less refreshing and satisfying. It even helps to improve digestion and support the absorption of key vitamins, minerals and amino acids. What’s not to love?

While we were there, the shop assistant told us about plans to introduce another type of frozen fruit dessert that is well-loved by the Thais – mango. The release date is unconfirmed and they have not officially launched the flavour yet, but they are currently offering sample-sized cups for customers to try. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Coocaça. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

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King’s Laksa Steamboat might have earned a reputation amongst locals, but did you know that it’s previous management has since been replaced by a husband and wife duo in October 2016? Regardless, the duo preserves our all-time favourite steamboat by adding their homemade Laksa gravy, as a soup base, into their menu.  

We arrived at King’s Laksa on a weekday afternoon, and it wasn’t packed. Beyond the entrance, we caught a glimpse of the leftover waste by previous patrons. At first glance, I thought the staff were idling. However, it turns out that there was only one staff tending to the preparation for dinner, as well as attending to the needs of patrons whom were still having their lunch steamboat. I was very impressed with the chef’s ability to accede to our multiple requests for uncooked meats and cooked dishes, despite not having sufficient help. Thankfully, the rest of the staff came in halfway during our steamboat experience.

The wallet-friendly steamboat includes free-flow drinks and ice cream (Lunch: Adult $20.80++, Child $16.80++; Dinner: Adult: $25.80++ Child: $16.80++). Patrons of the restaurant are entitled to 2 types of soup bases in the steamboat session. However, you can top up an $8 if you prefer to have 3 types of soup bases. We got both the mild tasting Chicken Soup base and of course, the Laksa soup base.

“We use shrimps, lemongrass, garlic, chilli and a lot of ingredients in our homemade Laksa soup, which requires more than 8 hours of preparation time. Frying the Laksa paste alone already takes about 4 hours,” co-owner Emily shared about their Laksa. The taste of the Laksa soup truly reflects the amount of effort that has gone into concocting the soup. The Laksa soup is fragrant and has a rich coconut milk aftertaste. A word of caution, the coconut milk within the Laksa soup burns easily if left heated for too long. So, remember to constantly stir the pot of Laksa soup to prevent it from getting burnt!

For starters, you might like to help yourself to their self-serve section if you desire some of the traditional steamboat ingredients such as broccoli, crab meat sticks, seafood tofu and eggs. Though this section contains only a limited variety of ingredients, the selection changes everyday so you might get new ingredients and vegetables the next time you visit. Not to worry, King’s Laksa assures you that local favourites such as Enoki Mushrooms remain in their self-serve section.

You can order fingers food, noodles, meats, seafood and more to complete your steamboat experience. The Noodles section offers classic Wholemeal Yellow Noodles and Laksa Noodles, as well as uncommon choices such as Brown Rice Laksa Noodles and Hand pulled La Mian. We opted for the Laksa Noodles, which paired really well with the Laksa soup.

I didn’t really have any expectations of the finger food, but King’s Laksa delivers cooked food that is surprisingly satisfying. You must order their Fried Tofu, which comes covered in sweet chilli Thai sauce. The combination of its silky soft interior, crispy skin and sweet chilli made it highly addictive. I also recommend getting their Golden Mantou to dip in the Laksa soup. Absolutely delish!

The restaurant offers a variety of meats and seafood that is familiar to most steamboat veterans. For the meats, some of the regular ingredients include Sliced Pork, Chicken, Beef and even Lamb. You could also sample their Beef Tripe, which is the lining of a cow’s stomach. King’s Laksa also offers a selection of seafood such as sliced fish, fresh prawns, mussels and flower crab. I’d usually drench my cooked meats and seafood in the given condiments, but cooking the ingredients in the Laksa soup really added a layer of rich, “lemak” flavour which is sufficient for me to leave my usual soy sauce-garlic mix out.

“We only source for quality ingredients that are fresh!” Emily guarantees. It’s no wonder this place is mad packed with diners on Friday evenings and weekends. With such affordable prices, I’d definitely return to King’s Laksa Steamboat to satisfy my Laksa cravings.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to XXX. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

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LIVE REPORTING : Maureen & Mu Qin

Michelin unveils the lists of restaurants that have been awarded one or more stars in the Michelin Guide Singapore 2017. With a total of 38 starred restaurants, including 12 new stars, this second edition confirms the dynamism and the quality of Singapore’s culinary scene.

This prestigious annual guidebook sets a standard of excellence with its star rankings and Bib Gourmand selections. The rigorous selection process behind the Michelin Guide considers five key elements: 1) product quality; 2) preparation and flavors; 3) the chef’s personality as revealed through his or her cuisine; 4) value for money; and 5) consistency over time and across the entire menu.

Stars apply only to ‘what is on the plate’ and are awarded solely for the quality of the cooking.


· Three stars mean exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey.

· Two stars mean excellent cooking, worth a detour.

· One star means a very good restaurant in its category.

Presenting to you 2017 Michelin Guide Singapore

Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle

Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle

11 new stars!

Restaurant Labyrinth

Chef Kang

Meta

ONE STAR:
– Alma (Scotts Road)
– Béni (Mandarin Gallery)
– Candlenut (Dorsett Residences)
– Corner House (Singapore Botanic Gardens)
– Crystal Jade Golden Palace (Paragon)
– Cut (Marina Bay Sands)
– Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle (Crawford Lane)
– Jaan (Stamford Road)
– Lei Garden (Chijmes)
– Liao Fan Hong Kong Soya Sauce Chicken Rice & Noodle (Smith Street)
– Osia (Resorts World Sentosa)
– Putien (Kitchener Road)
– Rhubarb (Duxton Hill)
– Shinji (Bras Basah Road)
– Shinji (Tanglin Road)
– Summer Pavillion (Ritz Carlton)
– Sushi Ichi (Orchard Road)
– The Kitchen at Bacchanalia (Hong Kong Street)
– The Song of India (Scotts Road)
– Braci (Boat Quay) *NEW*
– Cheek by Jowl (Boon Tat Street) *NEW*
– Chef Kang (Mackenzie Road) *NEW*
– Garibaldi (Purvis Street) *NEW*
– Iggy’s (Orchard Road) *NEW*
– Imperial Treasure Fine Teochew Cuisine (Orchard Road) *NEW*
– Labyrinth (Raffles Avenue) *NEW*
– Meta (Keong Saik Road) *NEW*
– Saint Pierre (One Fullerton) *NEW*
– Summer Palace (Regent Singapore) *NEW*
– Whitegrasss (Chijmes) *NEW*

TWO STARS:
– André (Bukit Pasoh)
– L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon (Resorts World Sentosa)
– Les Amis (Scotts Road)
– Odette (National Gallery Singapore)
– Shisen Hanten (Orchard Road)
– Shoukouwa (Fullerton Road)
– Waku Ghin (Marina Bay Sands) *NEW*

THREE STARS:
– Joel Robuchon (Resorts World Sentosa)

The Michelin Guide Singapore 2017 is a testament to Singapore’s elite chefs and eateries, and the selections that made the coveted list are no doubt the hottest tables in town.

