Valentino, Bukit Timah, Rifle Range Road, Singapore
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Date: 19 Mar 2006
Venue: Valentino, Bukit Timah Rifle Range Road, Singapore
Menu: Seafood Soup ($15.9), Minestrone ($5), Grilled Eggplant ($), Squid Ink Pasta & Crab Meat ($22.80), Seafood Risotto ($), Lobster Pasta in Pink Sauce ($), Daily Special - Squid Ink Gnocchi($), Profiteroles ($), Panna Cotta ($)
The Experience:
There's no where else but Valentino for good authentic, hearty Italian food coupled with the friendliest service you can ever get anywhere. Where else can you find mother, father, son and daughter-in-law, all Italians, serving and chatting with the guests, enjoying every bit of company? Entering Valentino is like entering a country home of an Italian farming family, complete with brick walls and warm laughter.
Briefly before I re-update this entry,
Seafood Soup - a medley of fresh seafood brimming in a bowl of rich tomato based seafood stock. It was like tasting the sea. YUMMILICIOUS! But at $15.9, its a little pricey
Minestrone - Unlike the typical consomme type minestrone you get outside, this is a rich red vegetable soup, almost creamy with all the vegetables melted into it.
Grilled Eggplants - A tad oily but the eggplants soaked up the richness of the olive oil used to grill and the cheese was of the freshest ever. The mozzarella was so fresh, it was heavenly.
Pastas - Wow! If you ever come here, you really have to try their squid ink and crab meat pasta. I counted. Out of 17-18 tables in the restaurant, every table had at least one plate of this. Its that good. The squid ink gnocchi was beyond this world. Tender handmade gnocchi, wrapped in a luscious squid ink sauce, smothered with generously by oh-so-tender squid pieces. The texture contrast. You can imagine.
I never leave Valentiono without the desserts. No matter how full we are, the profiteroles and panna cotta are typically Italian. The profiteroles are tender choux pastry shells filled with fragrant vanilla cream and topped off with a sabayon-like frothy chocolate sauce and drizzled with bitter-sweet fudge. The panna cotta shocked by being served like a cake and had a texture of smooth agar-agar. But when it hit your palate, it melts into luscious smodge of fresh cream. It was amazing. It was incredible bliss savouring the flavours as it developed. Simply divine.
Total bill for 5: $184
Valentino as you can see, is not cheap.
But, with that, I'd rather it remain the quiet little Italian country home
A place where I can indulge in life's simple pleasure.
Great food and Great company.
Gracia!
benjamintanjm at 8:42 PM |
4 comments
Silk Road Noodle Bar, Millenia Walk
Monday, March 13, 2006
Date: 9 Mar 2006
Venue: Silk Road Noodle Bar, Millenia Walk
Menu: Sichuan Beef Noodle ($6), Beijing Zha Jiang Noodles ($6), Ice Lemon Tea ($2), White Fungus and Fruit ($3), Beijing Pork and Cabbage Dumplings ($4.5)
The Experience:
To be updated...
Total bill for 2: $19.80
benjamintanjm at 7:20 PM |
0 comments
Imperial Treasure (Teochew Cuisine), Takashimaya
Date: 5 Mar 2006
Venue: Imperial Treasure (Teochew Cuisine), Takashimaya
Menu: Seafood dumpling soup ($6), Oyster Congee ($6), Stewed Vinegar Pork Trotters ($5), Har Gao ($3.8), Shrimp Rice Rolls ($3.8), Yam Puff ($3.8), Steam Carrot Cake ($3), Chicken Feet ($2.8), Sago with Mango and Pomelo Cream ($5), Mango Pudding ($3.5), Almond Cream ($3)
The Experience:
Am pressed for time so it shall be short and sweet.
Nothing in the above menu was bad. The food is highly consistent and highly praised.
Oyster Congee is unmatched anywhere else in Singapore.
Vinegar Pork Trotters were fantastic! Balance between sweet and tangy flavours. A bit too little ginger and too little meat though.
Har Gao and Shrimp Rice Rolls were delicate. Although individuals with a lighter palate would definitely enjoy it more.
Best Yam Puffs in town! Carrot cake was pudding like. Yummy!
Never leave Imperial Treasure (Teochew Cuisine) without the desserts. You'll live to regret it.
Total bill for 5: $86.50
benjamintanjm at 7:13 PM |
0 comments
Miharu Sapporo Ramen, The Gallery Hotel
Date: 25 Feb 2006
Venue: Miharu Sapporo Ramen, Robertson Quay, The Gallery Hotel
Menu: Tokusen Miso - Special Blend Miso Ramen ($12.5), Tokusen Tonsio - Salt Flavoured Broth ($12), Cha-Mayo Don - Charsiew Mayo Rice ($4.5), Cha-Shu - Charsiew Extra Serving ($4)
The Experience:
My first visit to Miharu Sapporo was marked by a remark that it was very expensive. Indeed it is. But quality comes at a price. Ramen specially flown in from Sapporo, made with natural spring water from the Sapporo region.
