Swensen's - Durian Supreme Mooncake

I've always been a faithful follower of Marriott's durian mooncake but this year, I've decided to venture out.

I've decided to try a new adventure - durian ice cream mooncake from Swensen's.

The durian ice cream was good - thick durian taste.  But the skin is rather thick.  Probably because, to prevent the skin from breaking and ice cream leaking out. Not only was it thick, it was also a bit overly sweet.

Other flavours worth a try includes hazelnut and sticky chewy chocolate.  Each box of 4 costs $25.90.  There is 15% discount for selected credit cards.

Eater Palace Yam & Pumpkin Mooncake

Eater Palace

available at Takashimaya and Vivocity from now until early October 09

Tis' is the season for mooncakes.  Me loves the traditional baked lotus paste mooncake and teochew flaky skin yam mooncakes most.  Teochew moonies are only available from selected bakers and hence, I will normally seek out the teochew ones more than the traditional ones.  It isn't difficult to find reasonably tasty traditional ones and really, we are spoilt for choices.

For the Teochew Yam moonies, many would remember the famous Crown Prince Yam mooncakes, that sold like hot cakes.  Ever since the closure of Crown Prince Hotel, I have been looking for alternatives.

At the recent Vivocity fair, I was rather impressed by the ones from Eater Palace.  They actually microwaved the yam mooncakes for 40 secs before presenting the mooncakes for tasting. It really tasted good.  Furthermore, the mooncake chef was making and frying the mooncakes on the spot.

There are 2 mooncakes in each box.  It comes in these flavours:

- Yam

- Yam & Pumpkin

- Yam with single yolk

- Vegetarian yam

Check out the multi-layer flaky skin.  It takes good skill to make the skin.

This is the yam and pumpkin flavour.  The filling has turned soft after heating in the microwve and it became a little difficult to cut.  Because the mooncake was bought a few days ago, the flaky skin wasn't crispy anymore.  And I discovered that the mooncake was quite oily (see the oil on the plates) from the fried skin.

$18 for 2 mooncakes.

Ichiban Sushi Japanese Restaurant @ Plaza Singapura

Ichiban Sushi Japanese Restaurant

Plaza Singapura #06-05 /06

68 Orchard Road

Tel: 6837 0113

Sun to Fri: 11.30am -10.00pm

Sat & PH Eve: 11.00am -10.30pm

This Japanese casual dining restaurant is one such popular place that if you're there for dinner at 7pm, be prepared to queue for 30-45mins to get seats.  If you're there with a big group of people, be sure to join the queue early if you can.

This time, I tried the Half Curry Udon.  This is good if you aren't feeling very hungry to gobble down a full-meal.  The curry standard is acceptable.  It comes with chicken chunks and the usual japanese curry ingredients mainly, potatoes and carrots.

Price is equally reasonable at $6.90. 

Unfortunately, it is the only half-portion item on the food menu.  If you arent a fan of curry and not feeling very hungry, you can select other ala carte dishes such as gyoza or sushi. Would be great if they had a greater variety for the half-portion dishes.  Alternatively, check out Curry Favour located at Stamford House.

Saizeriya @ Liang Court

Saizeriya

Liang Court #02-22

Originating from Japan, this family restaurat serves pasta, pizza and grilled dishes.  The dishes are reasonably priced with pasta starting from $7+.  BUT, food quality is just very average. 

The cabonara (above) comes in a relatively big portion BUT there's no egg.  It was just a plain pasta with cream sauce and a few pieces of fatty bacon.

For the drink, it is quite worthwhile, if you opt for drinks set.  You get free flow drinks for $2+.  Selection of drinks include soft drinks, flavoured tea and coffee (espresso, mocha, cappucino). 

Overall, you can get a decent meal with $10 but do not expect any fantastic food standard.

Haato Ice Cream at Liang Court

Looks like Haato is my most visited ice cream parlour.  This time, I was at the Liang Court outlet.

I had a double scoop (green tea and mocha coffee flavours) on a waffle.  The green tea ice cream is made from matcha powder, the taste is really authentic.   As for the mocha coffee flavour, I would say, it is just average.

Just read that Ridgewood Close outlet serves milkshake now.  And it is the only outlet that serves milkshake!  Do I consider myself lucky that I can go to RWC on weekday lunch or am I preparing to pound on some more weight??  Argh...dilemma...

Fiesta Cheese Cake (Ichiban Sushi)

Kudos to Fiesta Cheesecake for coming up with single portion cheesecake. Though I would very much like to indulge in the entire full-size cheesecake, it is really too much to finish all of it within 3 days.

$2.10 available at Ichiban Sushi Restaurant (AMK Hub).

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This is the full-size fiesta cheesecake.  It is very light in taste, unlike Amercian cheesecakes where it is rich in cheese.  Each cake comes with a plastic knife.  The amazing thing is the cake will not stick on the knife.  Very easy and hassle free.  An ideal food for potluck =)

Costs $8.80. Available at Ichiban Sushi restaurants.

