Another food posting from me...
This time is a treat from a friend of mine. And we went to this nice place at Bukit Timah where it seems a lot of foreigners know about but not a lot of locals... Hmm... Most of the people there are foreigners... Japanese, Germans, Brits, etc...
Oh well, back to main point.... (This review will be rather short... But will give a more detailed one when I get my digi cam)
Hill Crest's Grill... Situated at Bukit Timah...
The setting was nice and and quiet. I would say its a romantic place to bring ur guy or gal out on a date. The parking there is rather bad.. and its really hard to find a parking lot... Oh well, so we parked illegally... :P
Food wise.... I guess the restaurant is famous for its steak... so I ordered one of it. My friend however did not want to eat beef... and ordered a cod fish.... On the fresh catch of the day, there were also fresh NZ Oysters on the menu... so without hesitation... we order half a dozen of them....
The oysters tasted great..... it was so fresh.. that there is NO fishy smell at ALL!!!!! I just ate it with lemon and sea-salt.... it was fantastic......
The fish is.... welll... .not so good.... a bit fusion in style... and over-well-done for my liking.....
The steak was good... and it was juicy while maintaining its medium rare taste... (that's how I like my beef)... the freshness of the beef.. with its raw filling taste would make you feel like u are enjoying something truly wonderful.... There are 2 sauces that comes along with the steak.... A red wine sauce... and another 'sort of creamy' sauce (which I can't recall the name)... The red wine sauces suits it well.... brings out the aroma in the beef..... :) Puts a big big smile on my face..
Deserts wise... it serves a good array of classy deserts.... e.g. Creme Brulee... Tiramisu... some cakes..... which I dun remember... The Creme Brulee is good.... not too sweet... yet not too thick..... just nice... The Tiramisu was also not bad.... the whip... was soft.. and light.... the flavour was jus nice... not too sweet.... n fluffy... the base was good... with the coco top being aromatic... n the finger was soaked nicely.. with a good dose of espresso and a hint of liqueur... :)
That's all folks... will give a more detailed description when I go abck there again...
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Sunday, November 05, 2006
International Buffet Dinner at Greenhouse (Ritz Carlton Singapore)
It is our (Joline and I) half year anniversary and we wanted to celebrate it with a nice dinner. So after some discussion, we decided to patronise the Greenhouse at Ritz Carlton (Joline’s recommendation).
I made reservation for two on a particular Saturday night and was told that I was lucky since there were only a few tables left.
We reached the hotel around 6.45pm and I must say Greenhouse really lives up to its 6-star accolade. All the staff were polite and more importantly, they gave guests a genuinely warm welcome (which is not fake like some places).
Ok. Lets jump into the main topic. The Greenhouse.
Starting with the ambience. The Greenhouse is situated on the ground floor of the hotel (on the left side of the main entrance if I remember correctly). It adopts an open concept without any clumsy doors to open. In the open space, you can feel the vastness of the dining area which makes the environment comfortable and suitable for private dining affairs or for those who haven’t quite overcome claustrophobia (just kidding). Greenhouse’s design was modern and functional surrounded by the use of beech wood as a base (complementing the granite buffet tabletops) and the whole place is lit with a soft natural yellow lighting. I would not call its interior design contemporary or bold or unique but it does provide a very good setting for comfortable dining. For me, it translate to 'I am going to sit here for a long long time just to enjoy my food slowly!'. :p
Now to the most important part. Its food. haha...
Joline and I went for a walk around the spread. And I must point this out. The spread is very well distributed with each course of food with each own location (instead of all the food on a long table) and there is ample space to move around. There isn't a occasion throughout our meal that we had to queue for our food.
The first starter we went to was the soup section. There were 2 choices on offer that evening (shark's fin soup and Creamy Pumpkin soup). So naturally, we took both and shared. The pumpkin soup was GOOD; even though I am not a fan of pumpkin I could tell that the cream base is full and you can taste the pumpkin's freshness. The shark's fin soup was not bad either (there are really chucks of shark's fin in it). The soup base thinkness is just right and not just thicken by corn-starch. You could taste that it is slowly boiled to perfection. One tip for you here. I noticed something rather 'cute' from a lady who was taking the shark's fin soup in front of me. She was scooping the top of the pot for her bowl. For all shark's fin lovers, take the scoop and give the pot a good stir from the bottom up (so that you will find the 'treasures').
Did I mention that all the hot beverages are included with the buffet? And for coffee lovers, their normal brew is not bad at all. But you might wan to have it with cream as it is rather acidic (a bit tending towards Columbian).
