eevon.sg

“Oh you are such a pest! I’m not slacking on the diet! Stop laughing at me!” She said, impatiently. “Hurry and tuck into the Mini Wagyu ‘n’ Foie Burgers before I shove them all down my throat and you shall have none. ”

“Well darling, these mini burgers look magnificent don’t they?” He winks. “Explains alot why you are harbouring pesky thoughts to keep them all to yourself.”

Obviously the Mini Wagyu ‘n’ Foie Burgers $22 caught both her attention. He know how she likes mini and pretty items. Indulging in witless banters over a trio of bite size burgers before the mains arrived, she takes a tiny nibble at the carefully glazed bun before savouring the rich, buttery and delicate taste of the fatty liver.

“Mmm. I love this. The roughness of the Wagyu goes perfectly well with the tender Foie. Oh dear. I’m not really a fan of burgers but I can actually have a few more of this!” She exclaimed with a greedy twinkle in her eye.

He looked up. Distracted. As much as he loves her, it was really strange to him how this woman can effortlessly forgot everything she said just a minute ago.

“Baby, have I told the story of how the Roman emperor Elagabalus fed his dogs on foie gras during the four years of his chaotic reign? ”

That did the trick.

Not that the Mini Wagyu ‘n’ Foie Burgers were bad. He just thinks the Wagyu was not enough for his appetite and was secretly pleased that he ordered the Wagyu Beef Rump $36 to satisfy his carnivorous cravings. Nothing beats the Wagyu Beef Rump which comes with a trio of mushroom, braised oxtail, cherry tomato chutney, bacon krupuk, butter poached potatoes and beef jus. Succulent and tasty. Just the right dish for a tasty gentleman like him.

Keen to irritate her with imaginary stories that always end with her whimsical laughter, he gets into the mood once the Squash Risotto $23 was served.

“Darling, can you imagine that the Squash Risotto is a orange-haired babe who had a similar nature to the Wagyu Beef Rump, only she was haughty and stuck-up as well, and though Wagyu Beef Rump often asked her to come and play at his house, she always said no.”

“Oh dear. What kind of a story is this?” she chuckled.

He knew that she would get this dish. She has been texting him all day, dropping hints that she need comfort food after a meeting went haywire first thing in the morning. Squash Risotto served with gratinéed goat cheese, baked pine nuts and thyme. He stole a bite and was pleased with the blast of flavours. How much comfort could a woman ask for? Somehow, watching her carefully scooping spoonfuls of bright orange baby food made him happy too. He never noticed how shapely her lips were. But that’s a story for another day.

“Well I’m not done yet. So the Squash Risotto would say, Beef Rump! I can’t be left to cool now, otherwise I won’t taste nice. Won’t you understand that? Why don’t you go and visit the Raspberry? before she shrieked at him.” He’s a sly one. He knew that dessert was on its way.

“Hahaha darling stop this nonsensical story! It’s killing me!” She laughed and squeezed his hand before dessert distracts her short attention. “Oh raspberries! Dessert looks absolutely pretty tonight!” she cried, tapping lightly on a tea sphere. Now that her attention was on the ruby red raspberries, he dug his spoon into her alluring plate of the Squash Risotto again.

Oh yes. Raspberries $16. Perfect way to end the night.  She was so pleased with the aerated crème anglaise, honey comb and tea spheres. It was a winner on both taste and texture. New age food is something she mentioned that she’ll want to try. He gladly obliged. She deserves everything that he can provide. Food has always been a fanciful affair for them.

“How was dinner my love?”

“It was delightful! Thank you Mr.Engineer And I love you.”

Mission accomplished.

Garage
Riverside Point
30 Merchant Road #01-07
Tel: 6533 3188

Hey other than the food, everything else is fiction ok? Haha. But I must admit that I’m a really big fan of the Squash Risotto at Garage. I was there with the fun peeps from OpenRice. Thank you Lisa for having us. Yeap now you know what I’m up to every Wednesday! Yet another food adventure with OpenRice! :/ Oh shit, I really need to start exercising more often!

I was at Firestation Hillside Gastrobar just 2 days ago with a yummy bunch from Openrice before popping by again with The Fiance for dinner. He wanted to try the Braised Duck Pizza because I kept raving about it. Mr.Nice Guy also said that I deserve a slice of cheese cake because I wasn’t feeling quite well. OK. Just as well. Gastrobar offers both with style.

