One of the perks of living in multi-cultural Singapore is none other than being able to indulge in a myriad of distinct cuisines.

What’s more, with the growing abundance of Halal-Chinese eateries gracing our food scene, our Muslim pals can now expand their palates and enjoy the best of both worlds while reveling in authentic Chinese cuisine. One such Halal-certified, Chinese establishment is Xiaoer Niuda, a traditional beef la mian restaurant nestled in the heart of JEM.

La Mian — known as “hand-pulled” noodles — originates from Lanzhou, China. Xiaoer Niuda has brought that fusion culture over to our local shores, specialising in handmade, halal la mian topped with morsels of savoury beef.

XIAOER NIUDA PREMIUM SPICY BEEF LA MIAN

Topped with huge slices of beef, radishes, and scallions, the signature Premium Spicy Beef La Mian (S$8.80) features silky strands of noodle expertly pulled and tossed, resulting in a springy, chewy consistency.

Steeped in a clear, robust broth, each spoonful promises utmost savouriness with strong bursts of herbaceous notes. The combination of the flavourful soup with the tender meat also brought out the beef’s innate flavours.

XIAOER NIUDA SPICY SAUTÉED CHICKEN

One of their bestsellers, Xiaoer Niuda’s Sautéed Spicy Chicken (S$18.80) is an enormous platter of tender chicken cubes, spicy peppers and a range of sauces atop thick slabs of hand-cut noodles.

Prior to serving, the noodles are soaked in their speciality beef broth to absorb its earthy flavour before it is laden on the plate. Thoroughly sautéed and seasoned with chilli and peppers, this dish is exceptionally delectable and guaranteed to leave one’s mouth numb.

XIAOER NIUDA STIR-FRIED SPICY BEEF LA MIAN

Though the traditional beef noodles are usually served in soup, diners can also opt for “gaijiao-style” la mian, also known as dry, stir-fried noodles. Despite its unassuming appearance, their Stir-fried Spicy Beef La Mian (S$11.80) is not for the faint-hearted.

Each strand of noodle has been thoroughly dusted with chilli powder before it is stir-fried together with ferocious chilli peppers, leaving a searing aftertaste that is sure to set one’s tongue afire. Throw in generous chunks of beef cubes, and this simple dish is ready to be served!

XIAOER NIUDA POTATO BEEF RICE

We can never say no to a comforting dish reminiscent of our grandma’s cooking. Their Potato Beef Rice (S$8.80) will definitely bring back the nostalgic flavours of one’s childhood with its simplistic elements of tender potato chunks, beef cubes, and of course, spicy peppers.

The medley of ingredients is then drizzled with a luscious, “curry-like” gravy, adding hints of tangy sweetness to the mixture. Paired with a fluffy bed of white rice, this dish is truly a classic rendition of home-cooked food.

Xiaoer Niuda is perfect for those who are seeking homely, comfort food with a strong kick of spice.

Xiaoer Niuda
50 Jurong Gateway Road
JEM, #05-02
Singapore 608549
Tel: +65 6909 5186
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Jurong East

Xiao Di Fried Prawn Noodles is an all-time favourite of ours all these years and if you haven’t tried it, you’re indeed missing out in life.

Hawker food is of ultimate comfort to us, and what makes it even better is seeing young people run the stalls. It is a dying trade, sadly, for being a hawker means very long working hours and physically-taxing duties.

Perhaps, that’s what made Xiao Di Fried Prawn Noodles a stand-out; the couple running the stall is only 30 years young! And they’ve totally nailed the well-loved fried prawn noodles. We’ll go out on a limb and say that this is the best Hokkien Mee in Singapore.

Xiao Di Fried Prawn Noodles, like many other good hawker stalls, sit unassuming within a coffee shop in Serangoon North, and they only operate in the day. Be there early or be sorry.

The stall owner, Terence, has more than 10 years of experience with fried prawn noodles. He was an apprentice in his teenage years, and he worked really hard to master the art of frying prawn noodles. Finally, after years of hard work, he set up his own stall: Xiao Di Fried Prawn Noodles.

If you are more inclined to the wet fried prawn noodles, you’d absolutely love his rendition. Terence gets up early every day for the prep work, including preparing the fabulous prawn broth that makes his noodles so damn good.

There are only two pricing: S$4 and S$5. Each portion comes with a generous serving of fresh prawns, cuttlefish, slices of pork belly and a sprinkle of pork lard. On the side is their homemade chilli—one of the best sambal belachan we’ve tried. Or perhaps, the best.

The wok hei is evident. Combined with the robust stock gravy, every mouthful is a burst of flavours in your mouth, and trust us, one plate just won’t do! If you fancy a little bit of tanginess, squeeze a lime (provided on the side) all over then mix them all in with the chilli.

Xiao Di Fried Prawn Noodles is indeed one of the gems of Singapore’s hawker scene and it is one that has won our loyalty over the years with its consistency.

