Zi Char (also known as Zhi Char/Cze Char/Tze Char/Zhu Chao) is a term used to describe a wallet-friendly, home-style cuisine from a Chinese stall, which serves a variety of ala-carte dishes and leaves you spoiled for choice. Most zi char stalls are located in a non-restaurant setting like a coffee shop or a hawker centre. There are also some local seafood restaurants which have air-conditioned dining area.

I am still on a mission to try all the places on my list, but for now, I will like to share with you some of the best zi char restaurants located in the west of Singapore.

Big Eater

Much has been said about Big Eater’s KL-style hokkien mee and crabs. If you are looking for a place to eat in the Jurong West area, make a trip to Big Eater.

Blk 964 Jurong West St 91 #01-342
Tel: +65 6397 0480
Daily: 4pm – 2am

Ban Tong Seafood Restaurant

One of my all time favourite zi char stalls is Ban Tong Seafood Restaurant at Clementi Ave 5 – near the train station. While there are not many choices on the menu, most of the items are well-cooked and very affordable.

Blk 378 Clementi Ave 5 #01-334
Tel: +65 9047 9428

Chin Huat Live Seafood

Chin Huat Live Seafood at Sunset Way serves competent food at reasonable prices. Besides the usual zi char offerings, they also have other unique dishes like Wagyu Beef on the menu.

For people who are staying in the west, Chin Huat is a great place to have live seafood. And you can enjoy your zi char meal in the comfort of an air-conditioned restaurant.

105 Clementi Street 12
#01-30 Sunset Way Singapore
Tel: +65 6775 7348
Daily: 11.30am–2.30pm, 5.30pm–11pm

Fortune Seafood Restaurant

Another Zhi Char restaurant that my family always go to is Fortune Seafood Steamboat restaurant along Bukit Timah Road. Do try the crabs (only $30/kg) when you are there.

887 Bukit Timah Road Singapore
Tel: +65 6469 5957
Opening hours: 11am – 2.30pm
Dinner: 5pm – 11.30pm Daily

Ga Hock Seafood Restaurant

Despite its ulu location, Ga Hock Seafood Restaurant has a huge following; many people will go all the way there for a good and satisfying meal. The cze char eatery is tucked at the back of a run-down coffee shop, which has a ‘kampong feel’.

I am not surprised if you have not heard of Ga Hock Seafood Restaurant. I only knew about it when some readers recommended it on twitter. So do check it out if you are looking for a zi char place in the west.

794 Upper Bukit Timah Road
Hup Choon Eating House
Tel: +65 6314 5725
Daily: 4pm – 11pm

Holland Village XO Fish Head Bee Hoon

Everyone knows about the famous Holland Village XO Fish Head Bee Hoon, but not everyone knows about their har cheong gai (prawn paste chicken). I am going out on a limb to say that they have the best har cheong gai in Singapore.

Jumbo Coffee Hub at Blk 19A
Dover Crescent
Tel: +65 6778 3691
Daily: 11.30am–2pm, 5pm–11pm

Keng Eng Kee Seafood Restaurant

Keng Eng Kee Seafood Restaurant is one of the zhi char places that has an air-conditioned dining area.

The food in general is pretty good and I also like the the fact that you don’t have to wait very long. Prices are what you would expect from a typical zhi char place, but the portions are slightly smaller.

I have been going there for years, and it is nice to see that they have managed to maintain the food standard. Definitely one of the best zhi char restaurants in Singapore.

Blk 124 Bukit Merah Lane 1
#01-136 Alexandra Village Singapore
Tel: +65 6272 1038
Daily: 11.30am –2pm, 5pm–11pm

Kimly Seafood

Kimly Seafood Restaurant is a tze char chain with many outlets around the island. It is one of the zi char places that my family always goes to when we are too lazy to cook. Having been there recently, I am happy to say that the consistency of the food is still there.

Blk 346 Jurong East Street 31
Daily: 2pm – 1am

Master Crab Seafood Restaurant

Crab-lovers must go to Master Crab Seafood Restaurant at Ghim Moh Road. They do a fantastic salted egg yolk crab. Besides the branch at Ghim Moh Road, Master Crab also has several branches across the island.

Blk 19 Ghim Moh Road #01-229
Tel: +65 6314 1868
Daily: 5pm – 10.30pm

Two Chefs Eating House

For those of you who know your zi char places well, I am sure Two Chefs Eating Place is a familiar name. It is an extremely popular zi char stall that has been well-publicised in the media. However, I am not a big fan as I feel that it is over-hyped and most of the dishes (except for the awesome butter pork ribs) are pretty ordinary.

Still, I decided to include it in my list of best zi char restaurants as there’s surely a reason why they are doing so well. Maybe it’s just me. So try it and let me know if I missed out anything.

Blk 116 Commonwealth Drive #01-129
Tel: 6472 5361
Mon: 5pm – 11.30pm
Tue to Sun: 11.45am–2.30pm, 5pm–11.30pm

Do leave a comment if you have recommendations of good zi char restaurants in Singapore.

Brunetti is a famous Italian pasticceria and coffee joint from Australia. Having heard good things about it from my friends who studied in Melbourne, I was quite excited when it finally opened in Singapore at Tanglin Mall.

After my first visit a few months ago, I went back to Brunetti several times and tried quite a few items. Some of the cakes were good, while others were average.

Besides a range of cakes and pastries, Brunetti at Tanglin Mall also serves breakfast like eggs benedict ($12.9) and truffled scrambled eggs ($11.9); and savoury food like spaghetti Bolognaise ($17.9) and fillet of fish ($18.9).

Of all the desserts that I have tried so far, my favourite is the pear & cheese crumble ($10) – a baked cream cheesecake with poached pears, blackberry jam on a chocolate chip biscuit base. I will go back just to have this.

The chocolate éclair, on the other hand, was disappointing. So was the chocolate fondant ($8), which you see in the above photo. We felt that the dark chocolate cake was run-of-the-mill.

If you like chocolate desserts, go for the flourless chocolate soufflé ($8). There’s also bacio ($8), which is a lovely creation of dark chocolate and hazelnut bavaroise. Who can resist the perfect combination of chocolate and hazelnut? Not me, that’s for sure.

The New York cheesecake ($10), while good, was nothing like the ones that I had in the Big Apple. During the same visit, we also tasted the gorgeous lemon meringue tart ($8). But don’t take it from me, I am a big fan of anything-lemon-meringue, so I am definitely biased.

Some of the other desserts at Brunetti include: tiramisu ($8), profiterole ($8), black forest ($8), opera ($8), flourless orange & almond cake ($8), and an assortment of macarons ($2.25).

Even though some of the cakes did not blow me away, I can still see myself going back to Brunetti for desserts if I am near Tanglin Mall.

There are some cakes on the display that I would love to try, and the gelato selection also looks impressive. If you have tried most of their stuff before, do leave a comment and let me know if I’ve missed out anything.

Brunetti Pasticceria
163 Tanglin Road
#01-35 Tanglin Mall
Tel: +65 6733 9088
Sun to Wed: 8am – 9pm
Thu to Sat: 8am – 10pm

For more recommendations, read my list of best dessert places in Singapore

Hey folks, hope you are having a good week so far. Just some quick updates: I am travelling a lot this year, so I will be blogging more about my adventures, travelling tips, and of course – food (travelling is just an excuse for me to eat more). There are a lot of exciting changes for the blog this year, and I hope to share them with you soon!

During the last week of April, we hit a new record of 23k unique visitors (daily). Thank you so much for all the love!

Also, I have revamped my Guide to Japanese restaurants in Singapore – do check it out if you are looking for a nice place to go.

Giveaway of Singapore Flyer Tickets // I’m giving away a pair of tickets to the Singapore Flyer. All you have to do is to join my new facebook page, and leave a comment to tell me your facebook username. Giveaway ends on 17th May 2359.

During the Dean & Deluca trip to New York City, the folks kindly arranged for us to stay at Mondrian – a boutique hotel in SoHo.

After posting several photos of the hotel on instagram (follow me at @ladyironchef), I received a lot of comments about how beautiful the place is. I figured that I must tell you more about the hotel.

