Rabu, 07 Januari 2015

[Recipe] Thai Prawns Claypot Vermicelli with Happy Call Pan!


This is a very simple and rather fast dish to whip up. I often see food vendors selling this on the streets of Bangkok and many seafood restaurants in Thailand has this too!

Vermicelli aka Tang Hoon aka Dong Fen has no taste on its own and they easily soak up flavours of any seasonings. This is my first attempt and I am extremely happy with the results because it's packed full of flavours and everything was finished in minutes!

RECIPE for Thai Prawns Claypot Vermicelli with Happy Call Pan!

Serves 2

Ingredients:
1 packet of Vermicelli (i used 3 bundles)
6-8 prawns (trimmed and de-veined but shells still on)
4-5 springs of coriander leaves and roots (cut into sections)
Few slices of ginger
6 cloves garlic (peeled and gently smashed with knife, cut into halves)
3-4 strips bacon (cut into pieces)
100ml chicken broth

Sauce:
1 tbsp dark soya sauce
1 tbsp sugar
1 tbsp fish sauce
1 tbsp chinese wine
1 tbsp oyster sauce

Method:
1. Soak vermicelli in water for 5-10 minutes until soft, drain and set aside
2. Heat up a little oil in HCP.
3. Add bacon and saute till brown.
4. Add coriander roots and stems (leaves set aside and add later), garlic, ginger. Saute for few minutes till fragrant.
5. Add vermicelli, sauce mixture, chicken broth and pepper.
6. Cover HCP for about 1 minute, open again and toss so that sauce mixture is evenly distributed to vermicelli.
7. Add prawns and coriander leaves on top and drizzle some sesame oil (optional)
8. Turn to medium heat and close HCP until prawns are cooked.
9. Ready to serve.

*Note: Cooking vermicelli can be a little tricky, if mixture is too dry, add some more broth or water.
* Add more pepper if you prefer it more spicy, you can also substitute this with white peppercorns.
* Serve it warm and fast :)

jual bantal foto

Senin, 05 Januari 2015

[Food Review] Beaulieu House

Beaulieu House has a very long history which dated way back to 1910. It was home to the British Naval Officer and later on taken over by the government. Now, it is a seaside restaurant which exudes an old world charm.



Located right within Sembawang Park, Beaulieu House sits magnificently on higher ground overlooking a slight stretch of sand and the sea. You can see the view of the Straits of Johor directly opposite. Built in a neo-classical style, the entrance of the building is flanked by wings on either side and topped with a sloping mansard roof. The patio is enclosed with intricate Victorian-style cast iron work.


Surrounding is tranquil and serene which makes this a very romantic option for dining out.

 The interior features high ceilings, typical of most mansions in the past, patterned floor tiles and ornate plaster wall-finishing.




The place was really spacious and they are available for functions and events booking too. Many people have held their wedding celebrations and birthday parties here.

A picture of a wedding solemnization held at Beaulieu House. Beautiful settings amidst lush greenery with a relish of history and romance.

Beaulieu House serves a mix of Chinese and Western dishes and we were honored to be able to try their signature dishes.

The picture above is their Home made Beancurd with Shimeiji Mushrooms. The green colouring on the beancurd is made from blended spinach. This is a very healthy dish that is not too heavy on the palette.

Sliced squid with salted egg. This make look unassuming but never judge a book by it's cover. Squid is so brilliantly cooked that it snaps upon first bite prior to the light, crispy and very flavourful batter coated with the rich flavours of salted egg yolk.


My favourite dish of the night was the Roast Rack of Lamb with Dijonnaise Mustard Cream Sauce. This dish is an award winning dish at Beaulieu House and being lovers of lamb, we were left very impressed with the tenderness of the lamb. It has this rich 'lamb' taste which only lamb lovers can relate to and will definitely love. Drizzled with Dijonnaise Mustard Sauce, the superb taste further escalated. Served with potatoes and veggies. (Side note: I also remember the veggies being exceptionally tasty)

It's so yummy that I must take a picture with it so that I can remember that one of the best lambs i've had is from Beaulieu House :)))

 Last but not least, we were presented the Lava Cake with Movenpick Vanilla Ice-cream.

Rich, warm chocolate oozing out from the middle of this molten lava cake left us very happy and completely satisfied with our dinner.

Overall, I found my dining experience here to be a very unique one because of it is one of the rare restaurants that overlooks the sea in Singapore. Due to the tranquility of the surroundings, T=this makes a very good place to chill out too. Will definitely be back again to try more of their other dishes.

Beaulieu House

117 Beaulieu Road
Singapore 759837
(Sembawang Park)


Tel: +65 62579234
Fax: +65 68537638

Website: http://www.beaulieuhouse.com.sg


jual bantal foto

[Food Review] Irodori Japanese Restaurant Riverview Hotel

For Japanese food lovers, Irodori would make a very good choice because it serves reasonably priced Japanese all-you-can-eat ala carte items at $36.80++. 

