Highly Rated Tonkatsu

Tonkichi is renowned for serving very good Tonkatsu (pork cutlet).

Friends, including those who lived in Japan before raved about the tonkatsu at this restaurant. So, when we were shopping at Isetan, curiosity got the better of me. We were debating whether or not to try since, there could be "radiation" in the meat. But, who cares. If AVA allowed, we should be safe. That shows how serious I am about my food.

Anyway, I won't say that the prices were cheap for just fried pork cutlet. Furthermore, Baby and I decided to try the #1 USA Black Pork, which cost more than S$30 for just a fried pork cutlet and, ok, rice, miso soup and three pieces of watermelon. But since we were there, Baby decided we might as well just try the "best".

I have to say, the menu was quite informative, with visual aids to help customers differentiate between different types of cutlets. For instance, Rosu and Hire, and so on.

So, below are some photos and my opinions.

This part was fun. We were given some sesame seeds mixture to grind for our Tonkatsu.

Smelled really aromatic too

My turn to have some fun with the grinding

Added some Tonkatsu sauce after the sesame mixture became finer

Some braised pork to fill us a bit. We were feeling ravenous. And my... They were very delicious. Almost melted in our mouth and did not taste "fat" at all.

The Tonkotsu ramen soup was tasty. But the pieces of meat were shredded. Very unlike the usual Tonkotsu ramen I had before. Not sure if this is the traditional way of the ramen.

Finally! The Tonkatsu (Black Pork)! The breaded batter on the outside was crispy and light, the inside was tender and juicy. Was quite worth the price because, the pork cutlet was sizably big. And there was free flow rice and cabbage too.

Commoner French Cuisine

"What do Singaporeans like to do?"

This is one question that many of my foreigner friends ask me. And I always say "Eat!". Which is true, since there is really nothing very much to do except eating and socialising. With no lack of good food places to visit, cheap or luxurious, this is one of Singaporeans' favourite activities. And, it is conveniently tied to a human basic need.

So, I am yet again blogging about food, which so happened to be one of my favourite things to do - cooking and eating.

Baby and I went to The French Stall (Serangoon) last Friday. This was not the first time we have been there. Whenever we crave for good French food at a decent price, we like going there.

Aside from the slow service (hard to get someone to attend to you) and feeling really hot (as this place was really a coffeeshop setting), The French Stall is great. With French music and some French street decoration, it is a great place for lingering - if you can take the humidity and heat.

I'll be bringing my friends from France there to hear their opinions on the food. Update after we go!

Traditional French Onion Soup

Carrot Soup (soup of the day) - looks like Baby was enjoying

Duck Confit - so many times nicer than the last one I had at Stellar. Very tender and tasty. On top of that, there was a piece of duck liver.

Baby's Sirloin Steak - which was so-so

Bordeux Decaffe

Goes well with our red meats

Decaffe was better than buying a bottle since there were only two of us

Tiramisu - nothing to rave about

Chocolate Cake

Giant Profiterole - with ice-cream instead of cream. The puffs were a bit tougher than the small ones we usually eat at other restaurants. Drenched in chocolate fudge...

You can see the size here. Huge. 

Restaurant Week

Thank God I learnt about Restaurant Week only in the middle of the week. Otherwise, I could either be very fat by the end of the week or very broke.

Anyway, as a foodie, how could I miss out on all the great deals?! Restaurants that are renowned, and prices usually expensive offered special Restaurant Week menu at only S$25++ to S$55++, depending on lunch or dinner menu. And naturally, most restaurants were booked up early.

So, here were the ones I tried (I managed to book) and my verdicts.

Stellar @ 1-Altitude
(Level 62, OUB Centre)

Was quite a huge disappointment, despite the more expensive and promising menu, impressive photos and high price tags (on HGW). Everything went wrong for us at this restaurant.

The restaurant's decoration and ambience reminded me more of a cafe than a S$200 per person restaurant. Service was also very poor - asked us at least five times about our warm or iced water. On top of that, we had some food and billing issues - and everyone seemed to be pulling a fast one on us (bluff us), except the Assistant Restaurant Manager, David.

Food was nothing to rave about. Sushi platter was acceptably normal. J's salad was too salty. Our Duck Confit should just be called Deep Fried Crispy Duck Leg. The only nice thing was the cake, by 1-Caramel. Not sure about its association with the restaurant.

The alfresco (upstairs) was a bar, which I imagined would be nice in the evening. I guess having a drink here will not be as disappointing as the food. How wrong could imported drinks be, right?

Overall, it was a terrible experience. I would not return. And I would not recommend.

Note: I was wearing Moda Shoppe's Sashy Mini (Champagne) and Fashion Friday Stirup Leggings (Grey) and Cel was in Ala Mode Dress.

Michelangelo's
(Chip Bee Gardens, 60 Jalan Merah Saga)

Cleared my floating leave and shared this meal with Jan. The interior was cosy and comfortable. Especially loved the booth seat but was unavailable for us. The only thing was the air-conditioning was too cold for me. Service staff were very patient with me. I asked for many things and changes, but they accommodated.

We decided to sit alfresco since it was a nice, sunny afternoon. Sitting outside was not very hot because they had fans/coolers. It was quaint and we spent a whole afternoon here, even after the kitchen was close. They did not chase us away at all, and even serve us water. How nice.

Note: I was wearing Moda Shoppe's latest Comfort Zone dress. 