From avant-garde cuisine to best-budget bets, take your pick from the above and be sure to bring your appetite along. To find out more about the MICHELIN Guide, visit https://guide.michelin.sg

READ: Michelin Bib Gourmand Recommendations

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According to various sources, Eunos used to be a Malay settlement named Kampong Melayu. Kampong Melayu was built by nationalist and “father” of modern Malay journalism, Mohamed Eunos Bin Abdullah. Kampong Melayu was later renamed Kampong Eunos to pay tribute to the legacy of the late Mr Eunos. After my brief history lesson, I’m ready to introduce you to 11 eateries near Eunos MRT that you absolutely can’t miss. 

Hoon Hong Fried Kway Teow

This char kway teow stall hidden in a corner of Eunos Crescent market has a long history of more than 30 years. The owner dutifully whips up each plate of char kway teow ($3) with cockles, sausages, vegetables and eggs over a well-controlled fire. The dish is fairly decent, with every bite carrying a subtle sweetness and sufficient wok hei.

Hock Choon Laksa & Lor Mee

The quality of the noodles used in lor mee is very important. This is what makes Hock Choon Laksa & Lor Mee stand out! The hawker delivers bowls of Lor Mee ($3) with a generous amount of ingredients, such as braised pork, braised egg, and fried fish. The thick rice vermicelli is cooked al dente. Every strand of noodle is springy and tasty. The excellent combination of garlic, vinegar and chilli really enhances the flavours of this bowl of goodness.

Hai Xian Zhi Jia 海鲜之家

One of the best things that you can have on a rainy day is a good bowl of fish soup. As I was queuing, I overheard customers and staff from Hai Xian Zhi Jia raving about the Sliced Fish Soup ($3.50).Upon having my first spoonful of fish soup, I dare say this is one of the better sliced fish soup out there. Each bowl of clear soup is swimming with fish slices, tofu, cabbage, and bitter gourd slices. The soup is seasoned well, with a discernible aftertaste of pepper and garlic. The fish slices are really fresh and soft, albeit scant, but hey it’s still a decent dish for it’s price point.

Mami Midah Briyani

Granted, this is not one of the best tasting biryani dish for me, but it is indeed one of the healthier biryani options by far. Helmed by Mr Mohammad Nazir Kassim and his mother, Mami Midah has been featured on countless social media platforms for their ingenious substitution of products that are high in saturated fats and sodium with healthier ingredients. The only two dishes they sell are the Chicken Briyani ($5.50) and Mutton Briyani ($5.50). Both plates of briyani have the same amount of basmati rice, achar, as well as dalcha. The rice was rather flavourful, and the chicken was well marinated. However, I found the chicken a tad dry. If you’re looking for a plate of biryani that is light and less oily, Mami Midah Briyani is the place for you. 

Seng Kee Roasted Meat Duck Rice

Seng Kee Roasted Meat Duck Rice is an unassuming hawker stall that has previously been nominated as one of the top 5 braised duck in Anchor Beer’s contest in Wanbao newspaper. The Braised Duck ($10) is simple and light, yet tasty without being overwhelmingly intense in flavours. You’ll find a thin layer of fat underneath the skin as well. A plate of braised duck rice costs $3 while the boneless duck rice goes for $3.50. If you prefer roast duck, you must definitely try Seng Kee’s Roast Duck ($10). The tender duck was not too fatty, and it had a thin crisp skin.

Eunos Minced Meat Noodles

Looking to satisfy your daily dose of Bak Chor Mee? There is a stall that does a mean bowl of minced meat noodles near Eunos MRT. The downside is that you got to get up really early for it because the stall only opens from 6am to 1.40pm. Many have recommended the soup version, but I ordered the Minced Meat Noodle Dry ($3 for regular, $3.50 for large). Each portion comes with a bowl of dry noodles topped with a small amount of pork lard, and a bowl of soup with 4 huge dumplings and a generous amount of minced meat. The noodles are pleasantly springy and stringy, with no alkaline aftertaste. What really stood out, for me, were the dumplings. Oh that flavourful filling, and soft wanton skin..

La Chasseur

La Chasseur’s claypot rice ($12.50) is a must try. Located in an industrial area, La Chasseur simmers their claypot rice for a good 17 minutes over a charcoal fire. The rice is first cooked for 7 minutes before the other ingredients are added in. When the claypot rice arrives at your table, you can request for the server to mix the black sauce in for you. You’ll notice that basmati rice is used here(unique to La Chasseur). We love the smoky flavour and charred bits!

APSN Mystical Café

APSN Mystical Café is the first social enterprise launched by the Association for Persons with Special Needs. The café is established to provide trainees with special needs an outlet to gain vocational skills and exposure in the F&B industry. We had the Grains of Singapura ($5) which is a Nasi Lemak dish made up of rice with a sunny side up egg, ikan billis, peanuts and chicken drumlets. Don’t forget to pair the chilli with every spoonful of Nasi Lemak. You can also try the Spaghetti Ala Melayu ($4), which is a innovative mee rebus-inspired pasta dish. The sauce is mildly spicy, and not too thick, unlike the usual Mee rebus. Complete your meal with a slice of refreshing and zesty Lemon Meringue ($5). It is an ideal afternoon perk-me-up if you’re feeling sleepy.

Veganburg

Veganburg is the first vegan fast food restaurant in Singapore. It is set up by Alex and Tracy, who have been vegetarians for more than a decade. This casual burger joint is established to cater to the vegan community and to inspire others to incorporate a plant-based or meat-free meal in their diet at least once a week. For a start, you can try the Smoky BBQ Burger Set ($7.90 ala carte/ $11.80 for set). The soft and fluffy bun is made using organic wholemeal grains, raw sugar, natural sea salt and distilled water. Omega and zinc are infused into the burger buns for a well-balanced meal. The oven-baked patty is made from minced mushrooms. Rest assured that Veganburg’s patties are all made from 100% vegetable ingredients and contain no gluten, dairy, eggs, genetically modified organisms (GMO), preservatives and trans fat. 