Xiao Di Fried Prawn Noodles
153 Serangoon North Ave 1, #01-512
Singapore 550153
Nearest Station: Serangoon

Exciting news for North-siders in Singapore: Xing Fu Tang will be opening its third outlet at Compass One mall this September, adding on to the other two at Takashimaya Shopping Centre and Century Square at Tampines.

Since its first arrival onto Singapore’s shores, Xing Fu Tang has been gaining huge traction as one of the best Brown Sugar Boba Milk vendors in Singapore. With their huge vat of stir-fried brown sugar tapioca pearls, all made from scratch at each store, it is no wonder the long lines that plague each storefront.

They will be open at Basement 1, near Guardian at Compass One mall, which is located just a stone’s throw away from Seng Kang MRT.

Xing Fu Tang
Compass One
1 Sengkang Square
Singapore 545078
Nearest Station: Seng Kang

Inspired by the lights and sights of Singapore’s vibrant nightlife, Xin Cuisine has launched their Mid-Autumn Mooncake Collection for 2019. The 2 new flavours were crafted with the palettes of millennials and food connoisseurs in mind, featuring refreshing and unique flavour pairings that will excite your tastebuds.

Xin Cuisine has every detail of the box taken care of, designing the packaging to resemble the changing phases of an Autumnal moon. Using the symbolic harvesting moon of September, it evokes a sense of togetherness between loved ones whether near or far.

Xin Cuisine also offers its well-loved classic range of baked mooncakes for the traditional mooncake lovers, featuring 3 flavours with low sugar white lotus seed paste this year. The baked mooncakes also come in an Assorted Nuts variety should you prefer something with a nice crunch.

Here are some highlights from Xin Cuisine’s Mid-Autumn mooncake line-up this year.

Taking centre stage this year is Xin Cuisine’s newest addition to their Mini Snowskin Mooncake range – the White Lotus Seed Paste with Singapore Sling Snowskin Mooncake. One bite of this delicate pastry and you will be greeted with the fruity and refreshing flavours of Singapore’s most iconic cocktail.

Xin Cuisine has also glorified rosemary and honey in their other new snowskin mooncake. The White Lotus Seed Paste with Rosemary and Honey Praline Snowskin Mooncake subtly perfumes your tastebuds with the aromatic herb and sweet honey. Paired with a cup of Xin Cuisine’s light White Peony Tea (S$18 per tin) and it makes for a perfect Autumnal treat.

This Mid-Autumn Festival, Xin Cuisine’s well-loved flavours for their Mini Snowskin Mooncakes will also be returning. You can expect the very popular Peranakan Durian, Pandan Paste with Champagne Praline, Green Tea Paste with Bailey’s Irish Cream Praline and Passionfruit with Plum Mini Snowskin Mooncakes from previous seasons. For the fact that they’re back, you can only imagine how well received they were!

Each box of Mini Snowskin Favourites will contain 6 pieces of Mini Snowskin Mooncakes and will retail at S$66 per box. Their decadent Peranakan Durian Snowskin Mooncakes, part of the Xin’s Signature Collection, will also be available in a larger size at S$76 for 4 pieces (order at least 3 days in advance).

If you are looking for a gift for more traditional friends and family, Xin Cuisine’s Traditional Baked Mooncake range will be ideal.

Mooncakes are infamous for being a much-loved guilty pleasure, but with Xin Cuisine’s range of Low-Sugar White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncakes that comes Plain (S$66), with a Single-Yolk (S$70) or Double-Yolk (S$74), indulge away without the guilt.

Their Traditional Baked Mooncake range also features their mooncakes with Assorted Nuts (S$74). Each box comes with 4 baked mooncakes.

Also, look forward to the Signature Mini Egg Custard with Yolk (S$68) this year, alongside their famed Teochew Yam Paste with Single Egg Yolk (S$78). These speciality mooncakes from Xin’s Signature Collection will require a preorder of at least 3 days in advance.

To help you further enjoy the Mid-Autumn Festival with your loved ones, Xin Cuisine has several tiers of discounts lined up for preorders.

For Baked Mooncakes and Mini Snowskin Favourites Collections:

• Pre-order Deal (1 Jul – 11 Aug 2019): 30% off (Moon Box), 35% off (Classic Box)
• Early Bird Discount (12 – 31 Aug 2019): 25% off (Moon Box), 30% off (Classic Box)
• Regular Discount (1 – 13 Sep 2019): 20% off (Moon Box), 25% off (Classic Box)

For Xin’s Signature Collection:

• Moon Box: 15% off
• Classic Box: 20% off

Xin Cuisine’s range of mooncakes will be available for purchase as well as pre-order collection at the hotel lobby of Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium from 12 August 2019 onwards. Xin Cuisine’s Mooncakes will be available at 8 other locations islandwide as follows:

• Ngee Ann City: 8 Aug – 13 Sep 2019
• Vivo City: 15 Aug – 13 Sep 2019
• NEX: 23 Aug – 13 Sep 2019
• Jurong Point: 26 Aug – 13 Sep 2019
• Causeway Point: 30 Aug – 13 Sep 2019
• Bugis Junction: 2 Sep – 13 Sep 2019
• Lot One: 2 Sep – 13 Sep 2019
• Tampines Mall: 2 Sep – 13 Sep 2019

For enquiries and more information, visit https://singaporeatrium.holidayinn.com/midautumn

This post is brought to you by Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium.