Mondrian at SoHo is by the Morgans Hotel group, and it is perfectly located at Crosby Street, which sits between Broadway and Lafayette Street. There are plenty of good restaurants nearby like Balthazar, and The Mercer Kitchen. Within walking distances, you can also find Little Italy and Chinatown. And not to mention all the boutique shops in the SoHo area.

One of the most memorable things about my New York trip is definitely the stay in Mondrian Hotel.

Fairytale-like entrance of the hotel.

The designers did an amazing job. While the room is not very big, they managed to build it to be spacious, and very comfortable.

The hotel is fun, vibrant, and refreshing. From the amazing restaurant, to the helpful concierge and friendly staff, to the little details in the room – I love almost everything about the hotel. Except the part where there is no free WiFi. You can, however, get a three day access at US$29.

And oh, I do not know if it is a common practice in the states, but the hotel does not provide bottled waters in the room.

Imperial No. 9 – the hotel restaurant at the lobby – is definitely worth a visit. It’s easily one of the most beautiful restaurants I’ve ever been to.

A night at Mondrian hotel, I have to say, is not cheap. But neither are the other good hotels in New York City.

If you are a fan of designer boutique hotels, you will love Mondrian. It’s modern, classy, and well-designed. I highly recommend it when you are in New York City.

Mondrian Hotel
9 Crosby Street
New York, NY 10013, United States
Tel: (212) 389-0000

By now, I am sure everyone has already booked a nice restaurant to celebrate Mother’s Day. I think it is a great opportunity to show our appreciation to one of the most important people in our lives.

Besides bringing her for a nice Mother’s Day dinner, everyone should also prepare a little present. There are so many things you can do/get for your mom – go for a weekend getaway; bring her for a spa treatment; or accompany her to a cooking class.

If you are still thinking of what to get, here’s a guide to Mother’s Day gift ideas.

Weekend Getaway

One of the best things about being in Singapore is that it’s just a few hours away from many amazing cities in the region. With budget airlines like Scoot, AirAsia, Tiger, and Jetstar offering affordable tickets, there’s no excuse for not going on a getaway. Bring your mother for a weekend getaway – Hong Kong, Bali, Bangkok, and the list goes on. Have fun!

Tea gift set

If your mom is a tea lover, what better gift to get her than a TWG Tea gift set?

The Gourmet Tea Set with French Earl Grey Tea ($63) consists of an Haute Couture Tin of the French Earl Grey Tea, a jar of the special TWG Tea sugar, and a jar of the addictive French Earl Grey tea jelly.

Jewellery

Jewellery is a woman’s best friend. Every woman loves jewellery, and your mother is no exception.

When I was in New York City, I bought a simple Tiffany & Co necklace for my mom, and she was grinning to herself for weeks. Remember, it is not about the value, it is about the thought behind your gift.

Mother’s Day Cooking Classes

For you guys who are looking for last minute plans for Mother’s Day, the cooking classes at ToTT will be a great option!

Chef Janice Wong – one of the most talented pastry chefs in Singapore – is teaching a class on New Age Fantasy Cakes ($138) where participants will get to learn how to bake Cupcakes and Cake Pops.

There is also Cooking for Mom with Chef Eric Low ($118), where your mom and you can learn three scrumptious recipes: carrot cake with sweet chilli bean sauce, cheese and ham scones, and Vodka green tea tiramisu.

To register, go the ToTT store at 896 Dunearn Road 01-01A, or call 62197077.

Mother’s Day Spa Promotion

Aramsa Spa (Bishan Park 2, 1382 Ang Mo Kio Ave 1 Tel: +65 6456 6556) – one of my favourite spas in Singapore – has a Mother’s Day promotion. The ‘I love mom‘ package offers inner respite massage (60mins) and SkinCeuticals regenerating facial (75mins) for $280+.

Over at The Sentosa, Spa Botanica (2 Bukit Manis Road Tel: +65 6376 4328) is having a Mom’s spa retreat promotion at $380 which includes radiance facial (30 mins), moor detox wrap (60 mins), moor relaxing body massage (60 mins), and complimentary use of spa garden facilities.

Kitchen appliances

My mom cooks every day, so the Bosch MUM 5 Styline Kitchen Machine is the perfect gift for her. For Mother’s Day 2012, Bosch is giving complimentary gift sets from New Moon – abalone and bird’s nest products – with purchase of the Bosch range of Kitchen Machines: MUM86R1 HomeProfessional, MUM54230 and MUM52110 Styline.

The promotion is valid for the month of May, from 1st to 31st May 2012.

Cookbooks

Getting a cookbook as a Mother’s Day gift is a good idea as she can learn new recipes and make yummy things for you.

Jipaban – one of the top online shopping malls in Singapore – has a comprehensive selection of cookbooks. I am a fan of Nigella Lawson: How To Be A Domestic Goddess, and A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg.

For recommendations on where to eat, read my Guide to Mother’s Day Dinner 2012

One of the best parts of my job is discovering new hidden gems. After having a good meal at Yakitori Emmau, I am happy to introduce it to you as I feel that it is one of the few restaurants in Orchard that is worth checking out.

Yakitori Emmau at level four of ION Orchard is the second franchise of the Japan’s No. 1 Izakaya restaurant.

For Mother’s Day 2012, it is offering a special Collagen Tori Nabe set menu for 4 pax at only $120. The set comes with Caesar Salad; assorted Sashimi platter; Kushiyaki (skewers) platter; Tori Nabe soup which has a generous serving of ingredients; and the Enmaru Roll.

Like mentioned in my Guide to Mother’s Day Dinner, the set menu definitely has more than enough food for a family of four, and at just $30/pax, I think it is a fantastic deal.

We started with a Caesar salad, which I am not a fan of. I was slightly disappointed that they did not use Wafu dressing for the salad.

We quickly moved on to the enmaru roll (actual portion is twice the size) – an assortment of fresh sushi on a maki roll. Everything was like what you see in the photo – beautiful.

Before we could finish the maki roll, we were distracted by the assorted Sashimi platter (actual portion is twice the size) – which consist of maguro, salmon, kanpachi, mekajiki, and amaebi. It’s really difficult to concentrate when you have a plate of gorgeous sashimi in front of you.

From left to right: Minced ball with plum, chicken tight with leek, enoki bacon, pork with asparagus, beef with radish.

My favourite was the enoki bacon. It was juicy and succulent, and I simply loved the combination of mushroom and bacon. The beef with radish was equally outstanding. After finishing the five skewers, I took a quick glance at the normal ala carte menu. Most of the skewers — priced between $3 to $7 — are generally quite good. I’d come back for yakitori.

We wrapped up our lunch with the tori nabe soup, which came with a generous portion of ingredients, cooked in a rich and refreshing broth.

The interior of Yakitori Emmau is East Village-esque. The very feeling of dining in a Japanese restaurant in NYC. I also like the fact that most of the service staff are Japanese. They have decent food at acceptable prices. I will definitely drop by if I want a quick meal in town.

The Mother’s Day promotion at Yakitori Emmau is available during lunch and dinner, and it runs for the entire month of May.

Yakitori Emmau
2 Orchard Turn
#04-11 ION Orchard
Tel: +65 6636 7282

Note: This was an invited media tasting.

Through my growing years, teppanyaki has always been a favourite. Even though I often crave for it, I haven’t had it for a long time because there are not that many teppanyaki restaurants around.

In my memory, most food courts used to have teppanyaki counters. But these days, they have disappeared almost entirely, leaving us with very limited options.

When you mention good teppanyaki in Singapore, several places like Keyaki, Tatsu Teppanyaki, and Hill Top Japanese Restaurant come to mind. However, they are not cheap. I certainly cannot afford to eat there on a regular basis. So I did some research on places to go, and I was pointed to Sakae Teppanyaki.

Sakae Teppanyaki is not new in the market. It currently has seven outlets at Century Square, Changi Airport, Lot 1, North Point, Sun Plaza, Sentosa, and Plaza Singapura.

Sakae Teppanyaki has set meals which range from the popular chicken set ($17.99) with chicken, gindara, and gyonza; to the premium Sakae set ($23.99) which comes with venison, foie gras, and shell scallop. Set lunches at Sakae Teppanyaki are much more affordable. For instance, the seafood lunch set with salmon, tiger prawn, and gyonza, is only $13.99.

