Where do you go to when you are beat from a whole day of shopping, laden with shopping bags and famished from all the walking? And you are just beat from the whole day of hubbub that you want nothing but familiar and hearty food to soothe the senses?

Well, if your craving is leaning towards Chinese food, then your answer is TungLok XiHe Peking Duck Restaurant, an outlet that offers a classic menu of modern Beijing cuisine. Conveniently located at Orchard Central and The Grandstand (Turf Club Road), the outlet is one that is clean and spacious, with a modern Chinese décor that is minimalistic and elegant.

There are many Chinese establishments that impressed us and left us good memories, but TungLok XiHe is one that is timeless. We love its concise menu and how it does not differ too much from its origins – nothing but the comforting familiarity of Chinese food at competitive prices. It is the kind of place that you can host your business associates, throw a celebration or to simply gather with your close ones.

When we had our meal, our tummies were so pleased with the quality meal that we were thinking about all the flowery adjectives and phrases to document the experience, but looking back now, we want nothing but to present TungLok XiHe Peking Duck as it is – unpretentious and classy. Here are our picks from the very good meal we had:

[ GIVEAWAY ] We are giving away 5 x TungLok XiHe Peking Duck vouchers (worth S$91.80 each). 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.

The meal began with the Rose Cherry Tomato (S$10). It looks unassuming, but it is going to be a pleasant surprise when you pop your first in your mouth. Lightly marinated with sour plum and chilled to a nice coolness, this is one great snack to whet your appetite for the great meal ahead. We have previously shared about the infinite benefits of consuming tomatoes, and we are sure even non-tomato lovers will be pleased with this appetiser.

Another appetiser that we would recommend is the Deep-fried Huai Shan with Dried Chilli (S$8). Huai Shan, for the uninitiated, is Chinese yam and a type of Chinese medicinal herb that is known to be really beneficial for our health. We cannot stop munching on this!

The Stewed Duck Tongue in X.O. Sauce (S$14) is an acquired taste and not something that everyone will appreciate, but it is finely executed and it makes a good starter while waiting for your Peking duck.

The food at TungLok XiHe can be described as modern Beijing cuisine. While the focus is on its signature peking duck, TungLok XiHe is more than that. It serves a delectable selection of authentic Chinese classic dishes, cooked with recipes that have been refined over years in the kitchen by the chefs from TungLok Group and Beijing’s XiHe Group.

Some of the seafood dishes that you must try include the Smoked Sliced Fish in Sweet Sauce (S$12), Poached Sliced Fish in Chilli Spicy Sauce (S$22), Bamboo Clams (S$10/pc), and the Sichuan-style Steam ‘Soon Hock’ (S$9/100g).

A dish that the chefs at TungLok XiHe have mastered perfectly is Mrs Zhang’s Braised Lion’s Head Meatballs (S$6/pax). For those of you who have no clue, Lion’s Head Meatballs originated from Hangzhou as a banquet dish reserved for royalty. The chefs have improvised on the recipe by adding bits of mantou with the minced pork to add texture to the meatballs.

The Stewed Mushroom with Minced Pork and Chilli (S$18) is quite unlikely to get your attention among the many meat and seafood dishes, and it may seem pricey, but it really isn’t quite like your usual predictable fungi dish. The whole mushrooms are plump and juicy; the lightly stir-fried minced pork and chilli so fragrant. The seemingly simple combination is really quite a party in the mouth and not so simple after all!

And of course, the star of the show and what everyone must order when dining at TungLok XiHe is most definitely the Peking Duck. To maintain the age-old roasting method, the duck is hung and roasted in a traditional oven for 50 minutes at 200 degree Celsius.

What we really love about TungLok XiHe’s Peking Duck (S$78 for a whole duck) is that it not only comes with the usual sweet sauce, but also a specially-blended blueberry sauce which goes really well with the duck, as well as mustard and popping sugar. Yes, the very same popping sugar that we used to have when we were kids!

There are three ways to enjoy TungLok XiHe’s Peking Duck. Start with the highly-prized duck skin. Dip the crispy skin into the blueberry sauce, followed by the popping sugar. Never in our wildest dreams would we have thought of this combination. Yet, the marriage of peking duck, blueberry sauce and popping sugar is so impressively good!

Next is the tender and succulent duck breast meat which you can eat with the wheat wrap, together with other ingredients from TungLok XiHe’s ‘Eight Treasures Box’ – a variety of condiments and sweet sauce. Last but not least is the duck thigh which you can eat it directly by dipping it in the sweet sauce. But if we had to pick, we would prefer the aforementioned blueberry sauce which goes unbelievably well with the savoury duck meat. Actually, the blueberry sauce is really a miraculous invention and we believe it goes well with anything!

For the second dish of the Peking Duck, there are three options – cereal, ginger and onion, and TungLok XiHe’s signature salt & pepper.