Xing Fu Tang has reached Singapore’s sunny shores! Hailing from Taiwan and opening over 60 outlets domestically and 30 overseas since they were established, they have made a name for themselves with their highly-raved-about Brown Sugar Milk Tea (S$5.30).

Xing Fu Tang Singapore began its debut in Singapore with a pop-up at Takashimaya’s Food Fiesta featuring Asian Street Food from 30 May to 16 June 2019. Warning: There will be long queues ahead, so expect some waiting before you get your hands on the newest (and possibly the best) bubble tea in town.

Xing Fu Tang Singapore will soon be opening an outlet at Century Square on the 28th of June this year. Their drinks will be priced from S$3.50 to S$6.30.

Xing Fu Tang, meaning “Happiness Realm” in Mandarin, truly lives up to its name, bringing a smile to the faces of those who get to drink their tea.

Their Brown Sugar Pearl Milk Tea comes with a thick slathering of brown sugar syrup and the chewiest tapioca pearls. Xing Fu Tang’s brown sugar pearls have a uniquely flatter texture, but somehow have a greater chew factor and a rich flavour. They explained that this is because they only use raw brown sugar and not syrup, and they constantly stir fry their pearls in a big metal wok.

The cup is then filled with fresh milk, cream topping and topped off with the same brown sugar used to flavour their tapioca pearls. Layer upon layer of flavour is added to perfect the deep caramelized flavour of their signature drink; it’s no wonder that everyone loves their Brown Sugar Milk Tea.

Just before they serve you your little cup of heaven, they brûlée the top of the drink where the brown sugar was, adding that final touch and that extra caramelized brown sugar flavour to the drink. 

We recommend shaking and stirring your drink to allow the fresh milk to meld with the luscious brown sugar syrup, creating the perfect blend of sweetness. Slurp up the chewy pearls while they’re still warm at the bottom of the cup for maximum brown sugar flavour explosion!

Xing Fu Tang Singapore
Takashimaya Food Fiesta (30 May to 16 June 2019)
391A Orchard Road
Takashimaya Shopping Centre, B2 Atrium
Singapore 238873
Daily: 11am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Orchard

Xing Fu Tang (open 28 June 2019)
2 Tampines Central 5
#01-22 Century Square
Singapore 529509
Nearest Station: Tampines

Xiao Ya Tou, or better known as XYT,  is a modern Asian restaurant bar on Duxton Hill that serves up a plethora of playful and somewhat cheeky food and drink offerings—all of which find their inspirations stemming from cuisines from all across Southeast Asia.

The eatery is hard to miss. Its distinctive red lanterns, plastic chairs, and loud decor just call out to you as you walk past. Xiao Ya Tou is one establishment that will undoubtedly guarantee you and your mates a solid meal, yummy locally-inspired cocktail but more importantly, a great time out.

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Standing out amongst the bustling nightlife of Duxton Hill, Xiao Ya Tou is a restaurant bar that exudes charm and quirkiness beyond anything we have ever seen. The fun begins right at the doorsteps as you walk through an array of lanterns and old-school magazine covers from old Chinatown.

XYT’s food is loud, bold and in-your-face and just looking at the restaurant’s menu—with all its quirky illustrations and cheeky puns—you can tell that this is a place worthy of bringing your friends for a good time out.

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This kitschy-cool dining concept offers an interesting mashup of modern Asian cuisine from their pimped up XYT Hokkien Mee that features top quality seafood as well as a wide range of locally inspired cocktails for your after-work tippling pleasure.

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Their signature XYT Hokkien Mee (S$16) took us by surprise. The dish takes your typical hawker stall-bought Hokkien mee and elevates it a notch higher by introducing ingredients such as smoked pancetta and premium seafood.

The noodles oozed an apparent ‘wok hei’ note and the pork broth, along with the various ingredients, did well to amp up the flavour of this dish.

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Although slightly on the pricier side, the Crispy Otak Otak Rolls (S$12) makes for a good snack to pair with an ice cold beer. Wrapped in wonton skin and deep-fried until golden and crispy, what you can expect from the initial bite is a nice crunch followed by the spicy, tangy and subtly sweet otak paste that spills out all over your mouth.

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Tender and brimming with chargrilled flavours, the XYT Ayam Percik (S$26) is something that will definitely appease even the most discerning of carnivores.

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This tasty chicken dish comes served with a spiced coconut cream that pairs very nicely with the deep roasted flavours of the chicken and the chargrilled lime served on the side cuts through the richness of the coconut ensuring a well-balanced dish that won’t leave you feeling too stuffed.

For something a little less heavy but still promises unbeatable flavour, consider the Drunken Flower Clams (S$23) that is cooked in a mixture of sake, wolfberry, Shaoxing wine and ginger.