I love the Braised Duck Pizza $18! We shared this enormous serving of braised duck pizza that is seasoned with a luxurious truffle mayo. When the pizza arrived, it was a visual feast. Each mouthful was a delight! The thin crust with generous fillings and cheese makes perfect comfort food for a greedy couple like us.

We both ate with our fingers and exchanged amused glances because a hyperactive little angmoh kid was scurrying around the spacious timber decked al fresco area with a green brolly. Super adorable. Firestation Hillside Gastrobar is a really lovely venue for alfresco dining or an after dinner drink.

Back to the pizza, I liked how slight peppery flavour of the rocket leaves rounded up the flavours deftly but felt that the truffle mayo was not discerning enough. Speaking of truffles, I have a sudden craving for the extremely truffly taste of the Fettuccine alla Piedmontese pasta I had at Trattoria Milano. Chef Domenico Truglia used truffle oil as it is a more affordable alternative that offers an ultra strong truffle flavour. Oh yes I’ll write a review on Trattoria Milano soon!

By the way, he also ordered a Striploin Steak $26, but he thinks the beef he has at Garage was better. I’ll talk about that soon. Anyway the last time when I was here with OpenRice, the kitchen refused to serve us the Pork Belly $12 because they said that the pork that day wasn’t good enough. I like it when restaurants have such high level of quality check. So since Xavier the Manager said the pork belly was OK that evening, The Fiance and I had to order it. Here it is. The Pork Belly that looks and tasted like atas Roasted Pork/Siew Yoke.

Looks good right? The skin was super crispy and I really enjoyed how it crackles with each chew. Though the oozy fat and tender flesh did not outshine its golden, bubbled skin, all is well. Honestly, I have not tasted any Chinese roasted pork as good as this. Stole a few sips of his Erdinger because I know that it’ll pair perfectly with this delicious snack. My Margarita went better with the duck pizza.

Lastly, the Firestation Cheese Cake $8. What can be better than tiny nibbles of cheese cake amidst thick, luscious greenery? I ate almost all of this and by the time the last mouthful of cheese cake goes down my throat, I’ve totally forgotten about being stricken with flu and lightheadedness.

It was amazingly fluffy, light and easy on a stubborn tummy that still wants dessert even thought its at the verge of bursting. Crust was oat-ish. Perfect. Well if you are not a fan of cakes? Then go for the apple crumble. That’s another one of my fav dessert at Firestation Hillside Gastrobar.

If you are wondering whether to pop by Firestation Hillside Gastrobar or Raw Kitchen Bar next door, figure out your cravings for the night beforehand. If it’s salad or starter, Raw Kitchen Bar has some good quirky fusion dishes to satisfy your taste buds. As for mains and dessert, move over to Firestation Hillside Gastrobar.

Including his pint of Erdinger $12 and my Classic Margarita $16, dinner for two was about $110. Ambiance was great. Firestation Hillside Gastrobar is a place well worth seeking out. Noted that happy hours are 5 – 7pm and 10pm – 12 midnite daily! Yay I wish there were more of such perfect venues for chilling out in this area. Will definitely be back for the Braised Duck Pizza and am looking for westies to meet up for Sunday Brunch here! It’s quite affordable at $18/breakfast set.

Drop me a comment/email if you are interested for brunch between 10am – 230pm on a Sunday at Firestation Hillside Gastrobar!

Firestation Hillside Gastrobar
274 Upper Bukit Timah Road (S) 588213
Tel : +65 6465 0600
Remember to call for reservations

After a busy day at work, I just want to stone amidst lush greenary and enjoy a simple dinner. I’ve been visiting this place quite often these days. Ever been to a garden in a cafe somewhere in China Square Central? Gotta thank 24seven for the tasting session which brought me to Eden Sanctuary. You can find blog entries about our exclusive Rainbow Cuisine tasting over at Diana, Amanda, Calvin, Justin and Veron‘s blog. I gotta miss that entry because Chuck screwed up again. Oh Chuck. Why.

Forget Chuck. Since I’m fast becoming a regular here, it is more appropriate for me to share on some of the staple dishes here which you can find on the menu! Unlike other conventional cafes, stepping into Eden Sanctuary really really feels like home. Everyone is well taken of at Chef Clement’s cosy dining room.

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Dinner last night started with the Tomato Basil Tartlet ($7.90). Though it looked like a typical canapé, it actually tasted better than what I had at Restaurant Week. Love the crispy savoury crust filled with a tomato based sauce on the inside. Magic of this finger delight is the fresh basil leave hidden beneath the layer of cheese.