What's more, they have a very wide selection from their menu of more than 100 items, ranging from sashimi, makimono (rolled sushi), yakimono (grilled dishes), nigiri sushi (finger press), temaki (hand roll), ippinmono (appetisers), agemono (deep fried dishes) to teppanyaki and more.

And even more appealing is that their food is made by experienced chefs using only the freshest seafood and ingredients from Australia, New Zealand, Norway & Europe.

Set up is simple, cozy with the traditional sushi counter at the side where you can see the chefs in action.



Service was prompt and the server who was attending to me was so cheerful and knowledgeable, she introduced all items to me in a very detailed way. Be sure to make reservations as they can get very packed even on weekdays.




My personal favourites were the Dobin Mushi- Teapot soup which is very refreshing as well as addictive. Served in a cute teapot, one is supposed to pour it into a teacup and drink from it. It doesn't taste like tea, it's more like soup in a teapot like the name implies with a slight sourish tinge to it from the lime that came with it.

Ebi Mentai Mayo- Grilled prawns served on mayo is one of their most popular items here. I must say that this is rather rich and creamy in flavour.

Sashimi- One of the must-order items every time I patronize a Japanese restaurant. Freshness is of the utmost importance when it comes to these raw fishes and Irodori has them very well executed and I am happy with the thickness of the slices too.





Age dashi tofu, salmon steak and shishamo were some other items which I personally like too. Another item I must comment on is the Irodori Maki- specially hand made by their chef, generously stuffed with ingredients and topped with ebiko and mayo, so sinful but yummy!




Tempura lovers would be delighted to know that fresh oil is used in their cooking so that there will be no pungent after taste.

There are so many other yummy items to indulge in! This place is definitely good for big groups to come and share the food so that you can try more items.

Irodori Japanese Restaurant
382 Havelock Road, Riverview Hotel #03-01
Singapore 169629

Tel: 6737 2002 | Fax: 6735 0301
Business Hours:
Lunch: 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM
Dinner: 6:00 PM - 10:30 PM

Nearest MRT: 
Clarke Quay (Walk to Boat Quay and 
take Bus No: 51)
Chinatown (Walk to Opp Subordinate 
Court Bus and take Bus No: 51 and 186)
Tiong Bahru (Walk to Tiong Bahru Plaza and 
take Bus No: 123)
jual bantal foto

Kamis, 25 Desember 2014

[Food Review] Two Trees Bistro & Bar (TTBB)

Two Trees Bistro & Bar (TTBB) is a quaint establishment located along the intersection of Aliwal and Pahang Street. It serves home cooked local fare as well as western delights. We were very impressed by the warm hospitality that were showered upon us during our visit. This place felt exactly like home.

Warm and cozy interior with yellow walls and paintings.

Started off with canapes and Blueberry Twist. The Blueberry Twist is a unique creation which consists of gamon ham and blueberry giving it a sweet and salty flavour which totally induces the appetite for the main courses.

TTBB's creation of grilled zucchini, tomato and Japanese cucumber topped with grilled bacon and seafood salsa on egg in crackers.




Chicken Cordon Bleu. Pan fried chicken thigh rolled with ham and cheese served with mashed potatoes and vegetables. Chicken thigh was so tender and succulent with gooey cheese oozing out when cut open. Mashed potatoes were very tasty and addictive too.

Our favourite was their Beef Burger with home made patty, TTBB's signature mayo and capsicum relish, tomato, Japanese cucumber, cheese and bacon served with french fries. This was definitely one of the better burgers out there. Hidden beneath the roasted bun is a huge and juicy beef patty which is very well marinated giving it a very nice and slightly charred flavour. This costs only $16,90 which is affordable because serving is rather huge.

Christmas Platter for the festive season consists of premium gammon ham, chicken cordon bleu and lamb rack. We loved the gammon ham, it wasn't too dry and of the perfect consistency.

Lamb Rack served with mashed potatoes and spinach. The lamb was not tough at all and slipped of the bones very easily. Drizzled in their home made sauce, this is definitely something to try at TTBB.

This bowl of Mee Siam was super impressive! The gravy is bursting with flavours and so unique that I promise once you try it, you will surely come back for more.

Indian style fish curry. You can choose from fish fillet or fish head and we chose the fish fillet. Fish was very fresh with the right amount of spices. This has to be pre ordered in advanced so that the ingredients can be delivered on the day itself to guarantee utmost freshness.

Home made Kong Bak Pau. Sinfully delicious! Love the smokey sweet taste and the braised tenderness of the meat encased within soft steamed buns and crunchy lettuce.


Roasted pork belly. Roasted till very very crunchy and tasty too. I do not particularly enjoy meat with too much fats but this is an exception.

Besides serving these delectable dishes, TTBB also serves alcohol and you can just unwind in their alfresco area with their ice cold beers. TTBB takes pride in providing you the best food and you will definitely be in good hands here.