If you need another reason to visit TungLok XiHe Peking Duck, they are having special promotions at 50% off different signature dishes every day from now till 30 September 2014. On Mondays, TungLok XiHe’s whole Peking Duck is available at half the price for just a whopping S$39++. What a steal!

On Tuesdays, you can sample the Wok-fried Australian Wagyu Beef at S$19++, while Crispy Pork Shank (S$14++) will make a special appearance on Wednesdays. How about having Sautéed Honey Glazed Prawns for just S$13++? Make a reservation for a table on Saturdays! With so many irresistible daily deals, you will be seeing us at TungLok XiHe regularly.

As with the other TungLok restaurants, there is no extra charge for booking of the private dining room. The only condition is to fulfil the minimum number of 10 people, so if you are planning a birthday celebration or to celebrate a special occasion, make a booking at TungLok XiHe!

TUNGLOK XIHE PEKING DUCK GIVEAWAY

1. TungLok XiHe Peking Duck is giving away 5 x Peking Duck vouchers (worth S$91.80 each).
2. Leave a comment in this post and tell us why you want to try TungLok XiHe’s Peking Duck.
3. ‘Like’ TungLok Group on Facebook.
4. Share the link of this post on your Facebook timeline.
5. The contest starts from now till 10 September 2014, 2359 hrs.
6. Winners will be notified by email.

Updated // The five winners are Lim Li Ting, Wenyi, Zoe, Sheryl Teo, and Kathryn.

TungLok XiHe Peking Duck
Orchard Central
181 Orchard Road, #07-07/09
Tel: +65 6736 0006
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

The Grandstand
200 Turf Club Road, #01-23/26
Tel: +65 6466 3363
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Botanic Gardens

This feature is brought to you by TungLok Group.

Every time we visit Hong Kong, the sheer number of new restaurants and cafes that have opened since our previous trip amazes us. There is always somewhere new to check out, and quite frankly, it is impossible to tick all of them off our checklist. We always end up weighing our options with various factors – price point, location and type of cuisine.

On a recent trip, we went on a food tour with Maxim’s Group (you can read our pick on the best restaurants here), and one of the places that really impressed us was M&C.Duck at Harbourcity shopping mall. It is one of the newest dining concepts by Maxim’s Group – one of the largest F&B groups, with 70 brands and 840 outlets in Hong Kong, Vietnam and China – which opened in December 2013 – and it is one that has fast rocketed to our list of favourite restaurants in Hong Kong.

Offering a modern twist to traditional Peking and Shanghainese cuisine, M&C.Duck is not quite what you would expect of a typical Hong Kong restaurant. The familiarity of a Chinese outlet is comforting yet reveals hints of sexiness; the list of dishes is what tugs your heartstrings yet surprises with the unexpected.

Well, we would go there especially for the very good Peking duck, but there is much more to love, and we say them with a passion. Here are 9 reasons to fall in love with M&C.Duck, and the next time you find yourself in Hong Kong, you know where to go to feed your souls.

PEKING DUCK

The highlight of the show is, without a doubt, the signature Peking Duck. While we love Peking Duck, we do not get many chances to eat it because most restaurants go by the whole duck – which is quite impossible for two persons to finish.

But this will not stop us from eating at M&C.Duck, because they have brilliant menu which serves a smaller duck (2.4 – 2.5kg, the norm is 3kg), plus the option of ordering half a duck! No more couple dining woes! The Peking Duck (HK$150 for half bird, HK$288 for whole bird) truly lived up to its name. We like that it is a lot leaner and every bite combines the sharp and crisp skin with tender and succulent meat. And best of all, you don’t need to dine in a big group to enjoy it – perfect for small families and couples.

SUPER CONVENIENT LOCATION IN HARBOURCITY

Whenever we are in Hong Kong, we always head to HarbourCity because it has all the shops you would ever need. M&C.Duck’s location in HarbourCity is easily accessible, and there is really no excuse for not going there. And if you are lucky, you get the booth seats that overlook the Harbour!

CREATIVE & MODERN DISHES

What makes M&C.Duck stand out from the usual Chinese restaurants is its take on Chinese dishes that speaks of nothing but creativity with a modern twist. Take for instance, the Sliced Duck with Osmanthus Pudding (HK$80 for 4 pieces). Who would have thought the jelly texture would be perfectly sandwiched between a slice of duck and potato chip? They are like mini sliders, but even better.

The Apple Salad with Bacon in Sesame Dressing is another item that you would not expect from a Chinese restaurant. It is a nice way to begin your meal and have your senses feel refreshed before spoiling your palate with the Peking Duck.