These savoury tartlets are such delicate sweethearts. Complementary flavours of tomato, cheese, fennel, herbs and especially the refreshing tones of a lucky basil leave perked me up for what’s coming up!

Creamless Homestyle Pumpkin Soup ($4.00)

I wish mom was here. She always complains about cooking pumpkins. Well, I’ve tried creamy pumpkin soups and it wasn’t spectacular. So I’m particularly pleased with Eden Sanctuary’s clear broth version with herbs. I enjoyed every spoonful of pumpkin bumps, shreds or chucks. The texture is so inconsistently attractive, I’m hating how I am polishing off the bowl in just 5 minutes. Argh. It’s hard to flirt with a bowl of soup. They don’t last very long.

Fan of Shakespeare? I am especially when it come to his timeless tales of love and human fallacy. Remember Sir Andrew in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night who tried desperate to flirt with a maiden by the name of Maria and failed terrible? It is he who said “I am a great eater of beef, and I believe that does harm to my wit”. Well, he’s a meathead if he has never tried Balsamic Strawberry Beef ($9.90). Look at that chunk of wonderment.

Oops Sir Andrew, pardon me. Nay you wouldn’t enjoy this if you don’t fancy an unconventional twist to your meat. I had mine at medium with a slight tarty. sourish pinch on the tongue. It was lovely. Accompanied with a drizzle of savoury sauce, the strawberries set off a fruity refinement to an otherwise typical piece of meat.

I’m sorry sweethearts. When I get started on literature, I can’t stop. So in Twelfth Night, Shakespeare takes a amusing approach to expose the ways humans fall prey to pride, vanity and self-deception. So we are all fools of our own deception. I felt like a simpleton fool just like Sir Andrew more often than not. Fools that are easily pleased, easily contented, easily amused. So tell me. Is that good or bad?

Nevertheless, perhaps there’s really nothing to hide especially after savouring the next dish at Eden Sanctuary. I could smell it as Chef Clement was on his way to my table. Ginger Leek Peanut Butter Fish ($6.90). Odd combination isn’t it? But trust me. You should really try this. There’s just something graceful and clever about this down-to-earth dish that screams simplicity.

Each mouthful is a blast of flavours from the distinct taste of ginger, leek and peanut butter. Yet surprisingly with such powerful elements, I could still taste the flaky fishy fish tucked under the brownish garb! No wonder Chef Clement said that a fish should taste like a fish no matter how it is prepared. You get that? Say bye bye to tasteless meat!

By the way, it’s a must to get a pot of floral tea to accompany these delicate creations. It goes perfectly well with the food here. All in all, Eden Sanctuary offers simple, natural and light on the tummy meals. A week ago I was here for lunch and the Creamless Carbonara Pasta was awesome! Yup CREAMLESS! I could successfully finish a slice of cheese cake after that! Ah ah ah, nothing to be guilty about because Chef Clement made sure that it’s a balanced, healthy meal. I’m just a simply fool at Eden Sanctuary waiting for the next serving of his witty creation.

(:

Eden Sanctuary Floral Cafe
18 Cross Street #01-16
China Square Central
Tel : 6224 2298
Remember to call for reservations!

I visited Sakae Teppanyaki one evening when I felt like having some time alone. I wasn’t feeling sad or anything. It was just one of those moments where I just want to enjoy a meal with no one else but my thoughts.

And so, I was very pleased to let my mind roam freely while I stared blankly at the chef cooking my food before my eyes. He’s a shy chap. Hope I did not frightened him. I was ogling at the food. Not him.

I was lucky. It was dinner time but I was the only one at the counter! Usually it would be so crowded. Surprisingly, it wasn’t awkward at all as I sat alone at the teppan counter. Instead, it felt like I had a personal chef that evening, showering me with dishes of freshly stir-fried food. The setting at the counter was perfect for anyone who wanted to indulge in a casual dinner. As I was enjoying my teppan meal, there was a long queue for Sakae sushi booth seats.

I hate queues.

Advice: jump the queue by requesting to sit at the teppan corner. Then, on top of a teppan meal, simply order sushi as side dishes to satisfy your strong sushi cravings.

Sakae Teppanyaki set meals are pretty decent. At a reasonable price of $19.99 I had the beef dinner set that came with salad, seafood teppan chawanmushi, salmon, garlic rice and Miso soup. I couldn’t finish everything. The portions were generous for 1 pax.

