[CLOSED] Gu Cheng – Penang's Food Family Recipe [MEDIA INVITE]

Gu Cheng Singapore

Penang, Malaysia, a heritage city renowned for its delicious local food. When you ask the local where to “jiak” in Penang, the list will more likely to be a mile long. My multiple visits to Penang also never absent of a good chow there. So when there is a tasting of Penang Food, I did not hesitate to say YES.

Prawn Paste Chicken

Gu Cheng is a new family cafe serving Penang food recently open at Crawford Lane, across Textile Centre. The recipes are based on the Cindy's (the owner) family recipe. To ensure the kitchen churned out the home flavours, Cindy's Mother is the appointed Chief Quality Controller.

Crispy Tofu

We started with Penang Laksa ($7.80) & Penang Hokkien Mee ($8.80). Penang Laksa is also known as Asam Laksa. It is a combination of tangy and spicy flavours that perk up this dish. The broth of the laksa has that touch of spiciness and tanginess, which entice your appetite. Gu Cheng's recipe uses combination of mackerel and sardine, so you can taste two different flavours in the fish. They are not stingy with the fish, so you can taste it in every scoop of the broth. I only wish that there is more “heh ko sauce” (sweetened prawn paste) to give it more Omph!!

Penang Laksa

Penang Laksa
Hand Model: Purple Taste

[CLOSED] AquaMarine – Celebrating Singapore 52th Birthday [MEDIA INVITE]

Roasted Whole Lamb Leg

Marina Mandarin Singapore is celebrating Singapore's 52nd Birthday by bringing you the contemporary local favourites, with a twist. This special dishes will be available from 1st August to 9th August 2017.

Highlights of the sumptuous Halal-certified buffet spread are:

Singapore Chilli Softshell Crab. This is one type of Chilli Crab where your hands will remain clean after eating it. The sauce is tangy, creamy with a subtle kick of spiciness. The softshell crab has a crispy exterior with juicy flesh. Don't miss out on the fried bun, this will help you to polish up the delicious sauce.

Singapore Chilli Softshell Crab

Wagyu Beef Short Rib ‘Satay’. Wagyu Beef Short Rib marinated with satay seasoning, sous vide, then into the oven. It is tender and succulent, with a slight chewiness from the tendon around the short rib. Top it up with the homemade peanut gravy, you have the luxurious version of beef satay.

Wagyu Beef Short Rib ‘Satay’

Wagyu Beef Short Rib ‘Satay’

[CLOSED] Cafe De Hong Kong – Original Hong Kong Flavours in Singapore

Cafe De Hong Kong

Cafe De Hong Kong ('CDHK') is a hidden restaurant along Balestier Road in Singapore that served Hong Kong style Ci Zhar. The cuisine here represent the items that you can find in any typical restaurants in Hong Kong. In case you are thinking of Xin Wang or other HongKong cafe, they served different types of food.

LD and I have patronised CDHK regularly and it has become our must go-to restaurant if we are looking for comfort food. It is those dishes that we had in Melbourne during our uni days.

Deep Fried Luncheon Meat Chip

Soup is basically a must have for Cantonese and Hong Kong cuisine. In CDHK you should not miss out on their double-boiled soup of the day. Our last visit here, we had their Winter Melon Soup ($35). A good portion good for 6 to 8 pax. The soup is double boiled inside the winter melon. The broth is sweet and robust, good to warm up your stomach. They also have a smaller portion, just check with the service staff.

Winter Melon Soup 

Winter Melon Soup 

Roasted Chicken ($34) is one of the signature dishes here. It is tender, succulent and the best part is the skin. It is paper thin and crisp. Absolutely delicious. To save on cooking time, you might want to order this during reservation.

Roast Chicken

If you prefer something more traditional, order the Claypot Chicken with Salted Fish and Tofu ($18 for Large). This dish is not on the menu however you can place the order with the boss, Francis. The combination of salted fish and au jus of the chicken will whet your appetite, while the tofu just absorbs the flavour nicely. A good dish to go with rice.

Claypot Chicken with Salted Fish and Tofu

[CLOSED] Jamie's Italian Forum – An Evening at Jamie

Looking for kids friendly dining destination for a group of 18 pax is definitely not an easy task. If you do have this dilemma, you definitely must consider Jamie's Italian at Forum.

