Songane – Yummy Korean Food

We were looking for a place to dine and catch up with our friend YP. YP suggested a few places before we finally settle on Songane. A quick check on Google, it seems that this place rack up a substantial positive review on google, plus it is one of the few places in Singapore that serve Oritang (Korean Braised Duck Soup).

Songane

Oritang ($18) duck stew Korean version. Alas, we were too busy eating, we forgot to take a photo of the duck stew. It looks closer to our Singapore version of curry, except it does not have the spices and aroma. The duck meat is succulent, while the broth is spicy (base on LD & YP standard) but super spicy base on my standard. LD says that it is good and will return for more duck.

Banchans

For the BBQ plate, Songane uses a cast iron grill with a gas burner. No charcoal is used to enhance the flavour of the meat. The grill also comes with mini compartments on one side where they grill the kimchi, corn cheese and garlic. We ordered Beef Set ($83.70) – Short Ribs, LA Galbi, Soybean stew and Seafood Pancake.

The BBQ Plate

First to go on the grill is the Short Ribs. It is one of the best cuts for Korean BBQ, usually about the size of two fingers. It has a high marbling content, is juicy, succulent and almost melts in your mouth. It is cooked perfectly here and I usually enjoy it with a bit of salt.

Short Ribs

Songane Pork ($22) – additional order. Songane uses DUROC pork / chestnut pork, known to be more flavourful and fattier compared to regular pork. The chef made a very deep incision every 1 cm along the pork belly, allowing the fats to render when it is bbq. When both sides of the pork belly turn golden brown, the cook cuts through each piece of the pork belly following the incision. Afterwards, each cut of the meat will be grilled to golden brown on all sides. When you bite into the pork belly, it has a crispy exterior, followed by a burst of juicy pork fats and meat. #Porkgasm

Songane Pork

Songane Pork

Songane Pork - Ready to Eat

Hangjeongsal ($21) / Pork Jowl – additional order. This is not for the faint-hearted. It has a higher fat content compared to pork belly, but it delivers a crispier exterior and more burst porky juice internally. The fats can overwhelm you, therefore it is good to balance it with the kimchi or grilled onion.

Pork Jowl and Songane Pork

Pork Jowl

Pork Jowl - Ready to Eat

The last protein that goes on the grill is the LA Galbi. Since it is marinated with sweet sauce, it is cooked with low fire. The sweet marinate absorbs into the ribs, resulting in sweet and juicy flesh. The fun part of eating LA Galbi is chewing on the elastic, the connective tissue between the meat and bone. All I can say is the crew cook it just right, resulting in a pleasantly chewy texture, instead of hard and rubbery. Yumz!.

LA Galbi

Seafood Pancake. The version here is crispy and crispy. I am not a fan of Korean pancake, but for the version here, I did not hesitate to have more than my share.

Seafood Pancake

Since the Oritang already spicy, LD ordered Soybean stew for me. Korean version of Miso soup, earthy and packs with fermented soybean flavour. It also helps to neutralise the fats from the pork belly and pork jowl.

Soybean Stew

Soybean Stew

The décor of the restaurant is a mix of classic and modern. The floor to ceiling glass windows allows the natural lights to shine in the restaurant. The tables and chairs are made from wood, while each table is equipped with a built-in stove in the middle. The service is very good. The service staff grilled the meat for us, while serving 5 tables at the same time. Surprisingly, our bbq meat still turn out well, WOW!

I notice that their weekday lunch set is priced at $9.90++, for One Main, Rice, Banchans and Barley tea. Awesome value!

Lunch Set Menu + BBQ Set

CBK verdict, Songane serve delicious Korean food. The Oritang, grilled meat and crispy seafood pancake are good. We definitely looking forward to our next visit here to try their ginseng chicken and Naeng-myun. Great recommendation YP. Cheers!!