Leng Leng Ice Cream

Opened in the first quarter of 2017, Leng Leng Ice Cream is a dessert spot founded by three female entrepreneurs. Once you step into the shop, you’ll quickly become acquainted with bold printed Singaporean phrases, and red & white decorations inspired by the Singapore flag. The desserts are inspired by local flavours. You can look forward to pandan waffles as well as bubur hitam milkshake. If you’re visiting for the first time, you must go for the combination of Gula Melaka Ice Cream ($3.20 for regular flavour, $3.90 for premium flavour) and the pandan waffles ($1.50). Sourced from a local ice cream supplier, the ice cream has a caramelized sweetness which pairs nicely with the crispy and light waffles. Leng Leng also offers fluffy and warm sugee waffles ($3.50).

Nuevo Cafe

Nuevo Café is a cozy space that’s great for your next chill out sesh. Within its premises, you’ll find sturdy wooden tables, old school bulbs, and walls dressed in monochromatic colors. The chic interior will have you forget that the café is actually nestled within an industrial building! If the café ambience isn’t enough to entice you, the prices of the dishes will. The Mentaiko with Bacon Linguine ($8.50) is topped with salted fish roe, bacon, and white cream sauce. If you have a sweet tooth, then the Burnt Honey Grilled Chicken ($8.50) should be ideal for you. Coated with burnt honey, the juicy grilled chicken has a pleasantly charred exterior. The only downside is that the portion is pretty small.

Though not widely known for its food offerings, Eunos still boasts a number of quality dishes. I’ll definitely return for the sliced fish soup, which is located just beside the MRT. We hope that you will find our guide useful and will discover even more good food in the area!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visits and paid its own meals at the stalls featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to the cafes/stalls listed above. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

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Equipped with 11 levels of retail stores, restaurants and even a cinema, City Square Mall sets itself apart from the competition by catering to all types of shoppers and diners. Situated in the heart of Singapore, City Square Mall is a popular destination for families with exhilarating activities and promotions. Keeping true to the Singaporean spirit, City Square Mall is now rolling out a series of irresistible promotions from now till 6th August 2017 to ensure you’re getting the most out of every penny!

Wok Master #02-51/52

Seafood is an essential part of a typical Singaporean’s diet but, unfortunately, good seafood doesn’t come cheap. Fortunately, Wok Master boasts a modest and affordable seafood menu that is specially tailored to the Singaporean palate. Sometimes, choosing crabs can be petty business especially when you realize your crabs were smaller than advertised. Fret not, because Wok Master guarantees a live 500g Indonesian mud crab so you won’t be shortchanged.

We tried a couple of their bestsellers – Chili crab and Salted egg crab. The salted egg crab is fried in homemade salted egg sauce and promises crunchy satisfaction while the chili crab is drenched in a flavorful chili sauce. I like how the crabs were all consistently sweet and tender owing to the stringent cleaning of the crabs. We also tried their Deep Fried Red Garoupa ($28) and it didn’t disappoint. The dish comes served in a savory sauce and features supremely delicate fish hidden underneath an amazingly crispy skin. I also liked how the fish was void of any fishy smell.

You can also opt for the Premium Clay Pot ($28 for small) which comprises tioman fish slices, fish maw, sea cucumber, prawns and a good spread of vegetables all cooked to perfection. I loved the gooey consistency and the layers of flavors in this dish. Just when you think it can’t get any better, it does.

*DEAL* Wok Master is offering 2 crabs for $39.90 (U.P $60) or 3 crabs for $59.90 (U.P $90). Diners have a choice of chilli crab, salted egg crab or black pepper crab. Oh crab!

Watami Japanese Casual Restaurant #03-53/55

Watami means “to gather people to dine together”, and in this spirit, they have ensured that nobody gets left out when dining here. Besides the sizeable array of sushi platters and ramen, they also boast a selection of roast skewers, hotpots and a considerable medley of desserts.

We liked the Special Assorted Skewers ($15.90) which comprises 5 skewers – each evenly grilled to toasty perfection. Of the 5 skewers, I liked the Beef and Enoki Mushroom skewer the best because of the good combination of flavors. It’s a tall order for us to eat vegetables but the signature Watami Salad changed our mind. For $9.90, I was pleasantly surprised at the generous portion of prawns, chicken strips and tuna mayo married with a tangy sesame dressing.

If you’re starving, the Mini Cold Soba with Sushi And Tempura Set ($29.90) has more or less everything you need to satiate your hunger. The White Ramen ($12.90) impressed us with its gulp-worthy broth and springy noodles. The pork servings were generous and well complemented by the sweet broth. With their ongoing promotion, wata you waiting for?

*DEAL* Gather your friends and family to Watami to enjoy their Buy-3-Get-1-Free Gozen set weekday dinner promotion (only valid for items from Z1 to Z3)!

Old Town White Coffee #B1-31/32

Unpretentious yet modern, OLDTOWN White Coffee boasts a wide array of genuine hawker food for everyone. The name might ring a bell if you’re one of those who get their coffee mix from supermarkets. Whether you’re just looking for an honest bowl of Assam Laksa or a fragrant cup of coffee, OLDTOWN White Coffee’s rich heritage and authentic flavors will make you return for more. To ensure uniformity in the quality across all the outlets, they prepare their sauces and ingredients at a central kitchen before distributing it to the outlets.

We liked the aromatic and robust flavor of the Assam Laksa and how it exudes a distinct homey vibe. Personally, I thought the thick soft noodles were well complemented by the use of shredded sardines in the dish. We also tried their Ipoh Hor Fun which also happens to be their top seller.

If you’re not in the mood for noodles, their Nasi Lemak is also pretty impressive. What stood out most, for me, is the use of a whole chicken leg in the dish. The chicken leg was fork-tender. Topped with a sunny side up flanked by a bed of pickled vegetables and other condiments, the nasi lemak was surprisingly my favorite of the lot. Coupled with their extensive Halal menu, OLDTOWN White Coffee is a very viable option, especially if you’ve got a huge family.

*DEAL* Receive a complimentary curry puff basket (3pcs) with every order of 2 selected mains so long as you’re dining in.

Wingstop #B1-33/34/K15

When we were (or still are) kids, the one thing that we perpetually have to have was fried chicken. Now, even after growing up, there’s still a part in us all that incessantly craves for fried chicken every now and then. With the emergence of a multitude of fried chicken joints, sometimes it can be difficult choosing where to go to fix our fried chicken craving.

Boasting a scrumptious spread of unique flavours, Wingstop gives the other fried chicken joints a good run for their money. Their top 2 flavours, the Garlic Parmesan, and Louisiana Rub wings were equally addictive. The wings are not overly oily and are great for sharing. Whether you intend to share or gobble everything down by yourself, you’ll be delighted to know that they’re offering a bundle meal of 12 boneless wings (up to 4 flavors), mushroom fritters, jalapeno cheese fries, 2 ranch dips and 2 regular sodas, for just $22.95 (U.P $35).