You can instantly taste the cleanliness of the noodles and excellent texture. Springy and yet soft and flavourful. Ramen never tasted better. My only quip is that its on the salty and oily side. Although, the staff are ever willing to provide you with clear dashi stock to dilute your soup. As for the oil, we found out that you could request the omission of it. Apparently, the oil is supposed to make the noodles smoother. I prefer it without the oil.
Add the clear dashi stock and you're on your way to ramen heaven. The miso version, chosen by my sis, is smooth, fragrant and honestly, nothing like the miso soup you get from a packet or a Japanese restaurant. It compliments the noodles perfectly. I stuck to the salt version, savouring every bit of the subtle flavour of what salt really tastes like. Salty with a tinge of sweetness and ocean fragrance.
Accompanied by a slice [or 2 if you're lucky that day] of tender charsiew, a heaping of sweet corn and spring onions, a half-boiled egg cooked in spring water [the yolk is squidgy and bright orangy yellow], it's definitely a treat. The long queues of Japanese families waiting to get in the restaurant is a clear testement of where this is heading.
Cha-Mayo don involves the end bits of the char-siew mixed with Japanese mayo served on a small [half portion] bowl of rice, a seaweed and a heap of spring onions. Delicious.
Total bill for 3: $38.12
Quality never comes cheap. But for something so sublime and authentically Japanese, worth a visit or two.
benjamintanjm at 6:57 PM |
0 comments
Imperial Treasure Teochew Kitchen, Suntec City, Singapore
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Date: 28 Feb 2006
Venue: Imperial Treasure Teochew Kitchen, Suntec City
Menu: Beef w Kailan ($14), Sliced Goose ($10), Fried Cabbage w Ham ($9.5), Duck with Mashed Yam ($9), Baby Oyster Congee ($5), Mashed Sweet Potato Puff with Nuts ($4), Teochew Crystal Dumplings ($3)
The Experience:
By now, foodies out there would know that Imperial Treasure was set up by Alfred Leung, a former director of Crystal Jade Restaurants and it sure is BETTER! Call me biased by hey, this time round, I had 3 other friends to verify my findings.
Imperial Treasure at Suntec is slightly different from its Takashimaya counterpart where the latter offers finer dining with a more Cantonese approach. If you're there (Takashimaya), be sure to taste their
a) Soup of the Day
b) Braised Winter Melon with Prawn Paste [I still remember it till today]
c) To-die-for Roast Duck [A must-have. Best in town so far!]
d) An excellently executed Braised Lobster Noodles [about $150/kg the last I had on Nov 2005]
e) Wonderfully fragrant Yam Puffs AND
f) An uncomparable Almond Cream [Another classic! See the Shang Palace Review]
Anyway, BACK to the Suntec Branch. Casual meals, Teochew style.
The beef with kailan was a special order as it wasn't on the menu. The beef was extremely tender and one could see that the flame was well controlled with the beef turning up slightly rare. Yummilicious especially when contrasted against the crunchiness of the kailan.
The sliced goose didn't wow. However, the goose was moist and trust me, I've tasted worse. I loved the smootheness of the accompanying tofu but I did feel that the sauce was a tad salty. Lorraine did comment that the chilli-vinegar sauce that came with it was a little garlicky.
The white cabbage with ham was worthy of mention because of the excellent cooking technique. Instead of stir-frying over high heat and a lot of oil to achieve a crunchy texture, the chefs here choose to use a rich stock to braise the cabbage, enveloping it in a smooth and luscious sauce, subtly perfumed with the salted ham. Only David didn't like it since he never enjoyed cabbage. For me, it was it. A simple dish, well executed through technique. Marvellous.
Lastly, the mashed duck with yam. A dish difficult to find elsewhere, it was the second time I've having this and I ain't sick of it yet. Imperial Treasure has a way of choosing the right yam and treating it right. The contrasting textures of crunch from the duck and smoothness of the yam, matched perfectly with the tangy tangerine dipping sauce.
Finally, desserts. One was great, the other wasn't. The sweet potato puff was so-so. It lacked oomph, as agreed by Jolene, and the filling was not fantastic. However, I loved the crystal dumpling for its texture contrast between the red bean paste and the crystal skin. One smooth, the other chewy and stretchy. The sweetness was just right. A fitting end to the dinner.