Food was delicious. I like that they were very generous with their ingredients. There were five big prawns in the pasta. We were so full at the end of our meal and fully satisfied.

LaBrezza

(St Regis, Level 2)

With our busy schedules, it is rare for us to be able to dine together as a family. The place of choice was LaBrezza for its relaxing ambience. LaBrezza has a Mediterranean decoration, located right next to the swimming pool. I prayed for a sunny afternoon and I got it. So, the atmosphere was awesome and mood-lifting. Aside from reservation and parking coupon mix up, service was acceptable.

The food was good. I enjoyed my Grilled Zucchini with Beef Ragut completely! I am inspired to replicate this dish. The Gnocchi was al dente and went very well with the bacon. Otherwise, could be a little bland. The sardine smell was a little too strong but overall, pretty delicious. Veal was tender and almost melted in my mouth.

Desserts were enjoyable. Tiramisu came with a shot of bitter, strong, coffee ice shavings. The Pineapple Panacotta was creative and good too.

While waiting for everyone to arrive, I had a hot chocolate at The Drawing Room (ground level). They served really yummy cookies. Unfortunately, they are not for sale. So, the girl serving me packed me a box to take away! How sweet! I rarely tip in Singapore. But, I did for her thoughtfulness throughout the time I was there. This is what I called customer service.

That's me by the pool, outside LaBrezza. I was wearing Moda Shoppe's latest Panache Breezy Tunic and my Pazzion wedges.

Hooked On Rice Crisps

Recently, I saw this advertisement on Mister Potato Rice Crisps on the train. What attracted me to the advertisement was the information below.

• No Added MSG
• 20% Less Fat
• Cholesterol & Transfar Free
• No Artificial Colouring

I love potato chips. I eat even when I am stuffed. I can eat only potato chips for my meals. So, I often end up feeling really guilty.

So, when I saw the information, I decided to go in search for the rice crisps. It was not very hard because there was a huge wall of them at the supermarket. The promoter let me try the chips and I got hooked - I bought ALL 4 flavours.

I ate a flavour a day and till today, I still love it and still eating but a flavour in a few days. I also bring the crisps out with me so I could snack anytime I want. It tastes like potato chips, yet it has a lingering aroma from the rice. I read the label and realised it is made with a combination of rice and potato.

Although, I am not going to label it as healthy chips, at least it is healthier than all those chips I have been eating. I don't feel so guilty. So, I made this my favourite chips now. By the way, when I went to HK, I tried a really healthy potato chips, which tasted really too bland. So, I am glad Mister Potato Rice Crisps is still delicious. 

Here is the order of my favourite flavour - Original, Hot & Spicy, Sour Cream and BBQ.

Try it for yourself!

IL Piccolo

I have been a big fan of The French Stall. And I knew they opened an Italian eatery. But, I just didn't know where. Or rather, I didn't know the Italian food place I have been patronising IS the one open by The French Stall. Until one day, I saw somewhere in my mailbox the email from them. And realised that I have already been eating there.

The Italian food here is worth every calorie count. I don't just eat pizza anywhere. Here? The pizza is calorie-worthy. The pasta? Good too. I love the Gnocchi. Yum yum.

Baby and I go there quite often because it is just a turn away from our home. It is located within the SPH canteen where Botak Jones is. Try it for yourself.

So, here are some photos.

Aglio Olio Vongole with generous serving of clams

See the generosity of the clams!

We tried this pasta with Pharma Ham and.... *drum roll*... EGG in the centre. It is absolutely sinfully delicious.

IL Piccolo next to a Korean food place that is not so worth the calorie.

P.s. In case you are wondering, I rate my food by calorie-worth or not. I am pretty conscious about what I put into my body because firstly, I am vain - always want to look pretty and slim. Secondly, I am health-conscious. So, if I really want to eat, I make sure that it must be worth the amount of calories I put into my body. So, I am pretty picky about food. I do not just eat anything and everything. ;) Baby said I have golden tongue. If I do not like eating something or from a place, I probably would never eat or return atgain. ;) This is my trick to staying in shape.

Lai Lai Beef Noodles

One day after Rock Kidz, I was starving. So, Baby took me to Lai Lai Beef Noodles (Taiwanese style) at Liang Seah Street. I have been craving for the beef noodles for a while. But I am such a sucker for loyalty card and membership that, after I am done with our meals, I insisted I must change my card for gift (since my card was full) that very day.

While I was doing so, "Mdm Fatimah" was happily booking our car somewhere down the street. I exchanged my card for a Watson's $10 gift card. But we also left Liang Seah with a summon of $30 and an angry Baby. If we left the place right after the meal, it would have been fine.

Oh well, I did not know I would be returning there again tonight with Suz and Grace. Nevertheless, here's our indulgence that Sunday.

Woo... My favourite! Pepper Salted Chicken. Super love the one at Lai Lai.

Guess what? This Braised Pig's Large Intestine was really nice. I don't usually like pig's large intestine but this was quite worth the calories.

Of course... here's the uber nice beef noodles which is always too huge because I would add side dishes and bubble tea and end up not being able to finish.

*Slurp*

THE Legendary Sausages

Suzy got us very hooked on these sausages, which we name "The Lengendary Sausages". Only people who have sank their teeth into the succulent and flavourful sausages will they appreciate why they are "The Legendary Sausages". Uber yummy!