I enjoyed the garlic-ky rice and loved the even more garlic-ky teppan beef covered with delectable teriyaki sauce. However, the best dish was tied between the Seafood Teppan Chawanmushi and Mixed mushrooms.

The Chawanmushi was housed in the bowl-shaped onion. Very cute! Waited patiently as the egg steamed on the griddle. I simply couldn’t wait for it to be ready!! The moment my personal chef served the Chawanmushi, I immediately scooped the perfectly steamed egg out from the onion husk and crushed the tender chunks in my mouth. It was sweeter than usual because of the onion! OMG I’m such a garlic and onion lover!

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I could smell the mushrooms when it was still half-cooked and the hard-to-describe-peppery-sweet aroma was tantalising. Don’t you agree that mushrooms smell wonderful? I liked how spongy and flavoursome these mushrooms were. This is one dish where I don’t mind having more! Honestly, I rather have more mushrooms and do without the salmon.

Here’s the menu if you want to find more on Sakae Teppanyaki offerings. I shall try the lobster dinner set at my next visit! Probably with more fans of teppanyaki, they can start training chefs to do some entertaining stunts for us at the teppan counter. How about stacking onion slices to produce a flaming onion volcano or flexing some muscles performing wild spatula and knife stunts! It’ll be so cool!

Sakae Sushi
Lot 1 21 Choa Chu Kang Avenue 4
#03-10 Lot 1 Shoppers’
Other outlets with Sakae Teppanyaki

Attended Esmirada’s 15th Anniversary Party with Ken. Thanks Carlyn!

The celebration was held at the new Esmirada At The Pier located in the thriving dining hub of Robertson Quay. Warm lights illuminated the interior of Esmirada At The Pier and the combination of rustic brick walls with blue accents brought an easy-going allure. Seemed like the perfect place to idle away a lazy Saturday evening with girlfriends!

Esmirada At The Pier is a really cosy and casual restaurant with a rustic charm! We spent the evening at the al fresco seating. Good thing that the courtyard was breezy and when dusk arrived, pretty candles tea lights evoked a romantic feel! Nice.

Ken and I enjoyed a glass of Sangria with Esmirada’s Famous Garlic Bread (S$6) – a towering crusty baguette loaf fragrant with garlic and butter – before digging in to the selection of appetizing antipasti, salads, soups and tapas!

My favourite starter would be the refreshing Greek Salad (S$16)! The cheese was awesome and it gave the salad enough flavor that salad dressing isn’t needed. The sharp taste of onion went really well with the red peppers and sun-dried tomatoes. Tasty! Would be perfect if I could add a bit of garlic, a dash of oregano and a teaspoon of white wine vinegar! Hehe I like my salad to be fancy.

Tossed a couple of cold prawns on our plates too to go with the wine. Fresh goodness.

Of course, Mediterranean food is not Mediterranean without some grilled meats, pita bread, and falafel. It was nearly impossible to decide what to taste first considering the selection dishes displayed on the counter.

That’s the roasted pork. I love the few unique starters especially the delectable Balkan dish, Cevapcici (S$18) – grilled meat fingers made from minced beef and lamb and served with a homemade mustard ragoo dip.

Another tasty entrée was this. Make a guess what this is.

Smoked ham! Totally scrummy! Look at the size of that humongous piece of meat!

The chef was there the entire evening making sure that each slices of smoked ham was cut to perfection. These delicate paper-thin slices of smoked ham were so well-flavoured.

Our appetite was further satiated by main courses such as the Esmirada Skewers (from S$28) – perfectly grilled quality ribeye steaks, lamp chops, chicken kebabs, king prawns, swordfish and vegetables served on a custom-made iron frame and accompanied by bell pepper relish, tzatziki sauce and oven baked potatoes.

Ken tried the famous Spanish saffron rice dish, Paella Espanola (S$30), that is brimming with fresh mussels, squid, prawns, chicken and vegetables. That was a hearty dish.

Always have space for dessert when it is chocolate fondue and fresh strawberries!

I’m sure no one could resist creamy smooth chocolate cascading down a chocolate fountain. Sinful.

Craving for some Mediterranean goodies? Well there’s something going on now. You can enjoy 15% discount off Total Bill from now to 31 March 2010 (not applicable with other promos) at all three Esmirada outlets.

Esmirada At The Pier
80 Mohamed Sultan Road
#01-03 The Pier at Robertson