Total bill for 4: $72
Lorraine made an appointment to return on the Saturday after this meal. I'm definitely a convert from the Crystal Jade Group. Need we say more?
benjamintanjm at 9:07 AM |
0 comments
Valentino, Bukit Timah, Rifle Range Road, Singapore
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Date: 19 Mar 2006
Venue: Valentino, Bukit Timah Rifle Range Road, Singapore
Menu: Seafood Soup ($15.9), Minestrone ($5), Grilled Eggplant ($), Squid Ink Pasta & Crab Meat ($22.80), Seafood Risotto ($), Lobster Pasta in Pink Sauce ($), Daily Special - Squid Ink Gnocchi($), Profiteroles ($), Panna Cotta ($)
The Experience:
There's no where else but Valentino for good authentic, hearty Italian food coupled with the friendliest service you can ever get anywhere. Where else can you find mother, father, son and daughter-in-law, all Italians, serving and chatting with the guests, enjoying every bit of company? Entering Valentino is like entering a country home of an Italian farming family, complete with brick walls and warm laughter.
Briefly before I re-update this entry,
Seafood Soup - a medley of fresh seafood brimming in a bowl of rich tomato based seafood stock. It was like tasting the sea. YUMMILICIOUS! But at $15.9, its a little pricey
Minestrone - Unlike the typical consomme type minestrone you get outside, this is a rich red vegetable soup, almost creamy with all the vegetables melted into it.
Grilled Eggplants - A tad oily but the eggplants soaked up the richness of the olive oil used to grill and the cheese was of the freshest ever. The mozzarella was so fresh, it was heavenly.
Pastas - Wow! If you ever come here, you really have to try their squid ink and crab meat pasta. I counted. Out of 17-18 tables in the restaurant, every table had at least one plate of this. Its that good. The squid ink gnocchi was beyond this world. Tender handmade gnocchi, wrapped in a luscious squid ink sauce, smothered with generously by oh-so-tender squid pieces. The texture contrast. You can imagine.
I never leave Valentiono without the desserts. No matter how full we are, the profiteroles and panna cotta are typically Italian. The profiteroles are tender choux pastry shells filled with fragrant vanilla cream and topped off with a sabayon-like frothy chocolate sauce and drizzled with bitter-sweet fudge. The panna cotta shocked by being served like a cake and had a texture of smooth agar-agar. But when it hit your palate, it melts into luscious smodge of fresh cream. It was amazing. It was incredible bliss savouring the flavours as it developed. Simply divine.
Total bill for 5: $184
Valentino as you can see, is not cheap.
But, with that, I'd rather it remain the quiet little Italian country home
A place where I can indulge in life's simple pleasure.
Great food and Great company.
Gracia!
benjamintanjm at 8:42 PM |
4 comments
Silk Road Noodle Bar, Millenia Walk
Monday, March 13, 2006
Date: 9 Mar 2006
Venue: Silk Road Noodle Bar, Millenia Walk
Menu: Sichuan Beef Noodle ($6), Beijing Zha Jiang Noodles ($6), Ice Lemon Tea ($2), White Fungus and Fruit ($3), Beijing Pork and Cabbage Dumplings ($4.5)
The Experience:
To be updated...
Total bill for 2: $19.80
benjamintanjm at 7:20 PM |
0 comments
Imperial Treasure (Teochew Cuisine), Takashimaya
Date: 5 Mar 2006
Venue: Imperial Treasure (Teochew Cuisine), Takashimaya
Menu: Seafood dumpling soup ($6), Oyster Congee ($6), Stewed Vinegar Pork Trotters ($5), Har Gao ($3.8), Shrimp Rice Rolls ($3.8), Yam Puff ($3.8), Steam Carrot Cake ($3), Chicken Feet ($2.8), Sago with Mango and Pomelo Cream ($5), Mango Pudding ($3.5), Almond Cream ($3)
The Experience:
Am pressed for time so it shall be short and sweet.
Nothing in the above menu was bad. The food is highly consistent and highly praised.
Oyster Congee is unmatched anywhere else in Singapore.
Vinegar Pork Trotters were fantastic! Balance between sweet and tangy flavours. A bit too little ginger and too little meat though.
Har Gao and Shrimp Rice Rolls were delicate. Although individuals with a lighter palate would definitely enjoy it more.
Best Yam Puffs in town! Carrot cake was pudding like. Yummy!
Never leave Imperial Treasure (Teochew Cuisine) without the desserts. You'll live to regret it.
Total bill for 5: $86.50
benjamintanjm at 7:13 PM |
0 comments
Miharu Sapporo Ramen, The Gallery Hotel
Date: 25 Feb 2006
Venue: Miharu Sapporo Ramen, Robertson Quay, The Gallery Hotel
Menu: Tokusen Miso - Special Blend Miso Ramen ($12.5), Tokusen Tonsio - Salt Flavoured Broth ($12), Cha-Mayo Don - Charsiew Mayo Rice ($4.5), Cha-Shu - Charsiew Extra Serving ($4)
The Experience:
My first visit to Miharu Sapporo was marked by a remark that it was very expensive. Indeed it is. But quality comes at a price. Ramen specially flown in from Sapporo, made with natural spring water from the Sapporo region.