We went straight for the main course on our 2nd round. And wooooo..... the spread was jus so tempting. The main dishes were located in the centre of the buffet spread forming a circle and the main theme was Indian & Chinese dishes. The staple food was E-fu noodles and nasi-bryani, thus I chose nasi bryani 'cos I am not really a noodle fan. There was a sort of yoghurt sauce beside the bryani which I was hesitant to take at first, not knowing how it would taste like ( but I absolutely did not regret it). Moving down the circle, there was chicken braised with dark soy sauce topped with melted cheddar cheese (most unique), seafood assortment (a bit like Peale without the rice), braised beef (normal), sea-cucumber with different types of mushrooms (really LARGE sea-cucumbers with ultra succulent mushrooms), vegetable korma (suprisingly tasty though simple), chicken masala (light tasting spices and feels like I was back in the UK eating Indian takeaway [in a good way]), stir fried red snapper with peppers and onions (normal), king prawns stir fried with veg (they were big but taste so so, maybe 'cos I took the last one on the warmer).
The nasi bryani was very fragrant and the best thing abt it was that it was not oily. The yoghurt sauce made it even more appetizing. Mixed together with the vegetable korma and chicken masala, it would easily be a very satisfying Indian meal (but of course, this is a buffet so one flavour isn't enough). The chicken was one of the best dishes there. I was quite surprised that the combination of cheddar cheese oven-melted on top of the braised chicken was such a wonderful combination. The chicken was braised to perfection and (I must add) they are FRESH.
The sea-cucumber with mushrooms was silky smooth too. It was soft and chewy. Those feelings where the sea-cucumber melts in your mouth as you savour its juices with the flavour of the mushrooms together with the sauce. Heaven!!!
Round 3. Time to attack the seafoods section.
I have always enjoyed fish. But ever since I started eating steamed fish head, I have slowly enjoyed eating raw fish. And I am 'quite' particular about freshness of fish. Therefore, I took a plate and lined it up with sashimi (consisting of salmon, swordfish and tuna). I was lucky enough to receive a brand new serving of fresh salmon from the kitchen (than those laying out for sometime) and it was good. The swordfish was also not bad. The tuna was ok ('cos tuna will only taste good when it is really really really fresh). Hmm... it may sound as though there is nothing spectacular abt the sashimi; but know this, I ate a whole buffet plate filled with the 3 fishes all by myself... :P (my gf ate a few pieces too). Its just that I don't know how to make raw fish interesting (those who eat fish often should know how to enjoy anyway:P).
Beside the raw fish, there are also a wide variety of other seafood. E.g. baby lobsters, oysters, mussels, big prawns, etc. There are also a section for seafood salads. One unique dish I taste from my deardear's plate was a barbercued salmon with assorted vegetables. You could taste that the salmon was really either flamed grilled or BBQed.
By this time, I am actually rather full... (Gone are the days where I could eat endlessly..) So we stayed there for a while, enjoying our coffee (a new cup will be served to you in replacement rather than taking a pot and pouring it in your old cup) and enjoying the surrounding area where we were seated. Like I mentioned earlier, the interior design of the place tends towards being practical and functional rather than bold or intriguing. It makes one feel that it is really a place to dine in rather than just to be wowed at. The waitresses are generally well-mannered and immaculately dressed. The captains are all very professional and could handle the crowd very well. Oh, I forget to say that by this time (ard 8-8.15pm), Greenhouse is totally filled to capacity. But yet, you won't feel that you are encapsulated or trapped in a tight spot... All the furnishings are well spaced out giving the sense of comfort and space.
After a good rest, it was time for deserts.
The choices were alarming. There is a fruits section, a chocolate section and a cake/deserts section. Oh well, we totally skipped the fruits corner and head straight for the cake and deserts. Joline took a piece of their Black Forest Cake together with another one (which I believed to be their Tiramisu Cake). I took a portion of their Tiramisu (not the cake one) to give it a go. There are a lot more others to choose from but from here on, I guess I could only take what I really wanted to eat... 'cos I am just too full.
I also stopped by the chocolate section and took a pair of every chocolate they had (except white and milk chocolates).
The best desert among the cakes we took would surely go to the Black Forest Cake. It tasted great. It has been a long time since I could taste the fresh liqueur filled berry or grape within the chocolate layer (which was just right and not being so thick) and the top layer sponge being so soft and fragrant. The Tiramisu cake was ok...