Food & Drink: 7.5/10

Value: 7.5/10

Service: 8/10

Ambiance: 7/10

Budget per Person: $26 - $50; $51 - $80

Songane

380 Jalan Besar

#01-02 ARC 380

Singapore 209000

T: +65 6980 3474

W: https://songane.business.site/

F: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Songane/529394981332579/

IG: @Songanesg

OH: Daily, 11.30 – 14.30; 17.30 – 22.00

ONEº15 Marina – Festive Bites [MEDIA DROP]

ONEº15 Marina at Sentosa Cove is the prime leisure district of Singapore and it is Asia’s most desired waterfront leisure destination. My first visit to ONEº15 Marina was in 2016 for a media tasting event at WOKº15 Kitchen. Since then, we have returned a few more times to dine there, especially when we are having our staycation in Sentosa.

Festive Bites @ ONEº15 Marina 

This year, the culinary team at ONEº15 Marina has prepared three Festive Bites to complete your celebration this Chinese New Year.

The Cookies

Organic Pineapple Rolls made with Organic Pineapple, Himalayan Pink Salt and Elle & Vire Butter. This mini roll is an absolute joy to eat. Once you pop it in your mouth, the buttery crust slowly melts in your mouth, followed by sweet and juicy organic pineapple fillings and finished off with subtle Himalayan pink salt that balance the richness and sweetness of pineapple tart perfectly.

Orange Pineapple Rolls

Hei Bee Hiam Pineapple Tarts (limited edition). A unique creation, blending the sweetness of the organic pineapple paste with spicy umami hei bee hiam. Although they use bird’s eye chilli for the hei bee hiam, I find the spiciness manageable.

Hei Bee Hiam Pineapple Tarts 

Parmigiano Reggiano Cookies. A European take on Chinese New Year snacks. This reminds me of Kastengel tart / Dutch – Indonesian Cheese Tarts, one of my favourite snacks during Christmas and CNY. Of course, ONEº15 Marina uses 24-month aged Italian parmigiano Reggiano, delivering a super umami flavour in addition to the crunchy texture of the cookies. A must-have for cheese cookie lovers.

Parmigiano Reggiano Cookies

Each of the Festive Bites is packed in a solid glass jar with a gold colour cap. A very luxurious presentation. The festive bite can be ordered individually or in a bundle of all three, known as The Auspicious Trio at $78+

The Auspicious Trio

Hurry Up and Place Your Order

Together with the festive bites, ONEº15 Marina also has a lineup of Lunar New Year celebratory dishes such as Smoked Salmon Yu-Sheng, Treasure Abalone Pot and Dry-aged Barbecued Duck that you can order for takeaway.

Smoked Salmon Yu Sheng
Image Credit: ONEº15 Marina 

Treasure Abalone Pot
Image Credit: ONEº15 Marina 

Festive Bites & Joyous Reunion

When to Order: 3rd January to 15th February 2022 and must be made 3 days in advance.

Self-collection is available from 10th January to 15th February 2022.

Delivery is available from 10th January to 15th February 2022, except on 31st January and 1st – 2nd February 2022. Enjoy free delivery island-wide with a minimum order of $60.

Where to Order: https://one15marina.com/shop/festive-specials/

For more information, email wok15.sc@one15marina.com or call +65 6305 6998.

48-hour Dry-Aged Barbecued Duck
Image Credit: ONEº15 Marina 

Thank you very much ONEº15 Marina team for the Media Drop.

ONEº15 Marina

11 Cove Drive

Level 1 ONEº15 Marina Sentosa Cove

Singapore 098497

T: +65 6305 6998.

W: https://one15marina.com/

F: https://www.facebook.com/ONE15Marina

IG: @One15marina

For Ordering: https://one15marina.com/shop/festive-specials/

Goldleaf Restaurant – Goldleaf Reunion Feast 2022 [MEDIA INVITE]

Reunion Dinner 2022 looks like it is going to be a homely affair. With the current dine-in restrictions, it will be more comfortable to have our reunion dinner at home. This year, Goldleaf Restaurant (“Goldleaf”) offer Goldleaf Reunion Feast Takeaway at $288 nett, good for 4 to 5 pax.

Goldleaf Reunion Feast Takeaway

Goldleaf Reunion Abalone Yu Sheng. The vegetables are crunchy, the abalones are of a good size, the candied vegetables are very subtle in their sweetness, while the fragrant plum sauce binds all the ingredients together nicely. Also, watch out for the bursting sweetness from the lychee bubbles.