If you’re already a fan of their wings and sides, then you’ll be elated to know that they’ve also recently (3 June) released a new flavor: Brazilian Citrus Pepper! Launched only early this year in the U.S, the Brazilian Citrus Pepper flavor is brought to Singapore for a limited time only! Brilliantly citrusy and mildly spicy, this brand-new limited-time flavor is not to be missed, especially with the value-for-money bundle meal.

*DEAL* Go for the bundle meal for just $22.95 (U.P $35)!

Streats Hong Kong Café #01-01/03

Contrary to what most might think, Streats is a Halal-certified restaurant that offers reasonably priced Hong Kong delights for all. Their comprehensive menu covers dim sum, French toasts, Hong Kong noodles and rice dishes, Claypot dishes, Hotpot and every child’s favourite Western dishes. It’s safe to say that you’ll be spoilt for choice here!

Located at the entrance of City Square Mall, this is one restaurant you can’t afford to miss. Amongst their popular dishes: Ayam Penyet ($12.80), HK XO Fried Seafood Noodles ($11.80) and the Macau Chicken Chop Fried Rice ($10.80), we were more inclined to their HK XO Fried Seafood Noodles which had a fragrant and generous assortment of seafood including prawns, mussels and squid pieces.

Another noteworthy dish was the ChongQing Chicken in a basket which comprises of crispy fried chicken served in a basket of dried chili. Even if your tolerance for chili isn’t great, you won’t regret trying a piece. If your mouth catches fire, just chug down a glass of their HK Milk Tea ($2.80) to put out the flames.

*DEAL* Available only at City Square Mall, Streats is now offering you a free main course with every 3 main courses – perfect for weekday family dinners!

Paddington House of Pancakes #02-35/36

Just like how everybody enjoys their coffee made differently, pancakes are also made and enjoyed differently throughout the world. Paddington House of Pancakes has travelled and sampled pancakes from across the world in a mission to serve you a pancake experience like you’ve never experienced before. Owing to its Halal-certified menu of 100 different pancakes, everybody can now enjoy their favorite pancake just the way they like it.

Originating from France, The Brussels Galette ($13) is made with organic buckwheat instead of regular wheat flour. My favorite, however, has to be their head chef’s own creation – Date Pancakes with Pistachio served with an indulgent scoop of vanilla ice cream. Embedded within the pancakes are nuggets of sweet dates that complemented the American butter pancake. I especially enjoyed the light and fluffy pancakes which were generously drizzled with maple syrup.

Together with 3 more of her personal creations, Head Chef Sharon has made good use of her 7-year experience as a chef in the Middle East to compile a special menu of pancakes in celebration of Ramadan.

*DEAL* Because desserts go with your pancakes, you’re also getting a free dessert from a selected menu with every 3 mains that you order.

MEET #02-37/38

A meal isn’t quite complete without beer, wouldn’t you agree? Besides serving good hearty soul food, MEET offers a good selection of beers and ciders throughout the day! The presence of the bar within the restaurant gives the place a more chillax vibe so this is where you would want to go after a long day at work. I liked the use of the electronic ordering system which sees patrons using an iPad to place their orders so you won’t have to wait for a server to attend to you.

At $18, the signature Honey Spice Roasted Chicken which consisted of a whole roast chicken on a side of sautéed mushrooms and a separate pot of mashed potatoes, is a good choice. I liked how the potatoes weren’t too salty and had a consistently smooth texture. The roast chicken was tender and would have been even more rewarding if only I could have a jug of ice cold beer to go with. If you don’t want to get your fingers dirty, the beef stew ($16) is yet another noteworthy dish. Stewed with red wine for over 6 hours, the beef brisket was succulent and flavorful.

*DEAL* To sweeten the deal, they’re also throwing in a complimentary plate of beef chili fries for every 2 or more mains that you order. So, make sure you grab more people with you!

Face To Face Noodle House #02-23/24

To guarantee an unparalleled freshness, Face to Face Noodle House religiously makes their noodles, chili and drinks in-house daily. Stemming from a century-old recipe in Sarawak, their Pan Mee (also known as ban mian) is awfully springy and the flavors well balanced.

If you have a supernatural tolerance for chili, you can challenge yourself by going for the Chilli Pan Mee ($8.90 for Ala Carte, $10.90 for a Value Combo). They offer varying levels of spiciness – regular, x15 and the ridiculous x30 level.

As a regular human being, I only could manage one strand of noodles (x30 level) before I started raining perspiration. However, we were told that there exist legends amongst us who can wolf down the whole bowl without breaking a sweat. Whilst they had a good selection of drinks to mitigate the spice, the raging fire was just out of control. The multigrain soy milk stood out for me because of its thick consistency and smoothness. I enjoyed the authentic Sarawak Laksa more as the lightly-spiced prawn-based broth was impressive.

*DEAL* Get two Ala Carte noodle bowls to receive 50% off the lower-valued item. Take advantage of this fantastic opportunity to challenge your chili-kings and chili-queens to the ultimate spice challenge at City Square Mall.

Get rewarded for dining at City Square Mall!

With other popular dining options like Din Tai Fung, Saizeriya, Châteraisé and Food Republic, coming to City Square Mall should be a no-brainer. Conveniently connected to Farrer Park MRT station, City Square Mall is perfect for the weekly Saturday family lunch or a TGIF dinner with colleagues. Serendipitously, you get free lunchtime parking for the first 90 minutes on weekdays between 12-2pm, excluding public holidays.

In conjunction with the up-and-coming Singapore Food Festival, City Square Mall is also hosting the Local Asian Delight Food Fair come 31 July 2017. Furthermore, with a minimum spending of $150 (excluding NTUC purchases), you’re entitled to a $5 City Square Mall voucher! Since its only limited to the first 5000 redemptions, you’ll have to be quick!

This post was brought to you by [City Square Mall].

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Taking over Courtyard of Rendezvous Hotel is Five Marbles Craft Beer Restaurant. Rejoice beer lovers, for 4 men have united in their love for craft beer to bring diners a curated selection of beers on tap, and local cuisines infused with flavoured craft beers. The concept of the restaurant is inspired by the founders’ background in beer brewing and cooking. They believe that infusions of liqueur and alcohol into their main courses would evoke a richer and more robust flavour.

Note that there will be no food served from 2.30pm to 6pm but you can still enjoy your afternoon booze if you’re in the mood for some good craft beer.