Osaka Town

Osaka Town

252 North Bridge Road

#B1-72/73/74 Raffles City Shopping Centre

Singapore 179103

Tel: 63365363

Discovered a new Japanese Gourmet Town at Raffles City.  I guess due to limited shop space, it is only enough for Osaka Town.  The okonomiya looks yummy.  Okonomiyakis are japanese pan-cakes filled with shredded cabbage and pork or other ingredients. The pancake is covered with savoury brown sauce and mayo.

I watched the chefs through the window panels who were pan-frying the okonomiya and the pancakes just look irresistable.

This is the Sakura Ebi Okos.

The pan-cakes are about 15cm in diameter and served on a hotplate.  They can be cut into quarters (similar to pizzaz) so that you do not need to lift up the entire pancake when eating it.

The okos looks better than it taste.  Pan-cake floor, cabbage, ginger and a few shrimps are about all the ingredients that make up the okos.  After a while, it gets a little boring, and it might be a better idea to share it with another person.  The brown sauce wasn't quite enough to savour the entire pancake, so is the mayo.  If you're some who prefers stronger taste, then you'd probably need to ask for extra brown sauce.

There is a promotion going on and the okos costs $9.80 (usual price is $12.80, I think).  Even for this promo price, I would prefer that they serve a small prices and make it less pricey.

Marvelous Cream (City Link)

Marvelous Cream

#B1-04, City Link Mall,

One Raffles Link, Singapore 039393

TEL: 6238 1683

Originates from Japan, this is its first franchaise outlet in Singapore, located at the end of City Link near the exit to Suntec City. Its 2nd outlet is at ION Orchard (B4-81/82/83).

With its pretty and attractive facade, it is difficult to miss the shop.

What's interesting is that, you get to see the ice cream chefs doing up your ice, mixing your choice of premium ice-cream with toppings and whipped cream on a ice marble top.  There are 28 ready creations available or you can "customise" your own creation.

The toppings are irresistable... check out the cookies, sponge cake cubes, fruits, macaron etc.

You can an option to have your ice-cream served in cup or waffle cup or waffle cone or chocolate waffle cone.  I chose to have mine in a waffle cone.  Ta-da!

The ice-cream isn't too sweet and not as creamy as it looks.  It melts quickly under Singapore's warm climate.  At $6.90, it is a little expensive for an ice cream cone, but I think I will be back to try out some of the other creations when my craving comes.

Other than ice-creams, dessert lovers can also check out other pretty cakes in the shop.

Xin Wang Taiwan Cafe [Closed]

Many people are probably familiar with Xin Wang Hong Kong Cafe... has anyone tried Xin Wang Taiwan Cafe located at City Link?  I haven't and am very interested to check it out one of these days.

This cafe serves street food such as salted crispy chicken bites, fish paste sticks, curry chicken chop rice, braised minced pork rice, mee sua etc....sounds yummy, eh?

Here's the menu....

Will be back with review, hopefully soon.

CP Shrimp Wonton Soup with Noodles

While shopping at Cold Storage a few weeks back, I saw a new addition to the CP Food range.  I love its Shrimp Wonton Soup cos the shrimps taste fresh (after it has been heated) even though it had been frozen. 

The new addition is the Shrimp Wonton with Noodles.

It comes with 5 shrimps and noodles.  The noodles isn't anything fantastic but good enough for a meal.

The packaging comes with a plastic container.  Just need to add water to a certain marked level.  Place in the microwave oven for 4 minutes.  Tadah!  Your wonton noodles is ready without stepping out from your house.

 

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Pu Tien @ Tampines Mall

Pu Tien @ Tampines Mall

4 Tampines Central 5

#B1-19/27 Tampines Mall

Singapore 529510

Tel : 6781 2161

I was initially attracted by the restaurant's 1st anniversary promotion of 100% rebate, round down to the nearest $10.  The promo is currently on-going until 30 Sep 09.  Citibank credit card holders are entitled to a lucky draw for min. $50 spent.

The restaurant was still 50% packed half an hour before its last order at 2.30pm.

We decided to just go for the 2-pax lunch set meal at $38++ for 1 staple main course, 3 dishes and dessert.  Check out the menu here.

It's Homemade Beancurd is firm and so silky smooth.  The sticky brown sweet gravy sauce brought out the tofu's fragrance.

Bamboo Herbal Prawn is another signature dish of Pu Tien.  The clear soup is filled with nice slightly bitte herbal taste.  Each portion comes with 3 extremely fresh prawns.

I had requested to replace the fried fish dish with this Lychee Sweet & Sour Pork with an additional $2.  The chunky and crispy pork pieces were tender and delicious.

Lor Mee is usually black but Pu Tien is famous for its white lor mee.  The noodle texture actually feels like handmade noodles.  The broth is thick and starchy.  The ingredients include prawns, clams, towpok, vegetable and pork.  The dish is excellent after adding in Pu Tien's spicy and sour chilli sauce.

I had requested for the dessert to be changed to lotus paste (Orr Nee).  Oh well, nothing fantastic for this dish.  But the other main dishes were all excellent.

Just a side note that warm water is chargeable at 30 cents each.

Overall, it is a very satisfying home-cook meal and would certainly be back again, maybe for its high-tea buffet which starts at 3pm at $10.80++ per pax.