You can instantly taste the cleanliness of the noodles and excellent texture. Springy and yet soft and flavourful. Ramen never tasted better. My only quip is that its on the salty and oily side. Although, the staff are ever willing to provide you with clear dashi stock to dilute your soup. As for the oil, we found out that you could request the omission of it. Apparently, the oil is supposed to make the noodles smoother. I prefer it without the oil.
Add the clear dashi stock and you're on your way to ramen heaven. The miso version, chosen by my sis, is smooth, fragrant and honestly, nothing like the miso soup you get from a packet or a Japanese restaurant. It compliments the noodles perfectly. I stuck to the salt version, savouring every bit of the subtle flavour of what salt really tastes like. Salty with a tinge of sweetness and ocean fragrance.
Accompanied by a slice [or 2 if you're lucky that day] of tender charsiew, a heaping of sweet corn and spring onions, a half-boiled egg cooked in spring water [the yolk is squidgy and bright orangy yellow], it's definitely a treat. The long queues of Japanese families waiting to get in the restaurant is a clear testement of where this is heading.
Cha-Mayo don involves the end bits of the char-siew mixed with Japanese mayo served on a small [half portion] bowl of rice, a seaweed and a heap of spring onions. Delicious.
Total bill for 3: $38.12
Quality never comes cheap. But for something so sublime and authentically Japanese, worth a visit or two.
benjamintanjm at 6:57 PM |
0 comments
Imperial Treasure Teochew Kitchen, Suntec City, Singapore
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Date: 28 Feb 2006
Venue: Imperial Treasure Teochew Kitchen, Suntec City
Menu: Beef w Kailan ($14), Sliced Goose ($10), Fried Cabbage w Ham ($9.5), Duck with Mashed Yam ($9), Baby Oyster Congee ($5), Mashed Sweet Potato Puff with Nuts ($4), Teochew Crystal Dumplings ($3)
The Experience:
By now, foodies out there would know that Imperial Treasure was set up by Alfred Leung, a former director of Crystal Jade Restaurants and it sure is BETTER! Call me biased by hey, this time round, I had 3 other friends to verify my findings.
Imperial Treasure at Suntec is slightly different from its Takashimaya counterpart where the latter offers finer dining with a more Cantonese approach. If you're there (Takashimaya), be sure to taste their
a) Soup of the Day
b) Braised Winter Melon with Prawn Paste [I still remember it till today]
c) To-die-for Roast Duck [A must-have. Best in town so far!]
d) An excellently executed Braised Lobster Noodles [about $150/kg the last I had on Nov 2005]
e) Wonderfully fragrant Yam Puffs AND
f) An uncomparable Almond Cream [Another classic! See the Shang Palace Review]
Anyway, BACK to the Suntec Branch. Casual meals, Teochew style.
The beef with kailan was a special order as it wasn't on the menu. The beef was extremely tender and one could see that the flame was well controlled with the beef turning up slightly rare. Yummilicious especially when contrasted against the crunchiness of the kailan.
The sliced goose didn't wow. However, the goose was moist and trust me, I've tasted worse. I loved the smootheness of the accompanying tofu but I did feel that the sauce was a tad salty. Lorraine did comment that the chilli-vinegar sauce that came with it was a little garlicky.
The white cabbage with ham was worthy of mention because of the excellent cooking technique. Instead of stir-frying over high heat and a lot of oil to achieve a crunchy texture, the chefs here choose to use a rich stock to braise the cabbage, enveloping it in a smooth and luscious sauce, subtly perfumed with the salted ham. Only David didn't like it since he never enjoyed cabbage. For me, it was it. A simple dish, well executed through technique. Marvellous.
Lastly, the mashed duck with yam. A dish difficult to find elsewhere, it was the second time I've having this and I ain't sick of it yet. Imperial Treasure has a way of choosing the right yam and treating it right. The contrasting textures of crunch from the duck and smoothness of the yam, matched perfectly with the tangy tangerine dipping sauce.
Finally, desserts. One was great, the other wasn't. The sweet potato puff was so-so. It lacked oomph, as agreed by Jolene, and the filling was not fantastic. However, I loved the crystal dumpling for its texture contrast between the red bean paste and the crystal skin. One smooth, the other chewy and stretchy. The sweetness was just right. A fitting end to the dinner.
Total bill for 4: $72
Lorraine made an appointment to return on the Saturday after this meal. I'm definitely a convert from the Crystal Jade Group. Need we say more?
benjamintanjm at 9:07 AM |
0 comments