But I do not like the Tiramisu... (I will explain..)... To me, Tiramisu is suppose to be special. Served in a small cup or small bowl proportioned to one. But what was served at the buffet was a gigantic bowl (those glass bowls where you use to beat egg whites) of Tiramisu with a heavily soaked bottom where the sponge/coffee/rum mixed and with a top layer than isn't really supposed to be tiramisu (seems to be like they mixed some soft sponge cake with their recipe)... So if you wan to eat good Tiramisu (hmm.. maybe you ppl out there can enlighten me on this one), you all can try Hill Crest's Grill @ Bukit Timah??
Ok. Now an overall summary.
Greenhouse is a superb place to dine and enjoy a good time. Its setting is comfortable and conducive for a good meal. And the food itself (for a buffet standard), its up in a class way above average. Even though you would be able to find better places for each individual dish, but you won't be able to find many (if any) places where a buffet spread serves quality in every dish.
So make a booking when u are free. Do give it a try and tell me what you think. :)
Have a nice time dining!
*Next up will be a review on Hill Crest's Grill if I hv the time....:P
I made reservation for two on a particular Saturday night and was told that I was lucky since there were only a few tables left.
We reached the hotel around 6.45pm and I must say Greenhouse really lives up to its 6-star accolade. All the staff were polite and more importantly, they gave guests a genuinely warm welcome (which is not fake like some places).
Ok. Lets jump into the main topic. The Greenhouse.
Starting with the ambience. The Greenhouse is situated on the ground floor of the hotel (on the left side of the main entrance if I remember correctly). It adopts an open concept without any clumsy doors to open. In the open space, you can feel the vastness of the dining area which makes the environment comfortable and suitable for private dining affairs or for those who haven’t quite overcome claustrophobia (just kidding). Greenhouse’s design was modern and functional surrounded by the use of beech wood as a base (complementing the granite buffet tabletops) and the whole place is lit with a soft natural yellow lighting. I would not call its interior design contemporary or bold or unique but it does provide a very good setting for comfortable dining. For me, it translate to 'I am going to sit here for a long long time just to enjoy my food slowly!'. :p
Now to the most important part. Its food. haha...
Joline and I went for a walk around the spread. And I must point this out. The spread is very well distributed with each course of food with each own location (instead of all the food on a long table) and there is ample space to move around. There isn't a occasion throughout our meal that we had to queue for our food.
The first starter we went to was the soup section. There were 2 choices on offer that evening (shark's fin soup and Creamy Pumpkin soup). So naturally, we took both and shared. The pumpkin soup was GOOD; even though I am not a fan of pumpkin I could tell that the cream base is full and you can taste the pumpkin's freshness. The shark's fin soup was not bad either (there are really chucks of shark's fin in it). The soup base thinkness is just right and not just thicken by corn-starch. You could taste that it is slowly boiled to perfection. One tip for you here. I noticed something rather 'cute' from a lady who was taking the shark's fin soup in front of me. She was scooping the top of the pot for her bowl. For all shark's fin lovers, take the scoop and give the pot a good stir from the bottom up (so that you will find the 'treasures').
Did I mention that all the hot beverages are included with the buffet? And for coffee lovers, their normal brew is not bad at all. But you might wan to have it with cream as it is rather acidic (a bit tending towards Columbian).
We went straight for the main course on our 2nd round. And wooooo..... the spread was jus so tempting. The main dishes were located in the centre of the buffet spread forming a circle and the main theme was Indian & Chinese dishes. The staple food was E-fu noodles and nasi-bryani, thus I chose nasi bryani 'cos I am not really a noodle fan. There was a sort of yoghurt sauce beside the bryani which I was hesitant to take at first, not knowing how it would taste like ( but I absolutely did not regret it). Moving down the circle, there was chicken braised with dark soy sauce topped with melted cheddar cheese (most unique), seafood assortment (a bit like Peale without the rice), braised beef (normal), sea-cucumber with different types of mushrooms (really LARGE sea-cucumbers with ultra succulent mushrooms), vegetable korma (suprisingly tasty though simple), chicken masala (light tasting spices and feels like I was back in the UK eating Indian takeaway [in a good way]), stir fried red snapper with peppers and onions (normal), king prawns stir fried with veg (they were big but taste so so, maybe 'cos I took the last one on the warmer).
The nasi bryani was very fragrant and the best thing abt it was that it was not oily. The yoghurt sauce made it even more appetizing. Mixed together with the vegetable korma and chicken masala, it would easily be a very satisfying Indian meal (but of course, this is a buffet so one flavour isn't enough). The chicken was one of the best dishes there. I was quite surprised that the combination of cheddar cheese oven-melted on top of the braised chicken was such a wonderful combination. The chicken was braised to perfection and (I must add) they are FRESH.