While the food is not out-of-this-world good, I can see myself coming back as it is very decently priced. Moreover, the convenient locations mean that I can drop by whenever I am craving for teppanyaki.

Where do you usually go for teppanyaki? Do leave a comment and let me know.

Sakae Teppaanyaki
68 Orchard Road
#B2-52/54 Plaza Singapura
Tel: +65 6337 5676
Daily: 11.30am – 10.00pm

2 Tampines Central 5
#B1-29 Century Square
Tel: +65 6784 8089
Daily: 11.30am – 10pm

For more recommendations, read my list of Best Japanese Restaurants in Singapore

Travel Tips for Solo Travellers

I vividly remember my first experience of travelling to a foreign city alone. A few years ago, I went to Kuala Lumper to visit my food blogger friends. While it was a relatively short trip, it was enough to get me hooked on the idea of travelling alone.

I was intoxicated by the idea of venturing out to see the world by myself. A few months after my Kuala Lumpur trip, I took the plunge and went on an solo adventure to Sydney. Ever since then, I never looked back.

I like travelling alone because I feel that it gives us the opportunity to rediscover and find out more about ourselves.

If you’ve always wanted to travel alone, plan a trip and go for it! I promise you will be rewarded by the experience. But before you go, let me share some tips on travelling alone.

Be comfortable with yourself.

For people who are new to traveling alone, they may find the challenge daunting. There are many people who are uncomfortable being alone. I have no problem with that as I actually like to be alone sometimes. I like catching a movie by myself, I like to eat alone; I appreciate having ‘me time’ as I can get away from people. If you are afraid of being lonely, you can always read a book, or play games on your phone during the journey.

Always keep your valuables out of sight.

This is the basic rule of travelling. Always keep your valuables from sight, don’t attract the wrong attention. For women travelling alone, avoid being too flashy, and learn to blend in with the local crowd.

Talk to other travellers and make friends.

When you travel alone, it is easier to talk to other travellers and make friends. Not that you can’t do that while travelling with companions, but most of the time it is just so much easier to stick in a group. Pick up your courage and talk to people.

Write down a list of things that you want to accomplish on the trip.

Experience dining alone in a restaurant. Check. Chat with people from five different countries. Check. Learn a new skill during the trip. Check. There are so many things that you can do.

The best part about travelling alone is that you have the freedom to do whatever you like; there’s no need to accommodate anyone. So enjoy the ‘me time‘ and do things that you’ve always wanted to do.

Plan your itinerary ahead.

For me, the biggest problem when travelling alone is food. It is difficult because I can’t order more to share. I always try to plan my itinerary ahead by researching on food places to eat. I’d usually have a list of cheap eats, and another list of restaurants to splurge on.

Another challenge of travelling alone is definitely accommodation. There’s no one to share the cost with, so it is important for solo travellers to plan ahead.

Check out hostels or apartments for rental. They are generally cheaper than staying in hotels. For female travellers, safety and cleanliness of accommodation are the most important factors – read reviews and ask your friends if they have any recommendations.

Know the important numbers

It is also important to note down important details like emergency numbers to call: local embassy in the city (they will be helpful if you get into any trouble), banks hotline (to report credit card cancellation if your wallet is lost), family and friends’ contact details (in case your phone is stolen).

I know it is not an easy thing to step out of your comfort zone and travel alone, especially for women because of safety concerns.

But if you take the necessary precautions, everyone can experience the beauty of travelling alone. In fact, I have met many female solo travellers, and a few of my good friends also travel alone frequently.

Travelling is food for the soul. Plan your next trip; go out and see the world!

Whenever my foodie friends travel to New York City, they will visit the flagship Dean & Deluca store at SoHo and stock up on their favourite products.

For those of you who have not heard of the brand, Dean & Deluca is a luxury gourmet grocer which carries a range of artisan gourmet food, wines and kitchenware.

Kitchen Language – the F&B arm of Far East Organisation – is bringing in the iconic New York lifestyle brand to Singapore, with the first flagship store at Orchard Central opening on 22th June.

The good people at Kitchen Language sent me on a trip to New York City for the Dean and Deluca experience, and while I was there, I had the pleasure of chatting with Justin Seamonds, the president of Dean & Deluca. Here are some pretty interesting insights into the Dean & Deluca world.

What is your job scope at Dean & Deluca?

My functional areas include building relationship with our international partners; distribution channels like e-commerce; as well as marketing and public relations. For areas like retail, administration, and infrastructure, I have a good team to assist me.

How closely does Dean & Deluca work with its suppliers?

Our role at Dean and Deluca is to source for the best products from all over the world, so it is very important for us to work closely with our suppliers to ensure that we get the best for our customers.

One of the key challenges is that we have to deal with a lot of suppliers. Luckily, we get to work with many wonderful people, and this makes our job much easier.

It is always difficult to replicate the experience overseas. What can we expect from D&D Singapore?

It is impossible to replicate the whole experience, but you can rest assured that the key features – design, layout, music, signage – will be consistent. It’s not going to be exactly the same, but you can expect it to be similar. And of course, food is the highlight of the Dean & Deluca experience – it will be the same for the Singapore stores.

I am delighted to see that D&D is carrying TWG Tea. Would Dean & Deluca be interested in other Singapore’s products?

Definitely! We are happy to carry more Singapore products, and we are actually working to bring some of them to our Dean & Deluca stores in the other cities. But this will have to wait as the priority is to build up our brand in Singapore.

Dean & Deluca has stores in cities around the world like Tokyo, Bangkok, Seoul, Kuwait, Qatar, Dubai, and Turkey. Is Europe in the pipeline?

We have a great working relationship with our partners in Middle East, and as they have a great reach in several countries, it’s very easy to expand the business there. Even though we have been approached many times, we are still not represented in Europe because we couldn’t find a suitable partner. But one of my goals this year is definitely to enter the Europe market. Do look out for it!

Any nice restaurants to recommend in NYC?

I like the Burger and Barrel (25 West Houston Street New York Tel: 212 334-7320); you can enjoy good burgers in a terrific atmosphere. Lure Fishbar (142 Mercer Street New York Tel: 212 431-7676) – the sister restaurant of Burger & Barrel – is also very good. It serves mainly seafood and it has very fresh oysters. Another of my favourite place is Saxol and Parole (316 Bowery New York Tel: 212 254 0350). I have only eaten there once, and it was really an exceptional meal.

Any interesting plans coming up for Dean & Deluca?

We are currently discussing with several potential partners from Western Europe and South America. Our merchandisers are flying to many countries to scout for more products.

We also expect to start accelerating the pace of the product partnership. Japan has around 400 private labels in the Dean & Deluca brand, so we will be bringing their products to our stores in New York to test out the market. Our Thai partner will be working on a few exciting products to introduce to our worldwide market as well. I hope that the international section of Dean & Deluca in US will be able to reflect our standing in the market.

And of course, the most exciting news is our opening in Singapore. Isn’t that great enough?

Full Disclosure & Fine Print: I travelled to New York City as a guest of Dean & Deluca and Kitchen Language. No monetary benefits were received, only air tickets and hotel accommodations were sponsored.

Mother’s Day falls on 13th May this year, and it is just two weeks away from us. As always I’ve prepared a list of restaurants to give you some suggestions on where to go for this special day. Besides featuring restaurants that are having Mother’s Day promotion, I’ve also included some of my favourite places.

Here are my recommendations for Mother’s Day Dinner 2012.

Bistro Du Vin

If you are looking for a nice restaurant to bring your mommy for lunch, Bistro Du Vin is the place to go. It serves a three-course set lunch at $30++, which in my opinion, is one of the most value for money set lunches in Singapore.

1 Scotts Road
#02-12 Shaw Centre
Tel: +65 6733 7763

Cocotte

Another good place to satisfy your French food craving (Mother’s Day is just another excuse for us to eat out), Cocotte has an excellent three course executive set lunch at $29++. Definitely the place to go if you want a rustic and comfy place to celebrate the special occasion.