The Front of Jamie's Italian at Forum

In case you have been living under a rock or somewhere in the jungle of Borneo, Jamie Oliver might sound alien to you. In summary, he is a British Celebrity Chef, author of numerous cook books, plus TV shows, activist who loved Italian Food. Jamie's restaurants always focused on natural and healthy ingredients, with simple cooking method. Jamie's Italian at Forum is the second franchise in Singapore.

Table Setting with Mango & Orange Fresh Smoothies ($8.50)

While waiting for the everyone to arrive, LD and I ordered Salumi Crostini ($15). Salumi means different type of salami / Italian cured meat. Crispy bread with buffalo ricotta, crispy salumi and drizzle with balsamic vinegar. Crispy, creamy, sweet, with subtle acidity just make a perfect entrée. A good start to tease the palate.

Salumi Crostini

If you are an olive fan, you might want to try their World's Best Olive ($8.50). Consist of large green olives, with black olives and sun-dried tomatoes tapenade & crispy music bread. I am definitely not a fan of black olive, but I discover green olive is easy to like. Crunchy, refreshing with a touch of delicate sourness almost like a gherkin.

World's Best Olive

The Singaporean Florist That Changed the Game

It seems impossible to make blooms more beautiful than they already are, in their sole existence as such, but it actually is. A Better Florist is a florist in Singapore that have taken the floristry scene seriously and they are producing some real attention-grabbers in their flower shop.

They are the perfect combination of skills and talent, which they have mastered to the core, and their flower designs are a clear reflection of that. As you would expect from their name, they offer flowers that stand out, are always fresh and their bouquets and arrangements are on a whole other level of creativity.

The standards are high, but the prices are low, which plays a significant role, as once you set your eyes on these blooms, you’ll want to have them in your possession as often as possible.

A Better Florists designs indeed stand out, but if their selection isn’t enough for you, you’re also able to request custom-designed bouquets, that are going to be crafted with ‘you’ in mind only. Her Flowers is another flower shop, owned by the same team that has a different variety of bouquets and arrangements making sure that you’re good to go, no matter what your flower preferences are.

They are ideal for any occasion and not just Valentine’s and Mother’s Day. Their philosophy promotes gifting flowers for no reason at all, which I applaud. This means, you’re spreading happiness and positivity with flowers, which is what flowers are really about.

A Better Florist delivers all around Singapore, but recently their flowers have reached larger distances. In fact, they know have flower shops in Hong Kong and Dubai as well. After the huge success in Singapore, it was only a matter of time when the rest of the world would want a piece of them for themselves. After they’ve made it to the list of ten best florists in Singapore, it was no surprise that they were able to make the list of top ten florists in Hong Kong as well.

The website is really easy to use, as you’re able to make a purchase via your computer or mobile phone, within only a few clicks. Perfect for everyone who’s on the go, but still wants a special token of appreciation for their loved ones. They even deliver flowers within 90 minutes, on the same day, which is quite impressive.

Overall, A Better Florist is definitively a game-changer and worth looking into. You’ll be pleasantly surprised when you step into their bloom world. 

This post is brought to you by Elma Humpries

Teppan Bar Q – Scintillating Teppanyaki Experience [MEDIA INVITE]

Teppan Bar Q

Teppanyaki is a style of Japanese cooking using iron griddle. Having Teppanyaki is not just about the food, it is about the experience being entertained by Teppanyaki Master Chef. Seating in front of the iron griddle, looking straight at the Chef preparing your food, is one of the most memorable Chef's table experience you can have.

The Centre Stage

Teppan Bar Q by Torikin is originated from Hakata, also known as the birth place of Ramen. In Hakata, Teppan Bar Q has many sister restaurants specialising in different type of Japanese cuisine. To ensure Teppan Bar Q quality remain up to standard, Chef Ishida visits Singapore regularly and we have the pleasure to taste his cooking that night.

The Wall Decor

Squid with Pesto ($12) kick start the evening. Serve in small plate like Japanese version of Tapas. Springy yet succulent squid, served with creamy mild pesto sauce. The salty and sour taste of the olives provided contrasting flavour in this dish. Hidden under the squid is grilled potatoes to add starch or carbo to this dish. A good start to the meal.

Squid with Pesto

Tonpei Yaki ($17). Tonpei Yaki is Japanese omelet filled with cabbage and pork. It is bold combination of sweet and savoury, topped with bonito flakes. Though the fillings are juicy and succulent, the sauce just covered the original taste of the ingredients. An interesting dish, but not to my liking.

Tonpei Yaki