Goldleaf Reunion Abalone Yu Sheng

Goldleaf Reunion Abalone Yu Sheng

Steamed Seabass in Hong Kong Style. It might be a common dish in a Cantonese restaurant, however, Goldleaf perfected the steaming time to the seconds. The seabass is smooth, silky and flaky, while the soy sauce accentuates the flavour of the fish nicely. If you wonder, will the quality of the fish still be good for home delivery? I can tell you that I received a home delivery from Goldleaf a few years back, and the fish is one of the dishes that finished first on that day.

Steamed Seabass in Hong Kong Style

Housemade Roast Chicken. The marinate is just spot on, while the flesh from the breast is juicy and succulent. Without saying, the flesh on the thigh, drumstick and wings are perfect. I was hoping that the skin to be crispier, however, this can also be resulting in the meat turning dry.

Homemade Roast Chicken

Homemade Roast Chicken

Mushrooms with Seasonal Vegetables. A beautifully plated dish and tasty as well. The mushrooms are well braised and plump, while the gravy adds a robust flavour to the crunchy vegetables.

Mushrooms with Seasonal Vegetables

Signature Golden Porridge. The grains of rice are cooked with Goldleaf signature seafood stock. The porridge itself is loaded with seafood such as prawns, scallops, mussels and abalones, resulting in naturally sweet, robust and comforting porridge. Yumz!!

Signature Golden Porrdige

Signature Golden Porrdige

Overall, the Goldleaf Reunion Feast takeaway menu is value for money. The dishes are delicious and comforting, suitable for a homely reunion dinner.

Goldleaf Reunion Feast Takeaway

If you have a smaller group, you can also order Festive Set (Individual Bento Set, $68.80) per set. This set includes individual portions of Abalone Yu Sheng, Seafood Porridge, plus 9 Signature Goldleaf dishes: Braised Pork Belly with Preserved Vegetables, Steamed Pork Patty with Salted Egg, Omelette with Chye Poh, Goldleaf Prawn Rolls, Cold Japanese Beancurd with Chye Poh, Curry Leaf Chicken, Braised Beancurd, Stir-fried Seasonal Green and Tiger Prawns with Garlic. Do take note that you need to Pre-Order and the minimum order is 2 sets.

Festive Set

Goldleaf Reunion Feast Takeaway & Festive Set available for order through take.app/a/goldleaf or call 6346 1088.

Goldleaf Restaurant

Thank you very much Kristine, Karen and Goldleaf Restaurant for hosting us.

Food & Drink: 7.75/10

Value: 7.75/10

Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation)

Ambiance: 7.5/10

Budget per Person: $51 - $80; $81 and Above

Goldleaf Restaurant

88 East Coast Road

#01-05/06/07 Katong Square

Singapore 423371

T: +65 6346 1088

W: https://goldleaf.com.sg/

F: https://www.facebook.com/GoldleafRestaurantSg/

IG: @Goldleafsingapore

OH: Daily 11.00 – 14.30, 18.00 – 22.00

For Takeaway Order:  take.app/a/goldleaf 

Lobby Lounge – Simply Strawberries Afternoon Tea [MEDIA INVITE]

Calling strawberries lovers, Lobby Lounge at Conrad Centennial Singapore is showcasing simply / everything strawberries afternoon tea. Executive Chef Mandar Mandav and his team use strawberries from Japan, South Korea, USA and Australia to curate these strawberries treats.

The afternoon tea starts with Strawberry Mocktails. It is refreshing and packs with strawberries, a sign of what is to come in the afternoon tea.

Strawberry Mocktails

Soon after, the staff deliver Lobby Lounge Signature Multi-Tiered Afternoon Tea tray to our table. The crew gave a short explanation on each item and suggested that we start from the lowest tier and work our way up.

We commence with Homemade Strawberry Scone with Homemade Strawberry Jam and Clotted Cream. The warm scones release a sweet strawberry aroma. It is slightly crusted externally, while the interior remains soft and crumbly. The strawberry jam is solid, yet not overly sweet and goes well with the clotted cream.