2 Dickson Road
Ground Level Wanderlust Hotel
Tel: +65 6298 1188

Chao Shan Cuisine

A no-frills eatery that serves fantastic Teochew food. I’ll go so far as to say that it is one of the best Teochew Restaurants in Singapore. The only problem here is getting a table because this place is very popular; reservation is absolutely necessary.

85 Beach Road
Tel: +65 6336 2390

Chikuwa Tei

Chikuwa Tei is a place that I will go back again and again when I am craving for Japanese food. The offerings are generally good, and the prices for the bento set and ala carte menu are very reasonable.

9 Mohamed Sultan Road #01-01
Tel: +65 6738 9395

Jade Palace Seafood Restaurant

Jade Palace Seafood Restaurant at Forum is the place to go if you are looking for a restaurant that serves consistently good Chinese food. This is the place to go if your parents are the conservative type that do not like “surprises.” You don’t have to worry about having a bad dining experience as the restaurant has been satisfying customers for many years.

583 Orchard Road
#B1-13 Forum The Shopping Mall
Tel: +65 6732 6628

Kumo Kaiseki Restaurant

Many people would murder me for revealing this secret, but Kumo at ICON Village has one of the best value for money Omakase ($138/168) in Singapore. For a slightly more affordable alternative, go for the seven course Kaiseki set dinner at $78. I highly recommend this place if you like Japanese food.

12 Gopeng Street
#01-58 ICON Village
Tel: +65 6225 8433

La Villa

La Villa (pictured at the top of the post) by the Senso Group is one of my new favourite Italian Restaurants in town. It has a great location at River Valley, yet not many people seem to know about it. Prices are mid-range; $16-25 for antipasti, $18-28 for pasta/risotto, and $28-36 for main courses. Just the place to bring your parents for a nice and quiet Mother’s Day dinner.

341 River Valley Rd
Tel: +65 6836 5286

il Lido Italian Dining

I’ve written about il Lido on many occasions as I believe that it is one of those restaurants which is suitable for all occasions. It’s the kind of place where you can go for a business luncheon, a hot date, a leisure weekend lunch, and of course, to celebrate Mother’s Day.

Fans of il Lido will be happy to know that restaurateur Beppe De Vito is now back to helm the kitchen. He is not only cooking there every night, but he is also managing the service front-line. Beppe will be attending to each table and explain the specials before heading to the kitchen to cook. I have no doubt that il Lido is going to soar to greater heights now that he is personally managing both the service and the kitchen.

il Lido is having a Mother’s Day Luncheon on 12th & 13th May, and the 5 course set lunch is only $68++. Fantastic deal!

27 Bukit Manis Road
#02-00 Sentosa Golf Club Singapore
Tel: +65 6866 1977

One-Ninety at Four Seasons

I went for One Ninety’s Sunday Champagne Brunch over the weekend, and I have to say I am rather impressed by the quality of the buffet. What’s there not to like when you have Alaskan king crab, lobsters, and an amazing antipasti counter? The dessert section by Pastry Chef Audrey was equally impressive.

For Mother’s Day Sunday Brunch at Four Seasons, the restaurant has prepared a Mother’s Day Gift – a complimentary chocolate raspberry cake (300g) – for all mothers. Sunday Brunch prices on May 13th 2012 are $198++ (Veuve Clicquot Brut), and $138++ (non-alcoholic options).

190 Orchard Boulevard
GF Four Seasons Hotel
Tel: +65 6734 1110

Our Korner Bistro

Located at the beautiful Scarlet Hotel, Our Korner is a classy yet laid-back restaurant which serves a wide variety of food on its menu. From laksa clam chowder to chicken schnitzel, and burgers, Our Korner has a bit of everything.

While I feel that prices are slightly steep for the quality of food, I love the vibe of the restaurant. Appetisers start from $14-22, while mains are from $20-35.

33 Erskine Road
1st Floor The Scarlet Hotel
Tel: +65 6511 3323

Paradise Pavilion

Regular readers will know that Paradise Pavilion is one of my favourite Chinese Restaurants in Singapore. Bring your family there for Mother’s Day dim sum brunch!

8A Marina Boulevard
#02-01 Marina Bay Link Mall
Tel: +65 6509 930

Putien

Putien – a casual dining Chinese restaurant – is the place place to go for a simple Mother’s Day dinner. This Mother’s Day, the chefs at Putien have prepared several set menus which range from $128++ for four to $578++ for 10. It will be served from May 1 to 14 for Mother’s Day.

127 Kitchener Road
Desker Road Conservation Area
Tel: +65 6295 6358

Si Chuan Dou Hua

Here’s the good news if you are a PAssion card member. Si Chuan Dou Hua is encouraging inter-generational bonding by having an attractive Mother’s Day promotion! When you dine with 2 generations, you get 20% discount off the bill, and it goes up to 50% discount for 5 generations.

So bring your parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents along to celebrate Mother’s Day at all three Si Chuan Dou Hua restaurants.

181 Kitchener Road
Level 3 Parkroyal on Kitchener Road
Tel: +65 6428 3170

The Courtyard

The Courtyard at Fullerton Hotel needs no introduction – it is one of the most popular high tea spots in Singapore. Bring your mom to enjoy creations like Raspberry Macaroons, Rose-flavoured Madeleines and Petit Cupcakes.

Priced at $46++, the Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea is available from 12 to 13 May 2012.

1 Fullerton Square
GF Fullerton Hotel
Tel: +65 6877 8128

Note: we had tasting portion for two. The actual portion is twice the size.

Yakitori Emmau

For Mother’s Day 2012, Yakitori Emmau at Ion Orchard is offering a special Collagen Tori Nabe set menu for 4 pax at only $120. The set comes with Caesar Salad; assorted Sashimi platter of Maguro, Salmon, Kanpachi, Mekajiki, Amaebi; Yakitori platter of Wagyu oroshi, Negima, Tsukune Umeshiso, Aspara Buta, Enoki Bacon; Tori Nabe soup which has a generous serving of ingredients; and the Enmaru Roll – an assortment of fresh sushi on a maki roll.

It is definitely more than enough food for a family of four, and at just $30/pax, I think it is a fantastic deal. If your mom loves Japanese food, this is the place to bring her for a treat.

The Mother’s Day promotion at Yakitori Emmau is available during lunch and dinner, and it runs for the entire month of May.

2 Orchard Turn
#04-11 ION Orchard
Tel: +65 6636 7282

Eggs Benedict is one of my favourite breakfast food. When I go for brunch, I will definitely order Eggs Benedict, or convince my friend to get it so that I can try. I don’t know about you, but brunch will never be the same without it.

Eggs Benedict is a dish that has a beautifully poached egg and tender ham, sitting on top of an English muffin, drizzled with a magical hollandaise sauce. There are different popular variations like Eggs Royale, which substitutes salmon for the ham; Eggs Florentine; which has spinach instead of ham; and Eggs Blackstone, which comes with streaky bacon for the ham.

It took me a long time to do this post as I’ve been trying out different brunch places, and I am happy to share with you my list of the best Eggs Benedict in Singapore.

Skyve Elementary Bistro and Bar

Started by the same team from Table 66 restaurant, Skyve Bistro is a classy bistro which is located in an old school building at Winstedt Road (formerly District 10 Bistro). It uses the Sous-Vide technique to prepare the perfect poached eggs. Trust me on this, go to Skyve Elementary Bistro & Bar for their Sous Vide Eggs Benedict ($12).

10 Winstedt Road
Blk E #01-17
Tel: +65 6225 6690

Barracks Cafe

One of my favourite spots for brunch, Barracks Cafe at Dempsey Hill serves simple and reasonably-priced food in a cosy space.

Besides the legendary truffle fries and 7 layer pancakes, the classic Eggs Benedict ($18) – poached eggs on toasted English muffins, drizzled with hollandaise sauce – at Barracks cafe is also a must-order when you are having breakfast there.

8D Dempsey Road
#01-01 to 06 Tanglin Village
Tel: +65 6475 7787

Eggs Benedict is a dish that consists of two halves of an English muffin, topped with ham or bacon, poached eggs and hollandaise sauce.

Choupinette

I think it’s silly to pay more than $20 for a simple breakfast like Eggs Benedict, but I’ll gladly make an exception for Choupinette. I’ll go so far as to say that they have one of the best Eggs Benedicts in Singapore.