One of my absolute favourite beers is the Gosnells, which is a type of Citra Sea Mead ($6 for half pint, $12 for full pint). Your taste buds would almost certainly yield a sweet and salty sensation, which is a result of blending honeys fermented with lemon peel, tarragon and sea water. A unique selling point of Five Marbles is their Young’s, which is actually a Double Chocolate Stout made from combining chocolate malt and real dark chocolate. The Zeffer ($6 for half pint, $12 for full pint) is essentially a red apple cider that combines flavourful and aromatic red apple varieties. If you’re looking for a full-bodied beer, you should pick the Lost Coast – an Indica India Pale Ale (IPA) that has a good amount of bitterness.

It’s time for some of their craft beer infused dishes. I’ll recommend the Beer Braised Pork Belly Linguine ($19) – linguine cooked with a chocolate stout-infused sauce with pork belly that has been stewed and braised for days in craft beer. The pork belly is seared prior to serving to give it a char. As you bite into it, you’ll find the pork belly satisfyingly fatty and juicy. If you find the taste of alcohol too subtle, you can pair the Pork Belly Linguine with a glass of Young’s.

We also tried the Portobello Chicken Cheese Baked Beer Rice ($16). The staff shared that the ingredients within the baked butter rice, such as the shredded chicken and mushrooms, were actually cooked with Lager. However, I couldn’t really detect the taste of alcohol in the dish. I did find the rice moist and somewhat delicious when mixed with the cheddar.

With the complementary mix of beers and food offerings, beer lovers are sure to return. If that isn’t enough to keep you coming back, the affordable prices will! Every now and then, new beers will pop up on the menu so stay tuned! I am definitely looking forward to their beer floats. Think Chocolate stout with dark chocolate ice cream omg? If you aren’t a fan of beer, you should really try the Gosnells!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

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Lunar Coffee Brewers, a new cafe in the CBD, is brought to you by the same people behind Atlas Coffeehouse. With the same minimalistic chic decor, this cafe at OUE Downtown Gallery is right smack in the heart of town and is sure to attract the office crowd. The majority of their mains here are Japanese donburis with a range of protein choices. They have made slight tweaks to their menu following their opening, so do make a revisit if you haven’t already.

The recommended drink here is the Milky Way ($7), a white cold brew that comes in a bottle. Cold brew coffee is less acidic and smoother than typical hot brewed coffees. The flavour is extracted from single-origin beans after the coffee beans are steeped in water for an extended period of time. The Milky Way is creamy and has slight nutty notes. It is sweet enough but could be stronger tasting with more of a caffeine kick.

For our mains, we got the Miso Nori Salmon Soba ($14.50). Note that they are now serving soba with their salmon, instead of the Japanese rice that it originally came with! Not unlike their sought-after Salmon Soba Noodles from Atlas, our soba was cooked just right without clumping together. It comes with a pink poached salmon, miso-nori butter, a tantalizing onsen egg and pickled vegetables. A liberal amount of furikake is sprinkled atop, making the dish extra crunchy and savoury. We enjoyed the salmon which was moist and pink in the middle. The miso taste really comes through after the oozy yolk of the onsen egg is mixed in with the soba sauce. Overall, this is an amazing bowl that we would definitely come back for.

The Gochujang Chicken Don ($14.50) was recommended by our server. It is served with Korean-style roasted chicken thigh, melted mozzarella cheese, an onsen egg, kimchi and pickled vegetables, on top of Japanese rice. We thought that the chicken thigh was done well. It was not too fatty, with a good ratio of lean meat to skin. The gochujang sauce on the chicken could have come through more clearly, and it would be better if the sauce was drizzled onto the rice as well, as the rice grains were left bare and were a tad too dry for us. However, we particularly enjoyed the tender chicken meat.

If you’re looking for other interesting fusion dishes, consider getting the Braised Pork Belly Don ($14.50) or the Beef Rendang Don ($16).

Last but not least, we tried the Milky Way Soft Serve ($5.90). I actually saw another dessert that they were serving (the Hokkaido Cereal Wave – $12) before they made changes to their menu, and I wish we could have tried that as well! Nevertheless, the Milky Way Soft Serve was a delicious end to our meal. Made using the same white cold brew coffee as our Milky Way White Cold Brew, the soft serve ice-cream had an even lighter caffeine taste compared to our drink. It is topped with a generous sprinkle of homemade shortbread crumble. The buttery sweetness of the crumble went well with the soft serve and there was definitely enough crumble to go around, even with the decent-sized soft-serve swirl. 

Also offered on the menu is the Earl Grey Soft Serve ($5.90) which sees premium earl grey tea soft serve ice-cream topped with maple-glazed cornflake crunch.

Lunar Coffee Brewers is a stylish cafe to hang out at, be it for a cup of coffee before work or a work meeting. This quiet spot is sure to get busy during lunch hours, so come early to grab a seat! We would recommend the Miso-nori Salmon Soba bowl as a healthy and hearty lunch fix and the Milky Way Soft Serve as a sweet treat. Apart from these dishes, sides like Umami Chicken ($8) and Chilli Beef & Nachos ($12) sound rather promising as well.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Coocaça. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

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Jjajangmyeon is a Chinese-Korean dish featuring noodles coated in a thick black-bean sauce (chunjang). The noodles usually come with ground pork and diced onions. After being blanketed with the black-bean sauce made from roasted soybeans and caramel, the bowl of thick handmade noodles will taste slightly sweet. Sounds unappetising maybe, but it has been a Korean staple since 1905.

O.BBa Jjajang specialises in Korean-Chinese Cuisine and is especially renowned for their bowl of jjajangmyeon. The small restaurant is located in Tanjong Pagar, and opens from 11.30am to 3am. A perfect fix for your late night hunger pangs!

Our waitstaff recommended the set meal to us. Featuring their three most popular items, the Black Soybean Sauce Noodles, Sweet and Sour Pork, and Chinese Style Noodles/Rice with Vegetables and Seafood, this set meal goes for $45 (ala carte price : $51). This set is perfect for 2, or even 3. 

The Sweet and Sour Pork ($25) arrived first. Unlike the zichar version that we usually have, the pork is separate from the sweet and sour sauce. You have the option of pouring the sauce over the pork yourself (we did!) or letting the staff do it for you. Sliced into bite-sized pieces, the pork is first marinated with soy sauce and starch before being fried. It is crispy and well-fried, perfect with the tangy sauce. Note that the sauce is more ‘sweet’ than ‘sour’.  The pork is a little dry but the generous serving of sauce helped.

The Jjamppong ($14) came next. The broth looks extremely spicy but it is manageable for our Singaporean tastebuds. The bowl of noodles came with clams, mussels, squid, shrimp, and assorted vegetables. The seafood is first fried together with the vegetables before it is placed into the bowl of boiled noodles. We liked that they were extremely generous with the fresh seafood, making it well worth the price tag. Also, don’t be afraid to wear white tops as cute bibs are provided!