Homemade Strawberry Scone with Homemade Strawberry Jam and Clotted Cream

Premium Japanese Strawberry with Valrhona Chocolate Dip (One serving only). The Japanese strawberries are big, juicy and sweet. Although the Japanese strawberries are delicious to eat on their own, the chocolate sauce seems to enrich the taste further. Yumz!.

Premium Japanese Strawberry with Valhorna Chocolate Dip

Premium Japanese Strawberry with Valhorna Chocolate Dip

The savoury part of the afternoon tea consists of Peanut Butter and Jelly with Cream Cheese and Avruga Caviar; Balsamic Roasted Strawberry Pincho; Mango Strawberry Tartlets; and Strawberry Tomato Mozzarella on Toast.

[Top Left, clockwise] Peanut Butter and Jelly with Cream Cheese and Avruga Caviar;
Strawberry Tomato Mozzarella on Toast & Balsamic Roasted Strawberry Pincho

LD and I like the Peanut Butter and Jelly the most. The bread is soft and moist, while the peanut butter and jelly blend well together. The surprise come from the Cream Cheese and Avruga Caviar, which made this mini sandwich irresistible.

Mango Strawberry Tartlet

My second pick is Strawberry Tomato Mozzarella on Toast. It is delicately assembled and the creamy mozzarella cheese bodes well with the strawberry and balsamic vinegar. I might borrow this idea and make a big bowl of salad from the same ingredients next time we have a gathering.

The sweet part of the afternoon tea consists of Classic Strawberry Shortcake; Almond Strawberry Mini Tartlet, Mascarpone Strawberry Swiss Roll; and Earl Grey and Strawberry Mousse. LD personal pick is the Mascarpone Strawberry Swiss Roll. The strawberry flavoured Swiss roll is soft, moist and topped with a plump and juicy strawberry.

[From Top, Clockwise] Classic Strawberry Shortcake; Mascarpone Strawberry Swiss Roll; Almond Strawberry Mini Tartlet & Earl Grey and Strawberry Mousse.

My pick is Classic Strawberry Shortcake. The sponge cake is light, soft and moist carries the diced strawberries and cream perfectly. #Strawberrygasm

Dragonwell Zheijiang Ronnefeldt Tea

All these delicious treats are paired perfectly with the wide selection of unlimited Ronnefeldt Tea and Brazilian Coffee.

Brazilian Coffee - Long Black

Overall, it was indeed an impressive Strawberry Afternoon Tea experience. The title of “Simply” is an understatement to describe this Strawberry gastronomic experience. You definitely don’t want to miss out on this. Cheers!!

Simply Strawberries Afternoon Tea

Where: Lobby Lounge and The Terrace,

Conrad Centennial Singapore

When: 7th January to 13th March 2022.

Timing & Price:

Mon – Fri (Two Seating). 1st Seating 1PM – 3PM, 2nd Seating 3.30PM – 5.30PM.

$45++ per person – Inclusive of free flow of Ronnefeldt Tea or Brazilian Coffee.

Sat – Sun (Two Seating). 1st Seating 1PM – 3PM, 2nd Seating 3.30PM – 5.30PM.

$49++ per person – Inclusive of free flow of Ronnefeldt Tea or Brazilian Coffee.

Click here for Simply Strawberry Afternoon Tea Menu

For more information please call 6432 7483/87 or email sinci.lobbylounge@conradhotels.com

For Delivery and Takeaway, order > HERE <

For Hilton Honors members, enjoy the benefits of the “Like a Member” offer by calling the Lobby Lounge directly on 6432 7483/87

*T&Cs apply. Discount is not applicable on delivery fees.

Thank you very much Conrad Centennial Singapore for hosting us.

Food: 8.5/10

Value: 8/10

Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation)

Ambiance: 8.5/10

Budget per Person: $51 - $80

Lobby Lounge @Conrad

2 Temasek Boulevard

Lobby Level, Conrad Centennial Singapore

Singapore 038982

T: +65 6432 7483

W: http://bit.ly/cbkconrad

F: https://www.facebook.com/conradcentennialsingapore

OH:

Sun - Thu: 07:00 - 00:00

Fri - Sat: 07:00 - 01:00

Daily Afternoon Tea: 13.00 – 17.30