They are always full on weekends for brunch, so make sure you get a reservation in advance.

607 Bukit Timah Road #01-01
Tel: +65 6466 0613

Five and Dime

Easily one of the prettiest new restaurants in town, Five and Dime is located at 297 River Valley Road. It is one of my favourite new restaurants in Singapore, and I’d highly recommend you to go there for brunch. Five and Dime’s Eggs Benny ($16) is slightly different; the beautifully poached eggs come with seared beef, and a healthy serving of fresh greens.

297 River Valley Road
Tel: +65 9236 5002

Graze restaurant

I like Graze at Martin Road; it is very close to my ideal restaurant. It is classy, elegant, sexy, romantic, and modern. It’s the kind of place where you can go for a business luncheon, a romantic date, and of course, a laid-back weekend brunch.

They have quite a few choices on the brunch menu like Steak & Egg ($27), Pancake Stack ($17), and French Toast ($16). But since this post is about the Best Eggs Benedict in Singapore, I’ve to mention about their version: brioche toast, hollandaise, plus smoked salmon/baby spinach/pancetta. Absolutely delicious!

38 Martin Road
Tel: +65 6509 1680

Group Therapy Cafe

One of the latest cafes to open in the trendy Duxton Hill area, Group Therapy Cafe is a space tucked away on the 2nd storey of a reconstructed shophouse.

They serve a slightly different variation of Eggs Benedict. Instead of English muffin, the poached eggs with salmon are stacked on top of a thick toast. Together with a generous helping of the hollandaise sauce, there’s no way you can resist it.

49 Duxton Road #02-01
Tel: +65 6222 2554

Marmalade Pantry at the Stables

Marmalade Pantry at the Stables is a great place for a good meal if you wish to escape the city for a relaxing brunch.

So here’s a heads up if you are planning to go there this weekend. They have interesting choices like Steak and Eggs ($38), Chorizo Frittata ($18), but both of us know that brunch is all about Eggs Benedict ($19). Have fun!

55 Fairways Drive
Tel: +65 6467 9328

PS Cafe

There are many people who argue that PS Cafe is overrated, serving mediocre food at exorbitant prices, but there is no denying that PS Cafe is one of the most beautiful restaurants in Singapore.

When you are paying $26 for two simple poached eggs on English muffin, it is no longer just about the food; it is about the whole dining experience. Where else better than PS Cafe, one of the most popular see and be seen places in Singapore?

28B Harding Road
Tanglin Village (Dempsey Road) Singapore
Tel: +65 6479 3343

On a lazy Sunday morning, all you need is Eggs Benny.

Riders Cafe

One of the most popular brunch places in Singapore, Riders Cafe also has one of the best locations. Hidden within Fairways Drive, this countryside cafe is the place to go if you want to escape from the hustle of city.

It serves a Blackstone Benedict, which substitutes streaky bacon for the ham and adds a tomato slice to the poached eggs & hollandaise on rustic sourdough.

51 Fairways Drive
Bukit Timah Saddle Club
Tel: +65 6466 9819

Roadhouse

Roadhouse at Dempsey is opened by the good people behind Prive, and it serves the same delicious Eggs Benedict ($16). Lightly poached eggs, honey baked ham, streaky bacon, rockets, and English muffins.

13 Dempsey Road #01-07
Tel: +65 6476 2922

Eggs Benedict. Eggs Benedict. Eggs Benedict. Eggs Benedict. Eggs Benedict. Eggs Benedict.

Wild Honey

The popular all day breakfast restaurant has recently opened a new outlet at Scotts Square, so you guys now have one more option to choose from when you are meeting your friends in Orchard Road.

Let’s go straight to the eggs benedict. Unlike the typical ones, Wild Honey’s rendition ($18) comes with sauteed mushroom and prosciutto on toasted brioche.

6 Scotts Road
#03-01 Scotts Square
Tel: +65 6636 1816

For more recommendations, please read my list of Brunch Places in Singapore

Last month, the folks at Toshiba & Intel flew Beatrice, Velda, and I to Kuala Lumpur on a fun filming trip for the Ultrabook Challenge, where we tested out the Toshiba Portégé Z830 Ultrabook.

It was a fantastic experience as the three of us learned so many things during the filming. We had a team of film crew, producers and make up stylist on set for the blockbuster production.

Photo credit: Beatrice

I have lots of photos from the filming to share, read more to find out what happened behind the scenes!

We arrived in KL on the first day, and we had some free time to wander around in town before meeting the Malaysian bloggers for dinner and drinks. The next morning, we had to wake up at 5.30am to go to the filming location. Yawn!

Very lucky to have two fabulous markup artists to help us look good for filming.

Treasure Hunt Challenge

Oh dear, I can’t bear to watch the Treasure Hunt challenge; Velda and I flopped at this game. We were supposed to find the Toshiba Ultrabook hidden within the room, but somehow, both of us couldn’t find the slim ultrabooks, which were cleverly concealed.

Ping Pong Challenge

Playing table tennis with ultrabooks. Who would have imagined? It seemed difficult initially, but it was quite easy after we got the hang of it. Of course, it helps that the Toshiba Portégé Z830 Ultrabook is only 1.12kg, so we had no problem using it as a ping pong bat.

Photo credit: Beatrice

I went all the way to the finals and got first runner-up. It was quite an experience to play ping pong with the envelope-thin ultrabook.

Photo credit: Beatrice

After each challenge, we did separate interviews where we shared our thoughts about the game. It almost felt like a scene from Survivor where the contestants would bitch about each other. Of course we didn’t do that. Everyone on set was really nice to each other and we had lots of fun filming the four challenges.

Quick Draw Challenge

This was quite a tricky game. We had 60 seconds to hit the ultra-slim Toshiba Portégé Z830 Ultrabook on the board with darts. Each time we threw a round of darts, we had to close and open the ultrabook to “reload”. Luckily the Toshiba Ultrabook is very responsive and it “wakes up” almost instantly, so we didn’t waste much time doing that.

It turned out to be harder than I thought. Before the challenge, I was feeling quite confident, but in the end I didn’t do very well as it was difficult to throw the darts onto the slim surface of the Ultrabook. In any case, it was still good fun!

Photo credit: Beatrice

Beatrice did quite well for this game! Go #TeamGlutton!

Photo credit: Beatrice

The filming took a full day, and it was quite exhausting, as we had to wait for our turn to film the challenges. In between filming, we kept ourselves occupied with cam whoring!

Photo credit: Beatrice

Photo credit: Beatrice

Q&A Challenge

Ooh I love this challenge. Some of the other bloggers felt very nervous while answering the questions, but I enjoyed it thoroughly. Velda went all the way to the finals, and she was first runner-up for this challenge. Beatrice and I were “fighting” for the third spot, and it was hilarious as both of us were talking and laughing throughout the contest. Watch the video above to see us in action!

Photo credit: Beatrice

We spent three days in Kuala Lumpur and time just flew by. Since coming back from the filming trip, I’ve been bringing my Ultrabook on my travels and it has become my favourite travelling partner. I also use it when I am out meeting clients. It is not only light, but also very responsive; I can turn it on instantly and make a quick note whenever I have an inspiration.

You should really consider getting the Toshiba Portégé Z830 Ultrabook if you are looking for a light laptop. It’s perfect especially if you are constantly on-the-go.

Big shoutout to the Toshiba and Intel folks who gave us this opportunity to take part in the Mark of Perfection: Toshiba-Intel Ultrabook Challenge. Do follow the conversation on the Toshiba Portégé Z830 Ultrabook, Inspired by Intel at Toshiba Facebook Page.

Full Disclosure & Fine Print: The Toshiba Portégé Z830 Ultrabook was given to me as a review set, and monetary compensation was received for my participation in the KL filming, but not for this review. All views and opinions are my own.

My quest to find the best tonkatsu brought me to Saboten at Changi Airport Terminal 1.

I’ve always wanted to try Saboten after hearing so much about it. Many people have been telling me that it is their favourite tonkatsu restaurant in Singapore. I am embarrassed that it took me so long to go there, but I am happy to say that I finally had the chance to drop by to sample some of the signature items on the menu.

The question now is, does Saboten have the best tonkatsu in Singapore?