A SEXY AND VIBRANT ATMOSPHERE

Most Chinese restaurants are, in general, not the kind of place that you would bring your partner to for a hot date. But think again if it is M&C.Duck. And it is worth the consideration. The interior is immaculately furnished with a modern touch, and the atmosphere is one so sexy and vibrant that eating Peking Duck has never been more inviting.

Now you know a Chinese restaurant that is good for dates.

MIND-BLOWINGLY GOOD SLICED BEEF IN PUNGENT SAUCE

Yes, the name may sound unappealing and anything but mind-blowingly good, but trust us – this Sichuan boiled beef in spicy sauce is really so darn good. The tender beef slices are simmered and cooked in chili oil and spices, and there is a slight burning after-taste that warms your tummy up. Best enjoyed with plain fragrant rice!

CLASSIC DIM SUM

Of course, what is Hong Kong without dim sum? If you need your fix, M&C.Duck will take care of it too. Some of the dishes include Deep-Fried Glutinous Rice and Potato Cakes (HK$45), Steamed Xiaolongbao (HK$60), and Pork Dumplings in spicy sauce (HK$48).

INSPIRED FROM CUISINES IN ASIA

The chefs are given a free rein to exercise their creativity in the kitchen and offer a refreshing take on Chinese cuisine. Some of the dishes are inspired and influenced by cuisines from all over Asia.

For one, the creation of Sautéed Prawns in Pepper & Soya Sauce was inspired by Singapore’s very own black pepper crab. We absolutely loved it!

STUFFED PURPLE RICE IN APPLE WITH OSMANTHUS SYRUP

End your meal with the very pretty Stuffed Purple Rice in Apple with Osmanthus Syrup. This is as pretty as it is tasty, and certainly a lovely change from the usual Chinese desserts like your puddings and sagos.

REASONABLE PRICES THAT WON’T BURN A HOLE IN YOUR POCKET

Above all, the food at M&C.Duck is reasonably priced for the quality. Most of the dishes are priced between HK$80 – HK$150, and the Barbecued Peking Duck is only HKS$150 for half a duck. Feasting can be affordable, too!

For the latest updates, go to www.maxims.com.hk, and like Maxim’s Group on Facebook.

M&C.Duck
Shop 3319, level 3, Gateway Arcade
Harbour City, 17 Canton Road
Tsim Sha Tsui
Tel: +852 2347 6898
Daily: 11.30am – 4pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Tsim Sha Tsui

This feature is brought to you by Maxim’s Group.

Regular readers will know that I am a fan of Paradise Pavilion at Marina Bay Financial Centre. Not only is it one of the most gorgeous Chinese restaurants in town, it also serves Chinese food of unimpeachable quality. I have been to Paradise Pavilion on several occasions, and they have always maintained a high standard.

Besides having a wide range of traditional dim sum, Paradise Pavilion also has new innovative creations, and one of my favourite dim sum on the menu is the grilled Siew Mai Skewers.

We also sampled the Steamed Scallop & Mushroom Dumpling and Black Truffle Chicken Pie. They were decent, but nothing to shout about.

From the modern Chinese starters menu, we were tempted to get the Combination of Pan-seared Foie Gras, Wasabi Prawn and Char-grilled Hokkaido Scallop ($22), but decided to save room for Peking Duck, so we got our favourite Pan-seared Foie Gras ($16) with caramelised apple.

This was followed by the Double-boiled Sea Whelk Soup ($22/pax) with fish maw. It’s warming, comforting and immeasurably soothing, the kind of soup that you want to drink on a cold day.

The highlight of our meal was Paradise Pavilion’s apple wood Roasted Peking Duck ($88 for whole duck) which is prepared by chefs formerly from Quan Ju De, Beijing’s famous Peking Duck Restaurant. I have not been to Beijing before so I can’t tell you how authentic the duck really is. But based on the ones that I’ve eaten before, Paradise Pavilion’s Peking Duck easily topped the list.

The first layer of the Peking duck – the fatty and crispy duck skin – was eaten with sugar. It was delicious. This was followed by the second layer of duck served with rice flour crepes, cucumber slices, spring onion, sugar and a homemade sweet sauce. And instead of using the remaining meat to cook the second dish, like most restaurants do, the chef carved out the meat and served it on the side.

After having the Peking duck, we were almost filled to the brim, but we still managed to finish the excellent Wok-fried Mashed Fish Noodle ($28) with pan seared shrimp stock.

The restaurant also offers very interesting desserts. Other than the usual Chinese desserts – such as Mango Pudding ($5) and Chilled Mango Sago Pomelo ($6.50) – Paradise Pavilion also has sweet temptations like Deep-fried Durian Ice Cream with Mango Puree ($8.50), Steamed Mashed Toro with Almond Cream ($8.50), and Crispy Custard Lava Man Tou ($8.80) with vanilla ice cream.

The Custard Lava Man Tou combined three of my favourite things, and it was more than we could have ever asked for.