The sea-cucumber with mushrooms was silky smooth too. It was soft and chewy. Those feelings where the sea-cucumber melts in your mouth as you savour its juices with the flavour of the mushrooms together with the sauce. Heaven!!!
Round 3. Time to attack the seafoods section.
I have always enjoyed fish. But ever since I started eating steamed fish head, I have slowly enjoyed eating raw fish. And I am 'quite' particular about freshness of fish. Therefore, I took a plate and lined it up with sashimi (consisting of salmon, swordfish and tuna). I was lucky enough to receive a brand new serving of fresh salmon from the kitchen (than those laying out for sometime) and it was good. The swordfish was also not bad. The tuna was ok ('cos tuna will only taste good when it is really really really fresh). Hmm... it may sound as though there is nothing spectacular abt the sashimi; but know this, I ate a whole buffet plate filled with the 3 fishes all by myself... :P (my gf ate a few pieces too). Its just that I don't know how to make raw fish interesting (those who eat fish often should know how to enjoy anyway:P).
Beside the raw fish, there are also a wide variety of other seafood. E.g. baby lobsters, oysters, mussels, big prawns, etc. There are also a section for seafood salads. One unique dish I taste from my deardear's plate was a barbercued salmon with assorted vegetables. You could taste that the salmon was really either flamed grilled or BBQed.
By this time, I am actually rather full... (Gone are the days where I could eat endlessly..) So we stayed there for a while, enjoying our coffee (a new cup will be served to you in replacement rather than taking a pot and pouring it in your old cup) and enjoying the surrounding area where we were seated. Like I mentioned earlier, the interior design of the place tends towards being practical and functional rather than bold or intriguing. It makes one feel that it is really a place to dine in rather than just to be wowed at. The waitresses are generally well-mannered and immaculately dressed. The captains are all very professional and could handle the crowd very well. Oh, I forget to say that by this time (ard 8-8.15pm), Greenhouse is totally filled to capacity. But yet, you won't feel that you are encapsulated or trapped in a tight spot... All the furnishings are well spaced out giving the sense of comfort and space.
After a good rest, it was time for deserts.
The choices were alarming. There is a fruits section, a chocolate section and a cake/deserts section. Oh well, we totally skipped the fruits corner and head straight for the cake and deserts. Joline took a piece of their Black Forest Cake together with another one (which I believed to be their Tiramisu Cake). I took a portion of their Tiramisu (not the cake one) to give it a go. There are a lot more others to choose from but from here on, I guess I could only take what I really wanted to eat... 'cos I am just too full.
I also stopped by the chocolate section and took a pair of every chocolate they had (except white and milk chocolates).
The best desert among the cakes we took would surely go to the Black Forest Cake. It tasted great. It has been a long time since I could taste the fresh liqueur filled berry or grape within the chocolate layer (which was just right and not being so thick) and the top layer sponge being so soft and fragrant. The Tiramisu cake was ok...
But I do not like the Tiramisu... (I will explain..)... To me, Tiramisu is suppose to be special. Served in a small cup or small bowl proportioned to one. But what was served at the buffet was a gigantic bowl (those glass bowls where you use to beat egg whites) of Tiramisu with a heavily soaked bottom where the sponge/coffee/rum mixed and with a top layer than isn't really supposed to be tiramisu (seems to be like they mixed some soft sponge cake with their recipe)... So if you wan to eat good Tiramisu (hmm.. maybe you ppl out there can enlighten me on this one), you all can try Hill Crest's Grill @ Bukit Timah??
Ok. Now an overall summary.
Greenhouse is a superb place to dine and enjoy a good time. Its setting is comfortable and conducive for a good meal. And the food itself (for a buffet standard), its up in a class way above average. Even though you would be able to find better places for each individual dish, but you won't be able to find many (if any) places where a buffet spread serves quality in every dish.
So make a booking when u are free. Do give it a try and tell me what you think. :)
Have a nice time dining!
*Next up will be a review on Hill Crest's Grill if I hv the time....:P
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Liquid dreams @ e Liquid Cafe (Upper Thomson Road near Mandai Road)
Some gems are rarely noticed when they are right in front you at time. It applies to loved ones and for this case, it applies to food as well...
The Liquid Cafe @ Upper Thomson Road is such a rare gem.
Well hidden and tucked away in a corner, it provides a nice escape from a hard day's work. (Jus when you get on the Upper Thomson Road from Mandai Road, u will see a SPC petrol station. Make a left turn into the shophouses as u pass the petrol station) I have been there for a number of times (actually, I am there every wednesday evening without fail..) and I truly feel relax when I am there, away from the hustle n bustle of traffic and noise through my day.