From pork loin, to shrimp, to salmon, and Japanese curry, Saboten has many things to offer. I was tempted by everything on the menu, so we ordered quite a few dishes. The food came after a while, and it was quite a magnificent sight as they filled up the entire table. We had Loin Katsu ($23), Loin Katsu Curry ($19.5), Tonkatsu Asparagus Cheese Roll, Loin Katsudon ($20), Salmon Katsu ($20), and Oyster Katsu.

I was very excited to see the Loin Katsu ($23). I quickly picked up a piece of the gorgeous pork loin with my chopsticks, and took a bite.

It was good. But not out-of-this-world good. I was slightly disappointed. Maybe I was expecting too much, but it did not blow me away.

Then, we had a Katsu with Asparagus Cheese Roll. It was essentially asparagus and melted cheese stuffed within crispy katsu. This was followed by the Deep-Fried Oyster Katsu, and Salmon Katsu.

The oysters were not too bad; it didn’t have any fishy taste. The Salmon Katsu ($20), on the other hand, was surprisingly good. I was quite skeptical initially as I thought that it would be too dry.

I was wrong, of course. Saboten’s Salmon Katsu managed to retain the moistness of the fish, and it wasn’t dry at all. That being said, I probably wouldn’t order this on my own because a) I don’t really fancy deep-fried salmon, and b) I need to save room for the pork loin.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Loin Katsudon ($20). Huge chunks of meat buried under the thick and fluffy eggs. There’s only one word to describe this: YUM.

Another of my favourite dish is the Loin Katsu Curry ($19.5). It combined the sweet Japanese curry with breaded pork loin. I could eat this for lunch everyday.

Saboten is definitely one of the better tonkatsu restaurants in Singapore, but it is not my favourite. I still prefer other places like Tampopo, Tonkichi, and Tonkatsu by Ma Maison.

Having said that, I can see myself coming back as the food is generally good, and reasonably-priced. I am kind of glad that I am not staying in the East, otherwise I would probably be eating tonkatsu very often.

Saboten
80 Airport Boulevard
#031-004 Departure Check-in Hall Level 3
Changi Airport Terminal 1
Tel: +65 6214 9504
Daily: 8am – 10.30pm

Note: This was an invited media tasting.

Since Cocotte opened its doors at Wanderlust boutique hotel, I’ve heard both good and bad things about the French Restaurant. Some of my friends spoke at length about its signature Poulet Roti, and Roast Pork Collar. There are others who told me to forget about it as they felt that food was overpriced, and most of the dishes were mediocre.

Even though I wanted to try their food, I decided to wait a while. It turned out to be a pretty long wait as it took me until recently to visit them. My good friend Jolene told me that she had a splendid lunch at Cocotte. I trust her tastebuds so I reckoned it’s time to drop by.

After having lunch there, I have to agree. Cocotte serves pretty good French Food, and the 3 course executive set lunch at $29++ is definitely worth a try.

The set lunch (only available on weekdays) allows you to choose from five appetisers, four main courses, and four desserts. It also includes coffee/tea.

The five appetisers include starter of the day, Chicken Liver Mousse, Rosette, Pear Salad, and Pork Rillettes. We didn’t take very long to decide on the Salad and Pork Rillettes. Both dishes were decent, but nothing to write home about.

The selection of the main courses was challenging. Three dishes – Pan Seared Chicken, Duck Confit, and Pan Seared Seabass – called out to us. We already knew that we wanted the Duck Confit, so it was down to choosing between the chicken and the fish.

Jolene told me that the Pan Seared Chicken that she had was very good. But my dining companion and I did not feel like having chicken that day, so we decided to give it a miss, and ordered the Seabass instead.

Luckily, the Pan Seared Seabass which came on a bed of summer vegetables in a seafood nage, was good. I particularly enjoyed the seafood broth; it was light, fresh, and very comforting. The Seabass was also nicely seared.

Cocotte’s Duck Confit (top up $9) was easily one of the best that I’ve had. Crispy, flavourful, and very delicious. I’d return just for this.

For desserts, we had Tarte Au Citron and Creme Brulee. The Tarte Au Citron was a tad too sweet for my liking. The Creme Brulee, on the other hand, was nicely done, and we ended our lunch on a nice note.

If you are looking for a nice place to have lunch, I’d recommend Cocotte Restaurant. Besides the 3 course executive set lunch, they also have a communal set lunch for 3-4 pax at $156, and it includes dishes like Fried Tripe, Roast Pork Collar, Braised Beef Cheek, and Sole Meuniere.

I am planning to come back with a few friends to try the communal set lunch. But if you beat me to it, do leave a comment and let me know if they are worth the trip.

Cocotte
2 Dickson Road
Ground Level Wanderlust Hotel
Tel: +65 6298 1188
Mon to Sat: 12pm –2.30pm
Mon to Thu: 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Fri & Sat: 6.30pm – 11pm
(Closed on Sun)

For more recommendations, read my list of Best French Restaurants in Singapore

I don’t know about you, but brunch is one of my favourite meals. I always look forward to having brunch during the weekends. The perfect excuse presented itself a few weeks ago when I met up with Felicia for the first time since she came back from Paris, and we had brunch at our favourite neighbourhood – Greenwood Avenue.

I was trying to decide on a place as I looked through my Guide to Restaurants in Greenwood Avenue, and for some reason, Bronte, a family owned neighbourhood restaurant which serves modern Australian Cuisine, called out to me.

No prize for guessing where we went for brunch.

Bronte at Greenwood Avenue has a casual and unpretentious setting, which means to say you can go there for a good meal without worrying about having a wardrobe malfunction. If you are looking for a place to go for brunch this weekend, take up your phone and make a reservation at Bronte.

The Australian Restaurant serves brunch on weekends and public holidays from 9.30am to 2.30pm. Although the brunch menu is fairly small, you can still find all the popular breakfast food like Ricotta Pancakes ($16) with fresh banana and maple syrup; Homemade Corn Fritters ($16) with avocado and rocket salad; Scrambled Eggs ($17) with pork sausages, potato hash, and toast; Poached Eggs ($17), spinach, & hollandaise sauce on toast; and Aussie Prime Beef Burger ($16).

We tried the Ricotta Pancakes, Eggs Benedict, and Scrambled Eggs.

I am currently on many missions, and one of them is to find the best Eggs Benedict in Singapore. Unfortunately, Bronte’s Egg Benedict will not be joining that list. While it looked really good, we felt that the poached eggs were only passable, and the hollandaise sauce was somewhat lacking in flavour.

The Ricotta Pancakes, on the other hand, was pretty good. The same goes for the Scrambled Eggs with sausages and hash. All in all, it was a pretty satisfying brunch.

Since I only had brunch at Bronte, I can’t say much about its ala carte menu. But from what I’ve heard, they serve a pretty decent steak ($40-48) during dinner, and as I took a quick scan at the menu, I was tempted by dishes like Butternut Pumpkim Risotto ($26), Australian blue-lipped mussels ($28), and Slow braised beef cheeks ($36). I am definitely going to come back again for dinner.

Bronte Restaurant
8 Greenwood Ave
Tel: +65 6219 9151

For more recommendations, read my list of Best Brunch Places in Singapore

It is not a secret that I am a Twitter-addict (follow me at @ladyironchef). Twitter is a great way for me to know what my friends are doing, and to interact with my readers. My life will not be the same without Twitter.

But sometimes I get annoyed by things that people do on Twitter. So I want to take this chance to share some tips on using Twitter.

Before we start, I would like to say thank you to my 10,300 followers on Twitter for joining me on this amazing journey! Okay, here are some Twitter tips and tricks. Here we go!

Others cannot see your tweets if you have a private account.

I always find it amusing when I see people with private accounts tweeting to celebrities. It’s like talking to themselves since the person they are tweeting cannot see the tweets.

There are a lot of people who are unaware of this. If your account is locked, others won’t be able to see your tweets unless they are following you. So if you want to tweet me to ask for restaurant recommendations, remember to unlock your Twitter account first.

Insert something in front of the Twitter handler, unless you are replying to that person.

Say for instance you want to tell your friends: “@ladyironchef just recommended me to try this new restaurant for brunch.” Only people who are following both of us will be able to see the tweet as it is a direct reply to me.