Xiao Ya Tou
6 Duxton Hill,
Singapore 089592
Tel: +65 6226 1965
Mon to Thu: 12pm – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 10am – 12am
Sun: 10am – 5pm
Nearest Station: Outram Park

Xperience sits within the luxurious Sofitel So Singapore which is strategically located in the Central Business District (CBD) of Singapore.

The modern European restaurant is helmed by one of Singapore’s youngest and most charming executive chef, Trevor Paulo, who has a flair for recreating western classics with interesting local twists that has surely captured our hearts.

Chef Trevor Paulo’s unique culinary creations have successfully pushed the boundaries of traditional French cuisine, where his dishes have impressed even reputable 3-Michelin Starred Chefs such as Chef Christophe Muller and Chef Hideaki Matsuo. Despite all the glorious achievements, Chef Trevor remains down-to-earth and enjoys interacting with all his guests.

The next time you are in the CBD or need some surprises in your life, head down to Sofitel So Singapore’s Xperience Restaurant to experience Chef Trevor’s new menu. You will be in for a great time, we promise.

With its open-kitchen concept, it allows diners to catch the gastronomic team in action. Of course, Chef Trevor will be there to chat with you about his dishes, or about anything at all!

Xperience Restaurant is also an ideal venue for business luncheons and romantic date nights. We’ve been there on numerous occasions, and our favourite mood has to be dinner time, where the CBD crowd is non-existent, and the whole restaurant transforms into a sexy and intimate space for you to kick off your shoes, and simply relish the night with your date.

Every starter at Xperience Restaurant is truly a showstopper and the Spanner Crab (S$24++) is our favourite one among them all.

The fresh crustacean – integrated with wasabi mayonnaise – is garnished with edible flower petals, green herbs and seaweed crackers. The different textures of flavours had us devouring the entire entrée within seconds.

Poached Sweet Prawns (S$26++) is yet another stunning creation by Chef Trevor. The refreshing layers consist of fresh Granny Smith apple slices alternating with poached sweet prawns that are marinated with homemade ponzu.

Every mouthful packs a satisfying punch and we love how gorgeous it is plated with bonito flakes and pink edible floral petals. The precise ingredients vary according to season, so do expect a few tweaks here and there!

The Home Cured Salmon (S$24++) looks simple, but what do you know! Much effort has been channeled into attaining the fish’s overall superb taste and texture profile. Served with dollops of whipped yoghurt infused crème fraîche, fried capers, tobiko roe coated with gold powder, mirin pickled onions and almond truffle soil-looking earthy crumble, this dish is in fact a complicated one with varying flavours.

Just like that, Chef Trevor has redefined cured salmon. Impressive.

The Grilled Pork Pressa (S$36++) stole all the limelight with its delicious well-marbled meat. The prime pork cut has been marinated in duck fat and roasted over chargrill to medium rare doneness; the meat was so creamy and flavourful that everyone on the table did a double take and thought it was beef instead.

The smoky pork is complemented with asparagus, capsicum honey purée, pumpkin tuile, shallot confit and vanilla pumpkin purée. Such a colourful dish that reflects elements of winter and rusticness of all sorts.

We have two other mains to love and share.

The ‘Curried’ Lamb Shoulder confit (S$35++) utilizes the cut that extends to the neck. Marinated in a myriad of spices, the meat is sous-vide for 36 hours to achieve a melt-in-your-mouth texture.

The lamb main is then complemented with carrot purée, fresh peas and goat cheese crumble. Love the play of flavours and colours using vegetables to tone down the gaminess of the meat.

The Braised Short Rib (S$35++) is another stellar highlight of Xperience Restaurant’s new menu. The fork-tender braised beef short rib is robust in flavour, and is further enhanced with Bordelaise sauce, green tea purée, roasted baby beetroot and three knob celery cubes.

Fun fact about the celeriac in case you are brushing it off already – each celeriac is cooked and presented in a different flavour – namely grilled salt, smoked salt and Vadouvan – so that every bite is a surprise.

Just when you think the show is only on the entrées and mains, wait till you see the desserts. Chef Trevor and his pastry chef will make you rethink Xperience Restaurant’s already popular desserts with his innovation and brilliance; they are works of art to say the least.

The Araguani Chocolate Dome (S$22++) is a theatrical crowd pleaser, where lukewarm pistachio and vanilla bean crémeux is poured over the sphere, and voila! The 72% dark chocolate sphere opens in a dramatic manner, revealing the Madagascar vanilla and hazelnut praline ice-cream inside.

For an exotic tropical dessert, we highly recommend the ‘Flexi’ Coconut Ganache (S$19++).

This visually stunning deconstructed treat features flexible coconut agar-infused gelatine, and is accompanied with chilli-marinated pineapple slices, noisette butter chip and artisanal goreng pisang ice-cream. The ice-cream is made from scratch with local pisang barangan bananas, a local twist done with European flair.

The Tasmanian Pepper Meringue Spike (S$20++) is the prettiest of the lot, and is definitely Vogue-worthy. The dome comprises basil cream, greek yogurt, olive oil sponge, roasted persimmon ice-cream and tomato jam.