Finally, the star of our meal. The Jjajangmyeon ($12) is totally worth the wait. The handmade noodles are smooth and chewy. It goes perfectly with the slightly sweet black soybean paste. The thick and starchy sauce was not too grainy and was loaded with onions. We could have used more diced pork though. However, we enjoyed the sauce to noodle ratio. Each delicious strand of noodle was coated evenly with the sumptuous sauce! Even though there is an option to upsize your bowl for $2, we think that the bowl itself is filling enough – especially if you order side dishes.

When I was there on a Saturday at 1.30pm, the humble eatery with Korean chefs and service staff was filled to the brim. I even heard smatterings of Korean being spoken here and there. To add to the atmosphere, Korean music is played over the speakers, making for an authentic Korean experience.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Coocaça. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

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If you’re living in Sengkang and craving for a hot bowl of Thai boat noodles, you’re in luck. The Boat Noodle Express (previously know as Noodle Café – Thai Boat Noodles) has just opened its third outlet right here in Rivervale Plaza. With its origins tied to the Noodle Café outlet over at Golden Mile Complex, Boat Noodle Express has since separated from them and established a ‘’same same but different” type of menu.

You would be able to spot Boat Noodle Express operating on the ground level of Rivervale Plaza. I didn’t know what to choose from, seeing the menu boasts a number of Thai-inspired dishes. Upon the staff’s recommendation, we had the Pork Special Boat Noodle ($4.80), which is essentially a bowl of soup piled with glass noodles and swimming with slices of pork, meat balls and beansprouts. I swore I could have become addicted to the spiciness of the pork broth, if not for its somewhat bland taste. Fortunately, you can use their condiments such as sugar and chilli to enhance the taste of the broth. I also liked that the glass noodles are cooked well.

I forgot to mention that you can choose your type of noodles for every noodle dish that you order. However, I stuck to glass noodles for all my noodle dishes including the Pork Tom Yum Noodle Dry ($5.50). The dry noodles were tossed in a Tom Yum mixture which had a myriad of Thai spices. The pork slices were sweet, but slightly overcooked.

If you find the noodle dishes too spicy, do order a glass of Signature Thai Ice Milk Tea ($2.50) to douse the spiciness of the noodles. However, I would have prefer it if the sweet milk tea could have had a thicker texture. Since my friends and I were sharing, we also got a plate of Mini Fish Wanton ($3.50) which came with a small portion of Thai chilli sauce. The wantons were crackly, albeit small, and the filling had a subtle fish taste that tasted well with the chilli sauce.

Boat Noodle Express also offers a couple of sides worth trying. Go for the Thai Made Pork Crackling ($2.80) and Homemade Pork Lard ($2.80). Just remember to ask for less spice in your noodle dishes if you are unable to take spicy food..

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Keong Saik Bakery is a new bakery which serves bread, pastries and cakes. The owners fuse traditional and contemporary flavours here. Think lup cheong (chinese sausage) on a french loaf and Pandan cheesecake with soya bean mousse.

This is a venture by 2 friends Yu Zhong, 29, and Soon, 29, who were previously co-workers at popular bakery Baker & Cook. They worked at a few other places before deciding to start their own business. All the bread and cakes here are freshly made in-house by them.

Currently, a variety of loaves including multi-grain bread and longan bread are available. Fruit rusk, a double-baked bread which is thinly sliced and has a crunch reminiscent of a biscuit is available as well. As no preservatives are used, the loaves have a short shelf life of 2-3 days. They have a selection of bakery breads available, consisting of sweet breads and more savoury ones.

We tried their signature pastry, the ‘Sor Hei’ ($3.20). The Sor Hei is a Black and White Danish Pastry which has chocolate chips nestled within the many layers of pastry. The service staff offered to help us heat it up before serving it to us, so the chocolate chips were oozy and half-melted. It was not overpoweringly sweet which was good. There could be more chocolate chips added though. Charcoal powder gives the pastry its black hue. On the whole, the ‘Sor Hei’ is satisfyingly crisp and buttery on the outside, and fluffy on the inside.

Yu Zhong told us that Sor Hei means ‘shu qi’ in Cantonese and is actually inspired by Ma Jies of Singapore, a group of women who worked as domestic helpers between the 1930s and the 1970s. They actually came up with this idea because the unit landlord’s mother was a Ma Jie back in the day!

For afternoon tea, get Lucy ($6.50), a Pandan Cheesecake with Soya Bean Mousse. There are 2 distinct layers to this cake, with the pandan portion coloured a pale green. We thought that the top layer of soya bean mousse was a tad too thick and overpowered the taste of the pandan cheesecake. However, the creamy pandan cheesecake was delightful on its own, and even more so when paired with the sweet and buttery cheesecake crust.

This cake is influenced by local flavours which Yu Zhong particularly enjoys. They make their own soya bean mousse by cooking the soya beans themselves. Fun fact: Lucy is actually the name of Yu Zhong’s girlfriend’s Mother, whom he first baked the cake for!

The Oyster Mushroom ($2.40) is part of their newly-launched All Day Breakfast Set. $5 gets you either teh-o or kopi-o with 2 soft-boiled eggs and 1 bun. We tried their Oyster Mushroom which comes with onions on a Soft French Brioche bun. The onions were sweet and baked till almost crispy. The bun is rather dense and is sweeter than white bread. This is great for breakfast. Another interesting bun which is included in their breakfast set is the XO Lup Cheong ($2.40), which has lup cheong and mozzarella cheese on the same french dough. The Sardine Cheese ($2.50) comprising chilli tomato sardines, onions and mozzarella cheese is recommended as well.

Keong Saik Bakery is a small sit-down cafe that is perfect for catch up sessions. By the way, they use traditional coffee beans for their coffee, which is freshly ground using an espresso machine upon ordering. This supposedly gives the coffee a more robust flavour as typical milk is added instead of condensed milk, which means you can enjoy local kopi with fancy latte art at the same time.

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Coocaça. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

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What makes a good plate of Hokkien Mee? The component that is of paramount importance has to be the prawn stock, which gives the noodles its flavour and essence. I enjoy mixing the chilli in and drizzling lime juice on top to complement the rich tasting dish.

A comfort dish for many Singaporeans, Singaporean Hokkien Mee consists of a mixture of yellow noodles and thin bee hoon, squid, fish cake slices, sliced pork belly and prawns. While some prefer their Hokkien Mee to be wet and moist, others prefer the dry version. The wetter versions which appeal more to the elderly folk have more stock mixed in with the noodles, while the drier versions supposedly have more wok hei as the flavours are ‘locked in’ after the broth evaporates.