Paradise Pavilion is a great place for family and friends to come together for a scrumptious meal. The restaurant has launched their Lunar New Year set menu, and it starts from $88/pax. If you are thinking of where to go for Chinese New Year, I’d highly recommend celebrating the occasion at Paradise Pavilion.

Paradise Pavilion
8A Marina Boulevard
#02-01 Marina Bay Link Mall
Tel: +65 6509 9308
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 4pm, 6pm – 11pm
Note: This was an invited media tasting.

Poon Choi (also known as Pen Cai) is a traditional Chinese New Year dish originating from Hong Kong. It has become a popular Chinese New Year Takeaway dish in Singapore during recent years, with most Chinese restaurants and hotels offering Pen Cai and yusheng in their Chinese New Year Dinner menu.

When the waitress opened the cover of the Poon Choi, there were three reactions from the table: Woah, Wow, and OMG! Our Chinese New Year Dinner started with a bang, and we knew we were in for a treat at Jia Wei Chinese Restaurant.

It is easy to understand why the Pen Cai is a popular option for Chinese New Year Takeaway. The pot is filled with items bearing auspicious meanings, and it has a lot of food to feed the whole family. Furthermore, who can resist the lure of Chinese delicacies braised to perfection?

There is something irresistible about one-pot dishes, I love the idea of cooking everything in a pot. Just imagine all the ingredients mingling inside and the essence of the different flavours being fully absorbed into the food.

Jia Wei Chinese Restaurant’s Peng Cai includes: abalone, sea cucumber, shark’s fin, fish maw, oyster, Chinese Sausage, prawn, goose web, dried oyster,  roasted pork, and scallop. There is only one word to describe it — magnificent!

Other than the Pen Chai, Jia Wei Restaurant’s signature Peking Duck was the other outstanding dish of our meal. It was quite entertaining to watch as the staff carved the duck in front of our table. Dipped with sweet sauce, the crispy skin was wrapped in the paper-thin pancakes, and delivered right into our stomach. Delicious!

We rounded up the dinner with Sauteed Fresh Scallops with X.O Sauce, gigantic King Prawns and Double Boiled Hasma with Ginseng and Lily Bulbs.

At Grand Mercure Hotel, Jia Wei Chinese Restaurant has 7 different Chinese New Year Reunion Dinner set menus to cater for every family. The Chinese New Year Dinner promotion is available from 3rd to 17th Feb 2011, so if you are looking for a Chinese restaurant to lo-hei with your friends or colleagues, Jia Wei is the place to go.

Chinese New Year is just another excuse for me to eat more.

Singapore Food Blog
Jia Wei Chinese Restaurant
50 East Coast Road 2F
Grand Mercure Roxy Hotel Singapore
Tel: +65 6340 5678
Note: This is an invited review.

I have been putting off the review of California Pizza Kitchen at Forum the Shopping Mall for a while now. The pizzas are fine, really. But I don’t have any inspiration to blog about it as the photographs are quite unappetizing.

“Can you recommend a nice restaurant in Orchard for dinner?”

This is one of the common questions I get from my readers and friends. I always struggle to come up with a suggestion since I do not fancy dining in Orchard. Yes, there are plenty of shopping malls, but almost all of them have identical restaurants and it really gets boring after some time.

I’m sure most pizza lovers have heard of California Pizza Kitchen (CPK), and having been there – I think it’s a pretty good place for a nice, simple dinner in town.

Since we did not have the chance to try the famous Peking Duck Pizza at Timbre, we decided to go for CPK’s Peking Duck ($20.90). Roasted duck breast, with melty mozzarella cheese on the thin crust pizza that’s scattered with crispy wontons, slivered leek, and shiitake mushrooms. Granted, the leek gave a distinct taste to the pizza, but I wished that there was less of the leek and more of the roasted duck breast.

It only seemed wise to order the popular (and safe) Hawaiian Pizza ($18.90) after going for the exotic Peking Duck. It was perhaps, a little too safe. With the typical pineapple-ham-mozzarella-cheese-tomato combination, there wasn’t any room for surprises. But still, it’s a pizza that everyone enjoyed.

* * *

There’s also pastas available on California Pizza Kitchen’s menu, but we gave it a miss as we wanted to try their pizzas. If you are looking for food in Orchard road, why not drop by Forum the shopping mall (beside Hilton Hotel) and check out the pizzas from California Pizza Kitchen?

Pizza Places in Singapore that I want to go next: Peperoni Pizzeria at Greenwood Avenue, Da Paolo Pizza Bar at Chips Bee Garden and of course, Bella Pizza!

Restaurant Review
California Pizza Kitchen (CPK)
583 Orchard Road #01-42
Forum The Shopping Mall Singapore
Tel: +65 6836 0110

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