Dressed in attention-grabbing blue and white meringue spikes, this dessert stole our hearts and we will totally return to Xperience Restaurant just for it.

These 9 dishes executed with masterly finesse are a great representation of what diners can anticipate at Sofitel So Singapore’s Xperience Restaurant.

Each dish is a photogenic masterpiece that Chef Trevor proudly presents, and if you have the chance to grab Chef Trevor, speak to him. He always has stories about his food and inspirations to share, and his passion for culinary is burning through every word. We are nothing short of impressed by him.

For the latest updates, go to Sofitel So Singapore’s website and like them on Facebook and Instagram.

Xperience Restaurant
35 Robinson Road
Sofitel So Singapore, Level 1
Singapore 068876
Tel: +65 6701 6800
Daily: 6.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Raffles Place/Telok Ayer

This post is brought to you by Sofitel So Singapore.

Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe is arguably the biggest name in the local Hong Kong ‘Cha Chaan Teng’-style restaurant scene. When you think of Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe, you think affordable prices, comfort food and a relaxing casual ambience.

In conjunction with their 10th anniversary celebration, Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe has launched a specially curated #AWESOMELY10 menu. Since their first outlet opened in Heartland Mall (which is also their flagship outlet), 19 other outlets have popped up in every corner of Singapore; there is definitely an outlet near you.

What we love best about Xin Wang is that most outlets are open till 2am to cater to the late-night dining crowd. With an entire menu priced S$15 and below, we learned lately that all the dishes are cooked a la minute to ensure freshness and tastiness.

Here are some highlights from the #AWESOMELY10 menu and some other signature dishes that are ever popular.

Our eyes were first drawn to the Scallop Cheese Baked Rice (S$11.90) which featured two plump and juicy scallops atop a bed of rice with sauce and cheese on top, baked till crisp. It is nothing fanciful, but makes a simple, casual dish that is value for money.

The Sliced Beef Claypot Ee Fu Noodle (S$11.90) fared better, though. That is our idea of basic comfort food at its best. Ee Fu Noodles have always been a local favourite and the addition of sliced beef really kicked the dish up a notch.

We were extremely stoked to try the Pork Cutlet Dry Curry Ramen (S$10.90) as we have always been fans of their Asian-style curry dishes. For just S$10.90, you get a massive piece of perfectly deep-fried pork with noodles doused in tasty, thick curry. The varying textures sure got our hearts.

Then, there is the Smoked Duck Fried Rice (S$9.90) that was created to bring a unique twist to their classic fried rice offerings.

This other curry-centric dish, the Seafood Curry with Rice (S$11.90), features a variety seafood simmered in a bowl of not-too-fiery curry. We are the typical Asians who find comfort in curry with rice, and you bet this flavourful one sealed the deal for us.

We were a little skeptical about the Ham Ying Yong Sauce Spaghetti (S$11.90) when we first saw it on the #AWESOMELY10 menu, but it turned out to be pretty comforting. The brave marriage of cream and tomato sauce sure turned out well. Of course, those ham slices were added comfort; simple goodness that we can always count on for supper, right?

People in Hong Kong love their spaghetti with an Asian twist. Or more specifically, a Hong Kong twist. The Fried Fish Fillet Spaghetti might scare the Italians away, but not us. Al dente spaghetti is tossed in a tomato sauce, and accompanied with a huge serving of deep fried fish fillet; that is how they roll in Hong Kong. By the way, this dish is only S$9.90!

Sometimes, we can be creatures of familiarity and we just want to return to dishes that we know. Those are the all-time favourites that we’ve relied on, and the Eel Hot Pot Porridge is one of them. Just look at how great this claypot dish looks!

Grilled and slathered in Japanese sauces, the generous slab of eel adds sweetness to the porridge. Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe is probably the only place where you can find such a unique combination, and it is only S$12.90.

Now, here comes the star – one that we will never be sick of. Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe’s signature Pork Chop and Egg Papaya Soup Bee Hoon has over 3 million bowls sold. Papaya might seem intimidating to some, but we can assure you that the soup is really just a rich broth that is sweet and milky, and tastes nothing like papaya at all.

Accompanied by an egg, sweet corn and pork chop, we find ourselves gravitating towards this dish every time we don’t know what to eat. You know how menus can confuse us sometimes because there are just too many (great) choices, but this – we know it will never go wrong.

Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe has two other signature dishes that have been crowned favourites since day one – the Signature Stir-Fried Rice and the Signature Stir-Fried Noodles that are at S$11.50 each.

Both are extremely flavourful and come with generous seafood and meats. The latter is our favourite. The springy noodles are stir-fried in a sweet sauce, and every mouthful boasts a ‘wok hei’ that is so intense with each bite.

For the uninitiated, ‘wok hei’ simply means the essence of the stir-fried taste “imparted” by the wok over high temperature. You know it is a good dish when the ‘wok hei’ is robust.

These two desserts are new and are part of the new #AWESOMELY10 menu. We tried them both and loved both; so good that we couldn’t pick a favourite.

The Kiwi and Mango Shaved Ice (S$3.90) is a refreshing alternative and we know that we will be ordering this if we need something tart yet sweet.