TWO TREES BISTRO & BAR
14 Aliwal Street,
Singapore 199907


Tel : 6294-6632

BUSINESS HOURS
Mon-Fri:  11.00 am - 12:30 am 
Sat :  5:00 pm - 1.00 am
Sun/PH :  Closed


jual bantal foto

Selasa, 16 Desember 2014

[Recipe] Miso Sunkissed Tomatoes Pasta with Basil

Got inspired by reading one of the recipes online and modified this great tasting pasta! Sunkissed tomatoes, aka sundried tomatoes adds so much flavour to the pasta. The miso stock gives this dish an extra boost and further escalated the flavours!

If you love pasta and don't want something as sweet as tomato based pasta and looking for something more flavourful than simple aglio olio, this would be an AMAZING recipe for you!


RECIPE FOR Miso Sunkissed Tomatoes Pasta with Basil

Ingredients: (Serves 2)

- Spagetti, boiled with salted water and cooked till al dente
- 4 cloves garlic (coarsely chopped)
- Bacon (sliced into small pieces)
- Handful of basil leaves (shred leaves into bits and remove stems)
- 6-8 pieces of sunkissed tomatoes with olive oil
- Half bowl of chicken stock with 1 tbsp of red miso paste (stir together with a little bit of warm water)
- Salt and black pepper
- Grated mozzarella cheese
- Italian herbs

Method:
- Fry garlic, sunkissed tomatoes and bacon in pan. Add a little bit more olive oil if not enough.
-  Add the bowl of chicken stock + miso paste

- Toss in cooked pasta and stir everything, mix well.

- Add basil leaves and continue stirring till basil leaves are wilted.


- Season with salt and black pepper (I omitted salt because the dish was already very flavourful, added lots of pepper instead)

- Dish out. 

- Add some grated mozzarella cheese over dish and a few dashes of Italian herbs seasoning. (this seasoning smelled wonderful)


This is the sunkissed tomatoes i bought (from Cold Storage):



- Enjoy it :)

* The original recipe calls for some milk but I left this out, however, dish still tastes very good.
* You may add mushrooms and more ingredients if you wish.







jual bantal foto

[Hotel Review] Mini Hotel Central- Hong Kong November 2014

After a guided tour of Mini Hotel, Causeway Bay, I was also invited to visit Mini Hotel at Central! If you haven't already, do check out my full review on Mini Hotel at Causeway Bay

Mini Hotel, Central

Central is the heart and pulse of Hong Kong. Here, you can easily access all the great attractions within minutes of walking distance. LKF and Soho, the most sought after dining and clubbing spots in HK, are just 3 minute’s walking distance from the hotel. Walk a little further along Hollywood Road towards Sheung Wan, you will find yourself lost in time in a street where modern galleries and Chinese antique shops are standing side by side, hip western cafes and local Cantonese noodle shops are neighbors. If you are keen on doing a crazy shopping, go to IFC or take a ferry across the harbour to TST Harbour City. The IFC and Ferry Pier are just 10-15 minutes walking distance from Mini Central. Isn’t it great enough?




Mini Hotel Central offers 196 rooms ranging from 100-120 sq.feet. It is truly an ideal modernistic and stylish place to stay. Let the pictures below do the talking!

Lobby and common area



There is no restaurant or cafe in the hotel. Instead, it provides you a very comfy, tastefully appointed common area on the ground floor. A huge wooden table in the middle, comfy sofas, book shelves. Guests may work in a corner, chit-chat with friends around the big table or just read a book by the large window side.
Smart Room

  This room is compact and cozy and opens up to a wooden structured patio decorated with potted plants and reminded so much of a little cottage in Europe!

 The spacious patio makes up for the size of the room.


Bathroom is clean and well equipped with clean towels, shampoo, conditioner, water heater.

 Bishop's House and some signature Hong Kong flats can be seen from the patio. Bishop House has a colonial structure and makes me feel even more that I have been teleported to England for a moment.

Mini Room


 The Smart Room's bathroom is located right at the back of the room with glass panels and overlooks the city.


All rooms come with fast WIFI, toiletries, hairdryer, laptop compatible safe, LCD TV, daily housekeeping and all basic amenities.

Thank you to the beautiful staff of Mini Hotel for showing us around. Your hospitality has certainly made our trip a very memorable one, we would definitely come back and stay at Mini Hotel again soon :)

Before signing off, I must also comment that one of the lovely front desk staff of Mini Hotel Central actually helped us call a taxi when we couldn't get one on our way back to the airport. We were lugging a few luggages around and she even helped us carry the heavy luggages up and down the stairs and informed us very promptly when the taxi has reached. Two thumbs up for the excellent service!


Address: 38 Ice House Street, Central, Hong Kong
Telephone Number: (852) 2103 0999.
Reservations: (852) 3979 1111
Email: stay@minihotel.hk
Website: http://www.minihotel.hk


jual bantal foto