Fans of the wetter version will enjoy the Hokkien Mee at Hong Heng Fried Sotong Prawn Mee. There is not too much zhup, but it is still easy for you to down this plate without feeling parched.

Hong Heng received the Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2016, and still commands an impressive queue now, especially during lunch hours. They often sell out before their closing time of 8pm, so its best to go early to avoid disappointment!

We ordered the largest plate ($5) to try, and it came with 4 prawns, a portion of squid, sliced pork belly, sliced fishcakes and a generous dollop of sambal chilli on the side. The noodles were fried on the spot with the pre-cooked ingredients being tossed in afterwards, meaning that we did not have to wait for long to enjoy our piping hot plate of Hokkien Mee.

We came with high expectations but were rather disappointed as the dish lacked wok hei. Although the noodles were cooked al dente and the broth was slurp-worthy, the flavours could have been more dynamic. We liked that the squid was fresh and chewy, but our prawns were a tad overcooked and lacked crunch. The saving grace was the sambal chilli and lime juice which provided a spicy kick and added a tang to our plate of noodles.

We would have preferred our noodles to have more of a smokey flavour and more eggy bits. However, the broth is rather enjoyable and addictive after being mixed with the chilli. It is also commendable as the noodles were able to absorb the tastiness of the crustacean stock without getting soggy.

I would recommend getting the $5 portion, which should be just enough for a big eater. Otherwise, they have $3 and $4 portions as well!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

Let’s build a food community that helps to update the food news in Singapore! Simply comment below if there’s any changes or additional info to Coocaça. We will verify and update from our side. Thanks in advance!

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Nothing excites us Singaporeans more than indulging in a bubbling pot of steamboat with our loved ones. If you’re scouting for a new steamboat spot, you’d be excited to hear that Peach Garden @ The Metropolis is launching a new a la carte style steamboat. Diners are in for a hearty dining experience. Dinner runs from 5pm to 10.30pm, and the last order for the steamboat is at 9.30pm. Beyond the oriental-themed premise that seats about 80-100 guests, Peach Garden debuts a collection of flavourful and innovative soup bases and must-have handmade meatballs.

We had four soup bases, all of which were individually filled in steel pots and placed above a traditional fire stove cooker. The Signature Lobster in Black Truffle and Cheese Hot Pot ($22) carries a strong taste of truffle and a tinge of sweetness from the lobster. The broth had a thick consistency and it gets richer as more ingredients are added to it. You can always ask for a refill to dilute the broth if it gets too rich. For a more local soup base, try the newly created Curry Chicken Broth Hot Pot ($16) which is light yet immensely flavourful. It is definitely one of my favourite soup bases!

Diners with a penchant for herbal flavours can get the exclusive Hua Diao Chinese Wine with Wild Mushrooms Hotpot ($18). The Fish Maw and Chicken with Chinese Herbs Hot Pot ($18) is a mild tasting beauty pot that is great for those who desire a nourishing meal. The soup even comes with a portion of black chicken.

Peach Garden’s ala carte steamboat really boasts an extensive collection of ingredients subsumed under 12 broad sections. We were spoilt for choice going through just the seafood section alone. The Red Garoupa ($48) was served whole on a plate, freshly deboned and sliced, with it’s head and tail still intact. Each slice of fish is fresh and succulent. The menu also offers skewered Live Prawns ($12) that were still alive and kicking upon being served! For a less graphic representation of seafood ingredients, you can opt for Bamboo Clams ($8), Scallops ($12) as well as Fresh Clams ($8) which will add a captivating touch of sweetness to the broth!

Beef lovers will relish in the Beef Selection. Thin marbled Wagyu Beef (Half Portion $26, Full portion $50) is just made for hotpot. If you’re looking for white meats, the Sliced Chicken in Chinese Wine ($8) will not disappoint. You can find other red meats under the Pork Selection too!

My absolute favourite is the Homemade Dumplings! The chefs successfully combine complementary flavours and textures into scrumptious dumplings. We opted for the Black Truffle, Shrimp and Crabmeat Dumplings ($10). Every bite is followed by a musky aroma of truffle, and a slight garlic aftertaste. The texture of the filling sure has a pleasant crunch to it! The Onion, Pork, Shrimp and Egg Dumplings ($8) will definitely win the hearts of both the old and young. The Black Truffle, Beef and Cheese Dumplings ($10) is another must-try. The creamy core is just a delight to bite into!

We’ve been told that diners have flocked here for their Homemade Meatballs ($9/ 4pc for one flavour). Wrapped with a skin that is naturally coloured, each meatball filling is handmade. Flavours include Beetroot, Spinach, Cheese and Shrimp, Yam, Pumpkin, Black Pepper Beef, Foie Gras and Pork! If you want a taste of all 8 flavours, go for the Deluxe Combination ($20). My favourite has to be the black pepper beef balls because it is savory, yet light on the palate.

Need some greens to balance out the indulgent steamboat? A variety of the freshest greens awaits. Peach Garden also offers cooked food from The Wok. Feast on the Chilled Sweet and Sour Pork ($18) while waiting for your steamboat ingredients to be cooked.

The a la carte steamboat also features an assortment of over 12 condiments! (Additional $3). I urge you to try their homemade sauce, which is a tangy and spicy mixture concocted specially by their chefs. Traditional condiments such as garlic, chili padi as well as oyster sauce are available too. The optional condiment add-on comes with free flow desserts that diners can enjoy for a sweet ending to the steamboat.

From now till the end of September 2017, enjoy 20% off the ala carte steamboat if you flash the photo above to any staff at Peach Garden @ Metropolis. For a limited time only, you can quote “MissTamChiak” at the counter to enjoy 20% off as well. Stand a chance to win a steamboat dining voucher by liking Peach Garden @ The Metropolis Facebook page and sharing the steamboat post!

This post was brought to you by PEACH GARDEN.

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Chase Jarvis once said “The best camera is the one that’s with you”, and for many of us, that is our very own mobile phone camera. Not all of us own fancy cameras but I’m pretty sure most, if I dare say all, carry a mobile phone with a camera of some sort with us. Most of us, however, are quick to dismiss the cameras on our phones but we often forget that the most important component of a camera is the person standing behind it! In that same spirit, I’ll be sharing with you guys 10 tips to up your photo game using the brand new OPPO R11!

The OPPO R11 has a 16-megapixel wide-angle lens coupled with a 20-megapixel telephoto lens on the back of the phone, and another 20-megapixel camera on the front for selfies! To allow for more creativity, the phone also offers different modes: time-lapse, video, photo, portrait, pano, and even an expert mode if you want more control over the camera.

All of the following pictures were taken on the OPPO R11 without any edits.