The Glutinous Rice with Coconut Ice Cream (S$4.90) brought back many childhood memories of growing up with this dessert that we all so affectionately know as ‘pulut hitam’.

Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe (Flagship outlet*)
205 Heartland Mall
Hougang Street 21 #01-133/135
Singapore 530205
Tel: +65-487 3481
Daily: 11am to 2am
Nearest Station: Kovan

*Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe has a total of 20 outlets islandwide.

This post is brought to you by Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe.

Xin Cuisine at Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium may not be the fanciest Chinese restaurant around, neither does it have a lavishly posh interior to boast. But you know what? We love Xin Cuisine; always have, always will.

Xin Cuisine has a steady following accumulated over the decades, and if you’ve dined there before, you would know how they never disappoint. As for us, we enjoy its relatively quiet environment and how the chefs always upkeep the consistency of the food. No efforts are spared in putting the most tantalizing dishes on your table for your enjoyment.

Whether it is a gathering with family and friends, corporate luncheon with your esteemed business partners, or simply a quiet dinner with your loved one, a meal at Xin Cuisine will be ideal.

There are many dishes to fall in love with, and today, we share with you every reason to love Xin Cuisine. Here are the highlights of our meal.

For the month of May, quote ladyironchef or flash this post on your mobile to get 15% discount off Xin Cuisine’s ala carte menu.

[ Giveaway ] We are giving away 4 X S$50 Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant dining vouchers. Leave a comment below, and share this post on your Facebook timeline to win. More details on the giveaway at the end of this post.

BARBECUED SUCKLING PIG WITH FOIE GRAS, YAM AND JAPANESE CUCUMBER

And this, our friends… this is the bomb! We started our meal with this dish that combines all our favourites into one. Can you imagine the distinct textures of crispy crackling, chewy fats and creamy foie gras altogether? Once you’ve tried this dish, you will never look at suckling pig the same way again. Who would have thought that suckling pig and foie gras would go so well together? But then again, everything tastes better when you add foie gras in it.

For S$35 per portion, it may seem expensive, but think of all the premiums you’re gonna get on one plate. An indulgent treat that will be worth your while, we’d say.

CHEF’S SPECIAL TOMATO SOUP WITH LOTUS SEED

Nothing like the usual Western-style tomato soup that we are all too familiar with. Xin Cuisine’s rendition remains very skewed for Asian palettes, and the Chef’s Special Tomato Soup with Lotus Seed (S$10 per portion) is a creative vegetarian option for those who are seeking a light taste. Nourishing with a tinge of tanginess, this signature soup is boiled over low heat for long hours to produce that natural thickness. This makes a lovely soup dish to whet your appetite.

PAN-FRIED LAMB CHOP AND THREE MUSHROOMS WITH POMMERY MUSTARD SAUCE

There are not many Chinese restaurants in Singapore who do lamb meat well, and we happened to be craving for lamb that evening at Xin Cuisine. Oh God, when the chef presented this Pan-fried Lamb Chop and Three Mushrooms with Pommery Mustard Sauce (S$15 per portion) dish, our eyes lit up and our hearts skipped a beat.

The mustard sauce cuts through the meat so well that there was almost no taste of gaminess. And it is served with lovely onion ring that is homemade with big and fresh onions.

BARBECUED PORK RIB WITH SPECIAL PLUM SAUCE

If lamb is not your thing, try the Barbecued Pork Rib with Special Plum Sauce (S$12 per portion). Also classified as the chef’s signature, we enjoyed the tender pork rib. Plum sauce is just about the perfect complement, and it has a faint spicy note on the aftertaste. We can totally understand why this dish is so popular!

HOME-STYLE ROAST DUCK WITH TEA LEAVES

Chinese roast duck is always a good idea, right? Especially so if it is roasted with tea leaves! That unique fragrance with a woody note will definitely tug your heartstrings, and it is indeed “home-style” – comforting with a touch of elegance. It comes in either a half portion (S$28) or a whole duck (S$52).

BAKED SEA PERCH WITH JAPANESE MISO SAUCE

If we had to pick a single favourite from the entire menu, the Baked Sea Perch with Japanese Miso Sauce (S$16 per portion) is definitely it. A generous slab of sea perch that is baked fresh with no marination or anything funny to change its taste, this is one hearty fish dish that had us scrambling for adjectives to describe it.

We don’t even think ‘heavenly’ is befitting enough! And that Japanese miso sauce that goes with the fish? Yipe, salty yet light; more than perfect.

FRIED FRAGRANT AND BROWN RICE SERVED IN STONE CASSEROLE

Fried Fragrant and Brown Rice with Roasted Pork, Diced Shrimp, Dried Scallop, Peanut and Raisin, served in Stone Casserole. Boy, that was quite a mouthful! But it also means there are heaps of goodness in that stone casserole! It is not your ordinary carbs dish; it is a carbs dish that is earthy, so flavourful, and it will be worth the calorie count. Good for sharing, and it comes in three sizes – S$20 for the small, S$30 for the medium, and S$40 for the large.