If you want all your followers to see this tweet, you must include something in front of the Twitter handler. An example is: “Hey guys, @ladyironchef just recommended me to try this new restaurant for brunch.”

Don’t Retweet (RT) everyone.

I find it very annoying when someone floods my timeline with reweets. It is not cool to RT everyone and flood the timeline just because you hope that others will also RT your tweets. For me, I only retweet things that I find interesting, and I usually help to promote blog post updates from my good friends Beatrice, QiuQiu, Valerie and Velda.

Don’t copy/steal tweets without crediting.

If you see a nice tweet, RT it and credit the original owner. You can do this in a few ways: a) RT @user Eat every meal like it’s your last or b) Eat every meal like it’s your last (via @user), or c) click the new RT button.

Make your tweets interesting, and don’t spam-tweet.

Okay, I am guilty of tweeting too much, but hey, I tweet interesting stuff (at least that’s what I think.) There are some people who tweet about everything that they are doing. Tweets like “I am in the toilet now” or “I am so bored, what should I do?” are boring and nobody wants to read them. (Unless you are a celebrity with millions of followers.) So if you have nothing to say, don’t tweet for the sake of tweeting.

If you haven’t followed me on Twitter, you should do so by clicking here.

Updated: The 3D2N Genting giveaway has closed. The winner is comment #172, congrats Penny! I will be sending you an email in a bit.

I had the chance to visit Resorts World Genting – the most popular tourist destination in Malaysia – and it was an eye opening experience as I learned many new things about Genting that I never knew before.

I thoroughly enjoyed the trip because I went with Beatrice and Selene, who are great travelling companions. But most importantly, I felt like I was visiting my second home – Genting would always hold a special place in my heart because my family goes there every year for a getaway.

I remember the first time I was in Genting, and how everything felt so magical; the first time that I fell down because I was too excited at the outdoor theme park; the first time I took the cable car up to the mountain resort; the first ice cream that I ate in the cool weather – all the first time experiences that I had in Genting.

For many people, Genting is about the exciting rides at the magical outdoor theme park; the cold and nice weather; and the gaming and entertainment in the casino. It was the same for me, until I spent a weekend there with the girls. We discovered that Genting has a lot more to offer. So here’s my Guide on Things to do in Genting Highlands.

We are also giving away a 3D2N stay at Maxims Genting, details are at the end of the post. Good luck you guys!

Before you read the rest of my post, here’s a video trailer that Beatrice did for our adventure in Genting.

Genting, here we come!

We were starving after a five hours journey on the luxurious Transtar First Class Coach, and our first stop in Genting was Imperial Rama Restaurant (Level 2 Highlands Hotel, Tel: +603 6101 1118). For those who always go to Genting, I’m sure you are familiar with Imperial Rama Restaurant – one of the fine dining restaurants in Genting that specialises in authentic Thai-Chinese cuisine.

The chef arranged a 8 course meal for us and we had Mushroom with Truffle Oil and Vegtable Salad; Thai Crispy Fish Paste Cracker; Shark’s Fin Bone Soup; Steamed Marble Goby Fish; Wasabi and Salted Egg Yolk Prawns; Abalone with Black Truffle; Green Curry Chicken Served with Fried Rice; and Durian Tempura with Soursop.

Beatrice went crazy when the Mushroom Salad with Truffle Oil arrived (she’s a fan of anything-truffle), while Selene thoroughly enjoyed her Durian Tempura. With yummy food and good company, our Genting adventure was off to a great start!

After a scrumptious lunch, we went on a tour of the Maxims Hotel. Our host showed us all the different rooms in Maxims Genting, and guess what? We went to the Penthouse too!

“Wow! Thank you Genting for letting us stay in the Penthouse!” I said when we entered the apartment, which has five rooms, a fully equipped kitchen, gym, and a huge living room. Unfortunately, that trick didn’t work. But it wasn’t too bad as we got a very nice room for our 3D2N stay.

At the helipad where we got a bird’s eye view of the entire Genting.

The good people at Genting upgraded us to a suite and all we wanted to do was to stay in the hotel and enjoy all the facilities.

We stayed in the room until dinner. Beatrice and I were “working” on our blogs, while Selene was checking orders from her online shop Klarra.

After finishing our social media duties, it took us quite a while to prepare as we were going for a fine dining dinner at The Olive. Here’s a picture of Beatrice and Selene all dressed up! Heh.

The Olive – Genting’s fine dining Western restaurant – is definitely the place to go if you want a romantic dinner with your date. I was really looking forward to it because QiuQiu told me that she had a fantastic dinner there when she visited Genting last year.

On the menu, there’s a good selection of starters, main courses, and some delicious desserts to choose from. Luckily for us, we didn’t have to make the tough decision as our host ordered the signature items. Among the dishes that we tried at The Olive (Lobby Flour, Maxims Genting Tel: +603 6101 1118 Ext 59668), the highlights were the Mushroom Salad with Truffle, Steak, and Rack of Lamb.

When we were at The Olive for dinner, there was a special Whisky tasting event at the restaurant’s lounge. We were lucky to be there at the right time as we got a quick lesson on scotch by the Whisky Sommelier who flew in from Scotland. Genting organises a lot of such events, so there’s always something for you to do when you are up at the mountain resort.

Life is good when you get to see a show after a nice dinner. We had tickets to FREEZE – a magic show on ice at Genting International Showroom. What a spectacular show!

I’ll be honest. Initially I wasn’t keen to go for FREEZE as I thought it was just another boring show. Boy, was I wrong. I had a good time, and it was really awe-inspiring to see talented performers working hard for their trade.

Genting has always been known as a stage that hosts world-class shows and international artistes all year round. So make sure you catch one of the shows when you are there!

Even though I was really tired, I couldn’t sleep because I was thinking about having breakfast at Coffee Terrace the next morning.

Coffee Terrace (Lobby Flour Maxims Genting Tel: +603 6101 1118 Ext. 58267) is my favourite breakfast spot in Genting. Their breakfast buffet is really awesome, and it’s only RM 36++! All you can eat for only less than SGD$20? Oh my god, how can anyone miss this?

During lunch and dinner dinner, they have six different concept kitchen serving Local, Baba Nyonya, Chinese, Western, Japanese, and Western Cuisines.

We were up early for the buffet breakfast not because I am a glutton, but because we were heading to Awana Genting for an adventure.

Located at mid-hill, Awana Genting is a premier 4-star golf resort surrounded by greenery. However, we were not there to play golf; our host from Genting had arranged for us to go hiking in the mountains. Yes, you read that right – hiking. Like most of you, I was surprised to know that you can actually go hiking at Genting.

While on the way to the start of the hiking trail, we passed by a long house and we were told that a lot of companies organise their retreats here.

There are lots of activities that are great for team building. So if your company is looking for a place to go for a retreat, do consider Awana Genting.

Halfway through the 1.8km hiking-trail, the girls were so terrified by the leeches that we had to turn back. It was really amusing because they were screaming non-stop while asking me to remove the leeches from their shoes.

After going back to Awana hotel, then I realised that there were two nasty leeches hiding inside my boots for a good twenty minutes. Ouch!

While the girls didn’t really enjoy it, I thought it was quite an experience. I mean, it’s not everyday that you get to go on a hike in Genting. As long as you are wearing the right gear, the hike should be a piece of cake.

Note: There is a shutter bus at half an hour interval from Genting to Awana (the journey is 20 minutes). Alternatively, you can get a cab for around RM20-30. For more information, do approach your hotel’s reception.

After the hike, we proceeded to Genting Strawberry Leisure Farm (No.1, Lot 3707, Jalan Jati 2, Bandar Gohtong Jaya, Tel: 603-6100 1121).

In Singapore, we only get to buy strawberries from the supermarket. But at Genting Strawberry Farm, you get to pick fresh strawberries!

And we also had strawberry juice, mushroom tempura, strawberry ice cream, and fried chicken coated with strawberry sauce.

We headed back to our hotel to change, before going for a therapeutic massage at M Spa & Fitness (Lobby Floor, Maxims Genting Hotel, Tel :603 – 6105 2692).