Tip 1: Light

It’s safe to say that we’ve all heard someone say “the lighting not good”, but what defines good or bad lighting? Generally, good lighting will help your subject to shine while bad lighting can make it look ugly. For instance, taking photos under harsh direct sunlight is generally bad because of the bright highlights and harsh shadows you’ll see. Conversely, taking photos in dark places will result in poorer image quality. Generally, for food photos, we like to take them under soft dappled lighting that doesn’t give such harsh shadows. A general rule of thumb would be to sit near a window when taking photos because windows are generally a good source of light.

Keeping everything else except the lighting constant, above are 2 pictures of the same food – one beside a window and another right where there’s not enough light. You can definitely tell which has the poorer image quality.

Good and bad lighting can make or break a photo so make sure you evaluate the quality of the light hitting your subject before you press the shutter!

Tip 2: Fill the frame with what you want

The second thing that you can take note of is the composition of your photograph – what’s in the frame of your picture. Many a time, we are too focused on what we’re photographing, that we forget about the other less important elements in the picture.

In the picture on the right, there’s a car in the background that distracts the viewer from the actual subject – your plate of char kway teow! You might also notice that the char kway teow looks rather unappetizing because the angle was a little too low. To change that, you could change the angle of the camera so that the car is not in the frame, and you can also see more of the char kway teow in your picture! I also added a pair of chopsticks to create interest in the photo.

Try experimenting with different angles and move yourself to get different compositions – you’ll be surprised at the difference that it can make. As you can tell, choosing what goes into your photo is very essential but it’s something a lot of us tend to forget, myself included. Just remember to check the background before you click the shutter button and you’ll be taking much better photos before you know it.

Tip 3: Rule Of Thirds

The rule of thirds says to split your photo into a tic tac toe board with 2 horizontal and 2 vertical lines and place the points of interest on the intersections of the lines or along those lines. This will help to create a more interesting and pleasing relationship between the elements in the photo. Studies have shown that our eye tends to go to one of the intersection points rather than the middle of the photo.

To enable the grid on your OPPO R11, simply go to “Settings” -> “Camera” -> “Assistant line” and check the box beside it.

In the picture above, you can see that the grid helps you to visualize the rule of thirds so that you can easily place points of interest along those lines or the intersections. In this case, I placed my carrot cake and a cup of teh-bing along the intersections for a more visually appealing picture. Try using the rule of thirds whenever you can and you’ll be amazed at the results!

Tip 4: Pick the right lens for the job

The OPPO R11 has two cameras on the rear and here’s how you can use it to your advantage! In the expert mode, you can use each of the two lenses for different types of pictures. Use the wide-angle lens when taking a group shot to include more dishes in the frame and use the telephoto lens to get a close-up shot of a specific dish! The telephoto lens help to include less of the background in the shot, so that helps to eliminate distractions.

Another noteworthy point is the excellent ISO performance (how well the camera performs in low light) of both the OPPO R11’s rear cameras! Both these photos were taken along a poorly-lit street around midnight, impressive eh?

Tip 5: Tap To Focus

This is probably more of a reminder since most of us already know this, A good habit is to always tap on the screen to focus before clicking the shutter because the last thing you want is a fuzzy image. Remember to check your image before you start digging into the food!

You can however, use the touchscreen mode to trigger the shutter! To do that, tap the circular icon in the middle of the top panel. Then tap the word “Touchscreen”. Once done, just frame your picture, tap on a point of interest and the camera automatically focuses on the subject and takes the picture! Now, you don’t even have to click the shutter button. Hooray!

Tip 6: Move don’t zoom

All cellphone cameras have a digital zoom function but the problem with digital zoom is that the image quality of the photograph degrades quickly as you zoom. Essentially, a digital zoom crops the image and resizes it back to normal – that’s why you’ll lose resolution very quickly as you zoom. In a sense, digital zooms are as good as cropping.

In the photo above, you can see how the image quality degrades quickly when zooming (applicable to all phone cameras). I feel that your legs are the best zoom lens in the world. Physically moving closer to your subject will always result in sharper and clearer images than cropping or zooming, period.

Tip 7: Use the virtual horizon

While it may not appeal to everybody, the use of a virtual horizon helps you to ensure that all the horizontal lines in your photos are straight. Taking a slanted photo and then tilting it back during editing can make your picture seem a little distorted and strange. Instead, using the virtual horizon helps to prevent that.

To enable virtual horizon on the OPPO R11, head to the expert mode while you are in the camera app and tap the second icon from the left of the top panel of the screen. The icon should turn yellow, when tapped, and a horizon line will appear across the phone. If you’re holding the phone straight, the line is straight but if not, you’ll see a disjointed line and you’ll have to readjust.

Tip 8: Using the depth of field

Backgrounds can define a good and a bad photograph. Busy backgrounds distract the viewer’s eye from the main subject. To alleviate that, you can make use of the portrait mode in the camera app. Tap on your subject and watch the backgrounds melt away! The purpose of this is to make the background less distracting so that your main subject can shine.

Here you can see that in portrait mode, the bowl of soup in the background is blurred out so that the focus is on the bowl of fishball noodles. This effect can be used to blur out distracting elements from the background or even to acquire a more artistic effect. Cool stuff eh?

Tip 9: Take multiple shots

While this may seem silly, this is actually a very helpful tip and one that we use. Sometimes as we click the shutter button, someone may walk into the frame or maybe the camera fails to focus. If we forget to check, we won’t realize it and the moment may be lost forever! This happens from time to time, so we highly recommend using the burst mode or just click the shutter a couple more times just as a safety precaution! You can always pick your favorite later when editing. To enable burst mode on the R11, just hold down the shutter button on the screen and you should hear a mini machine gun fire. Let go of the button once you feel like you’ve taken enough shots.

Tip 10: Edit your photos

While it’s important to learn how to compose good photos and to shoot in good light, editing your photos will give it that extra “oomph” that we all crave when we want to post them on Instagram or Facebook. We’ve done a video for you to see how we edit our photos using the in-phone application on the OPPO R11 after snapping a pic!

Bonus tip: Never use the flash unless you have to

Never use the on-camera flash unless you absolutely have no choice. The light from the on-camera flash is too harsh, hence creating harsh shadows. It also messes with the color of the pictures as you can see.

Once again, we marvel at the ISO performance of the OPPO R11’s camera. Both shots were taken at a coffee shop around 10pm! Ultimately, natural light is going to be your best bet when it comes to taking pictures. In our experience, natural light tends to offer the best results, just make sure it’s not under direct sunlight.

Overall, I find that the OPPO R11 has a very capable camera and the best part is that it’ll always be with you. Practice is key if you want to get better and hopefully these 10 tips will help you to take better photos in the future!

This post was brought to you by OPPO.

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