BRAISED LIVE LOBSTER EE-FU NOODLE

The Lobster Noodle is nothing fancy; just well-cooked noodles paired with lobster. At S$22 per portion, it is an absolute steal for a decadent bowl of happiness. And you read that right; live lobsters mean you get nothing but the freshest treasure of the sea.

DIM SUM

Dim Sum is another reason why you should head to Xin Cuisine. Most of the dim sum are reasonably priced at S$4.50 per basket. The dim sum menu is available daily, and on Sundays and Public Holidays, the menu features additional items.

The classic offerings – including Siew Mai, Xiaolongbao, Har Gau – are all nicely executed, but if you are there for yum cha with your family on Sundays, you can look forward to other noteworthy creations that include Steamed Melon Ring with Shrimp, Pork Paste in Abalone Sauce (S$4.50 for 3 pcs), Steamed Cuttlefish with Spicy Sauce (S$4.50), Baked Chocolate and Custard Bun ($ 6.00 for 3 pcs) and Deep-fried Bacon and Crab Claw with Salad Sauce ($9.00 for 3 pcs).

Chock full of liquid gold, Xin Cuisine’s Custard Bun gets our vote. The skin of the bun is so airy and thin, and the filling explodes with a strong tinge of salted egg yolk goodness.

Need to sin more? The Roast Pork was SO. BLOODY. DIVINE. It is miraculous how our minds caved in to the sin and we just ate away – a piece after another, without a care in the world, like diet didn’t matter anymore.

CHILLED MANGO COULIS AND HASHIMA SERVED IN MINI PUMPKIN

This pretty little dessert (S$15 per portion) shall pamper you with some sweetness and to “cleanse your palate” after all that savoury moments. It is a chef’s signature, and an evergreen favourite among regulars. Well, it is ours too!

FRIED SESAME BALL WITH RED BEAN AND LIQUEUR CHOCOLATE FILLING

Beyond the ubiquitous Mango Sago and Mango Pudding, Xin Cuisine presents the Fried Sesame Ball with Red Bean (S$8 per portion of 4pcs). It looks like the usual fried Chinese pastry that you get at most Chinese restaurants. However, tear apart the sesame ball and you will find liqueur chocolate filling oozing out. How’s that for a Chinese dessert? Sheer brilliance.

As mentioned at the start, remember to quote ladyironchef or flash this post on your mobile to get 15% discount off Xin Cuisine’s ala carte menu during the month of May,

XIN CUISINE CHINESE RESTAURANT GIVEAWAY

1. Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant is giving away 4 X S$50 dining vouchers.
2. Leave a comment in this post to tell us which dish you would like to try at Xin Cuisine, and why we should choose you.
3. ‘Like’ Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium on Facebook
4. Share the link of this post on your Facebook timeline.
5. The contest starts from now till 6 May 2015, 2359 hrs.
6. Winners will be notified by email.

For the latest updates, head over to Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium website and like Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium on Facebook.

UPDATE: The four winners are Jason Chew, Goh Yee Ping, Jolynn, and Doreen Yau Siok Ching.

Xin Cuisine Chinese Restaurant
#04-00 Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium
317 Outram Road
Tel: +65 6731 7173
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 10.30am – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Outram

This post is brought to you by Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium.

Occasionally I like to indulge in a sinful supper, and even though I have my trusty list of late night dining places to turn to, there are times when I would run out of places to go to, too.

Some restaurants are great spots for late night dining, but they often close by midnight, and of course, it is impossible to dine at expensive restaurants all the time. Some eateries, on the other hand, have good supper food, but they are not places where you would want to linger for long.

My ideal supper place should be somewhere that a) opens across wee hours, b) serves hearty supper food at affordable prices, c) offers a nice environment to hang out and d) is located conveniently. And Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe fits the bill perfectly.

I was thrilled when I learned that 13 of the 16 Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafes have extended their opening hours till 4am daily. Whoopie! What a great news for supper lovers.

The good people from Thai Express Group (parent company of Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe) hosted us for a late night party, and all of us had so much fun playing games while pigging out.

Also, to celebrate the newly revised operation timings, Xin Wang Hong Kong Café is launching a new Facebook ‘Spot the Wee Owls’ contest. Read more to find out more about Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe and the contest.

I am sure Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe is a familiar name for most people. But not everyone knows that it has 200 items on the menu. Diners can choose from not only the typical Hong Kong cafe dishes – like Bo Lo buns (pineapple buns), congees and noodles – but also local Singapore favourites, tim sum and tea-time snacks.

Some of the items that you cannot miss out at Xin Wang include their Hong Kong style western food, uber-thick French toast with maple syrup, cheese baked dishes, and of course, the signature mango shaved ice.

Besides the food, I love that Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe has a cosy ambience, with nice cushioned seats and seating booths for us to lounge around chit-chatting to the background music.

Anyway back to the ‘Spot the Wee Owls’ contest. It will commence in mid-October for four days throughout the month – 14th (Sunday), 20th (Saturday), 26th (Friday) and 1st November (Thursday). All you have to do is to visit any of the five selected Xin Wang Hong Kong Café outlets on every contest day from 12am to 4am and spot Xin Wang Wee Owls cosying up in the restaurant. Snap a photo together with the Wee Owls and post it on Xin Wang’s Facebook Page.