Ok, let go down to the food they offer. If u are expecting it provide u with ultra-unique food or some 'out of the world' dishes, u will be dissappointed. It does, however, provides a decent menu with enough choices to leave u spoilt for choice. I would give the sandwiches they offer a thumbs-up. It may look pathetic with only a small offering of 5 different choices but trust me, it is enough to keep u happy. In particular, the Ham and Cheese sandwich would be my reccommendation. The type of bread they serve looks like a panini but it is so soft and nicely warmed with a light crusty feeling when u sink ur teeth into the melted cheese. You could also add sides to your sandwich if you feel a desire to eat more.
If sandwiches are not of your fancy, you can try their ceaser salad with Chicken. It is GOOD, especially when the chicken is freshly fried. The pasta ain't bad either.
On the drinks side, the have a long list of different fruit freezes that sure will wonder (can I hv them all!?!?!). But dun bother with the coffee (not saying its bad), stay healthy and drink the juices or help urself to the free flow of water they serve.
Overall, it is a nice quiet place to hang out for a lazy evening...
The Liquid Cafe @ Upper Thomson Road is such a rare gem.
Well hidden and tucked away in a corner, it provides a nice escape from a hard day's work. (Jus when you get on the Upper Thomson Road from Mandai Road, u will see a SPC petrol station. Make a left turn into the shophouses as u pass the petrol station) I have been there for a number of times (actually, I am there every wednesday evening without fail..) and I truly feel relax when I am there, away from the hustle n bustle of traffic and noise through my day.
Ok, let go down to the food they offer. If u are expecting it provide u with ultra-unique food or some 'out of the world' dishes, u will be dissappointed. It does, however, provides a decent menu with enough choices to leave u spoilt for choice. I would give the sandwiches they offer a thumbs-up. It may look pathetic with only a small offering of 5 different choices but trust me, it is enough to keep u happy. In particular, the Ham and Cheese sandwich would be my reccommendation. The type of bread they serve looks like a panini but it is so soft and nicely warmed with a light crusty feeling when u sink ur teeth into the melted cheese. You could also add sides to your sandwich if you feel a desire to eat more.
If sandwiches are not of your fancy, you can try their ceaser salad with Chicken. It is GOOD, especially when the chicken is freshly fried. The pasta ain't bad either.
On the drinks side, the have a long list of different fruit freezes that sure will wonder (can I hv them all!?!?!). But dun bother with the coffee (not saying its bad), stay healthy and drink the juices or help urself to the free flow of water they serve.
Overall, it is a nice quiet place to hang out for a lazy evening...
Monday, May 01, 2006
Place which serves memories.... TCC@Shenton
TCC @ Shenton Way
Recently visited TCC (The Coffee Connoisseur) @ Shenton. For those who have not heard of TCC b4, its an upmarket coffee house which serves several blends of roasted coffee to soothe the taste buds of the avid 'caffeine addict'... This branch in particular prides itself with a nice ambience and setting for a romantic evening (afternoon too!) or a casual chillout spot for the type who likes to sit around relaxing doing nothing...
Much could be said about the variety of drinks they serve here... but the quality is rather varied... I think it much depends on ur luck on who prepares it.. But not much could be said about the quality of food there.. I am not saying its bad... For the average crowd, its way better than a lot of places.... Noteworthy dishes include their Wedges with cheese dip, the club sandwish (remember to ask to hv the bread toasted nicely)... several main dishes are good as well... But this is more of a place to chillout than to enjoy a proper (good food) meal.... *I will be doing more reviews on places for food soon*
Here are some photos for u to enjoy... together with those I took on my daytrip along Chinatown...
Recently visited TCC (The Coffee Connoisseur) @ Shenton. For those who have not heard of TCC b4, its an upmarket coffee house which serves several blends of roasted coffee to soothe the taste buds of the avid 'caffeine addict'... This branch in particular prides itself with a nice ambience and setting for a romantic evening (afternoon too!) or a casual chillout spot for the type who likes to sit around relaxing doing nothing...
Much could be said about the variety of drinks they serve here... but the quality is rather varied... I think it much depends on ur luck on who prepares it.. But not much could be said about the quality of food there.. I am not saying its bad... For the average crowd, its way better than a lot of places.... Noteworthy dishes include their Wedges with cheese dip, the club sandwish (remember to ask to hv the bread toasted nicely)... several main dishes are good as well... But this is more of a place to chillout than to enjoy a proper (good food) meal.... *I will be doing more reviews on places for food soon*
Here are some photos for u to enjoy... together with those I took on my daytrip along Chinatown...
Monday, March 06, 2006
Friday, January 06, 2006
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