I did a 90-minute Balinese massage and I felt so good after that. It probably explains why I ate so much during the dinner at Genting Palace.

During this trip, we ate our way around Genting, and my favourite meal was at Genting Palace. From the outside, Genting Palace (2nd Floor, Maxims Genting Hotel Tel: +603 6101 1118) doesn’t look like much. Before the meal, I was even telling Beatrice that we shouldn’t expect too much. I had to take back my words after having a fabulous dinner.

We had a variation of starters; a bowl of Double-boiled Chicken & Ginseng Soup; Crispy Scallop & Banana with Peak Nest; Braised Spare Ribs with Red Vinasse Sauce; Stewed Fresh Water Prawn with Glass Noodle; Steamed Cod Fish Fillet; and Durian Mochi.

Everything was good, but the best dish was the Steamed Cod Fish Fillet. It was easily one of the best Cod I’ve ever had.

Besides the signature Cantonese dishes, Genting Palace also serves a good selection of vegetarian dishes, and they are popular for their dim sum offerings. If you are in Genting, you must go to Genting Palace and say hi to the chef for me.

By the time we got to First World after dinner, most of the shops were closed, so we didn’t get to shop around. You guys should definitely go shopping when you are at First World! Like they say, shopping is cheaper than a psychologist. Since you are already on a holiday, I reckon some retail therapy won’t hurt.

Before the trip, the girls were telling me that they wanted to catch a movie at the First World Theatre; we had a tight schedule so we also didn’t manage to watch a movie.

Anyway, we went to The Patio Bar & Lounge at First World for drinks. It had a terrific atmosphere with the live band belting out pop favourites. We had a CRAZY NIGHT there. It was so, so fun! What happens in Genting stays in Genting.

Sadly, our adventure was coming to an end. But it wasn’t that bad as we had a good breakfast at The Bakery (Lobby level Maxims Genting) before leaving.

We had the pleasure of meeting the executive pastry chef of Resorts World Genting. It was fascinating to hear about his experience of working in Genting, and how his team actually works round the clock to ensure that all the guests get to eat freshly baked bread, pastries and cakes.

After tasting some of the signature bread, we had a table full of desserts. Cakes for breakfast, what’s there not to like?

That’s all for now folks! Hopefully I can do a more detailed guide on restaurants in Resorts World Genting, and the rides in the theme park during my next visit.

Do visit Resorts World Genting’s website for more information, and feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions. See you in Genting!

How to enter ladyironchef’s Genting 3D2N Stay Giveaway

1. 3D2N stay at Maxims Hotel Premier room (includes breakfast buffet).

2. Winner gets to bring along +1 to enjoy the trip.

3. Enter the giveaway by leaving a comment below: Why do you like Genting?

4. A random generator will be used, everyone has an equal chance of winning.

5. Giveaway ends on 24th Apr 2012 Thursday 2359. Winner will be notified by email.

6. Note that comments are moderated, they will only appear after I approve it. Please do not submit more than once.

7. The validity for the prize is from 1st May – 31st July.

Beatrice is also doing this Genting 3D2N stay giveaway, you can have another chance of winning by leaving a comment on her blog.

It’s nice to have friends who love food. Whenever I hangout with Beatrice and Velda, we will always be looking for new places to try.

During our recent glutton outing, we were joined by our friend Ming, and he introduced us to one of his favourite Japanese Restaurants in Singapore – Akanoya Robatayaki at Orchard Parade Hotel.

It was an exceptional meal, and despite the price tag, I think it is worth saving up for that special occasion.

Akanoya specialises in robatayaki. For the uninitiated, robatayaki is a technique in Japanese cuisine; customers sit around an open counter where fresh ingredients are displayed, and they can just point to order. The chefs will then grill the ingredients like seafood, meat, and vegetables over charcoal, and serve it to the customers using a long wooden paddle.

Robatayaki is a fun experience. You get to look at all the fresh ingredients and choose whatever you feel like having, but it can also be quite dangerous if you are the type like me, who always tend to over-order.

Our robatayaki feast began with Grilled Asparagus ($7) and Ginkgo Nuts ($7). Next we had a mixture of Shiitake ($15) and Enoki ($8) wrapped in aluminium foil.

After that was the Grilled Taraba Crab ($70), which you see in the first photo of this post. It was not only visually stunning, but also very delicious. The Lamb ($15) was equally good; it was sweet, juicy, and meaty. We also had Tebasaki ($8), and while the meat was nicely marinated, I felt that it was only decent.

The highlight of the meal was the Wagyu Beef ($40) – it was sensational. I know it seems a little extravagant to spend $40 for three cubes of beef on a stick. But trust me on this, it is absolutely worth every penny. To round off the dinner, we had Satsumaimo ($12) – Japanese sweet potato, and fruits.

The price (we paid around $852 for 5 pax), of course, might put off many people. But I do think that Akanoya restaurant is a good place to go for your first Robatayaki experience.

And the best part is they open till late night, so you can always head there for supper, and order a few dishes to go along with some drinks.

Akanoya Robatayaki
1 Tanglin Road
#01-01 Orchard Parade Hotel
Tel: +65 6732 1866
Daily: 6pm – 2am

For more recommendations, please read my list of Japanese Restaurants in Singapore

Recently, I did an interview with Will Xavier on 938LIVE The Hot Seat, and we discussed about topics like food, photography, social media, and the blogosphere. There are four parts to the interview, click more to listen to them!

The interview was quite different from the others that I did before, hope you will enjoy it!

Many thanks to Will for the video clips, and the interview opportunity.

Si Chuan Dou Hua is one of the most well-known restaurants in Singapore for Sichuan and Cantonese Cuisine. When I heard that the chefs at Si Chuan Dou Hua have created a pretty affordable set menu with suckling pig as the highlight, I knew I had to make a trip down.

The Roast Suckling Pig Feast is priced at $258++ and $428++ for 6 persons and 10 persons respectively. Which makes it at just $50/pax for the 8 course meal after tax and service charge. I think it’s a really good deal, and you should go to Si Chuan Dou Hua Restaurant at Parkroyal on Kitchener Road before the promotion ends on 30 April.

We had the 8 course set meal for lunch, and needless to say, we couldn’t eat much for the rest of the day.

The Suckling Pig Feast included Barbecued Suckling Pig; Double-boiled Kampung Chicken with Conpoy and Superior Chinese Herbs; Deep-fried Fresh Prawns with Cereal; Steamed “Bading” Fish in Cantonese style; Braised Homemade Bean Curd with Spinach and Assorted Mushroom; Congee with Peanut, Dried Oyster and Dried Vegetable; and Homemade Bean Curd with Wolfberry.

We started with the star of the show. I believe the first picture says it all – ridiculously good Roast Suckling Pig. I couldn’t stop eating it. Next up, we had the Double-Boiled Kampung Chicken; it was comfort food for the soul. If you love homecook soup, you will definitely love this.

We proceeded with the Steamed Bading Fish. It was my first time seeing roasted pork used as an ingredient for steamed fish. And I have to say, somehow it blended in effortlessly to add an unique flavour to the fish.

Then we had Cereal Prawn; Braised Homemade Beancurd, and Sauteed Diced Pork. They were well-executed, but nothing to rave about. We wrapped up the meal with a bowl of Congee prepared in Supreme Stock, and the signature Si Chuan Dou Hua’s Bean Curd.

Si Chuan Dou Hua’s Roast Suckling Pig Feast is only available till 30 April. If you are not a glutton like me, Si Chuan Dou Hua has another smaller 6 course set menu priced at $48.80++/pax (minimum 2 persons to dine) which includes Combination of Roast Suckling Pig; Double-boiled Soup of the day; Baked Cod Fish with Banana Leaf; Stir-Fried Seasonal Vegetable; Fried Rice with Diced Barbecured Pork and Salted Egg; and Homemade Bean Curd.

Si Chuan Dou Hua currently has three branches at Parkroyal on Beach Road, UOB Plaza, and Parkroyal on Kitchener Road, but please note that the Roast Suckling Pig Feast is only available at Parkroyal on Kitchener Road.

Si Chuan Dou Hua
181 Kitchener Road
Level 3 Parkroyal on Kitchener Road
Tel: +65 6428 3170

Note: This was an invited media tasting.