There will be a total of 12 Lucky winners with three chosen per contest day. Each winner will receive an Exclusive Limited Edition Xin Wang Wee Owls Membership Card. So, be sure to stay tune to Xin Wang’s Facebook Page for the five selected outlets set to be announced a day before every contest day!

Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe is definitely the place to visit when you have food cravings late into the night. And remember to follow them on facebook to get the latest updates.

Unlike the typical Teochew Muay (Porridge) places which are somewhat similar to economical mixed vegetable rice stalls, Xu Jun Sheng Teochew Porridge at Joo Chiat is more like a no-frills restaurant serving teochew porridge, zi-char style.

Instead of ordering at the stall, you get to sit down and look at a menu that has quite a few items. I very much prefer Teochew Porridge places in coffee shops, where you get to stand by the stall and look at the dishes available.

In any case, Xu Jun Sheng – known to my friends as the famous Joo Chiat Teochew Muay – has been around for a long time and they have many regular customers, so they must have been doing something right.

Teochew porridge is a meal where you have Teochew style porridge (which is more watery), accompanied with small plates of side dishes like braised pork, steamed pomfret, salted duck egg, omelette, minced meat and preserved vegetables.

I was quite excited to make the order. My dining companion has not tried Teochew Porridge before, so I was determined to show her the best of everything. Steamed Traditional Fish Cake ($1/pc) or Steamed Otah? Pork Trotters ($6) or Braised platter ($8) which consists of Braised Meat, Preserved Vegetables, Tau Kwa/Tau Pok, and Braised Egg? Omelette ($5-7), Prawn Roll ($6) or Stir-fried Sesame Chicken ($8)? Sambal Kangkong ($7), or Stir-fried Nai Bai ($7)? If I were with a larger group of people, I would have ordered everything, but no, it was just the two of us, so we only had a few dishes to share.

There’s nothing more gratifying than a bowl of watery Teochew Porridge with Prawn Roll, Stir-fried Sweet Potato Leaves with Sambal, Braised Platter and the very delicious Fu Yong Omelette. The best things in life are often very simple.

Prices at Xu Jun Sheng Teochew Porridge Restaurant are slightly higher than the typical Teochew Muay stalls, but comparable to most zi-char places. It is a nice place to satisfy your Teochew muay craving if you like to dine in a comfortable setting. As for me, I’ll probably check out some of the Teochew Porridge buffet restaurants next time.

I need recommendations of good Teochew Porridge in Singapore! Please leave me a comment and let me know where you go for Teochew muay.

Singapore Food Blog Review
Xu Jun Sheng Chao Zhou Mei Shi
121 Joo Chiat Place

Mon to Sat: 11am – 3.30pm, 5.30pm – 9pm
Sun: 10.30am – 3.30pm

I’ll be honest. My visit to Ximending Taiwanese Restaurant at Vivocity was a disappointment. The food that we had was pretty good, but the service from the manager was atrocious.

If you have been reading my blog, I’m sure you’d know that I only blog about restaurants that give a positive dining experience.  I always believe that bloggers must be responsible, and not publish any accusations which might potentially hurt somebody. Restaurants are running a business afterall, and it is difficult to please everyone since we all have different likings.

That said, I decided to blog about this because we enjoyed the food, though, it was a shame that we didn’t exactly had a great time overall.

Right from the start when we first took the menu, the manager persistently persuaded us to go for the pricier items though we had politely refused and specified we only wanted those that we ordered. After placing our order, we asked for ice water and he told us that they only serve it upon request. And again, he tried to convince us to order from the drinks menu. He reluctantly served us ice water after we told him repeatedly and firmly that we didn’t want any drinks from the menu.

Anyway, back to the food. Ximending restaurant’s menu (most dishes are under $20) has quite a few options, and it took us a while before deciding on what to order.

We tried the Taiwanese Salt & Pepper Chicken – a popular Taiwanese street food; Radish & Egg Pancake ($10) – a must-try dish to go along with Taiwanese porridge; and the signature Taiwanese Three Cup (san bei) Chicken ($17.9). We also ordered the Stewed Pork Belly with Preserved Vegetables ($9.9), but they only informed us that it was sold-out after we’ve almost finished all our food.

All in all, Ximending restaurant has pretty good Taiwanese food at decent prices, but the service was a let-down. Given that we do not have many Taiwanese restaurants in Singapore, the only places to satisfy my cravings for Taiwanese food are Shin Yeh restaurant at Liang Court, I love Taimei, 4 Season Taiwanese Cuisine (formerly Peng Lai Ge), and Oasis Taiwan Porridge Restaurant.

I don’t think I will re-visit Ximending restaurant again. How about you? Would you go back to a restaurant (with good food) if the service was bad?

Singapore Food Blog
Ximending Taiwanese Restaurant
1 HarbourFront Walk
#01-51A VivoCity
Tel: +65 6376 8018